Over the holidays I read Landline by Rainbow Rowell. It was on the Goodreads top list for the year I think, that's how I found it.
Its about a woman who is all about her work. Her work always comes first despite the fact that she has a husband and children who need her. When the choice comes between spending the holidays with her family away and working for some amazing opportunity that has come up with a deadline, she chooses work.
After her family leaves, she is unable to get ahold of them and this drives her crazy. She forgets to shower, she lives in her mothers clothes, she moves back in with her mother and sister for a few days. She doesn't work even though that is the reason she stayed back to begin with.
She makes calls on her mothers land line phone and that phone brings her back in time to the man she knew before they were married. She spends hours on the phone talking to her past. She embraces the calls and spends days thinking of nothing else. Only after a few conversations and long thought processes does she realize that she needs to be with her family and she goes.
For me, this book is interesting on two levels. One, the idea of a phone that can call the past and such. There are plenty of people I would love to be able to speak with again and know what I do now. The fact that Georgie gets to have these conversations and is at the stage she is in now is a reminder to her of what she could be having if she just remembered to look, to be.
Two, Rowell has three characters in the book that interact on the same level. One is Georgie, and the other two are the men in Georgie's life. These men are both interesting because one is the more obvious choice for Georgie. But Rowell puts her main character with Neal, her husband, and he doesn't fit. But, yet, they do fit. Seth, her coworker is the more obvious choice for a man to be with Georgie, and even in the end, Rowell gives him opportunity to be with her, but she chooses her husband. Its not the ending one would expect, but it was a good ending.
Was it a happy ending? I guess it depends on the reader. I think that Georgie flying out there to see and spend time with her kids and such means that she is ready to make it work, but... the fact that she didn't go to begin with means that she may always chose her work.
This was a light and entertaining read, one that I would recommend.
Friday, December 26, 2014
Monday, December 22, 2014
Weekend before Christmas
First it was my birthday, then there was supposed to be an awesome night out with my brudder and Jess, then there was the office holiday dinner, and then there was Sunday and such...
Not all of this happened. But it was a good weekend before Christmas anyway. So let me start with this.
^^ this turned into that >> real quick. Worst part though is that I am STILL NOT DONE!
Then there was Saturday. I ran around like chicken with my head chopped off trying to get things ready for our office holiday dinner. Everyone and their families were there (minus one physician, but I was okay with that). I think overall it went well. I know that I had a good time and really that is all that matters. I ended up getting some food for free (catering at Olive Garden) because it took so long for me to get the food. Free food tastes soooo much better, right? I didn't get any pics of the evening and I so regret that. It was the first one we decided to do as an office and I completely forgot. Next year though...
And then yesterday was Sunday, my "stay at home and relax day". That didn't happen because it is the weekend before the holidays and I need to be present at my rents house to help them. Let me tell you though, I cannot wait for it to be Wed at 1:00pm. I have the rest of the day off, then Thursday off and maybe even Friday if I decide to take it.
Cannot wait.
Not all of this happened. But it was a good weekend before Christmas anyway. So let me start with this.
This is from the birthday dinner. This is where my brother continuously had to shout out that I was 30 years old. (I am not 30 yet) This is where everyone at my table decided to sing happy birthday to me even though its not something that was done at this restaurant. This is where my father left my number on the bill for the waiter who flirted shamelessly the whole time. It was a nice evening out with my family.
Then Friday came along and I was supposed to go to a tacky light tour through Richmond limo and drinking style, but everything fell through and we decided not to go this year. I wasn't disappointed however, this meant that I FINALLY could get my wrapping done. Add some wrapping paper, gifts, wine, music and one hell of a mess and I was done.
Then there was Saturday. I ran around like chicken with my head chopped off trying to get things ready for our office holiday dinner. Everyone and their families were there (minus one physician, but I was okay with that). I think overall it went well. I know that I had a good time and really that is all that matters. I ended up getting some food for free (catering at Olive Garden) because it took so long for me to get the food. Free food tastes soooo much better, right? I didn't get any pics of the evening and I so regret that. It was the first one we decided to do as an office and I completely forgot. Next year though...
