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Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt -- Time

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The top of the church bell tower.
It's just really old - and I love it!

Labels: Photo Hunt

posted by Melli at 12:07 AM | 44 comment(s)

Friday Feast #119

Wanna play?


Appetizer Have you ever changed a flat tire by yourself?

Indeed I have! I was a single mom for many years ... had to do many things for myself! I don't do ANY of those things anymore though... God blessed me with a wonderful hubby to do those nasty little things for me!

Soup Do you have an "innie" or an "outie" belly button?

Definately an inny... a deep inny! It did become an outie though when I was pregnant with the twins!

Salad Name a new paint color and describe it.

Moon Glow! The color of the "glow" around the full moon on a deep dark starry night. A gentle mix of creamy golden yellow with just a tint of deep midnight purple mixed in. Bottle it on up for me!

Main Course What is your favorite holiday tradition?

WHICH Holiday? LOL! You know... I used to be really REALLY "in" to traditions! I'm just NOT anymore... I've been tossing them away left and right the last few years and it's driving my family absolutely crayzee!!! I would like to develop a NEW tradition of non-traditionalism! Okay... okay! I'm dodging! Surely there is sOMething I still love to do ... over and over and OVER again... (see, I already have this question answered on my Christmas meme that I haven't published yet...) ... Let's go with opening presents by the fire light at 5:00 on Christmas morning! How's that???

Dessert If you were a cookie, what kind of cookie would you be, and why?

Ugh! I have to pick just ONE? Out of allllllllll the cookies in the WORLD? Well... I might just be a Gingersnap! Crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and a little bit spicey! GREAT for dunkin' in milk! Yep - that's me!

Labels: Friday Feast

posted by Melli at 7:44 AM | 16 comment(s)

Happy Morning After.... ?

Is THIS how YOU feel today???

LOL! I hope not! My turkey is in the oven and we have quite a menu happening at MY house today. As you know, we are a family of six. Three of us do not care for turkey. The other 3 INSIST upon it! In all honestly, usually (in recent years) the "other 3" have lost! But THIS year we are doing it all... MY menu for the day is this:

Turkey
Alaskan King Crab Legs
Spiced Steamed Shrimp
Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Green Beans (with bacon & Almonds)
Biscuits
Macaroni & Cheese
Deviled Eggs
Cranberry Sauce (jellied & whole)
Cheese & Crackers
Olive tray
Boston Creme Pie
Pecan Pie
Rice Krispie Treats

Am I MISSING anything???
( I really WANTED a garden salad, but there's NO room in the fridge! )


So... while I'm doing what y'all did yesterday... how many of YOU are going to brave the crowds and go SHOPPING today? This is something I could ALMOST add to my "never done" list -- except that I did it ONE year! NEVER AGAIN! I stay light-years away from anything that LOOKS like a store on Black Friday!!! Have a great day friends! I'll be back when I'm done piggin' out!

posted by Melli at 7:20 AM | 4 comment(s)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! The picture up above is not one of mine -- I shamelessly borrowed it off the net! It IS, I think, a good and fun representation of one of the more important parts of our holiday - feast day! I used to LOVE to watch the parades on Thanksgiving when I was a kid! I always wished I could be in New York and watch the parade in person! I would still like to do that! (maybe one year while Krysti's at college we'll go up there for the holiday! Oooo! BIG plans!) I haven't watched one on television since my kids were very small -- somehow they never really "got it" the way I did. The parade fever! They'd turn it on for just a bit - but then get bored and wander away. To further the Thanksgiving sacrilige, no one at my house watches Thanksgiving football either. Maaaan... when I was a kid I wouldn't have MISSED a game on Thanksgiving! And usually the Skin's were playing Dallas! Good stuff! But once I was the adult and was preparing the feast -- well - you know -- I'm in the kitchen! Not in the family room! LOL!

Our family is not actually having our feast today. Mathew has a new job as of about 6 or 8 weeks ago - and he's low man on the totem pole. He has to work from 2 pm until 10 pm today -- so we decided to move our feast until Friday! I'm very THANKFUL that we are able to do that! Soooo, while y'all are enjoying the fruits of your labors from the last few days -- today I will be in the midst of the cooking -- preparing for tomorrow! We did have a special breakfast treat this morning.... Monkey Bread! The kids love it! It's always a big hit - and since we're not saving our appetites for dinner today -- well, WHY NOT??? Okay... I'm off to cook now!

