Ah, Lyns.  I don't know how I would deal with tremors.  I'm sure it will sort itself out and/or you will figure out a way to handle it.  Just another adventure?  You all certainly will have some stories after all of it.  Takle care.

It's Sunday and nice and quiet.  I'm just sitting enjoying my coffee in a quiet house.  It's a very nice feeling. 

Yesterday was Jamie's big concert at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.  My brother, his kids, Colleen,  my sister and I went.  I was silly enought to not speak out when my brother said we should leave his house by 5:40.  I had been thinking 5:30 would be safe - it normally takes about 45 mins to get into the city from my house, plus we would have a little extra time to find parking and be there early.  I didn't speak up.  Goofy move #1.  We finally left his house at about 6:05-10.  Everyone kept saying it only take a halg hour to get there from his place.  My sister drove the 2 of us.  mistake #2.  I don't really know anyone who enjoys driving in the city, but Deb is pretty much paralyzingly afraid of it.  We were following Jim, so it shouldn't have been too bad.  We got to the venue at like 6:59-7:01.  (performance was set to start at 7:00!)  By then I was already stressed out.  The lot Jim pulled into was full.  There was a flagman flagging people into one across the street.  Deb didn't go there.  She just sat.  Tried to call Jim, but the call would not go through. 

I had the bright idea of going more or less around the block to look for a garage.  I swear we only made a few rights.... but we ended up lost.  I got more and more upset.  Deb got po'ed at me cuz I had to direct her as to where to go.  She finally ended up blowing up at me and we had a major  fight.  We were both out of line.  Mostly I pissed her off as I told her if it had been one of her kids, she would have been just as upset as I was and I would have dropped her off at the center and then went to find a space.  That set her to telling me what a victim I always am.  It was all really stupid and really severe.  At one point she ordered me out of the car.  The only reason I wouldn't get out was cuz it would have taken me a good 20 minutes to walk back to the center.  Apparently there have been things brewing and they all came out in a rush.  I am to a place where I have no interest right now in talking to her at least for a few days. 

We finally got back around to the center, where Col was waiting for us out front.  I let her in the car so she could help us find a garage.  Deb ordered me to go in.  I did.  I got to the doors to go in, and the ushers wouldn't let us go in.  We stood by the doors and tired to listen.  It sounded marvelous.  About 10 minutes later, the ushers brought in a manager to lead us up to a balcony.  We got to hear about 30 seconds to a minute of the 45 minute performance.  It sounded fantastic - the 2 top chorus groups and an orchestra or concert band.  We all found where Jamie was standing.  We all watched the second half which ws the university's jazz band.  They were excellent. 

In the lobby the kids are goofed around with each other and I asked my niece to take a few pictures.  I swear, I am going to get my own camera.  I don't like having to ask other people to take pics all the time or using a disposable.  Jamie said it was cool to be in a professional venue, but the acoustics weren't that good for the musicians.  It was neat that they all traveled in a nice bus, were escorted to the basement  level which was nice.  There were cheese and crackers set out for them as well as juice and water.  There were rehearsal or dressing rooms for them with restrooms inside.  The building itself is beautiful, and I think all in all the students enjoyed their experience. 

Today, I will be driving Jamie back to her school.  I hope she enjoyed yesterday.  It may or may not have been her last big concert.  Before this, she was saying that she was not going to sing next year for the mastersingers.  Last night, she said she might do that again or she might ask to be put into the lower group.  The rehearsal time is less and there are fewer performances.  She wants to be able to concentrate on her Anthropology classes. 

Going to enjoy the less busy tone of the day. 

How lucky are we?  I went and voted today.  Won't say who.... that's not the important part.  I'm just thinking..... how lucky are we that we are able to do so?  How many places in the world do not have that ability?  I'm not saying we are better than anyone... it is only be accident of birth that we are here.... I could have just as easily have been born in an impoverished area where no one has the right to vote.  I feel blessed to be here.

Gotta say that it is cool that PA is making a difference.  When all of the primaries started, we assumed everything would be a done deal and we would pretty much not have any say.  While I can see that the protracted primary season has put a strain on the Democratic party and more or less given the Republican party fodder for their fight, I am selfishly glad that out voice still matters. 

