Category Archives: Sean

Portraits

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A friend of Sean’s took some photos of him for an assignment. I think these are great! Thanks Sarah (hope she doesn’t mind I copied them). These were take up in State College. Makes me miss him even more!
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He added his Vegas shots too:
He likes this one the best:
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The Sahara
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The Venetian

Flying solo on Sunday

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I just talked to Sean about 11:50 est (Sunday) and he was waiting on his luggage out in Las Vegas! He had 12 hours of travel today and is beat. He left State College and drove himself and two buddies to the Pittsburgh airport. The flight was delayed about 1 hour 45 minutes. So the entire day his dad and I were on pins and needles as this was Sean’s first non-family air flight (He’s only been on 3 other plane trips in his life). Here’s where we watched the progress of his flight:
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As you can see, they were flying over the corner of Texas at the time of this screen capture. He flew through 9 states. Knowing Sean, if he could, he would have wanted to stop and check each one out if he had the time.
I’ll keep you posted on his trip. It’s a conference/job fair for Geography majors.
My mom and her friend Jim stopped by for a little bit today. We weren’t very good hosts as we were waiting for Sean to board the plane. After dinner, we ran down to the grocery store and it was pretty much empty. Bri will have my van again, so I wanted to get shopping out of the way.
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My nephew K. enters the teen years today. Hope he has a great 13th birthday. Even though Sean doesn’t have any siblings, he has watched K and T grow up and they really like their cousin.

St. Paddy’s Day

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Being married to a man with an Irish first and last name and naming our son Sean Matthew, you know we like to at least eat corned beef and cabbage today! Sean just called and didn’t even wear anything green today! Shame on him! I have this cutest green tam that I haven’t posed in yet-neither would the guys!

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(Had to take my own photo!)

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Missed posting yesterday as I had to go down to my hometown and drop my van off so my brother Ken, the mechanic could inspect it. There are a few things I asked him to check out. It’s 13 yrs old and I don’t trust other places with it. Sean’s car was just inspected down the road from here and he said it was giving him a little trouble starting. He tried it this morning and it turned over right away. He needs to make sure it’s fine as he is driving 3 hours to the Pittsburgh airport on Sunday to go to Las Vegas with his Geography group for a conference.

My sister-in-law did my hair yesterday and then I went to my mom’s. My second brother is getting ready to move in and he and my other brother’s family were cleaning out rooms over the weekend. They had quite a task and I wish my basement looked like mom’s-they did a good job. Of course she is complaining about not being able to find things that she hasn’t been interested in for years.

All that made me want to do a little dusting and straightening up tchotchkes here and I’ll work on doing more of that since I can’t go anywhere. I’ve had some muscle spasms in my tummy that have come and gone for years-not sure why it does that, but usually a Tylenol will calm it down. But it usually spasms around 6 in the morning, so I’m wondering if I’m just hungry? I looked it up and seems it may be associated with IBS. I remember it happening way back in 1997! The doctor was no help-I saw I posted about it back in 2006. I’m not in pain, it just moves by itself like a baby kicking-I call it alien gut. My one friend said it could be scar tissue from my 6″ long gallbladder scar rubbing on the muscles. Wonder if a tummy tuck would help? : )

I’m going to toss the corned beef in the pot shortly and add cabbage too! Have a great day.

Another good-bye

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I’m never going to get use to these blasted departures, especially knowing Sean will be almost across the country next Sunday. It’s gotta be, can’t keep them little forever. Now I know why Brian use to say he’d hate it when Sean grew up.
Bri said we could go out to eat tonight-so that will be within the next hour or so I guess, a nice consolation prize-not having to cook!
I was looking at the People magazine ‘Style Watch’ edition and thought ‘I’d recommend’ (it is Sunday and that’s my usual time to write about things I like or have read). So here are the style trends for Spring 2009-Anything with a ‘mini floral’ pattern-dresses, tops, skirts. Funky Little House on the Prairie wear!
Hobo bags-I actually just bought one-not very springlike-it’s black, but I know I have a big pink one somewhere too.
Ruffles!!! There are some really cute examples in the magazine-I like the ruffles pulled to one shoulder and the vest with the tiny ruffles on the bottom.
Utilitarian-uniform like details-shown is an Ann Taylor silk camp shirt which is pretty but pricey.
Neon!!!Mostly shown are purses, shoes, jewelry and clothing with a neon trim. You don’t want to look like you escaped prison in a neon orange jumpsuit!
**My Favorite**-Cool colors-they are calling them lagoon blues-gorgeous shades. I have a purse my mom gave me in a cool shade like shown.
Not boring beiges Also like this color palette, crisp and clean looking.
Other popular accessories:
Textured bags
Exotic heels
Gold shoes (glad I kept those gold  sandals I hardly wear)
Statement necklaces (Zoey should be happy about this one-I love necklaces too).

