my life

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

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 Lewis	Big Bad John by Jimmy Dean
Runaway by Del Shannon	Wonderland By Night by Bert Kaempfert
Pony Time by Chubby Checker	The Lion Sleeps Tonight by Tokens
Blue Moon by Marcels	Take Good Care of My Baby by Bobby Vee
Calcutta by Lawrence Welk	Runaround 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

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Where it all started...

I have talked about where my love for Africa and desire to serve there began and I cannot believe I found this picture in the art room cleanup.

I was 5 years old the summer these three young men from Africa cam and stayed with my family for a couple of days (I don't really remember how long they were there but long enough that they changed my life.) I remember them talking about what life was like for them, each from a different part of Africa (I don't even remember which countries they came from.) One of them talked about the monkeys bothering them on their way to school and I was hooked. I HAD to go to Africa.

As I got a little older I believed that I was going to be a missionary in Africa and deal with the monkeys every day myself. That thought was deeply embedded in me and I have to say I was a little confused when I met Jay and was clear I HAD to marry him... What about Africa? I didn't talk about it much but it was there.

This is one of the things I love about God. In my little mind, being a missionary in Africa was a life commitment... you lived there forever. So marrying Jay meant no Africa for me. BUt God is not limited by small thought process... And now, all these years later I am just 6 weeks away from a second short term mission to Africa. I cannot believe all that God has had in store for me. And it all started when I met these three young men from Africa all those years ago. AMEN!

Not far from the apple tree...

You know that old saying... Well here is the tree my daughter's apple fell from. As I was beginning to clear out a lot of stuff from my art room I found an envelope with a lot of old photographs. From the looks of this one you can see that somewhere along the way I was a natural at scrapbooking, even if my cropping was poorly done.

Now I am sure my tongue is sticking out in response to the beer my dad is putting in front of my face but there it is nonetheless. Now you can see why my mom must be enjoying watching my life with Shelby.

And yes, that is a "The Lodge" T-shirt... my favorite store in the world in the 70's, how I miss their shirts and carpenter pants.

Monday, April 28, 2008

A mother's curse come true... sort of

You know you hear it, I think every mom at one times at least wants to say it, my mom certainly did say it and it did come true..."May you have a daughter just like you!" I hope my mom is able to see my Shelby and enjoy the creative photograph faces and laugh about payback. The thing of it is though, I don't mind the faces. I kind of like to make them along with my daughter. Sorry mom- the curse fizzled and lost its power. I am sure there were a few more that stand a chance of coming true and having the desired result.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Shelby's Junior Prom

I know, I know, how many posts can I create about how my kids are growing up? If they bore you just scroll on by because here is just one more. Friday night Shelby went to her Junior Prom. I cannot wrap my brain around that fact. You would think I would be prepared by now.. we have been doing the college tour thing and all that but somehow this hit me. It hit me hard right in between Thursday's nail tip appointment and Friday's hair and makeup appointment, add to that seeing her all dolled up in a hot red gown and I was just about ready for CPR. But she looked so beautiful and happy. I love this kid. I love that she had an amazing time dancing the night away. I loved hearing her and her friend chatting away about the prom on the ride home and all that went on. Now all I have to do is gear myself up for the Senior Prom next year

Passover Seder

Last weekend we all went to Jay's sister, Maxine's very first Passover Seder. For the past couple of years she has been exploring her Jewish heritage and earlier this year she had a celebration at her temple in the city to fully embrace her Judaism. So it was natural for her to invite her family to come and participate in this celebration that has gone on since God led Moses to lead the Jews out of slavery in Egypt.

I absolutely love Seders. I love the tradition of it, the idea that, all over the world, members of this faith are sitting down and remembering what God did for their ancestors all those years ago. I love hearing the prayers in Hebrew and the reciting of the plagues that befell Egypt.

Now I am sure that in Jesus' time they did not have plagues in a box but I kind of liked the throwing of the plagues around the table... who was hit with a boil? Who was hit with a frog? What would the ancient members of the tribe of Israel think of the modern day take on some of the tradition- I think they would have loved it. However it is done, this is a time of remembering and tradition. Oh yeah, and of Matzoh balls

Max had the table set beautifully for the arrival of her guests

I know this is not the best of pictures but I love it. Here everyone is reciting the plagues, remembering the suffering of the Egyptians. We are called to dip a finger into the wine and place it on our plates, once for each plague.

The Passover Plate has items to remind the celebrants of different elements of their time in Egypt. Each has an important part in the Seder.

While I am not Jewish, my Lord was and I feel connected to Him as we celebrate Passover and I was thankful for the opportunity to celebrate it with Jay's family.

Next year in Israel!!

Monday, April 14, 2008

It is officially Spring!

I know for the rest of the area people know its Spring by the flowers blooming, the trees are budding and the noses are sneezing. But for me it is only officially Spring when Pongo and Perdita show up in our pond. For those who did not read least year's blog entries, P&P are a pair of ducks that seem to use our pond as a resting spot in the mornings for around 2 weeks for the past few Springs. Well, they showed up at the end of last week but stayed for only a short visit, we only spotted them for 2 days and they seem to be off again, maybe they have a pressing engagement at their real home base. No matter what the reason for their short stay they were here and it is SPRING!!!!

