Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Oh no!


I received this link today that my favorite college bar had a fire this week. So many fond memories from times gone by. Thankfully it looks like there wasn't much damage that can't be fixed. Just hearing the name "Pigs" makes me smile and think back to so many happy times. P&G's and anything New Paltz in general will always have a special place in my heart. I can't believe it's been TEN years since I graduated. I am really getting old!!!

Monday, August 25, 2008

Social workers paid far less than many other helping professionals

While this is certainly nothing new, I liked this article that was posted today that calls attention to this subject yet again. I also think the field is getting worse and worse in terms of social worker responsibilities, the negative ways we are often treated in general, and just the overall lack of compensation (and not just weekly paycheck!) for everything we go through day in and day out. I try to focus on the "perks" of my current job though which for me at present, do count for something positive at least. I also thankfully make a half-way decent salary compared to many other social worker professionals. However, next to my teacher-friends on Long Island (a comparison profession that was mentioned in the article), I make about $20K LESS per year (although I do know that teacher pay also depends on the area). I KNOW the starting salary for NYC teachers is much less than Long Island, and the schools are much, much worse. *Sigh*. I happily made it through another Monday though. Have a great week everyone!!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

40 tips for life.........

Got this in a forward from my MIL and just wanted to share. Hope it makes you smile and think about the positive things in your life today ;).............


1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'

5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.
7. Make time to practice meditation, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8.Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, OR issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a life time.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the NEGATIVE BLUES away.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. REMEMBER, GOD heals everything.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
33. The best is yet to come.
34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
35. Do the right thing!

36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!)
37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today accomplished _________.
38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about. I just did.

May your troubles be less, May your blessings be more, May nothing but happiness come through your door!

My new favorite food..........


Spaghetti squash!!!!! Yum!!! And so easy to make.......I just poke some holes throughout with a sharp knife, bake for an hour at 375, then remove from oven and chop in half, scoop out the contents in a bowl, remove and throw away the seeds, then add mozzarella cheese and sauce. So, so good. And cheap too!! One of these babies costs a couple of dollars at the grocery store and lasts for a few meals/lunches. AND, it's just as good as pasta in my opinion!! Healthier too!!

Saturday, August 16, 2008

DH said maybe I can be a SAHM........


if he decides to give up his business, which I really don't think is likely. At least not for the next couple of years. Either way, I still have to keep working for the time being at least, main reason is primarily becase he can't afford the cost of health insurance for all of us. (speaking of "that" topic, I am in a mini-battle right now with my insurance company, that I pay $250.00 pre-tax per weekly paycheck to approve a denial of coverage for my routine, medically necessary 18-week anatomy screening of the baby. I will let you know how it goes.........)


Anyways, I can still dream, right? And who knows what the future may bring. I have started reading this book in the meantime from my local library.......a pretty quick read and it does offer some good tips.
I'm still not totally convinced it's possible, or wise, to live on one-income in my area of the country though. But I guess that's also a very personal decision, of which, I am sure will only continue to be discussed in my personal life. Anyways, have to run and get ready for a BBQ. Just waiting for my husband to get his butt in gear already......

I'm a transplant here but from what I can see, most of these are true.......

