Christmas

Christmas at Casa Myers was good. The kids got soooo much toys and are very happy (I think!). We have been having fun watching Dylan playing with his new guitar.

Yesterday we had Christmas with the Bah Humbug family (MIL's sisters and their families). Needless to say, that will be the last time we do that. They are a bunch of cold, cheap asses. I might come back at another time to vent, but I fear that if I type it out now, I'll appear to be a greedy, bitch, so I'll vent when I calm down. Here's a picture of Marissa from last night though---'Nuff Said!

Santa & School Pictures

Friday night we were at Wildwood Highlands for Dinner with Santa. It was great because it wasn't so crowded. Buffet dinner, access to Soft Play area, tokens for games and picture with Santa. Deb and CJ were there too and we got to talk while the kids played.

I'm so glad that it wasn't so crowded. I thought there would be more families there.

Everything went well until Dylan got slammed by a bigger kid in the ball pit. Ended up with a bloody nose, poor guy.

Link to pictures of the kids with Santa, our Christmas Card picture and their school pictures from 2007 and 2006...wow how they have changed in 1 year!

http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k160/dcmyers/santa%202007/

Wedding Pictures

of Marissa

New York! Just Like I Pictured It!

We had a great weekend in NY. We arrived on Friday and hung out with my brother at his place. Had VERY VERY VERY good Pizza---yummy NY Pizza is the best!

Saturday me, Larry and the kids took the train down to NYC. Metro North into Grand Central. It was in the 40's but cloudy and windy, so we bundled up. Marissa had a cough, so I gave her some cough medicine and some cough medicine gum and we set out for American Girl Doll Store. It was jammed pack. Marissa was overwhelmed. As soon as we got in the store she saw Ivy and wanted to get it. I said to leave the doll where it was (in the front) and we'd explore the store and come back for it. We walked around some, but there were so many people we finally just picked up some (read expensive) accessories and made our way to get Ivy and the cashier.

We then went to see the tree in Rockefeller Center. The kids loved watching the skaters fall on the ice. We stayed around the tree for a while and then Marissa got tired, so she went in the stroller and Larry and I took turns holding and walking with Dylan as we walked up 5th Avenue.

Build A Bear was crowded and since we have one of our own in the local mall we decided not to go in. Same with The Disney Store. Marissa fell asleep and Dylan, Larry and I stopped for dirty dogs. YUMMY! I had mine with mustard, sauerkraut and onions.

Then we walked the rest of the way to FAO Schwartz. There was a line but it was moving. Marissa woke up and we walked around the store some and picked out a toy for Dylan.

We walked back to Grand Central, watched the light show, got some lunch and headed for our train back to Mount Vernon.

We got back to my brother's place and prepared for the birthday party.

Cal was very suprised and we all had a lot of fun. I got VERY drunk and sent Larry back to my brothers place with the kids, my father and SIL and I spent the night at my sisters.

We hung out at my sisters on Sunday, they got the kids some toys and we visited, stayed the night and left on Monday around 11.

We stopped at Marissa's favorite "on the road" place for lunch: Cracker Barrell and got home around 6pm.

Marissa at American Girl Doll Store w/her packages:

Both by the Tree:

Street People LOL:

Ain't She Peculiar

Last Friday night Marissa and I went to see Kidz Bop Live.

I thought she would be thrilled, well she was, but she was unsure too.

During the concert she kept asking peculiar questions like "why are the lights on the wall diamond shape?", "why are there 9 of them?", "why do they like singing?" GAH!!!!

I looked over at her a few times and she wasn't even watching the concert: she was looking at the ceiling, playing with a speck of lint on her skirt. Even at one point she was holding her ears. When I asked her why, she said "it's too loud"

KIDZ BOP too loud??? Where did this kid come from? Certainly she's not mine. I started going to Rock concerts as a teenager. My first concert ever was Molly Hatchet at the Palladium in NYC before it turned into a club! I've seen Foreigner, the Who, the Stones, Pink Floyd, Van Halen, Black Sabbath, Eric Clapton, Rainbow, Elton John, Aerosmith, Tom Petty, etc. etc. etc. If she thinks Kidz Bop is too loud she has problems.

