Glad you made it!

This is a place where I put together my thoughts, my feelings and lots of needless "stuff" about me and my bunch. Its a place where my internet friends can get to know us a little better. And for those of you who have the pleasure of knowing me in person, you know I'm not the best at keeping in touch - so drop in here to learn about my hectic, crazy life and everything thats going on!

~ Life in Staten Island ~

Well as most of you probably know - back in September '99, we made our first move since we were married back in July '83.
I miss Brooklyn at times - the stores, the friends I made, but it was definitely time to go. Life in Staten Island has proved to be what we hoped it would be. We even went house hunting. Yes, we are planning to make this our permanent home!

So far we've celebrated a lot of 1sts in the new place. All the holidays went well and we are now living through our 1st summer here.

I love it here. I've met a lot of really nice people and a few really wacky ones too! You cant avoid that. Every neighborhood has them : )
Robert is adjusting to the new surroundings. He's at work all day, so to him it really dont matter as much.

The bills are higher and the money rolls out faster than it comes in.
But we have a home that we love and we are happy in. We are taking it slow, looking for our own home, a place where we will finally have it all - the back yard, the pool, and lots of space, but for now, this is home and we all feel a sense of peace here.

Taylor is happy wherever she is, as long as her toys, her family and her puppy are with her.

She has a new little boyfriend named Michael. Daddy doesnt like when we say that. He prefers "new best friend". Lighten up Dad! One thing about living here - there are LOTS of children! We just secured a spot for her in a local pre-school. She starts in September!

Jon, on the other hand, is having a harder time with it.

After all, he's 15! Thats a time when your friends are a very important part of your life. It was hard for him to leave Brooklyn. In the beginning he didnt want to hear anything about making a new life. He would run off to Brooklyn every weekend to hang in the old neighborhood with his buddies. But this past year he was on Msgr. Farrell's Lacrosse team. With practices and games filling his week, he didnt have as much free time and finally, put some roots down in Staten Island. Besides, his cousins now made the Brooklyn/Staten Island transition like so many others, and he has family just minutes away.

The neighborhood is wonderful.

Lots of terrific stores just block away (which is perfect for this shopping fool). There's a park right across the street and a beach just a few blocks down. Jon's school is just 5 blocks from the house. Last year when he picked that school, the only bad point was all the traveling he would have to do to get there. He took 2 buses and it took him over an hour. Now he's there in 5 minutes. There's also a Catholic grammer school right on the corner for when Taylor is ready to start.

So as you can see, we are all adjusting. Thats why we felt it was time to make this a permanent move. We are currently looking at houses and are also considering the option of building on my father-in-law's land. Either way, by the time this lease runs out - we will make a more permanent home here!

I'll be posting some newer pictures. Check out our family album pages.

Here are some really great groups of women on the internet. Check them out by clicking on their logo.

The following are my 2 adopted angels. A friend from MOW named Carol created a site dedicated to the many children who have lost their lives at the hands of abusive adults, sometimes their own parents. Stop by and view her site. It is bound to touch your heart.