10 Year Update

Well, it has been long (but not forgotten) and it has been busy!
We made it through covid safely (when it happened) and recently a very cold winter so looking forward to nicer weather with no big breeze or wind.

Thanks so much for visiting.

Graduation

Well, Pip made it through Jr. High and got his "diploma".
This year was difficult for him.
I just hope he gets more responsible, organized, and focused for high school.

Tonight was the Junior High Ice Cream Social.
He and his best friend Sam went, however, they were not warmly welcomed (by questioning) because they already graduated the night before.
They noticed they were the only two graduated eighth graders there!

The social was for the existing and new students coming into the junior high next year.

That was not on the calendar but they had fun anyways despite the miscommunication.

Talent Show Grade 8

A few weeks ago, my son, now in grade 8, came home and told me he wanted to be in the talent show (scholarship fundraiser) after skipping it for two years.
It was going to be in a couple of weeks.

I asked him what he would do and he said dance.
I asked him what song and how long it was, he told me (something by Owl City) the song was four minutes long.  I laughed and told him, first, you really just can't go out and dance without a routine, and second, even on Dancing With the Stars or So You Think You Can Dance, any other dance show, the routines are less than 2 minutes long, more like 90 seconds.

A suggestion made was he be the Old Man again and tell the corny interactive jokes.
So he went to the audition, and paid his $5. fee.
There was a panel, several high school students and a couple of teachers.

One of his jokes was "What is an archaeologists or historians favorite game?"
Answer: The Dating Game.
The high school students did not laugh (no clue) but the teachers who were there did.
He asked if he should take it out, but the teachers, still laughing, insisted he keep it in.

The night of the show, he wobbled out with his cane and crazy wig wearing a suit coat and told his jokes.
He already had a fan base from the other years he did this at the elementary school.
People really laughed at his jokes. "The Dating Game" got the biggest laugh.  He delivered them so well.
We were laughing because of the audience reactions/ or nearby comments we were overhearing.

Later on in the show, there was a technical delay, and the MCs said they had some time to tell jokes (moans from the audience) when someone in the audience behind us yelled out, "Bring back the Old Man!"

The show was taped and on our local cable channel so we got to watch it again (and again, etc).
For a few weeks, people would say to us how they enjoyed his performance and laughed when they recalled a few of the jokes he told.

Everyone did really well and it was a very fun night.

Ireland

We just got back from a visit to Ireland!  WOW -- Aer Lingus had super speedy service, we got there in just FOUR hours from Logan/Boston!  That is because we were pushed over Maine and Canada due to the air stream shaving off a couple of hours of flight.  No fun landing at Shannon at 5:30 am though. Way too early! but an hour more of vacation time!

It was a nice pleasant jaunt.  We rented a cottage in the country.  Very comfortable with a restaurant next door!
dd was able to stay with us almost the entire time since her classes ended and it was reading week.

We toured around, visited Bunratty, Cashel, Farney Castle, Dunmore and Michelstown Caves, Cliffs of Moher, and the Hunt Museum plus a few other places in between.  I liked Tipperary and Thurles.  Did not like dh's ideas for "short cuts" in a foreign country.

When we were leaving, dd benefited by us when we gave her all of our leftover Euros so she could buy her groceries.

Halloween Northeaster Blizzard

We went to the town Halloween party on the Main Street.
Since our daughter is away, we did not participate in the family costume contest as we usually have done, I am hoping I am retired from that now.
I did do my son's "Loki -- The Magical Detective" costume and he won (by default, only entry in his age group) a gift certificate to the pizza house.

It was extremely cold for October though and just as we were leaving, it started to snow. Later on back at home, about 8 pm, our power went off, as usual, dh was NOT home again for a power outage.
And it stayed off for 4 days!  We also had about 8 inches of snow also.

There was no school on Monday (like there was no school after Hurricane Irene, late August).  It was great that there was school on Tuesday where at least my son would be warm.  We went out in the am and saw the utility trucks nearby.  The utility company said we would be without power for a week!  I cried.
Our neighbors across the ways had power and heat BUT the lady neighbor was really mad because she has Comcast Triple Play and had no TV, computer, or phone.  Gee, I would do anything for heat and light!

We don't have a fireplace here or any sort of stove.
I texted a message to dd's Google address (first time I ever did that) and told her no power for a week.  She later said, yes she did get it. I tried to email my account (for fun, something to do) but it did not work.  My phone died on me later.

On Tuesday afternoon, it was sunny and warmer out.  We had used the car so it was warm in there.  I decided to stay in the car in the sun and eat my lunch.  A while later, dh opened the front door and said the power was back on.

I was thinking, maybe, if we had known, we should have gone to Ireland to visit dd this week.

I really hate the inconvenience these freak New England storms create.
Santa better bring me a generator this year.

Packing it Up

Been shopping and packing up to send our daughter off to University in Ireland.

We got some Space Bags (not the vacuum ones, the push out the air ones at Bed Bath and Beyond) but felt we wasted our money after wrestling with them.

She left yesterday.  Good luck to her.  I hope she has a wonderful experience.

Maybe she might come home with an accent as a souvenir.

