So nice to see you old friend......

I may use SPF 55 to not get sun damage but I still love you. I love to see you and love that your warmth is shinin through my windows today. You may cause fine lines if not protected but I will always crave you. I wear my eye protection and sunscreen so BRING IT ON! Keep shining my old friend.

It feels like we live in London.....

The dull sky is really getting lame. It makes for a blah day. I am so looking forward to the house glowing with beautiful sunshine. The living room has a wonderful feel when the top of the tall windows get sun. I never have to put the lights on in the day here only when it is a really dark sky. S said that it is expected b/c of something he learnt this year in science, with the Global Warming crap that is going on. The seasons are shifting and are really not true to what they used to be. I can only say we so deserve a great summer weather wise and maybe get an Indian one too come the fall. Happy weekend and stay dry......

A holla to my Boy Boy......

This here is a pic of my boy boy JF.(one of the original water)....What a handsome guy he is. He and Michael just celebrated their 40th in '07. Last Thursday we got together and had dinner at the CCF....U all know that place...My favorite! Cheeesecake Factory. The "water" was together while the "dads" and the "kids" ate at the food court. LOL Very funny that they were there longer than we were at the CCF and had dessert. We had lots of laughs and our server was a blast. My two SILs were there also. We recalled past events and spoke of old times, always fun and smiles when we r w/ JF. He is one to remember dates like I remember people. I could not be that good with #'s. Boy Boy stops by BAB to say hello on his way to the FC when he is on the day shift. He puts a smile on my face b/c he is such a cutie. I can't say enough about this kind hearted person. He gets an A+ in my book......Luv ya Boy Boy...xoxooxxo UR Girl GIRL....lol lol HEHHEHEH

SLOW DOWN!

OH MY GOODNESS! Just witnessed outside our window a car flying on our street, mind you limit is 25mph...Like people drive that...NOT! So the car must of been looking down or something but the Fed Ex truck that was double parked in front of the house across the street was hit. We hear screatching and a bang...Thank goodness no injuries. The airbag deployed and we called 911 the police were near by and came pretty fast. Oh my heart. SLOW DOWN PEOPLE!

Heaving ALL NIGHT LONGGGGG!

I may have got about 4 hours sleep last night due to my poor older son having a heave fest all night. I know sounds gross but how else to put it? LOL I felt just aweful for the kid. He may be all big and stuff but no matter what age you are when you are sick you are like a little kid again. Thank God my kids have never been really sick. I can say growing up they never got sick over and over like some kids. I can say both have had maybe 2 bouts of something and the average cold. They are both the type to suck it up. Stephen more so. I really can’t say they go on and on like some grown ups when sick. They SUCK IT UP! Last night I dont know how he did not want to just break down and cry. I was on the verge for him. I worried was it food poison? It couldn’t be b/c we all ate the same thing. The entire time I used Purell for the hands, Lysol for the jerms, Soft Scrub with anit bact AND Mr. Clean. That bathroom is cleaner than when we used it the first time after it was done...lol HE is drained. I am drained but I think as always when drained I go more. Every window is open right now I am airing out the house. The laundry has been going non-stop for about two hours now. Funny at 1:30 am I sent Michael to Stephens bed so S can be near our bathroom (can’t mess up the hall one lol ) and it was easier for me to ck in and hold his head at that point.Our family NEVER played musical beds. I was lucky to always have kids that stayed in their beds no up and down switching beds ect. I WOULD NOT have been able to deal with that. So I think last night for the first time in 15 years maybe the second we played the musical bed game. At the point when M was going to S’s bed he decided to go to Rys b/c he did not want to catch any germs that may be on the sheets. GOOD THINKING! Good thing we all have beds that can sleep more than one......So off to re-disinfect the bathroom AND sheets and conforter in the washer! I have been dousing myself to not catch anything...Better NOT!

How high will it go?