And then yesterday was Sunday, my "stay at home and relax day". That didn't happen because it is the weekend before the holidays and I need to be present at my rents house to help them. Let me tell you though, I cannot wait for it to be Wed at 1:00pm. I have the rest of the day off, then Thursday off and maybe even Friday if I decide to take it.
Cannot wait.
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Because you wanted to know of course
You were dying to! 11 weird facts about myself. Lets see if I can come up with 11. (because we all know I am in no way shape or form weird or any kind of abnormal)
1. I have a fur child named Maddie, this is well known, but what you didn't know (probably) is that I looked for Maddie for years. I mean years. I talked to people from Craigslist who had cocker spaniels for sale or free, I went to pet adoptions, I went to stores but none of the ones that I saw were my Maddie. I had a name for her and I knew exactly what I was looking for. Then one day I talked to my papa about it seriously and we talked about going to this place that had breeders and rescued puppies. Didn't really want a puppy and he said "its easier to say you're sorry than to ask for permission". But let me tell you, when I walked in a saw that golden face with those green eyes and the pink nose I was like "huh, potential." I walked over to her and she got on her hind legs and scratched at my thighs for me to pick her up. It was literally love at first sight for the both of us. I cannot have another animal at the moment because she is the one. But if I ever did... A black girl (some kind of spaniel, doesn't need to be cocker) named Juliet or a multicolored boy named Scampers.
2. I went to college for English (waste) and ended up with a degree in English studies, a degree in Pyschology (another waste) and then after all that I got my masters in Business Administration with a certificate in healthcare management. This one is what I am currently working with, but I had the job before I finished my degree. So the 45k that I owe in student loans to get a degree I didn't really need, just pisses me off.
3. I was born 10 days late. The week before Christmas (which is tomorrow). And ONLY because my mothers doctor was going away for the next week and she didn't want someone else to deliver me so she was induced the day before he left for Christmas vacation. Otherwise who knows when I would've come out. I may have been a Christmas babe.
4. I haven't been to many of the US states, I really haven't been anywhere much compared to how big the world is. But I have been to 20 of the US states and to some Caribbean hotspots(Jamaica, Belize, Mexico, Honduras, Cozumel, Dom. Republic...) BUT I have been to Bermuda 4 times in a span of less than 6 months. This was due to me finding a hot guy who lived there on a visa (he was born and lives normally in Scotland. Yes the accent got me). He flew me to and from every time. I need to find someone else like that...
5. My closet generally only has blue and black clothes in it. I went to go pack for a recent trip and I realized all I had out were blue and white stripped shirts and jeans. -_____-
6. When I was a kid and living in NY, I set my backyard on fire. Not on purpose. The whole back 40 was engulfed in flames. The chickens were frantic in their coop until papa cut them out and they flew off (they all came back around when it was dinner time though, even the ones we could've lived without. Mean red eyed bastard). All the trees were singed. My mother called the fire department and the person who took the call asked to speak to "an adult" so they didn't get there any time soon. But eventually everything was taken care of.
7. My family didn't find out that I had hearing difficulties until I was in elementary school. Then my mother apologized for years for all the yelling she did because I couldn't hear her and she thought I just wasn't listening.
8. I get nervous when I have to call people. This pretty much stems from the fact that no one can ever hear me on the phone. And if they can hear me, they don't understand what it is that I am saying. Its not that I mumble or anything. Its just that I talk so softly (yes even though I'm deaf, it's weird I know). And down in VA I have an accent so some people don't understand that either.
9. Since moving from NY I have lost all the weight that I gained after high school. I didn't gain it the "freshman fifteen" way though because I hated college and going out and all that jazz. I did it while working with the fucking kids at the school I used to work for. I don't know how the kids these days are obese because let me tell you, the food that they ate, fuck... 50 pounds. When I moved down here I worked really hard to get it all off. Now I am at my high school weight again and if Im lucky I even get below the high school weight. I would love to be around a buck twenty, but shiiiiiit. That's gonna take me a little while and even more hard work. But I'm working on it.
10. My boss and I fight like cats and dogs, husband and wives, brother and sister, you get the drift. There are days when we get along great, there are days when we don't. He is one of those people who always think that they are right. NO MATTER WHAT. I could put out evidence in front of him and he would tell me its incorrect. I could say something like "why are we changing things when we've always done it this way" and he'll say "what have we always done why don't you understand". He gets under my skin like no one else, but he also puts up with my shit on a daily so I cant complain too much.