Canobie Lake Park

We usually go on Labor Day Weekend but because dd will be away overseas at University, we had to go this weekend.  As usual, we get there at 5 pm for the discount ticket and stay a few hours.

It was not busy and the weather was nice but a bit chilly for Castaway Island water fun park.  It was the first time we actually could take a tour of the lake on the boat ride.  We also saw many plants in bloom that we normally did not see in September. 

The new roller coaster "Untamed" was getting a test run for the opening day next weekend.

No stage shows at this time, they start in a few weeks so I guess I will have to go back and watch them because I like them.

Busy as Bees

Graduation Day is almost here, another month.
It has been busy!

I hope to live through Senior Week, Awards Night, Graduation, Project Graduation (still raising money for that), and then college orientation.

Better rest up!
It will be here before I know it!

First Day of School

Last year for dd.

ds is now in 7th grade. He keeps on telling me he wants to find a girl friend.
I ask "Why?? What for?" but we have discussions on this topic now since life has gotten so complicated for the youth of today.

I hope they both do well in school as they have in the past.

Junior Prom

Amazing that my daughter wanted to go. I was shocked. She usually does not dress up or plays with her hair into different dos/styles. She does not go to the school dances either. This was a break out for her.
She did not have a date but there were a few other girls in the same boat.

So we did pretty well on the style budget. We got a dress but it was too big so when we returned it, the price was 25% of the price we paid. Her dress was light blue in a Grecian style that was just above the knee. We called it The Fairy Dress, because that is what it reminded us of.
Then I found a shawl she could wear with it and we recycled a prom purse. Total outfit cost was under $50.. We got her a corsage and that cost $26.
Total $76. So we did well and did not break the bank.

We drove her and picked her up because she wanted it that way. OK

She said she had a great time but the music was chosen by two people and it was all gangster music -- many complained.

I am glad she is stepping out of her shell.

Storm

It was lights out for us. I missed the Olympics Thursday through Saturday.
The high winds knocked down so many trees and wires we lost power.
At least the temps were in the 40's, than the Ice Storm of Dec 08 where it was in the teens.

Our backyard is a mess with fallen trees and branches.
My husband's truck just missed being hit by a pine tree.
The neighbors yards all look normal, untouched.
We spent most of the time cleaning up when the power was out.

No school today, still too many trees and wires down on the back roads so the buses can't run nor can people get out.

Valentine's Day Fiasco

It is 4:30 pm. My son just told me that he has to bring Valentine's into school tomorrow.
I had no idea that they did this in sixth grade/middle school. My daughter had the same homeroom teacher and she did not do this. I was relieved.

It is TKD night -- there is no time for this due to travelling and lesson and travelling (6-9pm).
Why did we hear about this at the last minute?
Why could we not have know about this last Friday giving us the weekend to get it together and be organized?

I will have to make some. Thank goodness for rubber stamps!

Update 1:30 am 2/12/10
I made 20. Took me a few hours to do. Put an elastic around them and into a plastic bag.
I have no idea where the list is -- will have to get up early AM to finish.

Update 7:10 am 2/12/10
They have left for school.
Earlier, I asked my son for the list. He realizes he has left it at school. Should I be surprised?
I told him to write names on them during his study hall.

I hope they are all happy.

Thrift Shop Finds

We had Thanksgiving at home and then on Friday we went on up north to eat lunch with my Dad and two of my brothers and my superduper SIL.

I told the children we were going to stop off at my favorite thrift store down the street before we even left after we ate dinner. They groaned but we know what we are looking for so we don't waste time. We found a pair of new boots for my son and told my daughter there were plenty of skates there if she wanted a new pair since her feet grew which she declined. I got a little folksy Santa and an Avon small ceramic candle holder Christmas tree and a couple of trinket type dogs all for a few dollars. My husband found some scenery stuff for his trains.

Then on the way home, we stopped off at another shop we have never been to.
It was small, crowded and disorganized but the prices were so ridiculously low. I found two more polka dotted glasses for 50 cents -- which I had been looking for, a bag of doll clothing for a dollar that had two Penny Brite dresses in it! (I thought it was only one.)

My son found a box which he thought was games but it turned out to be a used complete Game Cube with three games for a reasonable amount of money. He immediately went out to the car to tell his sister, she ran into the store, they were thrilled beyond belief.
My Dad just gave them some money so they spent it all and asked for a few more dollars to complete the deal. Typically, they save their money but they wanted one of these anyways.
(They still use the PlayStation I we got at a yardsale along with the collection of yardsale games we found over time.)

I told them never to complain about going to the Thrift/Consignment shops ever again when they got a deal like that.
They spent Saturday and Sunday laughing while playing Mario Cart or Animal Crossing.

My daughter received an invitation to apply to a posh private school Advanced Summer Institute for 6 weeks.

She is pretty excited about this. I think it would be great for her although the bill will be huge if she is accepted.

One issue we have is the fact that her TKD Black Belt testing will fall within the time she is away. It might mean she might not get her Black Belt till Dec '10.

Anyways, considering that she is a short time away from graduating -- I found these great graduation announcements at Pear Tree that I am keeping in mind.
Had to post it so I won't forget in my old age.

