Saturday at Work

Same bull, different day ;0)

Looking (and feeling) Like Fall Out There

Happy dance!! It's Friday - woo hoo!! Yes, I have to work tomorrow, but it's still Friday, still the beginning of the weekend so I still gotta do the happy dance :0) Not got much planned...everyone in my house seems to have their own things to do...Chris is going to one of his friends house after swim practice tonight to hang, which more than likely will turn into a sleepover; Steve is busy finishing a mix for one of the bands he's recorded so they can pick it up tomorrow; me, I have to work all day as I mentioned, and I am going to go out for coffee and a gabfest with my dear friend, Rose. Sunday is all for family, though. After watching an episode of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" on Food Network where the host visited a resturant in Jersey City, called the Brownstone, where they make about 5 million different kinds of pancakes (peanut butter chip with sliced bananas on top, nut & honey pancakes, pancakes with strawberry topping and a blop of sour cream,pancakes with bacon, sausage and ham in them, ect) we decided to experiment and make a couple batches of our own :0) I voted for trying the strawberry and sour cream ones; the men voted for a pancake "wrap" filled with eggs, bacon and cheese. I think we'll all be "belly up" on the couches for the rest of the afternoon after that.

It has been on the chilly side in the mornings this week, feels like fall is here. I imagine the leaves will start changing in the canyons here pretty soon. I will have to get the camera and take some drives on the weekends, see if I can get some good pictures. I really enjoy fall; I like the colors, the cooler weather, the big pots of stew and chili. Oh and football...can't leave that out :0)

You all have a great day and enjoy your weekend!!

We Remember

It was a clear blue morning, just like today, when our world was changed forever. Everything changed in the blink of an eye. Like you, I remember exactly where I was when the attacks happened...I was putting my makeup on in the bathroom, listening to the early local news when I heard the voices of Katie Couric and Matt Lauer. They weren't supposed to be on yet, so I popped my head out into the hallway to see the television; they were reporting that a plane had just struck one of the World Trade Center towers. I finished my mascara and went out to the living room to watch, see what was up. I watched on live tv as the 2nd plane hit the South Tower. Oh my God. That was really a plane and it was flown into the tower on purpose. On purpose! I ran to wake up Steve and tell him that we had just been attacked. We both watched the ensuing chaos in Manhattan as people flowed out of the area and emergency vehicles, firemen and policemen filled the streets. Then the Pentagon was struck. Then the plane was downed in Shanksville. I drove to work with the radio on, listening to the accounts of what was happening; about 1/2 way there came the shocking words that one of the towers had just collapsed. I finally reached work, parked and ran across the lot to the building and into the Engineering office, where they had a tv. As I pushed thru the crowd of people watching, I caught a glimpse of the massive debris cloud filling downtown Manhattan. It was true. The tower was down! I remember sobbing in the office as we watched the North tower fall and the overwhelming sense of grief and disbelief washed over every one in the room. I remember hearing the stories and seeing the pictures of people jumping from the buildings rather than being burnt alive. I remember seeing the crowds of folks wandering the streets for days afterward with pictures of loved ones that were missing, asking anyone they met if they had seen them. I remember seeing the face of our President as he received the grim news. I remember the FAA shutting down all airspace in the country, forcing all planes to land immediately, turning back any foreign flights they could, and that our company plane was one of the last to land. I remember the picture of Father Judge being carried from the rubble by the firemen he ministered to. It was all so overpowering. It still seems like a dream, that those beautiful pieces of the New York City skyline are really still there. I hope that we always remember those images and the way we felt on that terrible day. God Bless America.

Havin' Fun in Lava

So as I mentioned before, DH, kidlet and I attended a family reunion over the weekend for my mom-in-law's side of the family. I had a ball!!! I got to meet a ton of family, who are all just the best. I have long heard stories about the antics my DH and his cousin Jerry pulled when they were kids so I was very pleased to meet the famous "cousin Jerry" - finally. And now I see how easy it was for them to get up to no good when they were together...bad boys ;0) We ate (waaaay too much, but everything was just so darn good!), played horseshoes and frisbee and hackey sack, had water fights, looked through family pics, but mostly just enjoyed each other's company. DH, son and I stayed in a cute little rental house, along with my MIL and stepDIL. It came with everything - pots, pans, dishes, coffeemaker (thank goodness!), towels and linens...even a cat! There was an orange tabby cat that hung out on the porch, waiting his opportunity to catch one of the many hummingbirds that frequented the feeder. Sunday morning after breakfast, the 5 of us walked up to the house where my hubby's great-grandma lived, then we met up with my MIL's brother, David, and his wife, Betty, to wander around the Sunken Garden and the hot pools for a bit. Never been there before so it was cool. It was sad to have it end but I am very thankful to my MIL for putting the reuinion together (great job, Judie...it was wonderful!) and I am already looking forward to the next one!!!
**pics (not sure what order they're in here) - house we stayed in, family photo (minus a few that had to leave early), Christopher playing with Chany and James' pug Bentley, Sarah, Brandy and Jenna taking Tristin to "get his" after he smacked them with a few waterballoons (he sooo had it coming) and the Black-eyed Susans in bloom in the Sunken Garden.