Sue Interviewed Me ------

1. Describe yourself as a child. What were you like, what were you interested in?
I was a precocious child. I am the first-born and quite unique. I grew up in a neighborhood where most kids were either blond and blue eyed or brunette and brown eyed, I was neither. I had red hair, blue eyes, freckles, and glasses and sucked my thumb until I was thirteen. I stood out in the crowd. I was the teacher’s pet, the smartest girl in the class, the tattletale and the victim in most of the pranks.

I was a Girl Scout and received the highest award in Girl Scouting, The Gold Award. I started dancing school at age 3 and continued until I was 22, then started again when I was 34. I made decisions about my own education at an early age, I was given the choice of middle schools and I chose the more difficult of the two. I bucked the trend again when it came to high school, instead of attending the local public school; I chose a private catholic school an hour away from home. I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up at a very early age.

My parents were always encouraging me to do what was right for me and not what everyone else was doing. I was always volunteering to help out at school or volunteering my mom to do something. Once, I volunteered my mom to make a costume for the school play the next day. I had to be Raggedy Anne, but I only told her the morning of the show and my sister was having tonsil surgery that morning. I went to school as Raggedy Anne and my sister had her surgery.


2. What is the most unique thing about your family?
My family is unique because my husband and I not only have family values, but we encourage them. My husband owns his business, he is not home a lot, but family time is important. We eat dinner together at least once a week and all meals are together on the weekends. We spend time together as a family, going to the kid’s games, scout functions and other things.

Communication between the four of us is important. We are generous to our children without spoiling them. They know the word “NO” and understand the reasons for our answers. As a family we have made the commitment to education, religion and morals and we have shaped our lives around that. That is why, Chip will be going to the private catholic boy’s high school in September, Rocky attends religious education classes near our mountain home and all four members of our family are “Charter Members” of the Boy Scouts of America.

We feel a kid should be a kid, but a kid needs responsibilities and should be accountable for his/her actions. You get the best out of life, if you give it your best.


3. If there were one thing that you would like to improve in your life, what would it be?
I can’t say that I would improve anything. Money, we would all want more, but it would not make me any happier. A bigger house, just more to clean. More time; yes, I would like more time to myself, but I can create the time I want by giving up one or more of my volunteer jobs. My volunteer jobs are what make me happy. I enjoy doing for others.


4. What is your favorite place in the world?
My 3 favorite places in the world are: my home in the suburbs, my home in the mountains and Hawaii. Both homes are warm and inviting, I love to have friends and family over and relax to get away from it all. Hawaii is a place of romance, beauty and relaxation. It is where Fred and I spent our Honeymoon, Tenth Anniversary and Twentieth Anniversary.

My favorite place in my suburban home is the backyard. In the spring, I like to go out into the backyard, lie in the chaise lounge with a blanket, a hot cup of tea and a good book and read for hours. The warm sun shining down, a crisp breeze, a warm tea in my belly and words to think about bring the world to a slow spin.

My favorite place at my mountain home is a large flat rock at the edge of the lake. There you can see the whole lake, listen to the mountain stream tumble into the lake, greet the white-tailed deer, hear the scampering of the chipmunks and fish from sun up to sun down.

My favorite place away from home is Hawaii. Each of the islands are different; from Oahu which is like a city and its suburbs, to Maui, where it is lush and green, to the Big Island, that looks like something from another planet, to Kauai, where time has not caught up. Everything about Hawaii is beautiful and I would love to live there, but I would miss the change of seasons.


5. What do you believe about the meaning of life and what happens after death?
I believe we are all put here on Earth to do something. We have not been given the reason or the rulebook. We will find the answer when we meet God at our death. I truly believe that all people are good and I try to find that good in all. I believe we all have guardian angels that watch over us and that some people are more in tune with their angels than others. I believe that one of my angels is my Great Grandmother Anna and the other is my Grandmother Elsie.

Anna was a wonderful woman; a strong minded, red headed matriarch of the family that no one messed with. At times, I feel as though she is pushing me to do right for my family.

