Yahoo election poll coverage is NOT a good thing

A few days ago, Yahoo started posting election polls and coverage on their main page. This IS NOT a good thing for anyone. They have even put up a projected number of electoral votes, projecting Obama to have well more than the 270 needed to win.

This is unprecedented and preposterous. Based on polling, they are practically declaring Obama the winner. I am a supporter of Obama, but I think this public disclosure of projected states and electoral votes can only hurt the candidates-both of them.

We already know from election day 2000, that polling isn't the most accurate way to measure who people are voting for. The internet and TV news media are painting this picture of what states are for John McCain, what states are for Barack Obama and what states are "battlegrounds". In their quest to be the best and analyze this election as thoroughly as possible-they are confidently giving states to candidates with three weeks to go until election day. This is bad and really wrong if you ask me.

Obama supporters say, "My candidate has a pretty good lead and is going to win my state, I'm not going to vote". McCain supporters say, "Why bother to vote, it looks like McCain is going to lose anyway". People are influenced by these projections and maps. In fairness to both candidates and the American public, this kind of detailed analysis of not welcomed or fair. Let people decide for themselves, don't make this election a "done deal" before it happens!

Apple and Pumpkin picking!!

We've had the most gorgeous weather the past few days and today was just spectacular. The skies were bright blue, the leaves are changing colors and the temperature was about 70 degrees. Needless to say, the local apple and pumpkin farm was packed with families in search of delicious apples and the most perfect pumpkin.

We headed out this morning as a family. We hit the pumpkin patch first and Jacqueline picked out our pumpkin, rather quickly too. Then we headed to the apple orchards. The best apples were at the top. Jenna loved running around and fell a few times, but didn't care. She ate quite a bit of a small apple where we were in the orchard. Of course, I took pictures. The one picture of me and the kids didn't come out so good. We took video too, so we'll see how that came out. Here's a few pictures of our adventure today...

This is what happens when you are someone's "person"

When I watched the season premiere of Grey's Anatomy, my husband I are started looking at each other and just laughing. This is dejavu of my life minus the icicle of course. I'm honored to be my best friend's "person", but at what point do you decide you just can't take hearing it anymore. Going back and forth minute by minute, and hour by hour. Make up your mind woman!

I'm Cristina Yang and my best friend is Meredith Grey. We've had these conversations for hours and days on end. She can't make decisions regarding her husband when he was her boyfriend and she still doesn't know what to do now that she's married to him. I can't decide for you. Last week I told her what I thought, even though I know it's not what she wanted to hear, but as her "person" I felt I really had to.

My guess is this will go on for some time to come. Maybe it just comes with the territory of having a best friend that can't make major decisions about men! I guess it's nice to know I am not alone-there are other's like myself and Cristina Yang in the world!

Annual APC Adoption Conference-be there November 23, 2008

If you live in the Tri-state NY area and are interested in obtaining information about domestic or international adoption, this conference is not to be missed! Lots of information to be shared about all aspects of adoption, including financing, choosing an agency, independent adoption, having a homestudy done, etc.

It's a great way to meet other people in the adoption community like adoption attorneys, social workers, agencies, other adoptive parents and hopeful adoptive parents. I can't tell you how valuable conversations with these folks are when you are trying to gather information.

Please visit the Adoptive Parent Committee's website and find out more information on the November 23rd event-it's one of the highlights of the year!

http://adoptiveparents.org

I did it! I started my own adoption advertising service!

After much thought and research, I decided to start my own adoption advertising business. I want to use my knowledge to help others that don't know where to begin when it comes to independent adoption advertising.

I have been helping people for a year and a half. Giving advise, telling them where to advertise, best way to get a toll free number, how to create a profile, etc. I really enjoy talking about and learning about adoption. Every day I learn something new!

My adoption attorneys (who I love), Nina Rumbold and Denise Seidelman have been telling my for over a year, that I just have to do this. I would be so good at it. They have been wanting to send clients my way (and have already) My family and friends are in agreement that this is a gift I have that I need to share with others.

For a reasonable hourly rate, I will place ads for hopeful adoptive parents. I will also assist with profile creation, website creation, coaching you on how to speak to a birthmother, assist with the design of adoption networking cards, and answer your toll free number, if you can't. I do not give legal advice, just adoption advertising advice. I can help you start to make contact with potential birthmothers.

For more information, please visit my website at:

http://adoptionadvertising.net

What made me smile yesterday...

Being at my older daughter's school yesterday made me smile. It was my first time volunteering at the school bookstore which is only open 1/2 hour on Mondays and Wednesdays. Kids can come with their money and buy pencils, notebooks, erasers, highlighters. etc. for a small price and "shop". It's run by the PTA. As soon as I get there and ask for the key the school secretary tells me there is going to be a planned fire drill in 5 minutes (at least she gave me heads up).

The bell rings, I lock up the "store" (which is more like a supply closet) and go out the nearest exit, where I see my daughter's class leaving. She forgot I was going to be in her school and gets all excited to see me. I had to laugh-I haven't had a school fire drill in over 20 years. They seem to have them often at our school, especially when the weather is good. I found it so amusing, I just had to smile. Almost like a blast from the past, I got to relive an elementary school moment.

The fire drill killed 1/2 the time the store was to be opened, but after everyone got back in the building, I did have two "customers". One little blond boy was so cute. He had a $20 bill all crumpled up in his pocket and he wanted to buy a 50 cent pencil. I counted out $19.50 in change and told him not to lose the change and to make sure he gave it to his parents. He told me the $20 was his allowance! He was so cute and proud of his purchase, I just had to smile. Two smiles in half an hour!

I've waited for days of volunteering at school all my life and I'm happy to say, I am enjoying them! I'm lucky enough to get to do it for two kids! I'll be an old pro by the time my baby gets to kindergarten!

It took 13 years but....

OJ Simpson was found guilty and will serve jail time!!!! 13 years to the day when he smiled after they found him not guilty for the murder of his wife and her friend Ron Goldman. Thirteen years since he got away with murder, and we all know that he did. I remember that day as if it were yesterday. I remember working at home, being in my apartment, with my very heavy, large black and white laptop. Peering over the table waiting for the verdict to be announced. I thought for sure they would find him guilty. How naive I must have been at 26 years old.

When they announced the verdict my jaw dropped and I sat there in disbelief and anger. I can remember exactly where I was standing. It's almost the way people remember where they were when JFK was shot. I was angry that he would get away with this because he bought his way out of it. Angry because his children now had no mother and he was to blame. Angry because the justice system has failed as far as I was concerned.

