Post Debutante 1984

So I was thinking back to my high school days because there was top 100 songs of 80's on VH1 last Friday night. R and I watched all three hours of it and reminisced about certain songs had certain meanings. But it also made me remember that I did not go to my senior prom. It was too hectic of a month with D & S getting married on the 17th and then "Le Cotillion Ball" was also in June. I could of gone to my prom but new it was added cost to my Mom and I was not interested in boys so had no one to ask. I did ask Randall Hall, who I knew from 2nd grade at Parker School. He would never of wanted to be seen with me, but thought he would do it as a friend. Looking back now, I probably should of asked the one guy that I did like and had a crush on. There was something about his smile that I still remember and not to mention his legs while playing soccer. Yes legs...I was still not interested in boys that much so legs was about the only attribute that didn't scare me. But he was Portuguese so he probably would of only gone to the prom with a Portuguese girl.
We will never know. Unless at next year's 25th Reunion Class of 84' he is there and I will ask him who he went to the prom with.
But back to "Le Cotillion" which was the one thing I was so excited about. It was finally my turn. I had remembered all the times I was left behind while Mom, Dad, Memere & Pepere and Uncle D etc all went in their tuxedos and long gowns with high elbow gloves on the ladies. It was so beautiful and this was finally my turn. I had asked Eric Z. to escort since he was a good friend and again...not into boys much back then. (who knew?) I looked MAH-Velous and the red carnations against the white gown where stunning. My brother D took my Dad's place while presenting me. I also had M on my other arm during the procession. I still know how to do the famous curtsy which we practiced over and over again. What a wonderful memory and again, I still don't think I missed out on the prom seeing how I had Le Cotillion in it's place. (plus the Standard Times had my picture in it!) Oh if only french teacher could hear me pronounce things now. J'taime Francais.
"I Can't Stop This Feeling Anymore"- REO Speedwagon played both at first wedding in 1989 and D & J's wedding in October one year later with Mr. Hebert's DJ service.

My First Hail Storm

It was so earie sitting on the balcony and watching the front move across the street with this weird orange haze on the horizon. The wind picked up and the rain started. Then it started hailing for a good ten minutes. I was telling R to get away from the windows, but he was more enthralled by the hail and what potential damage it was doing to his truck than me. I was cowering in the laundry closet with Brier. He even knew it was bad. We live up on third floor (top) in apartment complex so it was directly above us and loud. The awesome part was smelling pine afterwards. R called me outside to not only see the steam coming off the pavement but to smell the pine. Now I think snow is better because it falls softly but snow also accumulates quicker. Better hail for ten minutes than snow for ten hours.

Bob & Pete's yeah that was the name of the Fish & Chip place cousin use to work at. It use to be over on Richmond and Cedar and Mrs. Gadbois worked there. Then they moved down to County Street and it got huge. Never was a real spiffy place, but the Fish & Chips were great.
Fish Ahoy was right after that. Mike likes Boston Seafood and Judy likes the place on the Blvd next to Gary's hotdogs. I love my Cape Quality!!
So I was on my way to church when husband said I should call friend to see if she wanted to go to church with me. I said; "It's not my job to call her", and left for church. I sat near Cate and her friend from England who told me she ate Fish & Chips there during the week. I digress to remember why don't they call it that down here? It's all "Fish Camp" and who ever thought of that name?
So back to church and sitting in the very last row reminded me of my Mom. (And Dad always liked the back pew too) Father starts talking about the reading of how we are all Cornerstones of the church and where we are missing fellow members, that it is our responsiblity to seek them out and invite them back to church. It was like God was talking directly to me and saying, "It is your job to call her". Talk about guilt. Then I get home and tell R and he laughs saying you can't beat that for guilt trip. But it gets better... I tell her on Monday when I see her that R said I should have called her to go to church. I didn't get a chance to tell her about my message from God because she starts saying how she should have gone and wish I did call her. UGH!!!
Talk about miss the boat. Boy did I miss the chance to do God's work!