I hope each of you is having a wonderful fun filled day with your family (and maybe some friends) and that your blessings are all well counted, and accounted for! When bowing your heads around the table, please remember an extra little prayer for all our soldiers away from home. They are SO missed and so homesick. God bless them -- and God bless you!

posted by Melli at 11:48 PM | 10 comment(s)

Oh my gosh! It's been sO long since I've been on a scale I was really afraid to look! I stopped in at the Drs. office this morning - usually it's a Friday thing - but since my family is having Thanksgiving on Friday I knew I would be missing it AGAIN - and I'm really not even sure the doc is open on Friday. So I went! After the month I've had - away from the gym a lot, and away from home, and eating badly on the road... Oy! But I was pleased! I was actually DOWN 3 pounds! Hallelujia! I'll tell ya ... I will be SO HAPPY when all this weight is off and I can start "maintenance" instead of always worrying about LOSING! It seems like I've been doing this forever now! Has it realllllly been only 9 months???

So... I also got weighed and measured at Curves today. But I left the scores in the car and Krysti wants to go get some salad -- so, I'll update again when I get home!

59 pounds gone though! Not bad... not bad... :)

posted by Melli at 12:31 PM | 6 comment(s)

Wordless Wednesday -- Dedicated to Lifecruiser

Just Ducky!
(click to see larger)

Labels: WW

posted by Melli at 12:10 AM | 13 comment(s)

Well, I NEVER! ... the meme...

Old OLD Lady Of The Hills (Naomi) started this meme after little ol' ME wondered if there was ANYTHING in this world she HADN'T done! (Because she is soooo full of the most fabulous stories of things she HAS done! Things the rest of us would never even have thought of!) So anyway - she decided to turn my wonder into a Meme - and then turned it back to me in the form of a tag! So... here I am! I, however, am going to limit MYself to only listing things I've never done that I really WANT to do! OR things that other people commonly DO do - but I haven't. Thus I will not mention the fact that I've never owned a live gorilla, giraffe, or gnu! Okay? Okay! Naomi listed 30 things ... so I'll aim for that!

1. I've NEVER travelled outside of the United States ... *sigh* (and I could EASILY list 30 specific things I would like to do or see outside the US!)

2. As a matter of fact, I've NEVER even been to the west coast OF the United States... *DEEP sigh* (and could EASILY list several things I would like to do or see there too!)

3. I NEVER had teenage acne! ~YAY!~ (an occassional zit or two, yea... but not acne!)

4. I've NEVER had a BRAND NEW car. (but I PLAN my next one to be! Hubby may have other ideas though.... *deep deep sigh*)

5. I've NEVER read War & Peace -- though I have TRIED twice and just can NOT get past the first couple of chapters!

6. Though I go to the theatre as often as money allows, I have NEVER seen a show on Broadway!

7. I have NEVER been snorkling or scuba diving.

8. I have NEVER seen the Grand Canyon... or Mount Rushmore.

9. I have NEVER seen House, Greys Anatomy, Dancing With The Stars or CSI! As a matter of fact, I have NEVER seen almost any show that came out after 1995!

10. I have NEVER owned a pair of "knee high boots"! (my calves are sO big and muscular that I would need a size 15 shoe to make the boot fit over my leg! *more sighing*)

11. I have NEVER been "fly" fishing.

12. I have NEVER been "deep sea" fishing.

13. I have NEVER been to the Olympics. (to watch!) (or to play!)

14. I have NEVER eaten sushi, snails, OR frog legs. (but I don't think I will either...)

15. I have NEVER been up in a helicopter.

16. I have NEVER taken a ride in a Hot Air Balloon.

17. I have NEVER won when playing monopoly! ( i hate that game! )

18. I have NEVER learned to knit. ( i do crochete )

19. I have NEVER milked a cow!

20. I have NEVER driven a Steam Roller OR a Dump Truck!
(yes... I DO want to!)

21. I have NEVER been on a cruise ... yet!

22. I have NEVER had a beauty make-over.

23. I have NEVER successfully completed a Sudoku. (I'm just dumb...)

24. I have never obtained a motorcycle license. (or my own motorcycle either)

25. I have never had laser eye surgery. (but I'm still fluctuating on whether I REALLY want it or not... I want the surgery ... I don't want the risk!)

26. I have never had braces ... and I do need them. (but I HATE dentists!)

27. I have never had a book published.

28. I have never involved myself in a political campaign for a candidate of my choice. (I REALLY need to do this!)

29. Oh... you won't even BELIEVE this... I have NEVER worn a "gown"! I never attended my school proms; I've never been a brides maid (thank God!); and I was married in blue jeans! How did this happen??? Hubby and I have never even gone out for a fancy New Year's Eve! And I've certainly NEVER been invited to the Emmy's! I guess I need to just go try some on! LOL! (or ... get involved in a political campaign - and then attend the Ball! *light goes ON!*)

30. I have NEVER been a Grandma... and I want to be a grandma more than ANYTHING else in the world! Some day... *sigh* ... oh sOMeday....

So there you have it! MY list of 30 things I've never done! As usual, I will not tag you -- but you may certainly feel free to tag your own self -- and please let me know if you do! I'd love to know what you've never done!

