My mama's birthday and surgery
That's right. My mother, in Florida, had knee surgery a few days ago. A total knee replacement of her right knee. She should have had this done 10 years ago. I am happy she had it done. Her birthday is today - 65. She came home from the hospital yesterday afternoon - nice b-day gift - home again and a new right knee. Dad will help take care of you - Happy Birthday mama :)
I'm reading Mermaids in the Basement now - it's southern chick lit by Michael Lee West and so far, I think I'm going to like this writer. Love the cover.
So my guys are into the Beatles right now. Have been for the past month or so. It's nice. I dig the Beatles, always have. J had his friend Benny over again for the weekend and come midnight from our family room I had Paul McCartney and John Lennon in my home singing and playing a mean guitar and keyboard ;)
It's late and my eyes are tired. Lots of baseball coming up this week - oh, and Confirmation for my 16 year old...
Goodnight all,
Paula
Boys and friendship
Where did this week go? Oiy! The hubby turned 47 this past week. He's into tools, always has been. He asked for this huge tool, it's called a Miter Saw. Fun. He also got two books - John Grisham's The Appeal and Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants. Interesting title for a book, huh?
So yesterday my youngest son, J, had his best friend Benny, from where we used to live, over for the day and one of his brother Phillip's friends, Gage, was here too. They wanted to skateboard. So J uncovers his new quarter pipe that his Dad made him for Christmas for the first time this spring so they can do some cool stunts. I was in the house and after a while I hear screaming. Not good. I knew the voice, it was Joseph. I run outside to find him face down on the pavement (without his helmet on!) screaming and crying and the other kids were all leaning over around him. I took one look at him and he was a mess. There was some blood, cuts and a lot of swelling already taking place around his right eye, nose and forehead. I got him inside and we did ice and tylenol and found out what happened. After coming down from the quarter pipe back onto the pavement, his skateboard popped up hard and fast and hit him in the face. Ouch. So, of course, after 20 minutes of ice he was ready to go again. He had plans to go stay for a few days with his friend Benny and nothing was going to wreck that. Of course I called him twice that night to see how he was doing even if he thought I was being annoying - what are moms for other than being annoying and a nag? I haven't grounded him yet for not having his helmet on but even the helmet wouldn't have protected him from that freak accident. Anyway, here's a couple of pics that were taken before the injury...
Joseph and Benny
Joseph in action
Have a great week - my kids are on spring break this week - Oiy!
Paula
A nice long weekend
It was. Three day weekends are great. And much needed from time to time.
On Saturday night my oldest, Tony, came back home to spend time with his brothers, spent the night, and then on Sunday morning he took Nick back to UCONN and then headed back to UMASS himself. So it's back to school time (and for me too, I start back tomorrow). On Sunday afternoon we took our youngest son, Joseph, to a friends (Sam) for his birthday (bowling, etc) and sleepover (which I believe they all tried to see who could stay awake the longest) and then Sam's mom (my friend Robin) brought Joseph home today and visited for the afternoon with her newest addition to their family - three month old Tommy. It was great to hold a little one again and what a good baby - and a cutie :) My six year old Anna Banana looked at me, smiled and said Mommy, we need a little baby like that around our house...yea.
So, as of tonight we have sickness in this damn house - again. My 10th grade son, Phillip, comes home from school and tells me he is not feeling too good - temperature, chills and a cough. OK. Then he tells me that his girlfriend Sarah was not in school today because she was home sick...YEP. All adds up. They were at the movie Juno on Saturday and then her house...YEP. Wonderful. How many days until this one goes right through our house?
Stay healthy everyone and thanks Robin for a nice, relaxing afternoon with a good friend :) Give Tommy another hug for me...
~Paula
Boston Music Awards here we come...
and I am so excited!!! Last week I purchased tickets for our gang to go to the Orpheum Theater in Boston for the Boston Music Awards 20th anniversary. How cool is that? It's on December 1st and there are many groups and singer/songwriters up for several awards in different categories. Out tickets are in the orchestra section - front row baby! And guess who will be there and is nominated for four awards? (Act of The Year, Album of The Year (Major), National Female Vocalist of The Year, and Song of The Year). Lori McKenna. Lori will be our three year anniversary summer 2008 feature story and cover for Mom Writer's Literary Magazine. Lori was wonderful to interview and talk to (we conducted the interview in late September as Lori's traveling schedule was to hit right after her debut at the Grand Ole Opry late September). I can't wait to see and possibly meet Lori at the music awards in Boston - I already cast my votes for you Lori ;) Any John Mayer fans? Little tidbit...John's going to be there too :)
It's raining today...yay! I love rainy days once in awhile, don't you? So we've had a normal week of craziness between work, life, school, life, yada, yada, yada. My 12 year old, J, had his best friend, Benny, over this weekend and I thought the music would never end. My basement could have exploded with the jams that were played - oh, and the new name for my gang's band...ready...Sauce. Yep, that's it - Sauce. Where do they come up with these names for music groups? I kind of like it though. Sauce.
Anybody started their holiday shopping? The weeks are counting down. I started in, like, September as I like to spread it out over a few months. I don't know how holiday shoppers can head to the mall (or online) and get their shopping done two weeks before Christmas? I would be a basket case. Between the shopping, wrapping, decorating and baking - enough said.
Gotta run! School books are calling me...
Have a fun week and enjoy the cooler weather!
Paula
Soccer mom and good times with a friend
Happy September! I LOVE the month of September (and October). My favorite time of year here in Vermont. If you have never been to the state, especialy during the fall season, you just have to visit - it's gorgeous :)
Soccer season has started for my guys and once again I've morphed into soccermama for the next month or so. I love it though - so much exercise for the kids and for me, running my mouth and screaming from the sidelines...It's a great game, really.
I had a great day last Friday. My girlfriend Deb and I went out for lunch for my birthday at a new spot we've never lunched at before and it was wonderful - plus the girlfriend chit chat time means so much...thanks Deb :)
Have a super week everyone!
~Paula
Happy Happy, Joy Joy
That is how I feel right about now.
It is late afternoon-I have finished working for the day, I've walked on the treadmill for my exercise today while reading Jodi Picoult's novel My Sister's Keeper (great read), and I am in the mood for a good movie tonight with a good friend. Has anybody seen Freedom Writers? I'm looking forward to it - with some popcorn and a sprite, of course. So ready to relax and unwind......Yes!
As for basketball season - well, for my one son in high school the season is winding down. He has one more regular season home game and then his tournaments begin. This mom is sad to see basketball end :( I LOVE the game. As for my youngest son, the season goes through February so that is cool - GO Hilltoppers and Red Devils!!
So, we head to Boston - again - this Sunday (Logan airport) to pick up our oldest Rugrat who is returning from his trip to Florida - then we return him to his home at UMASS Amherst. I'm sure he is looking forward to hanging with his college friends again - and getting back to the books...NOT!
OK, I'm outta here. Time to feed the family, grab the car keys and disappear - Freedom Writers here we come!!!
Ewww, one more thing...Here is an adorable pic of my son Phillip and his sweet friend Becky :)
Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year
OK. It's the 19th of December already -- Holy S@#% Well, at least my shopping is DONE, and the wrapping. Now I need to find the damn apron that I dig up come Christmas time and get busy in the kitchen baking goodies. Isn't that one of your favorite things about the holidays...? The GOODIES! Yep. As soon as January 1 hits I will be starving myself just to loose the 5 pounds I gained over the week of Christmas - but, it is well worth it!
As you may notice - NO podcast again this week. I just have not had one extra minute this week with all the shopping, wrapping and picking kids up from college. I plan to get back to my podcast the beginning of January with some cool mom sites, promise!
Speaking of kids in college...I picked up son #2 from UCONN the other day and son #1 is due home later this week from UMASS Amherst, however, son #1 is down with walking pnuemonia as we speak! Ugh. And the poor kid has 5 final exams this week to go with that walking pnuemonia! I will be happy when Thursday gets here and son #1 is home so I can mother him properly :)
Happy Holidays to everyone and a healthy and happy New Year!!! Bring on 2007!!!
Cheers,
~ Paula
Good Friends….
are priceless. And SO important in a woman’s life. I am truly blessed with friends who are moms as well, and, well, we just click, you know. We can be silly together, cry together and talk about just about anything you can think of together – which we do – and it feels wonderful. Sure there may be times that we get on each others nerves a bit, but that passes in about oh, a nano second, and then all is just swell once more.
One night this past week my girlfriend, Deb, and I took off in the afternoon for dinner and a movie in which we returned home five hours later. That is the best “stress relief therapy” that any mom or woman could ask for (other than a nice, relaxing body massage but let’s not go there…). One of my favorite things about going to the movies is…the POPCORN, of course. LOTS of salt and NO Butter please.
So, we saw this movie called Flicka, I’m sure you’ve heard of it. You know, country singer Tim McGraw’s first time on the big screen. He did OK. Personally, I like his voice and think he should stick to singing. I wonder how his wife, Faith Hill felt about him getting cozy with actress Maria Bello, who plays his wife, Nell, in the movie.
Does anyone know what the word FLICKA means? "Flicka" is a Swedish word that means "girl". Well, there ya go. Also another bit of trivia for those of you who love the song, “My Little Girl”. Tim McGraw helped co-write the song "My Little Girl" for the movie and it is the first song that he has written and recorded. Congrats to you Tim on a job well done!
Oh My God! Before I forget – I saw such an AWESOME musical the other night. It was performed at my high school son’s school and it was SO worth the $6 ticket! I love this play – Les Miserables. The kids performing had so much talent – acting, singing, dancing – just amazing. And one terrific story. Then I recently saw my youngest son’s play that he was in at his school, the one and only, Cinderella. So cute! Then in December, the hubby and I have tickets to see The Nutcracker (for about the 100th time in my life!). One of my all time favs :)
Anyway…
Any women ever hear of the Avon Foundation? http://www.avoncompany.com/women. This is such a fabulous organization and there are so many ways you can help – check it out.
The Avon Foundation, an accredited 501(c) (3) public charity, was founded in 1955 to improve the lives of women and their families. As it passes the half century milestone, the Avon Foundation brings this mission to life through two key areas of focus: breast cancer and domestic violence.
Breast Cancer
The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade launched in 1992, and now includes breast cancer programs in more than 40 countries. While advances have been made, breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide, and in the US there is a new diagnosis every three minutes. Through 2005 the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade raised and awarded more than $400,000,000 worldwide for advancing access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer, with a focus on the medically underserved. Funding supports five areas: awareness and education; screening and diagnosis; access to treatment; support services; and scientific research. Beneficiaries range from leading cancer centers to community-based non-profit breast health programs, creating a powerful international network of research, medical, social service and community-based organizations focused on defeating breast cancer and ensuring access to care.
Domestic Violence
To accelerate its commitment to ending domestic violence, in 2004 the Avon Foundation launched the new Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program, which expands a long history of Avon grassroots support of the domestic violence cause. The new Speak Out program supports awareness, education, direct services and prevention programs while developing new community outreach and support for victims. Global expansion has been initiated with the launch of Speak Out in Mexico. Since launching the new Speak Out program, more than $1.6 million has been awarded to domestic violence organizations across the US. The Foundation is partnering with Oscar-nominated actress and producer/director Salma Hayek on the Speak Out program, which includes free educational materials, training programs, fundraising activities and public service announcements.
Special Projects
The Avon Foundation and Avon Products Inc. also respond quickly to national and international emergencies. Special pins sold by Avon Sales Representatives raised $7,000,000 for the Avon Heart of America Fund to support families, especially children, of those lost in the attacks of September 11, 2001. Since 2003, the Avon Yellow Ribbon Pin has raised $3,000,000 to assist families of servicemen and women lost or wounded in Operation Iraqi Freedom and other armed conflict. In response to the December 2004 tsunami disaster in Asia, the Avon Foundation immediately awarded $550,000 to the relief efforts, and Avon launched the Heart of Asia pin in the US and many other countries, bringing total donations to almost $1 million. In response to the hurricane disasters in fall 2005, Avon and the Avon Foundation made donations of cash and products, and launched the Heart of America Key Chain, which is sold by Avon Sales Representatives to raise funds for relief and rebuilding efforts.
And there are so many ways we can help and be a part of this group. For more information please write info@avonfoundation.org or call 866-505-AVON.
Just a note – Turkey Day is catching up on us! I love Thanksgiving and can not wait to eat all the YUMMY food and desserts! Tell me, what’s your favorite Thanksgiving dessert? Is it the Pumpkin Pie or maybe Pecan or Apple – or Chocolate?! God, I’m getting hungry…
OK, need to run. This mama will be around blogging for the next two weeks, however, my podcast will resume the week of December 4th – YIKES! December already?! HOLY %@&#!
Until next time….Gobble Gobble!
Click here to download the show! (mp3)
You Gotta Have Friends...
Well I feel happy and refreshed this morning. Know why? No, not sex.
I took some time for myself last night and went out with a girlfriend, that's why!
All it took was 3 1/2 hours of dinner (don't forget the dessert!) and some good conversation and I feel ten pounds lighter and REFRESHED. Such a great feeling. My friend, Robin, is such a sweetheart. She surprised me and paid for the dinner and bought me a birthday gift (b-day was in September). GOOD FRIENDS are so important. It's just finding the time to get together that is difficult. Robin has three kids and I have five and our children are extremely active in sports, music, school events, etc, however, about four times a year we say, screw it, we are dropping everything and spending good quality friendship time together -
As the song goes..."Oh ya gotta have frieeeeeeennds!"
How True.
