Happy Birthdays

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Elizabeth and Joey!
Happy Birthday to you!!



We love you both and hope you both have fantastic days!

Friday funnies......

Jimmy Kimmel visits a local barber shop to consult on Obama jokes.

Save those Box Tops!!

How many of you see these Box Tops for Education and wonder what the heck to do with them? Well, Paige is collecting them for her school and she needs our help. Not only does the school get money, but she will also get entered into a drawing. Let's all do our part to help her out. You know there are boxes at your house with these Box Tops so start collecting them for Paige!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAULA!!!!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you dearest Sister Paula Robillard
Happy Birthday to you!!!!

We hope you have a great day and know we all love you very much!

Surprise Reunion!

This weekend was a great weekend! I have a really good group of girlfriends from Freshman year that I keep in touch with from Clemson (I know, you're shocked...). There are 9 of us and we haven't managed to get everyone together since we graduated in 2005 - always 8, never 9. So this weekend, I decided to surprise them by showing up at Homecoming because I knew everyone else would be there.

I flew in on Thursday night. Of course I always have terrible luck flying and ended up being delayed and delayed. After we finally got on the plane, the pilot came on and announced we were currently 41st in line for take off!!!! 41st!!! So I landed around 1:30 Friday morning, worked a half day from SC, met up with one of our friends Brooke and her daughter Jordan for lunch, and then went to visit my friends classroom.

That night we had dinner with all the girls. I was so excited to surprise them but I felt a little bad for everyone else in the restaurant when I walked in because everyone started screaming. It was really funny! We had a great time and called it an early night to get up for the football game in the morning!
We left around 7:45 to head to Clemson. I learned quickly that riding in the back of a small car after taking allergy medicine on an empty stomach is not so good for you. I decided when I saw a sign that said 'Clemson - 20 Miles' that I wasn't going to make it so after a quick pit stop to get something to eat we made it to Clemson by around 8:30. We were pleasantly surprised to find out it wasn't raining because it was forcasted to POUR until at least 12:00. We tailgated for a few hours and then headed to the game.

I sat with my old roommate and her family during the game and while we went to visit some friends we stopped to get a picture with the Rock that the team rubs before they run down the Hill.




After the game I hopped around to a few tailgates to visit some people and finally made my way to back to my friends. It was VERY WINDY! so we decided to head to the bars instead of staying outside to tailgate. I was shocked to see how different downtown is. Everytime we go back, there are new apartment complexes and shops...it was very strange. We hung out in Clemson until around 8PM and then decided to call it a night. This is the ONLY picture I got of all 9 of us from the whole weekend...



As we were walking back, my friend realized that she had flung her hand and her class ring fell off on the side of the street. 16 people crawling around on the sidewalk, sifting through leafs, in the dark, on the side of a very busy road, trying to find a little gold ring. I decided this was more of a photo op before I actually helped look for it. Unfortunately we didn't find it but I have a feeling Santa will be bringing her a new one.



Yesterday I had brunch with some girls from our sorority and then headed over to Don and Peggy's to hang out for a bit. Which always turns in to more than a bit because I ALWAYS get delayed! They were nice enough to let me hang around for my 2 hours and 15 minutes delay and it is always good to catch up! My friend picked me up around 9:30 which isn't too bad but I was still exhausted this morning - but the trip was definitely worth it!!!

Little William Patrick

So my baby is no longer a baby - in comparison! Although I will say that Williams hands are just as big as Claires. Here are a few pictures - Congrats again to the new family, Aunt Kate, and Grandma Jean!

Happy Birthday Erin!

Not that I think she will see this, BUT...

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Erin!
Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Friday!

Finally, it's Friday! Was this week exceptionally painful for anyone else? It was pretty miserable for me! Anyways, I thought I would steal some pictures from Mere and show them since she hasn't yet and I think they are cute and funny....


This one goes in my all time favorite list! She is just too cute. I always force the guy I work with to look at pictures (I think he secretly likes it) and he is convinced Claire is going to be a model. I feel as if Daddy wouldn't be a big fan of that idea.


Speaking of Daddy...I think this picture is wicked funny!


And last but not least, Halloween weekend we went to Boston for the Clemson/BC game. For the first time in 4 years, we were actually happy with the outcome. We hadn't beat BC since 1958 until this year! Here are some pictures we took to entertain ourselves during the game!