I wasn't sure if she was enjoying herself, and I realized that she didn't know many (any?) of the songs. I guess that's from always having either movies playing in the car or the Classic Rock station turned on. Until towards the end when they performed "I'm a Believer" and she turned to me excitedly and said "That's from Shrek" and she sang along. Another song they performed at the end was "All Star" also from the movie Shrek and she recognized that one too. After a while she was in the aisle bopping her head and shaking her leg (her version of rocking out???) and had the biggest smile on her face...Gotta Love That Girl!

Montage

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Ninety Degrees in The Fall???

It's been fall for over a week and our temps are still in the mid to high 80's. It's weird. We went to our first fall festival yesterday and most of the people were wearing shorts and sandals! Today it's supposed to be close to 90 again! I can't imagine what the Steelers are thinking
today taking the field in 90 degree weather against the Seahawks.

Anyway here's some pictures:

I Be Bad Guy Mama

I guess gone are the days where I can pick out Dylan's Halloween costumes.Gone are cuddly puppy dogs, fuzzy bears, cute froggies.Seems my little boy is growing past cute and cuddly and on to scary and mean!I had thought that I would have the kids dress up as a Kitty (Marissa) and Puppy (Dylan) for Halloween this year.I even saw a cute puppy dog costume at Target for Dylan and was just trying to find a cute Kitty Cat for Marissa. She said she either wanted to be a Kitty or a Witch.So Monday Dylan and I were shopping and I said to him "let's go look at costumes"off we went to the Halloween section of Super Center Walmart ...and he was oohing and ahhing over all the outside decorations and pumpkins and such.I started looking through the toddler costumes and saw a cute, cute, cute "Itsy Bitsy Spider", he said "no", a fuzzy bear, he said "no", a frog, again "no". He said "bad guy" ...what? "bad guy, Mama" then "I be bad guy". I looked to where he pointed and it was the skeleton. He wanted to be a Skeleton.No matter how I tried to convince him otherwise, he was insistent. "I be bad guy"So this year for Halloween, Dylan will be a Skeleton and Marissa will be a Witch

Long Long Time

it's been a freakin' long time since I've been here...let's see what we've missed...

I did start working at the manufacturing plant as a contract recruiter back in June. I like the work, I've been working 1 to 2 days from home and the rest at the office.

We went on vacation in July. We went to NY then the Pocono's and had a really good time. We finally saw Frank & Yo's new place, it's really nice. Then we went to Michelle's bridal shower. Stayed over at Aunt Marion's where Dylan had an allergic reaction to almond cookies and we had him in the emergency room. We went back to Ellie's and then went to the Pocono's where we spent one day at a water park, a day at the pool at Big Bass Lake, a day shopping and then a day at a kids play place. Went back to NY for one day because John was doing a dinner at the American Legion.

Liz came back to PA with John, so we spent a long weekend with her. It was nice, Marissa really enjoys her visits.

We went to The Wiggles with the kids.

Then August was preparing for back to school. Marissa started kindergarten on August 27. She seems to really like it. Dylan has orientation for preschool on 9/5 and then starts 9/11. 9/12 he starts speech through Dart. He's talking soooo much now and even his articulation is picking up.

Yesterday was his birthday and we went to The Zoo and then back home he opened presents from Grandma & Peepaw. He especially loved the baseball glove! His Baseball Birthday Party is on Saturday. I'm still waiting for responses, but I think we'll have a decent turnout.

Today he started peeing on the potty! I'm so excited for this new phase for him! It's just a start and I know the road can be rough ahead in this phase, but it's a start...I owe it all to the M&M's LOL.

BBL with links to pictures and other ramblings.

Job Hunting & Interviewing

The interviews on Monday when pretty well. The first was for an IT Staffing agency in Downtown Pittsburgh. I met with the other recruiter and was very impressed. The compensation plan is phenomenal. Nice base and really good commission. Low expectation of placing a minimum of 2 a month and average commission on a new start is around $2000. So the chance is there to make over $80k a year. I then met with the Sales Manager. Who actually works out of a different office, but until this office is up and running (just hired a new sales manager is looking for another) is commuting to the PGH office about 3 times a month. We had a good interview, but I felt he was high pressure/high expectations. He was hard to read. Sometimes I felt my responses were dead on, sometimes I couldn't tell. The position would be a lot of work, especially to begin with just building up my portfolio. The expectations that the sales manager has is different than what the recruiter and recruiting manager has talked about.