11. I am the first person in my family to graduate from a four year college and I am the second youngest. Granted, some have done two years, but I hold the record for a four year degree first. Then comes my brother.
Facts, weird or not. But facts. What are yours?
1. I have a fur child named Maddie, this is well known, but what you didn't know (probably) is that I looked for Maddie for years. I mean years. I talked to people from Craigslist who had cocker spaniels for sale or free, I went to pet adoptions, I went to stores but none of the ones that I saw were my Maddie. I had a name for her and I knew exactly what I was looking for. Then one day I talked to my papa about it seriously and we talked about going to this place that had breeders and rescued puppies. Didn't really want a puppy and he said "its easier to say you're sorry than to ask for permission". But let me tell you, when I walked in a saw that golden face with those green eyes and the pink nose I was like "huh, potential." I walked over to her and she got on her hind legs and scratched at my thighs for me to pick her up. It was literally love at first sight for the both of us. I cannot have another animal at the moment because she is the one. But if I ever did... A black girl (some kind of spaniel, doesn't need to be cocker) named Juliet or a multicolored boy named Scampers.
2. I went to college for English (waste) and ended up with a degree in English studies, a degree in Pyschology (another waste) and then after all that I got my masters in Business Administration with a certificate in healthcare management. This one is what I am currently working with, but I had the job before I finished my degree. So the 45k that I owe in student loans to get a degree I didn't really need, just pisses me off.
3. I was born 10 days late. The week before Christmas (which is tomorrow). And ONLY because my mothers doctor was going away for the next week and she didn't want someone else to deliver me so she was induced the day before he left for Christmas vacation. Otherwise who knows when I would've come out. I may have been a Christmas babe.
4. I haven't been to many of the US states, I really haven't been anywhere much compared to how big the world is. But I have been to 20 of the US states and to some Caribbean hotspots(Jamaica, Belize, Mexico, Honduras, Cozumel, Dom. Republic...) BUT I have been to Bermuda 4 times in a span of less than 6 months. This was due to me finding a hot guy who lived there on a visa (he was born and lives normally in Scotland. Yes the accent got me). He flew me to and from every time. I need to find someone else like that...
5. My closet generally only has blue and black clothes in it. I went to go pack for a recent trip and I realized all I had out were blue and white stripped shirts and jeans. -_____-
6. When I was a kid and living in NY, I set my backyard on fire. Not on purpose. The whole back 40 was engulfed in flames. The chickens were frantic in their coop until papa cut them out and they flew off (they all came back around when it was dinner time though, even the ones we could've lived without. Mean red eyed bastard). All the trees were singed. My mother called the fire department and the person who took the call asked to speak to "an adult" so they didn't get there any time soon. But eventually everything was taken care of.
7. My family didn't find out that I had hearing difficulties until I was in elementary school. Then my mother apologized for years for all the yelling she did because I couldn't hear her and she thought I just wasn't listening.
8. I get nervous when I have to call people. This pretty much stems from the fact that no one can ever hear me on the phone. And if they can hear me, they don't understand what it is that I am saying. Its not that I mumble or anything. Its just that I talk so softly (yes even though I'm deaf, it's weird I know). And down in VA I have an accent so some people don't understand that either.
9. Since moving from NY I have lost all the weight that I gained after high school. I didn't gain it the "freshman fifteen" way though because I hated college and going out and all that jazz. I did it while working with the fucking kids at the school I used to work for. I don't know how the kids these days are obese because let me tell you, the food that they ate, fuck... 50 pounds. When I moved down here I worked really hard to get it all off. Now I am at my high school weight again and if Im lucky I even get below the high school weight. I would love to be around a buck twenty, but shiiiiiit. That's gonna take me a little while and even more hard work. But I'm working on it.
10. My boss and I fight like cats and dogs, husband and wives, brother and sister, you get the drift. There are days when we get along great, there are days when we don't. He is one of those people who always think that they are right. NO MATTER WHAT. I could put out evidence in front of him and he would tell me its incorrect. I could say something like "why are we changing things when we've always done it this way" and he'll say "what have we always done why don't you understand". He gets under my skin like no one else, but he also puts up with my shit on a daily so I cant complain too much.
