January, was it really JANUARY when I last posted?? Apparently so. Lots has happened, so how about a little recap?
The "out of the house" birthday party? I will only say there was a FIRE ALARM 1/2 an hour into the party, just enough time for all of the guests to be IN THE POOL and soaking wet before it started. Oh, did I mention it was about 17 degrees? Lucky us, they let us stay in the lobby rather than going outside, so we got to listen to the shrieking - and then the ringing in our ears for the rest of the day. Verdict? The birthday never leaves the house AGAIN. On the plus side, we had out of town guests, and it was WONDERFUL to see them.
My Mom? She's fine, radiation over, no ill effects, medication begun, no ill effects, all is well.
February school vacation? It began with me socializing with a bunch of friends from growing up on Friday night, at a local dive in my hometown. Great pizza, nowhere to sit, loud, dark, and BAAAD wine...the tip off was that it came in teeny plastic bottles - note to self: Don't drink that crap again...yeesh. Then Mom's 70th birthday dinner, joy of joys, the sisters didn't show. What a lovely quiet day with me, my brothers and their spouses (and my 2 beloved nephews..) Life was good, no drama, no arguements, no snide comments - AHHHHH...Then off to the Cape, much fun was had by all. I had a hot stone massage for the first time, and have now decided I will never go back to any of the others I have ever had. AMEN. AH-LAY-LOO-YAH! I came home positively relaxed and refreshed.
March has begun with town election day - drum roll....you guessed it! They served the annual corn chowder for lunch and corned beef and cabbage for dinner. Wretch. I ate before I went to the polls. With 300 ballots cast, the counting was over by 8:30.
March also began with me getting rear ended while waiting to take a left turn into my driveway. The roads were a mess, and the guy just couldn't stop. He took off the back corner of my car while in full slide. I drive a car I lovingly refer to as a Sherman Tank, and it held true to it's nickname. We felt the bump, but not much more. The car took the hit for us. Now my poor baby sits waiting repair, while I drive the insurance company replacement vehicle. I now have a Dodge Durango, which I am calling a basketball, since I feel like I bounce down the roads - it's just about spring in New Hampshire, and every single road has a variety of "frost heaves" which makes a ride in a normal car a bit like a roller coaster, and in this Durango it's a WILD ride! I am not making too much noise since the first ride they tucked me into was an IMPALA - who knew they still made such a thing, and WHY do they make such a thing still!? I can tell you, if you are thinking you might want one? Have someone slap you hard - what a waste. No wonder American car manufacturers are going down the tubes.
Let's see, I think you are just about caught up, tomorrow is Town Meeting day - wheeee...I look forward to hearing and seeing lots of my neighbors I only see AT Town Meeting..
I know, you missed me, right?
Friday, March 13, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Strength in Numbers
Please take 5 minutes and 7 seconds to watch and hear these wonderful words.
I know I often say how profoundly grateful I am for the wonderful friends I have. Clearly, I am not alone. Some of us are fortunate enough to be blessed by the fabulous women who encircle us, I know I am.
I am so thankful for each piece of themselves that my friends share with me - they make my life whole. My world is better because they are in it.
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I know I often say how profoundly grateful I am for the wonderful friends I have. Clearly, I am not alone. Some of us are fortunate enough to be blessed by the fabulous women who encircle us, I know I am.
I am so thankful for each piece of themselves that my friends share with me - they make my life whole. My world is better because they are in it.
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Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Still LOST and sucked back in AGAIN!
Here I go again, the damned show LOST is back on...I watched the recap show(s) tonight, and I feel like I have forgotten 1/2 of what went on last season. I do think it aired 2 years ago, so potentially, it's OK I did forget...but I digress.
I have watched the show since it came on the air, and just when I think I finally "GET" something, I realize I don't get it at all. My fear, this far into it, that even after they tie up all the ends, I still won't know what this has all been about.
Maybe I will. Maybe the writers are just that good. God, I hope so.
