WIT weekend continues

Back from day two of WIT Family weekend. Day one we had Stephen pick out our pumpkin, sign us in as a family but did not attend Casino Night...S had plans with his new buds and we got to watch our nephews and learn new and interesting facts from Evan. :D As for day two...bright and early on our way to the city....Michael taking the wheel (phew) no median strips being driven over HAHAHAHA.....met 3 new families, ate a very delish free lunch, took a walk to the Pru for a lil, had tons of fun walking and explorin the campus, did some cool stuff to raise money for the Jimmy Fund (love a good cause). While the boys watched a soccer game I went to see the deans address who btw in a room full o people before she spoke made a bee line right to my seat to say hello and tell me how happy she was to see me...her fellow Italian girl on campus :D ......when I went back to find the boys at the field house Michael asked if I made my way to the Dean..I said nope SHE made her way to me ...SHE LOVES ME! :D A 3rd years students mom heard me and said you know the dean personally! YUP I DO! lol lol...After some more outside activities on the quad we went to the pumpkin area that smelt pretty nasty. Ok it smelt FALL LIKE...lets put it that way! They were lining up the carved pumpkins with glow sticks for tonight's hayride that we will forgo since we left S to tend to his group of friends. This other family to not have to drive 3 hours north are staying in a area hotel and we will be meeting them for a quick dinner in a lil bit. Funny how they went 40 mins north of the city to get a decent hotel rate. Bright an early tom. am we head back for the jazz breakfast. Also it was so exciting to see the new student center that is being constructed...a ten million dollar project that will be named the Flanagan Something Center when complete in March 2012....the 10 mil was donated by Mr. F a WIT alumni who must have done well for himself. The BEST was seeing the presentation of how WIT students are working with the City of Boston to make the WATER FLOODING situating make rhyme or reason in the age of over population of the city. WIT Civil Engineering students are drawing up programs to have excess rain water be utilized in holding wells that will make the flooding situation have better flow and less taxxing on streets and the sewer system. Just hearing and seeing the real life input this institution has make me beam with pride to have our son be able to learn at a place that you are not a number and can thrive in the path you choose to study. The under 3900 or so student population make it easy to have an 18 to 1 ratio. That also makes me feel good that they are very much focused on by the professors. So far we are pleased and delighted to be parents of a Wentworth student. That is why we got the shirts you see in the pic. Pink for me of course....They did have WIT mom and WIT dad shirts but I did not like the fabric as much as I did for these ones. Off to see Tayors parents in Andover and pick up some items to take to him tomorrow. WIT we will see you in the am for jazz brunch!

"OUR MARTHA"

AN EARTH ANGEL that is what she is....OUR MARTHA as we call her. She is all ours, A Pink Angel who we love to hear, see, hug, laugh, feel close to and have many memories made with. Her beautiful smile has always been a sight that makes your day. He locks of dark curls blow in the wind and she lives her days with such hope and thankfulness. Just to hear her speak about how invigorating it feels to take her lunch time walk over the Mass Ave bridge and the awesome feeling of the wind in her hair makes my heart leap knowing that it is the little things that make such a big difference in life. To live everyday knowing just how much of a gift it is to be together and able to make new memories makes it all worth it. So to you OUR MARTHA you are loved so deeply and with such passion from your family, friends, co-workers and especially your Pink Angel team.....You are now that dark curly locks lady xoxoxoox love u lots and lots

"FIND COMFORT IN ME"

When "ANGELS ON EARTH" want to do something THEY DO IT! that's for sure......TO say that last night was touching is an understatement. I have a team of PINK ANGELS that show so much caring in life. Eileen our "nutty knitter" who has talent to the high heavens whipped up a BEA U TIFUL! COMFORT SHAWL for our dear Bridget.....The words you see in the picture make the concept so embracing to surround her or anyone receiving the shawl feel wrapped in love, caring, and healing vibes. It is wonderful to be with these people who have as much passion as I do maybe even more than myself for the cause and cure. I wake up everyday being extremely thankful to have met them and to be a PINK ANGEL. To you Bridget may this wrap you in warmth and love knowing that there are so many people who love and care about you always. xoxoxo Love Sunshine Stephie....

Pink!

Love the door mat AND the bag from ECCO....so would not spend @$50 on a bag...NOPE...not a bag person..well ok I AM but the $1. reusable ones! :D NOW THAT'S A BAG! hahahahaha ECCO also had these awesome walking shoes with the "pink" ribbon of course! Weird...ya think I'd be all pinked out! lol Not today..but yup every other day! :D support the cause, find a cure, END THIS! once and for all CURE CANCER ALL CANCERS!

people not things are what matter....

but why am I still ticked off???? UGH.....The cute lil hybrid needs TLC...a busted tire and some wire thingy broke from me avoiding a stupid college boy in his bike darting out infront of my car in the BIG BAD CITY OF BOSTON! To avoid hittin and hurtin him and/or another car I had to ride up on the medium strip...and BANG! WHAT A NOISE IT MADE> PANIC ATTACH! Good thing Stephen is the opposite of his reacting mama. He does so well in situations with stress....His brother is like me sometimes and he is like his Michael. SO Stephen took it delt with it and sent me on my way with the lil donut and I was panic the entire time heading North. He talked with me most of the trip in speaker so my hands were at 10 & 2.....I am glad people or persons were not hurt but ticked off that it happen. UGH.....really people...don't dart out between cars on a bike or on foot. Was taught that at a young age. Learnt my lesson on that with some roller sk8's on LOL LOL .......wink wink ....so we wait for cousin jj to call and say he can take my cute lil baby who is only 18 mnths old. in perfect off the lot condition, well maybe not now! UGH....but I look at it all...things can be fixed or replaced people can't I would not be able to live with myself knowing I hurt or injured even if by accident another person....so keep the eyes on the road...