Elsie, my maternal grandmother, was also a strong spirited woman than ran the home with an iron fist, but realized later in life that she didn’t need to be iron fisted, but open and loving. She tends to remind me that sometimes a hug and a kiss will go much further than a spanking. After death, we will meet our Creator and he will welcome all of us into Heaven. Sometimes, just sometimes, I feel as though, I might have already been admitted into Heaven.

My Favorite Recipe

As a busy mom, I need to make dinner quick or real slow. One of my favorite (and family's favorite) is Six Can Casserole.

Items Needed:
A Crock Pot
A Wooden Spoon
& 4-10 Hours

Ingredients:
2 Large Cans of Diced Tomatoes -- Seasoned or Unseasoned (I prefer seasoned, less work)
1 Large Can of String beans drained
1 Large Can of Sliced Black Olives drained
1 Large Can of Mushroom Pieces drained
1 Large Can of Tomato Paste
1.5 Lbs of Chicken Breast (frozen or fresh is fine)
and season to taste (I use Megan's Pantry Sun Dried Tomato Pesto, you can get it at: https://www.meganspantry.com/CherylanneBrennan.aspx , a friend of mine is the consultant)

Add all the ingredients to the Crock Pot and mix with the wooden spoon
Turn on the Crock Pot for 4-10 hours.
Serve with rice, mashed potatoes, egg noodles...........

Enjoy!

With Every Sick Day Comes A.......

With every sick day comes a day with pains all over the body.
With every sick day comes extra garbage that needs to be taken out.
With every sick day comes an even higher pile of dishes in the sink.
With every sick day comes mounds and mounds of laundry.
With every sick day comes double the mail that must be read.
With every sick day comes a surprise.

My surprise was a husband that decided that the refrigerator needed to be cleaned.
My surprise was a son that gave up his video games to sit with me and rub my throbbing head.
My surprise was my other son that brought me his favorite "Teddy Bear" to comfort me.
My surprise was a clean garage on Monday morning.
My surprise was a family that really does care and knows the importance of giving to others.
My surprise is I am doing the right thing for my family.

My family is loud.
My family is busy.
My family is strong minded.
My family is loving.
My family is mine.
My family is perfect and I wouldn't change them.

And I Thought The Great Equalizer Was Snow

In my last post, I stated that snow was the great equalizer. Boy was I wrong! The Great Equalizer is the dreaded stomach virus.

The strain that went through my house was awful. Rocky brought it home almost two weeks ago. I had planned a day of getting the "minor" chores done --- dry cleaners, bank, replace Rocky's favorite sweatshirt because of the laundry accident, and post office. But the world was working against me. I went to the first bank, yes, in and out in five minutes. Post Office, down the street from the first bank, in and out. At the second bank, 3 miles away, I needed to replace the missing Passbooks for the boys and make a Federal Tax deposit. I replaced the passbooks, but couldn't make the tax deposit because I needed the forms from the accountant. The accountant had mailed it on Monday and I should have received it on Wednesday, but it hadn't arrived.

I needed to hunt for the mailman. Be careful on the beautiful snow, it is slippery! Stop at the house to use the bathroom, shovel the steps and the walkway. . OW! I cut my hand on the snow shovel! Bleed, bleed, bleed all over --- I don't go back in the house, because I have already locked the door and I need to find the mailman. I search the neighborhood, near and far. I get a call from school they need me to pick something up. I head over there, as I go down the main street, I pass the mailman. Damn! I make a U-Turn, follow the mailman, flag down the mailman, I explain my story and he gives me the mail. Thank you, thank you! The forms are in the mail!!! Back to the second bank, stand on line again. Thank you! Do you have the red lollipops anymore? No. Oh.

Now for the "replace Rocky's favorite sweatshirt because of a laundry accident". The snow is falling faster now and getting deeper. I hop on the "Turnpike" to go to the "second nearest" Kohl's, because the nearest Kohl's does not have the sweatshirt (I checked there the day before). I am five minutes away from the store and the cell phone rings! "Hello, this is Nurse Lois from school, Rocky just vomited in the hallway. Can you please pick him up?" AAAARRRRGGGHHHHH!! Five minutes from destination, and 35 minutes from school, decisions, decisions! I decided if I don't get Rocky's sweatshirt we both will be miserable. So I run into the store, get the sweatshirt and head back up the "Turnpike". I made it back to the school within a half hour of the nurse calling.