The majority of Americans believe he was guilty of murdering his wife and Ron Goldman that that may have hurt him is his recent armed robbery trial in Las Vegas. Nobody has liked OJ since. I hope they throw the book at him and give him the maximum sentence. I hope he lives the rest of his life in prison. He'll probably just get a few years and then be out, but at least he will have to serve time-many people don't care if it is for armed robbery and not for murder. He finally will sit behind bars! Long, long overdue.

What do I want to be when I grow up???

I have been out of work 17 months. I have been looking for a job feverishly for the last four months applying to 10 jobs a week or so. Daycare will be very costly, jobs are paying less than a few years ago and they want you to work your butt off for no overtime. I have been layed off from major corporations twice in six years due to downsizing.

I like the benefits, social aspect and regular paychecks of a job at a large company. I don't like office politics, being denied vacation days and missing out on my kids lives. Every night I go to bed trying to decide-Do I really want another 9-5 job or do I want to try to do my own thing and start my own business.

For over a year now, my adoption lawyers have been telling me how great I would be at starting my own adoption advertising business. I would enjoy working from home, not paying daycare and making my own schedule. They would refer clients to me who need help with profiles, websites and advertising. I could place ads on their behalf. I did extensive research and demographics research on hundreds of newspapers last year, why let it go to waste right? Everybody in my family and all my friends say it's a no brainer and I should do this. Why am I so hesitant and afraid. I don't have much to lose. I have all the skills and knowledge to put this into action. I keep making excuses instead of making the decision to do this.

My heart is so into adoption. I often advise people at no charge. I find it hard to charge for my time and services, but I will have to get over that. I would be so happy to help people and know I have changed their lives. On the flip side, if the results aren't positive, I will feel bad for my clients. I guess I have to learn to separate my heart from my head a bit.

I can't keep mulling this over. I need to make a decision. I am wasting hours every week looking for and applying to jobs in a terrible job market. Domestic adoption is on the rise and there are lots of families out there who I could be helping. This is a great time to start up such a business and my attorneys believe in me so much, they are willing to sit down with me and take time out of their busy schedule to get me started. I guess it's time to start believing in myself and follow my heart into what I hope becomes a fulfilling career.

American Girl has ticked me off!

The other day my 11 year old niece was over and we were looking at the American Girl website. I want to buy my youngest daughter a bitty baby soon and we joked last year how Jenna looked exactly like the blond haired bitty baby they sold LAST YEAR. I emphasize last year, because it seems in the last few months, they changed the blond bitty baby and the eyes are no longer blue. They are blue-grey now, but honestly, they look light green. I called American Girl and asked if they have any of the retired blond bitty babies in stock for sale. Of course they don't.

Now if I want to buy the bitty baby that looks like my daughter, I will have to search ebay and probably pay $100 with shipping for a $42 doll. I am so ticked. Maybe people will complain and they will bring back the blue eyed baby.

Here is the bitty baby I want that they sold for years with blue eyes!























Here is the new, current blond bitty baby with what I think are green eyes:

A day or milestones...

Well today my girls both celebrated milestones. My older daughter had her first dance class for the year, and is now starting her third year of dance. She loved her class and is now taking ballet, tap and jazz. She still has the same dance teacher and was happy that most of the girls were from her class last year. I had to take the annual picture of her in her dance outfit as I do every year on the first day of dance class!

























My younger daughter celebrated a milestone too-she turned 16 months old today! She may not look it, but my fireball is getting older and more mature every month! Of course, I had to take her monthly picture of her too. Now she rarely sits still and it hard to catch her posing! My favorite ended up being one in the high chair!



















That's my girls-making me proud every day!!!

Our cruise on the Love Boat...

On Saturday, September 13th, was our 16th wedding anniversary. Months ago, we decided to book a one night cruise to nowhere on the Norwegian Cruise Line Spirit, out of NYC. My parents watched our girls for a weekend and we were off to celebrate 16 years of wedded bliss!

I had never been on a cruise before and was in awe of the port itself (there were two other cruise ships "parked next to us". Our ship had 13 floors, 11 restaurants and lots of stuff to do. Our room was small as we got the basic room with no porthole. I guess you could say we were in steerage! It was fine for one night. Better than I thought actually. I am claustrophobic and wanted to see how I could hand the small room-I was fine. We were barely in the room!

The food was great, the entertainment was great and it was nice to spend 24 hours not making bottles, cutting up food, changing diapers and telling kids what to do. We had a really great time on our cruise! We were very mature and made fun of the safety video playing in our room and had to try on the lifejackets just for fun! I really enjoyed my husband's company and we were so relaxed not thinking of the kids for one day.

This was a test and since we both liked the cruise, we will consider a longer one to a further away destination! Maybe a four day cruise next??? This is where it comes in handy to have a sister that is a travel agent! Here's a few pictures we took!!!

The shops and promenade on the Spirit


















View of the west side of NYC at pier 88 (near Intrepid Museum)


















Not bad for a picture taken by the camera on a timer! Love the fake window!

It's September 11th-again...

Just about every year since September 11, 2001, I have watched some, if not all, of the reading of the names of those that died at the World Trade Center attacks. It's been seven years, but those families will always come out to the memorial ceremony. This year, some rather young children read names and then did it in memory of their father who died on 9/11. From how old they look, they probably barely remember him. Every year, what those family members say, often brings me to tears. Lives lost to soon. Children missing fathers, wives missing husbands, sisters missing brothers, and friends missing friends.

I am lucky, we did not lose anyone close to us on 9/11. I feel grateful for that. I also feel sadness every year for the thousands of people I never met, but yet feel their loss. Hearing their name, seeing a small picture, their age, and where they were from, makes it real. They were people with lives. If it weren't were fate, I could have been a grieving widow. My entire life would have been radically and tragically altered. God spared our family this pain. Other families were not so fortunate.

This year, I had to explain 9/11 to my oldest daughter, who was asked to where red, white and blue to school today. I gave a brief explanation of what happened. I didn't think a five year old needed to be frightened with images, she just needed to know it's a day to remember and to celebrate being an American. I'm sure in years to come, I will have to explain in further detail what happened to both my daughters. I don't look forward to that, but it's a part of life and now a part of history. A sad part of history.

If I live to be 100, I will always remember what I was doing when I heard of the 9/11 attacks. I will never forget.

Happy Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa

Today is my grandparents actual wedding anniversary-62 years! WOW!!!!! It seems like just yesterday, they held a big 40th anniversary party-like a wedding! That was 22 years ago. My grandparents were afraid they would not make a 50th anniversary and had a big 40th so they could enjoy their party while they were healthy enough to dance.

