Happy Blogaversary to me!

Holy Cow!!!

Yesterday was a holiday for me and I COMPLETELY forgot about it!

YESTERDAY WAS MY BLOGAVERSARY!!!

I've been writing this thing for one whole year!!!

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It has been a blessed year too! I have "met" so many new friends on this thing we call the blogosphere, that I catch myself in daily conversations saying things like...

"oh, my friend over in India has a cow and..."

or

"I have a friend in Utah with three adorable little men, and she bakes bread "with" me!"

and

"Oh, I have a friend that lives up North and she is an Italian Mama that has had the same experience as me."

I get the weirdest faces when I say these things to "touchable" people... you know... people I can actually touch if I so choose.

People outside the "Blog" persuasion just don't get this whole "blog" thing, and

don't understand the need.

When I do get asked... I usually say something like...

Well... it's like having a pen pal from back in the day...but blogging is like pen palling... on speed!

***

My husband is so on board with this whole blog thing too. He loves that I do it.

He says it's because he knows my passion is the written word, and I have been much

happier since I started this thing. I have more of an outlet now, and he doesn't have to me my sounding board as much anymore... I can vent with "my girls".

He keeps prodding me to write a book... any book.

So... yesterday... I STARTED!

And to think... I started it on the very day I started my blog.

Weird huh?

Letti started me up on the blog last year.

Thank you so much Letti...

If I hadn't been going with you to that Pictionary game,

I don't know what I would be doing right now!

{Ha! My PC Director would say..."You'd be going with me to Leadership...

that's where you'd be..." } But I don't think so.

Blessings come from the strangest places... don't they?

***

So... I hope to spend about 3 hours a day writing,

and will hopefully have it done in about 6 months.

If I can't find a publisher... I will self publish and promote.

My brain hurts!

So...

HAPPY BLOGAVERSARY TO ME!!!

Thank you all who read me for all the comment love, the nice things you say about my men,

and all your sage advice.

Thank you also for not getting all bent outta shape when I have my one of my many

"unsolicited opinion" rants... and for loving me where I'm at.

Here's to many more years of words, love, friendship, and comments...

I really do feel like I know you all...

So I do love ya...

almost as much as I love my luggage.

xxoo

New Years Idea

I wanted to share with you something I thought up to do for my kids... everyday...

before they go to school.

Every night, while they are sleeping, I am going to put a post it note, or something of that nature where they can see it, with a word, phrase, loving thought, or one thing they did that day to make

the world a better place, or that made me proud or some other good emotion.

I went out and bought 300 index cards, and tonight, and tomorrow I am going to start writing down my favorite phrases, words, or scriptures on them so I have an arsenal of them to start off with.

Of course, I won't write them all out... because they may do something incredibly sweet one day and I'll have ammo for the index card then.

The bottom of each and every card will say...

I love you up to God and around the world infinity times... Be blessed today my son.

***

After hearing about John Travolta's son's death, I started wondering... in their unspeakable grief... are they wondering what the last thing they said to him was? I so feel for anyone grieving the loss of a child. It really hit home.

I yelled and said some not so nice things to one of my boys tonight, and I felt so incredibly ashamed immediately afterward... I apologized right away... but it didn't feel like enough.

I express myself so much better in the written word than I do in person, so I came up with

this little way of showing them in writing, so they can see it all day, that no matter what I say or do or what they say or do... nothing will ever shake my love for them.

***

On another subject... I FREAKING LOVE THAT DANG Wii!

I so hate to admit it... BUT I DO!

"I" actually love it... for ME!!!

I got a great workout today playing tennis for 1/2 hour!

We've all bowled as a family, played baseball, and golfed together too!

I don't play the Mario or the other games with the wii steering wheels... too techie for me...

but I love the Wiimotes!

I'm going to go look up Wii Fit now and see about getting it!

Who knew... me... liking a video game console...

There IS a God!

My newest addiction...

Here's what I do in the weeee hours of the night... when my family is asleep and all is quiet...

I have a cousin that works at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and we stopped in to say hello

We spent New Years Eve strolling around the Mission Inn. As you can see... it was breathtaking.

Simply stunning...

We all had a great time... and I had a great time putting together this book... This was only 5 pages of the 37 I did. It goes really fast, because it is all on the computer and web based.

It has become an addiction. Adrian, my dear, turned me on to it at Thanksgiving... and

I am an addict. I've done 12 books so far...

No wonder I have insomnia!!!

We are going to be broke when I order them all in book form!

Thanks for looking!

Photo Story Friday

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

No, Bill is not carrying a purse... it's my camera case... he wanted me to make sure and tell you that... he's such a manly man... Sheesh!

I love this pic of my men walking away. I just plain ol do.

This is one of my Scrapblog pages I just did. There is a gorgeous bronze statue of Mahatma Ghandi at the Mission Inn, and his words are engraved into the cement surrounding the statue,

So I told the kids to place their hands around the powerful words so they will not only remember what they say... but maybe, just maybe, their meaning will be absorbed into their hands.

Happy Friday!

The Holidays are OVER!!!!!

Yipeeeeee!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, MY FRIENDS

I love this time of year... sort of.

