Getting ready for the Kentucky Derby... London and I like Mr. Hot Stuff, though the odds are not in his favor. In case you don't own a television, we'll let you know how it turns out.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Kentucky Derby Tonight!
Getting ready for the Kentucky Derby... London and I like Mr. Hot Stuff, though the odds are not in his favor. In case you don't own a television, we'll let you know how it turns out.
Friday, May 01, 2009
London's Inkblot Cinquain
One of our favorite "centers" at Mendham Township Elementary School's Family Art & Poetry Night was the Inkblot Cinquain Project.
London brought her inkblot cinquain home, but Maddie's teacher was absent today and the substitute didn't send her artwork home.
Butterfly
A butterfly is a very
colorful insect. They fly
very gracefully.
They are great insects.
A cinquain is a five-line poem. Here's how it works, if you'd like to play along at home:
Line 1: Decide on your (one-word) title (a subject or noun).
Line 2: Think of two-word phrases (adjectives) that describe your topic.
Line 3: Think of three-word phrases (action verbs) that tell something the topic can do.
Line 4: Think of four-word phrases (or complete sentences) that describe a feeling about your topic.
Line 5: Think of one word that refers to your title (synonym of line 1 or a word that sums it up)
London brought her inkblot cinquain home, but Maddie's teacher was absent today and the substitute didn't send her artwork home.
Butterfly
A butterfly is a very
colorful insect. They fly
very gracefully.
They are great insects.
A cinquain is a five-line poem. Here's how it works, if you'd like to play along at home:
Line 1: Decide on your (one-word) title (a subject or noun).
Line 2: Think of two-word phrases (adjectives) that describe your topic.
Line 3: Think of three-word phrases (action verbs) that tell something the topic can do.
Line 4: Think of four-word phrases (or complete sentences) that describe a feeling about your topic.
Line 5: Think of one word that refers to your title (synonym of line 1 or a word that sums it up)
Imelda Marcos Haiku
Too thin, too rich, orHave too many pairs of shoes
"Never!" Imelda
Who was it that said, "You can never be too thin, too rich, or have too many pairs of shoes?" I don't actually know the answer, maybe Imelda Marcos? London Tipton? Anyway, I was inspired by the combination of this online find and last night's Art and Poetry Night at Mendham Township Elementary School to write the quickie haiku and share it with all of you.
Anyway, you can find some crazy things online... check out these pink snake peep toe sling back platform heels. The description on the Ami Clubwear web site promises me a faux snake skin (When's the last time you saw a snake that color? Certainly not in the Somerset County 4-H reptile club!) upper in a platform heel style with a peep toe, crisscross vamp strap, and sling back strap with elastic band. 1 1/4 inch two tone platform, 5 1/2 inch wood like heel. Five and one half inch heels... ladies, that would take Roxy well over six feet tall and I would fall on my sweet, pear shaped a** (I feel another haiku coming on) if I ever tried to wear five and a half inch heels, even for a minute.
Fell on my sweet a**
In a pair of pink snake heels
Still shaped like a pear
It's Friday night, and we're kicking back in the Roxiticus Valley with some family poetry and five star songs on the iPod, staying up north this rainy weekend. What are your plans?
Friday Night Jigsaw Puzzles
Sooooo close... but I don't think we'll finish our jigsaw puzzle before bedtime. Maddie got a really cool 300-piece jigsaw puzzle for her birthday back in March. What's unique about it is that the pieces are two sizes... little ones and medium size ones. The bigger pieces take up half the puzzle and connect in the middle to the little ones. We'll post a photo of the completed puzzle tomorrow, when we may have the perfect weather for a rainy day project.
Let's Hear It for the Board
It's Friday night in the Roxiticus Valley, and London, Maddie and I are happy to have Rex back for the weekend after he spent almost the whole week at a private company Board meeting down in the Northern Virginia and Washington, DC area. Although we miss Rex when he's away, he sits on two Boards and really enjoys the work.
DO YOU WANT A BOARD SEAT?
According to Lightship Research Co. www.lightshipresearch.com. There are approximately 60,000 publicly traded companies and an additional 20,000 private companies with boards of directors in the United States. This results in a total of 80,000 boards nationwide. Experts estimate that the average board tenure lasts approximately eight years, meaning that in any given year, up to 10,000 board seats must be filled.
The board is responsible for planning the long-term future of a corporation and work side by side with management. Together, the board and the management strive to align long-term goals and the company’s vision with attainable short-term objectives. The board will often work closely with the CEO - the relationship between board members and the CEO/management team is complex and very important. Before even considering accepting a board seat, you may want to ask yourself:
• Do I believe in the cause/vision of this organization?
Am I at the particular stage of my life to add the responsibilities of board membership?
• What can I personally contribute to the board?
• What do I hope to gain from being a member of the board?
If you are interested in learning more or would like to become a board member you may want to consider LIGHTSHIP RESEARCH.
DO YOU WANT A BOARD SEAT?
According to Lightship Research Co. www.lightshipresearch.com. There are approximately 60,000 publicly traded companies and an additional 20,000 private companies with boards of directors in the United States. This results in a total of 80,000 boards nationwide. Experts estimate that the average board tenure lasts approximately eight years, meaning that in any given year, up to 10,000 board seats must be filled.
The board is responsible for planning the long-term future of a corporation and work side by side with management. Together, the board and the management strive to align long-term goals and the company’s vision with attainable short-term objectives. The board will often work closely with the CEO - the relationship between board members and the CEO/management team is complex and very important. Before even considering accepting a board seat, you may want to ask yourself:
• Do I believe in the cause/vision of this organization?
Am I at the particular stage of my life to add the responsibilities of board membership?
• What can I personally contribute to the board?
• What do I hope to gain from being a member of the board?
If you are interested in learning more or would like to become a board member you may want to consider LIGHTSHIP RESEARCH.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
For Those Who Always Rock... We Salute You!
