tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88566282024-03-06T22:42:40.955-06:00piggyreeseThe life and times of a Bichon Frise puppy living in NYC and now BrooklynLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15362803142712037654noreply@blogger.comBlogger219125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1155824768307003792006-08-17T08:43:00.000-05:002006-08-17T09:26:08.360-05:00How much is too muchWhen planning a party, what are the major concerns that have to be addressed?<br /><br />(in no specific order)<br />Budget<br />Number of people<br />What type of Food<br />Theme / decor<br />Drinks or no drinks<br />Possible seating<br />Music<br />games / favors<br />Attire<br />grooming<br />Time<br /><br />This is true for just about any party, why when you add the word wedding before the word party do the decisions become harder and the price attached for anything simple or not, sky rocket?<br /><br />Maybe because the wedding day is the one day that is supposed to be all about the bride, and perfect. It's the one day that supposedly the parents should have been saving for. It is the day that the bride gets to live out a fantasy, because really when else are you going to spend a crap load of money and feed and booze up all your friends and family?<br /><br />Seriously they looked at a shit load of venues, and met with many many caterers until they found an all inclusive place that would do what they wanted with the budget that they had to work with. <br /><br />But, what no one tells you is that after the invitations go out, the price is really subject to change. If more people come than you originally hoped, that is great but it costs more.<br /><br />Months go by and all these ideas are thought of, on how to make the party better, well guess what that costs more.<br /><br />You realize that you forgot someone totally off the list and, well that costs more.<br /><br />Mom and Frank are at the point now, where in order to pull off what they want, the creativity will have to kick in, and mom will have to stop drunkenly inviting people!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1155738759138649982006-08-16T09:20:00.000-05:002006-08-16T09:32:39.166-05:00wedding and life shitSo mom has been a little stressed, which is why there has been a lack of posts. Her stress equals my laziness. <br /><br />She will promise this, Frank and mom and I are moving to North Carolina in October and from that point on my blogging will become more regular. . .<br /><br />What are we all going to be doing in North Carolina you may ask . . well they are going to try and open a bar / Performance space. <br />Coffee in the morning with sandwiches and salads, and then come evening wine, beer and cheese plates and other good non needing a chef eats!<br /><br />Now really that idea may change when they get down there based on location issues, zoning laws and a general lack of need for what they were first thinking of opening. But right now, it is looking like the place will be something that serves light fair, and coffee and wine and beer!<br /><br />Now, regarding mom's wedding that she is planning . . . that headache (well fun) is consuming her every thought as of late. <br /><br />Mom realized that she is soo happy that Frank and her technically are all ready married so that they are able to relax and celebrate at the party. But then mom decided to have a ceremony, with the whole dress thing, and the DJ, and the photographer and the 200 people who need to eat and drink!!!!!!<br /><br />So, that said. This is why mom has not been posting.<br /><br />She will now do wedding updates until the event. . .Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1153945783079994362006-07-26T15:26:00.000-05:002006-07-26T15:29:43.080-05:00Another Bichon BloggerYes ladies and gentleman. Mom has discovered another Bichon Blogger, well at least a pic of one. <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/1600/im_really_busy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/320/im_really_busy.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />courtesy of <a href="http://www.cuteoverload.com">Cute Overload</a>. The cutest website ever!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1153945556634779182006-07-26T15:24:00.000-05:002006-07-26T15:25:56.653-05:00CARMom and Frank bought a car. <br /><br />Yes they did. <br /><br />It's blue and I have not vomited in it yet. <br /><br />They have resolved to not drive it unless they really need to. Like never in the city. <br /><br />hmmm. not too sure how I feel about this purchase yet.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1151678218878202852006-06-30T09:27:00.000-05:002008-01-09T09:35:45.065-06:00Going to New BedfordMom is going to New Bedford this week to Visit Alicia<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/45/126489849_913abe6b19.jpg"><br /> and the cutie pie. She is soo excited!<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/46/126489853_da00f250ec.jpg"><br /><br />There sometimes is nothing better than hanging out with a baby. Mom and Frank are then going to hang out with Grandma.<br /><br />Mom is shoving me at Aunt Kris's house to play with Milo! <br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/51/137424539_dfce634e1e.jpg"><br /><br />I foresee a whole week of hiding under the bed and being humped.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1151433539432586602006-06-27T12:51:00.000-05:002006-06-27T13:38:59.523-05:00If mom ran NYCAnother cyclist has died this month in NYC area. That makes 3 in June alone.