Hey Mom, did you even graduate college???

That was the question my brainiac spawn asked last night after he returned from the lab last night. In fact the answer is yes, I did graduate from college.

My path to college was somewhat not a planned item. I had no desire to go to college. I had no desire to leave my small town, I was perfectly happy to keep asking my parents for money. I mean they had supported me all my life, why should things change just because I would graduate high school? I had it good and saw no need to go to college.

One day in 1982 I came home from school and my mom threw me a couple college application books informing me of her decision that I go to school somewhere. After much thought (about 8 seconds), I came to the conclusion I really did not have that much going on after I would graduate high school so I would appease her and take a gander at the books . I then opened the course selections books for a few of the college even though I had no idea what I wanted to "be" when I grew up. I quickly came up with a solution that would solve everything.

I started the selection process with any two year college within two hours of my house. I then proceeded to read the degree options. Factored in that was the amount of money that one would expect to make with that degree. Basically, I went down the page and found what paid the most money for a two year degree. I figured hey, I can do this... “Medical Laboratory Technology” - sounds obtainable right?

First semester came and I managed to hold on to decent grades. Next semester involved chemistry and dang that was hard. Of course the hot guy “Nate” sat next to me in Chem and I admit, sometimes I would daydream about him for that 1.5 hour lecture. Needless to say, I failed chemistry so I decided I should change my curriculum to something more suited to me and my “style”.

My roommate Mona had made a great choice at college. All she did was break and train horses, take care of the four legged friends and ride them. Wow, what a coincidence, I actually owned a horse and I was sure that would be much better than some overpaying Medical Laboratory Technology degree. Why didn't I think of that before? I could be carefree and the horses wouldn't care if I skipped a shower or two. Long story short, I have a degree in Animal Husbandry - Equine which happens to be an AAS degree. Do I utilize my degree? Um, no but I did graduate from college.

Flash forward to last night when my son (who was feeling smart as he had just spent the day at the organic chemistry lab) asked if I even graduated from college I piped up and said yes in fact, I did graduate from college. I went on proceeding to toot my own horn bragging that I am a smart person and that I had graduated, received that diploma, and walked down the path to greatness.

I then went on informing Nick that the degree I received was actually a dual major because not only did I graduate with the "Animal Husbandry-Equine" degree, I also met “my husband”, their dad, Chuck in college. Therefore, I have the Animal Husbandry-Equine degree and a “Husbandry” (the MRS degree)

At least I use one of my degrees on a daily basis. See Momma isn’t such a dummy after all.

Note to self.....

Note to self - Guinea Pigs do not like the sun, they do not like to be warmed by the beautiful California sunshine in January.
Note to self - Do not place a cage with two guinea pigs outside to enjoy the warm air, they would rather be stuck in a dark garage and bypass this special feeling.
Note to self - Don't try to do nice things for animals or people, you just get fucked.
How do I know this?
Monday I got up, took a shower, came downstairs.
Let the dog out, opened the garage doors and said "wow, it is beautiful outside, I bet the guinea pigs would love to stay out and have a wonderful day in the neighborhood". So, I rolled them out, gave them fresh water, lettuce, some carrots and put a blanket on the cage - just in case the sun was to bright on them.
Went to work, pretended to work - came home and called my friend in Wisconson bragging about how warm it was in Sunny California.
Got home, guinea pig cage was still there, blanket still on the top and I go over to say "hi" to the boys.
They are dead - yup dead.
Apparently I killed them because the sun was to warm for their bodies.
Do I feel like shit.
Absolutely....
Note to self..... I do not like this much guilt.....
I'm sorry boys... I am so sorry.....

Even though you were crazy, I still miss you.........

The day was January 5th 2003. 19 weeks after Pa died, 10 weeks after I was diagnosed, 12 days after Christmas, a day before Chuck's birthday, 12 days before your birthday, 5 years and 18 days after Kelley died. It was 6 years ago today but it hurts and feels like it was yesterday.

Its a Wonderful Day in the Neighborhood

Chuck and I were actually up this year to ring in the New Year not once but twice!

Since we are originally NY'ers we rang in NY style with Dick Clark and then again later with Carson Daly. I am so proud we were actually awake.

The neighbors had a party, we walked down around 10pm with a few other neighbors. I actually was surprised that I had a good time for the 1.5 hours we were there. Could have been that immediately after we entered the door we were literally staring into the rim of some Lemon Drop shots? Generally, I am not a shot person but hey it was my first shot of the New Year so why not? Well, one shot led to two shots, two to three etc.

Then Mom mode kicked in and we walked home with ten minutes to spare, we snagged some party poppers and tooters for Carly and the three of us let them rip all over the house. Gosh, I hope the maid works on New Years Day!

