2008

2008 for me was much more low-key than 2007, that's for sure! I found a lot of great things in 2008 - a job that I really like, a brand new neighborhood that I wanted to be in before any ground was broken - and moved into in October, and pieces of myself that I thought I had lost. I passed the one-year anniversary of my aunt dying, and made it through. I still miss her every day, but am thankful for the family that I have left that have filled the giant void that was left with her passing. In that same respect, it was 10 years last month since my mother died. Wow.

And speaking of 10 years - was it only 10 years ago that we were going to party like it's 1999?

I found some new, great friends (and kept a lot of old great ones, too!), and realized that some that I thought were friends really weren't, but that's OK - I recognize it for what it is, and don't let it bother me. I found my way back to school after taking a semester off, and still love it! In general, life is good. :)

I found that I still kind of enjoy "poking the beast" with the "Barb" in my life. That whole situation is worth a giggle or twelve, and I'm finding that "forgive and forget" isn't in the cards for her just yet.

But all that aside, I found that blogging is fun! It's a great way to keep in touch with friends and family, and I have found some new great blogger buddies!

Here's to a healthy, happy 2009 for everyone! Happy New Year!!

So this week - I've gotten in some of this:


and some of this:


Gotta love family. And kids. :) Tonight I'm babysitting for the little one up there. She's such an easy baby, she's so damn cute, too - which makes it easy!

Just wanted to share. :D

Manic Monday

Thanks to Fleur de Lisa, you too can play along with another Manic Monday by clicking here!


What is the biggest mistake you made in 2008 and will not make again in 2009?
Trying to take an accounting class online. I would just as soon take a red hot poker and jab it through my right nostril into my brain cavity than try that again. If you're not a math person, don't ever try it. I do much better with math "in-seat" and in the classroom. I have to take the class for my degree. I start next week. I WILL pass it and not withdraw. LOL


Do you make New Year's resolutions? Why or why not?
Not usually. I make New Year's I "hope" that I do something. Like I'd love to get rid of the tapeworm that keeps making me hungry at the worst times (oh, like ALL the time?), but to make a resolution to ignore it? That would be awful! It would come out the gaping hole in my brain cavity that I made after trying accounting. Or while on a date, it would slither out my nose or something. So no. No New Year's resolutions. Plus, I think it's like 80% of them don't make it past the first month. So I wait until February 1st, and make all sorts of crazy resolutions. By then, who cares? Nobody's going to hold me to them - only myself!

Who do you nominate as “Man or Woman of the Year” for 2008?
The most obvious choice here would be Barack Obama. But that's just going along with the crowd. Personally? I'd like to nominate Ben & Jerry for coming up with their Dublin Mudslide ice cream. Or how about Vermonty Python: Coffee liqueur ice cream with a chocolate cookie crumb swirl & fudge cows. And then they say: We interrupt ourselves with much hooting through tin horns to bring you this brilliant new ice cream, made from dried shrubbery and old cereal packets. This is a ripping good flavor, really, so buy it quickly and run away, silly person, or we shall taunt you a second time. How could they NOT be nominated?

What was your greatest accomplishment in 2008?
Proving that I could rise above the bullshit and once again be on my own. Not only did I find a great job to support myself and my son, I also had a brand new house built, and have maintained my 5.5 GPA in school. I went back to living on my own in 2007 because of circumstances beyond my control - and came out the better person.

ahhhhh Coffee...

A blog that I love to check out has a great contest going on here. I could win This!

I love coffee. I am a completely different person before and after it. LOL

Friday Fill-Ins

Hope everyone had a wonderful, magical Christmas :) Ours has been fantastic, and we're enjoying time with family.

Courtesy of Janet <-- Click here to play along!





1. I must see my son grow up before I die.

2. You can't stop the karma train, no matter how much you try!

3. I wish I never had to buy a pregnancy test again. I had a hard time with this one. I've never bought anything that I'm really "against" buying, and I'm not pregnant. My cousin suggested it, that's why I put it. I always wanted more kids, though. Not just one. I guess that's another post, huh?

4. My ex breaking up with me has helped me change my life. I have my own home, am back in school, and now know what my "I've had enough of this shit" tolerance level is.


5. I know the song A-B-C-D-E-F-G....H-I-J-K-LMNOP-Q-R-S...T-U-V...W-X-Y AND Z... now I know my ABC's, next time won't you sing with me?? by heart.

6. If I weren't so afraid, I would find a way to get my Bachelor's and go to law school. Maybe some day :).

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to the family Yankee Swap (I have THE most kick-ass gift ever!) tomorrow my plans include hanging with baby L :) and Sunday, I want to go Mystic!!

