Wednesday, December 31, 2008

One Last Post Before 2009!

It's only a few hours before 2009 and I figure one more post would do.

It's been an amazing year, with ups, downs, new friends made, searching out old friends and becoming reaquainted, and making some adventurous trips around this great nation of ours.

I don't really regret any of it, the good or the bad, because I have grown and learned from all the actions that I have made and been through.

The reason I started blogging in the first place a few years ago is because I was obsessive about getting out of debt. I changed it to a family blog when I felt guilty for not suceeding in that endeavor in the time I had allotted for myself. I am still in a great deal amount of debt and my job dealings are not looking so great despite having a degree. The economy is all making us suffer right now and my life is certainly no exception. This blog will continue to be about me and the family and everything I happen to want to write about. It's my journal to cheer, vent, scream, and to let out my emotions, which thankfully do have thier ups too.

As I live this life that Heavenly Father gave me, I will continue to strive to do my best and learn along the way. I know it won't be boring, not for me anyway. Hope it isn't for you either.....

Thanks and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Monday, December 29, 2008

Gosh, I needed this vacation!

You have no idea how much I needed this for my psyche. I have slept in, not "had" to do anything and it's been wonderful! If I have a plan, and it does not get done, I do it the next day. I am not pressuring myself. It's 9:13am and the family is still asleep. It's going to be unseasonably warm today and tomorrow so I am going to go for my 3 mile walk these two days. I put on pounds again and I want to get back into some kind of fitness routine so I can maintain my weight. Yeah, that sounds like an new years resolution. Nah, I don't keep those, it's just a wishful goal for the coming months.

I am happy to report that Christmas was a success. All the presents were well received and that is my biggest worry at Christmas. Arielle loves her easy bake oven, her DS, and our MP3 player. She and I are sharing one. Allen loves his new 360 games and can't stop texting on his new phone. Hubby smells great due to the new cologne I bought him and he is enjoying downloading mp3's from the internet so he can listen to his favorite music on his new MP3 player. He also needs to watch his new DVD I got him.

I am totally addicted to facebook.com. I have found some friends from my childhood that I never imagined that I would ever talk to again. Our neighbors in Maryland, (1978-1986) now have facebook because of me. Well, at least the mom does. Her 3 daughters and me and my brother used to play endlessly back in those days. The memories are just so vivid when you relive them with people lost before.

Well, the family is still asleep so I better get some things done before they wreck my momentum.

Have a great day and week.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Progress..

Allen's room is more organized than it was before which is a huge improvement from what it was. You had to step over stuff just to get to his bed. It was awful! His clothes are hung up, his piano is set up on a table and he can actually pactice his music.

Arielle helped with her room. It was not bad to begin with, tackled that mess a few months ago and she has held it up pretty well. Clothes are put away so that is the biggest hurdle in that room.

I was going to take down the tree but I never got to it. Maybe tonight after church. The living room couch has been cleaned and deodorized and the floors have been swept and cleaned.

I went to the laundromat again because of the excess clothes, sheets, blankets, needed to be cleaned. They all smell nice and fresh again.

Today I will hopefully tackle the tree, refrigerator, kitchen, and make and serve dinner before 7pm.

The family got MP3's players for christmas. It isn't an IPOD but I am very impressed with what it does. I am learning about it and ripping CD's so we can all have our favorite music, pictures, and videos with us where ever we go.

I also delivered cookies and treats to neighbors, friends and loved ones. It's always better to give than to receive. Warms the soul when you see the people happy with what you brought.


Toodles...

Friday, December 26, 2008

The Day After Christmas

They are still sleeping, the hubby and kids,
While mommy sneaks to the computer to get her daily, hourly fix.
Christmas is done, and while it was fun,
There is still so much work to be done

Cleaning bedrooms, sweeping up dirt,
Family must help, or mommy's back will hurt,
So many things we must do and not say
Weather is crazy it's 64 degrees in Illinois today!

Life can be good, smiling faces in the house,
We'll call for the cats, if we see a mouse.
Look forward to new, get rid of the old,
The best stories ever read are happy endings told.

Make this new year, 2009, your best ever!

Why??? Because I said so!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas!

I am up, hubby is still sleeping and the kids are at their fathers until tonight at 10pm. We'll open all the presents then.

We had a wonderful time with the family this week, and makes me want them all to live closer so we can do it more often. The kids played nicely and the food was excellent and the laughter from stories and watching the new baby was contagious. We did have a few sicknesses that brought down a few family members but yesterday, the house was full with everyone (except my hubby, who had to work) for a musical recital from some very talented family members and the Christmas Story being read out of the Bible before the family got to open presents. The kids, all 17 of them, loved it. They all got the present they had asked "Santa" for. And the adults were pleasantly surprised with their exchange gifts too.

Today we are eating with family again and I have to get my part going. I'll probably post later tonight or tomorrow with the gift tally for the kids.

Hope your day goes well and stay safe. Half of the United States is having a white Christmas! Some of you may grumble by that news but it is Christmas and winter after all. Love to ALL!!!

Monday, December 22, 2008

Week of Family

My hubby's family got into town this weekend and we spent all day with them on Sunday. We went to church and then went to oldest sister's house and ate, chit chatted for hours, and had lots of family bonding time. We're doing it again today. I appointed myself the photographer of our newest addition to the family who was born this month. She is so adorable and I got some cute pictures of her as she was being held by members of the family. Her parents have a blog and I'll give them copies of the pictures and then I'll link them to this site.

This whole week is family oriented (this week should be, it's Christmas) so I'll not be around so much. I'll update after the presents have been opened. Have a great week, Happy Birthday Kate, and have an enjoyable and safe holiday.

We'll see you all later...

Thursday, December 18, 2008

It's a week til Christmas.,,,

I have to wrap and bake cookies but that is about all I still have to do to get ready for the holiday. The kids are going to be at thier dads this weekend so I can get that stuff done. Hubby's family is coming into town this weekend also. All the cousins will be here, all 25+ family members are converging in on Illinois to celebrate the first granddaughter of the oldest sister on his side. Plus Mom and Dad are getting up in years and the whole family being together means pictures.

Arielle and I went to the mall last night to see Santa. It's probably her last year for pictures with Santa. For one 3x5 and two keychains, it cost $17.00. They have a standing rule that no personal pictures are allowed to be taken so I bit the bullet and bought the cheapest package. In 12 years when she graduates high school, and leaves home, I know I'll look at that picture and remember the smile and the fun time we had that day. The money won't matter and it really shouldn't matter now. I am just glad that technology has grown and now there are scanners, digital photography and the delete button for those stupid pictures that got developed and paid for so many years ago. Who can forget the pictures that were blurry, dark, too far away, off shot, red eye, or just plain goofy! And we paid for them to be developed. Talk about wasted money! So, paying $17 at the mall for a Santa picture in 2008 is not that bad after all.

