The Annual Fourth of July Party

This year we held our 11th 4th of July Open House Party. It had to be the best conditions weatherwise, a nice crowd of people, and a lot of drinking. This year I was able to walk around and mingle, swim, hang out with friends, and have my esp work for a change. The biggest reason was that I have two new knees.

The food was unbelievable that arrived. Yes, we can still feed an army battalion today and probably the rest of the week. For me this year, I had a great time. Being hostess I can drink and not worry about driving. I started out with "surfer on acid" and then proceeded to skittle shots that Diane brought over ending with Tequila Rose shots/or chugs depending on who I was with at the time. However, I knew before I went to bed at 2am that I would have a hangover because I already had a splitting headache. By 4am I'm taking Tylenol. By 11am I am awake with no headache but can't walk straight so I take more Tylenol and go back to bed till 4:30pm when I can walk straight.

Everyone was saying they were glad I was having such a good time because they were too. My best friends also drank along with me and at one point when Linda and I went down to watch the fireworks, I fell, no I didn't hurt myself, and she fell next tome and we sat there and giggled through the whole show and didn't see a thing.

Debbie and John stayed the latest as we sat and talked on the deck till about 1:30am. She gave me my first foot massage and complained about my soft feet. But overall it was a great day. Sorry if you didn't make it.

Changes

I wonder how many changes we have to deal with in a lifetime. Changes like moving to a different house, changes like people leaving our lives, or changes like being able to walk again.

I personally have gone through a lot of changes in the last 6 months. I had Double Knee Replacement and can walk again and learning to live each day to the fullest. I had a physical therapist that I adored and when I had to leave I was depressed. I had one child who did not want to go back to the university and ended up becoming secluded and out of reach while living in the next room. I had a husband that didn't understand how to handle the change in me after my surgery and still expected me to be able to do the everyday things two weeks later. I had friends leave my life and new friends come into my life. Interests have changed too.

Changes in other parts of my life haven't been as drastic but have been predictable based on the environment. The change of governor of NJ put into office a man who is against public school s and public teachers, especially the NJEA. The community changed and voted down the budget which caused the township committee to slash even more money. Changes will continue to occur in the near future as the school district comes up with $1.5 million in cuts, meaning staff and programs. The current Superintendent is leaving, not that he was that great anyway, but there has been and will be no leadership in the district.

Changes.........I wonder how many I've had just in the last 6 months.

Recovery

As you can see I haven't been posting anything in quite awhile. In January 2010 I went for a double knee replacement which required a stay at a rehabilitation center and physicaly therapy for another 10 weeks. I am currently in my 10th week from surgery and will begin working part time after Easter break. At the same time I am hoping to be able to sit long enough to do my crafts.

Lost and Found

Well, you may have thought I was lost since I haven't posted anything in over a month but don't worry, I have been found. I just have been very busy at work. I have made some cards lately but hadn't posted so I will be sure to post today.

The Change of Seasons

You know the season is changing by the activities that change during the year. At school we are getting ready for the staff and children to come back. At home, I am watching my son pack up his room to go back to college. The weather changes to cool nights so that the pool water doesn't stay warm to the next day. The mornings are cooler so that some may need a sweater, while I still wear sleeveless tops (all year). I even noticed commercials on TV begin to change with the announcements of new shows for the "FALL" and ads to visit NY or Vermont to see the changing colors. But with all the changes year after year the one thing that has not changed is that Autumn is fine favorite season of the year. The cool weather, the changing colors, the warmth of friendship, the smell of pencils, the smiles of staff and children when they come back to school, are some of my favorite things. Rain drops on roses just doesn't do it for me. But yellow, orange, burgundy, red, brown and green give me warmth and knowledge that I made it here again and hopefully will see it another year.

I'm Expecting......

I just got a new stamp set from Stampin' Up called FYI which has a lot of cute sayings. When I was mounting "I'm expecting!" I thought what in the world would I use this for, since I am not a young chicken any more. So when the opportunity came up to use it I couldn't believe it would work.

So here is the card front.....

but inside it says, "you to feel better soon!" See, I can use it as part of a get well message. I did have to include "Gottcha!" as the next line though. I know she will crack up when she reads it. So get well Kim and come back soon.

Well, off to a workshop........

Mojo 97

Well here is the finished card I made for the Mojo 97. Let me know what you think.