Old Newspaper Clipping

I was at my mom's this past weekend and she asked me to go thru a bag of stuff she had saved. I ran across this old newspaper clipping of me and my brother on the farm so I thought I would share. I was 9 and my brother was 8 and we were very much involved in the daily operations of the farm, helping with feeding the calves and giving feed and hay and cleaning out pens and laying straw for the older cows.

And I KNOW...I haven't blogged in a month. A ton has happened but I have been super busy. I am hoping to get some time this week to catch up.

Life's Blows

Well, I have been putting off on writing about this, but Friday I found out I was not getting my condo. It did not appraise for the agreed on sales price. The Realtor and loan officer were both sure that the bank (Fannie Mae) who owns it would drop their price since they are in possession of so many foreclosures. Well, they refused, standing firm because of another comp in the area. It would've been great if I could've gotten it for the appraised price - $13,000 less than I originally was going to pay for it, but since I can only get a loan for the appraised price, this deal is not going to happen. Plus I am out $550 for the appraisal and inspection.

But, I guess everything happens for a reason. Yesterday (Tuesday) when I came to work my boss informed me that I am being laid off. Effective immediately. I will be getting a check until the end of the month as severance and for my 1 week of vacation that I had not used. I found out today, since I will get a check on the 31st, I cannot file for unemployment until August 6th. I have sent out a few resumes, contacted a few connections I have made, posted my resume on Michigan Works and Monster and dropped off a resume at a company this morning.

But, guess where I am writing this blog at...the office. I woke up this morning and my internet connection wouldn't work at home. I dropped Eric off at daycare...because I have already paid for it and knew I had some errands to run today...went back and tried and no luck. I ran some errands, went to my chiropractors appointment, got some lunch and have been at the office for most of the afternoon using their airconditioning and internet connection to job search. It was kind of strange coming though, knowing that I will no longer be working here but it being like an old familiar friend where I have grown comfortable over the past 6 years and 10 months. This sucks!

Simple Math

What do you get when your kid eats the following at the carnival?

Snowcone + corn dog + lemonaide + cotton candy + pizza + icee + elephant ear with powdered sugar and cherries

+ a million rides that spin and shake?

=

a sick boy at 2:30 in the morning.

So, we are home today from work and daycare. He never made it to the bathroom so I had lots to clean up in my prime sleeping time. My boy is a champ though. I am a wimp when I get sick...have even cried a couple of times. Not him. Of course he is feeling much better today. We both got a chance to sleep in which was great. I am now catching up on some laundry. Might as well get it all done.

A Day at the Fair

Eric and I on our first ride of the day!





Eric went on this all by himself after I refused to go on again! My boy has no fear!



Then we went to the rodeo. An old friend from high school (Diana Capul) met up with Eric and I. Then, I turn around and see another old familiar face - Kristy (Isaacson). (Anna, I told her you had a blog and she said she would call your mom for the info).

A Day at the Beach

Yesterday Eric and I along with my friend and his kids spent 7 hours at the beach. We cooked hamburgers and hot dogs and the kids built a pyramid. I am pretty burnt today and exhausted as well, but we had a wonderful time!

Genealogy

My cousin did some genealogy of my dads fathers mother and fathers lineage and sent the links to his site. I though I would share...

Descendants of Antti Moilanen - born between 1550-1569. Finland

Eric is a 13th Generation I am a 12th Generation child...it goes to 14 Generations.


Descendants of Clas Hyrkas born 1756. Finland

Eric is 9th Generation I am 8th


Descendants of Matti Kyllonen born 1600. Finland

I am 14th Generation Eric is 15 Generation.


Descendants of Juho Anttonen born 1766. Finland

I am 8th Generation Eric is 9th of 9 listed.


My grandpa (middle back) with all his sisters and his parents Arthur Keranen and Ida Alina(Kyllonen).
Top: Mitzi, Millie, Rudy, Helen, Ruth Bottom: Arthur, Bertha, Lillian, Margie, Ida


My Great, Great Grandparents Kustaava (Moilanen) and Henrik Kassinen (descendant of Hyrkas). Great Grandpa Arthur Keranen's Parents (Kassinen changed to Keranen when they came to the US).


