Prattlings from Skinned Knees

Review of 2008

2009-01-15T11:54:00.007-05:00

I saw this and took if from Amiee's blog who stole it from Nicole, who stole it from Aly.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Held a loved one's hand as they died (human)

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? For the most part I did, could have done better, but made an effort. Yes, I have made some for 2009

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Tina, my sister-in-law, - Isabella and Peter; Karina - Harper; Karen - Aiden; Kathleen - Thomas

4. Did anyone close to you die? Uncle Aldo (Jan.); Aunt Cathy (Jan); Dad (July)

5. What countries did you visit? Didn't leave the good old USA

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? It would have been no stress or really big worries, but since that's already been completely blown out of the water and we're only 15 days in to the New Year, I'm thinking of something else.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? April - we sold our condo finally; May 10 - Our housewarming party and official opening of the tiki bar; May 19 - 1st Anniversary (along with May 17 and May 31 the two weekends we celebrated it); July 2 - Dad passed; Sept 5-7 - Las Vegas

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Doing things with family and friends and attending their celebrations

9. What was your biggest failure? Not controlling my temper enough

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nope

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Jason's - he was there for me every step of the way; went and still goes above and beyond with helping with my family

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? A friend (let's call her Blue) who had a friend (let's call her yellow) whose mother was dying, so Blue wrote a letter to the mother, which was sweet and about how Blue loved her and would miss her, etc. - which is a nice thing - but then had the nerve to give it to Yellow and ask her to read it to her mother (yellow's mother) saying that it was too hard for her (Blue) to deal with all that was going on - umm, I think that Yellow whose mother was dying was finding it just a bit harder than the Blue who wrote the letter - duh, some people don't think.

14. Where did most of your money go? Mortgage, home improvements, etc.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? The Las Vegas trip and splitting the pot in one poker tournament and coming in second in another poker tournament

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? My husband says it's John Rich's "Raising McCain"

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) Happier or Sadder? Happier. (b) Thinner or Fatter? fatter (c) Richer or Poorer? Poorer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? relaxing and hanging with loved ones

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? stressing and feeling angry

20. How did you spend Christmas in 2008? Visiting and partying with friends and family

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? always and forever with Jason

22. How many one-night stands? NONE

23. What was your favorite TV program? Samantha Who?

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Hate is such a strong word - I would say I have a strong disliking of a person that I didn't have last year at this time

25. What was the best book you read? I don't think I can pick just one - it's too hard, there are so many good series that I read/started to read in 2008 that I can't pick - I read about 96 books in 2008 - The Rachel Morgan series, The House of Night Series, Twilight series, etc.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

27. What did you want and get? New camera

28. What did you want and not get? Tennis bracelet

29. What was your favorite film of this year? Maybe Ironman?

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? We went out with friends and had drinks and prepared for our trip to Las Vegas which was a continuation of my birthday - which I celebrate for a whole month now :-) oh, and 43

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? My loved ones not dying and them and others staying in good health

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? It was just there - nothing new - boring

33. What kept you sane? Jason, Family, Friends

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

35. What political issue stirred you the most? The presidential race itself and the banning of gay marriages

36. Who did you miss? My dad and my sister

37. Who was the best new person you met? Carrie and Kim - to great women

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. Things don't always go as planned, you need to be strong to get through things, but sometimes you can let go and there really is someone who is there to help you, pick you up and love you no matter what. I also learned and am still trying to learn that if a person doesn't like you for no reason you gotta just say F**k it and go on - go on being the person you are, especially when you are nice and there is no reason for this person not to like you except she's a psycho, bi-polar girl - maybe she's jealous ? :-)

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow - I'm still looking for it

40. What are your resolutions for 2009? Continue to try and be a better person, learn to curb the "tone" of my voice, be there for my friends and family, try and make a difference in other people's lives, live a friendly and caring life, most of all be me and love me

New Year's Eve 2009

2009-01-12T10:53:00.005-05:00

Oh, yes, by the way, if you want to see pictures from our New Year's Eve trip to Canaan Valley, WV please use the link on the right side to my Picasa web album - I posted the pictures there. Let me know if the link doesn't work or you can't find it and I'll try and add it to this post. Below are two video's of the snow storm Kim (who recently moved here from Dallas though grew up in Schenectady, NY was driving), Jason and I went through in order to get to the grocery store and back. At the end of one of the video's Jason is saying something about a good thing and then it ends - what he was commenting on was that he thought is was that one of the good thing about Kim not being able to see that far in front of her was the fact that she couldn't see the 30 ft drop from the side of the road - Now, that made Kim feel all that much better about driving - NOT! Men! I hope that everyone has a wonderful and exciting 2009!

Started the big WW on Saturday

2009-01-12T10:17:00.002-05:00

So, Jason and I started with Weight Watchers on Saturday. We had said we would after the beginning of the year and we actually followed through! Woo Hoo! It is so cute, Jason is really enthusiastic about it so it is making me even more into it. I actually probably would have continued to drag my feet about getting around to go to a meeting and had even said that I might not really start until Monday after attending the first meeting on Saturday. But, Jason was adamant about his starting the program (I am trying my hardest not to call it a diet - since that bring such negative thoughts to my head). He was like, you go ahead and do what you want, but I am most definitely starting on Saturday. At first he was a little leery about it when we walked since at that time he was the only guy, but by the time the meeting started about 5 other guys had also walked in, so he was more comfortable. Once we got to the point where we were told about how many points we would have he was relaxed and happy about how many points he had - me, maybe, not so much - I have about 10 less than he does - grrr.

We went to the store to stock up on all that we would need to make it. Jason made sure he had the WW Food Companion book with us and the points builder ruler and was very into making sure we were getting good food. He was also making sure at the same time that the majority was food which was good for us as well. We didn't go out on Saturday night, after the meeting, visiting with my mom for about 4 hours and grocery shopping, we still had to get in most of our points for the day, so we had to stay home and eat, relax and read our materials.

On Sunday, we started the day off right with a wonderful breakfast and then I went to visit with mom - whose doing ok - still a bit negative, but we keep encouraging her to build up her strength and remind her that she was just ill and not dieing, which she has in her head for some reason. I convinced Jason to come up and pick me up at the rehab center and we then went over to a friends house to watch the Steelers/Chargers game. What a wonderful game that was! Go Steelers!!! We watched what we ate and stuck with water for drinking. Now we both know that we can use points for alcohol if we want, but we are trying to stay away from that for at least the first week so we can get the whole change of eating concept in before making it harder and more tempting (munchies after drinking).

So as we move ahead, we are optimistic and are generally preparing ourselves for the challenge ahead of us - um, I mean wonderful life changing experience ahead of us.

Just don't get it

2009-01-12T10:07:00.003-05:00

I want to comment on something that has been bothering me for quite a while.... What is up with the people who disembark from the MARC train with me every morning at Union Station? Now, I'm not talking about everyone, just certain folks. The ones I just don't get are the regular riders who know the platforms and, ok, I'm sorry, even those who aren't regular riders and don't know the platforms. Most of the platforms at US have these big round cement columns down them - all the way down the platform. If you get off the train and look down the platform even just a little bit you see them and you can see that they go on down the platform. The people who I don't get are the people who see these, or even if they walk up on one and then have to go around it, proceed to go right back into the path of the next column which they then have to merge back into the other commuters who are walking to the side of them and then go back around the column and then back right into the same path for the next round. I can see if you are trying to pass a slower person in the walk through area so you step over into this short "passing" area, but what I don't get is the people that just walk that way - in, out, in, out. Obviously from my writing you can tell I just don't get it!! :-)

Let Freedom Ring...

2008-11-13T16:45:00.007-05:00

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 :-)

2008-11-12T18:05:00.004-05:00

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

Halloween 2008

2008-11-07T12:12:00.007-05:00

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....

Baby's got a Brand New Pair of Shoes

2008-10-24T09:44:00.004-04:00

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!!

Women Please Get Out and Vote

2008-10-09T11:57:00.003-04:00

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!

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

2008-10-06T13:36:00.008-04:00

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.

Grumblings and Ramblings

2008-10-02T11:40:00.006-04:00

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.

The Secret Life of Bees

2008-09-26T11:12:00.002-04:00

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.

Just Another Weekend

2008-09-22T16:18:00.003-04:00

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 and Other Thoughts

2008-09-19T09:24:00.002-04:00

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.

Public scenes - Passion/Temper

2008-07-31T17:35:00.002-04:00

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.

Guest Blogger :Nicholas

2008-07-29T10:49:00.003-04:00

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.

Going Green at the Office

2008-07-24T16:02:00.002-04:00

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?

2008-07-24T13:53:00.008-04:00

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. :-)

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

2008-07-14T15:11:00.003-04:00

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"

Guest Blogger :Nicholas

2008-07-07T17:24:00.003-04:00

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.

Guest Blogger - Moira

2008-07-03T10:12:00.007-04:00

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!!!!!!!!!!

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

2008-07-02T17:32:00.005-04:00

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

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

2008-07-01T22:44:00.005-04:00

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

2008-07-01T14:53:00.002-04:00

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 Morning Update 6/30/08

2008-06-30T10:39:00.003-04:00

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 afternoon update

2008-06-29T18:08:00.004-04:00

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

2008-06-29T11:05:00.002-04:00

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

2008-06-28T12:23:00.003-04:00

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 - Update

2008-06-27T21:25:00.003-04:00

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.

Update - After the Hospice Meeting

2008-06-26T17:27:00.003-04:00

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

2008-06-26T12:29:00.003-04:00

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

2008-06-26T10:09:00.005-04:00

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!

This Weekend and Monday morning

2008-06-23T11:38:00.004-04:00

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 :-)

Afternoon Update

2008-06-20T18:24:00.002-04:00

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

2008-06-20T09:50:00.002-04:00

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...

2008-06-20T08:03:00.004-04:00

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

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

2008-06-09T10:55:00.002-04:00

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

Long time between posts, catch up

2008-06-05T11:24:00.004-04:00

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!

The Cute and The Pretty

2008-05-21T15:09:00.004-04:00

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.

Feeling Boney

2008-05-20T16:20:00.005-04:00

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 :-)

The Melting Pot and Wrap-Up

2008-05-19T13:10:00.003-04:00

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

2008-05-19T12:26:00.004-04:00

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:

First Anniversary Flowers at Hotel

2008-05-19T11:11:00.002-04:00

Our First Anniversary weekend started off wonderful. On Friday night we went over to Matt's and played poker with the gang where Jason and I came in first and second in two of the the three games and walked away with a little more than we started - though once you added in the cab fare from Rosslyn to Union Station we may have just broken even - but it was great fun finally playing poker again.

Saturday started with these beautiful flowers waiting for me in our club level room when we checked into the Sheraton in Columbia on Saturday. I just love them. They have my favorite flowers in them - Gerbera Daisys, Daisys and roses which are not red :-) I know, I know red are the color for love and passion, but they are just so, so overdone - I'll say that Valentine's Day has completely thrown me off that color probably for the rest of my life - not to mention the ridiculous amount of money people want for them. Jason knows me perfectly. The room, which I didn't take any pictures of for some reason was wonderful, the view of the Columbia Lake (?) was very nice though at this point we didn't stay there to long. We had to run off to the Wine in the Woods to sample many wines and sit and enjoy the various musical talents. Woo Hoo.

Housewarming Party 5-10-08

2008-05-14T16:29:00.002-04:00

Ok, so it's about four days after the event and I'm finally going to write something about it. I think it was an overwhelming success. Everyone I spoke with has said they had a good time, though they could be lying - whose really going to tell the host or hostess to their face - your party sucked :-)

It rained Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning so, when the sun broke through around noon, we crossed our fingers and hoped for the best. We had a good turn out. I may have missed someone but I counted about 70 people showed up for the party at some point during it. I was running around playing, I hope, the perfect hostess, making sure that everyone had what they needed seats, drinks, food, conversation.

I will say there are not a whole bunch of pictures, but if you follow the picture link, you should be able to see a few that were taken on my camera and by a friend. I'm hoping to get more from others - we will see. There are pictures of the tiki bar being finished - finally got the bamboo and thatch.

http://picasaweb.google.com/drearosson/51008HousewarmingDay

A great big thanks goes out to Bruce, who was a godsend during the end of the week, on Saturday and during the party. He took off on Friday to help us get things together, worked diligently on the tiki bar, mowed the grass - thank you, thank you, Jason and my allergies would have had us under the weather the rest of the day if we had done it, getting people drinks and cooking up sausages and burgers. Thanks to Mike for coming over to work on the tiki bar and also manning the grill for us. Kerry for helping with food preparations. Carol for utensils. Darrick for chafing dishes. All those who brought sides and desserts, offered help, etc. Woo Hoo - it's great to have good, really good friends!!!

I must give love and hugs and thanks to and for my dear husband, Jason, who worked hard on the party and getting ready for it all the while having to put up with me - I am such a witch when I stress out! I really, really know this and I can't help it and I will probably never change and when I tried to propose divorce during my worst - he wouldn't even entertain the idea - LOL I know that on Saturday I was yelling, ooppss. speaking very strongly to him that he should be helping me set up stuff while at the same time he trying to work on the tiki bar with his friends who came to help.

