Take A Chance Challenge- Random Word

My random word was "above". The book I read was Above The Thunder by Renee Manfredi. It was the story of four people whose lives become intertwined, resulting in changes for all of them-both good and bad.

I think that what intrigued me right away was that the way in which the characters all meet is through an HIV support group that one of the characters runs. (I used to work in an AIDS facility). I do have to admit I had a hard time getting into the story at first because it seemed like it took awhile for the characters to actually meet. But once they did, I enjoyed the interaction between them and the relationships that they formed. It ended up being one of those books I couldn't put it down and it was one of those books I wanted to keep going, if that makes any sense!

Simple Woman's Daybook

For today, Sunday, June 28, 2009 (my mom's 62nd birthday!)

Outside my window...the sun has been out ALL day which is certainly noteworthy, I think!! It will be getting dark in another half hour or so.

I am thinking...about what a crazy week it was in terms of celebrity deaths

I am thankful for...Tucker's fever finally went down-it scares me when it gets high!

From the kitchen...we had steak, baked potatoes, and corn-perfect weather for it! Not sure about the rest of the week but I did buy chicken so maybe chicken pot pie and barbequed chicken.

I am creating...Tucker will probably make something for my mom's birthday (we celebrate it on the 4th)

I am wearing...navy blue and gray striped capris with a navy blue shirt

I am reading...Still reading Love Is Eternal, it's almost 500 pages and I'm now halfway through! With Tucker we are still reading Charlie and The Chocolate Factory with a break the last few days while Tucker has been sick. We also read Cowboy and Octopus by Jon Scieszka, Cook-A-Doodle-Doo! by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel, Chicken Cheeks by Michael Ian Black, and Don't Let The Peas Touch! and other stories by Deborah Blumenthal

I am hoping...the weather continues to be nice for the rest of the week

I am hearing...Tucker trying to convince me to come upstairs with him...Curious George on DVD

Around the house...pretty clean...laundry to be folded

One of my favorite things...corn on the cob with lots of butter

A few plans for the rest of the week...2 home visits...tucker will be going over Isaiah's house tomorrow for a few hours...Tucker starts swimming lessons this week, Tues and Thurs...the start of the reading program at the library Wed night...Tucker will be spending the day with my mom on Friday because Angela is off...4th of July parade and celebrating my mom's birthday on Sat.

A picture thought...

I took this at Salmon river Park Wed night when we got together with Julie and her family. He looks so serious staring out over the water!

Getting Together with Friends (old and "new")

It was a busy week of fun for us getting together with friends!

Monday night Tucker and I met Kim and her daughters and Dawn and her son at a McDonalds where the kids could play. Kim and I have recently reconnected via Facebook and turns out she lives down the street from me! We were really good friends in our junior year of high school and I even went to Lake George with her and her family for a week! She's now married and has two beautiful little girls: Lyndall (age 4) and Mia (age 9 mos). Dawn and I grew up together in the same small town but she's two years younger than me. We didn't become friends until I was a senior dating a freshman who was a friend of hers (alright, we aren't going there...the only good thing that came out of that is my friendship with Dawn, enough said!) Dawn and I are more like sisters than anything else, something we have acknowledged many times over the years! She's now married to a wonderful guy named Sam and they live in VA with 2 yo Caleb!

A picture of the kids (I took a couple and for some reason Tucker didn't look forward in either of them!!)

Next a picture of the three of us with Mia. L-R Kim (holding Mia), Dawn, and me


On Wednesday night, we ventured to Salmon River State Park to meet up with Julie and her family who were here visiting from FL. Julie and I were friends in first grade and can even remember going to each other's houses. She then moved to Voluntown and then FL and came back in our sophomore year of high school when we "met again" and have been friends ever since! She now lives in FL (as do her parents) but her brother Rob still lives up here and we have gotten together before with them (his boys are 8 and 6 so Tucker fits in perfectly!) This gathering was for John's sixth birthday and I was surprised to see Julie's parents here too! I've seen them over the years, unfortunately at funerals, but they had never met Tucker! We had a good time catching up with everyone and Tucker had a blast playing with John, Zack, Jul's kids, and all the others there!

Carl and Madi cook the hot dogs


Rob entertains the boys with a fishing pole


A group shot of Tucker, Jake, Jonathan and Madi (the last time we had a group picture of them, Jake and Tucker were 2 and Jonathan and Madi had to hold them so they wouldn't run away!)

Zach and John got in the picture and it all went crazy!


A picture of me and Julie

The final get-together (of which I don't have pictures) consisted of me and Dawn getting together with Maria from work! Maria and I got to talking one day at lunch back when I first started and it turned out we both grew up in Columbia but she went to a different high school. She told me what year she graduated so I asked if she knew Dawn and it turns out they were best friends through grade school but lost touch once they went to different high schools! Once I knew her name, I remembered her, mostly from girl scouts and it's funny to share all these memories with someone you just 'met'! We met Dawn for dinner and then walked over to Dairy Queen for blizzards and just had a great time laughing and catching up!

Overheard in Target...

I was in Target today checking out their dollar section when I heard a baby crying from the men's room, kind of a little 'ehh' every couple of seconds. I didn't think much of it until I heard a falsetto voice singing, "push it out push it out, yeah go poopy!" over and over!!!!!

I had to get out of there fast before I laughed out loud!!!

What a good daddy, though, huh?!

My 1st Blogging Anniversary

One year ago today, I finally gave in to Julie and started my blog! And I am so glad I did! I have enjoyed having a place to share my thoughts, our adventures with Tucker, as well as meet some great fellow bloggers along the way!

Thursday Thirteen-80s Shows

This week, I'm thinking about my favorite TV Shows from the 80s!

1. Golden Girls

2. Wonder Years

3. Growing Pains

4. Family Ties

5. Kate & Allie

6. Facts of Life

7. Square Pegs

8. Solid Gold

9. One Day At A Time

10. Mork & Mindy

11. Laverne & Shirley

12. Silver Spoons

13. Moonlighting

To participate, go here.

What's On My Nightstand?

This month's pile of books are for the Take A Chance Challenge!

-Love Is Eternal by Irving Stone (my current read)
-White Ghost Girls by Alice Greenway
-Weaver's Daughter by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley

These are Tucker's books:
-Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (his current read)
-Don't Let the Peas Touch! and Other Stories by Deborah Blumenthal
-Chicken Cheeks by Michael Ian Black and Kevin Hawkes
-Cowboy and Octopus by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
-Cat Power! by Daniel Kirk
-Cranberry Summer by Wende and Harry Devlin
-In 1776 by Jean Marzollo
-O, Say Can You See? America's Symbols, Landmarks, and Inspiring Words by Sheila Keenan

(Obviously I'm gearing up for the Fourth of July!!!)