When it Rains...

As if its not enough that this is my busiest time of the year at work, it seems it is also destined to be a bit nuts in my personal life as well. First there was the 7th annual crab fest. A great party that I love but that is a ton of work, though it is worth every bit, it makes me tired. For this sole reason alone I plan it a full two weeks before the BIG WORK conference of every early August. Oh, good times...

In other news, some genius, going by the name of Young Jay from Miami, Florida, decided to try to access my bank accounts and transfer $1000 internationally. He was not so much smart or successful but did manage to create havoc in my life as I am not positive if it was simply random or if one Young Jay (what is he a rapper) has actual personal information on me. I am inclined to think he had my checking account and routing number (anyone can get that from your check) but not much else.

Anyway, genius Young Jay called BofA and requested an international wire transfer. He had my account number. He, yes HE, claimed to be me. The BofA representative took his information, put him on hold and proceeded to immediately call the number they had on file for me. It was my work number. I was at lunch. They left a voicemail, went back on the line with Young Jay and indicated to him that they had called the primary account holder and confirmed that I am, in fact, as suspected, a woman! CLICK. He promptly hung up.

They promptly locked down all of my accounts and suspended my online banking login and password.

I happily return from a yummy lunch and realize I have an email from BofA saying someone was trying to change my login or email address. I try to log in to my account and realize I can't. I call BofA and they fill me in. So, their recommendation, which I gladly accepted was to go to the local banking center and establish new accounts and close all of my old accounts just in case. So, an hour later, 2 new checking accounts, 2 new debit cards, 2 new credit cards, and a new savings account and I am on my way. Pain in the ass, yes. Worth it, also yes. So what I have to change a few automated payments to the new accounts, but that's a small price to pay when I don't know what information this guy may have.

BofA also initiated a credit report for me, for free, so I can check to see if anyone is trying to establish any other type of credit in my name. In other words, to see if this was just a random idiot or someone truly trying to engage in a little identity theft. Oh the joys of adulthood!

So that was my Thursday. Fun, no?

In other news, a few weeks ago my mother-in-law had a car accident. In the course of swerving to miss a squirrel she ran off the road and hit a telephone pole, setting off her airbag. She cracked a few ribs and her sternum and had some pretty nasty bruising. My brother-in-law, a doctor, insisted they do a full CT scan to check for internal bleeding. They found none. However, they did find a spot on her lung. The doctor ordered a biopsy. Biopsy came back negative. My brother-in-law, being thorough, asked his buddy an oncologist to look at the scan. Oncologist says, I don't care what the biopsy says, it looks like the big C to me, and orders a Pet Scan. Apparently, especially with small tumors, false negatives from biopsies are common. Which I guess, kind of makes sense, its easy to miss a small tumor and get healthy tissue. Reassuring, no?

Pet scan came back today, Cancer. The problem is she is too weak from the accident and the cracked ribs to undergo immediate surgery. The spot/tumor is in her left lung, which is the one that feels fine right now. The right lung is where the cracked ribs are and she is unable to breathe well on that side. So they are waiting, about a month, for her to get stronger and then plan to operate and remove all of the tumor that they can.

The good news is that without that damn squirrel she would have never known she had a tumor until it was probably too late. The other good news is that though she is 70, she is feisty, she is in pretty good shape, and she is doing everything she can to get stronger. The other good news is that her mother lived to her mid-90s.

So it looks like mid-August she will undergo surgery and then we will know more about kind of cancer, aggressiveness, stage, etc. It is no secret that my MIL and I aren't especially close but she is a good woman who has worked hard all her life to accumulate what it is she has, which is substantial, and to raise 5 wonderful, productive sons. So please if you are the type to pray, add her to your list. If you prefer to send warm fuzzies or good vibrations, those are more than welcome as well. Thanks.

A Last Weekend at the Cottage

This weekend we will head to my mama's to help her pack up the last of her things and get ready to move out of the little bitty cottage she's called home for about 6 years. It is the cutest little place and we have so many great memories, but it is falling into a bit of disrepair and it is simply time for her to move on.

Not to worry, she is just moving up the hill (literally) to an apartment with 2 bedrooms and an even better view of the river!

I know it will be hard for her, as she (like me) doesn't love transition but once she is all resettled I know she will be very happy and put her own little touches on her new place.

So this weekend we will all say goodbye to the cutest little cottage and move on.