The Eve of the Eve :)

So tomorrow, while most of you are snug as bugs in your nice warm beds, I will be up and traveling at the butt-crack of dawn to catch an early morning flight. "Where could you possibly be going, oh powerful and all-knowing Queen of the Universe?" I know you are thinking this. I am going H O M E. For the first time in 9 months. That's a gestational period, you know. For humans, at least, certainly not for an elephant - they'd still be in the first trimester. I have made it clear to all that will listen that I am going to do nothing but sit on the living room floor of my cousin's house and play with the baby, who I have not seen yet. She was born MAY 3RD and I HAVE NOT SEEN HER YET. I have so much time to make up. Her mother, my aunt, would BEAT me if she knew this. I duck when the wind blows, I'm so scared of her wrath. Not really, but it sounded good, didn't it?
And Christmas. Ahhhhhhh Christmas. Of course it will not be complete without some family drama, but I'm hoping that will be minimal. I still have some shopping to do, but the boy is pretty much done. I went against all I believe in and caved. I ordered him.... God I hate even typing it.... a cell phone. <--- That's how I feel about it. But he's starting ski club after the first of the year, and won't have any way to get hold of me for emergencies. Can I give it to him to use on those days only? Would I be a horrible mother? I mean, jeez, he's lucky he's even getting one. I hate the idea of kids having them unless they're needed, and I guess he needs it. Ugh.
Anywhoo... he is getting other stuff. The ski club costs, new boarding boots, goggles, other various and sundry items.
It'll be fun.

Merry Christmas to everyone that celebrates!

Muah!!

Manic Monday :) <---- Click to play along!



If you were at a friend’s house for a holiday dinner and you found a dead cockroach in your salad, what would you do?
It would depend on how close a friend. I'd definitely stop eating it, and probably stop anyone else around me. If it were someone that I knew I could do it with, I'd stop them all! Stop! There's an uninvited guest in the salad! Then I would find out who invited the bugger (pun intended) and smack them upside the head. Why, you might ask? Because salads would be ruined for me forever. You have no idea the extent of my bug phobia - they freak me out, and while I've gotten much better over the years? Bug? in my food? Um. Yeah. Not so much.

If you could put anyone you know on Prozac, who would you choose?
Oh my. I know so many people that are wound waaaaaaaay too tight. I can't choose just one.

How do you feel about public displays of affection?
I'm ok with it if it's a spur of the moment thing, but doing it to mark your territory (that's another post), stake a claim, or because you think it's the right thing to do? Nope. Or if you're going to hump my leg like a dog? Nope. Because that right there is going to make me want to jump your bones right then and there. The humping of the leg, that is. I used to go out with a guy that did that constantly, and I was like GET OFF ME!!! And then he wondered why I wasn't feeling all sexy later. Um, that's because you banged me into the counter and now I have a huge bruise? Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. That's an example of someone not grasping the concept, because he'd do it again. And again. And again.
BUT... I digress. Gimme a kiss, hold my hand, I think it's wonderful. Hump me? Not so much.

Sunday stuff..

There is a shit-ton of snow outside, and it's just going to keep coming! Hopefully today or some time in the next day or three the county will decide to plow our streets. Apparently they didn't think that the 6-7" of snow the other day warranted it. Since we're a new development, I think we get forgotten. sniff sniff... And since we're a new development, there aren't any mature trees or anything to block the blowing snow, so it's like a giant whirling dervish of snow outside. And who knows where it will land! It's actually been a nice quiet weekend. There were 2 hockey games and we missed both of them - Friday because we ended up hanging out with friends, and then last night the boy's friend was supposed to come with us and he bailed - which made the boy not want to go. Which was fine - saves me the money, and we listened to it instead. It sounded like a great one, though! I miss seeing our friends, but we'll see them after the first of the year.
Christmas shopping is pretty much done. Much easier this year! Anywhooo.... on to the Sunday fun that I found here (granted it says Saturday, but it still is good!) He's got a great blog - good reading there. :)


1. On an average year, how many days before Christmas do you generally finish your Christmas shopping?
HAH! I usually finish my shopping AFTER Christmas, because there is invariably someone that I won't see until after the big day. But for Christmas morning presents, it's usually Christmas Eve. LOL

2. Is the economy making you spend any less on gifts this year, or are you spending about the same?
I am spending way less this year than I have in years past. The boy is older, doesn't believe any more, and really doesn't need that much. He's also getting more practical gifts, too. Plus it makes it easier that I don't have to buy for anyone else, too. A lot of shopping was spent on the fuckwit's family in years past, and while it was fun - I'm sure that now they don't get any presents (he is a notorious bad or non-gifter LOL - just ask me about the coupons some time) He's also been known to claim that he's Jewish that week as an excuse. But I digress..

