Posted in weather, tagged snow day on February 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
the calm after the storm, originally uploaded by The Rambling Rountrees.
Well we all survived, but I’m not sure for how much longer. Another 26inches of snow dumped on us yesterday. Another snow day! There is no more room to put the snow. In other parts of the world they are experiencing serious droughts, and us? WE can’t get rid of these heinous snow storms! Snow, snow and more snow! I am so ready for spring.
Posted in family, tagged happy birthday emma on February 22, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
sleeping beauty, originally uploaded by The Rambling Rountrees.
The love of a child grows each day even if they are not yours. Emma is my great niece and she turns four years old today. A time of wonder. I remember the day like yesterday, it will live in my mind forever. You see I was the first one to see her born to my niece Amy. I watched her come into this world four years ago today. I passed her to her mother and looked into her eyes as she made her grand entrance. It was one of the greatest moments of my life. She brings joy and happiness to those lucky enough to know her. Her mother is like my own daughter, part of me. May this child, who has brought more joy into everyone’s life that she touches, have a wonderful birthday! I love you with all my heart bebe! Thank you for loving me unconditionally. You are the sunshine of my life, the stars in my sky, and the moon to light my way! Be happy today “Tinkerbell” and enjoy this special day. We love you very much! Thanks to her mom Amy and her Grammy Tammy, she is raised in a home filled with unconditional love and understanding. She is a child filled with wonder and grace. A child who is very inquisitive. My all of your dreams come true to you!
Posted in life, tagged economic recovery package, the bright side of things on February 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
david, originally uploaded by The Rambling Rountrees.
WASHINGTON — President Obama told the nation’s mayors on Friday that he would hold them accountable for how they spend the money in his $787 billion economic stimulus package, which he described as “a true partnership” between the federal government and cities that have been too long neglected by Washington.
“I want to be clear about this: We cannot tolerate business as usual — not in Washington, not in our state capitols, not in America’s cities and towns,” Mr. Obama told a gathering of the United States Conference of Mayors. He said he was putting them “on notice” that if they propose a wasteful project, “I will call them out on it.”
The mayors, who also spoke with Cabinet secretaries during their visit to the White House, came with a variety of projects in mind for the money: community health centers, new water towers, sewage treatment plants. They said afterward that their main concern about the money was that it would be bottled up in state government. Even some Republican mayors who had been uneasy about the stimulus package said they were happy to have the money.
“Now that the bill has passed, I want it to work the best way it can,” said Patrick McCrory, a Republican and the mayor of Charlotte, N.C., who said he had concerns about the package before it passed.
Kevin Burns, a Democrat and the mayor of North Miami, Fla., said: “Whether we like it or not, this money is here; we have to account for it, we have to spend it. The time for bickering that it’s a bad program is over with.”
In his remarks to the mayors, Mr. Obama further distanced himself from his predecessor, George W. Bush, whom he accused sharply, though not by name, of paying too little attention to urban problems. He also sought to defuse frequent Republican assertions that the Democrats’ idea of solving problems is to toss taxpayers’ money at them, heedless of where it lands.
Alluding to the astronomical sums in the stimulus program, President Obama said, “What is required in return, what I will need from all of you, is unprecedented responsibility and accountability — on all of our parts. The American people are watching.” http://www.nytimes.com/
Ya Think? I always see the bright “side” of things! 
Posted in life, tagged bad ass day, if you don't like the link don't click on it on February 19, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Lights at night in Firenze, originally uploaded by The Rambling Rountrees.
Day dreamin’ about my home away from home! It’s my blog and I can do what I want to!
Hey and if you don’t like….don’t open the Pandora’s box, by clicking on the link. Oh, wait a minute……isn’t that human nature? Got ya!
Posted in WLS, tagged food after wls, italy on February 18, 2009 | 3 Comments »
florentine pizza, originally uploaded by The Rambling Rountrees.
Folks always ask me what types of food I miss the most. If I had to pick the top ten food items it would be:
Pizza
Sweets, pastries
Chocolate (any type)
Being able to eat lots of pasta
Bread, muffins, biscuits, particularly toasted artisan bread
Full Fat Gourmet Ice Cream
Diet Coke (sometimes)
Margaritas
Chicken/Poultry especially buffalo wings
and did I already say Lots of Pasta?