Ugh, I've been tagged

Thanks Barb, you've forced me to post due to your "tag" http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/2008/12/theres-one-way-to-feel-warm-again.htm

Non the less, here I go because I'm competitive and don't want to seem like I'm a poor sport.

This picture was taken in the summer of 2007, on the left is my son Nick who was 17 at the time standing next to his "little cousin Taylor age 14.

The picture was taken on our annual NY vacation back to our cottage on Cayuga Lake (one of the Finger lakes).
I took the picture to see just how long before Taylor catches up to Nick's height. As you can see, it won't be long! Now I have to tag someone else in blog land so here I go (my apologies in advance).
Mike at http://unravelingmysteries.com/
Corrine at http://mommahasmonkeytoes.blogspot.com/. Lets see if they take the bait.

Isn't it Ironic?

When cancer decided to join ruin our fun 6 years ago, my son Nick was 13 years old. Like his dad, Nick is a thinker, not a talker. Even though I knew he was afraid of the "what if's", he tried not to show it. He always put on a brave face and told me not to worry. When he would come home from school, he would ask if there was anything he could do for me. I always replied that he needed to "do good in school, be smart and.... someday find a cure for cancer". Nick would always reply "no problem Mom" (such a good son).

Nick is now in his Sophmore year at college and although when he went to school, he applied and was accepted into the Biology program at State, this year he has changed his focus a bit and now he has decided he would like to study Organic Chemistry.

He called the other day and said he met with a Dean at school and she put him in touch with a Professor who runs a research team at the college. Nick will be working with her and her team researching "Cancer drugs". I'm such a proud Momma of my eldest spawn.

Isn't life a beautiful thing?

Friday Fragments

This is my first time posting a Friday Fragment so I know my good friend Ms 4444's will help me out and fix my post. Right???? (hint, insert your site here)

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I hate to shop, I was in a couple stores today for the upcoming December 25th and I thought I would slit my wrists. I hate to shop.....
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My office Christmas party is tomorrow and I so do not want to go... I would rather stay home and sleep.
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I don't blog often because I feel I have nothing to say... the more I read other people's blogs, the more I realize it doesn't matter what you say..
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I secretly wish I could have a tape worm for about 6 weeks and drop 50lbs the easy way..
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I realized today that I am a bad mother, St. Nick has never been to my house on December 6th or after midnight on December 5th. (It's a Mid-Western thing, at least that is what I am told).
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I must have the wrong idea about this Friday Fragment thing, it seems like its a confession.

One of my bitch moments....

When we moved to Cali, we basically just packed up and moved. We slapped a for sale sign in the front yard our NY home, rented a Cali house on the internet packed our vehicles and drove.

The house we rented happened to be in a "gated community" and although that was new for us, it seemed a nice idea. Our kids would be safe and the traffic would be kept mostly to the people who lived here. Also, this appeared to be a kid friendly neighborhood as we are 5/10ths of a mile to the elementary school, 2/10ths of a mile to the middle school and 7/10ths of a mile to the high school.

We bought the following year in the same neighborhood (gated community) and proceeded to enjoy our new house and our Cali lifestyle. This was our first home where there is a “Homeowner Association”. An okay idea, either way it did not make a difference to me. The dues are not much, only $85/month. I personally don’t think they do much other than plant new flower varieties each season but hey, it was our choice to buy here knowing of the Association.

When we put in our request to have a pool installed, they (the Association) said we would hear something back in 30 days at the latest. Well, 30 days came and went with no word so the pool was installed. (You know, no news is good news theory). After another 30 days, we sent in our application for solar panels for our “new pool”. That was approved right away, I guess they are still waiting to let us know if we are approved for a pool (duh).

Other than that, we have very little contact with the Association but we did recently receive a questionnaire for the Ivey Glenn Homeowners to fill out. Here are their questions.

• 1. Should skateboarding be forbidden in our community both on sidewalks and streets?
• 2. Should dogs and other pets be kept out of our community park (aggressive pets, droppings, etc.)?
• 3. Should children be forbidden from playing in the street?
• 4. Should residents be forbidden from parking their personal vehicles on the street; mandate that residents park in their garages or driveways
• 5. Any other items or concerns you have.

Then the Association proceed to state that “Your names and responses will not be shared with anyone other than the Board and Management Company Representative.

Oh, I’m sharing- I’m sharing to everyone that will listen…..

Fuck you ....

P.S. My response will be in your mailbox within in the next 30 days at the latest.

A Thankful Day...

