Indigo Robe

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Mum likes reading, decorating, shopping with the girls, and Starbucks. She also feels funny writing in the 3rd person. Papa (also known as Sparky) is currently looking at me with a blank stare having asked him to add something about himself to the blog. (Now he wants to say something) The only thing he loves more in life than music and Coke is his wife and kids. (Awww...) :) Little Lotte is a genius on the computer and makes me fall over laughing every day with her quick wit. She loves computers and animals. Sweet Pea abandoned her family and moved to Phoenix for work and is now married as of 2/28/06. She is beautiful and smart and the most nurturing person I know. She gave me the greatest gift ever when she made me a grandmother. I am the proud Mum Mum to Andrew Christopher. There are no words to describe the joy of having a grandson!

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Castle Pictures as Promised (More Disney photos this weekend)







MIA

i truly am missing in action because there is so much ACTION happening around here and I've been so busy catching up on EVERYTHING that the blog is at the bottom of the 1, 457 things to do on my to do list. But last night, at about 3 in the morning, I thought - wow... I miss writing on my blog! I miss posting pictures of my house or family.

As I said, this blog is for me and the family and I want to have memories when I am in Pokey Folks Retirment Home so this is the way to keep those memories.

So let's begin with last weekend. I still haven't uploaded the pics yet - hope to do that tonight. (Last night I fell asleep at 7 pm!!! I think I am fighting something but fight I wil!) Anywho -we took Little L to Disneyland for her Christmas present. That was what she wanted for a present and we already have annual passes. I also used some points I have for Hilton Honors and was able to get three free nights hotel! Now if only gas weren't $12.39 a gallon, this would have been a cheap present! ;-)

It was a good trip because we took her best friend along. Her best friend is able to keep up with her whereas we, her aging parents, are not. So they went off on their own, joining us for one special meal at the Blue Bayou restaurant. Other than that, Sparky and I were left to find out own happy place. And find our happy place we did!

The first day, being Thanksgiving, we split a turkey dinner at the Carnation Cafe. Darling little place, we ate outside on the terrace. Beautiful weather - not too hot, not too cold. Just perfect! Then we enjoyed some rides and the fireworks at night. The castle this year is unbelievably beautiful with the lights on it. I've never been so impressed with lights before but they really did it right. I can't wait to show you pictures of the castle at night!

The next day, we spent most of our time at California Adventure. Sparky rememebered that he doesn't like California Screamin' but he always goes on for me. I peel him off the ride and carry him on my shoulders for the next hour and then he is fine.

The final day - the third day - is always the toughest for me. Even though we didn't have to keep the pace of Little L and her friend, we were still having to stay until midnight so we could meet to go to the tram to go to the car to go to the hotel. Exhausting! The only thing that got me through those hours until midnight was getting a cup of hot tea and a cookie, boarding the Disneyland Express train, and riding on it around the park, snuggled up in Sparky's arms. We even fell asleep on the train one night! (Just for a minute or so)

So... as I was saying, on the third day, Sparky was a doll. We dropped the girls at Disneyland and headed to the BLOCK, an outdoor mall in Orange. It was a great break because there were not crowds! of people! and Happy! Music! and Singing! Characters! so we welcomed the break. We had a blast, sharing a slice of pizza, finding a store called Barney and something were we each found a pair of jeans for 10 bucks!, and walking slowly and NOT bumping into little people.

All in all, we enjoyed ourselves VERY much. We are just soooo glad to be in our home, sitting on the couch, looking at our beautiful living room all decorated for Christmas.

This weekend - we tackle the outside lights.

This evening it is raining and has been off and on all day! We are in HEAVEN! We are supposed to get rain all day tomorrow as well and I couldn't be more thrilled!!! So the outside lights will have to wait until Sunday when we are back to sunny and hot.

Pictures coming soon!

Monday, November 26, 2007

My Grandson



His little feet...

