#Comeygate

I am outraged and can't help thinking someone said "It's time for a traffic jam in the Federal election system".
Just horrible.

Good times

So we're back in NJ.
Tom's reunion was fun. I took lots of photos and a good time was had by all.
We got to see Miriam, Amy, and the Goffs and met a few new friends, too.

We were in Nashville a couple of times on the trip.

and all was well until my camera accidentally smashed to the floor :-(

We got into PHL around midnight and were surprised it was warm, but by the time we got home it was cold!
The next morning Tom was back to physical therapy and I joined my BCREA friends for the Fall luncheon at Marcos.

Then last night (instead of dancing :-(   I helped out at the Eastampton night at the movies.

(I also spent five and half hours Friday morning working with SHIP clients with my Volunteer SHIP counselor hat on....).

Reunion Time

We'll be heading out for Tom's 50th high school reunion soon. I found his yearbook online: Tom's Yearbook and here is his senior photo

I had the pleasure of rendezvous-ing with my own classmates recently in separate encounters:

Gee Gee for lunch at Charlie Browns, Diane and Ed Febinger at the Americana Diner, and Brenda and Anna at Applebees.

In other news, Tom is continuing his therapy and a recent doctor visit revealed he has some bulging discs that are causing his back pain. No word on surgery or anything at this point; just suffering. :-(

I went to a Mystery Theater at the library that was so much fun!

Theresa honored me with the Executive Director award at the Volunteer Recognition breakfast. I posted it on Facebook and was a big hit. I hope it inspires people to sign up as a volunteer!

We have a lot to do to get ready for the trip, but, meanwhile, we are going up for dinner and debriefing with our old Reunion committee tonight.

Relatively busy

So Tuesday I had five events! 10 a.m. was the BCREA exec meeting followed by lunch at the nearby pizza place with Ron, Margie, and Maxine (taking the place of the previously scheduled lunch at Robin's Nest with Conni and Sandy). Tom and I saw "Sully" at our favorite Tuesday special theater, Regal Burlington. Then I attended the first 20 minutes of my new zumba class before heading to my first instructor led H&R Block class of the new season-Sole Proprietor.

Marybeth GR

Wednesday wasn't as full; just an early morning hair cut, the DEAR lunch of the month at Dooney's Pub in Delran and then dancing at Prospectors later that night.

Thursday was the CONTACT in-service with a Samaritan Hospice representative. lunch at Pizza Amore with Kathryn, Ron, and (happy surprise!) Allen Zwick,  and a Smithville walk with Tom during which we encountered familiar BCEA retired teachers Eleanor and Susan who told us about the current juried art show in the Mansion, which we were happy to visit.

Friday was oil change, CONTACT shift, and back to Prospectors for more dancing fun.

Saturday Tom took off for golf and then we went to see "Bridget Has a Baby" which was cute (although Tom preferred the original).

The really sad news of the week was the death of  Ginny McLaughlin, a dancing acquaintance whose life was unexpectedly cut short, violently.

Happy Labor Day

The threat of Hurrican Hermine is over but my thoughts are focused today on another very scary circumstance:

Short story:

Our pension was over 100 per cent funded.
Enter Christy Todd Whitman and the next 20
years' worth of governors of NJ with little to
none of the required yearly funding.

Now we have one of the if not the worst
funded pensions in the United States.

A promise by the current Governor (Christie)
to have the State fulfill its obligation in
exchange for increased payments by the
employees was broken.

Legal and constitutional efforts to right the
wrong have proven fruitless.

Now the governor is attempting to arbitrarily
and illegally change the retirees health plan.

If that weren't enough, he is also trying to
force a statewide evaluation system for
teachers which would include a 30% portion to
be based on a known flawed standardized test.

 The extreme audacity of this administration
is beyond belief and the dire consequences of
his actions are terrifying.

First Day of School....not!

I am talking Tom into Seaside Tuesday for the Annual First Day of School Trip to Seaside (if the weather is suitable! no pun intended!)

I am happy not to be going back though my thoughts are with those who are.

We've made some travel plans and are so looking forward to Tom's 50th year Hot Springs High School reunion (by way of Nashville!)

Gee Gee, Carol Brown, Jim Muldowney, and I had a great time at lunch the other day, talking about the old days and times since. I wonder if I can pull off some kind of FL area get together of PTHS classmates while we are down there. (FL is kind of big...and I'm just talking lunch, not a big hoopla). Maybe. We'll see. But hoping for Linda and Wilma for sure.

Time to start buckling down with some HR Block classes, meanwhile....

Look! I'm famous

Raven interviewed me before the last Trenton rally started and I ended up in this video clip for Fios:

http://www.fios1news.com/newjersey/teachers-rally-against-pension-plan#.V6t0L5grKM9