Labels: meme's

posted by Melli at 12:03 AM | 16 comment(s)

Back In The Saddle...

Pssst... guess what?
Mathew has a new GIRLFRIEND! YAY!



This is Katie.
She's a sweety!
She had dinner with us last night...
And we think we'll keep her!
(for awhile anyway)

posted by Melli at 12:19 AM | 8 comment(s)

300! Already??? WoW!

Yep! This is my 300th post! I should have made it a special one -- but since I never even realized my 100th, or my 200th, seems a little silly to make a very big deal over 300! Maybe when I get to 500! (seems funny that both #100 and #200 were Saturday Photo Hunts!)

So, what IS number 300 about? Nothing much to be sure! A vague memory! (which would probably be best saved for a Monday... but I'm feeling wordless today and needed something!) Dang this NaBloPoMo!



Soooo... this is what happens when we go through old pictures. We feel compelled to share with the entire world vague moments from our lives that up until now we haven't even shared with our husbands and children! I've added this one to the rotation on my screen saver though - so it will soon be discovered! I believe I was in 3rd grade here... yes, I'm the adorable redhead on the left! That would be my older sister, Sarah, on the right. I'm not really sure which one of us got us into this -- or if it was my mother's wild idea! I don't REMEMBER begging to be a majorette... but I'm not saying it's entirely impossible either. What I DO remember is not liking it much! And I have GOT to believe that my "teenage" sister was not crazy about it either! (though she does LOOK happier than I do!) Honestly I really can't even imagine HER ever having wanted to do this at ALL! (which is the only reason that I would be willing to take responsibility for this mess! 8 year olds can be held responsible for MANY stupid ideas!) I think the twirling was okay. And even the lessons were probably okay... learning the little dance steps and all. I don't remember hating that part! But maaaaaan I hated the parades! MOST of the parades that I remember were probably in the summer - because I remember 92 degrees and sweat dripping into my eyes while blisters formed on my heels and toes, and I had to smile and pretend I was enjoying this more than I had ever enjoyed ANYTHING in my life! But if I recall, we only did the whole majorette thing long enough to cost the amount of two batons, two uniforms, two pairs of boots, and lessons! (I'm pretty sure the hats were borrowed.) I'm thinking ONE ... maybe TWO tops... 10 weeks sessions? I know one thing... Come Thursday, I'll be thinking about all those poor marchers in the Macy's Parade!!! LOL!

posted by Melli at 11:57 AM | 10 comment(s)

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt - Plush

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This week's hunt really had me scrambling! I just could NOT think of anything creative! So I'm really looking forward to coming around and seeing what y'all came up with today -- cuz this little ol' bear is about as plush as I get!

Labels: Photo Hunt

posted by Melli at 12:02 AM | 23 comment(s)

Friday Feast #118

Wanna play?

Appetizer
Do you believe there is intelligent life on other planets?
Ya know... I'm POSITIVE there is other life... there just has to be. But whether there's intelligent life or not... I just don't know! When I picture God in Heaven looking down and fiddling with our world and masterminding our movements... I have to think that sometimes he get's bored (or crazed) and needs to go play with another civilized universe! Perhaps one a little less self destructive than we are!

Soup
What is one thing you said you'd never do, but you eventually did?
Have a dog! I always said no... they mess up your house and your yard and you have to have them boarded when you want to go away... I wasn't going to do all that! But the kids begged and begged and begged sooooooo long and it finally occurred to me that I WANTED a puppy too! We got Jewl for my birthday about 6 years ago! And she has ruined my carpets, dug up our yard and goes off her food whenever we leave her and go away! But I love her! She is a sweet girl and sO fiercely protective of me and our family! The best watch dog in the whoooooole world!


Salad
Who is the teacher that influenced you the most in school?
I don't know if I had just one ... and honestly... NONE influenced me so much as to make me remember their names! I do have fond memories of an English teacher - and also of one of my World History teachers -- actually his name was Mr. Kahn -- I remember that because we used to call him Ghengis! But I had a guidance counselor who was my anchor in a cold, hard world during my 11th and 12th grade! Mr. Camissa! I absolutely ADORED that man, and honestly, without him, I doubt I would have completed high school. If you read my confessions the other day, you'll understand! But Mr. Camissa cared about me when I didn't have a parent that did... He was a wonderful, WONDERFUL man!

Main Course
If you could trade places with anyone for one day, who would it be and why?
Awwwww... just for a DAY? How 'bout a month? Travelling and seeing other places is really the only thing I feel missing from my life --- so if I was to trade with someone... it would have to be someone in another place. And I don't want the pressures, headaches, and responsibilities of a Queen or a Princess... or ANY world leader... and I don't want the recognition of anyone FAMOUS... so... I'm going to say, just for ONE day... I want to trade places with our own MAR! (but I would want to do it on the condition that at SOME point in the trading process, we would be allowed to spend some time TOGETHER!) LOL!

