sistersnooze

over a year has passed!!

2011-01-03T06:14:00.001-08:00

oops...It has been over a year since I posted on here!

2010 proved to be a challenge:
bill got fired in february and we moved out of the apartment complex. We did find a cool rental near the parade route uptown. I love the location bt have come to the realization we will never be able to afford a home in this area. At least not now.

Bill did find another job, in property management, again. He is very good at what he does, but he works for a bitch. She is always getting after him for making mistakes.

I wish we could find a career for him that he at least likes...if not loves to go to every day.

I am still in insurance claims and like it a lot. Not sure I love it, but it is a good living.

Other than that, what else happened in 2010?

I lost 18 pounds and gained back 8. I am committed to losing 20 pounds this year.

We got a dog! We adopted a Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier named Barley and he is such a lovable baby! The vet thinks he is about 2. This morning we decided that January 2011 is his birthday month...Happy Birthday Barley!

We took in "friends"after they got evicted form their apartment, only to have them just about take over our apartment for 7 weeks. Lesson learned - teach your friend to fish and don't let them walk all over you.

My son, C, played baseball in the spring and the fall. His fall team won the league championship...VERY exciting!

Anything else was regular everyday "stuff"

here's to a wonderful 2011 and hopefully more blogging!

reflections...

2009-12-20T20:01:00.000-08:00

You could not have told me that moving back to New Orleans would have been a good idea.

It is still challenging though. Bill lets his company run him into the ground, they certainly don't pay him enough...but we at least get a two bedroom apartment for wicked cheap and we are not stuck in a lease. So there are some good points.

My job is going well. I've passed all my licensing tests and am officially a licensed Claims Adjuster in the state of Louisiana. My boss has assured me his job is to help me hit my goals which will help me get a raise. To be honest, I really hope he is right.

I never used to care about money. And part of me still doesn't, but it would be nice to have a little extra instead of needing to watch the budget every second. The good news about that is that in one year, my car will be paid off. In three years, we will be finished with child support for J and my credit cards should be paid off. Oh, and we'll have plenty of dough saved for a down payment.

I would love to buy a house now, but I just don't want to put us in a situation where we would be in a bind if one of us lost our job.

my ex and his wife are the types who spend money and buy bigger "stuff" because they feel that they "need" to. It's amusing and sick at the same time.

Today, it just all clicked. I love my husband, Bill and I adore my son, C. My stepdaughter J will probably never have the relationship with us that we so desire, but life is what it is. We may not be rich financially but we certainly don't need to act like we are. And, to anyone who feels like they need to "keep up", who are you keeping up with?

Rituals...

2009-11-03T08:38:00.000-08:00

I am slowly, but surely, learning the importance of having rituals to remember my late brother. He passed away 6/5/06 after a 7 year battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis. Yesterday was his birthday.

Greg's favorite birthday dinner was steak, baked potao and apple pie (no cake) for dessert. My husband and I have kept up this tradition every year on his birthday, as have my parents. This being the 4th birthday without him, the day almost seemed like another holiday that we celebrate. We made sure to have steak, potato and even though we somehow forgot the apple pie, we celebrated the happy memories of Greg (aka "Snooze"). In past years, we would watch his favorite movie, "The Cutting Edge", but since the New Orleans Saints were playing, we felt Greg would be okay with us watching football

The moral of the story? Even though life may throw tragedy in your way, you don't have to dwell on the sad times. Time DOES heal your wounds...and rituals help.

Even if it's something as simple as steak, potato, apple pie...and "The Cutting Edge"...any small ritual helps you cope and move on to the happy times

Can you really be friends for life?

2009-09-30T19:39:00.000-07:00

I met this girl, let's call her "M", in high school and we quickly became friends. I wouldn't necessarily say she was my absolute best friend in high school, but I was hers, I think.

After high school, M and I continued to stay in touch and our friendship grew. I was her Maid of Honor and she was my Matron of Honor at my 1st wedding. But, M dances to a much different drum than I, and while I have always respected and thought it was great that we had these differences, it is causing a strain. At least for me anyway.

Most recently, due to the popularity of Facebook, we have re-connected with several high school friends. For M, this apparantly was a godsend. She re-connected with a former boyfriend/friend and the two apparantly would spend most of their work-day chatting online or talking on the phone. Nevermind that they weren't getting any work done...it was affecting M's marriage...to a great guy. After a period of time of M spending way too much time with this old boyfriend and realizing her marriage may be in trouble, she called me for help. I spent over two hours on the phone with her explaining that her husband was jealous and even if she didn't think she was doing anything wrong by being friends again with C, it was causing issues in her marriage. Personally I just wanted to come right out and tell her that she was having an affair and she needed to stop what she was doing, but was it really my place??

The conversation turned, briefly, to the topic of divorce. M mentioned she would never "do that" to her kids. Um, what? I am divorced and have a child...does this mean I've "done that" to my child? I am not even really sure what "that" is, but I am guessing it is not good. I was quite hurt by her comment, but tried to let it roll off my shoulder...it's not working.

How do you tell someone you've know for over 20 years, that's not a relative, how you really feel about what she said? I don't and I've been avoiding her. I am pretty sure at some point I will need to deal with this.

Of course, the other side of the story is that I really do not feel like talking on the phone at the end of the day and my new job really does not have any downtime during the day to allow a personal phone call. So, I am pretty sure she gets it that I am avoiding her...I just don't know how to take the next step.

with out losing a friend...

test blog

2009-09-30T19:38:00.001-07:00

this is a test blog from my email :)

2009-09-30T19:36:00.001-07:00

This is a test blog from my phone

creating a habit

2009-09-22T18:55:00.000-07:00

okay, it's Tuesday night and I'm sitting down to blog. this feels good. I almost feel like Doogie Howser sitting down at the end of a long day to "journal" on my computer. The difference being I am 38 and don't live with my parents..that and I am no genius.

Work was good today, I feel like I made some headway on some claims that felt like they were just kind of "sitting". Sometimes that happens though. We need so many pieces of the "puzzle" to make a liablity decision that sometimes those pieces take longer than we would like. It just is what it is...

On a much much funnier note, Ned called me this afternoon to relay another funny Cameron story. They were at the Saints game a few weeks ago and were waiting in line for a pretzel and a coke. Cameron said, "Dad, you have to take off your hat." Ned was not sure what Cameron meant until Cameron pointed out the sign at the pretzel vendor that said "all caps must be removed before taking Coke into the stadium".

that's all...

third day in a row...

2009-09-21T19:23:00.001-07:00

Maybe this will actually become a habit again!

Just a lot on my mind today. There are some people I have met in recent years who don't seem to "get" the whole "life is short, love those around you" mentality. I. Don't. Get. It.

I remember Greg, my brother, and I used to fight all the time. He was always wrong in my eyes. He almost always forgot my birthday. We rarely spoke on the phone.

but...

I miss him so much it hurts.

It hurts that I have to sit by and watch someone I love be the one who never seems to do anything right because they didn't do something the way someone else thought the should have. I know, I am writing in code a little bit...just to protect the guilty.