Finished Patio Pictures

2008-05-05T14:14:00.004-04:00

I took a few pictures on Saturday of the finished patio and walkway - not the best but figured I'd post them so people can see the finished product. I'll take more the day of the housewarming when everything is set up as much as it's going to be. What gets done, gets done :-)

Front Walk Paver Project 5-1-08 - Basically Finished

2008-05-02T12:09:00.004-04:00

Here are pictures of the front walk basically done. I think that my parents shouldn't have much trouble getting the walkers down the path to the house now.

front walk from doorway:
Front walk from street:
Closer view of front walk: Front walk closer doorway:

Patio 5-1-08 Paver Progress - Basically Finished

2008-05-02T12:04:00.003-04:00

Here are pictures of the patio. Hope all of this comes together including getting everything in order and pretty by next Saturday for the housewarming party.

Front Walk Paver Pictures

2008-05-01T14:40:00.005-04:00

Here is the front walkway - this is a wedding, housewarming and first anniversary present from my parents. They just wanted a smoother walkway up to the house for their walkers so they can visit us more often - LOL. I'll have to take pictures of them trekking up the walk. If you look really close in the third picture down - Lucie is making a break for it out the front door. I like to think she missed mommy for the two seconds it took me to take these pictures, but I'm sure it was more the prospect of messing up the sand that the workers have meticulously put in place for the pavers to be laid. Sillie puppies.

Patio and Front Walk Pavers Pictures continued

2008-05-01T14:33:00.003-04:00

More of the back yard - they had the wrong border bricks - the charcoal ones stacked up laid out, but are correcting it today - there should be a chocolate border.

Patio and Walkway

2008-05-01T14:28:00.004-04:00

So, Long Fence began putting in our patio and front walkway pavers. Here are before and during pictures. I think it's coming along pretty good. Ignore the overgrown grass - that will be cut, I swear :-)

The twins

2008-04-29T15:03:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to my SIL and BIL! The twins have arrived - a little early at 32 weeks, but they are doing well and we are so happy to have them in the family. It is going to be a little hectic for a while as they are in the NICU, but they are doing good and growing stronger every day. Peter weighed in at 3 lbs 15 oz and was 16.5 inches long; Isabella weighed in at 3 lbs 14 oz and was 16.5 inches long. DSIL is in a little bit of pain after the c-section but is also doing well. DBIL has been there to help all in his family along to better health :-)

Now it's just waiting to go visit and begin spoiling them.

Tiki Bar Building Weekend

2008-04-29T14:25:00.004-04:00

This weekend was dedicated to getting the tiki bar built. Jason's new pride and joy.

First and foremost, I would like to thank and recognize all the hard work put in by Marty and Marty (father and son), for the foundation and roof of the tiki area; the volunteered hard labor put in by Mike, Bruce, Rick, Matt and, of course, Jason for the hauling of wood, cutting and building of the actual - wonderful - tiki bar. Joanne, Kerry and Kathy for the watchful eyes and helpful comments on bar construction (not to mention drinking some wine with me :-)) And, last but not least Lucie, Kira and Penny for keeping us company.

The guys rallied together and pretty much finished building it. Now we just have to apply the finishing touches - bamboo on front, thatching on the roof, tiling on top of bar etc.

Here is a link to view the process of getting the bar built - I have a few other ones I have to get from a friend which show the finished bar off a little better.

http://picasaweb.google.com/drearosson/BuildingTikiBar4262008

My Earth Day Present

2008-04-22T16:26:00.004-04:00

SMART Grocery Bags

In celebration of Earth Day 2008, [Firm Name] has generously provided each attorney, paralegal and employee with a 'sustainable' gift, the SMART grocery bag. Made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles, the SMART bag is particularly timely for our teams in Paris, San Francisco, and Shanghai, where local governments are limiting the distribution of plastic grocery bags.

Did you know...shoppers around the world use 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags per year. This translates to approximately one million bags every minute across the globe, or 150 bags a year for every person on earth.

Be SMART and reduce your impact! Use your [Firm Name] SMART bag whenever you visit the grocery store, pharmacy, local farmers' market or retail store.

I do plan on using the bag and I think it's a really good idea and I know that I'm being selfish -- but - this is what they gave us for our gift or acknowledgement for Staff Appreciation Week, which we have in our office. How is this Staff Appreciation when every person in the firm got one?? Ok, I'm done being a witch and selfish.

Happy Earth Day everyone.

P.S. I also bought some totes from the Greater Good Network which helped save 4580.0 sq. ft of rainforest land - and for Earth Day the site is planting a tree for each order made today at no extra cost to the purchaser.

Upcoming Weekend

2008-04-18T15:14:00.003-04:00

This weekend is apon us. We are actually going to go camping this weekend. I know, I know it doesn't seem like something that would be up my alley. It's actually going to be the second camping trip of this kind for me and I figure since I made it through the first one, I will make it through this one as well. To make things better, we actually even have our own tent this time - a wedding present. Now, I grew up camping, but camping for us was a pop-up trailer with kitchen and it even had a little toilet for us to go in when needed. I'm going to take pictures just to prove that I did it (hopefully I will :-))

Ok, that's it. I'm going to go home tonight and probably rest up - fighting off an infection all week and I'm being a big wuss about it. Jason's been a doll and I feel bad that I haven't been up to going out - I tell him that this is what living with boring Andrea is like :-)

SIL

2008-04-10T18:14:00.002-04:00

By the way, my sister-in-law has still not had the babies, but is still in the hospital the last time I received an update. I'll have to do a follow-up call tonight. She was getting ready to be release on Tuesday when she started having contractions again. I'm thinking why even try it, just stay in the hospital if it's better for the babies. Not sure about insurance though and I'm sure it can be very boring. I'm still keeping her in my thoughts and prayers. I'll have to find out if she has access to a computer - maybe I'll start sending her little notes or stuff to help stop some of the boredom if there is any.

ok, seriously got to go before I'm late.

Going Out - Alot

2008-04-10T17:56:00.003-04:00

I don't know, maybe I do go out a lot, especially lately, but, seriously is it really any one's business. I mean, I know that there is room for an occasional comment here and there about how we always seem like we are going out, but some people just beat that horse to death. I enjoy going out, I like it alot. I find it energizing - well, at least usually, when I'm out. I might be tired as heck the next day, but am all for the rally to go out again that evening. And, if it means I don't do anything at all on a Saturday, I think that that is my prerogative to decide on what days I want to do things. Choosing a Saturday to sleep all hours or just veg in front of the TV is my decision. I don't care if Saturday is a day where a number of other people who don't go out during the week do go out and I don't care if it's such a beautiful day that they want to be outside - doesn't mean I do.

My mom is one of those people who will make me feel guilty about going out so much. And, she probably is not intending to do so, but she'll ask what I'm doing and I give her the run down and then she gets confused and says, "Well, you go out way to much." "I thought when you got your house you were going to stay home more." I don't remember saying that, but if I did, things change. I also know that some of it is cause she wants me to come over to visit her - and guess what that's not staying home that going out once again, maybe just not out- out, but it's not like I can get anything done like I would if I were at home. And, to top it off, I know that she doesn't give the unintentional guilt trip to my sister about not coming up to visit - because she's married and has kids, so she's extremely busy. The sad thing is that my sister would be the perfect one to live closer to my parents - she loves talking and hanging out with them and would probably stop by at least two or three times a week for little visits. I keep saying I'm going to because I'm going to regret it when I no longer can't but everytime I go over there I'm there for hours. I need to start doing it and imposing an only 1 hour visit - that's it - maybe that'll help.

Maybe when I grow up, I'll stay home more, but right now I don't want to, I like being there and when I am there I enjoy it, but for some reason I'm going through one of those periods, where I constantly want to go, go, go. Even my husband whose younger than me doesn't want to go out as much or wants to go home and play his Call of Duty 4 all night and that irks me - as being boring.

Maybe I do need to slow down... I'm pretty sure this post makes almost no sense and it was a lot of rambling and passive aggressive or maybe just aggressive - or witchy or crybaby'ish definitely selfish, but I needed to vent in my own broken way and I feel better.

Now, I have to go and meet my husband so that we can go out for a friends birthday party near chinatown - woo hoo. Maybe it'll be a bbq and firepit night in the back yard tomorrow night - yeah that sounds like a plan.

bye, rant, rant, babble, babble

April 4 is the Greatest Day

2008-04-03T17:56:00.003-04:00

Why??? I'm closing on the condo! I'm also probably jinxing myself by posting about this but I can't help it. I'm so excited. I'm melancoly about not ever being in the place I've lived in for the last 12 years ever again, but I'm so happy that I won't have to be paying double mortgages! I'm excited about even the little bit of money that I'll end up making (since the majority of it goes to pay off the borrowed downpayment for the house we are currently living in). It could be thought of as sad, but as any house owner knows, I'm dreaming of getting the two new windows we are going to get, the fence that is going to be completed and yes, even paying off or greatly towards any credit card debt we incurred while waiting to sell. Very exciting I tell you :-) I will let you in on a little secret - I do actually intend to spend a very small amount on frivolity - a few celebratory drinks and, sillie, yes, but some toys/treats for the Schnoodle Sisters so they can celebrate with us.

I'm also very excited that I got the call from our wedding photographer that our proofs are in. I know that I waited way too long to submit my picks, but they responded in good time. Now, I swear I will not dally over the proofs as I had the thumbnails and I will get my album picks to them in a timely fashion. Now I just have to work on the songs and pictures for the video before they kill me. I'm sure it would be nice if I get all this done before my 1st anniversary in 7 weeks. Most would say no problem, but those who know us will be saying "yeah, right", but I swear!!

Ok, signing off, heading home in all my happy jitteriness!!! pray nothing goes wrong with the closing.

P.S. Also, if you think about, say an extra pray that my sister-in-law stops having contractions - she's 2 1/2 months early with the twins and in the hospital - they might make her stay there. Ok, no sad thoughts only good ones - positive ones - so positive prayers!!!!

Watch What you say to Third-graders

2008-04-02T11:58:00.004-04:00

What is this world coming to? I just heard about and read the article at this link http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23905909/ about the nine third graders who plotted to attack their teacher in Waycross, Georgia. These are children who are between the ages of 8-10 years old. They had the attack planned out in minute detail. One child was to bring the paperweight to knock the teacher out, another the knife in which to stab the teacher, one was assigned to tape paper over the windows so that no one could see inside and another was assigned clean up duty. Police are seeking juvenile charges against three of the nine children - two girls 9 and 10 year olds; who brought the paperweight and who brought the knife and one boy 8 years old who brought the tape.

Whether they were serious about doing this or not they made a lot of plans and carried through on bringing to the school a lot of what was planned. It was speculated about whether they realized the seriousness of what they were planning - whether they thought it was like a cartoon where they would do this and the teacher would just then get up and wouldn't be hurt. I think that they will be realizing shortly just how serious this is. They could have killed the teacher. If they had stabbed her, whose to say they wouldn't have hit a vital organ or main artery? And, even just attempting to knock her out - they could have caused brain damage or killed her outright just from that.

The parents of the kids knew nothing about the plotting and it is being said they are cooperating fully with the authorities. I certainly hope so. I don't want to believe that there are parents out there who would condone this type of behaviour. I'm sure everyone is thanking God for the fact that there was a student who tattled about another student bringing a weapon into the school.

All this because the teacher told a student not to stand on a chair.

P.S. Glad I just have the "girls".
P.S.S. Must make sure they aren't plotting against me... hmmm, maybe that's why I keep tripping over their toys at the top of the steps lol

Money Spending

2008-03-26T17:32:00.003-04:00

I think I've known this for a while, but I'm really going to try to do something about it this time, I swear. Ok, here it is. I spend money, I like to spend money and admittedly, I will sometimes spend more than I should on an item or while doing something, but I've also come to the realization that when money is tight I really, really want to spend even more. It's sick. I know that I shouldn't be buying something I really don't need or I definitely shouldn't be going out as much as I have been because things are tight and I have to use my stupid credit card more than I should, I just can't help it.

Why all this coming out now, you may ask. It's because I've been catching myself really looking at all the ad e-mails I get and the little nic-nak magazines and thinking hmmm what can I get and not even thinking what do I need. I'm even looking at items thinking, wow, I should by that for so-and-so, why? no reason, just because I think they'd like it. It's not their birthday or anniversary or any special occasion. Now, I know that this would be something nice to do for a person and they'd probably even feel really great when receiving it and I have done this on many different occassions. I just need to know that I cannot do that right now, when money is a little tight, but it's so hard. "Look at those adorable wine bottle stoppers." I was even wandering the aisles of the local hardware store trying to find stuff to buy, just because.

So, I'm really going to make an effort to watch it this time - no more debt will be my mantra. I will concentrate on thinking about buying the necessary things...
privacy fence
decking/pavers for back yard
new windows to replace the two original windows left in the house to help conserve energy
things for the housewarming party

I did breakdown and go to Costco over the weekend and get stuff, most of it I will say is stuff we needed, but did we really need so many of them? I don't know, but I loved spending the money - hehe - we now have plenty of sandwich bags at the house - I can go crazy with them and I won't run out.