My Grandma and Grandpa Keranen.


My Great grandmother Ida Alina(Kyllonen) Keranen and her mother Mary(Anttonen) and sister Ina.

Not so patiently waiting...

Well, it has been a little over 3 weeks since I first went and saw the condo that I ended up putting an offer in on. It took a week for the seller and I to come to an agreement on the selling price which went really fast. It has been these last two weeks that have been dragging. I had an inspector go out. The appraiser has gone out and my loan has been in underwriting. I was told my my loan officer we should have the clear to close by the end of last week. Now it is the end of this week. I hate all this waiting!

This weekend was very busy for us. Friday night we met up with Eric's aunt and cousins for dinner and a movie. We went and saw The Incredible Hulk. Eric fell asleep 15 minutes into the movie. I hated it.

Saturday we met a friend of mine and his kids and went to the Ann Arbor Pet Expo. The picture is of Eric in the petting zoo holding a bunny. He had to pet every dog there!



This is a picture of Eric and my friends son with a sloth named "7".

'

I made an offer...

On a condo! I wasn't even looking and happened to come across a condo listing in Thursday's paper. I set up an appointment to look at it on Saturday. Friday I did some online searches and found another in the same complex in foreclosure listed much cheaper than the one I was looking at. I called the Realtor to set up a showing. So Saturday I looked at 2 condos. Monday I got pre-approved and I made an offer on the one in foreclosure. They countered my offer, which was expected because I went in fairly low. Now the fun begins! I added $3000 to my offer today. I doubt they will accept, but hopefully we can meet in the middle.

Memories

Hey Anna and Risa, I thought this would bring back some memories...

Click here!

UPDATE!

Here is the link to the page I found the music on...it is the C.L. Barn House Music Company's Website...click on the song link and most have both an mp3 of the song and a pdf of the sheet music.

On this Day

On this Day 31 years ago...I was born. Here are some other facts about May 22nd.
Find out interesting facts about your birthday or any other day at:
ON THIS DAY

Thursday, May 22nd
The 143rd day of 2008.
There are 223 days left in the year.
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Today's Highlights in History

On May 22, 1947, the Truman Doctrine was enacted as Congress appropriated military and economic aid for Greece and Turkey.

On May 22, 1859, Arthur Conan Doyle, the British writer best known for his creation of the detective Sherlock Holmes , was born. Following his death on July 7, 1930, his obituary appeared in The Times.

On May 22, 1886, Harper's Weekly featured a cartoon about anarchist Johann Most.
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On this date in:

1761 The first life insurance policy in the United States was issued, in Philadelphia.

1813 Composer Richard Wagner was born in Leipzig, Germany.

1868 The Great Train Robbery took place near Marshfield, Ind., as seven members of the Reno gang made off with $96,000 in cash, gold and bonds.

1907 Actor-director Laurence Olivier was born in Dorking, Surrey, England.

1947 The Truman Doctrine was enacted as Congress appropriated military and economic aid for Greece and Turkey.

1969 The lunar module of Apollo 10 separated from the command module and flew to within nine miles of the moon's surface in a dress rehearsal for the first lunar landing.

1972 The island nation of Ceylon became the republic of Sri Lanka with the adoption of a new constitution.

1990 After years of conflict, North Yemen and South Yemen merged to form the Republic of Yemen.

1992 Johnny Carson hosted NBC's "Tonight Show" for the last time after nearly 30 years in the job.

1998 Voters in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland cast ballots giving resounding approval to a Northern Ireland peace accord.

2002 A jury in Birmingham, Alabama, convicted former Ku Klux Klansman Bobby Frank Cherry of murder in a 1963 church bombing that killed four black girls. (Cherry was sentenced to life in prison and died in 2004.)

2002 The remains of Chandra Levy, the federal intern who had disappeared more than a year earlier, were found in a Washington, D.C., park. (The crime has not been solved.)

