Water, water, and more water...

Never seen anything like it, supposedly it hasn't been this bad in RI in possibly as far back as 500 years!!! Unfortunately my town was hit just about the hardest, and we already had a disturbingly low unemployment and poverty level (as does most of RI these days).

This is the CVS as the end of my road, thankfully we live at the top of a hill and we didn't have any significant water issues. It's kind of ridiculous, you didn't have to live anywhere near a pond, stream, or river, apparently when you get 30 inches of rainfall in the first 3 months of the year, 13 of which come in less than a two week span, ground water can just flood your basement. It actually pops holes right in the foundation, whether your basement is finished or not. I know SO many people whose basements are ruined by FEET of water who live nowhere near anything remotely like this picture (this is actually about a quarter mile itself from the Pawtuxet River which crested at I believe 22 feet above flood stage).

And the kicker. This is the mall that's about 3 minutes from my house. This is absolutely ridiculous. No one's ever seen anything like it around here. So many businesses lost and people out of work. There are about 15 buildings in the vicinity as well that were flooded out (including our future pediatricians office, yikes!!!!).




Thankfully the waters have receded but the damage was done. It'll take a long time for the area to be the way it was again, there are so many condemned houses in our area due to the sewage that spilled over, the businesses may not all come back, who knows, there are roads STILL closed, bridges out, and so many people who have water damage aren't covered by insurance. FEMA only goes so far (if at all actually).

Thankfully no injuries or deaths reported, so in some ways we can count ourselves lucky.

Did It Again

So yes, I did it again, apparently all I am good for in the blog world is an enticing teaser and then a long absence :) I promise to try to stay a little longer this time. Especially since I have some exciting news (which contributed to my absence this time!).

This is baby Grace, and yes I am lucky enough to be her future mommy. She's wicked awesome (see how she's already giving the peace sign? I'm in love). I'm 25 weeks tomorrow!! And its been the most fantastic time of my life, even despite a little nauseau and 2 terrible colds. Due May 30th and wishing it would slow down in coming just a little so I can enjoy this ride as long as possible. We have been so busy getting everything ready, my husband closed on a house just before Christmas and started working on it January 2nd, so far so good! Hopefully we'll have it sold before she's born!!!

And we've worked out that he's going to try staying home with her for the first couple of years full time if it works out financially, so I've been getting him all kinds of information on being a stay-at-home-dad, he is thrilled and I really hope we can swing it (and that I don't have a fit of jealousy and quit my job when I have to go back to work!). Good news is if the house sells well we just might both be able to stay home with her together for the entire summer, I'm crossing fingers and toes for that. Kinda scary having so much up in the air right now so I just try to focus on her little kicks and not get overwhelmed, yikes!

So sorry for the long delay and I promise promise to keep you posted! Haha, pun intended :)

Vacation

So I'm sure it's understood why I had to take a small vacation from the blog world. It was just too much of a reminder and I had to get my head on straight again. Had a wonderful summer full of great zoo days, long motorcycle rides, adventurous hikes on the North South Trail, and a fantastic beach vacation with my family. Made some wonderful new friends whom I feel I've known forever already and hopefully have moved a step closer to my husband starting off on his own line of work blending contracting with flipping houses (believe me we know the risk, we are being very smart about it and also praying for a dose of good luck).

Just wanted to get the blog ball rolling again, ease my way back in :) I'll get some pics up from some of my summer journey's, hope you had wonderful summers as well!

Best friends with four legs...

I hope all of you have had the chance to have a best friend with four legs. The love and devotion is completely unique, and the pain when you lose that friend is as real as if you lost a family member. My family and I lost our beloved best friend of 11 years, Maggie, on 5/16. This is a tribute to her, she meant the world to us, brought us joy every minute of her life, and will always always be remembered with a smile.

So quiet this house, without you around,
the jangle of your collar was such a comforting sound.
Click clack went your nails as you paced across the floor,
waiting for the sound of someone you loved at the door.

