Happy Halloween!

I went in Thursday morning for some more phone bank work on the coming election, and spent the rest of the day working on the BCEA website. Clever investigative reporting revealed that NJEA DOES have positions on the state ballot questions. No and then yes, in that order.

Things are getting closer to the end for not only the election, but for my classes too. I have really enjoyed learning so many new things. I am looking forward to using my new knowledge and skills to help people.

It has gotten cold and I am not that happy to be cold. (See January, Florida; wish you were here).

I have a script for a website or snap genie show about Jennifer's birthday trip. It was quite an adventure! Sometimes I really wish we lived closer to our family.

Today is the last day of October. Time is flying!

Riding the Roller Coaster

I'm getting dizzy from watching the stock market travails....I just hope the US economy...and the world's....gets back on its feet asap. Saturday I am going to the Teachers Pension and Annuity annual meeting to hear how our pension funds are holding up....

The Heart Walk was good...a beautiful day...not as many walkers as we used to have.....but I made some new friends and enjoyed the day....





My tax and Contact classes are going well......cutting into my Pogo playing time, but that's ok for awhile anyway.... :-)

Our new landscaping looks good and we are feeling really safe with Slomins security system installed. (And I changed my homeowners insurance for a $300 a year savings!!!) (Remember to say we recommended you if you get security from them, ok?! (Roberta and Tom Sallee! :-)

A Scary Moment

It could have been this headline: Retired Teacher Hit by a Truck While Heading to Helpline!
There I was on the corner, waiting for the light to turn green, when suddenly, this really big truck started turning the corner...and the huge wheel came right over the curb and onto the sidewalk where I was standing. Well, where I used to be standing, because I moved first. OMG. I could have been crunched!!!

So that was one exciting thing from Friday. I spent four hours getting familiar with the Contact phone room. That was very enlightening. I guess it tired me out too, because I slept through the Let's go dancing window of leaving opp. Oh, and so far, so good with the burglar alarm. I only forgot to undo it once. Oh and the landscape guy is apparently working on the bushes and stuff here and there, but we have yet to actually see him doing it in person!

Today is the Heart Walk in Camden. I told people we could meet and car pool at the office, but no one told me they were interested in doing that, nor did we discuss a time to meet...Hmmm....

Feeling more secure?

We had a security system installed yesterday. (If you are interested in one, you might want to consider calling Slomins and tell them Roberta and Tom Sallee sent you!Thanks!) The installer was a really nice guy and we feel much safer now!

Also, the stock market finally turned around yesterday, too. It only went back up as high as last (for me) as last Wednesday, but it's still a move in the right direction. My fingers are crossed.

We had a beautiful day for the monthly get together with the brunch group. This time it was in Lambertville, NJ across the bridge from New Hope, PA We had birthday girl, Dina, to celebrate with and tons of photos of Doug, Cheryl, and the boys.

NYC Birthday Surprise

The Great Depression of 2008?

Well this is sure a scary time, financially speaking. When I saw the Dow was down over 1000 at around 10 a.m. I was flabbergasted. Since then it has gone as high as up 23 and is currently-10:49 a.m. down 245. I guess it will be up and down all day and maybe I should stop watching..What can I do about it? Nothing.....

Ok so on to happier topics....
The Jennifer Birthday Visit/Surprise worked out just great. She was sooo surprised and happy to see Sue and Jeff..and Bradley and Beej...when we walked into Carmines in NYC. Her visit included two Broadway shows, rides on the subway, brunch with Millie and Harry, an amateur theater show, a whirlwind tour of historic Philadelphia (complete with cheesesteaks), a tour of Washington D.C. sites (including Hannah and her beau and Sue's good friends Bob and Kathy), three attempted trips to Liberty Island to see the statue of, and currently wedding involvement with N. Jersey friends. It has been so great having Jenn and Jassy for a visit..and our time with Sue and brief contact with Jeff and all other family members of long lost times...was a huge bonus.

Joanne surprised me by stopping in at my H&R Block class Wed. (on her way home from the Santa Fe Balloon Fest vacation). I had lunch with her and Marcia before I went to 30th St. Station to pick Jenn and Jass up after their Washington leg of the journey), always a pleasure.

Currently we are in N. Jersey for a Bowling Tournament Tom is in. Wish us luck!

Jennifer-film at 11

Jennifer is flying in tonight! for her birthday celebration! We are so excited!!!
Plans are still in the air for a lot of it, but we know there's a lunch in NYC at 2 on Saturday. That's a definite!!

A lot has gone on since last I wrote here. The insanity of the financial situation of America is mind boggling (not to mention pocket-book related issues). The Presidential election posturing is a continual source of puzzlement. (What will America be like a year from now, one wonders??)

We have had a lot of major purchases-from Long Term Health Care Insurance to power washing the house to ordering the installation of a security system to landscaping (trees out, shrubs in, refurbishing the deck and patio, more stones (less weeds!). Hopefully it will all be worth it (but hope to never have to use the LTHC, of course!)

I am really enjoying the H&R Block and CONTACT classes and training. (A little bit of tax knowledge is like psychology 101, though. You know what I mean???)

I stopped in at DIS a couple of days last month. It was great to see old friends and meet new ones. I am so hoping the website I provide for them will be more utilized and helpful there!

Our friend Teri in HI is coming to NJ in November with bf Dan. Prospectors, here we come! :-)