Although Peggy doesn't look thrilled to be at the game...she really is. Especially since she got to sit next to Andy during the game. Who is Andy you ask? He would be the random Clemson student who happened to park next to Mere, Kris, Dan, Kate and Andrea who proceeded to have lunch with us, go to the bar with us, and sit with us at the game - right between Mom and Mere. It was pretty funny. You may want to let Adam know he may have some competition! ;-)

Welcome William Patrick Cassidy!

So we had some exciting news today on the Calnen side of the family that I thought people may be interested in.

Sara and Patrick had the baby today! William Patrick Cassidy was born at 3:08 and was 8lb. From what we've heard, everyone is doing great! And Auntie Jean (Grandma now I guess :)) and Kate made it down with plenty of time to spare. He looks absolutely adorable in the picture that Auntie Kate sent out but I can't figure out how to get that to my computer...I'll work on that. Otherwise Mere may go visit tomorrow and I'm sure she'll share her pictures.

Welcome William Patrick!

Claires Baptism

Please join us on November 29th at Noon for Claires Baptism. It will take place at St. Thomas, followed by lunch at my parents. We hope to see you there!

TECWAE

Three Ladies in a Sauna THREE WOMEN, TWO YOUNGER, AND ONE SENIOR CITIZEN, WERE SITTING NAKED IN A SAUNA. SUDDENLY THERE WAS A BEEPING SOUND. THE YOUNG WOMAN P RESSED HER FOREARM AND THE BEEP STOPPED. THE OTHERS LOOKED AT HER QUESTIONINGLY. 'THAT WAS MY PAGER,' SHE SAID. I HAVE A MICROCHIP UNDER THE SKIN OF MY ARM. A FEW MINUTES LATER, A PHONE RANG. THE SECOND YOUNG WOMAN LIFTED HER PALM TO HER EAR. WHEN SHE FINISHED, SHE EXPLAINED, 'THAT WAS MY MOBILE PHONE. I HAVE A MICROCHIP IN MY HAND.' THE OLDER WOMAN FELT VERY LOW -TECH. NOT TO BE OUT DONE, SHE DECIDED SHE HAD TO DO SOMETHING JUST AS IMPRESSIVE. SHE STEPPED OUT OF THE SAUNA AND WENT TO THE BATHROOM. SHE RETURNED WITH A PIECE OF TOILET PAPER HANGING FROM HER REAR END. THE OTHERS RAISED THEIR EYEBROWS AND STARED AT HER. THE OLDER WOMAN FINALLY SAID.........WELL, WILL YOU LOOK AT THAT....I'M GETTING A FAX!!

Best Week Ever!

I've had a few great things happen this week, and I'll start with the least exciting and move to the most exciting:

1. I was offered an HIV/AIDS internship with Tapestry Health. I will be working at the Bay St. location in Springfield. I am honestly not sure what this entails yet, but it will look good on a resume no matter what and will help me learn more about HIV/AIDS, which will be very useful in the Peace Corps.

2. Barack Obama was elected, but you already know this, just had to add it because it is so exciting!

3. I was offered a job with AMR, a national ambulance company, as an EMT. I had very short notice that I was going to have an interview that included a practical and written exam and luckily I passed both! Now I just have to pass the physical agility test and drug test and I am all set to start working. Wish me luck on lifting 150 lbs!

4. The most exciting news: I finally got my official Peace Corps Assignment and I am leaving June 2, 2009 to go to Ghana and be a health/water and sanitation educator. I am going to work towards the eradication of Guinea Worm, HIV/AIDS prevention, Malaria prevention, and water and sanitation improvement. Ghana sounds like a really awesome country. It is on the coast of West Africa and is supposed to be one of the most friendly countries in Africa. English is the official language, but is not widely spoken, so I'll have to learn the most common language called Twi and another native language depending what region I am assigned to. Twi seems very difficult so far because it is a tonal language and it has more letters than the English alphabet, but I'm sure I'll be able to manage. I'm so excited and have been reading a lot of stuff about the Peace Corps in Ghana and it just sounds amazing. I can't wait!
If you ever get bored and want to know what peace corps volunteers do in Ghana, look at some blogs at http://www.peacecorpsjournals.com/gh.html.

So that's my exciting week! I hope you all had a good week as well.

