Where have I been? -
I have been everywhere that has nothing to do with me. My life is about everyone else that's in it, and nothing about my life is for me. I know this is the path I have chosen.

Change & The Past -
I have been reflectively thinking about my life, and the way so little of it changes. I have had more Ish to deal with in my life than I think is fair. I also think I have done a damn good job at surviving Ish. I AM a survivor. But is surviving enough? When will the past take note of my strength, and realize it will never defeat me. When will the past allow change to happen? Most people fear change. They live most comfortably knowing today most likely will not be any different than yesterday. I live with sorrow, I dream of happiness. I dream of change. I dream of today being nothing like yesterday. I dream of having no past, only present. I dream of tomorrow. I dream for me.

Dear MOTHER.
Don't ever call me again. I hope you die tonight. Good ridance.
Yours puking,
Daughter

Just got this in an email - I'm not a fan of WalMart, but I think I'll have to go there soon so I can try a few of these.  I'm still LOL-ing!

</zzzbody></zzzhtml>

 

 

The new owner of my old flower shop called me last week. She knows NOTHING about the floral industry, flowers, buying, making arrangments, booking, weddings, assisting funerals, right on down the line even including...cleaning buckets. I mean "NOTHING". This past Monday was her first day in the shop, and when she told me she knew "nothing", she wasn't kidding.

HOW THE HELL DO YOU BUY A BUSINESS YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT AND THINK YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE A FORTUNE OFF OF IT BECAUSE A FUNERAL HOME IS OPENING UP IN THE CENTER NEXT TO US? She paid twice as much for the shop as what it is worth, and when she bought the shop she never looked at the books to see that business has been so bad the lsat year, the previous owners husband was giving his wife loans to pay ALL the bills until it sold. So now this new owner, Joanne, wants me to teach her the business and help her come up with a business plan to help her get customers in. I told her I can help her with that, but not at a desgners salary. She has 3 months of me helping her and sif she can't pay me what I'm worth I'm leaving. I am tired of endlessly working in flower shops, and doing ALL the work, and not getting paid what I am worth. It feels good to speak up. It feels good to be playing with flowers again. But I have my hands full with this woman, she has the attention span of a flea, it's only been 4 days and I'm already tired of repeating myself to her, because she doesn't pay attention the first time I show her something.

Christopher is home for the weekend. "yeah!!!"
My mother is having a surprise party tonight for my sister and brother in laws 25th anniversary.

Hazlet Hawks #1 Emily on the bus going to the Jersey Shore Cheer Competition yesterday

That's my Emily holding up her "We are #1 finger!"

Her team placed 2nd yesterday in her Cheer competition. They really should have taken first place due to the fact that the first place winning team did not have enough girls to compete, but the y let them anyway. It's so much easier to make 15 girls look clean and tight compared to our 30. Next Sunday onto the State Championships!

Hazlet Hawks Jr. Pee Wee National Champs 2004

My daughter Emily is a Pop Warner Cheerleader. Last year her Jr. Pee Wee team took first place in the Nationals in Disney. We are trying to update our leagues web site www.hazlethawks.com . We cheer moms want to make the cheer section a little more important, especially since we have a National Championship team.

Can any one recommend a song that we can add to the web site that represents being the Best, Greatest, Champions,... etc.

We do not want to use Queens, "we are the champions". Something more girly.

Jamie Cullum Irving Plaza NYC last night! His new music is much different....Loved it!
Jamie is pure talent, raw, and passionate. It doesn't get any better !
The guys in the band deserve huge applause, they are totally the stitching on the hem - without them the music would fall apart. Each one of them deserves to be appreciated for what they do. It was a great night. Except for the girl who decided that even though I am 5'2" and she was 5'10" she needed to squeeze in front of me. She kept taking steps backs so I would get a mouthfull of her hair. Instead of pushing her out of my way I decided the next time she swung her hair in my face and in mouth, I would plant my gum in it. So I did! Now back to swinging to the music that is imbedded in my head....

Jamie played a lot of keyboards with the new music. It was good but I have to be honest, When that boy plays piano it is quite sexual and lusty. Watching him play the piano like he did for "These are the Days", was like watching him make love with passion. I wish I was that damn piano!

My View - the back of some guys head It didn't help any that his ears were the size of Dumbo the elephant! I couldn't see the stage at all, so I lifted the camera way over my head. This is pretty much all I saw of the show. I love being 5'2" in a room crowded room full of TALL people!
Jamie Cullum - Irving Plaza NYC	Geoff Gascoyne
Jamie Cullum	Geoff Sebastiaan Sam
Jamie Cullum	Jamie Cullum walking on his piano keys
Jamie Cullum	Jamie makes the audience sing

This weekend Lou and I took the kids up to Providence for parents weekend at Johnson & Wales University. Christopher feels very much at home in school. I met a bunch of his friends, I liked them all. It is such a great feeling to see him so happy. Although the weather sucked and ruined our plans, it was good to see him so well adjusted, and grown up. He is going to do well for himself. Mitchell and Cory thought his dorm was cool, and I'm glad Mitchell got to see a bit of college life. Now maybe he will listen to us when we talk to him about his plans for college.

Tonight - Jamie Cullum, Irving Plaza NYC. Mitchell and Cory are coming with us. Mitch is going to be very impressed with Geoff Gascoyne's passion on the upright bass, and Cory will get to see Sebastiaan de Krum hypnotize the audience with his rhythym on the drums. This will completely be an inspirational night for the boys. The new CD Catching Tales is FINALLY being released today. I'm off to best buy to get my copy!

This is a quote from a web site I read. This quote from Our president is exactly what the terrorists said when they took down the World Trade Center. We said that the Muslims are crazy - they hear voices from Allah and they kill innocent people. Well isn't that exactly what our President is doing? Isn't he hearing the same "Evil Doer" voices? I believe 100% in SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. Our president needs to be impeached for disregarding the Declaration of Independence. Concerning the past and future attacks on Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine, he outright said, "I have a moral and RELIGIOUS obligation." I am sad for our country that we have such a cold hearted, discriminating, self righteous religious freak for our president. Is there any reason to wonder why the rest of the world hates us?


"Press Release : BBC 10/6/2005

In Elusive Peace: Israel and the Arabs, a major three-part series on BBC TWO (at 9.00pm on Monday 10, Monday 17 and Monday 24 October), Abu Mazen, Palestinian Prime Minister, and Nabil Shaath, his Foreign Minister, describe their first meeting with President Bush in June 2003.

Nabil Shaath says: "President Bush said to all of us: 'I'm driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, "George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan." And I did, and then God would tell me, "George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq " And I did. And now, again, I feel God's words coming to me, "Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East." And by God I'm gonna do it.'"

Abu Mazen was at the same meeting and recounts how President Bush told him: "I have a moral and religious obligation. So I will get you a Palestinian state."

But that's not all. Haaretz News of Israel reports that the Palestinian Presiddent Abbas says the President told him the same thing.

Haaretz News by Arnon Regular

October 6 2005 Tishrei 3 5766

Abbas said that at Aqaba, Bush promised to speak with Sharon about the siege on Arafat. He said nobody can speak to or pressure Sharon except the Americans.

According to Abbas, immediately thereafter Bush said: "God told me to strike at al Qaida and I struck them, and then he instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did, and now I am determined to solve the problem in the Middle East.

