Ten Things Tuesday

Yes, I've been a blog slacker lately, but I did have a wonderful holiday weekend. I sincerely hope that all of you enjoyed your holiday, whatever you may celebrate!

Ten Things From This Holiday Season:

1. My slow-roasted turkey - This was my first time hosting the holidays and I was very excited to try a slow-roast recipe that I received from a message board acquaintance. I started it late on the 23rd, babysat it overnight, and it was done the afternoon of the 24th. I apologize for not taking a picture; I don't think there would've been time before my mom started inhaling all the skin. It was incredible, though, and it was a shame to pull it apart to add to my homemade chili (which was also incredible). Next year, I believe we will switch the order, so that we do the turkey/stuffing/potatoes/fruit salad/veggies on Christmas Eve and the turkey chili on Christmas Day. Mmmm.

2. Five stockings - Our holiday was relatively simple, given that the only attendees were my mom, my sister, Jersey, Max (the kitten), and me. What I love is that it was a little bigger than last year's gathering of three, and it was my first Christmas with the love of my life.3. The newest addition - Max, our proposal kitten, handled all of the chaos quite well. I did my best to ease him into everything...I started with the around-the-house decorations, added the tree skirt and stand, added the tree, then added the ornaments. He inspected everything, but didn't get into too much trouble. He was also spoiled with attention and had lots of fun with his new laser pointer. I think Max's only complaint would be the holiday sweater that my sister put on him. Poor guy.

4. The slightest hint of a white Christmas - On Christmas night, probably around 9:00 or so, my mom left my house to return to her own. We closed the door behind her, just to have her knock at it a few moments later. She giggled and waved us outside to see the little snow flurries that were floating toward the ground. It really wasn't much (especially compared to the stuff that actually stuck the week before), but the timing was nice.

5. Presents - Ok, this picture isn't great (none of them are...they're cell phone pics and I don't even have a spiffy cell phone), but there are a LOT of gifts under that tree. It would look even more impressive if not for the large number of "envelope gifts", including some gift cards and IOUs. One of the biggest hits: a console that combines the original Nintendo and Super Nintendo, and an assortment of used games (all of the Super Marios, Zelda, etc.) to be played on the console. Quite a blast to the past.

6. Christmas movies - As an early Christmas present to each other, Jersey and I bought a 47" LCD HDTV in mid-December. We've certainly watched lots of NFL football on it since then, but this was our first time watching DVDs and it was nice to have my mom and sister there for the fun. Our movies of choice? It's a Wonderful Life, Holiday Inn, White Christmas, and Love Actually.

7. A break from work - Well, I don't really have a strict work schedule, but I do stick to the normal office hours for the most part. Having the office officially closed at noon on Christmas Eve and all day on Christmas and the day after, meant that I could avoid work guilt-free... and nobody even called my cell phone to bug me! My mom had that time off as well (and she is actually required to be there during office hours; she's salaried, I'm not) and my sister was on her vacation. Jersey did have to work on the 24th, 26th, and 27th, but it wasn't too bad.

8. Holiday cards - I really love receiving holiday cards and it was fun to display them in this way (I put the picture cards on the fridge). I'm horrendous at doing any sort of keep-in-touch, thinking-of-you thing, but I'd really love to send out cards next year. Maybe my sister can take a nice picture of Jersey, Max, and me. It would help me develop the habit before we have kids and could be fun.


9. Christmas music - I can't stand the stations that start playing 24 hours of Christmas music in early November, but once Thanksgiving has passed, I am all over the holiday CDs! I absolutely love Martina McBride's and I made myself a good mix CD this year. With few exceptions, I love the slower carols more than the upbeat ones and O Holy Night is definitely my favorite.

10. Jersey's birthday - I know this isn't technically part of the holidays, but it ranks high in this household. Jersey's special day was on Sunday and we started with some homemade eggs benedict. Then she opened up her gifts and we watched four great NFL games. Finally, we surprised her by taking her bowling (where we could also watch the Chargers/Broncos game) and then played pool for a couple of hours. She doesn't like a lot of hoopla for her birthday, so she enjoyed the simplicity of it all. Yay!

Wordless Wednesday

Snow on palm trees?!?

Desert Snow

While I am grateful that I do not live in an area that faces severe winter weather on a regular basis (and I am sending lots of warm thoughts for those of you stuck in it), I do appreciate when it's chilly enough to cuddle up in a big sweater with a cup of coffee and a book. I don't particularly celebrating Christmas in warm weather; it just doesn't feel like the right kind of mood. Here in Vegas, we had been facing near-record highs for much of the fall, so I was thrilled to see that there was a cold front moving our way. And this morning...Jersey grabbed my hand and took me to stand outside in the snow! No, we're not new to the cold, white stuff (she was born and raised in NJ and I spent my college years in CT), but it's fun when it's not a common thing. The last time I saw this much snow in Vegas was five or six years ago.


This first picture was taken as I faced the front of my house. The next three pics are all from my neighborhood.


Now, I'm off to snuggle under a blanket and finish the second book in the Twilight series. I hope all of you are safe and sound!

Holiday Food

After a wonderful vacation weekend in California and a busy few days back at home, I'm finally sitting still long enough to post here. I (sort of) apologize for being away, but I expect more of it throughout the holiday season. It's a crazy, fun time and I plan to enjoy it as much as possible.

Recently, I have been in an incredibly domestic mindset...lots of redecorating, cleaning, etc. Along with that has come the desire to experiment with cooking. I don't consider myself to be bad in the kitchen; if I am given a recipe, I can follow it properly. I am just not the type who can whip something up out of whatever is in the kitchen, nor do I branch out much from those recipes with which I am familiar. That's changed lately as I find new ideas I want to try, and it helps that Jersey will eat almost anything I put in front of her.

For Thanksgiving, I made a butternut squash soup (and some desserts, but those weren't new to me). I had never made any kind of soup before, so it was definitely a different experience. So, how did it turn out? Well, I'd say it was not horrible, but nothing great. It was too watered-down and the pureed squash was slightly grainy. I did like the flavor, though, and I learned what to change for next time, so I consider it a general success. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

So, all of this leads me to Christmas...and what I plan to try next. I have lots of ideas bouncing around in my head (I love to eat and I'm a big planner, so I'm almost giddy right now), so I thought I'd toss them out to all of you and see if any of you have gut reactions to them:

Turkey - Kind of traditional, but shortly after Thanksgiving, I read a wonderful slow-roast turkey recipe that guarantees that the meat will fall off the bones in lots of messy glory. I'm not sure I can wait a year to try it out, so Christmas may be perfect. There are only going to be four of us, I think, but Jersey and I are willing to eat turkey leftovers for days!

Christmas Eve - First of all, I called all rights to host Christmas Eve at my house YEARS ago. Seriously, I always wanted to host Christmas Eve once we were grown up with families of our own. We may not be totally there yet, but I think it would be nice to start a new, slightly different tradition this year. I'm still open to fun meal ideas (I read about one family that does pancakes and bacon on Christmas Eve), but so far I came up with...homemade chili! Seriously, I think it's just a tiny bit quirky, and it would be fun to curl up on the sofas with a bowl of chili and a classic Christmas movie.

Day-Old Turkey on Christmas Day?!? - Ok, I want to do the turkey and I want to do the chili. What would be super yummy? Chili with chunks of fresh turkey in it! If I time it right, I can have the turkey done early on the 24th, and then I can make the chili and let it cook for a while. We'll enjoy a wonderful new tradition and then we'll have lots of leftover turkey for Christmas Day. It's a little odd, but it's not like day-old turkey is anything bad and it takes some pressure off of the rest of the meal prep. Basically we can just cook all of the side dishes (and a small roast if my mom wants it) and we'll be good to go!

