Stef Smith

Another month gone by

Scar tissue

Quint blades

Good news finally

Good evening

I'm in shock tonight.

New York City

Happy New Year

I'm here

Pharmacy Tech classes

Boredom

Career change?

Viva Las Vegas

North East, Maryland

summer vacation

Older

Vegas

3:17 am

Why am I awake??

It finally happened

Photo Album: Today Show

Photo Album: Suzanne D King

Photo Album: Family September 2004

Photo Album: Washington DC

Photo Album: Christmas 2006

Photo Album: Pilikia

Photo Album: National Museum of the Marine Corps dedication Nov 10, 2006

Photo Album: Malibu accident Nov 1, 2006

Photo Album: Nascar race in Dover

Photo Album: National Zoo

Photo Album: July 4, 2006

Photo Album: Whispering Meadows; Clayton, DE

Photo Album: Baltimore May 2006

Photo Album: Los Alamos Feb 2004...Mark and Stef ski for the first time with seasoned skier Margot

Photo Album: Old Town Alexandria

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:01:26 GMT

I can't believe a month has passed since my sugery. Officially the masses my surgeon took out came back as non-cancerous. Whew. I am still a little sore, but it's not too bad. Actually my soreness is coming from Penelope climbing all over my chest while I watch TV and when I wake up in the morning. Of course she gets just the right spot when I am still half-asleep and wakes me right up.

I am registering for my remedial math classes tomorrow at Northern Virginia Community College for the Summer session. I will be taking a 12 week Algebra I class concurently with a 6 week Geometry class. Depending on how the Geometry class goes, I may sign up for a 6 week Trig class following the Geomery class. I hope I am not overwelming myself. I really think that it is better for me to jump in with the math classes. I know I can do them, I just need to refresh my mind. It's been 20 years since I took either one of those classes. Agghh! Can you believe it...20 years. I am feeling a little old at the moment.

Speaking of old...how old are the rest of you feeling??? I'll be 35 in 3 weeks.

Oh I have more good news. I will be moving back in with Mark. We are both really looking forward to it. At this point I'll be turning over my apartment to Anna June1. We might make that May 1 depending on how Anna feels at her apartment. It's been a little dicey over in her neighborhood lately.

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:50:33 GMT

My surgery went well Friday. The surgeon told Mark that the masses she took out were consistant with what she recognizes as being scar tissue. Yes that was masses. She also told him that she saw some more masses that probably ought to be removed once she opened me up. Not a problem with me at all. I'd much rather have them out than be knocking on her door again in 6 months because I found something else I was having anxiety over. I'm pretty sore, but other than that, I'm doing well.

My doctor was so sweet. During my surgery consultation, she was worried about where the scar was going to be and was talking to me about how she was going to make the cut and where she was going to place it. I finally told her that I was not worried about another scar on my boobs. Seriously, I have quite a bit of scaring from the reduction. The reduction was 7 years ago now and the scars have completely faded. As I know this one will as well. I am quite lucky when it comes to scars actually. I know where he scars are on my body, but I would actually have to point them out for anyone else to see them.

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:46:46 GMT

I was shopping in Target the othe day for the normal necessities; advil, shampoo, razor blades. For as long as I could remember there were double bladed razors then along came triple blades. Now that I've found a very good triple blade razor, venus brand, there are quint blades. Yes a 5 bladed razor. Why? I wish I knew what the difference was between a triple blade, quad blade (which I seemed to have missed) and a quint blade. I just can't bring myelf to spend $20 for 4 quint blades. I'm barely ok with with $15 for 4 triple blades. Is there a difference? How much closer of a shave can you get anyway?

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:54:13 GMT

Finally some good news. The lump is most probably benign. It is however going to be removed in the next couple of weeks. I have to wait for this cold I came down with yesterday to go away.

I really want to give myself a whole lot of cold medincine and sleep all day. It was such a lovely day on the couch yesterday. There was no coughing, no runny nose, no headache....just sleep. Oh and a cat attached to my shoulder.

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 03:37:01 GMT

I just have a few random comments I need to make...