The second interview on Monday went really well and I think I have a greater chance getting this position. It's a contract position going 3 to 5 months with a great chance for it to extend. It's for a manufacturing company hiring only their assemblers. Low pay, very regulated restrictions, high turnover. It's more flexible with time and hours. Ability to schedule yourself, lower pressure, high expectations, can do some work from home. The person who had the job before is recruiting for this position and he said he would come in some days at 10 and work to 4 and then go home to work a few hours on his own schedule. This is what I like about it. It's professional but without being so strict. It's flexible, but you can still schedule yourself to work 40 hours. It's hourly and the pay rate would be about $25 an hour. The HR Manager is trying to push this for a permanent position but corporate has been waffling about it. James, the former recruiter, was hired to work 3 months and actually worked 9. I think it would be a great transition for me because I'm just getting back into the work environment. I don't really know how it's going to work.

So I have a call back to another company who I sent my resume to and left me a voice mail yesterday to call back today.

Still Job Hunting

job search is still going on...I'm really looking for something to do at home, that makes more money than what I get now....and my inlaws said they'd watch the kids, so I can find something outside the home too, so I've been looking at both.

my a-hole "boss" pissed me off today...I've been emailing them and leaving them messages about this one client and job opportunity for 2 weeks, and he leaves me a message about his frustration on the lack of communication on everyone's part including mine...he said he asked me for feedback on my candidate and so I called him and left him another message asking when he communicated with me because the last time I spoke to him was weeks ago and he never asked me for anything about my candidate and I told him I was looking for other employment due to the lack of anything substantial coming out of his company directed my way. I told him I was tired of wasting my time, effort and money, just spinning my wheels while he wasn't producing anything on his end.

The Graduate

Here's our little pre-school graduate!!! Last night was graduation. They sang songs and then they each donned their cap and received their diploma. I can't believe she's be in kindergarten in the fall!

More pics:

AND Dylan's reaction to the whole thing:
More pictures here: http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=1558p3sp.bjxuyhc9&Uy=-tpy8as&Ux=1

Money, That's All I Want

A whole lotta Money! That's What I Want! That's All I Want!

We seem to have gotten ourselves into a hole again...money is tight, unexpected bills have come in...do we dip into our meager savings to pay some or do we make payment arrangements? Eat bread and water for a month? Well it's not really that dire, but DAMN! I'd love to get ahead and stay ahead for once.

The bills:
an unexpected tax bill of over $3000 for last year. Seems when we refinanced and started escrowing, the mortgage company only escrowed going forward and not taxes due. So we recently got that bill.

a mortgage payment that never arrived at the mortgage company even though we have it in our checkbook that it was made and mailed (no payment stub) it was never received and oops...I used some of the funds. so we have a double mortgage payment.

medical bills from my father from his recent stay at the hospital (twice) and rehab and nursing home...seems he has a $500 deductible, so we have to cover THAT, plus R&C charges that the insurance company has paid, but the facilities are charging over and bills for phones and TV!

so I really need to get that job because that will solve so much of our monetary problems...plus if I'm working all day, I won't have time to shop :D

some short term solutions: selling clothes and baby items on line (garage sale & ebay), Larry selling more computer stuff on ebay and craigslist, we also have almost $200 coming to us for a multi-meter he just sold on ebay, I have $175 coming from Lia Sophia as reimbursement from my manager on a bridal show that I'm signed-up for...

Busy, Busy, Busy

My kids are a little older, but it still seems to be as busy at my house. Dylan still likes to be held way to much. I know there will come a time when I miss his clinginess, but right now, at this age it's over the top. He always wants to be held when I'm in the middle of other things and does not understand that right now Mommy can't but that doesn't mean she will never.

Oh well, busy days ahead for me:
Today
Kindergarten Orientation w/Marissa
Shopping for food and Larry's birthday present
House cleaning
visit my dad in St. Barnabas
dinner
soccer for Marissa
celebrate Larry's birthday

Tomorrow
Haircut for Marissa (which I think I'll cancel)
Nails
Open House @ Legacy (Cheer)
House cleaning
friends over

Sunday
preparing food for get together for Larry
Meetup at Panera's
pick up cake
Larry's birthday party

in the weekend somewhere maybe pick up my dad

Sometimes I Wonder

I really, really do about people in this world.

