Monday, May 26, 2008

Camping at Jellystone

This past weekend Marked the occurrence of something that has been years in the making. Friends of our go camping a few weekends every year and they have been asking us to join them. Jay's position has been that the only camping he does is at the Hilton. Our friend, Jim, approached him asking if Jay and I would bring the camper up on Friday with their kids. He and his wife, Krista, had to work until noon on Saturday and could use our help. The only problem was that I had an Uppercase Living party on Friday night and could not go up until Saturday too. Shelby was working on Saturday and could not go up at all. So Jay, on his own went up to the campground with 2 of our friends kids and the other 2 couples that go too. I noticed Jay had called my cell after 11 on Friday night and I was concerned he wasn't having a good time. We got a few phone calls on our ride up and I was wondering what shape I would find Jay in when we arrived. As we came around the circle in the camp we noticed signs for a yard sale... at lot #15- that was Jim and Krista's lot. There were all kinds of things on display for sale, there was even a box of free stuff. All the people already up at the campground were having some fun and pretended they were selling all of Jim and Krista's stuff. They had even gone to a hardware store and bought real signs for the truck windows.. It was really funny, Especially since I didn't realize it was a joke at first. When we got settled in I noticed Jay had commandeered a recliner and seemed totally at home in the camp. We had a great day just hanging out with friends, eating dinner out in the open and celebrating another friend's birthday. So, does Jay think he will go up next year for a whole weekend? The jury is still out on that one.

The best thing about camping was being able to lay back and relax
All day long skydivers were floating overhead
I just loved everyone being together, hanging out, talking and laughing
Sam
Riley
The Campsite view
Brody
Friendly (?) game of Lacrosse
A Final View of the river as we head out

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Dorothy RDH


Its really interesting. I have been doing dental hygiene for over 20 years now but I have very few pictures of this part of my life. I guess that is kind of good, I mean who wants their hygienist snapping pictures as she is working in their mouth but still it is weird to have something be such a big part of my history and yet have very little to remember it. As I am looking to get an album together to bring with my to Namibia I decided to get a couple of pictures from work to add to the book. So here are my instruments that I use on most patients (I have more than one set and I clean and sterilize them between patients.) And then Here is a picture of me working on a friend's daughter. She graciously agreed to be in the picture for me. So now I have proof.. I really am a dental hygienist 

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Less than 4 weeks to go!!!

Well, In less than 4 weeks I will be heading to Namibia! I cannot wait. I cannot believe it..I can hardly breathe I am so excited. There will be 11 of us traveling on this mission. We had our last meeting before the trip on Saturday and everyone seems ready. We will be spending 3 days visiting with sister churches for our churches. My church is in a village called Eembaxu. The amazing thing is we cannot find this village on any map and it is only mentioned a couple of times on Google. I cannot wait to learn where it is and meet the people there. I am just so excited. As the trip gets closer I will post a more detailed itinerary so that you can follow along with me as I travel. I am trying to embed a video from YouTube about a previous group visit for those interested in getting an idea of what I will be experiencing while I am there. I hope it works




Wednesday, May 14, 2008





New York Botanical Gardens with Dad

I spent the day today walking around the NYBG with my father. It was a perfect day to enjoy being outside and the gardens were, no surprise, beautiful.










Mothers Day for me

Let's just get this out right now... I was a spoiled little snarky person on Mothers' Day. All my plans were not going to happen, there was no breakfast in bed, no people jumping up to wish me a happy day... nothing much happening at all. Not all of this was other people's faults, it just was what it was.

All I was looking forward to by the end of the day was my Chicken Madeira from the Cheesecake Factory- one of my favorite meals. I called in our order because there was no way I was eating in that crazy place, ordering extra mushrooms and sauce. Jay and Kyle rushed out to pick it up. They come home with Jay saying he even checked to make sure all our meals were there... well 4 dinners were there but guess what? CF sent 2 of Jay's order and guess who's was not there? You got it... my chicken with all its extra mushrooms was no where to be seen. So I threw my temper tantrum, poor Jay, he felt so bad but I wasn't mad at him, and then I took off to my cropping room. As soon as I sat down I realized what a brat I was being and this was just dinner. I got up apologized and ate my strawberry cheesecake for dinner (not bad after all.)