A long time ago, well, not THAT long...I let myself get into a controlling relationship. I am watching someone I love go through this and unfortunately, I cannot get involved and it is killing me. I don't get how controlling someone can be. Well..wait, yes I can. With me and Greg, I was very much the organized, orderly one and because of that I have my own OCD, control-freak tendencies. But life has taught me to lighten up a bit because there are so many things in life that are just not worth getting keyed up over.

Also, being in a controlling relationship myself showed me that no one should ever let themselves be treated in a way that makes them feel like an inferior person. Unfortunately, in the case I saw today, the damage is permanent and irreparable. very.very.sad.

My wish for all siblings, husbands, wives, parents, friends, etc.....LIFE IS SHORT...GET OVER IT.

good night.

post #97

2009-09-20T17:09:00.001-07:00

and...posting a second day in a row. Not too shabby considering we drove three hours to see Bill's daughter today, then three hours back home.

It was a good day, for the most part anyway. Bill's daughter still has brain damage and has a long way to go before she could ever really take care of herself. I mean, she can dress herself, feed herself, etc. She just does not remember what she did 5 minutes ago. She does not get upset or frustrated, but you can tell she knows she should remember.

Cameron's dad called to say he thinks he sold his house and he actually asked permission to move into an apartment until they are able to move into their new house. Um, really? I wonder what would have happened if I actually said no. I mean, the town they live in is just fine, it's not like they were moving to the projects. About halfway through the phone call I realized he was actually looking for approval from me. Interesting...

time to finish my usual Sunday cleaning and head to bed :)

hmmm...

2009-09-19T19:17:00.001-07:00

I am still jealous of my brother.

He somehow found the time to write on his blog almost every day. Me? I cannot seem to remember to login to this blog to say anything.

I just finished watching "In the Land of The Women" with Meg Ryan and Olympia Dukakis. GREAT movie. I highly recommend it.

I also have a nasty sinus infection...nothing too terrible, but it did warrant a shot in the hip and zithromax, plus all kinds of OTC drugs like claritin, sudafed, and mucinex. Needless to say, my body does not like all the meds but they are working.

That's all for now...

over two months later...

2009-08-15T07:37:00.000-07:00

and I have a job!

I started about a month ago as a Claims Adjuster at a very large insurance company. Funny part about it? My ex-husband is a Claims Adjuster at another large insurance company. I remember while we were married he would always tell me I should look into going to work as a Claims Adjuster, and for some reason, I just didn't.

Well, one month into it and I like it. I don't necessarilylove it, but the company has amazing benefits and people seem to come to this company to stay...like most of the people I've met have been there 10-15-20-25 years or more. It speaks volumes for the company...at least I think so.

Being back in NOLA is fine, the good part is that we know our way around town and have friends and family here. I don't necessarily get to see my son more often, but I hope to.

now we just need to get out of this tiny apartment and into a house...

oops! I forgot to blog!

2009-06-03T21:31:00.001-07:00

Okay, I have not blogged since April 29, 2009. Yipes! I didn't look at my last entry, but here's the latest: We have offically moved back to the New Orleans area as of May 30th.

I still have yet to find a job.

I am not freaking out just yet.

I do feel that I could network more, but I need to be smart about it. I've had one job offer from a couple I am friends with who own their own company. I would basically be their Manager for their Sales Interns. The catch? It would be commission only. I would get a percentage off my interns' sales as I would be training them. The reason I am saying no? Well, I am unsure of working for good friends. I would not want to jeopardize our friendship, that means more to me than a paycheck any day.

Where does that leave my search?

Well, Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com and Craigslist.org have proved to not be worth my time. Well, unless I want a "job" making barely minimum wage.

Indeed.com is interesting as it pulls information from those sites and other job boards on the web as well as companies in the geographical area in which you are searching and lists it out for you. I've come across a few positions that look promising, so we'll see. It does at least give someone an idea of what the job market is like in a particular field or city.

I have considered many options. I am looking into possibly going out on my own...I will keep the details private for now until I make a decision on that.

In the end, I am not worried, I know the right position will come along, it's just a matter of time!

Back to Blogging!

2009-04-29T08:12:00.000-07:00

Oops! I realized I have not been blogging!

So, what has been going on?

I finished my marathon in November and somehow I still feel like I am recovering. How people can run more than one a year is beyond me.

the BIG news is that Bill and I are moving back to NOLA. Bill's company offered him a transfer/promotion and we decided it was time to move closer to family.

It's also coming up on three years since Greg died and so far, I am "ok". I do miss him terribly. We were not twins, but being that it was just the two of us, we had a very strong connection...I miss chatting with him online and getting into silly arguments over nothing. I will be forever jealous of Bill...he has three siblings. I hope they know how lucky they are to have each other in their lives...that's something I don't have anymore...miss it...terribly.

Cameron is doing well. A lot of people have asked me if I will try to get Cameron back full-time and the answer is no. trust me, I would love love love to have my son live with me full-time and I think he should. BUT, what Cameron needs from me is stability. he just needs to know that I am there for him. Starting custody dispute would only hurt my relationship with him and in the end hurt his relationship with his father as well. So, I am going to continue to be the parent who can give solace and peace to Cameron. (and of course make sure he grows up to be a well-mannered gentleman!)

I am job hunting too...haven't found the "right" fit yet, but there are a few things in the works that may turn out to be a "good thing".

Other than moving from state to state, life is good, Bill and I are doing well, Cameron continues to thrive. My step-daughter continues to get better as time goes on.

Now I just need to get by June 5th unscathed.

so I'm going to get political now...because these emails are driving me nuts

2008-10-30T11:48:00.000-07:00

Personally, I have already voted. I voted for the candidate I felt would be the best president. And it was secret ballot, so no, I will not share that information. But, people I know who live in other parts of the country, continue to send me emails...usually targeted against the democratic candidate, Barack Obama. Personally I don't really read them, but since I ahd already voted I opened up a few in the past few days and I just cannot believe what some people will believe.

Well, here is an email I received a few hours ago and I think it says it all...and, I did my research, this person found the same stuff I did...that this interview on Meet the Press never happened.

________________________________________________
I liken myself as a truly independent thinker. I am not so much of an independent voter though. This is due to the fact that in America you really only have 3 choices in who to vote for. These choices are. Talking Mouthpiece GOP candidates, the Lesser of two evils Democratic candidates, and to not vote at all.

I recently received an e-mail from a co-worker about Obama and his stance on the national anthem.

Start of e-mail "Perhaps there are SOME out there who are beginning to get 'the picture'.

The following is a narrative taken from Sunday Morning's televised 'Meet The Press'. and the author is employed by none other than the Washington Post!! Yeah......the Washington Post of New York and Los Angeles Times fame!! Must say that I'm dually impressed..................

From Sunday's Televised 'Meet the Press' Senator Obama was asked about his stance on the American Flag.

Obama Explains National Anthem Stance Sun, 07 Sept. 2008 11:48:04 EST, General Bill Ginn' USAF (ret.) asked Obama to explain why he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played. The General also stated to the Senator that according to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171... During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. At the very least, 'Stand and Face It' Senator Obama Live on Sunday states, 'As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides, Obama said.