It is bedtime here in the Roxiticus Valley, but not before I dash off a quick post saluting two terrific teachers, Mrs. Bizzarro and Mrs. Picerno, who presented an amazing Art & Poetry Night at Mendham Township Elementary School.
Since Rex was flying home from Washington, DC tonight, he missed out on all the fun. There was plenty of glue and colorful paints and lots of Sharpies (fistfuls of permanent markers, I tell you, permanent!!)... London, Maddie and I had a blast with lots of our friends at MTES, who came together from 6:30pm until 8:30pm to combine art and poetry in four different projects:
Since Rex was flying home from Washington, DC tonight, he missed out on all the fun. There was plenty of glue and colorful paints and lots of Sharpies (fistfuls of permanent markers, I tell you, permanent!!)... London, Maddie and I had a blast with lots of our friends at MTES, who came together from 6:30pm until 8:30pm to combine art and poetry in four different projects:
- Inkblot cinquains
- Chinese brush painting and haiku ("Oh mom, pleeeeeease stop repeating the haiku about the lady with pink hair!!")
- Poetry on a colorful "bag" ("If I were blue, I would be..."); and
- Poetry spinners
Over the weekend, I'm going to try to photograph London and Maddie's projects (their inkblots are still drying) and post them here, and I'll also try to provide better descriptions of the evening's activities, as I know I have not done them justice tonight.
I also want to note that I've been corresponding privately with a mom of two boys who is considering a move to Mendham Township this summer, and I wish you could have been at MTES tonight, you'd have been completely sold on our wonderful teachers and community of friendly kids and down-to-earth parents (only a tiny fraction of whom stay up late at night posting naughty haiku on their blogs).
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Maybe...
I got this little BlogThing over at Mariuca's Perfume Gallery tonight, where I was surprised to find that my good blogosphere buddy is secretly troubled... then again, it turns out that
While I have to question the methodology (go ahead, click on the question and try it yourself, you'll see what I mean), I actually spent a bit of time thinking about this subject at the beach this past weekend. There was a time when I was much stronger because I was completely independent, there was no one else who mattered to me so much that I feared their absence. Now I have Rex, London and Maddie... and wouldn't want to go on without them. Maybe my next Music Monday will be The Dance by Garth Brooks... "Our lives are better left to chance, I could have missed the pain, but I'd have had to miss the dance."
The Part of You That No One Sees is Afraid |
 You are passionate, romantic, and emotional. You put love first in your life, even though you have often been disappointed by it. You expect to be swept of your feet, and you never expect infatuation to die out. Underneath it all, you are scared that you aren't lovable. Your insecurity has ruined many relationships, as you are unable to see the love that's really there. You are secretly afraid of being alone. Confronting your insecurities is incredibly painful. |
While I have to question the methodology (go ahead, click on the question and try it yourself, you'll see what I mean), I actually spent a bit of time thinking about this subject at the beach this past weekend. There was a time when I was much stronger because I was completely independent, there was no one else who mattered to me so much that I feared their absence. Now I have Rex, London and Maddie... and wouldn't want to go on without them. Maybe my next Music Monday will be The Dance by Garth Brooks... "Our lives are better left to chance, I could have missed the pain, but I'd have had to miss the dance."
There Goes A Manta-Ray... Here Comes A Bikini Whale!!
In flew a sea robin... watch out for that piranha! Now that I've got your attention with some of my favorite 80's lyrics from the B-52's Rock Lobster, I thought I would let you know that SeaWorld Orlando's newest attraction, Manta, is opening this May. When you go to SeaWorld Orlando and ride Manta, the only flying roller coaster of its kind in the world, you'll find out what it's like to spin, glide, skim and fly like a giant manta ray. The new ride represents a seamless blend of up close animal encounters with a head-first, face-down thrill ride. I haven't been to SeaWorld in about 20 years, but this might be the year to take London and Maddie. To celebrate the opening of Manta, SeaWorld is running an awesome contest where Roxy, Rex, London and Maddie (or you and your family) could win a "front-of-the-line" pass to Manta at SeaWorld Orlando.
Even though I don't always do so well on thrill rides, particularly if they spin or go upside down, our family is already in it to win it. If you'd like to join us for your chance at the prize, all you have to do is visit the Ride Manta web site, check out the cool video of the ride and be sure to click on the Participate and Win section. Go through all six (6) different activities -- including the Manta Quiz and Manta Mask -- and jump in and participate to get your family's VIP pass and step to the front of the line.
Even though I don't always do so well on thrill rides, particularly if they spin or go upside down, our family is already in it to win it. If you'd like to join us for your chance at the prize, all you have to do is visit the Ride Manta web site, check out the cool video of the ride and be sure to click on the Participate and Win section. Go through all six (6) different activities -- including the Manta Quiz and Manta Mask -- and jump in and participate to get your family's VIP pass and step to the front of the line.
A Bundle of Twigs
I don't think I can tell this story without losing the humor of it in the process, but I'm going to give it a try.
Suffice it to say that Rex is not as technologically oriented as Roxy. He's been traveling a bit, and I planned to work from home today, using Rex's laptop to access our office's proprietary database via Citrix. Blame it on Bill Gates' dog, but my fancy HP Pavillion DV9000 with Windows Vista doesn't work with Citrix. Doesn't work with much, but that's another story, and of course it's also the reason Microsoft is replacing the Vista dog with a new experiment as soon as the trained chimps are done with their testing. Anyway, I open up Rex's laptop bag, and what do I find?
A bundle of twigs! (actually, it was a stack of research briefs on potential M&A clients, but it might as well have been a bundle of twigs for all the good it did me). Rex didn't see the value in lugging home a laptop for the week when he's got his Blackberry.
So tell me... was this a funny story to anyone but me?