<br /><br />Mom is finding it really hard not to be extremely nervous each time her and Frank or other's bike. <br /><br />How can it be less dangerous? What will it take to create safer streets and better bicycle awareness. <br /><br />If mom ran NYC she would know exactly what to do to make it safer.<br /><br />That's like saying that the world would be a better place is more people thought like her. It sounds nice to say, but really may not be true. <br /><br />But if mom was going to try and make it safer in the streets here in NY she would. . .<br /><br />First make the speed limit of cars, 10 miles per hour slower. Or maybe 10 miles an hour tops. She would reinstate the constant carpool rule, in hopes that it would eliminate excess cars. She would not allow trucks in the city at all. The only large vehicles would be small dump truck, vans and maybe buss's but maybe not. <br /><br />Then she would make one car lane on each street that had more than one lane totally dedicated to bikes. Forget the skinny bike lanes that are so close to parked cars, she would just make one whole large car lane.<br /><br />For the other one way single lane streets she would just ban cars. <br /><br />Then she would make it a complete Felony, here me felony to open a car door into traffic. She would insist that all passengers of cars in the front or back use the car door that was closest to the side walk. Speaking of that, all the sidewalks would be free because there would no longer be street parking allowed. You could only drop people off on curbs, in special designated areas like as if you are pulling up to a hotel. <br /><br /> Every car would have to park under ground in parking garages. The only cars that could park ever on the street would be police cars, ambulances and fire trucks (which would be allowed.)<br /><br />Then she would make it a rule in companies, or any job that if you stopped driving to work, and started riding a bike you would get a $2000 tax free bonus. And if you bike to work with a co-worker who is less skilled on a bike than you get 3 extra days off a year. (in praise of being a teacher)<br /><br />She would then get messengers to volunteer 2 hours a month to teach classes about changing tubes, and how to lock your bike, and anything else people would want to know. And in exchange every messenger would have health insurance. <br /><br />There would also be a Bloomberg sponsored prize yearly for the person who helped the most people stop driving and start riding their bikes, taking buses etc. and worked to make the streets a safer place for cyclists. The prize would be a college education for 10 people of their choosing and free bikes for life. <br /><br />Then to make sure that Transportation Alternatives continued to be the best company, she would give them and everyone who worked there 1 million dollars a year. (it being a non profit and all, that money would have to be for very specific reasons which would be determined)<br /><br />Mom would then, stop the rain and the snow in the city, so that every day was a great biking day. <br /><br />She would turn some of the old parking spaces in to great bike parking that was safe, and supervised. She would also have cute valet bike parking for people who had more money to spend. She would also make sure that all those employee's working bike parking had health insurance. <br /><br />Every other street meat cart would also sell tubes, and air pumps, and tires and other necessary bike parts. So you could always fix a problem.<br /><br />And to top it all off, she would remove the gas stations from the city and replace them with bike shops, and quick repair places open 24 hours. This would be so no one was ever stranded and could always get their bike fixed. <br /><br />Ok so obviously there are problems with this idea, like how would people carry heavy things, or if you can’t walk or physically ride a bike what would you do? And I am sure if mom spent a few more hours on this she would think of something. <br /><br />But of course this fantasy has to come to an end. That is of course unless the rest of the world thinks this way too . . .<br /><br />I guess all mom is asking is for no more cyclist death’s to happen. And for the city to be a safer place to bike in. But until then, those who passed will be remembered and missed. And when this city is a safer place they will not be forgotten.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1150739708311704822006-06-19T12:04:00.000-05:002006-06-19T12:55:08.370-05:00Bananna GuardSo, Mom decided to buy Frank a present. It was going to be part of his birthday gift, until it came early and mom realized that she could not sit on it for that long. <br /><br />When Mom and Frank went to Princeton to see Cousin Amy defend her desertion, on the way up Frank was reading a bike magazine. In the magazine there was an add for a Banana Guard. <br /><br />Frank got excited because he always eats banana’s and is upset when they smash in his bag. <br />This Banana Guard holder seemed like such a great gift idea, that he would have no idea was coming. How many times do you look in a magazine, comment out loud at what you might like, and then actually get it? . . . <br /><br />So Mom rips out the page, and goes online and finds the website. It is a little company in Canada called Banana Guard. She perused the colors, picked two she thought that Frank would like (blue and yellow) and placed the order. Since Frank’s birthday is in August, she selected ground shipment since it was the cheapest and she had a few months to wait. <br /><br />One week later, the package arrived at her desk at work. She thought how fast it was, and got excited to see what they looked like. She opened the package and pulled out 2 rather large dildo looking contraptions. <br /><br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/49/170623873_b95d6350cb.jpg"><br /><br />She immediately turned bright red and shoved them back in the package and looked around to make sure that no one saw.