3 years ago...my my what 3 years brings

This is me 3 years ago....Was I happy? Yup....was I ecstatic? Probsly not...Did I love me? Yup....was I in love with me? nope....(the saving grace and really awesome thing was that Michael gave and had unconditional love to me, was in love no matter what size I was...he loved me for me and for that I know we are soul mates, best friends, lovers, and connected by some higher power) Did I keep busy and was active...YUP....Did I get my burn on ....? NOPE! DO I NOW? HELL TO THE YA! I SOOO DOOO DO DO! am I IN LOVE AND AS HAPPY A ALL HECK! YA BABY! I can say that this date 3 years ago as well as April 30th 08 are like a rebirth to me. On April 30th went to the first appmnt. with the nutritionist and MADE A PACT I WILL DO THIS...so from 4/30 to 9/29...9/30 I lost 40 lbs...ate better exercised did it all right...so from 340lns to 300 lbs there was still MORE to loose...taking on task and staying on task from 9/29/08 to NOW 9/29/11 I can say I am down 185LBS...I LOST a freaking grown man! loosin 185lns and being a normal 155 to me is like SUNSHINE IN A RAINSTORM! The feeling is over the top. This day makes me reflect and see how fah I have come and how I WILL STAY THE NEW REBORN ME FOR A LONG LONG TIME> I didn't do it alone that is for sure..I have so many to thank...I feel like I am on stage with an OSCAR lol lol the Oscar of life, a healthy happy new me life. The past month I have been exercising with a couple of women/exercising them to educated and help them get on a healthy track and it has made me happy and so useful in my own self, I have decided to go and get my certificate to be legit. Having a handful of people help lead me in that direction is great. I have gotten to see several avenues I can take and will soon make the choice of HOW I will go about this new endeavor. If you know me well enough I do not say stuff and then have no follow through. If I state something I DO! even at a larger weight I DO...I have always had the notion...don't state something if you are not gonna do it or follow through with it. SO I state right now that this is a route that I am looking into and will DO, it is a matter of making the right choice of road to take that makes most sense for me at this stage of the game. I am in this to WIN this....Hell I won .....what the heck...I AM WINNING! and I don't say that like the crazy Charlie S did I say that with total clarity! I AM PUMPED ...pumped to wake up every morn and BE ME! DO DO DO DO DO !!!!!!!!!!!! DOn't stop...DO! Love u! xoxoxoxoxoxo

oh well.......fix what's not broken

I guess FB was lookin to give more work to the employees. They have to do all this redesign stuff and then have everyone complain about it. So why not just keep it the way it was? No idea....even when several friends post about a topic like the SOX ...then a feed says all who wrote about the SOX>.....the FB gang must be havin the ultimate big brother fest over there in cyber land. Well we don't pay, we use it we DEAL!

things ya miss.....keepin busy!

Let me start out with...Ryan has ALWAYS like his mama been a morning person. He hits the ground runnin' when he wakes...wakes up with a pleasant attitude and has an extremely organized way to the start of his day. This mama likes that. In the morning also a lot like me he talks and talks...LOL know "I" know how it feels! lol lol He makes funnies and it puts a smile :D on my face with a lil of an eye roll too. That kid! So the thing I must say I do not miss about the mornings is Sir Grumps a lot coming out of his room with grumbles coming from his expression. LMAO! I miss his face, I miss seeing him everyday but he is a semi-bear. I know there is worse...some people are just plain old grumps...he is a semi-grump until he takes a shower. Michael not on Ry and my level of excellence of peppiness but still has a semi-good attitude when he wakes. I so wonder how Jessie, Stephen's friend for HS and now WIT roommate wakes. LOL If it is like Ry then S will just not be to fond a that! He would make his way to get some juice in the am and say to Ry FREAK! just b/c he was happy in the am. I can tell Ry misses that attention from his big bro despite it being negative attention. It was a morning routine that is just how it went! He would look at Bailey and mumble and then head to his room. I so miss the mornings with all 4 of us, 5 if ya count Bailey. I miss Stephen's wit at dinner time...oh how ironic he is going to WIT! hahahaha now that was wit witout intention~ lol....We text and talk every so often and when we chat for a lil bit I tell him just how much BAILEY misses him! I am gonna take B to his dorm room for a visit and he says "HELL NO!" I ask Ry have u talked with your bro at all? He says no...then he tells me something and I say you haven't talked to him how do you know this? He will say text and computer...SO literal this generation with the talking. I swear fone talkin these days really doesn't exist! It is all about the texting and IM'in on the comp! I always seem to keep busy but these days I have been makin it a point to be way more busy to fill in the time. I must say ....less laundry, less food when shopping, less dishes, less keeping the outside light on for him to come home is getting tolerable. WOW I was on the phone with my friend Teresa when I was food shopping and said I can not believe just how much less food I am getting since he is at school. I still went to the areas of the things I get for only S and I had to not get them. That was a bit weird..even things that I would have if Ashley was over here. Nope not getting those thing either. I got a text from her yesterday out of the blue and we were cracking up about her teacher and the teachers husband who mind you was MY EX HS BF! Unlike when S was away working in NH in Moultonborough she did not whine about how she misses him and blah blah blah LMAO! It was a fun upbeat text fest and it made me miss her being here ALL THE TIME a lil bit. So as I go off to ~KEEP BUSY~ I think of how differnt the am would of been with S here. I must say I miss him and Ry leaving for school and Michael and I having start our day time alone time! ut hey in a few years I will be crying more tears that my youngest baby is off and we will have so much alone time we may not know what to do with all of it! Maybe take up a hobby of extreme exercise blast the fat body sculpting HHAHHAHAHAHA hhhhhh aaaaaaa...or just up and move to HAWAII! yay baby HAWAII! xoxoxo Have a great day and SUnshine Stephie says//////the rays of sun come from with in...let your sun shine bright!

this and that!

A little of this and that was what I had when I got home from canning for a cause. A little salad a little cheese, some garden fresh tomatoes (DELISH I MIGHT ADD) sliced cukes....garden also....then I felt like after I needed to pick from not really eating today. I picked at some grapes, then at strawberries.granola..a few raisins, carrot sticks, a prune and dark chocolate....I felt like a grazer! at least it was good foods! Bailey was so excited when he got home to see his mama. :D love the pup reaction....Yesterday was more busy canning than today...every $ counts so it is worth all the time and effort b/c the $ helps fund much needed research towards drugs for finding a cure.
Get to make some bears and smiles tomorrow at the bear barn :D

Stories of inspiration and Hope!!!!!