Two thousand Americans are in their graves and thousands of Iraqis have been killed because this man believes that he received personal instructions from God.

And now a new justice on the supreme court who has had a religious spiritual experience will make decisions that effect millions of people in this country not based on the constitution but based on the Bible.

Who would have ever thought that we would see the day in this nation that lives are sacrificed because a president heard God tell him to attack.

Flip Wilson, years ago would say, "the devil made me do it".
Indeed that may be the case here.


With such lunacy as this running loose on planet earth it becomes obvious that direct intervention from above is immediately needed.

Thank God it has started.

www.hiddenmeanings.com"

Last night Lou and I went to see David Gray at Radio City Music Hall in NYC. I love when you see someone perform live and there voice is just as strong and in tune as it sounds on the CD. That is true talent. Too many of today's "artists" rely on altering their voice so they sound like they are singing the right notes. Davids voice was so powerful I don't think he really needed the microphones.... His band is so talented and contagiously exciting to watch. The drummer was completley psyched to be playing in Radio City. I can only imagine what a high that would be. For any one who has never been to NYC. You MUST go. Plan a weekend and just do it, you have no idea what you've been missing. NYC has so much diversity and entertainment. Just walking through the streets you come alive. The food, the shopping, the music, the people, the culture.... I really do <3 NY.
Living in NJ we get to pass The Statue of Liberty on the drive into NYC. Although Lady Liberty is owned by NY, people in New Jersey know she's really a Jersey Girl. (She lives on our waters.) To drive past her so frequently is something I am so honored to be able to do. She is a constant reminder of the freedoms we have, the diversity and cultures we have opened our arms too, and that America really is the place that you can make your dreams come to true. The Lady has opened her arms to diversity and cultures, if only we could get our politicians to do the same.

I heard your defensive speech about your appointment of Harriet Miers for Supreme Court Justice.

I quote, "The reason I selected her is I know her well enough to be able to say that she's not going to change; that 20 years from now she'll be the same person, with the same philosophy."

And THAT is supposed to be a good thing? Your archaic, bull headed thinking that you got from your parents over the last 20 years has not changed, since they got it from their parents the previous 20 years, and now we are still going no where for the next 20 years... This is what you think our country needs?

My sister told me she read a statement from Harriet Miers saying, "George W. Bush is one of the most brilliant men I know." - Bill Clinton stroked his ego by smoking cigars with interns. You GeOrge DoublYa stroke your ego by appointing inexperienced inappropriate people to high authority serious positions because they kiss your ass. You tell me who the SINNER is!

I don't understand how any thinking sensitive person can declare themselves a Republican.

This weekend went way too fast!

Saturday night my sister Coleen had a Marti-Esta party. Half Marti Gras Half Fiesta. She rented a Margarita machine (WOO HOO!) and there was tons of food. New Orleans Shrimp and Pasta dish that had a cream sauce with an unexpected kick to it, Jambalaya Rice, Chicken fajitas, and build your tacos. Dessert was bread pudding with rum sauce and fresh fruit. She had mexican music playing all night with a bit of some party songs mixed in to keep it from getting monotonous. Everyone was adorned in beads, sombreros and rub on tattoos. Had mucho margaritas and sat by the 2 fires on the huge patio in the yard and laughed all night. Dumb ass that I am - I left my camera on the kitchen table before we left....

Sunday I sat on the football field facing the sun for 5 hours for my daughter, she's a cheerleader. The first game was delayed, the game before hers went into major overtime, so her game started 2 hours late.... Went to my sister Donna's afterwords, My other sister CArries, and our friends Sissy and Caroline were there also. Our husbands all went to the Giants game yesterday so we figures we have a girly afternoon to ourselves. Caroline is a liquor distributor so we had a wine and tequila tasting. Love my wine so I am pretty good with picking out a good wine, but I had no clue about Tequilas. It was quite educational :)

or maybe I was just really drunk? LOL

So we are planning a girls weekend away over the winter. It will be 5 of the sisters, and Sissy, Caroline, and Tony. When I sent the email to everyone saying I wanted to plan a girls weekend, I addressed it " Dear Bitches, and Tony", of course he was the first to respond. "Oh I'm coming - count me in, after all I AM one of the bitches but who's this Tony?" It's going to be good fun! NYC or Atlantic City? I'm going to research the internet now to try and plan two vacation weekends so we can pick.

Last night my son Cory told me about the homework assignment he was doing. This is my letter to his teacher regaring the assignment. It's self explanitory from here.



Dear Mr. Caruano,

Last night Cory explained his homework assignment to me with great excitement. The boys were to write about "Why men are better than women", and the girls are to write about "Why women are better than men". I know your class room is meant to be an animated fun place to learn about history in an environment that encourages the kids to participate in the history instead of just reading a text book. It's wonderful that you make history so exciting for them. You have taught my other 2 sons and now Cory. All of them have always come home from school with a story to tell about your History class. Having 4 kids I can tell you that as a parent it's nice to have them talk about "What happened in school today" with excitement.

I appreciate your teaching style, and enthusiasm with the kids, but this home work assignment saddened me. Young teenage girls of this age are just starting to realize that women will have to prove themselves in a mans world for the rest of their lives. Gone are the days of daddys cuddling with their daughters on the couch, telling them how pretty are, and being the most special person in daddy's eyes. They are no longer treated like young ladies, they are now welcomed into an environment where they will feel frustrated and defensive because men will not recognize their capabilities and strengths. It's still a mans dominated world and young women have to deal with being disrespected on a daily basis.

Cory wrote a list last night that contained all the reasons he felt that men are better than women. Sports music, math, cooking etc... I tried to explain to him that those things are neutral, their are men and women who excel at all of those things. We talked for a little bit and he saw my point that this is a no win argument, and serves no purpose. I know he is still excited about coming into your class today and duking it out with the girls, but I'm glad we talked last night.

I don't think this assignment is going to serve any other purpose than frustrate the kids, and leave the girls feeling disrespected, while the boys will be high fiving each other out the door. How easy it is to be disrespectful, and unappreciative of the good qualities each other have. This was an easy assignment for the kids, they excel at belittling and ripping each other apart. When my kids are "hanging out" with their friends in a group of boys and girls mixed, I hear how the boys talk to the girls, as I am sure you do every day in school. I am trying to teach my boys how wrong and disrespectful that is, but I know when they are with their friends it is hard to not chime in with the rest of them. I think this assignment is only going to encourage more of that behavior, and leave the boys feeling that they have a right to be disrespectful and not appreciate the wonderful qualities of women.

Being a woman, I know my mind and body was made in completion. Every part of my mind and body serves a purpose. Now my question to you is... If men are so perfect, then why do they nipples?

I hope that settles this argument. I do believe that women are superior to men. You now have no reason to give this assignment to another class again.

Sincerely,

AnneMarie Pisano

It's raining heavy, and the damp fall air has now settled in my house. So I decided that fall colors and moods should now be reflected in my journal. I will miss you lavender and periwinkle. See you next spring

I created me very own community today


whydogsbite



Please tell your pets not to hate me!!!

This should answer the question, LOL!

My son christopher, the one who is away at college, taught himself to speak fluent spanish. I always tell him how proud of him I am that he did this, especially because he did this so he could talk to the mexicans in the kitchen at work. It killed him that no one made an effort to learn to speak with them. So here is my attempt of speaking spanish. I gave up and cursed at him in Italian! What can I say, I am a guinni at heart!

