March 31, 2004
back again
yes, writing twice today. It is so slow for me today at work that I have been duplicate checking the main database I work with. BORING!!! So rather than distracting all my friends on IM who are trying to get their work done.....
I am thinking ahead to a potentially great weekend. Friday night I plan to go to Cafe Beracah in Lebanon. It will be like old times in some ways...seeing Marty and Steve play. They are opening for the band Unsettled. I just have to scrape 8 bucks together. I'm so spoiled...it's painful now for me to pay for a concert since it's normally a perk with working in the music industry...plus I'm broke. Anyway, Saturday I'll spend the day at the Phil Keaggy concert where I'll see my friend Steve Bridgeman play again. I am so excited for Steve. He's so talented! This will be a dream come true for him, I'm sure.
On Sunday I will go to church and then I have friends coming over for an afternoon of games. YAY! It seems like it's been a while since I've played many games, except on Sunday when Heidi once again whipped me at Carcassone. Should be a fun day and a great way to end a great weekend. I hope all goes as planned.
OK, back to work...
Posted by stacey at 03:59 PM | Comments (0)
important papers
Last night me and another girl helped my friend go through insurance paperwork for her dad. She works in the claims field so she knew what she was doing. I was just there to help with data entry for making some spread sheets, etc. to help them sort through everything left from her mom's recent passing away. Wow, my eyes were really opened to all the mistakes that can get made between insurance, primary and secondary dr's....and the TONS of paperwork. I usually just get my bills and pay them, I should really look things over a lot more carefully. Who knows how many little mistakes have been made between my Dr's, specialists etc? Yikes. I am thankful for insurance, though. I can't imagine how people manage without it.
Posted by stacey at 08:33 AM | Comments (0)
March 30, 2004
AM or PM
I don't know if I am a morning person or a night person. I think it varies. I know that ever since I was little, I have woken up with a smile, rather than being grumpy...but I also know that I don't like getting out of bed...so I can't be a morning person, can I? Lately I've been waking up before my alarm...but I am so happy and cozy in my bed that I don't take that opportunity to go do my exercise tape or go out for a nice morning walk. At best, I'll read a little before getting ready for the day. but often will lay down for an additional 15 minutes to half hour then rush to get ready for work.
I don't think I'm necessarily a night person either. If there is something fun going on, sure I'll stay up all night if I have to, but my norm on an average night is to be in bed by 10 or 11.
I guess I don't have to be either an AM or PM person...maybe I'm just well balanced...yeah right. haha.
Posted by stacey at 10:45 AM | Comments (0)
March 29, 2004
Creation Banquet Hoopla
Over the weekend I went to the Creation Supervisor Banquet. I enjoyed the food, friends and time of worship at the banquet. It is always nice to get reminded about why we do what we do at Creation and to hear a little from Tim and Harry about their visions. There are some really exciting possibilities for the future, even in other countries! Christopher Wright did a great job with worship. I did really well at the game we played, but disqualified myself since Fred made it up and I work in the office.
I have to admit, The initial arrival was not so fun. I thought to myself, why do I always show up places a little too early? (I have never gotten the cool, casually late thing down.) Is it because I was arriving alone again after having gone with my ex boyfriend the past two years? Who knows? After the initial arrival, though, I did have a good time at the banquet. I even got some nice compliments on my red dress. (someone said I looked sassy, haha) I was later reminded after talking to others, that everyone feels awkward when they first arrive at formal events like this one where you are forced to make small talk with people you only see a couple times a year. I was certainly relieved when all of my friends from the office arrived. I have some great friends as co-workers.
Posted by stacey at 10:30 AM | Comments (0)
March 26, 2004
corky
Ok, after my other post today my friend Wayne reminded me of a story from when I worked at Tape World, music store. I couldn't let that one slide without recapping it for myself in print. One night, Chris Burke the guy with Downs Syndrome who played Corky on "Life Goes On" came into the store. He was very excited to introduce himself to us there and to let us know that he was looking for a Kenny Rogers Kids Christmas tape or something like that and that he was a singer as well as an actor. He was very friendly and proud to share who he was, etc... It was very cool...a highlight of my time working there. What a cast of characters at that job. Oh, the memories. Thanks for the comment Wayne...
