I am so very excited, in my rush to buy my plane ticket for my class reunion, I put in the wrong date. I wanted an extra day to spend with my friends who are so very important to me. I do not have the extra $100.00 to change a ticket even though the ticket is a low fare, just to change it is an extra cost. HOW CAN AIRLINES BE HURTING WHEN THEY CHARGE THIS MUCH? That will hold for another of my "soap box" days..

I was talking to one of my very best friends in the world and he offered to use his own CC# to ensure that I will get to spend my day with him an a few others, how great is that? When you first meet him, he does come off a bit cocky, and hard but deep down he is one of the most generous people I know. He and I have been through alot together, we lived together at one time (not romantic), which besides living with my husband was the best ever. We had such a good time, and support system for each other.

I think now of everything he and I have been to each other, and it makes me smile, before we lived together, the parties we would have at our respective residences. He and I had a "hat" party at my house, we went to the "Emporium" in Mystic to buy our hats and party favors, an then making everyone wear whichever hat we had picked out for them. Then when we lived together the parties got alittle more extreme. To mention a few, the twister games, the porch, the 3am burgers, an of course BEASTIE BOYS...

We were both there for each other in our love lives or lack of love lives, and some of the people that did not treat us like we thought the other should be treated. Since, we both have big mouths it was never keep quiet, but let them know as often and loudly as possible, our neighbors I am sure were like "SHUT UP". I will never forget when 9/11 happened we were there together watching the news, crying.

Recently, since I live so far away it has been phone calls, emails and when I get the chance to go to CT, I make sure to see him.

I hope we will always be in each other lives, an no matter the roads life takes us, he can always depend on me, and I know he will always be there for me.

0I have been a bit lax this week in posting. Last week, was a blue week for me, and could not motivate myself to do anything not even work out. This week, I have been working out like crazy an tonight twice. Reason you may ask? 25th class reunion, how silly am I that I still care after all these years what the "CLICHE" might say about me.

Do we ever out grow wanting approval an respect from our peers? Why do we all get anxiety when it comes to going back to where we grew up? I maybe in the minority but I like to think that is not true. Also, my 20th is still fresh in my mind and myself and Kelly the other outsider sitting at the bar at the end of the evening and the "cool kids" still in the know with each other. Ironically, Kelly an I got out, neither of us even lives in the same state, when most of the people that were so "cool" still live in CT and alot in Norwich can you believe it? The really cool kids who do not go to the reunions have all moved on, I would love to see so many of them it would be extremely fun.

My husband's 20th is this year and he has no desire to go back and see those people. It is so different from myself, granted I am very nosey and want to know how people turned out and what they are doing with their lives. Anyone out there in Blogger land going to their Class Reunion this year and how do you feel about it? Are you looking for maybe your lost love? If the prom queen got fat? Did the cutest guy in school who never talked to you fall apart after high school? Mostly, I want to know if the "CLICHE" is still making people feel lower than themselves to make them feel better, or did they "peak" in high school an everything else has been a big disappointmet to them?

At my 20th I was still single, and never married, when there were a few on their 2nd marriage, newly divorced and trying to get L***, or came out. It will be quite interesting to me, I do love to think what makes people tick.. I will keep you updated.. It is 2 months away but already on my mind.

The following letter is only 1 of several in the New London Day today, in regards to a word in a comic strip. I have loved " Better or Worse" comic strip more than any other because the creator has actually dealt with reality, an aged her characters, my gosh the Peanut characters have been 7 years old forever, Hi 'n Lois never age or do their kids and is Beatle Bailey ever getting out of the army? Believe me, I love all of these strips but this peticular one obviously, makes people think and talk about it.

The word is "RETARDED", I have a cousin who has been called this her whole life, she is mentally challenged. She works, pays rent and is a vital citizen of society and she was always hurt by the word. It would of been nice if people had sensitivity training back then as they do now. At my hotel right now is a conference for the Disabled, physically an mentally and everyone of us had to go to training to make sure we treated them with respect they deserve, and to not offend anyone when offering to help.

What Lynn Johnston did in her strip was bring to light the other side, the person who is being called the word, she was not offending anyone. It is better to start a dialogue then to just ignore that there is a problem. I picked this letter for how well he made his point. Please remember words hurt more than punches, because punches heal, words stay with you forever.