I can recall about 11 years ago when making the drive to our new house in Middleton, (the first one) turing the corner to go to the new street, a landmark gasstaion had 97 cents a gallon for gas. It was a good price b/c some stations were nearing the dollar mark and we were like oh look under a dollar. WELL ......We all know ten years or so have passed AND!@@@@@ not that anymore. How high will the dam gas go?
I have this thing that the tank CAN NOT go under a half. Yeah OCD about it. I hate when I get in M's truck and he has like 22 miles left. His tells you how many miles you have with the gas you have left. I freak. He says we can go all these places and back with that amount...NOOOOOOO! I NEED the feeling of gas is in there. Well these days it makes zero scence to let the tank go down b/c HOW FREAKING much would it cost to fill it...LIKE $50.......some more depends on the tank. I am sooooo glad we got the sedan when we traded the minivan in back in '02. My Sonata gets awesome milage, but it is still a lot to pay b/c the dam gas is @$3.19 + in some places. This is nuts. In 1987 when I got my LI....yeah THAT LONG AGO. I remember the day....ahhh a fresh 16 yr old ready to drive 2 years before that...lol I had this driving instructor that had reconstructive face surgery and it was sooo hard to look ahead and not at the left part of his face. I know weird. It was like look , no don't eww is that a chunck of skin falling off? Really it was that bad. When he spoke the extra stuff giggied and stuff...Eww. SO I got the Malibu the next afternoon after goin to the insurance place to have me be put on. I remeber I had to fill it up b/c it was like at half and I COULD NOT even then drive with it that low...lol I think $3.00 FILLED it from half. Yeah you can not EVEN GET ONE GALLON for that these days....How the heck. SO this brings my rant to ........I WANT and have wanted for 3 years now a HYBRID.....BIL just got a Honda Civic 4 dr one it is awesome. Well with Stephen nearing 6'3" as it is he can kiss his knees when in a car...lol The civic would be sooo small and the prius even smaller. The mid size that I drive now int he hybrid choices are so expensive that it is just too much. When you own a car outrite for a while now...and so close to having the '06 truck paid off in a matter of mnths. how can you take a car pymnt, again . I can see M's thinking but as for WANTING to save gas and BE GREEN! I think my being green even out weighs the save cash on gas thing. I have even gone to using envormtly. safe cleaning products and we have been recylng. for atleast 15 years now. So I am somewhat helping but I WANT TO BE GREEN WITH MY HYBRID! I guess for now it is do what we do and suck it up and pay the dam gas prices. Yes I did type dam a number of times and am not one to be a potty mouth but it makes my GAS rise....lol Happy driving...and Stay put for a bit when u can...help conserve.....

Hello...who's this?

So funny, this morning at the bear barn, my bright and early truck morning the phone rings. Whats so funny? Ok it is REALLY early when I am there unpacking ect and wish to chat with another person, sometimes...lol So the phone rings and b/c it is soooo early it may be M or the kids, chances are no...but Hello blah blah....silence but chatter in the backround; a really cute voice...hi...hi. hi Hello who's this? no answer some lil 2 year old babble. Can you get your mommy. Mommy comes on. Hello! Hi I think ur baby called BABW, oHHHHHHHHH Yeah thats Daves son, hold on ...DAVE!
HUH?
Dave comes to the phone.....(Dave, the big dm of my store) Hello!
Hi, how are you?
fine.....
oh....
is the Dave F?
yeah is this Stephanie.....
Yes .....?????
Oh did you need something?
no........!!!!!!!!!!!
u called here!
OH HHHHHHH NOOOOOO my son is messing around with the phone, my wife must be confused that u called and he picked up...hahahha hehheheheh so funny.
Yeah ...that is funny....???? Have a good day.....
WEIRD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a few hours later when the real world is awake......
Hello thanks for calling blah blah....Hi Stephanie...yeah real sorry about this morning. ...No not a problem I was up no problem on this end..just funny...Yeah my son got a hold of the phone and by chance got u....lol we were confused and half asleep..lol heheh ahhhaaa.

WEIRD>....lol
It was funny. I did state to DM DAVE that it was nice to talk to anyone at that time of the morn lol lol even if it was a two year old playing with his dads cell ...LOL

Hey if any of u r eva up 530 am on Thurs call me at work...lol I WILL BE AKWAKE AND READY TO CHAT>....lol

~Have a Happy Easter~

Wishing you all a happy day to celebrate the reason why we have eternal life. Enjoy your time together with family and friends.

Cooking Green,.......Well maybe!

