Life According to Me

New Blog

2006-04-03T19:37:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone!

It's been a really long time since I have written in here. I know that I said in January that I would link to my new blog, and I am finally going to do it. But, before I do, I need to tell you what is in it. Steve has been diagnosed with a chromosome disorder called a balanced translocation between chromosomal 1 and 6. It has left him unable to conceive children, so we are doing IVF in an effort to be able to have a baby. We start our first cycle tomorrow, so we need all the support we can get. This is has been a long and hard road, and unfortunately, there is no end in sight.

Something to consider before choosing to read this blog is that IVF is a medical procedure, and infertility is a medical problem. Consequently, I talk about medical stuff in there. We have no problem with people reading about it. We wouldn't be posting it online if we had a problem with it. However, if you are squeamish, or blush at the word period, you probably shouldn't read it.

We originally started it as an outlet, and as a way to keep close friends and family informed. Also, we wanted to get the word out about this. People think of infertility as a "woman's problem." Nothing is further from the truth. Infertility is a disease that is on the rise, and it affects millions of couples. Steve and I are now huge advocates for insurance coverage and awareness in general.

Please know that we are not even going to be a little offended if people choose not to read this blog. We know that this subject makes people uncomfortable.

So, here is the link: http://ourivfandpgdjourney.blogspot.com

Have a great night everyone.

Happy New Year?

2006-01-02T14:12:00.000-05:00

Well I haven't posted in a very long time. I have a number of reasons and excuses that I can throw out, but frankly it's not really worth it. I haven't posted because Steve and I are going through a very difficult time right now, and I really haven't had many positive things to say. No one wants to hear from a Debbie Downer. I am not going to go into detail yet, but I will very soon when we have more answers.

On a more positive note, we went to Hawaii with my mom and sisters over Christmas, and it was a beautiful and much needed distraction. I am going to try to post my pictures on the web and I will send out the link.

Also, Steve and I have started a new blog about the stuff that we are facing right now, but we are not going to give out the address until we are sure that we can keep up on it. We are hoping to use it to connect to other couples who are in similar situations.

In case I am not able to post for a while, we wish everyone peace and happiness in 2006.

Can You Believe this S*@&?!

2005-10-30T12:00:00.000-05:00

Last night here in good old Natick, it snowed 2 inches. IT ISN'T EVEN NOVEMBER YET! You will find a picture of Steve outside during the first snow of the year holding a sign that demonstrates his feelings about the onset of our second New England winter. This is beyond depressing. I hate winters in New England. It isn't even the snow I mind so much, it is driving in the snow that kills me.

So, what is a girl to do when the weather is getting her down? Of course, the only thing that a girl in such a predicament can do is go shopping. So, that's what I did. I lured my wonderful husband into the car and off to REI, where I spent an obscene amount of money on a new winter coat. In my defense I haven't had a new one for 6 years. So it was completely necessary and justifiable.............................right? Needless to say it will be at least another 6 years before I buy another. We also bought Joe and Angie their Christmas present. We had dinner at California Pizza Kitchen, and then came back here and sacked out on the couch.

Today I think that we are going to take the dogs for a walk, and who knows what else. I hope that everyone had a great weekend.

2005-10-30T11:55:00.000-05:00

Steve during the first snow of the season

Happy Wednesday

2005-10-26T19:30:00.000-05:00

Well yet again, it's been a really long time since the last time I posted. It is really hard to find the time to write in here because my computer is dead. The only time I get a chance to write is when I can use Steve's computer. We are planning to buy a new one soon, but I'm cheap and don't want to invest the money.

It is cold here, and yesterday we had our first nor'easter. Fortunately it was all rain, at least in our area. I am hoping that we don't have another for quite sometime. I do not handle driving in inclement weather very well.

Last night we carved pumpkins with our neighbors. Steve and I carved the man in the moon. I am going to enclose a picture at the end.

My new job is going really well. I love my supervisors. I am getting a lot of positive feedback, which is really nice. I actually feel appreciated, which is not something I felt when I was working at my last job. I also work a lot less which is wonderful. The only downside is that it involves a lot of driving, which isn't really a problem now, but it is going to suck this winter.

That's it for today. I hope that everyone is having a great week!

2005-10-26T19:24:00.000-05:00

The Man in the Moon

Happy October!

2005-10-09T13:23:00.000-05:00

Well, things have changed a lot since the last time I wrote. I just started a new job last Monday. It is a lot less work for a lot more pay. The bad thing is that there is a lot of driving involved. Steve is also supposed to be starting a new position soon, as long as everything goes as planned. I am very proud of him.

Two weekends ago, we went to a wedding in Baltimore, MD. It was beautiful. Steve's cousing Andy and his fiancee tied the knot. We didn't make it to the wedding ceremony because we took a wrong turn in New York and ended up in Pennsylvania, but the reception was very beautiful and elegant.

Last weekend we just hung out at home. It was great!

On Friday my father-in-law Dave and his brother Denny stopped to spend the night with us. They have been leaf peeping in New England all week. We all went out to dinner at John Harvards, and then came back here and chatted for a while. They were gone when we woke up yesterday morning. It was a treat to see them!

Yesterday evening we went to my friend Jen's to watch the OSU vs. Penn State game. We ate Chinese and Steve and Jen had a few beers.

That's it for today. I hope that everyone is having a great weekend.

Stressed

2005-09-18T21:33:00.000-05:00

I am officially stressed. On Friday when I got out of work, I had a call from Dr. Vargas who I do some part time hours with after school on my voicemail. It is also a job doing ABA therapy. Over the summer she offered me a full time job, but the money wasn't much more than what I was making and I had already signed an offer with my current employer, so I declined. Well anyway, she said that she knew that I was under contract so it was horrible timing, but she wanted to make me another offer. I called her back and got her voicemail, but I left her a message that said that the timing really was bad, but that I would be willing to hear what she had to say. This evening, she called me back and made me an offer that I couldn't refuse. The pay is something to the tune of $20,000 more than I am currently making, and the travel time is less than the first offer she made. I can't turn that down. The benefits aren't as good, but I am on Steve's benefits anyway. I am however sick at the prospect of breaking a contract. The only consequence that I am aware of is that my current employer will not give me a reference. Dr. Vargas is just as good a reference, as is her partner, so that makes up for it. I also feel really bad, but I think that it is going to be a really good move for me. It is an inclusion position, so it will really give me a chance to broaden my horizons. I am really excited for the experience! Tomorrow is not going to be a good day though because I have to break the news to my supervisors. I already called the lead teacher in my classroom. She said that she was behind me 100%, and that she would do the exact same thing if she were in my situation. I was definitely relieved to know that she is on my side. I hope that everyone is so understanding, but I am not holding my breath.

This weekend Steve and I went to Maine to see the Friends of the Bob and Tom Show comedy act. I couldn't tell you the names of the people we saw, but they were pretty funny. Our hotel was sort of a dump, but it worked.

Tonight, we went over to my friend Jen Leiberman's house to watch football. It was fun, but I was obsessing over this job the entire time. Jen was super supportive though. I am really lucky to have her as a friend.

Well, that's it for today. If you get a chance think of me tomorrow. It is going to be a very long day.

Why-O Why-O Why-O Did I Ever Leave Ohio?

2005-09-12T22:20:00.000-05:00

Well, yesterday was my 24th birthday. It was the first birthday that I wasn't looking forward to. I suppose that happens as you get older.

My friend Sarah came in from Ohio and spent the weekend with us. It was really a treat! Thursday night we picked her up from the airport, and caught up over Chinese food. On Friday we gave her a short tour of the city and ate dinner in the North End. Saturday we went to the beach, and then to Allston to watch the Ohio State game with my friends from work, Ali and Jen L. Yesterday we went sightseeing in the city and then took her to the airport. Steve and I were sad to see her go.

I just want everyone to know that I really appreciate the flowers and cards and birthday wishes that I recieved from everyone. It really helped to make my birthday happy. However, the day was also sad because I desparately wanted to see everyone. It is times like these that I wish that we had never left Ohio. My biggest birthday wish is that we can get back home soon.

That's it for today. Have a great night everyone!

2005-09-12T22:02:00.000-05:00

Sarah on the rocks

2005-09-12T22:01:00.000-05:00

Just us being us

2005-09-12T22:00:00.000-05:00

Sarah and I

2005-09-12T21:59:00.000-05:00

Steve and I being silly on the beach

2005-09-12T21:58:00.000-05:00

A beautiful view of the ocean and a lighthouse from the beach

2005-09-12T21:57:00.000-05:00

Steve and I on the rocks at the ocean in Gloucester, MA

A Busy Couple of Weeks

2005-08-25T19:45:00.000-05:00

Yet again......it's been a while.

A lot has happened since the last time I wrote. We had a fantastic time in Ohio. I will post pictures. Our flight was delayed, so we didn't get in until late on Friday. Saturday my Dad had a fishing Derby at Melody Lake, we had lunch with Mom, and we had dinner at Adornettos with Dad, Connie, Allie, Randy, and Jack. On Sunday, we went to lunch with Dave, Jeanie, Joe and Angie. We then went over to see Joe and Angie's new house. It is adorable. I am jealous. We gave everyone their birthday presents and ate cake and ice cream. From there, we headed to the airport. I was really depressed to have to leave.

Last weekend we went out with Russ and Rachel, who also live in Natick. We went for a balloon ride over Boston, and had dinner at Pizzaria Regina's. We had a wonderful time! When we got home, we all had cake for Steve's birthday. On Sunday, Steve's birthday, we laid around the house, and just hung out together.

This week the preschool is on vacation. I'm not because I am still making up time from my wedding. It has been good though because I have gotten a lot of work done, and now I am all paid up. Yay!

That's it for now. Have a great weekend everyone!

2005-08-25T19:43:00.000-05:00

The Melody Lake Fishing Derby

2005-08-25T19:26:00.000-05:00

Tabby Catching a Tree

2005-08-25T19:25:00.000-05:00

Uncle Jack and I

2005-08-25T19:23:00.000-05:00

Andrew "Tater" Rush and his Grandma Connie

2005-08-25T19:22:00.000-05:00

My Dad

2005-08-25T19:21:00.000-05:00

Jeanie Opening her and Dave's Present

2005-08-25T19:19:00.000-05:00

Angie Holding Up Her Present

2005-08-25T19:17:00.000-05:00

The Balloon

2005-08-25T19:16:00.000-05:00

The View of the City from the Balloon

24 Hours and Counting....

2005-08-11T18:45:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow we are going home!! I am so excited! Thanks Dad for helping us with our plane tickets!

