Some thoughts

It felt like time had stopped on Tuesday during the inauguration. I was at work watching it on CNN /Facebook with people from all over the world. To know that so many non-Americans were watching and rejoicing with us was awesome.

The day before, Martin Luther King's birthday, we went to an art museum and they were showing the documentary of Dr. King's life and work with the civil rights movement. I sat in there with many families with children of different races and thought about the inauguration the very next day and how far we all had come. While I remember so many of the incidents while growing up, it was powerful to see everything in sequence. So unbelievable that so many had such small minds and mean spirits. Such a miracle to see it changing and vibrating such hope on the whole planet.

I did not want to go to bed inauguration night, I could have stayed up all night watching the inaugural balls, but knew I would be sorry the next day. So I did one better. I went to bed and actually had a dream that I was sitting with Michelle and President Obama just hanging out and having a chat. Nothing special, I believe we were talking about cats. But in my dream, I was up close and connected to them as if they were my friends or members of my family. I was so happy when I woke up, because it felt real to me. So much better than watching T.V.

I try to pray for the first family every morning at 8:00A.M. as I have heard that there is a movement to get as many people as possible to do so. The word is being passed through churches, talk shows and word of mouth.

Wake up call

I had misplaced some mail I received a few days ago, could have even been last week, not sure. I had seen what looked like a belated Christmas card in the pile when I put it down, but I was busy, so I didn't open it right away and then forgot all about it.

On my way out the door last night, I saw the card sticking out from beneath the small pile of forgotten mail and decided to open it on my way out the door. Expecting a cheery Christmas update from my friend, I was shocked to hear that she has been battling two cancers. Two. Larynx and breast cancer.

This friend is someone I used to supervise 10 years ago on my other job. We became close and I knew her husband and children very well. Once I left my job, we exchanged Christmas cards, and she always asked me to call her so we could get together. I never did. Never, not once in 10 years. It wasn't that I didn't want to see her, I would have loved to. I just got caught up in my own little world and didn't extend myself beyond that. I am ashamed of myself for being so self absorbed.

In a way, I can't even believe that 10 years has gone by. It seems impossible to me, yet it is the reality and I am having trouble grasping it.

I am so sad for her and will certainly be in touch with her now, and hope that she is well enough to have visitors and that she would want to see me. She said she is counting her blessings every day and that she has a good support system from her church that is keeping her going.

Please add Kathy to your prayers.

It's the weekend

I discovered another FREE Internet music site that I am loving. It is called Jango. You type in any song or artist and play it instantly. I could stay on it all day and I do have to limit myself. It is a little confusing to figure out, but I as long as I get my songs, it's good. Just yet another way to get distracted from the day to day drudgery.

I still love my Launch cast radio station, but you have no control which song will be played next. Music sounds so good over these speakers either way!

Listening to RUN, Snow Patrol. Such a sad song, it gives me the chills every time. Have heart my dear...

Three day weekend. We are going to dinner tonight with our friends from high school. We have tentative plans to head to Vermont tomorrow to Monday, but it is looking like a Nor' Easter is headed our way yet again. So seems like we will be snowed in for some of the weekend. I never really mind though. There is no place like home to me.

This and that

I am enjoying having my nest almost full again. My youngest boy is done with school and living home until he can secure a full time job and make some money before he figures out where he will be heading. I just love having him around not to mention having a third adult in the house who can help with snow shoveling and other house hold chores. He is good company to his old parents. Last night we all went out to dinner and then to the library to load up on books, CDs, and DVDs to prepare for the latest snow storm coming our way later today. I so enjoy hearing all about his college days in depth now and brainstorming with him as he is forming his goals for his future.

We all expected some adjustment to living together again, but so far it has gone really smoothly with a great appreciation and respect for one another. He has a part time job for now, which he is grateful to have found given the economy.

