So many joys to report.
Opening day across the Hudson Valley for T-Ball leagues!! Today was Alan's first ever experience with an organized sport. He and about every 5-year-old in Rhinbeck was equipped with a glove and bat. We met at the field near the Aerodrome, so in between throws and catches, one could look up and watch WWII Biplanes circle the sky. Pops and Boots accompanied us. The coaches showed Alan how to "step-throw-step" and to keep your head up while throwing the ball. It was sooooo cute watching him follow the coaches instructions and how after just a few times, he was doing it!!! So cool!!! Catching is still a challenge. Pops suggested getting him a better glove. After batting practice, the league actually arranged for the children to play a game!! All the parents broke in hysterics when the first child hit the ball, and all of the children ran in a million directions. Roger took a video of Alan's first time at bat where he hit a single!!! If you watch it on facebook, you'll see how about 5 children tried to catch the ball, and Alan ran to first, gave the coach a high-five, then started to run to me...the coach had to turn him around to go back to first!!! How funny. We forget that the children really have no concept of the game. During practice, they even had to teach the children the basics like running the bases. BTW, Alan made it to home!!! Scored a point!! (my Dad corrected me...it's not a point, it's a run LOL).
After that experience, we went out for lunch at Ruby Tuesdays, food shopping, and I purchased a new portable DVD player and CD player.
We rested a little bit in the afternoon....Alan was tired after 2 hours of running...After watching a movie and listening to his new Bach CD, he went around the backyard picking flowers, etc. Bootie cleaned my refrigerator and kitchen, and Pops took a nap.
We then all prepared for the dinner party with the Kamrass crew. Bob made BBQ chicken, I made pesto, salad, corn muffins and baked beans, and Boots made some sort of asparagus with dip. Alan LOVES the Kamrass girls, so they had a great time playing together. Alan even let Sophia play his guitar. All three children made music in the bedroom....I love seeing them all grow up together....
Family, friends, fresh air. Breathing it all in :) Caio Bella!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
April 23 TGIF
Playing Scrabble at the moment, waiting for my opponent to once again make a marvelous move!!! While I am waiting, here is my day:
My work day was the usual, meeting with prospective students, processing scholarships, arranged another school visit and tour, etc....
But what I REALLY REALLY appreciated was coming home to dinner ON THE TABLE with my family waiting for me. Pops and Bootie picked up Alan, so they already were home, and Bob had thrown some burgers on the grill. All I had to do was help the youngin wash his hands!!! What a blessing to be with my family and have this all ready for me. I don't know who did the dishes, but someone did them too!!! Just like you wrote on Facebook Mom...IT DID MAKE ME HAPPY!!!!! Any extra help is ALWAYS appreciated!!
I also appreciated Bootie giving Alan a bath and getting him ready for bed. I love doing this, but it is also very sweet to observe them with this (plus, you know how tired I am on Friday nights!). After my parents left, I introduced Alan to "We are the World". He got a kick out of naming some of the musicians (he knew Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles and Lionel Richie). He is still into Bach but his Baby Bach CD broke (it got stepped on at school), so we searched for Baby Bach videos and watched them for a while. HE fell sleep listening to our friend Rich's CD.
BIG DAY TOMORROW!!! I am sure I will have LOTS to REPORT!!!! Stay tuned!!! Check facebook as well throughout the day...I'll be uploading pictures as I usually do on the weekends....I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREEEEEEEEEET WEEKEND!!!!
My work day was the usual, meeting with prospective students, processing scholarships, arranged another school visit and tour, etc....
But what I REALLY REALLY appreciated was coming home to dinner ON THE TABLE with my family waiting for me. Pops and Bootie picked up Alan, so they already were home, and Bob had thrown some burgers on the grill. All I had to do was help the youngin wash his hands!!! What a blessing to be with my family and have this all ready for me. I don't know who did the dishes, but someone did them too!!! Just like you wrote on Facebook Mom...IT DID MAKE ME HAPPY!!!!! Any extra help is ALWAYS appreciated!!
I also appreciated Bootie giving Alan a bath and getting him ready for bed. I love doing this, but it is also very sweet to observe them with this (plus, you know how tired I am on Friday nights!). After my parents left, I introduced Alan to "We are the World". He got a kick out of naming some of the musicians (he knew Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles and Lionel Richie). He is still into Bach but his Baby Bach CD broke (it got stepped on at school), so we searched for Baby Bach videos and watched them for a while. HE fell sleep listening to our friend Rich's CD.
