Someone, anyone: Vote for Riva!

It appears that no one thinks that Riva is as cool as her younger and more hip siblings.

Maybe just ONE vote to help her spirits. It could be out of sympathy, we won't tell her.

So, why no votes?

Is it because she openingly thinks this poll is silly and dumb? Don't listen to her, she says that about a lot of stuff. She probably says that about you.

Is it because she went to a lame all-girls (overly-priced) college? She claims that sometimes the guys would jump the fierce 20-foot fence to come over to party with the gals. Still not as cool as BSU, though. 

Ok, so while growing up she would be on the phone 18 hours a day and NEVER hang with the "younger crowd" in the basement while we played alligator in the water or lava floor. Yeh, that would make her not so cool.

I guess maybe now that she owns a van, maybe that is why you aren't voting for her. I suppose I don't blame you.

Oh, and there was that one time I thought Carmino was attacked by a bear, but it was actually her nails that scratched his back so deep that it just appeared to be a bear attack. Well, I don't know the story behind the fight so I can't make any judgement since sometime it is known that Carmino can be a big boob. No, seriously, he can be a boob.

Don't base your judgement on her kids. It's not Anelese's fault that she is known for saying, "I want meat!" or Dante's fault for telling long, never-ending pointless stories about all his stuffed animals. (Rumor has it that Dante did go to school for Halloween with all the stuffed animals safety-pinned to him. I wish I had a picture to post.)

So, what is your reason?

Secondhand smoking is BAD!

Poor Dante.

Dante is approaching 10-years-old this summer. I can hardly believe it. However, he has been through more medical probing than most young adults.

Currently he has been found to be allergic to EVERYTHING. Not too sure exactly what that means, but that is a quote from Riva. (Is he allergic to me?)

Mainly though, he can't have dairy for awhile or at least until he clears his system and slowing reintroduces it back in small amount.

I was also told he hasn't been able to breathe properly, which is no surprise to me, since he always sounds like he needs to clear his throat.

Which also leads to doctor's order of "No secondhand smoking" around Dante or any kids for that matter. 

Best of luck, Dante. I wish we could tell you that your teen years will be better, but ...

Despite the earthquake

Lisa (aka: Mom) has been in Italy nearly 6 weeks now. 

Early Monday morning she experienced a fairly strong earthquake. She was asleep and thought it was a dog or two jumping on her bed. Her niece, Tatiana, woke her up and got her and the rest of the family outside to a safer place.

Mom has lived in Indiana most of her adult life and really hasn't experienced anything like this. 

Hundred of people have died and the search for more bodies continues today. This powerful earthquake centered in a town named L'Aquila less than 100 miles from her hometown location.

My first thought was to call her and make sure she was ok. I called several times once I got the news that a magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit nearby, yet I couldn't get a hold of her.

Finally I reached her nearly 15 hours later. 

Where was she? Shopping! Leave it to my mom to find time to shop during a natural catastrophe.

Maybe shopping is her therapy.