2003 The U.N. Security Council gave the U.S. and Britain a mandate to rule Iraq, ending 13 years of economic sanctions.

2003 Annika Sorenstam became the first woman since 1945 to tee off against the men on the pro tour, playing in the first round of the Colonial golf tournament in Fort Worth, Texas.

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Current Birthdays

Lisa Murkowski turns 51 years old today. Sen. R-Alaska

86 Judith Crist
Film critic

84 Charles Aznavour
Actor-singer

81 Michael Constantine
Actor ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding")

74 Peter Nero
Pianist, composer

70 Richard Benjamin
Actor, director

70 Frank Converse
Actor

68 Michael Sarrazin
Actor

68 Bernard Shaw
Broadcast journalist

66 Barbara Parkins
Actress

58 Bernie Taupin
Songwriter

52 Al Corley
Actor, producer

49 Morrissey
Rock singer

47 Ann Cusack
Actress

47 Dana Williams
Country musician (Diamond Rio)

46 Jesse Valenzuela
Rock musician (Gin Blossoms)

42 Johnny Gill
R&B singer (New Edition)

41 Dan Roberts
Rock musician (Crash Test Dummies)

38 Naomi Campbell
Rock musician (Crash Test Dummies)

36 Anna Belknap
Actress ("CSI: NY")

36 Alison Eastwood
Actress

35 Donell Jones
R&B singer

34 A.J. Langer
Actress

Historic Birthdays

Arthur Conan Doyle
5/22/1859 - 7/7/1930
English writer

76 Louis de Buade Frontenac
5/22/1622 - 11/28/1698
French courtier and governor of New France (1672-82, 1689-98)

77 Francois-Joachim Bernis
5/22/1717 - 11/3/1794
French statesman and cardinal

69 Richard Wagner
5/22/1813 - 2/13/1883
German composer

42 Albrecht von Grafe
5/22/1828 - 7/20/1870
German surgeon and pioneering ophthalmologist

67 Catulle Mendes
5/22/1841 - 2/9/1909
French poet, playwright and novelist

82 Mary Cassatt
5/22/1844 - 6/14/1926
American Impressionist painter and printmaker

39 Giacomo Matteotti
5/22/1885 - 6/10/1924
Italian Socialist leader assassinated by the Fascists in 1924

67 Johannes Becher
5/22/1891 - 10/11/1958
German poet, critic, editor and government official

82 Laurence Olivier
5/22/1907 - 7/11/1989
English stage and film actor, director and producer

My 2 HOUR oil change

I lease a car thru Ford and when I signed the lease the sales guy told me that the best place to come for an oil change was to the dealership's quick lube. It is kind of by my work so I go every 5000 miles on my lunch hour. They are usually pretty busy and since they do more than oil changes there it usually takes the whole hour. Needless to say, going to get my oil changed there is something I do not look forward to. I continue to go there though because they send me coupons where I get an oil change and have the tires rotated and a through check at the dealership so it is on record with Ford for less money than I would pay at any other place.

Today I didn't mind if it was going to take an hour. Since I am a year and a half into my lease I wanted to talk to the sales guy about what my turn in options were. We chatted for almost an hour. I expected to come back to my car waiting or at least being worked on. Nope. There were still three cars in front of me.

Before I brought my car in I vacuumed it out and noticed a large tear in the carpet on the drivers side. I mentioned it to the sales guy. He told me to go and see the service manager. Since there were still 3 cars ahead of me I asked if I could take my keys and do that quickly - he works out of another building. Well, the guy was at lunch. So back to waiting I went. A few minutes later the sales manager walks thru the door. I said, you are just the person I want to see and took him to see the hole in my carpet. In casual conversation I said, "these people are anything but quick" and told him I had been waiting for over an hour. He looked at my carpet and said it will be completely replaced, covered under warranty. This is wonderful, because about 2 months ago I spilled a large cappucchino in my car. There is an odor. Also, Michigan winters are not nice to car interiors. Neither are 7 year old boys. I was worried about cleaning it. Now it will be brand new!