Fish is just not the same

Okay we got hungry for fish and finally ventured out to a Seafood Restaurant. No not the local Red Lobster which I refuse to eat at. It was a local place and quiet a few cars were in the parking lot. Blueheads were getting out so we figured it must be good. That is always a clear sign that both the food and price are good. Follow the blueheads!
It was All You Can Eat Baby Flounder. It didn't sound as strange as eating catfish, tilapia, or devil crab. I asked what is devil crab and she said it has stuffing inside. That sounds more like Stuffed Crab to me! I really will miss my "Cape Quality Seafood" on Dartmouth Street. If anyone plans on visiting us, it is required to bring scrod/cod, haddock or even balcahau down here!
Mom I really miss you. A good friend of mine just recently lost her 59yr old mother quite suddenly. It makes me realise how far away you are and how much just little things about you I miss. Mental note to ask Mom to write a little note to me about some memory she has of me growing up. I love her hands. She has those Man hands that when you hold them, they are not at all feminine and tiny. They actually have substance and always made me feel good. It sometimes was to grab my hand and lead me away from what I was looking at in Fernandes while food shopping. I still can't believe Fernandes is now the NB Police Dept.
Back to her hands...I want a cast made of her hands and although it is morbid, I have to ask JIII if Perry's ever did that (post-mortum). Otherwise I will have to try to convince her to make a cast now. Plus think about some quality you really love about someone you lost, and how often can you smell, see, hear, or hold that quality?
I love my Mom's Man hands but more I miss her. I joked with her last night that when she comes to visit we will have to hoist her up to third floor. She laughed and said that maybe by then she will have back surgery and be cured. My prayers are with her because if I could take away just one hour of her pain, I would offer anything to do that. :0

Some random thoughts
Today is Golive for new computer system here and I am so screwed up it is not funny. Balloons are swaying in the cold air draft being blown in my direction. Can this white tshirt go the whole day without a stain on it? Ask my Mom for some random story about me that she can recall in detail. MomD should move in with Sandy and get some happiness back in her life. I wonder how much weight SF will lose? I just ate four slices of pizza and know that was not healthy but it was free and that alone made me want to stuff more pizza in my face. Brier is not here to eat the crust though!
How much money will I get and how come Golf clubs cost so bloody much?

Better late than never

So here I am in South Carolina. We thought we had enough room to take the hunting, hockey, scuba gear along with all the fishing poles he has but alas...it was tight.
We left at 10pm under the full moon and drove almost all night. We stopped in NJ for 45minute nap and got back on the road. R drove all the way until Greensboro, NC and then I took over.
We had my car on the tow dolly we rented so it was nerve racking to drive between the lines with that on the back.
We arrived about 3pm and unpacked what we could. The good news was there was an open garage right across the driveway for our stuff.
Now after the movers came and unloaded us and we got everything mostly unpacked..it is beginning to feel like home. I still have pictures to hang but where we just signed a six month lease, not sure if we will extend or move again.
My job is exactly the same as Canton, except on the new system. It is even the same layout of my cube, which is on a corner so it feels like home. The team down here was very welcoming and friendly and I feel like one of them. They are all mostly new hires and were in class together so they bonded before I got here. But they consider me a Rockstar and ask me to join them for lunch.
Hubby got a job last week but he doesn't like it much. It is machinst but he told them he does not know CNC. He has to weld too but that is the part he likes. The company is German so they use the metric system and he is having a hard time getting use to that. Just waiting to see if this will be short or long term. I would rather have happy husband come home after work than one bitching and moaning about how he hates this and that.
I will try to blog more often now that I am situated. GOLive is next week and it will be tough to learn all the new account info.

Frazzled

So everything is coming quick with the move and packing has begun. We still haven't found a house to rent yet but know that it makes a difference in where we pick. If not we will end up in apt building with the others which is fine by me.

New Year Hope and Happiness to all

My New Year Resolution is to give God all the wonderful thanks for making my life so blessed and joyous. I have a lot of things to look forward to in 2008. The new move down to Spartanburg, finding a place to live, getting to know new people-neighbors, joining a church down there. It must be Mom talking and how I don't go to church often enough. I never feel "welcomed" but yesterday Deacon was talking about how every family is not a Hallmark card and your lucky even if you get a Hallmark card from family members. He was comparing The Holy Family to all of us and how no matter what our marital status is, as long as we go to church, we are a family (church family). Made me want to belong to their family. Father was thanking everyone for their generous gifts during the holidays and how much he appreciated all of them. It made me want to be one of the ones who likes their priest to give him a gift at Christmas.
But what I would really want, is to be able to accept Communion without feeling as if I was banished from church due to being divorced. I know I carry a mortal sin on my soul for being divorced. But where I want to experience the body and blood of Jesus in my soul, I don't know how else except through communion.
Is there any Catholic Church that accepts divorced people and lets them accept communion?

Hopes diminished

For the three gifts that God gave us...Hope, Faith and Love and the greatest of these is Love.
I am upset today because team member and his 6 month pregnant wife just lost the baby yesterday. I am beside myself to think and concentrate on anything. I can only imagine what they are going through. My prayers to God to heal and help them through is all I can do for them. It probably wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't the day after Christmas and all the hopes that they had talking to their extended families at Christmas. Also we just all saw her last Friday night at our team Christmas party. She had a little bump sticking out from under her babydoll shirt. He was talking yesterday morning about how he reached over and touched her belly in the morning and thought he felt it move. His whole face beamed when he talked about becoming a father. My prayer to God is to help this beautiful young couple face this together with love, strength and divine intervention.
My thoughts and prayers to restore their Faith, Hope and Love in their hearts.