BIG DAY TOMORROW!!! I am sure I will have LOTS to REPORT!!!! Stay tuned!!! Check facebook as well throughout the day...I'll be uploading pictures as I usually do on the weekends....I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREEEEEEEEEET WEEKEND!!!!
April 23rd AM
Didn't hear from me last night, because I came home EXHAUSTED!!! Two late nights and an early morning presentation, and I just conked out. Even had my dinner in bed!! (Leftovers from Mom's dinner and Bob's potatoes)...Lights out had to be 7pm!!! I woke up at 3AM, but had no problem getting back to sleep!! I did have tentative plans with my girlfriend Paula, but we both actually felt the same way!
It all is very good though....moving forward on lots of new projects, and Rhinebeck High School is always fun. They asked me to come back again, so I have next week, and at the end of May. The new topic they want me to present on is "Time Management"...I have this activity that illicits the differences between high school and college using a time management activity...It's a great group of kids. I think my total number of visits to this school would be smoething like 8!!! My director joked that I should have an office there!!! DCC has such a great reputation (great faculty and services), that we are getting many students their senior year coming to DCC before heading to other colleges. What we are finding is that those students who intend on transferring, end up staying for 2 years anyway because of the quality of the education (and you can't beat the cost)...
ANYWAY, right now, I am baking Alan's lunch...have to stop at the store before school to pick him up salad (yes, his new favorite veggie), I HAVE TO REMEMBER THE CAR SEAT!!!) since Boots is picking him up from school......They are coming over for dinner tonight....Not sure what's on the schedule for work....no visits or tours though, so I will be catching up in the office....AND...TONIGHT...maybe time for scrabble. Bob's sis just invited me to play another game....Mom, I haven't had the time to figure out how to invite you to play. If you have time, why don't you start a game...It took me about a week to finish a game though!!!
It's looking to be a great day folks!! CAIO BELLA!
It all is very good though....moving forward on lots of new projects, and Rhinebeck High School is always fun. They asked me to come back again, so I have next week, and at the end of May. The new topic they want me to present on is "Time Management"...I have this activity that illicits the differences between high school and college using a time management activity...It's a great group of kids. I think my total number of visits to this school would be smoething like 8!!! My director joked that I should have an office there!!! DCC has such a great reputation (great faculty and services), that we are getting many students their senior year coming to DCC before heading to other colleges. What we are finding is that those students who intend on transferring, end up staying for 2 years anyway because of the quality of the education (and you can't beat the cost)...
ANYWAY, right now, I am baking Alan's lunch...have to stop at the store before school to pick him up salad (yes, his new favorite veggie), I HAVE TO REMEMBER THE CAR SEAT!!!) since Boots is picking him up from school......They are coming over for dinner tonight....Not sure what's on the schedule for work....no visits or tours though, so I will be catching up in the office....AND...TONIGHT...maybe time for scrabble. Bob's sis just invited me to play another game....Mom, I haven't had the time to figure out how to invite you to play. If you have time, why don't you start a game...It took me about a week to finish a game though!!!
It's looking to be a great day folks!! CAIO BELLA!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
April 21
Found myself a little more groggy than usual this morning, typical of a morning after a big event. I energized myself with a little aromatherapy by picking a few lilacs. Alan had an idea. He decided to give them to his teacher. You can imagine the parade of smiles (and sniffs) that greeted him down the hallway to his classroom. I followed suit by presenting our office staff this morning with gifts for Administrative Professionals Day (adorable melon-scented candles wrapped in dainty ribbon.)
I am just winding down now (10:15ish)...After a busy day at work, I still had to 2 meetings!!! I picked up Alan and took him to the UU with me for the first meeting where his Dad picked him up. It was nice having him meet the reverand for a second time....Then, I hurried home for the Heritage Folk Music meeting where we hosted about 5 people to organize upcoming concerts, and to assist us with the administration of the organization. FYI: I didn't have time for dinner, so I munched on the refreshments that Bob put out including chips and trail mix and diet coke....wondering now if that was such a good idea....I am exhausted, but the caffeine so late will no doubt give me a mind buzz...ANYWAY, our good friend Ernie put together a nice brochure AND a dvd of one of our events! Plus, I used my netbook to take the minutes of the meeting, and just sent them to Bob, so I got that off my plate instantaeously (it's all about time management and organization folks).
So now it's 10:27. I have an early morning presentation at a high school, and have topick up Alan early. Vacation? Yes, I 'd like one soon!!! :) Caio Bella!
