It was a long ride home.Saturday, August 29, 2009
Trip to Scranton...
For the first time in many years, the Chiefs are in 2nd place and still have a chance to win the division title. Usually, they are mathematically eliminated long before the All Star break but their affiliation with the Nationals must have infused something in this team. These guys want to win! With our new found freedom, Rob and I decided to drive to Scranton Wilkes-Barre to watch the Chiefs play the Yankees (the 1st place Yankees, of course.) The stadium is beautiful (amazing what an influx of millions can do to a stadium) and it was fun to watch an engaged crowd. I felt like an idiot cheering for the Chiefs...we were the lone voices in the crowd. Bottom of the 9th and the Chiefs are down by 1 run with runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out. Poor Rob, the Chiefs hit into a double play.
It was a long ride home.
It was a long ride home.
Absurd Signage
Several of the board members of the Ted Grace Reading Grove went to a meeting on Thursday with Sen. DeFrancisco in the State Office Building in Syracuse. Upon entering, you must show picture ID, sign in and get a visitors pass. This sign was posted behind the security guard. What prompted this? A lawsuit? Unbelievable....
I couldn't help thinking of other places to stick the visitors pass that might cause more damage.
I couldn't help thinking of other places to stick the visitors pass that might cause more damage.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Change in address
Today was the big day! We arrived at Cornell around 9:00 and all of Ian's stuff was in his room 10 minutes later. All I had to do was pull up to the dorm, Ian went to sign in and get his keys and hordes of red shirted upper class men carried all his stuff upstairs to his room. Nice!
Ian's closet is so neatly arranged and he did it himself. That's my boy!
Rob and I are heading back to Cornell on Saturday for some orientation activities and to say good-bye.
Ian only had to carry this and I carried my purse.
Ian's dorm...his room is on the other side.
The room is all arranged and ready for living. Of course, his roommate hasn't arrived
yet so the room looks pretty uncluttered and spacious.
Ian's closet is so neatly arranged and he did it himself. That's my boy!
Rob and I are heading back to Cornell on Saturday for some orientation activities and to say good-bye.
Ian's new address is:
367A MEWS HALL, ITHACA NY 14853-8901
367A MEWS HALL, ITHACA NY 14853-8901
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Changing hats on Harvey
Harvey
I am so amused by this duck. Maybe I am having mid-life crisis Barbie issues or something along those lines, but I am constantly on the look-out for hats I can use to help celebrate our occasions. He came with a sailor hat but has also donned a sombrero for Cinco de Mayo, party hat for birthdays, mortar for graduation and now a Nationals cap.
Do you think there are other people out there looking for duck costumes? Could I parlay this interest into my fortune?
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Stimulating the economy....
I clearly remember the years when back to school shopping meant buying a couple of binders,pens and loose leaf paper. We are getting close to being ready to take Ian to Cornell. Only 5 more days....
Friday, August 14, 2009
Summer Fun...with teeth
I am going to miss this boy. Who else could have so much fun in the pool with an alligator hat from the dollar store?
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Nothing Changes When You Procrastinate
I am busy during the school year...too busy. I am involved in many different activities...too many. I am on the Ted Grace Reading Grove board, President of Parents for Public Schools of Syracuse and the NYSUT building representative at work...and of course I need to do my job too. Thankfully, my duties as Corcoran PTSO president have ended and today I will be handing over responsibility of the Corcoran PTSO listserv to someone else. Why am I telling you this? Because I am the queen of procrastination. I spend the entire school year putting off so many duties until the summer (hehe, I said duty.) And here it is August 12th and I still have a huge list of things to accomplish. Today, I need to write an autobiographical introduction to send to the Parents for Public Schools membership list. I've only been president since May....
But I have this tall pile of books I want to read and there are weeds that need to be pulled and I really want to vacuum the pool and I hate writing...especially about myself.
But I have this tall pile of books I want to read and there are weeds that need to be pulled and I really want to vacuum the pool and I hate writing...especially about myself.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Garden Advice Needed
Dear Diane-
I am trying to take notes about my garden this year. What works...what doesn't work...and what looks really bad next to a light pink flower. I am not afraid to dig up and move things but I can never figure out what should be moved in the fall or the spring. Of course, I move things and forget and weed them out the next year.
I love the colors this time of year but I am having issues with the different heights. What advice can you offer to someone with a strip gardening bed rather than a nicely shaped plot?
What do you do with these daisies after blooming? Deadhead or cut back? My gardening books offer little information after the bloom.
This moon plant is so much fun to watch. A friend of mine gave me a moon plant as a gift 5 years ago. It didn't survive the winter. I read that they sprout late and I waited and waited but nothing happened. Two years later I purchased another and it took over the garden. The plant spread for about 10 feet and I kept cutting it back. The next year...no plant so I planted other things in the space. About July, up pops the moon plant. I put it in a pot and kept its growth in check last summer. I wintered moonie over in the cellar and planted him again this year. Slow grower at first but once the flowers are out it starts to double in size. It blooms at night and the flowers last only 1 day. The flowers reflect moonlight brilliantly. If I enjoyed going outside after dark I would cover my yard with these plants. I think I will leave it in the ground this winter and see what happens.
The coleus and white impatiens under the pear tree still looks good. I hold my breath when Ian mows around the tree. I am sure the white flowers used to be thicker....
I filled three hanging planters with coleus, vinca vine and these gentle white flowers and another plant with small maroon flowers. these planters still look gorgeous. I am going to try to figure out what the unknown plants are and do these again next year.