'There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. And the anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might salute it.'We should consider to reinvent our National Anthem as well as to redesign our Flag to better offer our enemies hope and love.

It's my intention, if elected, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East Brethren. If we as a Nation of warring people, should conduct ourselves as the nations of Islam, whereas peace prevails. Perhaps a state or period of mutual concord between our governments. When I become President, I will seek a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, and a freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts. We as a Nation have placed upon the nations of Islam an unfair injustice. My wife disrespects the Flag for many personal reasons. Together she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past, many years ago. She has her views and I have mine'.

Of course now, I have found myself about to become the President of the United States and I have put aside my hatred. I will use my power to bring CHANGE to this Nation, and offer the people a new path of hope. My wife and I look forward to becoming our Country's First Family. Indeed, CHANGE is about to overwhelm the United States of America."

_________________________________________
Now something like this was hard for me to believe at first. I found it hard to believe that someone who was running for the President of the United States would actually state this opinion whether he believed it or not. So I spent a couple hours researching the facts of this interview. I could find no record or transcripts of this interview. But here's what I did find....If you type "Obama National Anthem" into your search engine, countless numbers of pages appear that show several different versions of this e-mail. A majority of these links debunk this myth by telling the truth.

Here's the truth: On October 27, 2007, a writer for a website named "The Arizona Conservative" wrote an article entitled "Semi News - A Satirical Look at Recent News." In this article this writer does just what is stated in the articles title....He did a Satirical look at recent news. This is all well and good. There are plenty of websites that take shots at their parties opponents. Both Democrats and Republicans are guilty of this. Usually it is done with a grain of salt.

Here is what really concerns me. There are tons of people out there believe this story to be true when they receive it.! No research into the matter, no questioning of the e-mail. These are very smart people that don't just rush to judgements on anything.

Do we really live in a society in the year 2008 that is so quick to believe a story like this? What does this say about the way that minorities are viewed in this country? Am I playing the race card? Damn right I am! If this was Bill Clinton or John Kerry, or even John McCain for what it matters, there wouldn't be all this talk about them supporting terrorists or old ladies at rallies saying they can't trust the other candidate because he is arab.

You definitely wouldn't have people referring to McCain if his middle name was Hitler or Eichmann. I am a sad, sad person today when I realized how far this country has to come. You have articles about the "Bradley Effect" on 3 major websites, and a constant mention from his opposition of them not being able to trust Obama. Most of them state that this is due to his "inexperience". This is obviously not true, because if it was, how could they support Palin on their ticket.

I really would like to believe that Obama's opponents are smart people, but the past week has shown me something else....That the GOP will not hesitate to drown the media with Racial commentary under the cover of peoples ignorance to look into the matter. I hope and pray that the people who vote for McCain do it for his stance on issues, and not because of the Racial Rhetoric that is spewed in a viral e-mail. For the people who don't believe me, below is a link to the original article. If your still not convinced, then let me talk to you about purchasing the deed to the Brooklyn Bridge that is in my possession right now! http://azconservative.org/Semmens118.htm

Incorporating Gratitude Into Your Life

2008-10-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

My brother Greg would have been turning 40 this coming Sunday (11/2) and after reading this post from a friend's blog, it was just what I needed to read. Someone once told me that I should never complain that there are dirty dihes in the sink because it meant that there was food on the table. Greg's passing has taught me to be grateful for the life I do have...and it's what really inspired me to not only create his memorial fund, but to do something to improve myself. He was always challenging me to do more, be more, give more.
____________________________________________

“Everyday, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.” - Dalai Lama
_____________________________________________

Gratitude Can Change Your Life

1. Have a morning gratitude session.
Take one minute in the morning (make it a daily ritual) to think of the people who have done something nice for you, to think of all the things in your life you’re grateful for. You won’t get to everything in one minute, but it’s enough. And it will instantly make your day better, and help you start your day off right. Can you think of a better use of one minute?

2. When you’re having a hard day … make a gratitude list.
We all have those bad days sometimes. We are stressed out from work. We get yelled at by someone. We lose a loved one. We hurt a loved one. We lose a contract or do poorly on a project. One of the things that can make a bad day much better is making a list of all the things you’re thankful for. There are always things to be thankful for — loved ones, health, having a job, having a roof over your head and clothes on your back, life itself.

3. Instead of getting mad at someone, show gratitude.
That’s a major switching of attitudes — actually a complete flip. And so this isn’t always easy to do. But I can promise you that it’s a great thing to do. If you get mad at your co-worker, for example, because of something he or she did … bite your tongue and don’t react in anger. Instead, take some deep breaths, calm down, and try to think of reasons you’re grateful for that person. Has that person done anything nice for you? Has that person ever done a good job? Find something, anything, even if it’s difficult. Focus on those things that make you grateful. It will slowly change your mood. And if you get in a good enough mood, show your gratitude to that person. It will improve your mood, your relationship, and help make things better. After showing gratitude, you can ask for a favor — can he please refrain from shredding your important documents in the future? And in the context of your gratitude, such a favor isn’t such a hard thing for the co-worker to grant.

4. Instead of criticising your significant other, show gratitude.
This is basically the same as the above tactic, but I wanted to point out how gratitude can transform a marriage or relationship. If you constantly criticize your spouse, your marriage will slowly deteriorate — I promise you. It’s important to be able to talk out problems, but no one likes to be criticized all the time. Instead, when you find yourself feeling the urge to criticize, stop and take a deep breath. Calm down, and think about all the reasons you’re grateful for your spouse. Then share that gratitude, as soon as possible. Your relationship will become stronger. Your spouse will learn from your example — especially if you do this all the time. Your love will grow, and all will be right in the world.

5. Instead of complaining about your kids, be grateful for them.
Many parents (myself included) get frustrated with their children. They are too slow to do things, they have a bad attitude, they can’t clean up after themselves, and they pick their nose too much. Unfortunately, sometimes parents will communicate that frustration to their children too often, and the kids will begin to feel bad about themselves. Many parents have done this, and while it’s not perfect, it’s a part of parenthood. But there’s a better way: follow the method above of calming down when you’re frustrated, and thinking of reasons you’re grateful to your child. Share these reasons with your child. And then take the opportunity to teach them, instead of criticizing them.

6. When you face a major challenge, be grateful for it.
Many people will see something difficult as a bad thing. If something goes wrong, it’s a reason to complain, it’s a time of self-pity. That won’t get you anywhere. Instead, learn to be grateful for the challenge — it’s an opportunity to grow, to learn, to get better at something. This will transform you from a complainer into a positive person who only continues to improve. People will like you better and you’ll improve your career. Not too shabby.

7. When you suffer a tragedy, be grateful for the life you still have.
Tragedies can be crippling if you let them overcome you. And while I’m not saying you shouldn’t grieve — of course you should — you can also take away something even greater from these tragedies: gratitude for the life you still have. Appreciation for the fleeting beauty of life itself. Love for the people who are still in your life. Take this opportunity to show appreciation to these people, and to enjoy life while you can.

