I'm bored!

Okay, so I'm bored at work right now. It's Friday and most of the doctors aren't here. It's pretty quiet, which is always kinda spooky in a doctor's office so I am playing on the net.

Your Birthdate: May 16

You're incredibly introverted and introspective. You live inside your head. You spend a lot of alone time meditating and thinking. People see you as withdrawn, and at times they are right. You are caring and deep, but it may be difficult for you to show this side of yourself. Your strength: Your original approach to thinking Your weakness: You tend to shy away from others Your power color: Pale blue Your power symbol: Wavy line Your power month: July

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Me, introverted??!! Whatever. My hubby would laugh at that one.

I don't really have any good plans this weekend. I am meeting my girls from the team tomorrow morning at the batting cages so they can get some practice in. They are afraid of the fast pitches, so I hope this will give them some more practice.

I went to one of Stephanie's tennis matches last night. This is the first one that I have gone to. I don't quite understand the game and scoring system and changing sides, but it was interesting. They were tied and had to play an extra set (??I guess that's what it is called.) They played until the first team (they were playing doubles) scored 7 points. Stephanie and her partner Melissa won!! It was very close though. The other team gave it a good effort. I am going to try and go again next week in between softball games and try to remember my camera, but don't hold your breath since I never can seem to remember it. I would forget my head if it wasn't attached. Lol!

Have a great weekend everyone!

I had a bad day...

Hello all. I hope everyone is having a better week than me. Let's start with my mom. She was just diagnosed with gallstones and she has to see a general surgeon to remove her gallbladder. Strangely gallbladder surgery carries the highest incidence of complications. So I am not too excited about her having surgery. We will just have to take that one day by day.

Now onto my next problem, my softball team! They are going to give me a freakin' ulcer before this season is done. They were actually winning last night's game and all of a sudden aliens came and abducted them and replaced them with girls who had never touched a softball before. That's the only explanation I have anyway. They let the other team score 7 runs in one inning and beat is. We were so close too. I just wanted them to have a win to boost their self esteem. We still have 9 games left, but we are in last place so far. Which, in the words of my lovely friend Jude, sucks donkey balls!!!

Okay, so I did have one good thing today, an email from my friend Sylvia that I would like to share with my fellow ladies. Sorry Dick, this one is not for you, lol!

Why the US Navy is better than any other countries.....



Enjoy ladies!

Lovely weather we're having

What beautiful weather we've been having these last couple of days. We've been sleeping with the windows open at night, and it's been great! Makes me want to go camping before it gets too cold.

We had a 2 hour softball practice this morning and the girls did great. I just wish they would do the same thing during a game. Our last one, they had several errors(mostly overthrows) and lost. I don't care whether they win or lose as long as they have given their all. They just didn't have their heads in it last Thursday.

I want them to win to help their self-esteem. If they continue to lose, they tend to give up. And I don't want that.

I am watching my boys, the Yankees play the Red Sox at Yankee stadium. They are down one run, but I have faith in them to come back and win. It's only the bottom of the 4th after all.

We are taking my mother in law out to eat tonight for her birthday to PF Changs. I don't know how many of you have this restaurant where you are, but I highly recommend it. Great chinese. We went out to eat with my sister and her hubby last night and had Mexican. Good margaritas!! So, two nights in a row that I didn't have to cook. Woo hoo!

Well, I'm off to get ready. Have a great weekend!

Movie Trailer

Some of you have expressed an interest in the link for the movie trailer so here it is:

Home of the Giants Trailer

Click on High Speed for a better picture. For some reason the sound isn't working, sorry. We are hoping to find one that has sound, but for now this will have to do.

If you watch the counter in the far right hand corner, this is when Kim is in it. You can't rewind unfortunately, so be careful and be ready to pause it.

1:42.933 background during a game, she is in the front row, look for two girls with light yellow shirts on, she is the one on the left (hard to see)

2:33.299 she is right behind Ryan Merriman who is the boy with dark hair and a blue jacket sitting on the far left. She is wearing a tan courdoroy jacket and is looking away from the camera.

2:54.800 basketball game background. Look at the front row again and look for the girls wearing the light yellow shirts again. She is sitting on the far left right next to the woman standing with dark hair and a blue shirt.

You may have to watch it more than once to catch it. It seems like everytime we watch it, we find her in another scene, lol!

We lost our game yesterday, but the girls did their best, so I am proud of them.

We went to the RV show and found one that we liked, but after we went over the budget, decided that we can't do it right now, which is a bummer. Maybe once we get Kim's braces paid off we can do it. Who knows?

Here's a pic of the one that we liked:

Are you ready for some football?

