Bliss

bliss –noun
1. supreme happiness; utter joy or contentment

Days are sometimes long and night restless but some where in between the comings and goings there is BLISS.. Here are some moments of BLISS I want to share with you..


Best Friends - So Proud to have thier new green JUNIOR GIRL SCOUT vest!


Bags packed for SURF camp! Yes that means we (Abby & I) leaving soon, well Saturday morning for the long weekend in San Diego camping on the beach! Consider this your warning that surf camp picture over load is on it's way!

Ahh the joys of child labor...yes this is bliss! (for me at least)

Even better yet the same boy whose teachers have never had anything nice to say about his handwriting has either hired someone to write for him, or has enough sense about him to slow down...it isn't perfect but boy what an improvement!
and of course when you are 2 and half how can your life be anything BUT BLISSFUL!

Even if you are a glass half full type, there is BLISS in the everyday, you just some times have to look for it!

This should include a note to see previous post...the sure bliss of time with good friends and laughter!

Recon Mission....

We like to have girls nights out, some times there is 10 of us some times 20 or more, no matter who shows up they are FUN. Marin typically sends out an evite and we all go some where fun for drinks and such... Recently her mom found a new Irish Pub and said we should go there for a GNO. Now daughters at any age don't trust their moms when they tell them a is "cool" so we set out on a recon mission. We clearly must check this place out before we invite the whole "gang". So of course we invited Patty because would be better to check out an Irish pub, and we should have been at deep water class with Sandra so of course she needed to come too. We were all excited to just go and have some fun. This is what happens when you can't quite figure out the bill...

Sandra and I took a romp in the fountains!
While Patty and Marin supervised...

But the biggest laugh we had all nite was at Borders.... they have all types of magazine, we found the ALPACA magazine too funny. I shot a little video , it even made my mom laugh when she say it this morning I hope it does the same to you...

Planning for the Holidays...

Well it is about the time of year I start thinking about the holidays! I was in a little panic going into it all this year and I typically buy my cards at the after Christmas sales and I had none, well not "none" I always have a few around but none that sang to me..."pick me pick me!" I was out shopping two weeks ago picking out some new duds for the kids for back to school and wandered into Hallmark and low and behold all the cards they had were ONE DOLLAR a box. I gathered up 4 boxes and rushed to the check out! I have started my fall ritual a little early this year and started to address them, I typically do this in September but it is one of those things I love to do while watching TV dreaming the house is decorated and more importantly it is COLD outside! I like to look in the address book and see all the names of the people I love who I never get to see as much as I would like. Then typically in October we snap a family picture. Last year it took me two days and three Zanex to get one picture of the three looking in the same direction. My dear (read lifesaver) of a friend Marin said she would love to try to take a picture of my 3 monkeys and she will probably not require the same amount of drugs to do it. I am sure they will be angels for her!
I think about this now because I like my card to the first one you get! Not because it is a contest or anything like that, I like to know that they are done and I don't have think about them. In town I mail the day before Thanksgiving so that you get them Friday out of town it is the Monday before thanksgiving to get there just in time! That is the plan again this year, as long as we can get a picture of the kids that is.....


now here is the part where you all elave crazy comments about how crazy I am...and that's okay I am at one with my "craziness"

Monkey see...

Tim Max and I went to the zoo early this last Sunday morning. We were there by 8am and it is a great time to see the animals they are up and about and here is little of what we saw...



Max go up close and personal with a Baboon!
Here are two other "monkeys" near the Spectical bears
Here is one of the two new baby Zebra's at the zoo with the proud Daddy, can you believe he was born in June! That is a BIG baby!
Max was the navigator on the train around the zoo! He was facinated with the MAP!
We finished our trip with a splash around in the splash pad, we are excited for the new under ground water play caverns to open next month! They should make a summer day at the zoo extra nice!

Schools schools are more schools

Another installment of my "lists"
When you move as much as I did it in voles lots of schools!

Terry Nursery School- Terryville CT- I know not a big school but my first school experience!

Prospect Street school- Terryville CT- kindergarten first and second grade I went here. My dad AND my grandmother both went to this school. My great Aunt Grace lived across the street and she would stand out front and wave at us after school.

East Main Street school- Terryville CT- This was for 3rd grade same town same kids you just went on to another school after 2nd grade

Ivy Drive School- Bristol CT I went to the end of 3rd grade and 4th grade here.

Emanuel Lutheran School - Tempe AZ- is where I spent most of 5th grade even after we moved to Casa Grande my mom drove us up since our tuition was paid and gas was far from 4 dollars a gallon!

For the last 6 weeks of school I moved to Casa Grande schools and there was literally in our backyard but the 5th grade was full so I had to go to another school with one other girl in the same position for the end of school, my brother got to go to the school in the back yard!

They I went to the school in the backyard for the last few weeks of the 5th grade and the all of 6th grade I can't even remember the name...

Harry S Fisher Jr High in Terryville CT- I went here for 7th grade

Back to Arizona we came and to Scottsdale where we have stayed, we moved several times but I was able to stay with the same kids!

