It's Gone

In 2002, a co-worker that I adored was diagnosed with brain cancer. The day I was told about Mike's diagnosis, I was totally devastated. Mike had a heck of a sense of humor & the kindest of hearts. He was someone who would have a problem with being bald from all the chemo treatments & get depressed. I decided at that moment, that since I was blessed with a full head of thick, healthy hair that would always grow back, I would help someone who wasn't able to keep their hair. Someone had told me about Locks of Love, & I decided that this was the perfect way for me to help.

Mike passed away a few weeks after David & I came home from China with Erin. There was no way for me to go to his funeral with a 10 month old baby. I decided that this would be the day for me to donate my hair. I went to a local hair salon & donated 11 inches in Mike's memory. I was crying as my hair was being cut off, the hair stylist asked me if I was sure that I wanted to donate my hair. Yes. I was definitely sure.

Here we are at the end of 2007, & I was able to donate another 12 inches yesterday. David hates it when I cut off my hair. His consolation is that my hair grows quickly. He also knows how important donating my hair is & encourages me to do this.

My computer WHAT????

Well, it had to happen sooner or later. Friday night it happened. Did you hear me? No? I was screaming bloody murder all night long. My poor guy. He really has to put up with a lot from me - especially when it comes to computers.

All I can say is thank G-d for laptops! It's been my saving grace connecting me to my Blogging Friends & Family. Not to mention being my avenue to email.

Last night while I was out scrapping with my friends, David took care of my problem. Feeling icky & dealing with the whiny 5 year old, he managed to put together a computer system for me. By next weekend, I should have total access to everything - my pictures & my music & being able to sync my Blackjack. Thanks Honey!

Introducing "Troi"

On Monday Erin went into work with David since he only had a half day. After work they went over to a cat adoption place by his office. We'd all been miserable since losing Kira on Saturday. Both sides of our family aren't known for doing well without pets to complete our families so it was no surprise that we needed to start healing ASAP. They took pictures of a number of cats so I could make a choice since the cat would be mine. (BTW, the husband, the child, the dog, the cat, the fish - they're all mine. They just don't admit to it.) Looking at the pics of all the cats & kittens, I was totally drawn to this one kitten that reminded me of Kira. Her markings are very similar except that Kira was orange where this one is black. Her ears & eyes are huge too. I told David that I wanted to see this kitten so we went over yesterday. After much determination, my instincts drew me to this same kitten that I'd seen pics of. She came right over to me, lay in my arms & started purring. YES! We have a taker!

When we got home with the newly named "Deanna Troi" to be known as "Troi," our dog Star went wonky. She'd been missing her kitty too. Star knew that this was a different cat but didn't care & wanted to play almost immediately. We introduced Troy to Star very carefully not knowing what the reaction would be. About 5 minutes later, Troy took off as if she'd been in our home forever.

Maybe she has. It seems like she's channeling Kira. She slept in bed with us for most of last night although I'm happy to report that she slept by my feet rather than my head. She sits on my lap, lays across the laptop purring & wants my attention 100% of the time. Much like Kira used to. Who knows?

Goodbye Sweet Kira. We Will Miss You.

Kira Narice (July 1998 - December 2007)

Today we had to put our sweet kitty cat to sleep. Kira had been off her game for about 2-3 weeks lately, & we thought it was just old age. This week I noticed that she really hadn't eaten anything. The cat that normally invaded our every waking moment was nowhere to be seen. Kira used to sleep in bed with us - either by my feet or more likely on my head, but lately she was a nighttime no show. She'd come sit on my lap while we were watching tv. In the last few weeks she didn't do anything like that.

David & Erin took her to the vet for a checkup. (I had to go to work today.) After all, you know when your pet (who is really another family member) isn't right. Even the vet said that Kira didn't appear to be herself. David left Kira at the vet so they could run some tests. I got a phone call that Kira wasn't doing well so I called David.

He picked me up from work & we drove down to see Kira & say our final goodbyes as we had a sense that she wasn't going to turn around. David had spoken with Erin about Kira being sick & that she was going to Heaven. He did an awesome job with explaining this to Erin. After all was said & done, we each said our goodbyes with heavy hearts & tears.

I know that my sweet kitty is "up there" playing with my dad's dog Henry & our first dog Sari. It gives me comfort to know that Kira is in no pain & certainly more comfortable than she was in the last day or so.

Erin keeps saying "I miss my kitty. I'm thinking about her."

Mommy & Daddy are too.

When are you going to bed?

For some reason Erin asks this question night after night after night. In fact, she has been asking this since she has been old enough to know that things happen after she goes to bed.

My usual answers have been:

• When I'm tired.
• Later.
• In a while.
• I'm not.
• In an hour.

Last night I tried a different approach. After being called into her room for what felt like the millionth time, I changed my answer: "When you go to sleep. After all, if you keep calling me, I can't go to bed." 10 minutes later Erin was snoring lightly in her bed.

David put her to bed about an hour ago. She asked me when I was going to bed right before going in. I told her that she needed to be asleep in order for me to go to bed. We haven't heard a peep from her.

Do you think I stand chance?

Sick. So Sick.

Ugh. I've had a cold since this past Monday. Friday I came home from work & prayed that we had tissues. I've gone through 2 boxes in 2 days. And had to send David out for more. Of course, he isn't much better. Tomorrow I'm calling the doctor to make sure I don't have bronchitis. Of course, it wouldn't be December if I didn't get it. Ugh. At this point I look like a close relative of Rudolph.

