Thursday, November 13, 2008

Let Freedom Ring...

I may be a little behind on this but saw it and wanted to support the cause. As you may know a number of states voted to ban gay marriage, something I definitely don't agree on. While I do see where people might have a problem with it from a religious standpoint and the fact of churches marrying gays, I do not see where these couple can not be united by a justice of the peace (government official) and be given recognition as their partner's husband/wife. Gay unions should not be viewed as sub par. There is supposed to be a separation of church and state in this country. This is just hate!

I found a way to show my disagreement with what happened via first going here to "WTF Have I Done" Julie's blog and then going to visit with Kayla and Rufus on their mom's blog "the state that i am in" here and after seeing Erin showing her support on her blog with her post pointing me to "Diary of a Modern Matriarch" here (where you too may go to show your support if you'd like). So, this is what I think of this ban...




P.S. Do me a favor and ignore the bitten-down finger nail and the profound need for some hand lotion, just take in the true sentiment of the picture :-)

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Ok, these are two of the best Speak-Outs:
and

Friday, November 7, 2008

Halloween 2008

Another Halloween and I have to say I really enjoyed myself. It is Jason's favorite holiday and he always wants to go all out and I must say I am a little scared by this and in normal fashion not totally into something someone else is totally obsessively into, but this year I did make steps towards embracing Jason's enthusiasm for the Halloween holiday.

We spent the evening in DC and met up with friends with the understanding that we were pretty much just going to one bar and not doing a lot of moving around as the bar we picked was near the beginning of the annual "Nightmare on M Street" event. We chose Buffalo Billiards which when we got there at about 7:30 we were the only one's in costume, but this eventually, like all other bars in the neighborhood didn't last long. We did make one venture out down to M Street to attempt going into Sign of the Whale because we were told there was no line - I don't know who told that lie as the line was all the way down the block when we got there and wasn't moving, so we returned to BB, where we were able to avoid the line getting in there since we had already been there. It was pretty cool, I must say, to walk around though and see everyone's costume and join in the weird camaraderie of the evening.

I want to thank our friend Ray for his advice on going to the website vampfans.com to order my fangs for the evening - they were awesome - looked good, felt pretty natural, didn't keep falling out and best of all didn't make me keep gagging with a gag reflex - woo hoo. We had done a "dry run" of our costumes by attending a halloween party the weekend before - another great time - and I had to try and use the store bought plastic ones after the fang kit I bought at the costume store completely sucked.

As you can tell by the last picture in the bunch it was a "fun" night and I was done in by the end of it. Luckily we stayed right down the block at the Hotel Madera
a Kimpton property where they allow pets (actually treat them well - next time we might go for the pet pampering package) which rocked because we were able to bring Lucie and Kira with us, so it was almost like going home at the end of the evening. The room was wonderful, the staff great - they said the dogs were good - didn't hear a peep - when I'm quite sure they did bark their heads off at least a little bit - I'm thinking everyone around us had to have been out enjoying their evening too :-)

I almost can't wait for next year....

Friday, October 24, 2008

Baby's got a Brand New Pair of Shoes

This morning I'm riding up the escalator at Metro Center standing on the right hand side, of course, and this older lady - I'd say in her late 50's early 60's walks on by me on the left hand side. Now, that just happening shows how lazy and pathetic I really am, but to top it all off she's walking by me up the escalator stairs in a pair of heels - I'd say about a 2in heel - and there I stand on the right with my brand-new flat Naturalizer shoes. Something is definitely wrong with this picture. Me in a pair of flat Naturalizers and this older lady sporting some stylish 2in heels. I have to say though I do love my new shoes. Just bought them last night after another agonizing day in my ankle boots which have a two inch heel. I loved these boots when I first bought them two or three years ago - they were so comfortable, perhaps it's because they are old that that is why they hurt now and maybe all that I have to do is buy a new pair of boots which will have padding in the sole area. Yay - more shopping!!!

I actually got two pairs last night one flat pair (the Cresson) and the other, I went out on a ledge here, a 1 1/4 in hee (the Gaston) l!! Aren't they cute? Very, very comfortable!!



Thursday, October 9, 2008

Women Please Get Out and Vote

Preview for the 2004 HBO movie Iron Jawed Angels. A very powerful movie which all women should watch to remind us what had to be done in order to give us our right to vote. A reason for all of us to exercise this right!

Monday, October 6, 2008

Register to Vote - DC & VA Deadline Today - MD Oct 14

Saw this on Julie's http://juliezilla.blogspot.com/ blog and had to copy. Please remember to vote and register to do so in time.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Grumblings and Ramblings

I keep getting the following e-mail from friends about some guys brilliant plan regarding what should be done with the bailout money:

Hi Y'all,

I'm against the $85,000,000, 000.00 bailout of AIG.

Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000, 000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend.

To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+. Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up.

So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that equals $425,000.00.

My plan is to give $425,0 00 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.

Of course, it would NOT be tax-free.

So let's assume a tax rate of 30%.

Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.

That sends $25,500,000, 000 right back to Uncle Sam.

But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.

A husband and wife has $595,000 .00.

What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?

Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.

Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads

Put away money for college - it'll be there

Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.

Buy a new car - create jobs

Invest in the market - capital drives growth

Pay for your parent's medical insurance - health care improves

Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at
Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.

If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( "vote buy" ) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.

If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!

As for AIG - liquidate it.Sell off its parts.Let American General go back to being American General.

Sell off the real estate. Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.
Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't.

Sure it's a crazy idea that can "never work."

But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party! How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion We Deserve It Dividend more than do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC.

It does sound like it would be a really nice plan and would be wonderful if people were responsible. But people aren't - not average American citizens, not big industry, not politicians. I actually don't trust my fellow Americans to use this bailout money responsibly any more than I trust the big companies. I, myself, would probably do some of the responsible things, but not all of them. Everyone needs a system of balance and checks - it's when this goes wrong that crap hits the fan.

I think that there were plenty of people who did not think and should be held responsible for what happened to them. People who overspent/took on mortgages, that they had no business taking on in the first place. Just because someone tells you you can afford a $500,000 mortgage doesn't mean you really can and if you are pressed as it is to get the house going for the financing the jacked up way it was being offered is about the dumbest thing. We were told we could afford a place for about $100,000 more than we actually bought for, but we used our brain and said seriously there is no way we can swing that - what if something unexpected came down the road, we used our brains and said hell no to an ARM and splitting the loan with one being an interest only loan - could be because I saw others years ago (10 years) struggling with their mortgages when they had ARMs when the rates started going up at that time - I remember them scrambling to refinance. Even then, myself, I had a fixed rate - it might have been the conservative way to go, but that's me. Now, I can see the beauty of an ARM don't get me wrong, it does help people get into a house or place of their own, but use your brain people, buy a condo or a smaller, less expensive place - it's still yours - in other words buy what you can really afford, consult someone other than the person selling you the house/mortgage/doing the financing, someone who is not vested (going to make money off of your purchase) in your buying the place.

This doesn't even mention the people I see every day saying that they are struggling to make ends meet, when they have a car which is brand new every two or three years, brand new tvs, furniture, etc. not to mention purses and jewelry that cost over $300 for just one purse - they buy all this crap on credit or spend their cash on these items not even considering that they still have to make it through weeks until they get paid again and darn they didn't buy the necessities for the household - food, toilet paper, etc. These people obviously don't know what to do with their money and then after it happens over and over again I'm supposed to feel sorry for them? Now, I'm not perfect and I have credit card debt and, those who know me, know that I am apt to overspend here and there, but I do keep an eye on it and I do make efforts not to let myself get carried away and not think one day if I keep it up and don't curb myself that I will have to pay the piper and I'm not willing to let myself get to that point - learned my lesson the first time I got a bit in over my head.