This has been a crazy week. I have done a lot of training on my new case student, which has been nice, but Eva has been having a difficult time. I think she senses that changes are coming. This is going to be a difficult transition for both of us. I know that I am going to be a wreck next Friday (our last day together).

Tonight I taught a first aid class at school, and then Steve picked me up in the Porsche. (I have posted pictures of the car that we have been babysitting for the past few weeks at the end of this post). He has taken this week off because his boss is away on his honeymoon. Today he took my ipod into the apple store because the connector that goes to my i-trip was bad. They gave him a new ipod! I am so excited! So, now the i-trip works too. Yay!

My computer finally died this week. It is pretty old, so I guess that it was bound to happen sooner than later. It has been sick for quite a while. So, now we are going to have to start shopping for a new one. I want an i-book, but Steve is adamantly opposed to anything Apple (except the ipod :-P), so I probably won't get one. We'll see.

That's it for now. I hope that everyone is having a great week. We can't wait to see everyone tomorrow!

2005-08-11T18:44:00.000-05:00

The Porsche with the top up

2005-08-11T18:42:00.000-05:00

The Porsche with the top down

Happy Hump Day!

2005-08-03T17:01:00.000-05:00

This has been a crazy week. I can't believe it's August already!

Things have been hectic at school because we are all getting ready to switch cases. I am very excited, but I am also sad to give mine up. I am crazy about Eva.

Yesterday our class took a field trip to the Children's Discovery Museum in Acton, MA. It was a blast! I was a little nervous going into it, but the kids were great! I got some really good pictures of my case student.

We also booked our flights home yesterday for the weekend of August 13th. Steve and I are very excited to see everyone!

That's it for now. Have a great night!

I Can't Believe It's Sunday Already!

2005-07-31T16:06:00.000-05:00

This weekend has been entirely too short. I can't believe it's Sunday already!

On Friday went out and had ice cream with Jenna and Gabriel, and then cam home and crashed.

On Saturday, we went to a B-B-Q with some of Steve's friends from the train. It was nice to finally meet all of these people that I have heard so much about. Then, we went to the mall for a while, and then came home and played some board games with Jenna and Gabriel.

Today we ran some errands, and I got my hair cut. It's short, but I really like it.

Not much has gone on this week. I was offered a new job, but I think that I am going to decline. I have been crazy busy at work, but I am getting through it.

Joe and Angie have recently posted pictures of their new house on their blog. It looks really cute. We can't wait to see it!

That's it for now. Have a great weekend everyone!

Congrats are in Order!

2005-07-24T21:07:00.000-05:00

I have a lot of Congratulations to Extend!

Miss Anne Marie Nist is officially the Zanesville Country Club Junior Golf Champion for the second year in a row. Hip Hip Horray! I am so proud of her! Bob Graham, our wonderful neighbor, was her caddy. Steve and I wish that we could have been there to see her accept her trophy. I have posted pictures at the end of this post.

Also, Joe and Angie closed on their house on Friday, and have started moving in. We are so excited to see it, or at least see pictures. I am sure that it is lovely.

Not much has changed around Natick since the last time I wrote. I have been crazy busy with my job and respite work. I have also been studying like crazy for the GRE. I am hoping to take it in September. I don't test well, so I am already nervous. I have heard that the GRE is brutal, and it is computer-based, so you can't go back and change answers. Oh well, all I can do is study.

On Friday, I looked at grad school stuff. For those of you who are wondering, I am thinking of going back full time. Steve and I have learned that night school is hard on a marriage. We'll see.

Saturday, we went into Boston to meet up with Jen and Adam. We all went to see a showing of Hamlet on Boston Common. We got there late because we had dinner first, so our seats were pretty far away from the stage. Thus, the play was really hard to follow, so we didn't last long. After we left, we strolled down Newbury Street, and stopped at J.P. Licks for ice cream. Then, we headed to Jen and Adam's apartment to watch a movie. I was tired and fell asleep, but everyone else seemed to enjoy it.

Today, Steve and I laid around and watched TV for most of the day. This afternoon we went over to the mall for an hour, and then laid around when we got home. I did get some studying done, but that's about it.

I hope that everyone had a great weekend! Have a great night!

2005-07-24T21:06:00.000-05:00

Annie and Bob Graham

2005-07-24T21:05:00.000-05:00

Annie and Mom

2005-07-24T21:04:00.000-05:00

Annie with her trophy

A Wonderful Weekend with My Hubby

2005-07-17T21:31:00.000-05:00

Steve and I have had a great but uneventful weekend together.

Yesterday morning I cleaned the house. Steve helped a little, but the majority of his morning was spent watching an E! True Hollywood Story on NASCAR.

In the afternoon, we went cruising in his boss's Porsche. It was so much fun! We put the top down and drove around for a while before returning it to Neil's garage in Beacon Hill. The fact that it was a beautiful sunny day made it that much more enjoyable.

Today we had dinner reservations at the AMC Grille. The AMC Grille is an adults only movie theater where you can order dinner and drinks, and sit in big comfy leather seats. It was expensive but wonderful. We saw The Wedding Crashers, which was very funny, while enjoying our dinners. I think that we will definitely have to do it again sometime.

That's it for now. I hope that everyone had a great weekend!

Its Been A While

2005-07-15T18:51:00.000-05:00

I has been a really long time since I have written in here. A lot has happened since the last time I wrote.

Two weeks ago, Steve's family came into town. We have really missed them a lot, so it was wonderful to get to spend the weekend with them. On Friday, we all went out for dinner at John Harvards. Saturday, we took everyone to George's Island to see the fort. It was fun, especially for Dave, Nick, and Steve because they are all history buffs. We ate lunch on the rocks and then headed back into Boston. We walked around the city for a while and did some shopping, and then we had dinner on the North End. When we finally made it home, we were all exhausted and went to bed early.

2005-07-15T18:48:00.000-05:00

Lunch on the Rocks

2005-07-15T18:47:00.000-05:00

Jeanie and Nick on the water taxi

2005-07-15T18:46:00.000-05:00

Dave on the water taxi

2005-07-15T18:35:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, we all piled into our cars and headed for the beautiful white mountains in New Hampshire. Steve of course had to take a "shortcut" on the way there, so we ended up adding at least an hour onto the trip, but we made it. We checked into the hotel at about 4:00 and went to our suite to unload the car. The room was amazing. It had a fireplace in the living room, a full kitchen, and a jacuzzi with mirrors all around it in the master bedroom. It was one of the nicest suites that I had ever stayed in.

After we were settled, we went over to loon mountain to take a gondola ride. The view as we were headed up the mountain was incredible. We walked around the summit for a while, and then headed back down. When we were safely to the bottom, Steve, Nick, and Dave went and climbed on the rocks in this stream that was in front of the mountain. I was a nervous wreck because Steve is a klutz, and he had the digital camera in his pocket. Luckily he was fine.

We had dinner at this little steakhouse, and then went back to the hotel, turned on the fireplace and talked for a while before heading to bed.

The next morning, Dave, Jeanie, and Nick headed to the airport to go home. We were really sad to see them go. It would have been a lot harder if we were at home, but since we had a week of vacation ahead of us it was a little easier.

On Monday, we took another gondola ride up loon mountain and had lunch at a little cafe that they have at the top. We hiked around the top of the mountain for a while, and then headed back down. For dinner, we attended a cookout given by the resort. The food was not great, but we won a $20 gift certificate to a restauraunt in town. After dinner, we went to find a seat for the fireworks. We found a table that was perfect. We sat down and were talking, when this adorable little old lady and her husband, Marty and Paulette, decided that they wanted us to sit with them. They were only sitting one table away, so we thought "what the heck?" They talked and argued throughout the entire display. They were cute, but neither of us were in the mood. I can definitely see Steve and I being exactly like them someday.

Tuesday, we went kyaking on the Pemigewassett River. We rented a double kyak and headed out early in the morning. It was a lot of fun, but it was scary at times because of the rapids. Once we were finished, we went back to the hotel and just relaxed for the rest of the day.

On Wednesday we went to the Flume Gorge and went hiking. The Flume Gorge is this amazing rock formation in Franconia Notch State Park. I have included pictures at the end of this post.

On Thursday, we laid around all day, and then had dinner at an Italian Restauraunt in town. We had 2 gift certificates to get rid of. We had one that we won at the cookout, and we got another one for listening to a time share sales pitch. So, at dinner we decided to order a bottle of wine. Well, once we got it, Steve decided that he didn't want to have much because he was driving (smart choice). So, the waitress kept pouring more and more into my glass. I felt fine sitting there. I was feeling more talkative than usual, but other than that I was fine......or so I thought. Once I stood up I was really feeling it. I could walk and everything, but I was feeling pretty silly. We stopped at the lodge to get a board game before we went to our room, and we ran into none other than Paulette and Marty. They wanted us to go inside so that they could "share their experiences" from the week with us. We had no other choice but to say yes. I think that Steve was nervous that I was going to say something inappropriate, but I didn't. We told them that we were tired, and got out of there as quickly as possible.

On Friday we went on a road trip and drove up Mt. Washington. It was really difficult to see anything at the summit due to the clouds, but we got some beautiful pictures on the way up. It was a great experience, and we received a "This car climbed Mt. Washington" bumper sticker for our car.

On Saturday, it rained all day. We didn't want to spend the entire day indoors, so we went hiking in the rain. It was very romantic, but very slippery at times. We were some of the only people on the trail, which was great because we could take in the beauty of the mountains and granite rock formations without a lot of commotion. I must say that this excursion was probably my favorite.

On Sunday, we headed for home. That is when the homesickness for Ohio kicked in for me. I always get really depressed after coming back to Massachusetts from Ohio and after people leave. Fortunately, it is finally starting to pass.

This week I learned that I would get a new case student at work this August. It will be a little boy named Taylor who is wicked cute and has few behaviors. I am really looking forward to it, but it will make me sad to give up Eva's case.