Colleen voted for the first time this morning.  Originally, we had planned to go together, which would have meant we would have to be in line at about 6:45 for the polls opening at 7:00.  Guess she figured it meant less sleep, so she let me know at about 6:30 she was going to sleep for a little while longer and then walk to out polling place and to the train back to school.  She sounded excited to have voted.  Yay, Col!

Gosh this week was crazy!  I figured it out this morning and including what I worked this afternoon, I did a total of about 61.5 hours this week.  Monday and Tuesday felt unreal - I did 3 jobs each both days.  It was not a good idea.  By Tuesday night I was past the dragging stage and went straight to completely beat.  So glad I was able to fall asleep Tuesday night or I would have been a zombie on Weds.

Wednesday was the day Colleen went to the debate.  She almost forgot her usb cord for her camera.  She she got there, she was almots not allowed in since she still had pepper spray in her purse.  Ya know, if the kids would just actually listen to me it might help.  I asked her a few times if she had read all the literature about what she could and could not take.  When I interpreted for Pres. Bill Clinton all I could take was my keys and  that was about it.  The interpreter I was with was smart enough to bring a power bar and an apple or we both would have fallen over.  Anyway, she Colleen has to ride the Broad St subway to get from her school, yes she carries pepper spray.  She had to get out of line to get rid of it.... but didn't know what to do with it.  Luckily she saw someone she knew from the Peter Jennings Journalism Conference she attended last year who works at the Constitution Center.  Col was able to hand it off to that woman.  She gets back in the back of the line and overhears some older dudes saying "who's the dumb*** that would bring mace here?"  Col said she ever so calm and said "a dumba** that's a female under 20 yrs of age who has to take the subway to get here. "  They got quiet.  And yes, it was goofy of her to have that in her bag.  She got in, set up in the media room to send her blog posts via wifi.  Then, she wandered around and got a "man on the street" type interview out on Arch St.  She sort of wandered around the Constitution Center and got to stand about 5-10 feet away from Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopolous while they broadcast the 6:30 news.  She loves Charlie Gibson, so this was a thrill for her.  She went back into the media room and interviewed one of the veteran reporters for our local abc stattion.  She said he was very gracious and gave her a good interview.  She posted 3 entries before the debate.

During the debate, she said it was kind of boring - everyone was just sitting and watching from the media room.  (the theatre itself only seats about 450)  After the last question was asked, they all went into the spin room where according to Colleen, all heck breaks loose. She said at one point she was stuck behind a potted plant.  Luckily some of the 6abc people had befriended her and helped her jockey into a better position.  Col talked to Philadelphia's Mayor Nutter, PA Gvernor Ed Rendell, Senator Chakkah Fatah and someone else who I am blanking on right now.  She put in her last post at 1:40am Thursday morning.  How cool is it to be 19 and do all of that?  So glad she had this opportunity.  She sounded so excited all day Weds when she would call and even at 11:30 when she was getting back to her dorm.  (I gave her cab fare to get back) 

Most of the week, I was still battling a bad ear infection.  It is actually the eustachean tube, but man does that knock me on my butt.  I've been having alot of balance problems and probably should have stayed home at least one day.  No way I should have worked as much as I did.  It was definitely not a good plan.  I'm finally feeling better.  Even yesterday I still had some pain.  I really hope this keeps up tomorrow and beyond.

I did better this week with my exercise.  I have 4 days so far and should be able to fit Pilates in later today.  Last week I was only able to do 3 days and was disappointed with that.  I do feel better when I can keep the days up. 