Then Jay and Kyle went with me to the Celery Farm (Shelby's sprained ankle kept her from joining us.) All was right with the world. I got to be outside and enjoying life with my two guys, came home and had my daughter there too. It really doesn't get better than that- CF Chicken Madeira be darned.







Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Another apple off the tree

At least I know some of my genes played out in the creation of my kids... Here was how Kyle chose to pose in one of my shots from Mothers' Day. My kids might be cloned images of jay but somewhere they have a part of me.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Happy Mothers' Day

It is so hard to believe that it has been 29 years since I celebrated a Mothers' Day with a mom. The more that time goes by the more I appreciate the gifts my mother gave me. She raised me to be independent, she instilled in me a passion for learning about other people and their cultural background, She nurtured my love for reading, for good food (except for the unfortunate incident of the melba toast with ham, asparagus and swiss cheese- hours were spent at the table waiting for me to eat that one,) She exposed me to all kinds of music and poetry ( I can still recite The Owl and The Pussy Cat after the poetry phase,) but most important of all she taught me by example to love the Lord. I am so grateful for her gift of sharing her faith with me.

Here it is almost 29 years form the anniversary of her death and I am moved to tears remembering her. Mom, I miss you and I love you. Can't wait for Paradise when I get to see you again.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Back to the Celery Farm

Tuesday morning I woke up at 5:30 and it was so beautiful out that I finished my Bible readings and prayer journal and was headed out of the house by 6:30. Where to you might ask? Back to the Celery Farm. For some reason unknown to me I hardly visited there last year and I needed to get back. 

It was like seeing an old friend, actually I did run into a few of my birding buddies. The Osprey was nowhere in sight but the Blue Heron posed on top of the wood duck's house for quite a while. A Red Winged Black bird stopped on a branch close to me to welcome me back too. There was mention of a Cedar Waxwing (so high up in a tree it could have been any bird to me- thank goodness that the people who know better were around.) And a rare visit from 2 sand pipers, or at least rare for me, I had only seen them there once a couple of years ago. 

All in all it was an amazing visit and I am happy the rain is over... Maybe I can get out early again tomorrow.




Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Reflections on the Birthday Calculator

OK, Now I am not someone who really pays a lot of attention to these kinds of profiles but there are a few things in this one that has me smiling. First of all I read about the number 3 Life Path, and I kind of like it and think it really fits me. I am sure Jay would recognize me in there too, especially the part about the issue with money (I wonder if I can just use this profile as a defense when the next credit card bill comes in?) Anyway, after reading the profile I come to the conclusion, its good to be a three. 

Next it says that my Native American Zodiac sign is the owl. I have always had a thing for owls. When I was a kid my art work usually included an owl somewhere. One of the only gifts I have left from my mom is a small pewter owl figurine. I am not getting all mystical here just think it is a cool co-incidence, I am not claiming to have a Native America heritage (one look at me clears that) but just thought it was cool.

And then there is the list of songs that were popular. One of the songs on there is, The Lion Sleeps Tonight by the Tokens. I was never the kid that was really into music, still am not to this day- right now I am sitting here in a quiet house, windows open listening to the birds.) But, at one time we learned the request number for a local radio station. There was one summer that we would call in and see if they would play our songs. My memory is that I must have called a million times (but probably was more like 5 times all together) requesting A Lion Sleeps Tonight. I loved that song. Now seeing that it was one of the top songs the year I was born it gives credence to the theory I read when I was pregnant with Kyle. The book said to play a song often while you were pregnant and while the baby was small and that it would become a calming agent for them. This way, when your toddler was out of control you  could play it and it should help settle them down. I was never focused enough to really do that but it seems that A Lion Sleeps Tonight did that for me. I still to this day love that song,

Birthday Calculator



A Patient sent me a link today to a Birthday Calculator (www.paulsadowski.org/BirthDay.asp) which will show you how many days you have been alive and all kinds of info connected to the date you were born...So here's the low down on me (keep it in mind when purchasing my birthday gifts) 


Birthday Calculator
29 November 1961

Your date of conception was on or about 8 March 1961 which was a Wednesday.