Things with food are different now, but sometimes I still get rather frustrated with my head hunger and how to deal with the beast some days. But most days are better. I wonder how my body/head will differentiate when we are in Italy in June? Some time smy own insecurities challenge my beliefs in myself to make this work. Even though I have already lost 114 pounds, I still can’t help bu wonder if their is a potential for me to fail?
Posted in life, tagged when will spring arrive on February 17, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
from my husband, originally uploaded by The Rambling Rountrees.
Valentine’s Day and my 11th Wedding Anniversary came and went this past weekend. My dearest husband sent me the above flowers to celebrate the day.
Today the sun is shining here, tomorrow more snow is expected…..I am counting down the days til spring arrives here. Nothing else to say today. Except the world is sometimes and ugly place to live. Always bad news, bailouts, layoffs, deadbeats, crime, bankruptcies, will there ever be good news again?
Posted in family, tagged "happy valentine's day" on February 13, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Happy Valentine’s day!, originally uploaded by The Rambling Rountrees.
I wish all my readers and Flickr friends a very Happy Valentine’s Day. Remember to show someone how much you really love them! Don’t be afraid to share your love with someone today!
Posted in life, tagged obama's stimulus package on February 12, 2009 | 2 Comments »
my canine niece and nephew, originally uploaded by The Rambling Rountrees.
Everyday…more bad news: layoffs, the recession..will it ever end? Here’s the latest!
(CNN) — Congress is set to send a $789 billion economic stimulus package to President Obama’s desk by Monday after lawmakers worked around a disagreement over education funding in the package. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has praised the three GOP senators involved in negotiations as “brave.”
The stimulus deal was struck Wednesday after another furious day of negotiations on Capitol Hill involving House and Senate leaders, Obama administration officials and a trio of moderate Republicans.
The agreement represents a deal that everyone can live with, Democratic leadership sources said.
Sen. Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said it is possible the House of Representatives could take up the bill as early as Thursday and the Senate possibly Friday, meeting Obama’s timetable of having the bill on his desk by Presidents Day, which is Monday.
The exact language of the compromise bill is still being drafted, but here’s how it’s expected to affect individuals:
• Most individuals will get a $400 tax credit, and most couples will get an $800 credit. That amounts to an extra $13 a week in a person’s paycheck, starting in June.
• Many students will get $2,500 tuition tax credit.
Don’t Miss
• First-time home buyers may qualify for a tax credit of up to $8,000.
• People who receive Social Security will get a one-time payment of $250.
Senate staffers worked overnight trying to write the final legislation. Democratic sources said 35 percent of the bill deals with tax cuts and 65 percent with spending.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, reported a deal had been struck between the House and Senate early Wednesday afternoon. A short time later, aides to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that although Pelosi knew Reid was planning an announcement, the two were meeting again to iron out differences over education spending.
Senators had slashed direct funding for school construction — a top priority for some Democrats — and instead set aside money for governors to use on school modernization and rehabilitation. House Democrats did not think that would ultimately be targeted enough to school districts in need. iReport.com
Posted in italy, tagged food porn, italian food on February 10, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Italian deliciousness, originally uploaded by The Rambling Rountrees.
Food is all around us. We can not avoid it, and in fact sometimes it drives us to the brink. What I’m talking about is food porn. I’ll admit it that I was at times in my life addicted to life’s culinary treasures….after all aren’t we all sometimes? Food can be as addicting as drugs. When I think of some things that I used to consume….sweets, fat, sugar, carbs and calories! Oh my! Nasty, is not a word to be used lightly here. Think of what surrounds us in the world, filled with transfattiness, sugariness, carboholically extreme gluttony. Enough said, we are all guilty of eating for pleasure and not for survival. I must admit openly about some of the things I used to consume….the list involves, ice cream, desserts, pizza, lots of pasta, fried chicken, buffalo wings, Chinese food, more ice cream, donuts, muffins, cheesecake, the list goes on and on.
Since I have had this WLS, food is not as important, in fact this brings food in a whole new perspective to me. Healthy! I still dream of eating things like above, but when I think of how much healthier I have become, perhaps one day a bit will give me the same pleasure and indulgence I had before. Planning our upcoming trip to Italy this summer has a whole new meaning……less is more! Food Porn is all around in Italy, but eating to live is much more difficult than living to eat. I have redesigned my thought process, and will face challenges ahead. But I am ready for them now!
Posted in WLS, tagged post op wls on February 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
half a butt, originally uploaded by The Rambling Rountrees.
The photo says it all today! I was trying to think of some wise ass story about my photo today, butt words sometimes just leave me!
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