The Fabulous B@ker Blog

Today the Supreme Court upheld President Obama's Affordable Care Act , in my opinion a great victory toward health care for all. Of course the plan is not perfect, but  I think it's a step in the right direction in  allowing those who have not previously had affordable access to health care  (pre-existing medical conditions and the self-employed)  options  for being covered.  (I get kind of annoyed by the naysayers because I know of several people who are are receiving public assistance and whose kids are on medicaid...so "we're" already paying for their insurance. Ironically, this is the socio-economic group that tends to be so adamantly against the Affordable Care Act.) Obviously, these people don't like the health care plan. In fact, they are so disgusted with it they are threatening to move to (Socialist) Canada (where they have Universal Health Care).   I'm pretty sure the Canadians don't want them either. I think a colleague of mine sa...

We just got an email that the kids got to Krumbach "safe and sound" after a long 24 hour journey which began with the bus trip to Philly yesterday morning and took them through a later than planned departure last night. I'm sure they'll have a wonderful time once they get some sleep!!

If this day had turned out as expected, Annalisse would be somewhere over the Atlantic right now.  Instead, she sits upstairs, really upset, not knowing at this point where the plans for the exchange trip to Germany stand. It all started as can be expected, with an excited group of students checking in at noon for their 2:10pm flight to Newark (connecting to Munich). Soon enough we started to hear hear rumblings of a delay due to storms in the Northeast. The kids said goodbye and headed out to security, and "us parents" were instructed to hang around and wait until the kids were on board, "just in case." Good thing. By 6:30 we called it a day. The flight was cancelled and as I write this we still don't know what the future plans are. So upstairs she sits, the last place in the world she wants to be/expected to be this Friday night. And downstairs we sit, feeling super bad for her and all of her travel friends. Stay tuned for updates... 6.23.12 Update: The ...

Congrats to FHS's Class of 2012! it's so hard to believe it's been a year since Cam graduated and another until Annalisse does. Treasure the memories of your kids when they are little - it goes so fast!

TJ Memorial Last night at around 5:30pm three of "the girls" and I returned to Rochester after our girl's weekend in Washington, DC. The weekend, our ninth annual, was a blast! Here are the deets... Sue photo bombs The Capital Lorie, Heather and Gina arrived from Massena around 8pm on Wednesday to spend the night before we headed out for our journey on Thursday morning. But, first things first: wine and catching up on the porch on a beautiful almost-summer's night. It was great, and really relaxing. On Thursday morning we got going around 9pm and took the usual route (Country Cupboard!) until, against my better judgement (and despite the fact that I knew the route), I let my GPS guide me on a crazy route that took us around Baltimore and into DC/Northern Virginia on the opposite end that I usually enter. The trip was made immeasurably longer due to the infamous DC traffic. Grrrrr! Vietnam Memorial We finally arrived at the hotel (after dropping...

Mark Baker is the unrequited the KING OF MULCH; does that man ever love to mulch. A couple of weeks ago we had six yards delivered (imagine a pile that takes up a good chunk of the driveway in front of the garage), and he's been steadily chipping away at it ever since. Right now the pile is about half the size it was, and he's been on a mission to get it all spread. I help him once in a while, but he's mostly just focused on getting down to business every day after work and on the weekends while I'm engaged in other chores or running around. He gets a great deal of satisfaction out of making our yard look beautiful, and it does look beautiful. It really relaxes him and it gives both he and I relief from stress just looking at the precisely sculpted edging, symmetrical patio and walkways, and (mostly) weed-free beds. I especially love the view from the upstairs porch - so serene! And who could complain about loving yard work? He could get his thrill from worse things...

Today is the last day of Annalisse's junior year. Next week are three days of finals, then DONE. Seriously, how did that happen?? STOP, TIME. I can't believe the-kids-in-school phase of our life is almost over. Looking ahead to a summer packed with travel and fun times all around (except for the having to work part) I expect the first day of her senior year, and Cam's second year at RIT will come all too fast. But, let's just live for today. Here's to a fun last day to Annalisse and her pals!

Last week was not a great week in terms of feeling happy and upbeat as I was still feeling really disappointed with Cam's final performance at RIT this spring, as well as some household drama that went on all week...which I won't go into here out of respect for the parties involved. Let's just say my much desired state of peace and harmony took a beating last week and I'm hoping this week brings the (my) universe back into balance. If the pouring rain, dark skies and cold temps would also go away, that would be much appreciated. Are you listening, Universe? Peace, Harmony, and Sun (with a couple good grades thrown in). It doesn't seem like too much to ask, does it?