I am just winding down now (10:15ish)...After a busy day at work, I still had to 2 meetings!!! I picked up Alan and took him to the UU with me for the first meeting where his Dad picked him up. It was nice having him meet the reverand for a second time....Then, I hurried home for the Heritage Folk Music meeting where we hosted about 5 people to organize upcoming concerts, and to assist us with the administration of the organization. FYI: I didn't have time for dinner, so I munched on the refreshments that Bob put out including chips and trail mix and diet coke....wondering now if that was such a good idea....I am exhausted, but the caffeine so late will no doubt give me a mind buzz...ANYWAY, our good friend Ernie put together a nice brochure AND a dvd of one of our events! Plus, I used my netbook to take the minutes of the meeting, and just sent them to Bob, so I got that off my plate instantaeously (it's all about time management and organization folks).
So now it's 10:27. I have an early morning presentation at a high school, and have topick up Alan early. Vacation? Yes, I 'd like one soon!!! :) Caio Bella!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
April 20, 2010
As I scurried around the house arranging for our morning departure, the scene in the living room evolved from Alan sweetly singing "pigeon house" on the couch with his homemade banjo, to an all out jam with Bob joining with his banjo to the tunes "skip to my lou" and "i've been working on the railroad". As I waited for the leftover pesto to heat up for Alan's lunch (forget about those chicken nuggets), I captured the moment by snapping a photo with my cell. I was a little worried that their fun would facilate a struggle with getting him ready for school, but I maximized my time management strategies, and was able to get everything in order before luring him away. I am happy to report that he also dressed himself!!! (Shoes too!)
WORK
Well, almost two years of smooth sailing, but finally had my first major faux paus at work, but luckily caught in time!!! Phew!!! I purchased double-sided corrugated plastic signs to direct people to our Open House. I sent my students out to put them around campus pointing prospective applicants and their families to the theatre. 5 of the signs included arrows pointing forward. Now, when the arrows point forward and are double-sided, you are actually sending people in two different directions depending on which way you are walking...so basically I ALMOST had people going in opposite directions. Oh my!! Luckily, this mistake was pointed out to me many hours before the event, so it was caught with many hours to correct. I spent about an hour this afternoon pealing off the lettering for these 5 signs so we could still use them. Diverted the problem!! Again...PHEW!!!
So now my feet are aching, Open House had record numbers (was it my spam)....and I'm home, Pops and Boot left a little while ago and now waiting for Bob to come home from rehearsal,,,but before I leave let me see if I can squeeze more good things out of this day...
OTHER GOOD THINGS:
- Scored 90 points on a Scrabble move with Bob's sister (albiet she is still winning!)
- Enjoyed the piano music at Open House (thanks to our amazing music professor and his students!)...and enjoyed the brownies (thank you Brian, you are amazing!)
THANKFUL - Thanks to my parents who not only picked up Alan at school, but Bootie when food shopping, made dinner, AND took my son out for a walk....all on very little sleep as she took the Red Eye yesterday....Awake for 48 hours!! We Diano-Tagliaferros never seem to run out of steam...always on the go-go-go!!
ALSO, lastly thankful to have been able to say goodnight to the little guy. He has such a sweet voice.
*****AND***BOB is in the newspaper today with his Fiddle n'Folk group!! It's a dedicated group of musicians who meeting weekly to jam. Now that the weather is warmer, they are outside! These are some of Bob's most oldest and dearest friends who join him....I have enjoyed spending time with them, they are very interesting!! Alan loves the fact Earle is a real live train conductor!! :)
ANYWAY....still waiting...he's at rehearsal...He'll be happy that I have brownies leftover from the Open House....Caio Bella!
WORK
Well, almost two years of smooth sailing, but finally had my first major faux paus at work, but luckily caught in time!!! Phew!!! I purchased double-sided corrugated plastic signs to direct people to our Open House. I sent my students out to put them around campus pointing prospective applicants and their families to the theatre. 5 of the signs included arrows pointing forward. Now, when the arrows point forward and are double-sided, you are actually sending people in two different directions depending on which way you are walking...so basically I ALMOST had people going in opposite directions. Oh my!! Luckily, this mistake was pointed out to me many hours before the event, so it was caught with many hours to correct. I spent about an hour this afternoon pealing off the lettering for these 5 signs so we could still use them. Diverted the problem!! Again...PHEW!!!
So now my feet are aching, Open House had record numbers (was it my spam)....and I'm home, Pops and Boot left a little while ago and now waiting for Bob to come home from rehearsal,,,but before I leave let me see if I can squeeze more good things out of this day...
OTHER GOOD THINGS:
- Scored 90 points on a Scrabble move with Bob's sister (albiet she is still winning!)
- Enjoyed the piano music at Open House (thanks to our amazing music professor and his students!)...and enjoyed the brownies (thank you Brian, you are amazing!)