Dessert - I'm thinking chocolate lave cakes and macaroons.

Adult Beverages - One year, I made hot s'mores shots, with crushed graham cracker rims and mini marshmallows. Last year I drank Captain & Coke most of the day and had Captain & eggnog for dessert. We'll see what happens this year, but I think it might be fun to try a new cocktail.

Any feedback?

Ten Things Tuesday

(Note: This was done yesterday, but due to technical difficulties, it got posted this morning)

I am not in the most cheery of moods at the moment, due to my frustration with (ok, I'm really pissed off at) the "CEO" at my workplace. I've been fighting an uphill battle for respect and got smacked down today, but I want to consciously focus on turning my attitude around in the spirit of the holiday weekend. I will vent plenty about work next week, but for now I choose to be grateful instead.

Ten Things For Which I am Thankful

1. My Family - I don't generally do these TTT lists in any particular order, but I do feel that I should put my family at the top of this one. No matter what may come my way, I will always have my family. Even my dad, who has been gone nearly ten years, still counts because he is part of me (and he sends pigeon soldiers after me a LOT). My mom has often said to me "I may not agree with your decision, but I love and support you anyway" and my sister, while not using that exact quote, has illustrated the same sentiment. Plus, neither of them say "I told you so", and I've deserved that more than once.

2. My Friends - I don't have many close friends; I really never have. I have acquaintances with whom I enjoy spending time, but I've never been the social type and I let people phase in and out of my life pretty smoothly. The few friends I do have, however, are people that would drop everything to be with me this very second if I needed them to be. I also have a handful of online friends, both in the blogosphere and on a message board I have frequented for a few years, so they deserve their own special acknowledgment.

3. My Job - Yeah, I'm having a tough time with a few issues and this may not be my dream job, but I know how fortunate I am to have a job that pays the bills and allows me to have some fun. Plus, I have a flexible schedule and I work with my mom, so I do smile a lot more than I have at other jobs. I plan to use some of my flexibility to work on my writing in the upcoming year.

4. Orgasms - Hey, if Mrs. Chili can say it, so can I! :) Seriously though, last Thanksgiving, I never imagined that I would have the emotionally and physically amazing relationship that I have with Jersey. She and I were simply friends, coworkers, and roommates...and now we are planning our wedding. Before she came along, part of me thought I deserved the shitty relationships that I had. Now I feel strong, safe, and incredibly sexy. I look at her and see my future.

5. My Money Market Account - Why am I thankful for this account? Because last year I didn't have it. In fact, I was still in the midst of (a largely self-induced) financial hell. A single bean burrito at Taco Bell was out of the realm of possibilities. I would ask my mom for a roll of toilet paper. Those samples of toothpaste and hotel shampoos were all I had. I'd scrape together change just to pay the bills. But through it all, I stayed current on my mortgage and car payment and have built myself back up. This summer, I opened up a money market account and I make at least two sizable deposits in it each month.

6. My Health - This includes all things mental and physical. I have remained emotionally strong since going off of my antidepressants almost five years ago and my body has forgiven me for the physical damage. While I have gotten a little soft and squishy over the past year, I am confident that I can regain my healthy body with some hard work and self-control.

7. My Self-Awareness - For the most part, I know my strengths and I know my faults. When I take any of those personality profile test thingys, I can pretty accurately predict the results. At this point in my life, I feel like my awareness gives me a couple of advantages: I can use my natural talents and proclivities in work and at home, and I can improve upon my weaknesses while not being forced to be something I'm not. It's taken me nearly 30 years to get to a stage at which I am very comfortable.

8. My Well-Roundedness - My mom has told me that this was a big focus of hers as my sister and I were growing up. She didn't want to raise one-dimensional children, so we were exposed to a lot of different things. As a result, I am comfortable grabbing pizza before a baseball game or savoring king crab legs before a Broadway musical. I don't make many judgment calls about things I've never tried. I am open to new experiences and ideas, and I am grateful for that gift.

9. Jersey's Family and Friends - I know how lucky I am that my family and friends are so supportive of my relationship with Jersey...but how awesome is it that her family and friends are just as supportive? We have twice the love and acceptance and it reaches all the way to our grandparents' generation. I knew that my family would embrace Jersey, but I never dreamed that I would be so welcomed by hers. I know our union will be more than a joining of just two people.

10. My Car - Because it is now, officially, MY car. I was able to pay it off about eight months early and now I can take the car payment money and save it up. I had originally planned to get a new car in the next year or two, but then I did the math and realized what I could save if I keep it just a few extra years. It's a fun car in good condition, so there's no reason to be silly about it. I may treat myself to the installation of a 6-CD changer, but that's about it.

I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Jersey and I are driving to California to spend the weekend with family (my mom and sister will meet us there). We will also be attending my high school best friend's wedding on Friday. Whoo hoo! See you all next week!

How Do You Spell Relief?

K-I-T-C-H-E-N


Finally, my kitchen is back to normal. If you read my kitchen hell post from a couple of months ago, you may remember that it looked like this:


My repairs were supposed to last 2-3 weeks. In my own head, I translated that to a month. I am not at all thrilled that it took nearly two months and I'm grateful that everyone around me survived it. As much as I love my mom, I'm glad that I don't have to drive to her house every night for dinner (and my wallet is glad that I don't have such an easy excuse to hit happy hour). Jersey and I went grocery shopping this weekend and were able to fill our refrigerator and cupboards; I never thought I'd be so excited about that. I also decided to go ahead and get a new dishwasher, as long as the old one was already out, and I upgraded my countertop as a treat to myself.

The repairs got me onto a slight home improvement kick, so I have painted my home office (the use of which is about to increase dramatically - more on that in an upcoming post) and the downstairs bathroom. The living room and master bedroom will be painted, hopefully, by the end of the year. I also just slipcovered my living room furniture and got all new bedding for our bed. I will take pictures of all of it once everything is finished! YAY!

Any fun projects going on in your house?

Ten Things Tuesday (Edited)

At the request of my sister, here is an update on the new kitten; she insists on call him Saki, though his name is Max. He's been with us for a little over two weeks now and he's adjusting quite well.

Ten Things We've Learned About Max

1. He loves the shower. We haven't let him in it when it's running full blast, but while we're in the shower, he cries to be let in and tries to open the door. At first, we thought that he just wanted to be near us, but the second we open the door to reach for towels, he jumps into the shower and spends about five minutes inside. Then, he gets out and shakes off his paws (it's funny watching him do the Hokey Pokey)...about a minute later, he jumps back in for round two. Yep, he takes two "showers" after each one of ours. Every day.


2. He hasn't figured out how to slow down or control his little body. He just runs full speed around the house and then...SMACK! Right into dressers, tables, the wall, etc. He has a little bump/cut above his eye, which we figure is from one of his fits of excitement. Could this be a plot to get Kitty Protective Services after us?!?

3. He talks. All the time. He talks when he wants something or just when he wants to hear himself. He talks as he's scratching an itch and he talks when he is cleaning his face (which is hilarious). I especially love when he talks while also purring loudly; it comes out as a vibrato meow. I don't like when he talks while I am sleeping.

4. He likes to drink. Ok, not really (don't call KPS on us!), but I thought it was funny when he kept reaching for my bottle of Captain Morgan from underneath the bed. It's actually pretty funny when he tries to sniff at one of our cocktails because he doesn't like the smell at all and takes a few very quick steps back. Which leads me to #5...


5. He doesn't know how to turn around. At least not very well. When he wants to go a different direction, he goes into reverse and then angles his body from there. It looks like a car pulling out of a parking space or something.

