All gone

Last day of August - gone. Last day of summer hours at work - gone. Pool already closed (since last Friday) for the year - gone. Weather so cool tonight that not only is the AC off, but I had to shut the windows. The cold of winter is not that far off. One of the things that keeps me smiling all winter long is looking at all my beach scenery and palm trees that I have all over the house (the first time my son, JoeY saw the bathroom he said "don't worry, Mom, some day you'll be in Florida for real!") and yes, even my car. Inside the car are palm tree key chains and flip flop key chains hanging from my mirror. I even have a palm tree deodorizer in the door handle. Don't laugh, I look at these things every day and they make me smile. On the outside of my car, in the back on the trunk is a palm tree magnet, (also a breast cancer awareness magnet that I got for spearheading a drive at work, and a Yankees magnet that was a birthday gift). Until today. Today as I came out of the supermarket I noticed that all three magnets were gone. I Hope whoever stole them off my car enjoys them all as much as I did. Anyone who knows me knows how sentimental I am. If anyone reading this needs to know what to get me for my birthday or holiday gift this year - I just gave you a great idea. Except this time, I guess I need to adhere them with SUPER GLUE.

Once you've seen a mall you've seen em all (another one of my dad's lines)

I had to go to the mall the other night. It's not even recognizable anymore. It's more like Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills (I assume). Not only do the outfits in the windows have 3 figure price tags, but they are all made for anorexic teenagers. There are more kiosks than stores. The clientele looks like something out of a middle school cut out day. I couldn't wait to get out of there. I remember when I used to love going to Smith Haven Mall. It was the end of summer. Back to school clothes shopping was eminent. I would take the $100 I'd saved all summer babysitting (maybe it was $50) and whatever additional money I could squeeze (ok, whine for) from my folks, and my friends and I would take the bus, YES KIDS, THE BUS, from Mayfair shopping center in Commack to the mall. We would go early in the morning. We'd hit every single store that was there. In those days, except for Macy's and A&S (remember A&S?) you could afford to shop in every store at the mall. We'd shop for hours, have lunch at Friendly's, shop for more hours, sit at the snack bar at Woolworth's,(remember Woolworth's?) shop more, and carry an entire year's worth of clothes back to the bus, with change from the $100. No plastic involved. Those were the days.

What a Country

Finally finished with the list of phone calls/faxes, letters, etc. involved in changing my name. It was amazing how simple some things were to change and how difficult other things were. Some businesses wanted everything short of a blood sample, while others didn't ask for any proof at all. But the real icing on the cake is the State of New York......"What a State." (In honor of my dad, who always uttered "What a Country."

I searched and searched the New York State website to learn how to change my name on my New York State Notary License. When I finally located the instructions - pretty basic stuff; fill out the form, enclose the $10 fee. Only problem was they didn't tell you where to locate the form, or where to send it upon completion. I was; however, fortunate enough to locate an email address. That was 8 days ago. Today, I received a phone call in my office from the county clerk's office. She was calling me to tell me to simply fill out the name change form and send it with my $10fee. When I inquired as to where to get the form, she told me that even though I send it in, since I had just renewed my license 2 months ago (they're good for 4 years), the State wouldn't change the name until I renew it again in 2013. So I had two choices - I could fill out the form, send it in with the $10 and wait until 2013 to get my new license, or I could leave everything as is and wait until 2013 to get my new license. Hmmm....there's a pickle...I even said to her: "So, you're telling me I should continue to use my notary stamp and sign the wrong name?" "Yes." was her response. You can't make this stuff up. What a State.

And from the outside...

Here's the most recent pics of my almost here granddaughter from the outside:





It's getting closer very quickly. The shower is only 5 weeks away. This is all very exciting!!!

Baby face - you have the cutest little baby face...

Thanks to today's most modern technology, the hubby and I were able to give a 3D ultrasound package to Vanessa for her birthday. Take a peek at this baby face:





Oh, so sweet....

Red light, green light, 1 2 3

On the rare occasion that I don't get stuck for a red light, I always feel like my dad is somehow making them turn green for me. He always claimed that he never made a light, ever! The traffic light God would see him coming miles away and make the light turn red - every time. I certainly inherited his misfortune in that department. That is, until I actually wanted the light, any light, to turn red. Case in point - this morning, already a couple of minutes late leaving for work when I remembered I MUST stop at the ATM. I pull up to the drive through ATM - make my withdrawal. To save a precious few seconds, I drive away with $20 bills and my ATM card sprawled across the front seat. No big deal, I'll put everything away at the red light. NOT!!! There are 6 traffic lights between the bank and my office. NOT one of them was red - not one!! I guess dad was trying to tell me - bad idea to drive with 20's sprawled across the front seat. (Or is it my mom's voice I hear??)

The first 2009 heat wave

You can fry an egg on the sidewalk. The sun is out, the sky is blue. It finally feels like summer! Nothing like coming home from work at 3:00, changing quickly into a swim suit, trotting down (ok, slowly walking down) to the pool. Dreaming all the way of that first splash of water as I dive right on in (just the way dad taught me, no inch by inch for me.) As I get closer and closer I realize that something's missing. It's so quiet, it's eerie. Where are the loud calls of Marco - Polo in the distance? Where are those screetchy voices yelling "Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma, watch me." "When are you coming in?" Hmmm - I walk up to the gate - oh crap - it's Tuesday. The pool is closed. Sure - why not? UGGGHHH!!!!!! 93 degrees. It was a long walk home.