I have watched the show since it came on the air, and just when I think I finally "GET" something, I realize I don't get it at all. My fear, this far into it, that even after they tie up all the ends, I still won't know what this has all been about.
Maybe I will. Maybe the writers are just that good. God, I hope so.
Too close for my comfort
The big Boston news last Friday was the crash of a Boston Fire Department ladder truck. Ladder 26, from the Huntington Ave. station. The officer on the truck was killed. Now as you readers know, my brothers are both firefighters, and possibly some of you may even remember, one brother is a Captain on Boston Fire.
My brother, until almost a year ago, was the Captain on Ladder 26, from Huntington Ave. The men at Huntington Ave. are his friends, two of them his best friends. To say this has shaken my family is a mighty understatement. The Lieutenant who died was in the very same seat my brother occupied for 5 years. This Lieutenant has been at Ladder 26 for 20 years. A great, dedicated firefighter and family man. As I sat and watched the funeral today for the Lieutenant, and saw my brother and brother's best friends as pall bearers, one of them ringing the bell for "2-2 2-2" at the end of the funeral, it broke my heart. It could have just as easily been my very own brother in that casket, the faces would have been the same.
As a sister of a firefighter, there is always the thought when something happens, and a firefighter is killed in the line of duty that "it could be my brother on any call who doesn't come back", but in this case, this hit too close for comfort. This is right in our backyard.
The initial reports are that the brakes failed on the Ladder. It is a miracle that no one else was injured or killed in this horrible accident. Before running head on into an apartment building, this truck crossed 4 lanes of traffic and an MBTA trolley line. By all accounts, Lt. Kelley was blaring the air horn as they sped downhill, unable to stop. He told his men to hold on, he did everything he could. There is a great article on line today about the actions of this brave men, in the course of such a senseless and avoidable accident. Boston.com article
I am grateful again for the fact that my brother has come home from work to his home and family; but I am also grateful for the service and dedication of men like Lt. Kevin Kelley who gave his life while working to help others. Thank your firefighters, be grateful they are willing to put their lives on the line to help anyone in need. Where would we be without them?
My brother, until almost a year ago, was the Captain on Ladder 26, from Huntington Ave. The men at Huntington Ave. are his friends, two of them his best friends. To say this has shaken my family is a mighty understatement. The Lieutenant who died was in the very same seat my brother occupied for 5 years. This Lieutenant has been at Ladder 26 for 20 years. A great, dedicated firefighter and family man. As I sat and watched the funeral today for the Lieutenant, and saw my brother and brother's best friends as pall bearers, one of them ringing the bell for "2-2 2-2" at the end of the funeral, it broke my heart. It could have just as easily been my very own brother in that casket, the faces would have been the same.
As a sister of a firefighter, there is always the thought when something happens, and a firefighter is killed in the line of duty that "it could be my brother on any call who doesn't come back", but in this case, this hit too close for comfort. This is right in our backyard.
The initial reports are that the brakes failed on the Ladder. It is a miracle that no one else was injured or killed in this horrible accident. Before running head on into an apartment building, this truck crossed 4 lanes of traffic and an MBTA trolley line. By all accounts, Lt. Kelley was blaring the air horn as they sped downhill, unable to stop. He told his men to hold on, he did everything he could. There is a great article on line today about the actions of this brave men, in the course of such a senseless and avoidable accident. Boston.com article
I am grateful again for the fact that my brother has come home from work to his home and family; but I am also grateful for the service and dedication of men like Lt. Kevin Kelley who gave his life while working to help others. Thank your firefighters, be grateful they are willing to put their lives on the line to help anyone in need. Where would we be without them?
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Out with the old - literally.
With the beginning of the new year, a lot of change is taking place at our house.
On New Year's Day, I spent about 4 hours sorting, organizing and in the end, throwing away 2 huge trash bags full from my kitchen. Change has come, and gone are the days of sitting for hours with Anna at that counter, doing workbook pages, painting, coloring, play-doh-ing. One whole corner of my kitchen counter was taken up with all of that "stuff", not to mention the 2 storage drawer things UNDER the counter full of more of the learning and craft gear. My dear daughter is growing up, her world is bigger, her time home is less, we had to make a change.
