Check List

Let's see which activities I was able to do over my 12 days off...

1. Watch Building the Band on Netflix. Completed and it was SO GOOD!!

2. Finish Stranger Things. Completed and it was also SO GOOD!! I was very teary watching the finale. I think the ending was perfect! 

3. Dressed comfy every day. Check! 

4. Exercise. Um a few days : ) And honestly those were the days I felt my best. 

5. Not know what day it is. Check! Completely had no clue on most days!

6. Eat whatever I want. Check! I had Apple Jacks for dinner and my favorite Mini Wheats for breakfast. I could live on cereal for real. 

7. Work on a new miniature craft house. Check! My new favorite hobby!

8. Clean my bedroom closet. Nope and that's OK. 

9. Finish Kimmy's book "The Dreamer". Not quite but about half way through it. 

10. Find and listen to a new audiobook on my free Libby app. Yes! I'm listening to a new book now and it's really good!

11. Go to the movies with Julia. We want to see The Housemaid. Check! Saw it last night and it was really good! I got a popcorn with lots of butter too! 

I'd say I had a fabulous time off!! 

Perfect Saturday night and "sick abed in a woodbox"

The cats were all snuggled up on the couch. They love laying there because there is a radiator behind that couch. It's a very warm spot! They also love watching the fireplace. It makes my heart happy seeing them all cuddly warm and safe inside on such a cold winter's night... 

Nicholas and Gianna left to go back to their colleges, Julia was out for the night and Danny was at hockey. So I sat on my sofa with warm blankets by the Christmas tree, turned on "It's a Wonderful Life" and had a girl dinner of Apple Jacks. It was the best!!! 

"Say Brainless"...I adore that movie and know it all by heart! 

Then I went back to working on a new miniature kit while listening to the rest of the movie. (I popped back in to watch the ending though of course.) Nicholas had to help me put the foundation together because I'm not good at following directions. I think I had it on backwards or something. I'd rather work on the tiny plants and all the decorative details. This one is going to be so cute! It's similar to the one I made for Kerry, but it's a different brand so it's a lot easier because less glue is involved. 

On another note, Julia was "sick abed in a woodbox" (Mama's saying that always cracked me up). We had to take her to the hospital on New Year's Day eve because she was having trouble breathing. She was literally gasping for air. She had started feeling sick the day before but mostly it was just her throat and some chest congestion. But pretty quickly her airway started to close up and she couldn't even cough anymore. The more anxious she was becoming the worse it was getting. She was nervous to go to sleep. So we decided it was best to get her to the ER. They were great there. The doctor was confident it was a case of croup. It's a little unusual for adults to get it but given her petite frame, he said that it can happen. They did an EKG, chest X-ray, and swabbed her for Covid and the flu. Everything came back negative so that was good news. They gave her one strong dose of steroids and by early morning she could breathe normally again. Phew! She's still feeling sick but hopefully she'll be better by Monday night when she has to go back to her overnight shifts at the hospital. I think she's burning the candle at both ends with her long back to back night shifts and coaching the HS dance team. She's very prone to getting sick so her schedule isn't helping. 

I'm really sad my 12 day vacation is coming to an end. Ugh. It's been so nice not working. I guess it's just a tease as to what retirement will be like. Lots of time to just binge shows, read books, listen to podcasts, work on projects around the house, browse my favorite stores, and enjoy all my hobbies : )  Do you think talking about retirement or asking others about when they want to retire or what they want to do in retirement is a rude question? My close girlfriends and I always talk about it! But the other night, I was called "rude" by someone for asking that question and I was really taken aback. I am a lot of things but "rude" is not one of them. I'm always very thoughtful with my questions and conversations. Even so much that I'm the type of person to analyze every last word I said after I'm alone. It's a big insecurity of mine. So that was very hurtful to me. Anyways I finally shrugged it off and chalked it up to them being too sensitive about the subject. 

Just one more day to relax...and it's flurrying outside! I love the winter : ) 

2025 in review

The year always begins with the UDA Dance College Nationals. This year we had both girls competing! Gianna performed at her very first UDA Nationals and sadly it was Julia's last. The team ended up with a Bronze medal in Pom and a Silver medal in Game Day! Top three is always amazing!! 