This weekend we are just going to hang out. We have had his boss's Porsche the past couple of days. We have had a lot of fun with it, but we are going to take it back tomorrow. He comes back from a trip on Sunday and needs it when he gets here. It was really nice and trusting of him to let us use it while he was gone. Apparently he knows nothing of Steve's driving record.

That's it for now. Have a great night everyone!

2005-07-15T18:31:00.000-05:00

Pictures from the Peak at Loon Mountain

2005-07-15T18:30:00.000-05:00

Steve and I on the Fourth of July

2005-07-15T18:29:00.000-05:00

The Flume Gorge

2005-07-15T18:28:00.000-05:00

Steve and I at the Flume Gorge

2005-07-15T18:27:00.000-05:00

Another Picture of the Flume Gorge

2005-07-15T18:26:00.000-05:00

A Picture from the Mount Washington Auto Road

2005-07-15T18:25:00.000-05:00

Steve Standing Next to a Building at the Summit of Mount Washington

2005-07-15T18:24:00.000-05:00

Steve and I at the Summit of Mount Washington

2005-07-15T18:23:00.000-05:00

A Granite Rock Formation

2005-07-15T18:22:00.000-05:00

A Pretty Waterfall

A Hot and Muggy Sunday

2005-06-12T17:00:00.000-05:00

Today has been a hot and muggy day. The temperature was above 90 degrees, which is supposed to be a rarity in New England. I believe that we had less than five 90 degree days last year, and this year we have had about three. We completely missed spring this year.

Yesterday we went to Plymouth to see the infamous rock. It was rather disappointing, but it was nice to see the ocean! It was an absolutely gorgeous day, and we were able to get some decent pictures, which you will find at the end of this post. After we were finished at Plymouth, we drove around Boston for a while, and then went to Jen and Adams. We all went out for ice cream at this cute little ice cream place called J.P. Licks and grabbed a movie called Kinsey at Blockbuster. We then headed back to Jen and Adam's to watch it. The movie was sort of slow, but pretty good. It was about the life of the guy who did the Kinsey sex studies.

Today Steve and I have been working on cleaning the house. It desparately needs it, but it has been difficult to stay motivated because of the heat. We have been going for rides in the car just to cool off.

That's it for now. I hope that everyone has a great night!

2005-06-12T16:58:00.000-05:00

Plymouth Rock

2005-06-12T16:57:00.000-05:00

My handsome hubby on the pier

Busy Busy Busy

2005-06-11T10:00:00.000-05:00

This has been a crazy few weeks. Sorry I haven't written, but it is difficult to be disciplined enough to sit down and write when it has been so nice outside.

So here is a run down of all that has happened since the last time I wrote:

Joe and Angie celebrated their 2nd wedding anniversary, so congrats to them.

Steve and I booked our trip to Hawaii for Christmas. I am very excited!

We also decided to go take a trip to Vermont for a week. We think that we are going to leave the day that Steve's family heads back to Ohio. I have never been to Vermont, and when we moved out here we promised each other that we would see as many new places as possible, so we are really looking foward to it. The hotel we are staying in is located on 18 acres in the Lake Champlain Valley. Hopefully it will be very romantic!

Steve went away to New York City on a business trip. His hotel was right in Times Square. I was insanely jealous. You will find some pictures at the end of this post. I have to admit that I missed him terribly, but it looks like he had a wonderful time!

This weekend we will probably do a lot of laying around. I would like to hit some yard sales. We will see if I can drag Steve off of the couch for that. We are dogsitting for my friend Joe. Paige is very sweet, but very large compared to our dogs. He is planning on picking her up tomorrow. I would like to hit the beach tomorrow if it is nice, but we will see.

I hope that everyone has a great weekend. Who knows, maybe I will write tomorrow!

2005-06-11T09:37:00.001-05:00

Times Square at night

2005-06-11T09:37:00.000-05:00

The view outside Steve's hotel window

2005-06-11T09:36:00.000-05:00

Steve with the MSN butterflies at an event at Rockefeller Center

What a Week!

2005-05-25T18:51:00.000-05:00

I started back to work on Monday. It has been really nice and really busy all at the same time. I didn't realize how much I missed my case student until I saw her on Monday. We have had a great week so far. I had a clinic this morning with my specialist and my student's mother. It went really well. Today we decided that I would start doing parent trainings on Thursday afternoons instead of Wednesday mornings so that I could work on toilet training. I haven't done much toilet training, but I am sure that we will get through this. I figure if nothing else it will be good practice for when Steve and I have kids.

We are finally almost moved out of our old apartment. We are not quite settled yet in the new place, but we are getting there. I think that we are going to love it here. We definitely love our neighbors. They are great!

I haven't had much of a chance to write in here recently because we don't have my computer hooked up yet. So, I have to wait until Steve gets home so that I can use his laptop. By the time we get through dinner and everything it is pretty late, so I don't always have a chance to write.

I hope that everyone had a great day today, and has a wonderful day tomorrow!

An Uneventful Week So Far

2005-05-17T21:52:00.000-05:00

I don't have a lot to post because I have just been laying around a lot lately. I am feeling a ton better. I am now more exhausted than anything else. I am sure that I will be back to normal in a few days.

The day that I was released from the hospital, Nick's appendix ruptured, and he went into the hospital. He is now out, and I hope that he is feeling better as well.

I have my follow up appointment with my doctor on Friday. Hopefully, they will say that the infection is completely gone, and that I can go back to work.

Today I took a practice LSAT, and I am happy to report that I got a score of 159. The average score is 153. I blew one section completely, but cleaned up on the remaining sections. I was very excited. Who knows......perhaps law school could be in the cards for me someday.

Tonight we had dinner with our new neighbors Jenna and Gabriel. They are very nice, and down to earth. I think that they are going to be great neighbors. We have already made a tenative dinner date for next week.

That's it for now. Have a great night everyone!

I'm Home!

2005-05-14T12:02:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am home from the hospital. I am sure that most of you know already, but just in case. This has not been a fun week so far for me, but the phone calls and flowers really helped. It is really nice to know how much everyone cares. Visitors would have been best, but getting to talk to everyone was certainly the next best thing. Thanks everyone!

I am going to have a long week ahead. I am not allowed to drive for two days, and I am not allowed back at work until the 23rd. The kidney infection was pretty severe, so my immune system is down. All of this is certainly going to make moving difficult, but I am sure that we will get through it.

I am going to go take a much needed shower, but I just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone and give a quick update.

A Better Day

2005-05-10T22:18:00.000-05:00

Today was a much better day!

I had a meeting with my supervisor this morning that went well. My case student and I also got along quite well, which always helps. Tomorrow I have a home training in the morning, which always makes the day go fast. So, as far as I am concerned things are on the up and up.

I put all of the utilities for our new place in our name today. We got a lot of organizing accomplished as well. It is amazing how much we can accomplish when we set our minds to it.
We were able to get rid of a lot of crap, which was a huge relief. Steve likes to keep everything, and I throw everything away. It has made for some interesting "discussions" during the past few days.

Well, I am exhausted, so that's it for today. Have a great night everyone!

A Belated Congratulations to Angie!

2005-05-09T20:48:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Angie on her graduation! We are sorry that we had to miss it!

Ugh! This has been a rough couple of weeks. A few days before we left for Ohio, we recieved a letter in our mailbox stating that our landlord was selling our house. Since our lease ends at the end of May, we had to find something else and fast. We loved our apartment, and were really sad to have to go, but we found a place that we really like. The worst part of all of this is the actual moving part of it. It is especially difficult because we are pretty much on our own. Jen and Adam came over Saturday and helped, but it is not done by a long shot. Steve met someone on the train with a truck who volunteered to help us with the big stuff this Sunday. We are definitely taking him up on it. We are beyond stressed at this point. I just can't wait to get settled in.

To make matters worse, our car insurance company is giving us a really hard time. Ohio purges all driving records after 3 years, and Massachusetts requires at least 6 years of driving history for a decent rate. We have been patient with this company for months now, giving them every piece of documentation at our disposal, and today finally I lost it on the phone with our agent. It is getting rediculous. Steve has banned me from talking to her anymore. He wants to take it from here. So, I am gladly relinquishing the duty of dealing with her until we switch companies in August when this policy finally runs out.

Oh well, enough rambling for now. Have a great night everyone!

Happy Wednesday!

2005-05-04T16:36:00.000-05:00

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Steve is coming home tonight! I am so excited!

So, I have been thinking about our future. I absolutely love my job, but I am still not sure that I want to do special education for the rest of my life. The burnout rate is rediculous, and for good reason. This is especially true for educators working with children with severe special needs.

I am have been toying with the idea of law school. It is something that I have always thought about. Steve has always said that he wants to do it as well. We both share a passion for politics. I never thought of pursuing it, mostly because of a fear of failure, but I think that I may want to give it a try. I think that I would want to do civil rights law. I am sure that doesn't surprise those of you who know me well. My thought is that I can do civil rights law, and do most of my work for people with disabilities. Boston College has a program in which you come out with a master of education and a law degree. I definitely want to find out more, and see if there are any programs like it in Ohio, or at least closer. Boston College has one of the most prestigeous law schools in the country, so my chances of getting in are probably slim to none, but I at least want to check it out. We'll see. I talked to Steve about it, and he thinks it's a great idea. He said that he may want to apply to law school too, and maybe do it together. I think that would be really difficult financially, but definitely not impossible. Who knows?

Steve will be boarding his plane soon. I can't wait! There are only a few hours left until I can give him a big kiss! Yay! Have a great night everyone!

It's Been A While

2005-05-01T11:04:00.000-05:00

It's been a long time since I have written in here! I have been so busy I haven't really even thought about it!

Two weeks ago I spent the week in Ohio with family. It was wonderful! Steve came home with me from Friday until Tuesday morning, and then I flew home the following Sunday. It was so nice to see everyone.

One night my mom, Annie and I went to Crooksville to see my Grandpa, Yvonne, and my uncle Dan. While we were there, Danny gave me a full set of Crooksville China as a belated wedding present. I was so surprised! Apparently he had been collecting it for me for quite some time! I was very excited because I have always wanted a set, and it is really hard to find because they stopped making it a long time ago. It is really pretty. It is a wild flowers pattern of the Iva-Lure line that they stopped making in the early 1950s. I can't wait until I can get a china closet and set it up! It will probably be a while on that china closed though.