Dessert
What is your favorite dish to prepare?
Honestly, I don't care much for cooking, so "preparing" the food is not the fun part for me! And since I'm mainly a fish eater... it doesn't generally take a LOT of preparation. Maybe I should think in terms of a side dish... how about cous cous? I have become rather fond of that! I get the tri-color kind and mix it with tomatoes and cucumber and onion and black olives. A little olive oil and some feta cheese. A sprinkle of a greek dressing! Mix it all up - it's fabulous! THERE! I did it! *whew*

Labels: Friday Feast

posted by Melli at 9:41 AM | 12 comment(s)

An UNwordless Thursday...

So... I wanted to explain a little bit about yesterday's Wordless Wednesday. (but I didn't want to do it yesterday because that picture was just TOO MUCH FUN!) The lake in that picture is the same lake in THIS picture -- they are both Keuka lake and I took BOTH pictures while Krysti and I were traveling to or from our tour of the school last weekend! The lake is huuuuuuge! Miles and miles and miles and miles of lake! And it's shaped like a "Y". It is one of the "finger lakes" in what I would NOT call "upstate" New York. We were only about 20 minutes into New York from Pennsylvania. How UPSTATE can that be??? I dunno!

At any rate - while Krysti and I were driving to the school, we passed a few "odd" sites... and I kept saying (to myself) "I shoulda stopped and photographed that"... but we wanted to get to the school, and so I didn't! But when we passed that gate there was NO WAY I wasn't stopping! What you see in the picture is exactly what I saw when I was driving past! It was just too weird! Now... I did pull over a little bit down the road -- there's space occassionally on that road ... and then I walked back. And I went up to the gate. I should have taken MORE picture to show you - but I didn't. But the gate leads to a stairway that takes you down to the water. The road at that particular spot is alongside nearly a "cliff"! So you go down this little stairway and there's a little house built into the hill and a little dock with a little row boat. Just a little cottage really. All the houses down there are mostly itty bitty -- they couldn't BE anything else! There's NO ROOM! There is only about a foot of shoreline! And honestly, the ONLY reason that I can think of why these people might have put that "gate" there is for the purpose of giving DIRECTIONS to their home -- which you can NOT see over the side of the road! I guess they say "go to the 'gate to nowhere'... and that's us!" Because while there IS a guardrail to the left of the gate -- there is NOTHING to the right of the gate -- not a thing to stop anyone (who's daring enough) from walking down that hill! It really and truly serves no purpose at all! LOL!

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 10 comment(s)

Wordless Wednesday -- Privacy Gate???

Labels: WW

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 24 comment(s)

Makin' Faces...

Looky here! Last night I got my eyebrows DYED! Now, when I put my lips on, I have a whole face! If they could just dye my eyelashes that would be so cool! Have I mentioned I HATE make-up? I never wear any -- except the lips -- but usually ONLY if photos will be taken! (cuz otherwise you can't see them at all!) It's kind of 'strange' having eyebrows all of a sudden though! I've never been able to SEE them before! I bet sOMe of you just take eyebrows for granted -- don't you? Mmmm hmmm... you know you do...

posted by Melli at 1:01 AM | 20 comment(s)

True Confessions...

A WHILE back... apparently a lot longer back than I thought... Mysterious Lady did a post about some "bad" things she had done in as a child! (I went looking to link that post to this one, and went back 4 months and couldn't find it!) I tsk'd tsk'd her and shamed her and agreed she was just incorrigable! But the truth is I don't think anything she did could compare to the shameless HORROR I was as a teenager! I'm hoping my youngest kids DON'T read this post, because I'm really not ready for them to know HOW BAD I was! (Johnny?) HOW BAD WAS I???

1. In 10th grade I only attended ALL of my classes 52 times.
(mostly this was because I never, never, well ALMOST never, went to Science.) I would go up to my Science classroom in the morning, find out what we were going to be doing that day, and if he DIDN'T have an absolutely fabulously FUN lab going on that day or a test that I HAD to take, then I didn't go! This was because I had science 5th period, and all of my friends had LUNCH 5th period. Therefore Lunch was a MUCH more important class than science! (see? I was BAD!) (the thing that really amazes me about this NOW - now that I sub in a High School - is that my teacher NEVER reported me for this! Of course, he WAS a young, hippy dippy type guy... but still! I passed his class!)

2. One day a friend and I (while skipping an ENTIRE day from school - and not just one class) HITCH-HIKED our way from Gaithersburg to Wheaton (probably about 25 miles) to "visit" with some guys at Good Council High School. (Catholic boys school) Oh - but don't WORRY! THEY gave us a ride back! ;) (well... and they WERE good CATHOLIC boys! *rolls eyes*)

3. I started drinking alcohol at 13 years old! Yep. (BAD!) My older sister would take me bar hoppin' with her -- she was 18! And the funny part was, SHE would get carded -- I wouldn't! (i was rather ... um... 'voluptuous'? Buxom? ... I had the "look" ... and she didn't!) (I am sO glad I am not raising ME!)