3. What part of the Christmas scene do you find the most chaotic? What part do you generally worry most about?
Really, I don't find any part of it chaos. I love it all. I'm not a big worrier, either - if I forgot someone, I get them something later, that's all. I suppose I worry that the boy won't like his presents, but he always does.

4. Take the quiz: What Movie is Your Christmas Most Like?

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Very Brady Christmas

For you, it's all about sharing times with family. Even if you all get a bit cheesy at times.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

5. What Christmas movie is your favorite? Which one is your least favorite?
It's a Wonderful Life, or A Christmas Story. I've never gotten into the newer ones, it's all about the classics for me!


6. What Christmas tradition from years past do you miss the most now?
Christmas Eve with the whole family together. That was chaos! And I guess it's not so much the tradition, it's the people that kept it up that I miss more than anything.

Friday Fill Ins

Here we go! Courtesy of Janet <-- Click here to play along!




1. Said the night wind to the little lamb, come here my little pretty....(psst. run away little lamb, run away!!)
2. The first Noel, the angel did say, who the heck calls it Noel anyway? And why would someone name their child Noel? I dated a guy named Noel once, he had issues. I think it's because his name was Noel!
3. There's more damn snow Over the hills and everywhere.
4. It came upon the midnight clear, I think you are a fuckwit, dear. (ROFL couldn't resist)
5. Luke, even though Darth is your father, Let your heart be light.
6. And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing that tells of the baby king
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging with friends, now home and hanging with my kidtomorrow my plans include hockey game, the boy having a friend sleep over and Sunday, I want to recover from the sleepover!!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!

And now, for the letter

Thistle was kind enough to share her letters with me, and has given me the E :)

Here is my list of 10 wonderful(and some not-so-wonderful) things that start with the letter :)



10. I drink a lot of water, and Evian is pretty nice once in a while (it's just hard to justify the expense because it is, after all, just water).

9. Our last election brought us new hope!

8. Ebay is a great source of income and wonderful deals. I have bought and sold a lot of *stuff* on there. It's amazing what people will pay for!

7. Email is a wonderful way to keep in touch with my family and friends back home in Boston :)

6. Espresso. 'Nuff said.

5. This one is too good to resist. Ex-boyfriends. I have a few. One liked to show his penis on the internet, the other was just a fuckwit who like to blame everyone else for his problems/issues and refuse to own his bad choices. Ahhhh, ex's, gotta love 'em (ACK!!) Which brings me to.....

4. Ethics. Pretty much knowing the difference between right and wrong. I have a very strong work ethic, and live by the ethics that my parents instilled in me. *I* am a good person, and I know that. It's too bad that in my life I have met a few that don't have any. Which (again) brings me to....

3. Expectations. In life we all have expectations. Some of the basics are respect, honor and the truth. Not too much to ask. It's what I give, and what I should get in return.

2. My favorite E of all time.... see if you can figure this one out:


And the number one E (in my book at least)..........

1. If nothing else, I have learned that an EDUCATION is one of the most important things you can get for yourself. I'm 2 classes away from one degree, and working toward the next! And I mean a real education - not where you sign up for a class, get someone to pay for it and then drop the class to get the money. Oh! And another one is taking silly classes like "the effects of rubber chickens in outer space" so you can tell people that you're in school.. I'm talking a REAL education.

Wordless Wednesday......

Manic Monday :)

Manic Monday :) <---- Click to play along!


Have you ever returned an item to a store for a refund after having used it?
Like as in, bought a sweater, wore it and then returned it? Actually, no - that's one thing I've never done! I've bought things and didn't like them, or they didn't work and then I returned them, but never the dress the day after the prom scenario

You are going out for the evening. If your partner objects to what you are wearing, would you change your clothing?
it depends. If I'm dressed like a Bratz doll and we're going to dinner with his family? Yeah, probably - but I wouldn't dress like a Bratz doll in the first place - and I'm usually pretty good about what to where when. I've always been the one to say "um. you are NOT wearing that, are you?" Remind me some time to tell you the tale of the blue clogs.

What item that you don’t currently possess would you most like to have in your home?Seriously? I have everything I want. A decent guy with a spine would be nice, but you can't possess those LOL. A kid who is happy most days would be nice, but we're working on that.

Things to do...

When you're 21-22 years old.