I also went to Columbus one night and stayed with Allie. We picked up Sarah, one of my best girlfriends, and went to dinner. Then we bought a bottle of wine, and played board games with Allie and Randy. It was a lot of fun! Sarah spent the night at Allie's with me. It was so nice to see her and catch up!

I flew home on Sunday morning. Steve picked me up, and we went to sign a lease on our new apartment. Hopefully, I will be able to post pictures soon. It is a little bigger and a little nicer than the one we have now, but it isn't as charming and a is little more expensive because we have to pay utilities. Fortunately, the windows are brand new, so hopefully that will cut down on utility costs.

Steve and I spent most of the week packing and moving boxes. We didn't get a whole lot done because Steve doesn't get home until 7:00, but we did make some headway.

Friday, Steve and I went to dinner at this cute little Italian place in Natick Center. It was really good! We really needed a romantic evening together since he was leaving for Dallas yesterday morning.

Yesterday morning I took him to the Logan Express at 6:30 am. I was really sad to see him go. I know that it is only until Wednesday, and he needs to go for his job, but I really miss him. Last night, I babysat Brevin, my friend Toni's son. We went to Chuck E. Cheese. Everyone told me that I must be a glutton for punishment, but it was a lot of fun. He is a great kid! After dinner, we came back and watched Shreck until Mike and Toni came and picked him up.

After Brevin left, Jen came over. We watched some of the second season of Sex in the City, and she stayed over. It was nice to have company! I took her over to see our new place. I think she liked it.

It looks like I am on my own for the rest of the week. Steve has been good about calling and checking in on me. He has only been gone for a little over a day, and it feels like it has been forever. I don't know how military wives do it. My hat goes off to them. It does sound like Steve is having a great time in Dallas though. Last night he went to a Red Sox game in a limosine, and the hotel he is staying in is so big he can never find his room. I am happy for him, and perhaps a teensy weensy bit jealous.

Well, I have been babbling for far too long. Have a great Sunday everyone!

A Wonderful Weekend

2005-04-18T20:29:00.000-05:00

We had a great weekend!

Friday we left from Southborough, and headed for Ohio. We ran into an obscene amount of traffic, and at times were ready to kill each other, but we safely made it a little less than halfway home.

Saturday, we slept in a little, and then off to Meigs County we drove. We were in much better spirits after getting some sleep. We finally got to Steve's parent's house around 3:00 in the afternoon. We felt bad because everyone had waited on us to eat lunch, and we were late as usual.

Saturday night Steve's parents, Nick, Steve and I all went over to Joe and Angie's house for a weiner roast. It was so much fun! I haven't been to one of those for a long time. It was so nice to see everyone, but it made me very homesick. After the weiner roast, we stood around and talked to Joe, Angie, and Nick for a while. We all don't see everyone nearly enough. I can't wait until we come back. When we finally get to move back, I don't think that we will take seeing everyone for granted, or at least not as much as we used to.

Sunday morning, we had breakfast with Steve's grandparents, parents, Nick, Joe, and Angie at the Coolspot. It was wonderful for Steve to see his Grandma and Papa. I could tell that he was thrilled. I had biscuits and sausage gravy that was amazing! After breakfast, we all stood around for a while outside of the restauraunt and talked for quite a while. It was a lot of fun!

Sunday afternoon, we went to Steve's cousin Sarah's softball game in The Plains. Many members of Steve's extended family were there, along with his Grandma and Papa. He was excited to see them again. We were only able to stay for a short while, but we enjoyed the time that we had, and I received my first sunburn of the spring.

After we left the game, we headed for Zanesville. My mom made a huge fancy dinner for us, and invited the Grahams, Lynne, Dad and Connie, and Randy (Allie's boyfriend). We all ate dinner and desert, and then went downstairs to play Annie's dance revolution game. It was a hoot to watch. Steve is surprisingly good at it. He beat me everytime.

After dinner we headed back to Steve's house after the party because his parents were planning to take us to the airport to drop Steve off the next day. When we finally got there, we visited for a few minutes, and then we fell asleep on the couch. One of Steve's parents (I don't remember who) finally woke us up and sent us to bed.

Today, we got up and got around. At about 11:30 or so we headed for the airport. We made it about halfway there when Jeanie's car broke down. She thought that it was the timing belt because it was about due to be replaced. In fact, she had an appointment for Friday to have it done. We all stood at the side of the road and waited for AAA to come and tow the car. I called my mom, and she offered to come and get Steve and take us to Zanesville. Steve had to change his flight to tomorrow morning. No complaints here; I was thrilled to get to spend another night with him. Finally, an officer arrived and took Jeanie, Steve and I to the nearest exit. Jeanie managed to find a rental car, and then we went over to McDonalds to wait for Dave and my Mom.

Tonight we had dinner at Adornettos with my Dad and Connie. It is always fun spending time with them! After dinner we headed over to their house to visit for a while.

All in all, it was a good day! I hope that everyone had a great weekend and a happy Monday! Have a great night everyone!

Two Days and Counting!

2005-04-13T16:54:00.000-05:00

Sorry that I haven't written for a while. I guess that I haven't much felt like writing.

I have been really crazy busy trying to get things squared away with our cars. We are selling our Accord this weekend, so we have had to get the Camry registered and insured. That was sort of a mess because my step-dad's name was on the title.

I don't like to do this, but I have decided that I need to sound off about something. I have a huge problem with Citicard's catch phrase "live richly." Now there are many responsible folks out there who use credit cards wisely, and pay them off every single month, just as they should. However, there are also many very young and very naieve people out there who think that credit is their ticket to "living richly." I am guessing that this particular advertisement is geared towards this population. Don't get me wrong. This works! Who doesn't want to "live richly?" Our materialistic society makes us think that we need to "live richly." But, so many people find themselves in so much trouble with this sort of thing. You may be able to live richly off of plastic for a while, but you will eventually be sorry because one day you will wake up very very poor. I feel that it is much better to be at 0 than below 0 with stuff that you don't even remember charging. Steve and I have learned through some tough lessons that hard work, saving and sacrificing are much better ways to get the things that we want and need than using plastic as a bandaid. Okay I'm done.

So far, this has been a pretty good week. Uneventful, but good. I am really excited for vacation. Only 2 more days. Horray!

I hope that everyone had a fantastic day!

A Great Day for a Walk

2005-04-09T18:06:00.000-05:00

Today was a beautiful day. It got up into the 60s, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. We decided to take the puppies for a walk on the freedom trail that goes from Lexington and Concord to Boston Harbor. We didn't do the whole trail of course. That would have taken entirely too long, but we probably walked a mile and a half or so. It was a lot of fun, but we are exhausted.

Yesterday I went to the doctor. It went really well. I haven't had a full checkup in a long long time, so I decided it was time to go. He said that everything is fine, except that my thyroid is enlarged, and he thinks I am too thin. I disagree about the too thin part, but whatever. He said to make sure that I am getting enough calories. I am really super busy, and I don't make a lot of time to eat, so chances are that I probably don't eat as often as I should. However, I think that too thin is stretching it. Anyway, he did a full blood work up. For those of you who know me well, I am petrified of needles. I typically faint when I have to have blood drawn, but I did really really well. They had me lay down this time, which I have never done before. I was really proud of myself. I barely broke a sweat! The nurse even rewarded me with a chocolate chip cookie for being so good! They probably think that I am a huge drama queen, but oh well.

Last night we were supposed to go into Boston to hang out with Jen and Adam, but Jen has the flu so they had to cancel. Everyone at school is getting it. We sent two teachers home with it yesterday in the preschool. From what I hear it is pretty nasty. I hope that I don't get it. I also hope that Jen gets to feeling better soon!

Since Boston was out, we decided to try this little mexican restauraunt that a lady from Steve's office recommended. It was overpriced and the food was less than impressive, so lesson learned I suppose. I think that we will probably stay in tonight and relax.

I hope that everyone is having a fantastic weekend!

It's Almost Friday!

2005-04-07T17:50:00.000-05:00

Today was a pretty good day. The classroom was extremely hot, which put all of the kids and teachers in a bad mood, but we survived. After school I had a meeting with my specialist, and we talked about how much Eva has improved since I started with her. It really made me feel good. We also discussed an upcoming clinic that we have with her parents.

After school I taught a CPR recertification class. They were a good group. I didn't have to flunk anyone tonight, which believe it or not, is a change from the ordinary.

Congratulations to Angie for making the news!

I hope that everyone had a great day! Have a great night!

A Gorgeous Wednesday

2005-04-06T17:01:00.000-05:00

Today was even more beautiful than yesterday. It was in the mid 60s here, and there was not a cloud in the sky. Luckily, Eva wanted to spend her trade in time outside, so we got to spend a lot of time enjoying the warm weather. My friend Jen and I even ate lunch outside today. It was wonderful!

This afternoon when I was pushing Patrick on the swing, I noticed that a teenage boy from one of the residential teams was swinging and kept saying the same phrase over and over again. It was hard to tell what he was saying because the playgrounds for the preschool and residential are separated by a fence. After a while, I finally realized that he was saying "Do you like my guns?" over and over again. I stifled a laugh because I didn't want Patrick to think that it was funny, if he was even paying attention. I wondered to myself where he had learned that, but then I noticed that almost all of the staff who were outside with the kids were male. Ah-ha!

After school today I had family services and OSHAA trainings. Yuck! Fortuately, they didn't go for too long, and we were out of there by 4:10.

A family member recently asked why my posts sound so cheerful. To be honest, I don't write them with the intent of sounding cheerful. I suppose that the reason that I sound so cheerful is that I have a lot to be cheerful for. I don't normally do this, but since the question was raised, I am going to bore all of you with the some of the many reasons for my cheerfulness.

I have a wonderful, handsome, successful, and supportive husband who loves me very much. I have two of the most adorable and loveable puppies in the world. Steve and I have great careers, and are more financially stable than I ever would have dreamed we would be at this point in our lives. I look forward to getting up and going to work every morning. (Well, except when it is snowing.) I have a wonderful family, and amazing in-laws that Steve and I both love very much and care very much about. We have two great friends, Jen and Adam, who may very well end up being some the best friends that we ever have.