Supia Middle school was my home for 8th grade

Then to Coronado High school for 9-12

So 10 if you count nursery school 11!

Was it crazy , well yes! am I the person I am today because of it all, that is another big yes!

houses houses and more houses..

If you have been reading you will know that I have had lots of jobs, this is who I know a little about a lot stuff! Have I told you how many houses I have lived in?

No?? Well here they are

1. Union street, Terryville CT - This is where we lived when I was born

2.Orchard Steet, Terryville CT - I lived here the longest it was 2 doors up from my Dads parents and my mom parents lived in the downstair apartment after her dad had a stroke. It was an ideal place for those growing years

3.Brentwood Drive, Bristol CT. - We moved there to live in a one level house hoping it would be helpful for my moms health

4.Priest Dr, Tempe AZ - We lived in a trailer in Tempe for about 9 months

5.Eileen DR. Casa Grande AZ - Dad got a job for Frito Lay and we ended up in the middle of the desert!

6.Main Street, Terryville CT - We were home sick and mom seemed to be doing well, the first winter got the best of her and....

7.Osborn RD, Scottsdale Az - Back to Arizona we came! This was an apartment

8.Roosevelt Rd, Scottsdale AZ - another apartment

9.Continental Dr, Scottsdale AZ - the same street as Roosevelt just on the other end of it..

10.4th st, Scottsdale AZ- My Senior year my parents bought a house (they have not moved since)Me not so much...so the story goes on...

11.Olive Rd Glendale Az - the first apt Tom and I had, and left quickly

12.Bell Rd- Phoenix AZ the 2nd apt we had

13.Roveen Dr, Phoenix AZ- The crazy house we shared

14.Fillmore St Phoenix AZ - Tom and I bought a condo there

15.Hazelwood Dr, Phoenix AZ- A house we rented when the condo got too small

16.Hayden RD, Scottsdale AZ- an Apartment we shared and I kept after the divorce

17.Scottsadle RD, Scottsdale AZ- My first new place after the divorce a roomy 3 bedroom

18.4th street, Scottsdale AZ - I went back home with the kids when I was laid off once for a few months

19.Thomas RD, Scottsdale AZ - Back on my feet again this was the first place Jim and I shared

20.Lewis St, SCottsdale Az - the town house Jim and I bought ( our love nest)

21.4th street scottsdale Az- When my dad passed away we moved in with mom ... we don't plan on leaving.

Mom and I joked for years that we don't spring clean we just move. So I guess I am going to have to start spring cleaning!
Another day I will tell you how many schools I went to the list is not quite as long!

Back to School!

Well it was back to school day here! Aug 11th only a cool 109 or so today! A perfect day to start school! When we dropped off the kdis the A/C was not working again no biggie it was only 95 or something ungodly like that when I dropped them off! Lucky they fixed it quickly
The kids had a good day! Abby started 4th grade and Tim 5th!

Not to outshined by the kids, the moms and our home coming to the benches! Oh how we missed them and all of our dear friends we find there! Welcome back to school girls! I missed you all over the summer and can't wait to catch up with all the regulars!

15 dollars a week!

That is my new saving plan!
I just have to do that for the next 8 years!

See my dear friend Sandra and her family are planning on going home in just over a year, back to Australia, I get misty even thinking about it. But being the resourceful girls we are we hatched a plan. My friend Marin and I will both have big milestone birthdays the same year, so we are going to have the ultimate girls night out and go visit Sandra and family in Australia!
See the thing is about big plans like this is the more people you tell the more accountable you are to MAKE IT HAPPEN! Sandra figured out over lunch that if we save 15 dollars a week for the next eight years we will have over 6,000 to have a great blow out of a trip!
So I am telling you all my BLOG readers! Ask me how much I have saved!

We figured out our boys will be 18 and our girls will be 16 so we will have so catching up to do! That is if we survive the teen years with our girls!

Who wants to come with us?? 15 dollars a week that is it! I think I might have it auto deducted from my paychecks, hack I might even go for 40 a pay check! Maybe we can fly first class!

Jobs jobs jobs...and more jobs...

My friends Sandra thought it would be interesting to actually know all the jobs I have had, it seems anywhere we go I say "I worked there" Last night when we were swimming I told her about a job I had that she never heard of, she was amazed! She said she would like to see a list one day...so here ya go Sandra

1. Papergirl - I delivered and collected the money for a small paper route in Terryville Ct. This was my first paying job! Can I say it SUCKED in the winter!

2. baby sitter, I put this only because I was a professional one! I mean I did it ALOT!

3. Breakfast server at Embassy Suites hotel (now Chaparral Suites) I got up at 4 am and went to work and came home smelling like maple syrup and bacon!

4. Dress makers Apprentice- I got school credit AND got paid, I did this most of my senior yes of high school.

5. Carimar Jewelery at SFS mall.- This was my first mall gig I had to pierce ears and I worked alone in the store. We had to wear a hat from the store 4 watches and some other ridiculous things! The first little girl's ears I pierced I didn't go all the way through which resulted in a bloody mess! I did end up piercing them and the mom was very calm and cool about the whole thing!