Today and yesterday it was 80 out.  What happened to Spring.  Well, it's coming back tomorrow - it's supposed to be in the mid 50s I think.  Crazy weather.  I got some sun today and yesterday while at work.  Today we had our relay meet.  I'm not sure how many other teams were there but I can think of at least 5.  It was a boys and girls meet, which is neat.  Usually they split - whatever team they are against the girls are home and boys away or vice versa.  My niece was there vaulting for her team.  I missed seeing her vault in competition.  According to her I didn't miss much - she didn't do as well as she wanted.  But, we got to just kind of hang around and catch up a little.  Haley seems like she could be a really good pole vaulter and it seems like she has good coaches.  Her dad was pretty athletic, and she looks like she will be holding her own.  Pole vaulters are a unique group.  First of all, I think they're a little nutty.... you'd have to be to want to fling yourself over a bar like that.  What's neat is that kids from all different teams will count steps for each other, give each other tips and even coaches from other teams will give a kid pointers.  They cringe when anyone crashes into a standard and they cheer when someone achieves a new personal best.  When the competition is done, they will often stay and do some more practice, plus at least at my school, they are the last ones to leave the field at practice.  The deaf student I work with got a new personal record today, beating his old height by a foot.  I didn't get to see it, but he looked awfully proud to tell me when I got to the meet.

Hope to spend the rest of the weekend catching up on laundry and some cleaning, resting some and doing a little exercise. 

It's an incredibly beautiful day today!   Can't even describe it, it's that  gorgeous. 

As I am here, Colleen is at the National Constitution Center "live blogging" for the Scoop08 site.  She was so excited when she called today while on her way to the subway.  Girl's got press credentials and everything.  .... she almost didn't get in, as like most savy city girls she carries pepper spray.  Since she was at the Peter Jennings thing last year, she knows people who work at the Constitution Center who were willing to hold it for her.  Then she hears someone comment- "what kind of Dumba** would bring mace?".... to which she calmly says, "A girl who has to ride the Broad St line (subway) to get here." 

All in all, I think she plans to do a great job and soak up the day.  Good for her. 

Am going to go check out her initial posting.  Have a wonderful day!

http://www.scoop08.com/liveblog-national-constitution-center%2526%2523039%3Bs-democratic-debate

The boy is hanging in there.  Figured anyone who read yesterday's may be wondering.  I don't have a whole lot of info, but he's alive. 

Well, there's never a dull moment in my neighborhood.  It is a typical suburban town.  The houses are not that close together, but I was used to house in Queens before I moved back  here - those were about 5-10 feet or so apart.   I bought the house I grew up in after my mom passed away.  It was probably not the  best move financially.  This is the place my kids had lived the longest, and they were already going through upheaval.  My neighbor bought the house she grew up in when her dad could no longer keep up with it.  She and her sisters and me and my siblings grew up together.  T hung out more with my older sister Deb and brother Ron.  When she and her family moved into her house, it was kind of cool.  Knowing we had grown up together and now our kids would was pretty neat. 

Liam hung out with C and B.  My girls hung out with their sister, Cr.  The boys along with Liam and some of his friends got into trouble growing up.  Liam got himself together shortly after hs and started working for my neighbor's husband.  J is a decent guy on some level.  He helps people out when and where he can, and has given a lot of kids jobs when they had none.  He's also from a background that has shaped how he used to treat his wife and kids.  They were beat if they did something minor.  T  was on the receiving end more from his tirades verbally.  It used to make me cringe.  J has gotten better in the past few years.  C did not do the growing up most of the "bad boys" I know have done.  There are lots of young men who act out while taming their demons.  Most seem to figure out that they're keeping themselves down and stop the majority of self-destructive behavior.  C has ADHD, which he blames much of his trouble on.  He is an addictive personality big time, has been on the receiving end of a baseball bat during a fight and has been in jail and rehab countless times. 

Yesterday, C overdosed on heroin.  He had been hanging around with a girl who is known to sell really bad street stuff.  When C's girlfriend couldn't get him to answer his cell, she called Liam and his room-mate.  When Liam and Patrick got there, C was completely unresponsive.  He was gurgling when he was breathing.  The drug girl didn't want tot call 911.  She actually said "some people come out of it okay".  Some people?  Yeah, okay.  With the background I have with my ex and getting myself to alanon, I know you don't enable an addict.  But you just let him die so you don't get in trouble?  Good lord. 

C is not one of my favorite kids.  He has broken different things on my property, done numerous crappy things including trying to tough my girls.  Jamie stopped going over to see Cr, and Colleen told him if he ever touched her again she'd tell Liam.  I am not all that comfortable having C living next to me.  Still, I guess I want him to finally come to his senses and stop slowly killing himself and dragging everyone along through hell while he does it.  It freaked me out to see a kid I had watched grow up being put on a gurney as limp as a rag doll.  Never want to see anything like that again.