11. I am the first person in my family to graduate from a four year college and I am the second youngest. Granted, some have done two years, but I hold the record for a four year degree first. Then comes my brother.
Facts, weird or not. But facts. What are yours?
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
I cant even
That about sums everything up. I cant even...
Yesterday my heart hurt for those in Sydney. There were only 2 casualties, and I don't mean that their lives were less, but there were two and a gunman. Today I wake to 126 dead and most of them were children because of some sick Islamic belief.
Look at the news an hour ago and the number has risen to 144.
I cant even.
It's my birthday week and everything is supposed to be super freaking fantastic! Shit brews at work, bosses say mean things, boys are dumb and really, really I just want to sleep. But all of that seems so small. SO SMALL in comparison to what Sydney and Pakistan are going through.
But life is just this... It's trial and tribulations. It's work and fear. It's happiness and encouragement. It's hugs and kind words. It's sadness and grief. Not every day is perfect, but there are oh so many days that are perfect to rule out the absolutely horrible ones.
I certainly hope that those who have lost their family members and loved ones can find their perfect days again.
Yesterday my heart hurt for those in Sydney. There were only 2 casualties, and I don't mean that their lives were less, but there were two and a gunman. Today I wake to 126 dead and most of them were children because of some sick Islamic belief.
Look at the news an hour ago and the number has risen to 144.
I cant even.
It's my birthday week and everything is supposed to be super freaking fantastic! Shit brews at work, bosses say mean things, boys are dumb and really, really I just want to sleep. But all of that seems so small. SO SMALL in comparison to what Sydney and Pakistan are going through.
But life is just this... It's trial and tribulations. It's work and fear. It's happiness and encouragement. It's hugs and kind words. It's sadness and grief. Not every day is perfect, but there are oh so many days that are perfect to rule out the absolutely horrible ones.
I certainly hope that those who have lost their family members and loved ones can find their perfect days again.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Weekends with Willow
So this weekend I spent most of the time at my rents house with Willowbug and Jess making cookies and candy and such for the holidays and the upcoming events. Willow was sick the whole time and did nothing but sleep. The kid never wants to sleep or just be quiet and lay down, but this weekend she did nothing but that. I was sad for her.
Before we realized however that she may not have been feeling well we took a trip to Walmart. This is pretty much when we got the hint because she wanted to be held and coddled. But we made the best of it. We hid things in my shirt so Papa wouldn't see us throw it in the cart. Bandaids, fruit snacks (this one was hard cause the box was so big) crayons. I had to put my foot down with Elsa heels though. After all, Santa is coming next week right?
Like I mentioned above, she was too sleepy to walk much so this happened. And then she nestled herself in my arms for the remaining walk around the store. Needless to say, I hurt.
We bought LOTS of candy. She wanted this one pound bar of chocolate, but I couldn't really justify the price knowing full well that she would never eat the whole thing. So I tried to deter her in some other direction. Instead we got mini chocolate Santas and a reindeer that poops chocolate. That one, though, is for Travs stocking. She couldn't wait to tell Papa and Mama Jude that "it poops chocolate! Ahahahahaha!" as loud as she could in the middle of the store. So redneck, but she's three.
Sunday Jessica spent the day with us. We made cookies, we made arrangements for our trip to CO next month. We sat around and ate. We tended to Willow. We snuggled with some adorable pups. (see below) It amazes me how they snuggle so well together. I would boot my younger brother right off the bed if he did that to me.
Then Travis called and said "uhm, I found a puppy". The puppy looks just like one of theirs. It was too late to call the shelter to see if anyone was missing a baby and too cold to just walk away. So Trav loaded her in his car until we got there after dinner to see her. We brought her back to Jessicas to spend the night until we can think of something to do with her. She is about 5-6 months old. She was super precious and sweet. Had a huge scar of the top of her head, but was not malnourished or anything. She walked in to Jessicas garage, ate some, played some and then went into the kennel to sleep. So she's crate trained. But look at that face. I hope someone comes and claims her, because Jess and Trav already have two, the rents have three if you count Bella as theirs, and I have Maddie (who would NEVER, EVER share me). So this family really just cant have another animal.
