Never Forget

So funny, it made me cry!

I usually wait until after I finish a book to talk about it, but I HAVE to share a blurb from my current read, Marley and Me. What I am about to share made me laugh until I cried while reading in bed last night. The book made me laugh out load and I haven't had a book do that in a long time (usually I have the little snicker to myself or the little smile on my face). It took me 4 tries before I could finish the couple of pages.

I want to share with you the funniest part of the book so far-

Background information:

Marley is now an adolescent, golden retriever puppy, who has anxiety and many other issues. He is on his way to get snipped at the vet's office. Marley had no idea what he had in store, but was excited for the car trip regardless.

Author Grogan "He was revved up and and ready to go on whatever excellent adventure I saw fit. Jenny (his wife) drove and I sat in the passenger seat. As was his habit, Marley balanced his front paws on the center console, his nose touching the rear view mirror. Every time Jenny touched the breaks, he went crashing into the windshield, but Marley didn't care. He was riding shotgun with his two best friends. Did life get any better than this?

I cracked my window, and Marley began listing to starboard, leaning against me, trying to catch a whiff of the outdoor smells. Soon he has squirmed his way fully onto my lap and pressed his nose so firmly into the narrow crack of the window that he snorted each time he tried to inhale. Oh why not? I thought. This was his last ride as a fully equipped member of the male gender, the least I could do was give him a little fresh air. I opened the window wide enough for him to stick his snout out. He was enjoying the sensation so much, I opened it farther, and soon his entire head was out the window. His ears flapped behind him in the wind, and his tongue hung out like he was drunk on the ether of the city. God, was he happy.

As we drove down Dixie Highway, I told Jenny how bad I felt about what we were about to put him through. She was beginning to say something no dought totally dismissive of my qualms when I noticed, more with curiosity than alarm, that Marley had hooked both of his front paws over the edge of the half-open window. And now his neck and upper shoulders were hanging out of the car, too. He just needed a pair of goggles and a silk scarf to look like on of those World War I flying aces.

"John he's making me nervous" Jenny said.

"He's fine" I answered. "He just wants a little fresh-"

At that instant he slid his front legs out the window until his armpits were resting on the edge of the glass.

"John, grab him! Grab him!"

Before I could do anything, Marley was off my lap and scrambling out the window of our moving car. His butt was up in the air, his hind legs clawing for a foothold. He was making his break. As his body slithered past me, I lunged for him and managed to grab the end of his tail with my left hand. Jenny was braking hard in heavy traffic. Marley dangled fully outside the moving car, suspended upside down by his tail, which I had in a position that didn't allow me to get my other hand on him. Marley was frantically trotting along with this front paws on the pavement.

Jenny got the car stopped in the outside lane with cars lining up behind us, horns blaring. "Now what?" I yelled. I was stuck. I couldn't pull him back in the window. I couldn't open the door. I couldn't get my other arm out. And I didn't dare let go of him or he would surely dash in the path of one of the angry drivers swerving around us. I held on for dear life, my face, as it were, scrunched against the glass just inches away from his giant flapping scrotum."

What ended up happening was Jenny jumped out of the car and pulled Marley back into the car and needless to say, they didn't feel bad about his upcoming surgery anymore!

That whole little blurb just sent me over the edge laughing hysterically. I don't know why but maybe because I could have visualized this actually happening with my much missed dog Rowdy since he loved to ride with his head out the window or what. But, I just had to share!

Oh, this can't be good!

A few months back, when my FIL was still in the look around stage of purchasing a motorcycle, my husband mentioned to his buddies at work that if his dad gets a bike, so will he (my FIL told me this since they work together and overheard Jeff one day).

I didn't think anything of it at the time since my FIL didn't seem too serious about getting a bike.

Well, as you know my FIL did purchase a bike a few weeks ago, on a whim. And now all my husband can talk about is when HE is getting a motorcycle. Um, what?

I tried to stall these thoughts for sometime by suggesting that he take a motorcycle class that is offered in our area which he could ultimately obtain his new licence with important knowledge about bike safety all in a weekends time. But, he is still looking and working hard at finding a deal and maybe he will sign-up for the class.

Other then going deep into our savings to purchase this new toy, I'm just worried about his safety. He is a crazy driver in a regular car, I don't want to see how he will be handling a bike. Also, there are all of those drivers who may not see him on the road. Its hard for me to really say anything since at one time I owned a motorcycle myself, but I only had it for about 6 months and it just wasn't for me.

So, I'm sure I will be sharing a new photo of my husband on a motorcycle soon. Now I have to worry about two people out there on bikes. If those two want to share a hobby, I just wish they were into model trains together or something like that! Sigh!

Sebatian's Shower

I have a cousin named Christina. She's pregnant. Her shower was yesterday for her little bundle of joy, Sebastian Michael. He is due to arrive on 9/25, even though he has dropped into position to join the world in his mom's belly. Christina thinks he will come next week or the next.....early no matter. She just wants it to be over and meet her little guy.