Condo closing date set for April 4 - can't wait - need to go on shopping spree - haha - but it's good things I want to spend the money on - I want the perfect window for the house - more money than the basic looking one, but it will make the house look so much better and I'm going to fight for getting pavers/stone put in for our front walkway instead of getting in re-concreted. See I get to spend money, enjoy it and justify it - better resale value for whenever we move - like never...

Housewarming Party Invitation

2008-03-24T16:52:00.005-04:00

Since we are very proud of our invitation to our housewarming party - which we are finally having a year after moving into our house - I wanted to post it. :-) A wonderful collaboration between the two of us - Jason's idea to do it as a movie poster, mine to use the pose and background (OK, maybe it's a little of a stretch) like the painting American Gothic, wording and quotes from both and my excellent work in PowerPoint and viola.

P.S. Condo sale going great! We should hopefully close on it on April 4.

Mother-in-Law Visit + Yardwork/Housework = Wonderful House

2008-03-17T10:59:00.002-04:00

This past weekend was a good one. I was worried in my own way about Kathy, my mother-in-law, coming for a visit because I knew a lot of things needed to be done around the house in order for me to feel good about letting her in the door. Also, she has a lot of energy. She is constantly moving and doing things. I was trying to think of when I've really seen her relax and be lazy - I'd say NEVER :-) So very unlike me.

This weekend's visit was so that she could come up to our house and help with getting the front of the house's landscaping in order (done - almost complete). Me, not being the great work in the yard type of person, was a bit apprehensive about her visit and said to my husband that I would probably stick in house and do housework most of the time while he helped his mother. And, this is basically what happened.

Kathy arrived on Saturday morning around 11:00 a.m., her Highlander stuffed with pine nuggets, little bushes (not a fir, pine or evergreen to be seen - she had really listened to my disdain of such trees - hooray!), azalea plants, some pansies and garden tools. She was ready to go to work immediately. She edged and lined out three beds, planed the shrubs, azaleas, pansies (woo hoo - I actually helped plant a few of the pansies - mind you there were only about 8 of them - whew :-)) and artfully arranged the pine nuggets around all of the beds. This was all accomplished by about 6:00 p.m. Kathy and Jason did take a break around 2:30 where I provided them with hamburgers and hot dogs which I grilled and some french fries. Before heading to dinner we made a stop at the Home Depot for some more nuggets. By the time we arrived back home we were all ready for bed. Though we did watch a tv show before crashing. Kathy's mind going the whole time actually making lists of things that still needed to be done and what needed to be picked up on Sunday. I'm sure they were more tired then I, but I had done a bit of house work that day as well.

Up on Sunday by 9:30 (I know late for some people, but early for others (me)). I made us breakfast and then it was out in to the yard again for Jason and Kathy to spread more nuggets. Another quick trip to Home Depot and we were done at least for this weekend. We had a wonderful dinner with his mother and Aunt Maryanne to top things off.

The house is coming along. The front is looking nice. We still have a bit of work to do on the back - I'm thinking we can just deck a major portion of it - no? We have to be ready for our housewarming. Now, I just have to hope that I can keep the plants alive. I know it's weird to have all this worrying, but I'm not really good with this type of stuff. Though I was excited to help plant the pansies until I saw all the worms in the ground - yuk. I'm hoping that my veggie growing will be a success once I get the planters. We will see, we will see.

Tons of thanks to Kathy and can't wait for you to come back for a visit - perhaps we can teach you to just laze around :-)

Necessary or Unnecessary Purchase

2008-03-13T15:34:00.004-04:00

I received (about two months ago) an advertisement for these planters called The Grow Box and I wanted to order some for our back yard so that I can grow vegetables in them. When I mentioned to Jason that I wanted to buy these he said no automatically and that we did not need them. He said "We have a yard now, you can grow things there - make a garden. Our neighbors have one in their yard." I pointed out to him that said neighbor has said that his garden is a bunch of work and that he has to work with the soil - adding composte and fertilizer, etc. to even obtain a proper soil for vegetable growing. Jason still nixed the idea. So, like a good wife I've put off buying them - until today.

I found the ad again recently and have decided I want to buy them. I like growing vegetables and prior to and through the first year of dating Jason I used to always grow tomato plants on my balcony at the condo and I enjoyed doing it and being able to eat the resulting tomatoes. I like vegetables a lot and I actually end up spending a bit of money of them during the summer months when they are fresher and for some reason I am more apt to buy them. So, I don't think this will be a waste of money. I just couldn't decide on what color to get them in - Terra Cotta or Green so I exchanged e-mails with Jason:

Me: Green or Terra Cotta
J: no
Me: Green or Terra Cotta
J: I said no
Me: Thanks for the input. Green it is.
J: We don't need it

That's where that ended and then came the phone call:
J: What are you buying?
Me: Something?
J: Well whatever it is we don't need it - especially if its something that comes in green or Terra Cotta.
Me: I want it. I'm getting it, I mean, it's already too late. I got it.
J: Well if that's the case then you should change it to Terra Cotta because if I would have picked Terra Cotta.
Me: Ok, I'll do that - it's those plant boxes by the way.
J: Didn't we discuss this already and I said it wasn't necessary
Me: Yes, but I want to grow vegetables
J: Fine, but I'm writing a letter about your unnecessary spending and I want you to post it on your blog.
Me: Fine

So, watch this space for the upcoming letter from Jason. I personally don't think that this is unnecessary spending. It'll save us money on vegetables which we can eat, I can give some to friends - who will adore me for it - and it will give me something to do that is outdoorsy :-) If I don't use them, then they'll be unnecessary. I'll let everyone know - if I'm still blogging by that time...

Fullfilling weekend?

2008-03-10T12:15:00.003-04:00

I have to say, I had a pretty productive weekend or really Sunday as I spent a lot of time on Saturday recovering from the fun on Friday at the Irish Channel. The only big bummer was not being able to go see my sister and her kids when they were up at our parents house on Sunday because I knew that if I took a break I wouldn't get back into the swing of things when I returned. Now, it took me most of Sunday to accomplish what I did, but that's because I took my time and plodded along. Everything I did had to be done, but would I have been such a stickler to get it all done normally - Nope. What was the driving force? It was the biggest driving force one could have - my mother-in-law is coming to visit us next week. Wonderful woman, glad to have her come and visit but there is no way I could have her in our house in the condition that it was. She actually probably has some idea since she knows her son, but I still don't feel comfortable having her know that I get tired of it all and the house suffers.

Now, I'm not saying that if I lived by myself that my house would be spotless, but it would definitely be in better shape than it is. Anyways, it is always easier to clean up after yourself than to have to clean up after more than yourself - if that makes sense. The sad thing is is that my husband just seems to create mess where ever he goes. He's not doing it deliberately but he just doesn't think sometimes (most of the times) about carrying through with an action - if you're opening up a new gallon of milk and you remove the plastic piece which secures the lid don't just place it on the counter, the top of the pantry or better yet in your pants pocket, put it in the trash - especially because when he is doing this he is standing literally 2 feet from the trash can.

Ok, ok, I'm getting too deep into this... I did laundry (loads and loads), went through weeks of mail - the junk mail and shredding all the credit card offers and other pertinent stuff to avoid theft identity, etc., picked up the place, took down the X-mas ornaments from the tree (yes we still had it up - didn't I say we are lazy) and boxed them up, vacuumed, washed dishes, helped take down the tree, helped store the tree and decorations in the attic/crawl space, took the trash out, cleaned the toilet, let the dogs in and out, in and out, played with them, made sure they didn't feel neglected, etc. etc. etc. So, basically a pretty full day.

He ran a few errands - spent about an hour at Kmart buying different things - I think that he originally just went for a belt and a tote for me to put X-mas items in and finally arrives home ($90 later), helps take the tree down, helps store the decorations and vacuums our bedroom and he's exhausted, has to go to bed early.

Now, I appreciate his help with everything don't get me wrong, but I think that it is funny that he thinks he has done so much more than he actually has. When I said that my back hurt because of all that I had been doing, he looked at me and was like well I've done a lot to - I've helped. Which is very true, I just was stating a fact that my back hurt, I wasn't accusing him of not helping. It has been my experience that when guys do something around the house, they need it acknowledged "oh wow honey you emptied the dishwasher. that's great." It doesn't matter that he emptied it once during the week, while I've emptied it every other time. I just know that I didn't get any praise and I didn't have to be asked to do it. I just did it.

You know, I have no idea where I'm going with this post, so I am just going to end it and definitely chalk it up to a wild rambling while on a quick break at work.

P.S. He never did bring in all the bags from Kmart - I wonder what he spent all that money on?? Probably some stuff that wasn't needed, will take up space around the house and I'll have to clean eventually. But I love him!!

P.S.S. I do have to admit that I probably would have spend just as much or maybe even more, but I probably would have done it at Target, but could do it at Kmart, or even CVS or the Supermarket. And, it wouldn't have been on clothes, just on little nic-nacs. I get lost in those stores sometimes and just can't help myself from spending money or too much time. It gets so bad that he won't let me go unsupervised sometimes, just so I don't spend an hour in there when I really and truly am only going in for one item and I actually only do buy the one item - can't understand why I need to spend an hour just looking at everything.

I can relate to most of these....

2008-03-07T16:29:00.003-05:00

Received an e-mail with this list in it and thought I'd post it as I can relate to many of them though I don't think I think these with as much attitude. And, I have to say I'm guilty of having done #9 - it really is a stupid question to ask - duh.

9 Things I Hate About Everyone

1. People who point at their wrist while asking for the time..... I know where my watch is pal, where the hell is yours? Do I point at my crotch when I ask where the toilet is?

2 People who are willing to get off their ass to search the entire room for the
T.V.. remote because they refuse to walk to the T.V. and change the channel manually.

3 When people say 'Oh you just want to have your cake and eat it too'. Damn right! What good is cake if you can't eat it?

4 When people say 'it's always the last place you look'. Of course it is. Why the hell would you keep looking after you've found it? Do people do this? Who and where are they? Gonna Kick their asses!

5 When people say while watching a film 'did you see that?'. No Loser, I paid $12 to come to the cinema and stare at the damn floor.

6 People who ask 'Can I ask you a question?'.... Didn't really give me a choice there, did ya sunshine?

7. When something is 'new and improved!'. Which is it? If it's new, then there has never been anything before it. If it's an improvement, then there must have been something before it, couldn't be new.

8 When people say 'life is short'. What the hell?? Life is the longest damn thing anyone ever does!! What can you do that's longer?

9 When you are waiting for the bus and someone asks 'Has the bus come yet?'. If the bus came would I be standing here, dumbass?

Update on Condo Sale

2008-03-06T10:19:00.002-05:00

The open house this past weekend went great! We had a lot of interest and we have been meeting with our realtor's to discuss the 3 or was it 4 offers which have come through. This includes the first guy who after our counteroffer originally did not want to change his original offer at all. His tune changed once he realized we were waiting to see what other's were offering. We have just sent a counteroffer to another guy, so we are waiting to get back the ratified contract - we have a verbal agreement at this time. You can tell it's definitely a buyer's market since we are already at a really low price (and I mean really low) for our area and he was still trying to beat us down - dickering over what would amount to him about $7.50 a month over his 30 year mortgage. Jason really wanted to tell this guy to go take a hike, but the realtor and I really liked the fact that he was coming in with a conventional mortgage and not a VA like the other 3 offers.

There was this one lady who we actually met at the open house and she was really interested in the condo and we were presented with a great offer and if it had been a conventional loan and not VA, we would have totally gone with her - a) because it was a great offer and b) we really liked her and would have like to see her move into our house. The thing with the VA loans is that the VA is really stringent on their appraisals and sometimes with a conventional you can get a little more lee-way and given the way the market is falling, our realtor did not think we would be able to have the condo appraise for what she was offering.

We are still selling under what everyone else is selling for, under our asking price and even under what our property was tax assessed for - sucks. It just really gets me that this has to come down to this because of all the stupidity that was allowed to go on in the past where sellers were allowed to ask for almost whatever they wanted and people who shouldn't have been approved for outrageous amounts were. This is now bringing the market way way down because of all the stupid buyers who bought places when they should not have been buying them. I don't' care that they were approved for that amount of money, where was their common sense - hmmm, I make this much a month and they want this much in mortgage, plus, duh, I have to still pay utilities, get back and forth to work and eat - yeah, all my paycheck can go towards just the mortgage - I will not have any emergencies come up, my car won't break down unexpectedly or anything like that. I really do blame the buyers as much as I blame the shoddy work ethics of the loan people who processed and approved their loans. Now people who need or want to sell are being forced to sell at under appreciated prices, because there is so many foreclosures and a glut of houses on the market. I find it funny that the government is only just now stepping in - they should have been stepping in way before this - what were they making money hand over fist just as well - probably. It sucks further because all these stupid asses (buyers) are getting help with their mortgages so they don't foreclose. People like me aren't getting helped, we are getting screwed - can you tell I feel strongly about this :-)

I guess some of this goes towards the fact that while we just bought a new house last year and it was heading to a buyers market not a sellers, we did not screw the people who were selling their place. We asked for reasonable things while giving their asking price. We did not try to screw them over, we could tell that they took good care of their house, etc. Maybe, we should have screwed them, but I'm glad we didn't two wrongs don't make a right and I feel good about our house buying experience. Though I can't say the same for Jason - lol - he is so mad at this guy's dickering that he has said he's taking out of the house everything that he can that's not conveying over - he says he's taking out every single light bulb out of the house. lol - i can't wait to see if this happens.