6. He likes the toy that Crazy Lady (formerly known as FMIL) bought for him better than any of the toys that we bought. I figure this is how our future children will be as well; the toys from grandma will be WAY better than toys from mommy. I won't take anything too personally, though, since he also loves zippers and shoelaces.

7. He enjoys watching football on Sundays. And his favorite seat is directly in front of me, blocking a portion of the screen. Good thing he's small.


8. He gets in the way of properly making the bed. You see, we have a down comforter and a duvet cover, so after we washed the cover, it had to be put back on. He didn't agree with that plan, so he jumped inside the duvet cover. I guess he didn't agree with that either, because he pretty much flipped out once he was inside. It was all pretty interesting, but we took him back out because we don't like a lumpy bed.

9. He likes exploring our closets, more so than anything in the entire house. I've taken to calling him Lola, since I have no doubt he'd crawl right into our clothes if we let him. And I just like singing the song.

10. As much as he may be a handful, he's so adorable when he sleeps. Peaceful Max seems to make me forget Wet/Insane/Loud/Drunk/Lazy/Cross-Dressing Max.


Edit: Apparently, Max does like to drink; he just waits til we're not looking. We heard a suspicious noise downstairs and found a little surprise.

Meme Monday

Mrs Chili tagged me (well, she tagged everyone) for a quick and easy picture meme. The instructions were to publish the sixth picture from the sixth folder on my computer. However, like Mrs. Chili, I cheated slightly in the name of privacy. In my case, the sixth picture was of two of Jersey's friends and I haven't asked them for permission...plus, they aren't really friends of mine and I don't have much to say about them. To put it as simply as possible, these two girls are the very antithesis of Jersey and me in behavior and personality. Instead, I chose the sixth picture from the bottom of the sixth folder:

This picture was taken by Jersey when we were in Santa Cruz, CA on Labor Day. We were visiting my sister for the weekend, and she took us down to the Boardwalk for a day of gluttonous fun.

I grew up near the beach in Southern California, but did not appreciate it near as much as I do now that I live four hours away from it. After spending my first 18 years in California, I moved to Connecticut for college, then settled down in Vegas after I graduated. My decision at the time was based largely on affordability...I was able to purchase a condo when I was only 23, and in CA I would've been sharing an apartment with roommates for the same amount of money. I've been in Vegas for over seven years now, but I still think of CA as home. I miss it terribly and love to visit whenever I can. And now that Jersey and I are planning our future, we've talked about moving to the coast...

The thing is, I am too logical and the affordability thing still gets to me. In a few years, we will be able to buy a gorgeous home here and the mortgage will be about half of what we would have to pay in CA. We want (not need, want) a home with approximately 3000 sq. ft., built within the last few years, with an office, guest room, three other bedrooms (master + two rooms for the future kids), a game room/loft, and a pool. In Vegas, that is very reasonable for our price range and we shouldn't have much trouble finding something perfect. In CA, there's just no way. We could find something okay, but not what we really want. Hell, for the difference in the mortgage payment alone, we'd be able to afford regular weekend trips to CA, and I just think that may be the way to go.

There are LOTS of other pros and cons on both sides of this debate (families,friends, jobs, Prop 8, proximity to things we like to do, etc.) and it's not something we have to solve right this second, so it's just floating around in our heads for now. Til then, I will enjoy the picture.

My Future Mother-In-Law

I apologize for my recent hiatus, but I will defend myself by saying that I wasn't just ignoring you; I was spending lots of quality time with my future mother-in-law. She lives is New Jersey and had never traveled further west than Ohio. Plus, she hadn't been on an airplane in about ten years, so she got to learn all sorts of new rules and regulations! Anyway, it was a blast having her stay with us for almost a week and I hope that this becomes an annual trip because I loved seeing Jersey and her mom so happy. Actually, we're hoping that once Jersey's sister graduates from her East Coast University, we can convince both mom and sister to move out here. :)

FMIL (hmm, she needs a better name than that) arrived last Wednesday night and, with the time difference, it was late for her and definitely bedtime. We did, however, get to introduce her to Max, give her a tour of our home, and show off Jersey's ring.

I had to work on Thursday, at least for most of the day, so Jersey took FMIL to see the Hoover Dam (and they went into Arizona, so that FMIL got to "visit" two states on this trip!). They also drove past the juvenile detention center so that she could see where Jersey works, even though they couldn't actually go inside for security reasons. I left work a little bit early and the three of us went to a bar for happy hour and the Browns/Broncos game.

Fortunately, on Friday I didn't have a ton of work to do, so I wrapped everything up in a couple of hours while Jersey and FMIL took Max to his first vet appointment (well, first with us anyway). He was exceptionally well-behaved and they even brought him into my office for a quick visit with my coworkers. Oh, and they brought three dozen Krispy Kremes. Mmmm. After leaving work, we drove down to the Strip and walked. A lot. No, really, a LOT. It was awesome doing that with someone who hadn't ever been to the Strip...I get pretty blah about the whole thing, just because it's so accessible to me. Jersey and I also took FMIL to the restaurant at which we used to work (where we met...awwww) and found out some personally funny news...my ex, Goodfella (yes, he's male...I will do a past relationship blog post at some point to clarify a few things), has a new baby. Very interesting timing given when we broke up. Anyway, he has no idea that I know about the baby, though he's an idiot for telling so many people and thinking that I wouldn't find out. Tonight, Jersey and I are having drinks with him because he wants to toast our engagement. I plan to surprise him with a toast to his child. The look on his face will be priceless. Yes, I'm a tiny bit evil.

Saturday, Jersey had to work at her other job (at a local bar), so I spent the day with FMIL. I was admittedly nervous, worried about the possibility of staring at each other for hours with nothing to say. Everything went great, though! I took her on a drive through Red Rock Canyon and then we went out to Lake Las Vegas, which is a man-made oasis with a small village of shops and restaurants around it. The weather was warm for November, so we really enjoyed walking around outside and getting to know more about each other. Eventually, we headed home to rest up before Jersey got back from work.

Later that evening, the three of us met up with my mom at a new(ish) place that has become quite a Vegas hotspot. It's an outdoor shopping center with a huge movie theater and lots of phenomenal restaurants and it has become our "go-to" place to take visitors. Jersey and I were both a little scared about having our moms bond over dinner, but that went as well as everything else. Seriously, if our families get along (and, really, there's no reason they shouldn't) it just makes things so much more pleasant.

Sunday I wasn't feeling too great, so I took it pretty easy. We did go look at some model homes in one of the huge new-home communities here, which I always love to do. I give the sales agents my business card and talk shop...then they leave me alone so we can tour ourselves. Perk of my job, I suppose. Anyway, FMIL fell in love with one home and took the brochures back to Jersey with her; Jersey and I revisited the home we hope to purchase a few years down the road, once it becomes a resale. After we got home, I rested in bed and did some work on my laptop while they went back to the Strip to see a few things that we had missed on Friday.

Monday was FMIL's last full day in town, but we took it pretty easy. I went to work, they went back to Red Rock Canyon and then briefly checked out Downtown, and then we did one last yummy dinner together. We were all pretty worn out by then, so it was an early night.

Tuesday morning, we got up and took FMIL to the airport. She was sad to leave, but Jersey will be going back east next month to visit before the holidays. Oh, and FMIL said that she got lots of pictures of Max and just a couple of us, which I figure is a good indicator of what it will be like when we have children! Anyway, she had a safe flight home, we settled down in the quiet, and everything is back to our normal routine.

Wordless Wednesday - A Kiss

Ten Things Tuesday

Ten Great Patriotic Songs:

1. America The Beautiful - Possibly the "prettiest" of the songs on this list. It's pure and can stir a lot of emotion in me when done well. This brings up a HUGE pet peeve of mine: Patriotic songs are special and should not be turned into some fancy schmancy chance for a singer to show off creativity. Sing it the way it was written. These songs are classic and fucking with them strikes me as disrespectful. Oh, and this rule also applies to Christmas carols.