I was trying for maroon and white annuals this year so the circle is filled with so many new and different things. The coleus kept its color and did well in this spot. To my surprise, the alyssum also thrived in this spot. Might try different colors of alyssum next year. I am not happy with the million bells at all. They got really woody and are mostly dead stems with a few flowers hanging on. I have dug up most of them at this point. The petunias also got died back. I am done experimenting with the wave petunias. I planted them in the circle the first year and they did great. Last year and this year are poor showings. Little leaves and flowers left...mostly long, ugly brown vines. The site gets morning sun until about 1...but too much sun for impatiens. Anybody have any thoughts for next year? Or any ideas about planting in this spot for the next month or 2? I hate looking at a pile of brown dirt and since Chandler is in rehab he cant use it for a pitcher's mound!
I am trying to take notes about my garden this year. What works...what doesn't work...and what looks really bad next to a light pink flower. I am not afraid to dig up and move things but I can never figure out what should be moved in the fall or the spring. Of course, I move things and forget and weed them out the next year.
I love the colors this time of year but I am having issues with the different heights. What advice can you offer to someone with a strip gardening bed rather than a nicely shaped plot?
What do you do with these daisies after blooming? Deadhead or cut back? My gardening books offer little information after the bloom.
This moon plant is so much fun to watch. A friend of mine gave me a moon plant as a gift 5 years ago. It didn't survive the winter. I read that they sprout late and I waited and waited but nothing happened. Two years later I purchased another and it took over the garden. The plant spread for about 10 feet and I kept cutting it back. The next year...no plant so I planted other things in the space. About July, up pops the moon plant. I put it in a pot and kept its growth in check last summer. I wintered moonie over in the cellar and planted him again this year. Slow grower at first but once the flowers are out it starts to double in size. It blooms at night and the flowers last only 1 day. The flowers reflect moonlight brilliantly. If I enjoyed going outside after dark I would cover my yard with these plants. I think I will leave it in the ground this winter and see what happens.
The coleus and white impatiens under the pear tree still looks good. I hold my breath when Ian mows around the tree. I am sure the white flowers used to be thicker....
I filled three hanging planters with coleus, vinca vine and these gentle white flowers and another plant with small maroon flowers. these planters still look gorgeous. I am going to try to figure out what the unknown plants are and do these again next year.
I was trying for maroon and white annuals this year so the circle is filled with so many new and different things. The coleus kept its color and did well in this spot. To my surprise, the alyssum also thrived in this spot. Might try different colors of alyssum next year. I am not happy with the million bells at all. They got really woody and are mostly dead stems with a few flowers hanging on. I have dug up most of them at this point. The petunias also got died back. I am done experimenting with the wave petunias. I planted them in the circle the first year and they did great. Last year and this year are poor showings. Little leaves and flowers left...mostly long, ugly brown vines. The site gets morning sun until about 1...but too much sun for impatiens. Anybody have any thoughts for next year? Or any ideas about planting in this spot for the next month or 2? I hate looking at a pile of brown dirt and since Chandler is in rehab he cant use it for a pitcher's mound!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Smug Alert!
I have been casually looking at new cars for a few months. The Forester had over 100,000 miles, was soon in need of a full exhaust system and had a leaking right head gasket. I wanted to trade it in while it still retained some value and before something blew and I was faced with thousands in repair bills.
I read reviews online. I borrowed the April Consumer Report from a friend and started doing test drives. I was interested in something cheap (under $15,000 tax and trade included)...to get me through until the college years were over. I wanted excellent fuel economy, a roof rack and a satellite radio. I drove a 4 cylinder Hyundai Elantra Touring and liked the mileage 25/31 but not the ride. The price was low, it's a European model but no roof rack was available through the dealer or after market. I tried the 4-cyl. FWD Hyundai Tucson...nothing special. I drove a 2010 Pontiac Vibe (1.8L FWD) many times and liked it but didn't love it. Ian wanted me to buy it but I think he just wanted me to stop dragging him to dealers to sit in the back seat of cars.
I read reviews online. I borrowed the April Consumer Report from a friend and started doing test drives. I was interested in something cheap (under $15,000 tax and trade included)...to get me through until the college years were over. I wanted excellent fuel economy, a roof rack and a satellite radio. I drove a 4 cylinder Hyundai Elantra Touring and liked the mileage 25/31 but not the ride. The price was low, it's a European model but no roof rack was available through the dealer or after market. I tried the 4-cyl. FWD Hyundai Tucson...nothing special. I drove a 2010 Pontiac Vibe (1.8L FWD) many times and liked it but didn't love it. Ian wanted me to buy it but I think he just wanted me to stop dragging him to dealers to sit in the back seat of cars.
I have always wanted a Prius. The Prius usurped the Volvo Cross Country as my dream car many years ago (probably the same year as Hurricane Katrina.) I couldn't afford the Prius although I spent hours looking at them online. Dealers were asking $20,000 - $25,000 for low mileage (1,000 - 40,000 miles) on 07 -09 cars. One day on a whim I drove to Nye Automotive in Oneida to see a 2008 Prius with 30,000 miles that they had on the lot for under 20,000 (not much under 20) but I thought it couldn't hurt to try to make a good deal on my trade in.
It was love at first sight. I have never felt this way about a car before...love everything about it. And I still do...three days later.
And I only went a little over my target price. I hope to make it up in gas savings. Ian loves the Fuel Consumption graphics that illustrate whether the gas or electric is being used to drive the wheels or charge the battery. We make a game out of trying to drive as far as possible using only the battery. 
And yes....my farts do stink!
It was love at first sight. I have never felt this way about a car before...love everything about it. And I still do...three days later.
And I only went a little over my target price. I hope to make it up in gas savings. Ian loves the Fuel Consumption graphics that illustrate whether the gas or electric is being used to drive the wheels or charge the battery. We make a game out of trying to drive as far as possible using only the battery. 
And yes....my farts do stink!
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