"I am really appalled that these people who “deal with this on a daily basis” failed to get the whole idea of the cartoon strip. (“ 'Better or Worse' comic strip not for the better,” and “Wrong for cartoonist to use derogatory term,” both March 18.) It was a conversation between two young women. One of the young women was upset by a name her sister called her — “Picky Face.” The other young woman merely remarked that it was better than being called “retarded.” The other young woman, April, immediately demanded, “Who called you that?” Needless to say, if those letter writers had looked at the next day's cartoon, they would have found out that it was not a joke, it was a lesson about humanity. You know the old adage, “I met a man who had no shoes, and then I met a man who had no feet.”
This cartoon has also run a strip about the grandfather having a stroke. I have had several minor strokes, and after one I could not even talk right. No one could understand a word I was trying to say, except my husband. I am grateful to cartoonist Lynn Johnston for dealing with upsetting subjects, and doing it with compassion and humor.

Happy St. Patricks Day ( late I know), but I wanted to get that out of the way. This weekend, I went to "Hilton Head" to spend time with my oldest sister, her daughter sophomore at University of Maryland and my mom, it was a girls weekend, they are staying all week, but the only time I could get was the weekend. On Friday, I drove down after work, in the rain an by myself for a 5 hour drive that took my about 6.5 hours, due to getting lost on some country road in North Carolina.

When I arrived, within 5 minutes, I was told "We hate your hair color" when are you changing it back to your natural ( natural my a**), and oh your eyebrows need waxing. Now, who better to judge you then your family right? Even at "42" years of age, it doesn't get any better. My hair right now is red, natural when it wasn't gray was dark brown, we were watching " Breakfast at Tiffany's" so now mom believes that color would work for me. Now, believe me Audrey is my favorite but no way would I look as good as she did in that movie no matter what I did. How come when you are with your family you fall right back into feeling as if you are '5 years old?".

Believe me, I love my family and now that I live so far away it is special when we do see each other, I never laughed so much, because instead of getting mad at the put downs, the corrections I had to laugh it made it one of the most pleasant weekends.

The best part of being with my family is when the cards come out as they always do. We love to play cards, drink wine and talk it is usually the best conversations during those card games, we have been doing it our whole lives. My sisters' are instilling the games into their daughters who will pass them on to their own daughters it is one of my favorite things about my family. We might have a hard time talking regular but put a deck of cards in our hands and we can talk about anything and everything. We played "Spades', teams my sister and her daughter won but my mom who is excellent was making a great comeback. How do you communicate with your family or what is your traditions that makes your family so special to you?

Well, the last few days have been very hectic at work, so have had no time to post. Which is a good thing ( I guess). I am getting very excited to see my family tomorrow in Hilton Head, but as is my way, feeling guilty for not working over the weekend or on Monday. Even though I have permission from my boss, it makes me weary of these uncertain times at my work. I need to reconnect with my family ( my husband comments), he is so right, it is alot harder than I realized living so far away.

When I am down an missing home, I watch " Sex and the City" even though it is NY, it is closer to my home state of CT, I would watch ' Gilmore Girls', if I had the tapes, my poor husband is so sick of seeing " Sex and the City", I had restarted, and finished the 3rd season last night. Tonight, I will give him a break and maybe watch a Chick Flick to him I am sure he is not sure which is worse. I think he is happy to have his own free time this weekend away from me. Living so far from everyone we do not have many friends, so we are it for each other. I am sure I can be a bit overbearing (not much) at times, and he is too polite to say get away from me, besides when you miss someone you realize how much they mean to you, when you get out of the normal routine right?

I will write about my weekend when I get back..

The weather was absolutely beautiful here in Winston Salem this weekend and today is 77', Spring has arrived YEAH!! This morning walking to work, I could hear birds singing to me that is the first signal of spring. I was out in about on Saturday in the nice car ( husband's) with all the windows down and my oldie station of 80's pop music blaring always fun. I love to sing along especially alone due to being tone deaf, who cares about the weird looks I get at stop lights, get a life...

I have started packing for Hilton Head for the girls weekend coming up, I started to try on my summer clothes and some which last summer either did not fit or were way too tight, fit YEAH!! This work out thing is going on week 9,this morning did 45 minutes of cardio and tomorrow is 20 minutes of cardio and then AB work out, which I have not down in almost 10 days so it will be tough but if I am going to get into a bathing suit this summer it is something I will have to endure. Husband was a bit sick this morning so he did not work out, but he looks good, he has lost 10lbs now too, an his clothes are fitting better too. To me the fact that my clothes feel better, loose and not tight makes me extremely happy.

