Hello again...well I can not believe that it is November 13, Friday November 13!!!! I have had somewhat of a productive week...for my school, I sent a letter to an editor of a journal...I am hoping it gets published...I got a surprise from Dave yesterday...he left a nice bouquet of flowers...he left for San Diego for a guys weekend...I have a lot coming up...Dave will have surgery on Nov. 20th, Thanksgiving will be home this year, David and I are going to New York City on December 5th, I have four papers to finish, and then the holidays...oh not to mention ice hockey games...then on Dec 26th we are heading to California as a family..so it should be fun...Well until next time....

Halloween 2009

So today was a great day...got a lot done around the house and got icicle pansies for Dave to plant outside, I also bought two African Violets that he planted with the pansies outside...he dug them up...I clean the kitchen and did a science project with David and Timmy (David's friend)..we made glow puddy....the dogs were in their Halloween outfits, but Joci kept trying to eat Shula's cape....David went out as a marine...I did not get much in the way of school work done as of yet, but I still have time....Dave took DJ around the neighborhood..then we will be driving to other neighborhoods....Trick or treat....

Wendy

One week later, feeling better about school, worked out for 40 minutes this AM, but now have a headache that I can not shake it...I am going to bed....

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Totally distraught!!! I am trying so hard to work on things right now, I have writers and readers block!!!! Oh help!!! '
On the lighter side, we won our first game on Sat. We only had 9 players and a goalie!! We played so well together!!! So proud of my team.
Until next time...

Joci sleeping in her cage....
David getting a horse ride at our neighbors house...

Okay..so today is Saturday October 10th..this last week was a blurr...I am so far behind in my school work, it is not funny...but I will be okay...last week David got suspended from school for an unprovoked attack, AKA bodily assault. He saw kids playing chase and joined in, in the mist of the chase, he tackled another boy, unprovoked...as I feel that he should have had a punishment, I think an out of school suspension was not warranted. David was having fun, he said so, he did not do this maliciously. Also, to give a 4th grader a suspension, out of school, is not punishment..he was glad he was not in school...really what kid would not like this???? So not sure what will be next...on a lighter side, I have my first hockey game tonight..it is going to be tough with a lot of ice time since we only have like 10 skaters..fun fun...I have included a few more pics....

David at Gettysburg, riding the half track
David parachuting.....

David Parachuting

David's 1st day of 4th grade....

Okay...so I am going to try to post more...I want to blog about my journey in school. as some of you know, I started my PhD in nursing with a research focus in May, 2009. It has been tough. Last semester I took two classes, Statistics and basically a philosophy course. I got As in both classes!!! This semester, I am taking Nursing Science and Issues in Scholarship plus a one credit research practicum.

Issues in scholarship is very interesting. It teaches you how to be a PhD student. I am learning about how to write correctly via APA, how to write a letter to an editor, how to research a topic, and scholarly debate.

Nursing Science is all about theory development. So this course has been the thorn in my side. I do not feel that I am up to date in this class. We had a paper due on 10/15, and we all all struggling, so she moved it back to the 22nd.

Anyway, and on top of things, I am working fulltime at Reading and perdiem at Healthworks. I did give up quite a bit this semester and I will not be working so much perdiem this semester. I am also still playing ice hockey...had too knock some steam off some where...

Just wanted to thank everyone who has helped me so far...

Not been Around

Well...the summer has been going by real fast..I finished my 1st semester as a PhD studnet ( at least I think I did...hopefully my last paper was okay..I do not want to have to write it over)...I know I got a 97 in Stats....besides school , I have been working a lot at the casino and got a little break over the weekend and went to the beach...DJ and I went to cub scout day camp in July and Webelos Extended in August...more to come later..but for now, a few pics...

David at Day Camp 2009

Did you think DJ would not have an RPG? HA HA

Just after rowboats!!!

It has started...

Well...May started out with a bang..so to speak...David made his First Holy Communion on May 3rd...it rained that day, so we just went out for lunch with family and a few good friends...Thanks Jac and Ed for coming down!!!! Then I started teaching my course..Health Assessment...which has been going well...then Mothers Day came around and we had the rest of the family and David's friends over for a party ( for his communion)...the following weeks were uneventful...just working and getting ready for this week...wow this week has been very interesting...I am currently in Milwaukee starting my PhD program...I have meet 17 other people from around the world...yes one person is from Japan!!!! Others are from Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, Oregon, California, Illinois, Kansas, and Washington DC...We have very different backgrounds..but are getting along great!!! Waking up in this dorm room each morning is very surreal...In some ways I do not feel that I should be here....but everyone here at the school assures me that I can do it...they say if they can do it, so can we and we would not be here if they did not think that we could do it....so much stuff has gone on it is amazing!!!! Well..I am going to go and try to sleep for a bit longer....

Hockey and Scouts

Over the last week David went from being a Bear scout to a Webelo ( Zoo America from Hershey Park was there to show off some animals) and I played in an ice hockey tournament...I have been keeping real busy with work...I also went to a suturing class at Villanova...it was very helpful!!!! We won second place in the tournament and got really kool chairs with coolers on the bottom along with picnic stuff ( plate, napkin...etc...)...This week I am in between semesters at Reading so I will be working to get that started and working at Lehigh...The Flames Blue team has their party on Friday and David is making his 1st Holy Communion on May 3rd....lots to be done!!!!