This week is going to be crazy busy. But I'll make it work.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Reading Menu
I have three books to read to hit my 100 books for 2014 goal.
Earlier this week I was reading Hidden by Catherine McKenzie. It was decent. I rated it two stars. Not because I didn't like it per say, I just didn't much care for it. The author had the characters all over the place with no definition of who was who. It was hard to keep up with who was narrating the storyline for the first couple of pages of each chapter. With three main characters in the book, one can see why this would be an issue. Secondly, there was no real message with the book. I guess other than the "don't cheat on your spouses", there truly wasn't. And then the ending sucked. But I digress. I wouldn't run out and buy it immediately, but if its free, why not?
But now I am reading Oh, Never Mind by Mary Choi. This is a quick little non fiction read about an Asian living in NYC with a green card who moves to the west coast. The story is mostly about her trials and tribulations in life while in NYC.
I didn't live in NYC, but I've been there a few times, so for me, I get it. Her humor with some of her stories made me literally laugh out loud. I am also a single woman trying to get through in life, so, I get that too. I am not a writer, I work in the medical field, but there have been many, many times where all I can do is say "You know what? Fuck it, never mind" so again, I get it. Overall the novel is refreshing and humorous.
Earlier this week I was reading Hidden by Catherine McKenzie. It was decent. I rated it two stars. Not because I didn't like it per say, I just didn't much care for it. The author had the characters all over the place with no definition of who was who. It was hard to keep up with who was narrating the storyline for the first couple of pages of each chapter. With three main characters in the book, one can see why this would be an issue. Secondly, there was no real message with the book. I guess other than the "don't cheat on your spouses", there truly wasn't. And then the ending sucked. But I digress. I wouldn't run out and buy it immediately, but if its free, why not?
But now I am reading Oh, Never Mind by Mary Choi. This is a quick little non fiction read about an Asian living in NYC with a green card who moves to the west coast. The story is mostly about her trials and tribulations in life while in NYC.
I didn't live in NYC, but I've been there a few times, so for me, I get it. Her humor with some of her stories made me literally laugh out loud. I am also a single woman trying to get through in life, so, I get that too. I am not a writer, I work in the medical field, but there have been many, many times where all I can do is say "You know what? Fuck it, never mind" so again, I get it. Overall the novel is refreshing and humorous.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Ruin
I had a conversation the other day with someone that I don't normally like to converse with because things can get out of control and I like things to maintain within my control. I need to keep things at a professional level at all times (well most times, and always within the presence of said person). But yesterday said person was being sweet and maybe he got laid, or maybe he got hit in the head with a "you better be nice she can fuck up your life" moment, but he was being sweet. It was a touching moment for me that made me think about myself in a way that I haven't. Not in a while.
"You're an attractive woman, very attractive. And you have the world in front of you. I can see you going places within the office and even above and beyond if you so choose to do so. Don't let anyone ruin you. Don't let anyone ruin you." And with that he walked away.
So the first part wasn't what got to me. It was the "don't let anyone ruin you" part that got to me. I had a dream last night that woke me and I couldn't fall back asleep and that sentence was what I thought about. Its like his words haunt me now.
I could take his words a hundred and one ways, but I would like to think that in his gentleness he meant them in a kind way as well. First though, I was thinking maybe he meant, do let anyone steal my sunshine. Then I thought (because he is very religious) that he meant, do let anyone steal my virginity. But that thought did last very long.
I've been thinking about dating lately. But I don't just want to date. I don't have time for that. I really just want to get to know someone and then date. Which is, I guess, the purpose of dating to begin with. But I like sitting in my house, watching tv, going to the gym, and whatnot far too much to have someone I only just met to ruin that. So his statement I am putting to heart and I am being choosy. I am putting me first, if someone I am dating and even just someone I know doesn't like that then fuck 'em. I'm too tired to be anything different at the moment.
Maybe this time next year I'll actually have someone to bring to the holiday dinner and family dinners and such. Maybe. Maybe not. But what I wont let anyone do, is ruin me.