<br /><br />Ordering sex toys to one’s office is frowned upon in corporate America. <br /><br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/52/170623876_9f57523651.jpg"><br /><br />She took the package to the bathroom in her office and took them out and looked again. The were really made for holding banana’s, but the were a lot bigger than she thought and did not really look like they would fit all banana’s.<br /><br />She went back to her desk and a few hours later she got up the courage to show the one friend she has at work. Of course her friend thought that the guards looked like giant sex toys, and then made mom put them back in the bag, so no one would see.<br /><br />Right before she got home she got up the courage to ask her co-worker who happened to have a banana on her desk to take a look at the purchase and see if the banana would fit. The kicked off the next half an hour of hysterical laughing by everyone in finance, who had to hold it and walk through the halls. They finally tried the real banana in there, and it did indeed fit.<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/51/170623874_9d4019a842_m.jpg"><br /><br /><br />Mom decided that night after showing her friend Aubrey and watching her laugh so hard she almost cried, that she had had to give this “gift” to Frank right away.<br /><br />She went home and told Frank that she had a present and had wanted it to be part of his birthday gift but now it just did not seem appropriate. She made him hold out his hands with his eyes closed and put one in each hand. She held her breath and waited for his reaction.<br /><br />As anticipated he laughed really hard, and then got excited about really using it. He even went so far as to find the perfect place for it in his bag. Who knew, messenger bags have just the place for Banana Guards. <br /><br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/63/170623875_73ae9970cc_m.jpg"><br /><br />So after all that, the Banana Guard / Sex toy looking object will be gracing the streets of NYC being taken out at times were sure will not be appropriate, and if not causing confusion in others, it will at least cause laughter.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1149614707231851902006-06-06T12:00:00.000-05:002006-06-06T12:26:11.453-05:00John and Noreen's WeddingMom and Frank went to John and Noreen's wedding this past weekend. <br />Mom got to be a brides maid and wear a fun dress and an even funner rain coat!<br /><br />Mom and Frank went to the rehearsal the night before.<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/65/161054736_2e515151d6.jpg"><br />This was Noreen in the church practicing.<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/65/161054752_1c82e7d147.jpg"><br />This is the wedding party and dinner.<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/50/161788204_1dc77ded64.jpg"><br />Limo Time! Mom got to ride in a pimped out Limo. She felt like she was on MTV.<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/46/161788205_3ca52453a2.jpg"><br /> <br />Mom loves this pic.<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/46/161788205_3ca52453a2.jpg"> <br />This is Noreen's dad walking her down the isle. She looked so beautiful, everyone cried.<br /><br /> <img src="http://static.flickr.com/73/161054689_5775e78536.jpg"> <br />The is mom in her dress after the ceremony. <br /><br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/75/161048070_34bc826a89.jpg"> <br />The rain coats they wore to protect their dress's were fantastic!<br /><br /><br />The wedding was beautiful and full of fun people and fun times.<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/52/161047980_bd80cbf0ca.jpg"><br /><br />It was great to see John and Noreen so happy and looking beautiful!<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/63/161047911_b8dfd93037.jpg"><br />Congrats to them!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1149022755427808472006-05-30T15:34:00.000-05:002006-05-30T16:02:02.793-05:00Pasta for the boysSo among other things mom was wicked sick this weekend. <br /><br />She managed to feel a lot better after her fever broke late Saturday night. On Sunday she decided to have some of Frank's friends in town and from out of town over for dinner on Sunday night, the night after the bachelor party they had the night before. <br /><br />There were about 8 guys in total. Imagine that, 8 men over the apartment all hung over and taunting mom with stories about the strip clubs they went to the night before.<br /><br />It would not have been that bad had Frank’s brother Jono not had his mind set on convincing mom that much more than lap dances happened. <br /><br />This really was mom's opportunity to cook for a bunch of men, Frank's brother being the only vegetarian mom decided to make it an all Vegetarian fiesta. <br />She watched the <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com">Food network</a> all day and decided to make baked pasta. She grilled vegetables, and boiled the pasta and added a good amount of cheese and many other spices and threw it into a huge dish she had to buy at the dollar store and shoved it in the oven. <br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/1600/pasta.