While I don't particularly love all the hussle and bustle that is the train wreck of Christmas...

I so love how I automatically wax philosophical when the New Year Rolls around.

It just turns me into a bowl of noodles... every time.

***

I have run the gammot of resolutions in my 40 1/2 years.

I've resolved to lose weight,

get organized,

do more charity work,

visit more people,

spend less money,

give more to others,

etc...

Some of them I have accomplished... some... well... not so much.

A few years back... I even resolved never to resolve again.

It was just too much pressure, and, being the type of person I am, I really didn't feel all

that guilty if I didn't follow through with resolutions. I just don't feel the need to beat myself up, when the world is going to do it for me anyway...

(Yes, I am a cynic... you are JUST NOW seeing that? ha!)

***

BUT, on a positive note... there are some resolutions that I loved and DID follow through with that I still continue today.

***

In 1994, I resolved to write my then unborn children, a letter every year on their birthday to tell them how much I loved them, and the things they accomplished etc...

I still do that to this day.

***

In 2000, I resolved to write EVERY person I loved, what I called a Millenium Letter, to tell that person what and how they changed my life. It took me weeks and a lot of happy tears to get those written, and I hear, they all still have the letters. Every once in a while, they tell me so.

***

In 1992, I vowed not to be a BRIDEZILLA, and let my Mama have the wedding of her dreams with my wedding. I was the most calm, cool and collected bride ever. I didn't worry about one single solitary thing, and she threw us one hell of a spectacular Italian wedding.

***

In 1994, I resolved to forgive my parents for divorcing when I was 22. That was a tough one, but I was pregnant with their first grandbaby, and I wanted to be on good terms with them in my heart, not just in my mind and mouth.

***

In 2002, I noticed I had been doting on the kids for so long, that I forgot to dote on the man that gave them to me, and takes such great care of us every day, My hubby, so in 2002, I resolved to put my marriage ahead of my children, and it has made me a better mother, and my kids get to see MORE of why Bill and I are together. My kids will be TREMENDOUS fathers because of their role model in Bill.

***

This year, I resolve to tell my Mama I love and adore her every single day.

She craves attention from me, and because I know that, sometimes I withhold... isn't that crazy? It's like it's involuntary. Well, no more. I will initiate all the hugs and kisses and "I love you's" from now on. I love her so much it hurts, and I just need to let her know that more often.

My being the type of person that doesn't need confirmation on love and all that mushy stuff, I fail to see the need in others... and she is definitely a mushy type person. We are polar opposites. I will be mushy with my Mama, and shower her with demonstrative love she wants and needs from her only daughter.

***

yeah, yeah, yeah... I resolve to lose weight...

That's all I'll say on THAT matter...

***

I will start a new business this year.

What? Who knows!

I just love open ended resolutions...don't you?

***

Be kind to yourself today, and for 2009. Hug more, love more, spend more time...

Spend less, get outta debt, give more of you and realize your wallet is not YOU.

Tomorrow... is a day of endless possibilities.

Please make sure you are alive to see them, and don't drink and drive.

Thank you to all my friends and family that have read this blog this year.

I still get all weepy and mushy when I think that people actually read what I have to say.

I am so ridiculously flattered and touched.

***

Here's to a happy, healthy, prosperous, joyous,

NEW YEAR!

FROM ME...

TO YOU...

2009!!!

Oops! I did it again!

I woke bolt straight up this morning at around 3 a.m. this morning... and realized I had missed a PC meeting.

I hadn't been to one in so long... I FORGOT all about it.

What a dope!

I don't even remember whose house it was supposed to be at!

Funny thing... no one called me after to let me know what a dope I was... which usually happens!

I only have to assume it was canceled, and I DIDN'T miss it.

So weird...

I have been forgetting a LOT of things lately.

Maybe it's my age?

40... can't be old right?

Right?

I mean... I do have more grey hair than most... but that's what Hair Color is for!

I hate forgetting things.

I forget dental appointments 5 seconds after I make them... I call my nail guy a million times to see when I set my appt.

Yes... I know I should write these things down!!!

But when I do... I lose the paper.

If I put it down in a calendar... I doodle so much, I can't read the numbers!

I'm a mess...

Maybe I just need more sleep.

I think I'll volunteer for a sleep study for about a year.

Yeah.... that's it...

Dream University!

Drinking.texting, reading, etc... while driving.

This morning... around 7 a.m., while driving home from dropping William off at a baseball tournament his school is hosting... I noticed a freeway sign that said this on it.

"January 1, no texting while driving."

I have one word for that...

REALLY!!!???!!!

***

Has this country gone so far by the wayside that adults need to be REMINDED not to...

oh..,I don't know... TYPE OR READ while driving?

What part of that did everyone forget from driver's ed!

It annoys me to NO END that people would seriously TEXT while driving.

I also have no patience for people (women) who

apply makeup while driving too.

Or people who... read newspapers, novels, look at the person they are talking to instead of keeping their eyes on the road while driving also.

Drinking and driving or driving while sleepy are still the biggest dangers... but I have to think that there are a LOT idiots out there that are typing and driving and killing a lot of people.