Collecting today for a cause went very well. The stories we got to hear were so nice and hopeful. Don't get me wrong we heard some sad ones to and said with heavy hearts THAT IS WHY WE WALK AND FIGHT FOR A CURE! The last time Michael and I canned together on a median at a traffic light in Salem near SSC now SSU! He in his pink construction hard hat and vest (courtesy of Josie and Gene)and I in my HOPE attire. We did not get to converse with the traffic that came and went in seconds but today Caitlin and I had the pleasure to chat it up with people who felt the need to share and thank us for what we do. We so o not do it by any means for the thanks we do it because WE NEED TO FIND A CURE FOR ALL CANCERS! Money and research has come a long long way but we need to go so far to the point of a wall and that wall that we hit is A CURE! Seeing that in my lifetime will be miraculous! A GOAL of sorts for many I know and love. We did very well for the day and will be back there tomorrow...:D Funny I never knew the NH liquor stores sold only wine and hard stuff, no beer...I bet if they sold the beer we would of had a TON of foot traffic not that it wasn't steady. So off to get some zzz's to replenish my energy to be Sunshine Stephie and flash the pearly whites with a great BIG smile...I swear a smile may just make ones day...:D Smile because you never know what someone may be going through and that one lil smile may just help make them a little less put off...AND you're never fully dressed without a smile...in the words of ANNIE! :D ya don't wanna go out there half nakie now do ya?????

mail that is not a bill or junk mail

such a special thing to come upon unexpected mail that is sweet and fun! But bills so have to come...I guess lol I got 2 unexpected mailing today YAY!

Sent to me by a cherished long time friend who so "gets it" like I do...she is 4 years into the college thing...

Thanks Michelle for all the years we have chated and been on the same page with our parenting out look! Luv ya girl!

Editor’s note: Every year at the end of August, parents send their kids off to college. It’s exciting and liberating, but it’s a big change, too. Especially for parents.

When this column was first published in August 2006, we received letters and e-mails that said, “This is how I feel.’’ Since then, every August we are asked to rerun it. So here it is, dedicated to all those parents whose kids are just days away from being college freshmen.

I wasn’t wrong about their leaving. My husband kept telling me I was. That it wasn’t the end of the world when first one child, then another, and then the last packed their bags and left for college.

But it was the end of something. “Can you pick me up, Mom?’’ “What’s for dinner?’’ “What do you think?’’

I was the sun and they were the planets. And there was life on those planets, whirling, nonstop plans and parties and friends coming and going, and ideas and dreams and the phone ringing and doors slamming.

And I got to beam down on them. To watch. To glow.

And then they were gone, one after the other.

“They’ll be back,’’ my husband said. And he was right. They came back. But he was wrong, too, because they came back for intervals, not for always, not planets anymore, making their predictable orbits, but unpredictable, like shooting stars.

Always is what you miss. Always knowing where they are. At school. At play practice. At a ballgame. At a friend’s. Always looking at the clock midday and anticipating the door opening, the sigh, the smile, the laugh, the shrug. “How was school?’’ answered for years in too much detail. “And then he said … and then I said to him… .’’ Then hardly answered at all.

Always knowing his friends.

Her favorite show.

What he had for breakfast.

What she wore to school.

What he thinks.

How she feels.

My friend Beth’s twin girls left for Roger Williams yesterday. They are her fourth and fifth children. She’s been down this road three times before. You’d think it would get easier.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do without them,’’ she has said every day for months.

And I have said nothing, because, really, what is there to say?

A chapter ends. Another chapter begins. One door closes and another door opens. The best thing a parent can give their child is wings. I read all these things when my children left home and thought then what I think now: What do these words mean?

Eighteen years isn’t a chapter in anyone’s life. It’s a whole book, and that book is ending and what comes next is connected to, but different from, everything that has gone before.

Before was an infant, a toddler, a child, a teenager. Before was feeding and changing and teaching and comforting and guiding and disciplining, everything hands-on. Now?

Now the kids are young adults and on their own and the parents are on the periphery, and it’s not just a chapter change. It’s a sea change.

As for a door closing? Would that you could close a door and forget for even a minute your children and your love for them and your fear for them, too. And would that they occupied just a single room in your head.

But they’re in every room in your head and in your heart.

As for the wings analogy? It’s sweet. But children are not birds. Parents don’t let them go and build another nest and have all new offspring next year.

Saying goodbye to your children and their childhood is much harder than all the pithy sayings make it seem. Because that’s what going to college is. It’s goodbye.

It’s not a death. And it’s not a tragedy.

But it’s not nothing, either.

To grow a child, a body changes. It needs more sleep. It rejects food it used to like. It expands and it adapts.

To let go of a child, a body changes, too. It sighs and it cries and it feels weightless and heavy at the same time.

The drive home alone without them is the worst. And the first few days. But then it gets better. The kids call, come home, bring their friends, and fill the house with their energy again.

Life does go on.

“Can you give me a ride to the mall?’’ “Mom, make him stop!’’ I don’t miss this part of parenting, playing chauffeur and referee. But I miss them, still, all these years later, the children they were, at the dinner table, beside me on the couch, talking on the phone,

September Chill is in the air

Did I wake up and turn the calender to September ALREADY!???? WOW those summah months flew! Not only did the days fly by but the weather got less and less warm. The song time after time for some reason is playing in my head....go figure. Hope you all have a great day. I am sure like yesterday it will warm up a bit from this 63* wake up temp. Enjoy the sunshine that is shinin'! All my good vibes sending out there....xo <3 Sunshine Stephie! xoxoxox

as college drop off comes closer

It is coming with in the next 24-48 hours....the storm moved back the move in times and dates so we will be e-mailed soon of the exact time. As we shop and eat our last few meals together I can see the boys being so silly more and more...I can tell S will miss R just by the things they are doin together. I came across this pic of Stephen and Justin,,,,the oldest grandchild and the youngest. I so can recall S at his age I swear it was just last year...but nope 18 years FLEW by in a blink....I still feel 27 sometimes and have to keep tellin myself I am 40 and he is 18 and Ry is 16....I don't have lil ones still. but to a mama you always do. I cried a good cry this morn and I had not planned on it but I came across an essay S wrote for one if his entry essays for Wentworth app. I never really saw the app essays and it was in paper work I was goin through to see what we needed to keep and what we didn't///No I WAS NOT BEING NOSY! JUST OCD clean it out...lol and it was about....his mama and how he looks up to her in many ways and see how much she fights and cares for many causes. Needless to say what he wrote made me melt, made me happy, made me cry, made me have a trove of emotions that the past 18 years were to me the BEST JOB I COULD OF EVER HAD EVER! BEING A MAMA! I cherish the 3 years well 2 when you think of it till Ry turns to "adult" age. After walking into his room and seeing all his belongings being ready to ship off to a new place he will live and lay his head at night I had to just take a deep sigh, cry and know he IS my baby no matter what age he is and no matter where he will be living. So to the mamas who have many more years to have their babies with them night after night...cherish every single minute....it flies by and it will be 18 years later and you will say...WHERE DID THE TIME GO! Love and blessings to all your babies out there. xoxoxo <3 Sunshine Stephie!

weird

just weird....crazy kind of weird...A friend said sometimes it is the UNIVERSE trying to tell you something...WEIRD~! blank but not blank...weird. Me loss for words? I guess...

