smiley73's Blog

These gas prices are soaring.  No news there!  I was disgusted today when it cost me $40 to fill my car that I used to easily fill around $29! That is a HUGE price increase!  Not to mention that I drive alot ... so fill ups at $40 a pop are killing me, as Im sure it is all of you, especially those with large SUVs/Trucks!So I decided this week I need to start pumping my own gas!  Ok hear me out .. Im no snob, I just HATE the smell of gas and touching the pumps. Up until now, I would go and pay whatever to avoid having to do it.  I cannot believe I have had to do this, but at these prices, I just had to! So I am saving a few dollars there and buying myself an extra gallon! How sad is that.  Also got a coupon in the mail today for Shell for $2.00 off 10 gallons.  Ill be honest, I couldn't be bothered in the past to cut it out .. drive to a shell for $2.00 but this is what the times have brought me to!  What have YOU done to help cut costs? 

I was raised catholic.  I was even an alter girl and in the church choir.  Somewhere along the line, I have lost touch with the church and somewhat have lost faith in it.  Having said that, I haven't stopped having faith in God and his power.  
I was sharing a story today with my friend about something that happened to me as a young teen.  I remember then praying so deeply to god that he'd hear me and that things would be the way I needed them.  I'll spare you the details of that story but the significant part was that the next day my prayers were answered.  
I hadn't thought about that story in nearly 20 years.  It reminded me today how much I believe and when prayers go up, blessings come down.  
Things don't happen by chance.   Everything happens for a reason.  All part of his master plan, I believe!  What do you think?  
~ smiley....
PS To all those moms out there Happy Mother's Day ... we have been blessed to have this day!

Nurse? Nurse? Nurse? PLEASE HELP ME .. she cried.  That she would be my 86 year old grandmother who is recovering in a local rehab facility.  I hear her faint cries as Im briskly walking down the hallway balancing her Dunkin Donuts coffee!
She said she needed help and no one came.  I asked why she didn't push her call light, well it was well positioned on the opposite side of the bed no where near where she could reach.  If this had been the first time, you'd say we all make mistakes, this was the 5th or 6th time that she was not given the call light.   
She called to ask someone to take her to the bathroom and no one came and she was left to demoralize herself and go in bed, sobbing no one cares.  
She's had issues where she is supposed to be in a chair for her meals due to her swallowing issues (which is why she is there) and we've found her leaning somewhat upright in her bed trying to feed.  
I tested today while I was there and called the call button to see how long it would take for someone to notice she needed something. Can you guess how long?  27 minutes.. you got that right nearly ONE HALF HOUR.  You tell me if she was having chest pain or choking on her food what the result of ignoring that call light would have been.  Im thinking as I write this that she isn't demanding.  She is expecting the care that she needs and deserves and that they are being negligent on her care.  Has anyone ever experienced this situation and how do you handle?  PS Fox there's an idea for a story eh? Ugh , Im disgusted!A not so smiley...   : (

My daughter and I took part in the March of Dimes, March for Babies walk in Boston today.  I joined a team last year in a quest for raising money to help the lives of those who are born premature.  The outlook for preemies now is far greater than years past.  My daughter Sara, who just turned 10, was born 11 weeks premature, a 29 weeker, tipping the scale just over 2lbs (imagine those 1lb dumbells at the gym, take two, there she was!).  She and I are lucky to have survived her birth.  Without technology, she definately wouldn't have made it!  There are many causes of premature births.  For us, it was a placenta abruption which 85% of the time results in fetal death, that was 10 years ago though.  Okay enough sounding morbid. This walk was a reminder of how lucky she and I are.  Actually our whole family is.  She brings so much love and joy and completion to our family.  Without funding and research, our family may have missed out on an amazing little angel!  For more information on premature babies, or if you want to find out how you could help a tiny miracle, http://www.marchofdimes.com.~smiley

I went to my very first country music concert Saturday night.  Kenny Chesney was at Mohegan Sun with LeAnne Rimes opening up for him.  I was turned onto Country music nearly 2 years ago by a friend who insisted I'd like it if I gave it a chance.  So with an open mind, I listened to her playlist of fav country songs.  Who knew 2 years later I'd be attending Country music concerts!  I like lots of music.  I've seen Billy Joel, Bon Jovi, Janet Jackson, Aerosmith, James Taylor just to name a few.  He was by far one of the BEST performers!  Any Country fans out there?  Tell me your favorite and help me expand my music playlist for me!  ~ smiley.....