Does Basil count...lol I am making Pesto Italian pesto in honor of it being MONDAY! Yes plain ol Monday...lol Just pokin some Italian humor into the day...hehehehehe
Go green and red and white too......hehehehhehehehe

Be a Tigger.....

http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=ithct48cqw

I HAD to post this link....PLEASE do yourself a favor and take a look at this, I may not be a big fan of Oprah these days but this man is a true inspiration. Karen shared this with me...I have to share this with all of you.....

A song link to ck out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u57d4_b_YgI&feature=related


Michael sent this to me from our laptop and loved the words of the song. I just got done listening for the first time and I can say it has the sweetest words. I could tell from the first word that it was Jack Johnson. Ryan was listening to Upsidedown earlier on u-tube and I think Michael looked for more songs from him. I may have to p/u the CD b/c it is so relaxing. Maybe take it on a plane ride and imagine a field of purple tulips swaying in the warm spring breeze. enjoy the song.....It is a true in love kind of song that puts a smile on your face and warmth in your heart....

Hearts and kisses xoxoxoxoxoxo <3 <3 <3 <3
[Verse 1:]
There's no combination of words
I could put on the back of a postcard,
No song that I could sing
But I can try for your heart,
Our dreams, and they are made out of real things,
Like a shoebox of photographs,
With sepiatone loving,
Love is the answer
At least for most of the questions in my heart ,
Like why are we here? And where do we go?
And how come it's so hard?
It's not always easy,
And sometimes life can be deceiving,
I'll tell you one thing, its always better when we're together

[Chorus:]
MMM, it's always better when we're together
Yeah, we'll look at the stars when we're together
Well, it's always better when we're together
Yeah, it's always better when we're together

[Verse 2:]
And all of these moments
Just might find their way into my dreams tonight
But I know that they'll be gone,
When the morning light sings
And brings new things,
But tomorrow night you see
That they'll be gone too,
Too many things I have to do,
But if all of these dreams might find their way
Into my day to day scene
I'll be under the impression,
I was somewhere in-between
With only two,
Just me and you
Not so many things we got to do,
Or places we got to be
We'll sit beneath the mango tree now

Yeah, it's always better when we're together
MMM, We're somewhere in-between together
Well, it's always better when we're together
Yeah, it's always better when we're together

Mmmmm Mmmmm Mmmmm
I believe in memories
They look so, so pretty when I sleep
Hey now, and when, and when I wake up,
You look so pretty sleeping next to me
But there is not enough time,
And there is no, no song I could sing
And there is no combination of words I could say
But I will still tell you one thing,
We're better together

The clothes are for bears NOT kids....

I came across this when googling build-a-bear images. This family I guess tought it to be funny to put the buzz outfit on their child. Last week we had a dad come in and ask if we had Thomas the tank for his son. We do not and he really meant clothes for his son. I pointed out that the clothes were for bears and the man looked a tad imbarrased. I just wanted to share the sillyness of how small babw clothes look on kids....why b/c they are meant for bears.....

I love Basil! or should I say "Basinehghal"

I love to get my friend Janes home grown Basil every summer. She has a nack for growing and her garden, a true Italian one is wonderful.....I am glad that is the spice I am.....lol

You Are Basil

You are quite popular and loved by post people. You have a mild temperament, but your style is definitely distinctive. You are sweet, attractive, and you often smell good.

What Spice Are You?

Caught 2 bugs....