I mean, when you apply for a job and give references, why would you give people who can barely form a sentence, can't think, and are not intelligent? I mean, in my job, I come up with at least one or two references a day where they answer questions like "I don't know", "I guess so" and the questions are "how would you rate YOUR FRIEND on his/her reliability?" or "How does YOUR FRIEND get along with others?" Sometimes the answers are "yeah he's reliable" that's not what I asked, I asked to rate him/her!

When I furnish references, I choose people that are going to be a good representative of ME! Someone who is well spoken, can think on the their feet, can communicate and aren't annoyed that they have to do something nice for ME, their friend.

Messed Up Sleeping Habits this week GRRRR!

So the kids are having a bad sleep week.

Yesterday, Dylan was suffering from allergies (I think) and when Father-in-law was watching him while I got my hair done, he fell asleep in FIL's car and napped all the way home and on our couch until about 1 or 1:30. Then he had itchy eyes and around 3:30 I gave him benedryl and he fell asleep about 4:30 to 7:30...soooo he wasn't going to bed a regular bedtime. He stayed up and watched the Pirate game (overtime at that) with Daddy and finally came to bed around 11ish. He slept to 6:30am.

Marissa stayed over at inlaws house yesterday and FIL ratted her out and said that she was still up when he got home from work last night at 1:30am! WTF were they thinking??? She slept until 8ish this morning, but right now, at 6:47pm est, she's zonked out in her bed and she won't stay up...soooo that means another late night for one of my kids, because I just know she won't sleep through til morning.

A Case of the Slipsy's OOPS

Lately Marissa has had a case of the OOPS and has spilled things. She's been really good with a "regular" cup, so we've been letting her drink more and more but lately...OOOPS I did it again!

The other day she was sitting at the counter eating cookies and drinking milk and then OOPS spilt milk, she picked up the cup and there was an ounce or so left and when I was wiping up the mess, she poured out the remaining milk on the floor. WTF????

It's also happened recently with more milk, juice and soda. Very frustrating. She's 5 1/2!

Today, we were bringing left-over cookies to my father's nursing home to share. Well I had her carrying the tray but she stopped to adjust her sunglasses and look cute and the next thing you know, cookies all over the floor. What a waste!

Then we were sitting eating lunch, not paying attention she kicks the little table we were using, upends MY soda and spilt it all over the floor.

Very frustrating, but I think she's going back to the sippy cup for a while.

The Doom & Gloom Continues

the Red Cross declared my brothers home unliveable. He went for his intake interview today and will be getting a debit card with money for incidentials. He has to apply for help with Social Services, but due to his income he won't be approved, but has to go through the process. The Red Cross has put him in the system to find temporary housing.

He's been trying to go through his house and things and right now the only things that he feels are salvageable are:

Butcher Block cart in kitchen

Kitchen Credenza

Coffee Table

Tool Box

Small Electronics which were put in the attic---computer, stereo, radio, clock radio

Some dishes, bowls, cups, glasses and utensils

Microwave

I posted on Freecycle.com for help and also on my moms group and everyone has been so wonderful and supportive. I'm getting clothes and shoes for them both and told anyone who has household items to hold on to them as when he does find permanent housing he will need those items as well. I went to Walmart today and got the both some underwear and socks and then a Visa Check Card for $100.

Talking Toddler-Ese

I know when I talk to my son, I talk in toddler-ese...blankie, seepy (for sleep time), etc.

Well today I got busted. We were at one of those places where you play games and they have ticket redemption. So Dylan had 12 tickets to redeem and I was asking him what he wanted and relaying it to the guy behind the counter when I caught myself saying "and we'll take two of those froggies!"

Seems The Family Can't Catch a Break

due to the weather in NY, my brothers house was flooded out....they said there was 2 to 3 feet of water inside. He spent the night at the neighbors whose downstairs apartment was also flooded. Lots of damage---all his furniture and belongings. They were getting around by canoe. Luckily, he parked his car up a hill, so this afternoon they canoed themselves to it and drove to my sisters hours about 10 minutes away. She only got some water, but no flooding or damage.

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070416/NEWS03/704160386

Rain Rain Go Away

I know there are people having worse weather than we are...but jeez, I'm so tired of this crappy weather. If it's not cold, it's raining! Enough already! I just want to start Spring already. We had a few teaser days a couple of weeks ago and thenwe got freezing cold temps, snow and now rain. I'm so over it! San Diego here I come!