Luckily, in spite of some healthy crisis's my grandparents are still in relatively good health and go out and do things almost every day. My grandfather is now 91 and my grandmother 81. We got the whole clan together to celebrate yesterday-the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. We were 23 people in total I think. We had a wonderful dinner and it was nice to see my cousins and their kids. We ranged in age from the youngest (my daughter, who is one), to the oldest (Grandpa at 91). The youngest generation is made up of eight girls, all under the age of 11! My grandfather is still waiting for a great grandson!!!

I am lucky enough to come from a stable family where couples stay married for the duration. Last week, my parents celebrated 40 years of marriage and next week my husband and I will celebrate 16 years of marriage. My aunts and uncles are all married 35 plus years. Marriage isn't always easy-almost every couple married for many years has been through ups and downs. They only tell their closest family and friends-infertility, financial woes, health problems, loss of a child, strains of working, difficulties raising children, learning to compromise, and still loving each other through the journey.

It seems like the good times, the fun times and the love make all the bad times seem like distant memories. I can still remember our first few years married, some of the great trips we took, some of the silly things we did and the fun we had being young and in love. Although it's easy to take anniversaries for granted, we shouldn't.

We should celebrate each and every one. In this day and age, a lasting marriage is something to be celebrated. So here's to you-my grandparents-for setting such a fine example of what marriage and love are!

My big girl's first day of school...

Well my older Daughter boarded the bus today for her first day of kindergarten. She's been waiting for this for years-literally! I know she's fine-my Mom works at the school and called me to say she's doing great! I don't know who is more excited-Jac or my Mom!

We were married over 10 years when by some miracle Jacqueline did come along. There were many many days I cried thinking I would never get the joy of putting my child on the bus on the first day of school. I have looked forward to this day for years. It's great to experience the "firsts" as a parent. I love that I get to do it one more time with Jenna and experience all the "firsts" one last time.

Being a parent-no matter how you become a parent-is soooo wonderful!

Here are a few pictures of my daughter waiting for and boarding the bus! Thanks for looking!

Happy Birthday Dad...

We just got home from celebrating my father's 61st birthday. 13 of us altogether gathered for dinner and cake and a little craziness. Things get crazy when you have people together that range in age from 91 to one!

This year was a special year. Usually a 61st birthday isn't, but for us it was. In early June, he had a very serious heart attack. He's had two stents put in his heart in two separate surgeries. This summer has not been an easy one for our family, especially my parents. Although he has a few issues that will need to be addressed with his heart in years to come, we are happy he's alive, OK and back to work. We all chipped in and got him an Nikon D80 digital camera and lenses, camera bag etc. It's backordered, so I had to make a computer printout of the gift. He's really excited. We normally would not have splurged, but we know how much he wanted it and we realized time is precious.

I've spent a lot of time this summer worrying about my Dad, it was nice to celebrate for a change. Tomorrow we get to celebrate my parents 40th anniversary!


Here's a picture of my father and his four granddaughters. Hopefully, these little ones are the reason he takes care of himself and lives a long life!

Gone baby Gone

Caylee Anthony is gone, baby, gone. I had been meaning to see the movie for a while now and finally got around to it. When you have two young daughters, it's scary to think they could be abducted in the blink of an eye. I liked the movie and I couldn't help but think of poor missing Caylee Anthony. I have been following her case since the start.

Forensic evidence came back yesterday proving a decomposing body was in the back of her mother's car-almost certainly indicating that Caylee is dead. It didn't come as a surprise to me or many others. I held out a glimmer of hope that someone still had her alive and was hiding her.

In the movie Gone Baby Gone, a four year old goes missing. The poor girl led a miserable life and would have been better off being adopted by a loving family. She is found alive at the end and returned to her mother to continue her life, filled with unhappiness, loneliness and lack of affection. Had Casey Anthony decided to place her baby for adoption before she was born, that little girl would have just celebrated a third birthday with a family that adored her and could have been enjoying the last carefree days of summer. A life that could have been saved. Caylee-you deserved so much better!

I hope they recover her body soon, where ever her mother buried or discarded it. Her grandparents and uncle seemed to care and I'm sure would like to have a proper funeral and burial for her. As for Casey Anthony-I have no use for her. She is a mentally ill, sociopath who loved partying and men more then her own daughter.

There are couples and families who would do ANYTHING to adopt a baby and love them unconditionally. Then there are parents who kill, abuse and discard their children with no appreciation for the gift God has given them. The world is full of injustices.

Just like a tattoo...

I'll always have you..............Jordin Sparks said it best.

I have to admit, I have been thinking a lot about getting a tattoo lately. I have always wanted one. Years ago, I would have picked my alter ego-Snoopy as Joe Cool and put it on my ankle. I still may do it, but right now I want to memorialize my two babies lost to miscarriages in 2006. I have been looking at designs, but am undecided. Maybe cherubs, maybe hearts with angel wings, I'm not sure at all. Looking online can make your mind spin-so many designs, websites, things to think of. I think I have narrowed it down a bit, but need to give it more thought since it will be permanent.

I'm hoping it will help me heal a bit. I think of them every single day. For my husband the pain is not as real. He thinks I am overreacting when I even bring up the miscarriages. Tomorrow would have been my first angel's 2nd birthday. She was due to be born by C-Section on 8/25/06. I should have been having a 2nd birthday party today and not thinking about how to memorialize angels I never met.

I did see a beautiful image of two angels that reminded me of my two girls. My beautiful brunette and my angelic blondie. Here's the image that reminds of my my angels here on earth!

I got my text message from Barack Obama....

at 3:30 AM!!!!!!!!!!! I was sleeping and heard by cell phone go off that I had a text. I know nobody would text me at that time. It was either the VP decision I signed up for or an Amber alert. It was the VP decision. I was not surprised by his choice to pick Joe Biden and was actually disappointed in 1) receiving a text that woke me up and 2) that he did not pick Hillary Clinton. Needless to say, I just shut my cell phone off for the rest of the night and went back to bed. A very anti climatic decision if you ask me.

Supposedly there was a leak that forced the Obama camp to send out there text after 3AM Eastern time. Most expected the text to come this morning, when people are awake.

Much ado about nothing....hopefully, I will get a better night's sleep tonight!

I love facebook...

I just signed up for facebook the other day, after a friend invited me. I was so surprised to find out lots of people I know were on it, unlike myspace. I guess it's more user friendly to us old farts in our upper 30s! I have to say, it's easier to use.

