A visit to Nana Theresa and Boston Commons

We saw Nana T this morning before our trip to Boston and after Mass. Her room was moved to a section that is more intense and closer to the nurse station. He view is very impaired, she is in a room that has a small window blocked by the other building. Her other room had a hugh 12 foot long window. She said she likes the small window b/c the light hurts her eyes. I would of taught that the large window would make you feel less confined. Oh well. Her love and gratefulness when she sees us makes it all worth it. She is in a single and has her own full bath. We had to wake her up b/c the nurse said these days she sleeps most of her day and night. Not a good sign I would think. After we woke her she knew RIGHT AWAY ...Stephie....It makes me feel so good when she does "get it" ....It lasted for only a lil bit then she was off in a world of weird comments and questions. She asked how Paula was and I said fine. I can;t get into it that her daughter is gone even tough sometimes she talks about her death and what a shame it is she is gone before her. She knew it was Sunday but not tha the summer was almost over b/c she said something about how can we be wearing shorts in the winter. We told her it was Labor Day tom. and she said yes yes it is. Oh well. We fed her cookies b/c she really is the cookie monster...lol
Off to Boston with goodbyes to Nana T. I thanked the nurse b/c this new area seems to have some really caring gals. Her other section they were good and all but did not give the attention she now needs like in the place she is at now. It is way more hospital like now unlike the "home" feel of her other location. We told her we were going to Boston and that Stephen was at his friends at a lake in NH and she said you have to drive far. I said no Boston right through the tunnel.She said oh Quincy Market and the wonderful North End. You know Stephie Papa loved to take you to show you off to all his friends at the club in the North End. So funny how stuff pops in and then is gone in a flash. I was teary when she first woke up b/c of how happy she looks when she sees us. Then I compose facing away from her. Then she says something like that and water works again so I have to turn and pretend to do something. I am really sad b/c nobody knows where her 85th b-day bear is. On her 85th b-day (last time she was at our house) we got her a souped up b-day bear from BABW....She loves that thing. When we come she asks us to get it out...she remembers that we gave it to her. Then she bounces it and calls it gwunda bella.....how beautiful and pecha sotha......yeah I won't say what that is....lol I want her to have that bear. The new nurses have no idea but her pictures did make the move. So our loves and please come back and thanks from her as we leave. Breaks my heart to leave. Off to Boston we went with a tunnel fee of $3.50.....WHAT! when did that go up so high.....oh my...
We had fun in Boston. I was ok with the crowds. Suffolk U had students unloading across from the Commons and the street was a mess. Tons of people in Boston. We drove all over the place and made our way far to the Northeastern U area before heading home for Ry to see where Dad went to school. I must say driving in Boston is a chore in itself. It was a great day, lots of walking to burn the fat...lol and a really yummy grilled chicken salad from Quincy Market despite all the mega high calorie options. Ry loves Bearded Papas the custom cream puff place and got one. I must say I am not even temped b/c I know just how well I have been doing and don't want to mess it up. I knew that tonight before Big Brother I will have my Soy ice bar from TJS. We went there on the way home and got some really cool things. I love shoppin there. I make atleast one trip a week to get the awesome TJS stuff. M got a really good lookin burger that really looked awesome. I must say I am glad he got mushrooms on it b/c I would of asked for a nibble but yuck mushrooms. I am waitin for BB to start and brownies for toms BBQ are in the oven. BB shouls be a good one tonight, as it always is. Have a good night. Sorry so long winded/typed.....

Listening to hums

I am looking at e-mails and Ryan is eating his breakfast behind me and I am hearing hum hum hum .......He hums while he eats. Like in his own little world...lol He has always done this since he was lil and started eating the baby food. He does not hum if he is chatting with someone while eatin (well yeah can't hum and talk at the same time) but even at dinner if he is not talking we hear his hums. He is funny. He has a calm disposition like his non stressed dad. Michael is so mellow I so respect him for that but in one way think how can you be so laid back. Ryan has that but on some things obsesses, maybe got that from me.....
As the keyboard clicks the hum of my baby boy continues until his Cheerios are all gobbled up.

It's not THAT easy!