Suffice it to say that Rex is not as technologically oriented as Roxy. He's been traveling a bit, and I planned to work from home today, using Rex's laptop to access our office's proprietary database via Citrix. Blame it on Bill Gates' dog, but my fancy HP Pavillion DV9000 with Windows Vista doesn't work with Citrix. Doesn't work with much, but that's another story, and of course it's also the reason Microsoft is replacing the Vista dog with a new experiment as soon as the trained chimps are done with their testing. Anyway, I open up Rex's laptop bag, and what do I find?
A bundle of twigs! (actually, it was a stack of research briefs on potential M&A clients, but it might as well have been a bundle of twigs for all the good it did me). Rex didn't see the value in lugging home a laptop for the week when he's got his Blackberry.
So tell me... was this a funny story to anyone but me?
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Getting Roxy's Spring Training Back On Track for a Good Cause
I've posted before about my 83-year-old mother's fight with breast cancer, and since her "successful" mastectomy and radiation therapy a couple of years ago the concern about "family history" is never far from my mind. I am always willing to lend my voice to fight breast cancer or support families whose lives are touched by it. Right now, Bumble Bee Foods is offering the opportunity and motivation for me to get back on track with my Spring Training efforts and make a contribution to the Breast Cancer Network of Strength at the same time.
Here's how it works: join Roxy in visiting BeeWell Miles to log the miles you walk or run each day. Now I'll be the first to admit that my personal mileage isn't likely to add up very quickly. When Rex was training for the New York City Marathon in 1995, I often joked, "26 miles? If I have to go that far, I take a car!" (I did, however, end up "running" the marathon with Rex in 1996 and 1997) These days, the challenge is finding the time to fit exercise and physical activity into my hectic life. The good news is, on most work days I probably walk at least a half a mile each way from the PATH train at the World Financial Center to my office on Wall Street. Now that we've opened our beach house in Bay Head, NJ, our whole family likes to take long walks on the beach, so I think I'll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly the miles add up. From April 1st, 2009 through October 31, 2009, Bumble Bee Foods will donate 15 cents per mile for every mile logged at BeeWell Miles (up to $200,000) to help the Breast Cancer Network of Strength provide emotional support to those who can't wait for tomorrow's cure.
BeeWellMiles gives you all the resources you need to make the most of a new, healthier lifestyle. Interact online with healthy living experts, log your daily miles, and discover the calories you're burning along the way. Use the site to calculate your route's mileage, or share your favorite local walking and running routes with others. Contest alert!! Each day, when you visit the site to log miles or game codes from pink Bumble Bee cans, you could instantly win one of 15,000 prizes!! Sounds like a win-win to me. See you out there getting fit!
Here's how it works: join Roxy in visiting BeeWell Miles to log the miles you walk or run each day. Now I'll be the first to admit that my personal mileage isn't likely to add up very quickly. When Rex was training for the New York City Marathon in 1995, I often joked, "26 miles? If I have to go that far, I take a car!" (I did, however, end up "running" the marathon with Rex in 1996 and 1997) These days, the challenge is finding the time to fit exercise and physical activity into my hectic life. The good news is, on most work days I probably walk at least a half a mile each way from the PATH train at the World Financial Center to my office on Wall Street. Now that we've opened our beach house in Bay Head, NJ, our whole family likes to take long walks on the beach, so I think I'll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly the miles add up. From April 1st, 2009 through October 31, 2009, Bumble Bee Foods will donate 15 cents per mile for every mile logged at BeeWell Miles (up to $200,000) to help the Breast Cancer Network of Strength provide emotional support to those who can't wait for tomorrow's cure.
BeeWellMiles gives you all the resources you need to make the most of a new, healthier lifestyle. Interact online with healthy living experts, log your daily miles, and discover the calories you're burning along the way. Use the site to calculate your route's mileage, or share your favorite local walking and running routes with others. Contest alert!! Each day, when you visit the site to log miles or game codes from pink Bumble Bee cans, you could instantly win one of 15,000 prizes!! Sounds like a win-win to me. See you out there getting fit!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Music Monday Tribute to Maddie and London's Babysitter, Who Pitched a No Hitter!
This just in from the sports page...Melanie Budney pitched a six-inning no-hitter for seventh-seeded Mendham (7-3) in the preliminary round of the Morris County Tournament in Mendham. She struck out 10 and walked one batter. Kate Bennett was 3-for-4 with two RBI, Amy Appel had a double and two RBI, and Arielle Budney hit a game-ending two-run single in the sixth.
Congratulations, Melanie!!
While I was nowhere near as talented as Melanie Budney, I played softball when I was in middle school, pitching for the Branchburg Central Falcons. As a huge baseball and softball fan, I have encouragedMaddie and London to play T-ball,and now softball, but that "put me in coach" gene apparently got mixed up with the girly-girl pink tutu gene. Anyway, we've been down at our beach house in Bay Head, NJ this weekend, the temperatures have been in the '80s, and I found just the song to get everyone in the mood for baseball season and summer.
Put me in coach...I'm ready to play! Here's a video of John Fogarty performing Centerfield with Keith Urban.
Sing along with Roxy:
Well, beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today!
We're born again, there's new grass on the field.
A-roundin' third, and headed for home, its a brown-eyed handsome man;
Anyone can understand the way I feel.
Chorus:
Oh, put me in, coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be centerfield.
Well, I spent some time in the mudville nine,
Watchin' it from the bench;
You know I took some lumps when the mighty Casey struck out.
So say hey Willie, tell Ty Cobb and Joe Dimaggio;
Don't say it ain't so, you know the time is now.
Chorus
Oh, put me in, coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be centerfield.
Yeah! I got it, I got it!
Got a beat-up glove, a homemade bat, and brand-new pair of shoes;
You know I think it's time to give this game a ride.
Just to hit the ball and touch 'em all - a moment in the sun;
(pop) it's gone and you can tell that one goodbye!
Chorus
Oh, put me in, coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be centerfield.
Chorus
Yeah!
Congratulations to our first commenter, the lovely Genie Princess, who "chopped" before I even got the Music Monday code up:
Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.