I connected with some old college friends, old high school friends, old co-workers, current friends and even some old grammar school friends. It's great to know I can reach out to them and see how they are doing now. I love seeing the pictures of my friends and their families. I was reluctant to sign up for a long time, but I am glad I did. I do encourage it, especially if you are planning a reunion of some kind and hoping to contact people you've been out of touch with for a while.

It's cool to see how everyone has their circle of friends and how they have a few friends in common with you-it's like 6 degrees of separation! Great for social networking!

The Olympics should be for amateurs....

Up until 1988, the Olympics were for amateurs. It was their time to shine. The young non professional athletes waited their whole life to possibly become a household name. For the past 20 years, the Olympics has become a mix of professional athletes and amateurs and I don't think it's fair.

That's what made the Olympics exciting-young, undiscovered talent hoping to win their country the Gold medal. Mark Spitz, Bruce Jenner, Eric Heiden and the 1980 Mens Hockey team will forever stand out in my mind-my childhood Olympic heros. Unknowns rising to be American heros. Making our country proud and encouraging the youth of our country to go for the Gold.

In this summer Olympics, we have pro tennis players, some countries have pro baseball players and of course pro basketball players. The US did not send our best pro baseball players-they are too greedy to take two weeks off and miss two weeks pay to make our country proud. They are already "discovered" and well paid. Pro hockey takes a break during winter Olympics so athletes can represent their team in the Olympics.

I personally like watching womens softball the best. I can relate, I played softball. For these women, this is as good as it gets and the highlight of their career. Once a player graduates from college, there isn't anywhere to go. No leagues, no going pro. Women of all ages from all parts of the country playing together in hopes of medaling!

I hope people around the world appreciate the dedication these athletes have for their sport. I hope a new breed of Olympic heros rises and that they are the amateurs. Pros have the endorsements already, millions of fans and multi-million dollar paychecks. They don't need another pat on the back. Let and up and coming athlete have a moment of glory.

Happy Birthday Caylee Anthony

Happy Birthday Caylee! Today you turn 3! You should be celebrating with friends and family. A party with cake and ice cream, lots of balloons, maybe even a clown. Instead of today being a day of celebration, it's just marks one more day that you are missing. Nobody has seen or heard from you since mid June. A web of lies and deceit makes the investigation more complex. A nation is concerned for you, but we are all helpless. The only one who holds to the key to where you are is your mother and she's not talking. Millions of people are thinking of you and praying for you today-just know that you are loved.

With each passing day, the prospect of finding you alive grows dimmer. As a parent of two young girls, I am fascinated and disgusted, all at the same time, by your disappearance. My heart aches for you-a young, innocent soul, who should be enjoying a care free childhood. If one of my girls were missing for a hour, I'd by hysterical. You're missing for 7 weeks, yet your mother only talks of herself and found time to party, shortly after you went missing. Right now you are a lost soul. I hope you are found so we have closure to the mystery that surrounds you.

Whether you are somewhere on this earth, or up in heaven-Happy Birthday to you!

What happened to Fat March???

There was a show on last summer that I loved-it was called Fat March. I was hoping it would come back this summer. It was a show about overweight people that were picked to participate in the game, with a prize based on how many team members made it to the finish. The contestants had to walk a certain distance in a certain number of hours every day. Everyone lost lots of weight. They were working with personal trainers and their meals were very healthy. Unfortunately every night they had to sleep in tents. That must just kill you after walking all day.

I loved the show and found it inspirational. I was hoping it would come back, but it didn't. Oh well, I'll just have to wait until The Biggest Loser returns for my fix of reality TV dieting!!

The search for Caylee Anthony

I have been following the Caylee Anthony story very closely since it first broke. I hope her mother remains in jail. She is obstructing justice to say the least. She shows no concern about her daughter and is more concerned about herself. She did not report her daughter missing for over a month??? I would by hysterical if one of my daughters were missing for an hour. I would be distraught and probably unable to function. I would be begging everyone to look for her, pleading for her safe return. Casey Anthony has not done this. I think her parents are enabling her or covering up for her. They know more than they lead us to believe. They have not been direct in talking to the authorities.

I hope investigators know more than they are letting on. They are no closer to finding Caylee than when she was first reporting missing. The truth is, more than likely, poor Caylee is probably dead at the hands of her mother or her mother's boyfriend. Casey knows where she is-probably buried somewhere in a shallow grave. Tell us what you know-come clean-tell the truth. Let's put this case to rest.

Was Caylee sold for money? Was there ever a nanny? Did she die in an accident and you are covering it up? Was she killed intentionally? Is she being held for ransom and you are afraid to speak up? Did you want to get rid of her, so you could party like other 22 year olds?

There's more to the story-let's hear it. There are thousands of couples who would have adopted your little girl if you no longer wanted to be her mother. She deserved better than what she got. I hope I am wrong, but my gut tells me this little girl has been dead for weeks. I pray I am wrong!

The people in your neighborhood..

I have lived in my house almost nine years. Today during my walk (for exercise) I was reflecting on the people in my neighborhood. It was nice to see my 22 year old neighbor (a guy) playing catch with his Dad in the street. It was sad to see one neighbor walking a dog that was once spry and is now struggling to walk and quite old.

A street sign that has been missing practically since we moved here was finally replaced. How long before someone steals that "Princeton Drive" sign yet again?? As the neighbor hood turns! The kids that played in their front yards when we moved her in are driving and in high school or college. Scary how the years have flown by. I actually knew the family that lived here before us. I went to high school with their son. They lived here 27 years and raised three kids. I like to think of my house as a "happy house". The kids grew up and moved out. They had an inground pool and closed in up-we still get magazines. My husband thinks he knew where in the yard it was. I wonder if it was broke or nobody was using it, so they filled it up? I wished I had more info on the pool.

I have a neighbor who is elderly and an original home owner. She tells me stories about the other families that lived in the neighborhood and in my house. I think it's kind of cool!

I will always remember this house as our first house. A house I fell in love with because of the property, it needed quite a bit of renovation. A house we had ups and downs in and the house we brought both our children home to. Sometimes I fast forward to the future and I can still see my husband and I living here. The house is quieter and I have my office back and a guest room for when the kids come to visit. So much of this house is ours-the new windows, new kitchen, new bathroom. It didn't feel like our house at firstm, but it did after we put our own touches on it!

I love my neighborhood and house. NY is getting expensive to live in. I hope we can stay here and not be forced to move to somewhere cheaper. I'd hate to be forced to move from a place I love so much.