I'll work on getting the picture for you this weekend mom. I have to find the picture card things, but I think I know where they are.

The first of my friend's kids turn 16 this weekend. There are 3 of them all born within a month of each other. Amazing!!! I saw each of these three guys in the hospital at hours old and now they will be driving. Ok, technically one is only 4, he was born on Feb 29.

I still don't know how the hell I am going to finagle going back to school full time. I'm still in seach of scholarships so if anyone has any ideas, please let me know.

My sister had knee surgery last week, surprise. I sure was when she called me the next morning. She's pretty miserable but I think the outcome will be worth it for her.

I'm in the middle of trying to get a diagnosis on a breast lump. I had an MRI this morning. Apparently an MRI can decipher scar tissue where an ultra sound and mammogram can't. The surgeon I am seeing doesn't think it's anything to worry about, but she couldn't see a thing on the ultra sound my gyn sent me to get. I don't think I've ever had this many people touch my boobs in 3 weeks. The MRI nurse bruised the back of my hand pretty good when she put the contrast stuff in my vein. Oh and I learned today that women who get breast reductions have less of a chance of developing breast cancer. Less mass I guess, not sure how that works really. Anyway, this lump will be getting removed soon. I don't care what the diagnosis is. I will feel better if it is nothing, but I will be even better once the lump is gone. I don't need any more stress than I already have.

Mark and I are actually going out for dinner tomorrow night. We usually spend Valentine's day at home so this will be a nice change.

Oh and I have another death. My dear friend Carol, lost her husband Wayne to a heart attack last week. He had a quad bypass about a week and a half ago now. It was looking like he would be ok, maybe not back to work full time, but still at home. Mark and I will be attending his services in Baltimore this weekend.

Mark has a quick weekend trip coming up to West Virginia. WooHoo West Virginia. One of the Marines that he went to Iraq with has moved back home and it's only about 4 hours away. He is going through some of the same things Mark is so it will be a good weekend for both of them. Hopefully they won't spend it drinking non-stop at the bar our friend's apartment sits on top of.

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:51:06 GMT

In the last 4 ½ years I have seen too many people I know pass away. Six months after I moved, my co-worker from Los Alamos, Linda, died of skin cancer. She was in her early 40's; she had a daughter my age. This was followed by a friend of our family from when we lived in Elkton. He was involved in a farm accident that took his life. The next was yet another family friend. Margot and I grew up with the children in the family. Mrs. Haas also succumbed to cancer. While my sister was here for that funeral we found out that our friend Tom died in a car accident. The spring brought the death of my great-aunt Suzy. This summer I lost two more friends, both of who died from complications of alcoholism. Cindy was the first; she passed at the end of July. Steve was the second, at the end of August. I went to high school with him, but didn't become friends with him until well after our graduation.

Tonight while Mark was making dinner he noticed a fire truck outside. That was followed by four cop cars. Our condo is on a one-way street and it is no secret that the cops are there at least a dozen or so times a year for different reasons; usually involving domestic violence. Mark thought they were going to one of the houses across the street. As I was being the nosy neighbor looking out the front window I saw a handful of cops running to the front door of the condo next door. While this was happening, there were another handful of people running to the back of our condo. Those of us on the first floor have a backdoor that is not within a security door. Mark and I went out back to see what was going on and realized that they were at the condo directly next to us. I noticed a lady standing outside who wasn't the owner. After a while I walked up to her to make sure she was ok. There were still a lot of EMTs and cops at the neighbor's back door at this point. She just looked at me and said, "she passed away'. I looked at her and again asked her if she needed anything at all. She proceeded to tell me that she was calling Kristie all day and she had not answered her phone. They broke a window to get in and found her dead. Kristie has a great set of weimaraners so I asked if the dogs were ok. She said they were and that Kristie's ex-husband had put them in the other room for the time being. I told her that I had heard pounding on a door earlier and kept looking outside trying to figure out if it was at our front door or at our back door. I didn't see them at all. I didn't ask what happened. I think I was in too much shock. I'm sure Kristie's friend was in more shock than I was. Kristie was only a few years older than Mark and I. I think she told me she was 42 or 43. We didn't talk to her a whole lot, but did make a point of talking to her when she was out back with the dogs during the warmer weather. She certainly didn't look sick. We did stop by on our way out from the condo to my apartment to let them know we were leaving for the night and gave the ex-husband some contact information. I was worried about the window they broke. I didn't know which one they broke and I didn't want Kristie's house to just be open. We don't use our storm windows. Mark and I wanted to be sure they didn't need 1 or 2 to close up the condo.