I have been under the weather for about 4 days now. It is not that bad just tons of tissue being used and I can not amplify my voice like I would like to. I took Zicam on Sunday and extra Vit C(I even Zicamed the kids and they were put off by the nasty after taste of the zink and hated that it dulled your taste buds), it was buy one get one free at Rite Aide and we passed one on the way home. It is expensive $11.99 for a 1.0 oz bottle. So getting one free was a good deal. It does what it said. It has made my bug not so bad and bearable. I also think it is coming ot an end much sooner than it would of without it. I have not taken any medicine b/c I am not one for meds. nor do I miss work. Unless I was dying I am the type to suck it up or atleast try. The other bug I caught was the reading bug. I am not one to read on purpose and if I do it is magazines and small stories like Chicken Soup for the Soul type books. My attention span is there but reading was never a want. In a past a few back Normie sent me my most beloved book ever and I am all done with it. As with every time I read it I sob my eyes out b/c Francie is all grown up and moving on and the "Tree" persavered and got by the hard times and still was able to laugh and love what she went through. That is for another post. After completing my first owned edition of that book I had the bug, the reading bug. I needed to get more. I liked snuggling up on the chair in the corner of our room(the one I really did not want to take from MILs house but ended up matching wonderfully and being a great piece of furniture for the room)I wanted to read something that would bring me to a differnt place, like back to the late teens in Brooklyn where Francie lived. I was close to reading Great Expectations but I xed that one. Way too deep and too much content. I did not want to revist Tuesdays with Maury nor the other one that was just a made for TV movie. I was at a deadend and was goin to make a trip to the make shift Library, ours is being renovated and restored to its original gradude as the Hictorical Society stated when they wanted the town votes to raise taxes 3% to take care of the $1.5 mil project that passed. I did not have to go far. Ryan brough home two books from the school library and I picked one up. I love the Author Andrew Clements and have read Frindel and Janitors Boys so I kept reading after looking at the overview of the book. I got hooked last night and read most of it and am going to finich tonight before Big Brother of course lol. I do plan on making a trip to the libray Friday afternoon even though the books are slim pickins since it is in a make shift trailer. I am surprised at my recent desire to read more. I have nothing against it and comend all who do it on a regular basis. I guess it is a faze....Off to read the rest of the book.

Just plain weird.....

As the children get older things change...here is one example.....late this afternoon after getting things organized from being home, this afternoon I head to the store to pick up a few things and Michael went to the transfer staion aka dump to get rid of the garbage. I call home to see if eggplant would be the choice for dinner and say "Hey babe have I told you lately that I love you?" Yes moooomm you have is the responce I get....OH MY goodness......His voice sounds JUST like his fathers since it changed.I really tought it was Michael answering...OPPS! About a week ago I called home knew M was not going to be there b/c he would be working and I was like what are you doing home? the responce "you said to stay put and not leave".OPPS! It did sound like Michael then too. I was thinking you left work early. Well no he did not b/c it was my son. I will now have to watch and maybe ask or listen really close. JUST PLAIN WEIRD!

cooking and slapshots....

the indoor sk8 park and the Mnt. for snow tubeing!

The class went well. We had so much fun making then serving the food to the boys. Cassie doe not like math and realized just how much math and science are needed for cooking/baking. She is such a cutie pie...or should I say a fudgie pie....lol
So the tourny is going well. The past 3 games Stephen has been one goal shy of a hat trick every time. Todays game was intense, since we had a few that could not make it and 2 injuries the team was short and the players had a lot of ice time and skating to do. We won this one 7-3 and like I said S got 2 of the goals, on defence and one was a slap shot from the blue line. He had 4 other shots on net that could of been that hat trick he has been wanting so badly. I told him I would take him to Lids, his favorite store. We came in 3rd in the tourny. We won like 3 of the five games but it is all about how many goals you have, I don't know how to figure it out???? Friday night is a fun for all scrimdge game but Stephen will be at Ramp Camp the inline/bike place. We are in NH for the weekend to see the exabition of the skills they learn tonight until Sunday. He will be in the sk8 board anbd bike exhabitons and not the in line b/c once you have been in one you can not take part in that division again. That was his choice last year. We will be going to Loon Mnt. to snow tube in Lincoln and are staying in Fanconia NH with Cassie and her family. It is 12* right now so I can jsut imagine what it will be at night and on the Mnt. YIKES. We all know how much I love snow/cold...NOT! The past few days the rinks have been so cold. Ryan even is opting to wear his snow hat, you know when a kid asks for a hat it is cold...LOL Kids hate wearing those things. Speacking of Ryan, he has had lots of other rink rat siblings to play with this tourny. He really likes being there to watch and cheer on Stephen and the team. He got an offer from a freind to stay at his house and he declined b/c he said he really wants to go....That is nice of him. As I have been getting hats/gloves/snowpants/really warm PJs and yes of course swimsuits together I keep saying the kids love this stuff be happy and have a good time. Yes I truly have to convice myself to like the North and go there with a good attitude. Enjoy the cold and the snow.....It is coming Friday night......not where we are going though...lol I hear it will stay to far south to hit that far North....HORRAY!........Happy Weekend!

cooking class with Cassie.....