I feel bad for the people who really are struggling, who have lost their jobs because they have been laid off because of the economy and have then been forced to lose their houses. And what has happened to the economy due to the unchecked running of companies is atrocious. Something has to be done.

Some of my rambling and not feeling bad is probably due the fact that no one is offering me a lower mortgage rate like they are offering people I know so that they can stay in their houses cause they over spent. Me, who was responsible, only spent what I could, me who is trying to watch the bills, etc. I have to continue to pay what needs to be paid. Me who was responsible, doesn't get the breaks and handouts that the irresponsible get. It just sorta sucks sometimes when you think about it that way.

Friday, September 26, 2008

The Secret Life of Bees

I just finished reading this and this is what I typed on my goodreads page about the book. Normal rambling....

This book has been on my to-read list for quite some time now and I am really glad that I finally got around/made time to read it. What took me so long was that I had heard so many good things about it - "It's a good book", "It's a great book", "You should really read this book", etc. I know, so why did it take so long for me to get to reading it could be a mystery, but for those who know me, they might know that I shy away from things that everyone else just loves to death. I think sometimes it's because I just can't believe all the hype and I have been disappointed in some of the other recommendations that come oh, so highly recommended. The other reason is that (unless I wasn't paying attention and that can happen, we all know) every time it was recommended, no one really told me what it was about or didn't give me insight to some of the background of the book, that to me would have piqued my interest.

I enjoy reading (hhhmmm, how to word this) books that have history or historical facts in them (that works - wanted to make sure people didn't think I enjoyed reading about oppression and conflicts of the sort addressed in the book- civil rights). Anyways, reading about the way that things were and knowing how things have changed in some regards and in others not so much really gets me thinking and I like that. I know that the underlying conflicts of civil rights was not the main point of the book but while reading about it it made me think about what I would have done or how I would have reacted in a number of the instances in the book. I feel as though I probably would have been beaten up myself because of the way I feel that that is, was wrong, but then I wonder, would I really have spoken up or would I have just thought about the injustice as a silent observer. See, inner reflection happening.

Ok, that's enough rambling for now, and can't really say it's a review of the book or anything, just my thoughts as I finished up reading the book. It was well written and I enjoyed it is what I can say about the book.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Just Another Weekend

Not much to report for this past weekend. Went out for a little while on Friday night. Went to a baby shower on Saturday for a girlfriend who is due the end of October. It was a good time. Watched the movie Sunshine on Saturday night - pretty interesting - it is directed by the guy (Danny Boyle) who directed 28 days later and 28 weeks later and had a little bit of the same feel - filmwise as they did or maybe it's because it's British, i don't know. I would say I liked it. On Sunday we watched the Redskins win and the Steelers lose so, some good and some bad. That's about it. Sorry to be boring, trying to get back into posting, we will see how it goes.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Friday and Other Thoughts

Today is Friday - Woo Hoo. The day we look forward to all week, or at least I definitely do. I was riding the metro and though this is something I do almost everyday and most Fridays, this morning I noticed just how many people were wearing jeans and it struck me as funny. Funny to see all the people you normally see in suits or at least khakis and dress slacks or skirts and dresses or pants depending on their sex wearing jeans. It goes to show you how many offices have a jeans day Friday and how we the people really do embrace it. In my office we get to wear jeans only on certain Fridays and that is in conjunction with some time of charity fundraiser. Today's good cause is for:

SNEAKERS@WORK DAY, launched in 2007, is a sweeping nationwide workplace-based awareness and fundraising event, which will bring major attention to the #2 cancer killer among men... prostate cancer. One hundred percent (100%) of every dollar raised through SNEAKERS@WORK DAY goes directly to American Prostate Cancer Initiative and its S@W DAY partners, Us Too International, The Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the Prostate Cancer Mission/Florida, to support Prostate Cancer awareness, patient education, advocacy and research programs that might otherwise go unfunded.

All employees who contribute $5 (minimum) may wear sneakers AND appropriately fitting jeans on Friday. All employees who contribute $10 may wear sneakers AND appropriately fitting jeans, and will receive a pair of SNEAKERS@WORK DAY trademark blue shoelaces.

Have you ever noticed that if you walk down the street with a smile on your face and you actually aim it at someone, they may look surprised but the majority will return your smile and you can actually see it effect them by lightening up their mood and hopefully their day. I will warn it's a little easier with women then men or at least with me - for some reason I feel that some of the guys are thinking "What is she trying to pick me up or something?" - Must be my killer looks - lol - or maybe it's just my overactive imagination. Anyways, it's one of my favorite things to do to brighten up my day as well as hopefully other - go ahead try it I dare you.

How about elevators. In our office we have to swipe our key card to get access to the floors we need to go to - good security. The one thing I dislike though is the person who gets on the elevator first, swipes their card, selects there floor and then never moves away from the panel making it completely inconvenient for anyone else to get to it in order to select their floors - grrrrr.

Ok, enough for this morning, got to head up to our cafe where on Fridays, we are treated to donuts, bagels, muffins, fruit cups and yogurt on the firm - double Woo Hoo.

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Public scenes - Passion/Temper

So we are out last night hanging out and drinking was being done by all. One girl arrived later than most because she had been working. We were all talking and something was said and, it was something which was a "cut" or "tease" about her bf - which we were saying directly to him, but seriously, I don't even remember what it was. Well, I guess after everyone else continued on in conversation she made one last crack to her bf about whatever was said. I guess he didn't think it was funny or maybe he thought his retaliation to the comment was funny, but anyways, what he did was grab a finger full of the coleslaw off of her plate (she was eating) and shoved it in her hair. She, of course, retaliated by grabbing a bigger handful and shoved it in his hair where it proceeded to fall down the front of him and all over his pants - nice. At one point, I think that there was serious contemplation on his part about grabbing more and re-retaliating, but since we were all yelling at him at this point not to, he did not. The girl cleaned up her stuff, told him he was a jerk, gathered up her belongings and said she was leaving. He started yelling at her that because of the way that she retaliated she was by hypocritical and then proceeded to follow her out/leave.

This started a bit of a discussion between those who remained about how things were handled - everyone agrees (that I remember) that he should not have done what he had done. Now, there are some who said she shouldn't have retaliated the way she did, that she should have just gathered her stuff and left and dealt with it when they got home and in private. I can say that, I think, at this stage in my life, I think this is what I would have done, but you can be guaranteed that everyone in that place would have known that this was not something I was accepting and not something my bf would be getting away with it. I say it this way, because I can remember back to when I was as young as this couple is (she actually sorta reminds me of me at that age). She is very passionate and expresses herself immediately without completely thinking about what others are seeing - but aren't we supposed to act true to ourselves and not worry about judgment by others? I can remember making scenes in the middle of Georgetown with my ex, because of some slight that he had done - like borrow my car to go out on a date with another girl and then when I ran into them on their little date refused to give me my car back - this resulted in my jumping on the hood of the car and daring him to drive off - not very smart at all, actually quite dumb, but at the time, there was no thinking going on in my little brain - not exactly something I'm proud off, but something I did and have to own up to and something I did learn from.

