Scenery Shots

Penn's Landing, Philadelphia

City of Brotherly Love

Liberty Bell

Good point...

Self Explanatory

More than one way to get around

Bend in the road

Lancaster County in PA has 29 covered bridges

Water Under the Bridge

Chocolate Production Lines... Simulated

Steps to Yale, New Haven, Conn.

Swan Feather, Atlantic Ocean, Conn.

Sea Froth

Beach

Guess NYC is trying to cut down on the noise levels

Lady Liberty

Lower Manhattan

Park Next to the Susquehanna

Stauffer Park

Pet Cemetery in Stauffer Park

Acorn in Stauffer Park

Flower in Stauffer Park

Railroad through Roots Farmer's Market

Drive to Hanover, Pa

Silos on the way to Hanover

Stairs at Gettysburg

Gettysburg

Gettybsurg

Gettysburg

Next to the Cemetery in the Town of Gettysburg

Location of the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln

Near the location of the Gettysburg Address

Date from Hell

This is April's b'day present... she wanted me to post this story:

I think one of my unspoken jobs as the token divorcee is to remind my friends and family members of how grateful they are to be married and not trying to navigate the crazy dating world.

I am a single mom and I work full time. That’s like two full time jobs right there plus all the other stuff I do. So every so often, I feel like I need to start going out again so I sign up for an online dating sight. Online, I think there’s three types of guys. 1) guys that look but never talk to you; 2) guys that email but never seem to make it past pen pal; 3) guys that ask you out. So when a guy falls into the third category, I get excited. It gets to be difficult being a pen pal to so many people and keep them all straight and not get totally bored in the meantime.

So this guy emails me and says he wants to talk so I give him my number and he calls. We talk for about 10 minutes and set up a date for Saturday – the standard dinner and a movie. Great! I’m excited.

The next day, he starts texting me. It’s a Friday. I’m at work but I have moments where I can’t use my computer because I’m running processes so I try to text him as I have a minute here or there. So in one of the texts, he says he went to be diagnosed for ADD but the top doctor just told him he’s a genius; I of course think he’s being funny. He also tells me about the house he owns in the Cayman Island and goes deep sea fishing and scuba diving all the time and promises that if I play my cards right, I could be a part of his trips. He then talked about me giving him a kiss and I did point out that if cards are to be played right, it would be him playing his cards right if he wanted a kiss.

At some point, he decides that he must see me Friday night even though we planned our date for Saturday and wants to know if I can meet up with him after 10. I tell him no (I’m thinking HELL to the No.) I had plans – girls’ night out – and wasn’t interested in breaking them to see him one day sooner. Plus, I read somewhere that you should never make yourself available like that to guys. His last text of the day is to let me know that this is going to be a casual affair and I should wear jeans. Ok, I was planning on it anyway.

Finally, it’s Saturday night and I’m in my closet looking at the clothes. I’ve realized I do not want to wear something… well, too nice. I’m already feeling a little nervous because he seems fixated on getting me to kiss him. Well, honestly, I expect that from most dates (and usually, that doesn’t bother me) but the fact that he’s being so absolutely blatant about it makes me nervous about how forward he’s going to actually be on the date. I want a guy that is respectful and this is not looking promising. I end up trying on three different shirts, afraid that each one is too sexy until I finally settle on something still probably too nice but without just wearing a t-shirt, I don’t know what else to put on.

I head out. We’ve agreed to meet up at the movie theater. I get there and kinda know who I’m looking for. I have noticed guys don’t really look like their pictures. I spot him and it looks like he’s wearing a polo from the 80’s. And his jeans are ripped. As in worn 50 times too many, not the hot acid wash jeans – and isn’t that look only for females or skinny, hot metro-sexual or gay males, which he is not.

I walk up to him and introduce myself. He stands up and starts poking me in the arm. Okay, I expect that from my dad but not from a guy I’ve just met. We go to the cashier and he gets the tickets for the movie. We go find our theater and as we are walking in, he has his Blackberry out and is showing me pictures of his four kids. They are actually quite cute!

