The Soup Nazi!

For those of you who follow my posts, you know I love soup! Well, it's that time of the year....football games, lazy Saturday afternoons = Soup! Today, The Soup Nazi made: Long Island Baymen Seafood Chowder. He used cod, which he smoked. I quickly ran to the mall for pillows (ours' were like mushed up old cotton balls), and when I opened the car door in the garage, I could smell ooooooooooooh-it's-so-good-soup!

I love these days in the Fall, lazy Saturdays, eating soup, and watching college football. Penn State's killing and I'm happy to say, JoPa's stomach bug seems to have subsided. Can you believe how every news station in America had to report on poor JoPa's stomach bug? Give me a break!!! The guy's 79 years old, and had a little bug! Get over yourself! Hey, when I'm 79, I can only hope and pray I'm able to coach a big 10 college team! Ok?????????? So, Get over yourself ESPN.....

We have a lazy Fall evening to look forward to: I have Capote from Netflix, and am very excited to see that. I also made a cherry pie today! You can make one too by buying the little Pillsbury pie dough, and a can of cherry pie filling! Ha!

Have a great, lazy, fall weekend...

The Cards We're Dealt...

Some days, I feel so grateful about things in my life, and today happens to be one of those mother days. Today, two great, dear, old friends of mine and myself went to see Emil. For those of you who know about Emil, I need not explain. To those of you who don't, you only need to know that he's down and out, and needs a little help from his friends. While driving back to my house, Lisa and I just talked about things, about the way this crazy life seems to evolve, and shape, and in Emil's case, shatter. Lisa cried as we drove home, and the emotions that we shared at that moment overflowed the car. Just makes you so grateful for the whole, complete life you are lucky enough to have.

We can't fix Emil and his problems, no way, no how, but perhaps, we can make him smile, forget about his cares for the day, or for that moment, eat a turkey sub and drink a soda with some old friends, and laugh about the good old days. Times when maybe poor Em was a little more complete and whole; more so than he is now, that's for sure. His family is gone now, and he has no one. I come back home to my house, and there's about eight people there filling my house with love and memories, and laughter, having a good time, sharing their own subs...

Just a meloncholy kinda day for me, sitting here, reflecting about the luck of the draw, why some folks have to endure the loneliness and heartache of mental illness, the isolation from the "normal" world, why things are the way they are - who are we to ask, right? Some of us were just dealt a luckier hand than others I suppose.

Today, I reconnected with a dear old friend, Lisa, and together, we laughed and cried, and for that, I'm grateful.

Now, onto more serious matters: Whatever will happen on Desperate Housewives tonight?

Is It Basketball Season Yet?

We're pretty much into Football here, going to the Roller games and the McD games.... But, I must admit, I can't wait for Basketball! Pat's pretty heavy duty into weightlifting, and open gyms; he's very focused and doing very well. He loves his classes, and all is well, thank God. He's a Junior now! Remember when you were a Junior in High School? He doesn't realize it now that these are the best years of his life! Funny how we only know this once they're long gone, huh? Funny....

I worked on my iPod all night long. When I go for my walks, seems like the same old songs play over and over. You know, I sing while I walk.... Yep, that's right. If you happen to drive through Twelve Oaks, and see me walking my two huge black dogs, you'll see me singing with my iPod. Hey, it's better than b*******, right???? So, the folks of Twelve Oaks will be happy to know that I have a new playlist, and I'll be rocking to some new songs!

My friend Stacey and I tried a new meal place. It's called A Meal In Minutes - http://www.amealinminutes.com Go to it and try it. If you happen to sign up, make sure you tell them that I told you about it, then my family gets a free meal! Anyway, Stacey and I really liked it. The owner told us, next time, we can bring our own bottles. Do you think I should drink while I prepare my meals for my family? Instead of toothpicks, Lord only knows what they may find in their meals. I better go sober... Roxanne, the owner, was so nice to us. She served us pie while we were there! She was too nice. We cracked up the entire time! Hey, no more pizza, subs, and mac and cheese for my family! I'm back into the swing of it! Domestication: Here I come! Plus, my afghan is getting really big. I had to buy another scain of yarn yesterday! When it's done, I'll post.

It's Monday, they're tough, huh? Hey, it could be worse! Thank God that we can work, that we can contribute to our families and society; Thank God how lucky we are for everything we have. Lucky, huh? Have a great week.