Talk about Moody

WOW what I day I had yesterday. I could of strangled anyone who looked at me the wrong way.
It started in the morning. I had a whole outfit planned to wear to the corporate Christmas party. Nice black shirt put on, with knee highs and went to put the pants on. Too tight. Then I pulled out another pair of black/white check pants. Okay so far so good. Put the dog outside and felt a draft in my crotch. There was a whole in the pants. Now instead of taking off the boots to put on another pair of pants, I pulled out nice sweatpants and said, "the hell with it". I still had on nice jewelry and nice black shirt.
Work had me doing testing from 11am right through to 4pm, when the corporate party was suppose to start. They were raffeling off a 42 inch screen TV but your name had to be put in the raffle ahead of time. I missed out on that. I came back to my desk to find my team leaving for party. I know I would have emails that needed to be replied on. I called R to let him know how moody I was and that I was heading home. It was snowing too so didn't want to travel too late in the snowy weather. While driving home, R calls to ask if I want to go out to eat. Hell Yeah....sounds like a plan.
We went to Me&Ed's and loved my Open Face Sirloin Sandwich. I didn't overeat which felt good. In the middle of dinner, tears start welling up when I talk about how I am afraid he will leave me after we move to Spartanburg. He reassures me that together we will make it as long as we have each other.
I LOVE THAT MAN!

Sledding & Tobogganing

Mom still has all the old time sleds with metal runners in the basement. I think people use those more nowadays as decorations than anything else. Think of metal flying with small children around. Not too child proof. But then again a lot of things in the past were made and then kids were hurt using them.
I also saw the blue metal sled that was suppose to be like a cool new improved sled. But again...made out of metal.
So the best sled was the toboggan except you had to stick your feet out to slow you down and that would cause ligaments to be hurt.
I remember while dating ex-T, we bought a inner tube at Child's World (Pete the Panda face on it) and we went to New Bedford Whaling City Golf Course. It was dark out and he tried it first. He flew down the hill and couldn't stop. I was laughing so hard but then...he went off the edge of the hill. I starting running down the hill screaming his name worried in what condition I would find him. He was covered in snow and was so pissed off that was the first and only time down the inner tube. I think it might of even broke. It was during the 1985 inauguration for Reagan because the Marching Band was invited to march in parade and they were saying it was like -10 wind chill. For us to even think about going sledding was a crazy idea.
I also remember those metal disc that I think someone lubed up with ski wax to make it go faster. Crazy brothers of mine!

Whoopie Pies

Now I can remember being not a Girl Scout, but a Brownie and going to functions with the Brownies that required my mother to make something. She would ultimately end up making "Whoopie Pies". I would sometimes help but always remember getting to eat the odd top half that didn't have a bottom. She would make them about 3inches around and use both marshmallow fluff and Crisco shortening for the center cream. Yes I love whipped cream but to me, Whoopie pies have to be made Mom's way. Also size matters. I have seen the Whoopie Pie lady on Phantom Gourmet and would love to taste one of those to see if she uses whipped cream or what her centers taste like. (http://www.wickedwhoopies.com/) I also wonder if this is a New England regional recipe. Will the folks down in Spartanburg know what a Whoopie Pie is? Now I just have to write down Mom's recipe and try it out for myself. Not to mention the Pistachio Cake, Bea's Coffee Cake and all her Christmas Candy recipes.
The bake off went well. My Egg Nog Bundt Cake did not win but the winner was fabulous looking cake that used fondant. Not a big fan of fondant because I thought the Tree cake took more time and effort and was a little bit more creative. But since I was not a judge, the best one won.

Old Time Christmas

I think Christmas is all about anticipation.
I remember shopping for a new Christmas outfit. That is where the numerous trips to Star Store, Silversteins, Cherry & Webb all happened. That was long before the Mall was built.
I remember having to put our hair up in curlers on Christmas Eve for Mass the next day. I remember Mom and Dad showing us how baby Jesus was not in the creche yet and that he would be born on Christmas day. We always did an advent wreath and prepared for Jesus birth by praying near the manger.
I remember anticipating if Santa knew I was a good girl and that I would get gifts and if any of them would be from my list I made. I remember wondering if it was going to snow the next day and if we would have to drive to Uncle J & Aunt D in the snow. It was all about the anticipation of what was going to happen.
Christmas morning was chaos of all the kids upstairs waking each other up. Then we would have to wait until we heard Mom and Dad downstairs, but Dad was always awake making the bacon for breakfast. Once we came downstairs we were not allowed in the living room until we drank our orange juice and went over to the creche and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. Little traditions that are great memories to me. I wish for an Old Time Christmas again....

