Is 38 old?

Apparently.

The word got around school that Feb 14th was my birthday. Joy.

So, my students were in class on Friday trying to guess how old I was.

They came up with unique answers. One student said I was 45 (he's failing the class - Ha!). One kid said I was 25! I told him he is getting an A for the class! (JK of course!) :=)

When I finally told them my age (38) they said I was really old but I don't look old.

I told them there are days when I feel old. Some days, I feel my age. I told them for the most part they keep me looking young.

Today, I went out to lunch with one of my friends. The plan is to just relax - no school work. I have some movies I checked out of the library this afternoon to watch this evening. Catching up reading blogs. Enjoying reading all the posts on my Facebook. Oh, and ignoring the fact that it is Valentine's Day.

I'm off this next week for Feb break so I may be posting more frequently.

Happy Birthday Cheryl!

A picture of Cheryl and her family - 2002.

Happy B-day Cheryl! I've been friends with Cheryl since high school. We had some amazing times together over the years. She's an amazing Mom and person.

Enjoy your day kiddo! Lots of hugs! :-)

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Happy Birthday to my Mom!

Mom - you've been a fabulous Momma is me and Mandy. You always support us, love us, and accept us NO MATTER what we do or how we live our lives.

Hope you were able to enjoy your day -

Love ya lots!

PS Sorry about the old picture - I think we need some recent pictures! Maybe when I'm out in IL for Christmas we should take some photos. :-)

Happy Birthday Lorie!

Just wanted to wish my friend Lorie a very happy birthday today!

Lorie and I met at Western Illinois University and we lived in the dorms together. Our group used to call her Little Lorie (since I'm tall Lori and she was short Lorie).

We had some fun and amazing times in college. Too many memories to write down here but I will always remember how Lorie was (is) always a good friend to me.

Lorie has a great hubby and two kids (girls). She's been very blessed to have a great family.

Happy b-day kiddo! Lots of hugs!

Happy B-day Jacob!

Happy Birthday Jacob!

Jacob is the son of my friend Cheryl from IL. Isn't he a cutie? He's grown up so quick! I remember when he was a little baby.

Jacob - Enjoy your extra special day and tell Mom and Dad to take you out to dinner to celebrate!

Lots of hugs! :-)

Happy belated B-day to Mark and Happy Anniversary to Mark and Traci!

OK, I'm losing my mind. It's official. I think you all know this about me already. I'm late on b-day and anniversary greetings.



Happy belated birthday to Mark! Mark is married to my friend Traci from IL. Traci and I have been friends forever. It's so nice to know she has a great guy in her life. :-) Happy b-day Mark!

And, happy Anniversary to Mark and Traci! You guys rock! Hope you get to enjoy some quality YOU time with each other.

Lots of hugs and love!

Picture of Mark, Jeffrey, and Traci (missing is the new little guy, Joseph).

Two Birthday Wishes to Two Great Friends!

Picture of Lauren and I taken at my condo.

Picture of Traci and I taken at her house in IL.

Happy B-day Ladies! :-)

Traci - We've been friends since high school. Lots of parties!!! We've been through a lot of ups and downs over the years but we've stuck through them together. You've been a wonderful friend to me. I've watched you over the years become an amazing wife and Mom to those handsome boys of yours and you are great!!!!!! Happy birthday and enjoy your extra special day! I love ya!!!!!! Hugs!!!!!!

Lauren - Remember our crazy days at Pagenet???? Seems like yesterday when we (you, Janet, and Me) used to eat lunch together and talk about TV programs. There has been a lot of drama in both of our lives (namely over men) over the years but we hung in there. You've found the love of your life (Mr. Rich) and have the "bestest" doggie eva' (hugs to Giz)!!!!! Happy B-day kiddo! I love ya!!!!!! Hugs!!!!!!!

I am so proud to call both of these gals my friends. Enjoy your day ladies!!! You both deserve it!!!!!!

PS Sorry about the old photos. I don't have any recent pictures of us together.:-)

Happy Birthday to my Sis - Mandy!!!!

This is a picture of Mandy with her favorite band group - the Goo Goo Dolls! Mandy is the girl in the jean skirt and light greenish top. Yes, that is John Rzeznik (lead singer) in the middle! :-)

Mandy spent a few days down in Florida for a relaxing vacation. She returned to lovely Chicago weather . . . in the 60's.

Happy Birthday to my baby sis - you turn 33 years old today and you don't look a day over 30! Ha!

Seriously, I love ya and thank you for being a great sister.

Hugs!

Happy b-day shout out to Brian!

Look at the happy family! :-)

Happy birthday Brian!

Hope Cheryl and the boys take ya out for a nice steak dinner and wait on ya head and foot.

Lots of hugs! :-)

Happy Birthday Lea!

This picture was taken last summer of Lea and I. I had a quick visit to IL to see family and friends after my Russia trip.

We were hanging out at Joann's house on her comfy desk. A silly picture of two old friends.

Lea - aka Fish. What can I say? I have to keep this post PG-13 regarding all the good times we had in the Illinois Valley. :-) I owe my best parties and memories to you kiddo - thanks for all the good times.

Most of all, thanks for the friendship. You always make me smile. :-)

Lots of hugs!

PS I mailed your card and a small gift today. Oops! :-)

Happy 37th B-day to M-Dawg!

This photo was taken when I was in 7th grade. Ahhh . . . the cheerleading days!

Yup! It's my birthday. I turn 37 today.

List of b-day happies:

*Happy to have a wonderful family. Mom called today to sing happy birthday to me - a tradition in our family.

*My silly and supportive friends. Thanks peeps! :-)

*Ellie the Cat cuddling with me this morning before I left for school.

