I know that if I ever get a chance to go back, I'm going to insist that we take our time and actually see the sights. In fact, I'm going to insist that we each get a New York CityPass. They are $65 for adults and $49 for youths age 12-17. I'm assuming that maybe kids are free? The site had some tips for dealing with kids' short attention spans when it comes to museum viewing and such, so obviously its not that they aren't letting you bring them. Anyway, the pass gives you admission to The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the new Greek and Roman galleries, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Guggenheim Museum and the American Museum of Natural History. And you get to go to the top of the Empire State Building and see the observatory and take a Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise. Wow. All this would cost $130 if the tickets were purchased individually. The winter special is good from Dec. 15 to March 15. If you live within day-trip distance of the city, the deal is even better, because you really have the whole three months to use up the six tickets. Seems a little more peaceful than cramming it all into one jam-packed vacation.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Tourist alert
I absolutely love to travel and I loved the time we spent in New York. We went to the The Metropolitan Museum (and spent several hours there, hypnotized by the beautiful and intriguing artwork) and to Bloomingdales (I got socks because its all I could afford, but I still wear them and think "These are my New York socks, yay!") and out to eat a lot. We wanted to go to the Statue of Liberty but there just wasn't enough time. We settled for looking at it from the mainland. As for the Empire State building, well, I think we might have seen it from the cab! There was so much to see, but it was all so expensive and we were only there for a whirlwind 24 hours.
I know that if I ever get a chance to go back, I'm going to insist that we take our time and actually see the sights. In fact, I'm going to insist that we each get a New York CityPass. They are $65 for adults and $49 for youths age 12-17. I'm assuming that maybe kids are free? The site had some tips for dealing with kids' short attention spans when it comes to museum viewing and such, so obviously its not that they aren't letting you bring them. Anyway, the pass gives you admission to The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the new Greek and Roman galleries, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Guggenheim Museum and the American Museum of Natural History. And you get to go to the top of the Empire State Building and see the observatory and take a Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise. Wow. All this would cost $130 if the tickets were purchased individually. The winter special is good from Dec. 15 to March 15. If you live within day-trip distance of the city, the deal is even better, because you really have the whole three months to use up the six tickets. Seems a little more peaceful than cramming it all into one jam-packed vacation.
I know that if I ever get a chance to go back, I'm going to insist that we take our time and actually see the sights. In fact, I'm going to insist that we each get a New York CityPass. They are $65 for adults and $49 for youths age 12-17. I'm assuming that maybe kids are free? The site had some tips for dealing with kids' short attention spans when it comes to museum viewing and such, so obviously its not that they aren't letting you bring them. Anyway, the pass gives you admission to The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the new Greek and Roman galleries, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Guggenheim Museum and the American Museum of Natural History. And you get to go to the top of the Empire State Building and see the observatory and take a Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise. Wow. All this would cost $130 if the tickets were purchased individually. The winter special is good from Dec. 15 to March 15. If you live within day-trip distance of the city, the deal is even better, because you really have the whole three months to use up the six tickets. Seems a little more peaceful than cramming it all into one jam-packed vacation.
Achieve it
You know that cheesy old addage, "Anything you can conceive and believe, you can achieve"? That kind of inspriational message is usually found on posters in the guidance counselor's office at a high school. And even when I was IN high school, and like the cheeriest, giggliest girl you could ever imagine meeting, those posters made me want to barf. There was one of a bird trying to eat a frog and the frog was already in the bird's mouth but he used his froggy hands to squeeze the bird's neck closed and the text read, "Never, ever give up" or something like that. It's kind of a nice idea, but even then I knew that there are some things that you should just give up on.
Take me for example. A realistic dream was to be a journalist. Everyone told me that I was good at writing, I seemed to enjoy it, and I really loved layout. But if my dream was to be a singer, a la Carrie Underwood? There are not enough voice lessons in the world to fix the fact that my tone is bad and when I think I'm matching what I hear, I'm actually painfully flat. (I can hear this quite clearly when listening to myself played back on a tape. Just not while I'm actually singing for some unknown reason.)
