Blue Glass earrings with matching necklace

St Patricks Day Parade in Holyoke 2010

Here is the Easthampton 225th Aniversary Float that was in the St Patrick's Day Parade in Holyoke, 2010. I didn't go this year, but it was a record breaking crowd with excellant weather!

I went last year and it was great weather also!

I love a parade but not so much the large crowds.

Peepers

Peepers are out and Spring is here! I love hearing them by the thousands in the evening when the sun has set, on a warm night. It is such a sooth summer sound, everything else is so quiet.

Peep Peep Peep Peep Peep!

Drugs

Hey, guess what..........if you have been taking an antidepressant for like FOREVER that your doctor put you on years ago..........................THERE IS A REASON FOR IT!!

Smartie me thought, hey I can go off of this, I will be just fine..........so when I took the last of my"drug", I decided not to reorder anymore. BAD IDEA

Nothing like a little depression, self deprivation, crying jags, self loathing, not wanting to be "awake", sleeping alot ..........will do to bring you to your senses!

First thing Monday morning, emailed my Doc,.............hey doc, PLEASE call in my RX, guess I need it FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!

Needless to say, I am on the road to a "better me" again.

Thanks everyone for putting up with me on this little "self awareness" trip.

~~HUG~~

Taking care of Mom

Taking care of Mom is not always the easiest thing in the world.
I moved my Mother from RI (where she has been living for over 20 something years) to Easthampton, Massachusetts, so she is living about 5 minutes from me. Can you say "mixed blessings"? :)
It is sooooooooooo much better to have her closer to me, I can just zip up the road and get to her in a flash if she needs me or needs me to get her something, on the flip side, she can also call 3 or 4 times a day and ask me the same things over and over again. Did I mention "short term memory"? She can't help it but it sure can pluck on my last nerve. *plucking*
I am sooooooooooooooo glad I don't have to drive to Rhode Island anymore, and don't have to worry that I can't get to her in a flash if she needs me.
My Mom and I are all of each other we have left, no one else.
I try to be patient and listen to her stories for about the bazillionth time, I know someday she won't be here and I will miss her. I just don't understand why she won't socialize more with people of her age. Where she is living now, they have a great community room, with books (she loves to read) and activities that are on a daily/weekly basis. From Bingo night (she hates Bingo, but hey go for the friendship and socialization) to Thursday exercise group (nada on that one too) to Friday night pizza and Saturday matinee. Hell I would go to all those if I lived there! The golden oldies have more of a social life than I do! When I go to visit my Mom, I always see a lady named Dot (Dorothy) who loves to sit in the community room and visit with anyone that comes by. She is a nice lady, I have learned that she is the only girl in a family with 4 brothers, she loves to talk (no problem here:) ) and she was so helpful when I moved my Mom in, she just chipped right in and started helping us with hauling stuff up to my Mom's apartment. I feel for her also, I never see anyone come visit with her.

My Mom loves her doctor that I have set her up with. Of course she is completely coherent when we go to her appointment, but with me she is like a 5 year old. Why? why? why?
Sympathy? attention? I really don't know, but I feel the *pluck* again.

I know I am ranting here, but hey, isn't that what a journal (Blog) is all about?

Wow!

Hello everyone! Well I haven't Blogged in forever! Since I have been on Facebook I have forgotten all about my Blog. That is not good!


Let me tell you what has been going on with me lately..............Well..........I quit smoking last year in December (again, but this time for GOOD!) and I have also been on a Healthy road, trying to eat better and get more exercise, after all I am not getting any younger ya know! I do feel better and have more energy. I try to get at least a half hour walk everyday during my lunch hour (weather permitting) and walk on the weekends with Bailey. Today Bailey and I walked into town and back, totally over 4 miles, that is pretty good for me, even though afterwards my hips and feet were hurting! :)
At work we are promoting Healthy Steps for a Healthy Life, and I am participating in the "Biggest Loser" group at work, with weigh in's every Monday, and meetings every week, promoting a healthier lifestyle.
In December I also went to Virginia to visit with my oldest son Joey and my wonderful daughter in law, Erin. We had a great time and it was great to be there again (although I do think it was colder and had more snow in VA than up here in Massachusetts!)

