Columbus Day out on the North Fork

Above are some pictures of our day out east. The first one has Lesley, Cassie, Ali and Ivy, the second has my mom, Carolann, Blanca in back and Ivy and Lesley in front, the third is (l-r) Ivy, Carolann, Ali, Me, Blanca, Cassie, my mom, and Lesley.

Lesley's mom is my first cousin, and godmother, Blanca and Ivy is the daughter of Blanca's closest friend from way back when, Carolann. When I was younger, Carolann and Blanca used to sing every time I was around. They're about 15 years older than I am and, being an impressionable toddler. I adored them--still do. Blanca lives in Truckee, CA and Carolann is still out here on Long Island (Brooklyn, I think). My cousin, Lesley is on a 10 day break from her Masters' Program in Philadelphia, so Blanca flew out here for a visit and came up to NY for a while. She's staying at her longtime friend, Jimmy's, house in Flanders and apartment in Manhattan. Jimmy is on a cruise in Europe somewhere.

Yesterday, I picked Carolann and Ivy up at Ronkonkoma train station and we drove east with my mom, Cassie, and Ali, to go meet Blanca. We met at Briermere Farms and got some delicious pumpkin squares and apple tarts, and raspberry cream pie to share while sitting on the big rocks (which used to look massive when the kids were little). From there, we headed further east to Pindar and tested out 5 different wines. Heading back west, we stopped at another farm stand for some roasted corn (right in the husks--sweet and crisp and scrumptious). We stopped, then, at Jimmy's so Blanca could get some laundry to do at our house, and picked up Lesley's senior project video.

Arriving back home, we threw on some food and put out an impromptu spread while we watched Lesley's video. It was about mothers and daughters and letting go. Boy, it hit home for me! She had to do research, and create a dance piece with dialogue that showed off what she had learned. It was beautiful, and the songs she selected for the dance routines were appropriately heartwarming. Of course, I needed tissues!

Time with family is never enough time!

Nighttime PT

If you need a great physical therapy office--see above. The two physical therapists on there are Gary and his wife, Melissa. It's been said that she has killer thumbs.

Last night, I went to physical therapy. It was strange going at night...usually I go at 7am, before work. But now that Gary has gone off to BNL, he only has Monday and Wednesday nights at his own place. Grappling with this, I thought about switching to another of his pt's but it's so difficult starting over with someone who doesn't know what's been working for you--different techniques--etc...

Gary had a rough evening last night...after working his first full day at the lab, he then came in to his own practice and was working minus one of his pt's. He's pretty good at multi-tasking, but the office was definitely backed up.

Since the girls were each at their float sites--I put in an hour at Cassie's--sketched out a 4 foot Superman, the logo, and a crescent moon--and Dave had gone over to Ali's, I texted him to see about getting the girls home 'cause I know I'd be late picking them up.

It was interesting... I've been writing on any new eval slips (for doctor follow ups) that my pain is worse at night, and as soon as Gary started working on me, he could actually feel how tight my neck and shoulders were. I said, 'Welcome to my nights'. What's funny is that if I feel any pain when he works on me, he can usually tell me what I'm feeling without me having to say a word. THIS is why I won't switch to anyone else.

I just wish my physical therapy appointment was right after being squished in the torture device. My right shoulder is killing me know--I think I'll put some ice on it and rest for a while before heading back to work at 11:30.

Mammography--UGH

Well, being that I'm 42 and should have started getting my breasts squished in a vice-like contraption for two years already, I went for my first mammography today. I must say, overall, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be--but it was close.

The first half (two pictures, one of each) wasn't too bad. For those of you still waiting to go, the technician places your breast on a cold metal shelf. This plastic tray-like device slides downward, impaling every micro-ounce of flesh from your shoulders downward toward the cold metal shelf. Then the technician turns a knob, thus flattening the breast into even more of a pancake. She walks away, presses some buttons and voila! Magically the plastic tray-like device releases it's hold and moves upward. The same procedure is repeated on the other side. I think, this wasn't so bad--Yippee--I'm done, but NO!

Next, the whole top of the machine turns to it's side on a 45 degree angle. Now, you get to stand sideways, with your arm above the machine, and the technician squishes all fleshy parts from under your arm (then turns you towards the machine) and your whole breast onto the cold metal shelf. Down comes the plastic tray-like device and a turn of the knob and you're now stuck, trying to breathe to calm down the screaming nerve endings, but you're worried about moving too much and having any kind of pull going on. This lovely procedure gets repeated on the other side, but when the tech goes to look at the picture, she realizes my chin was in the way of the slide.