2. I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy - This song cracks me up and I don't even know why. It's just fun. I'm not sure I could sing it without smiling.

3. Battle of New Orleans - Ok, this is a sentimental thing. My mom used to sing this when I was little and it made me really excited when I got to middle school and learned about the Battle of New Orleans. I felt like I was a step ahead of the rest of the class!

4. Some Gave All - Yes, I know that a lot of you don't like (hate?) country music. And believe me, I am not a Billy Ray Cyrus fan in any way, shape, or form. I really love this song though and it gives me chills. If you can't stand the thought of listening to it, at least check out the lyrics.

5. America (My Country Tis of Thee) - More so than a lot of the other songs on this list, this one sends me straight back to elementary school assemblies, where we used to sing a patriotic song after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Are schools allowed to do that anymore?

6. This Land is Your Land - Ah, what a nice idea. All across this great country of ours, with all of the differences, we could actually share and respect each other. Hmmm.

7. Yankee Doodle - So, I learned something interesting about this song when I looked it up...not that I had really thought about it one way or another. Anyway, when he sticks a feather in his cap and calls it macaroni, he's not referring to the pasta (which I probably could've guessed, though it does create a fun mental image). Macaroni was a fancy style of Italian dress, so it's basically about some average kid standing proud as if he were dressed to the nines. Cool.

8. The Star Spangled Banner - When I was a toddler, my mom took me to high school football games each week to watch my dad coach. Every time, I was super excited to hear the band play the "spaindled bainder". Oh, and my dad was adamant that players respect the Anthem by staying still and keeping their mouths shut for the entirety. That respect has stuck with me to this day and I consider the playing of our Anthem to be rather sacred.

9. Battle Hymn of the Republic - This is another song that gives me chills (I'm sensitive!). When there's a band involved, with horns and drums, it's even more powerful. I like singing it slowly and somewhat quietly...then building up to the pride and glory of it all. I just can't adequately express how much I love this song. And, yes, I know it's very religious as well, but there's just something about the freedom that gets to me.

10. Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American) and American Soldier - Technically, this brings my list to 11, but I figured I can put these two Toby Keith songs together. I love Toby Keith, but those of you who don't can look these lyrics up instead of exposing your eardrums to country music. I'll admit these songs are significantly more powerful when he does them in concert (this year they were his encore...actually, they've often been his encore). Even Jersey, who is not a country music fan, was quite moved by the emotion when she heard these songs in person.

Happy election day to everyone! GO VOTE!

Surprise(s)!

Yesterday, while Jersey was at work, I told her I was planning a surprise for her and that it would be ready when she got home. She was a little nervous about what I might be up to, but she was a good sport when I told her to stop outside the bedroom door and close her eyes. I guided her into the middle of the room and told her she could look around. Around the room was a scratch post, a cat bed, and a couple of toys...she squealed when she realized I had adopted a kitten. The kitten in question was hiding under the bed when she first arrived, but I was able to take some pictures this morning:
After Jersey stopped squealing, I told her that the kitten was hiding under the bed and that I had taken the liberty of naming him already. She reached under the bed to pull him out and look at his tag...this is what she saw:Jersey thought it was a joke and started to giggle, but then she looked up at me and saw a ring in my hand. I got down on one knee and she fell backward onto the floor. I still don't remember if she actually ever said yes (she says she did, but I don't know), but there was an awful lot of shaking, crying, and kissing going on!
By the way, I went through a little bit of hell earlier in the day when I called Jersey's dad to ask for his blessing. I wasn't actually that freaked out about asking him, but I am terrified of the phone. It's irrational, but I can't stand the phone in the most normal of situations. This definitely didn't qualify as normal. Being the freak that I am, I wrote out exactly what I wanted to say, rehearsed it a number of times, vomited, stared at the phone for about 15 minutes, and then dialed. I caught her dad while he was grocery shopping with her four-year-old brother (not the best timing, but oh well) and went through my mini-speech. When I ended with "I would love your blessing because I would like to propose to Jersey tonight", he said "You got it." Wow, that was simple.

Much of last night and this morning was full of phone calls to excited friends and family. Oh, and the kitten's name is Max and he'll be four months old on Tuesday (he was born on July 4th!). He kept us up most of the night with his talking, but he's adjusting pretty well to his life outside the shelter. So, now Jersey and I have a kitten and a wedding to plan! Yay!

Happy Halloween!

I love Halloween, though I will admit that Jersey and I plan to be bums tonight and avoid the craziness. We don't get any trick-or-treaters where we live, so I think we're just going to go out to dinner and a movie. However, last weekend was my company Halloween party and my mom, Jersey, and I attended it together.

When I went to buy the costumes, I knew I wanted to find some theme for the three of us. Given that my mom wanted something age-appropriate, and I am not in the best shape of my life, these zombie costumes were perfect. I was a zombie cheerleader, Jersey was a zombie prom queen, and my mom was a zombie headmistress (or something equally supervisor-like). Jersey never dreamed that she'd be dating a pom-pom girl! Ha!

The party was held at a coworker's home and the floorplan is really different (actually, Jersey and I had toured a model of a similar home a few months ago). From the entrance, the master bedroom and bathroom are half a floor below, the two other bedrooms and a bathroom are on the next floor, the kitchen and living room are on the third floor, and there is a rooftop deck on top of it all. Interesting, though I don't think I would like to live there full-time.


Ok, back to the party...this was specifically an "adult" party (though someone brought their 13-year-old anyway) with an open bar for anyone who paid for a ticket (all money went to our company charity). The cocktails were fine, but the funny stuff began when someone brought out a table, plastic cups, and ping pong balls. That's right...we played beer pong! I hadn't played beer pong since my college days, so it was actually a lot of fun to play at the party. Jersey and I played the first game against another couple and we managed to keep our competiveness in check (!?!) throughout. In all fairness, the couple was very nice and we joked around while playing. It was a relatively close game, but we beat them by a couple of cups.

Game two was interesting; I'm not sure how else to describe it. Jersey and I played against two of my coworkers and I really, really don't like them. The fact that people might consider them to be successful businesswomen makes me gag. Of course, this made the game more important than it might otherwise be, because neither one of us wanted to lose to these giggling morons. After scoring against them almost immediately, they looked at us in surprise when we told them that they had to drink the beer in the cup. Um, hello? Did you not pay attention at all during game one? Jersey wasn't in the mood to deal with them, so she offered to drink it for them. And so the game went. We'd score, we'd drink. Totally defeats the general point of the game, but it did make them look like idiots, so we were ok with it. We blew them away in the game and moved on to our last opponents of the night.

We played the final game against a coworker and the brother of another coworker. I knew they'd be tough, so it was time to get serious again. Of course, by this time, Jersey and I were seeing double, but we managed to maintain surprisingly good aim. This was the closest game, but I was able to land my ball in their final cup while we had one of our own left. Yay! I'm not sure what it says about us that we were the company beer pong champions (I would argue it had more to do with the winning part than the drinking part), but it's a title we will try damn hard to defend next year.

Other quick notes: Jersey is dressed as a pirate today. Her prom dress would've been tough to handle all day at work. I am off today (odd state holiday), so I am just wearing a Halloween shirt while I run errands. Oh, and we had a pumpkin carving contest at work yesterday. I decided to participate at the last minute, but ended up winning the $75 grand prize. My mom won the booby prize for the entry below. I hope you all have a great weekend!