One of the books I picked up last night is called Phony. It is about a woman who did not have a college degree and lied about it to get a management job. Because she had great leadership skills she was able to become very successful and wealthy, but the secret she harbored inside ate away at her. I am very absorbed in her story for reasons I am not sure about.

An ice storm has closed down most of the schools today so I am home on a snow day. It is nerve wracking with all the dangerous incidents that the icy weather is causing and I sure hope the temperature goes up.

My stitches came out yesterday! My mouth feels so much better today, and I hoping things will improve rapidly.

I am planning to get to the spare room today and just get rid of clutter, my favorite things to do.

Shocking news all over

On Friday I was in my kitchen cooking dinner when the 5:00 PM news came on and announced that John Travolta's son Jett had died. I was shocked. I felt so bad for the family, and at the same time I was thinking about how I don't know them, but I feel like I do. I watch John on Oprah all the time and I remember when Jett was born, and how cool I thought his name was.

I have been thinking about the family over the weekend and my heart goes out to them.

This morning I got a call from my boss. I knew that because he was calling me on a Sunday morning the day before we are due back from vacation that he must have bad news. All my co-workers faces flashed before my eyes wondering in that split second who was the one that he was going to tell me about. I can't tell you how shocked I was to find out that he was calling to tell me that one of our students died on Friday.

The student is the same age as Jett. Due to confidentially I won't go into anything medical. But this was a sudden and unexpected death. It is very, very sad.

So we all head back to school tomorrow with a heavy heart, and I think about this brand new year and how it is not starting off happy at all for many people.

Last day of vacation

I took my mother to the doctor today. We waited for the doctor for one hour and the only magazines they had were medical ones. It was really hard to sit and wait without interesting reading material. After they called us into the exam room I picked up a copy of Newsweek and it was so old, all the articles were from before the election. That was very annoying. I usually bring a book, but I forgot because I was in such a hurry this morning. But that is the least of my complaints.

On top of that, the Dr. didn't have her records from 7 years ago because he moved into a new office. She has had the appointment for about 3 weeks and in that time, they did not receive them yet. And to make matters worse, he said he wasn't the right doctor for her problem, even though her other doctor referred her. So we pretty much wasted the whole morning at the wrong doctor, and she still has her issue. He did recommend a couple of other doctors she needs to see, but before we make appointments, I think I will call ahead and speak to the doctors to make sure we are on the right track. At least they validated our parking!

After the appointment, we went shopping and ended up at our favorite, Stew Leonard's so that was fun and we both got some good buys!

A brand new year

Happy New Year to everyone!

Last night we stayed in for a quiet evening. We watched Momma Mia, baked cookies (to give to the neighbor who snow blowed our driveway), and watched the ball fall at Times Square. I ended staying up another hour watching a Kathy Griffin special on Bravo. She just cracks me up.

I was amazed yesterday that I didn't need to take any pain med. While my mouth is still very swollen and painful, I could manage fine without anything.

We are going to dinner today at my parent's house and we also need to go and see the father in law at the nursing home rehab center which is across town from them. So this will be a visit the elders day which I know will perk them all up!

Now that the holidays are over, we can concentrate more on the upcoming wedding that is happening in October for my older son. I am trying to find just the "right" mother/son song to dance to with him. I have seen all the lists, and watched all the u-tubes, but still can't find one that we like and will be meaningful to us. I know I still have plenty of time and it is the searching that is fun.

Next week I am starting eye training. Since I have had so many bouts with vertigo, my eye doctor suggested that eye training exercises would be helpful. Vertigo comes on when the eyes and ears aren't working together. I have 12 weeks of appointments and plan to really be committed to this even though I have to drive out of town. I would love to get a handle on this problem, because the spells are not fun.

I am a big believer in eye training because my younger son went through it in high school and it changed his life. He had trouble reading and playing sports because one eye did not focus. After about 10 lessons his eye straightened out and he improved in all areas.

I hope everyone has a great day today and thank you for reading my blog, because I so enjoy your friendships.