Some people will do anything for money. And we mean freaking anything. We're telling you right now, this is not for those with weak stomachs or a generally positive view of humanity. Because someti...
07 October 2008
CONGRATULATIONS, STEVE and JESSICA!!!
My friends Steve and Jessica got engaged this weekend, and I just couldn't wait to share it with all of you! They are such a wonderful couple, and we've all been waiting for the day when we'd hear this great news!Jess has been our best friend since before Dan and I married. She was in our wedding, and she lived across the street from Dan and I in King of Prussia. When I was a leasing consultant, I met Steve, who became a resident at the apartment complex that we all lived at together. I said right away from the day I met him, that Steve was the NICEST guy I think I'd ever met! I had such a great impression from him that I told all the staff at the office that I HAD to set him up with one of my friends, because he was such a catch!
Jessica and I were at the pool on the 4th of July and I was talking to her about this guy I met, named Steve! I told her he moved in, just around the corner from her apartment, and she HAD to meet him! As we were walking back from the pool, I said, "Hey, let's go see if he's around!" We walked by his apartment, and sure enough, he was BBQ-ing on his balcony. I waved up at him and introduced my friend Jessica. Then, on a whim, I asked him if he was going to watch fireworks. He said he didn't have plans, so me and Jess made an impromptu 4th of July party and invited him!
That night, a big group of us all went out to watch fireworks, and we layed out on blankets in a big field. Jess and Steve were in their own little world, laying on on a blanket and looking up at the sky- it was so cute! We all kind of winked and knew that it was a match!
And now, 4 years later, here they are! Engaged! Ok, Cory and Elizabeth- I'm setting my sights on being a matchmaker for YOU girls next! LOL
06 October 2008
umm....tad bit scary?!
As I talked about before, Elizabeth and I signed up for volunteering with NY cares. I found an event next week: "Singalong with Seniors" and I signed up, but by the time Elizabeth logged on, the event was FULL. Instead, she decided to sign up for "fun and games with patients at the Presbyterian Hospital" on the same night. Sounds nice, right? Fun and boardgames at a hospital on a Wednesday night! She's thinking it may be children, or cancer patients, or seniors- what a nice way to give back, right? WRONG!
She got an email today with the details and here's what it said:
"You must show picture ID as you enter the main doors. If the security guards ask where you're going, just say Payne Whitney (or 11th floor). Proceed straight ahead towards the information desk (there's a big "I" over it). We gather at the couches and chairs off to the right of the info desk. There is a brief mandatory orientation for first time volunteers that is given by the staff of Payne Whitney. It is important that you get there on time. It is much easier for everyone if we go up to the unit together as it is a lockdown unit.
Once inside the psychiatric wing, we will be setting up board games in the recreation room for the patients. Also, two volunteers will monitor the reference library. In the library, we will start a sign up sheet for patients who are interested in accessing the Internet and time the patients so that everyone gets equal access to the computers..
Appropriate clothing is required. This means no tank tops, short skirts/shorts, or low necklines. The hospital also has a "no sandals" policy. Since many patients struggle with impulse control, the therapists ask that you dress conservatively as they do enforce this policy. Confidentiality is very important because the people at the clinic may not want anyone to know they are there.
You will never be left alone with a client and you should not go off on your own with a client. This facility is a 64-bed short-term in-patient psychiatric unit. Patients are there generally for 11 - 16 days though some are there longer. There will be staff on hand at all times.
...so.....YEAH, Elizabeth cancelled, and I offered to cancel my event too, and we signed up for a yoga class together with formerly homeless women. Still, the class is in EAST HARLEM, at night, so we're going to have to be careful!
Geez, was this such a good idea after all? LOL
She got an email today with the details and here's what it said:
"You must show picture ID as you enter the main doors. If the security guards ask where you're going, just say Payne Whitney (or 11th floor). Proceed straight ahead towards the information desk (there's a big "I" over it). We gather at the couches and chairs off to the right of the info desk. There is a brief mandatory orientation for first time volunteers that is given by the staff of Payne Whitney. It is important that you get there on time. It is much easier for everyone if we go up to the unit together as it is a lockdown unit.
Once inside the psychiatric wing, we will be setting up board games in the recreation room for the patients. Also, two volunteers will monitor the reference library. In the library, we will start a sign up sheet for patients who are interested in accessing the Internet and time the patients so that everyone gets equal access to the computers..
Appropriate clothing is required. This means no tank tops, short skirts/shorts, or low necklines. The hospital also has a "no sandals" policy. Since many patients struggle with impulse control, the therapists ask that you dress conservatively as they do enforce this policy. Confidentiality is very important because the people at the clinic may not want anyone to know they are there.
