2007 At A Glance....

In 2007, more than one or two wonderful things happened each month, but these are the highlights (and of course the ones that got recorded on camera) :)

January 2007

I went to California...90210 baby!

February 2007

I went Nordic Skating in Vermont with some friends...and decided to wear the most obnoxious, homemade outfit, ever (thank you Grandma Ethel!).
March 2007

I went to a salsa fiesta at Carlos and Jennifer's apartment.

April 2007

I went to my first Pawtucket Red Sox game and it was FREEZING! (Note the bundling!)May 2007
I planted my first vegetables with my roommates...look how neat and clean...it was a mess at the end of the season!

June 2007

(1) I sang in a concert with the Cumberland Lincoln Community chorus...all Broadway show tunes. I had a solo, "The hills are alive with the sound of music!" and later on, I danced around the stage with five other gals to ABBA's "Dancing Queen" while wearing a purple boa! (2) We got kittens!!! (Okay, we were only kitten-sitting until they were old enough to be adopted by others, but we got them nonetheless!) (3) My friends and I went to the beach in Newport, RI and played "Superman" (4) I went to Tanglewood with friends for a live taping of Garrison Keillor's "Prarie Home Companion"July 2007

(1) There was a great 4th of July parade in Bristol, RI (it is apparently one of the oldest running) (2) My roommates and I had a jigsaw dinner party...at one point the kittens joined in but ended up just moving the puzzle pieces to areas where they didn't belong
(3) I went to Block Island for the first time and played 'Capture the Flag'August/September/October 2007
(1) Lauren and Steve got married!!!

(2) Our sunflowers were in full bloom!

(3) I WENT TO AUSTRALIA!!! (There are over 300 photos from this trip, so I will only put in my faves)
(a) Meditated with Koalas at the Billabong Sanctuary, Queensland
(b) Swam nudie in Zoe Falls on Hinchinbrook Island, off the coast of Queensland
(c) Went scuba diving for my first time in the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Queensland
(d) Met 'Roos for a snack in the vineyard, Margaret River wine region, Western Australia
(e) Walked over Sydney Harbor Bridge to see the Opera House with a friend, New South Wales
(f) Shook hands with the Queen of England, Canberra
(g) Conversed with an Aborigine on the ways of life today, Canberra
November 2007
(1) My brother got married! Meet the new Mr. Randy Tina [Galletta] Bonito!
(2) My best friend Alyssa was 8 months pregnant with my future goddaughter!(3) Cousin Vivian from Israel planned a big family reunion in Peabody, MA!
December 2007
My goddaughter Claire Jayne Mages was born on the 12th December, a dream come true!

Mourning

It is a beautiful spring day.
The birds are singing, the sun is bright, the air is crisp.
The shadows of the branches make a mixed up pattern on the window shades.
The shadows of the leaves dance on the green tile floor.
I sit here and wonder how to mourn on such a gorgeous day.

My cousin Mark, the one who went under Hospice care two weeks ago, died yesterday. He survived two weeks of the potential two month period that he had left to live. Though he suffered for five years, he and his family have now been given a blessing of having to suffer no more. Alyssa seems to think that he has been taken away to become someone's guardian angel. Perhaps that is true...will we ever know?

I am truly thankful and glad to know that Mark's last two weeks weren't at all bad. He was constantly, daily, surrounded by family and friends, by loved ones. He didn't talk much, but he enjoyed tapping his feet to the music on his iPod. He was entertained by our miniature-sized cousins dancing around the room and flying kites outside the window. He got to eat whatever the hell he wanted - chocolate, cookies, macaroni and cheese, you name it! He was spoiled and deserved every moment. The best part was definitely the daily doses of love that he received from his visitors. I heard that his former roommate from San Francisco flew out to see him, as well as his friends from CT.

The funeral is on Sunday, time to be determined. I look forward to hugging all of my family and celebrating the good life that has recently left us. Mark was always positive, putting on a smile and never seeming to let life get him down. He has been an inspiration to all...but most recently, to cousin Mary, who was diagnosed with breast cancer about a month ago. She is to begin chemotherapy next month. I wish the best for her, and I know that Mark may possibly be the guardian angel who sits on her shoulder and tells her that life is going to be alright.

This one's for you Mark - I love you and I am sure going to miss you.

Nutrition

This week I am house- and teenage-boy-sitting, as I mentioned before. I am to wake the 15 year-old each morning at 6:30 am, make sure he gets to the bus stop (end of the driveway) by 7:07 am, and then pick him up in the afternoons after the late bus drops him off or after a LAX game. I watched his LAX game the other day and enjoyed it greatly! I wanted to yell my head off and jump up and down, but I thought I might embarass him...after all, he is 15 and doesn't know me that well, ha.

I have been making breakfasts for Andrew every day and dinners for us three, which includes his older brother (he's 18 and isn't thrilled that I'm even here this week, because, after all, he is an "adult" now). Anyway, last night at dinner the boys were talking about the food I've been cooking and it seems as if they've enjoyed every bit of what I have cooked so far. Andrew mentioned that he's been eating breakfast every day (to Sam's complete surprise - and perhaps with a mix of jealousy? - "You are?!"). I announced that we had banana pancakes Tues morning and yogurt, fruit and granola Wednesday morning. (Today I cooked Bird's Nests for Andrew - everyone gives them a different name - bread with a hole cut out of the middle, fried in a pan with an egg filling up the hole...and I also toast up the little holed-out middles too, cause I can't see wasting food, ever! I also sent him off with some of my mom's apple and chocolate chip cake, a banana and juice box.) The point is, Andrew said that since he's been eating breakfasts, which was only two mornings at that point, he has found himself with much more energy throughout the day. WOAH! And the professionals all say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I have just, unknowingly, performed my own research on this topic and succeeded with excellent results! Go breakfast! :)