What made your day today???????

Mine was made when Austin double handed blew a kiss. He is so funny with the kisses. I <3 this kid, he makes my day! When I first got him, still a very pleasant lil one, now he is just a ham who smiles and laughs and only cries when you have to wipe his nose or face! :P sorry buddy I say and wipe the dried baby yogurt away! 1st pic is when I got him lil and my has he grown....2nd pic!

I have no right to even remotely B*TCH that I can't do cardio!

http://mybiggirlpants.blogspot.com/2011/08/huge-blow.html?spref=fb
fellow Breast Cancer A** Kicker/Blogger!
Bridget you make me realize just how Putting your BIG GIRL PANTS on makes such a difference! Prayers to you girl, love and thanks for making sure we END cancer once and for all! xoxoxoo Love u!

just thinin' out loud again

If you were told not to brush your teeth for 7 days would you be pissed? I know I would....well I am equally p-ed off that I can not do cardio for about that amount of time!!!!!!! UGH! For the past 3 1/2 years that just like putting on deorderant, washing up, brushing teeth and hair has become a daily part of my life. I feel incomplete in the day if I don't. I also do it many times a day. This bites. Last night I did do some stretches to keep the muscles limber. I DID NOT over do it. I had to make Michael understand that I was OK! I am listening to the doc and I did so much extra iron intake today as well as Saturday and Sunday. I just want to EXERCISE! AHHHHHHHH
On a different note...Nana T no changes, still holding on. It is sad, her Alz meds taken away so she can have pain meds to keep her comfortable and she consumes the bare minimum to sustain her. Like Michael's Nana Martha we went through this same thing. They say it could be soon and then the body per say hangs on. Speaking with the very knowledgeable, handsome Doctor John, oldest Raftery brother he made a good point in when we were discussing Nana T. We saw her and without the Alz meds she is totally not with it. Pains to see her like that. SIGH!
As for the "baby" of the house....Bailey was so sweet on Saturday...he stayed by my side every minute of the day. He is always very sweet but that say I think just knew something is up. This womnen NEVER stays in that bed...What gives is the look he had with his lil head tilted to the side. I love having a pup,,,,who knew I would ever say that in life! LOL LOL I will never forget Nana T saying why didn't you get a cat, I like cats better when we took B to see her for the first time. That Nana T loved her Snowball! crazy ars cat! lol
As for the continuing of hugh iron consuption....drinking my kale,beet leaf, half an apple, spanach juice...YUM! NOT! lol even I am chocking it down. It has to be really cold to taste half decent. When I take a sip I wiggle a bit and make a funny face...I don;t even do that with WG! so ya know it must be nasty! LOL Off to make some salad for the troop and my honey will be grill master with hopes the rain holds out! Happy Monday Eve all xoxoxoxo Just thinkin' out loud!

Am I in the "RED".....I sure hope sooooo!!!!!!!!

I guess I will find out tomorrow eve if my red blood count went up. It sure better have. After getting an all day "needed" blood transfusion Friday at Bev. Hospital DEMANDED by the head doctor at my PCP practice after seeing that my count was under 3, so low she said she wanted to admit me to the hospital but there were no beds so I was lucky to be at the "day care" unit area. I listened to her and rested ALL day yesterday, I am not allowed to do 5 days of cardio! AHHHHHHH to that...Hey she never said light weight lifting now did she! Also the doc, lab and unit nurses could not even believe I was functioning and had the energy I had with numbers that low. I said "WHEATGRASS" lol lol ......Really the frantic call on Thursday from the doc made me look at the phone and ask do you have the correct person. I am not out of breath, she claims when I exercise I should be short of breath, or walk up stairs do I pant...AHHH NOOOOO I lost lots of LBs....Really doc I no longer pant. So she said I am demanding you to this, this is a stroke waiting to happen since the red blood count is so low and the o2 needs to flow ot the heart and brain. Well I listen to the docs and do what they say! I felt so lazy and ick yesterday due to the fact that I HAD to rest and stay in bed or more so not do anything. I still did some stuff not a lot of effort was needed but had the need to do something. I am off to do some things today, still gonna take it easy b/c I LISTEN> Told to stay out of the sun....now that is funny ...considering it is so beautiful and sunny today as it was yesterday BUT I DID! Looking forward to knowing what the numbers went up to. Have consumed every possible iron rich food the past 2 days with hopes that also helps...I ALWAYS eat iron rich foods...non meat ones so I am like wth ...absorb already! Off to get some liquid iron that makes my skin crawl...but once again ..when the docs say to do it ...who does it??? YUP ME! I LISTEN! have a great day...hope your "reds" are deep, dark and full of sh*t...opps I mean IRON! LOL LOL xoxooxox

a 3 day world

A world without breast cancer....or any cancer for that matter...That is why we do what we do! I so do not know where to begin. I have many stories but not much energy to put into my writing right now. I will be sure to post later about some funny and touching stories. I do have the need to thank my husband and son for taking part in my passion that I know think has transcended to a passion they now have. I always had their support but to be there beside me it really makes all the difference. Stephen said on the ride home...sign me up for next year and the next year I want to be a Men With Heart <3 Walker...he makes me proud..he seems to think that he will wait for his brother to walk. Michael when we were packing up the Pink tents at 445am yesterday stopped me looked me in the eye and said I think these events make me a better person. That took me to a warm place, not that we were not already hot as all heck but the tears started and my insides felt all good to hear that. We will NEVER STOP! WE WILL NEVER STOP! we will be involved in any way shape or form to be apart of the END to cancer! Everyone Deserves a Lifetime! xoxoxoox

on a positive note!