But, in the mean time her shower was lovely yesterday. Remember when it was tax free day here in MA I showed you a small preview of what my mom and me picked out for the big day? Well, here is a picture of the gifts before they went out the door. There are blankets, books, crib sheets, his Tigger bathrobe and slipper set, water temperature ducky and Red Sox bottles (behind the receiving blankets on the left, you can see part of the red cap) all on top of a hamper.

What you can't see inside the hamper is diapers and wipes holding up all the other goodies.

I don't have any other photo's since I was too busy eating the yummy polish pastries, talking, playing games, watching the presents being opened and keeping my eye on my mom (she's a wild one you know).

But, Christina made out beautifully and I am so happy for her. It looked like she received everything off of her registry and more. I will report back when little Sebastian graces us with his presence!

He's an official 5th Grader

Jeff was finally able to get in touch with Zack to ask him how his first day of 5th grade was on Tuesday. Well, needless to say you know how kids are on the phone and he couldn't get much out of him, but Jeff said he sounded excited.

Here's the conversation-

Jeff: Hey buddy, how was the first day of 5th grade?
Zack: Good.
Jeff: Do you like your teacher?
Zack: Yeah.
Jeff: Did you get any homework on your first day?
Zack: No.

Then the conversation moved on to better things after that. But his mom never got on the phone to fill Jeff in with the grown-up talk about Zack's first day of school. She never does this! Actually, she never told us when his first day of school was, I had to find the school calender online so we know what's going on that way. Things never change!

Discounted Vera Bradley

I love Vera Bradley bags and accessories. I don't know why, but I just do. When ever I see a store that has a piece on display, it sucks me right in. I can't afford the products, but it doesn't cost anything to look right!

I've only purchased one thing at full price, but it was a gift to myself. Its a small duffel bag I use ALL the time for travel. It fits perfectly under an airline seat in the under seat compartment and fits great between my vans front seats. So, I use it to carry all kinds of stuff while on the road.

As for all the other pieces I own, I've purchased at a super discounted price thanks to my co-worker Char's SIL. Her SIL works at a local candle shop that sells all kinds of Vera merchandise. She purchases the items at a discount price from her store and when she is done with the pattern, her SIL has a cheap tag sale to make room for the new designs. Who cares if they patterns are "old" or sometimes retired, what matters to me is the discounted price! Also, they are always it great condition and still smell like the candle shop (added bonus).

Coin Purse, usually $14, purchased for $1. The round bag I couldn't find but I purchased it for Ally for $1.

Today was one of those days at work. Char and I spread everything all over her desk and I got to pick and choose what I wanted. The best thing was, everything that she was on display was under $10. I made out like a bandit! Some of the items I don't need, but its good to have a cosmetic bag hanging around for something! Also, I got a little something for Ally too!

The smaller cosmetic bag, usually $30 purchased today for $1. The larger bag usually $34, purchased today for $2.

Sometimes there are items still with the original price tags on it, so things can be bought cheap and then given as a gift with no one to know that they payed only dollars for the bag. These sales only come around about every 6 months, so its so exciting when Char announces she will be bringing in some Vera merchandise. Yeah for us!

Tote handbag, usually $46, purchased today for $5.

Some of Vera's patterns are out of control, but Char's SIL has good taste so most of the time the hardest decision is, what do I need or want!

Jeff doesn't get the whole Vera craze. Every time he see's an unusual pattern he says, it must be a Vera Bradley bag since its ugly. Most of the time he has spotted an original pattern (rather then a knock-off), but I never can agree with him. I just elbow him and say cut it out, I like it! Oh well!

Now I can't wait for the next sale to come around!

Swapping Lives

What a cute book!

This book is about a women, Vicky, from the UK who works at a magazine and isn't happy about her current love life. She breaks down to her editor and accidentally mentions out-load that she wants to swap lives with a married women. Vicky thought that being married with children would solve all of her issues. She just felt desperate.

Vicky is a single women in her mid-thirty's who continues falls for the wrong man. She lives with her cat in a "flat". She loves her job, but things something is missing from her life.

Her editor loved the idea so much, it was now Vicky's job to find a married women with children to swap with her single life. Several women apply all over the UK and one from America. The potential swapee's were narrowed down and a stay-at-home mom from CT was picked, Amber.

Amber is a mother of two children, married, lives in a McMansion, has housekeepers, top of the line clothing and everything at her disposal. She also feels she has to keep up with the "friendly" neighborhood league of women who raise money for charities, but also compete among themselves for popularity. She also feels something is missing from her live.

This book walks us through a few weeks of swapped lives between Amber and Vicky. With each women in the other one's shoes, it helps them realize that each of their lives is a perfect fit for them. They come to realize how much they really do have, but not without some life altering discoveries in the process.