Happy New Year!

Ann Landers:

Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Vow not to make a promise you don't think you can keep. Walk tall, and smile more. You'll look ten years younger. Don't be afraid to say, 'I love you'. Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world.

Happy November!

It's hard to believe that it's November already. My mother will be turning another year younger on the 6th and my son gets his license on the 9th. We bought a new car over the weekend. It's a 2010 Malibu LTZ. It's black on the outside and gray on the inside. Nicholas will have the Mustang. We are excited for him to drive but worried as well. He has been driving with his permit for a while and does a nice job. Kristina didn't want to drive until she was 18 so we never really worried about her. Oh well, I need to get rid of the leftover goodies from Halloween and decorate for Thanksgiving. Today we are out of school to vote. I sure hope Bob McDonnell wins...he is ahead in the polls so we will see. I will vote later today when it warms up.

Back to work

I had a nice week back to work. It's nice to put on a skirt and talk to the teachers. They are such a wonderful group of men and women and sorely underpaid! We are getting ready to go to Pancho Villas for dinner and have a Mojito! All is well and the weather is beautiful!

After Census Severs Ties, ACORN May Face Scrutiny of Housing Grants - Political News - FOXNews.com

After Census Severs Ties, ACORN May Face Scrutiny of Housing Grants - Political News - FOXNews.com

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TRANSCRIPT: GOP Response to Obama's Health Care Address - Political News - FOXNews.com

TRANSCRIPT: GOP Response to Obama's Health Care Address - Political News - FOXNews.com

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End of summer

It's hard to believe that summer is just about over. Nick goes back to school on the 8th!It's beginning to feel like fall. The past couple of mornings have started out in the low 50's and highs around 75.

It is so pretty in Virginia, I don't know if I can retire anywhere else. We have 2 more years before Nick goes to college. If he goes to VCU or Temple we will stay here a while longer. He really likes both schools and fortunately he has very good grades so being accepted shouldn't be a problem...so far so good!

I have enjoyed the summer, it was very fun and busy too! I miss my family and am thinking about a December trip out west.

The President should have gotton his facts first.

The Cambridge and area police unions voiced their support Friday for Sgt. James Crowley and called for an apology from President Obama for saying officers "acted stupidly" for arresting black Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. at his home.

"His remarks were obviously misdirected but made it worse yet by suggesting somehow this case should remind us of a history of racial abuse by law enforcement," Dennis O'Connor, president of the Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association, said at a news conference.

O'Connor also referred to statements made by Governor Deval Patrick -- the state's first black governor -- who called the arrest "every black man's nightmare."

"Whatever may be the history, we deeply resent the implications and reject any suggestion that in this case or any other case that they've allowed a person's race to direct their activities. However we hope they will reflect upon their past comments and apologize to the men and women of the Cambridge Police Department," O'Connor said.

Hello

Loving all the changes to the house. We have a 1989 colonial house and it is a pretty home, if I may say so myself, but needed some updates. We now have an updated kitchen and it is fun! We can eat at the island...just another place to congregate. I just finished painting the guest room, daughters room who moved out, and did all the trim too. The windows in this house are all wooden pane so it takes much longer to do the trim. Oh well I wouldn't want those vinyl framed windows..I like the wood! We are going to Virginia Tech this weekend to drop off Nick to soccer camp then we are going to see the Natural Bridge. I have never seen it but I hear it's pretty interesting. Nick is in Miami on business then back to New York next week - busy busy man. We are having a terrific summer so far. I look forward to my trip back to California next month to visit. I can't believe the kids birthdays are coming up, 23 and 16 WOW! Have a terrific summer!

What a week...

New York was a lot of fun, but I will NEVER drive in the city again. The taxi drivers are just nuts and it is too stressful to drive. Once you get out of the city it's fun. We were able to see more things this time around and Nicholas really liked it. We leave Saturday to go to Miami, then Key West, then Key Largo. I am really looking forward to it!

Kristina is doing better today. The young woman who hit her car was found to be at fault so all Kristina's medical bills, car, time off work, etc, will be taken care of. She stayed for dinner last night and it was good to give her hugs and kisses.

Kitchen coming together

Our island arrived today and I just love it. Our appliances are also in but they need to be installed. We are hoping that the counter tops will be istalled before our trip to Key West. Busy busy month. Only one more week of school! All is well here, planting Bagonias today.