Congratulations, Melanie!!
While I was nowhere near as talented as Melanie Budney, I played softball when I was in middle school, pitching for the Branchburg Central Falcons. As a huge baseball and softball fan, I have encouragedMaddie and London to play T-ball,and now softball, but that "put me in coach" gene apparently got mixed up with the girly-girl pink tutu gene. Anyway, we've been down at our beach house in Bay Head, NJ this weekend, the temperatures have been in the '80s, and I found just the song to get everyone in the mood for baseball season and summer.
Put me in coach...I'm ready to play! Here's a video of John Fogarty performing Centerfield with Keith Urban.
Sing along with Roxy:
Well, beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today!
We're born again, there's new grass on the field.
A-roundin' third, and headed for home, its a brown-eyed handsome man;
Anyone can understand the way I feel.
Chorus:
Oh, put me in, coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be centerfield.
Well, I spent some time in the mudville nine,
Watchin' it from the bench;
You know I took some lumps when the mighty Casey struck out.
So say hey Willie, tell Ty Cobb and Joe Dimaggio;
Don't say it ain't so, you know the time is now.
Chorus
Oh, put me in, coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be centerfield.
Yeah! I got it, I got it!
Got a beat-up glove, a homemade bat, and brand-new pair of shoes;
You know I think it's time to give this game a ride.
Just to hit the ball and touch 'em all - a moment in the sun;
(pop) it's gone and you can tell that one goodbye!
Chorus
Oh, put me in, coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be centerfield.
Chorus
Yeah!
Congratulations to our first commenter, the lovely Genie Princess, who "chopped" before I even got the Music Monday code up:
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Roxy's Mother's Day Tradition: Alvin Ailey at NJPAC
We're just back from a relaxing weekend at our beach house in Bay Head, NJ, and spring is definitely in the air here in the Roxiticus Valley. The daffodils are out and the first of the cherry blossoms have popped. Poor London was home from school for the past two days, sick with asthma triggered by the last cold virus of the season, but it gave me an excuse to work from home instead of commuting in to NYC, and we made the most of our time at home by making plans for summer camp and upcoming events. After celebrating Easter Saturday here with Rex's family and our annual backyard Easter egg hunt on Sunday with Grandmom and Grammy, our next big event will be Mother's Day. Last year, our family started an awesome new tradition with Alvin Ailey at NJPAC on Mother'sDay, and we're making a triumphant return this year.
The Mother's Day program includes: Hope Boykin's Go in Grace, performed to a score composed and performed live by special guest Sweet Honey in the Rock; George Faison's Suite Otis, set to music by Otis Redding; and Alvin Ailey's Revelations, set to traditional spirituals and gospel. This year, Mother's Day is also Judith Jamison's birthday, so you never know what surprises may be in store. My loyal readers may remember that my younger daughter, Maddie, prefers a little dialogue in her performances... while that's not likely to be part of the traditional Ailey routine, we'll see if her tastes have changed/"matured" over the past year.Last year, Rex and the girls took me out for a spectacular Mother's Day brunch at the Limestone Cafe in Peapack, NJ. This year, we may try something a little different and make a day of it at NJPAC. For all the time our family has spent at NJPAC, we haven't tried the Theater Square Grill, and they're having a special Mother's Day Brunch, with 3 seating times: noon, 12:30pm, and 1pm. For $36 all inclusive, here are the details:
- Bloody Mary, Bellini or Mimosa (one drink per person)... I wonder if naughty Roxy can order a bellini for London, a mimosa for Maddie and keep them all for myself!
- Soft Drinks and Coffee Service
- and a grand Sunday buffet, including
- Muffins and pastries,
- Four salad choices,
- A pasta entree,
- A fish entree,
- Breakfast sausages and bacon,
- French toast,
- An omelette station,
- A carving station with ham and turkey,
- and lots of homemade desserts.
I'm off my diet (again) already.
I also have the new NJPAC season brochure, and will be posting about my faves -- including The Color Purple in December -- shortly.Queen of the Stem Cells
Lately, I've been posting quite a bit here on Roxiticus Desperate Housewives about the benefits of "banking" stem cells. Having done it when both of my daughters, London and Maddie, were born many years ago, I am a true believer in the importance of this "insurance policy" against future family health risks. There are a couple of different methods for collecting these stem cells. Your obstetrician or midwife can help you to do it as part of the childbirth/delivery process, collecting the stem cells from your newborn's umblical cord blood and storing them. Or, if you're not pregnant and don't plan to be, C'elle offers a kit for women (sorry guys) to collect and save the potentially life saving stem cells found naturally in monthly menstrual blood. Thanks to C'elle's patent-pending technology and easy to use collection kit, you and your family will have an extra level of reassurance and peace of mind.
Particularly if you have a family history of stroke, diabetes, heart disease or breast cancer or if you often worry about future health problems, why not change your future by acting in the present? For a limited time, C'elle is offering Roxiticus Desperate Housewives loyal readers an affordable way to protect your future. Enroll with C'elle now for only $299 (that's a $400 discount off the regular price!) by using promo code CN400.
Particularly if you have a family history of stroke, diabetes, heart disease or breast cancer or if you often worry about future health problems, why not change your future by acting in the present? For a limited time, C'elle is offering Roxiticus Desperate Housewives loyal readers an affordable way to protect your future. Enroll with C'elle now for only $299 (that's a $400 discount off the regular price!) by using promo code CN400.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Headed to the Beach this Weekend!!
It has been a long, cold winter here in the Roxiticus Valley, but today is the day... the sun is shining, and temperatures are supposed to get into the low 70s this afternoon. Rex, London, Maddie and I are packing up the SUV and headed down to Bay Head, NJ to open up our beach house for the season.
Maddie is particularly excited to bring her American Girl Kit's Treehouse down and set up our seashell stand in front of the house.