Okay, I know there are some of you that don't care for the sport, but I am ecstatic that football is back. I am watching my boys as I am typing this. They are winning!! Before Ben had his emergency surgery, they were predicted to win this game, so I am glad to see that they are doing well without him.

We have a busy weekend planned. We have opening day for softball on Saturday, then we are going to the RV show on Sunday.

You may remember that Kim was an extra in a movie last year that still has not been released, (we don't know why), but we came across a long trailer for it while searching the net. We think it's an unofficial trailer, it has no sound, but Kim is in 2 different scenes, so real or not, that's still pretty cool. I just wish they would go ahead and release the dang thing!!

Okay, enough ranting for this post. It's half time and I'm going to grab a snack.

Driving, softball, tennis, and kneeboarding, etc...

Well, a few updates:

Softball is back for the fall. I am coaching my youngest daughter and we have our first game this Saturday. I'm a little nervous about it. We are playing a really good team. My girls will do fine as long as they do what I know they can. We shall see.

My oldest, Stephanie got her driver's license last Friday. It seems weird watching her drive off without one of us. Very depressing in a way. Another sign that she's growing up.

Stephanie is playing tennis this fall. It's the first time she's played, but she seems to be a natural at it. I guess all those years of softball has prepared her for tennis. Who knew? She just has to control her swing and not swing so hard. We have all started playing actually. It's a great workout. Hubby and I played Sunday and I beat him. :) Not gloating or anything, lol!

Kids are back in school and it's homework time, yeah!! Stephanie is taking all AP classes so she gets tons of "projects" to do, fun fun! The poor kid stayed up until 1:00 in the morning the other night finishing one up. They only give them a day or two to do them. Yikes!

Kim has been going to the lake on the weekends with friends and learning how to kneeboard (I think that's what it's called). So she has a sore butt and legs most of the time. But she's having fun.

I think that catches you up mostly, anyway. I will try really hard not to stay away so long this time.

The Crocodile Hunter Dies!

Report:

Television star Steve Irwin has been killed while filming an underwater documentary in Queensland. The 44-year-old, who was dubbed 'The Crocodile Hunter', was killed by a stingray barb through the chest while diving off Port Douglas. Local diving operator Steve Edmundson said: "Steve was hit by a stingray in the chest. He probably died from a cardiac arrest from the injury."

Police confirmed that paramedics were flown to nearby Low Isles, where Irwin was taken to be treated, but he died before they arrived.

Irwin, who runs the world famous Australia Zoo, is survived by his wife Terri and their two young children Bindi Sue and Bob Clarence.

Speaking to Sky Television, Queensland Tourism Minister Margaret Keech said: "It's a dreadful loss for the tourism industry and for nature conservation."


"Everybody who met Steve was impressed with his energy and his enthusiasm," she said.

Irwin made almost 50 'Crocodile Hunter' documentaries, which earned him worldwide acclaim for his dare-devil stunts with animals.


I am so upset by this. My whole family enjoyed the Crocodile Hunter and his shows. It's a terrible shame that any of this happened. My heart goes out to his wife and kids.

Brief Update

Hi guys!

So much going on right now, where to start? First of all, softball season starts soon and I am coaching my 13 year old this fall which should be fun. Stephanie is going to help me. Sign ups are this weekend and we have a draft on Saturday to pick our final players. As soon as I am finished I am off to the beach for 3 days. I always take the girls there right before school starts back. It's a day off work as well, so that's always good.

We are trying to plan a camping trip this fall before it gets too cold. We haven't been at all this year, so we definitely need to. We usually go 2 or 3 times a year.

Hubby's family are visiting this week so it's been good seeing them. We took our neice to the children's museum and she had a blast playing with different things. We haven't taken the kids there in a few years so they got to see it through Jocelyn's eyes.

Well, I guess that about catches you up with the main stuff. I'm sorry I don't get on much anymore. Like I said before, I may have to give this blog up. I just don't have the time for it like I used to. :(

Take care everyone!

Back from vacation

Hello everyone,

I just returned from vacation and we had a great time. We went to Niagra Falls (the Ontario side) and visited some family back home in Pittsburgh. I posted some pics on my flickr site that you can link to on my side bar.

I saw DL the night before I left. They rocked as always. Sav looked particularly good in his white vest and pants. Phil who normally waits at least 2 songs before taking off his shirt, came out shirtless. Whew! I enjoyed Journey and I thought that John (Neil's former band mate) did an excellent job filling in for Steve. I wish that DL would have played 20th Century Boy but they did Rock On and No Matter What. Since I saw them do those in the fall, I was hoping for something else, but they kicked some booty anyhow.