As you can see my picture is a Cruise Ship..........why you ask? Well I will tell you, next January 2011 I am going on a cruise! Yes! Finally! and I am so excited, it will be hard to wait another year! but I need that year to save up my $$$$ for the trip! I wanted to go on a cruise for my 50th birthday, but my son got married that year so the money I was saving for my cruise went to his wedding , so now (a few years later) I am saving to go again! This time it is with a group of friends to the Eastern Caribbean islands! I am going to read up on all the islands I will be visiting, so anyone if you have any good books or words of wisdom for this cruise novice, just let me know! I would love to hear from you.
Work is busy, which is good, with the economy the way it is and so many without work, I am just so thankful to have a job.

I cannot WAIT! for Spring! I am so tired of this cold, blustery, windy, snowy, icky winter weather! I have been looking at my garden catalogs that are arriving in the mail and can't wait to get my toes and fingers in the dirt again! I love planting and seeing all the beautiful flowers come to life!

Well that is all for now, as I think of things I will be posting again here on my Blog, and this time it won't be so long between Blogs!

Me when I was 21

Wow, and don't go and say "What the Hell happened?"! It's just me and my Lion my Uncle Jack gave me.

Happy Couple

Look at "my Kids" Erin and Rex (Joey), aren't they just the cutest couple! This picture was taken at a friends wedding last weekend, somewhere in Virginia I believe, or North Carolina, not sure which state. They have so many friends it is hard to keep up with them.

"Bra Day"

So Laura, our Mammo Lady who has been with Valley Medical Group for over 30 years has decided to retire. (She is the lady in the center of us all with the white jacket on.......the only one that is not showing her "bra". In honor of her and all the years of Mammo service and being a cancer survivor herself we decided to have a "Show us your Bra Day!" I am second to right from Laura, and of course I went with the Leopard theme. It is hard to see in this picture, I had someone take it with my cell camera, as my Kodak has died. If you click on the picture you will see it larger and get a better view of all the decorated bras.

We had a great day, and Laura was shocked! and happy when we all came out parading our "girls"
She is a wonderful person and will really be missed, and wish her all the best in her retirement years with her family, children and grand babies.

Presenting to you the 2009 Westfield Colleen Court

Here they are! The 2009 Westfield MA Colleen and her Court. In the background is a mural of Ireland. This was taken at the Sons of Erin last night at the "Meet the Colleen and her Court Dinner". Aren't they the Irish beauties of thier ancestors!!

2 Beauties

Last night Cher, Cher's Mom, Lil (a friend of Cher's Mom) and I went to a dinner at the Son's of Erin in Westfield, MA. called "Meet the Colleens Dinner". Emily (Cher's niece) and Mrs. Wagner's youngest granddaughter of the Wagner Clan was nominated into the "Colleen Court". Every year in the cities of Massachusetts have Irish Colleen contestants and then the winner picked along with her Colleen girls (the court). They represent the Irish Heritage of our Irish past and represent the city in which they come from.
As you see in the picture here is a very proud Grandma with her Colleen...2 beauties. We had a great time, they had the traditional Irish band and singing, the traditional Irish dinner of Corned Beef and Cabbage. Irish dancing, raffle prizes, the nominating and introducing of the Parade Marshall for 2009. It was a great time to be had by all! The St Patricks Day parade held each year in Holyoke MA will be Sunday March 22, 2009. Emily will be in it with the Westfield Colleen and her court.

"My Dearest Clara"

Here are a couple of post cards that Harry wrote to Clara while he was serving in WWI. Look at the dates on the cards, 12 Dec., 1916 and 26 June, 1917. In the postcard on the left if you read it (click on picture to enlarge) you can see what I now know, Clara is his sweetheart, not his wife. Also in some of the other post cards they were addressed to Ms. Clara Hollywood, who's maiden name was my great-grandmother Mary Agnes (Hollywood) Galligan.

I still haven't had time to research Harry and find out what his last name was.

This is a love story unfolding before me and I am so excited to learn more about Clara and Harry! Hopefully this weekend I will have more time to dig around and see what I can find.

I'll keep you posted!