One change begets another. The change that came yesterday was to the toy "nook" upstairs. The nook has been home to the little kitchen center and the baby doll gear for the last almost 4 years. I decided that the toy area needed an overhaul. Keeping toys for younger children out and available has always been not such a big deal, we have the room for sure. But what came to me the other day is, well, the house isn't full of kids playing like it used to be. It used to be 3 or 4 days a week there were between 5 and 15 kids of varying ages playing here. That really doesn't happen anymore, and I decided, I want my house back. I threw out another 2 big bags of things missing pieces, broken, torn or otherwise no longer useful items. I stored the baby dolls and their gear in the toy closet, and packed up all of the pretend food and toy kitchen items. Ready to go to their new home. Buh-Bye.
Funny thing is? Anna was completely unfazed at the toss fest - she would pass through and say "yeah, I don't play with that anymore...". I have moved on to her bedroom today. If that is how she feels, I say strike while the iron is hot!
In the final installment today of "out with the old" is more personal. As most people know, I am not really the best patient in the world, my doctors don't see me for oh, 4 or 9 years at a time..one particular thing I have been avoiding since I was 30 was a colonoscopy that I had to have. I was supposed to have one at 40 too. Thanks Dad, really...your little bout of colon cancer doomed your kids to these tests every 10 years or so. Well, I never did the age 30 test, so I decided that I'd do the age 30 and age 40 requirements at the same time. My appointment is at 8:15 am tomorrow. I have had almost nothing to eat since yesterday at 1pm, so I am hopeful my "prep" won't be as awful as I think it might. To make matters more annoying, I was supposed to pick up some liquid (3oz. total) that I was to drink, 1.5oz. at a time, twice this afternoon. I found out this morning when I went to buy it that it has been recalled by the FDA. This necessitated a call to the Dr. who then had to call me in a prescription for some other stuff. The other stuff looks very very bad. I could have handled 2 "shooters", but now, I have this 4 litre jug of god knows what, that I need to drink 8oz. at 10 minute intervals. "WHAT???" The instructions from the pharmacist were, "it tastes better chilled, and don't sip it, just drink it down as quick as you can each time." Oh, and buy baby wipes, you'll need them.
Out with the old I guess...I am giving myself until 4 pm, then I am going to start to drink the stuff - we'll just have to see what all transpires.
On New Year's Day, I spent about 4 hours sorting, organizing and in the end, throwing away 2 huge trash bags full from my kitchen. Change has come, and gone are the days of sitting for hours with Anna at that counter, doing workbook pages, painting, coloring, play-doh-ing. One whole corner of my kitchen counter was taken up with all of that "stuff", not to mention the 2 storage drawer things UNDER the counter full of more of the learning and craft gear. My dear daughter is growing up, her world is bigger, her time home is less, we had to make a change.
One change begets another. The change that came yesterday was to the toy "nook" upstairs. The nook has been home to the little kitchen center and the baby doll gear for the last almost 4 years. I decided that the toy area needed an overhaul. Keeping toys for younger children out and available has always been not such a big deal, we have the room for sure. But what came to me the other day is, well, the house isn't full of kids playing like it used to be. It used to be 3 or 4 days a week there were between 5 and 15 kids of varying ages playing here. That really doesn't happen anymore, and I decided, I want my house back. I threw out another 2 big bags of things missing pieces, broken, torn or otherwise no longer useful items. I stored the baby dolls and their gear in the toy closet, and packed up all of the pretend food and toy kitchen items. Ready to go to their new home. Buh-Bye.
Funny thing is? Anna was completely unfazed at the toss fest - she would pass through and say "yeah, I don't play with that anymore...". I have moved on to her bedroom today. If that is how she feels, I say strike while the iron is hot!