I found a new addiction. It's called Facebook.com. I know some of you have heard of it. I have found people who I lived by and grown up with. People from my past that I never thought I would talk to again. If they have a facebook account, they can be found. And most are happy to talk. I found a lot of my past friends from high school, I have 2 former boyfriends on there that are doing very well in thier life. I have friends that live 2 miles down the road that I keep in contact with over facebook better than I can in real life or over a phone line. Life is just too busy sometimes but facebook is available 24/7 where as if you call someone at 1:38am, they'd be a little ticked at you for waking them up. 2 out of 3 friends from my NYC trip are on Facebook. Little snippets of life are displayed for friends to see and to keep in contact with. It is so cool! If you don't have one, it's also good for networking.

Well, today I guess, I am spending at home. I worked yesterday at a school but no phone call yet today so it may not happen. I have been called for work later than this, but it's rare. So, I will enjoy the day, stay indoors since it is 20* outside and get some work done around here.

Hope you all have a great day! Talk to you later!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Jumbled rambling....

We had power all day long....and we had a pretty good day overall. That was the good news. We have another scattering of storm to get through tonight and then...maybe clear skies in a few days.

I still have to tell my sons band director about the peed on band uniform. Oh, I am going to hate having that conversation.

I spent the day cooking...all kinds of food, tapioca pudding for son, zucchini and eggs for whoever wants to eat it, a strawberry compote that I put into the tapioca. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. I am going to make a couple of chocolate desserts for the pre-Christmas party. My ex made chocolate covered peanut butter filled ritz crackers while we were married and I always liked them. I still like them but out of stupidity, I just couldn't dare to eat them. But this year I bought the ingredients so I could make them. I also have the fixins to make a whipped creme dessert of some kind. I want to bake and cook and I really have the cravings now to do it.

I also finished writing the Christmas letter and I got the cards ready to be mailed out tomorrow. Talked to my mom and sister today and my father yesterday. I played a board game with the girl and she was happy about it. We have a decorated Christmas tree in the front room. The living room is clean. Laundry is folded.
While I was finding Christmas decorations I came across some stuff from my daughter, Jessi. I found videos that I had lost for awhile. They were back when she was a baby, her first and second birthday parties. It was good and bad to watch them. I am so glad that we took the videos and that I can now watch them but I would love it if she came here to the house so we could watch them together with her brother and sister and step father. I have to get those taped transferred to DVD so I can edit them to a format that I can work with better. I miss her so much! The holidays make it so hard to let her go. I know she is doing well. Her step mother and I had a long talk the other night about her. I found out that she has been accepted to a few colleges but she doesn't yet know where she is going or if she'll even be able to go. Money is the biggest obstacle there, as it always is.

I still have a list of stuff I have to do but the list is getting shorter. That makes me feel good. Maybe I can survive this holiday yet. Maybe not...we'll see.

Have a good night.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Lovely DAY!

I wake-up this morning to no power for an hour. Lovely #1.

My cats peed on my son's band uniform. That'll cost me my deposit. Sorry, Mr. Band director, can you dry clean Bubba's uniform, cats decided it was a litter box...Lovely #2.

My clothes from last night were never put in the dryer to dry. Hubby did his first and didn't bother to put mine in. Lovely #3.

Now that the power is back on, I wonder for how long since the wind has picked up immensely and will knock it out again, plus the ice storm hasn't even it yet. When is the question. Lovely #4.

The cell phone is being charged to full power as we speak so it'll be ready for when I do need it.

I HATE WINTER!

Can't wait until April when the threat of snow and ice aren't near as bad!

I'll post after the disaster is over... Be safe!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

This truly is NOT working...

I went on with my normal Saturday errands. Weight Watchers was my first stop. IN the past 2 weeks, I have gained 5 pounds of my loss back. WHAT!!! OK, stress over work has been hard but I should still be losing, instead of gaining a freaking bag of flour back. I'll figure that one out this week with a new tracking food system that we learned today at the meeting.

Second item of business: laundry, at a stinking laundromat. I had to do three loads (son, daughter, mine) today and most of it was towels. With me not working as much, I need less clothes to wear because I leave the house less to do stuff, thus less showering, (day and a half), if I am going to stay in pjs all day. I washed 14 towels in a week. That is not the norm. Usual is 9 or 10, not 14.

There is a huge storm (ice storm) coming into the area Sunday evening/night. They are expecting ice and snow into Monday morning and then all day Monday which will make Tuesday a mess on the streets. This is the good thing about not having that other job. With subbing, I can choose if I want to work this day or that so I have already told the switchboard that I was not coming in Monday or Tuesday. If the weather is bad, there may not be any school anyway. Yeah for all of us because then I don't have to wake up hubby so he can take kids to school. Because if they are having school on Monday, my car won't move from the driveway anyway. I hate the weather that they are forecasting!

My last errand for the day: Weekly groceries. Milk, eggs, bread. There is a ton of food in the freezer that I can make meals from so we'll be alright there. I still have to get local Christmas cards in the mail so they can be delivered. I am saving wrapping until next weekend since the kids will be with thier father for a few days.

Things to do at home today/tomorrow:Put up Christmas decorations. We have to clean up the collection of a mess that has been transferred from room to room and finally do something with it; be it put away, trash or take to Goodwill. This chore has to be done this weekend.

I hope all your weekend ends up safe and let's pray that our area does not suffer too harshly from the storm that is about to hit!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Little Miracles...

We have a newest family member. My niece had a baby and she was born on Tuesday and Mommy and Daddy are so happy that she is finally here. Makes this Christmas fun for the family. I can't wait to hold her, and then give her back when she cries.....LOL!

Congratulations! We love you and the newest little one too.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Christmas Shopping is Done!

EDITED::::See below....

With the job loss, the Christmas budget went down drastically but we still wanted it to be nice so we went quality gifts rather than quantity gifts. The tree will be bare this year because the gifts are smaller but pricier. We'd be better off putting up our 3 foot tree. The presents would fit nice and it would look like a lot. Oh, it's going to be so pathetic this year. But, the situation being what it is, there really is no other choice. Maybe, hopefully, next year it'll be better.

Working has been sporadic at best but I hope that after the new year, it'll pick up a bit. I like being back in the schools and I like getting to see friends that I had made before Arielle was born. Most of the school district had renovations done to their schools so it's like I am walking into new schools and I dont' know where anything is anymore. It's exciting.