When something just pops in your head like a whisper from you don't know who! I started to get up and make dinner....I looked in the cabinet to get pepper where my herb teas also are...well then I see the regular tea bag. I swear Nana drank at least 4 cups of black peoke tea a day! A lil dap of milk in the mornings tea and the rest of the day black! She was predictable with her eating too. Ate the garlic and rapi in EVOO all the time.....maybe an egg with it but mostly plain with a piece of Italian bread. For dinner always the "greens"///I never knew how she could eat the "greens" so blah! She would flash them and then put more freaking garlic ....LOL at the time I HATED the taste and smell of that crap...now I think I am her..garlic is the killer of all jerms Stephie ..UGH! LOL LOL I guess you have to think it must be freaking good for you. Looking at the tea I realized NEVER was she sick. Disease free for years....until the dimensia set in like '95. She never got sick...Had a headache now and then...wore her vics in the winter to "not get dry nose Stephie" and really was never sick. I fight to find an end to all cancers and hate that people get sick ect and have to battle illness but really to be that age and not have to see a doctor or not have to deal with an illness says something.She lost much of her site to macular degeneration 1995, but never had an illness. There are many people that battle everyday to stay well and get well....I WILL fight no matter what to make sure diseases are stomped on...but in the life of my Nana....WOW! really to not really have a problem and get sick until you are like 74 that says something.

~The love of a Nana~

Nana's have this special kind of love that may not even have enough words to describe it. If you know me well enough you know how I regard MY NANA T! ......she means the world to me! Raising me and giving me her values make me a lot of who I am today.Her decline the past years and more so the past months is so sad..Like I posted before Alzheimers SUCKS big time...sucks the life out of the person that it effects and sucks major life out of the family members too. Gettin word today that her decline is very very bad and that her days may be numbered due to her inability, due to her disease to consume enough food and drink I am heart broken. Do I in the real world know that death happens, ? yes...do I realize at 90 and ill you will not live on forever? YES! But that still doesn't help with the sting of what is yet to come. I feel in a fog now, a limbo of blahness.....I stay strong talking to the home and give a call to get info on making arrangement's for maybe a pending service. I get the reality of life and death. But hey ya can't fault a girl for being emotional....That is life. Love to you Nana Theresa...you will always be so beautiful to me, body and spirit!

Some basic 3 day rules to live by.......

♫WHO ARE THE PEOPLE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?♫ or ♫Won't you be my neighbor♫ come to mind when thinking of the sea of pink tents that will be our weekend home for our 3 day campfest! To be respectful....rule one:when going into and out of a port a pot (yay) hold the gosh darn door....those things slam like you can't understand...the noise of doors banging any time of day let alone in the dark early morn hours is just not nice....HOLD THAT DOOR! Rule two:flip flops are great but when camp is dark and quiet after all the dancing and giggles lay to rest DO NOT walk to those port a pots with flip flops...they make that flip flop noise and you can hear them in the distance too. Just a lil heads up on the RULES OF BEING A GOOD 3 DAY TENT NEIGHBOR! Hey and we ALL know this SUNSHINE STEPHIE LOVES to follow rules...AND would never want to be "camoing" in a tent unless it is on the 3day in a PINK one! :D SEE YOU ALL SOON NEIGHBORS!

GO TEAM!

What is a Team?

Definition | References

Teams differ from other type of groups in that members are focused on a joint goal or product, such as a presentation, completing in-class exercises, taking notes, discussing a topic, writing a report, or creating a new design or prototype.

Here is one of the most commonly cited definitions:

"A team is a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals, and approach for which they are mutually accountable." (Katzenbach and Smith, 1993)

Similar definitions of a team include:

"People working together in a committed way to achieve a common goal or mission. The work is interdependent and team members share responsibility and hold themselves accountable for attaining the results." (MIT Information Services and Technology)

"A team is a group of people working together towards a common goal." (Team Technology, 1995-2006)

"A group in which members work together intensively to achieve a common group goal." (Lewis-McClear & Taylor 1998)

" A Team is a group called the "PINK ANGELS"
PINK ANGELS ARE A TEAM! WE WLK BECUASE THE JOURNEY DEMANDS IT!
(thank you Nancy B for pointing this out)

YAY! get to go to work and be Bearific!

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2010/full_list/

Love working for BABW! Honored that we are on the Top 100 Companies to work for list 3 years in a row! That says something. Off to make a smile and hopefully make a life long friend for someone! GREAT BIG BEAR HUGS XOXOOXO <3 Sunshine Stephie Bear, Master Bearbuilder!

I want to own one of these!

http://boston.skyzonesports.com/FITNESS/SkyRobics.aspx

I wish I could have bucket o cash to franchise one of these places. How cool would the Northshore be with one of these babies in our neck of the woods! Any investors/takers....bucket o cash welcome! hhahaha, until then off to jump on my personal trampoline! Have a great day! get that heart pumpin at some point today! Be Heathy! xoxxoxo

I have a pasta pan

and you're reading saying BIG WOOP! lol Ok here is why MY pasta pan means so much to me! First when I use it it brings me back to another place and time! No not EPCOT Italy lol lol but to the last day of the school year back when I was an Aide at FM School. The awesome class I was in helping Mrs. Lorden, (I swear a teacher who just knew her stuff blindfold and gave her all) that was the last class I was in. Those lil ones who I still think are lil ones are now heading to Masco for the 7th grade. We are talking Kindergartners here. My my the time has flown! On the last day the wonderful parents all pitched in and gave Mrs. L, Mrs. D and myself gift cards to Home Goods. I was in my glory! It was so very sweet of them since I was really more so a one on one but when a one on one you really make it look like you service the entire class. And you really do try to since me being who I am want to help any and all that I can without neglecting the one I have to focus on. Trust me I know how ot work a classroom with a lead teacher. :D So back to the pasta pan. Funny how that day at Home Goods I see a mom of one of the students and thank her immensely for the classes gift and thinking of me. As I am there I realize that this really expensive marked down pasta pan is exactly what I need. So I get it. So for the past 6 years it has got many uses. Each and every time I clean it it brings me back to a time and place. I think of the class all set up and the students at the tables. I recall the reading circle we would sit in, the cubbies I would fill with stamped and sticker ed papers and the :D's of the lil ones. I loved what I did everyday with them. I loved the one on one that I was responsible for. I saw a picture of her at the 6th grade graduation and was floored and teary eyed at how far she has come. I also have this cute handmade gift from her personally that I will cherish always. It is a fabric lunch bag that was made to look like a snowman that I got for Christmas. She is healthy and thriving now no longer sick with disease. That right there makes me smile BIG :D! So there are items in your life that take you back to that time and place that you can't help but have a smile when you recall the events. It is not the pan itself that I cherish it is the nice gesture and thinking of how loved I felt that they the class and parents said oh lets include Mrs. R in the class gift. I keep in my heart another particular gal from that class and I get to see her every now and again. A long time friends daughter who I have had the privileged to see grow up. She is a beautiful young gal who smile still reminds me of her K days. I remember the smile on her face when I she spoke of her uncle with such pride and I said I know your uncle. She was so happy to know I knew her family. We connected and still to this day I feel blessed to have had the year with her in that class. I had other students who mean a lot ot me during the time at FM but this class this last class, kind of like your lsat day of school almost like a graduation and moving on mean so much to me and stay close to my heart. Off to wash that pan again since I boiled many many dozens of egg in it this eve for the Lawrence Food Pantry. The house may not smell to great with all this egg salad but many mouths are gonna be fed and my mind went back to the lil chairs in Mrs. Lordens class again tonight. xoxoxo Love to Miss Victoria and Miss Hannah! <3

an 18 year olds appetite!