But... I don't know if this was the "worst" thing or not... but if you notice - the above mentioned things were all hurting no one but ME. So, this last thing, I DO concider to be the "worst" ... because it certainly hurt others and NOT me.

My friend Lori and I were a bad mix! We were BEST friends - but just trouble with a capital T! She's the one who introduced me to the Good Council guys! (she also introduced me to Boone's Farm Apple Wine!) We lived in a really REALLY safe neighborhood with lots of bike paths and mini-mall and a pond for ice-skating in the winter... parks with playgrounds... it's called Montgomery Village -- and today the village is a "city" unto itself! It is... it's grown SO big it's completely unrecognizable! I would NEVER live there now. But back then it was HEAVEN - for kids and adults! Well... neither Lori nor I had ANY parental supervision to speak of, and we roamed the village as we pleased at pretty much ANY time of day or night. It was not unusual for us to be out and about at 1 or 2:00 in the morning. And for SOME reason we became ... ummm... INFATUATED with hood ornaments! Now, here we were living in this beautiful "model" town - influential, up and coming... people had NICE cars! But for about a year they didn't have many hood ornaments! Lori and I would wander the village and we never MEANT to be out "stealing" hood ornaments -- I mean we never left her house and said "Let's go steal hood ornaments!" ... we would be walking to 7-11 or the mall, and we would pass by a caddy with a NICE one - and POP! It was in one of our pockets! It just "happend"! WE WERE SO BAD!!! Over the coarse of about a year, I bet we stole 200 ornaments! We had shoeboxes full of them! So... if you happend to live in Montgomery Village back around ohhhh 1973, 74... and you "lost" a hood ornament... let me take this opportunity to apologize! And really... honestly... I GREW UP TO BE A GOOD PERSON! I did! And I really AM sorry!

posted by Melli at 9:47 AM | 15 comment(s)

Of Pride and Prejudice....

A friend left me a little note this morning congratulating Krysti and saying that I must be so proud of her. Well, you knOw I AM just as proud of Krysti as I could possibly be! She is an excellent student, strong minded and strong willed. She knows what she wants in life; she knows what she has to do to achieve it - and she's certainly not afraid of the hard work it will take to get there! She is a very determined young lady. In addition to that, she is a beautiful human being. She is kind and caring. She always tries to look at things from both sides of the story and is compassionate to others needs and feelings. In addition to all that, she also has a beeeeauuuutiful voice and sings around the house ALL the time. She is "spirited" and silly and FUN to be around! She has many many interests in life, and I'm fortunate in that she shares several of MINE! If Krysti were not my daughter, and just one of my students at school, she is one that I would STILL be proud of ... and a person that I would like.

Now... with all of that said... I have 3 other children. Three who are NOT Krysti's. And sometimes the three have "tried" me. SOMEtimes friends have shaken their heads and said "Melli, what are ya gonna do?" ... and I have said "I guess I'm gonna love 'em"... and that's what I do! (i will admit that on an occassion or two i have responded "I might just kill him!" ... but i never meant it!) So, let me tell you - I am PROUD of each of them! I hope that today you will let me tell you about my children and what each does to MAKE me proud! I've already done Krysti -- I'll do the rest from oldest to youngest so as to show NO preferential treatment! ;)

AMANDA ~ LOL! My first born! Did she NEED to do more than that? Probably not! But she has. Amanda is amazing! Amanda is THE most high spirited of my four. Her energy level is not only incredible -- it's contagious! When Amanda is on an "Amanda High" she just pulls you in to her energy and practically lifts you off the ground with it! She is a living, breathing, walking PARTY! She is very active and athletic and has always excelled in her chosen sports. She is ALSO a humanitarian and somewhat of an activist. She has a gift for "listening" and for offering up some pretty good advice. From the time she was a teenager, people have found Amanda to be a valuable analyst! While she was in the military (which made me very proud all on it's own) she volunteered in an orphanage over in Korea and did a lot of very beneficial work with the children there. In college she majored in Social Work, but has somehow NOT ended up in that area for her career, though at different times she has worked in her field. Amanda preferes to work with VERRRRY special needs children (severe abuse/neglect/druggies/ etc...) and "burn out" is a problem. She can go for a few years, but then needs a break! She always gets back to it though - and now, even though she works for Verizon, she is getting involved again through volunteer work. She has a "calling" and she has a very special talent (a "gift") for working with these children! Amanda has a heart of gold and will FOREVER have a "child's spirit"... and she makes me verrrrrry proud!

