Viva Las Vegas!!!!!!!!

The top picture if my best friend Debbie sealing her vows to Don with a kiss. This was on January 27. We were 800 ft. atop the ground in The Stratosphere Hotel observation deck. The restaurant is a lot like the Seattle Space Needle. We had dinner in a restaurant called Top of the World and it was grand. I am exhausted. Hardly slept a few hours. Got up yesterday 6 a.m. Vegas time and only slept half an hour on the plan. Arrived in Philadelphia this morning to see snow falling. Got home and we had a couple of inches on the ground (which has now melted on roadways.) I took a cat nap. Duffy missed us terribly and wants a lot of attention.
We had so much fun in Vegas. We saw most of the hotels and casinos. We never stopped. Had a fabulous dinner at a 3 star hotel Buchon at the Venetian. What a magnificent and beautiful hotel. The meal was not to be topped. We had a trio of appetizers which included pate', salmon, and prisciotto. The salads were outstanding and I had braised shortribs for my entre. It was so delicious. We had a variety of desserts which included sorbet, cookies, brownies and coffee and chocolate sauces. I will need to diet for about three months. Seriously. More later I need a nap.

The Beasty Boys

Here are my "boys". This was taken in my computer room. Rob refers to it as the "rumpus room." You can see Duffy's crate. I have wanted to get rid of it but he seems to think of it as his safe haven. I have bought numberous crate liners, area rugs and even an actual dog bed for it. All have been chewed and ruined except the dog bed which he refuses to leave in there. AS quickly as I put it in, he drags it out. Perhaps because of his thick fur he is warm and prefers the cool bottom of the crate. I figure it's his domain and he can have it the way he wants.

The cat on the other hand, likes warmth and softness. He is often on the back of the sofa while I am sitting on it. While I am on my computer he is stretched out on the comfy reading chair. In this pic he is on the footrest. It's not a great pic of either of them. It's hard to get them together in one shot so I used it anyway.

Today I was going to get my computer room organized. Well that did not happen. Instead I was at the dentist at 8 a.m. to have him fill the "core" of the tooth that was root canaled a month ago. When I woke up there was snow on the ground and the roads looked icey but I went and it was okay. After that I went and had new front tires put on my car. I needed them for winter. I picked up a few groceries and returned home. I was going to take a nap. That did not happen. I played games on the computer and touched base with a friend I haven't spoken with in awhile. I am still tired and need to go into the office tonight from 6-8. Before that I have to run to the store and pick up a prescription that I haven't so far although it's been on my to do list since Saturday.

It's windy and overcast here. Not sure what the weather will be doing but I am sure hoping that on Friday it's clear. That's the day we will be driving to my friend's outside of Philadelphia and taking a limo (when she does something she does it right!) to the airport. We will be arriving two hours before takeoff. I am working on my list of what to bring. Not much can be carried on. I can hardly believe I will be having four days of vacation. It's been five years since we got away and that turned out to be for ONE night. Wayne Newton watch out!

My best friend, Vegas and a new pic

This is my new professional photo. Often in my business people use photos that look nothing like themselves. Women go to the glamour place and get makeup that they could never themselves apply, get their hair done in ways that they could not do and dress with sequins. That is so not me. Other people get an everyday looking shot but have ten or twenty years airbrushed away. When they meet clients the clients are wondering just how old that photo is. I refuse to do that. I am what I am. So here it is. Not sure I made the best choice for the jacket with the lines.

My childhood best friend is getting married again. She is taking Rob and I with her to be her witnesses. She is generously treating us to a four day weekend and we are excited. We really like her fiancee'. As she is telling people some are making plans to be there as well. We will be leaving next Friday about 4. Here is the kicker. My darling husband has never flown before. I have used every tactic to put his fears at ease but I can tell you they have not worked. I asked him before agreeing to go and he told me that he would go. I have visions of him holding onto the airport chairs as we are boarding the plane. I fully understand as I had the same fear until I took my first flight. Both of our mothers were afraid to fly and I think they taught us this fear. Rob's Mom did finally fly but mine never has.
We will be gone over my mother's birthday. In fact my friend's new anniversary will be my mother's birthday. I have to decide what I am wearing and what to take. This weekend I am doing two open houses, one today and one tomorrow. Monday I go to the dentist and then work so I need to get myself into high gear and get moving.

