Surviving NJ

• What I'm Watching

  Last night I went to see District 9, and the night before GI Joe. They were both entertaining movies in their own right...District 9 - I love how it was done in a sort of documentary type styling...and GI Joe... Last night I went to see District 9, and the night before GI Joe. They were both entertaining movies in their own right... District 9 - I love how it was done in a sort of documentary type styling...and GI Joe was a fun summer, action packed shoot em up show. When it comes to TV, I've fallen in love with watching older shows and playing catch up. I can watch a full season, no commercials in record time..and i LOVE that I don't have to wait each week to see what happens. I'm totally loving Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives, and my favorite show right now is Saving Grace. I am caught up on Grace though, so I have to wait for new ones. I wait and watch 3 episodes back to back - no commercials! It's awesome...I can really get into it that way. I just wrapped up season 1 of Ugly Betty and I'm moving on to Season 2 this week! I decided to watch shows my husband isn't interested in...and I'm sure this is going to stick, because I'm having a blast seeing shows I want to see! We sit side by side...he's watching his stuff, and I'm hooked into my iPod watching mine! I like that we can still hang out and be together, but doing our own thing. Sure we have another TV in the other room, but I'd rather be there with him. :)

• Writing for Enjoyment Again...Go Figure

  Sometimes it feels as if my personality has been sucked out of me when I write something. It hasn't...but I realized I wasn't enjoying writing like I once was. I remember when I first started a blog, I was so... Sometimes it feels as if my personality has been sucked out of me when I write something. It hasn't...but I realized I wasn't enjoying writing like I once was. I remember when I first started a blog, I was so thrilled to have an outlet to write. I've always loved writing, and here was a blank slate for me to talk about whatever I wanted. Just a short while later, I started getting paid to write stuff, and while it was cool to make some extra cash, over the course of time, it started to suck the personality and life out of what I was writing. It wasn't the same as just writing for the enjoyment of it. I started taking on more and more sites to make more money, and next thing you know - what was left was an -- oh crap, I need to jot something down over here or over there... blah...that sucks for both me and you These days I still make money online, but I do it a little differently today. It doesn't force me to write on 10 different sites a day on topics of no interest to me. I write what I want now, but I'm only starting to find my enjoyment again. It's nice to write because I want to...not because I have a blank slate to fill by a certain time on a certain topic. I hope you'll explore with me again as I'm digging in to find my personality that seemed lost for quite a bit. I can't promise it will be a daily or weekly thing, but when I have something to say, I'll say it and not because I have to, or because it's the "topic" of the day, but because I want to. This is me again...because I want it to be. ...on that note...it's nice to be back.

• Jersey Girl Does Florida

  This year's summer vacation trip with my son brought us back to Florida. Tomorrow we leave for home, and wrap up a 2+ week vacation. It's been fun, but being away from home for 2 weeks, you start to miss... This year's summer vacation trip with my son brought us back to Florida. Tomorrow we leave for home, and wrap up a 2+ week vacation. It's been fun, but being away from home for 2 weeks, you start to miss your "comforts of home"...one of the things I miss is cooking, and I'm not some great chef. I think I'm just tired of eating out! Okay, so let's take a look at summer vacation 2009:- we did a 9 day stay in a 3 bedroom condo down near Disney- headed to the Keys, and then turned around and headed back to Orlando I have to say, I was a little disappointed in Key West, and if I were to book a trip to the Keys again, I'd opt for Islamorada instead of Key West, though I don't think I feel the need to return anytime soon....it's not that there's anything wrong wtih it, it's just that it's a damn long drive, when I have local places I prefer more. I guess in my mind, I pictured it a bit differently based on the pictures I've seen. Orlando is always fun, and we've come here often, so we know what are favorites are, and we always try to add a few new things to our trip to keep it fresh. In the amusement parks, we tried a few different things - like where we ate, or what we saw or did....we hit a different mini-golf place, though this one had way too many stairs...my son has asthma, and it took it's toll....we also got caught in a downpour, but that part was okay, since we actually were just about to play a hole on the course in a "cave", with a bench...what luck,huh?2 Tornados have struck while we were down here, but both were about 30 mins away...I'm not used to hearing about so many of them...Other new things we did:Blue Man Group - loved itBoggy Creek Airboat Ride- loved itM & M World at the FLorida Mall - neat, but seeing it once was enough..and I didn't feel the need to buy anything...it's a giant store with M&M stuff..some fun things to see though...i was amused Of course we hit our favorite multiple times, Rock-N-Rollercoaster....that was a blast, and it's both of our favorites, so we do it many times...When it comes to work, I did write one long article and did some keyword research, but that was the extent of it...I'm relaxed big time, and hoping it won't take me the regular day or two to get out of vacation brain mode when I get home....I also got the chance to see my friend COlleen who lives in Florida. I always enjoy visiting with her. She's a really neat person, and fun to be around.I am thrilled to get home and see my husband and dogs and cat though...miss them much, but yesterday morning in the pool...I was in my own world and ultra relaxed!!!That about wraps it up for now....not sure what else to mention, but I had a great time, as I do every year. I love this place, but I love being home too, and now I'm ready to get there...