The son just got in and is requesting oatmeal! at 10:30 at night he is like I have been wanting oatmeal. So we have some instant packs BUT he dislikes the flavors so right now in an attempt to teach him not just make it for him as I type the slow cook oatmeal is on the stove. I have just enough brown sugar to add for taste and lots of cinnamon. I said you HAVE to stay near the stove to stir /c we ll know how slow oatmeal can get when not watched....as he stands there he now gets 2 slices of bread and adds a dab of pb. He just can't wait for the oats to be done! I say it is 10:30 you nuts? funny the bread is oatmeal fiber one bread...he is gonna get tons o fiber at the late night hour...All I know is he better drink some water to make sure ALL this fibah processes!!!!!!! oh the appetite of an 18 year old!!!!!!!

not a pretty site!!! ICK!!!!

On the front steps.....yup this ugly slimy creature. ICK ICK.....this thing NEEDS to go away!

If you want to make a difference then please help!

Hello All...hope to find you healthy and happy!
As you all may already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, I'm doing it again - I signed up for the 2011 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure! I had such an incredible experience doing the 3-Day for the Cure last year and the other years.... that I'm going back for more. I'm so excited about this event, even though this year like past years I really know what I've gotten myself into. I am also going to volunteer for another walk to Crew with my husband and son. For that 3 Day we will take extra special care of the walkers and make sure they are SAFE!

Just in case you missed my account of last year's event, follow the link below to visit my personal webpage, where I tell my story. This event isn't easy, but I promise you, I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't believe 100% that it was worth every muscle ache, weary night and training walk!

I need your help. I am planning on surpassing the $2500. that you - my friends and family - gave so generously last time around to help end breast cancer.

Just follow the link below to visit my personal fundraising Web page and make a donation.

http://www.the3day.org/site/TRC/2011/TampaBayEvent2011?pg=peditor&fr_id=1630&px=2999947
If you do not want to donate by cc you can download a form http://www.the3day.org/site/TRGiftForm?fr_id=1630&px=2999947 to mail a check also...or send the check to me 133 River St Middleton, Ma 01949 made out to Susan G Komen 3 Day Walk I am walker ID # 2999947 Event #1630 in the memo section.

If you have any questions or want to hear more about what I'm doing, I love talking about the event. Thanks for all of your support. I'm incredibly lucky to have people like you in my life!

Love and Pink Angel Hugs <3
Sunshine Stephie!!!!!!

P.S. Don't wait - donate today!
I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR A CURE, be it walking or crewing! "Because Everyone Deserves a Lifetime"

lots of movement with laughs too

got to have some really great convo with Miss Ham! Love talking to that lady who like myself LOVES LIFE and LAUGHS more than anything. That's why there is such a connection. Her thinking is to be and stay in the company of positive people and you can feed off the good. Hams energy and spunk is amazing. My face muscles get a workout when we are together! :D gotta luv the Hamalama! xoxoxoxox As for the Big B man...lol Brianna/Cabana Boy! he pointed out this way tooooo funny book!...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwwtO5viUDE We had many laughs the other night! Btween Pat the Bunny and our laughs....what a time! "follow the leader leader leader"

walk and dance

great Tuesday night walk with Angels! :D now to dance around the kitchen to all the new songs Michael downloaded to the Ipod! get him movin and grovin to to get the burn on!

creating addicts everyday!

Not only have I made a monster out of my co-worker Bridget, oh and JW too but a complete stranger at Sundays NSMC walk! Was using the bathrooms and was so impressed at how clean they were (I was the 1st one there to use them lol) and told the lady cleaning them they were immaculate, we got to talking and were sharing cleaning obsessions and told her about the 70% I A addiction I have LMAO! Well she was like I can't wait to get myself a spray bottle and use that too! :D yet another convert! hahahha......I swear I am ADDICTED! Bridget fed into my habit and got me very large bottles ...<3 u B! and I got her a pretty spray bottle for hers! I really do clean all surfaces with a diluted mixture and find it is the BEST! I need cases of it! CASES I TELL YOU!

~sticking to what I know~

I just tried to be a BARISTA in the kitchen...lol WELL it did not go well. Early this morn before work I brewed some chi herb tea stuff.....made it get chilly while at work then just now wanted to FROTHY it and make a kind of frozen drink! WELL didn't happen as well as I envisioned lol I will stick to building bears and taking care of children LOL LOL .....the counter had to be wiped down with 70% isopropyl alcohol mind you....Had to clean my hands after b/c they were a mess also and really all I got out of the concoction was some flavored chunks of ice. Oh well I guess I won't be the creator of herbal slush drinks after all! :D :/ IT IS WHAT IT IS! :P

4 weeks and counting!!!!!!!!!

Less than four weeks till the Boston 3 Day SGK for the cure walk. So pumped! gonna wear my orange safety shirt, gotta be viable/kind of like the orange cones! maybe Michael and Stephen can wear this outfit. that would be cute! So excited....to be able to see every walker...I will so miss walking this year in Boston but look very forward to TAMPA! luv the heat and loving to see a new city! SO please if you want to support an awesome cause go to ......http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2011/TampaBayEvent2011?px=2999947&pg=personal&fr_id=1630 and DONATE! EVERY LIL BIT HELPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like his mama

So proud of Stephen tonight, we did not know that at the scholarship dinner this eve he would have to go up and say a few things. So without anything written he did sooo very well. Out of the 3 students he went last and started by saying words of congrats to the 2 other recipients. What made us most proud after thank yous and telling of his future plans he made sure to mention how he supports the SGK 3 Day and how is honored to be apart of the FIGHT for a Cure! Oh that boy! Like his mama he has passion for the cause AND can talk to anyone! YAY STEPHEN YAY! lol lol

EVERYONE DESERVES A LIFETIME!

