Over The Hill...Finally!

My sister has finally joined the rest of our family over the hill. A humped back and chewing tobacco can't be far away! (I should have sent her chewing tobacco for her birthday...the best ideas always come to me way after the fact...)

Anyway, Happy Birthday, Old Fart! It's time for you to start looking and acting the part: might I suggest a bright blue polyester suit with the scent of Ben Gay. You could add a wide brim wicker hat to help avoid those pesky sun/age spots.

AARP should be contacting you soon for early admission. (Because I called them and told them how old you are.) I might have fudged the number just a little. But that's okay, think of all the discounts you'll get if you can start eating dinner before 4:00 pm. That way, you should be able to get home just in time for Wheel of Fortune and an Alka Seltzer tonic before bedtime at 7:30.

Not Much Happening...

Liz has been having a rough time with nausea lately. Other than that, we don't have a whole lot to report. We tried to find out the sex of the baby, but Cletus DID NOT cooperate. As soon as the sonogram started, things looked promising, but the baby pulled his/her legs up and tucked them under...so there was no chance of sneaking a peek. We've got another one in a month, hopefully we'll find out then.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Meant to get this posted earlier...but:

Happy Birthday Dad! You're only a few short years away from earning another Latin Belly Dancer for an Over The Hill celebration! (Remember Fatima?)

Mother Mantis

At first, I thought it was just a leaf that had blown under the car, but upon closer inspection, I found this. I've never seen a mantid up here before, though they're crawling all over the south. This one is about half the size of the ones I've seen in North Carolina, and it cooperated nicely when I captured it. However, I noticed it was with children, probably 200 or more, and I couldn't bear to keep it in its present condition, so I grabbed the camera and set it free on our spruce trees in the front yard. It is VERY with children and did not even attempt to fly away. It maneuvered itself underneath the branch, out of sight of any predators. (Except for me with the camera.) I wouldn't be surprised if she laid her egg sac tonight. I'll check tomorrow afternoon. I just thought this was cool. Liz was NOT HAPPY when I brought it into the house.

Sylvia Brown

We sent to see famous Psychic Sylvia Brown (the one on Montel!) this afternoon in downtown Buffalo. She correctly predicted several years ago that we would be moving to New York in 2004, but neither of us were chosen today to speak to her. Her message during her lecture time was mostly political and religious, not just spiritual psychic stuff. This was Liz's birthday present from her mother back in July. (Use the links on the left to see the video in the July archive.) We had a good afternoon and topped the day off at The Moon Chinese Buffet, where we enjoyed our own personal platter of coconut shrimp, my new favorite food. Liz's mother Barbara would have joined us, but she went to her high school reunion tonight to see some of her friends that she hasn't seen in years. Next up, Liz and Barbara will be seeing the Dalai Lama on Tuesday. I opted out and Fran is going in my place. After the Dalai Lama, we'll be seeing David Sedaris and some of the cast of "Last Comic Standing" in October. If we are to keep up with all of these social engagements after the baby is born, we're going to need some of you to volunteer to babysit...OFTEN!

Thought You'd Like To Know...

PAULA'S ENGAGED!!!!!!!!

(And she just stares at her hand...) Steve asked her last night in their own little private cabana booth at a restaurant. The Wedding of the year should commence sometime next summer. (In an air-conditioned facility, please, Paula!)

TWO WHOLE YEARS!!!

The Blog is two years old today! I can't believe how much time has passed and all the new changes that have occurred. Here's a quick recap of the past year's events:

1. The baby is on the way!
2. I finished my Master's Degree.
3. Siobhan turned one year old.
4. I turned 35, and Liz turned 34.
5. Liz started working at Starpoint teaching 8th grade and I changed jobs from Science teacher to Critical Thinking Specialist.
6. We missed Corrigan's wedding because of the flood.
7. We learned to play Mexican Train Dominoes at Patty and John's.
8. I won $13 on the horse that won the Kentucky Derby.
9. We went to Toronto to see the Blue Man Group with the band.
10. We joined the Faculty Band at school and played a "gig" at the mall in April.
11. We discovered the joys of POUTINE!
12. I got 5000 hits on the weblog!
13. I found gray hair in my beard.
14. I got a banjo. (But I broke it and have to get it fixed.)
15. Liz and I celebrated our 5th anniversary. (With the 6th quickly approaching!)
16. John Stevens (from American Idol a couple of seasons ago...) was accosted in the grocery store parking lot by my in-laws. The police were NOT involved.
17. Liz started selling Partylite candles. (and is currently taking orders for the holidays!)
18. And finally...I've lasted another year in the Northern Territories without losing my accent or being referred to as a Yankee.