6. Everything but water- @ SFS mall. This was a great gig! It was during the Christmas rush and well we were not very busy at all! The down side we had to wear a swim suit everyday! Not only that but one off the racks and then put them BACK! You had to wear your panties but still! The grossest things happened at that store the store had no public restroom and the marble floors were cold and I couldn't tell you how many times when we emptied the trash cans in the dressing rooms that they will filled with PEE (yes urine) from upscale women buying $200 +++ swim suits!

7. The Nature Company at SFS mall - Oh how I loved this store it was nature inspired and I felt at home. I mean I got to use all the knowledge of rocks to use. I worked there for 2 years.

8. Ginza Southwest- A Japanese restaurant with a Scottish owner and Mexican prep cook who spoke no English, and a Japanese chef . the owner spoke Spanish with a Scottish accents and the Japanes chef spoke Spanish with a Japanese flair! I worked the counter along with a friend of mine when we were in college. It was in the closing days of the galleria and SLOW, we did homework and I learned how to use chop sticks

9. MCI- yes your remember the long distance company...remember their friends and family plan. What you did was narc out who you called and we would call them if they were not a customer already. I hated "out bound calling" telemarketing! You had to do it for 3 months before you could be transferred to inbound, which was easy! People called you because they saw a ad on TV. I worked from 3pm to midnight and we had several habitual prank callers. We even gave then names. One was the toe sucker he would call and hang up till he got a girl and then ask to suck your toes. Always added some excitement to the job!

10. PageNet -the world largest paging company...well at least then. I worked here the longest! I started out as a customer service rep and before leaving had become the customer service manager and an outside rep all while the company went through chapter 11, a reorganization, and a merger..During all of that we could only hire temps and I could go on and on about them! Don't get me wrong there were some great ones but man finding the trow up in the file boxes was a special treat!

11.oups forgot-- I worked a 2nd job at William Sonoma for awhile while working at PageNet. I did this on and off for a few years.

12. Davids Bridal- aka Bridal hell! I was the assistant manager, to a huge black cloud that no one I mean no one ever wanted to be around. Not to mention BRIDES AND THEIR MOTHERS. Really people think oh that must be so much fun and it could be with about 2% of your customers the rest are just miserable or their mothers are. Don't even get me started on bridesmaids!

13. Qwest- this was a short gig! I hated it there.

14. Wireless retail- Started as a rep and then was a sales manager then laid off. We re sold cell phones. There was a lot of good fun there..

15.Asst to a insurance man- B O R I N G-

16. Demetrios Bridal- Yes I am a gluten for punishment- and I do believe that all managers of bridal stores are cut from the same mold!

17.Urban Graphite now Studio Sprawl- One of the best jobs I have had, as far as being flexible and good people to work with and for!

So there you have it! 17 jobs!

De cluttering day II

The kids are still out of town and I decided to tackle Tim's room next, I did this yesterday...This was my Dad's office and he buidlt this in the room. The drawers serve as the Tims dresser so it is really the only furniture he has. They are super deep and hold so much! This is what is looked like BEFORE...
These are all the CLEAN clothes I found UNDER HIS BED! It is only a twin! There was a heard of dust bunnies living with them so I thought it was best that we wash them AGAIN!

This is what the after looks like. Look there is a pretty laminate counter top!

Here is the other side...with a nice stack of school supplies waiting for him!


I should have taken a picture of under the bed, he NEVER believes me when I tell him what I pulled out from there! It is nice and clean now! There are about a half dozen or so baseballs under the desk but I will let him fish those out!
He only had one bag of trash like a small shopping bag and then a pillow that had seen better days if it weren't for the clothes I would have been a pretty happy camper.

Cleaning and de cluttering! Day 1

Tim and Abby are gone for the week with their dad to Cali on a vacay! School starts next Monday so I thought I would take this time to organize their rooms and get them started on the right foot.

So Abby's room was first! They did clean before they went on vacation but I knew there where things hiding!

Here is her closet before! I know a problem a lot of moms have is there sentimental value they have on some things that the kids may not even have. You will note there is a baby doll stroller in the bottom of her closet. Yes it should have been gone years ago but my Dad had retro fitted the handles you see even when she was 4 and 5 what would be the right age she was too tall to push such a stroller. Now that he is gone it is just one of those weird things I can't bring myself to get rid of..

This is the pile of "stuff" outside her room. I found enough school and art supplies for a whole classroom! Just checked a bunch of things off my list! One box for good will 2 bags of trash, mostly paper she keeps such odd papers!

Here is the after! She doesn't have a dresser she uses the drawers in the closet. It does work out great. You can see a little of the wardrobe on the left hand side that is where her stuffed animals live. Max was in there with me, we took in some Blues Clues while we worked! I wish I took a picture I found my 3 pound weights in her closet and I put them on the bed, when he found them he said " Me Strong: and lifted it above his head"

This is her desk area that I built for her the Spring. All the art supplies are in the little boxes on the shelves.

Tomorrow I plan on tackling Tim's room/ He has awesome built ins my Dad made, and he is a clutter bug! So that one will be a big transformation!