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/320/pasta.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />She served cheese and crackers, salad and brownie cupcakes drizzled with raspberry lime sauce.<br /><br />Before dinner was ready, the boys sat in front of the TV and all watched the Food network together in peace and quite. <br />Hmm, it was a really strange thing to watch. Never before has mom been able to have 8 guys over and actually hear herself think. <br />I guess the key is to get them, all really drunk and partied out the night before so that all you get is their gentle side the next day!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1148574607937270222006-05-25T11:19:00.000-05:002006-05-25T11:30:08.036-05:00Mom sucksLately mom has just not been inspired to write anything. <br /><br />I think that she needs to become more inspired. She was at one point going to direct a play with some friends, but since the wedding prep is really taking a lot of her free head space she decided not to do that just yet.<br /><br />It's a funny position to be in right now. Already married, and planning a wedding. <br /><br />Mom thinks it's a good thing for her because she got so nervous when they got married in the court. So Nervous that she ordered a salt bagel. Now she gets to be so nervous again about people liking the big party that she is throwing.<br /><br />Now, mom really likes to entertain, and have people over, and or organize parties other places. She even likes throwing work place parties. She is has her way, her style and usually if there is enough booze and games everyone has a great time.<br /><br />This wedding party is going to be by far the biggest party that she will throw to date. <br /><br />She has to have center pieces on the tables. That should tell you something. <br /><br />The one thing that she really needs help with is deciding how to organize the tables and chairs, and coming up with a good way for people to feel like they have a place to sit, but not feel like they need to sit all night.<br /><br />Hmmm. That is that next hard thing to tackle.<br /><br />Please feel free to comment.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1147795590064429672006-05-16T10:46:00.000-05:002006-05-16T11:06:30.180-05:00Best Shower EverKris and Amy threw mom the best bridal shower ever on Saturday!<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/1600/krisandamy%20shower.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/320/krisandamy%20shower.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />It was at Mini bar, this cute little bar in Carroll Gardens. There was the perfect amount of people there. And everyone that was there was a great friend of mom's.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/1600/shower%20table.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/320/shower%20table.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />They did wine tasting, <br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/1600/jesjaneme.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/320/jesjaneme.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />and fun games, like pin the tail on the bride and mom got to open a lot of really great gifts. There was a great assortment of cheese and veggies and dips. <br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/1600/momandme.0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/320/momandme.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /> And really cute table decorations! <br /><br />There was even trivia questions about Frank that mom was not able to answer correctly. And Each time that she screwed up a question she had to put a huge piece of gum in her mouth. You can imagine at the end of the game the size of the wad of gum. <br /><br />Mom feels so lucky that there are so many people in her life that care about her and really support her and Frank together.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/1600/milopolo.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/320/milopolo.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />And Milo even came out to celebrate!<br /><br />Thanks to all who came out, <br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/1600/jenkris.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/320/jenkris.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />partied till the late hour's, took tons of photo's and drank way way too much wine!<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/1600/franamyme.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/320/franamyme.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Amy and Kris you are the best!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1147201645903495782006-05-09T13:29:00.000-05:002006-05-09T14:07:26.006-05:00White pigeonFrank and mom went to make their wedding invitations on Saturday. They biked out to the place in Brooklyn where Frank works. <br />They are going to be made from record covers, inspired by what Frank's boss does and sells.<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/55/143569353_d520147730_m.jpg"><br /><br />The ride was nice, but mom was a bit nervous the whole time, because they had to go through some places that even on a Saturday the traffic is still a bit tight.