The other thing is what gift to give. They both had households. I am thinking something monogrammed. Any suggestions?

Busy

I have been going nonstop since my last entry. I have an hour long presentation I will make tomorrow to prove that I have the knowledge I am required to have. I love working for this company who offers so much training and support. I am much happier in a corporate environment where everyone is treated equally. I have a mentor who is so colorful. She is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. She is working me hard but at the same time I am getting valuable experience and that's a good thing.

I went to my doctor today and I was less than thrilled at what he had to say. He put me on two more medications. I get frustrated. Tests showed I had pretty clean arteries and he remains concerned about my cholesterol. As it is I have given up eggs, real mayonnaise, butter, red meat etc. The medicine doesn't lower mine enough to please him. A cardiologist does not accept the guidelines that a regular doctor does. Tonight, once again I will be having roasted chicken and vegetables and fantasizing about roast beef. Still, I know that my cholesterol will probably never be low enough. My young nieces and nephews have the same problem. It's familial.

Tomorrow after my presentation I must go to the hospital and get my blood test. After that I am planning on taking it easy. I am doing an open house on Saturday and on Sunday. I need a day to take it easy. When I am home I am usually looking things up online. I know it will get easier in time but right now I am trying to find my first listing and my first buyers. I have leads on both but I need commitment.

The Professional

I have completed another week of classroom and office training for my new career. More and more I have gained knowledge and confidence. I received my proofs today for my professional photo. Of course the photographer offered to retouch a bit. I mean I did my own hair (and of course it had to rain and frizz that day.) I did my own makeup which I am not very good at but at least I look like myself, not like someone else which most of the glamour photos turn out like. Just me. I have been told on occasion that my smile could light up a room. I hope so because that's the biggest thing going for me.

I got my signs today with my name and phone number on them. I am now in the system where I can look up real estate listings. I have a professional email. It's all in place for me. It feels good. I miss some of the people from my previous job. Starting a new job is always bittersweet but I am focusing on the sweet right now.
I am in a wonderful new place with very supportive people. Right now that is making it so much easier for me. They are leaving no stone unturned to give me all the tools that I will need. I am appreciative of all the help I have received from people who have no motive other than genuine kindness. I am grateful that a former coworker is working alongside of me. We both happened to choose the new place on our own. Life is steadily improving for me. I am in a good place.

This and That

I am starting to feel like a real real estate agent. I was at an open house last weekend and had the opportunity to show a lovely property to a woman who complimented me. That was a good experience. I am still in school, and have homework from there and from my very capable mentor.

I am having growing pains. My mother always used that phrase to describe when we were going through a bad time of something that we knew would leave us in a different place when it was over. Someone who I thought knew me, a "friend" of thirty years started accusing me (to others, not to me personally) of things that were simply not true. Her husband called me the other evening to ask me how I could be so hurtful. I had no clue what he was even talking about until he explained himself. This was news to me. I attempted to call this person to discuss what it was they thought I was doing when they would not take the call. I then received an email from them telling me how they were feeling attacked by me. My reaction was complete shock. Then hurt. If someone knows you for thirty years how can they NOT know you? And furthermore how can they tell you that they are so badly hurt but when they feel better they will continue the friendship that they value. Does this make sense to anyone? It does NOT make any to me. Why would someone who truly believed this WANT the friendship with someone they believe to be so heinous? My email reply was that it would not be necessary for that person to contact me again. I put a lot of value in friendships. When someone wants to accuse me, falsly and without proof, then I do not believe there is a friendship to begin with.

My best friend will be getting married in Vegas the weekend of the 26th. We will be going with the happy couple. I am excited. My friend knows I am having a tough time right now. She has offered to treat us. We desperately need to get away.

Right now we are very concerned about my sister-in-law. She just had a feeding tube put in. She was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago. She is in her early thirties and she has an eight year old daughter. She is very depressed and now with her radiation treatments her hair is coming out. My mother-in-law works and is taking care of her daughter and granddaughter when she is home from work. My sister-in-law lost so much weight and she was slight to begin with. She is continueing to work because she used up all her disability time while recovering from two surgeries.

At times like this we are hanging on to our faith and our hope. Please say a prayer for Jen. She wants to gain some weight, enjoy her daughter and get back to her college courses. She's spunky and my money's on her.

