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!

80's Party...

The 80's party was a huge success! We had a great time as you can see in some of the pictures below:

The pink and blue decorations added to our 80's vibe.

Our friend Karen and her daughter came as "The Madonna Twins." If we were giving an award for best costume, they would have won!

Some of the teachers we work with...

Liz's costume was simple, yet perfectly appropriate!

Colleen and Michelle play Pac Man beside all of the 80's candy: Fun Dip, Nerds, Pixy Stix, Jolly Ranchers, and Ring Pops.

Ghostly Happenings...

The pictures below were all taken on the same day (Saturday...). I thought it was quite strange to wake up to the word "HI" on the wall. Somehow the sun just happened to line up with our blinds in the exact right way and whispered a ghostly salutation across our bedroom wall. Later, when Liz was showering, a mysterious figure appeared on the mirror. Liz had just cleaned the mirror the previous evening and there wasn't anything there until the mirror fogged up from the shower. It slowly disappeared without a trace. Spooky, huh? And it's not even October yet!

I flipped this picture to make it easier to read the message. This happened on the same day that I took the pictures below. Someone must really want to talk to us! (It looks as though they are friendly...)

Apparition view #1. I know the picture isn't great, but hopefully you can see the strange shape on the mirror. 

2nd Trimester...

We hit the 2nd Trimester today and there's good news: In the last four days, Liz has only thrown up once! (Knock wood for luck...) We hope this is the beginning of the end of the nausea and vomiting. School starts next week and the whole vomiting thing is not very convenient.

Apparition view 2 from the side. 

Another Year...

Happy Birthday to me
I'm aging quickly
Pretty soon I'll be 40,
Happy Birthday to me...

Though for now, I'm holding at 35, but telling people 29.

Also, in case you're wondering about the sudden appearance of the 23rd Psalm: The weblog keeps a count of every posting I make. The 23rd Psalm is the six hundred and sixty-sixth place and I didn't want to take any chances.

Another View...

We also got this view...from the side. I didn't think it looked like much when we were first given the picture, but then I turned it upside down and saw the profile. Also, we saw the legs when Cletus (the fetus) was moving and a huge foot floated past as well. (Huge being a relative term...it was probably only a few millimeters but looked giant next to the body.) Cletus moved the entire time, though it's still too early for Liz to feel it. We went to the OB/GYN today and tried to listen to the heartbeat, but it was still too early. We go back in a month and should be able to hear it then. Note: the baby is only being called "Cletus" until birth, after which, if the grandmothers get their way, it will be known as "Barbara Terry."

Go And See This MOVIE!!!

It was FANTASTIC! Samuel L. Jackson is AWESOME!!!

The Baby Blog has been updated...

The Baby's Blog has been updated: CLICK HERE!

New Sonogram Pictures

We had another ultrasound today and the pictures are below! It's starting to look like a baby now, and during the sonogram, it moved several times and waved its arms and legs as if it were startled. The heart rate was 154 beats per minute. We're almost done with the first trimester and Liz is looking forward to the disappearance of the nausea. We've moved from constant nausea to the "Throw and Go" stage and now are moving into a new stage called, "Bowls or Bags, don't leave home without them." The nausea isn't as bad anymore but the vomiting seems to be getting worse. We see the doctor again on Monday and hopefully he'll have some input on what she should do.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the path of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
— King James Version

The End of an Era...

The two smokestacks at Fieldcrest Cannon were taken down last Thursday. Kelli Moser sent the bottom few pictures of the demolition that were taken by her friend, Kimberly Stewart. The first couple of pictures were taken last summer. I'm glad Liz and I took a moment to take the pictures. I know I should be happy for all the positive changes for Kannapolis, but I can't help but feel a little more homesick than usual right now.

Picture #1 from last summer. 

Picture #2 from last summer. 

Picture #3 from last summer. 

Final moments... 

The first one begins to topple. 

The last one falls. 

Isn't it curious how just three minutes can change a horizon and end a moment in history? 

Mom, Dad, and Paula Deen

During their vacation in July, Mom and Dad visited Paula Deen's restaurant in Savannah - "The Lady and Sons." It was crowded and they weren't able to eat inside but they got takeout and ate in the car. Dad took some pictures inside the restaurant specifically for Barb, who would drop everything and move to Georgia and live with Paula Deen if she asked her to. From the pictures, the food looks pretty good. However, I do have one concern. Are there many luaus in Georgia? If so, then my father's attire is OK. Not great, but OK. Unfortunately, I doubt the existence of the Georgia Luau which makes me wonder how in the world my mother let him leave the hotel in that shirt. I can only guess that she was blinded by its blueness and unable to render an appropriate clothing decision. Hopefully she came to her senses later and has since burned the shirt. If not, well, then there's no time like the present...somebody find the lighter fluid and matches and do what must be done.

MASTER!

I am finally a Master of something! I finished my Master's Degree today, finally! It's been a year and a half of complaining, writing, anxiety, Tequila, reading, disagreements, and being chauffered, but I AM DONE! I have a Master's of English degree which means that I'm supposed to stop saying "Y'all" and "Ain't" but I don't see it really happening. I've been in college off and on since 1989 - I should be a doctor by now, but I'll take what I can get!

Throw and Go!