The kindness of strangers

Yes, strangers can be kind people-even in NY. I usually run a craigslist ad in my county advertising my Lia Sophia business. A woman who used to sell Lia Sophia emailed me and asked if I wanted some of her old supplies at no charge. She was going to throw them away and thought I could use them.

She lives about 1/2 hour away-but comes to the next town over to tutor a kid. We met in the town where she tutors and she gave me the stuff, lots of forms, a tote bag, some postcards and a retired piece of jewelry. So nice of her. I had brought with me a dunkin donuts gift card to give to her and am so glad I did. She was so nice and glad to help me out!

It just goes to show-there is still goodness and kindness in the world-now if I could just get some more Lia Sophia parties booked-I'll be psyched!

So confused....Big girls don't cry-do they???

I am so confused right now, I feel torn. I have been dieting for the past 20 years. In college, I just needed to lose 10 or 20 pounds and I did gain and lose. I wasn't unhappy with my weight for the most point at that time in my life. I was an underweight child, always being told to eat.

Over the past 10 years or so, my weight has become an issue. In 1996, I joined weight watchers and came within two pounds of goal and stopped going. I had lost 47 pounds and was wearing size 7. Unfortunately the weight came back as quickly as it came off. In June 1998 I joined weight watchers (for the 2nd time). I lost 55 pounds in 6 months. I went six pounds under goal and became a weight watchers leader. I wore size 5. I felt great-better at 30 that I felt at 20! I thought there is no way I will gain it back-WRONG! Within a year, I gained it all back and then some.

The last few years have been very disappointing. My motivation to even have an honest week of dieting is not there. It's difficult to exercise with two kids. I do have success if I go to weight watchers meetings regularly and have a motivating leader. Just this past fall I lost 28 pounds-in nine weeks-and then stopped going to WW!

My sister had gastric bypass surgery in March of this year. It got me thinking about lap band surgery. I finally went to a free seminar. I am very interested and not afraid of the surgery itself. It appears my insurance will cover it, but it takes 3-6 months to get approved. I would have to gain a decent amount of weight to have a BMI over 40 to get approved easily for the surgery. I won't do that. I think it's counter productive. I want to get approved the way I am. My BMI is over 35 and I do some a couple of co-morbities, but they are slight, one being sleep apnea. I am pre diabetic, my triglycerides are always over 500 and my blood pressure is about 145 over 90 all the time. I have asthma and back problems. My weight isn't helping at all! I am worrying about my future health, diabetes and heart disease run rampant in my family.

I hate to waste 3-6 months waiting to be approved. What if I am denied? That's months I could have been trying to lose weight again. I feel like my life is on hold. I will have to go through another birthday and Thanksgiving and Christmas looking and feeling like this. I haven't been watching what I am eating or taking walks the last few weeks because I don't want to lose weight before my consultation with the bariatric surgeon. I'm not considering the surgery because I can't lose weight, it's because I can't keep it off and gain it back SO fast. The yo-yo dieting is not good for my heart.

Part of me wants to try weight watchers or a traditional diet one more time-right now. The other part says that since I am not working now, it's an opportunity to pursue lap band surgery and change my life. I want to be thin forever, not for six months or so. I know if I don't have the surgery, 5 or 10 years from now, nothing will change-I will weight the same, possibly more. I have to do something to change my fate and save my life. Diets only have short term results for me. I want my life back while my kids are young. I felt so good the few times in my adult life I was thin-I want to feel like that again. I know the surgery has no guarantees, but statistically, it's much more successful than traditional dieting. Lifestyle changes must be made.

I am so confused, but I am moving forward with the lap band surgery route. I really and truly feel it's my key to being at a normal weight for the rest of my life. I hope I'm doing the right thing.

Gentlemen start your engines....

I have been needing tires for my SUV for a long time. Finally Saturday, I decided I could not wait any longer. The front tires were bald on the sides. I love the tires I had, they were BF Goodrich and were $83 or so a tire-not bad for an SUV. When I drop the car off, the guy says they are now $110 each. I wasn't going for that. I asked "What's cheaper?"

He said he had these tires made by BF Goodrich, good quality, but they are rough and a little nosier. For $93 a tire, it was the best I could do. I can withstand a little noise-right? Well $563 dollars later (I needed an oil change and an alignment), I was good to go. OUCH!

When I drove the car out of the lot, I could immediately tell it was louder. My SUV is driving like a pick up truck and the only way I could describe the increased noise in the tires is the SWOOSH you get when all the cars pass you at a Nascar race. Seriously. I never thought tires could make that big of deal in how your car SOUNDS. I'm getting used to them-let's just put it at that. Maybe I should have shopped around more...I guess the Mark Martin license plate holder on the back of my car is appropriate now!

There are worse things I could do....

So yesterday my older daughter graduated from pre-school. We took her to Toys R Us to pick out a new bike. She was thrilled. While I was there, I happened to spot these Grease Barbie Dolls. Never saw them before. There was just one Rizzo left. I couldn't take the chance of not having this doll. I went back to the store and bought it for myself!!! $35 on a doll for myself. Even the cashier commented on what a great doll she is!

It's ironic because I never liked dolls in the first place-ever. I just had to have it!!! I love her in her pink ladies jacket-I could just picture here saying "I'm going to RULLLLEEE the school" There are so few Barbie dolls with black hair. As a kid, I hated that all the dolls were blonde and blue eyed, I never could relate. No doll looked like me. Dolls in the 1970's didn't look like Italian girls! I love the movie Grease. I've seen the play Grease quite a few times. I was in Grease in High School (guess what part I played???). I think it will look nice next my daughter's collectible "I love Lucy" doll! My husband was a good sport about it and laughed, knowing how much I did want this doll.

So-here she is....Rizzo! Isn't she great?? There are worst things I could do, then buy a doll or two.

Prom night on Friday the 13th???

It sounds like a recipe for a teen horror movie! Last night was a beautiful June night here and one of our local high schools was having their prom. As I navigated the local streets with my kids in tow, I saw groups of teens dressed in tuxedos and beautiful dresses posing for pictures on suburban lawns. I can't even imagine what these parents spent on limos, prom tickets, dresses, makeup, hair, tuxes, etc. It was so nice to see though. To be 18 again! I got a bit teary eyed.

It was 21 years ago (yipes!) that I went to my senior prom with my husband-who was then my boyfriend of four months! I told my oldest daughter how grandma and I went to a bridal store months before to pick out the electric blue dress I would wear and I had shoes and a purse dyed to match! How my hair and makeup were done just so and how my friends and I all rented a limo and were so excited. I told my daughter that her Dad was a great prom date. Although he wasn't into dancing much, he did take me to NYC for a horse and carriage ride in Central Park and then to a comedy club. We came home the next morning, exhausted, but happy!