No, not referring to the politicians  and their views, Im talking about warm, sunshiny weather! I love that I got to break out the flip flops this week and not have my feet freeze! I admit I usually put them on when it's over 50' degrees, I know nuts but it's me trying to rush through to summer!
 Amazing how alive you feel when the sun is shining and it's warm.  People seemed a bit more friendly today.  People seemed to have a little bit more pep in their step.   What about you? Do you feel the sunshine effects your mood?  Happy Thursday!!!!  ~ smiley.....

Ok so you are getting ready to go on vacation, you are at the airport and you need your ID ready at all times PROVING it is YOU flying on their airplanes.  You are checked, re-checked, triple checked, etc. you are who you say you are.  Then tell me this.  How is it that you can go before a judge, in a courtroom, legalizing and finalizing a divorce, a LIFE ALTERING event, enter into a  binding agreement and not once are you asked to provide proof of who you are?
I was FLOORED today when I appeared for my divorce hearing.  My ex and I (who arrived together and are very amicable), sat amongst 6 or so other couples to finalize their divorce. They call your name, you go up to the judge and state your name, raise your right hand, and that's it!  Never once showing any proof of identification.  I don't know who, if anyone, would pose as someone else for a hearing but just thought it was so odd.  Also, to get a hearing in Massachusetts, if there are children involved, you must register for a Parents Apart parenting class.  Again, no ID required. I could have sent someone in my place and they would have never been the wiser (which btw, anyone who knows me knows I could never do such a thing but there are those who would!!).
Anyone else find this odd?  My friend told me she didn't think it was a big deal and perhaps it isn't.  But in today's day in age where you can't buy a scratch ticket without proving you are of age,  you'd think that you should prove to the courts that you are who you say you are, no?
~smiley

I read an interesting article today in the Globe Parade insert. Can turning right save the Planet?  I guess UPS redesigned it's routes to minimize left-hand turns.  I guess their results are pretty impressive.  It's estimated that it saved roughly 3 millions gallons of gas with its deliveries in 2007 and it reduced it's emissions by 32,000 metric tons!!
How this worked? Well it's pretty obviously but I'll tell you anyways.  Left-hand turns require longer idling and burns more fuel than right-hand turns.  
So we can't go with Beyonce on this one .. to the left, to the left .. it's stage right my friends!
Would you change your routes to avoid left-hand turns to save some gas and the planet? I'll be honest, I don't think I would go through all the trouble, but it was an interesting article nonetheless!!!
~smiley.....

Attn:Fox Tech Support???
I no longer have the email I had when I joined the blogs and cant seem to locate a place to change it.  Please let me know how to do this. Thanks!
ps... I would love to see blogs on Health/Fitness???
Smiley

Im in the process of visiting and interviewing schools for my son who will be transitioning this fall to middle school(he currently attends a private elementary school). The program I looked at today is housed in one of the middle-schools in a very prominent/safe town outside of Boston.

I approached this brand new, magnificent building and proceeded to the door. Im looking endlessly outside for the 'buzzer' to be 'let' in. Nothing! I pulled the door handle, voilla, the door opened. I was a bit taken back. Hmm, I just walked in?!? I proceeded to the office of this beautiful building and announced myself, filled out the visitor sticker and waited for my appointment. All the while pondering, how could a new school in today's world NOT have a security buzzer? Still amazed........

I loved the school, the staff, the program and really am considering it for my son. At the end of the meeting, I asked the administrator, please excuse me if this comes off 'over the top' but how come there is no security buzzer to be let in the building? He chuckled, what here? in (safe town), there is no need for a buzzer!

In today's society, no town, no school, no building is 'safe proof.' I think he thought Im a neurotic mom who is worried about sending her baby to middle school, and in part, that is true! However, the events that have taken place over the years I think has shaped how we think, react and therefore, in some part have become somewhat neurotic when perhaps we wouldn't like to be!