So we have a little scheduling conflict for Friday...oops My fault. I scheduled myself to be part of a Consignment Sale/Vendor Show on April 20th and 21st, thinking it was going to be Saturday and Sunday...oh my bad---it's Friday and Saturday---don't know why, but that's how it was coordinated. WELL....Larry has to work Friday PLUS Marissa's soccer practice (first one due to weather problems---see above) is at 5:45 on Friday. So he's checking with his parents to see if they can babysit and also, he'll probably have to leave work early because he's scheduled to work until 5pm on Friday.

Deliberately Changing the Lyrics to Songs

I know alot of people mishear songs and sing the words as they think they should be, but today I was remembering songs that I deliberately sing with different lyrics...

It Don't Come Easy---Ringo Starr
The lyrics are: I don't ask for much, I only want your trust
my lyrics are: I don't ask for much, I only wanna f*ck

Brown Eyed Girl---Van Morrison
The lyrics are: Making love in the green grass, behind the stadium with you
my lyrics are: Making love in the green grass, behind Shea Stadium with you

Another Saturday Night---Cat Stevens
The lyrics are: Another Saturday Night and I ain't got nobody, I've got some money cause I just got paid.
My lyrics are: Another Saturday Night and I ain't got nobody, I've got some money and I wanna get laid.

All I Have to Do is Dream---The Everly Brothers
The lyrics are: I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine, Anytime Night or Day, The only trouble is, Gee Whiz, I'm dreaming my life away
My lyrics are: I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine, Anytime night or day, the only trouble is, Cheez Whiz, I'm dreaming my life away

there are more...I'll be back when I think of them.

My Job

I've been feeling for a while, that something has been going on. About a month ago, I met with Tracy and her husband to discuss the course the company was taken. Apparently, Dave the husband had been wanting to meet with me. Well from the meeting I learned that Dave would be committing to the company full time and that they were expanding their services from search to supplemental insurance (he's an Insurance Salesman for AFLAC, travel (he became a party of yourtravelbiz.com or something) and other ventures. Also that Tracy was pending a job offer with one of our clients that supposedly she would continue to work with our corporation.

But truly from the meeting I got the big PUSH towards this travel biz, because it's RLM (relationship level marketing as opposed to MLM) but the concepts are similar. You pay a fee (about $500) to get a travel website that you promote, advertise for etc. etc. When people use your website you get a commission from the sale. Example: someone books one night stay at the Mariott in Pittsburgh for $100. Well the Marriott pays 10% to this corporation, i.e. $10 and you would get 60% of that sale i.e. $6. Also you sign up people under you and you start getting commission on their commission.

We have some jobs that I've been steadily trying to fill. Some successfully, some not. But I really feel that at least one job will be filled in the next week and another *MIGHT* be filled in the next month. That being said, two weeks ago I tried to access monster.com and couldn't not search any resumes. That's our job bank
, so when I questioned her about it I was told same thing happened to her and she had a call into Monster about it. I've questioned her 3 times since and got the response that she's been playing "phone tag" with monster. I let it go, with all the other things going on in my life, but I've still be committed to doing my job. However, I can no longer search for candidates without the right tools.

A couple of days ago the husband sends me an email about a meeting he's having at his house about the travel business. It was for the evening of the 12th and I couldn't go. Today he sends another email explain the focus of the travel business and the ad he's placing on Monster.com to recruit business.

Now it's time to open my mouth. I emailed him back:

Thanks for the information, but I'm more interested in finding out what's
happening with the "search" part of the ASAP organization as there's no
access to monster.com to search resumes at the current time and there
doesn't seem to be any incoming jobs either to recruit for.

Then tonight I was talking to Larry and we started talking about the lack of work, jobs orders
and my comittment: time, $ (phone line, internet, cell phone) and what commission I will make on the
jobs that I feel will close and with my compensation structure, it's just not worth it.

So I emailed Tracy:

I've been reviewing my time spent these past few moths on various
job orders and such and I feel that my time committment is worth
more than the XX% that we have agreed upon. The lack of closeable
jobs and the time spent recruiting for these jobs have ended up costing
me money (time, internet, dedicated phone line, cell phone) instead of
making me money. I understand that this purely a commission based
position, but I had thought that I would have more job orders to work on
that were closeable.