The movie starts and he immediately starts talking about the actors, what other movies they’ve been in, what TV shows they’ve been in. He starts trying to make jokes about the TV series “The Office” and seems to get a little upset when I don’t get them, because after all, I told him that I like to watch “The Office.” At some point, he even asks me to explain part of what is going on. I shushed him once and he thought it was so cute that he asked me to do it again. Plus, the whole time, he keeps trying to play with my hand and even makes a few grabs at my legs. He asks me, “so when should we start making out.” Ok, call me an ungrateful date, but I actually want to see this movie! Shut up and keep your hands to yourself!

The movie ends and he asks me if I want to go grab something to eat. I haven’t ended too many (ok any) dates early so I’m a little unsure of what to do. So I just tell him that sure, I would like to grab dinner. He asks what I want. So I ask what’s around there and he asks what I want. I ask again what’s around there and he asks what I what. So I ask him what is available in our vicinity and he asks what I want. I’m ready to shoot myself in the foot. Finally, he just decides and we start heading to the place.

He keeps asking if I’m having fun or if I want to go home so finally, I tell him that maybe I would like to go ahead and go home. He asks me where I parked and we head that way. He asks me where my son is and I totally lie and tell him he’s with a sitter (which technically, his dad is kind of a sitter.) We talk about kids until we get to the car. He tells me, “You can kiss me if you want.” I want to get in my car and get away from his as fast as possible. I give him a quick peck on the cheek, thank him, and drive off.

I went straight to my favorite restaurant and took myself out to dinner. I deserved it after that. Now I want to see that movie again because I’m interested to know if turns out different without an ape sitting next to you trying to put his ADD moves on you all night.

So if you’re reading this and your married, here’s your reminder of why you work so hard to make it work with the one you’re with!

Reunion

Well, we just had the 10 year reunion and it was a lot of fun. I wouldn't want to go through high school again but I'm grateful I went where I did and had the friends I did. It wasn't really until seeing the Senior video though that I realized how much I had changed.

Here are some of my senior pics (done by my brother):

And here is me at the reunion (Janell, me, Angela, and Cari):

Haha it's funny! Guess I got growed up after all!

Here's everyone:

It was fun! It was really good to see evyerone!

Quick Warm Fuzzy Post!

I just got an email from my ex and he’s getting married!! Now I know of stories where the ex gets married and it makes life worse… but I am holding onto hope something awful here that this will make things better. I hope he treats her good. I think the start of every relationship has the potential to be good and I hope she has the self-respect to make sure he treats her good and I hope he loves her enough to be good to her. This is her pic that I stole off facebook... my son's soon to be step mom. Hey no Z and I have even more in common!

On a side note – I hope they have lots of babies and soon! I hope he gets so busy with his life that he butts out of mine. I hope he always stays involved with Z and that Z always has a home and love and peace with his dad.

I just feel so warm and fuzzy inside I had to share!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!

Uncle Sam

I've been meaning to do this for a while. These pictures are from Whit's wedding in July. The first one I took but the rest, my Uncle Sam took. I left my camera at the table and this is what I came back to:

(blushing, er, um... bride?)

(self inflicted - nice posing, eh?)

(more self-inflicted)


(in case you couldn't tell... it's M&M's)

(seriously, self inflicted... i think he was getting bored, no?)

(in case you were wondering what his nostrils look like!)

(this is my aunt and uncle's hands - from what I understand - this pic was taken to compensate for the one they did at their wedding... apparently the original didn't meet/exceed expectations)


That's my Uncle Sam. He's a great guy and I'm glad he's my uncle. He has a great sense of humor and it has been a great support to me and I'm glad to be living by him and his family. Just don't leave your camera unattended :)

Vacation

I'm tired and worn out. I'm fighting an uphill battle against a man who, if he were to just be a decent person and stop trying to bully his way to everything he wants, would find he could end up with a lot more.