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2011/TampaBayEvent2011?px=2999947&pg=personal&fr_id=1630
The Pink Angels to Fight Breast Cancer don't JUST walk in Boston for the 3 Day! NO NO, you can't keep us in just one place....LOL LOL We got a HUGE Tampa FL team this year and other PA's in town across America! Please PLEASE!!!!! Really a GREAT BIG PLEASE! click on the link DONATE TO END THIS>...IN our lifetime we NEED to find a cure! your daughters, friends, wives, husbands, sons, aunts...EVERYONE needs to know breast cancer will not take another life! I hold this near and dear and WILL not stop FIGHTING until I can not fight any more....I will ALWAYS be apart of FINDING THE CURE...Because "everyone deserves and lifetime"

who does the casting for these commercials????? NUTELLA!

Say the Nutella commercial this morn while getting ready.....WHAT>???WHo did the casting for that commercial? OK I will hear from people who will say don't stereotype: I am really just being a bit funny here with the notion that when I grew up ONLY the Italian kids even knew what Nutella was! The staple; Italian type peanut butter equivalent! SO why is the mom blond? the kids blue eyes and blond? WHAT! Where are the olive oil skin kids with dark hair and eyes...the mom with her Italian looking persona? I need the number of the casting director...REDO! there are plenty of families I could see cast on that commercial! Then it would be a true replication of the product! Now now don't all get mad taht I am saying this I am really kidding but there is a lil bit of truth to it too!!!!

my babies daddy!!!!

Growing up not having a father..not the best thing ever...but having a very loving papa made it a lil bit easier, no I stand corrected a lot easier. Losing Papa Steve was a hard blow at a young age ta boot. I also had the pleasure to have an outstanding uncle who I love and cherish to this day. With that said regardless when you father is not apart of your upbringing there is a puzzle piece missing and it is not an easy thing to get over.Fathers Day being a reminder of that. When all your friends are saying how much they love and cherish their dad. You deal with it but in the back of your mind you always think of the what if's and other scenarios that might have occurred. Knowing that feeling of absents I NEVER EVER wanted my children to feel that. I wanted them to have what I didn't and I am pleased and honored to say they got that and more. Blessed with a man who not only has shown nothing but unconditional love, respect, and pride towards me; he has shown and acted as the best dad around for our sons. He quote unquote would shovel shit if he had to to support us...he would take a bullet for us and would never ever leave or have us in any danger. He has always stated that he could never understand how a man could put a blind eye to his flesh and blood. He says how can men not support their kids? I as a mother do not understand it since the love for your children is so very special and deep, it is a selfless kind of action that is automatic, well atleast for most I would hope. I always joke with him and call him my daddy too. LOL I love most sayin "you're my babies daddy"....and we just laugh! :D As for his own dad, he had a role model of epic proportions. It's a no wonder why he is such a great dad. I since day one have felt like a "daughter" to my FIL....The dance that took place at our wedding was so special, I felt such a deep love and connection it really made me feel loved. I know where he gets his loving, caring and daddy like qualities and feel equally blessed to have had him get such an awesome upbringing. As for the DNA half of me that was and still not involved or apart of my life...Still to this day I can say I was jipped in a way ...no correction HE was jipped BIG TIME.....he made the choice to NOT be in MY life. He is the one missing out BIG! I could be the wallow in my sorrow type or I can put on my big girl pants and hold my head up high and not let that define me. AND I DO! Head held high! Knowing that HE MISSED OUT more that I ever did. Another Fathers Day approaches and I have no need to be sad because there are many more dads in my life that I can look to and say HAPPY FATHERS DAY to ....the most important being the one who has been there since minute one, who through the years has shown and gone above and beyond the tile of father...he is a true dad! Smart, Best Bud, Strong in spirt, Gentle, Caring Supportive,Wise,In Charge and most of all loving in an unconditional way......Thank You to my Best Friend and Love. I would not want to have gone through the past 20 years with anyone but you by my side. oxoxoxo

Quoted from Dr. Sears......."HEALTHY EATS MY FRIENDS"

"Pesco-vegetarians eat fish, dairy products, and eggs along with plant foods. (We believe this is the healthiest diet for most people)."
I guess I now have to be a label of Pesco-Vegetarian.....I eat tuna fish, white albacore with a lil evoo and vinegar. I try to have 75% Vegan but can not be a true vegan because I really really love cheese. I get much protein from cheese and eggs. I no longer drink cow milk unless last resort. I enjoy a good almond,soy or rice milk. Mostly the almond one. I do not push being a non meat eater in others meat eating faces, I just no longer like or want to consume meat. It has been since the end of April 08. As the years have passed I still cook the stuff for the family but do not at all like the smell. I do it b/c of my Italian Mama love..hahahha I am still told my meatballs are AWESOME! Funny how I tried to make FAKERS and they sooo knew....that was trashed. I do not like those food processed into "food" for example...meatless chicken nuggets or fake ribs...a soy product with bbq sauce to cover the meatlessness of the item. As for the Tofukey aat holiday time or soy franks for summer...so not touching that either...the more pure and untouched the food the better...it just seems like if you were to put in your car a bunch of sludge and gunk, like your car the body will function in tip top condition when feed and fueled with healthy stuff...so off to cut up the greens and chop chop the veggies, add some beans and omegas and what a meal, I mean fueled source for me! Healthy Eats!

June should be warm? or no????

Today the outside temp read 56*...really? June 13th....I think that's just not SUNSHINE enough for me. It did however "warm" up at around 1:30 went for a walk at the Lake with Bailey and the temp said 67* .....THEN like 71* in the sun that peeked through about 10 mins and then not so much.....LOL On another note, my A button keeps on stickin' There are many words that need the vowel A and I have to go bck & look or press really hard for the a to type. UGH an Aless board. hahahahha see without me pressin hard on the A tht would look like hhhhhhhhhh makes no scenes.