*Be a junior in college - even though it's tough - you get through it
*have your heart broken, probably more than once, but then you realize that there is a difference between love and lust
*go out on the weekends and have a great time with your friends
*fall in love (for real this time) - and figure out what your "type" is
*have a love/hate relationship with your family, but more love at this point because after all, you're getting more mature..
*start thinking about what you want to be when you grow up
*do the stupid stuff that you won't be able to do in your 30's... get it all out of your system now
*buy and drive a really fun car - just because you can
*just LIVE your life each day to the fullest - you're young, you CAN

things NOT to do when you're 22?
Think that your life is so horrible that you have to end it yourself a week and a half before Christmas and absolutely devastate your family.

Friday Fill Ins

Here we go! Courtesy of Janet <-- Click here to play along!



1. Friends are the family we choose

2.Screw health; it's time for titties and beer!! (ok, j/k - but my friend Marianne used to say that all the time, it sounded funny :).

3. I'm ready for Christmas at home

4. My Insolence by Guerlain (or a just out of the bath baby)is one of my favorite perfumes or aftershaves or smells.

5. The oldest ornament I have is probably one I made in kindergarten - it has dust bunnies on it. LOL.

6. Take some pecans, sugar, egg white and a mix of spices, mix it all together and you have this: holy moley it's good.... .

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to KWings game, tomorrow my plans include getting some homework done and Sunday, I want to maybe paint some more!!

Somewhat wordless Wednesday :)

The Helping Hands Project

Thistle has a wonderful idea going and I am going to do my part ~ you can read about it there :).

The Rules

1. Choose some way to give back. Here’s a few ideas….

* donate to the foodbank
* donate coats and blankets to a homeless shelter
* support a craft or bake sale that is in support of your local arts program or senior’s centre
* give a bag of cat litter or dog food to you favourite animal shelter
* donate blood
* throw your change in the Christmas Kettle as you’re going past
* volunteer to man the Christmas kettle
* make a new year’s resolution to volunteer some time next year to coach a kid’s T-ball team or a Special Olympics sport
* have a toy drive at school
* get a re-usable shopping bag

Something we've decided to do at work this year is rather than adopting a family, we're giving the $200 or so that we have earmarked for Christmas to the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission. While a family is a good idea, feeding homeless people is a better one. There are so many people that have no home, have no dinner, and it costs $2/meal or so, and if we can feed 100 people that's wonderful. I may take the money that I have for one of the boy's presents and give that, too.

I have lived a very lucky life. A far from perfect one, but I have always had a home, a warm bed and friends and family that love me and would help me out if I needed it. And sometimes, I've needed it. My son has never wanted for anything (except a male role model, but I won't go there). I've been fortunate enough that I have been able to help others out before, and I'm sure I will do it again, although maybe not to quite the extent I have (do a search on the filthy whore if you have to LOL). But life is good. Life is great, in fact. And will continue to get better. :)

So I hope everyone recognizes how lucky they are to have homes, computers, beds, TV's, friends and family. There are a lot - especially this year - that have nothing.

Pay it forward....

Manic Monday

Thanks to :) Fleur de Lisa


What is the most expensive meal you've ever eaten?
Hmmmmmm gee, that's going to take some thought... I'll get back atcha. LOL

What is the fastest speed you've ever traveled in a car?
Um. Yeah. My son's father is a cop and he drove me home one night in the cruiser, I stopped looking at 110.

What is the highest building you've ever been to the top floor of?
Empire State Building and the Needle in Seattle - and loved them both!!

I am so good...

Best.


Christmas.



Present.



EVER.



These guys:




LIVE. 4th row.

If you know my kid, you know he is a FREAK for their show. We went to their HQ in San Francisco and he was so awed that he refused to get out of the car. Seriously. They're coming to Chicago in March.

Friday Fill Ins

Here we go! Courtesy of Janet <-- Click here to play along!



1. Snow makes everything look clean :)

2. I'm looking forward to my open house/housewarming party tonight!

3. The recipe I have for the cheeseball I'm going to make is the best damn cheeseball ever!

4. One of my favorite old tv shows is without a doubt - I Love Lucy!

5. I'm done with men for a while LOL.

6. The most enjoyable thing around the holidays is spending time with my family!!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the party, tomorrow my plans include my son's band concert and Sunday, I want to finish my homework!

This is fabulous! Thanks to Erin who got it from Ruth - you're both wonderful :)

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Wordless Wednesday......

Manic Monday :) <---- Click to play along!


It's "Cyber Monday" today, the ceremonial kick-off of the holiday online shopping season in the United States. Do you do much online shopping, holiday or otherwise?
I do a lot of online shopping - working full time it's just easier. And this year we're spending Christmas in Boston (YAY!!) and it'll be much easier just to ship it there directly rather than bring it on a plane.

Are you a Mac or a PC user? Why?
PC - it's all I can afford. :)

What website do you spend more time on than you care to admit?
LOL Facebook