2009

I can't believe it's 2009. Being that the number "9" is my favorite number, I am hoping this will be a great and promising year. Of course, I usually start the new year with an optimistic attitude, and by the end I tend to want it over with...but not always.

The end of 2008 was fun. I had a great Christmas with the family, and I spent the last day of '08 with my sister and friends in Rehoboth Beach. The old and new years came and went with a three-day celebration. I could've stayed another day, but I needed to pull myself away to get some sleep. That was a long 6-hour drive home....and totally worth it.

This year will bring some fun travel experiences. In a couple weeks I'll be in Florida for a few days to visit Dad. If I don't get snowed in or stranded in Philly for my layover, it'll be great to get out of this snow and freezing temperature infested city. It'll be nice to go running outside without three layers of clothing! Then in May I'll be heading to the Dominican Republic! Yahoo!!!! Got the reservation, got the passport - I am ready! I hope I love it so much I don't want to come back. Fortunately when I do come back, it'll be spring and I don't have to trudge home in inches or feet of snow.

I am also giving NY one more year to prove its worth to me. And I'll leave it at that.

But who knows what will happen this year - the anticipation and mystery of what is to come is very exciting! Leg up!

Help From my Friends

Thank God for friends.

It's about the only thing that gets me through crappy days, work gripes, and emotional situations, especially those including boys. And some how when a bad day rears its ugly head, just by chance friends come along and send you a cute pic of her and her daughter and another pays you a compliment out of the blue. And those are on top of the other friends who know the situation at hand and tell you they are in your corner. On another day, those momentos of friendship would be appreciated anyway, but on a dreary Monday with a down heart, it means that much more and shows there are more things and people out there that make me smile than the one thing that is making me sad today. So then I tell myself to hitch up the skirt, Sally!

Friends are also the reason I look forward to New Year's this year. I'll be heading to Rehoboth Beach, DE to celebrate with some of the Virginia friends including the sister, and may think about taking some of the NY friends with me. That would be a great way to start off the new year! Ah good times!

The Dark Knight

GO SEE IT!!!! Beg, borrow, sell yourself and/or your blood if you have to get the money for a ticket! Run, walk, skip, crawl to the theater - just do it for the sake of humanity! Okay I got a little over zealous, but I'm serious, go see it on the BIG screen.

A packed theater on a Tuesday night at 8pm - you know something fan-freakin-tastic was about to come our way. "The Dark Knight" did NOT disappoint and exceeded every expectation I could imagine.

Heath Ledger was phenomenal! If he doesn't at least get nominated for ask an Oscar, I will be absolutely, positively shocked and furious. As I described it on the way home, he actually scared me. Usually the Batman movies are thrilling, adventurous, and action-packed. Ledger added the element of fear. I felt like I was watching a movie with a serial killer - the kind that just keeps me chilled the entire time. But he also makes you laugh - he is so twisted and evil yet comical...it's brilliant!

I also have to note the make-up. Ledger's scars and clown make-up really enhanced his creepy, freaky character. But after Harvey Dent's (Aaron Eckhart was also stellar) face was burnt, the Joker's make-up takes a back seat. That's all I am going to say about that - my words would not do it justice, so you have to see it. It made my stomach turn.

Christian Bale should always be Batman and no other could play a better Gordon than Gary Oldman. In addition, the overall intensity was off the charts. If I could have gotten up to pace, I would have. There is one part you think the movie is over but feel it is not complete, and so it continues. At that point in many movies that I have seen, I want the film to be over. That was not the case here. It didn't feel drawn out and I was glad to get more! I never cared what time it was once. It was 2 1/2 hours that I would be glad to go through again and again. Gordon's final lines of the movie rounded it out nicely, and makes you excited for more to come! I can't freakin' wait!!!

Leg up!

Things that have irritated me in the last week...

I can only think of two things at the moment but they are pretty prominant.

1. Last Wednesday after Jeremy's birthday dinner, he wanted to go see Hancock. Okay I'll give it a shot. I had seen previews and trailers that made it look pretty interesting. And Will Smith is pretty funny. I left the theater in a bad mood. I did laugh a few times and actually Smith was a little charming as a grouchy super hero. But most of the time I was just irritated and frustrated. I couldn't understand where some ideas were coming from and the reasoning behind it. It just wasn't like the comic book super hero movies that I absolutely love. Hulk wasn't even a favorite but it was much better than Hancock.

2. Brett - give it a rest!!!!!!!!!!! I would think I'd be more understanding of an athlete having a hard time letting go of a sport. I didn't want to end my softball career but I really didn't have a choice. So I should say keep at it Favre if your body and talent are still there. But that's not my mentality. I lose patience with this back and forth crap. If you're going to keep playing, try a different avenue. At least go play Arena Ball in Philly - Favre and Bon Jovi in one arena?! Now THAT is a concept I can handle.

Leg up!!

The Good and Bad

Here are the recent goings-on in my life, some good, some bad, but mostly good. Plus some other random spewings.