Sunday was a pretty intense day; my friends Stacey and Lisa had invited me to go down to the San Diego 3-Day Breast Cancer walk. As a breast cancer participant, I’ve done a few walks with my friend, Wacko Jude, in Rochester, NY, but never the "3 Day". If you are not familiar with the "3-Day," Susan B Komen sponsors a walk.... not a stroll, but a 60-mile, 3-day walk. Its not a walk in the park; its a huge commitment, and I believe each walker has to raise a minimum of $2000.00 to be able to walk and participate.

After our arrival, we set up “shop” and waited for the walkers. We had left Oceanside at 7:30, so we were a bit ahead of the pack.

While waiting, I noticed a young bald woman standing with her husband and two small adorable boys. I’d like to say that she did not stand out, but she did. She was young, beautiful and bald - she was me 6 years ago. I walked over to her and told her that I had the same “haircut” 6 years ago and not to worry, as it grows back. I gave her a high five and congratulated her on her future success, and then I proceeded back to our “group.” When I got back to our girls, my friend Stacey said “Kandee, you made her cry.” I said, "Stacey, I did not make her cry; cancer did." Cancer sucks, anyway you stack it, slice it, or present it……...it sucks.

For 95% of the time we were there, cheering on walkers, I was so happy; the experience made me smile and feel so grateful that I was alive. I thanked the walkers, and they thanked us for supporting them.

There were numerous signs, slogans and t-shirts that were so uplifting. Some of my favorites were:

“Fight like a girl”
Surf City Titties”
"Barb’s Bonkers have gone bye – bye”
“Save 2nd Base”
"Teachers for Ta – Ta’s"
"I hope you dance…."
One College Boy had a sign stating – "Show me your boobies – we are all here for one thing!" (a hopeful lad, I thought.)
Stacey’s young daughter had a sign stating “Find a cure before I grow boobies”.
One of my favorites was a shirt stating, “Of course they are fake! My real one’s tried to kill me.”
There were many “in honor” shirts, but sadly, there were also many “in memory shirts.”

I’ve never walked the 3-day, but the ladies who were with me had previously done so. They pointed out the “official badges” and the official signs. Some walkers were able to carry signs stating:

"Hope "
"Faith "
"Love "
"Power "
"For my Mother"
"For my Father"
"For my Daughters"

"For Me"

One sign in particular, “For my Sister,” factored into my 95% happy time. When I saw that sign, I lost my composure and tears started to flow. Stacey asked if I wanted to get my picture taken with the flag bearer. I declined, because even though it was over 10 years ago that I lost my sister Kelley to Breast Cancer; it suddenly felt like it was yesterday.

Before we had left to go root on the walkers, I dragged an old shirt that I had from one of the walks I had done in Rochester, NY. On the back of the shirt, it says, “Survivor” in big, bold letters. Walking through the crowd, Stacey felt compelled to point me out and yell – “Survivor here – She’s a Survivor!” I actually was a bit embarrassed, as I felt “unworthy” of the term, Survivor. I feel that I did whatever I could do to get through, and luckily, I was able to squeak by. There are many more woman who deserve the title more than I; I consider myself lucky.

I am the luckiest person in the world!

Take cover... Its an EARTHQUAKE!!!

Before we moved to Cali, I was discussing the possibility of a move with a friend of mine who lives here in Oceanside. I think I was expressing my fear of an earthquake and that that alone may hold me back in my desire to move.

My girlfriend said to me "You New Yorkers are an odd sort, you worry about getting a snow or ice storm. You scurry all around gathering supplies to hunker down for a week or so. Run to the store, get 12 gallons of milk, 8 loaves of bread, enough batteries to power a space shuttle and then after all that, there are times that little or no snow emerges". She proceeded to say that "We Californians just scream EARTHQUAKE and by the time we begin to breath again, the quake is over and then we go about our day".

The "friend" and I are no longer close but I must say the bitch was right. This summer I experienced a very small earthquake. I actually thought it was a big truck going down the road rattling the windows. By the time I yelled "Earthquake", the earthquake had passed.

I've just learned that tomorrow at 10:00AM California time, San Diego County is to take place in a mock earthquake drill. See, I knew those rice cakes would come in handy.

LOS ANGELES – California will star in a mock earthquake disaster drill Thursday – considered the largest in U.S. history – with some 5 million people pledging to do everything from ducking for cover to rescuing faux victims.

400,000 in S.D. County to take part in quake drill

The exercise centers on a hypothetical magnitude-7.8 earthquake that unzips the southern San Andreas Fault – an event that scientists call the feared “Big One.” Such a quake would cause 1,800 deaths and $200 billion in damage, researchers estimate.
Previous simulated quake catastrophes put on by the state were smaller in scale with the leading actors mainly first responders and cities testing their emergency preparedness. Thursday's drill is more of an ensemble cast with governments, schools, hospitals, churches, businesses and residents promising to do their part.