So Mark and I have been saying wow all night. Both of us are in shock at the passing of our neighbor. She only moved in this past summer, but she was a great neighbor and it was a pleasure to talk to her every once in a while.

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:13:58 GMT

Wow what a weekend!!! I seriously think Margot and I saw half of New York City. At least it feels that way!

Margot took the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) up to Penn Station and met my train Friday. The weekend started off in Times Square. We walked around, did some shopping and then stopped to have dinner at Planet Hollywood. It was a nice evening and it wasn't all that cold really. Margot's business was in Long Island, so we decided it would be just as easy to stay there and commute back and forth to the city.

Saturday morning we got up at 2:30 in the morning, after a 2 hour nap, to head back to Manhattan so we could see the taping of the Today Show. Margot had been bugging me all week to make a sign for the show. I didn't know what to put on it and neither did she so I didn't make one. While we were standing in line for the show, an enterprising man came up and offered a marker and a piece of poster board for sale, $3.00. I gave in and bought a set to make a sign. We still didn't know what to put on the sign, hence the Hi Mom. Sorry Mark and Jim, we thought about adding you to the sign, but decided not too. Besides neither one of you saw us on the show...I'm trying to see if we can get a copy of the entire show.

Our next stop was the Empire State building. Apparently we got lucky and didn't have to wait at all to get in. I heard that there is usually a 3 hour wiat. We just had to walk about a mile through their queue, back and forth and back and forth to get to the ticket counter. It was a pretty amazing view from 86 stories above the ground. Did you know that the green pad in front of the Macy's store for the Thanksgiving Day Parade was there all the time? I had no idea.

Lunch found us in Chinatown, very interesting area of the city. There are small 'stores' up and down the entire street. They actually remind me of storage units. I found a nice knock off purse for $20; it started at $35. Margot and I had lunch at a restaurant named 'Dumpling Cafe'. I was actually a little nervous about eating in Chinatown. That went away real fast when I opened the door and saw that the restaurant has been Zagat rated since 2000. It was yummy!!!

After lunch we headed down to Ground Zero and saw Trinity Church and St. Paul's Cathedral. It's still a pretty somber area of the city but it was nice to see what the plans are for the memorial pools.

We had dinner at Benito II in Little Italy. Margot's contact at Empire Bank gave us the name of a waiter and said to tell them he sent us. When we arrived, Margot told the lady at the front door, maybe the matriarch of the family, who had sent us and that we were looking for Walter. Well, we sat at the closest table to the kitchen. From what I understand this is the best table in an Italian restaurant and an honor to be sat there. Walter told us he would 'take of us'. When the menus were taken off of the table not once, but twice before we could even open them, we started to get the idea of what 'take care of you' meant. The only choice we had for the entire dinner was if we wanted red or white wine. Margot and I had only had lunch about 3 hours prior so we went in thinking we would get an appetizer and desert. Dinner started with stuffed mushrooms in a buttery wine sauce and cheese bread with fresh mozzarella also drowned in a buttery wine sauce. Margot isn't a mushroom fan, but I enjoyed them. We both liked the cheese bread. The next set of plates had penne pasta with a vodka sauce and grilled shrimp. This was really yummy! At this point Margot and I were getting nervous. We were hoping that it wasn't going to be a full Italian dinner. Thankfully it was not. Walter told us he was going to bring us a little meat and that was it. He brings us veal scaloppini. Neither one of us likes veal. I took two bites, with the second one covered in parmesan cheese. Margot managed 3 or 4. Thank God he also brought us some broccoli rabe which I absolutely love. Margot had not had it before but did like it and ate about half the plate. We finally got the bill and I asked for a piece of tiramisu to go. While it was nice to have 'been taken care of', Margot and I both decided that we wood have rather ordered from the menu, after all we weren't all that hungry and we kept seeing wonderful plates pass us with parmesan chicken, chicken cacciatore and lasagna.