8. Instead of looking at what you don’t have, look at what you do have.
Have you ever looked around you and bemoaned how little you have? How the place you live isn’t your dream house, or the car you drive isn’t as nice as you’d like, or your peers have cooler gadgets or better jobs? If so, that’s an opportunity to be grateful for what you already have. It’s easy to forget that there are billions of people worse off than you — who don’t have much in the way of shelter or clothes, who don’t own a car and never will, who don’t own a gadget or even know what one is, who don’t have a job at all or only have very menial, miserable jobs in sweatshop conditions. Compare your life to these people’s lives, and be grateful for the life you have. And realize that it’s already more than enough, that happiness is not a destination — it’s already here.

101 things in 1001 days update

2008-08-15T14:40:00.000-07:00

So a little over a year ago, I was reading various blogs and came across several people participating in something called 101 things in 1001 days. At the time I was training for my first triathlon and decided that this might be something fun for me as well.

Realizing my completion date is 2/16/2010, has me thinking I need to take a look and see where I stand with "The List"

101 things in 1001 days
101. Celebrate day 1001...and make a new list!!! (obviously this won't happen until 2/2010)
100. Take basic 101 language course in language other than French--not yet
99. Take French 101--not yet
98. Interview my mother about the Wehrly family and work with Megan to start writing family history--hopefully starting this one 12/2008
97. Interview my father about the Blake side of the family and begin writing family history- again, hopefully starting this as well 12/2008
96. Convert my handwritten journals into Word-not yet, maybe in 2009
95. Cook a turkey (I know this may sound strange, but I am terrified I would screw up such a large piece of meat!)--maybe thanksgiving this year (2008)
94. Visit one new restaurant every month in the Austin area (1/32)- Bill and I have been trying several new places, but I have actually lost count!
93. Complete a 100 bike ride-hopefully in 2010
92. Complete a 75 mile bike ride-definitely spring/summer 2009
91. Complete a 50 mile bike ride-definitely spring 2009
90. Bend over and touch my hands totally flat on the floor! (I can barely reach my toes these days!)-not yet-still super stiff!
89. Visit 5 places in Texas I haven't visited yet (2/5)-got to see the Alamo and have fallen in love with Barton Springs.
88. Visit 5 new states (1/5)-Washington State
87. Forgive (the details are kinda private--so I cannot go into details)-I struggle with this one every day.
86. Re-kindle a friendship--Done! 5/24/2007
85. Do something with my postcard collection--meaning, get rid of it, put it into albums/frames, or whatever--just keep it from sitting in a box where no one will see it!--in process 6/1/2007
84. Be able to do 50 crunches everyday for a week-I can get in about 10 per day for a week, but will hopefully increase that soon!
83. Donate $5 to the PF Foundation for each task I am not able to complete-obviously this will not be completed until 2/16/2010
82. Go to 20th High School Reunion--June 2009!
81. Go back to Marietta for Homecoming once-I just don't know about this one--it's a busy time at work for me so flying back to MC is not looking like an option.
80. Drive to CT once for a vacation--I was thinking summer 2010, but that would be after the 1001 days so not sure
79. ride bike to work for two weeks-I just need to get my bike tuned up!
78. Learn to identify 10 native plants in Texas-I can identify a bluebonnet and that's about it, looks like I have some studying to do!
77. Inspire another person to come up with 101 things-no has said anything, so I'm guessing it's not finished
76. Watch "Twin Peaks" season one and two-not yet, that first episode still creeps me out
75. Partcipate in 26 things 3 times-going to start the first one 9/2008
74. Watch at least 10 BAFTA winning films (0/10)-in process
73. Keep TV turned off for two weeks-wish I could...maybe in the spring!
72.Watch at least 20 of Ebert's "102 movies you must see" (3/20)-inprocess
71. Finish watching the 100 top grossing movies of all time (2/12) - in process
70. Start and Finish the Danskin Triathlon at least once--DONE 6/10/2007
69. Watch at least 20 "Best Director" Oscar winners for the past 50 years (1/20)- in process
68. Go a full 24 hours without saying a word -going to try this when bill goes on his retreat in 9/2008
67. Buy a lock for my bike-Done! 10/2007
66. Write at least 10 snail mail letters--to different people (0/10) -in process
65. Ride my bike to work for one week -going to start 9/2008
64. Read at least 10 banned books (0/10) - in process
63. walk 100 miles total in 90 days (4/100) - need to restart
62. Go camping and really rough it - maybe summer 2009
61. Do 100 push ups in a row - ugh, I can barely get in 5!
60. Learn to make my own jam - done! Summer 2008
59. Write a will - in process
58. Write a living will - in process
57. Get my book published - summer 2009
56. Finish my book - spring 2009
55. Finish growing my hair out and donate 12 inches to "Locks of Love" - in process, my hair is very long!
54. Send Cameron postcards from where-ever I travel-haven't travelled to much with out him
53. Send Jesse postcards from where-ever I travel - I usually travel to see jesse or cameron so this hasn't worked like I expected
52. Paint dinette set or get rid of it and get something that matches our decor-nothing yet
51. Learn how to fix a flat tire on my bike -done! Summer 2007
50. Take the GRE and determine if getting in Grad School is even an option- nothing planned yet
49. Send a secret to http://postsecret.blogspot.com/- not yet
48. Take at least one picture a day for one month - 9/2008
47. Get a stamp in my passport - hopefully by december 2009
46. Sort through art and craft supplies-Throw out anything I haven't used and sell it-then put the money towards paying off the cars--12/2007
45. Go to the Blanton Museum - 12/2007
44. Go to the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
43. Visit the LBJ Library
42. Visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
41. Go to Perdenales Falls
40. Go to the Bastrop State Park
39. Visit the Alamo - 6/2008
38. Go to San Antonio - 12/2007
37. Give up TV for a week
36. Finish learning how to knit (specifically-how to start and end a project as I know how to do the middle part!)
35. Finish my incomplete cross-stitch projects
34. Save $1 a day for 1001 days (101/1001)--we're way ahead of the game, maybe I should have come up with something more challenging?
33. Send a "just because" care package to a friend or family member
32. Pay off both cars
31. Use the public library at least 15 times (0/15)
30. Send at least 20 christmas cards and write a personal note in each
29. Write something every day...make time to write
28. Write about 5 women who have deeply affected my life (0/5)
27. Take pictures of the 5 women who have deeply affected my life (0/5)
26. Leave someone a 100% tip on a bill of at least $15
25. Get with Mom and Dad and make final burial plans for Greg's ashes
24. Help Mom and Dad finish going through Greg's things and make decisions about what to do with everything--It worked out that we were all on the same page with this and we now have a plan!
23. Take a photo and submit it into a contest - done summer 2007
22. Finish putting my photos into photo albums
21. Read 10 of the books on our bookshelf that I haven't read (1/10)
20. Make homemade ice cream
19. Start and finish the Austin Marathon
18. Learn to mix a great martini
17. Do 50 pushups straight (2/50)
16. Climb a rock wall
15. Make a household inventory-including pictures-for insurance purposes
14. Utilize Freecycle and craigslist on a monthly basis to help control household clutter - doing it!
13. Find a church where both of us feel comfortable attending
12. Get involved in the church we decide we are comfortable
11. Write down at least 5 of my favorite or not so favorite family memories before I forget any more of them--I've completed two!
10. Do the same for Bill's parents
9. Do something unexpected (regardless of price) for my parents
8. Read at least two president's biographies (0/2)
7. Thoroughly declutter our apartment--i think this is really an on going project
6. Have a family picture taken (me, bill, jesse and cameron)
5. Give up ice cream and chocolate for Lent without cheating once
4. Learn how to Kayak-preferably with Bill
3. Have a date at least once a month with Bill--even if we just go out for coffee :)--So far, so good!
2. Successfully bake sourdough bread (I have failed at this before, so I am determined to try again!)
1. Join US Masters Swimming and complete one of the swimming challenges

Realizing how great I have it...