MATHEW ~ Mathew is an explorer! He explores the world, and he explores the mind! He is a free thinker. Mathew is NOT a student and never wanted to be! Mathew IS a philosopher. A Thinker. And a peace maker. He believes that all individuals should be allowed to "be free to be"... I found it funny that when he was in High School - at MY school - one of Mathew's philosophical proclomations in history class got dubbed "The Lantz Doctrine" ... The teacher still refers to it from time to time! Mathew has a hard time conforming to societies rules and expectations -- but he's coming around. I don't know if that's a good thing or not! I know it will make his life easier if he conforms... but at what cost? Mathew is a LOVER! He loves people, and animals, and music... and beer. LOL! And he LOVES his mama! He is very protective of me and will NOT allow anyone to hurt me. (including his brother!) Mathew is very opinionated - and not at all afraid to stand up for what he believes! He may be right, and he may be wrong, but he follows his heart and that makes me VERY proud! Mathew has a very quick wit, and an awesome sense of humor! He is also very "street smart"... very wiley... a great "finagler". He is also a very persuasive person! If you need someone convinced to do something, be something, feel something -- Mathew is your man! He is very compassionate and can not STAND to see anyone or anything "suffer". He and Amanda are very close -- have been since the day he was born! I think that at some point he will get involved in HER volunteer work - as a matter of fact, he's already expressed an interest in it -- and he could be very beneficial in that arena! Sometimes the best help a person can be given is the knowledge of how to "work the system" -- and Mathew definately knows how to do that! Mathew was never meant to make it in life off a "formal education" (though he does still plan to go to college!) -- but believe me -- Mathew is going to "make it" just fiiiine! And I'm VERRRRRY proud of him!!!

DEREK ~ This one is my baby! He's struggled with life's issues since his arrival in the world... and he will continue to struggle. Part of WHY he struggles is because he has such a strong sense of "fairness" ... even my brother noticed this when Derek was just a little LITTLE boy... George was playing catch with Mathew and Derek - and he threw the ball to Derek twice in a row. Derek stopped him and said, "No Uncle George. It's not MY turn - it's Mathew's turn!" Derek always wanted life to be "fair". Of coure we all know that life is NOT fair. And that is where most of Derek's problems stemmed from! Derek has some anger issues... but let me tell you - he has WORKED on them - he started seeing psychologists when he was only two! And he never saw them WILLINGLY - but still he listened to what they had to say - and he took their words home and rolled them over in his brain, again and again! Derek has come a very VERY long way - and I am VERY VERY proud of him for that! Derek - like Mathew - is NOT a student! He HATES school. (school is full of all sorts of rules that Derek believes to be UNfair ... and in many cases, he's right) Derek has an extremely high IQ - but doesn't really wish to be a "brain". Derek is a pacifist. He is a poet. He is a musician, and he is an artist. Derek has SO many talents -- and I often wonder if he will be forever "the struggling artist" ... or if life might treat him fairly this time, and he might have great success! Although, to Derek - just being allowed to make a living as an artist would BE great success! He's a very complex person - with very simple needs. I very much look forward to Derek graduating, because at that time he will be "set free" to live his life as he sees fit. And I'm really excited to see what he does! And yes... I'm verrrry proud of him!

The bottom line with kids, I think, is that we ARE proud of them - no matter what they do! If we've done our best to raise them right, they are going to take away SOMETHING good! And though they may go through some "rough spots" along the way, they will come out okay on the other side! I try really hard, when they are "trying" me to remember that I, too, went through MY times coming up -- but I turned out okay -- and they will too! (and sometimes they have to REMIND me of that! ... when they ARE trying me!) :)

What do your kids do that make you proud? C'mon... you knOw you wanna brag about them!

posted by Melli at 9:50 AM | 9 comment(s)

Keuka Success!

We are HOME! Krysti is all enrolled and the initial fee paid and she has been welcomed as their VERY FIRST new student for the 2007-2008 school year!!! How exciting is THAT? LOL!

Keuka College is THE perfect school for Krysti! We were sO impressed! It's a beautiful, BEAUTIFUL school... the campus is small (verrrry small), class size is phenomenally small (8-16 students) in a regular classroom, 50 TOPS in a lecture hall! Labs run around 20-28 kids. The school is right ON Keuka lake, and the students have power boats, jet ski's, canoes -- you name it - all available for check out - at NO COST to them! There are soooooo many extra-curricalar areas for her to get involved in, along with the expected internships she will do each year -- honestly, a college could not OFFER her a better college experience than this one will! We are SO excited about her going!

Now, we just have to wait until January to fill out all the papers for financial aide - and then wait to see if she's going to get scholarship help. I bet she will - and I think she'll get plenty! I have a real strong feeling on this! (but... I will pray on it too!)

