Resorts and Cruises

OK, so poor me has to attend a conference at Tan-Tar-A Resort this week, then I head off to Florida to sail away on the Norwegian Dawn.

Dang, my life sucks... hehehehehehehehehe.

So if I don't post for a while, don't take it personally. :)

Organ Donation

OK, so I'm not in bed yet... I wanted to finish the Oprah I was watching when I got the Snow Day call.

The show is about medical miracles. One of the stories featured was a story about a young man, Jason Ray, who decided to become an organ donor. Unfortunately, he was hit by a car and was declared brain dead shortly thereafter. His family was asked if they would donate his organs, and because of a conversation he had with his mother, his heart, kidneys and pancreas among many other organs, are helping more than three people live their lives.

Now, many of you know that I am already an organ donor. But just in case you were to ever wonder if I want to be one again after I'm gone from this world, my answer is a resounding "YES!" If my heart, lungs, pancreas, remaining kidney, liver, eyes, skin, etc. could be of use to another human being, then they should have what they need. I'd also be OK with them taking my brain, but I've already used so much of it, I can't imagine how much will be left when I die. :)

Seriously, though. If you are not an organ donor, please consider signing your driver's license and talking with your family members about your decision. In the state of Illinois, signing your driver's license no longer is a guarantee that your organs will be donated. If you live in Illinois, you can go to THIS SITE and be registered in less than 30 seconds! If you do not live in Illinois, go to OPRAH'S website and click on your state to become a registered organ donor.

You should still talk wit your family and friends about your decision to donate, though. That will make their ability to deal with your choice a little easier. Please, please, please become an organ donor, you could literally save a life (or two, or more!).

Snow Day!!

I just got the call from my boss that we are not going in to work tomorrow due to snow. Yay! Right now there's at least 3 inches on my back porch. I haven't seen this much snow in a really long time. If I can find my camera, I'll post a picture later.

I'm SO sleeping in tomorrow. Then, I'm going to do some work from home, then I'll clean my house for our SuperBowl party this Sunday. I honestly don't care who wins, I like both teams. So, off to bed I go so I can make the most of my day off.

Nighty night!

Celebration and Words of Remembrance

Wow, these past few months have been a real kick in the gut for me and my family. In August, I lost my grandfather to skin cancer. In September, I lost my mother-in-law to uterine cancer. Two weeks ago, a friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer. Last week, my grandmother passed due to old age.

My grandmother's memorial service was this past Sunday. During the service, I got up and said a few words of remembrance. Here they are:

As a military brat, there was a lot of change in my life. One of the few things that stayed constant was Gramma. You could always count on certain things when going to visit Gramma:

· You were going to be fed. From the moment you walked in the door, she was offering to make a sandwich, heat up some leftovers or get out some Fig Newtons and milk.

· You should not walk around the house without shoes. With all her sewing, needles always seemed to find their way to the floor.

· You were going to be fed. When mealtimes came around, there was barely enough room for plates, glasses, and utensils on the table. It was often filled with enough food to feed an army even though there were only 6 to 10 people to feed.

· If you got in trouble (which we rarely did when she was around), she would take your hand in hers and slap her hand as if she was punishing you.

· You were going to be fed (are you noticing a pattern here?). She always had five or more pies baking or cooling at any given time. Pumpkin, lemon meringue, blueberry, Boston cream, cherry, and her specialty, apple. If not pies, she had crème puffs, pistachio pudding or homemade cookies. It’s amazing our family isn’t in the running for the reality show, “The Biggest Loser.”

I kid about Gramma and food, but you always knew she loved you. The twinkle in her eye as she pseudo-punished you was enough to tell you that she wasn’t really mad, she really loved you enough to teach you how to be better.

Gramma also shared her love of learning. She was such a voracious reader; you never saw her without a book nearby. She impressed upon me at an early age how important education was. I’d like to believe that I teach much in the same way she did, with a twinkle in her eye and a passion for the subject.

I’m so lucky that I knew her for 30 years. I know that she’s happier now; she’s with Grampa and she’s free from a body that no longer allowed her to live as she wanted. I can’t wait to tell my kids one day about their Great-Gramma McCarthy.

Sorry....

Sorry that I haven't posted lately. I tend to go in spurts like that. Post lots and lots for a few weeks, then nothing for a couple. That's just the way it goes.

I was hoping to be posting some great news, but the good news is that Ben and I are now officially "trying." Keep your fingers crossed and send some good vibes our way.

Work has kept me very busy, and I've been trying to cook more when I get home from work, so that leaves me pretty well exhausted and I have little interest in turning on my computer to check e-mails, read blogs and post blogs.

Well, I'll try and post more often.

Happy New Year!

OK, so better late than never, right?! Sorry that it has been so long since I posted, but it's been a busy start to the new year. Since January 1, I have:

• been to the DMV
• registered to vote at the local courthouse
• bought an awesome (he made me say it) new TV with hubby
• rearranged our house for the new TV with hubby
• had a dinner party for 8
• returned to work

Plus many other little things....