The Good: We went to the beach last weekend to visit Donna and Bob in the new beach house. We had a great time visiting the beach crews - plural because we saw the old house mates and friend in Rehoboth and the usual suspects in Dewey. The Bad on that trip was that I was reminded that I am getting older and I can't handle all my liquor and how easy it is for me to get hungover. I slept most of the way home so by the time I got home I felt great! It was too bad we had to drive all day b/c the weather was gorgeous! Fortunately we had a great day yesterday.

The Good: We went to my 10 year class reunion at Le Moyne. It was great to see my little gang. Maggie came up from South Carolina, and Amy, Mike and Krissy ventured down the thruway to attend a few events on campus. The memories are always fun to revisit and good for a laugh. I also got to see my old friend Bethany and my softball twin Colleen and her family. The Bad: We had a pretty lame class. I don't remember any other class having one large group of the rich-snotty type. It was actually uncomfortable to see them. And some how, of all the hotel options we had, we picked the one in which those other classmates stayed as well. Ugh. Whatever. Maybe they really aren't that bad, and would even be cool to hang out with...but I have my doubts. We plan on going again next year to see all the friends we had a year behind us. In doing the math, we realized we liked and hung out with many more in that year including one of our suitemates and Maggie's husband is technically a graduate of '99. We'll be there!

The Good: The weather is improving. We had a great day to be outside on campus yesterday. The Bad: Allergies. OMG they are TERRIBLE! I am miserable, and I am not sure what else I can do outside of Claritin D and hauling out my sinuses with saline. What a freakin' pain.

The Good: Kindergarten Cop is a cute movie. The funny lines from the kids like "maybe it's a tumor" and "boys have a penis, girls have a vagina" are time less. It also has a pretty interesting story line - mister brute force cop turns kindergarten teacher - not realistic as a movie should be. Also the female partner who eats constantly and adds a great deal of humor to the story. The Bad: Arnold is a terrible actor! He has his good moments but they are few and far between.

It's the beginning of the summer, so I am looking forward to some fun events and to some quiet weekends at home and by the pool. I have one more trip planned to the beach for a bachelorette outing (the good) but that will be the extent of my out of state summer travels. I can't afford the gas (the bad)!

Niner update: He's great! Back to great health - better than he has been in months. He's almost a little overwhelming at times - running all over the bed to wake me up to be fed. He is even back to chasing me when we are playing. All clear!

Leg up!!

12 or So Hours

That's about how much longer is left before the big guy comes home - I hope.

It has been a long emotional week. Niner had surgery yesterday afternoon. He needed some reconstructive surgery on part of his urinary tract. I thought maybe he would get to come home today, but they wanted to keep him to make sure his control was coming back. He was progressing, so one more day should do the trick. The most encouraging news was that the doc said his attitude is great - he was eating and wanting to be pet. That wasn't surprising - even though he can be a rough bastard at times, he is a very friendly cat. Pet him and he is your friend for life. I can't wait to see him again! I haven't seen him since Tuesday morning when I left him at the vet in a very painful state. At one point I was afraid his medical condition was something that would cause me to make the decision to not have him around any more. He is 12ish years old, but the vet that discussed the surgery with me said he doesn't look or act like a 12 year old. That opinion helped me make the decision to go forward - he'll pull through and he has LOTS of time left. I was worried b/c that is major surgery and seems like so much to put him through if the situation was dire. But alas that was not the case - TG!! By 4pm yesterday I was ready for bed. I was so drained and the puffy eyes were the evidence. Part guilt (he has been showing me for a while something was wrong but I missed the signs - DUH), but mostly worry something still may go wrong and that he is lonely.

I had no idea this kind of situation with one of my cats would be so taxing. I know I get attached but holy. Simon's ordeal was tough, but that was a few years ago and Niner has been with me much longer. I have been in shut down mode all week, and all I want to do is be home. I don't really want to be around people - work was about all I could handle. Thanks to everyone that asked about him, just about all of whom have pets and know what this kind of situation is like. It's hard to go through. Plus it costs a fortune but he's worth it. :-)

Here's to many more years with Niner! Leg up!!

When they're sick

I hate it when my cats are sick. It's rare since they are indoor cats but it happens. I had to admit Niner to the vet hospital this morning for a blockage - i.e. he can't pee. It's pretty serious stuff especially in male cats. He should be fine but-it is hard to see him get older (and deal with my own issues on getting older!). He'll be there until tomorrow - well hopefully only until then. I wish I could be there with him. I feel like he is my kid! He is a pretty cool cat. My former co-worker provided Niner with a foster home until I could take him myself back in October 1999. He said he wished he could have kept him because he was such an awesome cat. Tough shit he's mine. :-)

He's been with me 8 1/2 years now - that's a long time and like a dog, he knew when I was upset so it was comforting to have him around. Having him gone a whole night is going to be weird. I won't have his 15 pounds walking all over me and I won't get the usual nudges on my chin with his hard head. Of course that really hasn't happened in a while since he has been hiding under my bed for a few days not feeling well. Now I don't feel well because he is sick and away. I just want to hide until we all feel better again, too.