Rocky was happy about the sweatshirt, but the poor kid was in sad shape for the next forty eight hours. Life was wonderful by Saturday morning, Chip was going to the Boy Scout Klondike up at KMSR (it was too cold to camp, so it was just a day trip --- Negative 8 degrees, when the boys arrive at the camp) and needed to leave the house at 5:30 AM. Super Mom strikes again! I rise and make Chip a warm hearty meal of scrambled eggs. He arrives back at 7:30 PM and is pumped after a great day in the outdoors. We all hop in the car and head up to the mountain house, because Rocky has religious ed in the morning up there. There are flurries when we arrive and all is right with the world.

Three AM --- Lights are on! "MOM!" is being heard from the bathroom! Chip has the virus now! Like I said earlier, it is nasty! Poor Chip tossed his cookies and then some! He was out of commission for two days also, although he didn't miss any school because of the holiday (MLK Jr Day). No religious education that day either because of the eight new inches of snow.

Tuesday, January 20th, our 44th President was sworn in to office. Most Americans took time to watch all or parts of the pomp and circumstance. That evening, the boys and I had a full plate and I needed the assistance of Fred to complete the "activities" of the night. There was a basketball game, boy scout meeting, a visit to another boy scout troop by the WEBELOS and somewhere in there dinner. Fred was in charge of Rocky's basketball game. I was taking Chip to the boy scout meeting and then off to visit the other troop with the rest of the WEBELOS. The house phone rings at 5:00, "Hi Gemmie, I'm not feeling well, I've got what the kids had." Oh, no, poor Fred!

Then I think, "Oh, no poor Gemmie, how do I get everyone where they are supposed to be?" Then it hits me. It's time for "SUPER GRANDMA!" I pick up the phone and call my mom, "Mom could you please take Rocky to his basketball game?'' And of course "SUPER GRANDMA" does!

Fred makes the one hour drive home without soiling the car or leaving his mark on the highway, but he is out of the game until Thursday. Thursday comes and goes, still Gemmie is fine. On Friday, Fred takes the boys to Chip's basketball game and religious emblem meeting and I am off to a "meeting" for the Carnival that is going to be held at the Middle School. The meeting is just an excuse for the ladies to get together and have a little wine and snacks (and a little talk about the Carnival).

Well I was sucker punched! I was having a great time and then I went to excuse myself for the evening and the virus snuck up on me and hit me right in the gut! It was the worst night I had had in a long time. After the stomach retching, the pain in the muscles started and the worst headache you could imagine took over. It took me until this morning to feel somewhat human again.

Snow gives you a fresh look upon the world, but a nasty stomach virus humbles us all!

The Great Equalizer -- Snow

A white canvass, is what an artist begins with. A white piece of paper, is what a writer begins with. What did God begin with? One wonders about that when you look out the window at freshly fallen snow.

My husband calls snow the "Great Equalizer", because when you look at your yard and then your neighbor's, there's no grass to see, to wonder if it is greener. The snow covered cars on the street all look alike; a Honda looks the same as a Mercedes. The landscape, whether it is bush or a pile of trash all look alike.

It is all the same until the first imprint of life falls upon it. Whether it is the footfall of a squirrel looking for the nuts he had hidden last week; the wind blowing snow off the roof onto the ground; a man's footprints as he goes off to work; or the snow angels made by one of the children.

The United States of America had a fresh blanket of snow cast upon it yesterday at noon in Washington D.C. Our country has the opportunity to change it's image, it's economy, it's government, it's policies and more. President Obama has laid down a challenge to all Americans to make the world a better place. The journey begins with each and every one of us. If all do just a little more to make our own mark in the snow better imagine what dreams can come true.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made a speech about a dream 45 years ago, that all men and women shall have equal opportunities. I believe there is a chance that dream can become a reality in my lifetime. We have not reached that point yet, because the people of the United States still see the color of each others skin. When we the people of the United States of America choose a President, a Governor, a Congressman or any elected official by the their merits alone can we say that Dr. King's dream has been fulfilled. We are one step closer.

Mr. Obama, I wish you well. Have fun making angels in the snow.