Annemariepisano [10:30 A.M.]: good morning taco
Annemariepisano [10:32 A.M.]: que cosa burrito?
Annemariepisano [10:33 A.M.]: enchilda si estu?
Eddie DL Gelfen [10:35 A.M.]: what
Annemariepisano [10:35 A.M.]: Fahita Margarita!
Annemariepisano [10:37 A.M.]: donde e nacho?
Annemariepisano [10:37 A.M.]: si mama loca!
Annemariepisano [10:38 A.M.]: LOCA LOCA LOCA!
Annemariepisano [10:40 A.M.]: evu come' gringo?
Annemariepisano [10:42 A.M.]: Hola?
Annemariepisano [10:42 A.M.]: hola... hola? where si you vu comesita?
Annemariepisano [10:42 A.M.]: taco bell diariah si?
Annemariepisano [10:44 A.M.]: Grande momasita salsa quiero?
Annemariepisano [10:46 A.M.]: Ahhh fungu! Ciao!
Annemariepisano [10:49 A.M.]: fessacchione
Annemariepisano [10:50 A.M.]: frocio... LOL!

Well I've given in. My sister has driven a school bus for years. the pay is not bad either. She convinced me to take the test and be a school bus driver. There are many reasons I don't want to do this. Since my kids for the most part are grown now, I have recently realized... I hate other peoples kids. They are annoying. To be locked on a bus with a bunch of 6 to 12 year olds, screetching, screaming, throwing things, spitting, picking their noses, making arm pit farts, stinking up the bus with real farts, hitting, teasing, spit balls, grabbing their balls, need I go on? you hate other peoples kids too now don't you? So even though this is not the "job" I want to do, it is the one that makes the most sense. Decent pay, I'll be home in the summer with my kids, I'll be off all the holidays they are off, I'll be home for after school activities. I can still cook supper, and get my chores done.

So, now I am studying for to get my CDL license. I forgot how stupid I am. I keep re-reading the same page because I either forget what I just read, or I have no clue what they are talking about. What the hell is an axle hub/seal mounting...? I taught myself to use many programs on the computer, word, excel, access, power point, office, photo editors, change file extensions, reformat things, locate files, etc... all by my lonesone. Just don't ask me to read things and remember what I read.


I need to get a job because I hate being home. I have tons of projects and cleaning and organizing that I can do... But I just can't motivate myself to WANT to do them. I love being home with my kids but let's face it, they are not "home" any more. School, soccer, cheerleading, music, friends... Nope just me and Maggie here now.

SO... as much as I love FLoral design and have so many wonderful ideas on owning my own wedding and party design floral business, I can't find a way to come up with the money to make that dream a reality. Maybe down the road... I don't want to work in another flower shop for someone else, because I have been doing this for so long and forced to do things the way other people want them done(the wrong way, the cheap way). My idea for a floral business is not ripping people off, and certainly not doing things to cut corners and find cheaper ways of getting the product out. I am a people person. And love the creative end of floral design. I want my customers to be happy and love the product they came to me to produce for them. If that means less profit for me, so be it. So I just don't want to work for someone else's floral business. When I can make it happen for myself I will.

http://community.webshots.com/user/pisano6

I created an account with webshots to upload all my digital pictures to a safer environment. My kids have accidentally erased and written over so my many of our pictures. I thought this will keep them safe if we ever loose our computer etc. I just started making picture albums in web shots yesterday. It's time consuming but I'm having fun doing this. I have many many many more to upload.
webshots = sweetness

Surprise!	Mom & Marie
Uncle Babe	Neil Linda
Carrie John	Lou
6 sisters & Mom	AnneMarie & Tony
Carrie & Kathy	Tony & Janice

Yesterday was Mom's Surprise 70th Birthday PArty. It was wonderful! We had it at the Ocean Club in Atlantic highlands where I had Lou's 40th. They treated us so well, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere is beautiful. It was a great party.

Emily and Friends on Broadway Emily Jillian Brianne Shannon	Dinner @ Carmines NYC Shannon Emily Brianne Jillian Casey
Emily Emily eating "The Titanic" at Carmines	Emily Shannon Brianne Girls eating "The Titanic"
AnneMarie Me at Carmines	The Gang Still eating...
Hershey Drunks The girls in the Hershey store	Showin off the girls in front of the Neil Simon Theater
Show Time 5th row from the stage Rocks!	Emily w. "Penny" Autographs after the show!

tonight I'm taking my daughter into NYC with some friends and there daughters. We are going to ahve dinner at Carmines, although I really pushed for Becco, and then we are going to see Hairspray. A couple of the mothers and daughters have no idea what the show is about. I can't wait to see there reaction to learning it's about celebrating your diversity, and acceptance of other's diversity. I wanted to take the train in but I'm getting vibes that I will be convinced to drive once we get in the car. Driving in NYC is carzy scary. But I'll do it if they want me to. Should be a fun night over all. I'm glad I'm doing this tonight, I'm havng a bad week and this will be a nice distraction.

Q: What is George W. Bush's position on Roe vs. Wade?




A: He really doesn't care how people get out of New Orleans.

Last night was heavenly. Went to see Jack Johnson at the PNC art Center. Matt Costa opened for him. He has such a tender voice, and a nice style. Kind of folkie, loved him! He reminded me of Paul Simon and Marshall Crenshaw combined... Can you picture that?

Yes you do know who Marshall Crenshaw is ( http://www.marshallcrenshaw.com/albums/first.htm ) Click on the little speaker next to the songs so you can hear them... "I'm lookin for a Cynical Girl"!

Oh the hell with that - here's a link for Matt Costa... Lovely ( http://www.mattcosta.com/music/outtakes/Sunshine.mp3 )


I'm glad I wore my hair scrunchy curly, it was grossly hot and humid last night. So I pulled it up in a loose mess to keep my hair and sweat from sticking to my neck. Gross... I had no clue that Jack Johnson drew such a young crowd, not that it bothered me. I like hangin with the youngsters, they know how to rock and party! The group of guys behind us were so stoned. They were dancing (very nicely too), and singing and really made our whole section get into the show even more. fun fun fun. Wish I had snuck my camera in... When we were young and would go to shows the pot would passed all through the stadium. Yes I indulged back then... It seems like the last ten years people stopped smoking pot in stadiums. Last night the pot was everywhere. I sniffed the air, but I did not indulge. I would have liked to though, there is something about pot and music mixed together. Getting high puts you INSIDE the music, it takes you to an entire different level. God I love that. Any way, I danced the entire night, Jack Johnson is funky as funk can get. Didn't need the pot, he brought me to that level with his addictive voice, style and talent! It was fuckin awesome!

What? Yes, you know who Jack Johnson is, here download this and listen- Yes it's a safe download. ( http://s44.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2Y07HY4LT3O940B1CQU8W490YE )
Here's another one ( http://s23.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=308K5XH68WEDY26A8Z8G3AXQ4H )
Wasn't that good, now go buy the CD!

Have a musically wonderful day bitches!