Others sort of thought he may have gotten off easy. Though, I sometimes think that I am in the minority when it comes to public displays of emotion, which is why in general I have tried my hardest to minimize. It doesn't always work though, just recently I actually made a little bit of a scene in front of some of the same people by being loud, ok, improperly yelling at one of the friends about a point, which I took offense to. I have to say there were mitigating circumstances - a lot was going on - it was right before everything went to crap they end of June and beginning of July but I knew it was coming if any of that makes sense, so I was on the edge already.

I guess what I'm getting at is, I really don't know what, I just felt like posting about this event. Wouldn't mind hearing other people's takes on public scenes though. I don't think that they are the best things to be had, but have done it, so I try my hardest not to judge people when it does happen. That in itself is hard because I believe it is human nature for most people to think that they are better than others. I think it's just different ways of handling things and coming across. There are people who I know who really aren't true to their selves at all - they act one way around some people and completely different with another group of people - and I'm not talking business people versus friends - I'm talking differently in front of one type of friend versus another type of friend, this even happens when it's all the same group of friends.

Ok, I think that's enough rambling for now.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Guest Blogger :Nicholas

Hey bloogers i am going to tell what happend last night 7/28/08 me and my uncle went to wrestling and it was awesome we saw tons of good matches. My favotite match was Jeff Hardy vs. Edge. Edge won because M.V.P. interfered when the ref wasent looking. Another good match was John Cena and batista the hometown man vs. kane and JBL John Cena and batista won!! I wish jeff hardy won the other match though. Oh well me and my Uncle had a really really really good time going. We had funny guys behind us to they where commentating some of the matches. Well i got to go ill start a Blog maybe this after noon or tomorrow so send me some comments to tell me if u want me to do a blog and that u like my post. bye.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Going Green at the Office

Just went to go grab a plate and knife so that I could eat my orange and saw that my office has moved forward on the Green initiative. We have replaced all our cups, cutlery, plates, straws, stirring straws and napkins to ones made with compostable, sustainable and/or recycled materials. We will shortly be switching trash bags as well - "In order for these products to degrade once they hit the landfill, they must be collected in trash bags that will allow them to do so, i.e., not your standard plastic garbage bag. The firm will be switching to biodegradable garbage bags for all trash collecting purposes. These bags will promote the decomposition of compostable materials in land fills."

You can tell they are a little different, but still definitely work.

Go Office. Go Green Committee!!

Crabby, Crabby - Embarrassment, NO?

So, I was going to post and then I wasn't going to post and now I am posting. decisions, decisions..
This morning DH and I get into a big row about posting, etc. I have to admit I've been a bit more crabby than usual - I have to say this because those who know me, know that when I'm crabby, I'm crabby and I will pick a fight if I want and I will stay in it to win even if the person isn't really fighting back with me (DH's best strategy and actually something I really love about him). And, let's face it, I am selfish, I try to come across as not as selfish as I am and to this end I do alot for others, am nice, bend over backwards to accommodate, but all in all I really, really am selfish and know that it's all about me in the end.

This morning we are rushing around to get ready so I'm already in a snit about being late, dragging feet, general slackiness. When the usual routine doesn't seem to be inciting Jason into a more acceptable (to me) rapid getting readiness, I start in with the picking -

me: I am so totally going to blog about this
J: Whatever
me: Why can't you move faster, we are going to be late and to top it off I'm going to blog about last night as well
J: You better not
me: Why the he** not, I can, it's my blog and I can blog what I want
J: Fine, do what you want, but then I'm starting my own blog
me: whatever, if that's what you want, go for it. I don't really care
J: Well you better not embarrass me
me: What?? About last night? It's not embarrassing, it's life. It's what you do. If your so embarrassed about something like that then maybe you should do it anymore. It's not as if my repeated requests have helped any or my constant bitchiness about it has helped anything.
J: I'm not fighting you about this
me: forget you

So, what's so embarrassing? What's just ordinary life in our household? The fact that we share a queen sized bed - no, not that, we are married here folks. The fact that on almost all occasions he goes to bed before me - once again, not a big deal. The big deal is is that Jason is a bed hog, a pillow hog and a blanket hog.

We have learned from past experience and have actually divided up our comforters - yes, we each have our own, so it makes for a very warm night if we share. So, we should each have our own. When Kerry comes to clean I usually separate them out again, after she has made the bed so nicely, before going to bed so as not to have to fight for blankets. I forgot to do this Tuesday evening after she came over and just suffered the consequences. Last night though I wasn't in as good a giving mood as all that. First when I left the bed yesterday morning, I left my two pillows on my side of the bed where they belonged and had worked one of the comforters mostly onto my side. When I go to get into bed last night first Jason is literally sprawled all over the complete bed - doesn't look comfortable to me, but from the sounds of deep sleep it must be for him. I get him to move over a bit, get into bed to realize I now only have one pillow and barely enough covers to cover one leg - the one closest to him, of course. I proceed to grumble, pull and push to just get my second pillow and some covers and as I'm doing this he's just like "stop it, I'm not fighting with you." I don't want to fight, I want what is rightfully mine as an equal partner in our bed. He figures that he gives me enough room because he moves over to the middle of the bed - yes I can then get in anda lie on my back, but this means my left side is right along the edge of the mattress - in bed, but not comfortable, so I have to fight more.

All of this is not made any easier, by the additional bedroom conditions that exist:
1) The Schnoodle Sister's think they need to sleep in between us, so since Jason is already in bed taking up half of the bed, they need room on my side
2) Jason sleeps with 4-5 extra pillows - which are located under his head around his sides - almost like moat
3) Jason also usually has in addition to his comforter, two additional blankets

Now, I'm thinking that if Jason would just learn to sleep closer to the edge of the bed and give up a few pillows and blankets than the girls and I would be able to get into the bed semi-comfortably. Jason's response to all my complaints is
1) You have enough room
and
2) The girls are dogs, move them out of your way, they don't need to sleep on the bed

I believe the girls have more of a right on the bed than his extra pillows, especially the body pillow and two extra blankets. I think that if Jason really, really loved me he would try and make an effort to correct something that bugs me as simple as this is. One can also see that since it is such a small thing, why do I allow myself to get all worked up about it. It's because I can, and I enjoy being naggy and crabby sometimes.

Solution: We need to upgrade to a king size bed or, maybe, he would like to blow up the air mattress and sleep on that with all his inanimate objects! This way I'd have the bed to myself - though I'd miss him - I'd be comfortable. See I'm selfish.

P.S. I have to feel doubly bad about all my nagging and witching, because I know he really does love me because of the following shows of support, but I know I won't, this is me.
1) he went and picked up my mom and drove her home last night with me so that she could spend time with us when I didn't feel like going over to her house - thought wait, I was in the kitchen slaving over pasta and homemade sauce for him.
and
2) he is going to fly down to West Palm Beach in August on a Saturday, so that he can fly back up on the next day, Sunday, with my mother who is going down to visit her sister for a week and didn't want to fly back alone - she's flying down with my Aunt and Uncle.

See, he's a sweetheart. Maybe I'm just a naggy witch and don't deserve him - lol.