Things I need to get done

Flighty as I am, I need to get a few things done. Impending winter snow storm makes today a wash at things to get done. R's company Christmas party is tomorrow night and it start at 6:30pm. If I leave here at 5pm, pull into NB at 6pm, that means I have a half hour to get ready. Now is where the things I need start. I need an outfit, shoes, handbag, jewelry and not to mention terrific hairdo and makeup. I hate being a woman sometimes. I would wear a nice pant suit but I don't own one that fits. My gigantic belly (Get in my Belly!) makes the pants too tight.
I have to get Mom a real Christmas tree and if you read anything about buying a Christmas tree, it says to buy it, cut the end off, stick it in a 5 gallon pail of water for a week and then bring it in the house. I have a beautiful fake tree for my house that I love because it is a perfect shape you don't have to vacuum after you take it down. I hate to vacuum. It wouldn't be that bad if my vacuum worked good but it takes so much power to pick up a dog hair.
Then I am running the 5th Annual Bake-off here at work that will be held next Monday. I have to go out and get prizes by being creative and filling a few baskets with kitchen gadgets, cookbook, tea towels and whatever else Christmas Tree Shops have. Which is next door to Kohls where I am going tonight after work clothes shopping. Which if nothing fits, is next to Avenue big women's store that has snazzy outfits but out of budget. Which is near JCPenney where I could run in quick to get a trim/haircut for tomorrow but since they are starting to close schools early, I doubt they will stay open late.

Okay so was thinking about Star Store and how the redheaded lady would wrap our gifts and make her own pretty bows for them. I use to look at that lady and wonder if I was going to grow up and look like her. She always had a bob haircut with the ends rolled under and huge lipstick lips. She is the one who taught my Mom how to make a bow. Her wrapping booth use to be next to the Ladies Room. You had to pay a dime in order to get in a stall. But Mom would let us crawl under. That is gross nowadays. The toilets use to light up in purple to I think help dissenfect but never ever saw it at any other store. I use to love the way Downtown looked in full Christmas decorations and people passing by (just like the Christmas Carol). I remember going to Silversteins and playing under the cloths racks while Mom was shopping. It was always fun to see the brothers who were always nice to me.
I remember guy John who use to be like the Star Store cook down in the cafeteria. I would eat tuna fish with a coffee frappe and that was a special treat for sitting there watching either Memere or Mom get their hair done. That is another Ladies room I remember. It had a cranberry toilet and I use to like the crazy wallpaper in there. I have this thing for remember wall paper from my childhood of a all sudden. I remember the old wall paper in the upstairs hallway. It was ugly that is why I remember. I was going up in the attic last Saturday to take down Memere's Christmas wreath for Mom. I found a straw bag from Nassau, Bahamas and inside were all my wooden handle bag covers from the 80's! I brough them down and Mom said she just saw something in People Magazine that those were back in fashion. I took them home with me to start to be fashionable (HAHA me fashionable!)

Caroling etc

Remember Christmas long long ago when St. Anthony classmates of JIII came over and were singing Christmas Carols on our old porch. Mom I think let them come in and offered hot cocoa. Then I remember the "special" ball each one of us had and got our "Santa" present which turned out to be one thing we had on our list. Nowadays kids get everything on their lists and back then, with seven children, parents had little money to buy all seven us everything on the list. I remember copying the Sears catalog toy pages anyway. Holly Hobbie doll and roller skates were favorite gifts. I also remember going to bed anticipating Christmas day. My Mom and Dad ended up being so busy Christmas Eve filling 7 stockings with underwear, socks, and I always remember an orange sinking down to the toe of the sock. I wish I still got the underwear and socks because it wasn't until I was an adult that I had to buy my own and I didn't know my size.
I remember Mom singing with the choir "LORD OF LORDS..." which always made me smile because I could pick out her voice among the male Tenor/Baritones that she sang with. Mr. Ranville had the best voice along with Joe Scammons of course. I miss the old Sacred Heart Church and the warmth of the wood. Holy Name is so cold with the marble and although it is now our church, it doesn't feel right.

trying to keep blog up to date

so much has happened in little over a month with my life. Found out that my job was laying me off. Opening down in Spartanburg, SC doing same job but would have to relocate. Met with Spartanburg people and was more like an interview. They told my boss that I am very enthusiastic and want me to apply to ASR position. I did apply and next step was proposing a relocation package. I almost flipped when I found out it was same pay as I make now up in MA and they were giving a lump sum amount (cha-ching) to pay for the move. I started to reply yes...but said to talk it over with husband and get back to them next day. I called R. and asked him if he wanted to move...He replied, "Hell Yeah"!
They flew us down there two weeks ago for a look-see visit and fell in love with area and people. It was R's 40th birthday and the whole office filled out a card for him. Very thoughtful of them. I came home and signed the papers. Now it is up to find out when my start date is. It is going to be a brand new building and I am excited.
Going on Female Deer Hunt tomorrow with Becoming an Outdoorswoman. I hope I get one for some delicous venison.