I went back in and finally my car was being taken in. It took all of 15 minutes to do the oil change and tire rotation. When I went up to pay they told me that their boss took care of it and sorry about the wait(said with a bit of attitude, I think he yelled at them). I had no idea I had "complained" to their boss.

That DARN CAT!

My cat loves to go outside. Problem is...I want him to be an indoor cat. But, everytime we open the door, he escapes. Here are some pictures of him the other day with the neighbors puppy. I let him play around for a little while under my watchful eye, then we end up chasing him around to get him back in. All of my neighbors know he is not supposed to be outside. I really have not been letting him outside lately because another neighbor warned me of fleas...I do not want them in my house.

















So, anyway...this brings me to a story for today. My day started out better than yesterday, but again, was disrupted because of the cat.

I arrive at work and am just getting settled in when my cell phone rings. I answer and it is the secretary at Eric's school.

Her: Hi, this is Mrs. *** from **** elementary. Eric is in the office and boy to I have a story for you. *oh no, what could it be, I just dropped him off 45 minutes ago.* He said after you dropped him off this morning, he saw 2 of the neighbor kids in the hallway and they told him that your cat had escaped. He is very upset. Would you like to talk to him.

So, I talk to my boy and re-assure him that everything is going to be fine. I will go home right now and put the cat in. He is very happy. It is a 40 minute commute from my job to my house. So yes, I had just got to work, and I had to turn around and go back home. Luckily, I have an understanding boss.

To be absolutly sure the boys weren't just trying to be mean to Eric (they are 5th graders and known troublemakers), I called a neighbor hoping she hadn't left for work yet. I just couldn't understand how he could've escaped, I saw him sitting on the arm of the couch as I closed the door and I didn't want to drive all that way to find him safely in my apartment. But,sure enough she said, my cat was poking around in his favorite place, the flower bed. He had to have slipped out as I was closing the door. She said she would keep an eye on him until I got there. She put him in her bathroom because she has 2 cats of her own. He was very nervous, but happy to see me when I arrived.

I then called Eric's school back to have them let Eric know the cat was safe and sound, so he wouldn't spend his day worring. The secretary said what a great mom I am and told me of another parent in the office that gave her a strange look as she was making the phone call. My boss also said that the cat would've been alright outside all day, but I also wouldn't have been able to concentrate worrying about the cat as I know Eric was.

Eric's New Bike

Eric is the envy of the neighborhood with his brand new mongoose 20" bike! He is one happy boy! I got it for him last night and we went on a ride right away so he could "show it off" in his words. Today we went on a very long bike ride. I think we will both sleep well tonight.

Can I Start Today Over Please???

Monday's...I always have a hard time with them. The weekends never seem long enough. This morning was particularly hard. I think I left my brain in bed. I got into my car and started it up and realized that my cat wasn't in the window seeing us off as usual. I had closed my bedroom door so I figured he was in there. So I turn off the car, take my keys out of my ignition, unlock my front door, let my cat out of my room, lock my front door, get back into my car, start it, put it into reverse and press the gas. Nothing happens. ???? I try to start it again. Nothing happens. Try to start it again. NOTHING!! What in the world??? OK, so I try to take my keys out of the ignition. They are stuck! What in the world??? Is my battery dead? Look around, no one in sight. Do I call AAA. No, I will call my boss.

Me: Hi, its Emily...I am having a slight problem this morning. I started my car (cat story, blah, blah, blah) and now I can't start it again and my key is stuck in the ignition, what do I do???

my boss: I will be there in 20 minutes. Um, is your car in gear?

Me: Looking at the gear shift...DUH...it's still in REVERSE! OK, I'm blond! Thanks!

So, then I get to work. My bosses brother is there with is daughter. He is always in a rush. He has a 9 am meeting. It is 8:30. He still has to drop his daughter at school. My boss volunteers me to. They give me the directions. Simple...Left at, right at. OK got it...repeat it back. Driving. Completely forgot what he said. Forgot my cell phone at office. Turn right, convinced that is what he said, I repeated it, I should know. Looking for a street called Buchanan. Can't find it. Turn around and go the other way past where I turned right. Pass a street called Hubbard. Oh, yes! That is it! Where is my brain today??? She did make it to school on time though and I got a free tank of gas out of the deal.