"You're an attractive woman, very attractive. And you have the world in front of you. I can see you going places within the office and even above and beyond if you so choose to do so. Don't let anyone ruin you. Don't let anyone ruin you." And with that he walked away.
So the first part wasn't what got to me. It was the "don't let anyone ruin you" part that got to me. I had a dream last night that woke me and I couldn't fall back asleep and that sentence was what I thought about. Its like his words haunt me now.
I could take his words a hundred and one ways, but I would like to think that in his gentleness he meant them in a kind way as well. First though, I was thinking maybe he meant, do let anyone steal my sunshine. Then I thought (because he is very religious) that he meant, do let anyone steal my virginity. But that thought did last very long.
I've been thinking about dating lately. But I don't just want to date. I don't have time for that. I really just want to get to know someone and then date. Which is, I guess, the purpose of dating to begin with. But I like sitting in my house, watching tv, going to the gym, and whatnot far too much to have someone I only just met to ruin that. So his statement I am putting to heart and I am being choosy. I am putting me first, if someone I am dating and even just someone I know doesn't like that then fuck 'em. I'm too tired to be anything different at the moment.
Maybe this time next year I'll actually have someone to bring to the holiday dinner and family dinners and such. Maybe. Maybe not. But what I wont let anyone do, is ruin me.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Ahhh... the holidays.
Tomorrow marks the two week point until Christmas, the three week point until New Years and the, I'm sad to admit this, but the one week point until my birthday. For my family, the Eve's are always more important, more joyous, more celebrated than the Days, (except for the birthday because no one cares about the day before a birthday).
Needless to say, everyone is gearing up. The trees are decorated. The cards are sent. The presents (for the most part) are bought. Now we just need the cookies, and the holiday parties (muh, mines the 20th this year) to be over and we get the actual holidays.
But I digress... Heres my list of wants for the next couple of weeks:
Yep, that's the BMW x4. I want one some kind of bad. I know, yet again, that no one will buy me this $45k vehicle. But its on the list because maybe after the new year I'll buy it for myself.
Needless to say, everyone is gearing up. The trees are decorated. The cards are sent. The presents (for the most part) are bought. Now we just need the cookies, and the holiday parties (muh, mines the 20th this year) to be over and we get the actual holidays.
But I digress... Heres my list of wants for the next couple of weeks:
Yes, I know, who's going to be me a ring if not me right? But hey, I like it so it goes on the list. And besides, I still have a papa. He wont buy it though, because its Tiffany and I could go somewhere else and buy the same ring for a fourth of the price. But here it is.
Gold foil scratch off world map. I want to be able to scratch and go and see all that I've explored. Albeit its not very many places at the moment, but some day. Some day I will explore my fair share of Earth.
Camera. Because I don't own one. And I want to explore remember. So I need ways in which to document and remember. For those children of which I've no desire to have.
For one of my spare rooms. I want Willowbug to be able to sleep over, or have guests stay at the house and at the moment, they be sleeping on the couch if this were to happen. So I need a bed. Also, it gives a reason to go to Ikea. Queen though, not king. I don't need my brother finding reasons to never leave if for some reason he feels the need to stay over one night.
I want to be able to have people over and hang out in the backyard around a nice fire. This would be nice.
Or we could hang out in this.
Like my absurdly expensive wish list that no one will even think of buying me? Maybe its more of a shopping list for myself.
2 more weeks people.
Monday, December 8, 2014
518 to 804- Holiday edition
Okay so one would think that the temperament and the vibes from others wouldn't change from one state to the next. Let me tell you something... it does. I will never forget my first holiday season down here. Let me tell the story:
Trav didn't move down yet permanently, but he was visiting for the holidays and decided to stay from Thanksgiving until New Years (yes, he didn't have a job so he could do that). I decided to take him to Walmart for god knows what now, but we were there for something we thought was important. Everything was normal right up until we were walking out and this man stopped Trav in the parking lot to ask what our plans were for the holidays and to have a very merry Christmas and all that jazz. I never saw Trav so like "what the fuck" in my life.
Let me say this about my birth state: people can be nice. People can be nice in public. But mostly, there isn't such pleasantries in the middle of parking lots or walking down the streets as there are here in the south. Down here, everyone is smiling and willing to talk to one another whether they are known to each other or not. If you're in Albany and you walk too close to someone, most likely that person is going to be perturbed, forget pleasantries. There's no random "hi's" or "hello's".