We have been given the privilege of this 3-5 year long adventure in arguably one of the best cities in the world. Now, this is not to say that we don't get incredibly homesick sometimes. We definitely do. I have days where all I can think about is going home. However, this journey has taught us independence, discipline, self-sufficience, and has allowed us to get closer and grow as a couple in ways that probably would not have been possible had we stayed in Ohio.

Please don't think that I am being boastful. That is definitely not my intent. The last thing that I would want to do is to make it sound as though our lives are better in any way than anyone elses. This is the path that we have chosen, and for us it has worked out wonderfully.

Have a great night everyone!

A Beautiful Tuesday

2005-04-05T17:18:00.000-05:00

Today was an absolutely beautiful day. The highs were in the upper 50s, which is really warm for here.

Eva was in a great mood all morning, but then we were out on the playground and she took a spill. She was running up the stairs to the jungle gym, when she tripped over her feet and busted her mouth on the stairs. It scared me to death. Her lip is now fat, and her tooth is chipped. We were both covered in blood. It was not good at all, but she is fine and that's all that matters.

Only 8 more school days until April vacation! Yay!

That's it for now. I hope that everyone had a great day!

Happy Monday!

2005-04-04T19:46:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday!

Saturday Steve and I ended up going out with Jen and Adam. I decided not to attend the bachelorette party. We really can't afford a-list restauraunts right now, especially for people I barely know, so I chose to pass.

We ate dinner at the Sunset Grill and had fondue for dessert. Yum! We then headed over to Blockbuster and rented "Friday Night Lights." The movie was okay, but not great. We still had fun though, as we always do with Jen and Adam.

Sunday we went to church, and then out for brunch. We got a ton of errands done. We also went over to the public beach to see if we wanted to get a pass for the summer. It made Strouds Run look really nice, so I think that we are going to pass on that membership.

Yesterday was a really homesick day for me. Three years seems like forever, but I know that we have to stick it out. It's depressing. I have decided that we need to win the lottery, or come into money somehow. This working and being responsible thing is for the birds.

Today was an okay day. My case student and I have had better days. That's for sure, but it could always be worse I suppose.

Steve is wanting my attention, so I am going to head downstairs. I hope that everyone has a great night!

April Fool

2005-04-02T12:53:00.000-05:00

This has been an interesting couple of days.

Yesterday Eva was really good for me, but then was a pain in the you-know-where for her secondary teacher. I felt bad about it, but that is just part of being in the field I suppose.

When I got home there was a package on our doorstep. I was plesantly surprised to find that it contained a gold desk clock from Tiffany and Company inside. It was from George and Anne Colony, the CEO of Steve's company and his wife. When I saw the green Tiffany box, I must admit that I got excited for a second, thinking that it was a surprise from Steve.

Steve did surprise me last night though. He had supposedly been planning this April fools joke on his parents, in which he was going to send them an e-mail telling them that we were in financial ruin and that was why we were selling our car. I proofread the e-mail yesterday afternoon and told him that it was a cruel joke, and that it was not funny. He told me that he was going to send it anyway. When he got home he told me to go check his e-mail to see if they had written us back yet. I resisted, telling him that it was his stupid idea, and that he should go checkit himself. I didn't think they had probably even gotten it yet. However, in an attempt to shut him up I went upstairs and checked his gmail account. There was nothing. He then came upstairs and checked his hotmail account. There was an e-mail from his mother stating that I must be the reason for our troubles, along with our move to Boston. She also said that Dave was on his way to Boston to rectify the situation, and that his flight was to leave Columbus at 7:15. It was 7:16.

Now, my relationship with my in-laws has always been pretty solid and very important to me. I panicked, and told Steve that he needed to call them immediately. He just kept saying "they hate you now, you call them." Now I am not entirely sure of what I said after he repeatedly made that statement, but I can assure that you that it was not pretty and obscenities and a shove to the chest were involved. This was afterall his stupid idea, and he had insisted on sending that e-mail even after I told him that it was stupid. Well, when I finally altogether lost it, Steve started hysterically laughing and told me that the joke was on me. I was pumped up on adrenaline at the time, but I am pretty sure that I slapped him on the arm a couple of times and a few more choice words flew out of my mouth. I then talked to Jeanie on the phone and assured her that I will have my revenge. I was just relieved to hear her say that none of it was true. I have to admit, they got me good.

I am not sure what is going on today. I am supposed to go to a bachelorette dinner for a girl I work with who is getting married this month. I don't particularly want to go, but I feel sort of obligated. It is at this restauraunt called Strega on the north end. It is very trendy, and is frequented by celebrities. I am not a very trendy person, and I am intimidated by even looking at the menu online. Everyone else is headed to a bar afterwards, but I am not drinking much these days (with the exception of last night when I had a wine cooler after our April fools fiasco), so I have no intention of going.

Steve made plans with Jen and Adam. I am not sure what they are, but I will probably join them after dinner. I guess that I will just see how the day plays out.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Another Beautiful Day

2005-03-31T19:40:00.000-05:00

The last two days have been beautiful here, and the temperatures have been in the upper 40s. That is much higher than it has been. The snow, for the most part, has finally melted. That means more pleasant days for me because I can take the kids outside.

Last night I called Angie, and we talked for a long time. We don't really communicate much due to time and distance, so it was really nice talking to her.

Tonight I taught CPR at work for the second time. One of my old roommates was in my class, which was sort of awkward, but it was nice to get the chance to catch up. My co-instructor and I were able to move everyone through pretty quickly.

Steve and I got home at the same time tonight. He is making dinner right now, so I should probably end this and go help him. I hope that everyone had a great day!

Another Rainy Day

2005-03-29T18:34:00.000-05:00

Today was another rainy day. Eva was not in the greatest of moods, and honestly neither was I. Nevertheless, we made it through, and I have my fingers crossed for a more pleasant day at work tomorrow. I guess that I should just be thankful that it has been raining and not snowing.

My best friend from high school and I have been e-mailing back and forth recently. She sent me an e-mail about 2 months ago, and we have been writing to each other about twice a week ever since. It is funny how you can reconnect with people from the past who you never anticipated getting close to again. I am really enjoying our conversations. I didn't realize how much I missed her friendship.

I talked to my mom today. She said that things are going okay in Ohio. I am really looking forward to April 15th, when we will be heading home to deliver Steve's car to Dave and Jeanie. It is going to be so wonderful to see everyone again! We can't wait!

Well, that's it for today. I hope that everyone had a great day!

A Rainy Day

2005-03-28T19:08:00.000-05:00

Today was a dreary rainy day. Everyone at school was in poor spirits partly because it is Monday and partly because of the rain. Eva had way more tantrums than usual, which is never a good start to the week. I hope tomorrow will be better.

Steve will be home soon. I am really excited! We are going to eat leftover Chinese food, and probably head to bed early. I am exhausted!

I hope that everyone had a great day!

Happy Easter!

2005-03-27T19:19:00.000-05:00

This has been a wonderful weekend, and I am sad that it had to end.

My mom, Allie, Randy (Allie's new boyfriend), and Annie came in this weekend. We all stayed in a hotel in Boston. It was wonderful. We went to the North End for italian food on Friday, walked all over the city and had lunch at Cheers on Saturday afternoon, and had a fantastic dinner on Saturday evening. Saturday night we also went to the comedy club, but I left early with Annie because the jokes were funny but way over her head.

We sent them off this morning and returned to Natick. This afternoon we went and picked up the doggies and took Adam to dinner at Ana's. Good times!

I hope that everyone had a happy Easter and a great weekend!

Yay!

2005-03-24T20:40:00.000-05:00

This week has been tough indeed, but my IEP is out of the way and my family is here. Hip hip horray! I am so excited to see all of them!

Oh and I was accepted to graduate school today!! Yay for me!

Have a great night and a wonderful weekend!

Oh, and a special thanks to Jen and Adam for taking the dogs this weekend! You guys are wonderful and I don't know what we would do without you!

Echolalia

2005-03-21T22:15:00.000-05:00

Today was a really good day. I got through a lot of the stuff that I needed to accomplish for Eva's IEP on Thursday, and I survived my training this evening. One more to go! Hip hip horray!

A lot of the kids in our classroom have this language disorder known as echolalia. It is a condition in which a child repeats what he or she hears as a means of communication. Sometimes it occurs right away. For example, if I said "say hi John," John would respond "say hi John." This type can get really annoying. In other cases, the child repeats what he or she hears a long time after they hear it.

All kids tend to repeat what they hear from adults, appropriate or not. So adults should always be careful of what they say around children. However, if you know that you have a child with this particular condition, logic would tell you to be extra careful. I know that the teachers get a huge kick out of some of the things that come out of our student's mouths. For example, Nate stands about 3 feet high and is about as cute as they come. Sometimes he will just be sitting there and start saying things like "no Nate. Sit down. Nate, I said sit down. Nate, I said no, now you need to sit down." As cute as it is, we have to remind him of the task at hand, and then turn away to laugh so that he doesn't see us. Today at lunch, John's teacher was telling him that he needed to eat his raisins. He stopped for a second, got this strange look on his face, and said in an annoyed tone "can you knock it off for five minutes!" He then went right back to eating his lunch. It was really funny because we knew where he had heard it. Echolalia is just another interesting and sometimes entertaining piece of the autism puzzle.

Well, I am starved, so that's it for today. Think of me tomorrow morning because I am going with Eva and her mother to the dentist, and it is not going to be pretty at all. Have a great night!

Happy Spring!

2005-03-20T22:52:00.000-05:00

Happy Spring!

This has been a great weekend!

Friday night we went to Jen and Adam's for a gathering of people from the residential team that I used to work on. It was fun, but I felt out of place because I haven't really seen a lot of them in a while. Sonia brought sushi for everyone. Steve and I aren't fans of sushi, so we didn't partake, but they looked really good. They also had some chinese appetizer (I can't remember the name), saki, and beer. We sat around and talked for a while, and then we watched Kill Bill Volume 1. I was exhausted from the week so I fell asleep for most of the movie. It was probably for the best because I am not a fan of violent movies anyway.