<br /><br />They get to Frank’s job and mom starts feeling weird, maybe it’s hunger, maybe it’s the fact that all the record covers have years of dust that they are breathing in, or maybe it’s because they are all alone in a big artistic warehouse. Who knows why, but they decide to go and get some lunch. They walk to the bagel shop where Frank eats every day, order some stuff. <br /><br />They take their lunch and sit in the playground. <br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/55/143569350_2710be5c9c.jpg"><br /><br />It’s a nice day out, a bit breezy and the playground is filled with Children and parents, and nanny’s and dogs. Mom mentions that one day they won’t just be able to sit in a playground and then leave when they want, because they will have kids who will want to stay. <br />There is a man who comes around with cotton candy on a stick, and the kids rush to get dollars from their parents and buy this mysterious substance, that god knows where or who made. (mom would never let her kids buy that shit, it’s like taking candy from strangers, or eating street meat). <br />But the kids buy it anyway, and mom gags at what could be in it. <br /><br />Just as they are finishing their lunch and mom is feeding the crumbs to the pigeons, a little girl on a bike followed by a littler sister on her own bike reach the top of the hill entering the playground right where mom and Frank are sitting.<br /><br />They turn to look as the littlest girl calls out to her sister, <br /><br />“Look, look up in the tree there a white pigeon”. <br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/52/143569349_89b3cdedaa_o.jpg"><br />The girl is biking down the hill towards mom and Frank as she continues, to call out “you know what grandma says, whenever you see a white pigeon it means that someone is going to die.” <br />The Girl whizzes past mom at that last part, locks eyes with her causing mom to audibly gasp in horror. <br /><br />Mom, mouth open follows the little girl with her eyes as she swoops around the playground on her bike at top speed, weaving in and out of other children. <br /><br />Mom turns to Frank hoping that he had the same horrified reaction, but he did not have one. <br />Mom breaths out and begins to discuss how strange and spooky and F’d up that little girls interaction with her was. Just as mom is shaking off the creepiness and they are standing to go, the little girl swoops by again chanting to mom someone’s going to die, a white pigeon means someone’s going to die” <br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/47/143569351_0264ab96f7.jpg"><br /><br />The little girl bikes strait in to traffic and mom gasps as the thinks how horrific it would be if she got hit by a car right then.<br /><br />Mom and Frank make their way back to Frank’s job and talk about how weird that just was, and what that could mean, and why such a little girl was talking about death like that. <br />Then for the rest of the day mom was on edge and hyper aware of her own death and other’s around her. <br /><br />Strange Saturday, I guess from now on mom will be freaked out by white pigeons, and stay out of playgrounds.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1146671241687876692006-05-03T10:36:00.000-05:002006-05-03T10:47:21.740-05:00Milo came over to playThis past week Milo came over to play because his mom Kris went out of town.<br />I have to say that being humped all weekend really can tire a dog out.<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/51/137424539_dfce634e1e.jpg"><br />It will be good to have some rest this next week, that's if mom stops giving me baths!<br /><br />In other news mom took the day off from work on Friday and Frank and her went biking all around Brooklyn. <br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/48/137424538_b4f671d91f.jpg"><br />They were trying to explore Red Hook, but really could not find much to keep them there. <br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/50/137424537_4e0453b2bb.jpg"><br />They did go around prospect park a few times and, mom pretended that she was back in shape and went really, really fast. Mom tends to randomly get competitive.<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/48/126493091_ea388e2704.jpg"><br />Like when she plays Skee ball.<br /><br />After the second way too fast lap around the park, starting to bonk mom turned to Frank and said <br />"I am going to the street cart to get some food, I will be back." <br />Mom got a huge salted pretzel and ate half and got stoned on her own blood sugar! Fun times!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1145033207096915162006-04-14T10:58:00.000-05:002006-04-14T11:46:47.196-05:00Passover Seder KindaSince Passover this year fell mid week, mom and Frank decided that instead of going to grandma’s house in Boston, it would make more sense for them to stay in town and have a Seder of their own.<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/51/128331295_bbaa28d6d3_m.jpg"><br />Being that mom is not very religious and way more into the ritual’s of Jewish events, she thought that it would be fun to have an abridged Seder that included all the fun parts that she enjoyed as a kid.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/1600/seder.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/320/seder.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />That included remembering the 10 plagues, eating the charoset, looking at the Seder plate and the main event of any Seder finding the aficoman.