20 things you would love to find in your Christmas stocking

1. A starbucks gift card
2. Snowflake Bentley ornament for 2007
3. “trash magazines” (you know, Star, People, In Style, etc.)
4. Hershey kisses
5. Blueberry Sage tea from Tea of Wisdom
6. Red sparkling fingernail polish
7. Just about anything with glitter on it
8. Just about anything “blinged” out
9. Yardley’sLavender body wash
10. A heart shaped diamond ring
11. A gift certificate for a european facial at Gadabout
12. A trip to San Diego
13. Anything toile
14. A fireplace for my livingroom
15. A pearl ring or bracelet
16. A blingy Snow White watch
17. A Philadelphia Cheesesteak with Herr’s chips
18. A new kitchen - the looks like Ina Garten’s (white cabinets, black granite countertops, green paint, stainless appliances, an in-wall oven, and a walk- in pantry.
19. A trip to Paris
20. Johnny Depp*

*Can be substituted with Sparky in a pirate costume.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

You Are a Traditional Christmas Tree

For a good Christmas, you don't have to re-invent the wheel.
You already have traditions, foods, and special things you bring out every year.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Me Write Good

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Thursday, November 15, 2007

I FOUND SOME MORE BUTTONS ON MY COMPUTER!

Turns out I have a nifty little photo enhancing thingy on my iphoto. I was thinking of buying adobe elements but I want to master this little program first. WHAT FUN!!!







Can you see the differences?


Wednesday, November 14, 2007

And we wonder why teachers leave the profession...

MESA, Ariz. — A high school teacher captured in a YouTube clip performing a cheerleading routine in front of her class has resigned.

English teacher and cheerleading coach Cristina Mallon "has elected to resign" from the Higley Unified School District, district spokeswoman Sara Bresnahan said Tuesday.

Last month, the district placed Mallon on paid administrative "as a standard district procedure" after the video surfaced. In it, she is seen performing a seemingly harmless cheer with pompoms inside a classroom as students hoot and cheer.

An edited version of her performance runs for less than a minute on YouTube. It made it all the way to network television, airing on NBC's "Today" show.

Mallon returned from her suspension a few weeks later. She was again in the spotlight after a student's father complained about a book she assigned, "Jake Reinvented."


The parent said the book was not appropriate for his 14-year-old daughter, a student in Mallon's freshman English class.

The book, by Gordon Korman, has been described as "The Great Gatsby" for teens. It tells the story of a cool and popular high school student who is exposed as a ***(hold your seats, friends!)*** fraud.

***********

Hugs to you Ms. Mallon -

My daughter had a math teacher who regularly showed videos during algebra class - "classics" such as The Lion King. When I brought it to the attention of the principal, nothing was done about it. I could go on and on about incompetent teachers in the classroom. If parents (the ones who care) only knew the half of it - they would pull their kids from public school so fast. Highly qualified means no matter how badly you teach, as long as you have the correct certification, we will keep you employed. Unless, of course, you are actually trying to connect with your students, as Ms. Mallon did.

And finally - I would love to see what is hiding in the closet of the father who didn't want his girl to read a book the teacher assigned. Maybe underneath the Penthouse and Playboy mags, he has a copy of Farenheit 451, too.

P.S. To the principal of the student who videotaped the cheer (it was spirit week, for goodness sake!) - I assume you had a consequence for the student using electronic devices during class time? I mean, it sounds like you guys really play by the book, right?

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

You can only keep two pairs of shoes...what do you keep?

Waahhh! I really want to keep a pair of red ballet flats too but fine...


Sunday, November 11, 2007

Downtown Philly - Oct. 2007





Saturday, November 10, 2007

Friday, November 09, 2007

Really?

From Pottery Barn and on sale for $26.00



That's only $6.50 per ring to have a monkey wipe his ass on your linen napkins!

Wednesday, November 07, 2007



I sponser a book club in my room after school on Wednesdays. I like to work with the 4th and 5th graders as we can have meanigful conversations about the books we read. I prefer that grade level and since I sponser the club, I get to choose the age level of students in the club.