I am reading two books right now that I bought for my trip to NYC that I never even cracked the spine to. With the extra time off, hopefully I'll read these and I am also doing some more sorting through stuff (an endless task).

Hoping your week goes well.


Edited to Add: I just had a brilliant thought on how to add to the presents to the tree. I have been nickled and dimed all year with "I want"s and "please give me"s all year long. I am going to get all those "presents" and wrap them up again. They received them during the year but they would have made awesome Christmas gifts so that's what they will be. That requires more wrapping for me but I am the only one to know whats in them so it'll be a bigger surprise when they open them up again. *tricky little Mommy*.....I feel better now...

Friday, December 5, 2008

Gotta go where you are needed...

I didn't even get out of bed this morning until the phone rang. I figured that I hadn't been called in three days and I had gotten up and waited so I just dozed after my alarm went off. The phone rang at around 6:19am for a school opportunity. It wasn't the greatest but I had to because my Christmas budget was not stretching big enough to put it all in. I dreaded going to work and it was ok for awhile but as the day crawled endlessly on, I just wanted it over. I made the money today but I won't be going to that classroom again. I like the older classes better. Give me a middle school or high school and I like it much better.

It's now the weekend and I am relaxing again. I have to do laundry, do some shopping for next week, and go through some more stuff around the house. Right now I am waiting for a friend online so I can veg out a bit. I am also reading some more books that I have put off.

Have a great weekend and have fun at whatever you are doing.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

The Benefits of A Vacation

Everyone always asks "When is vacation, I need a vacation." In my life, vacation means a trip somewhere with kids, luggage, lots and lots of driving in a car, hotels, fast food, and watching the money disappear from the vacation fund or adding debt to a credit card that will take years to pay off. Not a pretty sight in my eyes anymore.

I just had a weeks vacation and it didn't cost me a dime. My vacation consisted of waking up at my usual time, everyone else sleeping, me getting some alone time on the computer, reading a few things that I had tossed aside for another time, making breakfast for the kids, getting them off to school, and then laying around, doing what I wanted to, if that meant doing dishes in the sink, picking up the clothes in the bedrooms, or just watching tv in my bed. No must do's, no rushing to get somewhere...none of the hustle and bustle that stresses people out so much. It was a nice week.

Yesterday I went through pictures. Years of pictures in no order whatsoever. A picture of me, at 5yrs old was in the same stack as a 1998 Christmas picture of the kids. I'll fix that mess over the next month.

I have now determined that I will work part time for now while the kids are still at home. There is time for me to work after they leave the house. Life is better at home now and my brain isn't near as stressed as it was and has been the past month. Thank goodness that I figured it out soon enough. I was going crazy! Now I know it was just having to step back and reanalyzing how my life was being handled and I am much happier now.

Have a great day!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Renewing Past Friendships, Time Passes By...

I lived in Maryland for 8 years. I moved there when I was 7 and moved away at 15 so I had my formative, skillbuilding, teenage heartache years there. I had my worst years of life in those 8 years but I have also learned that I want to go back and see what I missed in those chaotic years.

I called a past neighbor friend of the family last night. She was shocked to hear from me. The last time we spoke was probably 10 years ago. Kids have grown and moved out, health has declined, parents have died, divorces run amok; so many things to catch up on.

I was totally blown away by the news that a good friend I used to dance on the couch with to FAME records and my ex-boyfriend married and now have 3 kids. WOW!!!!

Time does tick on. Why does it shock us so much? Why are we shocked that life hands us bad things to deal with and we are shocked that our children act like devils in their teenage years. It should not shock us at all. It's happened for millions of years. Adam and Eve had the same problems with their kids. One son killing another son would be a cause of hysterics in my home too. It'll keep going until the Earth doesn't exist anymore. Time ticks...bringing good or bad...it still ticks...

Have a great day!

Monday, December 1, 2008

Getting Life In Order...

I love the new gadgets they have to personalize your website. Makes it comfy and homey and yours. I added the calendar to basically keep track online of what is happening in my life. I was called into work at a school for this afternoon so that's good. My last paycheck at the old job came today and it was bigger than expected so the extra has already been transferred into savings. I was going to put it towards Christmas but the kids are already getting decent presents so it'll go to something later, if needed. We should always have a stash of savings anyway for emergencies so that pot is a little bigger now.

Have a great day, everyone.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Busy Weekend...

..but it's been an enjoyable one.

I am embracing this new life I want to take hold of. We spent the whole day Friday at home, never got dressed either. Stayed in my pjs all day long. After hubby went to work, I got the strength and energy to exchange our broken TV in the bedroom with my son's in his room that he never uses anyway. Our TV blew out one of it's color tubes so we were watching orange,blue, and some awkward color tv, never true color. After watching tv like that for 4 months, I finally got it changed out. We went from a 35 inch to a 19 inch but it's worth it to watch something on tv in real color instead of the way we were before. Not sure if the bruises were worth it though. LIfting a tv by myself on my thighs may not have been the smartest move but I'll deal with it. My thighs now have bruises all the way across them and they are tender to the touch and walking is a major feat in the morning. Live and learn....

Saturday Arielle and I went to Weight Watchers, bought some office supplies at Office Max, ate breakfast at Mc'ds, saw the movie Twilight(awesome movie), and then came home. I went to the laundromat and did three loads of laundry, got gas, went to Aldis and bought milk, and then came home again. I went into the basement and searched through dozens of pictures only to realize that my little project of organizing stuff in the basement was going to take a whole lot of time and patience. There is so much clutter(17 years of kids papers from school, pictures, etc...) that I have accumulated in the past 20 years...It's going to be a MAJOR undertaking to get that done.

Tomorrow is December. We woke up this morning to snow. Not heavy sticky stuff but the cars were covered in white....ugh...I hate winter....give me the other three seasons any day over winter....

Tomorrow is December. The first day of the week is the first day of the new month. Perfect launching off point to a new streamlined household budget, a new way of living, and a new outlook on the future. We'll see how this fares....

Till later!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Guess who is NOT shopping Black Friday???

I will be in my basement sorting through old pictures, and memories from years past. One thing my job did teach me is a new filing system that I want to incorporate into my household clutter. I'll have Arielle help me since I know she likes seeing pictures of herself and I have stuff down there from Jessi and Allen from when they were little. I know she'll love seeing those things. I may cry seeing all of it but when it's organized and looking better than a container full of scribbled on papers, it'll make me happy that I do have these memories still intact.

Hope that everyone's Thanksgiving was a nice holiday. We spent time with family so it was nice. Arielle and I cuddled in bed after coming home and watched Nim's Island. Good kid movie, love Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin. I fell asleep from 7pm -about 1:30am. Figures that is why I am up at 3am writing in my blog. LOL!