Busy Thursday

Tonight was Eric's last soccer game. Boy, 5 weeks really flew by!! They won the game before this and this game, even though they did not win was equally exciting! Here is Eric with his metal!







Eric's "Big Brother" Nick came to cheer him on. Then we all went to McDonald's before Eric and I headed off for a cubscout pack meeting.





Here is Eric and one of his best friends Kellen goofing it up at the cubscout meeting.

Finally a Name, and where it comes from...

I am reposting my first blog entry from my other blog to explain my Blog name, also to open up a little more on here...This was written November 16th, 2005, and staying true to my title, my life is pretty much the same.


Ok - I have decided to take the step and do this! I guess I am mainly looking for some insight on my life at this point.

The title of my blog - My "Basic Cable" Life comes from a friend of mine and he is accurate in saying this....my life is really very basic at this point, and I guess has been for quite a while now. Sometimes it bothers me, but yet I am content. I am a mother, a single mother at that, and my whole life really revolves around being the best mother I can for my son.

If I know this and am content with it, why am I not happy? What do I really want? Yes, for the most part I am happy. I am able to provide for myself and my son all by myself. I am responsible, I want to be responsible. I go to work everyday, even if I am sick. I pay all of my bills on time. I spend time with my son and do things a good mother should. I read to him, play with him, make cookies, take him places he wants to go and try to keep him as happy as possible. My life is really two things....a mother and an employee. Where did I loose myself? I don't know why I am asking that because I do know. Becoming a mother changed me a lot. A bad relationship changed me a lot. Life experiences have changed me a lot. Age has changed me a lot.

I feel stuck in a rut. My job is extremly boring, but they are good to me and "need" me. I have been here for a little over 4 years now(almost 7 now) ,but know it is not my calling. But I have loyality. Will my loyality end up hurting me in the long run? I have a degree in Criminal Justice. I worked hard for that degree and will be paying for that degree for the next 10+ years. I have been out of college for almost 6 years now(8 now, YIKES) and have been doing nothing with my degree. I want to help people. That is why I went to college. I was following a calling. I had passion and enthusiasm. I knew, somewhere I was going to make a difference! Now, I am not so sure. I still believe it is my calling. I am just very afraid to take that step. I was once fearless, I now fear a lot.

Oh Boy

Eric's teacher: Can you kids guess what I do while I am on vacation?

Eric: Beer and alcohol?!?

Eric gets in trouble by his teacher...again.

Eric's Story

Typed as written by Eric - 2nd Grade 4/08.


"Gee wizz, i'm board" Shadow the cat said. " I'm going to be board to death if I don't go outside so, Robert!" Shadow yelled.

"What" Robert yawned "can we go outside"?

"Fine he mumbled".

Right before Robert could get outside, Shadow dashed out and on accident got lost in the forest. Then another cat came by.

"Hello" the other cat said

"H-hi" Shadow said

"What's your name" the other cat said.

"Sh-sh-shad-dow" he said nervisly.

"My name is Whiskers" Whiskers said "I'm a girl cat"

"ok that's fine"! Shadow said. "Lets keep going"

"ok" Whiskers said.

There was an airplane in sight and they tried to sneak on but they got kicked off.

"That's just great!" Shadow yelled "Keep on coming!"

So they traveled for many hours, but no home.

"How much more madness can I take? No more!" Shadow yelled.

"Stop Shadow: A dog is here!"

"A dog? Who cares!" Shadow yelled.

Just then the dog said "Can I be your friend?"

"Sure" they said.

"Let's get started!" dog yelled.

"Don't yell please!!Oh please!! don't yell!!!!!

"Ok: sniff-sniff" the dog said.

"What's your name?" Whiskers asked.

"Sniff-snif my name is Fluffy"

These friends adventured so far they found bananas and ate them.

