My Daybook

For today... Monday, August 17, 2009


Outside the window...it is dark...hot and humid today with more to come tomorrow!

On my mind...I woudn't be disappointed if the humidity went away and took my migraine with it!

What we're reading...finished The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks. Also started and finished Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist by Michael J. Fox, which I loved! I want to read his first autobiography now. With Tucker, we read Skunks! by David T. Greenberg, The U.S. Army Rangers at War by Michael and Gladys Green, and The U.S. Navy Alphabet Book by Shane Garnett, Jerry Pallotta, and Rob Bolster. We finished Cricket in Times Square and are quickly reading Mercy Watson: Something Wonky this Way Comes by Kate Dicamillo-it's really funny!

What we're listening to...finished Bridge to Teribithia and Dear John by Nicholas Sparks and loved it despite the narrator's female voice sounding like Dustin Hoffman from Tootsie! With Tucker, I listened to Henry and Mudge: Sea Trouble by cynthia Rylant.

I am hoping...and determined to get the NYC pictures up. Our computer is really showing its age lately (it's around 6 or so years old and takes forever and then some loading pictures lately so I have to do them one at a time which is actually quicker but not really if that makes any sense!)

A funny thing...I think most of you know that I have reconnected with high school friends and we are having a reunion show in November. We had a meeting on Sat and my first boyfriend was there and it was a little strange introducing Tucker to him!

In the Kitchen...Tacos (never got around to them last week), barbequed chicken, and not sure what else!

Around the House...Laundry is done and needs to be folded...the house is looking lived-in.

Coming Up This Week...a home visit...I took Thurs off and we're going to Roger Williams zoo; Tucker's friend Isaiah is going with us...Tucker's 1st soccer practice of the season on Thurs night...Tucker has a haircut on Sat...going to meet my cousin's twins, who are now 5 mos old, on Sat...celebrating Michael's 41st birthday Sun at my mom's.

A Picture Thought
We have a pumpkin!!! Please note that Michael has put it on a pedestal of rocks!

The Wizard of Oz premiered 70 years ogo today

Being The Wizard of Oz fan that I am, I cannot miss this!

MGM's The Wizard of Oz opened 70 years ago today at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Crowds thronged the theater to catch glimpses of Hedy Lamarr, Orson Welles, and other stars who attended the show.

The 101-minute-long film has remained a classic since its release. In 1956, an estimated 45 million people tuned in to watch the movie's debut on television as part of the Ford Star Jubilee. The movie spawned two sequels, including Journey Back to Oz (1974), an animated film featuring the voice of Judy Garland's daughter, Liza Minnelli, and Return to Oz (1985). A remake with an African American cast, The Wiz, starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, was released in 1978 with music arranged and conducted by Quincy Jones.

The movie is still one of America's top-selling videocassettes and was one of the first 25 films to be put on the National Film Registry, which is reserved for culturally or historically significant movies.

Source...history.com

New York City-Day 1

Finally! I got the pictures to post!

We had been planning this trip for a long time and we were finally on our way! Tucker looks pretty excited, huh?!
We made our way on to the train from Greenwich and arrived at Grand Central




The only place on our agenda for the day was Sony Wonder Technology Lab. It's a super cool place that has all kind of computer games, experiments you can do. And best of all-it's FREE!!! We did have to make an appointment and our appointment was for 12:30.

We took this elevator up to the fourth floor
Tucker uses the computer to learn about how animation works and created a character

Here Tucker programmed a robot and maneuvers it

When we left Sony, we noticed Spiderman hanging on the glass wall!

We stepped outside into POURING RAIN! But it was okay, we knew we wouldn't melt so we made our way to a place to eat. We decided on Burger Heaven which was really yummy (none of us had a burger though! LOL)

Then it was back to Grand Central to take the train to our hotel...

Our room...

One of the reasons for choosing this hotel was the indoor pool and wouldn't it figure? It was going to be closed from Mon thru Thurs for repairs so this was the only night we got to enjoy it!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Just saw this on TV and I love it when it comes on every year! Gotta love the expressions on these kids!

Revamped Daybook

*I've gotten bored with the layout for the Simple Woman's Daybook but I do like the idea of doing it and getting my thoughts organized for the week so I will be experimenting with some new headings interspersed with the old until I find some that work for me...