Ten Things Tuesday

Ugh, my internet was down all weekend, so all of my best intentions to blog went kaput! And I was incredibly angry that I waited weeks for the podcast discussion of The Stand with The Dark and Stormy Book Club, and then had to miss it. Yes, I've listened to it since and yes, I will be contributing my thoughts in the comments of that blog, but it still made me cranky. Anyway, I am back now (well, I'm at work...don't know if my home internet is fixed yet), and I figured a TTT post is an easy way to jump back in.

Ten Things I Love to Eat

1. Avocado - I've loved avocado my entire life and will add it to sandwiches, burgers, salads, and much more whenever possible. Many places add very little avocado (and it's not cheap!), but there is a sandwich place around the corner that just heaps it on. Yum! I also make a pretty nice guacamole (if I do say so myself), and I don't add a ton of stuff to it because I still want that avocado taste. And you probably don't want to hear about the time that I ordered three (yes, three) plates of the Avocado Club Egg Roll appetizer from CPK on my birthday. No, I didn't share.

2. Cheese - One of my two biggest vices. I admit that I don't have as much knowledge about different cheeses as I would like, but it's something on which I am working. I love adding extra cheese to entrees, but I also try to behave on occasion. Cheese and crackers with a bottle of wine makes quite the romantic snack.

3. Sushi - See #2 regarding my knowledge of it. I'm still very new to all things sushi, but I'm interested in learning how to roll my own. If I do learn, look for a blog post all about that adventure!

4. Kiwi - It's such a cute, yet powerful fruit. For some reason, I haven't enjoyed kiwi-flavored things as much as I would have thought, but I'll eat the real thing in a heartbeat. The thing is, I don't like biting into it when it's too cold, so I have to pull it out of the fridge and then actually remember it when it's closer to room temp. I'm bad at that whole remembering thing.

5. Peanut butter - When I was little, I used to eat peanut butter on a spoon as a treat. Seriously. I'd ask my mom for permission, dip my spoon in the jar, and then savor it for about 30 minutes. Oh, and I think that peanut butter and chocolate might be the best combination of flavors in the whole universe.

6. Ice cream - The other of my two biggest vices. Oh, and see the combination in #5 for one of my favorite flavors. I say one of my favorite flavors because I probably have 372 favorites. It's wonderful (and awful) that there is a Baskin Robbins, a Cold Stone Creamery, and a Dairy Queen in the same intersection, right down the street from my house (there was a fourth place there up until about six months ago...my withdrawals are getting better). I have so many ice cream stories that I just might be able to do an entire TTT about them!

7. Spinach - Odd, huh? I've been a spinach fan since my childhood and I'm thrilled about it because I don't like very many veggies. I love a good spinach salad, preferably one that I have created at Sweet Tomatoes or Whole Foods, and will substitute spinach for iceberg lettuce at any restaurant that will allow it.

8. Tomato soup & a grilled cheese sandwich - Ok, so this is two things, but we all know I can't do a TTT that has only ten items. Besides, I don't think they'd make the list on individual merit; this is probably the universe's second best combination after peanut butter & chocolate. I don't even care that eating it makes me look like an eight-year-old. Dipping that sandwich in the hot soup and trying not to drip it down my chin as I eat it...ok, you get the picture. Heaven.

9. Clam chowder - New England clam chowder, and not some watered-down blah version of it. Outside of New England (duh), I'm a big fan of San Francisco's N.E. clam chowder. Every now and then I come across a winner in a random restaurant, but I hesitate to order it because the quality can vary so much.

10. French or sourdough bread - Dipped in #9 would be great, but I will just as quickly eat it alone. I don't even butter my bread, I just eat it (ok, I do like to dip it in olive oil, if it's there). I've thought about being healthy and switching to whole grain something, but I'd rather be happy. At least when it comes to my bread.

Aside from the fact that I probably just disgusted Mrs. Chili with #3 and #9, does anyone want to have dinner with me?

Wordless Wednesday

Ah, that's my girl! :)

Ten Things Tuesday

Here is a list of ten songs that I can't turn off (subject to change once I drive myself crazy by replaying them over and over and over...):

1. "Baba O'Riley" (The Who) - I had to put this first on the list because I have played it more times in the past three or four months than the rest of this list combined. I even made it my ringtone. I've stopped short of watching the opening credits of CSI: NY just to hear a bit of it, but if it just happens to be on...

2. "Who Says You Can't Go Home" (Bon Jovi featuring Jennifer Nettles) - Yes, there is a regular Bon Jovi version of this song, but I like the duet with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland. I especially like trying to sing her part of it, but I severely lack that talent.

3. "Alone" (Heart) - I've always loved this song and was fortunate enough to see Heart in concert this past summer, along with Cheap Trick and Journey. They did impressive covers of "Love Reign O'er Me" (by The Who) and "Going to California" (by Led Zeppelin), but hearing "Alone" performed live was the highlight for me.

4. "Songbird" (Eva Cassidy) - This was originally done by Fleetwood Mac (with Christine McVie), but I like the cover slightly more. I don't know if I'm a sappy romantic in general, but this song will make me gooey. I dream of walking down the aisle to it one day.

5. "Africa" (Toto) - I couldn't even begin to describe what I love about this song, but I've loved it for years. Random trivia: this was the first song I downloaded to my Ipod.

6. "That I Would Be Good" (Alanis Morissette) - This song became a mantra of mine when I was going through tough times a while back. I'd sing it in the car with hopeful tears running down my face. I printed out the lyrics and decorated the paper with pictures of goals and positive ideas, and then I framed it and hung it on my wall (along with Martina McBride's "Anyway"). It's nice to sing along with it now, looking back from beyond the black hole.

7. "Somebody to Love" (Queen) - I am a big Queen fan, so it's difficult to pick one favorite, but this is probably it. Of all of the Queen songs I have on my Ipod ("Fat Bottomed Girls", "Under Pressure"), this is the one I am most likely to repeat and least likely to skip.

8. "More Than a Feeling" (Boston) - Totally cheesy, I know, but I can't help but rock out to this song when I hear it. Ooh, and I also got to see Boston live this summer (with Styx). Anyway, I can't hit the high notes in this song, but I have fun trying!

9. "Viva La Vida" (Coldplay) - I really don't listen to much current music (cue the "kids these days" rant...ok, not really), but I caught part of this song one day and was hooked. I'll have to look into Coldplay some more. Jersey says they aren't too bad.

10. "Layla" (Derek and the Dominos) - More specifically, the piano piece at the end of the song. For the longest time, I didn't even realize that the piano part was a continuation of "Layla"; I recognized it from Goodfellas more than anything. I actually have the end downloaded, but not all of "Layla".

Honorable Mentions (because I can't stick to ten): "Patience" by Guns n Roses; a few Eagles songs including "Take It to the Limit", "The Best of My Love", and "Peaceful, Easy Feeling"; "Collide" by Howie Day, "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen, and "Crimson and Clover" covered by Joan Jett.

Fall TV

I wouldn't say that I watch a LOT of television (ok, well, football Sundays, yes), but I do have a handful of shows that I watch as regularly as possible. I'm actually thinking about asking for some of these on DVD for Christmas gifts. Here's a little rundown of what I'm watching right now:

The Mentalist (CBS, Tuesday) - This is the only new show that I'm watching. I had considered trying to watch Fringe, but I opted for this instead and I absolutely love it so far. The main character is a bit of an ass, which I often adore in my characters (and in real life, too). He used to be a fake psychic who fooled people simply by using his keen observation skills. Now, he assists the California Bureau of Investigation by talking to suspects, walking crime scenes, etc. Interesting.

Without a Trace (CBS, Tuesday) - I love Anthony LaPaglia. And it cracks me up that he's Australian, because he acts like an East Coast Italian. One thing I've always liked about this show is that the episodes don't always end with finding a dead body or even a real crime. Sometimes there is simply a disappearance that they must investigate and I like a good happy ending every now and then.

