Ed, Edd and Eddy

Ed, Edd n Eddy are three friend with the same name who were constantly trying to scam their friends for money so they can pursue their mission: buying jawbreakers.  I was amused as their plans always went haywire.  My boys (and I) loved this cartoon.

So why am I telling you about this?

I see uncanny similarities with these cartoon characters in comparison to my own three boys.

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Ed is into monster movies, always has a green jacket on and is easily talked into any hair-brained scheme.

Ahren watches 'The Walking Dead' (a Zombie series on TV).  Wore a green army jacket for 5 years. Never took the darn thing off! He has always been an impulsive boy who acts first and thinks later.

Edd (better known as Double D) is smart, very quiet and yet unnaturally polite.

Zachary is improving in school and has blown me away with A+ grades in Physics! He is not as vocal as my other two boys and keeps more to himself.  He is very polite and respectful towards adults and teachers.  Not to mention, Zachary wears a hat like Double D.

Eddy is the mischievous schemer who loves to be the center of attention.

Brandon… what can I say. He has been that same mischievous little boy who absolutely needs to be the center of attention!

Of all the TV family series out there, like 'The Waltons', 'Eight is Enough', and 'The Brady Bunch', … my boys had to be grouped with 'Ed, Edd and Eddie'??  But ya know what?

I wouldn't change a thing!

Batten down the Hatches!

As Hurricane Sandy approaches we have been getting ready for the worst storm that we have seen in this area in years!

We tied down the two gazebo's that we have on the upper and lower decks.

My husband finally took in the furniture this morning.

Fresh batteries and candles on hand.

All the Halloween decorations are back in the house!

Stocked up on drinks, dog food, eggs, milk, bread and other normal staples that you need during a storm.
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The dogs are at my feet, shaking.. Poor babies are so scared!

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Sandy is colliding with a winter storm coming from the Northwest Arctic.  The major part of the storm is supposed to hit us around 6pm, which has been moved up from 2am.

As of 3pm EST we are in a Hurricane Category 2 Alert with winds (they say) getting up to 90 mph.  It's extremely windy outside my house, but I doubt its at 90mph and I hope it doesn't get that way!

This is looking outside my family room. 

The rain is coming down so hard you can hardly see out of the windows.

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I will keep you posted (as long as I have electricity). 

Love you all!

Making Friends with Hockey Parents

For 4 seasons I had my BFF by my side during hockey practices and hockey games. Hockey practice went by so quickly having someone to talk to.  Hockey games were exciting watching our sons playing on the same team. Hockey Games + BFF. Can life get any sweeter?    

Not only did our sons play together, the team was lucky to keep the same group of players for many seasons.  It was a nice group of boys and a nice group of parents.  Everyone got along. We've been together every weekend for many seasons and we have gotten to know each other well. We were spoiled.

This is year is different. My BFFs son moved to another team. Older players moved up to the next level. A few players transferred to other teams or quit playing all together.  The team dynamic has changed.  New players, new parents.

I consider myself an easy going person but I am finding it hard to connect with other hockey parent's.

It seems like there are those who:

• don't stop talking (even gossiping)… so much so you cannot watch the game.
• always have something to complain about.
• criticize the coaches, players, practices, travel schedule, everything and anything.
•  won't even acknowledge you.

Although it would be nice to get to know the other parents, do I really want to be apart of gossip and drama? Do I want to put myself out there and reach to others who tend to look the other way? 

Happy Birthday to ME!

It's my birthday month, my birthday month…. la de la de da, it's my birthday month…
This is the song I am going to be singing to myself in 9 days and to my poor, unfortunate family.
There is a good reason for this.  Every year, prior to his birthday, my husband counts down, sends texts, writes reminders on the calendar, leaves notes… for one whole month! Which totally drives me crazy is a great way to remind me to buy the perfect present!
This year I decided I too don't get just one day or one week to celebrate the fabulous day I was born, I get an entire month! 
Great idea, right?

I was born the day after halloween.  I always tease that I should have been born on halloween instead of All Saints Day because I am more like a witch than a saint.

The hitch to my 'birthday month' plan is that I am born on the first day of the month.  How can you have a birthday month if you are born at the beginning of the month?

I don't care! I am celebrating the entire month of November!

NOTE TO HUBBY: 9 more shopping days… 

NOTE #2 FOR HUBBY: Here is a link, hint hint.

NOTE #3 FOR HUBBY: Feel free to purchase additional gifts. 

Love you Baby!

The Color Purple

Longwood Gardens - Pennsylvania

 Longwood Gardens has 20 indoor and 20 outdoor gardens that covers over 1,000 acres.