My train left Sunday at 6p and Margot's flight left at 3p so we knew were would not be doing anything Sunday but sleeping in. I needed to give my feet a rest and we were both tired of walking. It was nice to see Margot and spend the weekend with her. It was a fun filled, busy weekend. I sure am glad that Monday was a holiday so I could get some rest.

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 01:50:57 GMT

Happy New Year!!!

I'm not sure what 2008 is going to bring for me and my future. I am still seriously considering going back to college. I went over to Northern Virginia Community College this evening. They have an Associates of Science degree that will transfer to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. This would be the first two years of the six year Doctor of Pharmacy degree I am interested in. I met with an admissions counselor who helped me figure out where I needed to start. Luckily all of the classes I took at Northern New Mexico Community College will transfer. Oh except the Introduction to Micro-computing. Because it was over 10 years ago that I took that class they don't think it applies anymore. Technology updates and all. Which is fine with me, I don't mind sitting through another boring class. It is an easy A for me anyway. I'm not sure if any of my Travel Agent certificate will be applied. I'm still going to have the transfer sent to me. It doesn't hurt to at least try. Even if it transfers for a few of the elective classes I have to take. I am terrified of taking the math placement test. I used to be really good at math, but it's been so so long...16 years. I'm hoping to at least place for Algebra 2. This would give me a chance to brush up on all those skills I surely don't need to be a travel agent. Want to know where Port of Spain is? (Trinidad) How about Ouagadougou? (Burkina Faso) That I can tell you, algebra not so much.

Margot sent me a few books on CD with our Christmas box. The first one I listened too, Escape, was pretty interesting. It was biography written by a woman who managed to escape the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints, FLDS. This is Warren Jeffs' polygamous sect of the Morman church. I still think they are all insane, but I guess if that is all you have ever known... The second book she sent me was The Secret. This one I am having some problems getting my head around. The book is based upon the law of attraction. Good people attract good things and bad people attract bad things. It is what it is. Margot really liked it and we generally like the same books and subjects. I guess I do not have the mental capacity at the moment to think about this. I am going to finish listening to the book however. I love listening to the author's Australian accent.

Next week Margot has a business trip to Long Island. I'm going to take the train up Friday afternoon and meet her for the weekend. We want to watch the Today show live and then plan to head over to Chinatown and Little Italy. I've got an idea of where we need to go via the subway. The New York City subway is much larger than the DC Metro. I'm sure we'll get lost, but at least we know how the dang thing works.

I am definitely going to go to Los Alamos for my birthday. I have a few free tickets on United that I plan on using. Anna hasn't been home in over a year so she's coming with me to spend some time with her mom. Mark also wants to go. He's trying to get the whole week off, but he will at least go for part of the time. I'm looking forward to seeing my family. I haven't seen my aunt and uncle since Margot's wedding.

As for Mark and I, we are doing ok considering. We are both committed to getting through this with each other. Only time will tell at this point. All your prayers of support are greatly appreciated.

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 01:48:08 GMT

I can't believe it's been 3 months since I added anything to my blog. I guess I've been a little pre-occupied.

I'm in the new apartment. Mark of course is still in the condo. I hate the situation, but I do like the apartment. It's only a mile from Mark which makes life a lot easier on both of us. Tricia and Penelope seem to like it. Penelope thinks that she is the queen of this new roost. She is constantly yelling at Tricia and biting her on the butt if she thinks she is getting too much attention from me or Mark. Mark brings Pilikia over every once in a while to play with Penelope. They chase each other from one side of the apartment to the other. It's quite cute.

I'm still working on the Pharmacy Tech classes. Just not as much as I should be. Again a little occupied.