I'd like to discuss a change of commission to XX% due to the amount of
work that I have to do for each job order whether they've been closeable
or not, considering that every job will not be closeable, but the commission
should more than compensate for those times when we just can't get the
right person.

I'm also very concerned by the recent lack of any new job orders coming in
and the status with Monster.com. If and when we do close this Coury job
and maybe the Longboat one, will there be any job orders for me to work
on and how will I be searching? Or is the corporation soley concentrating
on the travel business and your expected postion with CLIENT.

I aimed higher on the requested commission to give us room to
negotiate but truly from where I stand, the amount of work I
do for a job is way more than what he/she does to get the order.

So I'm expecting a call on Monday. I've already done a search
on "virtual recruiters" and and there are several jobs out there
that I would be interested in pursuing if this doesn't
pan out.

Back in the hospital

well it was a short visit home...Saturday he was released from Rehab, but we noticed some rectal bleeding that did not lessen or go away so Sunday night it was back to the hospital where they found some blood in his stool and decided to keep him overnight to monitor and for the gastro dr to exam him today.

gastro dr called my this am to say they found alot of stool in his rectum (tmi) and some blood and were prepping him today for a colonoscopy tomorrow....so we'll know more then..

I have to wonder though...is this the beginning of the end for him??? he turned 80 on March 11 and it's been all problems since--the arthritis and pinched nerve, now the rectal bleeding. My grandmother was 87 when she passed away, but the last few years of her life were really downhill with stroke after stroke and heart attacks etc. It's really sad to wonder.

Trying to get them together w/their bunnies from Grandma.

More dress up pictures
Dylan with Shadow

Easter Pictures

After finding the baskets!

all dressed up (Dylan running away from the camera)

Highlighted My Hair On Saturday

My highlights! Not really sure if I'm liking the light color...excuse the pics...my hair is mostly undone today...after washing I just blow dried with my hands, no products, no brushes or combs. Seems to light for me...thinking about calling tomorrow and getting something else done, maybe going dark, unless I wait a few days to see if it grows on my...I'm thinking it's too orange.

Where is this year going anyway?

is it only me but I clearly remember Christmastime being just a little while ago and now where gearing up for Easter!!! I guess it's true about time just rushing by when you get old.

Life has been busy as usual here, still waiting to hear how well we did at the Fudge show this weekend. What an interesting experience it was. It was a bike (motorcycle) show, so there were alot of interesting people around both exhibiting and attending. We had a lot of fun though and hopefully made a lot of money.

Do You Ever Feel Invisible?

Clearly, I'm not, I'm around, I can be seen, but no one takes you seriously? Or cares enough to respond. Not so much IRL, except for Larry but that' s just the way he is, but on message boards and internet groups. Sometimes I feel like my posts go ignored....why? I'm not a bad person, and I try to respond to others for the most part. Even posts that I perceive as silly or meaningless or even inane...but I can post on a board I've been active on for over 2 years, have had people over my house, have been to theirs, had outings with, lno's, went to birthday parties, etc. about my father and get 3 or 4 messages in replies...but a stranger posts, someone who recently joined with some sad sob story, which appears unbelievable and she gets an outpouring of support, people bending over backwards to get her things. I asked for nothing, just some acknowledgement. Another board I asked for some help finding something, no responses. But other people post babble all day long and get responses.

Maybe it's time for me to pull back and concentrate on me and mine and not be so involved in any internet community.

Complaining Sometimes Helps!

Maybe I should have complained earlier on here! Tracy called me this afternoon while I was visiting my dad to tell me that Coury finally contacted her, signed the contracts and wants to bring in two of my candidates for the Portfolio Analyst position to interview this week. Now hopefully they are still available and will be able to interview.

A Long Time

so much has happened in the last month and a half.

I've become an advisor with Lia Sophia jewelry, but it's not going so well. My last 2 shows were cancelled (one due to no one RSVPing and the second one due to weather). Yolanda was supposed to have a catalog show, but something messed up at work and no one ordered. I have two shows scheduled this week. One at Soergel's, it's a Ladies' Night Out and one at Jenise's. So I'm hoping things start picking up. I really need to start bringing in money from this.

Recruiting job has been slow. She's not getting any jobs and the two that she has gotten are unfillable. The company is in transition, she's going to be working full-time for another company and her husband it taking over. Can't say that I'm extremely happy in the direction the company is going in, so I just might not be doing it much longer.