Now, I don't think that was embarrassing to him. If it is I've told him he has the right to comment back or like he's said start his own blog. I don't remember seeing either. But hey, I don't know, I know what I am and so do most people so it doesn't bother me - I just want them all to like me anyways. :-)

Monday, July 14, 2008

Summer Luving Having a Blast...Summer Looks for the Girls

Lucie and Kira are sporting their new summer haircuts (pics below). Lucie had never really been shaved before, just trimmed, so this was a new experience for her. Sister Kira is a pro already. It was reported by the groomer that Lucie acted up a number of times and she really, really likes the groomer - it is also the women they stay with when we go away. I wonder if it was because of all the upheaval of the last two weeks - staying at my mom's house or staying at home with just daddy and then being played with by my niece and nephew. The girls are not used to being held quite as much as they are made to be when Moira and Nicholas are around. Or, it could just be her expressing her sorrow or anger over losing her lovely long locks of wild doggie hair. What ever the reason, you may notice that she's looking a little scared or sadly up at me in the picture as I took it - she kept coming towards me as I tried to take it practically begging me to pick her up and give her loves, which, of course, I did immediately after taking the picture. I think that she is getting used to the cut and loving the cooler air. Jason and I are also coming to terms - though it's hard to tell them apart now in the dark.



Lucie: "Mommy pick me up and love me"

Kira: "I don't know what the big deal is, you do this to me all the time"

Monday, July 7, 2008

Guest Blogger :Nicholas

My name is Nicholas i am Andrea's nephew. I am 10 and in 5Th grade how cool! I am going to write a story and to all that read leave a comment back i like reading comments so please send back thank you. This story about this 4Th of July at my friends house for a party a pool party.

Splash!!!! I jump in to the water and start to swim to get away from the next jumper it is a rule at his house for safety. Swimming at his house is fun to though. the deep end is about maybe 12 feet i have torched the bottom. That day i also played volleyball pool style in the pool it was a lot of fun. I slept over hi house that night and we stayed up playing games of pool and air hockey. We also went in the pool around 11:00 p.m. it was 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Pretty warm for 11:00 they have heat lights to though so that probably helped to. The next day is drawing near and i cant wait because tomorrow night they are sleeping over our house and we are doing fireworks. The next day after the fireworks we tried to order UFC: Jackson vs. Griffin. Griffin won he made Jackson tap out and Griffin became the new champion. Now it is July 7Th 08 and i am going to my grandfather viewing. He passed as u heard from my aunt in that blog she wrote. So i have to go now bye.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Guest Blogger - Moira

My name is Moira. I have 2 dogs and 1 hamster. My best friends names are Rachel and Lindsay. My favorite dogs Lucie and Kira are two girl dogs and they are schnoodles. Lucie is crazyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kira is calm.I have 1 brother and 0 sisters. My life is cool and fun. I am just a kid though I 'm on my aunts blog. And my uncle Jay is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



My favorite food is spaghetti. I like a game called Club penguin. Club penguin is where you are a penguin and you get money and you get to play games if you are a penguin that dose not pay if you are a member you can get cool stuff.I'm 7 years old.One day my uncle jay did a explosion at my Nana's house it was cool. My favorite drink is chocolate milk.And if you look at my post send a cooment. Lucie and Kira are funny!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Arrangements - James "Jack" D. Rosson, Jr.

We met with the people from Evans in Bowie and made the arrangements for dad. Because of the July4th holiday weekend, we were not able to schedule things until Monday, July 7.

Visitation and Viewing - The Wake
Monday, July 7, 2008 - 7-9 p.m.
Evans Funeral Home in Bowie
16000 Annapolis Rd
Bowie, MD 20715

Chapel Service and Burial
10:45 a.m.
Crownsville Veterans Cemetery
1122 Sunrise Beach Road
Crownsville, MD 21032

Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to the American Cancer Society:
Online:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/DON/content/DON_0.1_Gifts_in_Memory.asp

Donate by Phone:
To donate to the American Cancer Society by phone, call 1-800-ACS-2345.

Donate by Mail:
To donate by mail, simply download the form from the American Cancer Society site (http://www.cancer.org/, print it, and mail the completed donor form with your check to this address: American Cancer Society P.O. Box 22718 Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718

Donations may also be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake - Who did a wonderful job in helping us bring dad home and take care him. Awesome - definitely recommend them if, unfortunately, the need arises.

If you would like any other contact information, please let me know and I'll send it along.

thanks once again to all for their prayers and thoughts.
Ruth, Andrea and Janine

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Fini - James D.Rosson, Jr. 10/21/1935-7/1/2008 10:00 p.m.

It is done. Dad has passed on, expired, died. He has gone on to where he has wanted to go. He is with so many good people that I do not have to worry about him... he is with my sister Cheryl, my cousin John, my Uncle Sam, both sets of grandparents, Paul and Lorraine Konen, my Aunt Cathy, My Aunt Mary, Jason's Uncle Aldo, my friends mother's (Camala and Kerry), Pat Tonrey as well and probably so many more awesome people. Us who remain are going to be well taken care of. We have our memories and the love and well-being that he helped instill in us. He was a loving father and husband and a great friend. He and my mom talked and decided that they raised a great family and as biased as I may be, I agree. We were there to hold his hands in his final moment, to tell him it was ok to go, that we loved him, that we knew we were loved by him, that we would be fine, we would be taken care of.

A great, great man, passed on today. A man who loved his family, his wife, served his country and his community. That man is my father - James "Jack" Rosson

Tuesday Update 7/1/08

Yesterday, the nurse came over and the nurse's aid. They are very nice and very good at their jobs. Marianne, the nurse's aid, gave dad a bath, changed the sheets and gave him a shave. He looked very handsome when she was done. Nicholas and Moira were up with Janine and they got to visit with Granddad once he was all spiffed up. I got out for a little while with Kerry and got a pedicure and then we met up with Maria for a bite to eat at Applebees. Dad had a good evening and actually was awake and alert for most of the night. Around 1 a.m. though I heard his water glass fall as he was trying to get some water. I gave him some water and changed the cover sheet, about 1/2 hour to an hour later he tried again with the same results. I got him a cup with a lid on it to try and prevent the spills, which worked a bit. He had just gotten so weak that he is unable to really lift a glass and direct it to his mouth. today I have the little sponges on a stick for him and have been offering him drinks. He seems quite out of it today, so much worse then yesterday. I don't know if this is because of all the "excitement" of yesterday or if this is a step in "the direction." He has been trying to speak to us, but we can't really understand all that he is saying. He sorta starts out strong and then ends up mumbling. It's very, very frustrating He also seems very, very tired, but isn't sleeping.

I don't know where things stand at this point or where things are going, but I'll keep updating.

Thank you so much for all the thoughts, prayers and well wishes. Please keep them up.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Monday Morning Update 6/30/08

Everything remains pretty much the same. Dad slept well through the night. He woke up semi-mad that he's still here, but trying to be good, in a way, for our sakes. I'm beginning to feel like the boy who cried wolf. Though, I know the dr.'s did say it could be a week, a week and a half or even longer they did make it sound very dire right before he left the hospital. Maybe, all along all that he needed was to come home at least to beat the infections and maybe get his kidney's functioning better - now, I'm not saying the infestions are gone or that they kidneys are functioning, it just seems that they may be to me. The nurse and nursing aid from Hospice will be over today to do an evaluation and check over things. I will post again if anything happens and to update on what they say.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Sunday afternoon update

Things are going along. I think that the Dr.'s may have been over dire in their predictions or at least that's the way it seems right now. He has been talking with us and he's requesting that he be able to go see/sit in the living room. We have to work on getting that done if it's possible. I was sitting in the living room today and thought, hmmm, it's a little quite in the bedroom. I peeked in the door and this is what I saw:

I myself didn't receive an invite :-)
Dad has a couple of visitors today and I think he enjoyed that. Well, that's it for now. I'll post again with any updates.