I have decided to go to my 25th class reunion, an have worked it out transportation an housing without really spending alot of money. I am so excited, an my vain self is working extra hard to at least lose another 10lbs and more inches so I will feel better walking in. I think my dad is going to loan me his BMW Convertible to drive to the event not that it matters (like H***) it matters how bad am I?

Well, it is Hidden Dragon's an my 2nd wedding anniversary tomorrow. If you have not read his blog you should but beware his is very political and he is not quiet about his beliefs. Where mine is basically just my life and what I do with it.

Tonight, I was going to attempt to make dinner, but instead we are having steak and sitting at our new fire pit thing his parents gave us. It may not sound like much but to us it is wonderful today is 65' here in Winston Salem and it will get a bit cooler but we can snuggle to keep warm by the fire. I bought a nice bottle of red wine for dinner and some champagne for tomorrow. We have been a bit distant lately, an I want him to know how much I love him and enjoy our life together. We are opposites in almost everything but we generally care and love each other.

I look back 2 years to the night before our wedding, it was snowing, and he was sick as a dog, but we were both so excited for the next day. He hung out with his best man an our good friend Christian an drank wine an played games the night before. Myself had Thomas an Claudette and a few bottles of champagne we hung out laughing that my gosh, Paula is actually getting married at 40 years old, I don't think anyone thought it would happen. I just needed a strong man, who would tell me "no', but not to be a prick, with a reason for everything.

So, we are celebrating our 2nd, it might not be long for alot of people, but Hidden Dragon had quite the life in his 20's in New Orleans, an in CT so he was ready to settle down with a woman who wouldn't play games and tell him to give it up, you are not that charming.

I know this is the 2nd one today, this is a seperate issue.

BAD DATES:I have been thinking of all my bad dates I had before I met my husband an thought I would give women out there my perspective of what to look for in a bad date. Not all of these have happened to me, but a few have.

Blind date # 1 - My friend tells me this guy saw you one day thinks your cute, would you go out with him? Ok, he is normal right? Very normal.
"Very Normal" should of been the clue, 1. The guy has not been on a date in 15 years, and his mother took him shopping to buy his outfit ( which looked like granimals remember those?).
2. He ate nothing at the restaurant and kept running to the bathroom, what for you may ask
COKE HEAD... 3. Cheap too, kept talking about $ or lack of it, since he was doing Coke I figured he had money I made him take me to the casino spend another $50 then I went home an never saw him again. He actually had the nerve to tell my friend he really liked me when do you think we can go out again? ARE YOU CRAZY!!!

Blind date # 2 - This guy owned a coffee shop I would frequent and he found out where I work and called me to go out, I told him I would meet him for coffee.
" Found out where I work", should of been the clue here. Meet for coffee and as we are talking he informs me that the woman at the coffee house with him is his wife, but they are seperated but still live together and in case it does work out he wants a back up. That ended 90 minutes after it started.

Next date - I walk into Starbucks after working a Sunday morning at the hotel, and these two guys started talking to me, and since I was waiting for my coffee, I told them I had come from the hotel (name), and next day, 1 of them shows up at my work.
'SHOWS UP at my WORK", I was flattered and we made plans to go out to breakfast that following Sat. the date lasted 35 minutes ( my shortest date) reason, he wants a family and a wife to take care of him. He stated this in the first 10 minutes, the only reason it lasted as long as it did the food took too long...

The lesson to day boys and girls is look for signs of STALKER Material... Not a great trait, as in all of these lessons you will notice I met them out, never gave them my home address or home phone number. I figured by this dating time, no reason to bring it into my space until I was ready.

Alright someone who read my blog, thinks my taste in music stinks. To be honest so does my husband but let me just clarify a few things, when someone asks you what is your taste in music, how do you explain it depends on the day? For me music reflects what I am feeling at that moment.

A few examples are, when my husband and I were introduced into our wedding reception we walked in to Metallica, No clue on the name of the song, why you may ask it is what my husband wanted and I admit I did feel like a rock star when we walked in, ironically besides him, my brother an about 4 other people no one else had a clue what that music was. One night, about two weeks ago coming home from work, Supertramp came on the radio and I sang along it was fun. On one of my husband and my road trips we came upon a 70's rock station and we are driving down the highway singing, laughing and having such fun to the music, people next to us were looking at us funny, could of been the air guitar and air drums we were playing, but you never know.