2008-05-07T08:13:00.001-07:00

What is "it"? My life, maybe?

I took a long weekend and went to spend some quality time with my son in Louisiana where he lives with his dad for the school year.

The first day, we had a parent-teacher conference as Cameron has been having trouble copying from the board. Apparantly, he's got a visual discrimination problem. Ned is taking him back to the eye doctor next week as there is a test to officially determine that he does or does not have this.

The funny part about the meeting was that I was taking notes, asking questions...all related to Cameron and how to help him. His dad talked about himself the entire time and tried to monopolize the conversation. I almost couldn't believe it. but then again, this is Ned...he really does believe the world should give him all the attention.

Cameron then had a baseball game, which they lost, but Cameron got a run so he was pleased. The team had practice Friday night...in the pouring rain. Needless to say, i put Cameron in the bathtub the second we got back to the house. The rain cleared in time for his game on Saturday. And , oh lucky me, I got to sit with Ned's wife and her two daughters. Mind you, Denise is mostly polite and her girls have always been friendly to me. I have also learned to just let her talk and she'll pretty much spill anything.

So, we're sitting there and she is going on and on about how Ned is always worried about money. I remember him being like this. He is always worried the sky is falling. And yet, the bills are paid, there is money in savings, food on the table and a comfortable house. Well, he gets aftr her about getting her hair done and buying makeup and was so upset one night that he said to her, "You are just like my ex wife!". Um, I don't care who you are, that is a horrible thing to say. the funny part, is I never spent what she spends on hair and makeup. I'm pretty frugal actually..even when I was married to Ned. But seriously, I can't believe he would say something like that. Wait...I can believe it.

What that conversation showed me was that in 7 years...he has not changed for the better like he claims. He is still the abusive control freak he has always been. Not that I had ever doubted my decision to leave him, but had sometimes wondered "what if?"...especially when living on my tiny Tulane salary left me hungry most months. After listening to Denise, I will never have that thought again.

My birthday was Sunday and it was also the day for Cameron's birthday party. Ned and Denise did one party for all three kids, since their birthdays are relatively close to one another. I watched...along with everyone else at the party...as Ned snapped at Denise left and right. I caught a glimpse of what my life would have been like if I had stayed with him. It was freaky. I saw what I probably looked like when he and I were together.

I felt more and more blessed to be where I am in life. I have a son who adores me, even if he only sees me once a month, occaisional holidays and 8 weeks in the summer. Cameron knows he is loved and that I would drop everything to be with him if he asked. I had the joy of meeting Jesse and getting to kow her before she got sick. And, I have the kind of career that will let me leave to be with my step-daughter, son, husband, parents, etc if they are sick and/or need my help. I have a husband who loves and respects me. And I love and respect him. We are honest with each other and don't need to insult each other.

My best birthday present ever...realizing that I have a pretty great life...

...I hope I never take it for granted.

Finished!

2008-02-18T07:24:00.000-08:00

All I have to say is WOW. What a rush. I had no idea I would love running that far that much. I finished in less than 3 hours, 2:56 to be exact! My overall time was 13:30/mile, which is my fastest so far. Yes, I realize this is not as fast as some others out tehre, but with the hills we had to conquer, I'm pretty pleased with my results.

Bill and I parked my car downtown the night before which worked out perfectly after the race. Sunday morning, he dropped me off at the race start at 5:45 am. I wandered around and just took in the sights of volunteers and race officials prepping the race start and finish areas.

The start was incredible. By far the largest race I've ever done (13,000 people!). As we headed down South Congress I could see the mass of people in front of me. I then turned around and saw the mass of people behind me and it was just inspiriing. All these people. About half were running the same distance I was going for. People on the side of the road, cheering for everyone. There were bands about every 1.5 miles, which was great, better than wearing an ipod anyday!

I made great time until mile 7 when I just had to walk and catch my breath because I knew the hills were coming. And they came. Bill, his dad and nephew were at mile 11 to cheer me on and take a few pictures. that was right where I needed them to be as I was feeling tired and needed a boost.

The hills were not too steep until the end of mile 11 when i just about starting signing the Rocky theme out loud. Even mile 13 had a few small hills that just never seemed to end! The final .25 miles was all downhill and I got a burst of energy when I looked at my watch and realized I was going to finish in less than 3 hours. I basically sprinted to the end, passing people who were stopping for pictures.

I was handed a medal the second I crossed the finish line, then to the picture line, then the line for finishers t-shirts...and then the food!

I picked up my extra clothes at the clothing drop off tent and walked very slowly back to my car. I called Bill, then my mom, then Cameron (who wanted to know if my medal was gold silver or bronze!).

I cannot wait to conquer a marathon, but maybe one more half marathon fist.

Reflections on 2007

2008-01-03T14:09:00.000-08:00

Wow.

What a year!

January-Bill's niece was baptized, his grandmother turned 91, my co-worker starts talking to me about the Danksin triathlon in June and I think I laughed.

February-Christina keeps talking to me about the triathlon, and I start really thinking about it. Bill decides to leave the hotel business (yay!)

March-Bill's birthday, and he started a new job managing an apartment building not far from campus, they will be giving us free housing and we were told we would be able to move in by the summer-yay! I joined Gregory Gym and signed up for the Danskin Triathlon. the first time I went running at the gym, I barely made it around once without passing out.

April-5 weeks into the new job, Bill's employer tells him it's not working out and they are letting him go. We think his assistant manager just didn't like him and kept complaining about him. Cameron turned 8 and I continued to improve my running, biking and swimming.

May-My birthday! Nothing too major, although Bill had some promising interviews.

June-Bill starts a new job! Yay! Although it is temporary but could turn permanent and be a great opportunity. I also finished the Danskin Triathlon and lived to tell the tale! I was also accepted to the Team Toyota triathlon team--very cool. they actually called me on the one year anniversary of Greg's passing so it was very cool. We also travelled to Seattle, WA to see one of Bill's cousins get married. As luck would have it, my only 1st cousin lives there and we were able to at least meet up for breakfast and a walk around the market. Cameron finally came to live with us fgor the summer and ...Cameron and I also went to Connecticut to see my parents and go to another wedding, this time a second cousin, we had a blast! Oh, and Bill's youngest sister got engaged.

July-I finished the Rogue Women's Triathlon and Mom came to visit for 2 weeks. then dad came for two weeks. Cameron took swimming lessons and golf lessons.