Saturday, Jen and Adam came into Natick. Jen and I went shopping, and Adam and Steve picked up an alternator for the car. Jen and I bought a duvet, bedskirt, and new pillow shams for our (mine and Steve's) bed. I was really excited because we bought all of it at Target for next to nothing. The duvet, for example, was originally around $60 and we bought it for $17. The most expensive item I bought was a curtain for $20. We then went back home and tried it on the bed. It looks awesome! Thanks Jen! We all had dinner and a pitcher of beer at John Harvards, and then Jen and Adam headed for home.

Today Steve and I overslept and didn't make it to church. I feel like a heathen because this is two weeks in a row. Today Steve got the Camry running finally. Now we are officially ready to sell the Accord. I also talked to my mom and sister today, and we figured out where we want to make reservations for this weekend. We are really excited to see them!

I hope that everyone had a great weekend, and has a happy Monday! Good night!

Happy 3 Month Anniversary to Us!

2005-03-18T17:45:00.000-05:00

Today is mine and Steve's 3 month anniversary. Yay us! It was a great day for me. I got a ton of stuff accomplished at work. Eva was as cute as ever; even though she thought that laying on her table with her feet in the air while I was trying to present academic trials was hilariously funny.

This is rediculous because it is only March, but I am already dreading having to give her up as my case student this coming August. She can be very challenging, but working with her makes me happy. I know that you are not supposed to get attached to your case students, but I can't help it. I'm hooked.

Tonight we are meeting Jen and Adam in Allston and going to this really good Tex-mex restauraunt that serves fondue! Yum! I am very excited. Steve and Adam want to go to Anas, but I just got off the phone with Jen and we decided that Anas is out. Then after dinner, we are headed back to Jen and Adam's apartment where a bunch of people from Apartment 2 (the residential team I used to work on) are going to meet us for appetizers, drinks, and a movie. Good times!

The rest of the weekend I am going to be doing paperwork for Eva's IEP. My specialist and I will probably be e-mailing back and forth all weekend trying to get things together for Thursday. By the grace of God, we may get it all done. My fingers are crossed.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Friday! Have a great night!

Losing My Mind

2005-03-17T17:41:00.000-05:00

My goodness this has been a stressful week!

Eva's IEP is next Thursday. I am trying my darnedest to get all of her testing done before that time. I am sure that I am stressing her out too, which is definitely not a good thing. I just can't wait until it is over. "This too shall pass."

Last night I had my training in Worcester, and didn't get home until almost 10:30. I then stayed up until about midnight studying for a quiz that I was supposed to have in my training this afternoon. It wasn't until I arrived at my training this afternoon that I realized the training had ended last week and I didn't have a quiz at all. I could have cried.

Well, I have IEP stuff to do, so that's it for today. Have a great night everyone!

Yay Angie!

2005-03-15T18:35:00.000-05:00

Okay. So, I set this thing up for family to read. I figured that no one would really read it, and that it would serve as an outlet for me to unload my thoughts for the day. Well, this weekend, I told Jen and Adam about it in passing. Now, people outside of my family may be reading it, and I am a little self conscious. So Adam, if are reading this, and you have any comments, questions, or snide remarks (wink), please be gentle.

Today was a much better day than yesterday. Yesterday Eva tantrumed almost all day. Today she was silly, but we got a lot done. I am really starting to enjoy her. Oh, and today Eva drew a face. I was more excited than I can describe because I have been trying to get her to do this for a few weeks now, and she did it completely unprompted. She even drew arms coming out of the head!

This is going to be a crazy busy week. I started CPR instructor classes in Worcester this week, and Eva's IEP meeting is next Thursday. I can't wait until it is all over.

I may have mentioned this before, but Angie got a job as a special education teacher at a school in Ohio. Yay Angie! I have decided to pass along 10 pieces of advice that I have learned during my first year as a special education teacher.

1. You will be up to your you-know-where in paperwork........learn to love it.

2. Focus on what the children can do, and not what they can't. This is true with all children, but is especially important for children with special needs.

3. Use people first language ALWAYS. For example......the child with disabilities instead of the disabled child.

4. If you are angry or frustrated, be angry or frustrated at the child's behavior instead of at the child.

5. Rejoice in small victories.

6. "This too shall pass." I say this to myself all the time when Eva is on the floor of her cubby throwing a tantrum.

7. Public Law 94-142. (IDEA) Learn it inside and out.

8. Remain neutral.......even when you are ready to have a total meltdown. Many children will thrive on your frustration. Trust me, I have had to learn this one the hard way.

9. Treat yourself. You have to give yourself little pick-me-ups to balance out some of the stress.

10. Build a positive rapport with children, families, and other teachers in the building. This will make your job a lot easier and more rewarding, but understand that it will take time.

Well, that's my two cents for the day. Have a great night everyone!

Happy Sunday!

2005-03-13T20:45:00.000-05:00

Congratulations on the job Angie!

Today was a pretty good day. We didn't quite make it to church because it took longer to dig the car out of the snow than we anticipated. Hopefully, this will be the last storm, but I doubt it.

This afternoon we went to Worcester so I would have some idea of how to get to my class tomorrow and Wednesday. It was much easier than I thought it was going to be. Hopefully traffic won't be bad tomorrow.

We just got back from Brevin's birthday party. He turned 3 yesterday. We got him Spiderman walkie-talkies. I think that he really liked them. It was fun, yet uncomfortable at times because we didn't know half of the people there.

Well, that's all I have for today. I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Babies and Bad Moods

2005-03-12T19:29:00.000-05:00

I will start by saying that Annabelle Zinn was born Thursday March 10. From what I hear she is gorgeous. Congratulations Audra and Chris!

Yesterday was not the greatest of days.

Eva wasn't in the greatest of moods and we had to work through more tantrums than usual. I have to say that Patrick made up for it though. He was so cute, and so happy to see me when I picked him up. At 2:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays I take him to P.A.L.S.S group, which is basically a social skills group for the higher functioning children with autism and their typical peers. Friday we practiced telling knock knock jokes and talking about our favorite animals. Then, we had a dance party to the "Finding Nemo" soundtrack. It was so much fun!

After work we had plans for dinner and a movie with Jen and Adam in Boston. I usually make Steve ride the train home and then we drive in together. This may sound completely unreasonable, and really it is, but I am really scared to drive in the city. Yesterday I was feeling really brave, so I decided that I would head into Boston and go to Jen and Adam's house by myself and surprise him. Steve never gets off work before 5:30, so I figured that I would get there before then and call him and tell him to just catch the train to Jen and Adam's apartment.

After school I put gas in the car and was off. My trip was doomed from the start because instead of getting on the Mass Pike east, I got on the Mass Pike west. Ten miles later I got off the Pike and asked the toll booth attendant where the nearest entrance was to the Pike going east. He gave me directions which of course were wrong, so it was almost 45 minutes before I got onto the Pike heading in the right direction. It was snowing like crazy, but I safely made it into Allston at 5:15.

There is only one way I know to get to their house. I don't ever drive in the city, so my knowledge of all those one way streets is limited. I was of course a nervous wreck before I finally got to their neighborhood. So, to get into their little area, the way I am familiar with anyway, you have to turn left into this little alley. I make the turn and this man in a yellow raincoat that says "Boston Police" flags me down. I was wondering what in the world was going on, and I roll down my window. He then proceeded to ask me for my license and registration and informed me that I had made an illegal left hand turn. Apparently, there are four hours a day that you can't turn there, and I had completely missed that sign. I batted my eyelashes and whined that I had never driven in the city before. He looked unmoved, wrote me a warning, and sent me on my way. I was really upset because I haven't been pulled over since a fender bender that I had when I was 16 years old.

Well, my adventure didn't end there. I finally made it to Jen and Adam's apartment at 5:30. I was relieved because I was just in time to call Steve and tell him to catch the green line over. My phone was dead, so I ran up the stairs to Jen and Adam's place, borrowed Jen's phone, and called Steve. I told him that I had driven in so that he wouldn't have to go all the way home and got no response. He then proceeded to tell me that he had left work an hour early and was on the commuter train to Natick. I could have cried. So, he got off at the next station, and Adam went and picked him up. What a day!

When Adam and Steve finally arrived, we went over to Ana's (this cheap little burrito joint), and then headed to Blockbuster. We then went back to the Webb/Sauviac household and watched "Mean Girls." It ended up being cheesy, but also entertaining. Then, we hung out for about an hour and headed for home.

Jen and Adam were supposed to come over today, but then we got slammed with about a foot of snow. So, needless to say, that didn't happen. Our friend Toni's son Brevin's birthday party was also supposed to be today, but that didn't happen either. It was rescheduled for tomorrow evening. So, we have been laying around all day watching television. I have cabin fever, and will be very excited to head out tomorrow morning for church. Hopefully this Sunday will go a little more smoothly than last Sunday. We'll see.

Have a great night everyone!

Happy Birthday Annabelle?

2005-03-10T18:25:00.000-05:00

My cousin is having her baby! I just read about it on my sister's away message. Allie is her lamaze coach because the baby's father is fighting over in Iraq, so that will be interesting. I am so excited! Annabelle may be gracing the world with her presence tonight!

Other than that, today was a pretty typical day. Eva and I had a fantastic morning, and this afternoon I had a training that was entirely too long.

I read on Angie's blog that she had a job interview yesterday. I hope that everything went well and that she got the job. I can't wait to hear or read all about it.

It's funny how things change. I was really hesitant to start this blog because I think that e-mail and instant messenger are really impersonal ways of communicating. Sometimes things get misconstrued, and sometimes it is difficult to embrace the way in which someone really feels about something simply through reading text. I suppose that emoticons help, but they are really limited. However, blogs allow Steve and I to read up on our family's happenings. It is a nice way to stay plugged in from 750 miles away. It's pretty neat!

That's all I have to report for today. Have a great night everyone!

A Snowy Wednesday

2005-03-09T18:52:00.000-05:00

Today was sort of a hectic day. I dropped Steve off at the train station this morning at 7:30. As he was walking across the street to get to the train he slipped and fell. So, after I realized that he was okay, I took him home so he could change. Needless to say, he missed his train. Poor thing. I really felt sorry for him. Then, I dropped him off again, and headed off to work.