I like so many different genre's of music, but basically it has been pop music. My soul loves Blues, and when I travel to New Orleans, Nashville, Chicago even Austin TX I find places to hear the blues. Someday I will get to Memphis and Kansas City and find the best clubs. I love Country Rock, like Chris Dougherty, Montgomery Gentry, Gretchen Wilson, Hank Williams Jr.. I have always loved Country but kept it secret until it was cool.. Pathetic I realize.

So to me music is a personal taste and for myself compeletly depends on what I am feeling or where I am in my life. Never trust what people write on the profiles for music or movies for that matter, but that is for another blog.

This year is my 25th high school class reunion, it is being held at the Norwich Marina on June 30, 2007. Now, should I go or not? I want to go, and of course the husband doesn't want to, he did not go to my school an won't really know anyone (neither will I). If I go it will be with my girlfriends, I have contacted two of them trying to get us all to go together, which I think would be more fun. No offense to my husband, but we want to talk to our friends, people we wouldn't of hung out with in high school and just reconnect.

I did go to my 20th with a friend had so much fun, but alot of the people I wanted to see weren't there, it is just fun to see how people turn out. For some reason I think the 25th is one of the big ones, why do not ask me. If you have never been to a class reunion it is fun to see how people turn out, and if they have lived up to their ideals from high school or had the career they thought they would have. I really wanted to be a journalist but as you can tell my grammar is awful because I write like I speak with no punctation.

Myself an a good friend of mine crashed my sisters 25th reunions at the Mohegan Sun and had such a ball, even though we didn't graduate with these people but knew them from our sisters. I wish mine was at the Casino, because if you are bored you can go upstairs and gamble. The Marina will be nice, not great food but the whole point is to mingle anyway. There are a few people I would love to see how they turned out if they go, I admit I am working out like crazy I do not want to be fat for my class reunion. I know that is vain but in high school I looked like a boy, I did not blossom until way after college. The click at the 20th were still together, still trying to make me feel small, they sat at a table and myself and another outcast Kelly sat a the bar making fun of them ( so much more fun).. Kelly came in the most outrageous outfit and her an I had a wonderful time.

If I go to my 25th I will let you all know what happened and if the click is still the same after all these years.

Hello, Back in December I brought you some interesting thoughts on the Bells ringing Christmas Music in the small town of Jewett City, CT, where someone who does not live in the town but visits, and is an athesist thought the bells should be silenced. He even went an file a complaint with the police department. He lost of course, get over it. Well here was a follow up of that story in the New London Day today:

YEAH FOR JON STEWART::
It has been rescheduled multiple times, but tonight could be the night that the Borough of Jewett City makes an appearance on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.”
As of late this afternoon a spokesman for the Comedy Central cable network said the segment filmed Feb. 1 on the controversial chimes that emanate from the belfry of the Jewett City Baptist Church on Main Street is still scheduled for the 11 p.m. broadcast.
However, the conviction of I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, the former chief of staff for Vice President Dick Cheney, this afternoon might delay its airing for the fifth time.
In November, an atheist group complained that the church's playing of the chimes that are owned by the borough and the town violates the constitutional separation of church and state.
The borough has refused to silence the chimes.
Three locals were interviewed for the show: Norwich resident William Russell, who brought the complaint, borough business owner Philip Anthony and borough resident Ron Ward.

Beginning of week 8 of the workout regiment. This morning, was not so bad I actually just got up, did 20 minutes of cardio and then 10 minutes of standing AB work out without a complaint. I did not even think of an excuse before getting up, how strange. I did eat alot this weekend due to the in-laws are in town, so I needed to work out. Yesterday, we walked around "Old Salem" here in Winston Salem, it was 60' but the wind blowing made it feel colder so once the walk was over, I was exhausted but felt great. My gosh, I must be actually getting into shape, what a shocker that would be, since I have been working hard at it.

The weekend had gone well, and they are here for 1 more day but both of us are working, so I will see them tonight after work for dinner an then tomorrow when they leave for the rest of their trip, it is nice they are retired and can go visiting. That will be nice later in life for us. Even though I love to travel now. Our next trip will either be Key West, FL or London England, not quite sure as of yet.