This also meant that Julia's dance career has finally come to an end. But wow!!! What a ride it has been!!! Of course she had so many accomplishments with studio dance...but what she accomplished as a student college athlete was nothing short of stupendous. 

1. She won 6 UDA College Dance National medals including a GOLD medal... 

2. She was named "Rookie of the Year" her freshman year.

3. She was Captain of the dance team her senior year.

4.  She was named "Athlete of the Year" by her coaches her senior year.

5. To top it off, she was nominated by the college for "Female Club Athlete of the Year" her senior year.

In March, my childhood home "453" sold. It was super emotional for me. This means I am now the only sibling left in Massachusetts. But the good news is, I now have two fabulous states to visit my siblings...Maine and Florida. There's always a bright side : )  Our Mom and Dad created the happiest home for us here...

Gianna finished her first year at Endicott. It was such a great decision for her. It literally is everything seeing her happy...

Julia graduated from Endicott College with her degree in Nursing! Her pinning ceremony was also super emotional for me. What a four years it's been for Julia. Worth every last penny! We are endlessly proud of her... 

Now we only have two left in college : )  

The fall brought seven home football games which is a record for sure! 

Me and my lifelong besties turned 60 this year (yikes). We went to Long Island for some fun touring the local wineries...

Julia officially started her first RN job at RI Hospital...

and what a full circle moment it was when she was named Assistant Coach for a high school dance and pom team...

There's not much to report about Nicholas except that I'm always so proud of him as he continues to grow and learn so many life lessons through these fun but often challenging college years. He had a rough start to his senior year, but he bounced back as we all do in life. As my favorite saying goes (this is actually hanging in my bedroom)...

How I love my boy...

I feel I accomplished this in 2025...

Here's to 2026. Let's hope it's another year filled with lots more "ordinary" days. Because those are the best kind of days that fill my heart with peace, happiness and JOY. 

Lots of Encouragement

I'm in the need of some encouragement this morning...

I'm feeling better already : ) 

Blursdays

Ahhhhhh...the week between Christmas and New Years. It's just the best!

 

It's literally my FAVORITE time of the year! I've been working two jobs for the past two years and both are closed for 12 days!! I feel such freedom. Freedom to do whatever I want. 

Here's what I've been up to and still might do...

1. I'm watching Building the Band on Netflix. It's so good! I'm on the last episode now which means I get to move on to the next show...

2. Stranger Things. I have 3 new episodes to watch. I'm excited! Then I'll find another show to watch : ) 

3. I've been wearing my pajamas all day...after showering of course. It's the best! 

4. I wasn't planning on exercising but honestly my body has been feeling it. So I did a nice long walk on the treadmill this morning, lifted some light weights, and stretched. It felt really good to move my body again. So yes...I'll be adding back my morning exercise routine. 

5. I seriously don't even know what day it is...and I'm not paying attention to the time at all. And it's heaven!!!

6. I've been eating whatever I want for meals which is the best! I'm only eating when I feel like it. Which also includes some of the junk food we have around the house. Like Mrs. Smith's apple pie. Yum! All of it will be gone soon enough so I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts. 

7. I'm working on a new miniature craft house. Yay! For years I've been looking for a hobby and I finally found one. I'm going to get more creative with them from now on. I'm going to use the bones of what comes in the box but I'm going to start picking out my own fabrics for couches, pillows, etc. and I plan to add more natural looking flowers and accessories. Really make them my own. I'm excited!! I was thinking about how much I loved dollhouses when I was a little girl. It's really true that the things that you've always been interested in and loved to do in childhood are things that bring you true joy and happiness in adulthood too. 

8. And one more thing I might do...only if I have the energy and really feel like it...is clean my bedroom closet and really go minimal with what I have. I've been great about being minimal with my toiletries and make up products. I only have exactly what I use. I don't have anything extra anymore. It's so nice.