Here is out team minus Colleen, Charlotte, and Deb

Collin, Timmy, David, Jarad

An Owl from Zoo America

Watching Zoo America present several different animals!!!

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Where Have The Days Gone????

Well...I have been too busy to write...our ice hockey team won the championship game! Awesome..we had so much fun!!! I have been working at Lehigh Valley and now the semester is over for spring and I start teaching summer session in less than two weeks....Easter was nice, we had our annual Easter egg hunt with our neighbors, the Booz family...DJ had to try to find his Easter basket by finding all the eggs the Easter bunny hid, and we went to Laurie's house for dinner...DJ is preparing for his 1st Holy Communion on May 3rd...so we have a lot going on and it is only going to get busier as I start school in May....

Some on our team celebrating!!!!!!!

David Preparing for his 1st Holy Communion ( he is the 3rd boy)

David and Hannah...they fit in it last year...HA HA

The Booz family

Egg Hunt at the Booz residence

David holding a found Easter egg....

I too have neglected....

Ocean City, NJ...weekend of Motley Crue Concert

David at the Antique Automobile Museum

Dad singing with Eddie and the Starlites...

So I have been pretty non-existent on my blog for over five weeks...but a lot has been going on..Reading hospital work has been busy since I am lecturing, doing weekly minutes, and getting ready for my course for the summer...I am doing time at LVH, working with DJ on numerous things such as homework and cub scout achievements...now we are looking at getting DJ tested for LD and ADHD....other things have occurred including our ice hockey team making the playoffs which are this weekend....Dave and I meet up with Michelle at the Borgota in AC to see Theory of a Deadman, Hinder, and Motley Crue...I got Nikki Sixx's guitar pic!!!!!! It was standing room only and I got way up towards the front...about two people were ahead of me..it was a great concert...We ate dinner together and then Michele left for home and we headed to OC, NJ for a weekend..we stayed at the Portofino right on the boardwalk...we had a nice view and a good time...we also did go back to Ac to play a little Texas Hold um...I lost...oh well...my dad also had another concert..this time at a Japanese steak house...it was great..but we went right from there to my neighbors St. Patty's day party...this past weekend, DJ and I went to the Antique Automobile Museum and Chocolate World with cub scouts...we had a great time looking at all the neat automobiles...and then to get chocolate...mmmmmm....but we had to leave early since we were headed to Delaware county for my brother in law's surprise 30th BD party...which now DJ wants to have a surprise 1st Holy Communion party...which is another thing..he makes his 1st Holy Communion on May 3rd...so we are having a party for him..not surprise since he already knows about it...but he says he will forget...Ha..anyway..done for now....

Day 3...our Final Full Day

Jake and I

No....I would not really do this....see he is smiling

DJ and the Grinch

The Grinch and I

DJ took this picture...he did a great job taking pictures....

David

Spidey, DJ, and I

Spiderman talking to DJ about his Valentine....

Well day three and our final full day in Orlando..we are set to go to Universal all day and to see the Blue Man Group at 9 PM...well I woke up at 3 AM and I think that all the excitement did not allow me to fall back asleep...so what did I do? Checked my balances on all the gift cards that we got ( about 12 of them), played DS, read my book...The Gate House, played solitaire, watched the weather, etc....I never went back to sleep and by the end of the day I was quite tired and up for over 21 hours...but I still had a great time...after getting to Universal, we stopped in at the City Walk reservation table and got a 7 PM reservation at the Latin Quarter then headed into the Islands of Adventure....we again got the Express Pass, but for both parks this time and I started out doing the Hulk ride...by myself of course...it was great, I kept my eyes closed until the first loop, then I was okay, but that first jolt got me...I had fun..we then next went to the Spiderman ride, it was great..3 D and then as DJ and I went to visit Spiderman himself, Dave went on the Doctor Doom's Fearfall...which he said pretty much sucked....then we went off and met up with Popeye and Olive, and Betty Boop, Dave then went on the Jurassic Park ride alone as DJ and I tried to go on the Pteranodon Flyers, but it was a 75 minute wait for an 80 second ride, with no Express Pass, so we then went in Camp Jurassic and played...DJ found a friend, Mark, and they ran around for a while before we met back up with Dave and ate lunch. After lunch, we walked around to Suess Landing , met the Cat in the Hat and the Grinch...we went on the High Train in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride and finally went on the Cat in the Hat ride..then we left Islands of Adventure and went back to Universal Studios....DJ loved the Simpson's ride so much that we went there first then off to MIB...then DJ and I went to E. T. as Dave went to Jaws...finally we did go back to Jimmy Neutron and tried to see Twister, but it was closed..they are building the new Rip Ride RockIt roller coaster right behind Twister, so I guess that is why it was closed....Dave then went to the car as DJ and I went to see the Blues Brothers show and we went back to Jimmy Neutron..as the day winded down, Dave decided to go onto the indoor roller coaster, The Revenge of the Mummy..which surprised me quite a bit, but I want to go too...I knew that DJ would not do it, so DJ stayed in the kid swap as Dave and I went on the ride...one of the operators said to hold onto my glasses, which made me nervous, so I took them off and of course was unable to see a thing...which might of been good...but it was fun anyway...our day ended with a nice dinner at the Latin Quarter and then we saw the Blue Man Group...they were great and funny...we all enjoyed them...they performed for about 1 hour and 45 minutes...then it was off to the hotel and sleep....