We had a nice Thanksgiving. Our friend Anna came over to the apartment. Of course there was way too much food. Anna and I couldn't find a turkey smaller than 12 pounds. Mark was on turkey duty and Anna and I took care of all the sides. It was all very good. Lots of turkey sandwiches.

We are having New Mexican for Christmas Eve and I have no clue about Christmas yet. Last year we had a Virginia Ham. I'll put Mark on that holiday too. He always has a good idea.

Christmas shopping is in full swing. I've gotten a few things, mainly Mark's presents. I have to hurry up so I can ship everything to Los Alamos. I'm thinking that I'll probably finish this weekend and send it all out next week.

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 01:41:28 GMT

I am well into my 'classes' to become a certified Pharmacy Tech. I think they are going pretty well. How hard can they really be? It's an open book type class. I have learned quite a bit of interesting facts! I think I have 5 or 6 done now. Only 30 more to go. I did just get one scary book in the mail....Medical Terminology. I know some of this stuff, but this is probably 1000+ vocabulary words. Oh and I have 100+ names of drugs, what they are for, and their generic names to learn.

Thanks Nik! You were the only person who I thought about when I looked at the fact that I would have to quit my full time job. I'm still not sure I really want to do that. Plus there are some other things that I have to look at. Some pretty important stuff that I most likely won't be doing. I at least need to figure out if I'm ok with that, or look at going about it another way. Hell I don't even know any more.

The GPS I rented for my Maine vacation came in today. I thought about playing with it some tonight. I do need to learn how to use it after all. The power plug that comes with the unit plugs into the cigarette lighter in the car. I didn't feel like hanging out in the car tonight. It's just a little hot out there. Plus I needed to pick up Mark's dry cleaning and order dinner. Anna has lots of time to figure out how to use it. I know I can get us from here to Jersey on 95. I'm just a little worried about getting around Long Island. That has to be at least 6 hours to figure something out. Or Mark will be home Friday, he can and most likely will want to play with it. He can teach us how to use it. It can't be a whole lot different than the one we already have. This rented one gives turn by turn directions where our's doesn't. Plus it has a pretty color screen.

For my friend who's had a couple of really bad days lately...I'm praying for you.

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 17:17:16 GMT

I am sitting on the couch watching TV. I have lots of stuff to do today. I need to clean my house and do laundry. I need to clean off the desk too. But instead I sit here doing nothing. Not to say I'm not enjoying myself. I would just feel like I got something accomplished today if I actually did something. Imagine that.

Mark is in Twentynine Palms, CA for his annual two week training for the Marine Corps. So I am also enjoying the quiet. But I think the girls are all a little bored too. With Mark not home to chase them all over the house, Penelope is attempting to entertain herself by yelling at Tricia and stalking her until she runs away. It is pretty funny.

Anna and I have finalized our plans for our trip to Maine!! I can't wait; we leave next Tuesday. A week of driving around and just relaxing. I still need to clean the car and get my haircut. Once the rented GPS gets here this week, I'll be ready to go!

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:51:11 GMT

I'm sitting at one of my offices in the Adam's Morgan neighborhood of DC with school materials spread everywhere. It's pretty slow today and I finished my book yesterday. I don't want to start another book until tomorrow when I get the new Haryy Potter book. But anyway... I realized on Saturday that I am once again topped out in my career field. In New Mexico there was no way I was going to increase my salary anywhere in the state as a travel agent. This helped me decide to move to DC. But once again, I am at the top of my salary level. Although am I making about 13k more than I was in Los Alamos. Unless I get into management this is pretty much it. I could move to a lawfirm account which generaly pay about 5k more, but it's not worth it. I know too many people who have been on those accounts and hated every minute of it. Apparently lawyers are quite demanding. And management....not in this field. Way too much political drama and it doesn't matter which company you work for. I would rather go back to restaurant management. No way!

I have been thinking about going into nursing for a few years now. Well I guess more like 14. I thought about it when I was going to school for radiology in Espanola. But every once in a while I get these absolutely disgusting emails or read horrific news stories about bug larvae in someone's head. I just saw another news story yesterday...some guy in colorado had larvae under his skin. I can handle the blood guts and gore, but there is no way I can handle bug larvae. My skin is crawling as I think about it. And maggots....oh hell no. That is the only thing that gives me nightmares.