Maddie is particularly excited to bring her American Girl Kit's Treehouse down and set up our seashell stand in front of the house.
Big Month of May for Maddie
This week was Opening Day in the brand new Yankee Stadium, which prompted me to pull up this great baby picture of Maddie in the old ballpark. Maddie has come a long way since that day in May 2002, and is coming up on a big month of May 2009. We've got the first grade class trip to the Bronx Zoo, as well as Incredible Kid Day, when teary-eyed parents head in to Mendham Township Elementary School to read a letter to their Incredible Kid in front of the entire first grade class. Don't worry, I'm an authorized chaperone this year (which means motion sickness prone Roxy will have to ride The Bus to the Bronx!), so I will be sure to share some photos from the Bronx Zoo trip and I will also be sure to post the letters that Rex and I write to our Incredible Maddie.Looking back on when Maddie was born, I'm glad that Rex and I decided to "bank" her umbilical cord blood. While I thank God every day that we've never had to deal with a life threatening disease or serious childhood illness for either of our daughters, one of the benefits of storing umbilical cord blood is that, once you get past the nights when your newborn is waking you up every two or three hours screaming out demands, you can sleep better at night knowing your family has that extra protection in place. If you or someone you know is expecting, enroll with Cryo-Cell by April 19th, 2009, and you or your friend will get a free Baby Bjorn to carry that baby around -- that's until he or she gets too big and heavy (like eight year old London and seven year old Maddie).
Here's a testimonial from one of Cryo-Cell's loyal clients:
"My children are the most precious gifts that I will ever have and I want to do everything I can to make sure they are well. While I was pregnant with my first child, I would see articles and ads about cord blood and it bothered me that it was so expensive but what if I one day needed this blood. The reality of having only one chance or it really went in the garbage kept me wondering if I would regret not investing. What if he had cancer or his dad or I were sick, would that blood have been the cure? Through research, I came across Cryo-Cell International, Inc., a company with the most reasonable rates and the assurance of two holding facilities.
When I was pregnant with my second child, we wondered if one bank was enough? Finances were tighter and should we spend the money? Then we realized that his brothers blood might not match for the new baby. The next day, stories were breaking about how Cord blood had saved or changed the lives of children, one cancer, one cerebral palsy. Then we discovered that a friend was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma. He didn't bank his daughters blood and wished he had. Three years prior, I lost a friend to renal cancer when she was 29. We felt like it was our answer.
We are just beginning to see miracles that this blood can bring. We have two "life insurance policies", that is how we look at it. If anyone in the family gets ill, there is a chance that the blood could save our lives. If we don't use it, then it is there for our son's children."
Sincerely,
Mother of Parker and Davis
Cryo-Cell International Client
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Get Out the Vote: School Budget Election Next Tuesday, April 21st
Now I may or may not have more to say about the school budget meeting I attended last night at Mendham Township Elementary School, but one thing is clear... no matter what my personal agenda or yours for the Mendham Township School District, we need the 2009-10 school budget to pass.
So get out and vote in favor of the new Mendham Township School budget... next Tuesday, April 21st. You can tell 'em Roxy sent you.
So get out and vote in favor of the new Mendham Township School budget... next Tuesday, April 21st. You can tell 'em Roxy sent you.
The Best Things In Life Are Free
Now I know I've been out of touch for the past few weeks, maybe even months ("that's the equivalent of 49 years in the blogosphere"), and I have missed at least one of LadyJava's Music Mondays... but I've got a tune running through my head tonight that's been performed over several decades by bands like the Beatles and the Flying Lizards.
"The best things in life are free.... but you can give them to the birds and bees... just give me money, that's what I want."
"The best things in life are free.... but you can give them to the birds and bees... just give me money, that's what I want."
But what I'd really like you to do is Kissimmee... or wish me luck on winning a free vacation in Kissimmee, Florida. I know SpicyBug lives somewhere down there, and if I win the vacation Kissimmee is giving away, I've got a long list of free and carefree activities for Rex, London, Maddie and me to do. We're talking wilderness preserves for you nature lovers, famous theme parks involving princesses, historic downtown areas, eclectic shops and boutiques... a little something for every member of the family.
If we left right now we could make it to the Central Florida Fair, which runs from April 16th through April 26th at the Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando. What could be more carefree than to be stopped at the top of a ferris wheel?
The town of Kissimmee is giving away three (count 'em, 3) long weekend getaways (that's 3 days and 2 nights) for two (2); and two (count 'em, 2) week long vacations for four (4).... since Maddie and London would be more than a little disappointed if Rex and I went away to Central Florida without them, I think we'd better focus our karma on the trips for four (4). I already missed the first drawing on April 1st, but there are two more drawings coming up on or around May 1st, 2009 and June 1st, 2009. Sing with me now, "the best vacations are free... and you can give them to your friend Roxy..." I've entered the sweepstakes, but just in case I'm not the winner all of you should do so as well.
The Eagle Has Landed... and Bill Gates' Dog Is Carrying It In His Teeth
I must apologize for being a terrible correspondent for the past few weeks. Quite some time ago, I wrote about my HP Pavillion DV9200 notebook computer breaking for the second time in about six months.
Well, we all joked about it and I got quite a bit of sympathy from my blogosphere buddies, but the eagle landed last Friday and my computer came back to me from Hewlett Packard technical support and customer service in California. It seemed too good and too quick to be true...
and after just under a week of reloading all of my programs and profiles and personal stuff back onto the machine, it crashed. Again. Today. At work.
If it weren't so sad and pathetic, it would be funny. Sitcom funny. Seinfeld funny. The message I got when the computer wouldn't reboot said something like, "Your computer cannot be repaired (automatically) and won't restart. Ever. Again."
Well, we all joked about it and I got quite a bit of sympathy from my blogosphere buddies, but the eagle landed last Friday and my computer came back to me from Hewlett Packard technical support and customer service in California. It seemed too good and too quick to be true...
and after just under a week of reloading all of my programs and profiles and personal stuff back onto the machine, it crashed. Again. Today. At work.
