One More Week!

It's nearing the end of another semester at Hunter. If I read back to this time last year, I will laugh at the craziness I went through when trying to complete the papers I thought I never would. Those feelings of stress, uncertainty, pressure and helplessness are still quite real. I have spent the last three weeks engrossed in papers for the ONLY course I took this semester. The one thing that worked against me was that the professor gave us NO due dates, except for the last day of class. All papers are due then, or before, if we were so motivated. I simply don't work that way. I need dates. I knew, though, that I did not want to wait for the very last minute to get them done. Procrastination has proven that it is not my friend. That being said, with one week left in the semester I've really worked hard within the last month. The 4 hours I put into today's two article responses, and the weekend I worked on my final and two other papers have all been worth it. I just have one more report to write up, and I'll be set. That will be my Saturday, and I'll be okay with it. This is the semester that I decided I was going to put Procrastination to rest--for good. I've done pretty okay, I have to say.
Now, off to sleep...this season's allergies are terrible and adding to my exhaustion! :)

Mother's Day Weekend

It's been a busy weekend, and I know the rest of the month will be just the same. However, it was a special weekend. There were First Holy Communions to celebrate and Mother's Day. Both events were quite special. I am glad I was invited to be part of those celebrations!

Today, I celebrated Mother's Day with my mother, aunts, uncle, cousins, and grandmother. Although it was as WINDY as a late October day, the sun was shining brightly, and we were NICE & WARM inside my aunt's house. There we had a lovely dinner, watched t.v. and just sat around enjoying the company that we don't get the chance to often enough.

I was fortunate to start the day with a Mother's Day 10K race with my mom. An 8 a.m. start at the beach wasn't my idea of great start to a Sunday morning. I was exhausted, and it was very cold and windy. However, we used the wind to our advantage, as it cooled us off when we got too warm. Running into wind is about as difficult as running uphill. Neither is easy, but you do it slowly and steadily, and we did. Of course there was grunting, complaining, and breathing...there was also conversation, laughter, and picture taking. My mom and I do not usually run together, simply because we run at different paces. Since it was a Mother's Day race, I thought it would be nice to stay together. She usually doesn't like for me to 'talk' during the run because I simply can not 'shut up' as she says. ha! That's okay, though. I just keep on going, whether it be running or talking! ha! I'm glad I decided to run with her. She did a wonderful job, and finished with a respectable time of 1:11. Awesome job, Mom!

I am truly thankful that I had the opportunity to spend time with my mother today. She is a wonderful person with a great heart. I pray she is blessed all the days of her life.

Love you, Mom! xoxo

Good-Bye to April

To say 'I'm glad this week is over!' would be putting it mildly. The more I think about it, I must say that I am glad April is over. It definitely has been a whirlwind month in every aspect. That being said, I have not had one moment to be 'still' with my thoughts before right now.

This last week (of the month) began with a rainy day trip to the Bronx Zoo. The rain definitely did not deter my kids, our chaperons and I from having a ball! From the Reptile House to the Bug Carousel, we laughed, splashed in puddles (against my will! ha!) and ate until we were ready for more. Of course, the trip left me exhausted, and I have not yet fully recovered, but they truly did enjoy themselves. At the end of the day, that's what matters most to me.

Add regular work deadlines, projects that need to be tended to or finished, grad school papers that come with MORE deadlines, my own personal things that are going on (or not), and you have one drained person. Of course I am thrilled that #1, it is FINALLY the weekend, and #2, the weather will be perfect. We certainly deserve this beautiful weather since the tri-state area dealt with dreary days for the past two weekends. From what I've heard, my friends & family have many 'outdoorsy' events planned. I look forward to wherever I end up! : )

In the end, this is life. The ups and downs, light loads and heavy ones, exhaustion and energy, laughs and tears... When it's all said and done, we are who we are because of all that we go through...and personally, I don't know that I would change any of it. I look forward to what May will bring...

Happy Belated Birthday to Justyn!

Although it's almost a month since Justyn turned 10 years old, I haven't forgotten to write him a birthday blog.

Justyn is Marisel's pride, joy and life! He is bright, hilarious, and both sports and musically inclined. He never seems to have a care in the world and truly loves his mother and family. Justyn is a lot of fun to be around to be around. Don't get me wrong...he definitely gets cranky at the mention of having to go shopping, or leaving a place where he's been having the 'time of his life'. I suppose many 10 year old boys do, right?