<br /><br /> (that is the matzo that is hidden for the children to find at the end of the meal. Once that Matzo is found the child that finds it gets a prize that is usually money and candy.)<br /><br />When she was little all mom could think about was being to winner, growing up around all boys this was the time when size did not matter. You did not have to be big to find something, you just had to be smart and agile.<br /><br />Mom usually spent the whole day shadowing her father’s every move trying to figure out his thought process and trying to catch him hiding the matza.<br /><br />Mom’s father was the best at hiding the aficoman, he hid it so well that by the end of the search he had to give so many hints just to keep everyone looking in the same room. In mom’s old house there were so many rooms and great possible hiding places that the game had to start off with many ground rules. Such as, it’s downstairs, not in closets and not in the kitchen. <br />Mom’s dad would just keep sitting at the table as 4 children tour around the house trying to be the big winner. Half an hour later they would come screaming back to him for more hints, and he would make them all really work for it. <br /><br />Finally when they all got down to one possible room where it might be, everyone had to be very wise about how they would search because all of them knew that their mom would kill them if they messed anything up.<br /><br />Usually one child would grow tired of searching first and whine about how this game was dumb, but secretly have one eye open on each place the other children searched. <br /><br />Another child would usually get mad and start pushing others around and banging things because their level of frustration was so high, and since they were the biggest they must be the one to find it. <br /><br />The other two would go back and forth literally on top of one another searching hoping that whom ever eyed it first the other one would have the faster hand to grab it and bring it back to the table.<br /><br />Every year mom did not win and every year she swore to herself that the next year she would win, she lived in the house, she thought like her father, and she was or so she thought smarter at searching.<br /><br />The one child that did win would spend all of dessert gloating and making the others mad, palming the $40 that was just won.<br /><br />That’s Passover to mom, you spend the who meal drinking wine, eating matzo, listening to your dad make puns out of the hagada that you had to read, seeing who could read the text funnier. And joking about Moses and the burning bush, and picturing a man with a red fire crotch.<br /> Lounging at the table, thinking about how you are going to find the aficoman this year.<br /><br />Mom took all that and abridged it in to 12, 20 something’s packed in to her small one bedroom apartment drinking and eating meatloaf muffins and plague cake, <br /> <img src="http://static.flickr.com/54/128331294_0cad25dccb_m.jpg"><br />searching for a box of Matzo meal, because Kris did not know to get real matzo.<br /><br />This year mom though about where to hide the matzo for a couple of days, she ended up at the last minute having to switch her hiding place to accommodate the matzo meal box, she started off the game the same way with ground rules, and then held her breath while people rummaged through her stuff, she would drop hints and smile at Frank when someone got really close. <br /> <br />Jeremy ended up finding it this year, wining the candy and the money. Mom was proud that everyone seemed into it and played along.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/1600/seder%20face.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/320/seder%20face.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />This Passover was fantastic and really celebrated their small want for the old rituals to mix with their new ones, and the fact that there was good food, good friends and good wine did not hurt either!<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/1600/blueseder.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2380/621/320/blueseder.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Cheers to being a little bit Jewish and having great friends and family to create new family traditions with!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1144703875322256982006-04-10T16:12:00.000-05:002006-04-10T16:17:55.346-05:00Fun Pictures from weekends!<img src="http://static.flickr.com/50/126493094_c68fe7994a.jpg"><br />Me and Mom at the beach.<br /><br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/55/126493088_3e1d03fdfc.jpg"><br />Pig in the car.<br /><br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/48/126483219_577e883dce.jpg"><br />I love my dad.<br /><br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/46/126489853_da00f250ec.jpg"><br />Mom and Anais<br /><br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/45/126489849_913abe6b19.jpg"><br />Mom and Alicia<br /><br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/46/126485799_f701aa5091.jpg"><br />Grandma and her lady friendsUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1144176162338208932006-04-04T13:23:00.000-05:002006-04-04T13:42:42.396-05:00Engagement partyMom, Me, Frank, Milo and Kris went to Boston this past weekend!<br />Kris <br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/1/123324632_1d35dba2c0_m.jpg"><br />rented a car, mom took a anxiety pill, milo slept and Frank drugged me with benadryl. <br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/42/123321275_e5b0e3521e_m.jpg"><br />WE got there.