• My Latest Scoop

  I had so much fun shopping this weekend.  It's funny, but I don't actually go out by myself too often anymore.  Sunday, I took the afternoon and browsed a few stores, and just went for a drive with the windows... I had so much fun shopping this weekend.  It's funny, but I don't actually go out by myself too often anymore.  Sunday, I took the afternoon and browsed a few stores, and just went for a drive with the windows down.  It was delightful, and I went at my own pace.  I picked up a couple of business books at Borders, along with a few odds and ends at Kohl's.  Unfortunately, the reason I went out by myself was that my husband has been under the weather.  He's feeling better now though, so I'm happy about that. We're hoping to go see the movie UP this week.  If we have time and Hangover looks like it could be fun as well.  I think my son wants to see Land of the Lost.  So we'll squeeze that in also, we tend to do a lot more movies during the warmer months, because that's when all the big releases come out - until the holidays in the winter.  Otherwise, back to work and the daily grind. Until next time...Deb

• ID Labels that work as Temp Tattoo

  Have allergies? Maybe you're diabetic? Have a child that is prone to seizures? There's a great solution for kids on a class trip, or out at the zoo or amusement park...and maybe you aren't with them. Did they go with... Have allergies? Maybe you're diabetic? Have a child that is prone to seizures? There's a great solution for kids on a class trip, or out at the zoo or amusement park...and maybe you aren't with them. Did they go with a friend's family, or on a youth group trip? EyedentityLabel.com offers temporary tattoo style identification. You can place not only your child's name and an emergency contact number, but also information like: Allergic to Peanuts or Allergic to Bees, or Seizures or Asthma, or whatever you need to let someone know in an emergency. This is something worth checking out if you or your child need emergency ID. It's a simple solution that's visible, or easily hidden....but something emergency responders will be able to find. Perfect for daycamps, a day out at the park with friends, a friend's birthday party when you can't be there... They are waterproof and last for a couple days...currently the pricing is $25 for a pack of 18.

• Movies and a Book

  It's been a full week for me when it comes to entertainment. We took off last week and headed to the shore. It was part work, mostly play for us. During the week, I was able to catch up on... It's been a full week for me when it comes to entertainment. We took off last week and headed to the shore. It was part work, mostly play for us. During the week, I was able to catch up on some movies, books and TV. Don't worry....NO spoilers.... Here's what I enjoyed: Water for Elephants - what a great book! I actually listened to the audio version, and LOVED the narrator. The Soloist - loved it, and could tell I would. It's been one of the few movie trailers that brought tears to my eyes. Excellent story and character study...sad, based on a true story Star Trek - It was an entertaining movie. I can't jump up and down and go, wow, that was GREAT...because honestly, it just wasn't my type of movie. It was good, but jumped around too much. It seemed to want to do too much in a short period of time. Either way, I enjoyed it, and my guys said it WAS great. I'm about to start a new book, with it's sequel...can't wait to get started. I even have a 7 book series on deck for my July trip! I love finally having time to fit these in.