Time to remember again...

Another Video of Siobhan--This one of reading with Nana...

New Video of Siobhan...

Siobhan discovers the joys of potato chips...

Bucky Surrendered!

The police caught Bucky tonight. I hope they still do the TV show tomorrow...I was looking forward to it. He was caught at the PA border and they're bringing him up to Buffalo to be arraigned. I still think they should go with the gender reassignment surgery as punishment. They'd have to be sure and provide him with a really good shaving kit or hair removing cream...with that face, he's gonna look a lot like Eleanor Roosevelt.

New Sonogram Pics...

The baby put his/her hands in front of his/her face. At one point, we got a thumbs up, but the nurse wasn't quick enough to catch it. The baby squirmed the ENTIRE time today, and the head was whipping back and forth as if the baby was watching a tennis match. I know from this new angle, the baby looks a bit like what would have happened if Ted Danson and Whoopi Goldberg had had a kid, but rest assured, it will look a lot better in 20 more weeks!

America's Most Wanted

On Saturday, September 9th, at 9:00 pm on FOX, America's Most Wanted will be featuring our favorite neighborhood fugitive, Ralph "Bucky" Phillips. He's from Western New York and has been hiding out in the area for the last 5 months. He escaped from prison about 15 miles from here even though he only had 10 days left of his sentence. I know, I know, it seems as though the brain power is not too strong in ole Bucky, but he has managed to stay hidden thanks to family and friends, and the good people at Budweiser. They've arrested everyone in his family at one time or another, none of which know where he is, and even though he's staying in the area, the police can't seem to catch him. He recently shot two state trooper's and one of them just died. I hope they catch him soon, give him gender reassignment surgery, and then put him in the men's prison anyway. A life sentence in a men's prison as a man who is now a woman seems like a fitting punishment.

If you see him, call the New York State Police at 585-344-6204. The reward is up to $250,000, and its really making me hope I see him and that my information leads to his capture. (American Express would also enjoy me getting the reward, as I would be sharing most of it with them.)

Tuna Taters?

Liz swears she used to eat this all the time, but in the eight years that I have known her, this combination has never once occurred:

Baked Potatoes with Tuna.

I was guessing it was some weird pregnancy craving, but she says it's just English. (That alone should rest the case about whether or not it's strange.)

Things are becoming a little too "Fear Factor" around here, and now I'M the one who's feeling nauseous.

Happy Birthday!

To My Mother!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Please open your email,
There's a surprise there for you!

Happy Birthday!

CRIKEY!

A little tribute to the Crocodile Hunter...

Godspeed...

Had The Heater On Today!

Is Armageddon here? We've been in the 50's for the last couple of days and actually had to turn the heater on last night in the car. I don't think I've ever experienced these kind of temps in September before. Down south, they're enjoying the upper 80's, but I'm glad its not that hot here. School is MISERABLE when it gets over 75 degrees. (There's no air-conditioning)

We've spent the last couple of days with Ernesto. Since our last flooding event, we've taken precautions to keep the water out of the house. The sump pump is working fine, there are buckets underneath the leaking portion of the back porch, and we diverted the water from the back part of the house to another location, so that it wouldn't pool. We got a couple inches of rain, judging from the pool level, but not a drop in the house. (Thank goodness!)

Happy September!

The summer is over.

Today is our first day back to school. We have a teacher workday and then the kids come on Tuesday. The upside is that it has cooled down a lot in the last week. We may end up closing the pool early if it's not going to heat up again. The last two years have been hot all the way into October. I hope this is a sign that means lots of snow for the winter!