Loving Frank

"Loving Frank" is the book I am reading, it is the second book on my list of books to read in 2009. I started it on January 1st and I am having a very hard time "Loving Frank". Maybe if the book was called "Loving Fred" it would be a lot easier!

Sorry, I haven't posted in a while, I have been busy in my non-computer life. I am hoping things get easier soon.

Busy Lives

Where has the new year gone? I can't believe one week of 2009 has already past! Seems like yesterday my family and I sat and watched the ball in Times Square drop. On Monday, we all hit the ground running and haven't stopped since. Between scout meetings (total of 3), Huntington (total of 8 hours so far), basketball games (one cancelled), one music lesson, one track practice and other miscellaneous things. we have been on the go!

I believe the four of us might sit down together for a meal tomorrow evening, but things may change.

Some of my older friends tell me to enjoy these kinds of days, because you will miss them when the kids get older. I do enjoy these days, but I also enjoy sitting in my house for more than ten minutes at a time. There has got to be a happy medium!

Sad Words - With A Message

I met with a man today that I was first introduced to about 8 years ago. He is an older man, much older, older than my father & almost as old as my grandfather would have been. He is a wonderful man but recent years have not been kind to him. It is sad to see what old age does to someone. Luckily he has a very loving family that cares for him and his wife when they are unable to do for themselves.

He told me of how he spends less time behind the desk at the Legion. Part of the reason is because of his health and the other is because in his words, "They just don't appreciate how much I do for them." Those are the saddest words I have ever heard him speak. I understand those words too. Too many people these days take for granted volunteer work that others do.

Instead of appreciating or lending a hand, many ask "why did you do it that way, you should have done it this way". Our society has gotten into a very bad rut, we don't appreciate what we have; our personal possessions, our families, our neighbors and friends and the people around us that do because they can, not because they are paid to.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank: our volunteer firefighters, our volunteer EMTs, our volunteer scout leaders, our volunteers at our schools, at our hospitals, civic organizations, and the volunteers all over our nation. If I have forgotten anyone, I'm sorry, it was not intentional, your work is appreciated and may you continue to bless us all with your spirit of giving.

Back To Work, School & Other Things

Monday morning came and winter break is over. I was the first one up today, the alarm clock sounded at 6:45 AM, the sun didn't even want to get up today. Fred rolled over, hit the snooze button and then said "Hon, it's time to get up." and he rolled over again, snoring softly within 30 seconds. I head for the shower, I let the warm water run and as the steam builds up, I climb in. I probably spent way too long under the eye opening water. I reach for the fluffy towel, wrap myself up and day dream about climbing back in bed.

I hear the water running! Oh, no! What's going on!

Chip, the kid that never wants to get out of bed, is not only out of bed, but in the shower twenty minutes early! When he gets out I question him, "why are you up so early?"

"I couldn't sleep!" and this is coming from the kid that sleeps until noon if you let him. He was ready for school a half hour early and he even picked up his dirty clothes.

Next up was Fred, he showered and come out to the kitchen exclaiming "The dry cleaner shrunk my sweater!" This thing was so tight on him he looked like he was trying to stuff 3 pounds of stuffing into a one pound bag. I told him the sweater is not his, it was Chip's. "Oh", was the response, he walked away with relief upon his face.

Now for my early bird, Rocky, he is almost always the first one up, not today, Rocky did not want to see the light of day. "School, YUCK!" I had to practically pull him out of bed! Reluctantly, he got up, got dressed and went off to school.

I left the house five minutes later and was off and running. First, Rocky didn't want to take the bus, so he jumps in the car from the bus stop. I pick up my friend, drop Rocky at school and head for Dunkin' Donuts. Coffee for 3 please, and then off to the middle school. My friend and I had a meeting with the principal this morning about a community carnival. Then off to the Community Center for more carnival things and to a local pizzeria/restaurant for lunch and carnival business. Then I dropped my friend off at her home and then more carnival stuff at another friend's home. I finally got to the elementary school for yet more carnival stuff and a meeting with the principal of the elementary school.

It's a good thing my kids are "good" boys, because otherwise I would be in the Principal's office all the time.

I arrived at home at 2:10, just enough time to put one load of laundry in before the boys come home!

So much for a quiet day at home!