• knit my first baby hat
• still working on a baby blanket for my sister (no, she's not preggers, but she might have a baby by the time I finish this dang thing...)
• started reading a kick butt book (more about that later)

So here's a picture of my first baby hat on the lucky recipient, Aidan, otherwise known as Cubby (Cutest Baby Ever).



And wouldn't you know it, the day I give it to him, he happened to wear an outfit that matched! Isn't he a cutey-patootey? Those little chubby cheeks are perfect for tickling, and now he laughs when I do that!

Now to the kick butt book:

This book is not only good for women who are currently trying to get pregnant (like me), but also good for women who are not. So basically, every woman should read this book. In less than two weeks, I have learned more about my body, especially my reproductive system, than I ever learned in 30 years of life before! It's an amazing book. Gentlemen (OK, there's like 4 of you who read my blog regularly...), if you love the woman in your life, you will buy her this book. It's a super easy read (the author is very good), and contains useful information for every woman, no matter phase of life that she is in. Ladies, you HAVE to read this book!

What would you do if...

I got this e-mail from a friend a couple of weeks ago, and I'm just now getting around to answering it...

What would you do if:

1) The President of the United States called you?
Teach him how to say "nuclear." 'noo-CLEE-uhr'

2) You won the lottery?
Buy my grandparents' cottage on Cape Cod, give money to my family (especially my parents to pay them for all the extra school they paid for for me), get a new car, give money to charity each year, donate money to the Challenger Center

3) You got invited to be on a reality TV show?
Depends on the show I guess...For American Idol I'd sing my lungs out for Simon and my Dawg. For Biggest Loser, well, I'd be a little upset, I'm not that big! For Beauty and the Geek, I'd darn well better be the beauty...

4) You caught a friend stealing from you?
Never speak to them again

5) You witnessed a murder?
report it

6) A random stranger offered you candy?
Um, luckily, I am an adult, so candy isn't that important to me... oh hell, who am I kidding? it's candy! Free candy! Woo hoo!

7) MySpace and Facebook closed?
whospace? what?

8) A genie granted you one wish?
Duh, I'd wish for more wishes!

9) You lost your favorite possession?
things are not that important to me...now, if someone stole my hubby, we'd have a throw down with me opening one giant keg-o-whoopass

10) You found 10 dollars on the ground?
Woo hoo! Free money! I'd give the free money to a charity.

11) Your date throws up on you?
Thank goodness I'm not dating anymore... although my brother-in-law had to catch his wife's vomit a couple of weeks ago... poor guy.

12) Someone cut off a chunk of you hair?
Pay her and go along my merry way.

13) Your favorite celebrity comes to visit you?
Dang, who is my favorite celebrity? O, of course! Oprah! Um... if she showed up I'd probably freak out. I'd have one of those major conniption fits, jumping up and down, screaming at the top of my lungs, crying the ugly cry.

14) You were stranded on an island with nothing but the ability to make one phone call?
I'd call the President and ask him to rescue me as thanks for teaching him how to say "nuclear."

Elf Yourself!

Check out my brother, sister-in-law, their cat Loki and dog Raja as elves! Click HERE!

Jesus Doesn't Like Cutters

In case you didn't already know, Jesus doesn't like cutters. I learned this on Sunday night when my family made the traditional annual trek to the Our Lady of the Snows Shrine. My mom, dad and aunt were in another car, and my hubby and my sister-in-law and I were in our car.

We approached the Shrine's entrance, patiently waiting in the line of cars. The line had to be at least a mile long, barely moving. We inched closer and closer to the entrance. Then, from the lane to our left, a car slowed down (having not patiently waited in line like the rest of us) and turned on its blinker to enter our lane. From the back seat I hear my sister-in-law Chelsey say, "Don't let him in or you'll go to hell; Jesus doesn't like cutters, you know."

So, the driver of the silver mini-van in front of us is going to hell. Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas House

Here's what our house looks like for Christmas:



Just kidding! That's the gingerbread house I worked so hard on. OK, so it's not super duper, but boy did it taste good! Here's our house for real:




Our cruise is only two months and two weeks away. Yay! Oh yeah, in case I haven't told you, we're going on a cruise in February. Can't wait.

The Most Amazing Video

Yes, Morgan and Jessi, this video is TRULY amazing.




Enjoy.

You've now had your mind blown. Courtesy of a real rocket scientist (Dr. James Rice)I listened to tonight. You're Welcome.

New Christmas Tree Pics

I am so proud of my honey! Our beautiful tree came with a super cheap tree stand. So we found a better one at Home Depot.


We now have our tree installed in a cast iron designer tree stand. Technically, it's for live trees, but we figured it would be heavy and heavy duty enough to handle a 9' tree.

See my gorgeous decorated tree?