Dear Mama

Dear Mama,

I think it is appropriate that on this day, my birthday, I thank you. Afterall, without you, there would be no me.

Thank you for giving birth to me today. About this time you were probably still knocked out and dreaming that you'd had two baby girls (I was so big my mama thought she had twins).

Thank you for raising me right (or correctly for those who believe in good grammar).

Thank you for being the best mama a little bitty (or a big girl) could ever want.

Thank you for being the best Mother-in-Law ever.

Thank you for teaching me how to be the mom I am.

Thank you for being the best Gram in the world.

Thank you for being my best friend (even when you drive me crazy).

Thank you for always being there when I really need you.

Love your best (and only) daughter,

Lizzie

Max & his awesome grammma...Everything is better at Gramma's

Crab Fest 2009

Each year we throw a Crab Fest for some of our nearest and dearest. The crowd has grown from a smallish group of maybe 10-15 to this year's epic high of 31! I won't lie and say there weren't moments leading up to Crab Fest '09 where I thought why the heck do I do this to myself. I worry...can I fit 30 on my deck?, I need more chairs, I need more tables, what will I make?, will the French Silk turn out ok? (alright I don't really worry about that one), and on and on ....

Well, midway through the evening I remembered exactly why I do it. There is little in life that can beat a unseasonably cool, humidity free evening in July, on the deck, with a few cold ones, and a belly full of crabs with friends and family from every stage of my life. This year my uncle put in a surprise appearance, all the way from Indy and my long lost sister from Tennessee flew in just for the event. I suppose since I had a friend come to my wedding from Japan, it is only fitting! I hope it was worth it for both of them!

It was perfection! I hope everyone else had as nice a time as I did! The best gift, in addition to bringing these super cool priate flip-flops for me, was photographic evidence that the shin-dig existed provided by my friend, Vicki! Thanks, VIVI. Here you can enjoy some of her great photos!




Love the new Flip-Flops (got these plus about 8 other pair from Vicki!)





Thirsty, anyone?



Just because its crabfest doesn't mean there can't be meat!







Ready to go!



Happy Puppy...please give me some food!



Worker Bees, sorry I worked you guys so hard




I have absolutely no idea what was so funny, or why I am the only one who looks crazy here!


The proper implements, thanks to KK!

A Bouncing Baby Barbolicious

Ok, so I know his last name will be his daddy's but the thought of a tiny, weeny, itty, bitty little Barbo Boy is so exciting to me! Two of our dearest friends are expecting this November. I am not sure what I am more excited about, having a baby to snuggle again - that I myself don't have to BIRTH -or witnessing these two awesome people raise a wee one.

Barbo is one of those chicks who the moment you meet her (in my case, while interviewing her for a job) you just know you want to be her friend. I am not sure if its the twinkle her eye or the slight bit of mischievousness in her smile. She is probably one of the naturally funniest people I have ever met. What I love about her most though is that though she is very light hearted and hil-HIL-arious, she has a depth and seriousness of soul that many really "funny" people lack or don't reveal.

I have endless great memories of her, from our summers working together in Williamsburg, to her taking me to meet her parents and all the YUMMMMY food her mom filled us up with, to hanging out in Philly for a visit before I even had kids, to vacationing together with her sister in St. John, hanging on my deck just relaxing, playing on the floor with my then 6 month old baby girl when she stopped on her way to her parents for Christmas, to visiting her in her new home with her new husband.

She and I have gone from carefree college girls just having a good time to women with responsibilities and husbands and kids!

Her husband is the definition of awesome. Girls like us can be a bit of a challenge and I can honestly say I have never known a man to be any more in sync with his lady. You can see the love and devotion he has for her all over his face. Beyond that, he's one of the most genuinely nice guys I've ever met. When we vacationed on St. John I don't think the smile ever left his face. He has a curious spirit, is a great artist and has more patience than Job himself! (He's going to need it!) They are perfectly suited and perfectly in balance and they will make the best of parents.

November just can't come soon enough. One lucky little baby boy will be coming into this world! Genetically speaking, it will be impossible for this to not be one cool little dude!

Best of STJ 2009

Because I am too lazy to post an entirely too long trip report here...here is the best of STJ '09 in photos. Suffice to say it was a great trip, like the others and I can't wait to go back. Yes, my life basically is what happens in between trips to St. John.