Halloween 09

Today -- it was the Halloween Events -- it was bigger and better than ever but due to the rain, many people did not show up. We got very wet having to spend so much time outside visiting downtown businesses and game/activity stations.

Naturally we entered the Halloween costume contest and as usual, we won again (7th or 8th year running champs) but this year it was by default (although we had great themed outfits) because we were the only family to enter the family category.

So now the reveal -- this was my daughter's idea, to go as tourists.
My husband wore a Hawaiian shirt, his broken sunglasses and a straw hat. He had a map, binoculars, tickets, and I made a "special drink" with a straw and parasol.

My daughter wore crazy colorful shirt, socks, and sunglasses, a hat, and a polka dotted raincoat. She had a shopping bag, camera, drink like my husband.

My son was the "Accidental Tourist" -- he had his head bandaged, a couple of bandaids "X" on his cheek, and was on crutches. He had on a shirt (had to have a coat but it was opened), and a "fly away" tie (stuffed with a bended coat hanger).

I wore a black coat, black gloves, a black hat with sparkly tulle that covered my face, had a squirt bottle, and carried a "lightening bolt" and a pole with a bent hanger with little black clouds. I followed the three of them holding the clouds over their heads. You know, how those little black clouds follow you on a vacation and you often times have a disaster? The sparkles on the tulle were like "rain droplets" although we had the real thing. People jokingly blamed me for the weather, but I told them, my assignment was the tourists, and another relative created the dreary weather.

It was busy so we did not think to ask someone to take our own picture but on a nicer day this week, we shall have to do that.

We got a $50. gift certificate to the local coffee shop. Nice, no cooking for me.
Worth the effort.

The trick or treaters come Friday evening. I have to create my son's second costume (they get two a year, one for the contest/s and one for da hood/the streets). I told him I could only work on it Monday or Tuesday and if he did not make up his mind, he would have to go as "himself".

That would not be hard at all.

Winkie-pedia

One night my daughter was doing some homework research on the computer.
When she was having a bit of trouble she asked me for help.

My son who was nearby got very excited about helping, but in a serious expert like voice told her to look it up on "Winkie-pedia".

Naturally we all laughed at his creativeness of inventing a new info site.
I laughed the longest and hardest.

He just cracks me up!

Eight Signs You Are an Energy Hogger

Saw this article at MSN. This is a quick snyopsis with my comments -- the article had annoying pop up ads.

Not turning the power off your computer when not in use.

Long hot showers. Cut showers to 5 minutes (I tell the kids this all the time.) and use an energy efficient low flow shower head (Yes we do use those.). Tankless water heaters can provide constant hot water on demand but are a bit more expensive (YIKES!). They will pay for themselves with the savings you reap by using them.

Leaving the TV on when no one is watching it. Plug it into a power strip and turn the power strip off so you save energy.

Letting or leaving your car to idle. (Here in cold weather this is a must or you will not get very far with a cold engine.)

Air conditioners on too high blasting frigid air while others in the house may be wearing heavy sweaters and winter coats to keep warm. Conserve energy by lowering the temp 4 degrees and use a ceiling fan in addition to the AC to circulate the cool air.

Opening the refrigerator too long looking for something to eat and being indecisive while wasting energy. How about kids not shutting the frig door all the way?

Excessive and unnecessary lighting. Use those energy saving compact fluorescent lights and save energy and money. Although expensive, we did notice a difference in our electric bill.

Drinking bottled water (Guilty!). Municipal water may be better for you. You really don't know where that water came from. Also, it takes energy (17 million barrels of oil per year) to make those water bottles and move them around, and recycle them. All that oil could run a million cars per year.

8 Signs You Are an Energy Hogging Jerk not pleasant but the original title.

Weather Wise

I hope it cools down -- soon!

After my last post, we lost power twice in a 24 hour period, late Friday evening (3 hours)and then on Saturday afternoon (2 hours). Saturday afternoon was not too bad, it was still light out, it is when it is night and you lose it that is the problem.

I call the electric company immediately when the power goes off and they always tell me that if they do not hear from the other neighbors, I am last on the list to fix. Most of the neighbors are on vacation so of course, they can't call.

Strange urge of a habit I have of wanting to clean in the dark when the power is off, that or play the piano to entertain myself.

Hot, Humid

. . . and very sticky for the last week!

We lost power twice for several hours in the last 24 hours due to these lingering thunder storms.
At least I was not bidding on eBay! I would not have won.

Creepy weather.

But at least, I went yardsailing this am when the sun was out for a while and got a few good things. Only spent 2.50 today - two pink leather pocketbooks (one says "Prada" but I think it is a knockoff), and some little junky stuff, like LEGO keychains for the kids and some small stuff for my doll dioramas.

School starts next week. Hard to believe!

Hot and Humid

Yes, I am hot! and a bit hazy too.
Very uncomfortable weather and I don't like to use the computer when it is like this.

Since it is so late in the summer, with this sort of weather happening now (rather than earlier, we had several weeks of constant rain), I wonder if we are going to get more of this type of weather come September since we seem to be a bit off the typical weather pattern from years past.