My baby.... my way bigger than me baby.  When I opened the front door to see what was going on, he comes over to me and makes me go back inside.  "Mom, I don't want you to see this."  He went out and talked to the officer who responded and another friend who came over.  Liam came in after what seemed like forever.  I think he had been able to hold it together until then.  He kept saying, "I don't want him to die... he's a messed up kid, but he doesn't deserve to die."  They were getting C to the hospital then.  My boy was pacing my living room and kitchen, distraught and just now knowing what to do.  The boys talked to the dad when he called C's house, so the parents are either back or on their way.  I haven't seen them yet today, but I am sure they are a mess.  Patrick called Cr, out at school in Pittsburgh.  The other brother is in school out in Texas.  Liam said that it was like when he found his room-mate Chris back on Christmas Eve day.  He said he can't go to another funeral and go through all of this again.  I can't fix this for him or C.  Gosh, I wish I could. 

So.... I'm waiting to hear from Liam today.  When I'm done this, I'll give him a call and see how he's doing.  Love your babies.

On a much brighter note, the weather was beautiful yesterday.  Spring is trying to stay.  The temps are going down for today and tomorrow but it was a wonderful preview. 

In the morning, I had a track meet for work.  The day before, we got conflicting info from the coaches, so the deaf kid went.  I was meeting them at the school - it's not that far away and I needed my car in case I needed to leave before the team would be leaving.   I over packed for the day.  Had a tee shirt and sweatshirt on, and brought a light jacket with me.  Brought sunscreen but forgot to put it on.  (not a good idea)  The sun kept ducking behind the clouds and we had a brief drizzle for a few minutes.  It was one of those days where  you just cannot  take off the sweatshirt and leave it off.  As soon as the sun went back in,  I had to put it back on.  Even though M wasn't  vaulting , we stayed and watched for a while.  He's only cleared 8'6" so far.  It's a start.  There were boys there yesterday who were starting at 13'.  It was fun watching these kids.  One of the boys from our team got a personal best - 12'6".  He's a great kid and we were all happy for him.  There were some turn your gaze moments.... one of the guys went into the standards at one of his jumps.  (standards are the metal thins that hold the bar up)  Most of the time, the guys can feel the vault won't go well and steer themselves safely onto the cushy mat.  Every once in a while, I have to look away then ask M what happened.  The meet was pretty cool.  It was a bunch of schools from all over the Philadelphia area.  I got to see some of our guys race.  This usually doesn't happen cuz I am up by the pole vault pit and can only see glimpses as the kids run by.  It was neat to see them from the stands and see some of the families that came out to watch the boys.  Many of the guys are starting to talk to me too.  It's neat to have them say hi in the halls when we wouldn't have really gotten to know each other otherwise. 

What contrasts in the course of a single day.  I worked on my buddy Patti's wrap that I am crocheting.  I hd seen a stitch I wanted to try in a magazine at a craft store, so I was trying that.  It wasn't until I went back to buy more yarn that I noticed I had mis-read how to do it.  So, I came home and tore out all but 2 rows of stitches.  It will take me a lot longer than I thought now, but it looks so much better already. 

Today I am exercising and going food shopping.  Have to catch up on a little laundry, I hardly did any last week!  Maybe if I stay busy, I won't worry quite as much.  Waiting for Spring to stay and not keep teasing us.  Have a great week. 

For all you un -hip folks the title means - Long time no blog.  Well, ok so I'm probably the un-hip one!  Been forever since I have been on here!  My apologies.... read on and you'll understand.