Sean did get a lot of work finished this break, including a long paper about Vikings which I proofread-all 13 or so pages! I have done his proofreading throughout school and I really wish he would learn to sit down and figure out what sounds good and what doesn’t.  Not to say I didn’t mind helping,but this is definitely an area he needs ‘to grow’ in.

Mainly chillin’

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Since Sean is home and probably won’t be home again for a month, I have been on vacation myself. : ) Well, I want to spend time with him. We both are still tired from the very full day Sunday. I haven’t uploaded all my flower show photos yet, but will be finished soon.
I woke up with a ‘helium’ head and had to take a nap in the afternoon. Our temps here keep going from the 60s to the 40s to the 60s-not good for me. I really think I need to get outside now, move more and get fresh air. I’ll be going to Longwood Gardens a few times in the next few weeks to see their orchid display and attend their orchid sale.
The guys went over to see Bri’s dad tonight. I worked on a few art card swaps. We were going to get some favorite hoagies for dinner (I take a break from cooking too) and they were all out of rolls! What! So I had to order from another place which isn’t as good.
Sean ran the vacuum around for me earlier which is nice. Guys are good at vacuuming because of their strong arms.
My mom is over my uncle’s house for a few days-with the puppy. My uncle is use to peace and quiet and isn’t enjoying having Kelsey around. Mom went over to food shop and cook for him. His neighbor was sick, so he couldn’t help my uncle out this week.
My cross stitched pieces are framed at JoAnn’s, so we’ll go down there on Thursday to retrieve them-so excited! I just finished ‘Herb Garden’ a small piece by Shepherd’s Bush I did on linen. I figure I started it at least 4 yrs ago. I did the best I could do with the satin stitch:
herbgLet me know if you’d like the chart.

So that’s all I’ve been doing! Hope all is well.

One of the newest PHS members!

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I did join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society this morning-actually it’s a ‘dual’ one and for a year’s membership, we got two free flower show tickets ($26 each!). We were all dressed and ready to go at 10:30 (the daylight savings messed us up) and Brian couldn’t get a hold of his dad. He tried for an hour and the answering machine kept coming on. So Brian didn’t get to go to the show and Sean and I decided to at least go to my mom’s and wait to see what was going on. Here he was sound asleep in his bed, the phone was in the other room, the tv was blasting downstairs and the stove was left on. Brian had to physically shake him to wake him up! He said he’s always been a sound sleeper, but I’d say the phone must have rang 100s of times and he didn’t hear it! The next room isn’t that far away. We thought he had fallen down.
We took my mom again (she had gone with my brother Don on Thursday) and Sean got the student price. My membership and tickets were waiting for me at the booth in the convention center. I thought for sure I’d have to wait to use them next year as it said I had to give them 24 hours to process. Before we went into the show, we ate lunch in the Reading Terminal Market-such a bustling places with lots of sights and sounds. I will share a few photos, but need to upload over 100 on Flickr during the upcoming week.
Mom and me in front of an awesome exhibit mainly with orchids in test tubes:
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This is a neat one:
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The show had an Italian theme and there was lots of gorgeous statuary:
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I can’t forget Sean!
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And this is one of the miniature shadow boxes-all the tiny plants have to be real!:
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My brother Don was at my mom’s and he treated us to a nice dinner up in our hometown. It turned out to be an adventurous day for sure!
I made a video too and will edit that sometime this week too-all the water features are on it plus a silly son!

Winter-beat it!

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I shouldn’t complain because two of my bloggy friends up north have been really dumped on by snow this winter. My Chicago pal has too. We’ve had about 6″ of snow, which is about right. It’s the wind and cold that goes right through you. I need to go to the food store, but the above is stopping me-I’m wimping out. : )
So it is ‘business as usual’ at Bri’s work. They and the Philly Inquirer both filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Day by day! Thanks for your concern and well wishes.
Tonight after I made a bacon, asparagus and red potato frittata (have a little heartburn), I got to work emptying one of my best clothes baskets that had stuff dumped in it-for almost 3 yrs. I don’t know why I let that go, but I am bound and determined to make that basement more presentable. Here all the paperwork for the kitchen remodel was in it! I was looking for that as the garden window leaks-hope it’s still under warranty. Water leaked in when Bri used the hose on it a year or so ago. Did they not seal it? My plants seem fine, I even had an orchid bloom.
My mom got a bump on her leg when my brother went to get her at the ER going on 3 weeks ago. He didn’t help her get in his truck. It scabbed over and now there is a raised bump on it. I am taking her to the doctor on Thursday to get it looked at. She said she fell down when going to use the bathroom last night too-lost her balance. I think she needs Gatorade or something. She’s ok. Constant worry.
Less than a month and Sean will be in Las Vegas on his school trip! He got a great deal and is excited about his first trip out west. I’ve never been out west myself.

