Homecoming Dance

How can my daughter be old enough to go to the homecoming dance? Wasn't it just yesterday we were playing dress up together? Somehow, 15 years have flown by and she went to her first high school dance tonight.

She and a group of girls all went together. No guys this time. I'm sure that will change by the next dance, but for this one it was a girls' night out.



She looked too grown up as she raided my jewelry box for just the right rings and earrings. She just better take care of them. She took my only good pair of drop pearl earrings. They did look nice on her though. One day, they'll be hers.

Her best friend got dropped off here for photos, then Randy drove them to school and took a few more photos for me. They kept yelling about going blind from the flash. Somehow, I think they'll live. She took a camera with to take more photos during the dance. She knows I'll have to scrapbook this one.

The dance is over just before midnight and she'll go to her grandparents' house for the night. That way, they'll be able to see what she looked like.

Wordless Wednesday

Halo 3 Release Night

Last night or early this morning, depending on how you look at life, was the release of the video game Halo 3. Like all loyal mothers of a video game junkie, I drove 45 minutes to stand in line for three hours to get this game. Then another 45 minutes home. So, for the second time this year, I became one of those people everyone makes fun of - standing in line for hours, waiting for something to be released. When did this happen?

Dearest son was able to participate in the tournament even though he wasn't old enough because I said it was ok and would collect any prize he may happen to win. He made it to the championship round, but took second in his division. He was the youngest player (he's 12) going against 17 and older kids, so we think he did pretty well.

When the countdown begins, everyone gets back in line, except for about 10 self-entitled punks who felt they were better than everyone else and jumped line. The clerk and manager "couldn't" do anything because they hadn't seen them do it. Right! The one other mom and I told the kids what we thought of them and promised karma would visit their sorry behinds eventually. Those are the creatures who will be running America in about 10 years. I weep for the future.

Anyway, we slowly make our way up to the counter and suddenly, T has that game in his little hands. The grin on his face was HUGE! He's clutching the box close to him as we walk out the door. The crowd is cheering everyone who goes by. One kid yelled out, "You're parents must really love you!" to dear son because he had the legendary version. It was $130. Now, before you fall over and start about the cost, we didn't pay for it. T earned the money himself mowing lawns and saving up for almost a year to get it.

Was it worth the drive and the wait?

Surgery Update

I survived, but feel like I went a couple rounds with Mike Tyson.

I can't drive this weekend and can only type with one hand. Vicodin is my current best friend.

Physical therapy starts Monday. Not looking forward to that, but need my arm back, so ...

Thanks for all the good wishes!

Surgery Day

Today is my shoulder surgery. I'm nervous, but ready for it. The constant pain in the left shoulder is getting old, so it's time to have it taken care of.

The surgeon tried to go conservative and just use that horrid cortesone injection (remember the square needle?), but it didn't work. That's the problem with being conservative, it just doesn't work! The last visit, we decided something more was needed and a week later, I'm going under the knife.

I'm up to get the kids ready for school, then I'll go get ready. The surgery is scheduled for 11:30 this morning, so if you have a minute around that time, I won't complain if you send a little good thought out my way. :)

Not sure if I'll be able to type for a couple days, but I'll be back. If nothing else, I'll share photos.

Wordless Wednesday

My 9/11 story

Where were you when the towers came down? Did you watch it live on TV or were you in NYC?

I'll never forget my day. I had just put the kids on the school bus and my dad stopped in after walking the dogs. I didn't even have the TV on that morning for whatever reason.

We were just walking out the door when the phone rang. It was my cousin screaming about attacks. Turn on the TV. OK. Dad and I just sat there watching, stunned as the second tower was hit and then as they both fell. Who would do that?



I drove him home and came back and started trying to reach my in-laws who were on a bus trip to Atlantic City, NJ. Couldn't reach them all day and I was more than a bit worried.

My MIL finally called us that afternoon to say that FIL had been rushed to the hospital with heart problems. She was in tears, all alone. Don't come, I'll be ok. Wrong answer! Hubby had just started a new job and couldn't go, so I ran to my parents' house and asked Mom if she wanted to take a road trip. She thought I was out of my mind until I told her why. She called her boss and said we had to go. I threw a few things in a bag and off we went.

It was so quiet on the Interstate that night. There were signs up all over warning that NYC was closed because an "incident." We had no idea what to expect. Would there be more attacks? We stopped around midnight at a roadside hotel to get a few hours of sleep, then took off for Widwood, NJ (right outside of Atlantic City).

When we get there, we thought we'd be bringing him home the next morning. We were there three or four days. They wanted him to have surgery there, but MIL decided to bring him home to have it.

As I was standing on the beach on 9/12, just watching the ocean when it hit me. My 9-year old daughter had said we would be on the beach that day. A few days before, she had said that and I just laughed. There was no way we could be on the beach. She was right though, there I stood. How did she know?

Can I get a full body transplant?

As I creep closer and closer to the dreaded 4-0, my body seems to have betrayed me and I think it's time we part company.

Spent all day yesterday having tests upon tests to see what's wrong, then went to the orthopedic surgeon about my left shoulder. It's been killing me for months and he's decided it's time for surgery. I have a couple bone spurs on the shoulder blade as well as a calcium deposit in my rotator cuff, which may or may not be torn. He won't know for sure until he opens it up.

Today, it's back to the neurologist for a check up on the horrid botox treatment. It didn't work and I won't go through it again. It may be time to find a different one.

After that, it's Randy's turn to go under the needle. He had an emergency root canal last week and goes again today to have it finished. What fun!

Since we'll be in State College for his appointment, we're going to see the Spikes play. It's one of their last games of the season. One of my last chances to get autographs from the team and take photos. I'm hoping to go again tomorrow night, but we'll see if I can drive. Randy has to work and won't be able to take me. It's 1 1/2 hour drive at night and it's not my best time to see.

Hope everyone is having fun! Summer is just about over here and the leaves have already started to turn colors.

My inner work dog

I filled out one of those personality tests earlier today and it was to find out what your innter work dog is. Funny how telling it was.




You're a Golden Retriever!


What Breed of Dog Are You at Work?

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