Well... hmmm... first the weird news.  April 1st.... you know, April Fools' day, etc.  I do my usual checking on where Bill is.  Meaning I check the facility he is currently a guest in and look at the inmate locater thingy system.  All it says is "released".  Mind you, I got a message from victims' services a mere days earlier that says he is to be paroled on 4/26.  Huh?  Then I get another message from vs again - he was released.  Okie dokie... I call Domestic relations main number - the lump on the other end tells me - "If it says he was released, he was released."  Gee thanks oh brilliant one... I ask where was he released to?  "I don't know."  Peachy... transfer me to Mr C (the hearing officer who has our case) "Well, I'll transfer you to his SECRETARY."  Thank you very much.  (and please crawl back under your rock) 

The secretary cannot find anything in the system, but at least she tells me she will look and call me back.  Thank you for doing you job.  :-)  Ok, so by now I am complete panick mode.  (I do this quite well!)  Where is he?  Oh, wait.... back up a little - Billy boy called last Thurs and Friday nights and left messages on the answering machine.  For once I was happy that Eddie had the phone in his room and I could not get to it before the machine!  I cannot explain exactly what it was, but it gave me the creeps.  Maybe it was that he has no idea that a 17 and 19 yr old would not be home on a Friday night at 7 or 8pm.  I don't know.  Whatever it was, the calls got me antsy.  Then not knowing what was going on made it worse.  I had a feeling from the calls he would try to see the kids once he was in the half way house.  This is the closest he has been since we divorced.  He could get on a train and be here in an hour.  I don't enjoy the idea of seeing him just pop up at the house un-announced. 

Back to April 1st.  Jamie calls at about 11 am.  She asks if I know what's going on with her dad.  All I say is that the vs message said he was released.  So, she explains what happened.  Bill was dropped off at work, got out of the van/bus and was walking toward the store.  He "slipped, tumbled down a hill, then lay there in pain until someone found him and he was taken by ambulance to the hospital."  Oh, and he had called her from the hospital after midnight the night before.  He told her all the meds they had him on and that he would need surgery for his broken leg.  Jamie borrowed a car from a friend at school and drove out to visit her dad.  She got him a card and saw him shortly after he was brought up from recovery.  He was still dopped up and Jamie said he has lost weight since being in jail.  (which is probably a good thing since he has diabetes - but not sure anyone would want to be on the "jailhouse diet")  She called Bill's mom and put her mind at ease that he was alright.  Apparently she does not get out much anymore.  If anyone was even able to drive her down, J said she keeps within about a 3 block radius of their house.  None of his sisters from NY came down.  The next day he was taken back to jail, I am assuming to the infirmary. 

I felt bad for Jamie.  She's such a sweetie.  I'm sure Bill was grateful that she came.  She did a good thing.  I feel bad that she feels SHE is responsible for easing Kitty's mind.  (Bill's mom)  I also feel bad that J did not ask me to come get her and take her to the hospital.  I have no love left for Bill, other than him being the kids' dad, but would have taken her.  The other kids weren't all that upset/effected by all of the news.  The whole thing is just bizarre.  I did feel some kind of empathy and asked if Jamie had heard from him the day he was taken back - just to see how he was doing. 

I did not tell Eddie about this.  He went to the Pa. State Championships for SkillsUSA.  (a competition in various tech fields)  I dropped him off at the Tech School on Wednesday morning and did not want him to have all that info in his mind too.  He did well.  There were 12 kids in his group - Technical Drafting, 4 of whom were college students.  Eddie placed 3rd!!!!  I am so proud of him!!! He's a bit dissapointed - he used a program that makes you do more of the drawing yourself and he realized after it would have looked better on the other program.  He also noticed one of the kids who beat him (a senior) did not have an "exploded" view in his drawing as Eddie did.  I told him he beat 75% of the kids in the competition and was 3rd in the STATE for Pete sake!!!!  I guess in his heart, he wanted 1st so he could continue to Nationals.  I think the whole thing was great for him.  There were colleges and post hs tech schools there.  One of his buddies got 3rd in carpentry and got a scholarship to the school Eddie is looking at.  So, at the very least, he is on some of the school's radars I think. 

I have been participating in a fitness challenge at work.  Our goal is to move/exercise at least 30 mins/5x a week.  The first 2 weeks I did pretty well - walked and did Pilates about 3-4 times.  This week I am doing better.  If I do something tomorrow, I hit the 5x!  I bought a video with a dance cardio program on it.  I danced in middle and high school.  Whadya know?  The ole' girl can still pick up steps and move a little.  And ya know what else?  It was fun.  Woohoo! 

So, that's all the news for now.  Will try to do a bit better with keeping up here. 

Smiles all around!