Posted by stacey at 10:54 PM | Comments (0)
me and music
This week I have been listening to a lot of older CD's that I have. I have a wide variety of musical tastes. In fact, I can't think of any music style I don't like. For instance, currently, I have a Harry Connick, Jr CD playing. Next in line will be either Otis Reading or Earthsuit then maybe Justin McRoberts or Jars of Clay. I guess music is a pretty big part of my life...has been since I was a kid and loved to listen to my dad sing at church, or dance to music from country to old school rock and roll at family weddings. As a senior in high school my Class Prophecy was that in 5 years I'd be an Italian Opera Singer. That was after being in the New England Music Festival as a high Soprano and playing Glinda in The Wizard of Oz. I was a double major Youth Ministry and Music in college for a year and a half before I switched to the Elem. Ed. major. I worked in a music store called Tape World in the King of Prussia Mall (next to Orange Julius mmmm) during college (where I built up a pretty big CD collection). I followed around friends in bands in college until I got my brother involved in Rainchildren and then followed them around after college. I moved to Lancaster and now work at a radio station.(more CD's) Interesting...never thought about it all like that before. I'm not an Italian Opera Singer, but maybe I'll sing in church again sometime.
Posted by stacey at 12:15 PM | Comments (1)
March 25, 2004
Grandmothers moving cont.
Well, my grandmothers moving situation is going even speedier than I expected...at least for Meme'. (pronounced meh-may for the non-french). It turns out that Meme' will be moving out within about a week. She has already put her house up for sale and the family has begun helping her sell furniture, knick knacks etc except for the things that will fit in her room at the place she is moving to and things that are being passed down. I am excited for her, she is a social lady...always liked to dance, garden and reminisce. I think she will enjoy being surrounded by other people her age at this place. She recently made the decision not to renew her license and has had problems with the rotor cuff in her arm, so it was definitely time for her to make this step.
It will be a BIG change for the family. She lives on Gagne Rd... a dead end rd. where my Dad grew up on the family farm that my Uncle took over. My Aunt and Uncle and their 3 daughters all have homes on that Rd. Now, a stranger could possibly purchase Meme' and Pepe's house...and the pool where the family always was able to come and go from when we pleased. That will be really weird for the family living on the Rd. especially. They have lived on that Rd their entire life. Everyone knows each others business, to the extent that Pepe' used to pull out his binoculars to check out who was coming and going when he was with us...and now Uncle Denis has taken up that responsibility since he sold the farm. Anyway...lots of change for the Gagne family in Highgate Ctr, Vt.
It looks like I won't be seeing Meme in her house at my Easter visit after all. There could be someone else looking at the house by then. Weird. But, Meme will be safe and happy. That's what really matters. And the family will probably go to my parents house for a big Easter meal together.
Posted by stacey at 09:14 AM | Comments (0)
March 24, 2004
singing in my car
I used to love my orange long sleeved Justin McRoberts tshirt that said "I Sing In My Car". I loved that shirt, but it got old, big and faded so I no longer wear it. Anyway, I do sing in my car. Today I was out going to get the mail for work and pick up a Mama Foster salad at Senorita Burrita and I had my windows down, music cranked and I was singing at the top of my lungs along with some random song on the radio. Sometimes I sing out loud by accident in my office...much to the amusement of my co-workers. Usually, I don't even think about it. I am just caught up in the moment. Though, Sometimes I do it just to amuse Fred.
Posted by stacey at 05:33 PM | Comments (0)
small group
I'm looking forward to small group tonight. We had taken a break for a little while and are starting up again. I have made some really good friends of the girls from our "Life Group". The interesting thing is we were all going through some really rough stuff individually when we first started the group, so our relationships didn't have a chance to be surfacy. I like that!
We are starting a book called "Dare to Desire" by John Eldridge. It's short and seems to touch on some of the things from some of his other books...my brother has his other books: " The Journey of Desire", "The Sacred Romance" and "Wild at Heart". I have read "Wild at Heart"(not just a book for men) and plan to read the others. So far he seems to focus on reminding people to really live their lives...be who God designed you to be, dream, etc. I'm looking forward to the conversations we will have while reading this book.
Posted by stacey at 10:00 AM | Comments (0)
March 23, 2004
bags of clothes
Today I am taking another bag of clothes to Water Street Rescue Mission. Another small step for me on the moon of weight loss. Some of the clothes that I am getting rid of are ones that I just got since Christmas! I am also remembering that ALL of my spring/summer clothes (except tshirts) have already been gone through and donated to the mission because they were too big. My mom helped me realize I was wearing way too many oversized things. Maybe I'll get some more hand me downs from her when I am home at Easter. Those really helped get me through the 2nd half of the winter. She's been losing weight too, and I am working my way down to her size. A shopping spree would be fun, but I don't want to stock up too much at this size yet, either, nor can I afford it.