When the kids were babies I watched other children in the house for extra cash AND b/c I loved kids. I had some really great families and one crazy one. TAYLA BING! lol short stack pancake mans kid...lol this dad was a lonnney bin.....
So back to the story, Cassie my little love was with us from the time she was 19months old until atleast 1st grade and maybe longer since she would even come after school too. She is the best 12 year old cook I know. She is so smart with figuring out what goes with what ect. She makes concocktions like I did when I was young. She loves to try new things and was the only 4 year old that I knew that liked Brocklirapie sanwiches, a very bitter dark green veggie sauted with garlic...lol What kid likes that stuff? LOL So this week on Wednesday she is coming over to have some "lesons". She is so excited and called twice to make sure she brings the right stuff to make things. I can't wait to spend time with her again. The first time we baked a cake her and Ry were at the breakfast bar in the old house, we are mixing ect the doorbell rings...I tell them to stay put and I go down to answer it(a raise ranch) I walk up the stairs to find Ryan covered in cakebatter all over the place. He was 3 and she was 2 1/2 ......It was a sight. I was livid but also had to hold back the laughs b/c it was a site. I asked why he did it and he said Cassie did it and said I would look yummy. LOL LOL ....Still to this day she is a little bossy to him and he has always let her be. She is half his size but has the personallity larger than life. Our plan is to make chocolate mouse, fudge ( I really dont want her to have the secret resp. JK) and butterhorn cookies. It is more a baking not cooking class. After that we are off to a hockey tourny game in NH. As for Monday and Tuesday time at the bear barn, a very busy time of year for bears. Lots of hockey and a Ramp Camp compition. fun fun fun .....Have a great week......xoxoxoxo

Made this up and it came out wonderful.....

Last night I made eggplant. Well I fried up the thin slices in evoo coated with the four egg and seasoned breadcrumbs....not that it is not good just as it is but I took it a step beyond. I was going to make eggplant parm today but I got an idea. I took a bag of spinach sauted it in evoo and garlic, then made homemade pseton (no pinenuts) provolone and romano cheese and layed it like I would parm style....Baked it to melt the cheese let it sit before I cut into it...WELL was it fabo....I put it on Trader Joes cheese and garlic loaves and it made for one beauty of a new creation. OH MY ...the house smells so fragrant and lovely from the pesto( I love basinigol aka basil) and the baking of the creation.....I took a bite of my sandwich and am waiting for M and the boys to eat soon.....MY MY what an awesome dinner........had to share......maybe with pesto love is in the air...LOL LOL

~Happy Hearts Day~

Have a great day to you and the love of your life. I am thankful and blessed to have such a wonderful person to share my life, laughs and friendship with. I hope you too are in love and have a great Love Day......

I AM SICK OF IT!

We have seen so much snow from Thursday to today it is insain. Today the squalls were so bad driving to N Anodover that we coul dnot see a hand in front of us. I was just glad we needed to stop for gas and we sat it out a bit at the gasstation b/c I could tell even Michael who does not get ratteled was like what the heck! Last night I look out and AGAIN the driveway needs to be shoveled. Except for the three inches of slush, ice and snowy muck on Thursday morn we have not needed to really shovel a ton but have to go over and over the dusting ect to keep the hill clear. This is an outrage.......Even Michael got in from this morn and said "whos ready to make the move to Florida"...Either he was trying reall yhard to pull my and the boys chain at breakfast or he is just as sick as I am. The boys were like no we love this. Yesterday they were out for 3 hours in the crap. They were having a grando ol time. I was like r they not freezing? They were sweating from all the runs up and down the hill in back. It did look like fun from afar. lol Still not my cup o tee. Please SPRING....come quick......Have you noticed that at 515pm it is just getting dark, it seems to stay light a tad bit longer the past few days........

Lake Placid NY 07 Got the Gold

Go MASCO!
Stephen is #77. The lil guy holding the Go Masco sign is out very own mascot Sam I am .....He is the lil brother of one of the players and is a hoot. He loves to trick Mrs. Raf....lol Ryan is at one of the Olympic Event places.

Walk on Fl Beach..finnalllly uploaded pics...

It was a beautiful day but then rain clouds came...the sky opened up for like 10 mins then back to sun....that weird Fl. weather.....

My birthday flowers from Normie....so pretty

The deck.....

