Did you ever get so upset about how someone said something to you that it made you feel as though all of the good things in another relationship are not worth it?

I was having a conversation this morning with a group of adults and discussing the events of last night in Times Square. Many of the adults had no idea of the events and others were more informed. While discussing it, one of the adults, was incredibly rude to me. I have been friends with this person's spouse for years and consider the spouse a good friend. Now, after this event and other events relating to the children of this couple I am questioning whether or not this relationship is worth continuing.

I am extremely hurt by the whole situation.

The Changes Since 9/11

We have all experienced many changes in our lives since 9/11. Today, I took my younger son, a few of his friends and their moms to Manhattan. The boys are working on their Coin Collecting Merit Badge for Boy Scouts. I decided to take them to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and to the Stock Exchange for a lesson on money. Well......., you now need a reservation to visit the Fed. and the Stock Exchange has suspended all tours indefinitely. A great big thank you to my husband and one of his clients, because without him our trip to NYC would have been for nothing. On Wednesday, my hubby said I should call the ANS and see if they could set up a tour for you. He sent an email and put me in contact with the Administrator of the ANS. The Administrator of the ANS arranged for a docent to show us around the exhibit at the Federal Reserve.

We arrived at the Fed at 10:00 AM and were met by 2 armed guards. "Reservations and IDs Please" was the greeting we received. We had no reservations, just the name of the docent and the name of the administrator of the ANS (and a copy of the email my hubby sent to his client and the request to the Director of the ANS). At that point, we were ushered into the Fed and given the grand tour!

Thank you so much............Now remember you need a reservation to go to many of the places we used to take for granted........before taking that impulsive road trip, do a little planning!

Changes In My Life

During the last year, my life has changed in numerous ways. I am no longer the mother to an elementary school child and a middle schooler, but the mother of a high school freshman and a sixth grader. I became an aunt again in July to a beautiful little boy, the son of my brother. My mother told me of her latest battle with cancer this past October and she left us in the middle of December. My family and I hosted a young man from France in our home for two weeks. Found that my children have some amazing talents, Ben has excelled in his new school academically, socially and athletically and Rob has become a social butterfly, an accomplished musician and baseball player.

For the most part the changes have been good. The bad parts are part of life and I know that the changes are all part the changes we need to go through. Mom accepted her illness and her journey was the way she wanted it to be. Yes, I miss her and at times I fully expect her to walk through the door or call.

Mom, I love you and thank you for helping to make me the person I am today.

Missing In Action

Yes, everyone, I was MIA! I have been enjoying the beauty, wonder and chaos of life.

Spring has sprung in my neck of the woods, the birds have been visiting the bird feeders ---- all sorts of colors---- red (cardinals), blue (bluejays), yellow (gold finch), beige (mourning doves), brown (house wrens),red and brown (robins), black (red winged blackbirds), gray (nuthatches) and more gray (titmouse).

The rabbits have been hopping around too! And I don't mean the Easter Bunny. I saw an oppossum and even smelt the skunk! Soon the goslings will be following Mama and Papa Canada Goose.

Will post soon, but I might get busy again--- it's baseball and soccer season again.!

A First And A Last

Tomorrow, I am taking my son Rocky on his very last Cub Scout outing, before his Blue & Gold Banquet, where he will cross over into Boy Scouts. We are going Ice Skating at the local outdoor rink.

This is kind of funny because last weekend, I was looking at some old photographs and I found a picture of him. It was from the very first Blue & Gold Banquet that he attended and he was proudly displaying a patch that he received, it read "Ice Skating". Rocky was only 2 and 1/2 years old at the time, but if you asked him what he wanted to be, he said "I want to be a Cub Scout and an Eagle Scout!"

He is now done with Cub Scouts and he has earned his "Arrow of Light" Award, 17 of 20 Activity Badges and can't wait until he is on his way to earning his Eagle Badge.

At that Blue & Gold Banquet, a dear friend's son earned his "Arrow of Light" Award, and our other sons received their Bear and Tiger Badges, we ate with our hands and were entertained by two handsome knights in shining armor. Since then, my friend's older son has earned his Eagle Badge, her other son became a Venture Scout, and my older son, Chip became a "Star" scout (last night) and Rocky is days short of becoming a Boy Scout like the rest of the boys.

Time has flown by since that little boy held that patch to his chest! I am very proud of him and all he has accomplished!

The Thirteenth Update!

Well, here's the update on the thirteenth!

Chip did not go to the movies on Friday, the young lady he wanted to go with couldn't go. The adult at her home had enough sense to say no to the movie and because they hadn't meet all the kids that were going. I think I like the adults at that home!

Chip came home from the camping trip and he said it was the best trip ever!

The camp master "tried" to play a "Jason" trick on them at check out but all the boys were ready for it.

Friday, The Thirteenth

Today, is Friday, the thirteenth! It is a very scary day! My son, Chip has asked to go see the movie that opens today, with some friends. Some of those friends are girls. He is also going camping this weekend at the camp the original movie was filmed at. Talk about scary!

I am not sure which is scarier; the girls, the movie or the camp!

More details to follow.