9. Finish Kimmy's book "The Dreamer".

10. Find and listen to a new audiobook on my free Libby app. I love audio books...especially autobiographies read by the author. 

11. Go to the movies with Julia. We want to see The Housemaid. The book was so good! And of course eat lots of buttered popcorn : ) 

11. And lastly...lots of short naps! Also one of my favorite things to do! 

Ahhhhh....the best! 

Christmas

It's always such an exhausting day, but in the best way possible. This year we had our traditional French toast breakfast at 9:00 a.m. and then did presents after. Now that the kids are older, they don't mind waiting. Then we had to do the food prep and clean up the house before my sisters got here. 

I love my newly painted fireplace...

Eli checking to see if any of the presents were for him...

We're having a little problem with the lights on the tree this year. It's quite frustrating when you buy a tree that's pre-lit and then it doesn't work. We had to string some lights on and then more lights went out. Well we're not fixing it now. Hopefully we can resolve it for next year. It's still a beautiful tree...

Gianna loves her sweatshirt and shorts from White Fox, perfume and Moroccan Oil products...

I got Nicholas two Lego sets which he loves. He usually entertains himself with gaming but his computer is back at school. The Legos will keep him busy this last week of vacation.

Julia loves her Hatch alarm clock, Figs and Uggs...

I love the gifts for my sisters this year! I made this green house for Kerry. I had so much fun making it. I think it came out so good! I want to do another one to keep for myself...

I also gave Kerry these little glass birth month flowers with vase...January for Kerry, March for Kimmy, August for me and November for Mama. They are so delicate and beautiful. OK I want these too : ) 

I loved Kimmy's gifts too. I got her a bird paint book with a watercolor paint set, a beautiful suncatcher of books blooming with flowers, and my favorite gift, this book (again I want one for me haha)...

I received a lot of really nice gifts this year too. My favorite has to be Julia's gift. She made a charm bracelet for me. All the charms have to do with Mama...like a butterfly, an ice cream cone, a piano and a horse. It made me cry! I love it soooooo much!

And nothing is better than the day after Christmas breakfast leftovers with fresh scrambled eggs...YUM! 

It was a very Merry Christmas! Now I have the next 10 days off. Yay!! 

Be the Peace

Brown University, Bondi Beach Australia, Rob Reiner... 

We are Forever

Missing my Mama so much...

Christmas (Stranded) by the Sea

Our annual Christmas by the Sea didn't disappoint. Each year is so unique and special. This year we called it "stranded" by the sea as we couldn't find anywhere to park. Kimmy dropped us off and she drove back to the house. Paula had gone out so Kimmy had to walk all the way back to the center of town...in the cold. As soon as she made it back, everyone wanted to go back to the house. So Paula drove down and picked them up. 

But Kimmy and I decided to stay and watch the parade...

Then we walked down to Maine Beach for the bonfire...

and then decided to walk the beach all the way back to the bridge. It was cold but it felt so good being out in the fresh ocean air...

We watched the fireworks from Footbridge and then walked back to her house. It was really fun! Cold but fun! Kimmy and I always have a great time together. I love our adventures!!

We went to breakfast Sunday morning to finish out a fun weekend. 

Saturday night, Kerry and Dena joined us for a delicious dinner. It was fun having Justin there as well! You never know from year to year who will be joining our Christmas in Ogunquit weekend : ) 

December

I will always remember you

The best of the best. It's unbelievable that it's been 36 years. 

Trooper Gearty was born in 1961 in Norwood, Massachusetts. He graduated from Blue Hills Regional High School in Canton, Massachusetts in 1980. After high school, he served his country in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer.

Trooper Gearty was a five-year veteran of the New Hampshire State Police assigned to Troop F in Twin Mountain. He died in the line of duty along with Trooper Gary Parker transporting a prisoner to the Grafton County Jail. While traveling on Route 25 near the Wentworth-Warren town line, their cruiser was crushed by a load of lumber that broke loose from a tractor trailer. Trooper Gearty was 28 years old.

Trooper Gearty was survived by his wife, Debbie, and their six-month old son, Matthew.