Well I am off to catch up on some blogs I have been neglecting. Have a great week everyone.

Cookout time!

Stephanie came home yesterday so we were all very excited to have her back. She had a great time on her trip. We stayed up late last night hearing all about it. We had a cookout yesterday with some friends, including our Romanian ones. Their nephew, Mircea is visiting with them now, the same boy that Stephanie has been emailing back and forth and IM'ing and such. He was so excited to see her. He brought me flowers and he brought her a clock that tells her what time it is in Romania (they are 7 hours ahead). We had a great time, just ate way too much food and probably gained back the two pounds I lost this week, lol!

Here is a pic of the kids. From left to right:
Mircea, Kim, Will, Stephanie, and Kristi



Also, I came across a pic from Kim's 1st b-day party. She had Elmo on her cake. It's so hard to believe she is 13 now and her sister, who is standing next to her is 16. My, how time flies.

My baby turned 13!

I am having a depressing month. First Stephanie leaves us for 2 weeks and then Kim, my baby turned 13. It's too much to handle at one time I tell ya. Stephanie is having a great time in Florida. She is learning so much there. She is actually considering a career in it. I told her that she wouldn't be able to work in our small town and make any kind of money. Her best bet would be SBI or FBI. Who knows. She was the only one in her group to successfully complete a facial reconstruction on a computer program. She did admit to falling asleep during a psychology lecture, but she knew the information because she just finished a college level psychology class at school. They are keeping them on the go from 7 in the am to 10 at night so it was catching up to her.

Hubby turned 42 today and I stopped and bought him a cake from Ganache bakery. It was chocolate with fudge icing. It was costly, but sinfully delicious.

I tried to put some pics from Kim's bday on here, but my Kodak program is giving me a hard time. I will try again later.

Til next time...........

I'm still here!

Hello everyone!

According to Dick, I am due for another post, lol! Sorry for the absence. Softball season is over so I guess I will be home more in the evenings to play catch up on everyone's blogs. Sorry again for my absence there.

Well, Stephanie is in Ft Lauderdale as we speak solving crimes and such. 200 kids showed up for the conference and there is a 3 to 1 ratio of girls against guys so you know the guys are loving it, lol! She's been gone since Tuesday morning and I miss her like crazy. I don't know what I am going to do when she goes off to college. She is having a great time though and learning all kinds of cool things. Yesterday they started learning about processing a crime scene since the first night one of the staff was "killed" off.

Today they are doing fingerprint analysis I think. They are staying in a dorm room and she said that dorm rooms weren't what she thought they would be. Apparently it is an older school, so she said it was a bit musty, but they do have a full bathroom in their room. I told her that she should be grateful they didn't have community showers.

I want her to have a good time, but I hope the 27th comes soon!

Have a great weekend everyone and for all the father's out there, Happy Father's Day!

Barbaric Baptisms

Hope everyone is enjoying this lovely 3 day weekend! I know I am. Yesterday we went to a baptism for our friends from Romania. Their son Stefan is getting so big! It was at a Greek Orthodox Church so it was a loonnnngg ceremony. I felt like I was at at Catholic wedding, lol! Hubby said I owed him big time for having to sit through it. For those of you who aren't familiar with Catholic/Orthodox ceremonies, everything is done in 3's!! They actually dunked Stefan totally under the water the third time, which is totally barbaric to my husband and I and very painful to watch.

The long wait of the ceremony was worth it for the party afterwards. We had tons of food, alcohol and dancing. I actually learned some Romanian dances, which are very similar to Greek dances. Oompah! We had a great time.

There has been a change of plans for our exchange student. It seems that they didn't have enough Spanish kids sign up so they are sending the small group to one state together, Kentucky. Bummer. So we discussed it and decided that we would take a French girl. Her name is Claire and she is coming at the end of July. We are still very excited about it. She is 17. Kim (my youngest) was hoping for Elmundea from Spain since she is 15 and closer to her age. I told her it was a great opportunity to learn some French.

We are having a family picnic and softball game tomorrow for the holiday. I will try and remember my camera, but I wouldn't get your hopes up considering how well I remember it any other time, lol!

Have a great holiday everyone!

DVR's and American Idol

I went out to lunch today with my mom and sisters for a belated birthday thing. It was nice. My sister gave me the cutest top that I think I'm going to wear to the Def Lep show in July. (It's almost here!!!) My sister is going to the show as well with some friends from work and they are actually spending the night in Charlotte. they are getting a limo to take them to and from the show so they don't have to worry about parking. She asked if Steph and I would like to ride with them and I said sure. I'll just leave my car at their hotel. I'm not going to spend the night though. It's only a little over an hour's drive from my house, so it's not too bad. Now if the boys just happen to stay at that hotel, well that will be a different story, lol!