Sunday morning update

Things were pretty status quo. Janine arrived yesterday afternoon, bringing stories of the game and pictures for Granddad to hang from Nicholas and Moira. Dad, really enjoyed seeing these. He had some icecream and we all hung out. Mom and him listened to some music together. Dad slept through the night and Janine kept vigil - she's getting some well deserved rest herself right now. Jason, Marty, Nicholas and Moira are all scheduled to drop over today for visits. He has been a little disoriented, but for the most part, except for slow answers aware of what is going on when he's awake and able to have some conversation. Will update later, even if it's just to same same ole', same ole'.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Dad continues on. He is not happy. Might sound harsh, but I'm trying to be honest about what is happening here. He was able to sleep mostly through the night - I must admit at one point around 11:15 I basically forced him awake by talking loudly and asking him if he wanted some pain medicine, just to make sure he was wakeable. He was. We all spoke and actually Janine had called in while we were talking and I was able to hold up the phone to dad's ear and they were able to speak a bit....

Janine was at home because Nicholas' baseball team (Marty is coach) is in the All Star Tournament and he had a game last night - they won - they play again today and Janine will be up after that game. Janine and Moira are cheering the family on! Go team!

...while I was on the phone with Janine in the other room filling her in on things, mom came out and said dad wanted to speak with me. I went back into the room and there ensued one of the hardest conversations of my life so far. He asked me how things were going and where they were going, he repeated that he just wanted to die, he was done, and wasn't there anything that could be done to make it happen now, faster. I with, Janine, supporting me on the phone let him know the basics, that we couldn't at this point predict how long things were going to last, the dr.'s had said any where from 2-3 days to a week'ish. That we, because of what he wanted and because we didn't want him experiencing any more pain or being like this either were hoping, just like him that it would the former rather than the latter. That unfortunately all that we could do is make him as comfortable as possible, try and keep him pain free, and be there giving love. He looked at me and asked why more couldn't be done. Why it couldn't be over now. I choked backed tears, and let my defense mechanism take over and told him that "unfortunately, Dr. Kevorkian, even learned and lost, that doing different is illegal and that we had to do things the legal way" and that we would make him as comfortable as we could and continue to provide support. I repeated that we loved him very, very much and he nodded sadly to indicate he did understand our predicament and he said he loved us very much as well. I gave him some more pain medicine and he went back to sleep.

I finished my call with Janine. And wrapped myself up in a huge hug from Jason and comforted myself. Jason had mom and I get some sleep and rest and sat vigil for us through the night. Since this morning, Dad has been up here and there, but mostly sleeping. Though during one of his awake periods he looked over to little Lucie and said "come'on Lucie do your job" and I was like "what?" and he said, "there are dogs that kill people." I couldn't say anything, but I did make Lucie and Kira give him kisses and told him they loved him and he gave them a pat and said he loved them as well and then gave that sad, defeated smile once again.

Mom and I are hanging around with him, watching some TV, contemplating paying our everyday life bills that prove that things do have to go on, and talking about contacting Evans Funeral Home in Bowie regarding making preparations.

I will post again with an update later this evening....Love, Hugs and God Bless to all.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Friday, June 27, 2008 - Update

Dad is at home. He arrived about 3:00 p.m. and we have him all set up in a hospital bed in their bedroom. He said he was very happy to be at home and he actually looks, if I may say, quite relieved. He is aware of why he is at home and about what is happening. When I was out of the room, mom said that they talked and he asked what the dr.'s were saying about how long and she said that they can't pinpoint it, it might be a week or more or less. She said that he did grimace a bit at that and said he hoped for less - not that he didn't want to be with us, but that he doesn't want it to be like this.

Lauren, an intake nurse from Hospice of the Chesapeake came by and talked through paperwork and what we can expect from their organization and answered questions we had at the time. It was really good to talk with her and go over things. It made me "calm" (don't know if that's exactly the right word or not, but it will have to do for now). They sound like they know what they are doing, will be here for dad and for us as we go down this road and it is a comfort. Lauren spoke with dad and went over things with him as well to reaffirm that this was what he wanted and he said yes.

Dad has been speaking with us, drinking some water and sleeping on and off. It does take him a little bit to answer questions sometimes as he is a bit slower in processing either the question or formatting his response, but he is aware. His breathing is a bit labored and he does have pain. Lauren has said that this will increase, as well as his sleeping more, become more disoriented, etc. When his nurse is here, she will give us updates and let us know what she feels is the stage where he might be and what we might expect to happen next, so that we are not caught unawares. We have medicine to give him for the pain and we are working to keep him comfortable.

That's about it for now. We are extremely glad to have him home with us as well. Mom is holding up as well as can be expected and I'm making sure she is taking care of herself. The "Schnoodle Sisters" are enjoying their visit and spreading their love with all of us to help keep us sane - go Lucie and Kira. Cuddles and loves are always good things!

I'll post again tomorrow and let all of you know how things are going. Thank you so much for the kind words and we appreciate all the love, thoughts and prayers.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Update - After the Hospice Meeting

So, Janine and Mom met with Hospice and it has been decided that dad will come home tomorrow 6/27/08. We will be there to care for him and spend time with him until it is his time to leave us. They saw him today and while they were there he was very much aware of them and said once again he wanted to go home. He also said he didn't want to be this way or live this way and wished he was dead - as harsh as that may sound - it is the way he feels. We have a hospital bed and oxygen set up for him in their bedroom at home and he will receiving liquid morphine for any pain.

Please continue to pray for him and for all those who love him and will miss him. One of our friends wrote the following and I wanted to share it with you. I hope he doesn't mind my sharing, but I, myself, found it profound...

"very sorry to hear about this, though i've been pretty up to date through mom. I was telling her when she was telling me about your father that "they" just don't make it easy 'getting out of this place'...
it's not like we can walk through a door when our time's up, perhaps giddy and excited, 'ok guys - it's my turn. can't wait. i'll see you all in a little while...' no, it has to painful and heartbreaking and maybe fearful... perhaps this is when/where faith comes in... that invisible bridge to 'God only knows'... not sure where i'm going with this but i feel for you all very much. Your dad's always been a wonderful friend and neighbor to us..."

Overview and e-mail sent out

Dear family and friends:

I know that some of you have heard and my apologies to those who haven't, but Dad has been really sick and not expected to pull through. For an overview, Dad had not been feeling well and when he went in for initial tests it was revealed that he had cancer which was definitely in the liver (not sure where it started and has been identified as "ampulatory cancer"). He was scheduled to speak with an oncologist for discussion of treatment and further tests, but before he was able to meet with him, he developed an infection and was placed on an iv antibiotic - because it was an iv, they had him go to Heritage Harbor (HH) nursing and rehab center. From this initial infection he recovered and he was looking pretty good, all things considered and we were looking towards getting him discharged, home and to the oncologist. Then it all began to unravel, HH thought he might have pneumonia, so sent him over to Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) for treatment. When he arrived there, they found out that he had an infection again and began treating that - no pneumonia, but fluid in the lungs. He then contracted sepsis - "sepsis is a systematic responses to infection, which causes organ failure and death in severe cases. But early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can greatly improve survival rates," http://sepsis.com/index.jsp. Followed by contracting ecoli, Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), there is yeast in his bloodstream and now a third or maybe even a fourth infection has set in. His body is not reacting to the antibiotics he has been on to fight these infections. His platelets continue to drop, his immune system is failing, a feeding tube was put in through his nose and he is discombobulated/disoriented. He has had to be put in restraints twice, once because he tried to get out of the bed and the second time when he pulled out his feeding tube. We have been basically told by the Dr.'s that the end is near. Janine and Mom are meeting with Hospice today to explore our options. The dr.s are saying anywhere from 2-3 days to 1-1.5 week for Dad to live.
I have a blog and have been updating it with Dad's condition and the news that we received. I have also written more stuff in my entry's but it is not necessary to read those, so don't be scared if you see a long post. If you just read, usually, the first paragraph you will have an update on Dad. You may leave any comments, prayers, thoughts in the comment section of any of the posts you read - I will receive an e-mail about these and will pick them up and let Mom and Janine know. I hope that having it in this format is not too difficult, but, please let me know if you find it so. When my Aunt Cathy was hospitalized and in rehab her family set up a site through this website called Caring Bridge - basically about the same thing as my blog but laid out in a better format and I can transfer things over to that and resend out a link. I am just being lazy since I have already been doing the updates in my blog and since we really don't know how much longer it will be.