A lot of the nausea is starting to fade, but the vomiting is still around. However, we've reached a stage that we like to call "Throw and Go!" This is where Liz throws up real quick and we just resume whatever it is we were doing. This stage is much more convenient! We have another ultrasound scheduled for next week, along with a test for spina bifida. As soon as we get the new picture we'll post it!

Otherwise...there's not much going on right now except the complete avoidance of all poultry products and an increased affinity for Dairy Queen.

Stay tuned for more!

Siobhan's Visit...

We had Siobhan over this weekend while Maureen went to a wedding in Pennsylvania. Of course, she was a good girl and has started talking up a storm! She's doing this "fake smile" when she eats now and had a couple of moments of not wanting to take a nap. Other than that, she was just cute and even behaved when we went out to eat at Dave and Buster's! (Where she "won" a stuffed fish that, if I calculated correctly, only cost about $45--I guess I have a better idea of what my parents went through when we all went to Chuck E. Cheese's when we were little. Though, in all fairness, they had three kids and we were only dealing with one!) Here are some pictures:

Water Water Everywhere...

We've got most of the water up, but Doug had to come over and help me take the carpet from the back porch outside to speed up the drying. Between the two of us, we couldn't lift it, and were barely able to drag it out onto the back patio. We put some chairs underneath it to let it dry in the sunlight. You wouldn't believe the amount of water that started pouring off of it! Within a couple of days, it was dry enough to move back onto the porch and weighed much much less! I was able to roll it up my self and move it back in, as well as reinstall it. It's too bad I can't lose weight that fast! With a little sweat and a lot of Febreeze, things are relatively back to normal, except that we have to clean up everything that we threw here and there to keep it from getting wet! What a great summer vacation activity!

The Good People At The Red Lobster...

So I go into the Red Lobster and order takeout at the bar. I ordered a container of Tartar Sauce and 6 biscuits, and that's all.

The waitress asked if I was sure that was all I wanted and said, "yes, that's it. My wife is pregnant (that's nice to say by the way...) and she wants tartar sauce and biscuits."

The waitress smiled and said, "She must be REALLY pregnant...I'll be right back."

Moments later, the waitress appeared with a bag and said, "I threw in a couple of extra biscuits, ya know, for the baby." She winked. I winked back, said thanks, and I took the bag and I left.

I think the folks at the Red Lobster are skilled customer service agents, and it's too bad a couple of them can't go and work at Arby's--they're way to sarcastic there.

Long Island Lament...

We had a bad storm last night and got over four inches of rain in under two hours.

We got water in three different rooms, the utility room, the Florida room, and the back closet.

We were supposed to be going to Long Island for Mike Corrigan's wedding, but the mess was too overwhelming and we had to cancel.

We've got fans on in every wet room, and we still have to mop up water that's STILL coming into the utility room. The sump pump froze with the amount of water that came in, but it's working again. We got the marjority of the water up, but still have damp carpets in the closet and the Florida room.

Oh, and did I mention that it's still raining?

Doug came over and helped clean out the gutters and thinks we need to have them repitched so that they don't drain into the lowest part of the yard, which conveniently butts up against the house.

I'm sure you've noticed the lack of humor--Liz and I have had better days.

Last Doctor Visit...

Nothing much more to report. We went to the doctor on Monday. Everything looks fine and over the course of the next few weeks, Liz has to go through several tests. The doctor didn't do another ultrasound yet, but we will have another in about three weeks.

Liz has been really nauseous, but I wouldn't really call it morning sickness. It's more like all day every day sickness. I asked the doctor if there was a support group for husband's dealing with their pregnant wives. He said no, then he said I could call this guy "Kevorkian" and he'd take care of me. I'm not sure if I'm really comfortable with a funny gynecologist, though, in all fairness, it was my first trip to a gynecologist ever. Maybe they're all funny, maybe they have to be in their line of work.

At any rate, as we find out more...we'll post it here!

Cravings...

--Shepherd's Pie, occurred at 3:00 AM. Didn't happen. Liz took a Berry flavored TUMS instead.
--Pickles and Ice Cream, yes it actually happened. However, the pickles were on a hamburger, which was followed by an ice cream sandwich. Liz doesn't normally eat pickles so this is significant.
--CASHEWS, more CASHEWS, and then a few more CASHEWS. Did I mention that she's wanting CASHEWS?
--Bananas...monkeys would be jealous.

Other than that...nothing way out there yet, but we're only 9 weeks in. I'm sure big changes are on the horizon!

We'll have more news on Monday after we see the doctor again.

New Music Box!

The music will play for most of you as soon as you load the website, automatically. If you don't want to listen to it, there is a gray music box on the right hand side of the weblog if you will just scroll down a little. There are controls in the top left corner of the box where you can change the song, or stop it all together by pressing the square button. You may have to press a couple of times. I would suggest stopping the audio stream if you are going to watch the videos. To play the videos, for those of you having a trouble, just press the arrow in the middle of the video screen. You may have to press it a couple of times. Hope this clears some of the new technology issues up, email me if you're still having trouble.

-Mike

A Brand New Baby Blog!

Liz and I have created a new blog for the new baby that's on the way! Liz is pregnant, and the baby is due in February! You can see all the new information at: http://fisherbaby.blogspot.com

For now, here's the sonogram picture from today...much more to come!