Anyways, I'm looking forward to finally having this over. I can't wait to have this extra money every month with not paying the two mortgages - though it just needs to got to the bills which have started to accumulate trying to keep up the two households.

So, please continue to keep fingers crossed that all goes well and we close soon.

Fingers Crossed/Prayers to be Said

2008-02-28T15:30:00.002-05:00

So, the condo is back on the market as of Monday 2/25/08. It is looking good and priced to sell. We had our first showing on Tuesday and then another one on Wednesday. The people who looked at it on Tuesday liked what they saw - said it look really nice. Woo Hoo. All the work and money put into getting it that way may have paid off - at least people are saying it looks good. Jason and I both think it does as well. We were commenting that we need to sell the house and move back in it's looking so nice :-)

Our realtor e-mailed us today and said that the Tuesday people might be putting an offer in this afternoon, so, please, please everyone keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer that 1) they do, 2) it's for the asking price (since we are so underselling) and 3) there lending (is that the right term) is up to snuff and everything will and does go through - that is if we accept :-) The open house is on Sunday and their is a side of me who wants and hopes that people come and look and we get multiple offers, but I just really, really want to get rid of it so I'm still hoping alot on the offer that might come through this afternoon.

fingers crossed, fingers crossed

San Francisco Trip

2008-02-19T17:16:00.003-05:00

We got back from out three-day trip to San Francisco this morning and I am just about wanting to crash. I have to say that I am proud of myself for making it to almost the end of my work day before it really, really hit - though I haven't been my usual bubbly self.

This weekend was very fun and interesting. It was the first trip for both of us away since we got married and it was a little like a mini honeymoon - though we hung out the whole time with Jason's cousin Matt who was gracious enough to put us up in his house, play tour guide and chauffer us around and generally just put up with us. Thanks Matt!

Now, I'm not a very good tourist. It's not that I'm bad in an awful sense - like treating the locals rudely or getting in everyone's way. I just like to see things quickly, get a general idea of the place, unless it totally grabs me, and then I'll look deeper. I don't like to walk around alot staring at things, having my picture taken in a very touristy style - unless amongst mostly tourists. I don't know why it bothers me to have people who live around the area look over and smirk at us like oh yeah, they're tourists, but it does.

Anyways, we had a good time. We stayed at Matt's place in Pacifica - he is renting a place which has three bedrooms, hard wood floors throughout, an awesome kitchen, etc. the downer part is that his landlord is trying to rent or sell the place and recently just took out all the furniture that was there besides Matt's stuff. So we slept on an air mattress and when we hung out for a little while at the house, we sat on the hardwood floor and played games - mind you, they were drinking games, so that helped take away some of the soreness ;-)

We started out our touring at a pier in Pacifica where we got breakfast and watched the waves crash up on the shore and into the pier - I think I got some pretty good pictures. We then drove over to San Francisco and around Golden Gate Park, where we went to a museum where we went up into an observation tower and saw most of the city, we also saw a number of groups of people practicing the art of Tai Chi at various places in the park and trees called grandmother hands. There was this little art sale going on in the middle of the park and as we were walking by I was listening to this one artist giving instructions to his assistant, I guess, about what to get him for lunch - I wanted to fall out laughing the way he was going on about, "now get me a large orange, not the small oranges, you know what I mean, right, I don't want the small oranges, I want a large orange and my coffee I want a large, not a medium, do you got that" It might not sound that funny, but if you've ever seen that show on HGTV where the guy is a house flipper and he has a bunch of assistants and he talks to them like he is "god" or something and is very specific you'd know what I was talking about - the artist guy sounded just like him - I think he could tell I wanted to laugh at him or maybe he could see it since I probably have no poker face at all and I was giggling.

From there we went over the Golden Gate Bridge and after driving around Sausalito for a little while, we ate lunch at a restaurant with a deck on the water - Horizons. We then went back to San Francisco and visited a couple different areas - I have to look them up - where there were excellent views of the bay and Alcatraz. Can't even begin to say how many different pictures but the same basically we have of Alcatraz. "Look there's Alcatraz, that's a good angle - snap - oh, this may be better - snap - oh, we are a little closer now - snap. We went down to Pier 39, after I was told to stop being a whiney wife; we walked down the pier and saw the sea lions and bought salt water taffy which made my day.

We went out with our friend J.P. who is out there going to law school Saturday night. Played some pool and darts and had a fun time.

I know I'm leaving stuff out, and need to go over this and finish up the trip, but it's almost the end of the day for me and I just want to go home, pick up my babies and sleep in my own bed. I'll finish up tomorrow and hopefully be able to post a few pictures.

Fun Vacation???

2008-02-14T15:16:00.004-05:00

What the Hell?? I just received this wonderful vacation package information from Kayak.com Travel. This is a real "vacation" package being offered. I would love to know how many people are taking advantage of an experience like this one? I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't be interested. Umm, I thank the lord I was born a US citizen so that I never have to go through this, don't want to pretend to go through this at all. Crazy, crazy, crazy.

top Mexico City → Flights Hotels Cars watch fares
Immigration and border patrol seems to be at the top of every political conversation. At Parque Eco Alberto, you can go on a pretend 'Night Border Crossing Experience.' The parque is owned by the Hnahnu Indians in Hidalgo, about three hours from Mexico City. The $18, four-hour night hike starts with the Mexico National Anthem. Your 'coyote' guide, Pancho, pulls off his black ski mask while actors gather around to scare you senseless along the way. Run from border control agents; dodge hidden actors shooting (blanks) at you, and make your way through barbed-wire fences. Survivors are blindfolded, led across a rickety bridge, and then set free to run across the border to freedom!

Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T15:16:00.002-05:00

Today is the day that so many people go crazy for. Rushing around buying flowers or having them sent at exorbitant prices, going out to eat at expensive restaurants, buying candy and even proposing. Every year I feel myself being pulled into all the hype at the beginning of February but find that by the time the actual day gets here I've actually regained most of my sanity. Now, don't get me wrong, I still like to be thought of and maybe receive a little something, something for V-day, but I am more and more feeling along the lines as a few of my friends that it's just another day thought up so that massive money is spent on things that don't even last that long.

Flowers to me are the biggest frivolity. You can get a dozen red long stem roses delivered in the DC area on any other day for about $40 or $50 and that might even be high. On Valentine's Day most places want about triple that amount - just because it is V-day. Ridiculous, it's not like the flowers are any different, it's just because they can control supply and demand - I'm thinking price gauging myself! Even the street vendors charge more for their roses - normally $4 for 1/2 dozen, v-day $10-$20 for 1/2 dozen. Once again, I wouldn't sneeze or turn away flowers bought for me on this day, I actually even love getting them, just for the fact that it's a show-off point - haha, someone loves me, they sent me flowers, are mine prettier than yours? But, I prefer when my husband (wow, I can say that this year) would buy them from a vendor (yes, paying their jacked up prices, but not the florists jacked up prices) and deliver them himself in person. Very loving and thoughtful.

Ways in which I've heard Valentines this year being celebrated - not with flowers:

I was talking to my friend Renee about this phenomenon of having flowers sent, she actually received a really, really nice bunch last V-day from her husband, and she has said that she talked it over with her husband and asked him not to do it again, especially once she found out the cost of them. She told him that she loved him and really appreciated what he had done but that she believes that spending that much money on something that is going to die in a matter of days is not worth all that and that she would prefer to receive something else from him that she would be able to enjoy for a lot longer. And, no guys, she wasn't hinting for more diamonds or anything like that, but hey, I'm sure if that's what he decided to get her she wouldn't say no - I know I wouldn't. So, this year, they went out together and she was actually going to go look at clothes when he said that he would prefer to buy her something like a nice watch which she could wear when they went out and got dressed up. She agreed and together they bought her a very nice watch bracelet - I've seen it and like it very much. This way, whenever they go out and she wears it, she will be using and remembering a gift given to her for Valentine's Day.

Amanda's husband cooked her dinner, the same dinner he cooked on the night he proposed to her so that brought back those memories as well as creating more memories. I also hear they had a "wonderful, wonderful" night together after dinner - you go, A!

Camala says that she's not into it at all and doesn't believe in celebrating it. She won't fall prey to the cooked up materialistic holiday, but I hear that she may have bought some cologne to bring home to her husband.

Cindy has opted to do a family dinner at home with her husband and kids to share the love in a family way and show her love to all of them together.

My friend Kerry picks up her friend's two girls and takes them out to dinner and a movie to celebrate the day with them while also giving Andy and Niki a chance to go out to dinner by themselves to celebrate.

What I've tried to do this year is have 14 days of Valentine's stuff, but I didn't fully succeed. What I did do though is:

Bought a little plastic duck - white with red, pink and purple hears on it and gave it to him the 1st day of February
Picked him up some Peeps Hearts
Made him breakfast - eggs, bacon, waffles, English muffins (all while hung over on)
Made him a breakfast sandwich to eat on the train on the way to work and packed him up a lunch
Made chili from scratch
Made pancakes for Shrove Tuesday dinner - cut them into heart shapes to incorporate the V-day theme
Was "nice" to him
Made a little flip book from Kodak with our engagement pictures in it
Ordered him personalized M&M's - red and hot pink - that say: "143 Pooks" and "J-n-Drea 4ever"
Got up and sang karaoke at Ed's in front of all his friends - sure he loved that one - especially since the only song I ever sing is "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor

For the actual day I was going to ROCK in trivia at Applebee's but that got cancelled, so I don't know what I'm going to do now - think of something I'm sure. We still have to pack for our trip to San Francisco tomorrow, so maybe I'll pack for him - like I wouldn't be doing that anyways - LOL.

I wish a Happy Valentine's Day to one and all.

Picking Someone Up

2008-02-13T14:28:00.003-05:00

If you drive to work with someone and they pick you up at the office at the end of the day or if you are just picking up someone from their office at the end of the day, should they be outside of the building waiting for you or should they be called when you arrive and then come down? This has been a big question/issue during my courtship and now marriage.

I can see it being both ways and have even tried to institute a compromise - the person in the car should call when they get within a few blocks and the person in the office should head down. This should eliminate long waits by both parties. It just doesn't seem to be working though. Some, has do with the fact that my husband doesn't always remember to make the call or maybe he doesn't have his phone with him or better yet it has died because he has forgotten to recharge it once again. All this has led to me standing outside of my building or, in the lobby of my building (which I don't like to do, because then you are more likely to have to make conversation) for unspecified amounts of time waiting for him to pick me up. I have come to resent this and become admittedly not so nice a person. I shriek, I rant, I rave about this injustice which has been put upon me. I do this mostly because I am lazy and I don't want to be standing around when I could be sitting around up at my desk waiting.

Scene from Monday (it is bitterly cold outside):

J (calls): I'm getting ready to go get the car.
A: Cool. Call me when you get close and I'll be downstairs.
J: Sigh, ok, why don't you just be down there in 10 minutes.
A: Fine, even though you are not usually here in 10 minutes.
J: See you soon.
J (calls again): The GD traffic is all backed up, K Street is a frickin mess. This is ridiculous. I hate this. I'm not even going to be able to pick you up for 25 minutes.... blah, blah, blah, rant, rant, rant.... oh, wait, it's clearing up. You had better shut down your computer and be downstairs when I get there. See you soon.

So, I dutifully, shut down computer, clear off desk, go to bathroom and head on downstairs. I bring with me a small box, 2 prints and 2 prints in frames since we have the car and I don't have to lug on metro. I go outside to wait because I figure that it's been about 15 minutes since his phone call and he's either sitting outside or will be there very shortly.

Outside - no sign of J. I lean against building and begin waiting after checking time to see what time it is 6:23. I wait and wait and continue to wait. Debate about going into warm building, decide fool heartedly not to. Look at watch again, it is now 6:37. I decide this is frickin ridiculous, I need to call him - I'm actually quite worked up by now. The phone rings though before I can call and it's him.

J: Hi. I'm almost there. I'm at 11th and H. Are you downstairs?
A: What??!!! Yes, of course I'm downstairs. I've been downstairs for like the last 15 frickin minutes standing out in the cold. What the hell took you so long?? You need to call me before you get here and then I'll come down. This is frickin ridiculous, rant, rave, rant, rave – I basically pulled the full-on Bitch card!
J: Traffic got bad. Why didn't you wait in the lobby? It's your own fault.