I can't wait until my girls are old enough to go to the prom! They can go to more than one each! I don't care what it costs. As the mother of two girls, I have the thrill of picking out the dress and the jewelry and getting caught up in all the prom hoopla! It's one of those moments that mothers of daughters live for! I can just picture my girls looking stunning all dressed up-perfect ladies.
The way the years fly by, that day will come before I know it.

It's like a heat wave......

This is day four of the New York area's pre-summer heat wave. Yesterday and today, many local schools had early dismissal as our schools are not air conditioned and the heat was just too much for staff and students. I have barely left the house since the heatwave started. Our air conditioners are on almost continuously-I can't wait to see the Con Ed bill! I don't have a choice, as my kids are little and I have asthma.

At one point today, my indoor thermometer than measure the outside temperature said 101.4 (and that was at 10:30 this AM). I did take a picture of my old outdoor thermometer, just about touching 100. I hope this early heat wave is not a preview of the kind of summer we will have. Tonight the heatwave is supposed to break, with temps only in the 80s the rest of the week. Last night at 11pM when I went to bed it was 87 degrees! That's just plain crazy!

Here's my thermometer (I have no idea how old it is and yes we need to paint our back awning big time!)

Other people's happiness..

makes me happy!!! I am so lucky to be part of the coolest adoption board on the internet. I have been a member for almost a year and a half and have met some of the local members. These women are great-helpful, knowledgable, supportive, and caring. I don't know what I would have done without this group!!!

Today was a great day on the board! I woke up, logged on and found that a local member has a son! Her baby due in early July, arrived a few days ago. He came into the world very quickly and is doing great in the NICU! Rights have been terminated so he's theirs forever. Then another close friend and fellow New Yorker lets it be known that her daughter was born yesterday and released from the hospital today and is doing great. I even got to speak to the 2nd time Mom briefly today!! So exciting!! Then, I just read a post from a member who is planning on adopting from her local foster program. They received info on two sisters today during a meeting and long story, THEY HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS. The girls will start visits in a few weeks and transition to their new home! Wow-that's four new ducklings (as we call them) in the pond in just one day!!! That may be a record!

We also had a group of ladies from our board get together for a scrapbooking event. Many drove and flew hundreds of miles to get together and share their love of scrapbooking! It was nice to see pictures of the group!

I also feel good-happy to be helping others. My day started with a call from a friend I went to high school with and a chat about adoption that lasted an hour. I was giving her more info and hints as they are planning on private adoption. I also helped a local couple who are planning on a private, independent adoption by emailing them lots of helpful information, including a copy of our profile.

My calling must be for adoption. I truly get excited hearing good news regarding adoption. I also am very deeply saddenly when my friends have a setback.

I really need to get my act in order and start my adoption assistance business. I can make some money, help people create a family and really make myself happy all at the same time!!

For everyone reading this who thinks that to adopt a baby or child in the US is impossible, it's not. If you take time, do what your attorney tells you and don't give up, you will eventually be a parent. Trust me. Three couples today became parents to four children! Three couples that I personally know are on top of the world tonight!

My baby turns one today!!!

Happy birthday to my baby girl! I can't believe she's one! That was a fast year! It felt like just yesterday that we were racing up North to meet her. It was surreal and it still is. It has been an exciting, enjoyable year with out new addition. She has brought such joy to our lives, I can't even describe it. She has grown and changed so much!! Happy birthday my princess!

Here is the first picture I took of my daughter, just after meeting her, at about 3 hours old:

Here's a picture of her taken Saturday at a local park (first time on the swings)

Today was like a dream...

I took my almost one year old to the park today-spur of the moment. The weather was great, a nice Spring day with a light breeze. Nobody was at the park, we had it all to ourselves. I took some beautiful pictures of the stream by the park and then some pictures of my daughter in action. It was her first time on the swings and she loved it!!! She also loved when I held her and she went down the slide. Nothing scares this girl and I wouldn't be surprised if she grows up to be a stuntwoman. She is a daredevil to say the least!!!

Here are some pictures of my wonderful trip to the park with my baby! I never dreamed I would have days like this 7 or 10 years ago with children were so elusive to me! A simple trip to the park was such a powerful experience for me. I enjoyed every single second with her. I breathe in the air and took the whole experience in, the sounds, the sun, her expressions-everything. It was like the ultimate gift!! Every Mom should have days like this!!!

"Not his real daughter"

My sister often says my youngest daughter looks like Shiloh Jolie Pitt, youngest daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt (at least until those twins come along). I was surfing the net and found pictures of Shiloh when she was turning one to compare to Jenna. There is quite a resemblance and she is almost exactly a year older than my daughter.

Anyway, I mention it to my mother in law and she says "You mean Brad Pitt's real daughter, not the adopted one". That really irked me. Hello! All Brad and Angelina's kids are real-you can see them, touch them and play with them. I guess she meant biological, but the way it came out gave me the impression that the children that were adopted aren't real. I know that's an underlying factor in her thinking. My husband has a cousin who was adopted and she told her sons "that's not REALLY your cousin". Well when they played together, spent holidays together and were raised as cousins-they were cousins-blood related or not. For years my husband and his brother never knew. What difference did it make?? It's the love, not the blood that bonds.

Do they offer adoption education classes for family members? I have a few I could sign up!!! Anyway, here's Shiloh (with her Mom and Z) just around the time she turned one:






















Here's a recent picture of Jenna:

I'm no fan of ebay right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday I went to log onto my ebay account and found I am "no longer a registered user" HELLO???? It seems I listed an item that can be delivered electronically under the wrong format-as an auction vs. a classifed ad?? This is a new rule for electronically delivered goods. I think pulling the auction of that one item and giving me a warning would be the right approach. I had things for sale, with bids and everything was pulled down. I can't even log on to check the credit card number I used to pay the rediculous extortion like ebay fees they charge. I am ticked off beyong belief!!

We have people on ebay that bid on hundreds of items and never pay, people trying to sell babies and body parts and people that are committing fraud and they suspend my account for using the wrong format to sell an item??? Come on! I have been selling on ebay almost 11 years and had 2600 positive feedbacks. I'm one of the good guys.

Let's see how long it takes them to review the situation and get back to me. They may or may not decide to reactivate my account. I'm not stupid, I have two other ebay accounts, so I can still bid and sell, but they have nowhere need the positive feedback my main account had.

I am sooo pissed. You have no idea. I was going to ramp up my ebay sales and clean out my basement too! I'll keep you posted.