Made the once a year trip to Staples for back to school stuff. Yeah they make it look so great on the TV. The most wonderful time of the year my foot. Mobs of parents all doing the same thing, trying to get in and out asap. All in the same sections needing almost the same items. It is similar to Christmas shopping at the mall. Stephen needed many binders for his work and they are expensive but the cheaper ones are not in front you have to navigate to really find some that are not tons of cash. Got a deal, if you buy eight 1 inch binders they are $.25 each but if you buy one to seven of them they are $.99 each. Ah I think we will take eight. We needed 3 but hey for that price it was cheaper to take all eight in the long run and Ry could always use them at some point. We got our stuff and scrammed. I got really lucky that the Cust. Serv. desk boy said I'll take you here and I did not have to wait in the 8 people deep line with 2 registers open. I thanked the eager boy and just HAD to press the button on the counter. I am sure he gets that all day. I know I shouldn't of but I could not hold back.

Our neice and nephew

How cute is this picture of Selena and Justin. They are too cute.

New Song

This song caught my ear the other day in the car. Listening to the words I taught of the call I am waiting for and think that it applies. Like I said in the post about waiting, things happen in due time. Playing the waiting game is sometimes not that fun of a game. STILL WAITING....one step at a time.........

Nothing gives me greater hope than the beautiful journey within myself

I got a tag .....only a few I am no good at this...

Where would you like to go on your next vacation
On the Disney Cruise at Castaway Cay


Whats your favorite beverage?
Water with lots o lime....yum or lemon



Whats your favorite color?
I do not have any on my walls but would lve to someday have a bathroom with lilacish puple walls with white beadboard.




What is your relationship status?
He is my love and soul mate, love that man.

What is you name?
STEPHANIE AKA STEPHIE
Papa Steve is the one who started Stephie Baby....It took a long time to let others say that. Normie, her mother BN and Nana T were the only ones to say it...Then Michael would say My Jelly Bean Stephie....So now others can call me Stephie. I do love the originals who did it. I can sometimes hear my Papas voice in my dreams saying Stephie Baby. Once in my dream it was so real and vivid I woke up and tought was that real? Oh how I luv that Papa...Miss u more than you know.....

Big Borther 10...swing vote Dan

As of last night (Tues) This kid is just stirin up the entire house. He stayed so under the radar for so long and now is out in full force. He is a HS teacher and has a lot of really good statagies to play these people against eachother. I could see how he uses his head to think of smart ways to make things look like they really are not what they seem. I must say he is now a risk taker and I give him kudos. He is really steppin up his game. GO DAN!



He threw all the compititions in the past to look "weak" but is not, far from it. Being a teacher he really knows how to make things look differntly than what they are. Money CAN NOT buy everything in life and tonights show proved that....C YA APRIL......so glad that Dan does the things he does and won POV when it was most needed. LOVE THIS GAME........

the phone of my childhood

This is the exact phone.....(well maybe ours was a rotary one.....you know the ones that u have to wait for the round thingy to come back for every number, no lookin at it again I do thing it had push #'s)from my childhood. I LOVED this phone when I was younger. I loved Mickey and still do. I never got to go to Disney as a child. I went on spring break my senior year in HS with 3 friends on a dime. I BROUGHT myself there I was not taken there. Since I felt it to be a depravation to childhood I vowed to Michael that our children HAVE to go there. THEY got there alright....lol many many times.....I still would go back in a heartbeat, today in fact if the price were a cheep one...lol OR drive like some trips...lol M is DONE with that...lol
So this post was not at all about Disney or my fetish I just really liked the phone when I went looking for one to post for my RANT> here goes.....

U ever just NEED/WAIT for a phone call and it does not come? I am sure all of you reading at one time or another have been there. WAITIN AND WAITIN AND HOPEIN AND WAITING SOME MORE>.......yeah I am learning the virtue of patience right even though I am a really patient person on the whole, and am doing well with that, I hope. I won't get into the call it self but to rant on the issue of waiting for a call and just not getting it. I know I have deep faith and the belief in God that things happen for a reason and in His time. I so get that and am TRYING REAL HARD to live by those words....when the phone rings and I look at the caller id ( LOVE CALLER ID) lol what did we do without it all those years ago, I just HOPE that it is the call I am waiting so patiently in antisipation for. I know it will come in due time but the waiting is the hard part. Please send positive vibes and prayers my way that the "CALL" comes SOON!

