Mary Elizabeth Nation (Lamonica)

http://www.webfh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=222650&fh_id=10061

If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane,

we'd walk right up to heaven and bring you back again!

Remembrance is a golden chain

Death tries to break,but all in vain.

To have, to love, and then to part

Is the greatest sorrow of one's heart.

The years may wipe out many things

But some they wipe out never.

Like memories of those happy times

When we were all together.

~ Author Unknown

ehow.com

Ever been to ehow.com?

Sometimes when I Google a topic.... this website comes up as a possible option.

You can learn how to do ANYTHING... from how to change a dirty diaper to how to fold a paper airplane.

Sometimes it's good for a laugh... "DO PEOPLE REALLY NEED DIRECTIONS ON THIS TOPIC??? COME ON PEOPLE!!!"

Othertimes it's nice.... they dumb it down for you and walk you through it like you are a 2nd grader.

Well, the talk in our house this afternoon, is how thankful we are for the jobs that we have. Not just because we HAVE a job but also because our jobs are pretty safe in today's economy.

According to ehow.com...

How to tell if your job is safe during a recession....

1) determine if your job is based on a NEED or a WANT (I teach this in 2nd grade... THEY HATE THIS TOPIC! :) ) They talked about "food". We all need it... but don't need to go OUT to eat. And "clothes"... we all need those but we don't need $400 jeans...
---- If it is a need... then DUH... if it is a want... LOOK OUT!

2) Healthcare.... people are always going to get hurt and sick

3)Government... YEAH LAMONICA'S!!!

4)Law Enforcement... people are always going to act stupid a time or two or twenty

5) Fields of Energy.... its another need.

6) SOME financial jobs...planning and saving... people tend to do this and think more about the future during a recession.

7) Almost anything to do with computers.... as long as these people stay current.... and as long as people like me LIVE on the internet... and people LIVE on their cell phone like my hubby (he he he he).... etc.


SO.......

We are thankful........ VERY thankful!

Our hearts and prayers go out to our friends and families who have been, will be, or are nervously waiting to see.... about being laid off or let go.

I do.... Yo quiero Taco Bell!!!

I enjoy tacos from Taco Bell... the nachos aren't bad either.
And the prices are affordable too!
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I enjoyed my wedding. Mike and I celebrated 3 and a half years together on Christmas Day... which was very special.
Thanks to many family members and friends, our wedding was very affordable and just how we wanted it. My perfect fairytale ideas came true...
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Now... you may be asking.... Why is Kelly blogging about two completely unrelating things...

OH NO... MY FRIENDS.. TACO BELL AND WEDDINGS... THEY ARE ONE IN THE SAME...

at least for a couple who just exchanged their wedding vows... in a Taco Bell in Normal, IL.

And no... Normal, IL is not intended to be a joke. I woke up and read the Tribune: Couple beats wedding stress by taking wedding vows at Taco Bell in Illinois

WOW........

The couple met on the internet. She moved to the states from Australia a few months later. He proposed on New Years Eve and they are already husband and wife thanks to a "minister" who was ordained on the internet!!

WOW.......

I just can't imagine. I loved every ounce of planning my wedding....

But I guess... to each their own.


HERE LEEEEZARD LEEEEZARD LEEEEZARD!!!!!!

In my humble opinion

I love my laptop.
Rarely do I sit to just watch TV without having my laptop on my lap.
I have many sites that I visit daily. Many sites that I visit multiple times daily.
Often times I find something that sparks my interest... and sometimes I feel the need to let someone know my 2 cents worth on the topic. (Poor Mike!)
Well... the other day I saw something on TV... and then I saw something about it again today on our local newspaper's website.
There is a movie coming out this Friday. It is called The Unborn.
I saw a preview on TV... made my heart race.
And then on the newspaper website today I saw that one of the young actors (9yo) is from St. Charles, IL.
Ok...
I thought the preview on TV was bad... then when I saw this... I wanted to know MORE.
I wanted to know what role he played in this movie... so I clicked a link... and watched the movie trailer. OH MY OH MY....
Now WHY??? (simple question) would a mother... allow her 9 yo old son, Ethan Cutkosky... to play a major role in a HORROR film.
I do not understand this. Somebody help me out, please!!
I know that this is not the first mother out there to allow her young child to star in a role such as this... BUT COME ON!
Why would you want to expose your child to this.
You can't tell me that this child has not seen the final cut and that he doesn't understand the plot line. You can't tell me that he is mature enough to comprehend this. You can't tell me that he is better off, having been a participant in this movie, or having experienced viewing this film.
I am sorry but like I said, I sometimes feel the need to share my opinion on things I find. And when it comes to children... this teacher feels she needed to vent. Thanks for listening/reading and if you have any insight... do share! :)
Look for more IMHO posts in '09.

Two Thousand WHAT? WOW! NINE!!

Hello… 2008… Where did you go??
We often hear people say, “The older that you get, the quicker time will fly by!” Lucky for us, “We are only as old as we feel!”
Our year was filled with many treasured memories. On Christmas day, we celebrated our 3 and a half year wedding anniversary. 2008 was our first full year in our new house. We have enjoyed making it our own.
In January '08 we hired a Bozo to finish our basement. After we got him out of the way, with the help of so many generous family members and friends, WE finished our basement together, creating 2 main living areas, a half bathroom, and a generous sized storage area. To celebrate this success, we joined our friends Pete and Stacy in Las Vegas for a weekend get-a-way.
This past summer we got to experience the joys of parenthood when we babysat our nephew Maddux over night! Also this past summer, after ending a stressful school year, Kelly got the opportunity to interview applicants for the new principal at her school. Additionally this past summer, Kelly got to join Mike in Florida on a business trip. Labor Day weekend was a very expensive time for us. Joining the Lamonica house was a king sized bed, new bedroom set, new washer and dryer, and a new snow blower.
Following that weekend of shopping bliss, came a day of sorrow. On September 9th, Howie, our 3 and a half year old English Bulldog was diagnosed with skin cancer. He is a fighter and with the help of chemotherapy, he is winning the fight against the awful disease.

Because we are season ticket holders to Broadway in Chicago, we were able to enjoy a few productions this year. Kelly was able to see one production twice when her former college roommate, Erin, and her mother joined Kelly and her mom this past Fall. We love the theater and so we renewed our season tickets for another season. In the months ending ’08, Mike and Kelly had the honor on being in their brothers’ weddings. Kelly’s little brother, Todd married Angie in September. Mike’s older brother, Brian married Ryan in November.
We wish them and all of you love and happiness in ’09.

With love Always… Mike, Kelly and Howie Lamonica

St. Augustine

The Alligator Farm... very fun!

never knew storks were so ugly
Timmy the turtle.
Another lighthouse to add to our collection
Our pigs in the ocean
Outside the visitor center


The Fort

Another lighthouse!

The Old Jail
The Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse!
Mike's childhood memory
Ripley's was fun!

believe it or not!

WE RECOMMEND ST. AUGUSTINE TO ANY TRAVELERS!

Miss Erin and Me in Chicago!!!

Miss Erin and myself at the beautiful Lurie Garden in Millenium Park

The Crown Fountain
THE BEAN!!!! (Cloud Gate)

Had a blast... wish we had more time...
MISS YOU ALREADY MISS ERIN!!