There is a reason cars don't come equipped with laptops in the dashboards... people!

Although, while driving home from the beach the other day... I did see an Escalade with a TV

playing Spongebob IN THE FRONT DASHBOARD!

Really??? People can't get away from TV even to drive? Buy a DVR... Save a life!

My Expedition came equipped with an entertainment video system FOR THE BACK SEAT PASSENGERS. We never use it... but when the kids were smaller, they would occasionally watch a video on long car trips. My kids aren't big TV watchers, so it was a feature that was useless to us, but it came with the car...

But I digress... I'll say it again.... IT IS FOR THE BACKSEAT PASSENGERS!

Why do people feel the need to take their eyes off the road to communicate...

BUY AN EARBUD!

***

I want to believe that we Americans are smart enough not to have to have laws put into place that forbid us from doing things that are OBVIOUS!!!

How many driver's training courses have you seen when the teacher does a lecture on which section of the newspaper to read while driving on the freeway? Hey! Maybe the obituaries would be good... bet there are a bunch of them with "natural causes" diagnosis written in so as not to embarrass the family whose idiot family member was TEXTING WHILE DRIVING AND DIED!!!

***

I have a huge extended family... and we've had our fair share of tragedy with drunk drivers. They were lost to the stupidity of drunk people getting into their cars and they were all 27 years old. They did not die at the same time. The drunk drivers... are all alive.  I have too many friends and acquaintences that visit a grave site instead of a house because of Alcohol related deaths.

Needless to say... I never get behind the wheel of a car when I've had even a sip of anything alcoholic.

This reading and texting thing scares the crap out of me. My oldest is going to be driving next year. If people are stupid enough to text and drive, and not see the danger... what next!!!

Are car companies going to embed wii's into the dashboards so people can play Guitar Hero while traveling 75 miles per hour on a freeway?

***

The New Year is upon us.

If you are going to party... give your keys to someone completely sober.

Two drinks is still too many to drive.

Call a cab.

Stay home.

Watch everyone else get stupid, and save your self respect...

Please... be safe...

Don't take your own life, or worse... someone elses... because you needed to get your groove on.

If you are going to drink... please do not operate anything with wheels unless it has a remote control.

Pass it on...

***

This has been a message from an overbearing Italian Mama that has been to too many funerals because of alcohol related deaths...

Be safe my friends...

I want to hear from you on January 2, safe... happy... and in one piece...

More Beach Pictures

Ahhh. sunset... One of God's precious gifts...

I have no idea what was so funny... i'm just glad they were happy...

Catalina in the distance...just before a torrential rain that lasted an hour...

The rain ended, and this was what replaced it.

manchild legs...

hello! Flash photography works on the new camera!

Catalina at sunset.

The boy found a huge stick... What can i say!

Christmas beach pictures.

Our home away from home for the week! Since there are no park benches at the beach... Johnny made his own!

I stole this idea from Michelle the Crafty Mama! It looks better close up.

No, my manly men are not prancing!!! I caught them mid-land.

Oh... how I wish this picture was the norm!

While it was cold, rainy and awful at home only 40 minutes away... the beach was sunny, warmish, and lovely for the most part. We did have a few cloudy days and some rain... but it subsided quickly and gave way to some spectacular sun and cloud displays.

We kept a mini ocean terarium of sea life during our stay, which Johnny thought we were keeping... sadly... no... and we had a star fish, loads of clams, and a hermit crab. When we let them go back to the ocean... all the little clams dug themselves in... the star fish washed away and the hermit crab burrowed deep into the sand.

The kids biked, played catch and frisbee, we had huge bonfires, and ate smores.

It was great... because they forgot about the gifts they got, and focused on us being together as a family, in the simplest of ways...

I suppose I am a selfish woman. I know many people have large get togethers with loads of people for the holidays, and while I do wish sometimes we had that... I really enjoy our holidays just being 'us'. Bill and I were their main focus, and they were our main focus. With both of our parents being divorced and remarried, the holidays are a quite difficult time for Bill and me.

We've come to the thinking that 'just us' is what we will do from now on until our kids get married, and now we are brainwashing them ... er... I mean... suggesting that when they are all married with kids, we all get together as one family every other Sunday.

No... they WON'T move away.... LA LA LAL ALALAL LAL LA LA LA ... I can't hear that!!!

More pictures to come...

I have to take this a little slowly... I'm not completely "back" yet... my head is still hearing the roar of the ocean... and I don't want to lose it yet.

I'mmm bbaaackkkk... again!

We had a completely wonderful Christmas at the beach for the past week!

Most of you know that the beach is my all time favorite place to be... ever...!

So, every other year, we spend Christmas either in New York city or the beach...

I have so much to tell you, and so many pictures to bore you to tears with!

Just wanted to pop in and say hello...

I pre-posted for a few days this week so there wouldn't be an entire week of nothing on my blog... The "boys in the house' post was a repost.

***

I intend to relax and clean out my motorhome, and get ready for the new year this next week.

The men are home for another week, and we have a bunch of clothes to get into bags for the Salvation Army.

Be back soon!

I hope all had a wonderful Christmas!