Who would of thunk it....lol JK

I so knew this but had to make sure the quiz would coin me in the right light....I guess these quizzes are correct! ya think!

You Are Not Messy

You're so clean, people have accused you of being a clean freak! You like things tidy, organized, and smelling fresh. Messes drive you crazy, especially when you didn't make them. It's hard for you to live with a slob - or someone who leaves their dishes in the sink.

Are You Messy?

Feelin' Patriotic

I got to see my cousin today. Have not seen him for atlest a year. He is my first and only boy cousin. His father who walked me down the isles is the brother of my mother. Nana Theresas son. He pitches. He was on an AA team for some team then got called to the AAA teams for the Giants. He did pitch in one major league game this season but plays all the farm team games. He was on a week off break and I was so glad to see the straping 6 foot 10 inch tall man he has become. Folks that is not a typo. My son Stephen looks short next to him and he is over 6'2" tall. I stand next to him and am in awe that the kids whos diaper I changed is now 26 years old. I leartn to change diapers on him....lol Once he woke up from a nap while I was at my aunts house for my weekend get away to the "country" ( they live 7 houses down from us lol but are in N Reading). When growing up in the "city" Eastie the country was anything past the orange dino on Rt 1 Malden......lol he had no diaper and was wacking his lil thingy and I screamed....lol
So he showed me some wedding pics of his friend Adam that he has had forever that I also saw grow up...Well he got older but never grew past 5'2". It is hysterical to see them in a pic together. They have a pic from HS and are back to bcak and I recall Adams head was bearly over Stephens rear area...lol thats how much of a difference there is. Since Stephen was home from Cali we got to hang out at his parents pool and laugh and reminice. He was amazed that I treaded water while we chated for 2.5 hours straight non stop. So we caught up on his friends and what they are doing now. Well this one boy I thought was the most reseptable kid ever is now none other than a Soldier for the USMC. I was so proud to hear of his service and on the other hand so scared and concerned for his family to have to have that worry for his safety. Please keep him and all the service people in your toughts and prayers for without their commitment we would not be free or able to do what we do without tought. All the HS friends got to see eachother this weekend at Adams wedding and he said it was bitter sweet since RJ was in the middleast serving. They got to pod cast to him from a laptop and said he was so excited to see everone. I luv that things like that can happen with the age of comps. He also got to see his 8 mnth old daughter that he has yet to meet in person. The scence of not being able to hold your infant must be so challanging. He also got to see her birth with help from the vid cam on the comp. How special was that. Never forget that we are able to do what we do b/c of the service of the troops here on US ground and in other countries.. GOD BLESS THE USA!

sun is shinin

Heading out to swim today....that is all I will say.

CLOSED

What closed? Michael and I went to PF after dinner and after picking up a shirt at JC Penny for our nephews Baptism tomorrow. As we approach the lot I get all happy to only see like maybe 3 cars in the lot. I am thinking GREAT all by ourselves. Lights all on and looking open but get to the door and locked. I had the notion it was open 24 hours and closed at 9 pm on Sunday and reopen at like 6am on Monday....But I guess when I looked on the website they are only open Sat and Sun 7a-7p. I guess I was misinformed.....lol
We decided to walk some neighborhoods near our house. It felt and smelt like when you are in Northern NH on a summer night. You know what I mean the crisp air smell like the seasons may be changing. What the heck, we barley had hot/summer weather this entire summer. It gets darker earlier and so cool at night now....OH SO SAD. One of the streets has this extremely steep hill and it was a killah. Down was great. lol I am glad we got ot do some moving after dinner, I may even turn on ON DEMAND the exercise options are fun. I did salsa one time and dance jam the other. It felt like back in the dayz at dance school. lol Funny story my old dance teacher from about 1980-86 lives across the street from us. I knew years back she "moved north" but too much to see her when we moved in 8 years ago and she remembered me. I could have her come by and do some moves in the family room with me...lol SO no gym tonight but we got our blood pumpin' on our walk.......

Using muscles that haven't been used in a while...or ever?