On my way to work I began to panic because I was afraid that in the midst of the snowstorm last night, I fogot about a CPR/first aid instructor course that I am signed up for. My school is paying a hefty fee for the course, so it is very important that I attend. I am basically doing our nursing department a favor by taking the course to become certified to teach the course to our teachers, and there is a lot of overtime pay in it for me. Therefore, I would have been really upset if I had missed it. So, I called the red cross and they told me that the course actually starts next Monday. The lady on the phone probably thought that I was nuts, but who cares? I was relieved.

I had a home training with Eva and her mother this morning. It was super productive which was good. We played with the parachute, this interact-tv thing that she has, and played ball. We also went over her hygene routines. Hard work huh? I love home trainings! They make Wednesdays go really fast.

On our way back to school, a voicemail from my mom came through. My grandpa made it through his surgery just fine. Hopefully now they can get him feeling better and out of the hospital.

Steve is going to be home in a couple of minutes now, so I am going ot head downstairs and fix supper. I am not really sure what it is going to be yet, but I can guarantee that it won't be fancy. Have a great night everyone!

It's Snowing..........Again

2005-03-08T20:49:00.000-05:00

We are in the middle of yet another snowstorm. I am so sick of snow that I could scream. The only good that could possibly come of this is yet another snow day. I am not anticipating this because the snow is supposed to end before the morning commute, but I can hope.

Today was a pretty typical day. Eva and I got a lot of work accomplished, so I was really happy about that. I had a meeting with my supervisor this afternoon that went well. We are busting our humps trying to get ready for her IEP that is coming up in a few weeks. I can't wait until it is over.

Other than that, I have just been studying for a quiz on Thursday in my training. Only two weeks of that crap left. Thank goodness! I hope that everyone had a great day, and has a wonderful evening.

Oh, and one more thing.....my Grandpa is having surgery in the morning, so if you get a chance say a quick prayer for him. Thanks!

Happy Monday!

2005-03-07T19:00:00.000-05:00

This morning was just one of those mornings where I did not want to get out of bed. I suppose that Mondays are like that for a lot of folks.

Overall, today was a great day. Eva was elected "star of the week" by all of the teachers our classroom. I must say that I am very very proud of her. As star of the week she gets to bring in something for show and tell every day this week. This could get interesting as Eva's verbal capabilities are extremely limited. I am not really sure how I am going to figure that one out, but I am sure that I will find a way.

Patrick, the little boy that I work with in the afternoons, had his IEP today. Boston Public Schools decided that we don't take enough data on his progress, and the progress that he has made is not enough to warrant his funding at our school. That my friends, is a lie. We take more data than we even know what to do with. Everything is recorded down to the times that they go to the bathroom, the number of bites they eat at meals, the number and types of interactions they have with their peers. Everything. They think that he is ready to go to public school. I am all for mainstreaming, but this child is not ready to be mainstreamed. He can be aggressive at times, he breaks down at loud noises, and when he is really unhappy he flops on the ground and refuses to move. The bottom line here is that they don't want to shell out the dough. It looks like there is going to be another court battle over the matter. There has already been one. I hope that his parents prevail, because it would be really sad if we lost him.

I just read on Angie's blog that they had a great time in Vegas! That is wonderful news! I can't wait to hear all about it.

Also, I mailed my graduate school application today. Now I have to play the waiting game until I hear back. I hope it doesn't take too long.

Tonight I have to go to Toys-R-Us to buy Eva a baby doll and some accessories. I am so excited! I also need to pick up a gift for my friend Toni's son Brevin's 3rd birthday party which is this Saturday afternoon. Apparently he is into action figures. I think that I will let Steve handle that one. I hope that all of you had a great day today, and have a wonderful evening!

A Long Sunday

2005-03-06T22:19:00.000-05:00

Today was a very long day.

We got up this morning and made it to church with time to spare. Everything was going fine, except Steve has this incessant need for conversation during mass. Now I don't know about all of you, but when I was growing up you did not under any circumstance talk during church unless it was an emergency. This was especially true under the watch of my mother or the nuns and teachers in my Catholic school. I can remember my dad making comments about Harriet Densmore's choppers, and singing "make me a great big catfish dinner" instead of "make me a channel of your peace" during the Prayer of St. Francis.

Anyway, we were sitting there and Steve was whispering comments left and right, so I shot him a glare that was often shot at me in my youth. He quieted for a moment, so I thought we were all set. Then, the priest stood up, the congregation rose, and the priest said "let us pray." My husband then muttered in a not so quiet whisper "we already did." I know that it is a sin, and I am a good Catholic, so I didn't grab him by the neck and choke him like I wanted to. Instead, I turned three shades of red, turned to him and whispered in my very quietest whisper "shut up because you are embarrassing me." Now, most intelligent people would take heed and shut up. Well, those of you who know my husband can probably guess that he did not stop there. Instead he turned back to me and said "shhhhh" rather loudly. By then, I was ticked off. Wide eyed, I gasped and hissed "I am serious" while pinching him. I thought that the pinch would add emphasis and he would know that I was not joking around. Nope......wrong again! He again says "shhhhhhh" and follows that up with "God can see you." Oh my goodness, it took more willpower than anyone can imagine not to just punch him. I was so mad, yet strangely amused all at the same time. So, I stifled a laugh, crossed my legs and my arms and implemented the silent treatment. It worked. He asked me a few more questions and finally shut up when he realized he wasn't getting a response or a reaction. It was an interesting service to say the least. Needless to say that we had words, or I had words anyway when we finally got out of there.

After church we went to "The Bakery on the Common" for brunch. I had a crabcake and a cup of coffee. Steve had a sandwich and some juice. It was really good! Then we went to the "Natick Community Organic Farm." We picked up some organic eggs and a brochure. It is a really neat place. Apparently they have a lot of programs there such as art shows and courses, and anyone from the community can go there and help out.

Tonight I finally finished my application for graduate school. Now I just have to turn it in, sit back, and wait. I am pretty confident that I will get in, but I guess we'll see.

Joe and Angie are returning from their trip to Vegas tonight. I hope that they enjoyed it and had a safe return.

It's late, so I am going to head to bed so that I am not a basket case in the morning. Good night all!

An Awesome Weekend So Far

2005-03-05T20:54:00.000-05:00

Last night we had yet another great evening with Jen and Adam. We arrived at their apartment at around 7 and then we went to dinner at the "White Horse Cafe." After that, we went to this adorable little Japanese tea shop. I got a vanilla tea, and Jen and Adam got some tea as well but I am not sure what kind. I was pleasantly surprised. It was really good. Then, it was off to see the "Aviator." The movie was okay, but I found it to be kind of depressing. I prefer movies with a happy ending. For those of you who haven't seen it, it is about the life of Howard Hughes. After the movie we caught a cab back to their apartment and headed for home. It was almost 3:00 in the morning before we made it back here, but we had a lot of fun though!

Jen and Adam invited us to accompany them to a concert tonight at the Museum of Fine Arts. I would have liked to go, but Steve said no. I am sure that his answer would have been different if they had proposed we go to a Celtics game, but I guess that's life. So, today we watched several episodes of this reality televison show about a family owned mortuary called "Family Plots." It was strange, but we couldn't stop watching it. It was weird. Then we cleaned our apartment. Lord knows it needed it. I am amazed at how dirty this place can get in just a few days. I swear I could dust everyday and it would still be dusty. It's annoying. We just popped a frozen pizza into the oven, and I think that we are going to cuddle for the rest of the night. I want to get to bed early tonight so that we don't miss church tomorrow.

I hope that everyone is having a great weekend. Good night!

An Almost Tantrum-Free Day

2005-03-03T17:52:00.000-05:00

Today was just another average day. Eva and I got along really well overall. She only had one tantrum with me and it only lasted 30 seconds. So for that, I am thrilled. Perhaps we are turning over a whole new leaf, or maybe today was just anomaly. I am hoping for the former.

Eva's sixth birthday is Saturday, so I am planning a classroom party for her tomorrow. I am not certain what the theme is going to be. I am thinking either princesses or blues clues. Either way, I am going to get cupcakes with pink frosting because she is a girl and I can. I am also going to get some party hats and blow toys for the kids. I am so excited! Hopefully, she won't have a behavior problem and have to miss her own party. My fingers are crossed.

I had a quiz today in my training. I studied for about 4 hours last night, but I think that I bombed. This rediculous training is more difficult than most of the courses I took in college. I think I need a tutor. I suppose that working for a school that is recognized for outstanding professional development by the United States Department of Education has its disadvantages.

Oh well, that's it for now. I have a ton of stuff to get done tonight and I want to get to bed early. Have a great night everyone!

Just Another Day

2005-03-02T18:12:00.000-05:00

Today was just a typical day in the life of me. I went to Eva's house this morning and did a parent training with her and her mother. I really like home visits because I think that it is interesting to see how Eva responds to her home environment. She is very different at home than she is at school.

I also completed yet another assessment for her IEP which is going to be coming up in a few weeks. I am almost finished testing her. Thank goodness! I really hate standardized tests because I don' t think that they are a true measure of one's abilities. Most of the testing that I have done with her so far has indicated that her functioning level is that of a 24-36 month old, when she is actually almost 6. I know that she functions at a higher level than what many of those tests indicate, especially with environmental and instructional modifications. It's frustrating.

I had a meeting with my specialist this afternoon about my progress report. She and the speech-language pathologist said that they were really impressed. I breathed a long sigh of relief because I wasn't sure if it was going to fly. I have only been with Eva for a short time, and I had only been with her for a month at the time her quarter ended, so I had to make a lot of inferences with the data that her previous teachers had taken. The process was certainly a good lesson in the importance of being as detailed as possible. My job would have been a whole lot easier if I didn't have to guess what her teachers were thinking and writing when they were running trials with her.

This afternoon, I sat through an hour long training, and tomorrow I have one that will last 2 hours. Yuck!

Well, that's it for now. Have a great night everyone!

A Snow Day!

2005-03-01T18:17:00.000-05:00

Today we a snow day! I was so excited when my school came up on the ticker at the bottom of the television screen! I slept in and then spent the day relaxing in my pajamas in front of the television set. It was wonderful!

Other than that not a whole lot happened. I talked to my mother-in-law, Jeanie, for about 45 minutes or so this evening. It was wonderful to hear from her. I am really lucky to have married into such a nice family. I hope that they all know how much Steve and I love them, even from 750 miles away. She filled me in on everything that has been going on with Steve's side of the family in Ohio. It sounds as though, for the most part, things are going well.

