Friday, May 30, 2008

Pictures of You

Here are some pictures of Wildwood Crest and Atlantic City!

First the kids at Wildwood, on the boardwalk, with the beach in the background!  Russie is the spare in the lifeguard sweatshirt!

 

Here is a picture of the Curley's Fries Mascot with the rides in the background, and me with the mascot!  Oh, how I love Curley's Fries!!!!

 

Eww... yucky picture of me... enjoy it... you probably won't see me again!  LOL

Here are some from Atlantic City!

First is the view from our dinner table at the Tropicana from the Wellington Restaurant, and then our room view --- the casino floor!

 

Here are photos from outside two of the restaurants...

Cuba Libre and Red Square:

 

I hope you enjoyed!

be well,
Dawn

The Time of Our Life

Today I have been cleaning and thinking...

Tomorrow will be 18 years since my first date with Hubby. 

That is awe inspiring, and freaky. 

Why?   Because, as I sit here contemplating that fact, I am struck by several incongrous things.  I know it has in fact been 18 complete years in my mind/brain/logic and yet it doesn't 'feel' like it can be true. 

Just like the fact that as I sit here at 42 1/2 which I know for a fact I am, I do not 'feel' like I can possibly be that age! 

Bizarre.  Mind boggling. 

Just some random thoughts for you today, as they roll about my head... lol

Marriage.  That's another thing I have been thinking about.  You really have no clue at all what you are getting into when you get married.  Your brain is all full of those endorphins of 'new love' and oh boy, reality hits hard.

Marriage is work.  It is a full time job in and of itself if you want to have a good, growing, prosperous, happy one. 

And, it is hard. 

No one really tells you how hard.  It's kind of like the childbirth/labor thing.  No one really tells you the hardcore truth about that either. LOL

There is one thing that makes my marriage easy on the 'hard days/weeks/months/years'. 

One thing. 

And, it isn't that I 'love' my Hubby, because I have seen people who love each other have to be apart to be healthy and live.

No, love isn't quite enough, but it is a necessaryingredient.

The one thing is that we really ENJOY each other, are FRIENDS, and have FUN together. 

That is what gets you through it all.  Being able to laugh.  Being able to really have fun and enjoying the time together.  Really enjoying it.  Not just getting through, doing what you have to do, but wanting to be with each other doing 'stuff'.  Stupid stuff, life stuff.  But, doing it together.

Yeah... like I said... just 'stuff' rolling around in my head today.

Okay... signing off.  More things to clean, straighten and do.  Looking forward to Hubby getting home from work.  ;-)

be well,
Dawn

 

Yep... and he loves me anyway!


Tags: , , , , ,

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Thankful Thursday

 I am 'big boned', too, Kitty!

It is that time to count blessings...

1.     My laptop is working again!  Yay!

2.     I feel recuperated from my double trips!  I had a great time on both, and really relaxed and enjoyed my time with my mom in Atlantic City!  The family weekend was fun, too.  The kids had a blast hanging out together, doing the boardwalk, and getting in the first pool time this year!

3.     My RA/Lupus is still there, but still being fairly quiet.  Shhh....

4.     We have been 'economically stimulated', if you know what I mean. (got our check, in case you didn't get what I meant, lol)

5.     Pumpkin and I finished her year long report/project on the country of Nepal!   I was so happy that she took my suggestion at going off the beaten path with choosing a country to do this report on, however, it was definitely tougher to come up with some of the info on Nepal!  Thank heavens for the internet, in the pre-internet days it would have been really tough!

In a couple of weeks they do an in school travel expo, and they make food from their country and display items!  Wish me luck with that!  lol

6.      Fuzzy is finally coming out on the other side of months of being sick, having big allergy problems, and struggling with his asthma.  What a blessing!!! 

7.     Hammer it seems is maturing and becoming more manly each and every day!!!  He'll always be my baby though!

8.     Suzy, the new kitten, is starting to grow like a weed!  And, she is still just as sweet as can be!!

9.     Our new kitchen is wonderful!  Everyone is enjoying it!  Let's face it, in a house with 3 generations, it gets lots of use!

Here are the finished pics, with the floor.  Looking into the kitchen and into the dining room.

 

Yes, Libby likes it, too!