My visits

Well, I really enjoyed myself in California. I got to see relatives and friends I haven't seen in years. My niece got married to a terrific young man and I couldn't be happier for them. My sister and her husband did an AMAZING job with the wedding. It was beautiful! I was able to spend some time with my dad and his wife. They live in Orange, CA - pretty area. There is a part of me that really misses California but the other part of me just loves Virginia. Overall, I will pick Virginia as it suits me better. I was there for 5 days and still didn't get to do all the things I wanted to do. I did get to eat at In-N-Out Burger and that was yummy! I didn't go to the beach or the mountains, but I really was there to visit family. Next time I will stay longer and be a tourist again. I had a very nice visit and look forward to trying a return trip next year. I HATE flying or I would have been back much sooner.

Preparing for a busy summer

We are going to be very busy this summer. I am going to California to see my neice get married and visit with family. I haven't been back in years and it's about time I go. I am looking forward to it! We are going to New York for Nick's award ceremony in June. We are then going to Miami, Key West, and Key Largo. We went to Philidelphia a week ago and really enjoyed ourselves. Little Nick will be going to Virginia Tech for a soccer camp this summer and we are updateing the house with new appliances and a new deck. SO much to do, but I am looking forward to it all!

Muench

Some good music from a band I knew long ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNb41doIJGg

Happy Valentine's Day!

We are just relaxing and enjoying the day. I have flowers and wine that Nick bought me. We are going to The Log Cabin Restaurant tonight for dinner. It has good steaks and seafood with a really big fireplace that is cozy. All is well.

New kitchen appliances

We are looking at new kitchen appliances and everything looks good out there. Our double oven and stove top are REALLY OLD - they came with the house in 1996. I am leaning toward Electrolux but like Kitchen Aid and Jenn Air. I know we will be moving in 3 years but our stuff is just yuck! I want everything to match and so we will be getting a stove top, double oven, refrigerator, and a warming drawer. We will probably make the purchase later this month. I can't wait! :)

Stafford County Grading System

This article is from Fairfax County - We just went through the SAME thing here in Stafford County - Our current grading scale is:

100-98 A+
97-94 A
93-90 B+
89-86 B
85-82 C+
81-78 C
77-74 D+
73-70 D
69-0 F

As the article states, it's not fair to our kids. NExt year Stafford County is changing to the 10-point scale. WHat this means is that Nicholas has 2 years at the old system and 2 years at the new system.


To the grade-grubbers go the spoils. And the grade-grubbers in this case are rabble-rousing parents in Virginia's Fairfax County. Residents of the high-powered Washington suburb have been battling the district's tough grading practices; chief among their complaints is that scoring a 93 gets recorded as a lowly B+. After forming an official protest group last year called Fairgrade and goading the school board into voting on whether to ease the standards, parents marshaled 10,000 signatures online and nearly 500 in-person supporters to help plead their case on Jan. 22. After two hours of debate, the resolution passed, a move critics consider a defeat in the war on grade inflation. (Read about students getting paid for good grades.)


At most schools in the U.S., a 90 earns you an A, but in Fairfax County, getting the goods demands a full 94. Merely passing is tougher, too, requiring a 64 rather than a 60. Nor do students get much help clearing those high bars if they take tougher courses. Compared to the kind of GPA "weighting" many districts give for Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses, Fairfax County's half-point boost is peanuts. The upshot, protestors say, is that Fairfax kids are at a disadvantage on multiple fronts: snagging good-driver insurance discounts (which often factor in GPA), earning NCAA eligibility, winning merit scholarships, and - oh, yeah - getting into college.

My Birthday

Yes, I am 50 today! I have received some very nice gifts from friends and family. I am still eating the goodies from the Harry and David basket my mom and dad sent me. I have flowers and balloons - wow what a nice treat. Nick bought me a beautiful computerized sewing machine, that I REALLY wanted, so I am thrilled! I will be opening my other gifts later today. We are going to the Asian Bistro later today and then come home to a wonderful fruit tart dessert Nick brought me from Wegmans! Talk to you later...

Philadelphia

We went to Philadelphia this weekend for a party and had a great time! It's only about three hours away but we just never seem to go north. I think it's because of the beltway traffic, and this time of year the weather isn't very good. It was a retirement party and the food was good and the people were very nice. We stopped in Wilmington, Delaware on the way back and had breakfast at a place called The Golden Castle Diner - it was YUMMY! Good old fashion country cooking. They had juke boxes on each table too! We have decided to take a trip to Philly this spring and look at the Liberty Bell, museums, libraries, and other touristy things. It is cold here and going to get colder over the next several days. I guess that's what they make fireplaces for...:)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!