School Pic - Fall 2007

Do you know what I had to do to get Erin to wear a skirt!? BRIBE her! For a week before her school pictures were taken, I told Erin every day that she would have to wear a skirt for the pictures. That morning she thought she'd outsmart me & got out her normal shorts. Ha! Momma still has some tricks up her sleeve though. I told her she could wear the shorts, but then she wouldn't get a special dessert that night - a chocolate sundae. Erin will do anything (except eat veggies) for a chocolate sundae. Mind you she's never finished more than half of her serving, but still the chocolate runs through this child's veins.

Chanukah - Night 7, The Night for Building

Erin is a pro at unwrapping presents by now.

She loves to build things with David.

It seems that the old-fashioned Legos (read, those of my childhood) have been replaced by K'Nex. Erin is not a typical girly girl who plays only with her kitchen stuff, coloring books & dolls. She is also amazingly inquisitve & loves to learn how things work. Ever since she was a baby, she enjoyed building things. These K'Nex allow her to use her imagination in ways I would never have considered at the age of 5. I was too busy playing dolls.

Chanukah - Night 5 by Cousin Deena & Her Family

Baby & Erin Bear have to say the blessings too.

Cool! Another Leapster game, & it's more princesses!

Hello Kitty boombox. You think Erin's going to have fun with this?

She flipped when she saw the guitar.

My niece Deena & her family insist upon spoiling Erin. As a child, Deena only wanted David & me to give her tons of cousins to play with. She takes great pleasure in spoiling her little cousin as much as possible. Thanks Deena, Brad, Noah & Riley!

On the Fourth Night of Chanukah You . . .

Light the Chanukah menorah & chant the blessings

Smile about the REALLY BIG present


Unwrap said present with gusto

Grin crazily cause you've been begging for this for months

Have Daddy put your new Terrainiac together

And, finally attempt to break everything in the house by remote control

You Tricked Me!

Erin has been asking for a high chair & crib for her baby dolls for ages now. David & I kept telling her that she had enough stuff for her dolls & didn't need more. When we went shopping for Chanukah gifts, she was told that this stuff was for her cousin Riley. When she opened her gifts tonight, the first thing she said was "Hey! You tricked me! This was for Riley!" Needless to say, her smile made the whole trick worth it for us.

Allergic to December 4th?

It's been an exciting Chanukah holiday so far. Tuesday was the first night & went beautifully. That is until about 2:00 a.m. when Erin woke up. She was screaming for me that she needed to go potty so I went & brought her in. (Still can't figure out why she won't come in on her own.) When she'd finished up, she decided to climb into our bed. That lasted maybe 5 minutes. Then she jumped up & vomited all over the bed. GROSS!!!! David never moved so quickly in his life. He has now mastered changing bed linens & putting up a wash while totally asleep in under 5 minutes.

Needless to say, I kept Erin home yesterday & called her pediatrician. When the nurse called back 10 minutes later, she told me this was going around & would last 48 hours. Thankfully, the whole thing was over by 6:00 last night - no fevers, no vomitting. I kept her home again today because she ate nothing at all yesterday. Today it took her forever just to eat a mini bagel; however, she ate it willingly.

When I talked to my dad & stepmother last night, I mentioned that this was the exact date she got sick last year. My stepmother has decided that Erin is allergic to December 4th. Hmmmm. . . She may be right.

Hopefully, she'll be fine for tonight since she didn't enjoy unwrapping her presents last night. Of course, she's been wearing her Hello Kitty slippers all day & hasn't put her Hello Kitty magnet board away yet. I wonder what she's going to open tonight?

Chanukah - The First Night

Erin made the menorah we're using in school this year.

Not quite awake yet. She wasn't really ready for candle lighting & presents. It didn't take long though!


Scissors!? To open a present!? Huh??

She's awake now & loves tonight's present.

Erin's been begging to get aquadots since they came out. She's well aware of the rules she has to follow if she wants to keep using this. It was so worth her smile to give her this present tonight.

I've always wanted to have something like a Christmas village. I finally found Chanukah House! Ebay is my friend. :-)

My Blood is Boiling

Tonight was the night of nights. I can't believe how angry I am!

David & I took Erin out for dinner to Red Lobster. It's one of our favorite places. Erin loves their bisuits, & we were really in the mood for seafood. We let Erin sit on the outside of the booth on David's side as a treat. Big mistake.

As an elderly couple was leaving the restaurant they passed us, & the lady said "oh how sweet" which was nice. The old man had the nerve to reach out & touch my child's face as he said "how sweet also." How dare he touch my daughter!! Who the heck does he think he is!? Erin wasn't any happier about it. That said we put her on the inside seat & thought that would be the end of it. HA!!

We were walking to our car when an old man looked at us & asked us "Is she for sale?" WHAT THE F***!?!? I was so angry that I turned around called him an idiot. It was the nicest thing I could say. David was fuming. Erin got so upset that I wanted to turn & go after that man. Erin got very defensive & said "I NOT for sale! You my mommy & dada." Thank G-d that she is so secure in our love for her.

What the heck is wrong with people!? Have they lost their minds!? I am so darn angry that people take such liberties.

Harry Potter Personality Quiz - Who are you?

Harry Potter Personality Quiz by Pirate Monkeys Inc.


I love Harry Potter. I know it was supposed to be a children's series, but it has captured the hearts & minds of adults also. I almost wish that the series hadn't ended, but all good things must come to an end. Of course that's what "they" say. I don't necessarily agree.

So. Who are you?