Longwood Gardens is open year round. It's cool to see the different seasons and the variety of colors throughout the year.

Doggie B.O.

"It smells like a dog in here", my husband says.  Being as my dogs are dogs, this doesn't seem to me to be a problem, technically.  If, being a dog, they smelled like, say, a skunk -- now that would be a problem.

Click here for tips

I do give my dogs baths. Honest, I do! However; something about being wet, or even just a really humid day, brings out that 'doggie' odor.  Every dog has a tendency to smell a little disgusting strong when wet.

There are times that I smell dog odors but friends entering my home cannot even detect an odor.  Or they lie straight to my face politely say.

Then there is the 'roll on something rotten and half dead with maggots matted in your fur and the only way home is to get back in the car that your HUMAN doesn't want you in' smell.

If you can love your dog when he's smells, then you really love your dog!

TGIF

My allergies are kicking my butt this week!  How I hate being congested, coughing, balloon pressure.  

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My hot tea (imported from Ireland) arrived today! Yeah!  Some people are coffee drinkers. I like my hot tea, especially during the cold weather.  The brand I prefer is Barry's Gold Blend.

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I found this cool nutcracker at Target.  Yep! It's a hockey player!

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I began putting up halloween decorations.  How about you?

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I was hacked on my Twitter account.  Makes me mad!

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My sister's birthday was on Wednesday.  No matter how many birthday's she has, I find it frustrating. Seriously, if I am 43 29 how is it that I am always older?!

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Have a great weekend!!

Step by Step

When we first moved in our house there was carpet going up our steps.

Carpeting is not good for my allergies.

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One day I woke up and decided it was time to rip it up.

My husband was sleeping when I began this impulsive, tedious project.

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He was not happy and told me since I started the project, I could finish it too.

Ouch!

It took awhile to pull up the carpet, pull out the staples, sand the steps and then paint them.

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I painted the steps brown and white.

By this time I was tired.. I had enough… I was lazy…

 I kept the green color on the sides and railing.

 (which is what we had originally when the carpet was there).

After a few years, I couldn't stand looking at the green anymore asked hubby to repaint the steps.

It was time to re-do.

My husband re-sanded, fill in the holes and sanded again.

Nice picture of his backside.

There was so much dust flying everywhere,

 I put up sheets to try to block it from the rest of the house.

Can you imagine trying to clean that mess up?!

My OCD brain went into overload just thinking about it!

I even put a fan blowing the dust out the front door.

Now the steps are done.  No more green!  It's all brown and white.

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I still need to tack down the step runners.

Better put that on my to-do list.

I don't want to take a trip to the emergency room!!  

Friday

This time last week I was on the road to South Carolina. It was a long trip, but worth it to visit with my Nanny and Dad.

Getting to the gym is a struggle for me. It's hard to get motivated.  My son is good about pushing me to get in the car and GO.  He likes to work out and I am the only way he can get there.  I ran into an acquaintance there last night. She has never seen my teenage.  When I introduced him to her, she said: "Well Hell-O!"  I know she was kidding (Brandon is 15 after all), but the compliment had him blushing.  I could see it made him feel graciously embarrassed and puff up with "peacock" pride.

This hockey fan is angry!  The NHL has cancelled the first two weeks of the regular season with no hope of a resolution any time soon.

After waiting two months to get my boys into a dermatologist, they called me to cancel the appointment. Their excuse was an new computer system they are updating and the office staff needed to get training.  To top it off, they couldn't reschedule us for another two months!  Totally unacceptable!!  Especially since it is difficult for me to schedule a day off.  My parents are counting on me to watch their child in my day care.  It is rare that I ask for a personal day because they are inconvenienced when I ask for a day off.   Needless to say, I contacted a different dermatologist.

I am looking forward to the weekend!  Happy Friday to ALL!!!

Williamsburg, VA

Last summer we took a vacation to Williamsburg, VA.  Shall I bore you with a history lesson?  
Williamsburg is a town that has kept the colonial time period alive.  It is great place to go if you want to learn and see more about our American ancestors during the this time period.

Town Church

Shoe Maker.

You can purchase colonial hats.  The women's straw hats were made in the village.

Here yee, here yee!

This was a judge during a court room performace.

We had the pleasure of watching a parade.

It was fun interacting with the re-in-actors.

This gentleman was warning us that the British were nearby.

Wig maker.

Town folk taking a walk.

A preserved colonial home.

This woman was making the mud for bricks. 

Home spun yarn. Vegetables were used for the dye colors.

I loved watching how yarn was spun.

Homemade buckets.

How do I look?  My goofy son is in the background.