ARE YOU KIDDING ME......???

Yeah so Giants are SuperBowl Champs...NOT THE PATS......How the heck can you win 18 games and the one game you loose is the BIGGEST one ? Crap......Ryan is mega dissapointed and I must say even though I slept through alot of it...I am too just b/c it is the home team. I am sure NE will be a somber place tom. Oh well at least on Tuesday Boston does not have to go though hell with the voting ect b/c of the parade. UGH.....well kudos to the Giants...Another Manning won the superbowl. I just wish it were Bills boys....ugh....we will not be getting in the babw shirts for the bears this week.....

2-3-08 37 years old today!

I never really made or make big deals about my birthday. In the past when I was a we lassie (lol) I did have some really cool parties. My mother may not have been there for me often but she was one to party so she made sure that I got some cool parties.(guilt thing I guess) Nana T always on a Sunday would have the Itailan Rum cakes yuck and all the old aunts and uncles over to celebrate. The gift of choice was savings bonds. A little gal really has no use for them but when she turns 18 and leaves for her first apartment on her own they come in very handy...LOL
I guess I have always done opposite of Paula so maybe that is why I find it repulsive to make a big deal of b-day. I think the thing that stings the most is that the only person I really want and cared for me unconditionally as a youngin, Nana T is the one person I can't get a call from. I am so greatful,thankful and blessed(I have to post a pic of the beautiful tulips Normie sent, luv u gf/bff) for all the well wishes on the comp and phone from all the people in my life but I hate that Nana T is no longer able to recall what day it is let alone what season. We went to see her last Sunday b/c this week was her 87th b-day and brought her 85th b-day bear a happy b-day cupcake. She did remember when we told her it was her b-day and said my sons is coming to b/c it is the day before hers. She is in and out of it so she says things that are corheant and then not. I surly do not long for the icky rum cake with the slivered almonds on it but long for the day that Nana T would wake her Stephie Baby and and hug me like I was just born all over again.

Happy Birthday......

Today Nana T is the big 87. Happy Birthday Nana T, We saw her on Sunday and brought her "the tastiest chocolate". She loves chocolate and was so glad to see the box. We got her 85th b-day bear a new Happy Birthday Cupcake to hold and she loved it. She is ok not on the top of her game. From back in November with our scare of losing her she is still able to know us but with much promting.

Yesterday was my babies 15th birthday. My my .....15 years ago. I can not fatham where the time has gone. I love you Stephen, if you keep growing we will have to raise the roof. lol He really is a good kid, hard worker knows what he wants when he gets older and is so compassionate towards others feelings. XOXOOXOX U will always be my baby! Mama loves u big guy!

This says it all pizzans.....lol

"ITALIANS"** I never asked to be born Italian, I was just blessed by it. Because we can't all be Italian, just the lucky ones are blessed with the gift. "Being Italian, is not just your heritage. It's your way of being, your attitude, it's what makes you proud."


I got this from an Italian gal I work with. She rocks.....Love ya Ash....She so gets the Italian thing.....xoxoxo

Early to work! Gets you home early in the day....haray!

Not me...Stephen....He is quite the cash earner these days. Today he put in a solid four hours and tomorrow he will be doing five hours. He is glad that he will be done by 11 am so his day is still his. Off to an early and I mean early drive to the rink. He has to be there for 5:45 am. I being an early bird will be taking him but needless to say have always had the notion that if you are 15 mins early you will be on time. I am anal about being early b/c on time stresses me out. Better early than late. I am sure we will be in the car for 505 AND he wants a MilkyWay Hot coco but I ma not sure if Dunks will be open that early. We will see. It is not like we have never been to hockey games that early before but we never made a Dunks stop so we will see if the poor Dunks workers have to be up even earlier. Have a good night/morning........

Who cares what my name is I just wish I could live in Hawaii! Maui to be exact...

Your Hawaiian Name is:

Palila Mily

What's your Hawaiian Name?

Now thats what I would love......

Oh how beautiful.......