Mark and I talked at great length about it and I did a lot of research Saturday. It's pretty much the only thing that I did on Saturday. I found an online school that offers a certificate for Pharmacy Technician. Yes the salary is half of what I make now, if I'm lucky. My thought is I would rather spend $600 on this than $50,000 on 5 years of school only to find out that I hate it. And I can work part time as a pharmacy tech while I'm going to school. Howard University is the only school around here that offers Pharmacology. It's a great school and right in DC. If my credits from Espanola will transfer, I only have 1 or 2 semesters of pre-requisit classes, then it's a regular 4 year degree.

This all sounds great to a point. I have a lot of worries too. I don't know if Mark and I can afford for me to go to school full time. I can apply for all sorts of scholarships, grants and loans. Hopefully that will help on the living expenses. Oh and of course I can work part-time as a pharmacy tech. My biggest worry is do I really want to change careers at 40? I can't believe it, but it is true. I would finish at 39. Quite a realization! I've been working for 19 years now and I figure that I'll work at least until I'm 70. That would give me 30 years in a totally new career field. And starting salaries are more than double my current salary. I guess a 100% raise over 5 years is pretty good if I look at it that way. Management in a travel agency would only give me anouth $15,000 on the very high side in the same time frame.

Ok then, I'm sending in the request for materials and payment to Penn Foster...just as soon as I do some research on pharmacy tech board exams in Virginia.

Sun, 08 Jul 2007 19:58:06 GMT

Yes, Viva Las Vegas. That's the name of the chapel where Rhonda and Dottie exchanged their commitment vows. It was lovely. Mark and I enjoyed being able to attend. Their ceremony and pictures are viewable on-line. So cute they are. I had to watch it again this morning.

Mark and I had a good time in Vegas. All of my friends stayed at the New York New York Hotel and Casino. We even managed to stay on the same floor. Of course there were no big winners in our group. But that's ok. We still had fun, and that is all that I expected.

That is not entirely true. I did expect to see some fireworks on the 4th of July. The only fireworks we saw were from one of the hotel windows. We watched a bunch of local displays on the horizon. From what I understand, only the Las Vegas Hilton decided to put on a fireworks display this year. And we didn't even see that. Mark and I went outside to watch from the elevated crosswalk across Las Vegas Blvd. That's where everyone else was as well. Too many everyone elses for me. It was packed wall to wall. We decided to go back into the hotel after about 15 minutes. Besides it was 113 that day. It was too hot!

Our return flight was on Thursday, July 5. The anticipated high for the day was 117. Again, too hot!

The only bad thing that happened on our trip happened after Mark and I left. We were the first to leave, just about everyone else left Friday night. Early Friday morning, 1230a, there was a shooting in the New York New York casino. Dottie and her family were in the casino gambling. Some disgruntled guy just came in and started shooting. Luckily there were no fatalities. There were a few injured people. From what I understand, a few military reservists tackled the guy and beat the crap out of him until the police arrested him.

Dottie and her family saw everything. I'm sure it was quite alarming, not to mention disconcerning. Thank God everyone of them is ok.

Eventually, I'll get the some of the pics we took uploaded to the site.

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 23:59:52 GMT

I spent Sunday in the lovely town of North East in Cecil County, Maryland. I hadn't been there since I was 16. I went to visit a friend who moved back to the area from California recently. We had a good visit and it was nice to see her mom. Eighteen years since I had seen her too. Main Street North East still isn't a glamorous place to go, but it has had some upgrades in recent years. There are the few quaint shops and restaurants in town now. Apparently the Aberdeen Proving Grounds has fallen on the BRAC list and will be shut down. Well not shut down, but it will no longer be a military instillation. It will be completely run by civilians. Because of this there has been a lot of growth in North East, Perryville and Aberdeen. And much more planned to come. Instead of flying down 95 last night on my way home, I decided to take 40 south to Aberdeen. It was a nice drive down a country road. I do have to say that the 95 bridge over the Susquehanna River is much nicer than the Route 40 bridge; two very close lanes in each direction still. And the toll is the same on both...$5 north bound, free south bound. The good part is that I can buy a $5 sticker and be covered for the entire year on the 40 bridge. I have to pay $5 each time I cross the 95 bridge. I'm sure I've paid that toll at least 10 times in the last 12 months.