Watching my nephew grow into this amazing young person has been a pleasure all my own. I don't spend enough time with him, but when we are together, I laugh very much and I love it. I especially enjoy his interactions with Natalie. They truly love each other. They are more like siblings than aunt and nephew. They melt my heart. As I watch and listen to him, I am always pleased with the way he uses his words and manners. He is a very lucky and loved child. I hope and pray he continues to grow into an educated, polite and fun to be around (among many other wonderful character traits) individual.

We all love you, Justyn! Have a blessed and happy year!
Love, Titi Jessie

Florida Memories

And so, it's back to reality after nearly a week and a half off. I have to say I feel quite relaxed and ready to go back to whatever is awaiting at work. Hopefully the next 57 days won't drag, but then again, I have 6 weeks of camp to look forward to after that, so I won't start counting days until the first week of August.

Florida was wonderful! Getting up for a run first thing each morning was mind clearing, as well as a good way to ease my body into waking up. As I sit here I remember all the laughs, the cooking, shopping, some yelling, lol, but that's expected, and it's what being with loved ones is all about. It's about the time together and the memories made, both good and bad. Glad to say, we made not one bad memory. Sure, there were cranky times for us all here or there, but nothing that we didn't laugh at in the end. My week together with the Celentano family was yet another wonderful bonding experience.

All in all, Florida was wonderful! The family time, friend time, Yankee game time, shopping, EVERYTHING. I loved it. I returned home ready to be back in my favorite state and in my own surroundings, but with so much to be thankful for.

Florida...Day 1

So, here we are in Land o' Lakes, Florida. Last I heard, Florida is supposed to be the "Sunshine State", but today it's been nothing but RAINING and humid. For our first full day here, I don't so much mind being home bound and doing nothing. Anyone who truly knows me is aware that I am incapable of sitting still for too long. However, after our 18 hour drive, I have appreciated the down time.
I slept wonderfully last night, and had a fantastic run this morning! Since then, we've just been 'vegging out'.

The drive...
It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. haha. We tried to sleep as best we could in the car, but truth be told, it was very difficult. My poor neck hurt every time I woke to change positions. Little Joey (who is celebrating his 9th birthday today! yay!) was awake from about 6 in the morning 'til we got here...so, he slept for about 6 hours and was READY to go after that. ha! Our drive from NY to VA was as smooth sailing as possible. I got to bond w/ Shannon's sister-in-law, Josephine, and eventually, we all fell asleep.

After a stop in Virginia for gas and a bathroom break, we drove AGAIN straight to Georgia (I LOVE Georgia), and we then stopped in Cracker Barrel for a delicious breakfast. We were all in very good spirits for a bunch that had been 'car bound' for so long. From there, I took over the driving and Shan and I sang, chatted, and continued on the way. We did make a stop at a 'Waffle House' for a quick bathroom stop, and for all the great things I've heard my Southern friends say about it, perhaps I simply walked into the wrong one. Hmmm?

I'm excited for what the rest of the week will bring..I'm meeting with a college friend on Tuesday, and we have a fun day planned...nothing concrete, but I'm positive it will be wonderful. Wednesday, the Celentano family and I are headed to see the NY Yankees play, and I'm SURE that will be awesome!!! And the rest of the week~who knows where it will take us? What I do know is that I'm grateful that Shannon invited me to spend our Easter Break with her and her family. They are an amazing group of people, and once again, I know I've been blessed by having her and her family in my life.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

This past Sunday, my family and I celebrated my father's 58th birthday. Trying to get everyone to agree on a venue is always a project, but thankfully we came to a happy medium fairly quickly. The choices were somewhere sort of healthy (my IDEAL restaurant), with STEAK (dad's ideal restaurant!). Noda's Japanese Steakhouse in White Plains is where we finally agreed upon. I know dad was pleased to have his loved ones around him. It was especially nice to have Mom, Grandma, and Natalie with us. I sit here and laugh to myself as I recall him telling me the waiters BETTER not come sing to him, and as usual, I replied with an "okay" and ignored his silliness. However, I'm sure he wasn't surprised to hear the 'Happy Birthday' (in Japanese, of course) coming his way. I also know that deep down he didn't mind. Just by looking at the smile on his face in this picture, and all the pictures we took that night, makes me certain that this was a special birthday/evening for my father. He truly is an amazing man. I know I have been blessed to have had his as the man who raised, loved, and taught me so many things in my life. I know my sisters, mother, and anyone that truly knows him, can attest to the special & unique person he is.
We love you, Dad.