ubook reader

I love this piece of software for my Pocket Pc (the Palm version is terrible) but I just wish it would behave. I loaded some zipped html books onto my memory card and it sees the zip files but nothing inside them. Bleh!

Guess I'll spend part of this relaxing morning troubleshooting it!

I love weekend mornings :)

Lately, my work life has been so packed that I've not been able to take a breath in over a week. This morning it was so nice to get up and relax. I actually watched some TV.

I really have come to enjoy quiet weekend mornings. Typically, Mark gets up and chats with his kids. I usually listen and do paperwork or read a magazine or just relax. It is the equivalent of family time around a kitchen table.

My Mom's family is Italian, and when we all lived in the same small town, everyone would gravitate to my grandparents' house on a Saturday morning and sit around the kitchen table. When I was really young, my grandfather and I would go for walks (Usually to the library LOL!) or just hang out watching TV or kick a soccer ball around. My grandmother would have danishes and the coffeepot would always be on. We're a pretty small family. At that point in time, I was the only grandchild and my mother has two brothers (one deceased) and only one sister. We'd spend mornings and early afternoons just visiting. It was really nice :)

Sunday mornings, on the other hand were frenetic. My dad lived about fifty miles away and Sunday was our visiting day. I'd have to be up and freshly scrubbed and waiting for him to arrive any time between eight and nine, depending on the traffic. When he'd arrive, we drive down to his mother's house, where she'd feed and coddle us for hours. On the way home, we'd often stop some place and just hang out, the two of us. For the longest time, we stopped at a small place and played Ms. Pac Man. Gosh, am I dating myself or what!

Since I moved away from home, weekend haven't usually been a fun time. I spent too long in retail management and would usually have to be at my job early on both Saturday and Sunday. Later on in other jobs, weekends were usually the MOST important time. Then, when Mark came into my live, we did courier routes on Sturdays and sometimes Sundays.

Then I started working from home. My computer is in the living room, so fully escaping work on the weekends didn't work for me at our old place. Only in the last year have I tried to take weekends off, only working if Mark has to work as well. I've recaptured the weekends in a big way.

Now, on Saturdays I'm chiming in on the voice conferences with the kids, or, if they're not around, we're either reading books on the couch or playing a board or card game at the table. This relaxation is a very nice thing to have recaptured!

Erm....Hi guys!

Mark just told my two step-sons about this blog...so...erm...hey guys :)

Update:He's threatened me with dismemberment if I don't remove it. Mark? Shmoopie Bear, dear? You're the greatest ;)

Crazy few days

It has been a crazy few days here! Late Saturday morning, a car plowed into the house across the street!

About 11 Am on Saturday, I heard a huge bang. I called down to my husband, who was in our rec room, but he couldn't see anything and neither could I. It sounded to me like someone had slammed a moving truck door closed loudly. To Mark, it sounded like metal falling. About ten minutes later, ambulances and firetrucks started to arrive.

Some poor person smashed their car into the end unit across the street. The person was either able to get out of the car themselves or was helped out and was rushed to the hospital.

There was a gaping hole in the house that the firemen and then a contractor reinforced with huge wooden beams. The car was pretty much stopped by the brick foundation, which reaches to about waist level, but the upper part of whatever room that was is destroyed :( Thankfully, it seems that nobody else was hurt, though I imagine if anyone was home, they had the fright of their lives!

Lots of excitement here!

Sunday, we went to Borders to try to escape the heat. We were lucky enough to come in on the last day of a sale where all cafe items were 75% off, including Republic of Tea cylinders. These are gourmet teas and the best I've ever tasted. I was able to get a couple of cylinders of my favorite (Blackberry Sage) and try a few other favorites (Spring Cherry, Ginger Peach, Pomegranate). I'm going to have some very tasty iced tea in my future.

We just hung out at the Borders for a couple of hours and I forgot how fun that was. I pulled a half dozen fantasy books off the shelf and read first chapters. I did limit myself to buying only two books, though ;) Since I burned through my birthday gift certificate in four months, I'm having to limit myself, which is always a good way to test my willpower.

Our air conditioning was fixed yesterday, so all is well in our place :)

Instead of the average 9/11 post, I'm trying to do something

a little more positive. 9/11 hit incredibly close to home for me, since I'd been on Flight 76 (the LAX to IAD--Washington Dulles) flight the night before and at the time, I lived within spitting distance of the Pentagon. Anyway...I thought I'd do a 5 years on post with maybe a little positivity.

5 year changes. What has changed in my life since Sept. 2001

I got married!

Mark and I married in Nov,2001. I've learned so much about love and commitment, about the good times and the bad, of sacrifice and breaking the habit of self-sabotage in these last 5 years. Moreover, Mark emphasizes to me every day that I am a desirable woman. After all the *second best* I'd been, you have no idea how valuable my partership and marriage are. We have most DEFINITELY had our share of the good and the bad, and I've finally found a man who is a real man of character and commmitment.