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 23:55:01 GMT

I'm not sure if I mentioned this or not, but the Marine Corps has successfully cancelled our plans to go to Halifax this summer. Mark's annual 2 week deployment is smack dab in the middle of my scheduled vacation time. I can deal with this, I changed my week off to the week after Mark gets home from Twentynine Palms. It seems as though August is the busiest month for hurricanes. If it weren't for the fact that Mark has official orders to be in Twentynine Palms, he probably wouldn't have gotten that time off. His office is going to be pretty busy trying to keep the airports staffed with security screeners.

So this leaves me with a week off that I can't change again. So I decided that I am still going on vacation. I'm going to drive up to Maine and back. My friend Anna said she would like to go with me. We should have a great time! Two girls with a convertable! Oh yeah, I'm taking the Camaro honey.

So this summer Mark and I are scheduled to go to Las Vegas for the 4th of July for a friend's wedding. I'm also scheduled to go to Vegas the last weekend of July for a Wildtree Herbs conference. And now I'll be heading to Maine in August.

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 01:28:31 GMT

And here we go...another year older. So I have 1 more year until I hit 35 and I still don't know if I want kids. I keep going back and forth. Last year I wanted a child and I wanted it right then. Now, I just don't know. Mark and I are thinking about looking for a larger condo, but not until next year. We barely have enough room for us here. Technically we don't have enough room as I still have a storage unit with furniture and stuff. I know I definitely want to wait until we get a larger home. But I don't want to be 40 and having children. I have friends who I went to highschool with you have 15 year olds now.

At least Mark is still older than I am! Oh and I more consolation...Margot turns 30 this year.

Tue, 29 May 2007 22:22:32 GMT

I have purchased airline tickets for Mark and I to go to Las Vegas over 4th of July. A friend of mine is getting married. It will be nice to visit with some Los Alamos friends. Especially not in Los Alamos!!!

Mark found out that his yearly 2 week deplyment will be during my scheduled August vacation time. Agghh! Now I am trying to change my vacation time and I am waiting to see if Mark can be away from his office for 3 weeks. Mark and I want to drive up the coast towards Halifax. If we get to Halifax, great. If not that's ok too.

I still trying to decide if I am going to go to Las Vegas at the end of July for the Wildtree Herbs conference. I'd like to go, but I don't know if I can swing that with the other 2 trips we already have planned.

I know I am insane for going to Nevada in July. It's going to be so hot. I may never see the light of day except from the inside of a window.

Mon, 28 May 2007 07:19:21 GMT

In case anyone cares....I am still sitting on the couch. I was thinking about sorting the laundry out, but I don't want to wake Mark up.

I did start a page on blogger. Not sure what I think of that yet. I still need to do a lot of work on it.

I'm going to turn the radio off and try to get some sleep.

Mon, 28 May 2007 06:26:12 GMT

It's 2:13 am in Virginia and I'm still awake. I was sweeping and mopping the floors an hour ago. Mark is snoring away. I just downloaded the new 2007 version of Microsoft Money. The cats are snuggled up to Mark. I washed all of the dishes in the sink. I can't get bank accounts, budgets and bills out of my damn head.

The only thing I can think of is that I took a Claritin this morning. A few weeks ago my doctor told me to stop taking Sudafed. It's raising my blood pressure. I tried to tell her that I had a headache when I went in which is always an onset of a migraine for me. I told her my family was here from New Mexico and I had to get out of town for a funeral in a few hours. Couldn't these have raised my blood pressure? Instead she told me to take Claritin for my allergies. I do have to say that I can take a Claritin and my allergy symptoms go away shortly there after. I thought I would have to take it for days before it started to work. However, I don't think I should take it during the week. There is no way I will be able to get up in the morning to go to work. It's been 18 hours since I took that damn pill. I am not a morning person. Just ask anyone related to me.