Today after work before school pick up I went to TJS...Trader Joes to get a few things. When you walk in the door of any TJS stores the flowers greet you and it puts a smile on my face every time. I saw a beautiful bunch of white tulips and being the frugal person I am did not pick them up. I think sometimes you just have to get that item that may help you get through the day. I wish I got them now looking at pictures of white tulips on line. In the cold gloomyness of the winter it could of put some pop in the kitchen. I was a bit sad after dinner thinking of how nice it is when we take a ride to the park in the spring and walk while it is still light out. I am soooo looking forward to doing that since at supper 5:15 it was already dark. I swear I have some form of SAD and HATE this weather so much. I really SHOULD live in a warmer climate it would make me so much more happier. Hope you are all doing well. Maybe my next visit I will p/u tulips and do something special just beacuse. Have a good night. I am counting the days till Spring.

Big Brother 9

I don't have to wait till the summer. This year CBS is doing a Big Brother in Feb. on the 12th at 900pm for all of you who care to watch...lol I am sure there are few of you besides Karen and Jane who really watch faithfully like the BB fan I am...lol Rumor has it that these HG's this year have a celebrity connection and it will be a DIRTY LAUNDY type theme. I am so excited for my BB to be back. I swear it should be on ALL YEAR LONG. lol I can;t tell you how much I LOVE that show. keep an eye out...It is almost here......yeah!
I would of never seen the previews if I did not watch the last 15 mins of the Pats game Sunday..I am glad Julie and I went down to see the game to get to see the preview....

GO Pats....

Well Ryan is very excited about Sundays game. He has a new Brady shirt and loves to wear it. Yesterday at school it was Pats spirit day and they were told to wear anything Pats. He was so glad he could wear the hat, shirt and workout pants he has with the Pats logo. This past year or so he has taken a LOVE to this game. He talks about how he is going to play Pop Warner in August with Masco and how he loves playing at recess. I am surprised b/c he was never into aggresive sports but since plaing Lacross he has grown with strenght and confidence.
We are having friends over on Sunday and I am most excited about the making food part, the game I could care less. lol Off to the market to get all the goodies and make a spread worthy of a title game. See I do know that much...lol At the bear barn we sold clean out of the Pats bears, they were cute with a navy nose and blue eyes and the Pats logo on the foot. We have a ton of uniforms and cheer outfits that at one point flew off the racks, when we had few to sell...NOW they sent us a ton and they just sit. Maybe they will start picking up since we will win on Sunday and make it to the BOWL.......The shirts we got that said 16-0 undefated season flew out also....Have a great weekend. Go PATS!

The Snow Blower doctor..or should I say Dr. Stephen...

When living on a hill you NEED a snow blower. Well we got a really good one three winters ago. Just yesterday it was not working as efficant as always. We noticed that only one side was turning so it took twice as long to clear. At one point we gave up and did the hugh steep drive by hand. Yeah real fun! NOT! I NEED to call the Dr. for this thing b/c I hear MORE SNOW Friday. No more by hand crap b/c that is just crazy. The boys an dI really got a work out yeaterday. I keep getting charlie horses since doing it....yeah love this snow......NOT! It was funny after watching the kids sled down the hill in the yard after we were done. I son't know where they got the energy after shovlin for 2 hours....I needed to shower and get ready to go to the bear barn that had NO guests and made no cash at all. It was weird, a ghost town like feel......Even on the road felt like not a soul in sight. I guess people were smart and headed the stay home warning..I wish I could of stayed home the entire time but had to close last night and clean the BB....lol Have a great non snow day today .....
Update>>>>>Michael and Stephen, well really Stephen lol the mechanical one attempted to fix the blower Thursday night. They went to 3 stores and finally at Sears they were sent to the Sears Repair store on RT 114 but were not told that is closed at 500pm at this point it was 630pm...ugh...M went yesterday on his way home from work and "ordered" the part that is being sent in the mail. Stephen read the manual and says he knows how to put in the part. S also changed the oil in it..I tell u this kid did not get that from his dad...lol He really has a talent for figuring things out without ever being told ot taught. I love that he is such a handy kid...lol He is loving school and is really swaying tolds the elecrical dept for his trade.