If I find any earth shattering memories (pictures), I'll scan them and maybe make a little memory page. We'll see.

Don't spend too much tomorrow. Our Christmas is going to be bare bones this year...gotta pay down debt and not use those nasty credit cards. I'm aiming to stick to that little "new life" goal...

Happy Day!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

I'm unemployed....for 5 days...

and then I sub for the school district. I won't bore you with the details of my last day, but I left crying and I will miss a few select people. The rest of them...well, they can work at their job and not worry about me anymore.

Onwards and upwards!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I am most thankful for the friends I have, the people I have met the past year, the lessons I have learned, and the trials that have taught me valuable things about myself that I did not know before.

Who else is shocked to realize that next week is December? *Seeing hands raised*. Yes, me too. Where did it go? I have gone shopping but my budget is considerabley smaller than last year and the economy is one of the reasons why. My angels will have one big present (already bought), 3-4 small ones and 2-3 will be clothes. Sorry guys, but this year it must be that way....

I already want January to be here. But with December starting on a Monday.. maybe I can pretend that it's the start of something new...yeah, that is what I am going to do. Monday, Dec 1 will be a new start....LOL!


Ask me again December 10 and see how I am progressing in my "new" life.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

I'm not Bipolar! Am I? No, I'm not....

I just have bad days and good days. Saturday was a good day turned bad by a series of events that I won't go into and I went to bed crying. Today I woke up ok and then went to church and heard talks on gratitude and thankfulness and I felt better about my life and all it has in it. I saw friends that I love and they showed that they care about me too. It was nice so I came home content. Tonight I am trying to make up with a friend of mine who was caught on the bad side of my pity party yesterday and I want to apologize but Yahoo messenger is being stupid and her cell is off and I don't know if she is getting the messages I left her and UGH! Maddening!

I'm sorry, I love you and we'll work this out....

I spent 45 minutes talking to a cell phone tech guy trying to fix my voice mail. I finally got fed up but then just as I was about to hang up, he tried one more thing and it finally worked. Thank goodness. I had no caller ID, voicemail and I couldn't text anyone. Now it's fixed and I am so happy.

I have three more days that I have to get up and go to my place of employment. I have to get 9 client files ready. A couple of these clients have a crapload of documents that have to be taken care of after the appointment so by 1pm Monday, I will be so ready to get out of there. I also have to make and party on Wednesday while I clear out my desk and pack everything from my cubicle into my car. It's going to be a bad day! Plus on top of all that, my dear beloved sister is having heart surgery on Wednesday and I am scared to death for her. I can't lose my best friend in all this too. She and I have gotten so close. I'd hate to have anything happen to her.

So, to be fair and objective....I am not bipolar, just have a load of stuff in my life right now to deal with. No wonder my moods are up and down. I hate change and I have my fill of it coming up this week..

WISH ME LUCK!!!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Lazy Saturday....

I am basking in the limelight of my last week working at a firm that no more than three months ago was my ticket into a life long love of hard work, desire to help people and seeing the good in helping clients get the most out of their money. That dream is all but shattered. I was naive, stupid, and looking into a rose colored mirror.

It's funny how when we enter a period of our life thinking it is going to get us one thing and then time and life takes a hold and changes it into something nothing like you had imagined.

December 1st, I go back to a job that I have done on and off for 6 years. Back to the school district. Sometimes I love it and sometimes I hate it but right now, it's all I have left to keep me afloat financially until another job opportunity comes along.

I have come to realize that working in a school environment is what I want to do. Probably high school age because most times I can still be found to look young enough to be mistaken for one of the students. Now, that is funny! I'm flipping 38 years old! Thanks to my parents who gave me young looking genes.

I'll apply to jobs after the year ends...When the retirees are leaving and jobs are open and maybe when the economy doesn't look so bleak!

Just another link in this twisted and crazy long chain I call life.

Til later...

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Plans For The Weekend...

1.) Sleep
2.) Go to Weight Watchers
3.) Go back to sleep
4.) find a great sweet potato side dish recipe to take to the work potluck.
5.) Take an afternoon nap
6.)Do laundry
7.) Talk to a cople of friends online and go to bed early

Maybe if I sleep this weekend, I'll sleep this blasted cold away. Heavily medicated and full of knock out pills and Vicks on my chest maybe will kick it.

We'll see. At least now I can talk. Monday-Wednesday I had no voice or what was there, was froggy and hoarse and hurt to try and deliver. Now the cold is in my chest and kills me whenever I cough, which is alot and at the worst possible times. Breathing in and then chewing on a breastick and coughing does not mix! Hurts!

So, if you are by your computer, find me on facebook or IM me on yahoo or ICQ, or whatever.

Have a good evening. Til later...

Job Update

Well, my boss and I sat down yesterday morning to discuss the job situation. He said that the way the business was going, he needed to change a few things in his business life in order to see if he could do any better than he has done in the past 3 months, which is totaly lousy in the production area. So we decided that he would let me go but to make it easier on me, it'd be my decision, which I told him was fine and I'd write him a resignation letter. So I still need to get that done. End date of employment. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

How do I feel about this? Better. Ever since the announcement of this impending decision on November 4, there have been things happening in my life that I needed this change. Again. For a person who hates change, I am sure doing a lot of it these days. Things have fallen into place so that this is good for me.

I do have a job to do instead of this one. I called the school district and got reinstated as a sub so I am on the call list for Decmeber 1st. I don't miss a date in between and I can make almost 1/2 the income I made at the Financial firm. I cut down on expenses and will make it work. December and January are both good months for paychecks since both months have longer weeks. I get 7 paychecks in Dec aand 7 in January since 2 paychecks (hubby and Child support) are 26 weeks in the year. CS falls in December and hubby falls in January. I get my last paycheck from boss Dec 1 and I get my first paycheck from subbing in January. I should still be able to stash a substantial savings into a hidden account and let it sit for awhile. Even with Christmas around the corner (CRAP!) We'll still be ok.

I had a friend ask me to send him my resume. I told him that for now I was going to wait until Spring, I hate fighting snow and bad cold weather in my car and I now don't have to deal with that, not this year, anyway. If I sub at the school, I'll need another income for the summer months but until then, I'll just do what I have to here at home and the school system has 15 dys off for Winter break so I get to enjoy my kids the whole time and not have to shuffle them off to a babysitter while I am at work. It all works out for the best with me and the kids so that is what counts.

My days now will be getting up this early (5:45am) taking a shower in case I get called to work. If I don't get called, I go back to bed. The latest I'll be home is 4pm where as before it was 5:30-6pm every night.