You were born on a Wednesday
under the astrological sign Sagittarius.
Your Life path number is 3.

Your fortune cookie reads: 
You will inherit some money or a small piece of land. 

Life Path Compatibility:
You are most compatible with those with the Life Path numbers 3, 6 & 9.
You should get along well with those with the Life Path numbers 1, 2, 5 & 11.
You are least compatible with those with the Life Path numbers 4, 7, 8 & 22.

The Julian calendar date of your birth is 2437632.5.
The golden number for 1961 is 5.
The epact number for 1961 is 13.
The year 1961 was not a leap year.

Your birthday falls into the Chinese year beginning 2/15/1961 and ending 2/4/1962.
You were born in the Chinese year of the Ox.

Your Native American Zodiac sign is Owl; your plant is Mistletoe.

You were born in the Egyptian month of Menchir, the second month of the season of Poret (Emergence - Fertile soil).

Your date of birth on the Hebrew calendar is 21 Kislev 5722.
Or if you were born after sundown then the date is 22 Kislev 5722.

The Mayan Calendar long count date of your birthday is 12.17.8.3.8 which is
12 baktun 17 katun 8 tun 3 uinal 8 kin

The Hijra (Islamic Calendar) date of your birth is Wednsday, 20 Jumadiyu'th-Thani 1381 (1381-6-20).

The date of Easter on your birth year was Sunday, 2 April 1961.
The date of Orthodox Easter on your birth year was Sunday, 9 April 1961.
The date of Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent) on your birth year was Wednesday 15 February 1961.
The date of Whitsun (Pentecost Sunday) in the year of your birth was Sunday 21 May 1961.
The date of Whisuntide in the year of your birth was Sunday 28 May 1961.
The date of Rosh Hashanah in the year of your birth was Monday, 11 September 1961.
The date of Passover in the year of your birth was Saturday, 1 April 1961.
The date of Mardi Gras on your birth year was Tuesday 14 February 1961. 
 
As of 5/6/2008 7:06:41 AM EDT
You are 46 years old.
You are 558 months old.
You are 2,423 weeks old.
You are 16,960 days old.
You are 407,047 hours old.
You are 24,422,826 minutes old.
You are 1,465,369,601 seconds old.

Celebrities who share your birthday:

Jon Knight (1968)Kim Delaney (1961)Cathy Moriarty (1960)
Jeff Fahey (1956)Howie Mandel (1955)Garry Shandling (1949)
Chuck Mangione (1940)Peter Bergman (1939)John Mayall (1933)
Diane Ladd (1932)Vin Scully (1927)Madeline L'Engle (1918)
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. (1908)C.S. Lewis (1898)Busby Berkeley (1895)
Louisa May Alcott (1832)

Top songs of 1961
Tossin' and Turnin' by Bobby LewisBig Bad John by Jimmy Dean
Runaway by Del ShannonWonderland By Night by Bert Kaempfert
Pony Time by Chubby CheckerThe Lion Sleeps Tonight by Tokens
Blue Moon by MarcelsTake Good Care of My Baby by Bobby Vee
Calcutta by Lawrence WelkRunaround Sue by Dion

Your age is the equivalent of a dog that is 6.63796477495108 years old. (You're still chasing cats!)

Your lucky day is Thursday.
Your lucky number is 3.
Your ruling planet(s) is Jupiter & Neptune.
Your lucky dates are 3rd, 12th, 21st, 30th.
Your opposition sign is Gemini.
Your opposition number(s) is 5.

Today is not one of your lucky days!

There are 207 days till your next birthday
on which your cake will have 47 candles.