Day Two....Magic Kingdom

Buzz and DJ

DJ

On Main Street

The Castle

Day two...we went to Magic Kingdom for a day...Sunday February 16th..very disappointing....we decided to go a bit later and sleep in since it was open till 1200...when we got there...we had to park, take the tram, get the tickets ( even though I ordered them online, I still had to wait 45 minutes in line), get in line for the monorail...which DJ of course wanted to sit in the front, we had to wait for 6 trains to go by and when we got in it smelled bad...then wait in line to check my camera bag and then in line to get into the park...so needless to say things did not start so well...although we did get to see the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade which was fun...and DJ did get a birthday pin since he just turned 9 on the 5th...but we were so spoiled at Universal with the Express pass, that we did not want to wait in the lines....we were able to get a fast pass for the Buzz Lightyear ride....but all we could think about is how much better MIB ride at Universal was...better effects...and cleaner...yes we felt that Disney..at least Magic Kingdom was dirty....we did see the new Monster Inc's Laugh Floor..it was funny...we did go on the newer improved Its a Small World, Stiches Great Escape, Mad Tea Party, Mickey's PhilharMagic, and we toured the Swiss Family Treehouse. DJ ended up meet a friend from Camp Adahi...Brad...wierd..huh...anyway..we also did not like the tons...and I mean tons of strollers...there was not as many at Universal...but Disney is geared to the young ones...cause we were so disappointed, we left early, we thought about going back to Universal for another Mardi Gras parade and to see the Village People, but we felt that a nice dinner and swim in the hotel pool was better for us..so that is what we did..and it was very relaxing....I was tired and got to bed by 1000...but for some reason woke up at 3 Am and did not go back to sleep...more to come...

Orlando 2009 Part One

DJ Playing at Nascar

Mardi Gras Parade

Universal Sign

Shaggy, DJ, Dave, & Scooby

Well we made it to Orlando on Friday night, Feb. 13th...yes I flew on Friday the 13th...but it was great...we were able to upgrade to business class which made DJ happy cause he got all the free soda and chips...I also got a few complementary drinks....but so we landed in Florida by 1000 PM and off to the car and hotel...we were hungry, so the best place (Ha Ha) was Denny's...so we had a bite to eat then off to bed as for our next few days would be very busy...we got up and out of the hotel by 1030 on Sat and headed to Universal...after parking and getting our tickets, we realized how valuable our time was and waiting in line for 40-75 minutes for each ride would not help, so we decided to pay the extra 25.99 per person to get Express Pass...this allowed us to ride each ride once by skipping lines....well worth the money...we went on just about all the rides that had the Express Pass....we did Jimmy Neutron, Sherk 4-D, the new Simpson ride ( took over what used to be the Back to the Future ride), MIB, E.T., Jaws, Diaster ( which scared the bajeebees out of DJ, but don't tell him I said so...LOL), we saw Beetlejuice and Monster's Live Concert, the Animal show and I think that is it...we tried to then eat at Nascar, but time was limited and the Mardi Gras Parade was set to start at 8 PM and we wanted the best seats...which was where the parade passes you twice...it was great...we got over 100 beads between the three of us...after the parade, DJ and I danced to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons..then headed off for the hotel...Day one down...will update Day two next time....

FREEZING

Well...haven't blogged for a few days...okay like almost two weeks...so I did start my job at LVH and I love it and know that soon I will be great at it...I hope...We had some hockey games and we are in 1st place for now...we beat the South Jersey Demons and Bridgewater Wings...both very tough games, but I thought we really played hard as a team and look froward to playoffs in April...we only have two season games left, today and 2/21..so unfortunately we have a lot of time off...but hopefully we will get a chance to play a few scrimmages or even a tournament...Last Sat at our game against the Demons, my Dad came to watch...I got a penalty that really wasn't mine...really... they called on me, but I was like 12 feet from the play...then I got a penalty that I deserved, but I was stopping a breakaway..anyway my Dad then took DJ and I out for lunch...Dim Sum from Chinatown...it was great then off to deliver Joe Corbi's pizzas to friends and family...then on last Sunday after our game against the Wings, I went out with team for dinner...see pics...We had a good time...today DJ had Klondike with his cub scout pack...I manned the First Aid Tent with Lorna..we had fun even though it started out as 14 degrees without the windchill...but it really was not all that bad where we were..and we had a tent that helped too...Lorna and I showed the dens how to make a stretcher (see pics) and all about how to treat cuts, nosebleeds, snakebits...ect...it was fun and I bought along fake wounds from my work...well that was my two weeks in a nut shell...of to rest up for my game tonight...