BOOM BOOM CRASH!!! AND A BIG BROTHER IS A COMIN SOON TOO!

the drive home was a crazy one...the skies blackened and opened up like a rolling in of zoombies lol lol the rain fast and hard...the noise so not like a regular storm...crazy flashes and a very crazed driver...ME! So we did make it home with Ryan making sure I knew that we were GROUNDED...the wheels ground us...Ya but it is still freaky as ll freak show....As I get in I look at my e-mails after chatin with Michael that he was close by..yay...he also in the mess....the e-mail reminds me that on July 7th the new season of BOG BROTHER starts...YAHHHHOOOOO.......been watching them since day 1 just like Real World. I get people who say you watch reality shows? really! YUP I SURE DO.....beats scripted shows that are ACTED out...lol lol I so know I will catch some nay sayers and peeps who will say oh okkkkk like reality is not scripted but ya know what you watch your shows and I watch mine. I do not like TV shows...I like reality shows...I have 2 majors ones Biggest Loser being my #1 and Big Brother up there like #2.....So as July heads our way the DVR will be set to record the season....I may watch the day it is on or look at the show that is DVR'ed ,.....I am not a slave to BB but to BL I basically am because I workout the entire 2 hours BL is on....as for BB...I hope in the 13th season they bring out the WOW factor with TWISTS! ...I so think I could be a houseguest esply NOW that I can so do the crazy psychical stunts they have to do from time to time...and on the psychological end of it..eh I see myself taking it! :P Have a great storm free eve people and SUNSHINE HUGS from Stephie xoxoxoxoxo

B's are lookin great!

4-0 third period...YAH BABY!!!! Hey lets hope that Horton is well. My my that was low and cheep of Vancouver. SO WIN IT FOR THE HORTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOOOOOOOOO B's!

things I may not have done at 340lbs

I have to say way back when I TRIED to kayak and it did not go well. I think I did not know how to manage my weight and stay centered. Maybe I just had to much to center. Well tonight thanks to Susan,,,mind you back in 2001 Sue was the motivator to push me walking when I dropped 80lbs but did not keep it off, she called out of the blue with the crazy question "what are you doin,? U wanna go kyackin right now????" I said what now?????Q!!!!!! ok what do I wear...LOL AND I so did not mean it like a social event that I had to DRESS UP! I meant do I find clothes that would be water proof ect...so she said flip flops, bug spray and something you don't care to maybe get a lil dirty. DIRTY! huh!!!! LOL LOL I realized life os to shot to worry if I get a lil dirty! Nature has dirt...I have grown to love the outdoors and nature so dirty comes with the territory. As we load th eback of her 4x4 (mind u they would never fit in the hybrid lol nor would the hybrid haul such Lbs. LOL LOL) we got a lil dirt on us and a great upper workout b/c they are not light items....Our upper body workout continued with gliding and rowing against the currant, Why make it easy and ride the currant when you can push through it.!!!! SO off we went in Middleton, but felt like Maine....It was quiet, beautiful and so refreshing. I felt alive and well to be out ther enjoying Gods great creation. WOW you could even see the bottom of the Ipswich River..it was way cleaner than I would imagine. The best part is we got to catch up with each others goings on and enjoy some rays of sunshine that was still pretty bright. I am no longer a kayak virgin...hahahha I may even ride the rapids like Michael did at the KNOW FEAR place in Norhtern Maine White Water Rafting. Yup the really fast in the blowup thingy event. I opted out those times he went b/c of lack of interest and out of comfort zone type feelings. This eve will be in my memory and I want to send out a great BIG thank you to Sue for the offer and please ask again..I LOVED IT! My new THING>..lol love the upper body workout!

Pomp and Circumstance

que the music....ba ba ba ba ba ba hum hum hum hum....ok u get it lol lol
So happy, proud, bitter sweet with emotions from tonights NSTHS graduation. Funny how the class Valedictorian said it..."this is an end to the beginning of of future".....So true! We are so proud Stephen 5 years ago made the choice to attend NST with the hopes of getting in. Yes it is a school that you have to test into and have the grades and reason to go there. One of the guest speakers stated that in Massachusetts there are over 1500 students on waiting lists to attend Voc schools. He excelled immensely there and we are so happy he took this route instead of a conventional HS. Don't get me wrong our town HS is a wonderful one and we initially made the choice to move to this town for the school system and small town feel. Also we did miss seeing the kids that he started with in Kindergarten way back when graduate also. We also feel that the past 4 years at NST we have formed a new family. We also get to stay apart of the NST family with Ryan. SO happy he has taken the NST road following in his brothers footsteps but making his very own unique path. SO grateful that not only does he have a HS diploma but also a Journeymans Cert also. Not many HS grads can come out with the ability to say they can be an electrician day one out of HS> We are happy he wants to study the engineering aspect of the electrical field as well. So he takes away NST the blue collar end of the field to apply it to the white collar design of it and that there people you could not get at a town school. We couldn't be more proud and still after all the chairs are put away and caps and gowns returned I still think he is my baby! my lil baby born on Jan 30th 1993.....it is like maybe 1996 right now in my mind lol lol I still have a lil 3 year old right???????

Go B's!!!!!!!!!

COME ON BRUINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More than just an award!!!!

The milestone of the awards night:You hear other students names and feel that is wonderful for them but when you hear your own childs you can't help but tear up. He got 3 scholarships in all great grand total for his first year at Wentworth....about half of the years tuition bah bah bah bah $15,500......next year he is guaranteed 10K if the GPA stays up there and he stays at WIT! But more than just an award came when we were taking pics and gathering around after the ceremony when Ms. Johnson comes up to me and says are you Stephen and Ryan's mother? Then with a great big smile and an extended hand she says "I have never met such polite, sweet, respectable boys as your two boys are" As the tears well up she then says "they both are great people and you should be so proud of that"....."it reflects the upbringing" ....Well more than any award that melted my heart to know that they are thought of in such a nice way by a faculty member. A mamas heart melted. It was also so touching to see the Vice Principal who has been out for a while after a stroke and coma there for the students. We had to go to his office one time int he 4 years at NSTHS (lil went to get an ice cream cone during study incident) and he said when he doesn't know a student that is a good thing b/c he is really only in charge of discipline,,,,,so to not know Stephen until 4th qurt. of junior year was a really good thing. Funny that at Masco Jr. High Mr. Harringtons brother was also the VP of discipline and nope didn't know that Mr. H too well either. Once again a really good thing I would say. So for tomorrow with the Senior Cruise on Boston Harbor, Fridays Grad walk and Sats. BBQ...then our Family Dinner in Boston to honor Stephen we got a few busy days ahead. I hope the weather tomorrow will be good for the Spirit of Boston trip! Go Senior...~CLASS OF 2011~