The Gambler (Returns!)

I'm baaaack!!!

Omg, you have all been very busy! I cannot go back and read everything without a time-stopper, but I will try to catch the new ones!

Although this is a busy week, too!

First thing is first... Atlantic City was awesome! Truly an adult playland! Lots of fun had by all! Especially my mom, since she was winning! I was up, then down, then up, then down, and on the last night back up! Mom let me keep that last night's winnings.

I promised to spend it on myself, and I did. Books! Yay!

We also had lots of great food! 4 and 5 star restaurants... yum! Il Verdi, Cuba Libre, and The Palm. Also, lunch at the Irish pub, Ri Ra!

Kathy joined us Thursday and stayed overnight. It was so much fun to just play and eat and drink together! No kids! No Hubby's! Just us three girls!

The kids and all the pets were thrilled to see us when we got home! Only one traumatic event happened while I was gone. The kids went to Boy Scouts and all the boys were playing football. And, Pumpkin Muffin. She tackled Fuzzy and somehow hyperextended his elbow. Again. Same one he injured playing 'real' football 2 years ago. Hubby had to take him to the pediatric orthopedist. Fuzzy is fine, but needs to be in a sling for two weeks total. Never a dull moment!

My birthday was very nice! We had dinner at the Grand Lux Cafe. The kids gave me a Starbucks gift card, and Hubby had already given me the iphone. My parents had bought me some clothes, my mom took me away, and I got to keep some winnings. Kathy gave me and itunes gift card!

A great birthday booty! 43! I am clinging to saying 'early 40's' but I am pushing it! LOL

This week will be busy! Yesterday and today, I am mostly trying to rest. I rested in AC when I needed to do so, but I needed more once I got home. All in all, the rheumatoid arthritis behaved pretty well! Thank goodness for the vitamins, they are really helping. And, taking a pain killer helps when needed, too.

I have an appointment for bloodwork on Wednesday followed by an award ceremony at the school. Both kids made the honor roll, with Pumpkin on the 'distiguished'. All good! I am very proud of them!

Thanksgiving will be here, too! We go to Kathy's house and I am really looking forward to it! I will be making and bringing my maple glazed carrots!

Okay... gotta go!

be well...

Thankful Thursday

Ahh... Thankful Thursday... you do like to sneak up on me! Like now, very late on Thursday... actually Friday am! I am having trouble relaxing because I needed to drink an extra cup of coffee at about 4pm today, and now the caffeine has me up.

I drank it in order to have a little extra 'oomph' because tonight we had a high school 'open house' to attend with Fuzzy. It was good, but long. Whew.

Here are my thankfuls...

1. I am thankful for Hubby, and that the biggest complaint I have about him is that he is a big baby.

2. I am very thankful for coffee! Especially, GINGERBREAD! Yay! It is a seasonal k-cup that I can only get for my Keurig coffeemaker during November, December and January! My first cup of it yesterday was just heavenly! I made a big deal out of it and Hammer was laughing at my lunacy as I turned the first cup into a momentous occasion!

3. I am thankful that on Monday I will be heading to Atlantic City with mom! YAY!

4. I am thankful for my upgrade to the iphone so I can keep in touch with home easier while I am away! I will send them pictures and texts and emails.

5. I am thankful for my early birthday/Christmas clothes from my mom and dad since I needed some new winter things and I can wear them next week on my trip first! (ps... My birthday is coming up on 11/22, since a few of you asked)

6. I am thankful for my kids and my family and my wonderful busy life! And, although it has kept me away from the keyboard, I know you are here and will be here when I am able to get back and catch up properly!

7. I am thankful that I have good healthcare and access to medicines that are helping me to manage my chronic issues! Today, I would never have made it all day and through and 2 1/2 hour Open House without the aid of vicodin. I was really hurting, but after the vicodin I was able to focus on my son and all the info that I needed to absorb tonight.

I will be keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers! This may be my last post until somewhere around 11/24! I will try to pop in and leave a quickie if I can, but if now, know that I am okay!

Maybe I will even win some money in AC! Wish me luck!

be well...

Day by Day

I just loved this lolcat!

Hubby just called on his way to the dentist. Just a teeth cleaning, but I swear - you have never seen a bigger baby. He wanted me to come sit there and watch. Really? You must be kidding me. I don't even do that with the kids anymore, and he knows that. You should have heard him whining about it. lol Men!

Tonight is Boy Scouts. Hammer is the troop librarian and this year we are being very organized. He made a list of all the Merit Badge books that he has collected that others have used and no longer needed. I typed a memo for him to hand to everyone tonight, giving our telephone #, his email addy, and with the list of all the books available for loan. Also, in the memo we reminded kids to turn in their used books for recycling in the troop for others.

I hope this is a success. No one has ever done this before in the troop, and Hammer is really into it. Even after he completes his Eagle, he wants to continue with it. :-)

Tonight, Fuzzy also has a handout for everyone. The troop is going to collect goodies/necessities for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan! A friend in town is working with an active reservist to get all of the items distributed to those in need of some Christmas cheer! A worth cause for sure!

I am proud of both the boys! And, even Pumpkin will be there tonight helping hand out the memos! She envisions herself as the Troop Mascot. lol

Those who have been reading me for a while will remember that I have been going to Atlantic City with my mom on her twice yearly business trips for a little over a year now. I went to her May and November 2007 trips, and the May 2008. The November one is coming - November 14th! Yay!

This is the busier and more hectic of the two conventions. In May, all the convention is held in the hotel where we stay. This November one we have to shuttle back and forth between the hotel and the Convention Center. Two of my mom's friends are partially disabled and need to use scooters which are rented at both locations. I wil help with the shuffling.

As you can imagine it gets hectic. You have to check in the one you are using at the hotel and get a receipt. I usually stay with them and do that while mom runs to get a taxi ready and waiting. Then, we shuffle with cane and what-not to the taxi and repeat the process in the reverse at the Convention center. Of course the places you pick-up/drop-off the scooters is never right next to the door. Sheesh.

I am very happy to help! I love my mom's friends, they are all like additional mom's/grandma's to me. My mom is the spring chicken of the group at 63 (on November 8th). The next friend is 75 ish and 2 are in the 80's! Brilliant determined women all. Tax collectors, Chief Municipal finance officers. Some retired, some not.

Of course those are just the women we have adjoining rooms with and do our traveling with at the convention. There are many more that are my mom's clients or friends that we meet up with for meals during the week. It is really a nice time. Busy, but fun.

I am looking forward to it - as you can tell!

be well...