Well, against my better instincts, I let my youngest talk me into something. Yesterday we got an AOL cd in the mail. The other day he'd been chatting with a buddy who was able to do things he couldn't. Upon inquiry, he found out the stuff was available only with AOL 8. So when we got the cd he asked me to install it on the computer. I told him why I didn't want to, but you know how the charm works. So, to make a long story short, I installed it this morning. We then proceeded to go online. It didn't take long for him to say, "Sorry, Mom. You can get rid of it." That's all fine and good, but he has an older brother. So we called him in, so he could see what our objections were. Well, you know how that goes. He didn't have any trouble. Nor, when we logged off, did it update and ask about installing new software. So he's in a funk that we are taking it away from him.
But the younger, more computer saavy one just asked, "Why do so many people like AOL?" He thinks it takes to long to log off and doesn't like that it adds software without asking. Plus, he also agrees, that it is like taking a giant step backwards when using it so it hampers rather than enhances our online expeirence. Now if only I could get the other one to feel the same way!

I just spent two and a half hours trying to find a hotel room when we go to Hershey Park next month to see Alabama. What a major pain. First we needed a swimming pool. Remember when they used to be standard? Well, not any more. Then it had to be queen beds. Then I got the bright idea of a suite, so the kids could sleep in one room and the husband & I could pretend we were on a second honeymoon. That worked fine untill the youngest informed me that he would not sleep with his older brother. Oh, well, what is a mother to do? So I ended up reserving the room with the suite. I guess we will have to wait to see who sleeps with whom. The funny part is, I thought online reservations would be so much easier. Now I know differently. Although it was cheaper to do it online.

Haven't been to a concert in years. Hope I'm not disappointed with Alabama. I remember what a disappointment the Beach Boys were 20+ years ago....their voices were basically shells of what they had been. Time will tell, and so will I .

Subject: Where God wants me to be...

Next time your morning seems to be going wrong and the children are
Slow getting dressed and you can’t seem to find the car keys and you hit every traffic light, don't get mad or frustrated; praise God instead because God is at work watching over you.

After Sept. 11 ... I happened to call a man on business that I didn't
Know and have not, nor will ever, talk to again. But this day, he felt like talking.

He was head of security of a company that had invited the remaining
members of a company who had been decimated by the attack on the Twin
Towers to share their office space. With his voice full of awe he told me stories of why these people were alive and their counterparts were dead .....and all the stories were just ’little’ things.

As you might know, the head of the company got in late that day
because his son started kindergarten.

Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.

One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.

One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an
auto accident.

One missed his bus.

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.

One's car wouldn't start.

One went back to answer the telephone.

One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.

One couldn't get a taxi.

There were other stories that I hope and pray will someday be gathered and put in a book.

The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got
there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.

Now when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer
a ringing telephone.... all the little things that annoy me ...I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.

May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things and may you remember their possible purpose.

I guess I've always been a little strange. Going to the dentist has never bothered me. Neither has visiting the OB/GYN, and I consider having a colonoscopy something that needs to be done to ensure I stick around awhile longer since that cancer is the one that runs in my family. So I set off for my mammogram yesterday without a care in the world. It never dawned on me I'd be there for three hours! First the do the compressions and go show them to the radiologist. Then they come back and do a couple more. Then they call the doctor's office to get approval for sonograms. They do the sonograms. Come back and do the left one again, because they forgot to mark it. Do another one. Bring in another tech. Do it again and mention maybe bringing in the doctor so he can do it. And then for good measure, they do it one more time. All the while she is asking me about the surgery I had about five years ago, trying to figure out exactly what was removed. I don't remember...turned out to be nothing to worry about so I didn't. Well, she said they should have it in their records. Finally, as she's finishing, she says: "Oh, it's probably just a fluid filled cyst in the right one. You should get it aspirated just to make sure." Well, it didn't take rocket science to figure out they weren't really worried about that one. As for the left side she mentioned a biopsy with a mammogram and a wire, just to be sure that the site on the mammogram is the same as the site on the sonogram...it seems she wasn't confident they were one in the same. I'm so glad that life is a never ending adventure!

And why do I let the kids spend the night on someone else's house. The oldest is on the couch now because he was up untill 5 this morning! He's only 14. Isn't that a bit irresponsible on the part of the other mother? He was telling me that his friend went to bed at 10 pm, he was up because the friends younger brother was bothering him. Oh well, not much I can do about it now.