Just a Quick Note....

I'm frustrated, sitting here at my computer working on a raffle ticket that I volunteered to do for our little Raider Club. I honestly thought it wasn't going to be a big deal; turns out, it's a big deal. I downloaded a template the other night, and thought I was so darn clever - I copied our Middletown HS Raider emblem from their website, and created these really nice raffle tickets. Tonight, thank goodness, our game was cancelled and I went out to several office stores to buy raffle ticket stock. Wasn't so easy. They only had one type and of course, it's not the style that I created. I've been sitting at my computer screen for the last 45 mins., wondering what to do.... I know... I'm going to give up, and ask Nancy, the computer Goddess at work tomorrow what to do.... She may or may not know. Basically, I have to fit a circle into a square... Fun huh? Why did I volunteer, why? Next time, I'm keeping my mouth shut!

I'm having a 50th b-day party for my sister, Vic, on Saturday night. It's a surprise... Don't worry, she doesn't do the computer thing, doesn't own one and doesn't know what to do with one, so she won't see this.... We are keeping it low-key with just a few friends and family. I'll take pictures and post next week; should be fun! Fifty??? Can you believe that? She looks about 3o... OK>>>>>>>> maybe 35! Happy Birthday Vic.



I had a Margaurita (sp?) with Lori tonight at El Rodeo - we met for a quick bite since our game was cancelled. We sat outside and sipped our frozen yummies. I orderd a shrimp quessadilla (sp? again). It was excellent! It was fun.... That was one thing I wanted to do this summer, and looks like I already did it! Simple, huh?

Gotta go.... I'm beat.................

Have a great, great weekend! I'll post after the party!

THE TEMPTATIONS!

OMG, were they ever great! Only one original member in the group, Otis Williams. It was a fantastic concert; we had sooooo much fun! But folks, can I tell you a secret??? We have some really, really strange people, living right here in Central Pa! Yes, trust me on that.... In front of us, we had Mrs. I think I'm Sooooo Hot and I can Dance, and I can Text People on My Cell Phone During the Concert, and I can Talk to Myself in the Mirror in the Ladies' Room... Then there was: Mrs. Who sat Next To Me, and Thought that My Binoculars were Her's but She was Kind Enough to Let me Use them Once or Twice.... Then, Oh Yea, behind us was Mrs. Turette's Syndrome Herself.... Hmmmmm, shall I go on? Why are we soooo lucky to have all of these folks sit right around us? Hey, you know what, it just dawned on me, maybe we are the crazy ones? Hmmmmm, I gotta run that one by Mike... Oh, speaking of Mike Kovach... He felt it a little cramped while sitting the seats at the Forum - during the show, he showed us something that we just couldn't quite figure out: it was the arm rest! Yes, Mike undid the armrest ... You see, he converted the seats to a loveseat for him and Eileen... We laughed so hard, I thought Joe was going to pee himself! We really really had a nice time, and laughed a lot. Joe's legs and torso were numbed from the cramped seating and his entire body was soaked from sweat; Mike suggested he too bring a screwdriver to the next concert so that he could convert his seat as well.... See, you just learned a tip from my blog! ha! Me, I was completely comfortable with Mrs. Binoculars cozying right up next to me.... She was just like a big ole' teddy bear...

The Temptations were great! I need to download several songs that I loved to my IPod. The dance routines that they did were just awesome! Otis has been dancing those routines and singing those songs for some 45 years! Can you imagine that? The new guys in the band were just as good too! Ei and I liked ourselves some Babyface, now didn't we????? He was yummmmmy...... ha!

We ate at Bricco before the concert and had a wonderful meal. I highly recommend it. I asked the waitress to recommend a favorite and popular martini: it was a green apple caramel. Very good; I too recommend it. A fabulous evening with the greatest friends in the world! Thx Guys!

We had a double-header on Sat. so I was really busy running around with that. I also cleaned my house (yawn yawn) ... I need my cleaning lady back very badly..... I took the pictures below during our breaks in games; there was nothing else to do. Today, Joe and I picked carpeting for the Sunroom. When it is installed, I'll be sure to share a picture with you. We picked a dirt colored carpet... the only kind I wanted..... Dirt colored.... Now doesn't that sound pretty, huh? You're jealous, aren't you?





Today, I made Pat his favorite cake... It was a mistake cake I made one day, but he just loves it. Choc. cake with pieces of Heathe Bar in it.... this time I added choco. chips.... it gets very gooey, and it clearly is just wrong.... But it's his favorite. Joe's grilling a Dream Dinner steak as I type, and I'm enjoying a Merlot.....