Law & Order: SVU (NBC, Tuesday) - While I wouldn't consider myself to be a celebrity freak, I would really like to meet and spend time talking to Mariska Hargitay. I think her Joyful Heart Foundation does tremendous good and she seems like a strong, intelligent woman. And I love Chris Meloni. Actually, I think this show has one of the best all-around casts, so I enjoy watching all of the reruns as much as I await the new episodes. I admit that I am also one of those fans who would love to see Elliot and Olivia hook up, though I understand the potential "jumping the shark" issues that would arise. How about a dream sequence of wild, passionate sex?

Criminal Minds (CBS, Wednesday) - Originally, this cast was led by Mandy "hello, my name is Inigo Montoya" Patinkin, but he left the series and was replaced. I was really worried that it would ruin the show, but it has stayed strong and I'm incredibly relieved. This show centers around my dream career of working in the Behavioral Sciences Unit of the FBI as a profiler, so I love getting lost in my own fantasy about that. Oh, and Jersey and I would like Shemar Moore to be our baby daddy.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS, Thursday) - As much as I love Anthony LaPaglia, Jersey loves William Peterson. His leaving the show this season will be tough on her, but I'm interested to see how everything else changes after he's gone. While I've watched this show sporadically over the years, I've come back to it solidly and I still love trying to figure things out before the CSIs do.

Cold Case (CBS, Sunday) - Ok, obviously I love detective/crime shows, so it's not surprising that I would like this one as well. I do enjoy the flashbacks to different eras each week, plus the music used in each episode is well-chosen. I don't have a solid favorite in this cast, so I really appreciate the ensemble. Of my list of shows, it's the one I'm least upset to miss, but I do try to catch it regularly.

***The one show that is not on this list is one of my all-time favorites, but it won't be back until after the new year. Yep, Lost. Love this shows and all of its twists and turns. My mom hasn't seen a single episode and I've suggested that she avoid as much of the talk about it as possible so that she can wait another couple of years and watch the entire thing on DVD. I am eagerly awaiting the new episodes and will be sad (albeit fulfilled) when the series finally ends.

Any favorite shows of yours that I'm missing?

Wordless Wednesday

Ten Things Tuesday

Ok, I'm on the bandwagon! Now, if I could just keep to this cool blogging schedule...

This theme was, as previously mentioned, stolen from Mrs. Chili. Thank you for the great idea.

"Ten trips Jersey and I plan to take (in no particular order)"

1. Western Canada - Specifically Vancouver, though I would not object to spending enough time to see more of the area. Actually, I'd love to take a road trip through California, Oregon, Washington, Canada, Montana, and Idaho.

2. Eastern Canada - Specifically Montreal. I have been to Montreal twice and loved it very much. Though I haven't been to France, Montreal seems very much like what a mini-France might be. The cobblestone streets, french cafes, street vendors...ah, it's just pretty.

3. Boston/Cape Cod - Jersey and I have both been to these places with our families and friends, but we'd love to experience them together. Plus, I've never been to P-town and would like to check it out. I know we'd both love to be able to see the beautiful autumn leaves, so maybe a trip next October...

4. Knott's Berry Farm (CA), Magic Mountain (CA), DisneyWorld (FL) - Ok, so this would be more than one trip, but it's all the same idea. I love amusement parks! I used to have a season pass to Magic Mountain, Knott's Berry Farm is where my parents met, and DisneyWorld is the super version of Disneyland (where Jersey and I went in May and will return to in February). I've been to all three...Jersey has only been to DisneyWorld.

5. Europe, Part 1 - Italy, France, Spain. I've always heard that the people in Spain are super friendly. And I can deal with all the Italian men who will grab my ass.

6. Texas - It's probably not a place in which Jersey and I should flaunt our relationship, but I have always had a good feeling in Texas. I've kinda hopped around the state, but I'd love to do the San Antonio Riverwalk with Jersey. And I've never, ever heard a bad thing about Austin, so I'd love to spend some time there. Plus, I have family outside of Ft. Worth.

7. Europe, Part 2 - Germany, the Netherlands. I think Jersey just really wants some beer. The Netherlands has plenty of vices as well. Hmmmm.

8. Notre Dame, Cleveland, Chicago - Ok, they're not right near each other, but I think they're close enough for a reasonable road trip. Jersey's got a thing for Notre Dame and the Cleveland Browns. I'd love to see the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Once we're in the general neighborhood, we might as well head up to Chicago. I haven't been there in years.

9. Fairfield University (CT) - I graduated from Fairfield several years ago and have only been back twice since. I went through a lot while I was there, moreso than the generic college student, but I really did love it there. I'd love to walk around campus with Jersey and remember the little things that I've forgotten.

10. Europe, Part 3 - England, Scotland, Ireland, Iceland. Arguably the most important of our Europe trips. Jersey is fiercely Irish. I've got a bit of that, along with the English and Icelandic background. Of all the European jaunts, this is the personal one.

I didn't include our upcoming trip to Jamaica because, well, that's already booked and paid for! I also didn't mention the many trips we will take to Southern CA (where I'm from) or New Jersey (where she's from), since those are regular trips we take each year. But this is a fun list and I look forward to crossing each one off!

My Own Secret

Ok, so I haven't actually read The Secret, but from what I know about it...well...I just think it's dangerous to believe that wishing really hard for something will magically make it happen. Nothing is quite that simple. What I do think, however, is that positive (and negative) thinking can have a powerful impact on life and that once you're on the right track, the good stuff really does seem to snowball. I try to focus on my good energy because I truly believe that it can bring good energy back to me. When I relax about forcing my happiness, and instead watch my words, my attitude, and my actions, I allow the good things to enter my life.

When I broke up with The Liar, about 18 months ago, I was in a bad place. My breaking up with him was actually the best thing I had going for me at the time. But I had to deal with the fact that I had wasted three years of my life with someone I didn't trust or respect and, in the course of those three years, I had driven myself into a financial shitstorm. I was angry at myself (and beyond broke), so something had to change. It was time to refocus on the positive. All of the techniques I had neglected during that relationship (affirmations, visualizations, etc.), were part of my routine again.

Fast forward to today. It's taken time, but I really feel like everything is going great in my life. I am doing better than expected at work, and while it's not my dream job, it's a whole lot more than a lot of people have. Plus, I get to work across the hall from my mom! I still have equity in my home, despite having a first and second mortgage on it. Due to a recent windfall, I will be paying off my car eight months early. I am setting aside money every month for all of our future plans...a new car for Jersey, a wedding, babies, and a new house. Obviously, those aren't all going to be happening immediately, but it feels so great to have a plan and the ability to be financially ready when the plan unfolds.

Then, there's Jersey. I am unbelievably happy with her by my side. I know all relationships take a certain amount of effort, but it's wonderful when it doesn't feel like hard work. Being with her is the most natural thing in the world and I love her very much. She has been somewhat stressed lately because her job search has dragged out for over a year and she's had to work bartending jobs in the meantime. I know she's as eager to move forward with our goals as I am, so imagine my happiness this week when she started a new job about which she's very excited! It's a part time position for now, but it's in juvenile probation, which is ultimately what she wants to do. The way I see it, it can't hurt to have your foot in the door while you're still stuck in the middle of all the loooooong physical/written/psychological exams, background checks, interviews, etc. I hope she'll learn a lot and meet the right people, so that her career will grow from here. Yay!

So, while I sit here with all sorts of goodness around me, I will scatter some out to all of you. Take it as you need it, and then send some back out to others. It may not be magic, but it's amazingly powerful.

Wordless Wednesday

(Mrs. Chili does Wordless Wednesday over at her blog, so I'm following her lead. She's pretty freakin' fantastic, so I'll be stealing other theme days from her soon enough.)