People talk down here. We can be sitting at a restaurant and someone in the table next to us will overhear our conversation and pitch in like its no big deal. The funny thing is though, it doesnt feel rude, it doesn't bother anyone, it just happens.
All of this happens all year round, but there is an even bigger sense of it during the holidays. Like people want others to know that they are appreciated. In NY no one cared. I certainly didn't. And granted, I am not the first one to say "hi, how are you" or "happy holidays" but I wont ignore the person that said it to me either like I would in NY.
Its just that different.
Trav didn't move down yet permanently, but he was visiting for the holidays and decided to stay from Thanksgiving until New Years (yes, he didn't have a job so he could do that). I decided to take him to Walmart for god knows what now, but we were there for something we thought was important. Everything was normal right up until we were walking out and this man stopped Trav in the parking lot to ask what our plans were for the holidays and to have a very merry Christmas and all that jazz. I never saw Trav so like "what the fuck" in my life.
Let me say this about my birth state: people can be nice. People can be nice in public. But mostly, there isn't such pleasantries in the middle of parking lots or walking down the streets as there are here in the south. Down here, everyone is smiling and willing to talk to one another whether they are known to each other or not. If you're in Albany and you walk too close to someone, most likely that person is going to be perturbed, forget pleasantries. There's no random "hi's" or "hello's".
People talk down here. We can be sitting at a restaurant and someone in the table next to us will overhear our conversation and pitch in like its no big deal. The funny thing is though, it doesnt feel rude, it doesn't bother anyone, it just happens.
All of this happens all year round, but there is an even bigger sense of it during the holidays. Like people want others to know that they are appreciated. In NY no one cared. I certainly didn't. And granted, I am not the first one to say "hi, how are you" or "happy holidays" but I wont ignore the person that said it to me either like I would in NY.
Its just that different.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Wednesday Reading Menu
Today I'm reading Blood Magick, it's part of the O'Dwyer trilogy. Its chick lit. But more importantly I want to talk about what I read over the weekend.
Denise Grover Swank has a new "half" book. Ever heard of her or read 'em? I got started a while back when she first wrote Twenty Eight and a Half Wishes. The series is part of the Rose Gardner mystery series. Now she's up to six books in the series. It's been a whirlwind of characters, emotions, thrills...
I enjoy the books. She writes in a way that keeps me entertained without having to think too much into things, but also I don't always know what is coming, and I like that. It's not a total mind fuck, but its entertaining to say the least. The characters are balanced for the most part, they are funny and I like that too. Any book that can make me laugh out loud is a good book. I don't do it nearly as often as I would like.
I would put it under mystery, humor, romance, YA category.
A little synopsis about Rose: she can see things. When people get too close or she touches them, she can see bits and pieces of what is to come. And whats worse for her, the moment the phase ends, she blurts out whatever it is that she just saw. She sees someone murder someone and she blurts out "you're going to kill someone". Pretty much makes me never want to get close to another person ever. Think about it, if I blurted something like that to someone, they would want to kill me just to shut me up, and the characters that Rose meets do. They hunt her, harass her, use her all the time. She's always up to her ears in trouble, but that makes it all the more interesting.
Her life is a crazy, good, stressful one, but she makes it work. She is young and in love and she is being chased by not one, but two men that adore her. She couldn't ask for more. Or can she? the sixth book just came out last weekend so now I have to wait to see more...
Denise Grover Swank has a new "half" book. Ever heard of her or read 'em? I got started a while back when she first wrote Twenty Eight and a Half Wishes. The series is part of the Rose Gardner mystery series. Now she's up to six books in the series. It's been a whirlwind of characters, emotions, thrills...
I enjoy the books. She writes in a way that keeps me entertained without having to think too much into things, but also I don't always know what is coming, and I like that. It's not a total mind fuck, but its entertaining to say the least. The characters are balanced for the most part, they are funny and I like that too. Any book that can make me laugh out loud is a good book. I don't do it nearly as often as I would like.
I would put it under mystery, humor, romance, YA category.