Lets talk about the weather...PART 2

Last weather post I was happy as a clam in the sand...WELL here we go Rant on......Come on ENOUGH already send it to Drew in LI NY who WANTS it...Stay away from here. Two chanls. say almost 10-12 inches....come on....one said 6-12 ALL DAY LONG. I have to close tom night and may have to deal with driving in it at the peak YUCK///// I HATE THIS........After I drive Stephen to work today...(the nice job he gets big cash at, one of his games he is making $16.50 for the hour...niccceee instead of the reg $11. b/c it is an adult league and that is what they pay...NICCEE) I am making my way to Market Basket near the rink in N Andover stocking up and cooking all afternoon long. It will make me feel great and try to get my mind off of the crap that may soon come. A friend of ours as a joke bought us a 100 lb bag of calium chloride aka ice melt for Christmas. He left it out side our garage door and both Michael and I were like why did you leave it outside the garage, like the other one bought it. So for a few hours we were confused until he called and said did you see your surprise? LOL The past year he has been getting some homecooked meals from my kitchen so I think it was his way of saying thanks. So we have an additional 2 other 50lb bags....We go through ice melt on this hill like a fish needs water. I may p/u one more bag, u can never have enough...lol I resorted to kitty litter one storm b/c I could not find icemelt at any of the 5 stores I went to and that was a BIG BAD RAF NO NO...It was a mess and did not do what real icemelt does...So MR. RAF had a kinipsion...lol no more kitty litter, klumping at that...yeah it was bad....funny after you do it but bad....so to al lof you who WANT the white stuff you are a bunch of stunads.....yeah Italian word for ....Norma help me out I can not put the definiton to words...If you ever hear the expression STUNAD you get it.....The deck this past week was all clear and ever part of the yard/property is clean of the junk and now it will be back.....Screw this crap I want Florida or Hawaii.....NOW!

Lets talk about the weather.......

LOVE IT! Has it been so unseasonably warm or what? Now this makes me happy. Hate the cold and snow. Snow more so than cold. I can deal with the cold but HATE the white stuff. I am noticing the melt down since the past 3 days have been in the 50's and now today they say the 60's///Yeah.....Just a few days ago the boys and I were driving past a closed golf course really slow and I looked and said look how beautiful that looks, and they both burst out laughing like I was being facious. Well I really did mean it b/c it was so nice to see untouched white stuff and the look of how it had fallen...so from afar it is ok but not close up. I am not looking forward to more of this stuff at all. I hope it stays away b/c it makes it so much easier for everyday dealings. I leave you with have a great warm day and enjoy the unseasonable weather.......

No longer "Master Bear Builder"

As you all know my job at BABW was and still is something I really value. I have always loved the work that we do as a company and the daily interaction we have with little ones as well as big one...lol ......Some big ones are harder to deal with than the little ones...lol I do however hate the fact that I am no longer a "Master Bear Builder". I still do that job but also am 'mgmngmnt'......I can do the job and have been since mid November and what a time to have to learn and do .....Holiday crunch time. It is slowing down since kids are back to school. I just wish that I had the job that I had before. Bear Builder de'jure....OF THE DAY.....lol I still do merchandising like before...the early Thursday mornings of BABW gym, lifting, putiing away...unloading pallets and all that good workout stuff. My side kick Pam and I had hours of conversations about every subject under the sun. Now I do it alone.....Yeah realllllyyy fun....On the second Thursday of the month she'll be alone and knows how it feels too. Michael goes to a meeting in Boston on the 2nd Thursday of the mnt and I cna not go to work to meet the truck before 6 and have to drive Stephen and get Ryan and his friend on the bus. Anyone can use the extra cash that is for sure but at this point in life it is not all about money it is the fact to LOVE what you do. As you know from prevs. posts back before BABW, I LOVED my job at the school and just got a bad break when layoffs came being the lowman on the pole for positions not there. I did get burn out from schoolbus driving and loved that I could go to BABW still work with kids and have so mucg fun my entire shift long. It is no longer that fun. I do the job that I have to do and cant have as much fun as before b/c it is like a robotic job of doing what you need to do. Guest interaction is still there, glad for that but it is differnt that I cant stuff and have that longer term fun as much being "floorleader" as we say....I am happy to be employeed, some people dont have jobs and not all bad but wish and long for the Master Bear Builder days back......This here is not a rant or complaining just needed to get out what I feel. I can only hope for those of you who read, you too can go to your job abd be greatful/happy that you work there. The sayin is work like you dont need the money...hell we live in America....WE ALL NEED the money to survive......Have a great day at work.....yup Sunday work.....UGH