I have a wonderful sister in law!

My brother got married in 2004! His wife, Jen, is as as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. I always wanted a sister and now I have one! If you weren't so sweet, Jen, the green-eyed monster could take hold ;)

I "found" my career.

This was HUGE! I'd been working doing things that I wasn't passionate about for far too damn long! In '02, I started editing and in early '03 joined my present company. I also had the pleasure to be involved with some charity work, which was immensely informative.

My second female cousin was born.

Meg was born in 2004! I have yet to meet her, but she looks adorable from her pictures.

I became a stepmom!

This goes along with the whole marriage thing! It hasn't always been perfect or ideal, but I care deeply for my 4 step-children and can't wait until November when David, the eldest, and his wife Erin come to visit.

My household grew by leaps and bounds.

I went from 2 cats to 7 cats in 5 years, including two who were imported from Australia.

I'm down almost 70 pounds from my highest weight in 2001.

I was looking at some pictures of my Australia trip in June 2001 yesterday, and I never really comprehended just how large I was then! It was a real eye-opening moment yesterday when the veil came off and I truly saw myself for who I was then physically. Since puberty (which began at the ripe old age of 8), I've had weight issues. I have never been successful at losing weight before but now I lose at least a pound a week on average.

I live in a house now.

Don't laugh! Since I went away to college until 2004, I had lived in apartments. In '04 a flood messed up our apartment and we moved to a wondeful townhouse. That didn't work out but by some miracle we were able to find this townhouse, same floor plan and same development, just two streets away from the first townhome. We've been here almost 2 years and have extended our lease by 3 more years. We're seriously considering buying this place at the end of the lease.


I've faced down my biggest fear this year.

In the last six months, I've had two cancer scares,melanoma on the back of my eye, and breast cancer. My dad died in 1989 of multi-systemic cancer at the age of 45 and my mom was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer when she was barely over 40. So many members of my family have died of cancer that it is shocking...very rarely does a family member die at an advanced age. And something I've worried about for many years. 5 generations on my maternal side have battled breast cancer and for all except Mom, the cancer has won.

I made peace with myself some time ago and always sort of wondered how I'd cope with a cancer scare. Two in the same year seemedincomprehensible. But it happened and I'm living proof that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I had to radically change a few of my habits, as per eye doc's orders, but I'm okay and I coped a lot better than I ever thought I could.


I got to share something very special with Mark.

No not that LOL! This past year, I've gotten to share one of my old passions with Mark and he got to meet some friends from that period of my life.

I've reconnected with old friends!

Getting back in touch with Ange and Cris has been incredible :) You guys knew the old me and I'm so glad to show you the new me! And Cris, if you're reading, do I EVER have some pictures for you!

And how can I forget reconnecting with my guys. You held my hand through the darkness and taught me SO much!

Giving thanks


As well as reconnecting with old friends, I had the chance to give thanks to some VERY significant people in my life. When we're wrapped up in our 'stuff', it is so easy to lose what brings you together. David and Karen in particular were my lifeline when my Dad was dying. Funnily enough, David used to date my mother many years ago. I had always appreciated their friendship and support in those dark days, but I'd never told them just how much their friendship meant to me. I was able to write a letter a few years ago and get it delivered to them. They're still so close to my heart.

In the last five years, I've also been able to thank C., K. G. and R. They'll never know just how much they meant to me. Or maybe they will...it has been a great many years since our paths have crossed, but age has deepened the sweetness of our friendship.

And Paula...I can't WAIT to see you again, my friend!

And Denise (and Dave!) thank you for your nearly instant friendship. You offered support when I was at my most worried.


And C. ...who went from an actor on a tv show to a friend. I was so happy to have been involved in your F.C. You made my "non-honeymoon" full of laughter and fun. May the light always show you and your beautiful wife the way. Mark and I couldn't think of a better way to spend our honeymoon weeken...errr...scratch that!

And with that, thanks to A. for being the trailblazer. Girl, success will greet you at every turn. I am so happy for you!

And I can't forget J. and S. Twenty-five years I had to wait for it but it was so wonderful and so sweet.Thank you! Thank you so much for making it happen! You were VERY missed! J. when you met my eyes for the first time in 13 yrs. it was like old times....with a difference...Mark. I'm so glad you two were in the same space.

I have two happily married step-children!

David and Erin were married earlier this year and Deborah and HER David (yes, we have a wealth of Davids in the family. There's my dad, my step-dad, my brother, my step-son and my step-son-in law. All new Davids have to change their name at the door ;) were married in 2004.


Life is good. Physically, I've never felt better. Emotionally, I have never felt more grounded. As September 10th fades into September 11th, I feel so blessed to be here typing this post. Not everyone has that luxury.