THANKFUL - Thanks to my parents who not only picked up Alan at school, but Bootie when food shopping, made dinner, AND took my son out for a walk....all on very little sleep as she took the Red Eye yesterday....Awake for 48 hours!! We Diano-Tagliaferros never seem to run out of steam...always on the go-go-go!!
ALSO, lastly thankful to have been able to say goodnight to the little guy. He has such a sweet voice.
*****AND***BOB is in the newspaper today with his Fiddle n'Folk group!! It's a dedicated group of musicians who meeting weekly to jam. Now that the weather is warmer, they are outside! These are some of Bob's most oldest and dearest friends who join him....I have enjoyed spending time with them, they are very interesting!! Alan loves the fact Earle is a real live train conductor!! :)
ANYWAY....still waiting...he's at rehearsal...He'll be happy that I have brownies leftover from the Open House....Caio Bella!
Monday, April 19, 2010
4/19/10
MORNING:
Since I lazed on Sunday afternoon, Monday morning meant waking up extra early for leftover weekend chores. A mountain of clean clothes piled high on Alan’s bed needed to be folded…Alan’s lunch required more than a simple slapping of peanut butter on a slice of bread…I actually spent $25 on a week’s supply of the healthy “Bells” chicken nuggets (requiring 35 minutes of baking). What a lucky kid to have two small Tupperware containers (one with ketchup for dipping the chicken, and the other with ranch dressing for those carrot sticks)… grapes, and I even packed a bottle of cinnamon for him to sprinkle on top of his applesauce. A little extreme, but it works to get him to eat fruit. (See one of my blog entries from 2007 on this topic if you want to know more!) Did you know that my son invented cinnamon juice (he’s a creator all right!)
All morning he wanted to listen to Bach (even in the car on the way to school). Actually, it was a CD called “Baby Bach”. I reminisced with him how I used to play this CD for him when he was still in my belly (crazy, but true!). It actually was one of the first CD’s we played for him even after he was born. He told me (and his teacher when I dropped him off), that cut number 5 is NOT relaxing and that she may want to skip that song for rest time.
WORK:
Called the office from the bridge’s toll booth, an accident delayed my arrival to work by 45 minutes (like I want more time in the car!). We gathered materials for tomorrow’s open house, I met with prospective students, and organized the scholarship program. Last week I ate out toooooo much, so I brought in my breakfast (PJ sandwich ) and lunch (quiche from Adams with baby spinach and grape tomatoes) .
HOME
"Thank you God for pesto and the love." Those were the chosen words tonight for Alan at grace. He came home last week asking me about pesto. Aparrently his friend had it for lunch, and it must have smelled so yummy that every 5 year old in the class probably went home asking for pesto...So I also bought basil at Adams (I already had the other ingredients including pine nuts!) So when we arrived home, I had him stuff all of the ingredients into the vegamite. It certainly was a hit. I posted photos on facebook.
Aesop's fable at dinner tonight was very interesting...It was about Jupiter, Neptune, Minerva and Momus. Momus is very critical, finding fault with the others..... Alan said, "I don't like that story, it wasn't positive."...We processed this in a very age appropriate way.
AFTER DINNER
Walk up the hill. Alan brought his scooter (made him wear the helmet). Visited with the 3 new friends (from the cemetary!)....hey, that's where they live!!! Alan had picked a tulip from our yard and carried it all the way to give to one of the girls. Very cute. We didn't stay long, jsut kept walking so that he could get to sleep by 8. Mission accomplished!! He listened to Baby Bach tonight (so cute, he was holding the flashlight!)
Listened to Bob play hindu music tonight (on the guitar, not the veena). Time to check facebook - need to return some emails. Then off to catch some ZZZZ
Since I lazed on Sunday afternoon, Monday morning meant waking up extra early for leftover weekend chores. A mountain of clean clothes piled high on Alan’s bed needed to be folded…Alan’s lunch required more than a simple slapping of peanut butter on a slice of bread…I actually spent $25 on a week’s supply of the healthy “Bells” chicken nuggets (requiring 35 minutes of baking). What a lucky kid to have two small Tupperware containers (one with ketchup for dipping the chicken, and the other with ranch dressing for those carrot sticks)… grapes, and I even packed a bottle of cinnamon for him to sprinkle on top of his applesauce. A little extreme, but it works to get him to eat fruit. (See one of my blog entries from 2007 on this topic if you want to know more!) Did you know that my son invented cinnamon juice (he’s a creator all right!)