I found out I am not a 40 hour a week type of person. Not with the kids still being at home. I need to be home for them. They need me and I want to be here for them. I did find out that my son's grades could probably make a step up in the math and reading area if I supervise his after school activity a little more close.

So, that is my "not so tiny" update. I just had to vent and give my self a reminder that this is a good thing. I'll miss the people I work with but I've got the list of numbers and I'll stay in touch. Thanks for reading this far.

Have a great day, everyone!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Guess who lost a tooth...



The tooth fairy is coming to my house tonight. Arielle lost her very first tooth in school this morning. Her tooth behind it erupted over a month ago and is starting to push forward so I am glad that the obstacle is gone. We have inspected her mouth and it's wiggly little white teethies and I suspect I will be updating with Tooth Fairy briefings fairly frequently.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

If Not One Thing, It's Another...

Now that my emotional health has recovered somewhat, my physical health declines. My throat started hurting on Thursday and I watched it. Friday was better and yesterday it started up again. When I woke up last night, to yell at hubby to come to bed, I could not talk and my throat killed me. Today, I am in pain, and my day is shot because I needed to do stuff at church and now I can't. I need to rest and make sure that I am ready for the long week. I have tons of stuff to do at work and being sick does not fit into my schedule nor do I have any sick time to use. I hate being sick...and then having to deal with all the weekly stuff too. Oh boy, I dread this....

Til later...

Saturday, November 15, 2008

My Saturday Plans....NOT!

I was going to have such a wonderful time today along with errands and laundry piling up. I slept in, which felt really good and then pried myself out of bed to go to Weight Watchers. I gained .6lbs but I'll fix that this week. I then came home and was getting ready for my party with my coworkers. We were getting together to celebrate a coworkers new house and to scrapbook and start making Christmas decorations for the office and our families. All went well until we went to tbe babysitters to drop Arielle off. They weren't home. Not a soul around. Called them on my cell. Nothing....OK...so we went back home and decided to just call the coworker and tell her that I was not coming! SUCKS!! I was so looking forward to hanging out with my new friends. (insert bad words) That is how I feel about that whole situation!

Arielle and I went to Aldis and another store and got groceries and then came back home to unpack the groceries. Now she is watching tv and I still have to go do laundry sometime this evening.

Good thing last night went so splendidly well. I had a wonderful time talking to a couple of friends of mine online...and then another friend called me on the phone and we talked for awhile. After that phone call, I gathered up Arielle and took her to bed and then I took the remote and turned on a DVR recording and promptly fell asleep.

The boy just told me he needs craft supplies for a project that he needs to start for school. It's due in 11 days so we still have time to get the supplies. Thank goodness it's not due on Monday!

Well, I better go do the laundry now...so I can fold it and put it away before I need it again. I'll be back later. Life is coming back together, for the most part. I hate being that down that nothing cheers me up. Good thing it only lasts a little while.

Til later.....

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Coming out to share a piece of talent...not mine....

When I got back from New York City, I contacted a friend of mine about drawing a picture of my trip with the people I went with. This is what he came up with...



His name is Rick and he is fast becoming a good friend. Thank you so much Rick, for doing this for me. You can see more of his work and ask for your own special piece of artwork by going here. My trip to New York was very special and I wanted to remember it in a most unique way...I think Rick did a wonderful job! As soon as the job chaos settles down, I will be letting him create more artwork for me.

Back to my happy place...full of my favorite music, colorful flowers, cute fuzzy little animals, sunshine and rainbows....see you later.....

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Going To a Happy Place!

I found something today that has re-ignited a passion for a lost art and love of mine that has been out of my life for far too long. It's been quite a while but I am going to dive whole heartedly into it and see if it can make some of the bad go away, or seem to go away.....



If I am not around much...don't worry...I'm just trying to find myself again...Have fun!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

The Goals That We Make In Life



I have made a goal. In 5 years I will be out of debt. Easy enough, right? Get a job, keep that job and success......yeah, if it works out that way. On my way to success and serenity....

Funny how people make these goals one day and actually think they are going to succeed to this goal. There's one thing that most people dont count on as an obstacle....life.

I thought my life was set in stone 6 months ago with graduating college and getting on with my career. Now, with a job that I loved up in the air, and numerous relationships being so confusing and complicated, I barely can tell what day it is, let alone focusing on the goal to get up in the morning. All I know is that I am making through a minute at a time and trying to focus on what is most important in my life. Mainly my family, and keeping my sanity while surviving...

Why does being an adult have to be so hard sometimes....If you are also having trouble with what life is giving you right now, look at this picture and float to another place, a happier place...and maybe things will look different in the morning.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Sunday Scramblings...

Last night was just perfect. After I did the things I had to do outside of the house, I quietly relaxed in the midst of my mess and kept my sanity. I talked to some people online that made my mess go away for awhile. I'll do the same thing today. Probably. The dishes are done, the laundry is clean so for the next week, there is tons of food in the house, and I'll just pick up where I see clutter and take care of it that way. If I lose my job, I'll do a thorough cleaning and really get this house ready for the new year of changes. Right now, I am just gathering energy to live and survive and that's enough. Nobody here is complaining except maybe the cats because they never got used to the time change....and I am feeding them an hour later than usual. Poor kitty cats. Pictures of the kids have been taken down. Wait until next year for more.



Life is what you make of it and sometimes you just have to give it to God and let Him handle the mess. He can have mine for awhile....

Have a great Sunday.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Saturday Things To Do List

GO to Weight Watchers-check-lost a total of 17 pounds, made goal, 10% and my lifetime membership, that is a whole huge feat in WW language! Yeah for me!

Go to Bank-check-bills can now be paid
Go to Laundromat and do 2 loads-check-clean clothes, yeah!
Go grocery shopping-check-and under budget for the week, yeah!
Clean living room and vacuum-nope
Clean kids rooms and sweep-nope-
Clean bathroom and deoderize-nope-
Clean kitchen, sweep and mop-nope-
Put out hamburger for dinner-nope-asked hubby to get Taco Bell. He's so good.
Fix dinner for hubby-see above-
Try and relax a little-spent a leisurely afternoon talking to a dear friend.
Catch up on stuff taped on DVR.-later tonight....and tomorrow.

I'll get to the rest of this eventually. It'll still be there...

Friday, November 7, 2008

Almost the weekend

....only a few more hours and then I can get some work done around the house and rest and relax for the next week coming up.

tick...tick....tick....tick....

Thursday, November 6, 2008

On the bright side....

...today went better than the past few days. I did corner my boss though and tell him how I felt regarding his little eval with me. If this does not work out, I told him that God has always provided me with help or another window to the future so he was happy about that. I am not looking for that and my head is still in the game of my present job but if I have to, I do have a plan B.