In the spirit of spreading the positivity and honoring those we lost, I challenge you to do a positive post about your life, 5 years after the event that changed all of our lives.

Thanks for reading!
Briana

Semi health update

My aunt's S.O. did NOT have a stroke, thank goodness They're still determining what the problem is, but so far it doesn't look too serious.

Update:Today's tests say he had a veryMILD stroke...so that is the latest news.

family stresses

It never rains when it can pour!

My uncle was admitted to the hospital last week for a suspected heart attack. Thankfully, his heart is okay, and the chest pain was due to an excess of caffeine. YIKES!

Then, yesterday, I learned that my aunt's S.O. had a stroke yesterday and it probably wasn't his first. He's very young (50) for this sort of thing, so it is a big concern!

catching up

For some reason, I got on a cleaning jag this weekend. Saturday, I completely rearranged my living room, moving furniture and getting rid of some junk.

Yesterday, it was time for me to go through my clothes. Since we were in Chicago for a good chunk of late fall/early winter last year, I just gathered up a half dozen tops and pairs of pants, a couple of pairs of shoes, and that was that. I haven't actually gone through winter clothes or weeded them out for two years.

It was VERY necessary to do this, since, depending on the age of the clothes, they were either 1, 2, or *3*(!!!) sizes too big. Even the few things I bought last year were purchased 25 pounds ago, and were a bit baggy.

So, I took 2 hours and did a HUGGGE purge. I have 3 garbage bags full of everything from semi dressy pants, holiday shirts, and comfy pajamas ready to go to Freecyclers.Unfortunately, due to the cut of most of these outfits, taking them in doesn't make sense. Ahh...my loss is someone else's gain.

And I have very few things that actually fit well. Who knew this losing weight thing would result in a new wardrobe?? Well, okay I KNEW it but knowing it is one thing and having it happen is another thing ENTIRELY.

I'm in this middle area where some plus sizes fit but yet others are huge on me, but many fitted regular size tops are a bit too tight in the shoulders/bust, so shopping will be interesting until I'm down another 20 pounds or so. I did have a HUGGGGE victory Friday when I fit comfortably into a size large top. The last time that happened was...um...never!

Of course, I did do a little shopping last Friday...got a gorgeous suede blazer for 20.00 (Gotta love outlets!) and have picked up a few pairs of jeans in passing, but I'm up for some new dressy clothes (at least one pair of pants and a dressy top).

And a friend of mine sent me to a 'virtual model' website where I could plug in my measurements and then see what I'd look like at my goal weight. WOW, was THAT inspiration!

Speaking of friends, another thing I did this weekend was reconnect with some old friends. It was great to chat on the phone at length and find out how these two incredible ladies are doing :)

RIP Steve Irwin

Cat (my room mate) has always been a huge fan of Animal Planet. Some...gosh about 10 years ago, she dragged me over to the tv and had me watch the Croc Hunter show. I was very amused. Here was this very handsome guy acting as excited as a little child about animals. There was something very appealing about him, though it was easy to mock his over-the-top enthusiasm.

When I went to Australia in 2001 to meet Mark, we found ourselves driving through Queensland, on the way to visit his brother in Mackay. Cat asked us to stop at the Australia Zoo and pick up some sort of souvenir for her.

We waffled a bit, since it was some 60 mile detour and time was really tight. Finally, we decided to spend a morning there. When we arrived in the town, on a Saturday night, we were surprised at how small it was. We ended up in a motel (if it could be called that!) and headed out to the zoo early Sunday morning.

I remember that there was just brilliant sunlight and the weather was perfect! Almost as soon as we went through the gate, it became clear that this wasn't just a tourist trap. The staff was absolutely wonderful, answering questions and engaging us in dialogue.

I had been hoping to pet a kangaroo, and had been denied again and again. A week earlier, we had been at an outdoor nature park and a kangaroo mercilessly teased me. He'd let me get close (yep, they did allow you to pet the kangas) then playfully hop away.

A few days earlier, we'd gone to a Koala reserve, and I'd gotten to cuddle with a koala (which was just a wonderful experience) so kangas were the only animals I really wanted to pet, if possible.

We approached the kanga pens, and lo and behold, they allowed patrons to roam around the pens. We had a great chat with a staff member about albino kangas, and yes, I got to pet a few.

The zoo was laid out wonderfully, and we had an absolutely wonderful time there. The highlight of the day was seeing Steve's wife, Terri, feeding some wombats. Sadly, Steve wasn't out and about that day.

That day, I really became aware of Steve as more than an outrageous Tv personality. The love he had for animals was evident in every square inch of his home zoo.

Steve will definitely be missed. He packed a lot of living and passion into his 44 years on this earth. I hope his family continues his legacy.

Here are some links to some pix of our day at the Aussie Zoo

Front gate

Albino kanga

Mark petting a kanga

I finally get to pet a kanga

Feeding some dingoes