I've been tagged...but this one is short & sweet....

Thank you Nan, I love some of the memes going around and this one is no different.

The rules/commands are as follows:
1. Go to the 4th folder in your computer, where you store your pictures.
2. Pick the 4th picture in that folder.
3. Explain that picture.
4. Tag 4 people to do the same.

OK - this sounds easy...let's just see what picture is in that locale.....



Well, some people might have beautiful landscapes or possibly a sentimental reminder in their picture folder, but this is definitely different.

This is from my folder "Boston 2004", which may be appropriate, as I just returned from my annual visit. This would be an angel yard ornament, for lack of a better description. One that has individual arms, legs, body, etc., and can be placed in various forms. Since I have this impish, sometimes bizarre sense of humor, I decided to turn the cherub into a contortionist.

Now, you will see the painted ceramic dog with sunglasses, sitting atop the angel - yep...another perverse idea of mine. This little ceramic dog, was our "travelocity gnome" of sorts. Wherever my late friend and I travelled, we took pictures of the dog in all kinds of weird sites and positions. I succeeded quite well on this I do believe.

Although, it is not required in this meme, I think I will now add a few pics that I DID take of our travelling DOG.

Travelling Dog - watching his morning cartoons on our Caribbean cruise.

Travelling Dog all ready for his breakfast on balcony of our ship.

Can you find Travelling Dog hiding with the M&M's????


Travelling Dog has no ID - but wants a drink at the ship's poolside bar....duh!?!?


Travelling Dog...spying on us from the safety of a small palm tree.


I know the meme only required the one picture...but consider yourself lucky to have viewed Travelling Dog having the time of his life.

I now tag the following:

Evil Twin's Wife at Glamorous Life of a Hausfrau
Freida Bee, as she has a super sense of humor.
Mnmom at Happy to be From Iowa, because it is cold in Minnesota and she needs something to do...haha!
Wits and Wiggles, just for shits and giggles!!!

I hope you enjoy...I had a blast!! Later...............

MY TRIP....what a wonderful time....

Essentially, there was nothing extraordinary or earth-shattering about my Boston trip...but to relax and converse with family is a wonderful escape. There had been a huge (by my standards) snowfall a few days before my arrival - and in total, I would guess there was between 12 and 14 inches of white stuff on the ground. There is one big difference between the New England area and the Ohio Valley, when it comes to large snowfalls...in New England they are geared for such weather events. Here, we just panic and head to the grocery stores, like we are going to be snowbound for months.

When I arrived on the 22nd, that was my hosts birthday (theScott). His son, who is three years old - and quite the articulated speaker - helped his mom bake brownies for the celebration. There is never a big hoopla at birthday time, rather laid back and enjoyable.

This would be littleTS, and his finished product, just waiting the arrival of his Daddy. The little guy was so proud that he helped bake this wonderful delight for his Dad. Just a note...for as devoted a Steelers fan that I am, of course they are die-hard supporters of their local team, the New England Patriots. I might suspect they will root for the Steelers on Sunday...but I was wrong once!

During this trip, we shopped at the Patriots Pro shop, located at Gillette Stadium, of course we managed to get to the Christmas Tree store (my favorite) also. We ate out a couple of times, but the one place that I was impressed with, was a Red Robin hamburger place. Exceptional burgers - and quite filling.

On Saturday, theSandra (sister to theJo) and her family headed to Providence, Rhode Island for a huge (attendance) cheerleading competition. One daughter is 4 and the other is 9 - and the level of this competition was awesome. The costumes, the styles of cheers, was all new to me. I think of cheerleaders and I relate to local basketball/football games. This is so far removed from that scenario. These girls basically cheer to COMPETE.




This is the 4 year old before her competition - the makeup is a stand-out feature for most of these young ladies, and eye catching to say the least. When these teams compete, one of the things they are rated on is "spirit" from their cheering fans and family. We had cow bells, beads, pictures, lighted neck bands...the whole enchilada, to show support. **We went for Saturdays competition, but did not attend on Sunday, but the 4 year old's team won first place (out of maybe 20 teams) and she was one delighted child.












This is the 9 year old, getting ready to do a tumbling routine. I am so amazed at the routines these young girls present for the judges. Just like those I have seen on TV, there are parts where the girls are lifted and/or flipped, and I am in awe of their agility. At my age and decrepit stage - just walking manages to garner my AWE!!! The 9 year old's team came in third in their division - whoopeee!!!!






It all came to a conclusion (the birthdays) on Monday evening with this:




Now, I'm not sure if this was my first or my second APPLE-TINI...but it was deeeeelicious no matter. As soon as the weather breaks here, I'm heading to the liquor store and get the necessities to enjoy here at home. I may just become a closet drinker. I figure it can't be too bad - it is one of the food groups!!!

I will be transferring the pics to my Flickr site in a short while. Just click on the "go to mjbonen's photostream" on the above picture strip to view. Give me a couple of hours though. So much to do and so little time. The pics include some of theJo's Christmas decorations inside her house - gorgeous!!!

Theson's "stuff" is being delivered here to the house either today or tomorrow, and it is ONE box weighing over 400 pounds. The gentleman I talked to said this is a "curbside" delivery. Meaning, I will be responsible for getting the box on the porch - then in the house. This is so NOT happening. So I better put some make-up on and brush up on my charms. I suppose a little cash wouldn't hurt either. This could be interesting.

I shall return in a little while - if I survive..Later...............