I want to thank my coworkers who have surrounded me in support of my feeling bad at work. I am taking every one of their names home with me when and if something happens with this job. I did not know the friendships I had there until today. One of them actually starting telling corny knock knock jokes in an effort to make me laugh. Love ya, girlie!

You do not know how much you are blessed in life until you are tried and brought down to almost nothing....Thanks, to my "blog followers". I love you guys too. You make my day! Thank you!!!!

I am feeling much better!!!!

Maybe it's a sign.....

of better things to work for....

I know right now I am not happy in life and it needs to change. I thought I was but after my trip to NYC, things just steadily got worse in my life, both personal and professional. My brain is going places where it's never been before and I don't know if that means starting over or what.....but I'm confused as anyone could be...and I am not happy with what is happening now in my life.

My one question is, why can't I be happy for more than a month or two? Do I really actually know what happiness is? Right now, what I am feeling, is not happiness.......and in this stage of my life, I really should be happy....

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Well, it very well could be the unemployment line.....

...in three weeks, I'll know for sure......

My boss is looking for a scapegoat to blame the lack of production with our clients. To tell the truth, it's neither one of our faults. The economy has it so messed up that the clients are pulling funds out of every account they have and the boss and I are both suffering because of it. I know he can't pay my salary if this keeps up but to give me a bad eval and blaming me for something that is not my fault, it's not fair....and I have been crying all afternoon because of it.

I guess my next course of action is redoing the bills in case this does happen. I guess I'll go back to the school district subbing and look for another job that way again.....

Life isn't fair....Guess John or Barack will be saying the same thing tonight after the results come in.


I did vote by the way...crying......but I did....vote.....

Pray for me....today....

...I have my probationary evaluation today. I had to grade myself yesterday and we are "discussing" that today. I know I love my job and I know I am doing as well as can be expected so I should not be scared....but I am.......I hate evaluations and I can't stand constructive criticism......I just can't take it.....


Wish me luck.....maybe he'll tell me how much of a raise I am getting now that probabtion is almost over or where to apply for unemployment.......we'll see.....

Oh and you might want to pray for our country today too.....

It's gonna be a roller coaster today! I bet we won't find out who wins until next week.....

Monday, November 3, 2008

Interesting weekend

Actually got caught up on things that I had put off so I call that a success. I slept a lot, caught up on some kid time with Arielle and Allen and they were appreciative of their mother's attempt to spend some time with them.

Arielle and I saw High School Musical 3. I really hate to say this but I really love this movie. I love musicals in general, even the B rated ones. I just love the goofy songs and lyrics, and everything about them. There are only a few I don't like and I won't mention thier names. Arielle loves to sing and dance so it fits into our realm of things to do together.

Allen got an early Christmas present and he is forever grateful. Even hugged me which was a very pleasant surprise, giving that he is a teenager of 13. Hugging moms just is not cool anymore! I'll wrap up the box and give it to him On Christmas Day. Makes my shopping easier and not so time stressed.

Anyone have a countdown to Christmas yet? 52 days or something like that??? Oh my gosh, where does the time go??? It just flies....I just surpassed 2 months at my job. That went fast! And I still love it although there are a few things about getting up so darn early that are beginning to wear on me.....UGH!

Hope every one has a great week and makes it thier own. I intend on taking one day at a time and making every minute the best it can be. Here's hoping.....LOL!

Oh and go vote tomorrow. It may make the difference in a very stressful election.....

Saturday, November 1, 2008

HAPPY NOVEMBER!!!!!

October was full of super highs and super lows so I am wanting to make November a steady stream of "I like life!"

So far, I got paid today, on a Saturday so that was a definite good. I worked for it so I am happy that I got my just do. I love my new salary. It gives me wiggle room for the month if I need it. With Christmas coming up, there is my wiggle room.

Arielle and I are spending some much needed time together today. We are seeing High School Musical 3 and then we're going to the mall for some candle smelling fun.

Allen does not want to go with us so he'll be home doing what he wants to do best....

Hope you all have a wonderful Saturday! We intend to.

Friday, October 31, 2008

WISHING YOU A......

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

The kids are with thier father for the night and hubby is working so I am going to come home from work and go to bed. No light on, the kiddies will have to bypass my house because if I have candy in my house, I'll eat it.

Hope everyone has fun. It's not my kind of night; I don't enjoy kids festivities when the kids aren't home to enjoy it with me.

I hate every other year holidays.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Sunday Panic...and my last day...

*****Most of these pictures are stock footage I got off the net. Explanation below.*****




When last we met, I had misplaced my camera and was in the middle of panic mode. I searched my pockets in my jacket, dumped my bag, gone down to the Metro Diner to check there, hurried to Julio and begged him to let me into the storage room to search my luggage. No camera. I was devastated! I was going to film today. I was going to have video and audio recording of my friends and of the days activities. It was almost time for my friends to get there. How could I lose my camera? Hopefully I had just put it in a safe spot and find it later. But how to record the memories of today. My phone. My camera phone. It takes decent enough pictures. Yeah, but what about the pictures I had already taken of the vacation? All those pictures were now gone. It is a $200 camera with 2 days of vacation pictures and memories. Oh, crap! Ok, gotta move on. Friends will be here any minute. Gotta go outside and wait for them...... Here they come.

"Hi, I lost my camera." says I.

"Oh no", says one.
"You sure you lost it?" Says another.
"Yeah, it's gone." I answer back....at least for today. Let's go.

"You take pictures today and we'll see about sharing those." OK. that's a plan.




On we go to meet another friend to walk the Brooklyn Bridge. That was an experience in itself. We took the subway to Brooklyn. Gorgeous part of New York. I see the Cosby Show in my head as we walk the streets of the neighborhoods on a clear and brisk Sunday morning. When the sun was out, it was warm, when it went behind a cloud, it was cold. I took my jacket off and on at least 5 times that day. We take a group shot on the look out over the Hudson River just before we walk the bridge. Lena on one side, Kate on the other, Stef there too. Awesome morning and an awful feeling of dread that I have to go home in less than 5 hours. Oh, the horror of it all. My stomach is in knots the closer time gets to go. Feel like I have to throw up. I don't want to go, I want to stay.....why can't I stay????? Family, work, all the stuff that is my life. I look at my friends. I want to create a permanent memory that won't fade. Memorize voices, facial expressions, oh it was so sad.....




I got this from Kate tonight. Awesome picture. We all look awesome! Even if I do say so myself....lol




The Brooklyn Bridge is huge and beautiful!



You'd think that crossing it would be super long but in reality it is only a mile long. We strolled through it. It was about a 40 minute walk. We talked, took pictures, looked at the view. I am amazed at the sheer immensity of the bridge and all the people who walk, jog, and stroll on it.