For today... Monday August 10, 2009

Outside the window...it is dark...hot and humid today and I think we're under a thunderstorm warning.

On my mind...my uncle Joe who had surgery for a detached retinathis morning. He has an interesting-looking contraption called a "desktop portal" that he has to rest his face on for a whole week. This is what it looks like
After my mother and I stopped laughing, we put the instructional video in so we could laugh some more! Seriously, who comes up with this stuff-how do they expect people to actually function and heal?!? Let's just say that so far, it is not going well...my uncle is not very cooperative on a good day, shall we say?, and he is really not cooperating at all. My mom had planned on staying with him but it's ended up being more frustrating for her than anything else.

What we're reading...I ended up reading The Almost Moon by Alice Siebold while in NYC mostly because it fit into my bag for the 45 min. train ride in and out of New York; I really liked it! I just couldn't get into The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane and returned it to the library. Right now I'm reading The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks and just cannot put it down! I finished listening to The Ivy Chronicles and am now listening Bridge to Terabithia. With Tucker, we read Curious George and the Big City, Tadpole Rex, Arnie and the Skateboard Gang, Possum Stew, and Skippyjon Jones and the Big Bones and we listened to Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night, Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble and Season of the Sandstorms (a Magic Treehouse book). We are currently reading The Cricket In Times Square.

I am hoping...to get the NYC to post on the blog! I've actually written all four days out but cannot get the pictures to load---so frustrating!

A funny thing...Tucker and I have discovered ICarly on Nickelodeon and spent most of Sunday afternoon watching a marathon!

In the Kitchen...Tucker and I ate at Burger King tonight while running errands...tacos, BLTs, and possibly spaghetti this week. I'm also thinking of making brownies after reading Julie's blog-LOL


What I'm hearing...the dryer...Two and a Half Men on TV

Around the House...laundry in the dryer and more needs to be done...pretty neat, if I do say so.


Coming Up This Week...Tucker will be going to the Dinosaur SplashPad with his friend Isaiah on Thursday...2 home visits...Tucker's friend Andrew is coming over Saturday...a baby shower on Sunday.

Some Picture Thoughts

We went to Lake Compounce on our way home from New York. Michael and Tucker took a fun turn on the Twister

On Friday, we went to the Dinosaur Splashpad with Tucker's friend Andrew. I liked this picture of them walking through the sprinklers.

We're Home!!!

Just wanted to let you all know we made it home from NYC in one piece (and even threw in a day at Lake Compounce for good measure!) I'm trying to catch up on all the blogs I missed while I was away and will be posting pictures and tales of our adventures in the next few days! I will say, though, there's no place like home!

Simple Woman's Daybook

For today, Saturday, August 1, 2009 (I know it's super early but we're leaving at 8 am tomorrow and I can't imagine not doing this for the week!)

Outside my window...it is dark

I am thinking...I need to get to bed

I am thankful for...the opportunity to go to New York!

From the kitchen...nothing this week

I am creating...fun memories for our family

I am wearing...jean shorts and a blue Old Navy shirt

I am reading...finished The Geometry of Sisters by Luanne Rice and just started The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe. Still listening to The Ivy Chronicles and will finish it when we get back. I picked up The Bridge to Teribethia to listen to in the car, as well as some Magic Treehouse audio books for Tucker to listen to on the train. We're still reading Next Stop, New York City! and we'll start The Cricket in Times Square when we're done with it! Tucker read the following this week: Taking Care of Tucker by Pat Lowery Collins, Clever Cat by Peter Collington, Seahorse by Chris Butterworth, and Next Stop, Grand Central!.

I am hoping...to have fun in NYC

I am hearing...the fan...the dryer...America's Most Wanted on TV

Around the house...dishes being washed in the dishwasher...laundry being done before vacation...I picked up so we wouldn't come home to a messy house!

One of my favorite things...staying in a hotel!

A few plans for the rest of the week...NYC from tomorrow until Thursday...Lake Compounce on Thursday...Dinosaur Park with Andrew on Friday...my mom's annual office pool party Friday night.

A picture thought...no thoughts tonight but will have plenty to share when we get back!