The Crash

Christmas has come and gone. How did that happen so fast? Did everyone get everything they wished for? Had a wonderful Christmas eve and Christmas Day with my family. JL and I hosted dinner at her home with family on both sides and everything turned out fantastic. Couldn't have asked for a nicer day. JL and I didn't exchange presents but we plan to go away soon with the money saved on xmas gifts. My kids did very well this year but really there were no surprises in their gifts. A few minor glitches with two presents but no other issues. Nana decided that she wanted to stay home this year. It was a tough choice but I understood the reasons. She just turned 89 on December 4th and feels more secure in her own surroundings. Simple. School is really a lot or work and I cannot wait for it to end. Work is crazy as usual. Got a lomograph camera from Mom and it should be fun to see what type of pictures it takes. We haven't decided what we want to do for New Years yet. Will see. Looking forward to 2008 and the challenges that the new year will bring. Bye.

Running.....

I have been on the run for months now. No time to take a breather! I have uploaded some snaps of late. Maybe in a few weeks and I can post a real update. Until then...

Monday, March 12, 2007

Have been way too busy. Let's see.. Oh, yeah,,, Had a nice time in Cali. Saw some of things I wanted to see since my last trip. Met Kristy McNichol at the HCS. She was awesome to meet in person! Simply a nice person. Also saw Jane Russell and Natjasa Kinski. I finally made it to A Studio Gallery. I liked all of the photographs and took a peak at AC's own studio. That lady is so creative...The weather was really great and I'm glad I went. Have been busy with school and trying to wrap up all my courses so I can graduate in May. I passed my clep test and that was a major killer of an exam. I also scored an "A" in my Money & banking class. I also got notification for my Photography class in August. Looks like it will be a lot of fun. Kids are doing great. Had them this weekend and we just hung out. Gina is recovering pretty well. I was over her house last Wednesday for Dinner and a Walton's episode. Work is hectic as usual. We are getting ready to convert to a new billing system, so there is much cleanup of the old junk. So that's about it for now.

Sunday, February 4, 2007

Man its cold out there! Well... Old man winter is HERE! The temps have plunged! Gotta keep everything covered! Gina has recovered from her surgery but is in so much pain. Had dinner with her and Karen last night. We were watching season 4 of "The Walton's". What a shame today's television is so crappy. They don't make shows like "The Walton's" . I had stopped over my Fathers house yesterday to pick up some things I was looking for and I came across an old Teddy bear that my Aunt Trudy has made me almost 40 years ago! I thought that bear was lost forever! I hardly have anything from my childhood. The bear is is pretty good shape but really needs a good cleaning! The tail has to be repaired but all in all he's in one piece. I have to give Trudy a call and tell he that I found the bear. She had asked me what had happened to it and I assumed it got thrown away! She will be thrilled that I found him again. I registered for my Photography class in August. I will taking "Wet-Plate Collodion" class by Michael Mazzeo. I am excited to be trying something totally different with my photography. I am so fascinated with the 20th century photography techniques. This will be a five day class from 9:00 to 5:30.
I take my clep test on Tuesday. I really need to get the 6 credits to I can walk in Graduation in May with my cohorts. I leave for California in 10 days. Looking forward to getting away for awhile. Nicholas was with my Mother and Richard last weekend and they had a blast. Nicholas did his first volunteer work with The United Way. I am so proud of him. He even was featured on NJ Herald website. Brandy was sick with a cold all weekend and I picked it up too. I was sick most of last week and felt like doing nothing. Only went to the gym twice. I went tonight and saw my buddy Alex. He's a cool guy to talk with. I spoke with Nana on Friday and she said her trip to The Tea Hive was cancelled. She was annoyed but she said that she's planning another outing shortly. Well, I need to hit the sack. Tired....Until next time. Ciao!

Thursday,January 18, 2007

This week has blown by so fast. We had a dinner out for Gina's 44Th birthday on Sunday. Gina, Karen, Maureen, Lisa, George, Karen, Pat, Annie, Patty, Bill and myself went out for Japanese. This was at the Mikado Stakehouse. They made such a fuss over Gina and even banged a gong to wish her a happy birthday. I like Japanese food but really prefer to have Chinese! I had Monday and Tuesday off from work. Did hardly anything but read and watched a couple of movies. I really needed to have the down time. I got my final grade in my class and pulled and "A". Happy that one is done with and my next class starts on Tuesday. This class is called "Money and Banking". Right up my alley! My company with be paying for this class! Spoke to Mom yesterday and she will be taking Nicholas for the weekend at the end of the month. She has a couple of things planned and I hope he can enjoy himself without his Sisters around bugging him! Mom also mentioned that she got tickets to See Gordon Lightfoot on April 20Th. I was surprised as I didn't even know that he was still touring! Gina had her surgery yesterday to fix her disk in her back. I went over to the hospital this afternoon and she was really out of it. Karen said that maybe this weekend she will come home but I guess we will have to wait and see what is what. I know she is in such agony right now and I cannot imagine coming home so soon after surgery. We shall see. We had our first snow fall today! Last about 15 minutes! Enough for now.

Saturday

Well, its almost 70 degrees outside. Totally unreal for NJ winter! I just uploaded a photo I found of myself taken by my Grandfather in 1967. I was just five. Was I cute or what? I am wearing my favorite sweater too. My Mother & Father are in the background raking leaves. I remember doing a hell of lot of that stuff when I was a kid! I am watching the DVD of "1900" by Bernardo Bertolucci. This film was made in 1976 and was an epic for its time. This is the original version(directors cut) that runs more than five hours! Yikes! The photography by master Vittorio Storaro is beyond words! Breathtaking! I hope I can survive the 5 hours! I am going out to dinner with Karen and Gina tonight for Chinese. Our fave. More later......

Happy New year

Cannot believe 2006 is gone forever. Had a very nice holiday with my kids, family and close friends. NJ has been having a very mild winter so far! No snow in December. Last time that occurred was in 1888! I am not complaining but I have been suffering from a slight chest cold. Not fun. I spent a very quiet New Years eve with the kids. Was watching a Paul Newman movie called "Somebody up there likes me" This was his second movie and I cannot get over how good he looked in the film. Total eye candy for the ladies!! New Years Day I was home alone and was working on my final exam for my finance class. Its due next Tuesday along with a presentation about the SEC. So boring! . Called Nana today and she sounds very well. She's a bit annoyed that her activities have been interrupted because of the holidays. Poor thing. She likes her routine! Saturday I took the girls to see the movie "Charlottes Web". It was pretty good. I feel bad for that Dakota Fanning. She's losing her "cuteness'' as she's hitting her teens. I sure hope she's able to find roles that will let her grow up. If not, its all down hill for her! Have been going to the gym. My legs are killing me but I have no choice. I have to shed some unwanted weight that I gained in 2006. Man, its tough trying to lose weight when your past 40.. I will most likely be seeing Gina and karen this weekend. I have Gina's birthday gift ready as I will have the kids the following weekend and won't see her for her actual birthday. ND