Update and Decisions, Decisions

We received a call from one of the dr.s at the hospital yesterday and the report wasn't very good at all. So, Janine and Mom will be meeting with Hospice at the Hospital this afternoon to discuss getting Dad home - so basically he can die there. He will be taken off the feeding tube and antibiotics, but given stuff for any pain he may have. They say that this will result in his more than likely dying within two to three days. The cancer just keeps growing and spreading. He just keeps getting infection after infection. The ones he has are not responding to antibiotics. He has yeast in his blood. His immune system is failing and his platelets have continued to drop. He has been restrained because on one occasion he has tried to get out of bed and on another he pulled out his feeding tube (through his nose). His mental status is not improving and pretty much all that he keeps saying is that he wants to go home. We are, of course, greatly saddened and upset to see him like this and we know that he would not want to continue on like this. We could have him transferred to a hospice center where they would keep up some care, but that would only prolong his living by maybe 5 days and in a condition he would not want it sustained. I will let you know how things progress, etc.

It will be interesting to see how we all handle things and continue to handle things - continuing on and doing things that need to be done. Damn, it brings back the memories of having to hold it together and get things done all those years ago. My sister Cheryl was killed in a car accident in 1986 at the lovely age of 22, just 30 days shy of graduating from UVA. That was a shock. The one thing we do have with both is that we had/have been able to tell them that we loved them - we spoke to Cheryl on the phone the night before she went out and were talking about how great it was going to be to see her that weekend and that we loved her. And with Dad we have told him we loved him continuously. That is one thing we learned from that horrible experience all those years ago, never, ever, take it for granted that the other person just knows you love them, tell them all the time - there is no shame in it and when you really mean it, it doesn't become trite or over said.

Anyways, when it all came down to it, we all handled our feelings in our own way - Dad and I very stoically and Mom and Janine very passionately - years later it came out that some of us thought or wondered about others because we didn't show as much emotion as they were. It was talked out and things were learned and shared about how we each dealt with it on our own - basically suffering all around even if others didn't know and that for those that were more willing to share their emotions, they should have shared and we would have been there for them, and maybe if one of the "sides" had taken the step we would all have meet in the middle. Now, it's not like we weren't there for each other because we were, just sometimes things are perceived differently by each person.

So after all that rambling, I have been trying very hard to make sure that everyone is aware that I am here emotionally as well as in my planning, seemingly unemotional way - as discovered and discussed - no one knows what goes on with another behind closed doors, in the shower, in the car driving in the dark - sounds like it could be something bad, but what it really is - places to cry where no one can see how much pain you are really in because that is how you have to deal with it otherwise you are scared you might lose control and never regain your sanity. Janine on her part is holding things together and sharing, but you can also tell she is understanding of where I am coming from and accepting, as much as I am accepting and, sometimes probably being a little pushy to her about it being ok to be emotional, this time I'm really here for you and am not afraid to show it. Janine had it hard when Cheryl died, she was the first to hear about it - she answered the door when the state trooper came a'knockin so early in the morning that dreadful, dreadful morning and had to go to the bank with the ST to let mom know - not exactly something one wants to know first or share ever, let alone when you are only 18 years old. I know for the longest time, and maybe even to this day that she wouldn't open the front door for anyone if she was in the house alone.

I am a little more emotional this time, or so I think, but am still keeping things tightly close - it's just my way. I've been still going out and hanging with friends and will probably pick right back up with it after this is all over. It doesn't mean I don't feel, it doesn't mean I'm totally cold-hearted. Jason has been an absolutely lovely husband during all this, doing what I need and overall just being there for me. I need the distraction, I need for my friends to be there for me in this way, to not bring up my dad, and asking me how I'm doing alot (but occassionally is ok :-)), to not make me sad. I know that they loved him, I know that they love me and I know that they are there for me. I at this time cannot be there fully for them. To help them deal with what they are going through, to help them stop feeling the pain they are feeling when they see me sad, know I am sad and it hurts them, for when they realize it will eventually happen to them and they think of how they will handle it themselves. I can be there sort of, but I need to be a little selfish right now and take care of me, my heart and my family - it will break me apart at this point and for me to go on, I need them to be there and support me, this way, the way they have been and continue to do so. And, I love them for it (and I hope they know this). I will be there for them in their time of need in the capacity and way they need for me to be there.

Ok, I think I've rambled on enough....
Love you daddy!

Monday, June 23, 2008

This Weekend and Monday morning

Saw Dad on Saturday and Sunday. He was pretty out of it both days, though his eyes looked a little clearer on Sunday - probably because they took him off the dilaudid which is an opiate pain killer, but I don't know. He really isn't eating and even though I tried coaxing and then, yes, you know me, tried a little burst of temper, he still only eat about 5 bites of meat and 5 spoonfuls of jello, so basically not much, not enough to keep your strength up. He did focus in on mom and I and I told him to fight the infections and that we, actually all of us, loved him and that he needed to gather his strength in order to go home with us.

That is one of the saddest things. He really, really wants to go home with us, but it is not possible. He tried to get out of the bed Sunday morning before we showed up, so they had to secure him to the bed in order to stop him from trying again and possibly falling, hurting himself further, etc. It was very tough to see, especially because he would look at the restraints and be so confused about why they were there and what was happening.

The dr. called mom this morning, to get her permission to put in a feeding tube (through his nose as he is not strong enough to endure them putting in a g-tube. He had to ask mom because dad is so confused and out of it that the dr. couldn't get a viable answer from him. Mom ok'd it. The dr. also said it looks as though dad's kidneys might be beginning to fail and he's called in a urologist to look them over. Mom is headed to the hospital this afternoon, so I should have more to report at that time. It's so hard for mom to see him like this. They've been each other's life for 46 years. But she wants to be there for him, for herself and on the chance that he might see her and know that she is there for him and that she loves him very much. I told her to be as positive as she could and to tell him over and over that she loves him and we love him - because even if he might not be all there, I believe somewhere down deep he will hear and he will know.