Those 47 candles produce 47 BTUs,
or 11,844 calories of heat (that's only 11.8440 food Calories!) .
You can boil 5.37 US ounces of water with that many candles.  

In 1961 there were approximately 4.2 million births in the US.
In 1961 the US population was approximately 179,323,175 people, 50.6 persons per square mile.
In 1961 in the US there were approximately 1,523,000 marriages (8.5%) and 393,000 divorces (2.2%)
In 1961 in the US there were approximately 1,712,000 deaths (9.5 per 1000)
In the US a new person is born approximately every 8 seconds.
In the US one person dies approximately every 12 seconds.

In 1961 the population of Australia was approximately 10,642,654.
In 1961 there were approximately 239,986 births in Australia.
In 1961 in Australia there were approximately 76,686 marriages and 6,712 divorces.
In 1961 in Australia there were approximately 88,961 deaths.


Your birthstone is Citrine 

The Mystical properties of Citrine

Citrine is said to help one connect with Spirit.
Some lists consider these stones to be your birthstone. (Birthstone lists come from Jewelers, Tibet, Ayurvedic Indian medicine, and other sources)
Yellow Topaz, Pearl, Diamond

Your birth tree is
Ash Tree, the Ambition

Uncommonly attractive, vivacious, impulsive, demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to play with its fate, can be egoistic, very reliable and trustworthy, faithful and prudent lover, sometimes brains rule over heart, but takes partnership very serious.


There are 233 days till Christmas 2008!
There are 246 days till Orthodox Christmas!

The moon's phase on the day you were
born was waning gibbous. 

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Reagan Update

For those of you who have read this blog since last summer you will know that my newest nephew was born very premature and his chances did not look good. BUt then again, God has plans and apparently He does not listen to the doctors and little Reagan has continued to grow and thrive. Yesterday was his first real coming out to our family, the event being his brother, Ryan's, first communion. Two such amazing things in one day. 

First, St Joseph's Church in Kinnelon is the most wonderful Catholic church I Have ever been to. The church was packed, lots of young people along with families for the kids receiving their first communion. I think this priest is the most down to earth priest ever. You will see what I mean when you see the pictures of his sermon.

Ryan was gorgeous, as usual. He looked great in a suit. Actually this family is one really good looking family- you expect to see them on the pages of a magazine. 

All of this said, Reagan took center stage, everyone so happy to see him finally, and off the oxygen tanks nonetheless. He is a calm, happy and just a joy. Marylou was talking and saying how he was her dream baby. I was struck that after all the drama and fear of these past months she can really say that- I think most people would be still caught up in all that had happened.
But then again that is the kind of mom Marylou is. Marylou and her husband Michael are great parents. I am impressed with all they have done with and for their kids and all without even a blink of an eye. Now I would like to think that I would be that kind of parent but I have a feeling I am a lot more selfish than either of them. I just feel better for having spent this time with them.
The Priest sat on the ground with the first communion class kids and talked to them about having a prayerful life.

4 of the Family of Five (Reagan was out in the car.)

Ryan, in his suit


Little (or not so little) Reagan

I just love this little boy

Friday, May 02, 2008

Another day, another college

With another day off of school Shelby and I set off to view another school she was interested in, the College of New Rochelle. Going to this part of NY is like going to outer Yugumbia to me (I Know there is no such place as outer Yugumbia but it has been my favorite made up country name forever.) I am just thankful for GPS. Poor Jay, I gave him a Garmin for Christmas, promptly put it in my car and he hasn't seen it since. Anyway, Shelby and I arrived at the school and headed in to the Admin building for our tour. CNR's address is on Castle drive and it was clear why when we arrived, there is a castle on the property. I guess all the students feel like princesses (We discovered it truly is an all girl school, just a few token men.) The school was beautiful, art work was all over the place but Shelby did not seem to like it as much as Concordia. I think it feels a lot like high school to her and who wants another 4 years of high school? We will continue on our search for the place that feels like where Shelby should be.


Heading in for a meeting

An overview of the central lawn
and yes, this is a Catholic School