A little girl came up to me last month, wanting to join. She is only in 3rd grade but she seemed really sincere and she is a good writer so I let her join.

At book club today, she came up to me about 50 minutes into it.

Her: Mrs. Blah, Blah, you know how we have AR books in our classroom?

Me: Yes.

Her: Well, my mom and my teacher told me that I can only read one book at a time.

Me: So why did you join our book club?

Her: Because I didn't know we would read books and stuff.

Me: *blink

Me: *blink

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Trip to D.C. Oct 1st

I do not believe I posted our pictures from our trip to D.C.



It was really great and really bad.
Really Great:
Got to spend time with my neice and my great nephews and other assorted family members!
Finally got to see the Lincoln Memorial!
Family time with Sparky and Little L!

Really Bad:
SOOOO hot!
The Cassatt that I have waited for YEARS to see? The very reason I hit the BUY button on the airlines tickets?
Not. On. Display.

I cried.

Our name, moronfamily, comes from the Vacation movies... do you remember when they drove across country to see Wallyworld and it was CLOSED! That was us... I ran into the museum even though we had walked 47 miles from the metro to the Wash. Monument to the Museum. In the heat. Having only eaten a bag of chips ALL DAY. And... it was not there. We asked.

Me: Curled in a fetal position, crying in a corner of the museum floor.

Sparky: Excuse me, Miss Museum Guide Information Lady, can you tell us where the Cassatt paintings are located?

Miss Museum Guide Information Lady: Let me look for you! (She flips through the museum book, occasionally looking over her reading glasses to see what the loud sobs are coming from the corner.)

Miss Museum Guide Information Lady: Wow! Look at this, would ya! We have over a DOZEN Cassatts - and only 2 are on display! Hmmmm!

Me: Laying postrate, pounding floor, screaming, "Why God, Why do you toy with me so?!?!"

Sparky: Thank you.

So we left. But we were hungry. We had not eaten all morning or afternoon unless you count the bag of chips we scored from a hot dog cart and the hot dog Sparky and Little L shared. (I'd have to be on my deathbed to eat a hot dog thus I have only had some chips.)

Defeated we rush to the musuem cafe only to find it closes at 3:00 and it's 3:10. Had I not spent the last 20 minutes running from room to room, searching for the painting that was to be the highlight of my trip (Children Playing in the Sand) ... I just don't even want to go on at this point...

We leave, stumbling into the blinding heat and sit for a full 20 minutes on the musuem steps, trying to gather the energy to walk across the street to catch the metro.



Speaking of which - that was a hoot! So you drive to a parking lot. Park the car. Catch a bus. Get off the bus. Go into the underground. Buy tickets from a machine. Stand around looking lost. A man in a uniform comes up and rolls his eyes while explaining which turnstile to go to. You board the metro. We forget what city folk are like, having lived with the coyotes and stagecoaches for so long!

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We arrive at the "mall" where all of the monuments are. Little L thinks she is Spiderman and tries to scale the walls of the Washington Monument.





The White House from inside the Washington Monument. I have a GREAT zoom on my camera.

We go up inside the Washington Monument and enjoy the views. We come back down and walk to the Lincoln Memorial. This has been a dream of mine for a long time.






This bizarre picture is taken from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. I turned around at the top of the steps to take Sparky's picture when this crazy butterfly flew right in front. Can you see it?! It's right above his head. I can't believe I just happened to click when it was flying by. Look at the wings! Click on the picture to enlarge!



A painting from my sista from Philly (Mary Cassatt)

This was one of two Cassatt's I did get to see.

Trip to Wash., D.C. to see Cassatt painting that wasn't on display? = $1500.00
Bus and metro tickets = $25 or something like that.
Bag of chips, 2 sodas and1 hot dog = $20.00 (I know, right?!)
Snapping a picture of what appears to be a large, mutated butterfly landing on Sparky's head? = Priceless

Sunday, November 04, 2007

We even used a level!!!




I've been waiting for Sparky to hang this for a few weeks. He needed to go to Ace and get "stuff" that would hold this up. Thanks goodness he knows about stuff.


Oh well... poor Sparky is back in the dining room to fix this. Funny thing is that when we saw it hanging, it didn't look crooked! Weird. Anywho... it's soooo beautiful! I have this love affair with chalkboards right now. Not sure if it's the teacher factor or the fact that I can write on the boards and change our sayings, etc.

Of course, there is always Little L to contend with. Apparently she finds chalk funny.

Friday, November 02, 2007

I THINK THIS IS ALL MY FAULT


I think I am the one who started David Copperfield down the slipperly slope of wanting women to provide some of thier own "magic" for him.

It all began 24 years ago. I don't know how or why I knew about this young, up and coming magician named David Copperfield but I did. And he was traveling to all of these small cities and playing in all of these small theaters. We were living in Reading, Pa. at the time and he was coming to the Rajah - a small theater in our beloved city.

So I begged Sparky to get us tickets. He came through and arranged for baby Sweet Pea to stay with his parents. I prepared for weeks, planning out my outfit. But more importantly, I spent weeks agonizing over what I could say to him so he would remember me forever and ever as that witty brunette who spoke words of honey and caused him to fall head over heels in love with a small town girl from Chester, Pa.

The night of the show came and we dropped Baby Sweet Pea off at the parents house. My own father-in-law teased me, asking me if I had something in mind yet to WOW David with. I told him I did not but that I was sure once I met him I would be able to come up with THE perfect words.

I wore a grey silk blouse and black pants, my black patent leather pumps and white pearls. WE will NOT discuss my poodle hair that I was sporting from a bad post-partum perm. We will also not discuss the aviator glasses that covered my cheeks all the way to my upper lip. But... I looked presentable.

We arrived at the theater and took our seats. This young, skinny, tall, dark haired boy bounced onto the stage as I was sitting next to my young, skinny, tall, dark haired husband. I sat mesmerized. I think he performed magic tricks - I am not really sure. I couldn't stop looking at his gorgeous hair and butt. I did notice that he chose beautiful, young blondes from the audience for all of his assistants but that's only because I was not in the front row or he surely would have picked me in all of my poodle hair gloriousness.

When the show ended, anyone who bought a program was able to get it autographed by Mr. David Copperfield himself! This was my chance. Here is where I would shine!

I nervously approached Mr. Copperfield, program in hand and these words of wonder poured forth from my mouth,

"Good show, David."

He grinned.

Good show, David?

What? WHAT? Was I practicing for the day when I would be a teacher and say 50 million times a day, "God job, Johnny!" Was THAT all I could muster in the one chance I had to meet the man of my dreams? (Other than Sparky, of course)

Realizing I had blown my chance to be remembered, to be immortalized as "that cute brunette with the pearls and poodle hair" I knew I had to make a move.

As he handed back my program, I took a deep breath and muttered,

"May I have a kiss?"

You should have seen the look on his face. He just stood there looking at me. Dead silence. Our eyes locked. And then he broke out in the little grin and said, "A kiss?" "Sure!"

And in that moment, when he leaned in to my poodle head, I believe I created a monster.

He kissed my cheek.

I am not sure if he previously realized the sway, the power, the pull he had over young women, causing them to drool and buy programs that cost $30.00 a piece just for the chance to be in the same square footage as Mr. David Cooperfield.

I never forgot that kiss. And I am pretty sure he didn't either. I am sure he talked about it for years and wanted to contact me but since we didn't have cell phones or the internet back then he had no way to get a hold of me.

I imagine he started to long for that kind of admiration and began wooing other young ladies. I believe he chose blondes instead of brunettes so as not to ache inside at the remembrance of me when he was with them.

And Claudia Schiffer? Remember that tall, blonde model? She had an over-bite. Just. like. me. Coincidence? You decide.

Poor, David. I am so sorry that I started this whole sordid mess that you are in.

By the way, to this day my father-in-law teases me about my choice of words, "Good show, David."

I'll be he isn't laughing now!