Clara and Harry

A WWI Postcard from Harry to Clara



Just who are Clara and Harry? Let me tell you how I found out about them. I was at my Mom's Saturday in Rhode Island and we were going through some paperwork, albums and such. I happened upon an album and when I opened it there were the most beautiful postcards I had ever seen! I asked my Mom about them and she told me they were from some relative(s) during WWI. I had to check them out! She really didn't know that much about them, I wish my Nanny was still alive, I am sure she would have known all about them and had some wonderful stories to tell.


I started reading them, they were all mostly from Harry to Clara. See it seems that Harry was a soldier in WWI and Clara was either his wife or his sweetheart. He would write to her and let her know how he was doing and how he missed her. As I kept reading it was really more like a diary of this soldier over in France longing for his sweetheart. They were the most endearing post cards alway starting with "My Dearest Clara".


Clara Hollewood or (Hollywood) was a relative from Ireland on my Grandfather, Gerald Maurice Galligan's side of the family, I have figured out that much. I am not sure but I think Harry must have been from Ireland also, maybe Clara and Harry met in Ireland.

Some of the post cards were addressed to Clara at the Ivy Hotel, Dublin Ireland. I do know that my great-grandmother that came over from Ireland had owned and run a hotel in Ireland with her husband, my great-grandfather who was killed because of the Catholic/Protestant conflict over there. My great-grandmother fled Ireland as a young widow with her 3 young sons, my grandfather being one of them. They came to America. I am not sure in what year, I will have to dig more to find that out.

Anyway, as I try and dig more and deeper to find out the story of Clara and Harry, their love and postcards I will keep you posted!

I've decided I need to blog more, just so everyone knows what is going on up here in Massachusetts..........as you can see I have posted a picture of Bailey taken by the staff of It's PAWSible where Bailey goes to Doggy Day Care 2 days a week. She loves it there!

Bailey and I went to see Spike yesterday at the Soldiers Home, but by the time we got there he was just being put down for a nap. Cher and Michael were already there. Bailey did get to give "Grandpa" a doggy kiss though before he fell asleep.

We will go see him again today.

The snow here is STILL here and will be until April I do believe. It still amazes me how it just stays and doesn't melt away. (It's to cold up here!)

Work has been busy, we are learning a new computer software system for our practice and it will all be electronic, so eventually there will be no more charts or paper. (this ought to be fun, the techie that I am........NOT!)
I have been to a training class and actually in theory it looks really great and alot more efficient than all the paper trailing we do now.....it will just take time.

I haven't been to RI in a few weeks to visit with my Mom, the weather has been to bad for the drive, but hopefully I will get to go next weekend to see her. I do talk to her every evening on the phone though, so we are in contact daily so I know how she is doing.

My daughter-in-law's (Erin) birthday is coming up really soon! I forget every year, but this year I have marked it down as not to miss her special day!!

I have been reading alot this winter, I had recieved Barnes and Noble gift cards for some of my Christmas presents this year, and I have enjoyed using them! Right now I am reading books by the author Wally Lamb, he is a great writer. I just finished "She's Come Undone" and am looking forward to his next book.

If you get a chance check out one of my Links........Julia W. , as I said she is in Paris France continuing her studies and she has a blog also on her adventures and studies in Europe! She is having a great time there!

Well until I blog again.................toodles :)

A Wagner Christmas

Christmas 2008 at the Holyoke Soldiers Home with the Wagner Family (some of them anyway, there are lots!)
We have from left to right.........Kenny Wagner, "Spike" Wagner, Alma Wagner, Cher Wagner, and Santa Claus in Cher's lap is really Bailey .......couldn't tell huh?
There was lots of good times that day, the food, presents and just being together. They are such a special family.

As I write this on 1/24/09, after the new year, Amanda (Kenny's 1st daughter) is a nurse at Baystate, Julia (2nd daughter) is in Paris, France, continuing her education with 4 months abroad in her 2nd year in college originally from St. John's University in New York.
And Emily (3rd daughter) is a Senior in high school at Westfield HS. She will be graduating this year and who knows what the future holds for her.

Michael, the other Wagner son, is not in the picture but he is the baby of the 3.........Cher, Kenny then Michael.


As of now, Spike has been back and forth between the Soldiers Home and Mercy Hospital, he kept getting pneumonia and he is not doing well. He is back at the Soldiers Home as of yesterday and the family continues to be there for him, support him and love him.