Dearborn Farms

I seem to be questioning my self worth lately. Why does a job/lack of job have to define who I am?
My husband and I were married very young. I was 19 he was 20. Lack of leadership from our parents made us think we were old enough to move out and play grown ups... so we did. We paid for the wedding, the apartment, the furniture, EVERYTHING by ourselves. Quite a feat for 2 KIDS. Our first son was born 4 days after my 21st birthday. I was a floral designer up until we had Christopher (1st born). I decided to stay home after Chris because our parents didn't want the responsibility of watching him, and if I paid a sitter, that would have taken up the majority of my salary, so why bother working. I loved being a stay home mom. It used to drive me crazy to hear other mothers complain about there kids. I loved every thing about being home with my kids. I know it was what I was meant to do. I had a couple of part time jobs in between kids, but they never lasted long. The last 4 years I have steadily worked as a floral designer. I love playing with the flowers and creating beautiful things, and working with the customers. Most of the owners of floral shops have the same ego type personality with there employees. If I made a beautiful basket or design and a customer called up to say thank you, the owners almost never said that they didn't make it. They take all the credit. I decided after I left the last shop I worked (I left this past April), that I would love to continue doing flowers, but not by working for someone else. I came up with a plan to start my own wedding and party design flower business, and my husband agreed this would be good, but we couldn't come up with the money since our son was leaving for college this fall.

I did get a job last week. I was let go... after the first day. I applied for a floral position at Dearborn Farms. Dearborn is a farmers market in town, but a really awesome one. They have the best produce anywhere, a deli department, a catering service, hot delicious meals ready to eat, and a graden center. A beautiful garden center with a fish pond and wonderful fountains and statues. So Dearborn calls me and tells me that they are expanding the greenhouses and the floral department is closed until the spring, but they would like to hire me temporarily in the garden center until the floral department opens again next spring. So last week on my first day there, the manager made out the schedule for the next 3 weeks and put me down for working on Sundays. I told her I can't work on Sundays because my kids are involved in fall sports. I can work Sundays after the fall. To make a long story short, they had to let me go because I couldn't work on Sundays. I was so disappointed. ...

So now the kids are all back in school, and I am home feeling absolutely useless. I have lots of projects I can get done in the house, but I just don't have the motivation to get started. This is not what I want to do with my life. Cleaning and reorganizing sucks. So I find myself sitting at the computer watching oddtodd.com cartoons. ( http://oddtodd.com/index2.html )

I don't want to get a job in retail. I would feel just as useless as being home. At least if I'm home the laundry etc. gets done. I don't want to work in another flower shop, because the owners are all on ego trips. I can get a job driving school buses, because I know they are desperate for help, but I want a social job for me, not driving kids all day. What the hell am I going to do? I'm a housewife that's crafty and makes flowers look beautiful...

I would love to pursue my idea for a flower design business for weddings and party's but we won't have the money any time soon. I think about the different jobs I could apply for and I just can't see myself doing that every day. I wouldn't mind an office job or computer job, but I don't see any flexibility for me to take care of my kids when I need some extra time.... What am I going to do?

Go to www.google.com
and type in the word failure

I love the answer to this search!

I'm always interested in what other people's favorite music is. Tell me yours...

Here are 3 of my favorite internet radio stations. The first 2 stations I listen to on the radio and the internet. They are listed in order of my favorites.

1. http://www.grockradio.com
WHTG in Eatontown NJ. A local radio station for me, great internet radio for you.
you will need to download and install winamp to listen to their internet live cast. Saturday mornings, they have a program called "The Breakfast Club", yup you guessed it, they play awesome 80's music. Sunday mornings is another great program. "Common threads" a nice way to have a mellow sunday morning. These 2 programs are well worth the winamp download if you don't have it installed.

2. http://90.5thenight.com/
Brookdale Public Radio - another local radio station for me. It is public radio so most of what they play is not on any top 40 list. But It's a great way to listen to some upcoming artists with big talent. In the summer 90.5 the night hosts "The Songwriters in the Park Concerts". The have bands play in the most beautiful park on the river in Red Bank, NJ. Awesome fun! The only thing I don't like about this station is sometimes they play some redundant country music. I'm not a big country fan. But usually everything else is a nice mix. If you go to their web site there is a link across the top to "Listen". Enjoy. Oh and NO COMMERCIALS!

3. http://www.xpn.org/
This is a station from Philadelphia. If I could tune in to them on my radio and not just through the internet I would. Unfortunately we are not close enough to get their signal. If you ever go to Phili you must go to the World Live Cafe. It is a wonderful place w/ great food music and atmosphere. I saw Jamie Cullum (I have such a crush on this british boy) at the Live Cafe, and I fell in love with the place. Well worth a trip to Philadelphia just to spend a night there.

I just got off the phone with my sister Donna. My stance on the 25th anniversary party is that I have nothing to say about it, BECAUSE I WON'T BE THERE!

Emails and phone calls about this party are going back and forth repeatedly daily... I have not responded to anyone since my mother told me the date she picked for the party. Any contact I have had with my sisters this week, I have avoided talking about the party. Not because I am being spiteful, but because I am SOOO upset and am trying to avoid complicating and adding more drama to the event. I may not be able to go to the party, and if I do get there it is going to be very late.

anywho, Donna calls me just now and we were having a nice conversation and then she brings up the party. She has a question for me about inviting some extra guests. I answered her question and she continues to talk about the party. So I paused for a moment (because I was thinking of a way to tell her my dilema) and she says, "I know, you don't want to have this party." and I just bit my tongue and didn't say anything.

Once again, you think you're so fucking smart, and think I am just being a stubborn bitch. You think - before you open your eyes, you think - before you open your ears, and you think - before you open your hearts. No I am not the stubborn bitch, I THINK I AM THE CARING ONE BECAUSE INSTEAD OF MAKING A SCENE I AM ALLOWING MYSELF TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THIS TO MAKE THINGS EASIER ON ALL OF YOU.

I am so upset right now, I am so hurt. I am sick of my family thinking I am terrible! Aaahhhhh!

The Markey Girls Me, my 5 sisters and mom...

Is it wrong to wish your mother would just drop dead? That's harsh huh? No, the WOMAN IS INSANELY harsh.

We are planning 2 surprise parties in my family, one for my mother's 70th birthday this month, & one for my sister Carrie and her husband Andy 25th anniversary. oh joyous day...

We can never have a pleasant experience with anything we plan in our family. Ever. I have childhood memories of SCREAMing and fighting, food flying, someone getting choked or their head getting smashed into the wall...Every single holiday... And now every family vacation or family event we have, my mother still causes chaos to this day. I can't believe all the horrible things I had to witness as a child and me and my sisters somehow grew up to be loving, compassionate, calm adults? It's amazing.

I spent most of my child hood hiding in a closet. I do have wonderful memories of playing with my sisters, but I do not have 1 single memory of my mother ever showing me affection of any kind. No kisses good night, no bed time stories, no sitting on my bed in a thunderstorm, NEVER heard "you look so pretty", no sitting on her lap... never did girl scouts, never played a sport, never had any hobbies. There was no time for me, she had 5 other daughters. Even as I got to be a teenager - no shopping for prom, no young adult talks, no interest in anything in my life. From as far back as I can remember my mother let me know I was a burden too her. I am not the one that chose to have 6 children. I am not the one that chose to live with a violent alcoholic, I am not the one that couldn't deal with my life. She cooked and cleaned and we had a roof over our head. But it was a roof that was hidding violence and 6 daughters that were severly emotional and sometimes physically abused. So ever since me and my sisters have become adults, she has tried to guilt & obligate us into letting her keep control over us. She has pushed out ALL of her friends from her life, and even most of her family. She can not socialize with any one but her 6 daughters. Even when the grandchildren are around, she says hello to them and then wants them to go play somewhere else. She hates our husbands. If my mom could have 1 wish come true, she would want her 6 daughters sitting in a cirlce around her yes-ing her to death every day of her life. Then maybe she would be happy? Shes such an unpleasant bitch....