Does it get any better than that, on a rainy Sunday afternoon?

Have a great week! I still wish I was at the beach though ... taking a walk ...

More of This and That...

Sorry Folks, but I don't have much to say tonight... Kinda tired and hot and bothered... We had a game and lost; it was a tough one... Anyway, big time storm going on right now, as I sit here, watching CNN listening to the reports about Miami... When is all of this insanity going to end? It's horrible, huh? And the other day, hearing about the Marines being tortured before they were killed.... What can you say about that? The one soldier was from Madres, Oregon, a place we visited several years, where Joe's good friend lives, and a place that we fell in love with. The people there are just unbelievably friendly, and kind, and gentle.... For this to happen to one of their own, it must have been horrible for them. It's a very very small town, outside of Bend, Oregon. Plus, I should mention that it's breathtakingly gorgeous there. Beauty everywhere you look. Anyway, nothing I write here tonight is going to change anything, but I can write, and express myself, and perhaps, remind you about how lucky we are - living in freedom and expressing ourselves, due to men like him, who gave their lives for us to enjoy our freedoms.... Ok.... I'm done. Say a prayer for our troops today.

We have a big huge weekend: Tomorrow night, we are going to see The Temptations at the Whitaker. We are going to Bricho before for dinner. Bricho is a new restaurant downtown, run by the chefs who study at HACC. I heard very good things about it. We are going with the Kovach's and I'm sure, we'll have a wonderful time. I'm really looking forward to that.

Sat: A double header, although I heard rain... If it rains, I'm going to clean my house! Yippee!!!!

Joe's working on the flooring (as I type) in the Sunroom, and we are hopeful to get that done soon. We have to pick some carpeting and Joe will lay it, and we can move the furniture in. If you want to stop by, and sit in my Sunroom with me, pls. do so.... No invitation needed.

I hope to blog about the concert tomorrow night, and let you know how it was, as well as the restaurant.

(p.s., the picture is Dawnydoodle and Mackadoos, snoozing in their bed together....)

Have a great, terrific weekend; I still wish I was at the beach...

We Beat Stiltin' & More Boring Wicker Stories ....

Stiltin' beat us last time; we beat them this time - 6-1 ... that's fair, right? Pat had a good game. It was nice sitting at the Stiltin' field though..... brought back so many nice memories. The sun was setting, it was a beautiful evening.... Hey, that Stiltin' crowd was rough.... Be careful of them...

Now Friends, the dreaded wicker story.... Joe had off today, and he and Pat ran errands and did lots of things - they cut the boards and did the trim in the Sunroom. The wall is completely done; now for the floor. I promise not to bring you into that decision; that one I'm letting up to Joe. My nerves can't take it. Anyway, he calls me after he got back from Sam's and says, "Really, really big news, they have really nice wicker out here, you must come and see it." Me, in my head, speaking to me, "Joe, I've been everywhere in the greater Central PA area looking at wicker; Sam's Club wicker will be cheesy." I decided to go at lunchtime, to shut him up.... Well, I loved it, I really did! Can you believe that? No, it's not the fabric that I would have chosen, but OMG..... it was - you have to be sitting when you read this: It was $3000 cheaper than the set I ordered!!!! Now, that's A LOT of money! I figure I can lighten it up with pillows and throws and such, and for $3000, I can live with this decision. I cancelled the order at Country Markup, I mean, Market. Here's the set:

So, I apologize to all of you for dragging you into my mess. I do appreciate you sticking by me! ha! I put it all in perspective today. You see, a friend told me that her brother-in-law is undergoing testing for a very, very serious condition. He's only 41, and has three small children...

It's only furniture, and money....

Please pray for a man named Ron...

Thank you.

Wicker Here!

Friends, you have no idea what I put my poor family through with the choosing of this wicker. You would have thought that I was purchasing a Mercades or a Rolls... But it was a big purchase for us, and I have to look at this for years and years.... I went back to the store three times so far (I promised myself I WILL NOT go tomorrow). So, the above pictures are of the sofa and chair(s), (we got a chair with an ottoman, and a rocker), a coffee table and end table. The picture is white wicker, but I chose Chicory, which is a very warm brown. (The pictures are just examples of the type of furniture; that's not the fabric I chose.)