<br /><br />WE saw grandma and my uncle Alex who showed up to dinner 2 hours late.<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/35/123321271_5621ffc3c2_o.jpg"><br />We drove around a lot and went for walks.<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/41/123321274_190ed998fb_m.jpg"><br />And Grandma had an engagement party for Mom and Frank. <br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/41/123321270_91322d9727_m.jpg"><br />I was fun to run around and eat crumbs! <br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/41/123324631_3144757b4d_m.jpg"><br />People schmoozed<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/36/123323092_4cbb8b9207.jpg"><br />I even got to see Alicia and her baby!<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/41/123321273_0e01447b01.jpg"><br />Frank was hogging her but I got my sniff's in!<br /><br />It was a fun weekend, but mom learned the hard way she really is unable to be a passenger in a car!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1143480703277847672006-03-27T11:05:00.000-06:002006-03-27T11:31:44.526-06:00WeatherMom has begun her spring cleaning! The weather has changed and the light is brighter, and all the dust is was more prevalent. Unfortunately this has made it hard for Frank to do anything right. For example mom is now making him take his shoes off before he enters the house. Strange how she lets me roll in the dirt and then jump on the bed. <br />It's funny to me how mom perceives mess. I guess as long as she feels she can control it she makes the rules up as she goes along.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1142522379763453132006-03-16T08:54:00.000-06:002006-03-16T09:19:39.836-06:00Emily Farris is right.Mom got married and stopped posting. There is no excuse, no reason, no plan, just that married life leaves you with no time to post.<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/39/102748531_3d71570c29_m.jpg"><br />Ok that’s a total lie, the lack of post is pure laziness. Mom’s sloth like attitude has also crept in to other aspects of her life as well.<br /><br />She totally has admitted and committed to wearing the same skirt every day. This has become a joke at her office, everyone now does the point, giggle and smile at mom’s skirt. It is now her uniform.<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/35/113318329_602b843131_m.jpg"><br />Little do they know she went on a shopping spree two days ago and bought 5 more skirts. They all are also just about the same. They differ in length and pattern a bit, but they are all really all just the same damn black skirt.<br /><br />Mom has also totally stopped exercising. Not only has she not ridden her bike in a long while, but there has been no running. At first she blamed it on the weather, “oh it’s too cold to go run”, but that’s just a lie. There is always the gym, and some of the days she could have run outside.<br />It is actually amazing that the spread that is beginning to occur at the butt region has not prompted mom to get her ass to the gym. But after all she is married now and Frank can’t really leave her if she gains 10lbs. <br />Now that is something that Frank would never do, thank god he likes his women to look like women. I think that when men are in love you have to do something drastic to make them notice a little weight gain. I mean come on most men really don’t realize when you get your hair cut. <br /> But mom has also started to warn Frank that when she gets prego she will eat for 4. And she will gain way too much weight. <br />I think mom just likes over exaggerating so when she just eats for 2 it won’t be that bad. <br />(no mom is not prego and no they are not planning for kids just yet)<br /><br />Anyway I am going to prompt mom to post again, get off the couch again and really start getting out of bed more often!<br /><br />The winter hibernation is coming to an end, and the season for tighter and less clothing is about to begin.<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/37/113318330_c996a5a4a4_m.jpg">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1140191924596927962006-02-17T09:33:00.000-06:002006-02-17T09:59:00.736-06:00Going to the court houseand mom and Frank got married.<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/29/100810897_e627bddeba.jpg"><br />Yes, yes now I have a father. And mom has a new last name. It is just all too exciting for words, good thing that I am covered in fluff and really can't speak.<br /><br />Mom told me that the court house affair was so fast and so quick that when it finally happened mom really did not have time to cry. <br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/36/100810899_af6942ecf6.jpg"><br />She was just able to make a weird shocked face.<br /><br />Kris was their witness. <br /> <img src="http://static.flickr.com/19/100811079_8f0d99bb19.jpg"><br /> (Can I get a Witness!) <br />and her part of the ceremony if you could call it that was longer than the judge asking us if we wanted to marry one another. The judge really turned and looked at Kris and asked her if her wanted to object to mom and Frank's marriage.<br />Kris unlike any other time in her life keept her mouth shut!<br /><br />This is them posing as a political husband and wife,<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/42/100810895_3ed00e4f69.jpg"><br />It was funny at the time.