PEACE

I have always been a huge fan of the peace sign. I used to have a tee shirt that was white and had tiny red peace signs which almost made stripes in the shirt. In many of my photos at the shore between ages 14 and 16 I am wearing it. I had a huge glass purple peace sign I won in Asbury Park hanging from my curtain rod in my bedroom which otherwise was pink and feminine with my canopy bed and pink princess phone.
Oh the conversations I had on that phone.....some lasting until the wee hours of the morning. Some comments where I was so tired I could not recall having made them the next day when they were repeated back to me. I remember well the Indian moccasins I loved wearing. The ones with the long fringe on the side. Love bead jewelery, tiny beads that were made into flowers forming necklaces and bracelets. Those were some of my most carefree times in life. I had a little red Buddha incense burner. My parents went bonkers over that. Of course that made owning it more fun.
Today I read an interesting fact about the peace symbol. Lord Bertrand Russell, head of the British campaign for nuclear disarmament had someone create a badge to be worn by members at their first anti-nuclear weapon demonstration in 1958. The original was hot pink on a black background. The word peace was on the top arch and under it a small white dove. The designer used the letters N and D from the Navy Semaphore Code. If only they would have known that it would become a universal symbol for a group of people and that it would remain popular decades later. I love the concept of peace. It's something that means so much to me. Not just on a globular level but to me in my own emotional state. Sometimes at mass there is a line that we sing that ends "grant us your peace". Often when the weights of the problems feel so heavy upon me, I choke and cannot sing this part. I think when we do things to put each other in a peaceful frame of mind we give the greatest gift possible. If we do not have peace, we have nothing that can take it's place.

Peace begins with a smile. Mother Teresa

An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind. Ghandi

If you cannot find peace within yourself, you will never find it anywhere else. Marvin Gaye

Peace be with you.

My Accent..........having been in Maryland until 10 and then New Jersey.........

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland   "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
Philadelphia
The Inland North
The Northeast
The South
Boston
The West
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

A gloomy day and a good read

It began raining here sometime during the night. It's cold and damp. I woke up at 4 a.m. and began to read a book I had purchased last week. ( A book that was on the New York Times Bestseller list.) Some might think it odd that I would want to read a book about leukemia. This book, My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult is so well done.

It is about as accurate a book about a family with a child with leukemia as I have ever read.
The story is one of where a younger daughter was conceived to be a bone marrow donor to the two year old daughter of a couple. The daughter from her birth has been used as a donor of sorts. Even the umbilical cord from her birth was used to help give the older daughter a fighting chance. Eventually, the younger daughter, now 13 decides that she has given enough and is entitled to live her life in the best interests of her body. I am only through the first one hundred pages but it is fascinating reading. Especially to me. When my son got leukemia one of the first things they asked about were siblings. There were none. For a leukemia patient, the ideal thing is to have a sibling who is a perfect match for you. That is usually only possible with an identical twin but sometimes a sibling is a close enough match. In my case my son and I did not share the same blood type. Like all four of my siblings, my son was type A and I was a different type. My sister was tested and was in the ballpark for a match. We didn't do any further testing as it was not something necessary. My son was registered in a bone marrow transplant bank. I wish I could make some healthy people realize that to give bone marrow is often to give the gift of life.
I know children who received additional years even if not cured from the transplants. In order to be tested you have a simple blood test. Often there are testing drives when a sick child is in an area. The testing is not inexpensive and often fund raising drives cover those costs. You are not a potential donor if you have ever had cancer yourself. You must be healthy.

This book makes me wonder if someday all umbilical cords will be stored as an insurance of sorts. Or that all people will be HLA (tissue type) tested and records kept on file. I would love to see what great advances medical science will make in the coming years regarding these issues.
This is where I would like to see our government funds going as opposed to many things that I cannot agree with.

I do not see the need to fly a past president's body all over the country at a huge cost to taxpayers. I would truly respect a past president who planned his funeral and asked that instead of all that expense that taxpayers make a donation to the food banks of Washington, D.C. or to some other worthy charities. A President currently in office is a different matter. It just doesn't sit right with me that someone's body is flown all over at taxpayer expense while some people will go without any food today. Maybe that's just me. It's nothing against any of our past presidents. I would not think their families would want to be put through all that traveling either. They had to live their lives in public at one time, let them have their privacy now. IMHO