Duct Tape & WD-40

Some Silly Stuff

Listening to Bruce Springsteen makes me feel better because he understands and it trying to make it okay.

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Well, my sister is back from ... where did she go again?  oh yeah, Italy.  What she doesn't know is that Mom and I were just there a week before she went.  We didn't want her to know because we didn't want to steal her thunder.  But, oops, I guess the cat is out of the bag now.

Here is a pic of Mom and I standing in St. Marks Square in Venice.

And here is one of us picking up some souvenirs.

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So you know that after Italy, we jetted off to New York City.  Does it compare to two weeks in Italy?  Well, it came mighty close.  I really didn't know how much I needed that break.  It was a relaxing, shopping extravaganza.

Here is the view from our fabulous suite that we shared with our good buddy, Ann.

This is a photo I snapped in Central Park.  It is the first time that we had taken any time to explore it and it was amazing.  Next time we go, we want to spend more time there.

And now for the grand finale.  I bought my first (and probably only, EVER) pair of Manolo Blahnik stilettos.  They were on sale.  They are perfect.  I love them so much I kiss them.

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Top 5 Reasons My Trip to NYC was Better Than My Sister's Trip to Italy

5.  No kids or husband

4.  Shopping, shopping, shopping with no Euro exchange rate

3.  Ritz-Carlton concierge club lounge - 'nuff said

2.  Ate at a restaurant that served different flavors of FOAM!

1.  It was free for me

Updates

Updated the banner.  A simple banner for a simple summer.  Here's hoping it is easy-peasy

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Our Universal Studios trip was not nearly as bad as I anticipated.  Yes, tropical storm Barry closed the pools on Saturday.  Okay, really.  Closed the pools.  We were under a tornado watch until 3:00 p.m.  Watch, not warning.  No thunder.  No lightening.

I can't really complain, however, because it got us out of paying for a cabana on a less than perfect day.  So, we got the cabana for Sunday at the Hard Rock Hotel.  Sunday was spectacular.  Just what the doctor ordered.  Fun pool.  Fun DJ.  Fun drinks.  We stayed all day.

We ended up getting the additional room that adjoined our room.  We are just getting too big for a regular hotel room.  When I talked to the woman at the front desk about the room,  I told her that we needed the additional room because when I left, my children were sitting on my husband's head.  Literally.  He was yelling, "Get off my head"!

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GARY had to go see Dr. Goodlooking last week.  He said his left shoulder was hurting.  I was kind of worried he was making it up just to confront Dr. Goodlooking.  You know, like Tom Schavo did to that guy that Lynette had a crush on on "Desperate Housewives".   I told him that if he said anything, that we would loose a good doctor (because I would be WAY too embarrassed to ever return) that our family really counts on.

Gary swore that his shoulder really did hurt and he would not say anything.  Also he asked if he should wear make-up.  I told him that he should look and smell his best so Dr. Goodlooking would know that he has some pretty stiff competition.

Gary now knows that he is getting old.  He has arthritis in that shoulder.  He got a very painful steroid shot.  I wonder if Dr. Goodlooking enjoyed giving it to him because my heart belongs to Gary and not him???

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Honestly, I haven't posted much to my blog because my sister is in Italy and I am so consumed with jealousy that I can't think of anything to write.

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Still taking painkillers for my neck, shoulders, jaw and head.  Last week I called Dr. Goodlooking and asked for some more.  He gave me lots of the GOOD stuff.  I was giddy as a schoolgirl.  Now, this may sound, to some, like I am a little too attached to those lovely things.  Actually it is quite the opposite.  I hoard painkillers.  I have bottles from 2002 that I should throw away.  I think that deep down I have this gnawing fear that I will be in some type of horrible pain and NOT have any painkillers.

Unfortunately, I still need them and therefore unable to add them to my stash.  This concerns me on so many levels.

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Leaving on Friday for New York with my Mom.  So, HAH! to my sister.  I don't really know why HAH! because New York is not better than Italy, but I will come up with some good reason and post it later - maybe after I get back.  Like Top Ten Reasons Why My Trip Was Better Than Yours.  We'll see.

Lori Plans Pool Vacation - First Rain in 9 months Coming in Form of Tropical Storm

The Secret tells us that we create our own luck.  We create our own life.  But I am in need of refresher course on how to do this because we Hudsons have definitely hit what a non-believer would call several months of "bad luck".

I don't need to make a list, but just add this to it.  Last March, after Gary's hospital stay and my I.V. treatment.  I was expressing my desire to just find a fun pool and lie in a chair sipping tropical drinks while my children frolicked in the water - not bothering me.  I wanted to feel the warm sun on my skin.  I wanted to forget.  So, we decided that our families needed a trip to the Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Studios.  We had no desire to go to the theme parks.  We just wanted the pool.

We made reservations.  We reserved cabanas.  We fantasized about cabana boys.

We got a boy alright.  A boy in the form of tropical storm Barry!

Florida is thirsty.  It is dry and burning.  It hasn't rained significantly in months.  The weekend of our tropical pool/drink vacation, it is supposed to rain torrents.  Maybe hail.  Maybe tornados.

So, I still believe in the Secret.  But I am thinking of bringing in a voodoo priestess to perform a ceremony.  Please save your chicken bones for our doorstep.