J pulls up. I get in and give him the evil eye. He then has the nerve to cold shoulder me as if I was the one who was in the complete wrong. As if he had done nothing whatsoever wrong and that I should be grateful that he came to pick me up instead of my catching the metro to his office which is in the opposite direction from my office - which he basically has to go by to go home. (I know that's not making the best of sense, but I'm too tired to figure out how to write it more comprehensively - maybe I’ll edit later.) I figure it is bad enough that when we drive in, I have to jump out of the car at union station and catch the metro from that point to my office so that he doesn't have to go two blocks out of his way.

So, is it wrong of me to think that he should call before he shows up or maybe he might have to wait 5 minutes downstairs if he even calls me when he gets here? I don't think so. When I used to pick him up I would have to wait most days for him to get down to the car and this was when we worked a block away from each other and I would call him to let him know I was leaving and getting the car. He still wouldn't be downstairs on time. I don't know. I love being able to play the martyr :-)

Follow up to Cuteness

2008-02-13T10:04:00.004-05:00

I had to post this picture sent in response to my post yesterday from a friend (Bruce, 567 Miles from Home) who really knows the dogs well, as you can see by the "thoughts". It is soo, true.

P.S. Bruce is trying out to be Teddy Roosevelt - one of the running presidents at the Nationals games this season - keep your fingers crossed and all the best wishes to him.

Total Cuteness

2008-02-12T17:55:00.000-05:00

I keep meaning to get on and type up stuff, but then the day seems to fly right by. But, I have been meaning to post this picture of Lucie and Kira, the Schnoodle Sisters. In my opinion, they are the absolute top-most in adorableness.

Football Season is Over - Ok we still have the Pro Bowl, but...

2008-02-05T17:20:00.000-05:00

I am seriously bummed that football season is over for all intents and purposes. I know that there is still the Pro Bowl to be played, but that's the AFC v NFC. There are a number of players that I just find it hard to cheer for even if they are in the same conference as one of my teams. I prefer to have one complete team to cheer for, whether it is an AFC team (Steelers) or a NFL team (Redskins). Maybe I need to add on a countdown to next season clock like the one Bruce (567 Miles from Home) has on his for the beginning of baseball season.

I know people think that I'm fickle for even having or cheering on two different teams, but I don't care I like both of the teams and I have never ever claimed that I am a football aficionado or even specifically a Redskins’ or Steelers’ aficionado. I am just a fan of football and I like in particular to cheer for the Steelers and the Redskins when they play. I do try to make a bit of an effort to find out more details about these two teams than I would any other team in the league, but I would never ever say that I am able to rattle off players’ names or stats, perhaps next season.

I love watching football - pro or college. If it's on TV and I'm sitting around at a friends house, restaurant, or, ok a bar, yes where I am most of the time, I will follow whatever game is on and I will either pick one of the teams to cheer on or I might even cheer on either team, depending on the play being run - if it's exciting.

Ok, so yes, I will more than likely be watching the Pro Bowl this Sunday to get in my last fix of pro football for the season, but don't be shocked if I am seen cheering on both sides!!

GO FOOTBALL!!!

Go Giants -- Hitler - Die hard Cowboy Fan

2008-02-01T15:36:00.000-05:00

This is hilarious - Go Giants!!

Ladies Room

2008-02-01T15:12:00.001-05:00

Seriously, what is wrong with people - women. I recently changed floors in my office and therefore go to the bathroom on the floor I am located on and it is nothing like the way it was on my last floor. I still work for the same firm so the same type of people would be using the bathroom as on the other floor. But, on this floor every time I go into a stall or nearly every time there is pee on the seat in that stall - sometimes I go down the line and this is the case for almost all of the stalls (5). This is just disgusting. This did not happen on my other floor - there might be an occasion where you'd run into this but definitely not every single time.

I work in an office of professional women. Do they think that they are too good to wipe their pee off the seat after sprinkling it all over the place or something? I mean, women, please use your manners. I don't want to see your pee, I don't want to have to search for a new stall to go to the bathroom in when I've already been holding it way to long and I not only merely don't want to wipe someone else's pee off of the seat, I really most sincerely don't want to wipe someone else’s pee off the seat, either.

If you can't squat and pee and get it into the bowl - then wipe it up when you are done - wash your hands and be on your way - it's your pee. If that doesn't work, use a seat protector and sit on the seat and pee into the toilet so there is no chance that your pee is going to get all over the seat. I am quite sure that your mothers did not teach you to pee all over the seat and just leave it. I’m sure that they would not have tolerated this type of behavior. I know it’s not your house (and I sincerely hope that you don’t do the same thing there) but at least treat the bathroom and the stalls next occupant with appropriate respect that you would expect be taken in your home bathroom.

I read about this in a magazine once where it was noted that women's bathrooms where or could actually be more disgusting than men's bathrooms - especially if you worked in what would be considered a professional working office, but really hoped it wasn't true. I'm really learning that this could be the case - though I haven't gone into the men's room to confirm - not something I really want to do either.

Women - clean up your damn acts!!!

Books read January 2008

2008-01-31T17:41:00.000-05:00

Below is a list of the books I've read, that I can remember anyways in January of 2008. Jason would comment that they are not of the best quality and would actually probably be a little embarraseed that people know what I'm reading, but since he very rarely ever reads my blog I guess he won't know. And, it doesn't matter anyway - they kept me entertained and I enjoyed them and that's what counts - gave him more time to play Playstation 3 as well since I wasn't as concerned about staring at the boobtube.

January 2008
The Trouble With Witches – Shirley Damsgaard
Witch Hunt – Shirley Damsgaard
The Witch is Dead – Shirley Damsgaard
Murder Under a Mystic Moon – Yasmine Galenorn
California Demon – Julie Kenner
Demons are Forever – Julie Kenner
Witchling – Yasmine Galenorn
Water for Elephants – Sara Gruen

Water for Elephants

2008-01-31T16:32:00.001-05:00

I finally broke down and bought the book club book for the month of January. We were scheduled to meet on Jan 28 and I bought it on Jan 26 - not close at all. I wasn't sure if it was going to be somethign I would like and that is the reason I kept putting it off. I had heard that it was a good book from almost everyone I spoke with but I still wasn't sure ( I don't like to be a follower - "drink the juice") since I knew that animal abuse was written about in the book and I did not want to read it if it was really detailed or actually at all - I knew it would make me very sad and mad. Luckily it wasn't that bad - though I do think that it was bad and I hate that it happened, what I mean is that luckily the author did not write about it in minute detail. The parts with him in the nursing home made me sad as this brings close to home what may come with my parents and my hope is that I will step up to the plate and visit and be there for them as much as possible, but I know that even now with them living only a mile away that I am not as good as I should be about visiting and spending time and know, really, really know that I am going to eventually regret it. Ok, enough about that.

Would I recommend the book? Yes, I would. I did enjoy it and it was an easy read. I started reading it on Sunday and by Tuesday morning I had completed it. The blending of the characters is good. I really felt that it was a well written book. Now, I read a bunch of mindless books most of the time to pass the time and entertain, so maybe I'm not a good book critic, but try it and read it for yourself and I'm pretty sure you will enjoy it. I went to the book club without finishing it and was able to discuss the book without having anything given away - though they did say it was a happy ending, which I don't think spoiled it for me at all.

We have our next book picked out Reservation Road by John Burnham Schwartz. Once again, not sure if it is going to be a me book, but will give it a try. It seems like it is going to be depressing and heart wrenching. I'll let everyone know how it is once I'm done

Open Mouth Insert Foot

2008-01-31T16:18:00.000-05:00

So yesterday my friend Amanda and I stepped out for lunch and on the way back she stopped at one of the vendor to get flowers - they are always the way to go - 1/2 dozon roses for $4 and they last long and look beautiful.

Amanda: Which ones should I get? Which are prettiest?
Me: I don't know, whatever, maybe those pink ones
Amanda: Maybe I should get another bunch and make it an even dozen. What do you think?
(I am a little tired and grouchy - but not my full fledge grouch)
Me: Why are you getting them? Who are they for?
Amanda: Tiffany
Me: Just get six. Why twelve? Six is enough.
Amanda: I think it will look fuller and nicer
Me: Six are fine for her birthday.
Amanda: It's not for her birthday it's because she's been feeling down.
Me: Which Tiffany are we talking about? Our supervisor?
Amanda: No, the other one.
Me: Oh, well then do what you think is best. This other bunch compliments the other bunch best.

So, she buys the dozen roses and we start to walk back to the office.

Me: That is nice of you and since we were talking about flowers... when I was talking with "the girls" about getting her flowers after her grandfather died (which was right before my Aunt died), I said to the girls that I was all for getting Amanda flowers, but that I really did not want them to get me any for my Aunt.
Amanda: Oh (with a quiet look on her face)
Me: Yeah, the last thing that I wanted was flowers after having spent the last two weeks/weekends in houses and funeral homes filled with flowers because a close loved one had died - that flowers only reminded me of death and that the smell of them so soon and close after all that is sorta sickening.
Amanda (gets this look on her face, sort of like shock): Oh, really, I actually bought these for you.

Talk about embarrassing - Open mouth really, really wide and insert foot. I was so embarrassed. I told her that it was a sweet thought and I'm really sorry for saying what I had and that I really appreciated that she had done it.

All that I keep thinking about is the look on her face when she told me she bought them for me and what's funny is later she said that all that she can keep thinking about is the look on my face when she said that. Ah, maybe I should just learn to keep my mouth shut, but who knew? She had said they were for someone else. I'm glad though that we were able to laugh about it all once I was able to get around my size 7 1/2 foot in my mouth :-)

They are very pretty and are opening up wonderfully and look great on my desk. What an awesome addition.

Another Bad Tuesday in January

2008-01-29T17:27:00.000-05:00

This month has not been going all that well. As mentioned in an earlier post Jason's Uncle Aldo passed away on Tuesday, January 15. We had just dealt, that sounds so harsh, so maybe tried to deal with that loss the best we can and had gone back to work on Tuesday, January 22 (after having Monday off to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.) when I get a phone call around 10:00 a.m. from my cousin Carol letting me know that my Aunt Cathy passed away after valiantly trying to fight her way back to health that morning. Aunt Cathy had been in Ohio in October 2007 visiting family. To make a long story short, she was immediately admitted to ICU with septic shock. The family was told at 10:00 pm. on Wed nite, that she would not make it thru the nite. By noon the next day, her kidneys started to function again & was still here!! See directly below for an explanation of Sepsis which causes septic shock.

Sepsis is a life-threatening illness. Your body's response to a bacterial infection usually causes it. Your immune system goes into overdrive, overwhelming normal processes in your blood. The result is that small blood clots form, blocking blood flow to vital organs. This can lead to organ failure. Babies, old people and those with weakened immune systems are most likely to get sepsis. But even healthy people can become deathly ill from it. A quick diagnosis can be crucial, because one third of people who get sepsis die from it.

Sepsis is usually treated in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU). IV antibiotics and fluids may be given to try to knock out the infection and to keep blood pressure from dropping too low. Patients may also need respirators to help them breathe.

She was in the ICU and then a rehabilitation center until December 16 at which time she was brought back to Texas and set up at a rehabilitation center closer to home. She was able to see her newest grandbaby - Avery and celebrate Christmas and New Years with her family. She had ups and downs and was still struggling, but everyone thought she would pull through one more time in Aunt Cathy fashion! But alas, it was not to be... it ended up being just too much and after fighting a good fight decided it was time to go forth and join the Lord. I'm sure that she figured that someone else needed to help my Aunt Mary make sure that my sister Cheryl and my cousin John were behaving themselves :-)

Mom and I flew down to be with family to offer support and comfort and be comforted. My Aunt Cathy will be missed by many, many people - friends and family alike.

I'm thinking I should be worm free for a while

2008-01-22T10:05:00.000-05:00

The Worm Lesson

A minister decided that a visual demonstration would add emphasis to his Sunday sermon.Four worms were placed into four separate jars.

The first worm was put into a container of alcohol.The second worm was put into a container of cigarette smoke.The third worm was put into a container of chocolate syrup. The fourth worm was put into a container of good clean soil.

At the conclusion of the sermon, the Minister reported the following results:

The first worm in alcohol - Dead.

The second worm in cigarette smoke - Dead

Third worm in chocolate syrup - Dead

Fourth worm in good clean soil - Alive.

So the Minister asked the congregation - 'What can you learn from this demonstration?'

Maxine was sitting in the back, quickly raised her hand and said, 'As long as you drink, smoke and eat chocolate, you won't have worms!'

That pretty much ended the service --

Snow - Weather Schooling

2008-01-17T13:58:00.000-05:00

It's snowing, it's snowing!!! Probably turning into a wintry mix in some places by now. I was just checking out sites to see what was up. I, of course, went to my old standby weather.com and got some information. I then checked out The Washington Post on line because I was wondering if they had school closings, etc. I happened onto one of their blogs - Capital Weather Gang. It had some very interesting information a radar of the area and people posting what was happening in their area.

as I'm reading the other people's entries, I found out that I should never rely on weather.com or the weatherchannel.com for my information. That they are big and don't cover/update their information enough for us little folk - they are a big place to turn to, though it seems, if I want hurricane information. as one commenter put it:

"your first lesson in weather watching. NEVER consult weather.com or even the Weather Channel unless there is a hurricane threatening your area. They forecast for a huge area and don't update anything because they don't have to because they know that the naive will go to their site."