You will never be left alone with a client and you should not go off on your own with a client. This facility is a 64-bed short-term in-patient psychiatric unit. Patients are there generally for 11 - 16 days though some are there longer. There will be staff on hand at all times.
...so.....YEAH, Elizabeth cancelled, and I offered to cancel my event too, and we signed up for a yoga class together with formerly homeless women. Still, the class is in EAST HARLEM, at night, so we're going to have to be careful!
Geez, was this such a good idea after all? LOL
No Janet?
We have Janet Jackson tickets for next Friday, Oct. 17...but I'm not holding my breath that the concert will actually HAPPEN. Janet's been cancelling shows left and right due to rumors of "exhaustion," which I think translates to a case of PTS: "Poor Ticket Sales!"
Hmmm... will I be getting an email from Ticketmaster, notifying me of a refund? We'll see...
Hmmm... will I be getting an email from Ticketmaster, notifying me of a refund? We'll see...
03 October 2008
1-2-3 bar
Yesterday, KRISTI arrived in NYC! She'll be here with us until Sunday evening. We went out to a new bar I found called "1-2-3 Bar", check it out: $1 burgers, $2 shots, and $3 beers 7 days a week, all the time! The burgers are sliders-just little ones, but still, what a GREAT deal!We met up with Kathryn, Jason, Elizabeth, Mike, Katie, and Tiffany, and sat outside on the patio at our own picnic table. It was a little chilly, but we're trying to enjoy the outdoors as much as possible before winter creeps in! We ended up getting these 3 foot tall beer tubes- hilarious!
I took a picture of kathryn, dan and jason with my iPhone, and I also had to show you a picture of this: FRIED cheese ravioli! Have you ever heard of this? Dan thought they were amazing!
01 October 2008
Alex
Ready to have your heart ripped out? This Saturday, my mom and dad will be saying goodbye to their little foster son, Alex. Alex's mother was battling drugs and alcohol, and he was was immediately placed into foster care after birth. My parents actually brought him home from the hospital as a newborn!Social Services has been working with his birth mother , and she's been having monitored visits with Alex. The ultimate goal is to reunite the children with their parents, after they've been through parenting classes and counseling. However, the courts decided that the mother should not regain custody of little Alex, and he should instead be adopted permanently.
Alex's mother asked my mom and dad to adopt him, and they desperately wanted to, but at their age (66 and 65) they decided that it was not in his best interest.
My parents are really excited about his new family. The mother is an RN, and she will be taking a full year of maternity leave to transition Alex. The father owns his own landscaping company. They are both bilingual parents in English and French, and they have 2 adopted girls from China (they are ADORABLE!) so it will be great for Alex to have 2 big sisters!
Here's a photo of my mom with Alex, and my 3 nieces: London, Navy, and Freja. Below, is a picture of my Dad with Alex this summer. 
As you can imagine, the situation is full of mixed emotion: my parents are grateful for Alex's new family and joyous that he will be adopted, but it is agonizing to let him go, and I'm sure the transition will be a bit frightening for him as well. Alex is 18 months old, so it's a blessing for his new parents that he will not remember the adoption, and he will always know them as his parents. But at the same time, it's terribly painful for my parents to have to see him go. They truly love him, and have raised him as their own, giving him a wonderful home and lots of love.
It's a tearful week for my mom and dad, knowing that each day is getting closer to the day that they will have to say goodbye to their little boy. So, please remember my mom and dad in your thoughts and prayers. It takes a lot of strength!
1 more sleep!
Guess WHAAAAAT??? Tomorrow, Kristi is coming to NYC! I can’t believe she’ll be here tomorrow- you know when you plan something, and it seems so far away, and then ALL of a sudden, it’s HERE?! Say a prayer for her as she flies from Indy tomorrow- I know it will be hard, as it will be the FIRST trip away from her 2 babies. But I’m excited to have her all to my self! : )
Things are coming together for Dan’s birthday party this Saturday, but he made it CLEAR: NO cake, NO balloons, NO candles- he’s so opposite from me! At this point, we’re planning on having a small group of 8 meet for dinner at a restaurant around 8pm, and then we’ll head to M1-5 around 11pm, and meet up with the rest of the crew. Lots of monster energy drinks so that we can stay out all night! It’s not a party unless you don’t come home til 6am!
Things are coming together for Dan’s birthday party this Saturday, but he made it CLEAR: NO cake, NO balloons, NO candles- he’s so opposite from me! At this point, we’re planning on having a small group of 8 meet for dinner at a restaurant around 8pm, and then we’ll head to M1-5 around 11pm, and meet up with the rest of the crew. Lots of monster energy drinks so that we can stay out all night! It’s not a party unless you don’t come home til 6am!
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