9/11 - Flight 93

Can you imagine being on Flight 93? I can't. Can you imagine making a decision, that you're going to give up your life, leave your family and friends behind, in order that others may survive? In order for the safety and security of the Country? I can't. In watching all the TV Specials on the Anniversary of 9/11, no other story moves me more than these brave men and women. It's incomprehensible to me. While of course, I mourn the death of all those involved in the New York 9/11 tragedy, those poor souls never had a choice. The leaders on Flight 93, they had a choice: they chose to die with honor, saving others' lives. The mere thought just blows my mind. Sure, they knew they were going to die either way. Again, they chose to die while saving others.

Like the death of President Kennedy, so many people recall where they were that day. I recall the 9/11 events, and sitting in my safe little cubicle at work, hearing Paul telling us that his wife, Kathy, had just called to tell him that there was an attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. Yes, I heard the words, but I didn'tquite understand them. Shortly after this, we heard all the subsequent horrors that followed. We all left work, and I'll never forget this: Walking out the door of my office building, and looking at the still traffic in the streets, it was surreal. Will the attacks continue? The plane had just gone down in Shanksville; in the big scheme of things, Harrisburg isn't that far away.... I remember, inch by inch, crawling down Route 230, to Prince of Peace, to pick up Pat at school; it took everything just to focus on what I had to do at that time.

Life went on, just as it always does. Five years later, we are reminded of this attack, and as I sit here in my safe home, I reflect on courage, and honor, and choices, and bravery beyond comprehension.

Stop and say a prayer today, for all of them. Try this too: hug your kid for no reason at all; be kind to someone you ordinarily wouldn't; make a difference. Make some good choices. Go ahead, I dare you....

That's Pat, Not Suri....

Did you happen to see Suri Cruise today? Is she one of the most beautiful babies you've ever seen, or what (excluded Pat of course)??? I don't much care for her father, but that baby.... Her hair, and those eyes! Precious....

I started a new book: Case Histories. Kinda strange so far, sorta like a Pulp Fiction type of book. I'm giving it a chance, I guess....I'm already invested. Not a page-turner by far, but I'll try and read 20 pages or so a day, just to get through it. Maybe the good part is coming ... ????

Anyway, kinda quiet around here; not too much going on.

Pat really likes his classes, and I'm thrilled about that. School is going well so far, fingers crossed. I think now that Sra. Hess is out of the picture, we can resume to some sort of normal life around here... Now Chemistry - aaaaaaaw, that may be this year's Sra. Hess, huh??? Whatdaya think about that????

I wish I had taken Chemistry in high school...bunson burners and mixing stuff up....ohhhh, I would like that.... Also, Amber told me that an early assignment in her Physics class was about observing. She had to write down 50 things she observed while watching a candle burn. What do I like more than observing???? Geez, why didn't I take academic classes????? Stenography??? It's not even a course anymore.... eeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrr............. Ok, I'm done venting about my education....

I have nothing else.... sorry....

How about Katie Couric? (I told you I have nothing....)

Guess what??? Tomorrow's Thursday, and that's something!!!!!!! And of course - Saturday's the BIG GAME and ND's going downtown..... I'll post pictures from our Penn State Victory party; stay tuned!

Zivili!

What??? The Weekend's Already Over????

Not fair! I had a four day weekend, and it was GREAT!!!!! Pat got his wisdom teeth out on Friday, and that went really, really well. He did GREAT!!!! He was a true CHAMP! Very, very little swelling and little pain (so he said...). All in all, it went as well as it could have, Yippee!!!!!

I've added Flickr to this blog, and I hope that I'm able to easily upload pictures to it. IT ONLY TOOK ME TWO HOURS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE CODE ON THIS BLOG! Omg!!!!!!!!!!!! That wasn't easy! Hey, what can I say: I'm NO computer programmer!

Anyway, my crocheting is coming along just fine and I got a lot done since Saturday! It's fun, but Mack bites my fingers while I'm knitting! Cracks me up! We went to see the Cougars today since the Roller game was cancelled (how lame!).... Anyway, we had a name for what the Cougars did to CD today; it was called: Cougar Fever. They spanked 'em..... A good game.

Have a great week and I hope to blog later on! Don't work too hard, paaaaallllleeeeeessssseeeee don't! ha!

Just Wait....

Until you see my afghan..........

You'll be so impressed!

I don't think I should post any pictures until it's further along; I'll keep you all in suspense...

I can't believe this is my 77th post!!!! Can you believe that???? Maybe I talk too much; but oh, I have so much to say, you have no idea!

Ha!!!!!!!!!

Have a great, great Labor Day!