Take a close look at the bow on top... I made that. That is only the second bow I've ever made. Good huh? I'm only slightly proud of myself right now.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Please go check out thebigmacs.blogspot.com for a funny post....

Funny stuff

Tonight while watching football, we were discussing the green dots on the QB helmets. So I went online looking for the "true" answer for the dot. This is the funniest answer I found.

What are those green dots on the back of NFL football helmets for?
I keep seeing these green stickers on the backs of NFL player's helmets and I don't know what they are for. Anyone know?


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
It's part of the Quarterbacks new religion. I think its called a Bindi. They think that with that dot they can communicate with higher beings from upstairs.
Incidentally the Saints were unaware of this and the reason Drew Brees was wearing one is because they went into a college type system. He got a sticker for every good play he made.

Aidan and stuff

Today I got to take care of my pseudo-nephew, Aidan. He's three months old and cute as can be! Five hours of practice at being a mommy! Whoopee!

Last night was our annual trivia night fund raiser at work, and it went well. I inadvertently cursed (I tried to say "bid sheet," but "bid shit" came out instead, oops). The really funny thing is that there was a giant sign that said "Profanity Free Cafeteria!" Not anymore! LOL

I guess I need to go shopping... David's birthday and Christmas are coming up and we have to send the package this week in order to get it to him by his birthday in a couple of weeks. I can't believe that he's only a few days from officially being in Iraq. He's been in Kuwait for over a week now. 15 months and counting down until he's home.

Godspeed

My brother is now on his way to Iraq. He'll stop over in Spain, Ireland, or Germany then head of fto Kuwait for two weeks. After that, he'll be in Iraq for 15 months. So please pray, meditate and/or send all the good karma you can find over to him. He'll be missed and thought of quite often.

Guess what I just saw...

The ISS!! For real! It flew right over my house tonight at 6:43 p.m. Ben and Jessi were there to see it too. It was freaking awesome! I've never seen it before.

And so my two week long bout with space dorkiness begins with seeing the ISS.

Oh yeah, in case you weren't watching the news, the shuttle Discovery lifted off successfully yesterday at 10:38 a.m. It is being commanded by Pam Melroy, only the second woman astronaut to command a shuttle mission. At the same time, the ISS is being commanded by a woman, Peggy Whitson. This is historic people!

Yeah, I know, I'm a dork. But it's cute, right? Ok, maybe not.

In Case You Didn't Notice

Just in case you didn't notice, I've added another blog over in the list of blogs that I read. It's called The Big Macs. This blog will be for my family, my brother, his wife and my aunt to keep in touch while my brother is deployed in Iraq for the next 15 months. If you would like to read the blog, I'm cool with that. For those of you who regularly read my blog, I know that you probably know my brother, and I know that he'd love to hear from you. Please make sure that you follow the rules when posting comments, though. Read the rules HERE.

I'm really enjoying my time here in Georgia. My brother and his wife are both a lot of fun, and they seem to be really happy together given the circumstances. We spent today at Tybee Beach. It was beautiful! What a good choice they made taking us there. Here are some pictures from today:

Cheslsey, David & Me

Chelsey & David play in the ocean

David & Chelsey walking off into the sunset

I'm the Big Sister!

Me, Jessi, Chelsey & David @Dolphin Reef for dinner

Funnies from Our Adventures in Fort Stewart, GA

My mother, sister Jessica and I arrived in Fort Stewart, Georgia, last night at around 9:15 p.m. EDT. We got out of our car at our "hotel." As we stepped out, we were hit by a wall of stench. Apparently, the civil engineers who planned out Fort Stewart decided to place their beautiful new Army Lodging facility less than a quarter mile from their waste water treatment plant.

After we checked in and unloaded our car, we followed David Andrew to his house on post. As we're driving away, Mom says, "Girls, pay attention, we have to get back here tonight."

My smart-ass response? "Mom, we can just roll down the windows and follow the smell." The three of us laughed until we cried. And if you know the three of us, you know how we can get when we're laughing all out; red faces, barely breathing, high squeaky noises.

Then today we got to spend more time with David, Chelsey, Raja, Prince, Loki and Isis. Raja and Prince are both Rottweiler mix dogs, each are about a year or so old. Loki and Isis are their cute kitty cats, only a couple months old. Loki is the most laid back cat I've ever known. He doesn't hiss, scratch or fight when you pick him up. He lets you hold him like a baby, and even truly seems to enjoy it. I swear, I could catnap that kitty he's so sweet. Isis, on the other hand, is a skittish kitty with a penchance for scratching you if you pick her up.

Loki (orange and white tabby) & Isis sleep

Raja smiles pretty while Prince stands behind him seeking attention from Chelsey

Aren't their animals cute? And the dogs are trained pretty well, also.

Great Pic from Georgia

We're at Ft. Stewart, GA, visiting my brother and sister-in-law. Here they are with Jessica showing them her blog.