Knowing that my sister-in-law, Theresa, has been through much worse, I bravely say, "It's okay if you have to do it again--I'll survive!" Back into the torture chamber again, staring at the ceiling this time, making sure my chin is not in THIS picture. I must say the angled pictures hurt much more than the sqishy downward one!

I can only conclude that some man must have invented this procedure and about 100 years from now, they'll be comparing it to some form of torture inflicted on women similar to burning at the stake, or the 'rack'. OVERALL, though...it really wasn't so bad...nothing near that nerve pain from August...I guess it helped knowing it would be over soon...now it's just the paranoid feeling you get while waiting for results.

weddings

This past Friday night, Dave and I attended a wedding reception for our neighbor's son. It was about an hour away in Floral Park, Queens at a place called Floral Terrace. Boy, oh boy, what an elaborate hall! I don't know if there is anything in Suffolk County that is anywhere close to looking like this place. The cocktail hour was on one floor with about 40 or so menu items plus passed hors d'ouvres. The reception was on another floor with a domed ceiling, swept with gold swirls and a cherub dome over the raised, round, dance floor. It was really quite beautiful. The D.J. was great and we danced our tails off!

It's funny how it's taken me 24 years to learn how to truly follow Dave when we dance. I found the key is eye contact. IF I don't make eye contact with him, I end up trying to lead- and we fall out of step. If I keep my eyes locked on his, we move in sync and we can be twirling all over the floor without missing a step.

I do have to say that my thigh muscles, calf muscles and hips ached for a good two days following. I think I need to dance more :)

Awards Presentation Pictures

Day with Robbi and Louise

This afternoon, I was able to get together with Robbi and Louise. They were my friends and singing buddies from high school. Because they graduated two years before I did, we lost touch over the years. I ran into Robbi at Smith Haven Mall and we vowed to get together. After googling Louise for about 15 minutes, I found her as well. Louise contacted the two of us to tell us that she'd be in Manhattan today for a series of seminars.

Robbi and I met at Ronkonkoma train station...me, waiting on the train, and Robbi getting on last minute. We talked non-stop throughout the train ride and I was shocked when we arrived in Penn Station. It was the shortest train ride I can remember. We met Louise in front of the Hotel Pennsylvania about 5 minutes after arriving and we set off to find a chinese restaurant called Ginger. At first, we saw where Robbi thought it was supposed to be and there was a new place called Cosi. Heading just one more block north was the ticket, and there was Ginger.

We sat for almost three hours reminiscing and sharing stories about our lives. It was such a trip remembering all of those wonderful times we had together. It's funny, how when you see friends after so many years, the conversations never end. We could have talked for another 24 hours straight and not been out of conversation.

At the end of our time together, we decided that we should get our families together in the spring. We figured that Robbi and I could head up to Boston since it's only an hour from Louise. A lot of our kids are learning about, or will be learning about, American History so the Freedom Trail is a must. We weren't too sure if our husbands would be interested in this trip as none of them know each other and they might feel forced into getting to know each other. We'll see.

On the train ride home, Robbi and I decided that we need to get together more often. She only lives about 20 minutes away, so it's ridiculous that we haven't done this yet.

Most of all, I would love to sing with them again. Hopefully this will happen soon.

ING Award Winner

http://www.ing-usa.com/us/aboutING/CorporateCitizenship/Education/INGUnsungHeroes/001131.html

Copy and paste and then click on New York and scroll down. I am the winner of an 'ING, Unsung Heroes Award'.

This morning I was greeted to a surprise reception breakfast at my school. In attendance, were the faculty and staff, our PMCT president Paul Pecorale, our S.S. director Gloria Sesso, ELA director Karen Meier, newly appointed S.S. department photographer Lydia Deangelis, a former colleague currently teaching at another building Beth Corpac, the district clerk Dennis Logan, principal Karen Malone, Superintendant of Schools Michael Mostow, Asst. Superintendant for instruction Christine Finn and two representatives from ING!

The reps said that over 1400 people, across the USA, applied for these awards and I was one of the 100 to be awarded one. I was presented with a check for a project I had submitted (a real one and a large fake laminated one) as well as a plaque that reads: "2008 ING Unsung Heroes Award presented to Cynthia Zegel in recognition of innovation and excellence in education. The ING Unsung Heroes Awards program honors America's classroom heroes and their innovative programs that take student learning to new heights."

It was a very exciting morning and I can't wait to get started spending that money on new books and costumes for our 5th graders so they can better learn and show off their knowledge about the important people and events of the American Civil War.