If it weren't so sad and pathetic, it would be funny. Sitcom funny. Seinfeld funny. The message I got when the computer wouldn't reboot said something like, "Your computer cannot be repaired (automatically) and won't restart. Ever. Again."
Getting Barefoot at the Beach this Weekend
So there's this little guy, Bilaal Bajan, looks like he's about twelve years old, but he's got his own web site, he's written a book, and he's running a Barefoot Challenge. Bilaal is urging you and me and everyone we know to spend at least one hour barefoot on any day during International Volunteer Week, which takes place starting this Sunday, April 19th through Saturday, April 25th, 2009. To celebrate the occasion, Bilaal is spearheading his own initiative in which he will live life without shoes for the entire week. As they say, “You never really know someone until you walk a mile in their shoes,” but Bilaal is taking it one step further: he’s going barefoot! Now, I know I make up stories for London and Maddie, that go something like, "when I was your age, I used to walk seven miles each way to school, barefoot, with my cello on my back." The girls laugh, but they don't (and shouldn't) believe me. Bilaal, however, is asking his fellow students, teachers and the general public to go barefoot for the week, or at least as long as they can, to better understand the struggles faced by underprivileged children in the developing world – many of whom cannot afford shoes, let alone attend school or even know when or where they will get their next meal.
Rex and I always try to show London and Maddie how lucky they are to live in the United States, it the Roxiticus Valley, where even when there's an economic downturn, things never get that bad. Children in some countries walk miles in their bare feet every day to fetch water, work on farm lands, go to school, or perform other chores. For many of them, the first priority is taking care of their families.
Way back before Rex and I had our own investment banking firm, I was known around The Firm as the girl who never wore her shoes. I just hated my high heels, so I would take them off every chance I got. Now that I'm back on Wall Street, it seems like a great opportunity to spend a half day or even a full day barefoot at work, while London and Maddie try to get away with no shoes at school.
The initiative is gaining momentum in countries as far away as Australia, Afghanistan, Switzerland, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania and Thailand. If you had unlimited resources in the future, what would you do to benefit others? What are you prepared to do to make the world a better place?
Going barefoot from April 19 to 25 will give us all the time to reflect and raise awareness about the injustices facing children in other parts of the world. When anyone asks you why you aren't wearing shoes, just tell them it's because too many children around the world don’t have any shoes to wear either.
Let's go barefoot together to change the world in a positive way – one step at a time.
Rex and I always try to show London and Maddie how lucky they are to live in the United States, it the Roxiticus Valley, where even when there's an economic downturn, things never get that bad. Children in some countries walk miles in their bare feet every day to fetch water, work on farm lands, go to school, or perform other chores. For many of them, the first priority is taking care of their families.
Way back before Rex and I had our own investment banking firm, I was known around The Firm as the girl who never wore her shoes. I just hated my high heels, so I would take them off every chance I got. Now that I'm back on Wall Street, it seems like a great opportunity to spend a half day or even a full day barefoot at work, while London and Maddie try to get away with no shoes at school.
The initiative is gaining momentum in countries as far away as Australia, Afghanistan, Switzerland, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania and Thailand. If you had unlimited resources in the future, what would you do to benefit others? What are you prepared to do to make the world a better place?
Going barefoot from April 19 to 25 will give us all the time to reflect and raise awareness about the injustices facing children in other parts of the world. When anyone asks you why you aren't wearing shoes, just tell them it's because too many children around the world don’t have any shoes to wear either.
Let's go barefoot together to change the world in a positive way – one step at a time.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Now It's Really Music Monday: Midnight Train to Georgia
Back on Friday night in the Roxiticus Valley, I decided to jump the gun on Music Monday when Gladys Knight came on my iPod singin' "Midnight Train to Georgia" as part of a "Wilson Picket Genius" set, bringing back two different sets of terrific memories for me. Now Music Monday is really here... rainy in the Roxiticus Valley for the first official day of London and Maddie's Spring Break. I'm working from home and finally packing up my broken HP Pavillion DV9000 to ship it back for repair. So here are the stories that go along with the song:
Just about eight years ago, a couple of months after London was born, one of our clients had a huge company anniversary party down in Washington, D.C. We loaded up the Suburban and drove down on a Friday afternoon, bringing along Rex's son TallBoy (then a high school Junior in the midst of college tours on his Spring Break) as our babysitter. After we checked into our hotel and arrived at our host's home, we found Gladys Knight in the midst of a private concert that featured "Midnight Train" as an amazing encore. The next night, our client had rented out the Naional Building Museum and Gladys Knight and the Pips put on another great performance, but there was something truly special about the small "in crowd" show the night before that I'll never forget.
The song also takes me back to February 1994, when my friend Melissa and I traveled to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras in the grandest of tradition... I didn't show my stuff to anyone in exchange for a few beads, but I still remember one night in a corner bar with an unknown singer belting out "Midnight Train" into the sultry open air. The crowd just kept on screamin' out for more, and she must have sung the song five times before the night was through...
Enjoy!
L.A. proved too much for the man,
So he's leavin' the life he's come to know,
He said he's goin' back to find
Ooh, what's left of his world,
The world he left behind
Not so long ago.
He's leaving,
On that midnight train to Georgia,
And he's goin' back
To a simpler place and time.
And I'll be with him
On that midnight train to Georgia,
I'd rather live in his world
Than live without him in mine.
He kept dreamin'
That someday he'd be a star.
But he sure found out the hard way
That dreams don't always come true.
So he pawned all his hopes
and he even sold his old car
Bought a one way ticket
To the life he once knew,
Oh yes he did,
He said he would
Be leavin
On that midnight train to Georgia,
And he's goin' back
To a simpler place and time.
And I'll be with him
On that midnight train to Georgia,
I'd rather live in his world
Than live without him in mine.