My new favorite song..Amazing

I first heard this song on onetruemedia.com and noticed people were picking it as music to their montages. My niece had made a montage to this song as well! The song is Amazing by Janelle (a Christian singer). Every time I hear it, I think of my youngest daughter. Even my older daughter says it reminds her of Jenna. Why didn't this great song get any airplay??? It pretty much brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. It's so touching and uplifting.

It's hard to find, but I did buy the mp3 from Walmart.com and I think you can find it on limewire. You can also find it on myspace if you look up Janelle and Christian music. Who would expect a girl from NYC to be singing Christian music??? It's a great song, I don't think I will ever get tired of hearing! Have a listen!

Here's her link on myspace:

Amazing by Janelle

One year ago today.......

I was layed off. I packed my desk and left-upset. Not that I loved my job, but I liked the people there, it was close to home and I feared how it would affect our adoption plans.

A friend of mine who was layed off that day said to me as I walked out the door "One door closes, another one opens. You'll see-something will happen with the adoption". I shook my head. Nothing had been happening in weeks and I now worried about being able to afford ads.

I had tickets to see Grease at a local dinner theatre that night. I did not feel like going, but I already paid for the ticket. I showered, but on my game face and went out with the Moms from Jac's school. It was our ladies night!

In the middle of the play, my cell phone starts lighting up. I'm getting a call from a strange area code - 603-could that be New Hampshire?? We did have an ad running there this week. I could not run out of the theatre to get it, so it went to voicemail. I listened to the message at intermission-it was a very nice sounding woman who wanted to talk to me about our ad in the paper.

The rest is history. How my life changed in one year! Just when I was at my lowwest, I got "the call". Your life can change with one call! April 27th will forever be a special day!

I feel so blessed....

I feel like the luckiest woman alive. I have two healthy happy children, a husband that loves me and supports me (even when I get these crazy notions) and friends that care about me. I may not be rich in a material sense, but I consider myself very very wealthy for all that I do have.

I feel especially lucky when I think of how just about one year ago, we received a call that would change our lives. We were blessed with a birthmother and situation that was just perfect. A terrific woman wanting to make an adoption plan, driving distance away, a healthy, beautiful baby, only two weeks from first conversation to birth, everything went smoothly legally, we got to stay in a nice New England city with stores and restaurants, the weather was great, our families drove up to see us in the middle of our ICPC wait, it was just perfect. I never dreamed we'd be so lucky. There were days I doubted we would even be chosen.

It scares me to think of the "what ifs". What if she didn't see our ad? What if she didn't have the courage to call us? What if we did not take the chance and commit because we had no medical information on the birthmom? What if the birthmom changed her mind?

Almost a year later and I am still pinching myself that it all happened and happened so smoothly. When I look at my baby, I just want to cry with happiness. She has changed our entire family's outlook. We are complete now, we are happy and not still searching and waiting for a little one to join our family. We feel relief, gratitude, and love.

Our angel was sent to us, just when I was at the end of my rope and tired of dealing with failures, medical issues and fear. She even looks like an angel. I know she was sent to us by God and that we needed her as much as she needed us.

I always say how unlucky I am-never win anything, things don't go my way, etc. It's been over 11 months and I have not complained once about being unlucky. All the material winnings I was thinking of don't matter. I no longer complain-I'm not unlucky....I am BLESSED!

My princess turned 11 months old today!

Time is just flying by-my baby turned 11 months today! Where has the time gone? My life has really changed in the past year. It's scary how fast time is going by and how quickly the kids are growing!!!

We're planning a one year old birthday party and can't wait to celebrate it! I still pinch myself that it's real and that she is ours. She's a fireball! Full of energy, giggles and smiles! Always on the go, no moss will ever grow under her feet. I can already see she will be the daredevil of the family!!

Here are a few pictures I took today!!! Move over Rachael Ray-here is the Food Networks newest sensation!

It felt so good...

to visit my friend at the hospital last weekend and see her new baby-and NOT feel bad. I was truly happy for her and for the first time, it was OK for me to walk into the maternity floor and not feel sorry for myself. This was the first time I've had to visit a friend in the maternity ward since our baby has arrived. Trust me-having our baby has made all the difference in the world. I am so happy and so complete now-I can't even describe the feeling. I can go visit new babies, go to baby showers, go to one year old birthday parties, go to baptisms and NOT feel bad!!! For the first time in years, I can enjoy!

This particular friend has an older daughter and her and I were due the same week in 2006. We joked about being in the hospital at the same time. Unfortunately for me, that was my first miscarriage, her daughter will be two this August. Every time I see her toddler, I can't help to think what could have been for me.

Fate and destiny led us to our baby and she was meant to be ours. Everything that happened to me the past few years happened for a reason. She was meant to be our daughter. She is our angel sent from heaven and she (as well as her older sister) make me happy every single day!

Happiness and Sadness.....

That's what I see when my grandparents visit us. They live 2 miles away and we see them a few times a week. My grandma is 81, but grandpa is 91. He still drives, cooks, cleans up, plays bingo and cards, reads the paper and of course watches his Yankee games. He's in great shape for his age and his mind is as sharp as a tack. His hearing is another story! In November, he had a minor stroke that miracously left him with no side effects. I worry about him a lot. He shuffles his feet more and more and stumbles and I swear a fall will be what brings him down.

I am so happy he got to see my baby. When 2006 brought me two miscarriages and he was 89, I was so afraid he would not be alive to see my 2nd child. It bothered me on a daily basis. Happily he did get to see her and enjoys playing with her. Of his eight great grandchildren, I think she is his favorite. He's in awe of Jenna. On one hand, he is so happy to see her and gets such a kick out of her (she totally plays up to him) and on the other hand, I see a sadness in his eyes. He knows his years are numbered and he won't get to see the kids grown up, graduate college, and get married. Sometimes I am afraid when I say goodbye to them, it could be the last time. We're very close and I will be devastated when they pass.

I guess that's part of growing old-the happiness of experiencing many years of life, but the sadness in knowing that the sun is setting on his life and he won't get to see the newest generation fulfil their dreams. I just let the kids see their great grandparents as often as possible and pray they continue to live relatively healthy lives.

Losing my religion....

I already lost my religion in June 2007. My Roman Catholic church refused to baptize my baby because she was adopted and the adoption was not finalized. They called the Archdiosese of NY in front of me-as it if made me feel better. They were afraid of getting sued if the birthmother wanted her back. I had papers from my lawyer that stated irrevocable consent had been signed and there was no way we would ever lose custody of our daughter. Her birthmother was Catholic and was happy we were baptizing her. I practically begged-to no avail. The Monsignor told me not to worry, nothing will happen to the baby. I didn't think anything would. My father said they were fishing for a bigger donation. I left the rectory with a deep sense of sadness. Would Jesus have refused to baptize an innocent baby? Why is the baby being punnished-she did nothing wrong. The Catholic church should be more worried about being sued over children being touched and molested by priests! That's the reality!