YOU KNOW YOU ARE FROM LONG ISLAND WHEN....1. Flip-flops are normal, even in January.2. You know what they mean when they say "No change at Jamaica"3. You know that The Drift Inn and Neptunes are in the same building, but you also know that they are NOTHING alike. 4. Screw the SAT, you know the exact pronunciation of Islip, Wantagh, Commack, Mattituck, Shinnecock, Quogue, Ronkonkoma, Hauppauge, Mineola, Islandia, Massapequa, and Patchogue.5. You and your friends are going to the beach, but the word beach never comes up in the conversation. Instead, it sounds something like this..."Well, we could go to Jones, but Robert Moses is closer, the North Shore is too rocky...whatever lets go to the Hamptons."6. You have no idea what jimmies are, or why someone would want to put them on their ice cream7. You have never used "wicked" as an adjective 8. You know that Americana Manhasset is NOT a type of coffee 9. You know that it's possible to take Jericho all the way to queens...but you would never EVER do it 10. Parallel parking in your drivers ed class was pointless...you only had to do it next to one car11. You live in the shadow of the greatest city in the world, but you almost never go there.12. When you're away from Long Island, you love it and when you're home, you don't.13. You think if you're not from Long Island or NYC, you're not really from New York.14. You know the exact point at which Queens turns into Nassau simply on intuition.15. You don't go to Manhattan, you go to "The City."16. You never realize you have an accent till you leave.17. Everything north of the Bronx is "upstate."18. At some point in your life you've gone clamming.19. Either your parents or your grandparents lived in the city.20. You'd pay $11.50 for a movie. 21. You don't live in Long Island. You live ON Long Island. 22. You know where the Commack Motor Inn is. 23. Your distant future might involve the state of Florida.2 4. You know the location of 6 malls and a dozen McDonalds and 36 7-11's. 25. You've tried to find the Amityville Horror house. 26. No, you don't want mustard on that burger!! 27. You can't understand why a diner would ever close.2 8. You've had a seagull poop on your car.29. You don't really see the big deal about the Hamptons, unless you got smashed at the Boardy Barn.30. You know White Castle is terrible for you and it gives you a stomach ache, but you periodically "Get the Crave."31. You want the Yankees to stay in the Bronx, but would probably go to more games if they moved to Manhattan.32. You think that somehow, the Jets and Giants still play in New York. 33. You've missed that "Drunk Train," the 2:42 out of Penn, and had the dreaded wait until 5:30. 34. You or someone you know has owned an animal that came from North Shore Animal League. 35. You've never taken an MTA bus. 36. The Long Island Expressway isn't really as bad as everybody thinks. 37. You don't associate Fire Island with gay men. 38. You know which parts of the Godfather were filmed on Long Island. 39. You've paid a $10 cover charge to get into a bar, but got nothing for it. 40. You miss whiffle ball and running through sprinklers. 41. Billy Joel said it best, "either you date a rich girl from the North Shore, or a cool girl from the South Shore." 42. You have or someone you know has fallen asleep on the LIRR and ended up in one of these three places; Babylon, Port Washington or Hicksville. 43. You know that there is a big difference between any of the other hamptons, and hampton bays 44. The Belt Parkway sucks! 45. You've been stuck in a traffic jam for more than 2 hours (without moving). 46. Your parents took you to All American, Nathans or Carvel (on the way home from the beach). 47. You don't have to go far to see your family. 48. You remember Grumman. 49. You know the color of the water at Jones Beach is not BLUE! 50. You were upset when all the Roy Rogers turned into Wendy's and Arby's closed for good. 51. You can spout off all the LIRR stops between Penn Station and Ronkonkoma. 52. Paying $35 for a haircut doesn't sound so crazy. 53. You think the people from Brooklyn are "da wunz dat tawk wit a accent."54. You went sledding in the sumps.55. You knew of Massapequa before the Amy Fisher-Joey Buttafuoco nightmare. 56. You think going to Queens is a hike. 57. The first time you heard the term "Long Island Iced Tea" you were somewhere else and you laughed. 58. When you live somewhere else and are astounded to see that people actually stop at yellow lights. 59. Its rare to get really bad bagels or pizza on long island, almost as rare as it is to get good bagels and pizza anywhere else.60. You can name at least three bands that came from Long Island. 61. You've partied in the woods at least once in your life.62. You know what Pilgrim State and Sweet Hollow Road are...and you are NEVER going again 63. You are never more then 20 minutes away from the water.64. You have been to at least one concert at jones beach.65. When you hear "the end", you think Montauk. Orient Point never crosses your mind.66. Wandering around Fire Island trashed is an acceptable plan for any night.67. Doing 90 over the Robert Moses bridge or on Ocean Parkway is perfectly fine.68. When you say that you are going to "the outlets", Tanger is implied.69. You have a friends who swears they saw Billy Joel somewhere in Oyster Bay 70. When people ask "where are you from?" you answer Long-Guy-Land and automatically assume everyone in the world knows that answer means New York. 71. You've seen the commercials, and you've craved their shakes, but you know damn well there are no DQ's or Sonics on Long Island. 72. You remember all the good times had at Nunleys, and the emotional distress it caused when it was closed down. 73. When you or someone you know attends SUNY Albany, Buffalo, or Binghamton............


WHAT ARE SOME STEREOTYPES WITH SOME TRUTH ABOUT YOUR AREA?

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Update: almost a month later........

And the sex was confirmed yesterday!! We are having a baby boy!!! I have some really great pictures of everything. I know I really, really have to post some of this stuff so I am going to try to make it a point this weekend to scan for all of you to view. My fave pic is where he is just laying back and chillin' with his feet crossed. It's so funny because this is exactly how his father sleeps LOL. The doctor checked the heart and everything looks great (this was my huge fear). The spine and head also looks perfectly normal as well. And of course, we have some vivid penga pics! They took pics of EVERYTHING yesterday so I got to see his little hands and even his toes. SO NEAT!!!

The tech also said my placenta is in the front, so it may take me a little longer to start feeling kicks and jabs. I have felt some "bubbles" and one day at work this week I had movement where my stomach felt like it turned inside out. Never going through this before though, I am not sure if this is the baby or my imagination.........

The doctor said yesterday it looks like I am actually a couple days ahead of my due date, but they will not change it again because "a couple of days" still falls into the same range.

I am thinking of hitting up some stores later this morning to see what kind of baby boy summer clothes I can get on sale. This time next year he should certainly be able to fit into 6-9month outfits. If they are 50-80% off that's a really sweet deal as well. I can also now really focus on my baby registries. I have signed up for both Target and Babies R Us.

Just wanted to share the news!!!!

Just my little spot to stay motivated towards reaching my financial goals, stuff related to my field, and random ramblings.

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