I LOVE my sisters with all my heart. But I hate the way they choose to let mom interfere with our relationship as sisters. We can't go out to dinners without her, because "Mom would feel bad." We can't sit at eachothers houses, or go to the beach or shopping etc. without mom, "she would feel bad." So most of the time we don't spend any time together as sisters without mom. I seem to be the only daughter that has been able to seperate myself from my mother. I do not call her out of obligation, I do not visit her out of obligation. My other sisters are afraid if they don't make their obligatory daily phone calls or vists, they will get quite an earful from mom, so for them it's easier just to give into what mom expects from them. They have to put up with conversations of how terrible their kids are, (which they are NOT), they have to put up with how rotten their husbands are(which they are NOT), they have to put up with her demanding temper tantrums (which happen daily). But not me. I have no relationship with my mother unless it involves a FAMILY gathering. I tollerate my mothers existance so I can spend time with my sisters and our families. My mother has shown alot of anger at me for tossing her wayward, but my thoughts on that are, if you had made caring moments for me when I was a child, then maybe I would have caring feelings for you now that I'm an adult. I tried having caring feelings for her, and they feel so unnatural and so forced, I can't fake it, and haven't faked it for a few years now.

Every thing we do in life is a decision. I can choose to have a fake relationship with my mother because "she's my mother", but with that comes anxiety and this rotting feeling in my gut, and fights with my husband, and tossing my values and beliefs in the garbage, feeling suffocated, feeling like a child hidding in a closet again, feeling like I can't make an intelligent decision, feeling unworthy, feeling like I'm not good enough, suffocated, suffocated, SUFFOCATED... and "Comfy Save" - Bluhhhck!

OR- I can chose to not have a relationship with my mother one on one - (only in a group with my sisters), and with that comes freedom. Freedom to have confidence in myself, and how I'm raising my family. Freedom to to live my life with the values I want. Freedom to spend my time with people other than the few she approves of, Freedom to feel proud about the person I am. Freddom to feel love for many many people, not just her. I have chosen freedom. and I have chosen it with no regrets.

The only thing that still bothers me about the situation with my mother, is it has left me being marked the "black sheep of the family." My sisters understand my distance from my mother, but when things come up like the planning of these party's, they don't understand how their yes-ing my mother, after we all agree on "No", pushes me away, and leaves me looking the "bad girl". At least I am true to myself, true to my sisters, and true to my word. So that confirms to me that choosing my freedom w/ my mother Is the right decision. No regrets!

My dad passed away a few years ago. He was out buying the christmas tree and had a major heart attack and died at the store. Although he was a violent alcoholic during my child hood. He changed after I had my first son, and we had a very healed and affectionate relationship after that. I got to see my dad be fatherly to my children, and in the process I found my "dad." Love him, and miss him, he was so much fun... Anyway, dad died at christmas time, my family planned on washing his ashes out to sea at the beach during easter weekend. My mother in law passed away that easter weekend. My family made me choose between going to my mother in laws funeral (which is another long story that I'm not getting into now), and going to the beach to wash my fathers ashes away. To this moment It still brings tears to my eyes to think that they made me chose this. That they allowed me to be excluded from this. It's symbolic of soooo many events in this family. It makes me feel like it's punishment for chosing freedom from mom, it makes me feel like I'm still the burden, it makes me feel like I'm not as important as the rest of my sisters, it makes me feel like the little girl who's playing in a dark closet alone.

I chose going to my husbands mothers funeral. I chose supporting my husband during one of the most difficult times in his life. I chose being loving and supportive. They didn't. Those ashes sat on a shelf for months, they couldn't have waited 1 more week? Bull shit. They chose letting me know I don't matter. I hate to think I am grudgeful. Thinking about this makes me cry to this day, makes me angrier every time I think about it, but I don't think I'm holding a grudge. I think I am allowing myself to see the truth that this is how I am seen in this family. Once again with no regard to any one else but my mother, I am being excluded from a family event. I won't be able to go to my sisters 25th anniversary becasue my daughter has events for her cheer competition that weekend. The friday night that my mom "chose" to have this party I will be busy with my daughter. If we sisters had stuck to our word and told mom that we can do something nice for Carrie and Andy on a smaller scale, instead of having a big tadoo, (for only 40 guests), then I would have been an excited and fun part of this party. But no, mom chose to do what she wants when she wants it, as usual, and my sisters chose to yes her, which leaves me once again excluded, and looking like I take no interest in the family.

I will choose to take my daughter to her cheerleading competition practice/inspection that night. Because I vowed that I would ALWAYS be there for my children, that I would ALWAYS make them feel special, that I would ALWAYS let them know how important they are to me, that they would never be A BURDEN, that they would never know what violence is, that would never know what rage is, that they would know the world is a kind and wonderful place to explore, that they would never be alone in closet.

Mom, thanks again for leaving me in a dark closet, ALONE!

I just can't stop thinking about the people, and animals who are suffering, and the people that died horrible deaths. I started my new job yesterday, and was looking forward to going back to work because I thought it would take my mind off of the madness of the hurricane. It did just the opposite. I started getting angry at people because they were out shopping and getting gardening supplies and living their self absorbed little lives. I felt like telling people, "I don't care if you want your front yard to be nicer than your neighbors, Did you donate to any relief organizations? Maybe you should put this money towards that?" But of course I didn't say that. I thought we should have at least had a donation drive where part of the proceeds would go to the hurricane victims. Nothing....

Where I live in New Jersey we are 5 minutes from the bay, and can see New York City clearly from our shore. When 9/11 happened my husband had been working only a few blocks from there. He took the PATH train that ended under the Twin towers every day. He also planned on stopping in the mall in the bottom of the towers that morning. Because he was running late he skipped the mall and saved his life. It was one of the scariest days of my life. I was home watching the news, and trying to get a hold of him. It was hours before I got a phone call from him, that he was on a ferry and on his way home. He gave me a list of phone numbers to call with no names. I called every one on the list and said, "I don't know who you are, but my husband is on a ferry right now with someone you know that needed to get you a message that they are fine, and on their way home. I hope this helps you." Then I got in my car and picked up my kids, who were in 3 different schools, and took them home. I wasn't working at the time, so I spent days, weeks (?) in front of the t.v. watching news, putting together relief kits, and crying. Because we are so close to the bay, the overwhelming smell of the burning buildings and everything that was in them was suffocating as soon as you walked outside. I was glad we had central air on. It was months before I could shake what happened.

Now I am surprised to see that this hurricane is affecting me in the same way. I have such a need to help and don't know what else I can do. I have donated money to many relief organizations, but I feel like that's not enough. So any free moment I have, I sit and watch all the news channels and cry. Our close friend is a police officer for the Monmouth County Sheriff's department. He is being transfered down to N.O. any day now. I feel honored that a close friend of mine is able to let a N.O. police officer get some rest and spend time with their family, but at the same time, Andy is a dear friend. He and my husband have been close friends since kindergarten. He is married with 2 small daughters. I am so full of fear that something terrible could happen to him. But at least he has an opportunity to help, and hopefully he will be home in a couple of weeks.