So the dream I entertained as a child of being a rock star was out. Just plain out. No amount of dreaming and believing was going to make it happen.
Well, what about my current dream? To be at home with my kid(s) and maybe someday train to help and support other nursing women? With our family's finances? How will we get by without my steady income?
For awhile, it felt like that dream was too far on the rock star side of things. I struggled to earn a few extra $$$ here and there. I was thrilled to make $5 every few days. And now? With hard work, perserverance and some dumb luck, I really feel like I am starting to turn my life around. We had problems and I said, I will not let these problems stop me from following my dreams. I found a solution and I worked at it, HARD, for a very long time. And now everything looks so rosy I'm starting to wonder what else I could accomplish if I set my mind to it. I am very stubborn, you know :-)
Take me for example. A realistic dream was to be a journalist. Everyone told me that I was good at writing, I seemed to enjoy it, and I really loved layout. But if my dream was to be a singer, a la Carrie Underwood? There are not enough voice lessons in the world to fix the fact that my tone is bad and when I think I'm matching what I hear, I'm actually painfully flat. (I can hear this quite clearly when listening to myself played back on a tape. Just not while I'm actually singing for some unknown reason.)
So the dream I entertained as a child of being a rock star was out. Just plain out. No amount of dreaming and believing was going to make it happen.
Well, what about my current dream? To be at home with my kid(s) and maybe someday train to help and support other nursing women? With our family's finances? How will we get by without my steady income?
For awhile, it felt like that dream was too far on the rock star side of things. I struggled to earn a few extra $$$ here and there. I was thrilled to make $5 every few days. And now? With hard work, perserverance and some dumb luck, I really feel like I am starting to turn my life around. We had problems and I said, I will not let these problems stop me from following my dreams. I found a solution and I worked at it, HARD, for a very long time. And now everything looks so rosy I'm starting to wonder what else I could accomplish if I set my mind to it. I am very stubborn, you know :-)
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Reach out and help someone
It's that time of year again when we are stretching our budgets to the very last dime that all the heartstrings tend to get pulled the most. There are so many important causes out there and you just can't support all of them, no matter how much money you have set aside to give, it's never enough. Usually, I let my son put loose change in the Salvation Army cans and that's about it. We are just so strapped at this time of year that we can't really afford to do much more.
That's why I thought this Web site was so brilliant. Everyone is out shopping for the perfect holiday gift, and a lot of us tend to shop online. It's just less frustrating than going out to real stores and waiting in lines. Well, what if I told you that there's a way to shop online and directly benefit Alzheimer's research at the same time? By purchasing heart of care jewelry for someone you love this holiday season, you're not only getting a beautiful gift, but showing your support for this important cause.
My husband's grandmother didn't have her mind for the last 10 years of her life and it was really hard for everyone, especially my mother-in-law, who took her into her home after she couldn't care for herself anymore. I have to say, even though I didn't even know her that well, it is really hard to see a grown woman lost in the abyss of her memories and past without knowing who she is or what she's doing. She used to get up in the middle of the night to shush us while we were watching movies, thinking we were her own children and the whole thing was taking place years and year ago. I have never experienced anything quite like speaking with someone who doesn't see you for who you are. This disease is so heartbreaking for everyone involved, but especially the person's loved ones.
We recently saw the movie "The Notebook" and they did a really good job of depicting what it's like to love someone who is suffering from memory loss. Hopefully, a cure can be found soon. Please take a moment to visit these sites and give if you can.
That's why I thought this Web site was so brilliant. Everyone is out shopping for the perfect holiday gift, and a lot of us tend to shop online. It's just less frustrating than going out to real stores and waiting in lines. Well, what if I told you that there's a way to shop online and directly benefit Alzheimer's research at the same time? By purchasing heart of care jewelry for someone you love this holiday season, you're not only getting a beautiful gift, but showing your support for this important cause.