My father was in the hospital all last week becuase of back pain. He has a pinched nerve and now is in a rehab facility and will probably be there a few weeks.

I'll have to come back...have lots to say, but so little time

He's Speaking!

More and more Dylan's speech is getting better. He's got about 75 to 85 words and he's starting to put words together like:

Daddy Home
Poop Butt

today he found his Steelers baseball hat and put it on and said "baseball hat" not very clear but I know what he was saying and Larry said last night he was calling the dog "Maxie come down"!

More News

I was supposed to meet Michele & Diane at Kings for coffee this morning while the kids were in school but because of the weather and school being cancelled we put it off until next week.

We got Marissa's registration letter over the weekend, so on the 21st I register her for kindergarten I have to bring her birth certicate, social security card and immunization record. I have to contact the drs. about that, I don't have an updated record.

FIL goes in tomorrow for gall bladder surgery. He has to stay overnight. I wonder if Larrys gonna visit him. I won't.

I have to spend some time reading up on the Lia Sophia website and learning things.

Well, Larrys aunt finally got notice about the adoption from China. There's a baby girl waiting for them who was born 6/11/2006. They are expecting to be notified in the next 6 to 8 weeks about going to get her and will be in China for about 2 months. They are naming her Jenna Lucille and she will be almost 1 when we meet her. I'm so happy for them.

No School Today

Schools were closed because of the weather (3 below at 7am!).
Been hanging out , taking care of paperwork and working some. Sent over one resume on the Business Manager/Accountant position. Hope to hear about that one and the 2 resumes I sent over to the company on the Sales Rep positions.

Super Bowl Sunday

We are preparing for our *party* LOL...we have Steve and FIL coming over. The only reason FIL is coming is because Steve works for Dicks Sporting Goods (he runs the golf shop at 2 locations) and FIL wants to use his discount to buy something. Our menu is homemade pizza, hot wings, dip and nachos and beer, beer, beer.

We've been up cleaning today. Gave my kitchen a good cleaning, removed things from the counters and cleaned the outside of the cabinets etc. Also cleaned the family room too. Finally put the things back on the mantel we took off at Christmas time.

Marissa and I decided to get our nails done, unfortunately, have to remember that I no longer live in NY because the 4 nail places near us are closed on Sundays. So we went to Walmart where I bought covers for the kitchen chairs, a jacket for Marissa for $7, sweats for Dylan $1 and $1.50 and a CD of kids songs which I'm downloading to her FP3 player now.

Saturday Birthday Party

Marissa went to her first school friend birthday party today.

It was at Ice Cream World and she played with all her little school girlfriends. She had so much fun, it was tough dragging her out.

Tomorrow is Superbowl Sunday and Steve is coming over. I wish I knew a single jewish girl for him!!!

Christmas in January

on my Sept moms board we did a gift exchange for Christmas. Well Dylan never received his gift. After a long post back and forth about it, two very sweet, generous and loving moms sent gifts to Dylan (and Marissa) to make it up for him missing out.

Today the box arrived and it was like Christmas all over again! Both received Beach Towels with their names on them. Dylan also received a CARS car, with sounds and everything and he received a Chicken race game. They've been playing with the toys all afternoon.

Tuesday

Today Dylan slept in, so I had to carry him to the car to take Marissa to school. still in his PJ's. I brought him a breakfast and change of clothes because I had planned on stopping at Panera for tea and then running some errands, but at the last moment I turned in and came home.

My father suggested going out to lunch so we went to Eat N Park after picking Marissa up from school.

Have so much on my mind and so much to do. Tracy forwarded me 3 new job orders to work on with a new client, so that's good--nice commission if we can fill them, I'm still looking for a sales rep for the other position PLUS have that Lia Sophia stuff starting up. Need to call Michele about that.

Winter Fun

This is the Myers Blog. We are Denise, Larry, Marissa & Dylan. We live in the Pittsburgh Area of PA and have been in our house since January of 2004. Denise is originally from NY, but Larry is from this area. Larry moved to NY in 1998 and Denise & Larry were married September 17, 2000.

Marissa was born 11/21/2001 and Dylan was born 9/2/2004. We have a large extended family and live with our two dogs (Max & Shadow) and our GoldFish (Nemo).

To start off, the kids played in the snow on Sunday:









Here's the view of my backyard from my deck.