The whining and snuffing when you welcomed them in,
Was your way of demanding the hugs and kisses never end.
The thump of your tail let us know you were content,
“Thwack Thwack” could be heard even when you were spent.

Your mission was to please, you always had a smile.
As long as we were happy your aches were all worthwhile.
No whine escaped your muzzle, never once did you complain.
We tried so hard to keep you here, but all our efforts were in vain.

You left your mark on all our hearts, dear Maggie it is true,
Our lives will never be the same without our beloved Moo.
But lessons we have learned, to appreciate today,
for tomorrow is not a promise, and there’s no more yesterday.

We will live each day to the fullest, with peace because we know,
outside the gates you patiently wait for each of us to show.
We’ll run and play and greet those we missed; we’ll see you again,
there is no such thing as eternity without you our beloved friend.

Sweet pea

Uncle PJ, Maddie, and Maya ---- nap time :)

I've ZORBED, have you?

Since I had so much fun posting the pictures last time, I figured I would introduce you all to one of my all-time favorite vacations in a little collage :)

Last year in April, my husband, sister, her boyfriend, and I decided to take a road trip. It all started when we saw a commercial for a truck, and in the back of the truck was a giant bubble ball (see the Superbowl commercials do pay off!). We had to know what it was so we looked it up online and were introduced to the craziness that is Zorb'ing. A company in Australia created the Zorb ball, and there are only a handful of locations throughout the world, the only one in the US being in Tennessee. So that is where we were headed. After a brief stop in Washington and some artsy photo ops, we were off for the 10 hour scenic drive to Tennessee!

We stayed in a beautiful log cabin in Pigeon Forge, but of course the hot tub was the best feature!

There was lots to do in Pigeon Forge and surrounding towns like Gatlinburg. We hit up it seemed like every shop on the strip, each with an old western store front, and of course the Ripley's Believe It Or Not museum!! It had this awesome green-wall we spent about an hour in front of, it would take your picture and capture your shadow! And you can't forget all of the majestic views and trailways of the Smokey Mountains!

And the highlight, the very reason for the trip, was to have our ZORB adventure. As we pulled up to the Zorb center, this is what we saw:

Oh that's right, the whole point is to get in the ball:

And roll down the hill :)

It was the best ride of my life!!!!! With water (just like a water slide):

.

And without (this was quite the bumpy ride, you actually register G-Forces!):

Aaahhh yes... what would a vacation be without rolling down a backwoods hill in a giant bubble ball. It was a dream come true :) And sadly, it was time to leave before we knew it, though we had to stay a night in Gettysburg and drive through Ahmish country on the way home in order to truly call it a road trip.

Vacation or not, remember to be silly, enjoy life, and always remember how to get home.

Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Truly the only good thing about Monday's is the Not Me! Monday. Otherwise you give up the rested and stress free day full of possibilities for a chaotic day full of the drone of work, with the dream of another care-free day as your weekend alter-ego sadly over 5 days away. So here's to Monday :)


No I did not spend another entire weekend on the couch watching movies and coming up with excuses not to leave the comfort of my living room cave. Me, being a wonderful friend, would never put off visiting one of my oldest friends in the hospital after she just had her first baby, a sweet little girl, because my husband said he needed new clothes and I needed an excuse to hide. And I would never therein convince him to buy more clothes to make him spend the same amount I wanted to spend so I wouldn't feel guilty.


No, my life has not become that pathetically apathetic and boring that this is all I can come up with. Not much fodder when all you do is lay about. This week will be more exciting, though it should be pretty easy to top last week. I hope I can get back to rock climbing and the zoo (if all goes well today), and there's never a dull moment when my mom has my life by a rope and can't remember how to tie it to the anchor, or when Spanky the porcupine tries to climb my leg while Frida the saki monkey simultaneously pees on me. Oh the good life... I miss that....