Posted by stacey at 10:06 AM | Comments (1)
March 22, 2004
spam
Spam...there are two meanings for that word...the pink ham stuff that comes in a can and the numerous emails that I have to delete whenever I open my email.
My friend Ann was talking about buying her dad some Spam to have for dinner the other day and I was intrigued. I think I remember my grandfather eating Spam, but I don't recall every having any myself. Would I like it? I like ham loaf. Is it the same thing or similar? Is it Atkins friendly? Hm.
The other spam is a detested enemy. I have the kind of email that lets me know throughout the day when there is something in my in box. How annoying to go check it and find that it is not a friendly message or even something work related, but an add for Viagra, Cialisis or some unmentionable kind of subject heading that somehow tricks our spam blocker. Grrr. Lately, it seems the spam has become more and more numerous and offensive. Again, Grrr.
It's Monday morning...I think my brain feels a bit Spam-like..
Posted by stacey at 09:50 AM | Comments (0)
March 21, 2004
watercolors
While I was cleaning my room yesterday, I ended up looking through some of my old artwork. I realized that it had been a while since I'd done anything besides a little sketch or doodling during church in my journal. I ended up taking a break from my cleaning and pulled out my watercolor paints. It felt good to sit down and create something. I'm no Monet or anything, but I enjoy art and the arts and was happy with the way my painting came out...mistakes and all.
Posted by stacey at 12:42 PM | Comments (0)
March 19, 2004
snow storm part 2
So I'm here at my office for Operation Snow Crew. The calls have been flooding in, so I don't have to feel silly for being here early for nothing. Phew.
I actually had fun with my private little sleep over here last night. I came in, turned on my "the violet burning" cd and cranked it, downloaded and played a free copy of this computer game I like called "Burning Monkey Puzzle Lab" which is I guess Tetris-ish...(I don't know a lot of video games, but I think it's similar to that one), and spent some time i-chatting with friends, surfing the web and reading. Then I had my little camp out in my office. I didn't sleep incredibly well or long, but I never do when I camp "for real" either, so if I just think of it as a little camping trip it makes it a little more fun.
Wow, it is really snowing out here now...looks like a winter wonderland outside!!
Posted by stacey at 06:50 AM | Comments (0)
March 18, 2004
storm
The forecast is for a big snow storm tonight. Looks like I may be sleeping over at the radio station tonight to be ready for Operation Snow Crew. The storm is supposed to start around midnight...of course that could change 17 times before lunchtime.
It's sort of a weird love hate relationship I have with these snow storms. I do love snow, but once it all melts in March, I'm ready for Spring. It is exciting to anticipate the storm, to be "snowed in", etc...but then of course at the end of the "snow crew" day I am tired and can't wait to get home to my own bed. We'll see how this one turns out. I remember days when a big snow storm meant school delays for me...not me predicting the delays and being at work in time to answer those phone calls.
I can't believe I'm talking about snow...Spring is so close.
Posted by stacey at 07:46 AM | Comments (0)
March 17, 2004
making plans
Last night I got together with my friend Jody from college. We had gone a few years after college that we weren't in touch as much, then were just off and on and recently have made it a point to get together at least every month or two. I'm so glad. We never seem to run out of things to talk about. We had a great time at TJ Rockwells, who by the way have recently added a Low Carb Menu. Yippee. I reccommend the Chicken Brocolli Skillet.
Anyway, it's so easy to have good intentions to get together with people, but I'm trying to actually get out the Daytimer and make plans rather than just talk about it. I still don't always succeed. I've been wanting to have people over to my house to play games for months, but need to just do it! I think April will be the month.
Posted by stacey at 01:39 PM | Comments (1)
March 16, 2004
me whining
Be prewarned...I am about to whine my way through this blog. That may be annoying to any readers...so just thought I'd give you the option now to stop reading.... : )
For the most part I am pretty happy and optimistic about life....I am about to not be that person for a few moments of venting. I am angry with sickness and disease. I hate illness. I hate when my friends are sick. I hate when my family is sick and I hate when I'm sick. Actually, I don't like for anyone to be sick. I have learned that there is a reason for everything that happens...usually not too long after something bad happens in my life I come to terms with the lesson I was supposed to learn from it. Sometimes, that is a lifelong lesson and I realize that may be the case with my Ulcerative Colitis...but I still don't like it...or my family and friends having struggles with asthma, migraines, cysts, Cancer, depression or any other illnesses or discomfort.