August-Cameron went back to Louisiana :( And...Jesse got sick. Very sick.

September-Jesse still sick, and went back into ICU at the end of the month. Bill makes the decision to give up his job to be with his daughter while she was in ICU.

October-I finished the Longhorn Olympic Distance triathlon, the Uptown Classic 10K and started to prepare for the Austin Marathon. Jesse still sick, her mother shows us that she really is crazy and Bill's mother and I (and Bill too) decide that he is not to be around her alone because she was accusing him of physically threatening her (which didn't happen-still very upset about this and don't want to go into too many details). Bill comes home and starts pounding the pavement.

November-I barely finished the EAS 10 miler, it was hard! Jesse starts rehab. Cameron came to visit for thanksgiving and I somehow threw my back out.

December-I again barely finish the Decker 20K and ended up with a nasty sinus infection. After almost no running for two weeks, I decided that I can do the half-marathon in 2008 and the marathon will have to wait until 2009. Bill gets two jobs! one part-time retail and one full-time in his field that has been going very very well. He's going to stay at the store on weekends just to have some extra spending money for us until he gets tired of it. my parents came for x-mas and Cameron was here for New Year's so it was pretty great all around.

I would have never thought that three triathlons and three road races later I woudl still be walking, but I am still loving every second of it. As far as Jesse, it is and will continue to be an uphill battle for a long time. Cameron is wonderful as usual, I am fortunate that Cameron, bill and I all work very hard at merging our loves and enjoying each other. Bill is a few weeks into his new job and it seems to be going well, I have a very good feeling about it.

I wish everyone else out there the best for 2008!

Goodbye Evel-may you rest in peace as a genuine American Icon

2007-11-30T14:44:00.000-08:00

Legendary Daredevil Evel Knievel Dies
By MITCH STACY,
AP
Posted: 2007-11-30 17:33:40
Filed Under: Nation News, Sports News
CLEARWATER, Fla. (Nov. 30) - Evel Knievel, the red-white-and-blue-spangled motorcycle daredevil whose jumps over Greyhound buses, live sharks and Idaho's Snake River Canyon made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday.

He was 69.

Knievel's death was confirmed by his granddaughter, Krysten Knievel. He had been in failing health for years, suffering from diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that scarred his lungs.

Knievel had undergone a liver transplant in 1999 after nearly dying of hepatitis C, likely contracted through a blood transfusion after one of his bone-shattering spills.Immortalized in the Washington's Smithsonian Institution as "America's Legendary Daredevil," Knievel was best known for a failed 1974 attempt to jump Snake River Canyon on a rocket-powered cycle and a spectacular crash at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.

He suffered nearly 40 broken bones before he retired in 1980.Though Knievel dropped off the pop culture radar in the '80s, the image of the high-flying motorcyclist clad in patriotic, star-studded colors was never erased from public consciousness. He always had fans and enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years.His death came just two days after it was announced that he and rapper Kanye West had settled a federal lawsuit over the use of Knievel's trademarked image in a popular West music video.Knievel made a good living selling his autographs and endorsing products. Thousands came to Butte, Mont., every year as his legend was celebrated during the "Evel Knievel Days" festival.

"They started out watching me bust my ass, and I became part of their lives," Knievel said. "People wanted to associate with a winner, not a loser. They wanted to associate with someone who kept trying to be a winner."For the tall, thin daredevil, the limelight was always comfortable, the gab glib. To Knievel, there always were mountains to climb, feats to conquer."No king or prince has lived a better life," he said in a May 2006 interview with The Associated Press. "You're looking at a guy who's really done it all. And there are things I wish I had done better, not only for me but for the ones I loved."He had a knack for outrageous yarns: "Made $60 million, spent 61. ...Lost $250,000 at blackjack once. ... Had $3 million in the bank, though."He began his daredevil career in 1965 when he formed a troupe called Evel Knievel's Motorcycle Daredevils, a touring show in which he performed stunts such as riding through fire walls, jumping over live rattlesnakes and mountain lions and being towed at 200 mph behind dragster race cars.In 1966 he began touring alone, barnstorming the West and doing everything from driving the trucks, erecting the ramps and promoting the shows. In the beginning he charged $500 for a jump over two cars parked between ramps.

He steadily increased the length of the jumps until, on New Year's Day 1968, he was nearly killed when he jumped 151 feet across the fountains in front of Caesar's Palace. He cleared the fountains but the crash landing put him in the hospital in a coma for a month.His son, Robbie, successfully completed the same jump in April 1989.In the years after the Caesar's crash, the fee for Evel's performances increased to $1 million for his jump over 13 buses at Wembley Stadium in London — the crash landing broke his pelvis — to more than $6 million for the Sept. 8, 1974, attempt to clear the Snake River Canyon in Idaho in a rocket-powered "Skycycle." The money came from ticket sales, paid sponsors and ABC's "Wide World of Sports."The parachute malfunctioned and deployed after takeoff. Strong winds blew the cycle into the canyon, landing him close to the swirling river below.On Oct. 25, 1975, he jumped 14 Greyhound buses at Kings Island in Ohio.Knievel decided to retire after a jump in the winter of 1976 in which he was again seriously injured. He suffered a concussion and broke both arms in an attempt to jump a tank full of live sharks in the Chicago Amphitheater. He continued to do smaller exhibitions around the country with his son, Robbie.Many of his records have been broken by daredevil motorcyclist Bubba Blackwell.Knievel also dabbled in movies and TV, starring as himself in "Viva Knievel" and with Lindsay Wagner in an episode of the 1980s TV series "Bionic Woman." George Hamilton and Sam Elliott each played Knievel in movies about his life.Evel Knievel toys accounted for more than $300 million in sales for Ideal and other companies in the 1970s and '80s.

Born Robert Craig Knievel in the copper mining town of Butte on Oct. 17, 1938, Knievel was raised by his grandparents. He traced his career choice back to the time he saw Joey Chitwood's Auto Daredevil Show at age 8.Outstanding in track and field, ski jumping and ice hockey at Butte High School, he went on to win the Northern Rocky Mountain Ski Association Class A Men's ski jumping championship in 1957 and played with the Charlotte Clippers of the Eastern Hockey League in 1959.

He also formed the Butte Bombers semiprofessional hockey team, acting as owner, manager, coach and player.Knievel also worked in the Montana copper mines, served in the Army, ran his own hunting guide service, sold insurance and ran Honda motorcycle dealerships. As a motorcycle dealer, he drummed up business by offering $100 off the price of a motorcycle to customers who could beat him at arm wrestling.At various times and in different interviews, Knievel claimed to have been a swindler, a card thief, a safe cracker, a holdup man.Evel Knievel married hometown girlfriend, Linda Joan Bork, in 1959. They separated in the early 1990s. They had four children, Kelly, Robbie, Tracey and Alicia.

Robbie Knievel followed in his father's footsteps as a daredevil, jumping a moving locomotive in a 200-foot, ramp-to-ramp motorcycle stunt on live television in 2000. He also jumped a 200-foot-wide chasm of the Grand Canyon.Knievel lived with his longtime partner, Krystal Kennedy-Knievel, splitting his time between their Clearwater condo and Butte. They married in 1999 and divorced a few years later but remained together. Knievel had 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2007-11-30 16:47:34

Why gift cards are not gifts!

