Congratulations,

Lynn & Jerry!

Married today, at 5 o'clock, St. Pete's Beach, Florida.

Two human loves make one divine.

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

**** Link to wedding photos :

http://timboylesphotography.wordpress.com/

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HONEY!

LIFE IS A JOURNEY, NOT A DESTINATION.

HAPPY JOURNEY & HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEETHEART!

Yard Sale Hilarity & Success, Shout Outs

Ready to go! The walker didn't sell, believe it or not!

Yesterday was our community yard sale. There are about 300 total attached townhomes and separate structure single houses, and approximately 60 homes in our "grouping". I'd say 6 out of 60 participated. They had advertised in the local and penny papers for the past 2 weeks, and there was a big banner on the outside wall all of last week.

I got up at 5:30 (normal now - still on eastside time) with ak, as I have him tuned into my crazy schedule. I went down to the garage to start getting things organized, and have my all important cup of joe. I started moving boxes, and arranging empty totes as tables. I had borrowed a card table from our neighbors, plus a coffee pot to sell for them. I got a cool $2.00 for it :)

ak came downstairs and was like "what the hell? it sounds like you are bringing the house down"! Our office is directly above the garage, so it I guess it may have been loud??? Anyway, I got him to help carry some merchandise downstairs, and he thought we had to load up the car. He thought I was going somewhere else to sell the stuff. I was like, dude, you are too funny.

So I was all set to go at 7am, and again, ak says "you can't open the garage at 7am" and imagine his surprise at my first customer at 7:04. He pretty much stayed away from the selling floor, and when I text messaged for coffee or a bathroom breaks, he would stand all the way at the back of the garage, basically with one foot in the door to the house :) We had lots of laughs, and he was imitating me haggling and chit chatting - the office windows were of course open, and my voice has a tendency to travel.

I had lots of traffic early, then it tapered off until a rush from 9:15 - 10am, then it started getting REALLY hot outside - it's been in the high 90's for 2 days. Alot of folks didn't even have their places "open" until 10am, which was just dumb. The most asked for items were: musical instruments, laptops, cell phones and bikes. None of which I had, but I was still largely successful in getting rid of many things, and my target shoppers were women. I closed down by noon packed up what didn't sell and took it directly to the Good Will drop-off. There were only 2 bags to drop off, so I was pleased. Also, I had continuously cleaned the garage during the entire sale, so it was swept, organized, and I even hung more pictures! I want to hang out there now.

Jojo's numbers:

1 set of potholders
1 Cuisinart sandwich maker
1 clock radio
2 baseball hats
4 belts
3 pairs of shoes
3 pocketbooks
5 articles of clothing
1 travel steamer
4 fashion scarves
11 books
2 sets of silverware
1 curling iron
1 pen & pencil set
1 set of shower rings
1 coffee pot (neighbors)

Total Items Sold = 42
Total Cash Collected = $40.75 NOT TOO SHABBY!!!!

Here are a few funny incidents:

*I was wearing a Metallica shirt, ripped up jeans, hat, flops & glasses. These teenage guys came up, and one was amazed I was wearing a heavy metal band tee, and we ended talking about some music and bands like Godsmack. He's the one who bought the coffee pot, and I think he was about 13.

*I had my change operation happening on the back end of the card table, and at one point put my iphone down on top of a tag that had $1.50 on it. This little plump Mexican boy asked me for the phone and had $1.50 in his hand, and we all cracked up. I told him that unfortunately the iphone was not for sale. Then this older nerd dude was like, "I'll give you $300 for it right now", which I thought was kind of weird. I politely declined his offer, and still managed to sell him a belt.

*I carried the bills in my jeans pockets, and close to noon ak came to check on me and I proudly pulled out my wad of ones, a 5, and a 20. It looked like stripper cash, and that I was tallying up with my pimp after business.

*At one point, I was yakking with about 4-5 older ladies, and ak had come down to ask me something, stuck his head out the door, saw the action and shut it so fast the air sucked out of the garage. He later explained that he had been scared. It was my hard sales technique - it's frightening.

