40 Glorious Years

When looking for my soul mate, I always wanted the fairy tale. I wanted to know right away that he was the one. I was looking for a love that would last forever. I guess every girls does but I had a lot to live up to. You see my parents are the fairy tale they live the dream. Forty years ago today, they made a commitment to love, honor and cherish each other so long as they both shall live and they've made that commitment to one another a beautiful life.
Over forty years ago, my Dad was looking at high school head shot pictures in the wallet of my Mom's friend and said, "I have to meet her - that's the girl I'm going to marry." The mutual friend arranged the meeting. They had their first date and both "knew". If you ask either of them when did you first realize that you wanted to marry Mom/Dad? - they would both say that very first date. Less than a year after their first date they were married at Holy Rosary Church in Passaic, NJ with the reception being held in Aunt Dot's backyard. My Mom was just 18 and my Dad was 20.
They have been through some ups and downs. I'm sure some that I am not privy too but I know one thing is true their love has never wavered. They are an inspiration. The type of marriage all should aspire to be like. I am proud to be a product of this beautiful union. I am so blessed to have been raised by parents that love and respect one another and give real meaning to the term soul mate.
When my Dad is asked how long they have been married he alwasy says the amount and with the descriptor "glorious." So today, on their 40th Anniversary I want to say here is to 40 more glorious years of inspirational love.

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Our TV in the living room is on the fritz. It is one of those giant televisions - you know the ones that everyone had right before the plasma craze. Wally and I were trying to recall when we got it but neither of us could remember. When we first purchased this monstrosity, we thought "we made it" and now I am thinking that I'm a bit happy it's going because it is such an eyesore.

Because of the "economic crisis", we have decided not to purchase any big ticket items at this time so we have resorted to other tactics for fixing the TV. When you read the next sentence don't think my family is too ghetto but to fix the picture on the TV we hit the TV. Yes, we give the TV a big whack to get the picture to look normal and not so distorted. Wally and I will take turns doing this.

The other day Benjamin was watching Dora and the picture was out of whack so Benjamin got off his monkey chair and gave the TV a smack. Wally and I were left speechless. Monkey see. Monkey do.

Last Will & Testament

As we were getting ready to leave the house for our first plane ride together as a family, Wally had a very morbid thought. In fact, he said, "I know this is a morbid thought but what happens if we all die together on this plane -- where should our assets go since we don't have a will." Now ask me where my first thought went. No not to the house. My savings and stock options? Nope, not that either. Did I think we should really have a will? Not really. My thoughts went right to what would happen to my Chanel.
So to set the record straight, I want to have the Chanel with me in the casket (because I need to look super fabulous even in death) and before they are about to close the casket I want Nadia, my sisterhood in fashion, to reach in there, take it and enjoy my Chanel 2.55 as I know only she can.

First In Flight

This weekend, the Kamienski family reached a new milestone -- Benjamin took his first airplane ride and not since the Wright Brothers has there been such a historic flight. Like the Wright Brothers, it was only fitting that Benjamin take his first airplane journey to the "first in flight" state, North Carolina.

The journey started out with a few turbulent moments like when we realized we were in the wrong terminal and we had to haul ourselves (and bags) from Terminal C to A. Due to the mishap, Benjamin also got an opportunity to take his first monorail ride. We went through security which isn't fun these days when you are traveling by yourself let alone a one and a half year old but once again we survived and passed the inspection with little hassle. Once we got to the gate (an hour before the flight would take off), we let Benjamin get some of his energy out. If getting the energy out means tiring Mom and Dad out then that is what was accomplished. Benjamin thought the gate area was his very large personal playground. During his laps around the gates, he discovered swedish fish candies at the newsstand which he insisted on running to each chance he wiggled away from us yelling "ish" "ish" the whole way. There were others like Benjamin trying to be tired out but once again the only tired ones seemed to be the parents. We finally had to put a stop to the running and tried to read to him which he wanted no part of which made me quite anxious. Not that I wasn't on pins and needles already but I just began thinking that he would never sit still and he would scream his torturous scream and then we would be asked to leave the plane because we couldn't control our child. While I played the bad fantasy in my head, I remembered the "secret weapon"-- Grandpa graciously allowed us to borrow a portable DVD player and the movie "Cars". While Benjamin squirmed and I tried to forward the previews, the movie finally came on and a mesmerizing calmness came over Benjamin and I prayed that this would last. Wally got on the plane first to settle the family in. I was left with the DVD player, a diaper bag, umbrella stroller (no way Bugaboo was making the trip) and Benjamin. I decided we would be last on the plane. As the last passengers boarded, I proceeded to close the DVD player when we were heading for the plane and received one loud, "NO!" Ok, no you are right - what was Mommy thinking! Benjamin held the DVD player while I strolled him to the plane. I then tried to hold Ben, the DVD player (so he could see it and wouldn't scream as we boarded) and a diaper bag while I collapsed the umbrella stroller. Did anyone help me? No. Do I have a third arm I don't know about? I think so. We made it on the plane and was then asked by the flight attendant (actually, told) to shut down the DVD player. That made Benjamin mad so I told him to complain to the air waitress not me. I started to read a book which didn't help but Wally took him and showed him what was outside the window which amazed him. Shortly after we put on "Cars", the skies were much friendlier. Not a peep was made - he maybe got cranky once but no meltdowns, no stares of disapproval, in fact, I thought we might get a few, "what a good boy you have."

As I counted down the minutes, I realized we made it. Our Benjamin was an angel in the air. I turned and looked down at my boy who had fallen fast asleep and breathed a sigh of relief knowing that we had accomplished yet another parenting hurdle.

I LOVE FREE STUFF

We just got FREE HP Colorsmart printers! Retail value $199.99. Ok, I will forgive Martha for the cookies.

Martha Just Made a Boo-Boo

Martha just called Sarah Palin - Sharon. Yikes and now someone just told her. She is embarassed. Everyone gets embarassed -- some just get embarassed on a bigger stage than others.

No Cookies?!?

What no cookies Martha? Where are the cookies to share with the audience? I'm a little disappointed. The cookies looked mighty delicious but I could just look at them longingly. No fair! I would rather have a cookie than a calendar or book. I'm hungry! I'm also with a pregnant lady who seriously needs a cookie. I mean not giving me a cookie is one thing but not providing one for a woman eating for two is just wrong!