"That hit the spot!!" Shadow yelled.

"Quiet" Fluffy and Whiskers whispered. "Sleepy time".

They slept and when they woke up they were in the city.

"What the!?!?" Shadow yelled. "Where are we?"

"When you yell this is what happens!" Whiskers yelled.

"Stop! We have to stop this argueing and keep moving ok because we have to move along to get to my house."

"But we don't have any steak" Fluffy said.

"Stop being a puppy" Shadow yelled.

"I'm not a puppy!" Fluffy yelled.

Then our brave adventurers found a night club.

"Wow this is amazing" Whiskers said.

"Let's go inside" Shadow said.

So our young travelers go inside to look.

"This is awsome" they said.

"Let's dance!" Fluffy yelled.

They did dance moves like the limbo ,chacha, the disco, the irish dance and the jive.

"Let's go so we don't get caught like my grandfather did ok?" Shadow asked.

"Ok" They quickly in a really sceared way.

So they traveled far away but on the way there was trouble....

"A bear!" They yelled.

They ran and ran and ran as fast as their little body's could take them until they got away.

"That bear almost ate us alive!" Whiskers yelled.

So they kept on searching but they could not find Shadow's house.

"Darn!" Shadow yelled. "We could've made it."

"Wait, a city is over there!" Whiskers yelled.

"I see my house" Shadow yelled.

So they traveled an hour to get to the city they saw and they were so glad to be so close to being the first animals to travel many hours.

"Wow we have to keep on" they said.

But their adventure was not over....

"Ahhhhh!" it's a fox! and a bear! and a bull dog! Fluffy, Shadow and Whiskers yelled.

So they kept on running. It seemed like an hour, but it was only a minute.

"Ok let's get out'a here like I'm scared!" Fluffy yelled.

So they traveled so long it became dark but they made it home.

"Robert!" Shadow yelled.

"Shadow!" Robert yelled back.

"Robert can my friends live with us because they want a home" Shadow asked.

"Ok" Robert said.

"Yah!" They yelled. And they lived happily ever after.

The End.

A Little to Observant

Saturday night I was talking to a guy on Yahoo Instant Messenger who I have had conversation on and off with for a few years. I don't sign on much, but have happened to catch him on Thursday night and again on Saturday. Eric wandered in the room Saturday night and glanced at the screen. All that is displayed is our screen names and our conversation. Eric says "hey mom, you were talking to him the other night!", I said "yup, I sure was", the conversation at the time happened to be about something funny Eric just said to me and Eric says "Mom! I know your online dating him and everything, but PLEASE don't write about me!". I laughed SO hard. Online dating him...where does my kid get these things!!!

Advertising sure works with my kid!

The other day I was cleaning the living room and I came across a note pad with a 1-800 number written on it. I ask Eric what it is. He tells me it is the number for "Roll and grow"! "Mom, all you have to do is call this number and they send you a mat and you get thousands of beautiful flowers, its only $19.95, come on mom, don't you want it, call the number now!".

This isn't the first product that has caught my little guys eye. He has also tried to sell me on the "Tobi Steamer", several diet and excercise plans and Space Bags(which my mom ordered just for him after staying with us for a week, I guess she is a little softer than me).

Maybe he has a future in advertising, because he sure is drawn to these infomercials! This is from a kid who HATES to shop in a store, so maybe he is drawn to the way of shopping where you never have to leave your couch.

Neat Site for you readers out there!

Good Reads - Lets you list and rate the books you have read. See what your friends are reading and helps you find friends in your area who are readers too!


my 'currently-reading' shelf:


my 'read' shelf:

Rodeo Girl!

In Risa's blog today she wrote about her son wanting to be a cowboy. It brought back so many memories of me, wanting to be a "rodeo girl". From as early as I can remember I wanted a horse. My neighbors had several horses and every opportunity I got I rode. I remember watching the horse shows at the fair knowing one day I was going to be there too. My dream of owning a horse came true at 13.