Go, gonna board, gonna board,
Gonna board the midnight train.
Gotta go, gonna board
Gonna board
Gonna board the midnight train
(repeat, fade)
Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.
Just about eight years ago, a couple of months after London was born, one of our clients had a huge company anniversary party down in Washington, D.C. We loaded up the Suburban and drove down on a Friday afternoon, bringing along Rex's son TallBoy (then a high school Junior in the midst of college tours on his Spring Break) as our babysitter. After we checked into our hotel and arrived at our host's home, we found Gladys Knight in the midst of a private concert that featured "Midnight Train" as an amazing encore. The next night, our client had rented out the Naional Building Museum and Gladys Knight and the Pips put on another great performance, but there was something truly special about the small "in crowd" show the night before that I'll never forget.
The song also takes me back to February 1994, when my friend Melissa and I traveled to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras in the grandest of tradition... I didn't show my stuff to anyone in exchange for a few beads, but I still remember one night in a corner bar with an unknown singer belting out "Midnight Train" into the sultry open air. The crowd just kept on screamin' out for more, and she must have sung the song five times before the night was through...
Enjoy!
L.A. proved too much for the man,
So he's leavin' the life he's come to know,
He said he's goin' back to find
Ooh, what's left of his world,
The world he left behind
Not so long ago.
He's leaving,
On that midnight train to Georgia,
And he's goin' back
To a simpler place and time.
And I'll be with him
On that midnight train to Georgia,
I'd rather live in his world
Than live without him in mine.
He kept dreamin'
That someday he'd be a star.
But he sure found out the hard way
That dreams don't always come true.
So he pawned all his hopes
and he even sold his old car
Bought a one way ticket
To the life he once knew,
Oh yes he did,
He said he would
Be leavin
On that midnight train to Georgia,
And he's goin' back
To a simpler place and time.
And I'll be with him
On that midnight train to Georgia,
I'd rather live in his world
Than live without him in mine.
Go, gonna board, gonna board,
Gonna board the midnight train.
Gotta go, gonna board
Gonna board
Gonna board the midnight train
(repeat, fade)
Opening Our Beach House Soon!
I gave Maddie and London the exciting news last night... we're headed down to Bay Head to open our beach house in less than two weeks. Maddie got a big grin on her face and started planning out her seashell sales for the season. While the weather here in the Roxiticus Valley threatens to be a washout for the rest of spring break, we had a perfect afternoon and evening with the Roxiticus Desperate Housewives, husbands and children yesterday. Mary Alice and her family are back from Southern California for a visit, and it was great to catch up with all of our friends over Rex's amazing tequila shrimp and frozen margaritas.
Mary Alice is hooked on Twilight -- both the books and the movie -- but I haven't been able to find the time to keep up on my favorite shows or start a new book. Something about Googling her high school boyfriends to find out if they were vampires? Down in Bay Head, it may be another season without television thanks to the evil Comcast cable overlords. However, Charter Communications is trying to do things a little differently due to the negative reactions customers like me are giving their cable companies. Charter is offering a highly attractive alternative to meet the demand for HD programming. Right now, Charter is offering customers who order services at Charter.com a chance to win a 22” flat screen HDTV, which would fit perfectly in our living room at the beach, every day through the month of April. Charter is also offering an opportunity to win a grand prize package that includes a 52 inch LCD flat screen HDTV, a home theatre system, and one year of free Charter Digital Cable® service with HD programming. The contest is part of Charter's easy to use web site, where you can build the service bundle that meets your needs. If a current or new customer orders cable, high speed Internet access, or telephone service, during the month of April, you'll automatically be entered to win upon installation of the Charter service(s) of your choice.
In addition to the fun contests, Charter is also branching out into Twitter (@chartercom) and launching new ways to connect with their customers and create better customer care around their products. So maybe you'll find Roxy reconnected at the beach this year!
Mary Alice is hooked on Twilight -- both the books and the movie -- but I haven't been able to find the time to keep up on my favorite shows or start a new book. Something about Googling her high school boyfriends to find out if they were vampires? Down in Bay Head, it may be another season without television thanks to the evil Comcast cable overlords. However, Charter Communications is trying to do things a little differently due to the negative reactions customers like me are giving their cable companies. Charter is offering a highly attractive alternative to meet the demand for HD programming. Right now, Charter is offering customers who order services at Charter.com a chance to win a 22” flat screen HDTV, which would fit perfectly in our living room at the beach, every day through the month of April. Charter is also offering an opportunity to win a grand prize package that includes a 52 inch LCD flat screen HDTV, a home theatre system, and one year of free Charter Digital Cable® service with HD programming. The contest is part of Charter's easy to use web site, where you can build the service bundle that meets your needs. If a current or new customer orders cable, high speed Internet access, or telephone service, during the month of April, you'll automatically be entered to win upon installation of the Charter service(s) of your choice.
In addition to the fun contests, Charter is also branching out into Twitter (@chartercom) and launching new ways to connect with their customers and create better customer care around their products. So maybe you'll find Roxy reconnected at the beach this year!
Saturday, April 04, 2009
EntreCard Warning
Attention EntreCarders... paid ads have been activated on EntreCard, and apparently the default setting is "throw it onto my web site, even if I have not approved it." I had rejected all of the paid ads on all of my sites, but happened to drop by one of my own sites more than once, only to discover that EntreCard was featuring "Raging Rev" on every other visit (the 50% maximum). I have since adjusted my "advert settings" to "allow paid ads only if explicitly approved" and think I've solved the problems, but be sure to check your own settings and let me know if you see something here that doesn't fit my profile. I'm not planning to accept any of the paid ads, so if you "advertise" your blog on one of my EntreCard widgets, you should be getting 100% of the visibility/traffic you've come to expect from the Roxy empire.
Meanwhile, BlogExplosion seems to be back in business, with lots and lots of new blogs appearing on the site and even competing in Battle of the Blogs. Give it a try by clicking on the link in this post or on the BlogExplosion banner at the top of the page below the header.