More Randomness

Some of the stuff bouncing around in my head:

* My kitchen still looks the same as it did last week. I have two estimates for the repair work and will be getting another on Monday. At that point I will probably be talking to my insurance company about increasing their settlement a little bit, because the numbers aren't matching well. In the meantime, I have had an incredible urge to clean the rest of my house in depth...I'm guessing it's my way of trying to make myself feel like I am in control despite the chaos.

* This is probably my favorite time of year when it comes to professional sports. It's the baseball playoffs, football has started, and hockey is just around the corner. Yes, I am a huge Angels fan, so I won't discuss the LA/Boston series too much...I'd hate to piss off half my readership at once! I will say that my biggest issue in any competition based discussion is sportsmanship. For NFL week one, Jersey and I went to watch the games at a local bar. She and I were both wearing team jerseys, as were many others there. Some idiot felt that it was necessary to come all the way over to where we were sitting just to tell us that our team sucks and that we're assholes. Um, thanks. Anyway, in any sport, I will respect that other teams have true fans who love them, just as much as I hate them. I'm totally okay with that, but don't taunt me just to be mean. You cheer for your team, I'll cheer for mine, and we can do some friendly jabbing every now and then.

* Last night was the first time I've sat down to watch an entire debate. I have various touchy issues throughout politics, but there is one nagging question that I've had for a while. It's difficult to bring up to people because it sounds like I want to start a fight...and I really don't. I'm honestly confused and would love an explanation. What exactly is the big problem for the people who are okay with same sex "civil unions" but against same sex "marriage"? I mean, I've heard lots of people (12-15ish) who have said "Yeah, I have no problem with allowing same sex unions that entitle couples to joint insurance, hospital visitation rights, childcare decisions, etc. I just don't think that they should be allowed to get married." I guess my question is whether there is a difference beyond the vocabulary. Is it just that "marriage" implies some sort of religious union (though plenty of married couples aren't religious at all)? Is that what people are upset about? Does "civil union" imply a state decision and "marriage" imply a federal one? I just can't figure out what the difference between a "civil union" and a "marriage" is, assuming that these couples get all the rights that heterosexual couples do. Any ideas? What I am missing?

* Every day at work (well, everywhere, really) I am astonished at how many people expect everyone else to wipe their asses for them. Maybe it's that I was taught personal responsibility and other people missed that life lesson, but it's just awful that people don't make coffee after they take the last cup, don't turn it required paperwork until their paycheck is being held for it, don't pay their own annual/biannual/quarterly dues, etc. I hear excuses like "I didn't know" or "nobody told me" all day long. Seriously, how do these people not starve when they run out of groceries at home? Or do they get magical food drops from the sky? Nothing seems to be their fault...somebody else always did it to them. Ugh.

* It's still hot here in Vegas, but I am looking forward to the holidays! Thanksgiving will be spent at my grandparents' house in California. Normally we stay home, but my best friend from high school is getting married on the Friday after Thanksgiving, so Jersey and I will be in CA for that and my mom and sister decided to join us. Then, my sister is coming to Vegas for Christmas and Jersey has moved her East Coast visit up a little so that she can be here with me on Christmas, her birthday, and New Year's. Yay!

* Other assorted fun coming up: Jersey's mom is visiting at the beginning of November. I met her in July, but this will be the first time our moms are meeting each other. In fact, it's the first time my mom is meeting any family of anyone I've ever dated. Big step! I'm nervous in an excited sort of way.

In January, Jersey and I are going to Jamaica for a week. It will be a very relaxing vacation, unlike the trips we've taken where we are trying to cram a million things into a few days. Oh, and it's all-inclusive...alcohol, too! Yes, we'll behave.

I turn 30 in February! And I LOVE my birthday. Always have, always will. This February, I am planning a big party at Disneyland and we'll see if I can actually get a little group together. My aforementioned best friend lives about 15 minutes away from Disneyland and her birthday is just 12 days after mine, so maybe she and her new husband can join us. Jersey and I are in the process of trying to get her sister out here from Albany for the celebration. My sister (hopefully) will be flying down for it. My mom, of course, will be there. I've told lots of coworkers as well, and I'd love to see who can make it a big weekend of fun. For the record, if any of my (three? four?) readers would like to make some sort of family vacation out of it, I'd love to meet you. It's the three-day weekend (2/14-2/16). I'm just looking forward to wearing the special birthday Mickey ears and the huge button that says "It's my birthday".

Kitchen Hell

I apologize for being somewhat MIA over the past couple of weeks, both here and in comments I'd normally leave on your blogs. I have been dealing with some chaos in my house; specifically, I had an unknown leak behind my kitchen sink, the water spread throughout my walls, mold appeared, my insurance company has been in constant contact, my kitchen was torn apart, the mold problem was remediated, and now I need repairs. Fun, huh?

This is what it looks like now (ignore the mess in the living room...the rest of the house has had to shift a little to accommodate the various workers I've had trouncing through the repair zone...and my appliances have bumped Jersey's car from the garage). At this point, I have a rebuild quote from my insurance company and I just need to find someone who can do the work for that amount of money. I'm very fortunate that everything, minus my deductible, is being paid. Nothing has come out of my pocket yet, so this could all be much worse. The first company that gave me an estimate was ridiculous, complaining that it was a ton of work (while I agree that it's not something that can be done in an afternoon, it's really just drywall, cabinets, and counters...it is NOT $7000 worth of labor). I have received referrals from coworkers, so I will be contacting those contractors asap so that this can all be done soon.

In the meantime, I have been carting my laptop back and forth from my office so that I can get some work done while also being available to all the people who have needed access to my house. I've been known to sit on the stairs and work on files while answering various questions about the damage and my home in general. The trickiest part about working in this situation is that I get horrendous reception on my cell phone when I'm downstairs, so I have to run upstairs each time my phone rings. Quite the sight, I imagine.

My mom has been more than helpful throughout all of the mess, graciously letting Jersey and me crash her kitchen after work each night and on weekends. Not that I don't like doing the take-out thing, but my waistline and wallet wouldn't be thrilled with weeks of that. In addition to giving us a place to go for meals, my mom has also been great about relaying messages to me from work (we work together, which is handy), covering for me at meetings, and dropping stuff off to me when I haven't been able to leave during the day.

Poor Jersey has been wonderful about the craziness. I know it sucks to not have a kitchen, but she's been understanding about it. Personally, I've only had one minor breakdown so far, just from the pure stress of balancing home and work. Again, I know how lucky I am that it's not a lot worse. So, that's where I've been. I will do my best to keep up with the posts and comments, but I promise that I haven't forgotten about you!

I Guess He Approves

This past April, about a week before the ninth anniversary of the day my dad died, I took Jersey to the cemetery in California. I figured it would be the best way to really "introduce" them and any resulting lightning or earthquakes would clue me in to his disapproval of our relationship. If there were no natural disasters following the visit, I'd take that as tacit approval. I should probably also preface this story by saying that I don't cry or see my cemetery trips as a sad thing. It's just like I'm swinging by my dad's place to say hi and clean up a bit. I usually spend a minute catching up with his "next door neighbor", and I've been known to bring my dad a cookie.

So, on this particular day, I was in a good mood and only a tiny bit nervous about bringing Jersey. It was a gorgeous afternoon in Southern California, so we had the sunroof open and the classic rock on the radio. I pulled into the cemetery and it wasn't until I saw a gathering to my left that I realized I needed to turn down the music and close my sunroof. Don't worry, I got no glares from the funeral, so I don't think I interrupted anything, but I did realize that I was pushing it by rocking out in such a quiet place. It was only as I reached for the volume that I realized what song was playing: AC/DC's "Highway to Hell". Nice, Dad. Really funny. Now, for the first time since the funeral, I was in tears at the cemetery...this time out of pure laughter.