10.    Last weekend Kathy and J came to visit for the day!

11.    This weekend, Karol and my two nephews, D and A, are coming to visit! 

12.    Life is good.  I have missed being online, but it has been a good busy, so I can't complain too much! 

Thank you all for being so wonderful!!!  I am going to keep catching up on blogs!  I promise!

be well,
Dawn

Only on 'House' though...

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Computer woes...

My laptop isn't working, which means we are down to one computer!  ACK!  The kids go back to school tomorrow... I will try to update then!

be well,
Dawn

Friday, May 23, 2008

Thank You...

I just got home from Atlantic City, after previously being away in Wildwood Crest last weekend...  Thanks for all the emails and concern!  I will be up and at 'em again soon.

be well,
Dawn

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Thankful Thursday

We need to be happy with what we do have, kitteh!

Which brings us to my Thankfuls on this Thursday!

1.     My kids.  My hearts, my everythings.

2.     All our fur babies!  They give us such joy and happiness and unconditional love!  I am happy to give them all their "forever home".

3.     Hubby, who is coming home early to 'deal' with me now.  I fell yesterday, lost my balance, went over on my lesser of a weak ankle, but fell into a doorway corner.  My right forearm took the brunt and now is swollen, bruised, and painful. 

I am trying to avoid ER and make it to ortho appointment tomorrow at 12 noon, which was the earliest I could get.  Hubby thinks ER.  Battle of wills to ensue... I will post winner later.  lol

4.     My parents.  Who love me no matter how stupidly annoying and stubborn I am.  Hey, I got it from somewhere... right? 

5.     Coffee.  Yep... the quicker picker upper.  No, not Bounty, silly. 

Okay, it hurts when I type, so I am signing off for now.  More later.  I think I just need a brace of sorts as that will help support it, limit movement, and protect it from being reinjured, but I don't have my MD so I could be wrong.  LOL

be well,
Dawn

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Pussycat, Pussycat

As you know, Fuzzy has been having a rough time lately.

Healthwise, school demands, missing out on Junior Police Academy, missing baseball, etc. 

Fuzzy is also the middle child, however, he has always been in a unique situation.  He is the first child we have going through the school system, and many of the things he does are a first for all of us, as if he was oldest because we homeschool Hammer. 

Also, Fuzzy had for many years until recently had to lead the way for Hammer in many situations, acting more like the elder brother than the younger.  Even now with Hammer coming so wonderfully into his own, there are instances where Fuzzy still takes the lead, although much less so than before. 

To recap, Fuzzy is the middle child, but not really, and then is followed by the 'baby' and only girl.  For the last two years, Fuzzy has begged for a cat.

Yesterday, after long consideration, Hubby and I decided to take him to the county shelter to rescue a kitty.  Not a popular decision with my parental units, however, Hubby (who initially was very anti any other pet) felt that the sense of ownership of something Fuzzy's very own, was something Fuzzy really needed.  Coming from a family of 7 kids, where he was #5, yet the eldest of the last set of three, I think Hubby related to that need.  And, yes we have a lot of pets, but kids are only kids once and we can manage it.  And, rescuing a sweet kitty from being put down is always good.

ATTENTION:  Cat's name spelling corrected by son to SUZY!  My bad!

Meet Suzy, an approximately 7 month old kitten.  She was part of a 'surprise' litter in a home with kids, and had only been at the shelter for about two weeks. 

 

Suzy is very sweet, and really loves to be held!  Unlike Tina, our feral rescue, who still hates anyone picking her up.  And, unlike Pumpkin who is almost 13 and is mostly my kitty and tolerates the rest of the house. 

Suzy has already started to tolerate Libby, the yellow lab, in her first 24 hours.  They aren't snuggle buddies yet, but maybe soon!  LOL

I think she and Tina may end up snuggle friends, too, but maybe not.  Pumpkin ignores her with all the haughtiness you would expect from the Grande Dame pet of the house!  LOL

Here is a picture of her and her boy, Fuzzy.

Love at first snuggle in the shelter... and it grows.

More pictures to come, I am sure.

Oh, and I won the caption contest over at Magic Smoke !

Thanks Krissy and Val!  The game is fun!  A new one starts tomorrow!  Come play!

Here is the special winners tag I received: 

be well,
Dawn

Monday, May 5, 2008

Home on the Range

 

My camping boys are home!