Did you see the fact they arrested Stephen Grant for cutting up his wife Tara? Why would he do such a brutal crime? They have 2 children, where were they? Did they see their daddy do such a horrible crime? I am always amazed when it is so brutal and wonder what went on in that house to provoke such a response and so final.

Today, spent the day with my in-laws their first trip to Winston Salem, NC we took them to Mount Airy, ( Mayberry) for the day it was fun, unfortunately, I always feel I will say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing, not quite sure which is worse. Tonight, to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary an we are home by 8:15pm. I actually had two glasses of wine, and Stephen a scotch, surprising because my in-laws do not drink. We went to a wonderful restaurant called " Noble's Grille", to be honest I have wanted to try for some time but never seemed to have the extra cash, the service was incredible and since I ( Love the spotlight) let them know it was our anniversary we received our desserts complimentary.

Now, we are home and I am having another glass of wine ( most likely do not need), but we are listening to music and building the gift his parents gave us. Of course, he is building and I am posting on my blog, better for each of us, if I do not even pretend to help. Anyone, who has tried to work with their spouse on a project knows it is best to stay out of the way. Tomorrow we have the morning to ourselves and will meet his parents around noon, due to nothing down here opens before Noon, we are in the bible belt. Our Sunday's are usually our only day together and since we met is our time, so tomorrow afternoon will be with his parents but ok, does not happen that often we have to give up our Sunday.

I am still smiling from this weeks findings, how funny it has been over 20 years but someone's words can bring me to a smile. You wish you knew what I was talking about, keep guessing....

Today, I am a nervous wreck my husband's parents are coming out for a visit for the weekend. This is the first time since we moved to Winston Salem, and the last time they visited we were in Charlotte an it was Thanksgiving 2005, we had only been there a few months. I also, say his parents because when you say, " My In-laws are coming", people take the negative approach assumming you do not get along with them, which is not true. My in-laws are wonderful people and have welcomed me into their family with open arms. I get nervous when either family visits, I want them to like our new home, new place and realize we are still only married two years an nothing is perfect, but we made the right decision to move south.

This morning as my husband was saying, " Calm down, you are in hyper mode", I was clean, straighten, dust etc. Now, granted I could of done this last night but I was not thinking they will be here on Friday night, not morning. Yeah, paula you are working all day an then they are driving you home, so when exactly are you going to be able to do this? I believe I am worse when it is my sisters, because for some reason their opinions bother me more than most. It is like if I am going to see them, I will have 5 or 6 outfit changes, worry about my hair, make up an clothes as if, that is going to change what they think of me. I have been stressing for weeks, since I knew I would see my oldest sister on March 17, funny when I heard my mom was joining us my anxiety went down, my mom an I are so close and understand each other more than my sisters. I didn't street about my in-laws until this morning.

End of Week 7 of the work out, today, I did work out but it stunk because I kept thinking what i needed to do to prepare for them to come to our house. I have to work out tomorrow a rest day to make up for my lack of performance this morning. To date: Lost 10lbs, Inches 3 off waist, 3.5 off hips, YEAH!!

I will post hopefully after the weekend, have a great weekend, by the way for any of my readers up in the North, it is 60' and sunny today...

Sometimes your past comes back in a good way. Today, when I was going through my emails there was one from Reunion.com, and my 1st "crush" had contacted me on there. It brought back all those feelings I had for him at 14 in our freshman year of high school. He was so cool, cute and the most intense eyes in the world. Even though he ended up with another girl, who just a note they are still married, his high school sweetheart, it still makes me smile. He was so nice to me, and became friends an even after not seeing each other for many years, I admit I was flattered he actually remembered me.

We are both happily married to other people, but I love pen pals, or email pals especially with someone who always made me feel special. He was one of those cool guys, that even though you can't be anything more, makes you feel as if what you have to say is so important to him. Funny, I have been thinking alot about high school lately an just realized that the coffee cup my husband put in my bathroom for my toothbrush and toothpaste is from, "St.Bernard's" High School, or rivals in sports in school. I went to Norwich Free Academy (NFA) and our football team by our senior year was 0 wins, we were not good, and when we played St. Bernards they would play, " We are the Champions" over the speakers. What could we say we would talk smack but we all knew our team was not good.