I haven't been here for a while since my favorite show, Criminal Minds, is done of the season. I am happy that A&E is showing Season 1, so far in order, on Friday nights at 11pm. I am recording them onto a dvd. I will then have all 3 seasons recorded-yeah! I'm enjoying Season 1 again!

Lets see what I've been up to since my last blog. My daughter's car a Plymouth Neon lost it's brakes the last week in May. Her friend replaced the brake cylinder twice but it would just blow out again. That was the last straw. The headlights barely lit the road at night, and we had them replaced, the engine was burning oil badly, the wheel bearings needed replacing, the brakes were replaced & now the brake cylinder, the A/C didn't work, the heat barely worked & the trunk no longer opened! Pretty much from hood to trunk nothing worked. Since my daughter would soon be driving 250 miles for 4 hrs at speeds of 65-70 mph to college, I decided she needed a safe, reliable car. So the search began. Smaller cars like Elantra's, Focus', Cobalt's etc. are in such demand because of gas prices that they were selling before I could get to them. I stumbled across a 2003 Chevy Cavalier at a local dealership. It only had 57,745 miles & was only $6888. I picked my daughter up from school so she could test drive it. She did & loved it. Such an upgrade from her beginner car! I paid cash but they wanted a certified check so I called my banker since it was after hours. She opened the bank just for me & had the check waiting when I arrived! Now that's service! So I was able to pay for the car that day & we picked it up the following day. It looks & feels like a brand new car & my daughter is soooo happy with it. She contributed $2000 of her money towards the car so she isn't totally spoiled!!

My daughter went on her Senior Cl*ssTrip to Ocean City, NJ on 6/7-6/9. She is the Senior Cl*ss Vice President & her best friend is the President. Ocean City, NJ has been my family vacation spot for 5 generations, since the 1920's. I took my daughter & her 2 friends to OC in 2005. We stayed in a 2 bdrm/2 bath condo. That is the year that the Travel Channel named Ocean City, NJ the nations Best Family Beach!! They obviously loved it as much as my family always has & being in control of the Seniors they recommended it for their final trip. About 40 of the 62 graduates went. It was an extremely warm & sunny weekend, just perfect for a beach vacation! They all had a wonderful time. If you've never been to or heard of Ocean City, NJ it is a barrier island in South Jersey. It has a very long boardwalk with 2 amusement parks complete with roller coasters, a water park, atleast a dozen mini golf courses some with waterfalls & caves-just beautiful, a multi-movie theatre, the Music Pier with concerts, shops for just about anything you want and restaurants galore. It is a dry town, no alcohol is sold there & there is a police station at the Pier & they patrol it on bikes. It is really the perfect beach vacation spot. I'd recommend it to anyone!

Tuesday I was mowing my lawn, which is quite large, I own 1.8 acres, when I hit an old tree stump stalling the mower. It would not start again. My husband explained what happened, he knows everything, he really does, and told me to go get a new one. I told him with the kids gone & him at work the mowing is up to me & I'm done with a push mower. I want a ride on mower! I'm going shopping for one tomorrow! I hope I can have one delivered on Saturday since my lawn is only half mowed!

My preemie niece was Christened on Sunday, Father's Day, 6/15 @ 11 am. My brother & sister-in-law arrived with the kids AFTER the mass had already begun. They were about a 1/2 hour late to their own daughter's christening! My sister-in-law, who I like very much, showed up wearing shorts too! I thought the whole thing was very inappropriate! But atleast my niece is doing really well & she is now christened. They didn't have a reception afterwards either since it was Father's Day & they thought most people would have plans. I thought I did, spend the day with them, oh well!! We just had a bbq ourselves to celebrate the day. It was nice seeing them again even if just briefly. They live an hrs drive away so we don't see them all the time.

So that's what I've been up to! My daughter's graduation ceremony is next week & then it's off again to her college for orientation in July. I just made another hotel reservation for myself for that today. I guess that's what I'll bore everyone with in my next blog!! Till then, Love to all out there!

Yesterday, May 4th, was my 28th Wedding Anniversary! It was a nice day & my husband & I celebrated by going out to dinner at a fancy restaurant. We were married 5/4/80. He still gives me the most loving cards. He has been a wonderful husband, friend & father. He is a genius. He is an electronics engineer at a textile plant. He is known world wide for his knowledge & skills. He is sought out around the world for his help & job offers too from China, Vietnam, Germany, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Chile & Canada. That pretty much covers the planet! I am very proud of him! He spoils me rotten too. I needed a new refrigerator. I got my new fridge plus a matching stove, dishwasher & microwave oven. And since ALL the appliances would be out of the kitchen I suggested a nice new floor . I got that too! My dream car was on sale. Hon, can I get a Jaguar? Sure!! I want to go on vacation or a cruise, no problem! He is smart, kind & generous. I am a very lucky lady. He is also an excellent Dad. How many Dad's get on the floor with their daughters to play with Barbie dolls? He did! He went to all my sons baseball games & all my daughters music & choir concerts. He has always been there for all of us. I am so grateful for the wonderful life I have shared with him & for our 2 beautiful children, now adults...almost. My daughter will be 18 on June 11th. We are very lucky!

However, yesterday did not pass without a family tragedy. My 88 yr old Aunt passed away. She was a Roman Catholic Nun for 70 years! She was my Dad's oldest sibiling & the last to die. She was truly saintly & I have no doubt she is in Heaven now. When it's my turn to go, I'll feel good knowing there's someone up there with clout to give me a good reference! I will travel the 200 miles to attend her wake tomorrow & her funeral on Wednesday. I will get to see my 3 sisters & all my cousins, all of whom are 100% Irish. My daughter just got back from Ireland & I have the pics to show to everyone. Something nice to temporarily take our minds off the sadness! So even if it's not your anniversary tell those you love that you do love them today. There may not be a tomorrow! Love to all out there!