Also:

"And that is the difference between what you get here at CWG and what you get at your big forecasting outlets. Because we are online, interactive, and to some degree a blog, we can more quickly react and adjust as opposed to the big boys where every change is a lumbering operation. And of course, we should have a new update on the site my mid-afternoon.
Posted by: Jamie Jones, Capital Weather Gang January 17, 2008 12:05 PM "

So, I have now found out I am naive - tsk, tsk. I have learned my lesson and have now bookmarked their site for all future weather questions.

Of course, there was also the usual bantering about how we handle the snow and react to it by a few people comparing our area to the mid-west and New England area. As one responder basically said, yes, it is a big deal - a) we like seeing the snow, we don't get it all that often and b) we get wintry mix - snow, sleet, ice down here whereas they get snow up there and it is a BIG difference to drive in and on snow than it is to drive on ice.

Ok, that's it. Enjoy the Snow/Wintry mix. Use the Capital Weather Gang site/blog to get all your weather information :-)

Team Spirit!??

2008-01-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

Ok, I understand the football craze, but I'm thinking this guy went just a little out of hand:

A Wisconsin man, upset his seven year old son refused to wear a Packers jersey during the playoff game, taped the jersey onto the child and used tape to restrain him for an hour.

He was arrested for disorderly conduct on Monday after his wife told authorities about the incident. The man says he tied the boy up as a joke and that the boy was laughing then the photos were taken.

"Then he couldn't get out and he got upset and that's it. It lasted a minute," the father said. "I didn't mean no harm, and he knows that, but (because of a restraining order) I haven't been able to tell him that."

This is why I have dogs - I get to dress them in whatever team's jersey I want them to wear and they will like it. (I've even gotten the ok that I am allowed to "dress them up" since it is a sports jersey and not some sissy outfit, which I would never do. They have a Christmas shirt and for really cold weather sweaters.) And, sorry Jason, it definitely will not be a Patriots jersey. I have decided that Kira will be a Steelers fan and Lucie will be a Redskins fan. When they get together with the cousins - Ivan (Redskins fan) and Monti (Steelers fan) they will be able to team up with them and play two-on-two football.

It was quite a season that both of my teams had this year and they only made it as far as the wildcard games, which makes me sad. It makes me sadder still that football season as a whole is drawing to a conclusion. This is why I need, NEED, for one of the last 3 teams remaining either this week or in the Super Bowl, to Beat Down the Patriots. I want the season to end on a happy note. Keeping fingers crossed.

Death and Emotions

2008-01-15T17:03:00.000-05:00

Today was not a good day. When we arrived at work this morning, Jason and I found out that his Uncle Aldo had died due to a massive heart attack that morning. Jason went to be with the family and I will be joining them this evening. Aldo was a quiet man, he loved to read and was a big intellect. You could also tell that he loved his family very much. I enjoyed being around him when he was at family functions and getting to speak with him. Aldo, 'si sentirà la tua mancanza'

I called my mother to let her know that I would not be able to make it over to visit this evening and found out at that time that a family friend had also passed away this morning - taken by cancer.

Both were wonderful people and loved very much by their families. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

I have been in a sad mood all day, quite down, which is to be expected. I even have shed some tears when really thinking about them and their not being around. But all in all I have continued to work and function. If you ask Jason, I'm sure he probably would think that I was even a little cold, except, I think that by now he knows me and how I handle people death and harm. I label it that way, because I am completely different when it comes to handling pet deaths, especially dogs, at which time I am a complete basket case.

When Cheryl, my sister, died, I remember basically letting out one big scream of anguish and a bit of crying, but then pulling myself completely together to console my mom and my sister (my dad holds his emotions close to his chest and doesn't show a lot of them, which is perhaps where I got the way I act). I proceeded to make the necessary phone calls to inform family members and friends of our loss. I helped make arrangements for people to come into town and stay. That very evening, one of my good friends was celebrating her birthday and, without telling her a thing until the very end, I went and I celebrated and sang happy birthday to her - because this is how it should be - she was still alive and her life should be celebrated - it matters and should be celebrated. As the days followed, I continued to be a "great help" and "kept the family together". At the wake, funeral and gathering back at the house I was told I was the perfect hostess, making sure everyone had what they needed and was dealing with things. I returned to work after four or five days, even though I was told it was not necessary - it helped for me to be busy and occupied. I went on with my life - basically blocking out what had happened. The only times I really, really broke down was when I was in my car driving and a particular song came on the radio and then I bawled. I handled it the way I needed to handle it. Years later, talking with my sister, Janine, frankly, she basically told me she thought I was unfeeling and uncaring about the whole ordeal and she couldn't see how I could be that way. She was very affected by my sisters death and emoted more along the lines of my mom. Different ways of handling it. After this talk and many others with her and other members of my family, I have been a bit more able to show and admit my inner feelings, but I am still quite close chested about them.

Now, when my first dog which I owned, not the family dog - Shanna, the most precious and beautiful Rottie around died. I was deeply depressed and sad and it showed. When I had to put her down, I cried and cried. Even now typing this and when I talk about her and her death, I tear up and get choked up emotionally. When I had to move and had to get rid of my cats and was unable to find anyone to take them because of their age (and didn't know about no-kill shelters) and had to give them to the spca, knowing that most likely they would be put to sleep, I cried. All of this in front of others and at different times, not holding back my sadness over the animals.

I bring all this up, because even to this day if I'm watching a TV show or a movie and there is death in it - I react completely different if it's a human or an animal. I don't want the humans to die, but unless there are some extra hormones flying around at that time of the month ;-) I don't usually cry - I might get a little choked up, by not cry, cry. (watch out though at those "times" of the month - I can be a big cry baby and Jason won't let me watch anything which might make me sad - says it hurts him to see me that way and not know exactly what to do) But, if it's an animal, especially a dog, I bawl. We recently went to see the Will Smith flick "I Am Legend" and

= SPOILER ALERT - DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU DON'T KNOW -

in the middle of the movie his dog first goes into this building where it's dark and you know there are bad people and I am having a fit already, I'm saying, no, no, don't let anything happen to the dog, don't let it get hurt, already getting all worked up - Jason's just looking at me knowing that I'm ready to cry (and probably slightly embarrassed) - I'm not even worried about what might happen to Will when he goes in after the dog. they both get out fine. But later on in the movie there is a fight between his dog and these infected dogs - his dog is trying to help protect him - and he gets bit. I know at this point, it's pretty much over and tears start streaming down my face. By the time he gets the dog home and after trying to save him fails and eventually has to kill him, I am almost bawling in the movie theater - I'm sure Jason was looking around to see if anyone one was noticing or their attention being drawn to us because of my sniffles and nose blowing, because I am seriously crying by this time. The movie goes on and I regain my composure and at the end of the movie, Will sacrifices his life for two other characters so that they may survive and bring the vaccine to others and I barely shed a tear - I'm sad, of course, but no, no tears, just that's so sad that he had to die.

So, the question is Am I a cold-hearted *itch or am I just one screwed individual with their emotional priorities completely messed up? I don't know. I do know it's easier to block out all the bad things that happen to my loved ones and put them away in their own little closet not to be visited all that often. Maybe that's why I can get so angry - I really need to learn to show my emotions properly.

Hmmmm.. Well, thanks, this felt better getting it off my chest - even if it doesn't make sense to anyone else - it has once again helped me.
To all those lost and loved!

Just When You Thought The Day Couldn't Get Worse

2008-01-08T10:34:00.000-05:00

I was going to use Washington Jen's titling format this morning, but then so many things ran together it would be one long equation by the time I got done with it: PMS + Nasty Morning Person + Person Quitting Smoking + Crazy Driver + Joe Gibbs Retires = Pretty Crappy Morning (the traits in red all apply to same person).

This morning just wasn't a pleasant one. I mean, let's face it, those who know me really well already are aware that I can be a slightly *itchy person and that my way is always or usually the best way in my opinion - top that off with a dose of PMS and cross me wrong it COULD get ugly.

I know that I should be very understanding of the fact that my husband is trying his hardest to make his life healthier by quitting smoking (not to mention the MD no smoking in public areas law going into effect in February) and seriously, I'm trying to be supportive, once again, we all know that this is a bit hard for me - so the below is a very self-centered, one-sided view of our morning. Because he's trying to quit, he's been a bit cranky lately - in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, etc.

This morning was a bad one, because we, of course, got up late. I say we, because if I don't make the move or force him to make the move out of bed it doesn't happen for him for a while. He is not a mover and shaker in the morning - he wants to sleep in no matter what. So, we're running late already, I'm getting dressed, letting the dogs out, making sure our pants that we are wearing for the day are wrinkle free, folding clothes, letting the dogs back in, getting dressed myself and locking up the dogs in their "house area", making sure they have food, water and play toys, warming up the car, waiting for the hubby. Now, what has he been doing in this same time period - trying to wake up, showering and dressing. So, of course, it's getting tight for us to make the train and he already starts spewing about how now we are going to have to drive in especially because we are so late - like it's just my fault - and since I'm having knee problems that I'm not going to be able to run for the train, since I already have problems running for the train anyways. I, of course, in my grown-up manner, yell right back that it's not just my fault and why can't we try to make the train and since I'm driving, I proceed to go to the train station. When we get there, it is pretty apparent that we are not going to make the train, so, of course, I've made us even later because of my insistence on trying for the train - I'm just the devil by now. He insists on driving and proceeds to tear out of the parking lot and down the road all the way to work. He is weaving in and out of traffic and, in my opinion, gets to close to the cars in front of him - I'm scared for my life, but I'm not allowed to react in anyway - though a sigh or a small screech does come out of my mouth - and then I get yelled at.

By this time, I'm seething, myself because, he very rarely is in this type of mood, it's generally my mood NOT his and I don't like being upstaged, so, I, of course, have to give it back as good as I get or just resort to my ultimate in silent treatment with the evil glinty eyes - oh, yes, I've go that look down pat - I've had years of practice on my family, friends and co-workers. By the time he drops me off at the metro I'm steaming.

I finally make into work to hear the lovely news that Joe Gibbs has decided to retire. I know that there are people out there that probably think this is a good thing, but I think that especially with the last four games played that maybe finally the team was getting things together and he definitely deserves credit for the fact that in the past years that he has been back and coaching that, while he hasn't made it to the Super Bowl, he has gotten the team to work together enough in order to make it to the playoffs twice. Which is definitely better than other coaches have done. So, what happens next year for the Redskins, once again we start all over again, getting to learn a new coach, blah, blah, blah. I hope that for the sake of the team that the next one can really pull it off.

Ok, now most of the above probably isn't even running together smoothly, but I feel better and, guess what, that's the purpose of this blog at least for this day - is my getting to get it out of my system and feeling a bit better.

The hubby and I have already talked and things are fine between us, as they usually are and will continue to be - it's just been a rough morning. I have to say I was seriously tempted to light up a cigarette in the car and stick it in his damn mouth and tell him to just inhale! But, I will be supportive and I will try my hardest to reign in my *itchy tendencies - be a grown up - and relinquish my rights as the *itch in the family, but only just for this time while he quits and gets healthy and then I definitely want my title back. I worked hard for it and established it from Day One!

I do LOVE YOU! **Just informed the hubby about this post - so, will sparks begin to fly again? Probably - He hates when I do this**

Saturday, January 5, 2008 - Katies B-day and the worst day in Wild Card History

2008-01-07T17:03:00.000-05:00

Saturday was a good day in that it was cousin Katie's Birthday and the party was a great time. Her boyfriend Pat lives in this new condo building in Rockville and it ROCKS! Jason and I are saying we need to sell both our places and buy there :-) The place is near two metro stops, right near a shopping center, has its own theater room, roof top party room with beautiful view and pool.

The party itself was attended by a great group of people and we had a blast seeing everyone and watching the wild card games as well. The only bummer of the evening - the outcome of the games - sad, sad, sad. What's up with the Skin's losing in the playoff to the Seahawks - 2nd time this has happened - not liking it, not liking it! But, I'm glad that each of my teams were there at least. The Redskins came back from a lot this year and, yes, it would have been nice if they had been able to go all the way to the BIG SHOW and Win it for Sean Taylor, but that was not in the cards.

Now, I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to do. At this point, I know I'm going to be cheering like crazy for the Jaguar's next week and hope that they take down the sillie Patriots! But what if this doesn't happen, what if it comes down to the Patriots and Cowboys - Nooo, can't happen, must also cheer loudly for Giants next week. [Note to self - if both these new teams I'm cheering for lose - switch to P & C fan for the rest of the playoffs- this should effectively eliminate them :-)]

Saturday - Jan 5, 2008
Seattle 35, Washington 14
Jacksonville 31, Pittsburgh 29

Cost of a Book

2008-01-07T12:42:00.000-05:00

I recently picked up the first book in a series called the Chintz 'n China Mysteries - "Emerald O'Brien owns a teashop, reads tarot cards, communicates with the other side and, on occasion, is called on by the living - and the dead - to solve a mystery." There are about 5 books in the series. I've since found out that it has come to an end as the author had decided to focus her work on different books which she prefers to write.