TECWAE

One sunny  day in     ***2009***    an old man  approached the White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue , where he'd been  sitting on a park bench. He spoke to the U.S.  Marine standing guard and said: 'I would like to go in and meet with President  Bush.' The Marine looked at the  man and said: 'Sir, Mr. Bush is no longer president and no longer resides  here.' The old man said: 'Okay'  and walked away. The following day, the  same man approached the White House and said to the  same Marine: 'I  would like to go in and meet with President  Bush.' The Marine again told  the man: 'Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr. Bush is no longer president and  no longer resides here.' The man thanked him and,  again, just walked away. The third day, the same  man approached the White House and spoke to the very same  U.  S. Marine, saying: I would like to go in and  meet with President  Bush.' The Marine,  understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and  said: 'Sir,  this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr.  Bush.  I've told you already that Mr. Bush is no  longer the president and no longer resides here.  Don't you  understand?' The old man looked at  the Marine and said: 'Oh, I understand.  I just love hearing  it.' The Marine snapped to  attention, saluted, and said: 'See you  tomorrow!"

Electoral Map

When I came to post this I saw Mel's post and that is very sad! So to ATTEMPT to lighten things up, I wanted to share this because I thought it was pretty funny...





In addition, I don't think Florida should be able to vote. Did anyone see the coverage last night about the problems they were having with their ballots this time? Apparently, the ballot had an arrow and a rectangle. To vote for your candidate, you had to draw a rectangle and color it in between the existing rectangle and arrow. I think it was NBC that interviewed a bunch of pollers coming out and said that they had been very confused by this. Some circled their choices, some made check marks, etc. but the only way it counted was if you completely filled in the space between the rectangle (VP) and arrow (Pres.) Really? Does it have to be that complicated? I feel like if ANY state needed to have the most straight forward, easy to complete ballot out of ANY state, it would have been Florida after the mess last time!

Suspicious Fire in Springfield

The Caron family and Gail were awoken at about three thirty this morning to quite a commotion. The new church that was about 90% complete, was burned to the ground. Police are saying that it is very suspicious and possibly a hate crime, considering it is a predominantly black church and the timing of Obama's victory. We watched the fire for awhile last night and it was pretty intense. This morning the street was full of fire trucks and police and is now full of dogs, police, FBI, helicopters and Michael is being interviewed as we speak.

It was very upsetting to go to bed so enlightened and to wake up to such a tragedy.

Check it out...

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/11/suspicious_blaze_destroys_tink.html?category=Springfield

Emma voted Tuesday with Auntie Paula.  She was very excited to show her support for Obama, and I guess it payed off!

Election is finally over!

So who stayed up for the speech? I am going to imagine that even with the time change, PC and Pegatures did not stay awake for it, Mere had no prayer, Kristin REALLY tried, but didn't make it - and that leaves Dan and I, who I am assuming made it through. I thought it was great...and was very exciting to hear that Sasha and Malia are getting a puppy for the White House!

What did everyone else think?

Obama did it11

YEA BABY !!!!!!!!!!!

Happy election day!

Click here to see where to eat free today!!!

Enjoy!!!!

Halloween

So, we got up to Massachusetts on Halloween day after I worked from home and went into Manhattan to get Meredith at work. Nice drive in the early afternoon means we fly up 95 and over 91 in just over 2 hours. So we get to West Springfield around 4:00, get Claire in her costume and commence taking her around to visit the neighbors. This is before Claire, Peggy and Meredith take her out.







After they got back to the house, Kristin, Andrea (Kristin's old roommate), Meredith, and I took Claire out to visit the whole fam-damily. First stop was to stop over to see Big Grandpa, Susan, and Megan.




We had to make the visit short, since there were many more people to see. Next on the list was Ray and Cindy, which had one of the best Halloween motifs I've seen in a long time. Nice works guys.




While we were visiting, all their grandkids made their triumphant return from a night's trick-or-treating. No picture of the bounty, but they did a good job. The below picture is of Paige, Claire and I - and yes, that is me wearing Paige's costume. She was a very cute little gypsy and I just took whatever she left on the table and put it on.



This is where the photos end, but after Cindy and Ray's, we went over to visit with Maryellen, Mimere, Paula, and the rest of that crew; Jean and Molly; David and Donna; and Gail and Julie; Thanks to everyone for the fun night and all the delicious candy.