This is a posting from my other blog I had on Yahoo 360. Notice the cowboy hat...they guy(a real rodeo rider) who trained my horse after he bucked me off and I was terrified to ride again, had it fitted just for me. That thing was so tight on my head it left a red mark, but it never fell off!

MY FIRST LOVE

Yes, that is me, awkward and dorky looking with my first love of my life. His name was Double Moon and I was 13. Ever since I could remember I wanted a horse. I purchased Double Moon with my own money and was the happiest girl on earth! He was only 2 years old and only "green broke" meaning he had never been ridden with a saddle or bridle. He was quite a handful but I loved him more than anything in the entire world.

The above picture was taken at the Pelkie Fair and boy was he beautiful that day. A couple of months before he had bucked me off and I was terrified to ride again, but I got back in the saddle and we won several blue ribbons in the horse show.

I sold Double Moon 2 years later because he was a lot to handle and I wanted a car. I sold him to a family friend and he died in their barn a couple of years later in a terrible way. For many years I had horrible nightmares about him, that I did him wrong and that he was after me. The guilt of letting him go was eating me up. I still miss him terribly.

One of my many job perks

Today is Administrative Professionals Day and like every year my boss treated me to lunch today. We we went to the exclusive Huron River Hunting & Fishing Club, where we just were for lunch earlier this month for my bosses 60th birthday. It is a private, members only club for the big wigs in the area. I think this is the best lunch I have had yet. I had the surf and turf which consisted of a 6oz fillet and a 5oz lobster tail with potatoes and snow peas. It was so good! He insisted I also have a drink, so I had a Bloody Mary. Then the dessert tray came around and he insisted I have dessert, so I took the biggest piece of cheesecake I have ever seen back to the office. Now I am ready for a nap.

Busy Weekend

This weekend was one of the busiest weekends we have had in a long time. Eric had his space derby for cub scouts this weekend. Last year he came in 6th in the first round in every heat with my boss helping him carve the rocket. This year I did not think he would have any better luck, because I was the only one who helped him this year and was a bit discouraged in seeing all the perfect looking rockets at Friday nights test runs. I commented to Eric when we got home about all the perfectly painted rockets that the parents had obviously done. His response was: "Mine is perfectly painted to, isn't it mom!" (he did it all by himself). "Yes, Eric! It is wonderful!" I said and decided I did the right thing by letting him do the majority of the work, even if he wouldn't place again.

But very much to my suprise, in the first group of 6, Eric came in 1st place in every heat. From there he competed with the other group of Wolves top 2 rockets and he came in 3rd in the den. It was very exciting and he was so happy to place!



After the space derby I had to hurry him to a birthday party where they roller skated for 3 1/2 hours and ate pizza and ice cream, had their faces painted and had a guy making balloon swords, animals and hats. I stayed for awhile and talked to some of the moms, but went home and did some laundry and cleaned. The birthday party was a sleep over, so I had a night to myself. Me and a friend went out to dinner and had some much needed girl talk.

Sunday morning after I picked Eric up was his first meeting with his big brother. We all went to the park and Eric played while I found out a little more about Nick. Then Nick pushed Eric on the merry-go-round and all of a sudden there were 20 kids on it! Then they kicked around the soccer ball for awhile, he pushed him on the tire swing and then we went back to my apartment where they played catch for a little while and then went in and played video games. Eric was trying to cram in as much as possible! He stayed for 2 1/2 hours and they had a great time together.

Eric's got a Big Brother!

For several years, thru different agency's I have been trying to get a mentor for Eric. I originally called Big Brothers when I first became a single mother when Eric was 3 years old. They told me that the child had to be 7. I was disappointed, but continued to look for other agency's. We tried with Catholic Social Services for a year with no success when he was 6. When he turned 7 I called Big Brothers again and finally, they have matched us with someone! We met today for the first time and I couldn't be happier with the match. I was a little discouraged at first because the people they kept calling me with just weren't what I had in mind. For example, a 59 year old. The conversation with Eric was funny though.

Me: Eric, Big Brothers called today and they said they might have a match, tell me what you think. His name is Chuck.

