Summer Vacation

...Yes, it's still technically summer. And boy am I ready! I haven't had a true full weeks vacation in quite some time, and this one's looking to be a doozy.

I like using the word "doozy". It sounds silly and it's fun to say. "Doozy". That word is severely under used.

Our trip begins at a lovely beach house in Rhode Island. This house sits right on the water and has a large deck where we can talk the days away while listening to the crashing waves. Life can't get much better than that...
We'll visit Mohegan Sun Casino and stroll around looking at it's beautiful decor. We'll people watch. We'll eat and drink. We might even gamble a tiny bit. We'll visit an island-Block Island. We'll rent scooters, go shopping and tour lighthouses. No doubt, we'll walk a lot.
Another day we'll visit Provincetown (or P-Town as they call it) and we'll stroll down Commercial Street browsing in shops, dining on lobster (for some, this will be a first. I know...gasp!) and soaking in the beauty of a community so accepting of everyone.

And of course, we'll eat...These are the menus I have planned for us:

I debated back and forth about whether or not I should pre-post for next week so that my blog doesn't sit here blank until the 21st. On one hand, I don't want my newer readers to move on thinking I don't update (which I do, daily) and I don't want my loyal readers to be bored. However, I deserve a break and pre-posting a weeks worth of material is a lot of work that frankly, I just didn't have time for. So my dear friends I bid you farewell.

Until 9/21, that is. Be well, stay safe, and miss me a lot! :)

No Title Today

I woke up pissed off today. For no reason at all. Just...pissed.

I don't remember my dreams but I'm sure that whatever it was, it made me angry. I was fine when I went to bed. I fell right to sleep, so I know it wasn't because I didn't get enough sleep (and I slept through the night). It's weird.

I'm not pissed off now. After my shower and breakfast it melted away and I was able to step out of my apartment excited for the day ahead.

My MoMo is coming to Boston tonight. :) Though I still have to clean my apartment and pack for Saturday's departure (to Rhode Island, not to our St. Martin villa rentals) I'm ready for a giant hug from the sweetest boy I know!

The weather is gorgeous. Last night I walked over to the store and I got a little chill. I love it. I love the crisp cool air that's on it's way to me. I love wearing sweaters and sweatshirts and feeling the breeze on my face. I love the leaves and the smell of the air, the autumn food and the promise of winter that's just around the corner.

Yes, I know I'm in the minority-but I also know about 20 other people who love autumn as much as I do.

Aren't we lucky to live in New England?

Above & Beyond

I love my job. You know this. And I love 98% of the people who work here.

The other 2%...well...I could do without. It's not that I dislike them, really, it's just that they aren't great-some are kind of boring, others are mean and one is fake. But overall, it is a fantastic place to work and the people here are amazing.

Sometimes, though I wonder about how people get away with doing only what is asked of them. It's like they have a copy of their job descriptions in front of them at all times and are only willing to do only those tasks sighted in them. Who does that anymore? I guess because I've always been the type of person who is willing to go above and beyond (probably b/c of my Disney days-the time, not the class...wait, none of you know about that class.)

I've gotten off track.

What kind of worker are you? Do you go above and beyond or do you follow the outlines given to you closely and rarely go off track? Do you go the extra mile when no one is looking or only when you'll be rewarded?

There's a person here who is mean and grumpy until the bosses are around. Then she's bubbly and engaging. It makes me quite angry because if any of were ever to say anything about her attitude, we'd probably look like fools.

Randomivity

When reading a "Beer makes me poop" bumper sticker you should make sure there is an adequate pause between your current story and your discovery of said bumper sticker. Otherwise, it just sounds like you're making a really weird confession.

Some people can be insensitive without even knowing it.

I have opinions. So does everyone else. As long as none involve murder, rape or theft, we should be OK if these opinions are different. That's the beauty of America and in fact, it's what keeps things interesting and growing.

Monday I logged in over 5K steps and yesterday just under. I tried upping the number before bed, but being that I drove to CT right after work and got home at midnight, the walking was kept to a minimum.

Boys like boobs. And they can talk about them all night long.

It's weird, I know, but my right hand gets sniffed by men. (This has happened on more than one occasion with more than 1 boy.)

Overheard at a little pub in CT on someone's 50th birthday:
"Do you think gynecologists can tell it's been a long time since you've had sex?"
"Well...usually the fact that I'm weepingsobbing gives it away."

Yes. I said one of those sentences. And no, it wasn't the 2nd one.

On my drive back to Boston last night I heard lots of great songs that never get played during the day. The best one was "In Your Eyes' by Debbie Gibson. Boy do I remember wishing I'd get asked to dance when that song came on. I never did get to slow dance to it. Maybe someday.

The cuter and nicer a boy is, the more crude things they can say and get away with it. The proof is in the pudding. Or...um...in CT.