At our Tuesday night PF session I used some machines that I never tried before. OH MY
What a deal....The adductor and abductor ones are a trip.....It gives the effect of an exam at the gyn's/////not a nice feeling or position. lol BUT I must say it works those muscles to the core. I LOVE the oblique machine...oh love that one....When we go that late I feel so comfortable b/c the machines are all open and so few people I don't feel intimadated. There was a group of Italians one man and the rest boys, they kept staring at my Pammie.....then as we walk by and say we are tired the old creepy man says something and I try to ignore it b/c at first I really did not think he was talkin to us but then Pam as nice as pie smiles and says huh? He repeats it but we are still not sure but to me it sounded like Gumo Stei......(spelt all wrong) Italian for how are you. So we are still not sure she thinks he said so u are tired. Oh well. Pam has been kickin cardio butt. In two weeks she has uped her game 110%. u go girl. Heading there Friday night after she gets out of work at 10:30. It is just weird to drive home at midnight b/c I am so not a late night gal. My body feels awesome today and I get to do cardio tonight at the program. I was told by the programs trainer everyother day for weight train and everyday for cardio so no weight stuff tonight. It is not good for muscle recovery. I can't belv. the ab machine I so feel it in my core today. It is not a weigh week but since my clothes are fitting so loose I am sure I am loosing something. I love that I caught the exercise fever.......

Feng Shui

Your Feng Shui is Amazing



Your home is the perfect place to work, play, and unwind.
Beautiful and streamlined - you understand the importance of design and flow.
Your home is not weighted down by clutter, but it's not austere or sterile.
You treat your home as well, and as a result, it treats you well!


http://www.blogthings.com/howsyourfengshuiquiz/

Nothing......but confusion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDl29Zj79AI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igthwxGrfl4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS_XQiHeH7M&feature=related

Take a look at the you tube videos....It seems weird as it should since it is about a disease that Nana Theresa battles everyday.There are no answers to this sickness it just takes the ones you love and spits them back to you dark and empty, full of viod and confusion. I swear it would be easier to loose your psychical being over your mental. She has gone down hill and when we go to see her she struggles and states that she just can't .....then nothing...we listen with such intentness to see what she has to say and then she is lost in a seconds time. She is so frail but still so sweet when she looks at you. Before we left her she said she is really looking forward to getting out of here.....As we were walking I stopped and looked at Michael and said do you think she means HERE or HERE.....like on earth? He said he does not know. I really think she can feel herself that she is not going to be around that much longer. We have lost so much of her. For a while I could leave there without puddles of tears but these days they are back because you just don't know if that is the last time you may see her. She says with so much emotion I love you so much you are all so beautiful when we leave and I loose a piece of me every time I hear that. It should be the opposite that I value those words but it stings like a knife to know her mind is empty for so many hours of the day. I hold her so dear to my heart........I may not always be by her beside but I have her close to me all hours of the day. I just wish this did not have to be this way.

What better place to be at 10:30 pm ........

Besides the bed....the gym is not a bad place to be that late. hehehehe Since PF is open 24 hours it is a great option after work since I am wound up anyway. I can not hit the pillow right away I would take a look at e-mails, maybe watch tv then try to sleep. Since Pam and I can go after work on Tuesdays this makes a great option to not veg out after work but infact burn some fuel. We were surprised that there were as many people as there were. Nothing like after dinner time when you have to scope out what machine to use ahead of time. We sailed through the machines with ease and could get what wver we wanted when we wanted it. I loved that. So if your lookin for me on a Tuesday night come see me at the Bear Barn or just stop by the gym lol....It was a good workout last night and after talking with M before I feel asleep I had a really good nights rest. Yeah Pam as you can see I slept till 9 like I said...NOT it was 530 as always that I just had to get up. AND I was really surprised to see M up since we did get in at almost midnight or a lil after. He was so sweet, he wanted to see me and talk. too cute he is.....so Pam how's the calves...lol See u there next week......

Nothing gives me greater hope than the beautiful journey within myself

Soothing Waters

Just looking at a body of water can calm you down. The peaceful feeling takes away stress. I am looking into buying a "water element", a small table size battery operated type one. I saw one in the Christmas Tree Shop but did not really feel it. I think Bed Bath and Beyond in the "beyond" section..lol will have a nice one. Michael says it may make you want to go to the bathroom often since you can hear the water or think that the faucet is running. Not the effect I was going for. I love to keep in the backround on the computer the waves or windchimes to create a peaceful setting. That feeling of being calm and focused is an awesome one.