So, all in all it was a great day, and we had a few extra buck in our pockets. The best is the bunch of crap that is gone!

We had a great night, getting together with 2 other couples for a belated birthday celebration. We went to a great Greek place for dinner, and had a blast. No one has been out much lately, so everyone let loose a bit. ak and I had 3 Bellinis a piece and were feeling no pain :) We did dessert back here at the house, and another couple was able to join us, too, so it was a real party. I got some cool things, the most exciting being a set of watercolors, paper, brushes and paint tray from my friend Julie. Combined with mom's art set, I am really feeling the need to create!!

SHOUT OUTS:

*A special thanks to Rikke, our niece, who managed to send me the most beautiful bouqet of Peruvian Lillies while in the midst of Africa. You spoil me, and I love it ....just take it easy on the old auntie Jojo stuff!!! Here is a shot of your fabulous flowers!

Birthday Flowers

*Also, I am so happy that the pregancy was annouced over at simone. I have been literally bursting to acknowledge the news on the blog, because ak and I are so very excited for Chrissy & Eric! Also, their new home is absolutely amazing, and that bun in the oven is in for a wonderful life with wonderful parents :) Congratulations, baby-makers!

later, peeps

beauty from the backyard

Out there & loving it - 40 & in the future!

I am HOME!! It was so wonderful getting off that plane last week in San Jose. I can't describe how it feels when this air hits you as you exit the plane. San Jose airport actually wheels stairs up to each of the planes, so you get on and off the plane on the tarmac. My bags were the first ones on the carousel, and ak was right outside and ready to go, with dinner on the back seat - we were off to the homestead!

It was a grand homecoming. I walked around the place a few times, and checked out the plants, just trying to get my bearings. The best was ak just being right there. I take for granted the amount of time we spend together, and when I was unable to reach out to touch him whenever I wanted, it sucked. I had an ache in me that has finally disappeared over the days I've been back with him.

Okay, enough mush, let's get to the good stuff!! As you know, I turned 40 last Thursday, and I must say it felt pretty damn good!! We have been in lockdown mode since my return Wednesday, so I was quite relaxed. I took several calls throughout the day. Two honorable mentions go out to my godson Nicky and his singing skills, as well as a call from the Shady Maple himself, with Maple Junior making his first gaga - googoos across the phone lines. Very Cool.

I had been banned from the office since I got back. I wasn't allowed to look at emails, or look in certain parts of the house. At first I was bummed, but I was busy unpacking and starting to get tasks in line dealing with mom, and hitting the laundry pile :) So I was excited about my bday, but also very distracted by the past 4 1/2 weeks with mom.

As Thursday dawned, I was having a cup of delicious coffee (I really missed my coffee maker), cigg and reading out on the back patio. We had washed down all of our patio furniture the day before, and rearranged the plants in the front and back, so we were ready for the outdoor season. I checked in with my mom, and we had a nice chat. I had a nice little walk, and started in on the stack of People magazines that had come while I was gone.

After a few more phone calls, ak and I had a lovely brunch with VC mimosas. My new juice favorite is Simply Juice/Orange with Mango - fantastic for the mimosa. Then it was time to open cards and presents. I first checked emails and blogs, and was so pleased to discover that I had a birthday blog posted by my girl Chrissy, and several ecards.

I got great cards - most mentioning 40, but a couple from aunts & uncles who still send the kiddie-style cards. I got one with kittens playing on the front. Seriously.
And now the presents ....

I got a gorgeous watch - it has 2 faces, so one is set for west coast, and one for east coast. I have wanted one like this for a long time :)
Also some stationary, a summer wallet, a carry-on bag, a pastel & watercolor set, 2 gorgeous beaded bags from my mom - a white one she carried at her wedding, and a black one she used with her travelling suit (leaving from reception to honeymoon). I love when my mom busts out stuff like this - she still has some secrets!

