Deanna's Icon

Deanna - notice you have changed the icon next to your name on some of your posts. Very funny..ha-ha.

You're un-invited for January!

Aunt Tina

Family Vacation

I just viewed the pictures Tina and Dave sent from Cape Cod and Hawaii (thanks for sending those guys!) and I think we should rent that house on the Cape every year! I really enjoyed that weekend and the location and the pictures brought back memories of what a good time I had. Thanks for setting that up Karen.

Mom's Finances

Since at least some of you are checking the blog, maybe this is a good venue to bring up Mom's finances. She's always saying she may have to come live with me if her rent keeps going up. I don't have a problem with that, except for the fact that she has made friends where she currently lives and would be somewhat lost here (kind of like me). I know I've had short discussions with at least a couple of you who indicated a willingness to pitch in to cover her expenses as long as she is healthy enough to stay in her apartment. Also, there is the other bank account that should last her for a while, although nobody but Rosey has access to it, so the rest of us don't even know if there's anything left :-).

Anyway, of course when I mentioned that to Mom she said she wants to leave something for us kids. Please, all of you, keep pounding it into her head that we don't expect any inheritance from her. I told her we'd have Rosey take all but $7.00 out of the account and put it into her savings, then we'd each get at least $1.00!

One more thing: I know we all think she spends money on foolish things, but all of us do that, so let her buy what she thinks she wants and don't give her a hard time. Or, like I told her, have someone shop with her and slap her hands when she wants to buy something that may not be a wise purchase. I've tried to help out with subscriptions to some of the magazines she regularly buys (Woman's World, Woman's Day), and that has worked out pretty well, although unfortunately they sent her the renewal for Woman's World instead of me and she threw it away. So I'll sign up again.

OK...I'll get off my soap box. Bottom line is I know some of us have to be more frugal than others, but let's try to help Mom stay in her apartment for as long as she can. I believe she will be much happier.

Thanks.

Love, Tina

Spoke with cousin Terry

I spoke with Terry a couple of times recently. One thing he mentioned was that Justin stumbled across our "secret" Barnowski site. Since we barely use it ourselves, how about we invite him to join and see if more communication erupts. I doubt it.

I called to thank him for calling during my party and singing Happy Birthday. It was touching. Thanks to everyone for helping Kathy surprise me. I had a most excellent time!

See some of you soon.

Hellooo. Anybody there?

Did a neutron bomb go off in central Connecticut? I have not heard from anyone up there in awhile. I presume it is simply that busy time of year. I know we are busy. Almost all of it revolves around graduation, so it will be over in a couple of weeks... after the graduation parties have subsided. Next weekend is Marissa's wedding in Syracuse.

good wedding in Tarrytown

We went to nephew Jimmy's wedding last weekend and it was fabulous. The Tarrytown Inn (Manor?) is on a hill overlooking the Hudson. A stone villa, it was decorated beautifully, with a string quartet playing before, during and after the ceremony. The flowers alone probably cost more than what we will spend if Sara ever marries. The reception was $175 a plate, I hear. Cocktail hour had enough food to be the meal! A free booze... nothing shabby either.

More Progress

11 lbs and counting