Thoughts????

Smiley.......

I never liked thinking that I was "lying" to my children when I would put presents under the tree and gave Santa the credit! The money under their pillow was brought to them my the toothfairy, and of course those baskets waiting for them tomorrow morning!  I placed the baskets out just a few minutes ago, 'ate' the carrots and hopped away for the last hop!  Yes, my kids are now too old to 'believe."    Im struggling with this.  I love the wonder in their faces.  The magicalness (is that a word?) of the whole idea of santa, the bunny, etc.  My son looked at me tonight as he was laying in bed and was like, mom, tell me the truth are you the easter bunny?  I looked at him straight up and said, me? the bunny? Nah!!  I believe in him and you should too, goodnight.  I'm not one to lie.  I am a straight shooter.  But this, just this one time I am justified, I think.  To give him and me ONE last magical night!  Im heartbroken its all over....Time goes so fast w/our little ones ... Happy Easter Everyone...Smiley....

Anyone ever 'detox' their body naturally, I mean through diet?
If so, what did you do/eat/use? Any good books you could recommend?
Trying to regain my healthy body and mind and thought this might be a good start.  Wouldn't it be great if there were a Health/Fitness blog for us to share tips through? Hint Hint, Fox!!
ThanksSmiley

Ok, 
Well in my little world,  the start to the summer season was today!
Im no meteorologist and wouldn't dare challenge our fav,  Kevin Lemanowicz, lol... But seriously I enjoyed the first signs of Spring/Summer tonight! 
One of my favorite Spring/Summer hangouts .. Dairy Joy in Weston is open (I know VB is a HUGE fan of the place!!)).  Got a txt today from a friend prompting me of their opening!  I bundled up the kids and myself and off we went.  With my car cranking of heat and Carbon Leaf, we sat and enjoyed ourselves with some yummy ice cream treats!  So yeh, we fooled ourselves w/the fake heat, compliments of my car's heater. However, just for a few minutes we pretended it was summer!  Made me realize, Spring is JUST around the corner with Summer at it's heels!!  Maybe an optimistic and somewhat of a blog in denial, but hey .. power of positive thinking!! Smiley.........
ps .. the javaberry ice cream is DELICIOUS!!!

Ok, is it me or is it EVERYONE is racing to get nowhere?  Seriously! Not once but THREE times today alone, I was trying to pull out of a parking lot, etc. and nobody would let me out only to get hung up at the red light up ahead!!!   
I actually got pulled over today by the police for blowing through a red.  What happened?  Well I was waiting to turn into a Mobile that was at/near a light.  When I arrived, it was green, then yellow, then 3 cars RACED through the red.  I then proceeded, I guess it was now my red when I took the turn and the cop pulled ME over for blowing through the light. I was like, are you kidding me with this?  I have an EXTREMELY good record and pride myself of my safe driving and after explaining what happened and pleading my case (and of course a few warm smiles), I was let go with a warning!
My point?  Race me .. go ahead.  I love it actually. Especially when you go around me in a two-lane road to only then meet you at the red light!!  And then, as luck would have it, the person in front of me actually bolts on the green and I get to pass you, smile, and proceed in front of you!!! Gotta love that!  Hee hee .. I'm actually enjoying writing this blog!  It's so true and I KNOW there are plenty of you out there who have had this done.  Maybe you are the one racing me too? Who knows!  Either way thought it would be fun to share!! Be safe! ~ Smiley...

Hey Guys .. Took my little man to see the Extreme Makeover Home Edition jobsite today in Maynard!  I know our kids are in school this week but if you get out a little early one day .. you should bring the family!  There were hundreds of volunteers working.  Machines, cameras, lights, etc.
It was a great opportunity to teach my son about how selfless people can be, how to be a good contributor to your community, etc.  My son is a huge fan of the show and watches faithfully each week.  To be on the jobsite is an amazing experience.  We did visit the jobsite when they were they in Manchester a few months ago but still such an overwhelming, amazing experience!  ~smiley