DirectTV came and installed a DVR yesterday, and I don't know how I've lived without one for so long. I love being able to pause live tv and record shows to watch for later. I've been watching this show on BBC America but it comes on at such odd times, that I don't always see it. Now I program the DVR to record it for me and then I can watch it at my convenience. How cool is that?

A friend I work with has talked me into going to the American Idol tour. They are playing here July 30th. I told her I would only go if we got close seats. What can I say? I am spoiled when it comes to concerts. I WON'T sit far away. I refuse! lol!

I guess that is all that I did this weekend. I guess that was enough though. I will be glad for next week since I get Monday off. Can you say 3 day weekend??!!

Have a great week everyone!

Short Update

Well another year, another birthday. I had a pretty good one this year. Hubby bought me the bird feeders that I had been wanting from Lowe's. I love to look out my kitchen window and watch the birds. I even have this neat hummingbird feeder that is attached right to the window. I also got a pretty wind chime that hubby hung on the outside of the sunroom. My girls bought me a new outfit from my favorite store. And then they took me out to eat. All in all, it was a great day. One year closer to the big 4-0!

The Davinci Code comes out to theaters tomorrow which I am really excited about. We will probably wait a few days to see it though. Let some of the crowds die down. I hate to watch a movie with a packed theater. Too noisy!! I'm curious as to whether it is close to the book or not. I'll just have to wait and see.

We have our home inspection on Saturday for our exchange student. It looks like we will be getting a 15 year old from Spain. She will arrive on June 30th and stay until July 29th. I'm looking forward to her coming.

One more thing, Bon Jovi is on tour with Nickelback!!! This is very exciting news. They are in Europe now but it looks like they hit the states and football stadiums. I would love to see the show in Pittsburgh at Heinz Field in July. I don't think that hubby would be too thrilled about it though, party pooper!!

Well, I'm off to help with homework.

Foreign Exchange Student

Our neighbor is a representative for an agency that places exchange students and I think I've talked in the past about wanting to host one of them. Well she sent us an email asking us if we would like to host a student for one month this summer. We talked about it and decided we would apply to do it. We are hoping to get this one girl from France. My girls are excited about it. Hopefully we will hear something soon. If nothing else, it will make me brush up on my french, non?

And now for some important information to pass along to you about your taxes:

Hello!

Hello everyone! Long time, no blog, :( Life has been kicking me in the butt lately. Between work, both kids doing softball, and keeping up with my everyday tasks around the house, I have been exhausted lately. I've started taking some extra vitamins and they are finally kicking in. I no longer yawn all day long at work. I still can't seem to stay awake later than 10:00 though. Oh well, can't have everything. I'm just thankful I still wake up everyday.

I'm addicted to the tv show LOST this season. It is getting sooo good. I love the way they just give you little pieces each time and make you wonder what the heck is going on. I can't wait until Wednesday to see what happens.

My sister-in-law sent me this sex toy test. See how you do. I got 8 out of 15.

Can you tell the difference?

Happy Birthday Jude!

Wishing my dear friend in Edmonton a very



Hope you have a great one Miss Jude!!

Greetings from Topsail Island

I finally uploaded my pics from Topsail Beach. We had a great time. Here are some of my pics from the trip:


Will and Steph on the beach.

Kim and her friend Kristi on the beach at night.

This was the bridge that took us to the island. It's called a swing bridge, because it swings out once an hour to let bigger boats through.

This is a pic of the bridge as it swings out to let a boat through.

We visited the U.S.S. North Carolina in Wilmington on our last day. Here is a pic of Steph and Will in front of the 16 inch guns (the "big" ones on the ship)

Kim manning the 40mm guns

Stephanie taking aim with the 20mm gun at some helicopters that you can't see in the pic

Stephanie made a turtle out of the sand.

Kim and Kristi playing around.

Kim and Kristi at the playground.

Hello!

I know it's been a while. I have some pics from the beach trip I need to get off my camera then I will post them. I have something for all my fellow Def Leppard fans and only they will get it. A big thank you to Connie for posting it as a bulletin on MySpace. I read it out to hubby and he said that 99% applied to me if I ever bought DL toilet paper he was divorcing me, lol!

You MIGHT be a Def Leppard fan if.....