Traffic goes on as always. we are suspended on the pedestrian bridge above the traffic. An amazing sight!!!!

After that was done, I found out that we were near Ground Zero, where I had been the day before. Stef was our guide and led us through streets and buildings I had not seen the day before so I was excited to see new things. Wall Street and the Financial District made me feel at home and totally in my element. I love having a career with money!







The Inside of the World Financial Center is a spectacular sight. We sat and talked a while. Palm trees in the middle of a building was cool to see.












Another street we walked down. The memories that come back are so vivid.





My last meal (drink) in New York City! I was too tied up in knots to eat so I watched everyone else eat. It was a nice time to sit and chat and just spend some time together.




We stopped by Century 21 (a huge department store) and window shopped as I anxiously watched my time fade away. Time ticked away to nothing and I had to tell my friends that I had to find the subway back to the hotel so I could catch my plane. It was murder hugging them goodbye. They stood there as I went down into the subway. It was too sad to behold. Gosh, I still miss them like crazy! Thankfully we are still able to get together online and chit chat. We may not be able to be physically together but we have those memories of NYC and I'll treasure them forever...

I got up to the hotel and got my luggage. I was supposed to go through Grand Central Station but by the time I got to the hotel, it was already too late. Sorry, next time, I promise......If I took the #1 to the A and then went to Jamaica Station, it'd be just in time. I did not feel very well and I was very depressed at leaving so I kept staring at the pictures I had in my phone. Memories....sweet memories....did it have to hurt so bad??

I got on the #1, wanting to get off at 59th street to go to the A. Hmmm....NYC subway trains have different schedules and stops on the weekend. Crap! That was my first mistake...I quickly listened to the speaker in an effort to try and find out how I could get to JFK now. I heard someone refer to the E, a line that does go to the airport. I quickly changed trains and got on the E. Unfortunately I was on the E for over an hour. My time to get on the plane was quickly evaporating and I had no back up plan in case I missed my flight. Then there was another message over the intercom....Jamaica Station to the airport was closed so we had to get off at some other stop and shuttle to the airport. OK, I followed the lines of luggage and got myself on the shuttle. For the first time I am in NYC traffic on a bus. Ok, new experience. The shuttle stops, and I get off. The shuttle takes off. Ummmm......where is everyone else getting off? I watch as the shuttle takes off to who knows where. This is not the airport.....this is downtown Jamaica, New York and no airport is in sight. WOW! OK, I start walking....I am one of two people, the other guy is just as bewildered as I am....and we just start to walk. We see the Airtrain go by us on the rail above us. I roll my eyes as I keep walking, laughing at my own stupidity and foolishness. What else can go wrong? My misadventures were not over by a long shot..sadly.....

I walked while the other guy took off down another street. OK, now I am alone walking with luggage down a strange town and not knowing where the heck I am going and it's 3:30pm and my plane is ready to leave at 4:25 pm. Soon, I spy a familiar sign...a gas station....The first gas station I have seen in NYC. And wow, my luck, about 5 New York City Taxis were changing shifts. I sprinted to them and told them, didn't ask, told them that I had to get to JFK immediately. I got into the back of a cab and we were off. They do know how to drive down the street. It was a four mile ride to JFK in the cab and it cost me $12, but it was just another addition to my adventure! I got to the terminal with 25 minutes to spare and I had not even checked in and gotten my boarding passes yet or gotten through security yet. Time ticking.....I got through the passes and security with 8 minutes to spare. They were boarding the last of the passengers when I ran up. OMG! I can't believe that my trip would have ended up like that. When I got on the plane, I sat in the very back and slowly calmed down a bit.

A very nice man sat next to me on the plane. I talked with him after I woke up. Apparantly I crashed after take off and woke up when the snacks came around. I felt like crap and didn't look too great either. He was a lawyer in Atlanta. He grew up in St. Louis so we talked about that. We landed in Atlanta and I got off the plane, called hubby to tell him I had landed and sat down to rest. I promptly fell asleep. In my tiredness and deliriousness over leaving NYC, I absent mindedly left my cell phone out for anyone to see......and steal.......I woke up later, was mildly refreshed from my nap, went to eat some yogurt to get some energy.... when I realized that my phone was missing. I looked around, checked pockets....nothing.....checked bags, nothing......not again..first my camera and now my phone?????? What the heck is wrong with me...I lose everything!!!!! Oh....I found my camera, in the bag, in a secret hiding spot for safe keeping...but my cell phone...gone. I called it with an attendants's phone...nothing.... The phone was off so it would not ring to let me or anyone else know where it was. So...I left Atlanta, never to see my phone again. The pictures that I had taken of my friends in Brooklyn, and the sights of the bridge were now gone. They are on that phone...but they are not with me. I knew I should have emailed those pictures to myself when I thought of it....now they are lost. Could have kicked myself for it.......

On the last flight home from Atlanta, not only was I tired from the weekend filled adrenaline rush I was coming off of, but now the depression of leaving New York, and then losing my cell phone with those precious pictures just put me over the edge. I got on the plane and fell into a deep, deep sleep. I didn't even hear the plane take off. I was that tired. I have never done that before....and hopefully won't do it again. I miss my phone and I miss the picture of my friends. We were eating at Subway and I snapped a picture of the two of them together. It was an awesome picture and now it is lost forever! Only in my memory....


Now it is a little over a week later and I still have NYC on my mind. Think about it often...miss the lights, excitement, the friends I got to know there. I will go back.... alone......to see more. In the future...someday.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Sunday, October 19, 2008-New York City!

Well, my friends and I were not getting together until 9:30am so I actually slept in...until 7:15am. I still got up earlier than my roomates but the rest of the floor was up and bustling so I had to wait for the bathroom. 15 minutes later, I took my shower and got ready. I went walking towards the subway and decided to eat out for breakfast. The Metro Diner was down on the corner so I decided to eat there. Plus I had heard rave reviews for it, so what the heck....

After eating and soaking up the NY atmosphere, I went back to the room and got my luggage settled as I was going to have to check out before my flight was there. The hotel had a storage area for luggage so I put it there. Julio was a sweetheart and helped me with the bag.

I started to get myself ready for another day of sight-seeing and also saying good bye to my friends and making plans to keep some real memories in the form of video on my camera. I checked around my jacket pockets and realized.....where is my camera.....????? *PANIC SETS IN*

TO BE CONTINUED.......
Saturday, October 18, 2008---Waking up in New York City, NY!