Putting "Do Not Eat" on a Tupperware container at work only stirs up more curiosity. Lord only knows how many people peeked at Linda's cupcakes before I got them to her in CT.

It's nice to be called hot. Even if it's indirectly thru a text message thru a friend. Especially when you don't have big boobs.

This is my favorite picture of Linda & I. (Taken last night)



I even like it in Black & White...

However this:

...is also fantastic. Why? C'mon! Look at Linda!! She's "silly" with beer!!! (And also, it's got a handsome paramedic in the picture!!!)

Toosdae ?'s

1. Tell me about 3 things that you asked for when you were little but that you never got.

2. What kinds of movies make you cry?

3. What is one thing you know for sure?

1. Last week I told you about a pony. I never got that. I also wanted Guess Jeans and a Coca Cola polo shirt. I really wanted those in 6th grade b/c everyone else had them.

2. I used to not cry at movies-now I cry when I see anything inspirational, when people who are loved die and when true love is lost.

3. This is going to be depressing to say, but I don't know much "for sure". Every time I feel comfortable saying that I trust something to be for good, it goes away. I'd like to believe that true friends I have will be with me until the end, whenever that is and that I'll be ok. But you just don't know.

Happy Birthday 2 U, My Linda Loo!

Today is a very special day for one of my favorite people-Linda from Are We There Yet? is celebrating her 50th birthday today! Linda is one of the most honest, caring and strong women I know. She's hysterical and is an overflowing fountain of knowledge about almost any subject. She's one of the only people who can make history sound neat. Linda's a great mother, a dedicated dispatcher and a wonderful friend. Please go by to wish her many more...

For You, Linda-I'll see you later tonight and can't freakin' wait until Saturday!!!!

NOT a tiny margarita...
Cake for you! Home made, of course...
Memories....light the corner of my mind...


Here's to many more visits filled with laughter...Happy Birthday, and thank you for being such a wonderful friend.

Manic Monday: Juice

Today's Manic Monday! Go say hello to Mo and find out who else is playing!!

When I was really little, I used to drink apple juice in my bottles. If my parents tried giving me anything else, I wouldn't drink it. In almost every picture of me at that age you can see the bottle filled up with apple juice.

Once I was old enough to make my own choices (which were still sometimes overridden by the 'rents) I switched my preference to orange juice. My mom used to buy the frozen concentrated kind and we'd add the water, stir, and have a nice big pitcher-most of which I'd drink that same day. In the summer, I was even known to eat the frozen sludge like Italian ice.

I like to think that my decision to switch juices was simply because I was apple juiced out-but the truth is-I didn't like the smell. One year in the early 80's we were over run by caterpillars. Those fat hairy little worms were everywhere-they even fell out of the trees onto you when you walked by. It was disgusting. When I say we were over run-I really mean it. Somehow they had over populated that year and you couldn't go anywhere outside without seeing hoards of them. So, what does this have to do with me and apple juice?

Apple juice smells like the caterpillars did.

I know it's weird. I know. But the smell of so many caterpillars in the air just reminded me of apple juice for some reason. (This is probably the first proof of my crazy ass nose.) So I stopped drinking it and switched to OJ instead. It was years before I could drink apple juice again without gagging.

In fact, in the last 5 years or so, I'd say. That's a long time to go without the sweet apply taste that I really love. Orange juice is still my juice of choice-as I'm writing this, my mouth is watering. It's a good thing that we have some at work!

I Have My Own Voice, Thanks...

To Whom It May Concern:

During her speech in St. Paul on Wednesday night, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin purported to speak for women, small town residents, and everyone who isn’t a member of the “Washington elite.”

Sarah Palin is an intelligent, well spoken woman, but it must be made clear:

We don’t want a country in which women who are raped are refused the right to choose abortion.

We don’t want a country in which religious dogma is taught in public school science class.

We don’t want a country where gay and lesbian citizens are discriminated against.

We don’t want a country where books are banned from public libraries.

America is strongest when we are united, not divided. When our Constitutional liberties are respected. When our politicians rely on ideas and opinions instead of distortions and attacks. The challenges we face are too big to be reduced to name-calling.

Sarah Palin doesn’t speak for us.


If Sarah Palin doesn't speak for you, either, click HERE to sign a petition and join the movement to speak for ourselves.

From People for the American Way

***UPDATE ***

I'd like to say something here.

I consider myself to be an informed voter. I've taken polls, read up on candidates and watched speeches. I know the issues that are important to me especially abortion, education and equal rights.

Sarah and her party do not have the same beliefs as I do on these. This is a fact. I am not hating on her, not saying anything hateful, I am simply standing up for what I as an American who is allowed to have my own opinion can (and should) do.

This doesn't make me stupid, hateful, uninformed or a bad person. Having different beliefs is different than saying hateful things and being uninformed.

In fact, I think I posted here that she's an intelligent, well spoken woman. She is and I admire her for running and standing up and fighting for what she believes in.

So why can't I do the same?