I was shocked and devastated. I had been attending that church faithfully for 15 years. I contacted the church where I went as a teenager and was married at-they wanted a letter from my parish-so I was back to square one. I contacted another local church that I head baptizes adopted children. They said they would gladly do it. I made the arrangements, did make a donation and was happy to have my daughter baptized at 4 months old instead of a year old, which is how old she would have been had I waited until finalization papers came through. I was so happy. They did not know me from a hole in the wall, I never was a parishioner there, but they were very nice to me. The priest even wore vestments with children on them. It was very important to me that she be baptized at a few months old.

Christmas and Easter have come and gone and I still cannot step foot in my parish. Seeing the Monsignor who refused to baptize her upsets me. My family says I am over reacting. I don't think so. I was was the one who was denied to my face. My dilemma now is what to do? Do I return to my old church and try to get past it? Do I start to attend the church that did baptize my daughter even though it's out of the way? Do I start to research becoming a Protestant?

It's things like this that make Catholics question the church and convert to other religions. People cannot believe it when I tell them they would not baptize her. I have many friends who have had the same problem, while in other parts of NY, adoptive parents can baptize their children whenever they want-even if the adoption is not final.

The Catholic Church needs to be consistent in how they handle baptizing adopted children. For now I have lost my religion and don't know how to find it again. The Pope is coming to my part of NY next week-do I care-NO!

Lia Sophia-I'm on my way!!!

I'm on my way! I had a great Lia Sophia starter party last Friday night. Over $1,000 in sales and two bookings!!! I earned lots of free jewelry I will use for samples!!!

My first party where I am the advisor is on April 18th and then my next one is April 25th! I'm excited and nervous all at the same time! I met my manager and trained with her on Friday. I received my starter kit and love the sample jewelry they sent me! I went out to Staples and bought some supplies I will need for my business.

I feel like I am really in a good place with this now! I would love to get more bookings lined up and then I would be feeling great. I went around to local supermarkets, post office and laundromats and left flyers I made up on their bulletin board. I have been spreading the news of my new business by word of mouth and so have my friends and family!

I will do everything in my power to make this business successful! I don't want to go back to a 9-5 job. I want to be available for my kids everyday!

Here's my Lia Sophia Website for anyone that wishes to browse! I'm happy to help anyone in Westchester, Putnam, or Dutchess county, NY as well as nearby CT or NJ!

Joanne's Lia Sophia website! www.jewelrybyliasophia.com

It's official-I am a Lia Sophia Advisor!

Well, I had my starter party on Friday night and it was a big success. Almost $1,000 in sales and orders still coming in and two bookings. I am lucky to have such supportive family and friends! I made up some fliers and will put them up locally on bulletin boards. I also have some other ideas to book parties-that's my main priority now-lining up the parties!!!

I should be getting my starter kit this week and can't wait to see the jewelry in it. I have to call my manager and arrange for some training sessions. I am determined to be successful at this I want to remain a stay at home mother. I don't want to "have to" send my kids to daycare. I know horror stories from personal friends, especially with infants.

I will flaunt my display jewelry and use it as a tool to strike up conversation about Lia Sophia. I know it takes time for a new business to "take off" so I have to tell myself I will keep focused and not give up if I don't see immediate results!

Wish my luck. I am hoping this decision will change my life-for the better!!

Here's my Lia Sophia website-as soon as I get an official LS site, it will appear. For now, I have a temporary site:

Joanne's Lia Sophia website

Have a laugh-Church Bulletin Bloopers...

They're Back! Those Wonderful Church Bulletins! My favorite it about the Weight Watcher meeting!

Thank God for church ladies with typewriters. These sentences appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services (Summer, 2007 Release).

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The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
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The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water." The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus."
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Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.
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Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
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The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.
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Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.
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Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
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Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
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For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
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Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
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The Rector will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing:
"Break Forth Into Joy."
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Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church.
So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
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At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?"
Come early and listen to our choir practice.
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Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
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Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
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Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
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The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
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Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow..
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The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
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This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
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Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.
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The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
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Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
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The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
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Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use the large double door at the side entrance.
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The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday : "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours".

Happy Belated St. Patrick's Day!

Yesterday we celebrated St. Patrick's Day. We were more excited about it then ever! An Italian family care about St. Pat's Day-since when??? Since our youngest daughter came along!! She is part Irish and we want to make sure we celebrate her heritage with her! About two months ago, I bought her a cute "My first St. Patrick's Day" shirt and then her Godmother gave her a matching bib that says "Kiss me, I'm Irish!" She looked so cute. Unfortunately we did not go out yesterday as my older daughter had a nasty stomach bug. She wore her green shirt, but did not want to be in the pictures-I have to say-she looked as green as the shirt! So without further ado, here are the pictures of my little girl who will be 10 months old in a few days!!!

What's happening to Ebay???

Ebay is undergoing a lot of changes-not all for the better either! On February 20th, they revamped their auction fees. Charging you less to list, but more if you item sells. I guess it makes it less risky for little sellers like me to list items for sale. But for companies who sell high priced items, it's time to get out!

Portero.com is a local company that sells high end used items-we're talking mink coats, diamonds and even yahts! They have been selling on ebay for years with over 10,000 positive feedback. I went to see what they had for sale and they are no longer selling on ebay. They haven't sold anything there in a month from what I can tell. I went to their site and they are running auctions right from their site, so no more fees to ebay! I can't say I blame them. They were probably selling tens of thousands of dollars worth of items a week. The final fee values were adding up. I don't know if they are getting the exposure they did on ebay, but there stuff is still selling consistently.

I then went to check a few more of my favorite sellers and they either had nothing to sell, or had changed their name. It sounds like, with the price structure changes, a lot of people don't want to sell on ebay. There are not many choices. Other auction sites may be free or lower cost, but you don't get the traffic and volume of ebay.
I loved Yahoo auctions and then it closed this summer. There is definitely a need for a major auction site to replace the ailing and failing ebay.

Just wait-in May some major feedback changes are coming that has everyone in an uproar. Sellers can't leave buyers any feedback but positive! Gee that sounds fair. I sell something, you buy it and never pay me and I have to leave postive feedback??
Someone needs to fix Ebay soon, before it tanks!!!