All morning he wanted to listen to Bach (even in the car on the way to school). Actually, it was a CD called “Baby Bach”. I reminisced with him how I used to play this CD for him when he was still in my belly (crazy, but true!). It actually was one of the first CD’s we played for him even after he was born. He told me (and his teacher when I dropped him off), that cut number 5 is NOT relaxing and that she may want to skip that song for rest time.
WORK:
Called the office from the bridge’s toll booth, an accident delayed my arrival to work by 45 minutes (like I want more time in the car!). We gathered materials for tomorrow’s open house, I met with prospective students, and organized the scholarship program. Last week I ate out toooooo much, so I brought in my breakfast (PJ sandwich ) and lunch (quiche from Adams with baby spinach and grape tomatoes) .
HOME
"Thank you God for pesto and the love." Those were the chosen words tonight for Alan at grace. He came home last week asking me about pesto. Aparrently his friend had it for lunch, and it must have smelled so yummy that every 5 year old in the class probably went home asking for pesto...So I also bought basil at Adams (I already had the other ingredients including pine nuts!) So when we arrived home, I had him stuff all of the ingredients into the vegamite. It certainly was a hit. I posted photos on facebook.
Aesop's fable at dinner tonight was very interesting...It was about Jupiter, Neptune, Minerva and Momus. Momus is very critical, finding fault with the others..... Alan said, "I don't like that story, it wasn't positive."...We processed this in a very age appropriate way.
AFTER DINNER
Walk up the hill. Alan brought his scooter (made him wear the helmet). Visited with the 3 new friends (from the cemetary!)....hey, that's where they live!!! Alan had picked a tulip from our yard and carried it all the way to give to one of the girls. Very cute. We didn't stay long, jsut kept walking so that he could get to sleep by 8. Mission accomplished!! He listened to Baby Bach tonight (so cute, he was holding the flashlight!)
Listened to Bob play hindu music tonight (on the guitar, not the veena). Time to check facebook - need to return some emails. Then off to catch some ZZZZ
Sunday, April 18, 2010
April 18 - thankful for good things
A list of all the good things that happened today:
SHARING: My friend Maggie accompanied us to church today. I asked her to join me since I haven't seen her in a while, and its hard to make plans during the week...but I really thought she would connect there....and she did!! She enjoyed the experience very much and wants to return! She knew several people there as well.....The topic was "aging", and our minister played a recorded interview of a woman in her 70's....A lot of what she said hit home, and as I move toward the twilight of my years, I also hope to do so with humor and grace.
What other good things???
FLOWERS- ...I try to always have fresh flowers on the table, it's just very cheerful...The flowered plant that the Rhinebeck teacher gave me is still in bloom (over a month!)...but now I also have LILACS!! I have a vase in the living room (which fragrant smell is competing with the roasted chicken that Bob made)...and some in the bathroom as well. We have two trees in our yard!!!
NAP! - A rare occasion, but I did have a delicious one this afternoon!!! I must be tired!! I do work hard and play hard, and I tend to just collapse from exhaustion.
HMMMM what else? I sound like Martha Stewart...but other good things today.....crescent moon and clear evening sky....the Mary Oliver poem the minister read today....cream style corn with dinner...Alan wanting more Aesop....Alan "organizing" the living room...the humming of the dishwasher (something I never take forgranted!)....I-Chat...facebook....and of course my REAL family and friends, I love you all! Good night!
SHARING: My friend Maggie accompanied us to church today. I asked her to join me since I haven't seen her in a while, and its hard to make plans during the week...but I really thought she would connect there....and she did!! She enjoyed the experience very much and wants to return! She knew several people there as well.....The topic was "aging", and our minister played a recorded interview of a woman in her 70's....A lot of what she said hit home, and as I move toward the twilight of my years, I also hope to do so with humor and grace.
What other good things???
FLOWERS- ...I try to always have fresh flowers on the table, it's just very cheerful...The flowered plant that the Rhinebeck teacher gave me is still in bloom (over a month!)...but now I also have LILACS!! I have a vase in the living room (which fragrant smell is competing with the roasted chicken that Bob made)...and some in the bathroom as well. We have two trees in our yard!!!
NAP! - A rare occasion, but I did have a delicious one this afternoon!!! I must be tired!! I do work hard and play hard, and I tend to just collapse from exhaustion.
HMMMM what else? I sound like Martha Stewart...but other good things today.....crescent moon and clear evening sky....the Mary Oliver poem the minister read today....cream style corn with dinner...Alan wanting more Aesop....Alan "organizing" the living room...the humming of the dishwasher (something I never take forgranted!)....I-Chat...facebook....and of course my REAL family and friends, I love you all! Good night!
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