....and, drumroll, please ... ak got me the Amazon Kindle!!!!!

I was so surprised -- I really have been distracted, so it was fantastic for both of us. I was jumping around clapping my hands, and ak had this huge smile on his face. I also received a book light, and Kindle cover to go with it. I plugged it in to start immediate charging, and did some pre-browsing in Amazon to see what books I wanted. My boy Stephen King wrote a novella titled UR that is ONLY available on the Kindle - how cool is that?? That was first on my list of downloads. Once charged, I put the Kindle through a 2 hour downloading marathon. It was like Neo getting hooked up to the Matrix the first time, learning judo, karate, and so forth. There is a ridiculous amount of free books available - classics, Obama's speech, cookbooks, you name it. The books then go from $0.01 to $9.99 - that is the highest price for any book. I have 40 books on my new gadget, and it is so exciting! I spent $13.00 for all of that. I finished the Stephen King, and am reading 2 books currently. One about Barbie and her creator, and the second called Revolutionary Road, the story the movie that Kate Winslett one the Oscar last year.

I admit, when this thing first came out, I was against it. I saw myself as a martyr for the paper page, the traditional book. We started reading articles about it, and feedback from actual users, and I started to change my opinion. Christin had one on the cruise, & that's the moment I was sold on it. I will always have my library, and will continue to read the written word, but this gadget makes it easier and simply portable.

I love love love it! Even ak is completely impressed with it - he says it is completely different than he thought it would be. When it is sleeping, screensavers of every author imaginable come up, and the screen is phenomenal! It uses technology ink, so it doesn't look like a computer screen, and is so clear and actually easier on the eyes. I can read the blogs on it, and we are trying to publish to it next. Whew!! I am glued to it. We are looking into services taht will convert my book library to Kindle text.


All righty, peeps. It Monday, and I have a To Do list that is out of hand. I can report that my mom has herself a driver she can call at any time for rides. She already used it once, and said it was going to work out well. Also, she hired one of the kids down the street (last name Nolan :) )to do her laundry once a week. She had a "test" run yesterday, and all went really well. I am very relieved, especailly concerning the laundry, as now mom doens't have to go down the treacherous staircase. My next to do item is to order her the First Alert in the wrist watch form.

Thanks for all of the shout outs, and more blogs to come.Me, Uncle Xen(one of mom's bros), and Mom

during that gorgeous weekend at the end of April.

Heading West

AK is out of undies, so I am heading home on Tuesday :)

It's been a long 4 weeks, but mom & I have really gotten a ton of stuff done.

She's had at least 2-3 doctor appointments per day, plus trips to Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Trader Joe's, Boscovs, Sears, Joanne Fabrics, Riddle Thrift Shop, CVS, Walgreens, hairdresser, Elwyn Pharmacy (daily), Wachovia, Brookhaven Nails, Home Depot, Kinkos, Kohl's, and the ghetto Pathmark in Brookhaven. We went to Langhorne for Easter, St. Luke's church during holy week, visited various neighbors, and gone back to Riddle Village for her to visit friends she's made, too.
And my 9th grade cousin went to the junior and senior proms this and last Friday - more on that in a later post!

Phew - Jojo is exhausted.

I have only seen Chrissy once, and have only been able to talk with Kelly on the phone :(
I haven't been to the Plumber, or stopped by Granger's ... HIGHLY unusual for me!
It's been a different kind of trip, and despite my mom & I having our usual disagreements, she's told me some family things I never knew, gave me a letter written to me for my 1st birthday (in Greek) from my grandmother/yiayia. She was the only one I had, as the others had all passed long before I came along. My mom's mom died before I was a year old, and I don't remember her at all. The letter was wonderful to have, and I've already framed it for my bedside.

Of course I am sad to leave mom, but I hope to return within 2 months to continue working on the house with mom.
At this point, I miss ak too much. I feel like one of my limbs is missing - this is the longest we've been apart!
I leave Tuesday, and we won't be taking any calls until Thursday ;)

Peace Out, players!