I can sleep in tomorrow and Mark will be pleasantly surprised when he gets out of bed in 4 hours, the coffee pot is ready to turn on and brew away.

I've been thinking about changing my blog page to blogger. I think I'll like the page better. I like most of the blogger webpages and I'm pretty bored with this one. God only knows when I'm going to actually fall asleep. Maybe now is a good time to inquire into that thought some more. 2:26 am...

Tue, 22 May 2007 18:42:51 GMT

Plilikia finally fell in the tub!!! She fell in the shower with me this morning and quickly tried to get back out. She didn't get all that wet, but she wasn't planning on getting as wet as she did.

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:04:25 GMT

Today Show

Margot and I at the Today show Jan 19, 2008

Sun, 13 May 2007 14:58:10 GMT

Suzanne D King

Aunt Suzie

Sun, 13 May 2007 14:57:39 GMT

Family September 2004

Aunt Suzie

Mary Lou

Mom and Suzie

Mary Lou and Suzie

All of laughing as usual.

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 22:04:41 GMT

Washington DC


US Air Force Memorial	US Air Force Memorial	Air Force Memorial	Lincoln Memorial
Washington Monument	President Lincoln	Washington Monument	Korean War Memorial
Korean War Memorial

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Mon, 01 Jan 2007 02:40:43 GMT

Christmas 2006

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 01:31:53 GMT

Pilikia

Here I come

Hey Penelope

What is everyone looking at?

I'm trying to sleep

See, I'm sleeping

I'm caught

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 01:21:58 GMT

National Museum of the Marine Corps dedication Nov 10, 2006

More Photos...

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 00:31:53 GMT

Malibu accident Nov 1, 2006

Sun, 24 Sep 2006 21:50:27 GMT

Nascar race in Dover

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Sun, 10 Sep 2006 23:32:29 GMT

National Zoo

Flamingos (1)

Flamingos (2)

Flamingos

Greater Rhea (1)

Greater Rhea (2)

Greater Rhea

Leopard

Male Tiger (1)

Male Tiger (2)

Male Tiger

More Photos...

Sun, 10 Sep 2006 23:02:29 GMT

July 4, 2006

Aquarium

Baltimore Trade Center

Damon and Sarah

Domino Sugars

Downtown Baltimre (1)

Downtown Baltimre

Fireworks (1)

Fireworks (2)

Fireworks (3)

Fireworks (4)

More Photos...

Sat, 08 Jul 2006 23:21:36 GMT

Whispering Meadows; Clayton, DE

Whispering Meadows 001

Whispering Meadows 002

Whispering Meadows 003

Whispering Meadows 004

Whispering Meadows 005

Elizabeth

Whispering Meadows 007

Mark

Sat, 08 Jul 2006 22:38:17 GMT

Baltimore May 2006

National Aquarium In Baltimore 20060513 001

National Aquarium In Baltimore 20060513 006

National Aquarium In Baltimore 20060513 010

National Aquarium In Baltimore 20060513 011

National Aquarium In Baltimore 20060513 012

National Aquarium In Baltimore 20060513 013

National Aquarium In Baltimore 20060513 014

National Aquarium In Baltimore 20060513 018

Sat, 08 Jul 2006 21:42:45 GMT

Los Alamos Feb 2004...Mark and Stef ski for the first time with seasoned skier Margot

Photos 019

Photos 020

Photos 022

Photos 024

Photos 026

Photos 027

Photos 028

Photos 029

Exhausted from all the laughing!

Photos 032

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Stocking stuff

What is that?

Yeah, what is it?

Golf clubs for Margot

Santa toys

Sat, 08 Jul 2006 21:37:22 GMT

Old Town Alexandria

Founder's Park, Old Town

Historic Alexandria Foundation Plaque

Jones Point Lighthouse

King and Union, Old Town

King Street, Old Town Alexandria

The Fish Market, Old Town