He comes and goes so quickly

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Sean was home from late Friday until 2 pm this afternoon. It was a way too short visit, but I loved seeing him as usual. He looks good. We took him along to a restaurant where a group of my old high school classmates were suppose to be and we didn’t see anyone. We left before the band started at 8:30 as it was snowing like crazy and very dark out. We almost didn’t get dinner there as you suppose to have reservations, but they ‘gave us’ a canceled one and then handed us a Valentine’s menu that was $29.95 a person. Bri’s face fell a mile! We saw people eating pizza, so we asked and got their regular menu-sneaky!
Not much happening other than my brother got a lot of my mom’s basement cleaned out-he hired someone. Out of the living room went the old electric organ my grandmom traded for the piano back in about 1970 or so. I was just learning to play the piano, but I did alright with easy songs on the organ. Many of the notes didn’t work anymore and mom never played it. Without my grandmom using it, mom lost interest.
Have to call about text messaging tomorrow as Sean went bonkers doing so and our bill was high. Also have to call about Bri’s last bloodwork as the insurance said they weren’t paying for more than half-a lot-will have to get the doctor’s office to resubmit it. Both of the above put a damper on yesterday. Wish us luck!
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A little ‘I recommend’-be sure to check on the packaging on your favorite food and look at their website, especially if they are locally based. They may have some good recipes to share. Here’s locally produced Herr’s Potato chips (and other snacks) website with some yummy sounding recipes.

Ten on Tuesday

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Name 10 of your favorite articles of clothing (I don’t have that many individual favorites):
1. Hand knit socks made from Rachel in Germany that need to be darned again as I wear them so much!
2.My fluffy pale yellow bathrobe with the big, pale blue stars
3.My brown corduroy car coat. I liked it so much I got another car coat the color of my avatar’s coat!
4.I had a pair of mocha color Liz Clairborne slacks that fit me so well and I got bleach on the front of them and ruined them
5.Black cashmere long sleeved v- neck sweater
6.I heard velour was in style again, so I dug out these gray ones I had and have been enjoying wearing them again
7. Lane Bryant makes the best jeans shorts for ladies my age-well all ages-they are a little longer. They have elastic waist bands, I love them
8. My assortment of wool berets
9. My assortment of frilly little summer skirts-I do prefer skirts in the summer
10.My tan colored overalls shorts
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Yesterday, I went to see my mom and her puppy Kelsey-that little squirt! He is full of energy and needs constant attention. Mom was letting him walk her! We dropped some stuff off at the Goodwill and I found some treasures which I will share in future Show and Tell’s. We went in a dollar store and they had all kinds of dog toys, so mom got Kelsey about 5 new ones-i.e.-a long bunny without stuffing and a squeaker in the head. He was shaking the heck out of it and found the squeaker right away.
Also took mom to an early dinner at the Outback Steakhouse. She sure looked like she needed a good meal, she is so thin. She had pork tenderloin with an apricot sauce and I had peppered strip steak on top of potato wedges. It would have been nice to give me a green veggie too. Mom gave me some of her green beans.
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Woke up to about an inch of snow. I need to go clean off my van. Did I tell you both my side mirrors fell off within a few days of each other? I got double-sided sticky tape and the one is fine, but Bri pieced the other back on-we need to get a new one cut.
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Sean had a Book of the Month Club package arrive here yesterday. The trouble is, he didn’t order it! We are concerned as his debit card was used without his knowledge to pay for the book. The company canceled his ‘membership’ and his bank said they would look into it.
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Have you been in this situation-you see a doctor that you don’t like and want to switch to an associate? I called the GI associates today and the lady on the phone said I should really see the doctor first that I want to switch to. I think he would just agree with the other doctor, since they are associates! To go to ‘specialists’ it cost $40. Not to worry, I want to get the bloodwork that was ordered back in November out of the way and I questioned the above.