I just got weaseled out of getting time with my son on his Fall break. One whole week and I don't get a minute of it. So fine. A week where I can't be with my son; I've already taken the vacation time at work... I'm going on vacation. One where I wish my son would be with me but since he can't be, I'm going to enjoy myself like crazy. Fly into DC, jump over to PA, do a day trip to NY, stop by MD and back to DC to go home... maybe hit up another state or two while I'm at it cuz, hey why not.

I'm lucky to have friends that are willing to let me crash their couches. I LOVE the east coast and would live there if I could. But since I can't... at least not right now, I get to enjoy it short spurts. Not gonna ruin my fall break.

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

Ok so I'm sure you know... but in case you don't, my mom died of pancreatic cancer more than 4 years ago. In the time since then, I've learned a lot about this disease and have dedicated a portion of my time to trying to fight the fight against it. That includes informing the public - including doctors, patients, and the general public; trying to inform elected representatives about the disease and encourage them to increase federal funding to support finding a cure; and helping to raise money for the direct support of curing this disease.

(my mom.... um, before she died... with Z!)

In Tucson, I worked with a national group and ran a local chapter. When I moved here, I joined the local chapter but in more of a background role. After a year here of doing nothing, they switched up the way it was going here and I'm now leading the group again with another gal.

(the group I work with - http://www.pancan.org/)

We had our first event tonight. We were a part of the Chandler Art Walk, which is held the first Wednesday of every month in downtown Chandler. One of the regular artists (Troy) was recently diagnosed with stage IV cancer and so the group dedicated the night to him and he asked us to share in that.

(Troy, the artist facing this fight)

We had a table set up with flyers and balloons and just spent the evening mingling and trying to talk to people about pancreatic cancer. This can be a very hard thing to do. So at some point, I determined that I would just try to hand out purple ribbons. It doesn't matter if people wear them or not, at least they stopped long enough to glance at our really fancy purple table cloth with the words "Pancreatic Cancer Action Network" on it. Maybe it will stick with them and if they or someone they know need it, they can come looking for us. Some took it and kept walking, others actually stopped. Almost everyone that did stop knew of someone who had died of it. It's so sad.

(purple ribbon... you want one? It's for pancreatic cancer... 4th leading cause of cancer death in the US... research at the same level as breast cancer in the 1950's...)

Then it got really fun. Z was there with me and I admit, he was a bit bored. He had been digging in some rocks looking for an ant to be a friend (yes, he does have normal human friends) when he noticed what I was doing. He totally wanted in on that. So he started handing them out and asking pretty much every person that walked by if they would like a purple ribbon. One lady thought he was holding a bug and she really freaked out. It was really fun! He was so excited about it and into it. I had explained to him that I was there because I didn't want other people to get sick and die like my mom did and he really seemed to take it to heart. What a sweet and loving little boy I have. He made the night wonderful!

(you read it, stand up)

Another funny side note. The gal I'm doing this with is about my dad's age and she lost her husband to this. So she was there with us tonight as well (in fact - she did all the table set up and stuff! She's awesome!) Well at one point, we had this guy come along who smelled of alcohol but was insisting that he was a gastrointestinal doctor and that he could give either one of us a biopsy right there, with his eyes closed. He said he was a photographer but did doctor stuff on the side. One polite smile from her and he had a duffle bag out of no where with all his photography stuff spread out all over our table. I felt bad at the end of the night slipping off early to get Z into bed and leaving her with her new "boyfriend" but she's tough and I think she handled it just fine.

It was a good night. Sad to see Troy looking sick and hearing the slur in the voice that seems to accompany those with severe illnesses. But glad to be out with my boy, doing something in honor of my mom, just trying to make a difference and maybe helping make it possible for someone else, somewhere, to not have to die of this particular form of death.

(keep the memory alive... yeah... jazz hands)