I parked the car and Jersey and I walked toward my dad. I made the proper introductions, she said hello, and all went well. Then I showed her the hole that I call his "escape hatch" (I believe it's for flowers or something, though it would be better if it were one of those tube tunnels like they have at the bank). My family has always joked that we have to be careful of the escape hatch, just in case he decides to play a trick on us. But on this day, I noticed that some grass had grown over the escape hatch, almost completely blocking it. At first I reached for it, to clean it the same way I clean his stone, but then I realized that it was probably better to leave it blocked. Jersey and I laughed and headed back for the car, everything having gone perfectly. Then I started the car and listened to the song that had just started on the same classic rock station: "Break on Through" by the Doors. Sorry, there is no way I'm cleaning off that hole.

Meme Monday

This meme is courtesy of my sister, Lara. If you'd like to play, just put your music player on random and answer the following questions. This could be very interesting. Odd, too.

1. What is missing from my life? "Pour Some Sugar on Me" - Def Leppard. Yeah, I'd love to be hot, sticky sweet. From my head to my feet.

2. Will I find love? "Teach Your Children" - Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young. Well, if I have children to teach, that would presuppose that I've found love, at least for long enough to make the babies!

3. Will I become rich? "Open Arms" - Journey. Arms are open and ready to receive a BIG check. Or a winning lottery ticket.

4. Does someone have a crush on me? "My Immortal" - Evanescence. Now, if I could just figure out who that is....

5. What should I do with my life? "Move This" - Technotronic. No problem. I'll shake that body.

6. Am I good looking? "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" - Georgia Satellites. 'Nuff said.

7. When am I most happy? "Mary Jane" - Alanis Morissette. Hey, just because I went to Haight-Ashbury a few weeks ago doesn't mean you should jump to conclusions!

8. What is my biggest regret? "You Don't Know Me" - Ray Charles. That can be easily fixed, though. Just come visit me in Vegas...or let me hang out with you in your hometown.

9. How does the world see me? "You May Be Right" - Billy Joel. I may also be crazy.

10. What do my friends really think of me? "Spirit in the Sky" - Norman Greenbaum. That's not near as bad as what I thought they might think of me.

11. Will I have a happy life? "The Wrong Way" - Sublime. Wrong by whose definition?

12. How can I make myself happy? "Rehab" - Amy Winehouse. Don't think that will help with much. They'd find me to be verrrrrrry boring.

13. How will I die? "Glory Days" - Bruce Springsteen. If I'm gonna go, I guess I might as well go big.

14. Do I act my age? "Underneath Your Clothes" - Shakira. Um, how does a 29-year-old usually act underneath someone else's clothes?

15. What type of tattoo should I get? "Smooth Criminal" - Michael Jackson. What, like a gangsta tat? I'll pass.

16. What is my spirit animal? "Songbird" - Eva Cassidy. That's pretty. Probably too cutesy for me, but I'll take it. The bird's got a much better singing voice.

17. Do I like pain? "Broken Wing" - Martina McBride. Don't want a broken anything, thankyouverymuch.

18. Is there anyone else like me out there? "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" - Eva Cassidy. Indeed, the scarecrow and I can hang out with our empty heads!

19. Where should I move to? "Beverly Hills" - Weezer. I guess with those open arms full of money, I can do this.

20. Will I ever be president? "The Joker" - Steve Miller Band. Yes, a joker will be president. I, however, will not.

21. What is fun for me? "Take It Easy" - Eagles. Taking it hard sucks.

22. Will I ever learn to fly? "I am a Rock" - Simon & Garfunkel. I'll take that as a big "no".

23. What is my super power? "None of Your Business" - Salt n Pepa.

24. What is some good advice for me? "Sweet Southern Comfort" - Buddy Jewell. Nah, got horribly sick after drinking that one night. I'll stick to Captain Morgan.

If any of you would like to steal this, consider yourself tagged!

Politics and Religion

Ah, yes, politics and religion. Two topics to be avoided at the dinner table. Two topics to be avoided in a lot of places, unless heated (and sometimes ugly) debates are your thing. It's funny though...I seem to be able to talk about both without a terrible amount of fighting. After a decent amount of consideration, I think it comes down to my general lack of "I'm right, you're wrong" when it comes to both topics. I also have a healthy dose of "I don't know", so it allows me to listen and learn as much as anything else. With that, here are some things on my political and religious mind.

I don't like Sarah Palin. Admittedly, I don't know a lot of details about her politics, beyond her being very conservative. However, I recently read an article about her personal life and it did nothing but show me that I do not want this woman in charge of anything.

Her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, which I have no reason to judge. It's something that can happen to intelligent teenagers in great families. In fact, it seems as though an unexpected, premarital pregnancy is something she's experienced herself, given that her first child was born less than 8 months after her elopement (can we say shotgun wedding?). What I do judge is the hypocrisy of touting abstinence as the best sex education when that clearly didn't work with her or her daughter. Seems awfully unrealistic to push the rest of the country to follow an ideal that failed in her own life.

Something else that struck me while reading this article was her dishonesty. Once Palin found out she was pregnant with her youngest child, she went to great measures to hide it from the public, afraid that they would deem her unable to serve in her position as Governor. Excuse me, but is that the best way to handle things? I'm worried that they'll think I can't do my job, so I'll just deceive them instead? A pregnancy and baby aren't things that are temporary issues that just go away, so the public is going to know about it eventually. Hiding it does nothing for me but show fear and a lack of willingness to face challenges head on. Oh, and when she found out that the baby would be born with Down Syndrome, she didn't even tell her children. She said that she didn't know how to tell them, so she just waited until they noticed it themselves. Ugh.

Other political stuff: This election season has gone on forever...The VP picks seem more important this time around than in any election I can remember...I wish campaign ads focused more on why a candidate deserves my vote, rather than why the other candidate does not...I hope the younger generation actually votes in this election...I don't think the public will give the next President much of a chance, regardless of which candidate wins, because too many people have unrealistic expectations about what can actually be done in a short amount of time...I'd love to see more help for Americans in many areas, including education and healthcare, but we seem too intent on fixing everyone else's issues...I don't know as much as I should about the foreign policy and financial issues facing our country because I tend to focus on the social issues.

I've also given a lot of thought to religion lately. Specifically, how best am I defined...or does a definition even matter? I was raised Catholic and still identify myself as such. When I attend church, I attend Catholic Mass. Right now, I am not attending church on a regular basis, though I go through occasional phases where I attend regularly. What I question is whether I fit with a church known to be rather judgmental, when I feel that God is more loving and accepting. Is there a place for my more liberal views in the strict definition of the Catholic Church?

I do believe in God and heaven and all that nice stuff, though I have no interest in arguing the issue with those who do not. My ex used to question how I knew that God and heaven exist, but it's simply my faith, my belief that they are real. I can't prove it either way, nor do I feel the need to. It's personal to me, a foundation that underlies the rest of my existence. I also feel very comfortable within Catholic churches. It's relaxing and fulfilling and I feel like I am at home when I'm at Mass. At the same time, I know there are a lot of strict Catholics (well, believers of many faiths, really) who would judge me as being a "bad Catholic". I have done things in my life that people would deem "bad"...some for which I am sorry, others for which I am not. Through it all, I believe very strongly that I am a good person and that God loves me.

So, am I really a Catholic or is there a better definition? Even more importantly, does it matter? If I feel happy in a Catholic church and I feel that I have a strong relationship with God, do I need to worry about a label? Or can I continue to be a good person, knowing that I am loved and that I will see my dad (and all my loved ones) in heaven?