My RugRats

Senior Rug Rat:
Shannon

Beauty:

Has masses of long curly hair - An original black Irish girl! Twin to Maureen O'Hara (an actress, for those of you who haven't a clue, who starred alongside John Wayne in several memorable movies).

Education:

A real smartypants - graduated with Honors from University of Toronto with a Honors Bachelor of Arts degree and a minor in Religion. Graduated from Humber College, with a degree in International Project Management.

Employment:

Prior to October 07' worked as the bartender at Hemingway's in Yorkville (Toronto). In between her travels, she worked as a project manager for Green Gardens in Toronto, setting up vegie gardens in neighborhood yards, and as a dog-walker on the side. She LOVED all her furry charges! 2010 and 2011 has her in Nicaragua and Costa Rica where she went to learn about Biodynamic farming.

Shannon went walking in India for Janadesh (internship). You can visit her blog at shannoninindia.blogspot.com to see what she got up to. She was there for about a year. Don't know if her blog is still up and running.

Character:

Loves animals, children, old people and disadvantaged people - the rest of us can go to hell.

Travel:

An amazing writer - someday I will publish her emails and pictures from her sojourn to the South China Sea and surrounding area.

Began her journey of life at 15 when she went with YWAM to Africa.

Reflections:

She makes me want to cry when I think of how much I love her and what a wonderful, selfless person she is. I can still clearly see her little smiling face when I reflect on her childhood.

Also extremely beautiful - pictures don't do her justice.

Mom Memories:

When she came up to me in the garden one fall morning, teeth full of squished, chewed slugs. About 2 years old.

Home:

Shannon currently has all her crap in my basement while she travels. Otherwise she usually lives in Toronto. She is currently unattached - I can only hope somewhere out there is a strong man who travels and works in the same field as her, so they can partner up. Isn't this what every mother wants??

Next in line to the Throne:
Keri

Beauty:

Fashion Model from the age of 16 when she was "discovered" at Square One Mall, Mississauga. A natural . Most recently with Ford Canada and Ford USA.

Education:
Another smartypants - graduated with honors from Ryerson University Toronto, with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, in Marketing Management. Spent a year abroad studying in Australia. Did I say studying - I meant partying.

Employment:
Started with Conde Naste Publishing House, Manhattan NYC. Then she moved over to Yahoo Inc., Manhattan NYC. Presently she works with a super national sales team for YELP! NYC.

Character:
Everyone loves her! Extremely social, poised and fun! The life of any party. Lots of friends! Participate in triathlons all over the USA.

Travel:
Travelled the world, from Hong Kong to Milan. Lots of travel with YELP as she keeps winning trips!

Reflections:
A most beautiful baby with her white hair, adorable little face.

Mom Memories:
Tumbling down the stairs, hanging on for dear life to her little giraffe trike. Shannon really didn't like having a sibling so gave her a shove down the stairs.

Home:
Keri lives in NYC with her husband Scott. He is a wonderful husband and son-in-law! Our families are so lucky - we all like each other! Her sister is her best friend and since our family lives in NY and NJ, everyone can be together all the time!


And Then There were Three!

Bonnie:

Beauty:
A winning smile with the cutest dimples! Looks like Katie Holmes from her Dawson's Creek Years! Tall and slender.


Education:
Wow! Graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science degree, Honors program. Then graduated Summa Cum Laude as a Dr. of Chiropractic Medicine as well as a degree in Nutrition, from the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Employment:
Bonnie has her own practice in NYC.

Character:

Quiet and steady. Very dependable. She loves her dog Frankie who turned out to be a real New Yorker - a city dog! He started life as a Canadian and now he's a Yankee!

Travel:

Mostly sunny vacation spots. Spends summer weekends with family and friends at various cottages, lakes, beaches.

Reflections:

Everyone loved her - even Shannon. This was one baby that didn't get shoved down the stairs. She was a quiet little girl - however she did end up with a black eye - can't remember what from though!

Mom Memories:

She had the most beautiful long thick hair as a little girl! Then one summer when visiting her step-mom Lee, she came home with a short bob cut! AAAAghhhhh! She loved it though, but how traumatizing for me! We all love Lee so don't get the wrong idea.

Home:

Bonnie lives in NYC with her partner Karl and his dog Crash. She and her sister Keri and best of friends. Since most of our family lives in NY, NJ - everyone is together all the time.


The Heir and the last one!
Daniel:

Handsom:
This kid has the most beautiful blue eyes! A natural blond as a baby and now it's hard to say. His hair style - gawd I don't know what you would call it, either shaved completely off, or maybe a number 2 and lately half shaved and the other half long. What is that all about? He is such a handsom kid - Why can't he just have normal hair for heavens sake!

Education:
Has his GED. Tried university but somehow didn't realize you had to attend classes! Smart kid but not really interested in education. Everyone tells me that boys mature much later than girls - I am still waiting. I understand 26 is the new 12. Great!

Employment:
Works as a merchant seaman with the US Merchant Marine. He holds the OS rank and if he would just spend some of his free time at the academy, he could upgrade to a Mate without having to put in the time - presently he is "thinking about it".

Character:
Dan used to be an "angry young man" and we somehow got through those years. Now he is affible, kind, considerate and a lovely young man.

Travel:
Been all over the world - every port of call was another exciting adventure! From Abu Dhabi to Korea. Has his King Neptune certificate for crossing the equator - just like his mother!

Reflections:
This kid was loved by all his teachers -even though he was such a handfull! His winning smile and happy disposition got him through every misstep.

Mom Memories:
Jeeze let me think! Asked him once if he had any friends in his new school and he looked at me surprised and said "everyone is my friend"! He thought I was deranged not to have known that. Another time I was asking him a question and he wasn't answering so getting annoyed I must have asked him what was his problem. Again those big blues looked up at me (annoyed) and said "you don't have to have an anwser for every question"! Must have been 5 or 6 at the time. And then there was the time he burned down an abandoned building - probably was 8 or 9. I could go on and on! Gotta love him!

Home:
Well, he had his own apartment at one time, but now is living at home with us. Can't seem to get him out and on his own again. Back in the days, we couldn't wait to get out of the house and on our own. I'll be 90 before empty nest syndrome sets in!

So that's it with the family - now the stories begin. Since I don't expect the kids will have a clue I am blogging about us, I can write whatever I want! Hahahaha! Stay tuned - I will begin in the next few days. It's now January 2011.