I wanted yellow in the fabric for sure because I painted a wooden rocker yellow of my Mom's that I definitely want to use out there. I went back and forth, and back and forth, about fifty times (You have no idea!!!!). The pallette I chose is in the picture above and has all the colors I wanted: yellows, lime greens, reds, and has a little brown in it to match the wicker. When I came home after choosing it, I thought perhaps maybe it was too dark for a sunroom. But, after vasilating and driving my poor family insane, after considering about four other pallettes, I went back to this one, so that's why I stuck with it. I figured the yellow rocker in the room will lighten it up, and I'll also put some yellow throw pillows out there, to tie it all up. It's going to take about 8 weeks for it to come, so I'll forget about it for sure, and move onto another self-inflicted stupid dilemma.

I just wrote two paragraphs about wicker and fabric. Do you think I need a life????

Trust me, I have a life, a really busy one; I can't explain it....

We were really really busy this weekend, with two baseball games - won one and lost one. Sooooooo hot, OMG... I pitied the poor boys playing, I really did. I certainly would never ever brag about my son, but he won the first game for us.... GO PAT!!!!! You are awesome! I'm so proud of you!!!!! Yes, while I'm proud of him doing well in a game, I'm more proud of him for his empathy and caring and sweet ways. You see, I have a friend from High School, who recently was placed in an assisted living place, a really tough place. He's not doing well, and is mentally challenged; he can't function by himself (he recently lost both of his parents who had been caring for him). Pat and Amber went with me, to visit him. Pat could have blew me off but he didn't. He went with me, and acted so concerning with complete empathy. It humbled me, extremely. I knew that day that my son had a heart.... a very, very kind one. Thanks Pat and Amber for going with me. (Pat mentioned this weekend that we should go visit again, but we had no time - we will soon, and will visit - we made my friend smile, and that made us all feel good).

Now, you go and have a great week, and....

Make someone smile if you can....

Wicker here, Wicker there, Wicker Wicker Everywhere!

Yes, I've been wicker furniture shopping... Who would have thought it, huh - Hundreds and hundreds of different kinda wicker to buy????? Why Lord, why? My hatred for shopping just continues during this ever-so new dilemma. First, I thought I'd just shop via the internet, and cut all the bologna out of it altogether. Go ahead, try it: put Wicker Furniture in a search engine. Go ahead, I dare you! Anyway, I gave up shopping via the internet for it; you have no idea what quality it is (geez, I kinda just sounded like I know what I'm talking about, coooool!) I succumbed to the fact that this is something I must shop-in-person for. I started off with the local stuff, Pier 1, K-Mart, Target, etc.... Yep, you got it... It looked like K-Mart too. Then I went to Lancaster to Buck's Furniture (they sell Lloyd Flanders - gosh, I think I really do know what I'm talking about, dropping the name-brands!). Ok, no one told me that I'd have to re-mortgage my house in order to furnish my Sunroom! The picture above is the piece that I fell in love with; there will be no substitutes, although, Pat simply cannot go to college if I purchase this, and its' accompanying pieces. Yes, while I loved it, I can't buy it.

Today, I went to Wicker East which I discovered is no longer on the East, it's on the West Shore now. I liked a lot of things over there, and I think Pat can still go to college if I purchase the things there. It wasn't Lloyd Flanders, but it was still nice. Did you know there's natural, synthetic, indoor, outdoor, indoor and outdoor, all weather, some weather, four seasons, washable, paintable, etc... OMG! It was insanity! Plus, some only last 10 years, others 20, some 30, and get this: some last a lifetime! I don't know if I actually want my wicker to last a lifetime....I'm not sure they'll let me take it to the Home, will they?

If one of my dear friends out there, who loves to shop, wants to pick us out some nice things at a nice wicker store, call me for Joe's credit card number and I'll gladly give it to you. Pick something nice; a natural, perhaps a stripe fabric, with greens, yellows, or tans.... a nice sofa so that I can relax and read on, so that Pat can snooze on (NO GREYHOUNDS ALLOWED), and a nice chair, with an ottoman for Joe, a nice coffee table/or end table... See, that's not so bad, now is it? Uh huh, just go ahead and try it! Then, come home with an idea, tell your husband who happens to have a completely different idea than you do, and start all over again....

I can imagine what my friend Nicole is saying about me now???? Ha!!!!! GF, I gave up on the bedroom chair.... I can't handle it. I think I have ADHD of the shopping gene. Nicole, if you really were my friend, you'd help me.

If any of you have any suggestions for me, pls. call...before I commit myself.

(This very well may be exactly like the bedroom project, Nicole: it may never get done at all!)

I WANNA GO TO THE BEACH!

My mind has just been wandering off to vacations, and the beach, and sand, and sun, and walks on the beach... It's summertime and I can't help it...

Pat at the beach in Bethany, with Jordan and Shannen (Aug. 05)

Makes you wanna go, huh? Go ahead, admit it, it's the first step to recovery...