A good time was had by all, but not as good as at some trips apparently.  LOL  This trip was all about training the younger guys.  I guess the 'fun' of that wore off about half way through the day, but the boys did a great job, according to Hubby! 

We headed out to see Iron Man after the truck was unloaded and everyone showered away the weekends dirt.  Stinky!  LOL

Iron Man was really, really good!!!  A fun action film, and Robert Downey, Jr, looks great!!  Ripped in fact!  It has been 4 years that he is clean now, and it really shows.  He is a great actor, I am so happy he was finally able to get his addictions under control.  In an interview he said he works the program everyday; that is awesome.

Pollen counts are going back up, now that the rain is over, but it is nice to see the sun shining again! 

I slept so good last night, having Hubby and the boys back at home!!!  Yay!

Do any of you watch 'Dexter' out there?  WOW!  Last night was a 2 hour finale, holy crap!!!  It was good, and a shocker! 

Have a great rest of your Monday! 

be well,
Dawn

ps.  Happy Cinco de Mayo!  If you have a few Margaritas to celebrate... you may end up like this kitty!  Moderation!  LOL

Friday, May 2, 2008

Sweet Emotion

This cat looks just like Wilford Brimley who does those commercials!

I changed my journal colors a bit for some spring fun!  Do you like?

Well, my men are all gone!  Hubby, Hammer and Fuzzy are off to the Weeboree!  Fuzzy's friend Russ has recently been promoted and is attending this Weeboree; it is his first time.  It is really nice because the older scouts work with the younger Weebelo Cub Scouts and new scouts, teaching them skills. 

Our troop is teaching fire starting.  About 3 of 4 different ways.  :-)

So, today I mostly did some spring cleaning.  Pumpkin and I will have a quiet girl's night tonight, and tomorrow we will maybe do some shopping.  We may also go pick out the kitchen flooring tomorrow with my mom and dad.  The place that was recommended to us is local and very convenient to our house. 

My hands are so sore today!  I have been doing a lot of stuff with them all week, and today I am paying the piper!  Ouch!  But, it hasn't stopped me.  lol

I hope everyone has a great weekend!  Can you believe it is MAY?  MAY?  Already???  In about 3 months I start Christmas shopping again!  ACK! 

Bwah ha ha ha, bet some of you are cringing at that thought!!!  LOL

I don't really do a lot early, but some!  lol

be well,
Dawn

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Thankful Thursday

This had me cracking up!  I love CSI!

I have so many things to be thankful for in my life.  Every night I fall asleep recounting them in my head.

Here are a few to share:

1.     Singing 'TNT' by AC/DC at the top of my lungs with Fuzzy and Pumpkin Muffin in the car, while parked waiting for Hubby to get off the NYC bus!   This was yesterday... we even danced in our seats!

2.     That while in the process of cleaning out and putting back together my kitchen I found that I was lucky enough, blessed enough, to have things I could pass on to good will for those not as fortunate as I.

3.     I never thought I would say this, but... I am thankful that it will be raining this weekend for the Boy Scout Weeboree.  Yes, normal people would hope for good weather, but the rain will dampen down the pollen count enabling Fuzzy to go on the trip and not having to worry about his allergies/asthma nearly as much. 

(Overall, Fuzzy is doing better!  Seems like the fine tuning we did on the meds and avoiding the outdoors has helped!  Sucks to be 13 and not able to go out to play for a while though... )

4.     Pumpkin Muffin seems to have finally gotten it through her thick German head that if she cleans her room and takes care of her things this makes her parents more likely to get her new things.  This past weekend we got a bunch of new things from Kohls for the spring and summer, and she is taking very good care of them. 

5.     I am so thankful that Hammer has grown into a young man that feels confident enough to share his personal experiences with Asperger's and wants to educate people about the Autism Spectrum.  7 years ago, I would never have thought it possible for him to do what he did at Boy Scouts last night.  Never.

6.     Love.  My mom and dad always taught and showed me that love was and is the most important thing in your life.  It isn't a tangible thing, that you can touch or see, yet you can see, feel, touch and experience it in your life in so many ways.  Love should be given freely, abundantly, and always without strings or conditions attached to it. 

I am thankful that I each day I give and receive love. 

Well, that's it for me!  I have some stuff to do around the house and a bed calling to me for sleep.

I hope you are all loved...

be well,
Dawn

ps.  A little lolcat for the Journey lovers...