Are The Holidays Really Over?

Winter break ends today, the kids go back to school in the morning. Christmas was over a week ago, New Year's Eve was four days ago, but I am not ready to put away the lights and sparkling ornaments. The cookies are stale and need to be thrown out.

Luckily, my mother has created a family tradition of not taking down the tree until after her mother's birthday on January 6th, Little Christmas. It has also helped to marry Fred. He is of Hispanic origin and Santa didn't come to his house when he was little. The "Three Kings" brought the toys to the children. So when it came time for us to have our kids, we need to blend cultures.

Our Christmas does not end until the morning of January 6th. The kids put their shoes by the front door (only one pair, Rocky has tried putting more than one pair a few years ago) the night of January 5th. The kings leave a toy on top of the shoes and are off. It has always been exciting to see their faces on that morning, just as it is exciting on Christmas morning.

I guess it is our way of keeping Christ in Christmas, remembering that Jesus received his gifts from the kings. The tree and decorations stay up until the 6th, so if you still need to extend the holidays, stop by Gemmie & Fred's, they will be up through the 7th.

Fred's Christmas Present

Fred spent the afternoon using his Christmas present. He and Chip went for a long walk in the woods. They took over one hundred pictures of the neighborhood. Hopefully next year we will have a "Fred" original photo card. It is amazing how beautiful a photograph can be when you have the right equipment.

Two Hundred

Two Hundred Hits Today!

The Noises of A Saturday Morning

Today is not like any other Saturday Morning. Most Saturday mornings the boys have some sort of activity to go to, but since we are technically still in holiday mode, all are sleeping late. We are up in our mountain home, so the noises are really different.

I was the first one up this morning, nothing usual there. I came up stairs to a bright and sunny room. I walked into the kitchen and looked out the big picture window and noticed yet another inch or two of fresh snow. I filled the coffee maker with fresh water, ground the Starbucks coffee beans and placed them in the coffee maker and then pressed the brew button.

I shuffled over the couch, grabbed the laptop and started it up. The coffee maker was sputtering and the laptop was whirring. I listened for the the other sounds of silence. Ah, Fred was still asleep, his deep breathing and gentle snore could be heard from behind the closed door of the downstairs bedroom. Chip was still asleep, his deep breaths and occasional murmur was below me. Rocky, the soundest sleeper of the bunch, had just rolled over and bumped the wall with either an elbow or knee. The wind was blowing the freshly fallen snow around the yard, the naked trees were shaking in the wind. Creeks from the house could be heard, as the wind slows. The electric heat is coming up, the thermostat clicks on, then the blower clicks, then the heating element. As the metal expands from the electricity flowing, the air begins to warm. The warm air rises and then moves the valances of the window treatments slightly.

The coffee begins to drip into the carafe, and the smells begin to stir the rest of the family. Rocky bounds up the stairs. "Hi, Mommy, what are you doing he asks?" My response of "Nothing." confuses him, as he sees that I have the computer on and I turn it off as he asks. The coffee maker beeps, Fred plods his way to the bathroom. The toilet flushes and the water begins to refill the tank. Rocky attempts to wake Chip, but all he gets is a "Leave Me Alone!" Fred climbs the stairs and asks "What's for breakfast?"

The quiet of a Saturday morning has been spoiled!

Twilight

I finished my first book of 2009. As I told you in a previous post, I am spending the first 4 days of 2009 reading. I finished Twilight last night at about 12:30 AM. My next book, Loving Frank will be started later today. The boys and I will be venturing out in the new snow. It is flurrying now and it looks like a lot of fun.

Happy New Year 2009

Happy New Year to my friends and family. So far the new year has been a pleasure. We are up in the mountains, a fire is in the fireplace, Rocky has made snow angels in the 3 inches of new snow, Chip is pleasant and Fred is relaxing. I, myself resolve to spend the rest of the weekend (Thursday- Sunday) reading the books "Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer and "Loving Frank" by Nancy Horan.

"Twilight" is the book all the teenage girls are reading and the recent movie with the actor that played Cedric Diggerty in the Harry Potter movie. "Loving Frank" is a book that Fred gave me for Christmas, it is a New York Times bestseller. I will keep you updated on the progress.