Take comfort in watching in the news, that FINALLY these people are getting the help that they desperately needed the moment the hurricane passed, and now the water is receding. It's going to take time, but most of the people that have survived should find their way again. Hopefully they all will.

Chris move in day at Johnson & Wales This is the back of chris and ALL his stuff. We were waiting to get into the gate of the dorm.	Chris J&W Reading the dorm manual on his bed
Chris J&W Still waiting	Emily & Chris J&W Emily thinks college is cool. She can't wait to get all that new stuff too!
Lou Emily Chris J&W Lou setting up the lap top to the internet.

We took Chris up to Johnson & Wales this weekend. The move went really well. He is soooo happy. I'm so excited for him. His room mate is really nice. He lives right outside of Providence, so he gave Chris and a few others a good tour of the city yesterday. I don't think Chris & Kyle will be good friends, but I think they will be successful room mates. Kyle seemed laid back and well mannered. I listenend as him and Chris were talking. Kyle only likes classic rock, he only likes sports, and I think he only has friends that likes "only" the same things he likes. He asked Chris about his interests. Christopher likes many many types of music. Chris has many many interests. He likes traveling, shopping, reading, music, history,etc...there is not much he doesn't like. Chris took Italian as a foreign language in high school. When he started working at Houlihans, he noticed NO ONE would talk to the Mexicans in the kitchen. Chris went out of his way to befriend them and had them teach him spanish. He now speaks Spanish fluently all because he had a desire to get to know these people. That's the type of person my son is. Chris has many many diverse types of friends. He doesn't single people out because of their personal interests. Kyle's response to Christophers diverse interests and friends was "Wow, I'm not that open minded."
It made me proud as a mother to see the difference between these two. I have had people look at me funny, as my kids were growing up because of the things I exposed them too, and how I talk to them, my goal was to create children, who are open minded and compassionate, and understanding of the differences between us. I think people who force there kids to live inside a box to protect them and force their beliefs into them are making a a huge mistake. I always wanted my children to be able to make their own decisions and find the good in everyone. I felt like move in day at J&W was my proof that I acheived this. I am sooo proud of Chris.

http://www.caninecatastrophe.org/news.php

This is a link to a boxer rescue organization that I support.


http://www.adoptapet.com/casey.html

This is just one of many organizations that is asking for people to help the thousands of animals that have been seperated from their families because of the hurricane. Many of the shelters are full to capacity and have no where else to send these lost animals. My fear is that they will have to start destrying these animals. I am looking into temporarily fostering a pet until it can be relocated with it's family, or adopting a pet that has been lost. I am also sending money. Money will help prevent the shelters from having to euthanize these animals.

I know we are all concerned with the suffering of the people in the south, but don't forget the animals.

another worthy donation http://www.habitat.org/

lifted from froggyfizz

I am The Sun In the tarot the Sun symbolizes vitality and splendor. The Sun is definitely not a meek and retiring card. You have total confidence in yourself. You are not cocky, but profoundly sure of your power. You have unlimited energy and glow with health. You have a greatness about you and stand out brilliantly. Finally, you see and understand all that is happening within your sphere. When you see this card, know that you will be successful at all you undertake. Now is the time to let your light shine. For a full description of your card and other goodies, please visit LearnTarot.com

What tarot card are you? Enter your birthdate. Month: Day: Year:

Christopher I send you into your new journey, without fear, and with pride. Love you, Mom

It's misty outside. The kids are still sleeping, except Cory who had an early soccer game today. So him and Lou are at the field, and I can't do the yard work I was planning on. I can't remember the last time I got to be lazy and selfish on a Sunday morning. So here I am with my sweet & light cup of tea, my sweet yet heavy thoughts, and you my sweet friends to listen to me lighten my mind.

Friday night we had Christophers going away party. We will be taking him to Johnson & Wales this thursday. The upstairs foyer is packed with all his belongings. It's real now. He is leaving home. I will miss our sarcastic playful caddy jokes, I will miss our conversations when I can tell he enjoys my company and shows his warm intelligent personality, and I will miss when he asks me to get him some meatballs before dinner.

So we had about 70 people at my house. I asked our friends and family to bring a donation to his "In Case of Emergency" box. He got tons of laundry soap, snacks, microwavable soups, picture frames, desk supplies...etc... It was a big hit. I also asked everyone to tape "a tip to survive college and well wishes on your donation". People wrote really clever things that went with their gifts. Chris really enjoyed going through everything after the party. I was worried he might think it was dumb. But he is not like that, he appreciates the nice things people do, no matter how small. He is all set to go now~!

I wanted to have this going away party instead of a graduation party, because I wanted to send him off into this next phase in his life with one last moment of being around all the people who support him, care and love him. My intentions certainly came through with everyone, and all our friends and family went completely out of their way to give Chris the attention and affection I was looking for. Chris felt so special and the next day he talked about everyone that was here, and the nice conversations he had, and was happy.

For those of you that don't know me, this isn't just an ordinary situation with your first child leaving for college. What's the big deal? There was a moment in our lives when I didn't think Chris would ever be "happy". There was a moment in our lives when I thought chris would ever "be."

Christopher is gay. I nor my husband or family, or friends have EVER had an issue with that. I thought Chris was the luckiest teenager to be born into such an open minded and supportive family. But our strength turned out to be a weakness, because I never taught him that she should hide his sexuality and carefully "out himself" to others in his life. I never taught him that people can be so full of hate. Now don't get the wrong impression of him. He is not feminine nor flamboyant. He is a warm friendly articulate young adult. His sexuality has nothing to do with who he is as a person. And truth be known, that is true for MOST gay's. I have a lot of gay friends and only know 1 that is steriotypically "Jack" (Will & Grace) kind of gay. So back to what happened to Chris now - When Chris was in jr. high school, and flirting with the gay life guard at the pool club, some boys in his class caught onto it, and made his life miserable. They teased him, they knocked his books out of his hands, they tripped him, they followed him in school and called him faggot, they chased him home from school and threatened to beat him up, they drew pictures of two boys fucking on his books, they taped him into a bathroom stall and tormented him all day every day. I would talk to the principle, but he said "There was nothing they could do", I took Chris to therapy, but that didn't help either because he still had to deal with this everyday. This went on for 2 years. These boys tormented Chris and they started picking on anyone that was friends with him, and little by little his friends started to disapear. Chris became extremly depressed. He went on meds but they didn't help. I tried to get him involved with PFLAG, but he wouldn't go with me. He sat at home curled in aball for days, then weeks, then months.

I wa afraid he was becoming suicidal, nothing was helping, no one would help us. Then he was at the movies with a friend one night, and this nasty group of boys were there. they grabbed Chris by the arms and dragged him behind the movie theater while the crowd outside "cheered". No one tried to help him. As they started to beat him up a car drove by and 2 guys got out of the car, and stopped it. Christopher came hom that night and never told me what happened, he made his friend promis she wouldn't tell me either. I knew something was seriously wrong, but he wouldn't talk to us. about a month later I got a call from school. Christopher tried to commit suicide. He cut his wrists. I found out that there was a right way and a wrong way to cut your wrists, and he did it the "right" way, which told the school psychologist, that he knew what he was doing and was serious, not just "looking for attention". He wound up the hospital for 3 months, and missed the rest of the school of year. WE had a long battle after that. He was going to be a freshman in high school, and we were scared that he would snap if he had to go back to school with these boys again. We talked to the principle at the high school, and they PROMISED us, they would have a safety following him to his classes, and keep a close eye on him, and he would have no classes with any of these boys, and also weekly guidnace meetings. He started school, and after a month the boys were chasing him down again, and tormenting him, and they never followed through on anything they promised us. We got a lawyer and had him transfered to an out of district high school. He slowly did well at the new high school, made a TON of friends, and step by step came out of his depression, and gained trust in other people again.