In the final installment today of "out with the old" is more personal. As most people know, I am not really the best patient in the world, my doctors don't see me for oh, 4 or 9 years at a time..one particular thing I have been avoiding since I was 30 was a colonoscopy that I had to have. I was supposed to have one at 40 too. Thanks Dad, really...your little bout of colon cancer doomed your kids to these tests every 10 years or so. Well, I never did the age 30 test, so I decided that I'd do the age 30 and age 40 requirements at the same time. My appointment is at 8:15 am tomorrow. I have had almost nothing to eat since yesterday at 1pm, so I am hopeful my "prep" won't be as awful as I think it might. To make matters more annoying, I was supposed to pick up some liquid (3oz. total) that I was to drink, 1.5oz. at a time, twice this afternoon. I found out this morning when I went to buy it that it has been recalled by the FDA. This necessitated a call to the Dr. who then had to call me in a prescription for some other stuff. The other stuff looks very very bad. I could have handled 2 "shooters", but now, I have this 4 litre jug of god knows what, that I need to drink 8oz. at 10 minute intervals. "WHAT???" The instructions from the pharmacist were, "it tastes better chilled, and don't sip it, just drink it down as quick as you can each time." Oh, and buy baby wipes, you'll need them.
Out with the old I guess...I am giving myself until 4 pm, then I am going to start to drink the stuff - we'll just have to see what all transpires.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
A Countdown Meme
I read this one on line and thought it was a good one!
10 Things you wish you could say to ten different people
1. Stop being so damned grumpy!
2. I worry more about the economy and how it effects our business more than anyone knows.
3. I wish I wasn't related to you. Really.
4. I miss you.
5. Can't you just get over it?
6. I think you pretend to be someone you aren't, and your "friends" don't know you like I do. Too bad for them.
7. I love you, I always have.
8. Let me help.
9. I hope you are happy.
10. I'm glad you called.
9 Things about yourself
1. I love to cook.
2. I love knit.
3. I love to read.
4 I love music.
5. I love to drive, I hate being a passenger.
6. I can really nasty when I get angry
7. I takes a lot to make me angry.
8. I like life simple and uncomplicated.
9. I wish had the means to live 1/2 of the year here and 1/2 somewhere warm.
8 Ways to win my heart
1. Be honest.
2. Make me laugh.
3. Talk to me.
4. Appreciate me for who I am.
5. Back me up when I need it.
6. Do things for me "just because"
7. Need me (just a little)
8. Listen.
7 Things that cross my mind a lot
1. Am I being a good mother?
2. Did I handle that well?
3. How are Mom & Dad?
4. Is Anna/Eric/Justin OK?
5. Where do I need to be next?
6. What is the next job?
7. How can we "create" work?
6 Thing I do before I fall asleep
1. Put the dogs in Anna's room.
2. Turn off the Christmas lights.
3. Check the locks on the doors.
4. Make sure the garage door is shut.
5. Turn on my ipod.
6. Put my head on the pillow.
5 People I couldn’t live without
1. Eric
2. Anna
3. Justin
4. Mom
5. Dad
4 Things I am wearing right now
1. Socks
2. Jeans
3. Turtleneck
4. Undies!
3 Songs that fit my life perfectly
1. Unglamorous - Lori McKenna
2. I don't wanna miss a thing- Aerosmith
3. Unanswered Prayers - Garth Brooks
2 Things I want to do before I die
1. Get back to Europe, preferably to live for an extended period of time.
2. See Anna grow up, get married and have a baby of her own.
1 Confession
It's not such a confession for my blog readers, but I do feel quite often that I am living in the wrong place - as much as I love it here, and love the people here with me.