I actually was doing very well for several months with my stomach problems, but ever since New Years Day I've been pretty much in a "flare up" over all with some good days mixed in. I don't let it stop me, but I get tired of dealing with it. I thank God for the days that I feel ok or better. I hope they become more frequent again very soon. I have this test looming ahead in May that had to be cancelled earlier this year. I am trying not to be stressed about it, but at a recent Dr visit I faced the fact that if the results from this test aren't better than the last time, I may have some things to think about. For now, I am taking my many medicines and just praying that all the words of healing prayed over me in the past and present will mean the end of this.
I will end this on a positive note...in the midst of the yuckiness of my stomach problems, I have also noticed great progress with some other health issues I had been dealing with for a while. I am soooooo thankful for that and that God helps me get through the bad days and makes me more sensitive to others going through health stuff. I still want it to go away.
The End. I will now put on a smile.
Posted by stacey at 05:33 AM | Comments (0)
March 15, 2004
The Grandmothers Big Move
This weekend when I talked to my parents I found out that not just one of my grandmothers, but both of them (Grandma and Meme') have not only made the decision to move out of their homes and into housing for the elderly ( I think they are apartments or condos or something, not nursing homes or anything), but both of them are moving within like a month. Dad said he knew that this would happen...usually many things in our families lives happen with urgency rather than gradually.
Grandma and Meme' are both in their 80's and both of them lost their husbands, within months of each other when I was in college. They have both done extremely well keeping up with their homes, but are finally realizing that their health won't allow them to continue to fulfill the responsibilities of home ownership. I can't imagine what it must feel like to come to that realization and to face that it's time to move out of the home you've lived in for years and years.
So, now there will be the going through of stuff, selling/renting of homes, figuring out details, etc for both sides of the family. I am glad that I will be visiting home for Easter. I hope it's before they move out of their houses. I would like to see them in their familiar environment one more time.
Posted by stacey at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)
March 13, 2004
saturday and atkins friendly snacks
Today is a good Saturday so far. I only had one quick responsibility for work otherwise I have been able to do what I want/need to do for myself all day. For some reason I haven't been able to sleep in like I used to, so it's already been a good long day at 2:00. I just stopped in at the office to drop off some stuff from tearing down a WJTL live remote booth at an event today and to pick up my half eaten bag of barbecue pork rinds that I left here yesterday. I may want them for a crunchy snack this weekend.
This afternoon I am planning to bake a cake for my friend Heidi's birthday and bring it along tonight when I get together with friends to play games. This will be tempting since I actually haven't done any sort of baking since I've been on Atkins. I think I'll buy some Low Carb candy or something to divert my attention from the cake. : )
Posted by stacey at 02:04 PM | Comments (0)
March 12, 2004
Sting tickets
I am siked. I found out today that my friend Karen was able to get us tickets to see Sting and Annie Lenox in concert in July. YEE HA.
Sting is one of those artists I would have named as one of the ones I most want to see before I die...next to U2. I've had the opportunity to see a lot of concerts, but not too many huge artists like Sting.
It sounds like we got good seats too...which does mean I'll be paying Karen back in payments because they are pretty expensive...but we will have a lot of fun and I'm sure it will be a memorable concert, so it will be worth it.
Posted by stacey at 01:25 PM | Comments (0)
March 11, 2004
Stryper
I am very excited. I have ordered my pre-order signed copy of the "7 Weeks: Stryper Live in America 2003" CD. Yes, my name is Stacey Gagne and I am a Stryper fan...well I WAS a major fan back in high school. I went to the reunion tour concert in Allentown back in October for nostalgia. It was actually a GREAT concert. I even bought one of their retro tshirts. I got to meet Robert Sweet and Oz Fox from the band.
My brother had gone to their Baltimore concert a couple of nights before mine. He got one of their posters signed by all 4 members of the band. Being the nice brother he is, Aaron had Robert Sweet write a special message to me, not knowing that Michael Sweet was actually my favorite Stryper. (I'm blushing).
Maybe I'll post later about whether the CD does the live concert justice. Also, I've heard there is going to be a DVD from this tour, too. Woo hoo. I'll be all over that, too.