I will go visit Spike later today, I will see the rest of the Wagner family there.

I'll try and do some more blogging soon..........
til then........toodles.

My poor Boy!

Here is my Felix, he had eye surgery and had to have one of his eyes removed (his right eye) He is at home recooperating and getting lots of TLC! He is on medicine and is resting comfortably as you can see. He had a stage II cataract, and was already blind in that eye. The vet suggested that the eye be taken out (it was very large and swollen) as if it was left in to further deteriorate, it could then start causing him possible pain and discomfort and then become tumorous and cancerous. I didn't want that to happen to my poor boy!! So best the eye was taken out. He hasn't had any adjustments as he was already blind in that eye and so he doesn't know the difference. He will go back to the vets on June 23rd for the "kitty opthomologist" to take out his stitches and check him out. I love my Felix!!!

Bailey

Introducing Bailey! She is my new daughter :) I adopted her from the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Shelter in Springfield MA.
They told me she is a chihuahua and minature pincher mix, approximately 2 years old.

She is so cute! and so lovable! She loves the cats , which they are not to sure about just yet.
I'll post more pictures soon!

First Snow 2007

So we had our first big snow storm Thurs. Dec. 14th, 2007. As you can see it was about a foot! I took this picture of the house as I was leaving the driveway for work. As you may have heard we are in for another blast tonight starting around midnight, but this one will also bring rain, sleet, ice with the snow. Ice is not good! I already fell once, I was getting the mail out of the mail box and trying oh so gingerly to walk back to the house. Slip! Bam! Down I went! Luckily nothing broke, just alittle pride as I looked around to see if any of the neighbors saw me sprawled out on the driveway, leopard umbrella (yes it was still snowing) flying one way and the mail from my other hand flying another into the snow. Hurt my right wrist and shoulder a little as I went down, but not to worry, I am fine.

VMG Girls

The VMG
Girls

These pictures are for you Marcia, as you can see Linda and the 2 little ones are growing! Isn't she cute!! See Kris in the background? She was wondering what I was up too. :)

And here are some of the other girls waving hello to you Marcia!! from the front line in Family Practice. They say
HOWDY!

I stopped by the Lab and caught Ms. Elizabeth, she said to say hello to you Marcia!!

And here is the infamous Judy working, I actually got a picture of her and she didn't know it. I told her later that
I had taken her picture and she said "When?"..........and when I told her she said "Well at least you got a picture of me when I was actually working!" Next time I will catch her at the snack machine where she usually is :)


I will get more as time goes by so you can see everyone at VMG. They all said to say hello to you and asked how you are doing down there in the south. I told them and let them know we keep in touch . They miss you too!!

"Big Red"

Well here she is folks.........."Big Red". I finally had to part with my little white Metro LSI 2000, to many things were going wrong with her and she wasn't reliable anymore.

I had seen "Big Red" online when I was shopping around for cars......used cars. I went to different dealerships, looked and and drove different cars but something wasn't exactly "right".

I knew why, she wasn't RED. As you may not know my favorite color is red. And my favorite color combination is red and black. So after looking and trying out different dealerships and cars, I floated back to the car I had looked at in the first place.

And so here she is..............."Big Red!" as we all like to call her. Of course I have leoparded (is that a word? it is in my dictionary!) her up...........got the leopard steering wheel cover going on, the leopard seat covers, the cat paw print license plate covers (enlarge the pictue and you will see it on the license plate) and just the other day my leopard floor mats came in the mail!! I have my little leopard buddy "Leo" who is sitting in the back seat. With winter coming, as you can see by the snow on the ground, I went to Advance Auto Parts and Cher bought me clear floor mats to cover my leopard ones, I don't want them to get all muddy and wet with the winter weather here. I had her windows tinted (to save Sun damage on her inside) and I had the automatic car starter installed, like I had in my other car. It is a MUST here in New England. It is so much nicer to get in a car that is already toasty and warmed up inside. So if any one has any other leopard "car goodies" that I can add to Big Red, send them my way! Oh yea, I am looking for some black magnetic "paws" that I can put on the back of Big Red........:)

Later!