I do wish it were a "little" closer to home! We ended up staying in hotels Thursday night AND Friday night! It's just a loooooong drive! Yep -- the breaks worked GREAT! Now... I'm off to get an oil change -- I'm sure I need it after last week's excursion, and then this one... and I have some other errands that need running! So, I'll be back to visit with some of y'all later this evening - and I'll get to the rest of ya tomorrow!
(((Hugs!)))

posted by Melli at 2:10 PM | 15 comment(s)

While I'm Away....

I will miss you ALL sooooo much!
But I will be back on Sunday, and we'll play then!

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 9 comment(s)

Friday Feast Leftovers

Since the Friday Feast is on HOLIDAY this week, I have decided to play one of the Leftovers that I never caught the first time around! By the way... the keeper of the questions has a contest going to get NEW questions for us! Run over to the Feast Page and check it out! You might like to pony up some of your own!

Now... for the leftovers! (from Dec. 2, 2005)



Appetizer
When was the last time you did something you would consider courteous, what was it, and who was it for?
Well, I try to always be courteous... but the main thing I can think of is when driving in traffic, I always let people sneak in when the need to! I really hate it when people don't let me in when I need to get over - so I try to always be aware and let others in.

Salad
If you were to have a painting done of you alone, what would you want the background to be?
Something "naturey" for sure. It's hard to choose just one thing though - especiall looking out at the beautiful autumn leaves right now! But I think if I have to choose... I would have to pick the ocean behind me.

Soup
Describe your voice.
LOL! What a great question! My voice is a little bit deep, and a little bit husky... and almost always excited! My husbands boss says I have a perfect phone voice. MY voice answers hubbies voicemail at work - and his boss LOVES it! Someone else once told me that my voice is "sexy" in Rod Stewart kind of way! LOL! Believe it or not I felt COMPLIMENTED by that! I LOVE Rod Stewarts voice!!!

Main Course
What is something you would like to do, but you're afraid of the risk(s)?
Ohhhhh boy... Risks are not something that scare me. You must be talking about something I want to do that my husband is afraid of the risks! He's afraid of EVERYTHING! I would really like to own our own business -- but that's too scary. I would also like to drop everything and move to another state or country -- but that's too scary. You know... really the only things that scare me are things I don't want to do anyway -- like eating cockroaches!

Dessert
What was the last television show you watched?
AAAACK! *boring* ... I do NOT watch TV! Okay... I watched a few minutes of the news on election night. Does that count? Other than that? The last "show" I watched was Sex And The City -- but I didn't watch it when it was ON TV... I watched it on DVD after it had already gone off! LOL!

Labels: Friday Feast

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 2 comment(s)

Off To New York Again...

Krysti and I are leaving in just a bit -- for New York... agaaaain! (NOT the city this time!) We're driving up to Bath, NY tonight and staying in a HOTEL this time! This will allow us to be well rested for our tour and meeting with the finance people tomorrow! We're very excited to see the school that she's already committed herself to attending! We're hoping against all hope that it IS as nice as she THINKS it is! And if not? Ohhhhhhhh welllllll! LOL! Risky business applying for rolling admissions! So... we will be back laaaate tomorrow night - and thus, I am preposting for Friday and Saturday, so as not to mess up my NoBloPoMo! (ToPoGeeJo?)(Perry Como?)(Ho!Ho!Ho!Ho!)

posted by Melli at 2:34 PM | 5 comment(s)

Pilate / Yoga ... Round 2

Last night I started my 2nd session of Pilate/Yoga classes. I wouldn't want to mislead you into thinking that I actually ENJOY these classes ... but I do enjoy the way my body feels when I've completed the hour! As a matter of fact - I LOVE that part! And I really enjoy the commaraderie of the group of ladies that I'm taking the class with! I didn't know any of them before the first session, but they have become very important people in my life in the last 7 weeks! It amazes me how this happens - both in REAL life AND in the Blogosphere! But I really think it needs to be "noted" that this DOES happen in REAL life too! Attachments to people form very quickly when there is a common bond!

Soooo... Am I noticing a difference? Has 6 weeks mattered? It has! I'm more flexible, and my core muscles are definately getting stronger. I can do MANY of the moves now that I could not do 7 weeks ago -- and my balance is improving too! There are still many, many things that I can NOT do also! I don't know if I will EVER be able to do a roll-up... and lowering myself "gracefully" to the floor doesn't seem to be in the agenda either... I'm pretty sure I'd break a hip if I even attempted it quite frankly! But none-the-less, progress IS being made ... and I must be enjoying it ENOUGH... because, after all, I signed up for, paid for, and attended the NEXT session! To MY weigh of thinkin', getting there is the hard part! Once I'm there I WILL do the work! So... yea... it's workin' for me! I think I'll stick with it!

posted by Melli at 12:29 AM | 6 comment(s)

Wordless Wednesday

Labels: WW

posted by Melli at 12:03 AM | 25 comment(s)

Just My Cup Of Tea!