Gracias Sra Hess!!!

We have been sweating in our house for the last several days....no, not that kind of sweat... You know those pesty problems that one faces this time of the year: Do I have to find transportation for my kid to go to Summer School? Does our school district even have Summer School? How many subjects can you take over a summer at said Summer School? You know, those questions???? Yes, they've been plaguing me for weeks, those pesty querries. But, today at work, after a training class that I had attended, I came back to my cubicle and see that dreaded red-blinking light on my phone: What does Joe need now? Did I forget to pay someone? Whose obituary was in the paper that Vic needs to tell me about? No folks, it was none of that for a change.... It was Pat, calling from school, in a whispering yet giddy kinda voice, saying, "Mom, I passed Spanish, I got a 71!." Would you have ever thought that I would be thrilled with my son getting a D in a class????? Folks, at that moment, I could have stood on my desk, did the jig, and hugged Dave the janitor. If you only knew Dave the janitor, you would understand my insanity at that moment. Spanish II has been a curse word in our house for the last 6 months. I never knew I would come to despise a spoken language so much.

Anyway, Pat doesn't have to take the class again, and gets the credit for the class. Yes, I know, he has a really really low grade, and he really should have a good grade in a language for his transcript for college.... I know all of that.... however, it won't happen in this house. We've come to that realization oh so well. There could be worse things, I tell myself... You see, my glass is always half full!

Pat and I celebrated tonight: We ate Chinese at Marco Polo. While I sat there eating my Dragon Chicken Combination, I had to laugh at the irony.... We are eating Chinese, celebrating Pat's D in Spanish..... I know, we should have gone to El Rodeo instead, huh?

So, my blog tonight has to be dedicated to Sra Hess for her generosity, in giving my son a "D" in her beloved Spanish II class.

The picture above is Pat, vegging out, savoring this day, and enjoying his "D" in Spanish II...

A "D" never looked so good, huh?

Saturdays are the Best...

Sorry Jens, but I had to do some baseball pictures today, and blog a little about baseball. See the photo with Pat raking the field? I had to capture that one, and document it. You see, I didn't realize that Pat knew what a rake was for? I know he saw rakes before, we have some, but I never realized that he could actually use one, hence, the photo. Also, see Stretch? Yea, you're right. He's the big boy in the huddle, aka Stretch, or Ben as his Mom named him. Another Mom and I were standing there after the game, and she said, "Wouldn't that be a nice picture, and look at Stretch!" I said, "Hmmmm, I just happen to have my camera!" We won again, for a change, 4-3. Stretch is a college boy; I wish Stretch was around during our basketball season! Oh, BTW, Stretch is 6'8"...

Ok Jens, that's all I'll say about sports today. Ooooops, sorry, one more thing: We started Summer Basketball yesterday and won our first game. Ok, I'm done now.

I also threw in a picture of the wall that Joe's building in the soon-to-be Sunroom. I may actually be able to use that Sunroom yet this summer.... how cool would that be? We bought the fan today, and Joe put that up. The wood boards are leftovers from the entertainment unit he built in the basement. It's starting to look really, really nice. I've shopped a little for furniture for out there, but didn't really see anything that caught my eye. It's not going to be easy, that much I know. I primarily wanna use that room to relax and be able to read there. I figure I can go in there and warm my bones when the house is too cold for me in the summer. Yes, you read that correctly.... I can't stand my house sometimes it's so cold and I never win that battle (Eileen told Joe he must compromise, so we'll see if he takes her advise). But now I know that I'll have a place where I can go to, and bake in about 110 degrees or so, so that's somewhat comforting to me.

I made taco's for dinner tonight, and Pat said, "Mmmmm Mom, now that's what I'm talking about!" I bought two boxes this time, and when he saw the two boxes, he again commented on my genius.

Amber has her own car.

Amber has her own car now....

Did I happen to say that Amber has her own car now?

I'm going for a soak now, and fininshing my Spark's book. I finally found out who killed poor Missy and the chase is over for me.... I'll finish it tonight and start a Patterson that a baseball mom gave me today.

Big day tomorrow: Joe is brining a turkey breast as I type, so he'll smoke that, I'm making sweet potatoes (mashed for Pat) and fresh brocolli, gravy and rolls, mmmmmm good, and the last episode of The Sapranos is on....

Can you tell I hit the grocery store today? It happened to be after Joe's question that he posed to me at the baseball game: "When's the last time you went to the grocery store?"

Does it get any better than a smoked turkey breast on a Sunday? I'm oh so easy to please.

ps. I told Joe today that he's so much more tolerable after two glasses of grigio....