2007-11-20T06:26:00.000-08:00

Gift cards are not gifts

Holidays have rapidly devolved into what amounts to an exchange of cash. A gift card says nothing about the personality of the recipient -- but it says lots about the giver.

By Liz Pulliam Weston

Gift cards are incredibly popular. They're also an oxymoron.

A gift, ideally, says, "I thought about you. I considered your likes and dislikes, your needs and wants, your dreams and desires, and found you this token of my esteem that I hope will delight you."

A gift card says, "There! Checked you off my list."

It's not just me that says so. Judith Martin, the doyenne of etiquette known to millions as Miss Manners, dismisses gift certificates -- and, by extension, gift cards -- as "a pathetic compromise convenient to people who do not trust their judgment about selecting the right present for those whose tastes they ought to know."

Think about it. Would a lover, in the flush of romance, lean close to the object of his affection and present . . . a gift card? Would proud grandparents present the latest addition to the family with . . . a gift card? Would your best and closest friend, the one you've known for years, who's stuck with you through the roller-coaster ride of life, walk into your hospital room and give you . . . a gift card?

(If the answer to any of those questions is yes, by the way, you need to start hanging with a better class of people.)

Yet gift cards continue their relentless spread:

Earlier this month, 57.7% of respondents told a National Retail Federation survey they plan to buy at least one gift card -- and 19% of those planned to buy six.
Consumers will spend $26.3 billion on gift cards this year, the NRF estimates, up from $24.8 billion last year.
Half of respondents (53.8%) said they would like to receive a gift card, up from 50.2% two years earlier.

The death of shame

Young people, especially, are so enamored of gift cards, with being "empowered to make their own choices," as one retailer laughably put it, that they don't even realize what they're missing.

Older people might, but hey, they're busy and cards are convenient, so what's the harm?

The harm is that the art of gift-giving is quickly devolving into an entirely commercial exchange. How much longer until we simply start thrusting wads of dollar bills at each other?

Some people, apparently, would be delighted with that prospect. While researching party themes for my daughter's upcoming celebration, I stumbled across a posting by a woman who proudly included the horrifying words "monetary gifts would be much appreciated" on her 3-year-old child's invitations. She went on to explain that "I wanted money as gifts for my daughter's savings and for us to buy bigger toys, like a big kitchen and a Barbie Jeep that she wanted, instead of guests giving her small toys."

It's official. Shame is dead.

Heaven forbid that givers use their own judgment and spend a little time picking out small items that might give the recipients pleasure. Just give us the cash and get out of the way.

A real gift brings you closer

It's not that I've never given a gift card. I have, three times that I can remember. But I viewed these cards as what they were: a cop-out, an admission that I had grown so out of touch with the recipients that I didn't know what would please them. In two cases, I used the experience as a prod to spend more time with the giftees and get to know them better. In the third instance, I finally decided that what had been a close friendship no longer was and ended the gift exchange -- to mutual relief.

It's also not that I don't understand the practical aspects of the gift card. I do. I just can't help mourning the passing of a lovely tradition, one that helped us focus on each other and had the potential to bring us closer.

How would I have felt, for example, about the new friend I rushed to the hospital one night had she thanked me with a gift card rather than a basket of chocolate-dipped strawberries, each more luscious than the last? Of course, no gift was expected or required, but her thoughtfulness created a bond.

Or would I have felt nearly as welcomed by my new mother-in-law if, on my first Christmas as a wife, she'd presented me with a gift card rather than the antique soup tureen that had been in her family for years? Her present told me I was part of the family.

And should I give up trying to please my husband who is -- Kenneth Cole as my witness -- one of the hardest human beings in the world to shop for? I think not. With each gift, and each return, I learn a little bit more about his tastes and style. It's a challenge to delight and surprise him, but occasionally I do -- and it's worth the effort.

The search for a gift is a gift itself

Sure, the old way included plenty of opportunities for misfires -- for the tie shaped like a fish, the sweater that's six sizes too big, the dolls from the aunt who could never figure out that her teen-age niece no longer played with Barbies. But those experiences taught us the fine art of tact and diplomacy, of expressing gratitude to people who tried to make us happy, however bizarre the actual result.

It also drove home the point, as few things do nowadays, that special occasions are about people -- not about getting more stuff or increasing our net worth.

If you find yourself purchasing gift cards, maybe the solution is to buy less and think more. Do these folks really need to be on your gift list, or would you all be better off getting together for coffee or drinks and skipping the exchange? If you really need and want to purchase a gift, maybe you can start brainstorming ideas year-round, rather than panicking at the last minute and settling for a piece of plastic.

If you really must buy gift cards, then at least:

Make certain events off limits. Even etiquette expert Peter Post, who believes gift cards have become acceptable in many situations, makes a distinction between cards and "real gifts." There are certain situations, such as weddings, where "you should give a real gift rather than a gift card," says Post, great-grandson of manners icon Emily Post. Valentine's Day and anniversaries are other situations that call for the real deal.

Combine a card with a real gift. If you want, it can even be from the same retailer that's providing the gift card to facilitate returns. Even a small gesture is better than none at all.
Think twice before giving one to someone you love. If you ever shared a home with the recipient, you can -- and should -- do better by them.

Don't add to the recipient's burdens. If your recipient would have any trouble redeeming the card, don't give it. "It probably wouldn't be appropriate to give one to your grandmother in her 80s," particularly if she suffers from limited mobility, said Post, author of "Essential Manners for Couples." "It's not for (a recipient) who finds shopping more of a burden than a pleasure."

Columns by Liz Pulliam Weston, the Web's most-read personal finance writer, appear every Monday and Thursday, exclusively on MSN Money. She also answers reader questions on the Your Money message board.
Updated Nov. 19, 2007

Time to call the doctor...

2007-11-20T06:05:00.001-08:00

I've done something to my back.

Lots and lots of pain.

At first, I thought it was from cleaning up Cameron's room to get it ready for his visit. But two days later and I can hardly move?

When I got up Sunday, I thought I was just sore from cleaning and figured my long run Sunday wold loosen things up. After 7 miles of walking in severe pain, I stopped. I couldn't run. I spent the day resting as much as possible and taking a ton of Advil.

Yesterday, I woke up feeling better and went to Dallas to get Cameron. The drive got harder and harder as my back started hurting more and more.

Now today, it hurts even more.

It's my lower back.

And it hurts to even turn my head.

Advil and stretching that I learned at physical therapy is not helping and this is the third time in 9 months that I've done something to my back. WTF??? Am I just getting old?

(motor)Cyclist offers apology and restitution to members of DUMB

2007-11-14T09:36:00.000-08:00

This was written by a motorcyclist (from Amarillo no less!), but as a bicyclist I found it quite relevant as well.

(motor)Cyclist offers apology and restitution to members of DUMB

Larry Supina
An apology is in order, so, please, forgive me. It was not until thismorning on my ride to work that I fully understood I was in error.Yes, I've noticed that there are many very busy and important people on the roads.