I'M BAAAACK!!!! Just a quickie for now though....

Well, I'm back in the warmth of my home and all of a sudden I seem to be rushing to get so much accomplished. Needless to say, Tax Season is upon me, so I finished downloading my program this morning...now all I need to do is get some supplies.

I had the most super, wonderful, marvelous time in the Boston area. Although, these are the relatives of my late best friend...I have adopted them as my own - and they can't get rid of me now! It is so comfortable to just sit around and catch up on news and not have to be entertained the entire time.

I do believe we celebrated THE birthdays, the entire five days. What a great time. The trip home was another story. the plane left on time from Logan in Boston and arrived on time in Pittsburgh to a steady snowfall. What normally is a 50 minute drive to the airport - took over two hours in getting home. We fought idiots, ice and snow the entire way...and at a speed of 30 - 35 mph. My nerves were shot. So now we are staying inside out of this horrendous weather.

Thedaughter and thegrandson could not wait to give me my birthday present, so they had me open the box in the car on the way home last night. I am on cloud nine again...they know me so well....here is the super present:



Curses, I should have wiped the fingerprints off before taking this picture. But it has my name and #1 Fan, engraved on the plate. I could not have been any happier - and to see the smile on thegrandson's face - priceless.

I have to show you - my birthday present to myself - I'm so stupidly generous sometimes.....



This little guy stands 11" high and is called a "garden gnome", but trust me, it will never get close to any dirt!!! He is just adorable. I may be obsessed here, but I will get over it - or not!

I have to run for now - lots to do, but I will get back with pictures from the trip and more updates. Oh, by the way....I never travel without my camera....until this trip. I was so mad at myself, but theJo burned a CD of the pics taken during my visit and I will be sharing.

So take care for now - so glad you all didn't forget me. Later............

I'm Back - Now what to say???!!

I had a super time in Boston with "the family!" More wonderful people you would never meet. I think the highlight was that the girls planned a special "dinner show" for our birthdays. The show is called Postcards from Heaven, and the woman tags herself as the "Comedian Medium!" Maureen Hancock is her name and her site gives some insight as to her abilities and talents. I have never been to a psychic/medium before and was really intrigued. There were approximately 25 tables with 6-8 people per table, and she goes from one table to another, wherever the "voices" take her. At one point she came to our table and the girls I visit and their mother were being "reached" by their late husband/father. Now, I have to tell you, this lady was spot on in what she was telling them, and had no prior information whatsoever to gain this knowledge. I was crying like a fool as were my friends. It was a unique yet wonderful experience. I was not a chosen one, so apparently all my relatives are very quiet or just don't give a shite. I think it would have been neat to talk to my twin sister...so glad my husband didn't come through - I would have had to fight with him I'm sure. I really hope when I return to Boston to have the opportunity to see her again - so very impressive.

Now check this little guy out...this past Sunday was snowy and cold, so we stayed in all day (never got out of our jammies) and on one of my smoke breaks, I caught this bushy rodent playing near the house. Actually there were many of the little critter - and I truly think they are adorable, but I always consider that they are "RODENTS" also!
The little buggers were scurrying on the fence and up and down the trees all day - they should have been exhausted!!

Sunday was a big day for all the New England Patriot fans, as they had a big send off from Gillete Stadium for the team. It was snowing like crazy, and 15,000 people braved the weather to see the Patriots off. UGH!!! I got some good pics of the stadium the next day as Jo and I went shopping....


Enough garbage for now...this was just an update. Now on to check on everyone's blogs.

Stay healthy and TTFN!!

DON'T PAY THE RANSOM...I am still here

I know I have been away from the blog for awhile, but had my mini vacation in Boston with "the family", and had to jump right in to the tax returns when I got home.

The trip was wonderful, as usual. We shopped and mostly sat around and gabbed. There were three of us celebrating 0ur birthdays at the same time (from 22nd to 26th) and we had one big birthday dinner and it was truly delightful.

On the way home, as Mom2 and I were heading into Logan Airport - SHE FELL AGAIN - producing another SHINER on the same eye. We have now named her the clumsy bumblefuck! Actually, her legs just gave out on her and she pitched forward - and there was nothing to do to stop her fall. The airport workers were very caring and produced a wheelchair and helped her thru security and all that stuff. When we arrived in Pittsburgh another wheelchair was waiting which made life much easier. She is in the healing process now - until the next one!! Hahahaha.

My clients have been true to form and the returns have been coming steadily. So I have been exceedingly busy. Theson surprised us when he picked us up at the airport - he also picked up his girlfriend Jules who arrived an hour earlier. She was here for a couple of days then headed to a job in St. Croix, then to Mexico, back here for 4 days - and left Monday for Antafagasto, Chile. They are such the world travelers.



We went to Boston for the christening of Tommy (center). What a terrific little boy. Always happy it seems, I am sure he has his bad moments but we didn't see any at all. This pic was taken before we all left for the church service in Quincy, MA. What a lovely family.

This ARCTIC CHILL has been a real pain the butt. then we got a little more snow last night - the schools have been closed all week so far. From what the weather reports state we are expecting a "heavy snowfall" next Tuesday, but I haven't heard how much!!! For this area, anything over 2" is considered HEAVY. We shouldn't complain though, we have not had much of a winter for the past several years. Since the damn groundhog didn't see his shadow, we are guaranteed of an early Spring now - RIGHT!?!?!?

Well, back to the returns - more later. Everyone stay healthy, TTFN.