It's been awhile....

...for no other reason than being busy! I love my new job and the people and school are great. There's just so much going on!! Between taking night class for my new job and actually doing/learning the job, reading for class (intense), doing my side job, doing household things, and enjoying my family...I feel like there isn't a minute of time to spare. Fortunately, I have off on Monday, so there's a little time to breathe...or at least, catch up with the backlog of crap I need to do.

This is definitely a transition year. I catch myself dreaming about next year quite often, and only a little of that is to do with the very nice pay raise I'll get, pending the outcome of our contract. I'm dreaming of being settled in this job and school, being in a new house(MY OWN HOUSE), probably not working extra outside my fulltime job (unless the money is going to totally frivilous things like a kick ass trip to disney or a new wardrobe from Ann Taylor), and Dominick starting his school career. I hate the feeling of wishing things away, but being settled his a good place to be. We've been pretty unsettled in the last year, and I'm starting to forget what normal feels like. :-(

Greater good, I know, the greater good.

Wishing, and Hoping and Praying...

I've been meaning to post about this for a few days. Stupid hurricane season. Instead of getting ready for my brand new job at my brand new school, I'm watching CNN and worrying. (At least I get to see very nice looking Anderson Cooper, but still!)

The family is evacuated and safe, but the worry remains. I feel like I'm watching video of three years ago. Pictures of levees with water lapping over the top. Pictures of places I know. Places I know that are still a mess 3 years later. There are people who were still fixing their homes this summer. Heck, there are people still somehow living in FEMA trailers waiting for their homes to be fixed. Now they've had to evacuate again. It's surreal and horrifying.

We just visited NOLA in March. There was less of a heavy feeling over the city. Most of the touristy things have been fine for a long time. However, go off track and you think you were in Beirut. However, the people were feeling ok again, like a remission from a long illness. I'm not sure the worry is ever something that goes away, but it fades, little by little. That worry is back.

Please keep the south in you thoughts and prayers today. Fingers and toes crossed everyone!

Two Truths and a Lie...

Posted by Brandao...

Object of the Game: Guess which of the three "facts" is the lie.

1. I met 40th President of the United States Ronald Reagan.
2. I met Joey McIntyre from the New Kids on the Block.
3. I met Emeril Lagasse while eating dinner at his restaurant.

Directions: Guess which one of these statements about me is the lie. Then come up with two truths about yourself and one lie and post it on your blog. The others have to guess what the lie is.

We don't need no education...

This concerns me....

Chew on this

"Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people."

-Eleanor Roosevelt

I'm it!

Tagged by Daisy...

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

Gulp! Ten years ago I graduated college and was applying for teaching jobs. I was working in the bank formerly known as Statewide Savings, where I was realizing the exact reasons why I went to college! I was most likely spending too much money on cool stuff for my new classroom.

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list today? Well, it's 11pm, so 5 things on tomorrow's to do list are: change the sheets on my bed, look at houses with our realtor, exchange a gift at Marshall's, make out some bank deposits for Monday, and return 2 DVD's to the video store.

3. Snacks I enjoy: chocolate ice cream, vanilla ice cream, party cake ice cream, peanut butter ice cream...there's a theme here.

4. Places I’ve lived: All NJ: Jersey City, Madison, Belmar :-P, Bayonne, TBD

5. Things I would do if I were a billionaire: Pay off mine and my sister's student loans, buy a house free and clear, ensure that my parents and inlaws can retire, college fund for DOM, hire a personal trainer, chef, and fashion consultant.

Hmm...I'll tag Husband and anyone else who wants to play!

Field Trip

I want to go here. It's a scrapbook store in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. It's not near anyplace I need to be in Pennsylvania....but I WANNA GO!!

Want to come with me??