1. You bought the Def Leppard DVD's even though you don't own a DVD player.

2. You know the difference between Phil Collen and Phil Collins, and hate when people *don't*.

3. You're tempted to shred your jeans just so you can look like Joe Elliott.

4. You get up during the night every couple hours to see if DefLeppard.com has been updated at all.

5. When listening to them, you often perform mini concerts in your shower or living room and pretend a brush, or broom handle is your microphone or guitar. (Admit it!)

6. You never expect an album to be out when they say.

7. You go to the CD section of a store and arrange the Def Leppard CD's so that their facing out, and in perfect order. From On Through The Night to Euphoria.

8. You look for the slightest reason to *re-buy* a Def Leppard cd, and use the excuse..."My other one skips" and then proudly put them in the check out and grin.

9. When at a party, Def Leppard comes on the radio and people begin shouting your name. (And yes, this has happened to me on a few occasions)

10. When at a CD store, you take Def Leppard albums and strategically place them in front of other bands/artists as a promotional strategy.

11. You can understand what I mean by : PSSOM, GOW, WDLGWID, HYENSSB, MYIAHB, BOTH, or KOO.

12. You actually know the words to the verse of Armageddon It.

13. You buy European/Japanese versions just for the song that isnt on the American version.

14. Your friends browse through you CD collection and say: "I'm worried about you"...or "Are you sure this obsession is healthy?"

14. You only know the song "Action" because of Def Leppard.

15. You've gained a sudden interest in some David Bowie music thanks to Cybernauts.

16. People know you as "The one who's obsessed with Def Leppard" (THATS ME!!!)

18. You're actually aware of the fact that "Satellite of love" are lyrics that actually exist in the song "Rocket". Rather than 'sadeleaaadellaaaaa'. (

19. When you help your brother with something and ask him "are you getting it?" he replies "Yes I'ma geddon it" just to get a reaction out of you.

20. When you tell your kid to take out the crash he reply's with "NO WAY!" , so you tell him to tidy his room and he says "C'mon get real....sorry mom gotta dissapear, lets get the rock out of here!".

21. You refuse to throw away a shirt from the Hysteria tour even though you can see through it because its so worn.

22. You hate the blood hound gang for their Def Leppard drummer mockery in the song "Why Is Everybody Always Picking On Me".

23. You own the infamous Def Leppard toilet paper.

24. You can tell a *real* band member sig from a fake one.

25. You keep your Def Leppard collection and CD's apart from your 'average' music stuff.

26. You recieve 90 emails a day from different forums, lists, and Def Leppard fans sites.

27. Your sitting in church and hear a song mention "Rock Of Ages" and you picture Def Leppard.

28. Write the band big messages on DefLeppard.com and then are too afraid to actually hit the *send* button.

29. Complain about them not playing enough off of Slang and Euphoria in concert and get the responce from your friends "I've never even heard of those!".

30. You find yourself calling them "the lepps".

HERE ARE SOME MORE..

1. PVC pants and a Union Jack shirt are on your list of "must have" for your wardrobe.

2. You were homicidal when Walmart told you the 'signed' CD would not be arriving because they were sold out hours before they stopped advertising.

3. You think a lot more of Creed since they were at the Irving Plaza show singing along.

4. You hold a grudge against the Red Hot Chilli Peppers for their hatred toward Def Leppard.

5. You wanted to 'bludgeon riffola' that "Bush" guy with the Kerrang! award after his snide remark about Def Leppard. (whats his name again? )

7. You almost get 'jealous' when someone you know says they like them...and you KNOW your a bigger fan.

8. You've ever broken a household appliance by jumping around and acting like it was a guitar.

9. Your automatically on the defensive and ready to attack when talking with Bon Jovi fans.

10. You write your name in the Def Leppard font on the back of your notebooks.

11. You wish your band would make a frikkin live CD already.

12. You're on the computer until 2:30 AM posting on the Satellite Of Love Forum.

13. You (as an AOL user) bash your head off the computer when you (as an AOL user) are always last to see the frikkin updates on DefLeppard.com

14. Your cell phone has the "Promises" ringtone.

15. You backtrack on the solo of "Day After Day" and "Scar" 7 times or more just to picture yourself playing it on stage.

16. You have took it upon yourself to promote the band by linking emails to radio networks and asking to request Now.

17. When online local radio polls for 'best new single' appear, and Now is winning by hundreds of votes thanks to your post on your favorite Leppard forum.

18. You want your bands name to be the title of a Def Leppard song or album.

19. You own the "Joey Bear".

20. You refuse to burn your friends a Def Leppard CD. You tell them to buy it. They don't and never will. So you buy it for them.

21. You will buy the "Hysteria" Classic Albums DVD even though you *still* haven't purchased the DVD player you needed when the OTHER dvd's came out.