I spent several years while this was going on doing everything in my power to make him want to live another day, another week, another month. My son is such a good person. He has so much potential. He fills a purpose in all our lives. We all love him.

This party was a victory party. I know when he leaves I don't have to worry about him. I know when he leaves he will be safe, and be friended, and be loved, and be educated, and living a full life. I know he will "be" "happy".

Lifted from greengirlnj





A- Age of 1st kiss: First real kiss? First Kiss was 4th grade, Allen Scottson in his pool under water... beautiful full lips. First Real "tongue" kiss, Kevin Toby, summer going into 8th grade. My best friends Michele had a cousin on Bear Mountain, We stayed on their farm for a week, cleaning horse shit and chicken shit. fetching eggs, and hay... and fell in love with Kevin in that hay.... Tell Kevin Toby I said hello.... how the hell are ya?

B- Band you are listening to right now: The Call

C- 1st Crush: Michael Roman. 3rd grade, I heart Michael.

D- Dad's name: Tom.

E- Easiest person to talk to: Tony Festa, I really heart Tony. Thanks for being the brother I always wish I had... And then some.

F- Favorite ice cream: Pistachio, mmmmm Pistachio

G- Gummy worms or gummy bear?: Ewwww

H- Hometown: Hazlet, NJ.

I- Instruments: Piano, Guitar-Accustic

J- Junior high: None K to 8th, then High School.

K- Kids: Last count 4. maybe. I lost count.

L- Longest car ride ever: Took a bus from NJ to Georgia while I was 7 months pregnant. Fuck me.

M- Mom's name: "Livia Soprano Anne." "Poor You!", "I know how to talk to people"

N- Nicknames: Annie, Annarie, Mom, Hon, Bitch.

O- One wish: That my children don't have to suffer. That my children can forget anything they have ever suffered.

P- Phobia(s): BRIDGES & heights.

Q- Quote: "You have different friends for different reasons." Tony Festa quoting his mom. Thank you, you have no idea how this affected me.

R- Reason(s) to smile: Sunday dinners

S- Song you sang last: Norah Jones - "Shoot the Moon", I can sing Norah well.

T- Time you woke up today: 6:45 as usualish

U- Unknown fact about me: Got batteries? LOL

V- Virgin: I was a virgin? hmmm I don't remember that... September 7th 1981, Just a child....

W- Worst habit: I hate putting my laundry away, I stack it up until its fallin over.

X- How many X-rays you've had: chest x-rays, lower spine, knee, foot.. who gives a fuck.

Y- Your least favorite person as of right now: my in-laws - all of them. DIE BITCH DIE! , oh she did - YAY!

Z- Zodiac sign: Cancer with Cancer moon. (shiver- how emotional is that!)

OK, enough Shiraz, put the glass down and the 5th grade behavior now damn it.

	Maggie shaking after her bath
	Maggie at rest

	Lou laying tile
	Mitchell cutting tile
	Lou checking the level of the floor
	White Grout? WTF? What happened to Mushroom?
	Now I'm dizzy, and pissed off. White F'n grout?!!!

These are pictures from our tiling the kitchen this week. The walls look bad because we had to take the molding off to lay the tile. My kitchen is actually very nice. So here's my story of tile and grout...


So after a long week of cutting and measuring, leveling, and buttering, we finally were finally able to grout the kitchen floor yesterday. I selected a Mushroom color grout to match the medium beige tone of the tile. I did not want white grout. White draws your eye away from the tile itself, and makes you focus on the lines instead of the tile. I wanted the floor to look spacious, not blocked in by boxes.
So we were grouting the floor last night and as its drying its turning chalk white. I'm getting upset, but my husband is telling me it dries darker. Being an artist I'm trying to explain to him the color wheel, and you don't get beige from grey (the color of the wet grout). He tells me it will be fine after it cures. We wake up this morning and the grout is chalk white. So we are off to Leows this morning to tell them what heppened and demand that they send someone to the house to chisel out the white grout and replace it with Mushroom. There is no way I'm getting on my hands and knees again for another 12 hours to grout the floor. They are doing it this time!Wish me luck.

A few years back I lived next to this wacko who was evil and jealous of me and all the cute young mothers on the block. She hated me and picked fights all the time. She went to a witch and had a curse put on me. Laugh at that, I did, but the very next day I developed an allergy to cats. Not just a sneeze allergy, but my throat closes, my retnas herniate, my asthma goes out of control, my tongue thickens and swells etc... And ever since said curse was put on me my husband and I have had god aweful luck! It's been one thing after the next. I think after we go to Leows today, I am going to stop at one of those gypsy tarot card readers and pay her the required 20 bucks to get rid of my curse.

Just got home from the Tori Amos concert at the Art Center. A beautiful night to be listening to such beautiful piano's and voice. She is truly gifted. Filled my soul sweetly.

Lou & AnneMarie Aug 13, 2005 Lou and I at Carolyn's surprise 40th

Lou and I went to Carolyn's surprise 40th last night. All the neighbors were there. It was a great party more detail later... Lou is on the kitchen floor laying the new tile, got to go back in and help him now, break time over!

I'm taking a break from counting every calorie and exercising too. I am not going off my "diet", I'm just not making it the focus of my day for the next few weeks. My husband and I have 3 rooms we are in the process of ripping apart and redecorating, and it is taking up the bulk of my day just getting all this work done. My daughter Emily has started cheerleading and my son Cory has started Soccer training, so I am busy driving them and their friends back and forth. My oldest son is not allowed to go back to work until he leaves for college. He is recovering from mono and his liver and glands are swollen, and has Dr's orders for plenty of rest at home, so I'm enjoying his last month at home before he leaves for Rhode Island. I am not quitting loosing weight, just not going to be obsessed with it right now. I know this is going to be a life long battle and committment, when the kids go back to school, I'll have more time to focus on myself again.

My sister greengirlnj  just gave me my first LJ Tag.  I just officially went back to 5th grade.  FUN!

List ten things in a typical day that give you a moment of joy, and tag five of your friends to post this in their own LJ.

(Do I have 5 LJ Friends?  I think so.)

1.  Waking up early before anyone in the house and having a cup of tea outside in the quiet of the morning

2. Email... except chain letters, I DON"T DO THEM OR READ THEM! (Is tagging as annoying to people as Emailing chain letters?)

3. Sunday breakfasts with the family

4. Macaroni on Sundays

5. Watching Maggie stare out the window

6.  Getting a phone call from any of my 5 sisters or Tony

7.  When my daughter Emily helps me cook

8.  Conversations with my son Christopher

9.  My sons Mitchell and Cory playing drums & bass

10. Getting into bed with my husband Lou

So now I'm going to tag

noslog   ktpupp   gnomeprincess   schmitterlizzie    littlemissspazz



  

Living Room

It just doesn’t pay to be nice to your kids. From now on my motto is going to be, -

“I didn’t give a rats ass if I am your mother, from now on you can call me “mother fucker”, and your little friends can fuck off.” …..