My husband's grandmother didn't have her mind for the last 10 years of her life and it was really hard for everyone, especially my mother-in-law, who took her into her home after she couldn't care for herself anymore. I have to say, even though I didn't even know her that well, it is really hard to see a grown woman lost in the abyss of her memories and past without knowing who she is or what she's doing. She used to get up in the middle of the night to shush us while we were watching movies, thinking we were her own children and the whole thing was taking place years and year ago. I have never experienced anything quite like speaking with someone who doesn't see you for who you are. This disease is so heartbreaking for everyone involved, but especially the person's loved ones.
We recently saw the movie "The Notebook" and they did a really good job of depicting what it's like to love someone who is suffering from memory loss. Hopefully, a cure can be found soon. Please take a moment to visit these sites and give if you can.
Late for my life
I came in to finsh up a few things at the office really quickly and got majorly distracted. It's a good kind of distracted, but seriously, I've been here for way too long and I'm sure my son is crying for me because it's getting pretty late. Have I mentioned how hard it is to balance work and home life so that I don't feel like I'm failing everyone around me? Everytime I try to get a special jump on one, the other suffers.
I am tired of trying to do it all, be it all, to everyone all of the time. Here's a special treat for those of you who read this blog instead of just my lj. Stephen applied for a full-time job this week. That was why we dragged the computer out, to get his resume information off of it. It's a massage job at a medical practice. It has benefits. I am practically drooling over this prospect. I don't know how we would make it work, but I am ready to make it work.
Wish him luck!
I am tired of trying to do it all, be it all, to everyone all of the time. Here's a special treat for those of you who read this blog instead of just my lj. Stephen applied for a full-time job this week. That was why we dragged the computer out, to get his resume information off of it. It's a massage job at a medical practice. It has benefits. I am practically drooling over this prospect. I don't know how we would make it work, but I am ready to make it work.
Wish him luck!
Happy teeth
I have major issues with my teeth. Thankfully, I've never lost a crown, but I have chipped a filling. If it had been in the front where people could see, maybe I would have been motivated to get it taken care of right away. But instead, it was way in the back and I just ignored it. That allowed the root to get infected and lead to my eventual root canal. It was expensive and painful and just plain stupid of me to let it get so bad. I do still have dental fear, but it's getting better now that I've learned about the drug that helps you sleep through the procedures. Now, I know that if I were to chip another filling or actually lose one of my crowns (I have three now, yipes!) I'd be smart enough to go in right away.
But that's sometimes easier said than done. Dental emergencies don't just happen from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, you know? So in the meantime, I happy to see that there's a new product out there called Dentemp OS which will help manage the pain of a chipped filling until you can get an appointment to have it repaired. It also works as a paste to help cement a crown back on should it pop off at some random time. (This has happened to my mother and she couldn't eat for days!) I'll be sure and let her know about this temporary dental repair product. It sets in just 30 minutes and then you can even eat on it and everything. It's obviously not designed to hold as long as real dental work, but it will sure get you through in a pinch.
But that's sometimes easier said than done. Dental emergencies don't just happen from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, you know? So in the meantime, I happy to see that there's a new product out there called Dentemp OS which will help manage the pain of a chipped filling until you can get an appointment to have it repaired. It also works as a paste to help cement a crown back on should it pop off at some random time. (This has happened to my mother and she couldn't eat for days!) I'll be sure and let her know about this temporary dental repair product. It sets in just 30 minutes and then you can even eat on it and everything. It's obviously not designed to hold as long as real dental work, but it will sure get you through in a pinch.
Two to three
The difference between three and two is most obnoxious when dealing with six.
Huh?
Well, say you have a package of six hot dogs. If there are only two people, then you get three meals out of them. But if there are three people, then they only last for two meals. And sure, Ben doesn't always eat a whole hot dog (sometimes he does!) but you can't just cook half of one, and so we end up finishing his food. This means we eat more than we would have if he weren't here, AND all of our food doesn't last as long.
We went to the farmers market this afternoon to try and get enough fresh fruits and veggies to keep us from having to go to the regular grocery store this week. Their stuff is better, and cheaper, and we don't come home with a whole bunch of junk food. We are really trying to eat better, (whole foods) and watch our budget at the same time. (Yeah, I know, but they are all natural 100 percent beef hot dogs with no nitrates, Ben loves them and they were on mega sale last week, OK?)