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Hawk Nelson

Last Sunday I took Shelby and her friend to a mega-church in PA to see a Hawk Nelson concert. For those who don't remember, Hawk Nelson is the group we saw at the Revolve Tour last Fall and Shelby decided she will be marrying the guitar player, Daniel. This concert was part of their Green T-shirt tour and of course we got the shirts and were able to get in early for better seats. The concert was great, we all loved it and I had fun taking pictures. I was bummed I didn't get chosen to get up on stage and help with the kazoo song but I guess I can understand why they would have chosen the three girls with a big "Pick Us for the Kazoo Song" sign- Next time I am going to be prepared (maybe a sign with some LED lights.) The only drag about the whole thing is that it was 2 hours from home and when the concert was over I was the driver>

The girls who horned in on my kazoo moment

my future son in law

Tartan Day Parade

I love people who are willing to go and try new things whenever. Last week my friend, Alyse, invited me to go to the Tartan Day Parade in NY. She had read a blurb about it in an airline magazine and thought I just might be crazy enough to enjoy something like this. She was right. I had no idea that I would love it. I have not been the biggest fan of bag pipes. I have no Scottish connection (unless you count being an avid reader of Hamish Macbeth mysteries.) And still, I thought this was an amazing event. I loved that no one seemed to know that the parade was going to happen. People were curious about the barricades and the police standing guard but when we got there, just before the parade was due to start there was plenty of front line viewing spaces. And then you heard the bag pipes. Now up until this time I think for the most part I have only heard them played indoors (at funerals.) I do not think that is the best way to hear them. Out in the streets of NY, the bag pipes sounded great! I loved the music. I loved the plaids. I loved the kilts. I loved the guys in kilts (JK Jay... it just sounded good.) Alyse and I had so much fun photographing the parade from the starting band to the last tartan clad stragglers. And once again I experienced the excitement of an event in NYC, where everyone seems to be just from one big happy neighborhood. Now I want to start checking out all the "what's happening this weekend" sites to find more of these unique celebrations to experience.

Sunday, April 06, 2008

About the Passage of Time

I mentioned in my last post that Jay and I can hardly believe our kids are getting so grown up since it feels like we have not changed (read aged) at all. That said tomorrow will be a bit of a milestone day for Jay... he hits 50!! I cannot believe how great 50 looks on him. I personally thin he is better looking than when I met him.

SO, what do you do when you hit 50? If you are Jay you finally get a car you have been dreaming of forever.... a 1967 Corvette coupe (I think that is the name of it- you can tell, I am not that much of a car person) Now he didn't set out to get this car as a birthday gift, it just sort of ended up showing up on the weekend of his 50th birthday. It leaves me at a loss on what to get him cause how do you compete with a classic? I guess he will just have to settle for a dinner of chicken cutlets, mashed potatoes and corn from a can (This may not sound like much to you but this is Jay's favorite meal and I usually refuse to serve corn and potatoes at the same meal and I NEVER serve corn from a can.) Oh, I did make his favorite coconut icebox cake that is doing whatever it is supposed to be doing in the fridge as we "speak."

So do you want to see his new "Baby"?

Happy Birthday Jay- YSAF, YSAH, YRTMO

Friday, April 04, 2008

Where has the time gone?

Well its happened.... Shelby has reached an age where we really need to start considering college. Jay and I can see that she has grown up but cannot figure out how that has happened as we are just kids ourselves but none-the-less(I'll be posting tomorrow on what the reality of this is), Shelby needs to figure out where she wants to apply. Last week I took her on the first of our college tours. We visited Concordia, in Westchester County, NY. This is a small school, read very small school, but seems to take good care of their students. Shelby likes that it is a Lutheran School although they are not of a mind to ordain women pastors. That's OK this is just for her undergraduate degree anyway.

So we can mark our first college visit as complete, only 375 more to go....NOT!!

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

APRIL FOOLS!!!

And I fell for it LOL

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

NOt to be undone

April 1, 2008
Skin City
FamousFlakes

The Cult of Celebrity has its prayer books (Us Weekly), rites (Red Carpet), miracles (Alec Baldwin’s career), and disciples (Perez).

All that’s missing are the sacred relics.

Behold FamousFlakes, a pop-up biotique offering beautifully packaged vials of your favorite celeb’s skin and hair.

Founder Charles Remarque acquires the goods through a vast network of hotel housekeepers, aestheticians, surgeons, and a few celebrities themselves. Microdot arrays confirm genetic authenticity (and everything comes with a certificate of proof).

There are hundreds to choose from: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mike Bloomberg, Courtney Love. James Frey devotees can get a Billion Little Pieces in a vacuum-sealed cruet (Remarque swears it’s real); Bono voluntarily exfoliated himself and markets the slough under the Product (Red) line. Parker Posey and Chloë Sevigny are in the works.

Remarque will even bottle your flakes for a fee.

After all, skin sells.

For more information, go to famousflakesnyc.com. By appointment.

SO TAKE THAT DC!!

Daily Candy- unbelievable

I subscribe to Daily Candy for NY and also for DC (so that I can have great ideas of things to do when I visit my sister and nieces) What follows is today's candy.... I guess in this world today, ANYTHING goes! I just cannot believe there is a market for this and then I find myself thinking, what scandal would I want to experience? Maybe I want to play the part of Marilyn Monroe singing Happy Birthday to JFK...I wonder if they could give me MM's shape and voice? Now that would be amazing!!

Daily Candy- unbelievable

April 1, 2008
Tryst and Shout
Scandal-Us Events

For every hallowed monument to greatness in Washington, there’s an equally notable — if slightly less glorious — tribute to scandal. Though there are no plaques to commemorate them, these corners, offices, and rooms are just as important to the city’s history.

And now these infamous sites are getting their moment to shine.

Using props, sets, and a well-connected network of hotel employees and Hill staffers, Scandal-Us will recreate your favorite tawdry D.C. episode. From booking a particular room at the Mayflower to recreating a break-in at The Watergate, the team will work to help you and up to seven friends experience the legendary moments that make this city tick.

Whether your evening requires a troop of federal agents or a certain blue dress, Scandal-Us has what it takes to shock and awe.

Just think of it as our nation’s crapital.

For more information, go to scandal-us.com.