Last night Mitchell asked if his friends could sleep over because I was driving them to Great Adventure this morning.

I really wanted to say,

“No Mitchell,

your friends smell…badly

they break furniture,

they eat all our food,

they like to watch porn on the computer,

they sneak out of the house in the middle of the night,

they forget to tell their mothers they are sleeping over,

they spill drinks on the carpet,

they drop food on the carpet and then they walk on it,

they really smell bad.

they spew piss all over the toilet,

then they pluck out their pubic hair and blow it all over the toilet… and the floor… and the sink,

and lately they have resorted to pissing in there sleep.

Did I mention how bad they smell?

No, Mitchell, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”



But I just smiled and said, “Sure, I guess so.”



So not only did they do all of the above mentioned, which is why the list is so fresh in my memory, but Mitchell’s friend Joe pissed himself somewhere between 2 am and 8am and soaked our new rug in the living room. How do I know it was between 2 am and 8 am? Because Joe and Ryan snuck out of the house at 2 am to go buy drinks at 7-11. Yes this is the same Joe that slept over and pissed our couch during the winter, then had the stupidity to say, “Mitch, why is your couch outside?”

“Gee Joe, Maybe that’s because the piss soaked through the cushions down into the frame, and through the 2 blankets you had wrapped yourself in and then hid them under the pissed on couch cushions?... Did you ever think of that?”



So I run off to Home Depot spend $98.00 on cleaning supplies, and have been scrubbing the rug and the furniture all day, after I drove them to Great Adventure of course.



Kids just aren’t cute after age 12 –

Tags: bitchin, house

My son Christopher has been sick all week with Mono. I'm glad he didn't get sick after he left for school. That would have been a difficult way to start off college. My sister said to me, her guts are telling her that this was his subconcious way of spending time at home with the family before he leaves. I was thinking the same thing. I know it's terrible that he's so sick, but I'm loving all this time at home with him. As much as I want him to have this college experience, I would love for him to say at the end of the year, that he wants to transfer to a local school, where he could spend more weekends at home. I can't believe once he leaves I will only see him 2 times before winter break. Once for my mothers 70th birthday surprise party the end of September, and the second time for Thanksgiving.

So I haven't been dedicated to my new healthy life this last week. I'm getting frustrated. I keep going up and down the same 3 pounds for a few weeks now. I have to go food shopping today, and plan on getting more salads and chicken. And I haven't really exercised at all. I'm starting to hate exercising, every minute feels like eternity. When I do exercise, I feeel so good afterwards, it's just getting past 20 minutes and actually working out for a full hour or more that's killing me. If it wasn't so extremly hot and humid I could walk outside, but my asthma kicks in big time, as soon as I hit that steamy hot air. So officially I have lost 15 pounds since June 7th. plus or minus the 3 pounds repeatedly. It's not enough, I have to kick myself in the ass to do more and get serious about this again.

What I don't understand is I am eating probably half the calories I used to eat before I started this diet. Shouldn't that alone keep my weight going down? Ok so I'm a pastaholic, but eating half of what I used to eat should account for something. I'm eating an average of 1100 to 1300 calories a day. It's been mostly closer to 1200. Why isn't that enough to loose weight? I have friends that are dropping weight, and they are snacking all day, and eating several hundred more calories a day than I am. Well it's do or die again for me. Time to exercise...

F'n Ish:
20 minutes calisthenics
22 minutes aerobics
20 minutes walking outside. (It's wicked hot out there!)

2 quarts water w/ lemons
1 cupish honey nut cheerios, right out of the box.

Yesterday:
6 oz ff yogurt w/ cherries
1 tuna sandwich
1 turkey & provolone w/ ff mayo sandwich
1 cup Spumoni

Today:

Friday :
Christopher asked me to go to IKEA with him to get things he needs for his dorm. I started thinking he was spending more time w/ me to indulge me in my mother's empty nest syndrome, with him leaving for school. (still 3 birds in the nest after he leaves, LOL) But Friday convinced me, that he is going to miss us just as much! It was such a great day. We had fun shopping, we laughed at stupid people, I bought him lunch, and we had a nice talk in the car both ways.... I am going to miss him so much. I was talking to Tony about it and he said, "You're baby is leaving you!", and that's not it at all. I am proud my son has grown into such a fine young man. I don't miss my "Baby". I am going to miss him, who he is right now. Big difference in my book.

Friday night: Went out to dinner with my sister- Carrie & Andy, and our friends Cathy & Billy. We went to McClunes on the ocean in Sea Bright, Yummy. Fun fun fun, Cathy should be a stand up comic. Her life is a comedy!

Saturday: I went to Philly to spend the day/night w/ Tony. Lou stayed home and painted the family room. Beautiful color, Benjamin Moore, "Nantucket Grey". It's a sagey, kakhi green. Love it! So Tony and I cooked dinner for his sister and her family. We made penne vodka cream sauce with shrimp. It was the best! I told Tony his recipe was soooo much better than mine. He laughed and said, "This IS your recipe!" It came out soo good. I love cooking w/ Tony. We make good kitchen buddies. We talk and laugh the whole time, and use body language and bumps on the hip to say "Move OVER bitch!" I was glad Michele left so early, and I hate to say but I was glad Lou didn't come with me. I haven't had Tony all to myself in such a loooong time. He feeds my soul!

Yesterday was family day. Emily, my 10 year old daughter, loves to help in the kitchen, yesterday she tells me she wants to cook dinner, and I have to set the table. SO I gave her step by step directions, and she really cooked the entire meal. She made Pasta Primavera, and friend chicken cutlets. It came out great! She and I were both proud, and we had a memorable day in the kitchen.

Todays Ish:
25 minutes Calisthenics

water...
1/2 cup ff cottage cheese w/ pineapple
1/2 cup ff cottage cheese w/ pineapple
1 ff yogurt w/ cherries
2 cups baked macaroni & cheese
3 choc chip cookies

Ish: July 31
1 crepe w. lingonberries
1 over easy egg
1 cherry ff / sg yogurt
2 cups rotelli primavera
1 fried chicken cutlet

Ish: July 30
1 cup ff Cottage cheese w/ pineapple
1 piece bruschetta
2 cups Penne w/ vodka sauce and Shrimp (3)
2 Gin w/ mint, lime, and club soda

Ish: July 29
1 cup ff cottage cheese w/ pineapple
1 tuna sandwich w/ ff mayo & lemon
2 Cups Mescaline greens w/ dried cranberries, blue ,cheese, green apples, walnuts, balsamic vinagrette and
1 large Tuna steak, grilled medum


Ish: July 28th
1 cup ff cottage cheese w/ pineapple
1 slice sicilian pizza
1 cup tuna salad w/ ff mayo & lemon
3 crackers
2 cups Caesar salad

Ebay Mitchell's Violin

My 16 year old son, Mitchell, is becoming quite a good musician. He reads music and understands theory. Most teenagers today, don't learn how to read music, they have this cheat way of playing by followings tabs. He Plays the Bass Guitar, The Upright Bass, getting pretty good on the drums, & a little keyboard by ear. He told me he wants to learn the Violin, and Banjo next.

He won this violin on Ebay for 1 penny! The shipping is $40. Where can you buy a brand new violin, with a beautiful velvet lined case, boe and strings, for $40.01? I love EBAY!

http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=40andfabulous