Anyways, I started looking for the second book in the series, first through the library (no luck there) and then on-line with B&N and Amazon. It is called Legend of the Jade Dragon. Unfortunately, it is out of print and I'm guessing that that is why when I found it on line it cost about $24 for USED copy of it - or - if I wanted a new one it would be about $74. WHAT?? I mean, please, this is just a paperback and the author's own website says that the series didn't attract a large enough audience to go on.

I think that it's highway robbery that the people who own these books are asking a price like that. It could be because I feel happy when I'm able to pass along my books to others who might get enjoyment out of them and I don't charge them. To me this just points out how greedy some people are and how there are too many people who will try and make money no matter what. I am also not big into the yard sale/garage sale thing. I'm oh so much more apt to want to box it up and donate it - which I guess does help me since I can write it off on my taxes, but at the same time, I'd just as soon pass it along for free if someone were interested in reading the books I had. They have this neat thing at our office where people can drop off the books they have read and anyone can come along and pick one up - like a little free library. I need to remember to pack up all my books and bring them in.

Ok, this was just a quick post to point out the ridiculousness of the situation. I'm just going to skip that book and move on to book 3 though at this point, I'm even wondering if it's worth it to continued since I know that the series will end and there probably isn't even an ending feeling to it - probably it's left hanging, because the author originally planned on writing more - I hope not. I don't like things not wrapped up for me. Hated the ending of Sopranos!!!

Wow, What a Month - December

2007-12-27T15:34:00.000-05:00

I know, I know it's been way, way to long since I've written. Not even sure if I still have any readers.

The month of December was one busy, busy month as always. The first weekend Jason and I were still sick with colds but managed to head out to Irish Channel in Crofton for Karaoke on Saturday night. We, of course, did not sing and I can't say much for some of the people who decided to sing. The place might be, ok, definitely is a bit more upscale than Jim's Hide-away in Odenton, but the talent is a little lower on the scale. Ok, ok, and I actually do believe this, I have to give props to the people who did get up because I definitely would not be doing it myself and it does provide me with lots of entertainment - so, props to the people who sang even if poorly. On Sunday I went to a Tastefully Simple party and stocked up on a bunch of goodness - I am in love with the bacon, bacon and the cheese ball it can make - not to mention the chocolate ugly cake mix - yummy goodness.

Then a week of work....

The second weekend had us boarding up the pups and heading into DC for Jason's office holiday party. They held their party at the City Club located in the Columbia Square building. It was very, very nice. They had a buffet set up with carving stations for prime rib, salmon and turkey and numerous additions for them. The dance floor was hopping to the beat of the DJ they had spinning. Oh, yes and the most important thing - Open Bar!!! This was the first time I had met Jason's co-workers and I truly enjoyed it. He seems to have found a great place to work and with a great bunch of people - Way to Go!

We headed out of that party after about 3 1/2 hours and caught a cab over to Jen's house for her Christmas party in Rosslyn. Where we continued to party and drink (wonderful hostessing job!!) into the wee hours of the morning topping off the night with a game of Cranium - don't exactly remember who won - I'm thinking my team, but I could be wrong - feeling pretty good by that time :) [Must remember to post a link to pictures - or they are on my facebook page] And then a cab ride back to our hotel in DC - The Jury's - to pass out.

and another week of work.... Oh and what a week this was - I had my review on Thursday and let me tell you - it wasn't the nicest review I've ever gotten. Let's just put it this way - I have known that I was targeted by the new manager almost from when she started as not being someone whom she would want in her department - or that she would want the responsibility for. (background: I had been promoted the beginning of the year to a position which would entail mentoring and teaching by the manager in order to get me up to speed in the position fully. The manager at that time then switched departments and we hired a new manager "NM"). NM was not - in my opinion - willing or didn't make an effort to mentor/teach me. I began to seriously dislike my work and I'm sure that I did not accomplish some things as fast as I should or actually could have because of this reason. Mid-year I was seriously thinking about returning to being a legal secretary and after the review at the end of the year, it was decided more for me, but also by me to do so. (I do admit I am much happier than I have been with work in the past 11 months). I love working at my place of employemnt and am happy to continue to be a part of making it run smoothly and efficiently :-) - enough about that - blah, blah, blah

The third weekend had us once again boarding up the pups and heading into the city for my work holiday party. This year's extravaganza was held at the Corcoran Gallery. Once again another very, very nice party. Jason and I arrived at the party I would say a little after it started and meet up with our friends. Debbie and her date were there first and had gotten us a table to hang out at - low and behold, who would have the nerve to sit down at the table with her knowing she was one of my good friends and I would be more than likely sitting with her, but the NM who just stabbed me (dramatic, huh). Another couple then came along and took two other seats at the table - actually sitting in the chair where Debbie's date had his jacket - they had both gone up to the bar to get drinks and bring us back to that table... When we noticed this we decided not to sit there any more and to gather their stuff in order to find a table which would hopefully accommodate our group. I did say "Happy Holidays" to the NM, but I cannot say what my facial expression was - I've been told it was a little chilly - I've actually heard that I can look quite like an absolute *itch even - opps - ha.

Ok, enough - I swear I'm over it!! Anyways, we had a wonderful array of food to choose from and drinks to drink (loved the peppermint martini which was the drink of the night!). We danced to some great music and all and all had a really wonderful time before heading out to our next party of the evening.

The next party was the annual Lisa and Ken (J's cousins) Christmas Party. It is always a great time. Wonderful to see all the cousins and other friends. Playing some cards, drinking Indian Blanket Juice (deadly) and shooting Jell-O shots (made by yours truly - so potent). Must say don't remember a lot towards the end of the evening - very sad - the last thing I remember is we were playing A**hole and I was President, I think for the third time in a row and that was all she wrote - I was done - Jason says he doesn't think it was a graceful exit for me either - Sorry to all who had to witness it - we caught a cab to the Sheraton National where we were staying (another nice room) and that's where I remember a little regurgitation going on and passing out in the bed until the morning. Children - do not do this - it is not a good thing!!

Then more work - making transition to new position - moving desk - setting up shop and meeting attorneys I would be floating for - very, very nice people. Going out with the "gang" to Eddies for $1 beer night and Karaoke - fun, fun, fun!!!

The weekend of Christmas was upon us - this entailed another night out with local friends on Friday to celebrate the holidays and then a bunch of mad dash shopping for gifts and food as we were hosting my family over for Christmas Day. Christmas Day went well and I believe that a good time was had by all - what more could be wanted than presents - ham, turkey, pasta and sauce, sausage bread, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, brown and serve rolls, asparagus, corn, pie and cake!!!

more work - well very slow days at the office - relaxing and catching up on things - nice!!

Last weekend - aiming for New Year's Eve. Bruce came up to hang out and after a few games on the PS3 we all headed out to Jim's for a little Karaoking. Bruce and Jason sang their soul man duet, sillie girls spilt a little bit of beer on Jason while they were dancing - had to give them a little bit of a talking to about the merits of apologizing - daggers being sent to them afterwards - rearing for a fight - HAHA and then back home sleep for me and more PS3 for the guys.

New Year's Eve was a quite occasion, but nice for Jason, Lucie, Kira and I. We rented movies and toasted the new year together in anticipation of our next year together as a family!

Happy New Year to all and hope it's a great 2008! WOW, could you imagine if I did one of those letters in the Christmas card - yikes.

As we move into December

2007-11-30T10:38:00.000-05:00

Gosh, it's been like forever since I've written - sorry. Not actually really going to write all that much now, just wanted to post this picture as a reminder as we move into the holiday season! Be good!

Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner Dinner

2007-11-16T11:45:00.001-05:00

The first annual pre-Thanksgiving dinner dinner was held on November 10. Jason and I were honored to host this at our house. Everyone participated in the meal by preparing and bringing dishes to accompany the Turkey.

I made the turkey, mashed potatoes (I had to run to Williams Sanoma earlier that day to buy a potato ricer - I was so excited), brown and serve rolls and yams with marshmallows on top.

Jen made green bean/bacon bundles, a sausage, cherry tomato and hash brown casserole and a salad which I believe contained pomegranates and had a delicious dressing.

Dana made homemade stuffing.

Shirli provided us with cornbread and pies (I know that one pie said Strawberry on it even though it looked exactly like apple - I'm sticking to that!!)

Now, my apologies to Meghan and Leise, because I can't specify who brought what, but I know that when they arrived so did the pinot nior, a nice white and a peach beer? or something like that - all very delicious and enjoyed by all.

Bruce dazzled us with his appetizer - caprice salad and Matt provided the digestif - Rumplemintz (wonderful shot :-)) Jason had his kegerrator up and running serving cold brews for all to enjoy.

After all the wonderfully delicious food was eaten, we relaxed by playing Cranium and Celebrities. All in all I believe that everyone had an enjoyable time and we look forward to doing this next year so that we may give thanks to all our good friends for their being their for us and sharing with us theirs and our good times and, yes, even bad times.

Here are some of the pictures from the evening which I downloaded from Jen's facebook site. I have to get some pictures from Bruce who was also taking pictures and will post that when I accomplish that.

http://picasaweb.google.com/drearosson/PreThanksgivingDinnerDinner

Finally - My Photos from Bruce's B-day

2007-11-13T16:29:00.001-05:00

If you use the following URL, I'm hoping you will be able to access the pictures I took way back when of Bruce's Birthday Scavenger Hunt beginning at the Washington Monument and ending at Atomic Billiards - not that many but some.

http://picasaweb.google.com/drearosson/BruceSBDay

Halloween - Fins - 10-27-07

2007-11-13T16:16:00.000-05:00

Halloween Pictures - Fins 10-27-07

2007-11-13T16:14:00.000-05:00

Trivia Wednesday - Fins - Answers

2007-11-13T13:50:00.000-05:00

Ok, I'm finally getting on to post the answers to the Halloween trivia questions. I know, I know, late in getting the questions posted, late in getting the answers posted - bad, bad, bad.

Ok, here they are:

1. What is the top candy sold for Halloween? A. Snickers B. M&M's C. Tootsie Rolls D. Candy Corn
A. Snickers

2. List the following from Most to Least in number of sequels A. Halloween B. Nightmare on Elm Street C. Alien D. Friday the 13th
D. Friday 13; A. Halloween; B. Nightmare on Elm Street; C. Alien (I have to admit this one I'm trying to remember from memory - Jason was supposed to confirm, but haven't heard from him yet :-))

3. Name the four immediate family members of the Adams family. Bonus: Name the other main characters
Morticia, Gomez, Wenesday and Pugsley - Bonus: Cousin It, Grandmama, Uncle Fester, Lurch, Thing

4. Threeser - What do these three things have in common? My Blue Heaven Little Shop of Horrors Parenthood
Rick Moranes and Steve Martin

5. If you look into a mirror at midnight what will you see? A. Bloody Mary B. Future Spouse C. Your Death D. Dead Ancestor
B. Future Spouse

6. What was the first wrapped penny candy in the U.S.?
Tootsie Roll

7. What was the very first Jack o'lantern made out of? A. Watermelon B. Pumpkin C. Coconut D. Turnip
D. Turnip

8. In the movie Halloween by John Carpenter - although it is set in IL what license plate could be seen on all the vehicles?
California

9. True or False. Halloween is the second most commercially successful holiday after Christmas?
True

10. What was the most popular costume of 2004? A. Witch B. Spiderman C. Vampire D. George W. Bush
B. Spiderman

11. Threeser. What do these three things have in common? Michael J. Fox Michael Jackson Jack Nicholson
They all played werewolves

12. Name the Munsters.
Lili, Herman, Eddie and Marilyn

13. How much did the world's biggest pumpkin weigh in 2003? A. 245 lbs b. 785 lbs c. 1385 lbs d. 1875 lbs
C. 1385

14. In the nursery rhyme in the movie Nightmare on Elm Street, what follows 5, 6?
1-2 Freddies coming for you
3-4 Better lock your door
5-6 Grab your crucifix

15. Anagram: Rearrange the letters below to find the name of an actress. review agony sure
Sigourney Weaver

Well, I hope that you did well and that you had fun playing along.

Book Club - My House - Tuesday, October 30, 2007

2007-11-07T15:06:00.000-05:00

Wow, I am so far behind on some of the things I want to post/said I'd post. Where does time go? What it is is that I don't really like to get on to the computer in the evening when I'm home because I spend so much time on it at work during the day. It's so much easier to post at lunch or during my breaks. Anyways...

The book club evening went well. I believe that everyone had a good time, love the house and enjoyed the food. Whew!

The overall consensus was that the book "The Faraday Girls" was enjoyed by all - a good pick - yay! We convened at 7:00 had a few appetizers - veggies and dip (Knorr's veggie spinach dip) and tortilla chips and dip (chili cheese dip). Around 8:00 we sat down and had some dinner. I made Sloppy Joes, potatoes au gratin and green beans. Dessert was Rainbow Sherbert.