I am trying to keep positive while at the same time preparing myself for what may be happening and coming. I have a big feeling that it's not going to be a pretty sight for me when and if it does happen and I hate being vulnerable :-)

Friday, June 20, 2008

Afternoon Update

Mom and Janine visited Dad and he looked better though his vitals remained about the same. They met with the Oncologist and he reported that dad had a rare type of cancer called ampulatory (sp? - I know it is not ambulatory) which may or may not have started in the pancreas or near the bile duct in the liver and spread to the liver and small bowel. But until they clear up the sepsis, they would not be able to do anything for the cancer. As it is dad is still pretty weak, his white blood cells very low, etc. Once they clear the sepsis, they will work on replacing the stent they have in the bile duct as well as removing fluids from his lungs when he is stronger. They do not want to attempt anything in his current condition - especially as dad is a bleeder. Mom and Janine say that dad did eat some lunch as well and really enjoyed his strawberry shortcake.

His nurse called to let me know that while he is still on the critical care unit floor they have downgraded him to a level 2. We are taking this as a positive. Let's hope things continue and he improves greatly.

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

6/27/08 Morning Check-in with Nurse

Spoke with the nurse. He is doing about the same - no worse, no real signs of doing better - but he did eat some eggs and ham this morning and drank half a carton of milk. While this might not seem like much to some, it is great for him as the past few days he hasn't really eaten or drank anything. Could this be a sign of improvement? I don't know. It could just be that he's on a really good pain med, so it's a little more comfortable to eat at least a little something.

The dr. hadn't visited yet, but his vitals were good. There was still the case of moments of delusion or there's another name for it - not disorganization, but, you know when he's not all there - disorientation, that's it... probably from the meds, but could be from the cancer, the sepsis or fluid in the lungs

Mom and Janine will go visit him at 10 when visiting hours start and keep me posted. How can I work, I just have to, it keeps me sane. We've also been near here, but not nearly as close, before - there was no cancer before which trumps all things that went before.. it is there letting us know that it will eventually win, but we want to put up a good fight and for now things seem to be going ok. We've seen Dad battle the sepsis and fluid before, the disorientation and come out and be himself, we grasp at this thought and hope and keep it strong in our hearts. So I will go on with normal as long as I can.

Anyways, as I hear more, I'll update. I didn't know if I'd write again, but this has helped - can't say if I'll keep it up but we will see. Please keep all prayers and good thoughts coming our way.

Love, Hugs, and Peace to All

Remembering...

Waking up; standing in the shower crying but trying my hardest not crying; remembering but not remembering because of the pain and sadness it brings because of the knowing of the possibility of not having him around any longer; trying to keep everything together and not going down the downward spiral; trying for positive...

remembering how as a little girl he was my hero - I hated that he had to go away for months at a time for his job, for his country.... away from me, away from my sisters

remembering how as a teen that he was in a way just there, being dad, loving us, but not needing more from us, but just giving and being there

remembering how in my twenties and early thirties how he was still there for me. always there for me, loving me no matter what stupidity I did, but also letting me know when he was disappointed or disapproved of me or what I'd done, but always loving... my loving him back, but knowing, I knew more about what I wanted, what I wanted to do and what I thought love should be for me and another

remembering how finally starting to grow up, he was, of course, still there as dad is supposed to be, there for me, to help me put my life on the right track once again, there for me to really see what love is and what love means... helping me to see how much he loved my mom and his family, showing me the way things really should be between two people and family

remembering his walking me down the aisle, proud of me and my decision and my life.. remembering his wanting to spend time with us as a couple, and looking forward to seeing me grow more and together in love...

remembering seeing him sick and lying there in pain, breaking through with words of love and still fighting...

hoping and praying that he will fight this and he will survive. Feeling selfish because I want this for him, but I so want this more for me and my family, my mom, my sister, my nephew, my niece, because we are not ready or willing for him to go. we want him here with us.

Remembering that this is the vicious cycle of life and death and that it just sucks

Monday, June 9, 2008

A Little Bit About Me - Going to Look for a Better One Next Time

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:50 am
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Ironman
4. What is your favorite TV show? House
5. What did you have for breakfast? Wholewheat bagel and cream cheese
6. What is your middle name? Marie
7. What food do you dislike? fish
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Don't have one
9. What kind of car do you drive? 4 door Saturn
10. Favorite sandwich? BLT with Swiss
11. What characteristic do you despise? infidelity
12. Favorite item of clothing? olive green capri pants
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go ? Ireland or Germany
14. Favorite brand of clothing? don't really have one
15. Where would you retire to? On a lake where the weather doesn't get to cold in the winter or to hot in the summer :-)
16. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Maybe this upcoming one?
17. Favorite sport to watch? Redskin's or Steeler's Football
18. What is the furthest place this e mail will go? Blogging it instead of e-mail it
19. Person you expect to send it back first? Doesn't apply.
20. When is your birthday? 9/4 - Vegas, Baby!
21. If you are married, where did you meet your spouse? At work
22. Are you a morning person or a Night person? a little of both, but probably a little more night
23. What is your shoe size? 7 1/2
24. Pets? Lucie and Kira the "Schnoodle Sisters"
25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? My niece, Isabella is now at home; her brother Peter is still in NICU, but doing really good, should be home soon as well.
26. What did you want to be when you were little? Teacher or Secretary
27. How are you today? A bit moody, cranky - I'm blaming this frickin ridiculous heat and humidity of DC - it's definitely nasty outside
28. What is your favorite candy? Brach's Original Jelly Beans - I've had to resort to ordering them on-line by the case, so I can get them besides at Easter
29. What is your favorite flower? Gerbera Daisy's
30. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? Pretty much Any Friday after 5:00 pm.
32. What is your full name? Andrea Marie Veronica
31. What are you listening to right now? One of my attorney's talking on the phone
34 What was the last thing you ate? Red, Hot & Blue for lunch
35. Do you ever wish on stars? Yes.
36. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Burnt Sienna
38. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Jason
39. Last drink you had: Diet Coke
40. Who is your all time hero: My parents

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Long time between posts, catch up

Gosh, I haven't published/posted in like forever. I'm still alive, just have been really busy at work and then haven't felt like it in the evening - usually to busy unwinding, getting together with friends, having drinks, etc. What has been happening???

Memorial Day weekend - hung out, went to a couple bbq's, was supposed to go to my friend Renee's wedding, but then ended up not being able to go since my father was having chest pains and needed to go to emergency room. He is doing fine now, it wasn't a heart attack, but something to do with his liver, which we had recently found out has what looks like cancer spots. He is now at a rehab center, since he contracted an infection while in the hospital and is getting antibiotics via iv. Hopefully, he will be coming home in the next few days and we then will concentrate on what to do about/how to treat the liver cancer - oh, joy, oh, fun. Ok, not going to think negatively about this, not going to dwell....

On Wednesday, May 28, we had book club night. We met at Maria's and discussed our latest book read - Change of Heart by Jodi Picout. I enjoyed it, even though I basically figured out what the twist would be (she always seems to have one) around page 70 of the book. I enjoyed reading the different religious views and practices she brought up in her book. One of the other book club members was not a big fan of this aspect of the book. She says she likes her religion and doesn't want to hear anything negative about it or doesn't want to be made to look to closely or try to be persuaded by others when it comes to religion and religious thoughts. As for the other members of the "club" the majority liked the book - 1 did not and 1 thought it to be ok. We had an ok discussion by the by on the book. That is one thing thought that sometimes I do find interesting about the "club" we discuss the book, but not for very long or in much detail. Most of the talking, which I enjoy is our talking about our families presently and what happened in the past. Sometimes, it is sparked by what we've read an how we relate to it in our own personal lives but most times, we are sidetracked by something as simple of a comment as "you look exactly like so-in-so as you made that face - that must be where they get it from" and then we start talking about who looks like who, etc.

