Merry New Year!

So, how was your Christmas break?

Mine was VERY busy. But there is progress on the back room which has been in various phases of construction for 2.5 years now. I can almost smell the sheetrock...

Got to see Aimee and VK this past Saturday. Aimee is gestating beautifully (is that even correct? Does that make it sound like she is the one in utero? I hope not. Because, clearly, if she were in utero, it would have been impossible to see her and it would be 197*. asterisk in case she wouldn't want me to publish the year of her birth). And the 4 kids who were running around were fantastic. And so was her wonderful Rob.

VK and her hubby Sean look great! I haven't seen them since we all graduated college back in the late '90's. VK went to Denmark in the summer to record an album with a super producer. what I have heard from the record sounds GREAT!!!! buy it!

So, today was back to the grind with school and work. I wish we had gotten one day at home where we could just loaf, but that was not to be for us this year. Maybe we'll get to do that over Easter...

What were you up to?

Varia

1. Yesterday we had a snow day. Boy, I love snow days. Scott works at a college that was closed and since I work at the parish and all of the public schools were closed, too, no CCD! It's nice to work for places where you have snow days. I don't know what I'd do if I had to get a job in a place that didn't shut down for 6 inches of snow. I worked for a bank once and they NEVER closed. That stunk.


2. I'm pretty tired tonight.


3. Just thought I'd share.


4. Scott is doing very well. His little boo-boos on his head are nearly all gone. I am just so grateful that he is still with us and not only with us but totally fine.


5. Scott and I are going with some kids from the college to New Orleans to help build houses in 2 weeks. This will make up (a little) for not going to the UK this summer. The hooligans will be staying with Grandma and Pop-pop for the 4 days we're gone. And we're taking them out of school. I am a little uneasy with this taking them out of school thing, but they're in Kindergarten and 2nd grade. If we're going to do it, now is the time.


6. My favorite radio station has been having U2's-day all day today to celebrate U2's new album being released today. It has been great to hear all U2 all day. They are one of my favorite rock bands. Hard to believe that they have been playing for 31 years!


7. Adam Clayton is yummy.


8. Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary. 9 years. I was saying to Scott the other night that being married to him is easy. I expected marriage to be more work than it has been. Maybe that will change over the years. Who knows? But I think that if you agree on the big things (use of money, religion, kids and how to raise them) then there is less room for fighting. We have fought, and recently too, but I don't think I could even recall an argument that we've had. It's usually over something stupid. I think it's also good to forget about your arguments soon after finishing them.
9. I gave up Facebook for Lent. I was spending probably 1-2 hours a day on it. It's been hard, but I don't miss it as much as I did last week. I may have to fast from something else, too.
10. Good night, hooligans.

Random randomness

So, it's been a while since I posted with any regularity. I have been busy, but I think the main problem is that facebook ate my posting time. I am spending a lot of time on facecrack and posting things there that I would ordinarily post here. I'm sorry for having neglected my blog, and you three wonderful readers.


It would appear that my husband and I are going out on Valentine's Day for the first time in as long as I can remember, which, I will readily admit, is not that far back.


My father-in-law is doing really great. If you recall, his ocular melanoma came back in his remaining eye. He underwent raditation treatment in early December and is feeling much better now.

In other news, 2 days after Christmas, my mother-in-law fell in the kitchen and did a number on her rotator cuff, which required surgery 2 weeks ago. She's apparently got a surgeon with the bedside manner of a cactus, but the shoulder is doing well. She starts PT today.

Scott's B-day is Sunday, exactly 3 weeks after our eldest son's. He'll be 33. It's also Scout Sunday (Pancake Breakfast-not really that yum) the day that Primo receives his Light of Christ medal at the Cathedral in Newark. Fun times! We're going to see what else we can pack into that day because there just doesn't seem to be enough going on.

I have been reading David McCullough's book 1776, which is about the first year of the American Revolution. We all know how that turned out. But what I find amazing is that when he starts to talk about parts where he starts to talk about the battles (and there were many, especially at the beginning of the War for Independence) where things did not go well , I have to put the book down because I do not want to read about the bad parts. McCullough has made history really come alive (so cliche, but so true) that I don't want to read about militiamen getting killed and Washington's plans failing. I fell invested in these men. Also enlightening for me was reading about how savage the war really was. In particular, I'm thinking about reading about the Battle of Brooklyn. The Continental Army had been taken by complete surprise over the British/Hessian attack and some Americans surrendered with their arms raised only to be bayoneted and beheaded by the redcoats and the Hessians. In high school, we didn't read about that or the contempt that the Bristish soldiers had for the Americans. This is a real education for me.

Another excellent book that McCullough wrote and I bought for myself after my birthday in November was John Adams (maybe you saw the Showtime movie that is based on the book with Laura Linney and Paul Giamatti?). I have to admit that after reading this book I have new respect for our second president and I have been drawing some parallels between Mr. A. (as his wife Abigail referred to him) and George W. Bush. I'll have to save that for another time.

I still continue to be amazed by people.

I want to say this about our president's inauguration. I had to go to the post office in the middle of the city that morning. Curly Sue and I were walking and 3 people said unsolicited Good Mornings to me that day. These were women who were truly happy. These were women who prior to election day in November would probably not have spoken to me at all. There was something in the air that morning. It was positive. It may have been hope.

My three readers know I am no big fan of Mr. O. And heck, I wasn't a big fan of Mr. B. (I have a brother on active duty in the US Navy who has been to the Persian Gulf 3 times). But there was something different in the air that day. I pray for him and hope that he does right by our country.

I want to say more about the March for Life later, but I do want to say this: I think that many people see the March as a Catholic event since the church has been front and center about the evil of abortion for so long. And many attendees were Catholic. But I just wish I had gotten a photo of the two Atheist Anarchists for Life we saw at Union Station ("When mothers are allowed to be tyrants, each child is a revolution.").

Welcome Quiet Life readers!

After I read Donna's very thoughtful post and read your even more wonderful comments, I commented too and offered to answer anyone's questions. But then I noticed that my email wouldn't show up and then I thought about it and decided my email address wouldn't be so easy to find here. So, feel free to ask any questions about the Catholic Church, Her teachings, and my belief in the comment box of this post. Please bring the same wonderfulness here that you have over at Donna's. I'm happy to have email discissions if you prefer, just shoot me an email at mamagiglio at comcast dot net

re-cap

We've hosted Thanksgiving almost every year since 2000 (we took '06 off since Scott's family was coming up from NC and his mom wanted to do the honors for her brother and fam. With a 3 month old at the time, I was most happy to pass the baton for a year.) I have to say that this was the least stressful Thanksgiving I have ever hosted. I even got to sit down and talk for a little while-even with not having an automatic dishwasher to help out! I was bummed out that no one stayed past six, though, especially since no one got to the house until 1:30. We ate around 2:30 and then it seemed like everyone just left. Which makes me wonder if my family nad I stay at other people's houses too long. Aimee, do we stay too long? You're the only one I know IRL whose house we may have overstayed at. Be honest.Tonight, we had Scott's friend D. over for supper. I made a ziti because we all have had enough turkey for now. D. works in Washington DC so we don't get to see him often, which is a shame 'cause he's a super guy. He got here at 4:30 and was gone by 7:30. Why do people only want to stay at my house for 4 hours? It's CLEAN (now). We're fun. At least we used to be fun. What's up?!

Also, I wanted to ask your prayers that God's will be done and made clear to us. Scott's applying for a new job and we just want to do God's will. Thanks!

Hope you all have a groovy weekend!

Confessional

My name is Amy.

And I don't like scrapbooking.

I don't understand scrapbooking. The time, the money. It's an art lost on me.

I would much prefer to put everything in a box and dig through it later when it has accumulated a protective coating of dust.

I'm the kind of person who likes her memories the way they evolve over the course of years. Please don't bother me with the facts of how it all went down. This is why we didn't get a video of our wedding. I don't want to know about what I didn't see. I don't want to know what Drunk Kristen would have said if there was a camera in her face. I want to look at the album the photographer put together for me and remember my wedding the way I want to remember it: that I was in love (and still am) and that I was so happy and that I didn't get to eat any of my wedding cake.

How about you? Anything that you feel sort of like you're supposed to like/do/get/be that just doesn't click for you? Or, is there anything that you're not supposed to like/do/get/be that you can't resist? Mine is the Wonder Pets. It's a show for kids, but I'll watch it even if there's no one else at home. :)

Aaaaahhhhhhhh!

Did you hear that? You know, the big exhale? It's the sound of me relaxing because I have 2 months off from work. That's right. I'm not back at work till after Labor day, and on a reduced schedule to boot. My wonderful pastor and boss, Fr. Bob (hi Fr. Bob!), has allowed me to rejigger my contract so that I work 10 months a year and 25 hours a week. It's gonna be great for my home life.

So how did we celebrate the end of my last day of work before summer vacation last night? Well, I threw some hot dogs on the grill and then called the fire department because my grill caught on fire. It wasn't bad. Just the knobs melted and nothing blew up and the house didn't catch. Which is a good thing too cause we are having new siding put on and the guys are almost done! And absolutley no one was hurt. All the firemen had to do was get their fire extinguisher off the back of the truck.

If you don't own a fire extinguisher, please go out right now and purchase one. If I had one at home, I would never have had to call out the Linden FD. I mean it. Go right now. I'll be here when you get back. (....whistling....) Hey, glad you went and picked that up.

Turned out that a line that feeds from the tank to the burner sprung a leak. That's why the flame was under the grill, not in it. The fireman said it happens a lot. I'm not sure if it happens more often on grills you buy from Target on clearance for $25. Bargain shoppers beware.

So, what's on the agenda for this summer? A lot of cleaning and throwing things away. My house is a pigsty and we have too much stuff. By the time we get around to having Curly Sue's 2nd birthday party in the end of August, I don't want to be ashamed of my house anymore. And we're trying to get a trip to Hershey Park and at least one day at the beach in there too. Oh, and VBS back at the parish is in 2 weeks. And I'd like to go out and harass these good people. So, I'll be busy. But I'll mostly be busy cleaning.

So, what are you cooking up for yourselves this summer?

whats up?

I am going to post Life is a Highway Part 2 after I write it down, but I wanted to update my reader about why I've been too busy to post.

1. Primo, our eldest was in baseball camp last week and someone's got to pick him up.
2. My mom was away last week visiting my grandmother so I had no one to mind the hooligans whilst I blogged.
3. I got to spend last Monday night alone in my house with my husband.
4. I have been spending some time on facebook. Why can't we be friends?
5. Drama continues with the new next-door neighbor
6. There is a lot of TV I have to watch.
7. Trying to toilet train Curly Sue who will be 2 in August.
8. Last week of school for Bubba.
9. Moving the furniture in the living room.
10. Getting work done at the office so I can take July and August off. See you in September... See you when the summer's through...

Hello, it's me

I know.  I've been away awhile.  Allow me to update you.  In no particular order:

1. Bubba got himself a shiner on Monday night from tripping over a fan on the floor of his room and landing on the corner of his brother's open dresser drawer.  It's pretty.  I'll have to post a picture. 

2. Today, Bubba graduated from Pre-k.   He's officially a kindergartener now.  Primo finished 1st grade on Thursday.  Now the praying about the 2nd grade teacher begins.  

3. My confessor and sometime spiritual director was transferred to another parish and the farewell Mass and reception was last Sunday the 8th.  I chaired the committee for the party which caused some stress on my marriage.  Seems Scott likes it when I'm home.  He's fussy like that. 

4.  I had Jury Duty starting last Tuesday the 3rd.  I got picked for the case on Wednesday.  We returned the verdict on Friday afternoon.  It was a very pleasant experience.  I'm not even kidding.  I made a new friend.  (Hi, K.!)

5. My stepbrother, B. graduated from High School last Thursday the 5th.  His party was the day we handed down our verdict. 

6. After many visits to many doctors (including a horrible allergist right here in Linden.  Email me if you want to know whom to avoid. ) and dealing with symptoms that seemed like Congestive Heart Failure and an anaphalactic latex allergy, my mom went to an awesome internist and he figured out she has a...wait for it...B-12 deficiency that is exacerbating all of her MS symptoms.  Why her neurologist didn't figure this out is really sort of beyond me.  

7. I made it safely out the other side of Sacrament of Initiation Season (ie: the month of May) and I have learned the value of asking others for help.  

8. I anticipate a change in my work schedule that will make life better for all who reside in my home.  Full report when the contract is signed. 

9.  Our awesome next door neighbors, Hector and Diana, here on Diana's work visa, had to return to Colombia because her visa ran out and she couldn't find a new job.  After a lot of nonsense on behalf of the buyer's attorney that gave them 24 hours notice on the date of the closing (I am NOT kidding), they sold the house to a woman who so far has asked us to put out $3500 in cosmetic improvements to the exterior of our duplex (For those of you who don't know what a duplex is, we own one side of the building and she owns the other side.  We share a wall and if one is going to say, reside the house or reface the steps it probably ought to be done jointly so it doesn't look like Frankenstein house.).  This of course would not bother me if a. we had the money for it (we are going to do the siding since she "know[s] a guy"and b. I were confident she knew our last name (I don't know hers.) and c. She were not so gall darned freaking pushy about it.  So not only have good friends moved about 2000 miles away, they have been replaced by someone I don't like yet, but I hope that I will be able to like after she finally freaking decides to move in.  This probably deserves a post of its own.   

OK I think that's everything.  Back next week with some work related stuff I'd like you guys to help me with.  

What have you been up to?

Hello Bloggy Friends!

Well, we are in the middle of Sacrament of Initiation insanity here at the parish. We've had 2 of our 4 First Communion Masses and Saturday we'll have our 2 Confirmation Masses. I will be happy when Saturday at 6 rolls around!

I always like this time of year in spite of how busy we are. The Masses are always extra great and it's wonderful to see the kids receive Jesus and the Holy Spirit sacramentally. It's kind of like all of our hard work in the office is paying off.

So, pray for our confirmandi (113-small group this year) and for our First Communicants (120). And pray for the CCD ladies so we don't go too crazy.

Nothing you wanted to know and never wanted to ask

Well, not really, but it sounds better than "Another Meme."
My girl Aimee tagged me. Let's dig in.

The Rules:

1. When tagged place the name and URL on your blog.

2. Post rules on your blog.

3. Write 7 non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.

4. Name 7 blogs.

5. Send an email/comment on their blog letting them know they have been tagged.


1. At home we use Macs. I work in PC land.
2. I am learning to love the Mac.
3. I consume some form of chocolate every day.
4. I am a pretty good singer. Maybe one day if God puts an extra day in the week I'll join the choir at church.
5. I use blond-enhancing hair products because I am trying to recapture my blonde hair. My hair is currently a lovely shade of dishwater.
6. I have developed allergies to peanuts and shellfish since Curly Sue was born. I miss peanut butter and shrimp. A lot.
7. I am a rulebreaker; I am not going to follow rules 4 and 5 above! wheee!!!!

out where the dandelions grow...

The boys have started baseball in earnest.  Scott is coaching both Bubba's T-Ball team and Primo's jr. pee wee little league team.  It's been fun times.  So fun that I'm looking forward to the end of the season already!  No, I'm kidding.  Mostly.  

Both teams are fun to watch for different reasons.  It's great to see the bigger kids (ages 7-9) put the basics together and play in a game.  They don't keep score at that level, but they do keep track of outs.  

With T-Ball, part of the fun is watching the little ones run after the ball, fight over who's going to get to throw it to 1st base, and to watch them dig in the dirt.  There is surprisingly little airplane watching, given the fact that the municipal airport is literally across the street and helicopters take off and land again with alarming frequency (I think there is a helicopter pilot school there).  

As we were watching Primo's game (which was right after Bubba's-we're there from 8am till noon or later every Saturday and Sunday-whoo-hoo!), Bub and I had the following conversation: 

me: So, Bub, how do you think Mike's Power Washing (his team) will do this year? Are you guys going all the way? (gives me a quizzical look)  You know, are you guys going to win the World Series this year?

Bub: Yeah, I think so.  

me: You do, huh?

Bub:  Yeah, but first we have to stop fighting.  And I have to stop diggin' in the dirt.  Then we can win the World Series.  

So, Amy, where have you been?

Well, things have been a little crazy at the office. CCD-oh, sorry-Relgious Education started the week of September 16 and a new Confirmation Program that is going well (did I tell you I'm teaching most of these classes?). I've been working a lot of nights lately, meetings, RE classes, etc.

Did I mention that the house is under construction right now? My Dear Scott and our neighbor are converting our back porch into an all weather room that will serve as our dining room. They raised the ceiling, cut a pass through window in the wall between the porch and the kitchen, replaced windows, and installed a sliding glass door. Next, they have to remove an old door and board up the hole and an old window and board up that hole too. I hope that there is drywall up by Thanksgiving since I have hosted that event 6 out of the 7 years we've been married. After that room is looking all spiffy the kitchen will be looking awful so I think we'll be updating our '70's brown kitchen over the summer.

Oh yeah, and I've got 2 boys at 2 different schools getting out at two different times. And a little girl who likes to see me once in a while. And Scott likes me to watch the Yanks with him. So, the blogging has suffered. Better the blogging suffer than my marriage, eh?

So there it is right now. There's a lot of awesome stuff going on in the Church right now. New Archbishop of Baltimore who just seems to ROCK; World Youth Day is coming (wish I could go...); Pope Benedict seems to be in good health (viva il papa!). God bless us, every one!