You all are hard to miss with the cell phones, laptops,breakfast bars, coffee, cigarettes and all, but until now, I didn'trealize I was causing so much trouble for you busy, multitaskingdrivers.I figured it out this morning, thanks to the nice lady working on thelaptop who needed the lane I was in.

First, ma'am, let me say that when I honked at you from the shoulder,I didn't mean to startle you. My intent was just to give you a littlebeep to let you know the lane was all yours. But I was braking so hard, I couldn't lift my thumb off the horn button. My bad.I surely didn't mean to cause you to nearly hit the guy talking on the cell phone. You know, he was smoking and talking as he moved his SUV right into the space you had just left.

Anyway, the good news is, that's when I realized all of you multitasking drivers must be texting each other about intended lane changes and running traffic lights and stop signs and such. I'm sorry- I'm still using old-fashioned blinkers. I didn't realize you needed some time to e-notify that guy that you needed the lane back. I reallymessed it up for both of you!I can only say that the guard rail was a little distracting, and I was only thinking about myself.

I'll try harder next time.Like I said, I didn't know that was how you multitasking drivers were communicating. It must have been in an e-mail, but my laptop fell offmy tank and I haven't replaced it. However, I have a solution.I know many of you are so busy and important that you have no choice -you have to eat, work, talk, read and do lots of other really important things as you drive.

Those of us who use the road only for traveling would be happy to stay out of your way; we just need to know you're coming. A little visual clue would help - I was thinking of a bumper sticker.That way, everyone could identify you as Drivers Utilizing Multiple Behaviors.Of course, that's a little long, so we'd cut it down to an acronym - DUMB.

If you'd place stickers on the front, back and maybe the sides of yourcar, the rest of us would know not to interfere with you on the road. I think it's such a good idea, I'll pay for the bumper stickers and even put them on for you. Deal?

Again, I'm sorry I got in your way. I'll try harder to see you coming from now on.

I promise!

update on 101 things

2007-07-17T14:37:00.000-07:00

yes, yes, I am still working on this!

updates:

#3-Have a date with Bill at least once a month---so far, so good, we're both making an effore to go on more "dates"

#7-Thoroughly declutter our apartment--Bill and I finished a major chunk in June and once my parents leave next week, I'll have time to finish!

#11-Write down at least 5 of my favorit or not so favorite family memories before I forget any more of them--I've completed two!

#14-Utilize freecycle and graigslist on a monthly basis to help control household clutter--I've been very good about this!

#24-Help Mom and Dad finish going through Greg's things and make decisions about what to do with everything--It worked out that we were all on the same page with this and we now have a plan!

#34-Save a $1 a day for 1001 days--we're way ahead of the game, maybe I should have come up with something more challenging?

#46-Sort through art and craft supplies-Throw out anything I haven't used and sell it-then put the money towards paying off cars--In process! I have many things posted on craigslist and hopefully they will be out of my closet soon!

#70-Start and finish the Danskin Triathlon--DONE!! 6/2007

#86-rekindle a friendship--DONE! TWICE! 6/2006 and 7/2006

#94-Visit one new restaurant a month in the Austin area--so far, so good!

2007-07-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

not me…
I was back of the pack today. But considering I’ve been travelling for three weeks, I was just happy to finish!
Age group place –66
overall–304 out of 326
swim–9:28.13
trans 1–3:15.20
bike–1:02:18.85 mph-11.2
trans 2–2:15.85
run–32:10.15 pace–16:05/mile
total–1:49:29

I cut down my transition time considerably, which was a goal. I did have to get off my bike on one hill, but the downhill at the end was great! I jogged about 1/3 of the run and didn’t feel winded at all, I was even cheering for myself as I crossed the finish line!

I saw one of my Toyota teammates there today, so that was cool. We started the swim a little deeper in the water than what I was used to and that threw me off a bit, so I ended up doing breaststroke again just to help myself regain composure.

Transition 1 was fine but this seems be the toughest transition for me, one more minute would probably have been fine–like to run to the bathroom. I had this problem in the danskin…need to work on bathroom timing.

My bike is just not meant for road races. Today was definitely incentive to get the road bike ready asap for the Skeese Greets tri in 6 weeks.

The bike to run transition was fine except there was a bike where mine was supposed to go…thanks whoever you were, it just added time to the transition.

The run was fine, I walked more than I wanted to, but again, finding time to work out while I was travelling was a challenge. I did at least jog the first quarter, the middle quarter and the last quarter mile.

Other things to work on…

Swim in open water…practice, practice, practice
Practice swim to bike transitions more…I seem to be doing okay on bike to run
Get a smaller camelback that’s not quite as bulky as the one I have now or practice putting the water bottle back in it’s cage without falling over.

All in all, I totally enjoyed myself and Cameron and Bill were there to cheer me on!

some pictures from the danskin

2007-06-13T13:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.kvue.com/slideshow/?ln

http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/?SecID=278&ArID=164007 (this has a video)

I'm not in any of these, but it gives you an idea of how many peoplw were out there!

too cool

2007-06-11T11:35:00.001-07:00

Someone sent this to me the other day...so cool

I did it!

2007-06-11T11:26:00.000-07:00

So...I am now a triathlete. WOW. yesterday was such a rush. There is no way to describe it. It was awesome. It was empowering. It was freakin' hot too! So my stats were:
Overall Rank 2395 of 2601
Class Rank 453 of 477
Swim 00:23:43
Swim Rank 1222
Trans1 00:06:03
Bike 01:09:09
Bike Rank 2444
MPH 11.2
Trans2 00:06:46
Run 00:52:55
Run Rank 2456
Pace 00:17:04
Final 02:38:38

The swim wasn't too bad except I realized that I need to be in front of my wave next time. I found it difficult to find ways around people. And, not wanting to kick too many others, I headed to the outside of the pack and swam breastsroke as that has been my best stroke since the age of 10. I definitely need to practice more open water swims though. The bike was not too terrible. My bike weighs a ton, so that didn't help..and I definitely need toe clips! For the run, I was incredibly hot by this point and took the first mile to walk, chill and regain some composure. All in all...it.was.awesome. I will do more triathlons. My son wants to do them now as well. I am sure we'll have fun this summer with that. Now, onto the next few weeks which involve a lot of travelling for work and then vacation!

2 days to go...

2007-06-08T11:32:00.000-07:00

Wow. in just two days, I will be an "official" triathlete. This somehow does not seem real. But then again, I have the same feeling I had before my first swim meet at age 7 or my first horse show 26 years ago or my first crew race in college. I have butterflies. I forgot how much I missed having that feeling before a competition. I never really had it with Lacrosse or field hockey.

My co-worker and I have arranged pick up and drop off times for the weekend. A lot of check off lists. Just need to make sure I actually sleep saturday night!

I did get accepted for Team Toyota-Engines of Change. What a crazy fluke in all of this. I got a generic email from the Danskin Triathlon a few weeks ago giving the website and to apply. If accepted, you get Toyota triathlon apparel, water bottles, towel, gear bag, and I think even a gas card. I filled out the application on a whim. Well, Toyota called me Tuesday night and I am one of 10 women to race on Sunday with the Toyota name! