The in's and out's

Dog-Sitting

Soo my sister and her new boyfriend (need a new title after the age of 40!) are going somewhere "Tropical" at the end of this month.

Sure I am in envy of them. I want to go too!

I promise not to bother them I will just hang out at the pool while the cabana boys grab me drinks.

They know how much I love sunshine especially in January, so they decided to ask me to be part of the experience.

Meet "Pearl"

This is not the real Pearl. This Pearl I googled, but she is a great double for Pearl.

Apparantly Pearl didn't qualify for a passport and since she couldn't go my sister decided that Pearl and I should share some quality time together. HERE .. COLD.

What are sisters for ?

Has it been that long ?

I decided to check out my blog today and I couldn't believe it has been so long since I added to it.
The last time was when Barack Obama was voted in as our president and in 4 short days he will be our President.

Also the last time I checked out Mamamormons blog it was not working and now I see I have missed tons of posts. Sorry Mama I am now catching up !

So as I sit here on the coldest day of the year so far (and hoping it IS the coldest day of the year all year) waiting out school delays I thought I should make my first post of 2009.

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !!
See now I am all caught up :)

The drama still ebbs and flows but overall not as dramatic as some previous years had been.

The biggest news .. I am going to be a "Great Aunt".
Most of you that read this blog already know this but for those that don't that is the big news.

It is amazing how one day you are hunting through Toys R US for a great present for your niece or nephew and it seems like overnight you start thinking about shopping for their babies.

Boom .. just like that it happens. You are a "Great Aunt".

But even better is that your younger brother and his wife are going to be "Grandparents".

Seeing the word "Grandparents" makes me think "Great Aunt" is wonderful !!

While I one day hope to have grandchildren I am glad since my boys are still teens, that they get the title first :)

My niece is doing well, healthy and anticipating the August 21st arrival.
She has opted to drop the family moniker she was assigned as a middle name if she has a girl.
Trust me .. I totally get that , but I still have to throw it out there to her. After all some genius talked my Mother into it !!

We are now approaching halfway through the school year.
I am still plugging along with the issues that that always brings, but I do admit to having to let it go for awhile over the holidays. I am slowly climbing back onto that horse.
If you think filing taxes, or watching your 401 K's and IRA's disappear I challenge you to an IEP.
Nuff said about that !

I watched the coverage on the plane that landed in the Hudson River yesterday.
It was nothing short of AMAZING !
I hate flying .. no secret to those that know me, but I am declaring right now for the record that I will not get on another flight unless "Sully" is in the cockpit.

Great now I will have to stalk the man before I can book a flight and my vacations will be limited to where ever he is flying.
With the exception of the Hudson River I'm game !
I will pack water wings JUST in case but at least I have the peace of mind that I will make it.
Kudos to Sully !

I will end today's entry by saying the annoying "Hail to the Chief" song that has been playing on this blog will remain until after January 20th.
Inaguration day is only a few days away so it only seems fitting.

Ohh and to add: Joe The Plumber meet Barack the President.
I know what Marksmom will be wearing that day !!

VOTE

OK fellow bloggers we must VOTE this Tuesday.

VOTE because it is a privilege.
VOTE because you really like what your candidate stands for.
VOTE because you can't stand one of them so you pick the other.
VOTE because my webmail is starting to freak out with all the political mail I get now.
VOTE because if you are stuck in a waiting room you can't give the ads the DVR Fast Forward.

Camping with the Blind ...

Last weekend I participated in a conference for Blind children and their parents to deal with their children transistioning from the high school level into college or the work force.

WOW what a weekend.

The conference took place at a camp for folks with special needs. This camp was originally opened for the Blind but now takes other groups with special needs as well.

Do you remember the camp from the movie "Dirty Dancing" ?

That was the set up.

Cabin and dorm type sleeping arrangements. A large dining hall where everyone met for meals family style. NO TV'S 0_0

Various wooden buildings scattered amongst the grounds .. Activity room, Canteen, large living room with a real woodburning fireplace where you could play board games or cards.

It was a real throwback to the 50's with the exeception of more modern plumbing in most rooms.

I was first assigned a dorm style room which has 6 hospital type beds in it with 1 bathroom.

My supervisor and I were both assigned to this room with 4 other women from other parts of the state we had never met before.

I am not that much of a "sharer".

For one I know I sleep really lousy when I am in a strange room/place. I will talk in my sleep and roll around all night and while I don't mind annoying my boss doing that I didn't want to get voted out of the dorm by all the other women that were in there.

So we asked (begged) the guy running the program to switch us to a 2 person room. We were on it early and quick and were able to snag one.

That room wasn't bad .. I did have my husbands XM boom box along with me so I was able to listen to music and the presidential debate when I had the antenna turned JUST right to catch a signal in the mountains. It reminded me of walking around the living room when I was a kid with the Rabbit ears to grab a good signal while watching TV.

YES I am old enough to remember that.

The kids at the camp were awesome and inspiring. I hope I can participate again next year !