So tonight's dinner was: leftover mac & cheese made with real cheese, hot dogs, yellow squash, crackers and freshly pressed juice. Weird, but sastifying. And we successfully avoided my Happy Terriyaki craving. Now we just have to keep on having days like today and maybe we'll make it to January in one piece!
Huh?
Well, say you have a package of six hot dogs. If there are only two people, then you get three meals out of them. But if there are three people, then they only last for two meals. And sure, Ben doesn't always eat a whole hot dog (sometimes he does!) but you can't just cook half of one, and so we end up finishing his food. This means we eat more than we would have if he weren't here, AND all of our food doesn't last as long.
We went to the farmers market this afternoon to try and get enough fresh fruits and veggies to keep us from having to go to the regular grocery store this week. Their stuff is better, and cheaper, and we don't come home with a whole bunch of junk food. We are really trying to eat better, (whole foods) and watch our budget at the same time. (Yeah, I know, but they are all natural 100 percent beef hot dogs with no nitrates, Ben loves them and they were on mega sale last week, OK?)
So tonight's dinner was: leftover mac & cheese made with real cheese, hot dogs, yellow squash, crackers and freshly pressed juice. Weird, but sastifying. And we successfully avoided my Happy Terriyaki craving. Now we just have to keep on having days like today and maybe we'll make it to January in one piece!
Mix it up
I’ve always wanted one of those pretty mixers that you put on your counter and push a button and it does the rest. No fuss, no muss.
This Hamilton Beach® Stand Mixer fits the bill perfectly. It was awarded a “Best-Buy” rating by two different leading consumer magazines and it comes with a three year limited warranty. I tend to gravitate toward companies that stand by what they make. Seems less likely that you’ll end up in the middle of a recall.
The Eclectrics® Mixer comes in lots of colors, and at first I couldn’t decide at all. I narrowed it down to the sterling color and the sugar color. The sugar would probably match our black and white kitchen a little better, and interestingly enough, it seems to be cheaper. $200 isn’t bad for such a fancy mixer. This thing can mix the dough for nine dozen cookies at once! It’s definitely tougher than any job I ever see myself tackling in our homely little kitchen.
But the most exciting thing of all is that Hamilton Beach® is giving away a free Hamilton Beach® Mixer to the top ten bloggers who post the most creative videos. I would absolutely love to win this contest because we currently only have a little hand mixer. It’s also a Hamilton Beach® mixer, and has lasted us a long time. But it only works for little jobs, and we often make a mess with it. I’ve been very sastified with the brand, but would love to get a big countertop mixer as well.
They are also offering free shipping throughout the month of November. Go check it out. Even if I don’t win, maybe I’ll throw it on my Christmas list. My mother-in-law loves to get us kitchen items.
This Hamilton Beach® Stand Mixer fits the bill perfectly. It was awarded a “Best-Buy” rating by two different leading consumer magazines and it comes with a three year limited warranty. I tend to gravitate toward companies that stand by what they make. Seems less likely that you’ll end up in the middle of a recall.
The Eclectrics® Mixer comes in lots of colors, and at first I couldn’t decide at all. I narrowed it down to the sterling color and the sugar color. The sugar would probably match our black and white kitchen a little better, and interestingly enough, it seems to be cheaper. $200 isn’t bad for such a fancy mixer. This thing can mix the dough for nine dozen cookies at once! It’s definitely tougher than any job I ever see myself tackling in our homely little kitchen.
But the most exciting thing of all is that Hamilton Beach® is giving away a free Hamilton Beach® Mixer to the top ten bloggers who post the most creative videos. I would absolutely love to win this contest because we currently only have a little hand mixer. It’s also a Hamilton Beach® mixer, and has lasted us a long time. But it only works for little jobs, and we often make a mess with it. I’ve been very sastified with the brand, but would love to get a big countertop mixer as well.
They are also offering free shipping throughout the month of November. Go check it out. Even if I don’t win, maybe I’ll throw it on my Christmas list. My mother-in-law loves to get us kitchen items.
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