It's funny that as I'm typing this I'm listening to Over the Rhine...talk about opposite ends of the music spectrum.
Posted by stacey at 02:49 PM | Comments (0)
Dad Knows Best
Since yesterday was my Dad's birthday, I spent some time thinking about him and some family memories.
One fun memory was of the time when we had a boat. I believe it was a Larson and it had teal markings on it. I used to look forward to the couple of weeks or month that my family would rent a cabin on Lake Champlain in South Hero and once we had the boat, that added a new excitement to going there. Back then Dad was all excited about having the new boat, but very nervous, too. The waves had to be at just the right level...nonexistent... for him to want to take the boat out on the water. We (my brother and I) used to get so mad when Dad would say we couldn't take it out because there were waves. On those clear days when the water was glassy, we did have a lot of fun. We made friends with another family of boaters who had named their boat "Strange Crew". We used to meet them out in the lake near Butler's island and put our anchors out, hook our boats together and have a little party. I LOVED diving off the boat into the water near the island. It was sandier there than the weedy water near camp. I also looked forward to the picnics on the water with our friends.
The other time I was thinking about yesterday was a time when I learned the lesson that Dad knows best. My brother and I decided one day that we wanted to go skiing. We decided to team up and beg my dad to take us. He said no. We then decided to try to get our mom on our "team". For some reason on this day, she must have really wanted to go skiing, too and she joined forces with us. Well, "against his better judgement" we went to Bolton ski resort...and it was a fun time skiing...but on the way home we were in a serious car accident. Nobody was hurt, but we were hit by this lady and sent over a steep embankment totalling the car. Later, we all remembered that Dad had said no and we had made the trip against his better judgement. Gulp.
So, now when I think back about those days when we didn't take the boat out, I'm glad that even though I was disappointed, we did what Dad thought was best.
Posted by stacey at 09:18 AM | Comments (0)
March 10, 2004
The Ultimate Promotion
Last night I was at a memorial service for my friends mother. I actually didn't know her very well at all, I was there to support my friend. The theme of the service was "The Ultimate Promotion". What an amazing service. This woman, Vi, had a major impact on the people who were in contact with her. Her students, peers, family and others she was involved in ministry with shared testimonies about her hospitality, fairness, love, smile, loyalty, contagious love for Jesus and much much more. I left the service wishing I had gotten to know Valonda's mom better but also feeling like I had in those hours during the service. I was inspired by her life. The students who spoke really got to me...8th graders...they were so honest and open about her impact on them. It was obvious that she really showered them with love and attention. A whole section of the auditorium was taken up by her students.
This woman who had so much impact on others during her life impacted me just through her memorial service. One of the big things they said about her was how she loved to give everyone little gifts. When we left the service everyone was given a daisy (her favorite flower...and mine, too)...isn't that amazing...even on her death people were walking away from the service with a gift.
Posted by stacey at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)
March 09, 2004
Spring Fever
I have Spring Fever. I've had it ever since the first "non-coat" day. You know ...staring out the office window longing to be outside, thrilled with the opportunity to go outside without the winter coat. My problem is as soon as "non-coat" days (that's what I'm calling pre-Spring time) hit, I start to think it's warmer than it actually is outside. I tried to go hiking with my brother, we forgot the trails are still too wet...what a bummer. My whole "non-coat" philosophy will probably result in my catching a cold or something. Oh well, my temporary Spring Fever solution has been to buy flowers and have them in my office and at home. Flowers are spring-y...or spring-ish. (whatever) and I had a free coupon for Royer's so that helped. Will they cure my Spring Fever? Who knows, but they are pretty and they smell nice.
My Spring Fever also includes wanting to go on a road trip. This may be solved if I drive to visit my parents in VT over the long Easter weekend. Since my car (a 1987 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight) is coming out of the shop today for getting the brakes fixed, I may risk the drive. That would be nice. Until then...Flowers... and I'll stick to walking on pavement until the trails dry out.
Posted by stacey at 04:36 PM | Comments (0)
My First Blog
Wow, I have a blog. I have read other peoples blogs and enjoyed them, but I didn't know what the "rules of blogging" were...is it a journal, is it a short story, or what??? so I did a search at google and here is the definition I have found.
Ã? Blog -- (weB LOG)Ã?-Ã?A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog. Postings on a blog are almost always arranged in cronological order with the most recent additions featured most prominantly.
So there you have it. You (I) learn something new every day.
Posted by stacey at 12:24 PM | Comments (3)