I have to say that the dip I served with the tortilla chips was a big hit.

Chili-Cheese dip to accompany Tortilla Chips
1 can of Hormel chili - no beans
8 oz of cream cheese
Heat in saucepan over low to medium heat until cheese melts and is mixed in(sure it can be done in a microwave, just didn't do that)
Serve warm with chips

The recipe for the potatoes au gratin is below. I will have to bring in the Sloppy Joe recipe and post that as well. Both were well complimented - I'm so pleased.

Potatoes Au gratin - Swans Palette Cookbook - www.swanscoachhouse.com

2c heavy cream
1 5oz Boursin cheese with herbs
5 medium baking potatoes - peeled & thinly sliced
Salt & pepper
Fresh parsley to garnish

In saucepan over medium heat combine cheese and heavy cream until cheese melts. Stirring constantly

In greased 13x9 baking pan place:
Layer of half of the peeled, sliced potatoes overlapping
Salt & pepper to taste.
Layer of cheese liquid
Layer of remaining potatoes
Top with remaining cheese liquid

Cook 400 degrees for 1 hour or until golden brown. Remove.

Sprinkle with parsley to garnish

Ok, got to run. Lunch hour is over. Back to drafting bios - fun, fun, fun

Trivia Wednesday at Fins, Oct. 31 - Halloween Night

2007-11-07T14:31:00.000-05:00

I know, I know this is really late - a week late, but better late than never... Let's just hope I remember the answers when I post them :-) The best thing is that we came in 1st by a landslide - we know our Halloween Trivia!!!

Tonight is another evening of trivia at Fins - hopefully it will be going down. Pssst... I'm even thinking about not drinking for this one - hmmmm might help with the brain waves - we'll see how it goes :-)

Team: Kevin (RINAR), Jason, Andrea, Danny N.

1. What is the top candy sold for Halloween?
A. Snickers
B. M&M's
C. Tootsie Rolls
D. Candy Corn

2. List the following from Most to Least in number of sequels
A. Halloween
B. Nightmare on Elm Street
C. Alien
D. Friday the 13th

3. Name the four immediate family members of the Adams family.

Bonus: Name the other main characters

4. Threeser - What do these three things have in common?
My Blue Heaven
Little Shop of Horrors
Parenthood

5. If you look into a mirror at midnight what will you see?
A. Bloody Mary
B. Future Spouse
C. Your Death
D. Dead Ancestor

6. What was the first wrapped penny candy in the U.S.?

7. What was the very first Jack o'lantern made out of?
A. Watermelon
B. Pumpkin
C. Coconut
D. Turnip

8. In the movie Halloween by John Carpenter - although it is set in IL what license plate could be seen on all the vehicles?

9. True or False. Halloween is the second most commercially successful holiday after Christmas?
10. What was the most popular costume of 2004?
A. Witch
B. Spiderman
C. Vampire
D. George W. Bush

11. Threeser. What do these three things have in common?
Michael J. Fox
Michael Jackson
Jack Nicholson

12. Name the Munsters.

13. How much did the world's biggest pumpkin weigh in 2003?
A. 245 lbs
b. 785 lbs
c. 1385 lbs
d. 1875 lbs

14. In the nursery rhyme in the movie Nightmare on Elm Street, what follows 5, 6?

15. Anagram: Rearrange the letters below to find the name of an actress.
review agony sure

Good Luck. Let me know how you do. Feel free to post your answers in the comment section and I'll check it before posting the answers and let you know how you did.

Hugging and Detention??

2007-11-07T09:43:00.000-05:00

I had to drop a quick post. I just read a story on MSNBC.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21661718/) where this girl got two days detention for giving her friends hugs as she said goodbye to them for the weekend. The hug is described as just being an quick over one shoulder squeeze - so not an all out hug fest. This is completely ridiculous. They say it is because there is a school ban against public displays of affection and this falls into that category. I can understand the concept of wanting such a ban, but really people let's reword this ban or make it more specific so that it says what types of public displays of affection are ok and which are not - Massive makeout sessions - not; giving little goodbye hugs - ok.

The parents of the girl told her to go ahead and serve the detentions as the only other alternative at this point is two days suspension, but are going to go to the next school board meeting and propose that the school board reword or specify.

Can we say carried away much?

Steelers beat down Ravens

2007-11-06T13:22:00.000-05:00

Was that a game or was that a game! The commanding lead taken by the Steelers was awesome. We were like - 35-0 and it's only the 2nd quarter - wow - what will happen the rest of the game. It was quite a bummer that before the first half ended the Ravens did score 7. The second half while not a big scoring event did have the Steelers holding the Ravens. The Steelers defense set the tone beautifully by going on the attack early and often - woo hoo.

I wish that Roethlisberger hadn't been taken down in the 3rd. I would have loved to see how far the team could have gone with him as the QB for the whole game - would it have been a total smack down like the Patriots gave the previous weekend? Not that Batch did a bad job, he kept the ball moving until it stalled, but the team was close enough for a 22-yard field goal. Harrison was on top of his game - he had eight solo tackles, one assist, three and a half sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception.

Ben and James did a superlative job, but, in the words of Mike Tomlin, "but I don’t want to devalue the team effort. I like the way this football team played tonight and we got the win."

The Steelers continue to lead the AFC North with their 6-2 record!!! Watch out Patriots we are planning your take down on December 9!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

2007-10-31T11:29:00.001-04:00

Some great quotes from the classic - "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"

"There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin."
— Linus Van Pelt

Sally Brown: I could have gone to tricks-or-treats! Halloween is over and I missed it! Instead, I spend the night on a pumpkin patch and all that came was a beagle! You blockhead! I could have had apples and gum, and cookies and money and other things! I'll sue! Trick-or-treats only come once a year, and instead I spent all night sitting in a pumpkin patch! What a fool I was! You owe me restitution!

Linus: [to Charlie Brown after Sally just ripped him a new one] You've heard of the fury of a woman scorned, haven't you?
Charlie Brown: Yeah, I guess I have.
Linus: Well, that's nothing compared to the fury of a woman who has been cheated out of trick-or-treats.

Tonight we get to see all the neighborhood kids dressed up and out in costume. We will then hopefully be heading off to Wednesday night Trivia at Fins - Supposed to be a Halloween themed trivia. Questions tomorrow.

Rant - No Keys Once Again

2007-10-31T09:54:00.000-04:00

Today is Halloween and I've had it scheduled to leave early at 4:00 almost all month. Jason is supposed to be leaving early as well. This morning was a hectic one as normal. We were running around to get ready and try and make the train, which we once again missed so had to drive in. Maybe it was a blessing that we missed the train because on the ride in, I noticed I didn't have my monthly ticket with me since I had finished the book I was reading where I had been using it as a bookmark. Since I noticed this, we talked and I grabbed a one way ticket which we had in the car, Bruce had left it there after taking up the train one day and not being asked for his ticket on board, so that just in case Jason wasn't able to get out of the office in time because of work constraints, I would still be able to take the train and make it home in time to meet all the trick-or-treaters. (First year in our new house and the neighborhood kids tell us they all go out so I want to make sure we are there to see them.)

Oh, the best laid out plans

It wasn't until I was walking down from Metro Center to my office. Walking down from the metro? Yes, even though we drive in and we do have to technically go by my office to get to his - it is about 3-4 blocks down 11th Street from where he goes across I or K to get to his office, so he drops me off (pushes me out if he's a real big hurry - lol) at the curb on the outside circle (Mass Ave.) as we go by Union Station and I have to take the train from there. If I didn't I would have to ride all the way to his office and take the train back from Farragut West to Metro Center - it just takes way, way to long for him to travel those 3-4 extra blocks.

Anyways, I digress. As I was walking down from Metro Center to my office. I realized that I, once again, don't have a single set of keys to the house or either one of our cars because Jason has all of MY keys. One set for the car he is driving and he has pocketed the other Saturn car keys with the house keys on it for some reason or another. Why do I stress that they are my keys - it's because, yes, once frick'in again, Jason has misplaced his keys. They are somewhere around the house, but he has no clue where he put them or where they could be. He claims to have searched high and low for them but is unable to find them. I am sure I will need to do a search on my own very, very soon, but I've been pretty busy lately so haven't had a chance. I know that it probably won't take that long to find them once I start - it hasn't in the past. (I don't think guys know how to look beyond what's directly in their line of sight.) So, we have been splitting up my keys to the two cars.

I understand that since he did the driving today that he would need the Toyota keys as a necessity, what I don't understand is why he has the Saturn keys. I drove this car home last night, let myself into the house and put them on the little table by the door where keys are to be left so that they are easily accessible to both of us. This is where they should be returned to if needed to open the lock on the back gate - which I actually had to do last night for my book club guests and I returned the keys to the table. Now, not positive, but I'm thinking Jason picked up these keys to go out to the car parked by the back gate, which he had driven home, so he went out that door and needed to unlock the gate. He came back in, locked the gate and pocketed the keys!! How do I know this, because this morning when I went to look for the keys so that I could lock the deadbbolt behind us as we exited the house I was unable to find the keys where I had left them and they were supposed to be. I proceeded to ask him if he had both sets of keys and he said yes. I restated my question to indicate I was specifically looking for the Saturn keys which definitely had a house key on it. He said yes again. Did he offer to give them to me after I asked about them twice - No. Now, I'm sure it was my fault because I didn't spell it out specifically for him that I wanted the keys. But you know - I wasn't asking for them out of my health. I would think that since I lock the door after us every morning and he is aware of this that he would put two and two together and give me the keys or at least offer them to me - no such luck. Again, maybe I don't know the reason that he so strongly held on to these keys - maybe they gave him security - just don't know. All that I know is that I did not get them. Mind you this was all happening while we were rushing out the door to make the train, so I didn't even dwell on it at the time or think again to ask more specifically for them. So, maybe it is all my fault that I am now once again stuck without keys!

I know that you who know us are thinking - Andrea, Andrea, how long have you known Jason, this is so like him, you can't be surprised. And, I know, I know. It just does bug me that after being together for six years and basically living together for four of those years, all during which I have had a drop-off area for keys, repeatedly pointing this out and asking and/or yelling at him that he needs to leave the keys there, that he can not get it through his thick skull to do so. If he had done this with his set of keys they would not be lost now and I would not be without keys.

Seriously, do men ever change. Is what I'm asking really all that hard? Maybe one day this work in progress will actually take hold. I would just think that if he keeps losing things and that when he does do it the way I ask and it works that he would realize this and keep it up. I know that people are going to be thinking why would he want to change if all that I do is nag, nag, nag. They don't know that I actually did try and change that aspect of myself - because, even I know I'm pretty good at nagging. I went through a period of a few months where I tried the positive reinforcement method of asking politely going so far as helping and pitching in with most of what I was asking to be done - feeling like a mother the whole time and did it change anything - Not Really. So, I have gone back to nagging because it makes me feel better. If being a spacecadet and not keeping track of things makes him feel like himself and better, then I should have just as much right to nag and bitch cause it makes me feel better.

This sounds like that is all we do, but this is just an instance and this post is just a rant to get it off my chest. The majority of the time we get along very well and are still our happily newlywed married selves, so people don't take this overly serious and start getting out the numbers for counselors - not needed.

All said..... He had better be able to leave on time today!

Sunday - Football and Poker

2007-10-29T14:37:00.000-04:00

On Sunday we hung around the house until it was ready to head over to Virginia to watch the Redskins vs. Patriots game and to play some poker. I had been checking the Steelers site to make sure that they were doing good and, of course, they were. They won 24-13 against the Bengals. Next game Nov. 5 vs. the Ravens and I am definitely hoping that they beat the Ravens down!!!

We arrived at Matt's around 4:00, so, just in time to set up for poker and the start of the football game. I knew going into the game that the Redskins were going to have to play exceptionally well in order to even stand a chance against the NE team. The Pats have been having a phenomenal season so far and, unfortunately, I could not say the same for the 'skins. I had actually even resigned myself to the fact that the Redskins probably wouldn't win, but damn! I thought they would at least do better than they did.

I have to say I'm thankful for the fact that I was playing poker at the same time, so that I did not give all my attention to the game and I missed most of the fumbles and the interception - though thanks to the playbacks - Not! I was able to see them - grr and boo hoo. This was not even just a loss it was a sucky loss - Jason is a Patriots fan and we go head to head about the better team whenever the Patriots play either the Redskins or the Steelers and I know, that one day, one of my teams will trounce those Patriots, but it wasn't the Redskins this year. I'm still in hope that the Steelers with do it when they take on the Patriots December 9th, so here's to keeping my fingers crossed and my thoughts in good places.

Poker.. it was fun. Neither Jason nor I won in the first game. Shirli took top honors with Matt in second and my following in third - they got money and I didn't :-( In the second game, I was on fire or maybe I really concentrated a little more and didn't throw my chips after bad cards, I don't know, but it came down to Matt and I battling for 1st and I eeked it out - Woo Hoo.

Can't wait for the next game!