My friend Carla will be taking me out on Friday for my b-day celebration. I don't want deal with the Valentine Day stuff so I pushed off the night out to Friday. I find that the older I get, the more sensitive I get to not being in a relationship with a great guy. Just don't want to deal with National Single Awareness Day aka Valentine's Day. :-(

What will you be doing on V-day??????

Still in IL. Still relaxing. :-)

Just some random thoughts for today:

*Happy Birthday to my Dad. He turns 59 today. Happy B-day Daddy!

*Hung out with my "peeps" from high school last night. We had a lovely time at The Maples Restaurant (they have no link or web site). Thanks for coming out ladies . . . had a nice time catching up! :-) Went back to Joann's house to hang out. She bought me some great gifts for Christmas . . . gift cards, stuff for school (paper, Post-it's, pens, etc) and my personal favorite, Western dressing! I love this dressing on my salads and you can't find it in New England so she loaded me up! :-)

*Christmas was low key. My plane ticket to IL was my Christmas gift and got some awesome gift cards in my stocking my Santa. My sis and I gave each other the same gift - The Third Pirates Movie on DVD! You can't tell we are sisters, can ya??? :-)

*My Godfather and his wife drove down on Thursday to spend the day with me. They've always been so good to me. I'm so blessed to have such great folks in my life.

*On Wednesday, the family and I went to Chicago for the day. I wanted to check out this museum. Very informative and gets ya to stop and think about our freedoms and rights. Ate lunch and then my sister got us tickets for Altar Boyz. It's a spoof on the Catholic Church. Oh my goodness, I laughed my ass off! Highly recommend seeing it. Sis went on line that morning and got us front row center tickets for half price! Good deal!

*Not doing anything for New Years. Just going to hang out at my folks house. Low key. I have some resolutions that I'll be working on. Do you have any resolutions or changes that you'll be working on in 2008?

Happy almost New Year and 2008!

Happy Belated Birthday to Cheryl!

Cheryl caught a fish! Go Cheryl go!!! :-)

Happy Birthday to Cheryl . . . we've been friends since high school. Cheryl is a wonderful friend . . . she's always been there for me no matter what. She's a wonderful Mom and wife. She makes me laugh!

Enjoy your day with the hubby and the kids! Love ya kiddo! Can't wait to see ya in IL around the holidays!!!! --)

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!

What can I say about Joela???? She's a crazy lady (in a good way)! :-)

Throughout my life, my Mom has been my strength and support (for both my sister Mandy and I). She listens to me rant and rave about my students or my school. She's a survivor of breast cancer - she is my hero!

Mom has always supported my decisions (good and bad) and is always there for me. She's funny and silly - she always makes us laugh. Her passion for life is amazing to me.

Mom has passed on to Mandy and I her love of animals. Mom loves animals and will always help a pet in need. She's Ellie the Cat's grandma!!!! :-)

Mom's love of traveling was passed on to me as well. Growing up, we would go on these family trips all over the country. Because of my parents, I realized that there was a big world out there besides Dalzell, IL (the town of 600 people that I grew up). Next summer, my parents are going to follow their retirement dream of selling the house and traveling across the country in a 5th wheel camper (the photo above - Mom and Dad in front of their soon-to-be new home) full time.

Mom will do anything for "her girls." She protected us when we were little and took crap from no one! For that, I love her more than words could ever say.

Mom - Thank you for your love and support. Thank you for being the "bestest" Mom a girl could ever ask for. Happy Birthday and enjoy your special day!

I love ya Momma! :-)

Happy Birthday Jacob!!!!

This picture is of Jacob in his baseball uniform.

Happy Birthday Jacob!!!!!

Enjoy the day with Mom, Dad, and Corey. Eat lots of b-day cake and make sure they take you out for some ice cream!

Lots of hugs kiddo!!!! :-)

Happy Birthday Shout-outs - Aunt Jenence and Sherri!

I have no recent photos of Aunt Jenence or my friend Sherri from high school! :-(

Happy Birthday Aunt Jenence! Wishing much love on your extra special day! Hope Uncle A takes ya out for a nice dinner!

Happy Birthday Sherri! I met Sherri my freshman year in high school - such a goofy girl! Always the life of the party! Some of funniest memories from high school are linked to this girl! Mooner - thanks for the memories! Enjoy your day kiddo!

Hugs and love to you both!!!! :-)

Happy Birthday Mark!!!!!

Mark, Traci, and Jeffrey.

Happy Birthday Mark!

To a wonderful guy and great Daddy! Enjoy your special day with your family and friends!

Hugs! :-)

Happy belated B-day to Traci!

Happy birthday Traci!

I've been a horrible friend - I forgot to post your b-day! Ughy! I blame that damn Yankee Homecoming week in Newburyport and all the hours I worked at Paws last week!

Anywho. Traci - thank you for being such a supportive friend to me over the years. You are an amazing person. I watched you become the bestest Mom ever. Over the years, we've had our ups and downs in life but have always somehow kept in touch and helped each other through stuff.

Keep being a wonderful Mom and friend. I wish you much love and happiness on your extra special day.

And, please forgive an old friend for losing her mind!

Love ya kiddo!!!! :-)

Happy Birthday Dorky Paul!

Happy Birthday Dorky Paul!


I have no recent pictures of Dorky Paul.


Who is Dorky Paul? Dorky Paul and I met in college. We both went to Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL. We lived in Tanner Hall. We had some goofy and fun times in college.

We've had our ups and downs throughout the years but we've always kept in touch and always been there for each other.

Happy b-day Dorky Paul! Love ya lots!!!!

Happy Birthday Lauren!

To a dear friend - Happy Birthday!

You have been such a wonderful friend to me throughout the years. Thank you for always being there for me.

I wish you much love and happiness on your extra special day!

Hugs and Love- :-)