A little synopsis about Rose: she can see things. When people get too close or she touches them, she can see bits and pieces of what is to come. And whats worse for her, the moment the phase ends, she blurts out whatever it is that she just saw. She sees someone murder someone and she blurts out "you're going to kill someone". Pretty much makes me never want to get close to another person ever. Think about it, if I blurted something like that to someone, they would want to kill me just to shut me up, and the characters that Rose meets do. They hunt her, harass her, use her all the time. She's always up to her ears in trouble, but that makes it all the more interesting.
Her life is a crazy, good, stressful one, but she makes it work. She is young and in love and she is being chased by not one, but two men that adore her. She couldn't ask for more. Or can she? the sixth book just came out last weekend so now I have to wait to see more...
Monday, December 1, 2014
Currently loving...
1.... I made it through Thanksgiving! And I didn't gain any weight. That very well may be due to the fact that I've been going to the gym religiously, not because I didn't eat like a pig.
2.... My cousin came down for a surprise visit from Long Island. Well actually, she was on her way home from North Carolina and decided to stop at the house for a breather. We wished that she could've at least stayed the evening, but she and her man were eager to get home. I don't blame them. Its a long drive. Not one that I am ever eager to take.
3....The gym. Running, stretching, weight lifting. I feel awesome!
4.... The little gem of an Christmas present I got for Willowbug. Can be found here. I cant wait for her to see it and us play in it. I'm a child, this I know.
5.... Planning on building things with my papa. He really is the love of my life. We are going to make my garage a work place for us to do the work I want done in the house. I want to make my office the way that I've always dreamed it to be. Sort of like the library in Beauty and the Beast, but in a realistic world. When that gets started, be sure pics will be followed. I am super pumped!
6.... Some little fur baby sleeping through the night. For almost a week straight! She went to my rents a few months ago and since then she has decided not to sleep ever. So we've done a routine of she gets to play, goes outside, gets a benny and we sleep. I figure if I can get her in a routine we are both happy with then the benny can go, but for now, I am determined to get her to sleep.
7.... Holidays and work parties and such. Enough said
8.... Maybe a Wizards game in February. Just saying.
9.... and a trip to Colorado in January.
10.... Work going by quickly today.
Not currently loving the fact that my birthday is coming up and I am going to be 29. Twenty freaking nine.
That means next year is 30. Where the hell did time go? I swear it was just a few years ago that I was in high school skipping classes (routinely).
But on the plus side, we are talking a trip at the end of the year next year to celebrate all the big birthdays. Jess is 25, Trav 28 (not significant), Heather is 30.... and I'm 30. Ugh, the thought.
2.... My cousin came down for a surprise visit from Long Island. Well actually, she was on her way home from North Carolina and decided to stop at the house for a breather. We wished that she could've at least stayed the evening, but she and her man were eager to get home. I don't blame them. Its a long drive. Not one that I am ever eager to take.
3....The gym. Running, stretching, weight lifting. I feel awesome!
4.... The little gem of an Christmas present I got for Willowbug. Can be found here. I cant wait for her to see it and us play in it. I'm a child, this I know.
5.... Planning on building things with my papa. He really is the love of my life. We are going to make my garage a work place for us to do the work I want done in the house. I want to make my office the way that I've always dreamed it to be. Sort of like the library in Beauty and the Beast, but in a realistic world. When that gets started, be sure pics will be followed. I am super pumped!
6.... Some little fur baby sleeping through the night. For almost a week straight! She went to my rents a few months ago and since then she has decided not to sleep ever. So we've done a routine of she gets to play, goes outside, gets a benny and we sleep. I figure if I can get her in a routine we are both happy with then the benny can go, but for now, I am determined to get her to sleep.
7.... Holidays and work parties and such. Enough said
8.... Maybe a Wizards game in February. Just saying.
9.... and a trip to Colorado in January.
10.... Work going by quickly today.
Not currently loving the fact that my birthday is coming up and I am going to be 29. Twenty freaking nine.
That means next year is 30. Where the hell did time go? I swear it was just a few years ago that I was in high school skipping classes (routinely).
But on the plus side, we are talking a trip at the end of the year next year to celebrate all the big birthdays. Jess is 25, Trav 28 (not significant), Heather is 30.... and I'm 30. Ugh, the thought.
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