Meanwhile, BlogExplosion seems to be back in business, with lots and lots of new blogs appearing on the site and even competing in Battle of the Blogs. Give it a try by clicking on the link in this post or on the BlogExplosion banner at the top of the page below the header.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Getting An Early Start On Music Monday: Midnight Train to Georgia
It's Friday night in the Roxiticus Valley, but I'm already thinking about Music Monday. Gladys Knight came on my iPod singin' "Midnight Train to Georgia" as part of a "Wilson Picket Genius" set, bringing back two different sets of terrific memories for me.
Just about eight years ago, a couple of months after London was born, one of our clients had a huge company anniversary party down in Washington, D.C. We loaded up the Suburban and drove down on a Friday afternoon, bringing along Rex's son TallBoy (then a high school Junior in the midst of college tours on his Spring Break) as our babysitter. After we checked into our hotel and arrived at our host's home, we found Gladys Knight in the midst of a private concert that featured "Midnight Train" as an amazing encore. The next night, our client had rented out the Naional Building Museum and Gladys Knight and the Pips put on another great performance, but there was something truly special about the small "in crowd" show the night before that I'll never forget.
The song also takes me back to February 1994, when my friend Melissa and I traveled to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras in the grandest of tradition... I didn't show my stuff to anyone in exchange for a few beads, but I still remember one night in a corner bar with an unknown singer belting out "Midnight Train" into the sultry open air. The crowd just kept on screamin' out for more, and she must have sung the song five times before the night was through...
Enjoy!
L.A. proved too much for the man,
So he's leavin' the life he's come to know,
He said he's goin' back to find
Ooh, what's left of his world,
The world he left behind
Not so long ago.
He's leaving,
On that midnight train to Georgia,
And he's goin' back
To a simpler place and time.
And I'll be with him
On that midnight train to Georgia,
I'd rather live in his world
Than live without him in mine.
He kept dreamin'
That someday he'd be a star.
But he sure found out the hard way
That dreams don't always come true.
So he pawned all his hopes
and he even sold his old car
Bought a one way ticket
To the life he once knew,
Oh yes he did,
He said he would
Be leavin
On that midnight train to Georgia,
And he's goin' back
To a simpler place and time.
And I'll be with him
On that midnight train to Georgia,
I'd rather live in his world
Than live without him in mine.
Go, gonna board, gonna board,
Gonna board the midnight train.
Gotta go, gonna board
Gonna board
Gonna board the midnight train
(repeat, fade)
Just about eight years ago, a couple of months after London was born, one of our clients had a huge company anniversary party down in Washington, D.C. We loaded up the Suburban and drove down on a Friday afternoon, bringing along Rex's son TallBoy (then a high school Junior in the midst of college tours on his Spring Break) as our babysitter. After we checked into our hotel and arrived at our host's home, we found Gladys Knight in the midst of a private concert that featured "Midnight Train" as an amazing encore. The next night, our client had rented out the Naional Building Museum and Gladys Knight and the Pips put on another great performance, but there was something truly special about the small "in crowd" show the night before that I'll never forget.
The song also takes me back to February 1994, when my friend Melissa and I traveled to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras in the grandest of tradition... I didn't show my stuff to anyone in exchange for a few beads, but I still remember one night in a corner bar with an unknown singer belting out "Midnight Train" into the sultry open air. The crowd just kept on screamin' out for more, and she must have sung the song five times before the night was through...
Enjoy!
L.A. proved too much for the man,
So he's leavin' the life he's come to know,
He said he's goin' back to find
Ooh, what's left of his world,
The world he left behind
Not so long ago.
He's leaving,
On that midnight train to Georgia,
And he's goin' back
To a simpler place and time.
And I'll be with him
On that midnight train to Georgia,
I'd rather live in his world
Than live without him in mine.
He kept dreamin'
That someday he'd be a star.
But he sure found out the hard way
That dreams don't always come true.
So he pawned all his hopes
and he even sold his old car
Bought a one way ticket
To the life he once knew,
Oh yes he did,
He said he would
Be leavin
On that midnight train to Georgia,
And he's goin' back
To a simpler place and time.
And I'll be with him
On that midnight train to Georgia,
I'd rather live in his world
Than live without him in mine.
Go, gonna board, gonna board,
Gonna board the midnight train.
Gotta go, gonna board
Gonna board
Gonna board the midnight train
(repeat, fade)
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Ready for the Weekend and London and Maddie's Spring Break
OK, I admit it is only Thursday night, but it has felt like a very long and busy week for me. One of our meetings was energizing and productive, but I still find it draining to commute in to New York City every day. So when London brought home a note from her second grade teacher that said, "No homework tonight. Have a great Spring Break!" it put me in a relaxation frame of mind.Granted, Rex and I are working all next week instead of heading off to Laguna Beach and Disneyland, but I will be working from home most days and Mary Alice and her family, who moved away to Southern California at the end of last summer, are coming to visit us! So all of the Roxiticus Desperate Housewives, husbands, and children will be reunited on Sunday afternoon and evening, just like old times. And who's to say I can't surprise Rex afterwards by slipping into a little sexy lingerie (this little Dr. Reys Support Corset number is on sale at Sears right now) after our guests depart for the night and we tuck the girls in after bedtime stories? Tonight on my way home, I was listening to my XM Satellite Eighties on 8 (yes, I know I'm stuck in the 80s, but I'm so happy there!) and I heard Tone Loc singing "I like to do the Wild Thing" and the B52's with "Love Shack." Love shack, baby!
If you're thinking what I'm thinking, you'll be glad to hear that Sears is offering 75 to 80% off their original prices on fall and winter apparel from now until Saturday, April 18th. A little something in next year's sizes for London and Maddie, a little something for Rex, and a really little silky slinky next to nothing for Roxy... and it will all be on sale for next to nothing!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