Eric: I like the name Chuck.

Me: He's 59 years old.

Eric: Does he exercise?

Me: They said he likes to run.

Eric: I like running.

Me: He's divorced.

Eric: That's ok, I don't want no wife hanging around.

Me: You don't want to wait for someone else ?

Eric: Well, does he like video games?

Me: Probably not, older men don't seem to.

Eric: OK, we will wait for someone else.

And we waited and waited and waited. The weird thing about Big Brothers is your first meeting with the match is your commitment to each other for a year. I did not like that. They tell you several details about the person, but you can't meet them first. I was about ready to give up. But then they called with Nick. He is 22 years old, athletic, went to college, has a good job. I was nervous, but he seems great. He and Eric are getting together next Sunday to hang out for the first time and I am very excited as is Eric. He wanted him to come back today.

Disgusting!

My boss received these as a joke gift for his 60th birthday from his daughter and passed them on to me for Eric to enjoy. These things are DISGUSTING! I myself did not try any but Eric did and shared with several friends. I thought they were regular jelly beans with gross names...no, these jellybeans actually taste like vomit, earwax, earthworms, boogers, rotten eggs, sausage, black pepper, soap, dirt and pickles! Eric brought them along to his den meeting for cub scouts on Monday and the leader was a bit perturbed when the boys kept running to the water fountain and garbage can to rinse and spit after eating these things. The funny thing though is they kept going back for more!

"It's magical. It's incredible, and it just arrived! The new Discovery Box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, the jelly bean preferred by Harry Potter, holds 10 wild flavors, each in its own little pocket. Discover the wild flavors of EARWAX, BACON, DIRT, SPINACH, GRASS, BOOGER, SARDINE, BLACK PEPPER, ROTTEN EGG, EARTHWORM, SOAP, and SPAGHETTI. And, everyone's favorite VOMIT! Think of stinky limburger cheese, think salami gone bad--that's VOMIT all wrapped up in the disguise of a jelly bean. Fortunately, the beans come with a mystical guide to help you recognize the flavors."

Soccer in the Rain

Eric had his first soccer game tonight and it was a wonderful 44 degrees and raining and windy for the wonderful 1 hour game! It was not much fun for us parent spectators as we were all freezing!... but all the kids seemed to not mind....some even had shorts on! Our team "The Cleats" got beat pretty bad, but it was only the first game...they have a couple of practices now before the next game so they should improve.







Stretching before the game.













Eric at goal.















Some video footage! Eric comes into the picture after a couple of seconds...

My Life is Just Not Exciting....

I wish my life were a little more exciting so I would have something to write about, but it is pretty much the same old thing everyday...work and come home and do the mom thing. I am excited that it is getting warmer though so we can spend more time outside. This past Saturday we went on our first bike ride of the year and Sunday we went to the park were Eric played and I walked laps around the park. Two weeks ago we did make our way up to the UP for Eric's Spring Break week and Easter. I swore last year that I would not do it again...there is just to much dang snow, but I asked Eric which he preferred...the beaches of Florida or grandmas and he chose grandmas so up to the UP we went. Below are some pictures of our week.


Eric and cousin Grayson taking a rest while snowshoeing and the long trails we went on behind my mom and dad's house.

Uncle Ben and Eric - Eric loves Uncle Ben because he has all the fun toys...snowmobile/motorbike/4-wheeler and he lets Eric drive!








Eric and my Aunt Kim's boys coloring Easter Eggs














and Eric with his new skateboard.















Eric and his HUGE basket in which my mom went a little crazy with candy!



I just love the look on his face looking at his new bubble pencil!















This is my mom and dad's new house that they are building.

Karaoke

Eric was doing karaoke and dancing around and it was hilarious, but of course when I wanted to record it he got shy...but he still shows a little bit of his personality!

New Kitten

This is our new kitten "Othello". Eric is very happy! We got him yesterday and he seems like a good kitten. He loves Eric and as I type is sitting in Eric's lap while he plays his Gamecube!