I did not sleep very well Friday night as my entire body was running on adrenaline and the excitement of being in this glorious town. Friday night after I got in, my room mates were all zonked. I quietly got changed into PJs and got into bed, and laid there in awe of the situation. I could not believe what I had just done. I had walked a good 5 miles with two people who had come from Germany to experience NY and see one of our beautiful cities and it's sites. It was wonderful. I was on Cloud 9 and wasn't coming down anytime soon.

It was 6:30am local time (5:30am STL time) and I was awake. No one else was. I took all of my stuff to the bathroom and got showered and dressed. I was downstairs by 7am ready for my site seeing trip into Manhattan. My first stop of the day was to find Rockefeller Center so I could see NBC Studios. I walked to the Subway on 96th Street figuring I could take the #1 down to 59th and then walk over to 49th Street.
When I got to the subway station, I found this.....




Instead of reading the signs, (duh) I walked into a construction site. The Subway did not run downtown on 96th. The only recourse in such a situation was to take the #1 uptown to 103rd (my usual stop anyway) and then take another train downtown from that location. I felt like a total tourist at that point. ARGH! So when I finally got to my destination of 59th and Broadway, it had taken me an hour instead of 15 minutes. At this point, I got onto 59th Street and started walking. I ended up at Columbus Circle. I don't know how I got there but I am glad I did. I had seen it Friday night with my friends and neglected to take pictures of it so I was grateful that I had found it by accident.



The Famous Tycoon, Donald Trump walks these streets. Here is his building, Trump Tower....that was cool!



Standing there, I found I was at the entrance to Central Park. Famous Central Park of New York City. AMAZING!!!!








I turned around and took this picture that a native New Yorker pointed out to me....



I asked that nice man how to get to my destination of Rockefeller Center and he led me to 6th Avenue. Thank you, kind sir.

I walked an awful lot this trip and took pictures of places that I knew and had heard about. Here are some of those pictures.





Christies Auction House




New York City Streets on an early Saturday morning.



A ticker calculating our National Debt....Being in the financial arena of my career, that was a depressing thought but I also thought the picture would be appropriate. We are in deep doo doo when it comes to our economy....



Subway Entertainment. When you are in the subway system underground, the talented citizens (or some not so much) of New York have a captive audience so that is how many performers make some of their money. By being the entertainment. Cool to experience.



I saw Radio City Music Hall several times but can't remember when or where so it goes in the misc stack of pictures.



Look at this clock. You have to almost tilt your head to understand it. I saw this Friday night, actually before the Elmos, so it started off weird. But very cool for a tourist....LOL!

Finally I get to where I want to be. I hit Rockefeller Center. Now, mind you, this is only one hour into my day. And I have been walking most of it. About 3 miles worth. It's only about 8:30am.
















This was a thrill for me to be standing outside of these windows. I have been watching NYC talk shows for years now and the Today Show and to be standing here in the audience was a thrill beyond words. I had a shout out for St. Louis Missouri when the camera went off(crap!) but it was still so worth it to stand there. I am all for watching what goes on behind the scenes. I took the NBC Tour but have no pictures because the tour guide says that everything is copyrighted and NBC have heavy duty lawyers just waiting to slam a lawsuit on anyone so I was not about to take a chance of getting caught. We went into studios. It's really sneaky how the cameras can fool the audience into how it "looks" versus how it really is....I'll never watch Saturday Night Live or the Conan O'Brien Show the same way again.

After the tour, I shopped a bit, got my picture taken for posterity sake and left without much fuss.




Next stop was taking pictures of the ice rink and the surrounding areas.




The next step is fuzzy and I can't remember much of it. I can't remember if I ate lunch or not. No, I didn't. I went back to the subway (don't remember how) and went downtown to the Staten Island Ferry. It's the last stop downtown. Then the subway stops and then goes back uptown. The Staten Island Ferry is free where as the boat to Ellis Island costs so I took the free way.

The ferrys run every half hour and the ride to Staten Island is about 25 minutes. There is one going to Staten Island and one coming back so it works out well.









Being on the boat was an awesome experience. As she got closer you could feel the excitement of the passengers building. You can't help but become a little patriotic and love America a little more as you see this vision of an American Icon.



We disembarked and walked into town. Staten Island is a huge community. I thought it was a small island but it has it's own government, school district and is it's own entity, seperate of NYC. Who would have thunk it???



Staten Island even has it's own baseball team and a huge stadium.



This is the sight from the stadium looking at the NYC Skyline. After deciding against eating on the island, I got back on the boat and headed back into Manhattan.

On my way to the subway I ran into a woman who had her tourist sight seeing book out. I took a sneak peek and asked about getting to Ground Zero. She had no clue so I asked one of the subway officers how to get to the site. It was the next stop uptown, Rector. I was intrigued and the WTC site was on my "Must Do List", so off I went. I got off at the Rector stop and headed up three blocks.






There was a tour already in progress so I just listened in as the guide was talking. It's a self tour too so I took advantage of both.







It was a sobering experience to be there. Many of the buildings have been restored and repaired after they were damaged by the 9-11 disaster. I was there about a half an hour and then I decided that it was lunch time. Actually it was closer to 3pm so I was really getting hungry. I stopped by a restaurant called "O'Haras". It is an irish pub all decked out with irish flavor and tradition. As I walked in, I was asked by a group to take their picture of them and the (I guess) wonderful bartender. I snapped the picture, smiled, and sat down to order my meal. I ordered a salad and a drink when the bartender came up to me and told me that the group I had taken the picture of was offering to buy me a drink for my kindness. Sweet! To bad I don't drink....They still bought me my Sprite and they left happy. It was cool! While I was eating, I was inspired to ask about the area and if there was any damage to the restaurant due to the blast. He showed me the picture that hung on the wall behind him.



He told me that the building front was blown to bits and the windows were all shattered. The reopened about 6 months after the blast and from what I see, are doing great at business.

After lunch, my feet had pretty much had enough and I was somewhat tired, so I decided to take the subway back to the hotel and take a bit of a rest before joining my friends later that night.

I got back to the hotel, dropped off my souveniers, and just relaxed a while. At around 6pm, I changed clothes and went to 42nd Street to do some more shopping for the family. I had time to kill before the play so I also ran into McD's and grabbed a fruity yogurt treat so I would not starve in the play. I met my friends and I enjoyed being together with them again. After the play, it was cold outside but we waited around in hopes of seeing one of the stars come out. No such luck! After a half hour, we gave up and took the subway back uptown. It was very late so we were all a bit tired. Made plans to meet the next morning to walk the Brooklyn Bridge. My aching feet. Ok, sure, so long as we are together before I had to leave the next day in the afternoon. Hugs and then they were gone again. I dragged myself upstairs to my room, quite content with the days activities.

TO BE CONTINUED......