Now don't get me wrong, I truly and totally enjoy these evening. Just sometimes wonder if we should be more disciplined with discussing the book. Maybe most book clubs are like ours? I don't know this is the first and only one I'm in. Does anyone else belong to a club? And, what is yours like? We are taking a break from the book club for the summer.

This past weekend, was our free first anniversary night stay at the Sheraton in Annapolis where we held our wedding reception. It was a great time. We arrived a little later than we had originally planned, we got a later start in the morning - had played poker with friends on the great patio at our house the night before - utilizing the tiki bar and fire pit as well- woo hoo. I took my mom to visit my dad and when we got back Jason and I packed and headed to Annapolis. We didn't have time to go to the pool as previously planned before dinner, so we hung out and had a couple cocktails together and prepared for the evening. We had a wonder dinner at Lewnes Steakhouse in Eastport. Melt in your mouth steak, a great bottle of wine and us :-) Had few more cocktails at Carrol's Creek and then back to the hotel. We did finally get to go to the pool on Sunday after a complimentary made-to-order omelet breakfast. Back home to chill and spend time with the girls.

Then back to work, work and more work. I think I'm caught up now. Now, I need to visit all the blogs I love to read and catch up on what everyone else has been up to. I think my next post - later today or tomorrow might be one of those meme's. Looks easy and it's informative.

P.S. Woo Hoo - I found peas at the corner stand - didn't have to drive over to the Eastern shore and search - I'm sure Jason is ecstatic about that - I am a happy camper. Now I just have to keep getting them before they go out of season. For those who don't know I love to eat peas straight out of the shell and I live for the pea season :-)

P.S.S. Oh yeah, with all these awful thunderstorms, especially last night, we came home to find a birds nest had fallen out in our back yard with baby birds in it. Two had already died when we found it and the third was a little under the weather, but we brought it inside until we figured out what to do - we looked on the internet and found that we should try and put the nest back together and place it where it came from and put the bird back in. So, we attempted this. Alas, when Jason checked on the bird this morning it had passed away in the middle of the night. I have to say that Jason was really the force behind doing all of this and was really concerned about the bird, so I give him kudos for trying and I feel bad for him that it didn't work out better. Hugs and Love to you babe!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

The Cute and The Pretty

I'm liking blogging with pictures - means I don't have to type as much or doesn't it? I wanted to post these adorable pictures of Lucie and Kira, so here they are....

Lucie, somehow ended up with the ball and has it on her chair, she's actually looking at Kira sorta teasing her like - "ahha, I have the ball"
Here Lucie is playing coy and pretending that she's just lazing about with the ball and not really keeping a close eye on Kira - who will steal that ball in a heart beat .

Kira, is looking at me expectantly, like - "whatcha going to do mom, Lucie's teasing me and you know that I'll at least play with the ball and you if you go get it from her."

Kira has tried resorting to giving me the eye - "Look into my eye, look deeply into my eye." "You will get that ball from Lucie and give it to me." I, of course, chose to ignore both of them, take my pictures of them and then tell them they had to play fairly and that daddy would referee while I read my book.


Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Feeling Boney

OK, so I'm sitting here at the office working away. I've been sitting most of the day with little trips here and there to the copier, but nothing big. Now, you've seen pictures of me, I'm not a small girl, and will admit that I have more "back" than I do "butt" as it is the butt is sorta conclave, but this is ridiculous as of right now as I'm sitting here I would think that my behind is the boniest thing on my body and belongs to one of those girls who is waifishly thin. I can't get comfortable, it feels as though it is digging into the chair or the chair cushion is just not providing any relief at all.

I am going to get up and walk around in a minute - have to get off the phone from trying to order records - which I have no idea about how to do and where in their little report to find the box numbers so that I can do this, I'm sure I've been told a thousand times, my mind just doesn't retain the information --- woo hoo, it actually did, I'm so proud of myself, I bet my records manager husband would be proud of me as well. I knew the proper information and we are getting the boxes we need - I understand there will be no lashings from the records department - LOL.

Ok, I'm going to stretch my legs a/k/a work out the kinks in my A** :-)

Aren't y'all glad I shared :-)

Monday, May 19, 2008

The Melting Pot and Wrap-Up

The last part of Saturday, well, not really the last, but that would be TMI, or, was this anyway? - was that Jason had made reservations for us for dinner at the Melting Pot. I have only been once before, grew up loving fondue anyways and have been begging Jason to go there with me, so I was really surprised and totally happy. We had a great time and I actually think that Jason now likes the place and will definitely go there again - woo hoo - though might save it for another special occasion because of cost :-)

Here are some pictures below from dinner. Also, a complete set of the pictures for the day/evening can be found by following this link - http://picasaweb.google.com/drearosson/JNDrea1stAnniversary

On Sunday we had a nice breakfast with made-to-order omelets, fresh fruit and bacon. We then went to the movies to see Ironman with Robert Downey Jr. It was a good flick. If you like those types of movies, I would definitely recommend that you go see it. Oh, yes, and stay to the very end after all of the credits if you want to see the added little bonus.

I was completely and totally spoiled and loved every minute of it. I will be planning my own little anniversary weekend for the two of us on May 31 when we are finally able to get the free room at the Sheraton Annapolis - since we had our wedding at their hotel, we get to come back and enjoy a night on them for our first anniversary, which, of course, once again is in the midst of all the fun things happening around Annapolis - Naval Academy commencement week, the Preakness, nice weather tourists, the next weekend being Memorial Day, etc. hence the reason we have to wait a couple weekends to celebrate on a weekend. Anyways, I have a nice dinner planned for the two of us as well as getting together with friends to hang out with downtown in Annapolis.

Cheers!






Wine in the Woods 2008

After checking into the hotel and finding the loverly flowers, we headed off to Wine in the Woods 2008. The weather was gorgeous. The lines bearable though a little on the long side since we got there in the middle of the event around 3:00, but we made it through and started tasting with gusto :-) I'm actually looking at the list now and am just realizing we didn't make it to all that many - oh, only so much wine may be drunk before it's time or before I get a bit tipsy - lol.

We started with the wines of Loew Vineyards they had a few that we liked. From there it was to Bordeleau - “edge of the water”; Basignani Winery; Little Ashby winery; Terrapin Station Winery (The Diamondback Terrapin, a native of the Chesapeake Bay, is the Maryland state reptile. Once plentiful in number, the Terrapin is facing tremendous pressures on its environment that threaten its very existence. We think fighting for the Terrapin is a good way to give back for the blessings bestowed upon us by the beauty of the Bay. A portion of our sales will be donated to the Terrapin Institute to help save the Terrapin.); Fridays Creek Winery.

We also stopped at St. Michaels Winery where we tried most of their wines as well as their Gollywobbler Red (This fun, fruit-forward wine is made with a combination of Concord grapes and a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon. A great picnic red with hints of lime and lemon. Drink it well chilled over crushed ice, or as a spritzer or martini.) This wasn't us. But we also tried their Chocolate Zinfandel (The sin ... is in the zin. Sumptuous chocolate mixed with oak-barreled Zinfandel equals “Mmmm.” Drink Chocolate Zin as an after-dinner delight, with chocolate mousse and raspberry sauce, or as dessert.) Had to pay $1 per tasting, but it was pretty worth it if you like chocolate!

Fridays Creek is where we stopped, bought a nice Syrah to share and went and sat and enjoyed the delightful music of King Teddy (swing, jump blues and rock-a-billy).

Our pictures: