Blaze of Glory

Fuzzy finished his Eagle Scout project this weekend. Phew!

Stay tuned tomorrow for a Wordless Wednesday picture that will highlight his efforts!

Warning: Mommy braggin' below! LOL

Fuzzy collected items over a two week period at 3 locations Mon - Fri and 2 locations on Saturdays. (two schools, and police station)

In addition to 2 huge boxes of items, also collected was over $420.

Who is to receive this windfall?

American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Regardless of your personal feelings about the political reasons/situations that resulted in our deployment of these soldiers - they are there. At the whim of our government, putting themselves on the line every day. They deserve our support, and if we can give them a little comfort - that too.

The Letter from Home Program at lettersfromhome.org will be the liason between Fuzzy and the soldiers.

I am very proud of my boy.

This Thursday will be his board of review, and barring any unforseen difficulty, Fuzzy will become an Eagle Scout at that time, soon to join Hammer in the formal presentation at the Court of Honor in May. :-)

Fuzzy has had a very rough month too, after just getting over an ear infection in January and injuring his leg/knee with an almost break and tearing the ligments, last week he was sidelined by a bad cold that went straight to bad bronchitis and asthma flare up.

This week he is completing the final Eagle Scout Project details, making up school work, arranging to make up NJ State school testing, and serving our township in Youth Month! The students who volunteer are assigned two counterparts in the municipal government. One is a township employee, the other is a member of the Mayor and Council. Very cool opportunity. Fuzzy and Pumpkin are both participating this year!

Tonight is a meeting of the Planning Board and Fuzzy will be attending.

My youngest son and middle child is maturing into a fine young man.

I will tell myself that over and over as he gives me that teenaged rolled eyes face and says 'I knowwwww' everytime I try to remind him of something.

Sigh.

be well...

I Told You So

This is what it has been like lately with Fuzzy and Pumpkin.

This is what it is like most of the time between Hammer and the terrible twosome! Hammer is my big thinker! ;-)

Is it a wonder I want to pull my hair out sometimes? LOL

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Oy! The bickering!!!!

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Today, as I shouted at the two of them to 'Knock it off' for what felt like the thousandth time, I decided to add, 'if you two start it again, I am punishing you both - no questions asked.'

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The standard punishment is going Amish or electronics free. Except for tv.

No computer, no cell phone (no texting???!!! The horror! for Pumpkin anyhow.) no Xbox or handheld game either.

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It worked. Blessed silence ensued and no more bickering, no more 'he said, she said'. Suddenly, it was all UN negotiations and keeping mom out of it. Nice. :-)

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The big news of the week falls under the 'NEVER A DULL MOMENT' at my house category!

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Monday night we were all outside enjoying the lovely evening. Uncle K, his son, Pumpkin and Hubby were playing basketball and were almost done with a game of '21'. Fuzzy was riding his bike.

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He pulled into the drive way and I told him it was getting too dark, streetlights were on already, and to put away the bike. As usual, he argued. After a moment of bickering, he begged for one more run down the street.

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I had a bad feeling about it, but I let him go. I shouldn't have, and he should have listened to mom.

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We hear a yell and a crash. Fuzzy's bike pedal broke off and he went flying over the handlebars.

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He came down very, very hard on his left forearm and tore it up with road rash, also his left shoulder, hand, right thumb, and both knees. Ouch.

The forearm began to swell and bruise and after a half hour he was in a lot of pain so... off to the ER. Thankfully, NOT broken. Three separate finger fractures so far for 2009 ( two for Pumpkin, one for Fuzzy), and I was glad not to add to the list!

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Needless to say, bad road rash sucks and hurts. As does the massive swelling and bruise on the forearm. Fuzzy had a half day on Tuesday and we let him stay home. He had a rough night and was really sore, so he had a jammie day with motrin. ;-)

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This morning and today have been much better. It is awesome to be young because he is bouncing back already. No gym for this week, but he is already sure he will be fine for Monday! Ahh youth! LOL

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Lesson learned? Listen to Mom? I doubt it. Fuzzy keeps saying, 'It had nothing to do with the darkness.' Everyone keeps telling him, 'Yeah, but sometimes Mom's just know.'

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Well, he is man, after all. Hubby hasn't quite learned to listen to me yet, so what hope is there for Fuzzy? LOL I guess we will see the next time.

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Today I met my cousin Karen for an awesome gabfest at Panera over tea for her and coffee for me! It was really nice to reconnect as it had been too long that life got in the way.

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I am realizing more and more how easy that is to happen and how we really need to work against it. Time just flies by, and there is always something to be rushing to or from, but we have to stop ourselves to be with the ones we love. Too often they are gone too soon.

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be well...

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

What a great sports weekend!

First, on 9/11, and it really was perfection that something so great happened on that day in New York, Derek Jeter got his 2722 hit, placing him at the #1 spot as the all-time career highest Yankee hitter. With Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth behind him respectively.

Amazing company to say the least; Jeter is truly a living legend himself.

Then, FOOTBALL! Opening day for the Jets and Giants! Wooohooo!

And, they both win!!! Yippee! There were happy faces all around our house!

Pumpkin stopped hating me as a mean mommy about two hours after I posted on Saturday. After all, dinner came under discussion, and she couldn't possibly miss out on that! lol

My diet is going well so far. I am happy to report that since getting my scale last week, I have lost 6 pounds. :-)

I know it won't continue at that pace, but I am proud. I have been walking every day that is not raining also. It's all good.

Unfortunately, for the last two days my left elbow has been screaming loudly. If only I was like the tin man and could just oil it and have it done with. :::sigh:::

You would think with the exercise I have added it would be a weight bearing body part, but no. Rheumaoid Arthritis never makes sense or makes it easy! LOL

The only problem I have had since starting walking is my middle toe on my left foot that is beginning to turn in funky ways starts to spasm. It happens at strange random times, too.

Again, RA makes no sense! LOL And, did I mention RA Sucks! LOL

Yes, I think I have said that before...

Gotta laugh...

be well...

Love Game

Here is Libby enjoying an afternoon snooze on the love seat.

Libby knows that daddy is not home so she can get away with this during the day today. I don't fret because it is leather and the hair blows right off.

Makes you jealous to look at her doesn't it?

So, my title 'Love Game' is not going to be about some twisted singles club hook-up like Lady GaGa sings about.

No, it is about life with an almost teen. My sweet daughter, Pumpkin, who is 12 1/2. Sigh.

Yesterday, I was the best mommy in the whole world. She couldn't sit close enough to me. We played UNO, we watched tv together, and since Hubby is gone, she insisted on sleeping with me.

I informed her that I would wake her at 10am so she could get up, relax, do breakfast etc, before starting her weekly chore. Cleaning the bathroom.

This morning I decided to be nice and let Pumpkin sleep in until 11am. After all, it was the stressful first week of school. A small kindness seemed in order.

As they say, 'No good deed goes unpunished.'

Pumpkin got up and ate breakfast and then I thought headed to the bathroom to start her chore, as I headed to the computer. Imagine my surprise a half hour later when I found that she was perched on the laptop in the family room instead. I asked her if she was on break. Oh no, the chore had not even been started.

Needless to say, I was NOT amused and sent her immediately to do the chore. NOW.

Thus, my new status as the most horrible mother in the whole world.

I am now being grumbled at and avoided.

What a difference a day makes!

Yes, life with (almost) teens are full of fun.

Like nailing Jello to a tree.

Well, this horrible mom has to go now. It keeps you busy causing teen misery! LOL

Or maybe I will join the dog!

be well...