Tuesday is one of those days that I don't always "post" something - so this was the first time I've had to scramble to fullfill my obligation with the NaBloPoMo! I decided to cheat and use something I already wrote a LONG time ago! And so I present one of my cute little poems!



Tea For Two

I should have been born English
For nothing could possibly be
More comforting in the lae afternoon
Than a nice, warm cup of tea!

And if I were in England
I'd sip it daintily
From fine bone china, with a crumpet
My nice, warm cup of tea

But here in America, it's said
We do things differently
We gulp it down, from out a mug
While munching Sara Lee!

mcl
11/1/92

posted by Melli at 6:12 PM | 7 comment(s)

... ... ... and yet MORE Fun!

I honestly WISH that I COULD convey to all of you friends out there in Bloggavania just HOW MUCH fun we really DID have! UNfortunately... you really HAD to be there! But I have to share with you a few of the pictures that though you will never "get" HOW FUNNY this stuff was to us at the time... you MAY get some good chuckles anyway! (i hope)

Sooooo... First I'm gonna BACK UP a bit... and get back to the "original" meeting! Because the spear got a LOT of attention ... and thus deserves a little more sharing than it originally got!


Here, I am fending off an ATTACK from the "supposedly" mild mannered Lady Bug!
Ha! Don't let her fool ya!


Then, to INSURE no further attacks, I had to Knight Beckie and make her my Deputy Sargeant At Arms!

And FINALLY...


Raising a FUSS to get some attention from the waitress!
(would YOU have wanted to serve us???)

Okay... 'nuff of that! NOW I'd like to explain to y'all that my car did not mearly "break down" when I got there. The fact is that I can't believe how UNBELIEVABLY lucky blessed I was and that I'm still here and alive to even tell you about it! Because the fact IS that my brakes went out! COMPLETELY! As in gone, gone, gone... no more, no more, no more! BUT... did they go out on the Highway while I was tooling along at 75 mph? Nope! Did they go out when we got to the big hill that leads down to Daisy's road? Nope! They waited. They waited until I turned right at the stop sign and then left into the parking lot. They waited until I actually put my car IN PARK! I was sitting in my car, with it IN park, and with my foot ON the brake! And then I felt it snap! And the pedal went down to the floor and I had NO brakes! I had just travelled 192 miles and those brakes could have gone out at ANY moment along the way... but they waited! Scary, huh? (now TRY to convince me God doesn't love ME! I wonder how many angels he was paying double time on Friday?)

Okay... on to Saturday! They came and got the truck and I knew it was being fixed and so I was "free" to go have fun! Daisy was chompin' at the bit! She wanted to get out and get on with things sooooooooo bad! So .... come on along....


First we stopped off at the local "watering hole"...


... where Floozie got totally "potted"!



This is a memorial to the Statler Brothers
(who hail from Staunton ... pronounced STANton)
Flip Flop Floozie entertained us with HER rendition
of the "booty boop" song!


We stopped to eat at Cranberries... but Floozie couldn't focus!
(that's what happens when ya get potted!)


So I helped.



After lunch we went shopping... and played dress up!
This is where Flip Flop bought the beauuuutiful black hat!
I didn't buy anything... but I would have LIKED to buy EVERYTHING!


On the way back home we had to stop at Walmart and get stuff to make dinner for the men-folk. This is where we got into the most trouble. You wouldn't think it would ya? How much TROUBLE can ya get INTO at Walmart??? Well...


... about THIS much!


Floozie went from being "potted" to being a "pusher"!
But she couldn't push me by herself!
I haven't lost enough weight yet!
So Daisy had to help!
But then there was no one left to take pictures!
(oh... except for the group who walked past us and said...
through gasps of laughter... "can we take your picture? We're VISITORS here!"

Floozie and Daisy and I were doubled over laughing SO hard that... well... SOMEBODY pee'd her pants! But I'm not confessing telling who!!!

posted by Melli at 5:25 PM | 18 comment(s)

Thank God!

Me with the Hallelujia Statue
Staunton, VA - Nov. 4, 2006

Good Morning God! I want to take this opportunity to thank You for bringing Daisy and Floozie, and Lady Bug and Beckie into my life, and for guiding me to New Hope this weekend. Thank You for being with me and for seeing to it that my car broke down in the safest of all possible moments and places. Thank You for providing repairmen who were willing to work all day Saturday to fix it, even though they don't work on Saturdays! Thank you for the wonderful time shared with these friends and their awesome husbands and for the g'zillion laughs, the fabulous food, the new experiences and the JOY that You brought to us this weekend! Please remain with me as I make my way home this morning. Thank You for loving me! I love You too! Amen!


I wanted to SEE his face... and there was NO other way!


And here it is!


And Daisy thought I had lost my mind!
(as usual...)


Stay tuned... more to come!

posted by Melli at 6:44 AM | 21 comment(s)