Joe and Angie are headed for Vegas tomorrow. We hope that they have a wonderful time!

Steve is going to be home soon so I am going to go start dinner. I am very excited to see him! Have a great night everyone!

Let it Snow!

2005-02-28T21:35:00.000-05:00

Today was my first day back at school with Eva. I must say that it went much better than I expected. We moved into a new cubby today. It was much more private than the one that we had before so that she doesn't get as much attention when she is having behaviors. I was really nervous wondering how she would react because she typically has a difficult time after vacation and with new enviornments. Today was very much a double whammy. I was fully expecting a nightmarish day. As it turned out, she sprained the bottom of her foot last night and was walking with a horrible limp. As a result, she was very compliant today because she was in pain. As terrible as it sounds, her injury could not have come at a more convenient time. I felt really sorry for her though. I could tell that she was really hurting. I gave her lots of hugs and tickles, which she loves. Hopefully, she will be feeling better soon.

Today we are expected to get 12-14 inches of snow. I was really hoping that it would blow over, but it is already snowing so I think that is out of the question. And, since it must snow, it is only right that I should get a snow day tomorrow. My fingers are crossed, and I have done my snow dance twice since I got home. So far, my snow dance only has about a 50% success rate so I am hoping to improve that with this storm. Hopefully, doing it twice will do the trick.

If I do get a snow day tomorrow, I might head into Boston and have lunch with Steve. I am not really sure on that one though, I feel sort of uncomfortable going into his work. I have only been there once so far, and I felt really intimidated. The desks are set up into these "pods" and people are right on top of one another. It is weird because all of the desks, even those of the president and CEO, are basically all connected, and there is not even a partition to separate them. The CEO and his secretary are sitting in the executive pod, where Steve works, for the next six months. Apparently they sit with a team for 6 months and then they move on to the next team, and the next, and the next, so that everyone gets a chance to sit with them. I think that it is neat, but I don't want to make Steve look bad or impose in any way, especially since George, the CEO, will be right there. Oh well, I guess we'll see.

I hope that everyone had a great day today, and has an even better day tomorrow. Good night everyone!

Is it Really Sunday Already?

2005-02-27T20:29:00.000-05:00

Well, I am pleased to announce that Steve and I made it through the weekend without anyone to entertain us. It flew by. I can't believe it is Sunday already!

Steve and I laid around the house all day yesterday. Then in the evening we went out and picked up some Chinese take out and "The Notebook" and "The Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again" from Blockbuster. The comedy show was good, but not as funny as I expected, and "The Notebook" was okay. I definitely don't think that I care to see either one again. I didn't think that "The Notebook" was all it was cracked up to be. I was disappointed because I really like Nicholas Sparks's books, but then again the books are always better anyway.

Today was a great day. We got up early and went to church. We were actually on time today, which usually isn't the case. Then we went to the "Bakery on the Common," which is a cute little bakery in Natick Center for brunch. It was so relaxing to sit there with my mocha and my handsome husband and look out over a snow covered Natick Center. The weather was beautiful today, but it was really cold.

We are expected to get approximately 8 inches of snow tomorrow evening. The snow is pretty, but the fact that we get it about every other day is getting annoying. I am definitely ready for spring!

Joe and Angie only have a few more days until they head for Vegas. We are really excited for them and we hope that they have tons of fun. Vegas is a place that I have always wanted to see. Who knows....maybe they will strike it rich and help out their poor brother and sister-in-law. We're hoping! (wink)

My grandpa is finally out of the hospital. He is staying with my mom now. I am so relieved that he is finally feeling better.

Well, that's it for tonight. Have a great night and a wonderful Monday everyone!

Enough Messing Around!

2005-02-25T18:55:00.000-05:00

Okay! I have been in Massachusetts for almost one full year now. It has been by far the shortest year of my life. I am actually really freaked out about it.

Does anyone want to take a gander at how many courses I have taken since I have been here? Just one! It is rediculous I know! I uprooted Steve and I so that I could come out here and get my masters degree, and I haven't done a darn thing. Well, besides take one course anyway. I have decided that enough is enough; it is time. So, I just started working on my autobiography, well refurbishing an old one anyway, for my application packet. I am then going to pull out the old transcripts and get moving. There is no excuse for me other than sheer laziness. I am really disgusted with myself. I could be a third of the way done by now! Ugh!

On another note, it is finally Friday! I am very happy about this, but I don't know what we are going to do this weekend. Jen and Adam blew their tax return on a trip to New York, so we are on our own. It is going to be weird not having them around. We typically spend every weekend together. They have almost become like family to us. Now I don't know how they feel about that, but like it or not they have.

Today was a good day. I was on camera for about 3/4 of it doing videomodeling videos. I am now a movie star at the NECC preschool! Lucky me! Well, that's it for now. I need to call an old friend and catch up. Have a great night everyone!

A Rather Sad Day

2005-02-24T21:03:00.000-05:00

Today has been sort of a sad day. My step dad, Bob, who passed away December 2nd, 2004 would have celebrated his 55th birthday today. His death was a shock to everyone, and he is very much missed by my mom, his 3 girls, Samson the dog, and his new son-in-law. We all loved him more than he ever knew.

Last night, my sister Allie got a tatoo on her foot in his honor. She called me as soon as she had it done and sent me a picture. It is a drawing of a red heart inside of a teardrop. I personally would never get a tatoo, but it is cute and I am sure that she wears it well as she does everything else.

Also, my only surviving grandparent, Grandpa Jim, is in the hospital. He has been having problems with high blood pressure and severe nose bleeds. The doctors think that perhaps it may all be related to a kidney problem. He has been in the hospital for a few days now, and last night was a really hard night for him. Hopefully they find out what is wrong and he gets better soon.

My poor mother spent much of her afternoon with my grandfather, and then this evening, she and my sister Annie headed over to decorate Bob's grave with balloons. She is stronger than I will ever be.

On a lighter note, I finally completed Eva's 16 page progress report. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever get it done. I just need to proofread it now and send it to my supervisor, and I will be all set.

Well, I guess that I should wrap up. I haven't even started dinner yet because I just finished my report. I bet poor Steve is starving to death. Have a great night everyone!

I'm Homesick Sometimes but We Swam

2005-02-23T18:12:00.000-05:00

Today was another easy day in the preschool. Nothing too interesting happened. I sneaked out at 3:30 because I was being overcome with boredom, and it was absolutely beautiful outside. I don't think anyone noticed. I hope not anyway.

Today has been a homesick day for me. I have some days when I would give anything to be back in Ohio with our family. Don't get me wrong; New England is gorgeous and we love it here, but I fear that my heart is still in Ohio. I hope that someday we can go back, but unfortunately the job market in the area that we are from sucks. Therefore, it is unlikely that Steve would be able to find work anywhere close. He also likes his job here very much, so I don't want to force him to give up something he enjoys to go back to nothing. I guess that time will tell.

I also often wonder if we did go back to Ohio, would we still fit in? Is this a grass is greener dilemma? Honestly, I am not sure. I think that it is possible that if we went home, we would get New England sick.

Here in Massachusetts practically anything that we want to do is right here at our disposal. The ocean is 45 minutes away, the mountains are 30-40 minutes away, we can get to 4 states in approximately 1 hour, we are 30 minutes from Boston, and 2-3 hours from New York City give or take depending on traffic. There are museums, tours, trains to D.C., more shopping and dining than anyone could imagine, and some of the most beautiful architecture that I have ever seen. However, the people that we love are 750 miles away, and it costs an arm, a leg, part of a liver, and at least one kidney to live here. Oh, and then there's the New England winter which is way more horrible than I ever could have imagined.

In southeastern Ohio, there are beautiful rolling hills, amazing forests and state parks, warmer weather, and less snow. Also, all of the people that we care about are there. We can attend the birthday parties, the holiday parties, and the impromptu gatherings that our families have. The downside to living in Ohio is really nothing other than the lack of economic and educational opportunites in the rural areas.

I don't think that we will come to a conclusion on what to do anytime soon. We will at least be out here for 3 more years unless we win the lottery, which I don't think will be the case. Regardless of what we decide, Steve and I have really enjoyed our time here in Massachusetts, so far, and I think that we will always look back on it with fond memories. Our experiences here have forced us to grow up and become responsible adults. We have also learned a lot about ourselves, our capabilities, and each other. It was either sink or swim when we got here, and there have been times when we barely had our heads above water, but now we are swimming steadily. It feels good. Have a great night everyone!

An Easy Day

2005-02-22T21:13:00.000-05:00

Today was an easy day. All of the preschool children with special needs and most of the teachers are on vacation this week. So, I got to spend part of my day working with the typically developing children and the rest working on video modeling curriculum. Video modeling is a way that we teach the children with autism to play in a "typical fashion." We tape teachers playing with various toys at the various levels of play. We then have the children watch the videos and imitate the play experience. It may sound simple, but it is actually very complicated because all of the play sessions are scripted. I am amazed at how quickly some of the children learn the scripts and then generalize them to their natural play environment. It's pretty cool, for me at least.

Other than that, not much happened today. When I got home, I did dishes and watched Dr. Phil. Today the topic was wedding day disasters. Then, when Steve came home we ate dinner and went to buy light bulbs. Exciting huh? Well, that's it for today. Steve is downstairs waiting for a butt-kicking at Sequence (our new favorite board game). Good night all!

Writer's Block

2005-02-21T15:58:00.000-05:00

I don't have much to say today that I think many people would consider worthwhile. After all, it is 4:00, and I am still in my pajamas. In my defense, there is six inches of snow on the ground and thus not much to do, but still......

So, I am going to bore all of you with one of my biggest dreams. I want to become a writer. I have wanted to write since I was old enough to pick up a pen. After my wedding, my favorite uncle gave me a book that I wrote in his honor entitled "The Man From Denver." I believe I was about 7 when I authored that fine piece of literature. Lately, I have felt this strong urge to start writing. I think that the biggest thing that is holding me back is a fear of rejection. I am worried that no one will like my work. All through grade school, high school, and even college, teachers and professors encouraged me to keep writing because they thought I was good, but I still lack the confidence. I am hoping that I will get over it soon, and run with one of the many ideas that I have because writing is something that I truly enjoy. I guess we'll see.