my 3boys

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henry!

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oscar!

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jacob!

summer '08 begins

a couple tid bits from plymouth harbor

medium*

Tonight I went to a show hosted by medium Maureen Hancock, read below to get an idea of what I was apart of. She is amazing! its something you have to see to believe. I'd recommend going to see her if you have a loved one who has passed away, its not a guarantee that she will speak to you, but honestly I got so much from listening to other peoples loved ones coming through that'd I'd even go just for that! Oh and Bring tissues too!! For more information and event schedules visit her at http://www.maureenhancock.com/ trust me it's so worth it!


Comedienne crosses over to world of life after death

Self-described ‘‘comedian medium'' Maureen Hancock communicates with the dead during a show at The Bistro at Cataldi's Restaurant in Hanson.

(DAVID GORDON/For The Patriot Ledger)
By JESSIE THUMA For The Patriot Ledger

HANSON - Maureen Hancock closed her eyes, listening to the clamor of a hundred voices of the dead.

‘‘I'm getting a B,'' she said, standing in the big, open room at The Bistro in Cataldi's Restaurant last night amidst a sellout crowd, most of whom are hoping that the self-described ‘‘comedian medium,'' will relay messages to them from loved ones who have ‘‘passed over.''

Hancock, 37, is one of a growing number of mediums and psychics who claim to be in touch with the spirit world. Riding a wave of popularity generated by television shows such as the Sci-Fi channel's ‘‘Crossing Over,'' (its on Channel 38 in the Boston area), they have tapped into a national hunger for confirmation of life after death.

Not every psychic is able to back up their claims with specific details about the spirits they channel, but Hancock's perceived ability to do just that, coupled with her experience as a stand-up comic, has earned her a devoted following of people eager to book her for ‘‘house parties'' and personal readings.

At the age of 25, Hancock broke every bone in her face in a car accident. Inside of a week, all the fractures and brain trauma had healed on their own, leaving her face unmarred. It was after that recovery that Hancock began to hear ‘‘voices and angels.''

Now she says she can focus her ‘‘second sight'' sharply enough to receive specific images, names, dates and information about those who have crossed over.

But, Hancock insisted, this isn't just a case of Aunt Mary dropping in from heaven to say hello. What makes communication from the other side valuable is the wisdom, perspective and help that the dead can offer the living.

‘‘It comes at me like cars speeding by at 70 mph,'' she tells her audience. ‘‘So, I just have to grab what I can.''

Two and a half years ago, Hancock quit her day job as litigation manager at Logan Airport and started a business, called Pathways to Healing, in Middleboro.

‘‘I'm still trying to process this,'' Hancock said of what she calls her heightened sense of intuition.
‘‘It's hard to get onto a train and tell the guy sitting next to you. ‘Hey, scooch over! Your gramma's here and there are a few things she wants to say to you!'''

But that is exactly what Hancock does at fund-raisers such as the one last night at The Bistro.
‘‘B R,'' Hancock says, staring hard at the woman seated in front of her. ‘‘A man's name. Five letters. Any December connection?''

The woman shakes her head regretfully, and Hancock, still getting a feel for the ‘‘energy'' of her audience, takes this setback in stride.

‘‘Everything is like a game show with me!'' she quips.

Suddenly, the disc jockey speaks up from behind the sound stage.

‘‘My name's Brian,'' he calls out in a loud, clear voice. ‘‘My father died in December.''

‘‘Well Brian,'' says Hancock, over the appreciative murmur of her audience. ‘‘He made it. He's in heaven playing cards.''

Brian Grow, who had expected his involvement at the fundraiser would be limited to putting together a selection of slyly funny background music that included songs like ‘‘Hello It's Me,'' and ‘‘Witchy Woman'' said it was ‘‘spooky'' that Hancock knew of his card-playing pastime.
‘‘But I'm happy,'' he said.

Most of the people who paid $25 for tickets to the event were women, a few of whom dragged along husbands, brothers, fathers or boyfriends.


Copyright 2004 The Patriot Ledger Transmitted Monday, August 30, 2004

44 natural highs

1. Falling in love.

2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.

3. A hot shower.

4. No lines at the supermarket .

5. A special glance.

6. Getting mail.

7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.

8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.

9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.

10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.

11. Chocolate milkshake (vanilla or strawberry).

12. A bubble bath.

13. Giggling.

15. The beach.

16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter.

17. Laughing at yourself.

18. Looking into their eyes and knowing they Love you

19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.

20. Running through sprinklers.

21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.

22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.

23. Laughing at an inside joke with FRIENDS

24. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.

25. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.

26. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).

27. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.

28. Playing with a new puppy.

29. Having someone play with your hair.

30. Sweet dreams.

31. Hot chocolate.

32. Road trips with friends.

33. Swinging on swings.

34. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.

35. Making chocolate chip cookies.

36. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.

37. Holding hands with someone you care about.

38. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.

39. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you.

40. Watching the sunrise.

41. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day.

42. Knowing that somebody misses you.

43. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.

44. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think.

sex & the city

Theatrical Release: May 30, 2008 WideBox Office: $56,848,056

Synopsis: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon are reprising their roles from the original HBO series. The show's longtime executive producer, Michael Patrick King, is set to write and direct. Additionally, Chris Noth, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler and Jason Lewis... Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon are reprising their roles from the original HBO series. The show's longtime executive producer, Michael Patrick King, is set to write and direct. Additionally, Chris Noth, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler and Jason Lewis will return as the women's love interests. Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) has also joined the cast of the film and will play Carrie Bradshaw's assistant, a new character to be introduced in the film. --© New Line Cinema

a must see in my book! -cmm

bits & bobs

wine-o

I was walking down the street when I was accosted by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking homeless woman who asked me for a couple of dollars for dinner.

I took out my wallet, got out ten dollars and asked, 'If I give you this money, will you buy wine with it instead of dinner?' 'No, I had to stop drinking years ago', the homeless woman told me.

Will you use it to go shopping instead of buying food?' I asked. 'No, I don't waste time shopping,' the homeless woman said. 'I need to spend all my time trying to stay alive.'

'Will you spend this on a beauty salon instead of food?' I asked. 'Are you NUTS!' replied the homeless woman. I haven't had my hair done in 20 years!'

'Well, I said, 'I'm not going to give you the money. Instead, I'm going to take you out for dinner with my husband and me tonight.' The homeless Woman was shocked. '

Won't your husband be furious with you for doing that? I know I'm dirty, and I probably smell pretty disgusting.' I said, 'That's okay. It's important for him to see what a woman looks like after she has given up shopping, hair appointments, and wine.'

peas in a pod

one shabby chic

Shabby chic is a design style deliberately using worn and deteriorated items.


~Rainy weekend, glad to see the sun today. With that rain i locked myself in with these two old chairs i had rescued. Sanded, cleaned, primed and painted then for the seats i tore off the old and in with new. I bought some canvas and recovered the seats and backs, all matching the shabby chic style that now fills the house. These two chairs are so beautiful, you wonder who once sat in them? On one of my weekend drives there they were on the side of the road next to this old barn that was being torn down. Not a common road i travel or one i ever need to use, but i am happy that they found me on that rare occasion. Gregg cursed these chairs as he helped me drag them out of the rover...."more chairs? i think we have enough, it is just us you know!" With all that said and no comment back he looked at me yesterday to say i gave life back to something, and he was proud. Although later that night at dinner i did hear how that doesn't mean i have to use my creativity on every poor thing i see out there, like the desk i re did last fall from this old lawyers home...oh and there will be more its just something i cant help, and he knows this all too well!~

History-

The style started in Great Britain and evokes the type of decoration found in large country houses where there are worn and faded old chintz sofas and curtains, old paintwork and unassuming 'good' taste. The end result of shabby chic is to achieve an elegant overall effect, as opposed to the sentimentally cute Pop-Victorian. Neither is it an expression of caring for the environment through recycling, even though recycling old furniture and fabrics is an important aspect of it.
The early forms of shabby chic were rather grand but the style has evolved taking inspiration from many forms of decoration. These range from 18th century Swedish painted decoration, the French Chateau as well as the American Shakers where simplicity and plainness was essential.
Shabby chic is mainly popular in interior design where furniture and furnishings are either chosen for their age and signs of wear and tear or new items are distressed to achieve the appearance of an antique.
Shabby chic items are often heavily painted with many layers showing through obviously worn areas. The style is imitated in Faux Painting using glaze or by painting then rubbing and sanding away the top coat to show the wood or base coats. Fabrics tend to be cottons and linens, with linen being particularly popular, inspired by old French linens. Whites and worn or bleached out pastels are favorite colours. Fabric is often stained with tea to give it the look of old fabric. Bleached and faded are terms often applied to the style

summer classics

"I'm always drawn back to the places where I have lived, the house and their neighborhoods."
first line from Breakfast at Tiffany's Truman Capote

"There was the hum of bees, and the musky odor of pinks filled the air."
last line from The awakening Kate Chopin

"I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath and hare-bells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass; and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth."
last line from Wuthering heights Emily Bronte