<br /><br />Anyway Mom and Frank are married and are now going to be gearing up for their big wedding celebration in October!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1138910588650011462006-02-02T13:58:00.000-06:002006-02-02T14:03:08.663-06:00Hehe. Mom's a dorkIt's here! The most amazing and beautiful gift that anyone has ever given her!<br /><br />Frank is the best and the most loved and the most cherished man alive mom tells me, and cause you never argue with mom it must be true!<br /><br />here's a sneak peak for all you all who can't see it in person.<br /><br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/22/94630354_2ad7b75eb3_m.jpg">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1138747225670943242006-01-31T16:32:00.000-06:002006-01-31T16:40:25.686-06:00The internet is really only made forObsessively tracking packages. . . <br /><br />Mom's ring is ready! They got to go to the jewelry store on Saturday to look at it and hold it and try it on. Alicia and Jude were in town and they got to see it too!<br /><br />Then the ring had to get shipped out of state. This is to smartly avoid huge amounts of NY Sales tax. <br /><br />The tough part it the waiting and the nail, biting and the breath holding to make sure that the ring gets to the right address at the right time and does not get lost.<br /><br />Of course it was insured or so we thought (that's not mom's story to tell), but it got to Grandma's house and grandma got it.<br /><br />Then today grandma has to ship it to Frank's work. If all goes as planned Mom will have the ring on her finger tomorrow night!<br /><br />But until then mom is obsessively tracking the package every step of the way. Holding her breath until Frank has it in his hands! and then gives it to her to obsessively worry about not loosing for the rest of her life!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1138036803768041672006-01-23T11:18:00.000-06:002006-01-23T11:17:07.930-06:00All that has to be saidThis is great and amazing and we all know money saving.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.free411.com/">1-800-Free-411</a><br /><br />No joke it is free! <br /><br />I can't even tell you how many times mom has freaked out because her cell phone bill is way over because of the $1 a time charge for using just plain 411.<br /><br />This is a good day!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1137771378860954782006-01-20T09:35:00.000-06:002006-01-20T09:36:18.870-06:00Best EverKris really is right this is the <a href="http://www.applesaregreat.blogspot.com">Best Blonde Joke Ever!</a><br /><br />I laughed so hard I peed . . .Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1137605855890207822006-01-18T11:05:00.000-06:002006-01-18T11:37:35.976-06:00It's My BirthdayI am 2 today.<br /><br />This past year has been great. Not only am I 2 but I am going to have a dad!<br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/24/42787636_d0d21023a1_m.jpg"><br /><br />As I grow older I have really begun to sleep more which makes mom happy! Is it only down hill from now. By next birthday I will be sleeping 20 hours out of the day!<br /><br />Woo Hoo, Happy Birthday to me, maybe mom will let me chicken and cream cheese on the table!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856628.post-1137439418711456182006-01-16T12:46:00.000-06:002006-01-16T13:23:38.786-06:00BabysittingSo mom got to baby-sit a bit this past weekend! Frank and Mom went over to a former co-worker of Frank's house and did a few tasks. Mom's was to baby-sit her son Magnus and Frank's was to build her some shelves to store her bikes under. <br /><br />The day was wet and it has been a while since mom was alone with a 11 month old baby. Petra and Frank went to buy the wood and all mom could think was ok, now what do I do. This simple idea of entertaining a baby suddenly got a lot more complex and has made mom really think about her own life. <br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/43/87459251_1cab52a030_m.jpg"><br />Mom grew up babysitting for all the neighborhood kids and baby's, and it just came so natural. You play with the toys and sing dumb songs and do whatever the child wants to do. It's fun and when it's over you get to go home, and your experience stays there with the baby.<br /><br />Now that Frank and mom are getting married, the simple task of babysitting brings on a whole new connotation. Everything starts getting related to her own life. <br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/37/87459252_ad9ea2f3d7_m.jpg"><br /><br />Annie also a former co-worker and friend of Franks who came over to help said. "let me change the diaper I need to practice." Annie just also got engaged and is thinking about the idea of having babies now that she knows who they will be with.<br /><br />Babysitting just went from a fun after school job, to practice for when there's a kid of her own.<br />That's new, weird, confusing and exhilarating.<br />Now all the skills and the nurture aspect inside mom has come out and is directly thought about in terms of one day when "I have one of my own this will come in handy".<br /><br />Mom keeps finding out the there are more and more levels and feelings that happen once you have certain things in your life squared away so to speak . . .<br /><br />All in all the weekend was fun, mom cooked a whole chicken last night for the first time! And she did not burn it or leave it raw (still clucking).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8