10 Things you wish you could say to ten different people
1. Stop being so damned grumpy!
2. I worry more about the economy and how it effects our business more than anyone knows.
3. I wish I wasn't related to you. Really.
4. I miss you.
5. Can't you just get over it?
6. I think you pretend to be someone you aren't, and your "friends" don't know you like I do. Too bad for them.
7. I love you, I always have.
8. Let me help.
9. I hope you are happy.
10. I'm glad you called.
9 Things about yourself
1. I love to cook.
2. I love knit.
3. I love to read.
4 I love music.
5. I love to drive, I hate being a passenger.
6. I can really nasty when I get angry
7. I takes a lot to make me angry.
8. I like life simple and uncomplicated.
9. I wish had the means to live 1/2 of the year here and 1/2 somewhere warm.
8 Ways to win my heart
1. Be honest.
2. Make me laugh.
3. Talk to me.
4. Appreciate me for who I am.
5. Back me up when I need it.
6. Do things for me "just because"
7. Need me (just a little)
8. Listen.
7 Things that cross my mind a lot
1. Am I being a good mother?
2. Did I handle that well?
3. How are Mom & Dad?
4. Is Anna/Eric/Justin OK?
5. Where do I need to be next?
6. What is the next job?
7. How can we "create" work?
6 Thing I do before I fall asleep
1. Put the dogs in Anna's room.
2. Turn off the Christmas lights.
3. Check the locks on the doors.
4. Make sure the garage door is shut.
5. Turn on my ipod.
6. Put my head on the pillow.
5 People I couldn’t live without
1. Eric
2. Anna
3. Justin
4. Mom
5. Dad
4 Things I am wearing right now
1. Socks
2. Jeans
3. Turtleneck
4. Undies!
3 Songs that fit my life perfectly
1. Unglamorous - Lori McKenna
2. I don't wanna miss a thing- Aerosmith
3. Unanswered Prayers - Garth Brooks
2 Things I want to do before I die
1. Get back to Europe, preferably to live for an extended period of time.
2. See Anna grow up, get married and have a baby of her own.
1 Confession
It's not such a confession for my blog readers, but I do feel quite often that I am living in the wrong place - as much as I love it here, and love the people here with me.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Some updates to the work for December
First of all, the baby gifts were a huge smash! All done in Cashmere/Merino YUMMY!
Pinwheel blanket:
In the end there were 600 stitches on the size 7 needles. It took about 1/2 an hour to knit all the way around the outside. I cast off in seed stitch which also took a bit of effort - but in the end, it was a smash hit!
On to the Baby Surprise Jacket: an interesting project all around. Knit flat with increases and decreases, you neeed only to sew up the top of the shoulders and SURPRISE you have a sweater!
I found the cutest Beatrix Potter buttons for the sweater...it did come out very well if I do say so myself!
I also think the back of it is cool, since it's knit flat, the stripes are horizontal on the back:
Finally, the Nisse I sent to Norway this week - photographed with the gifts they are bringing to Ricke and her Mom:
I am finishing the hat/arms/legs on another one this weekend, and hopefully finishing a green one to go with it by Tuesday. I can do it, I know I can..we shall see! Oh, did I mention that I am baking and making up the "magic reindeer food" this weekend too for Anna's class party on Monday? I'm a little busy. I'd better stop blogging and get on it! Have a great weekend!
Pinwheel blanket:
In the end there were 600 stitches on the size 7 needles. It took about 1/2 an hour to knit all the way around the outside. I cast off in seed stitch which also took a bit of effort - but in the end, it was a smash hit!
On to the Baby Surprise Jacket: an interesting project all around. Knit flat with increases and decreases, you neeed only to sew up the top of the shoulders and SURPRISE you have a sweater!
I found the cutest Beatrix Potter buttons for the sweater...it did come out very well if I do say so myself!
I also think the back of it is cool, since it's knit flat, the stripes are horizontal on the back:
Finally, the Nisse I sent to Norway this week - photographed with the gifts they are bringing to Ricke and her Mom:
I am finishing the hat/arms/legs on another one this weekend, and hopefully finishing a green one to go with it by Tuesday. I can do it, I know I can..we shall see! Oh, did I mention that I am baking and making up the "magic reindeer food" this weekend too for Anna's class party on Monday? I'm a little busy. I'd better stop blogging and get on it! Have a great weekend!
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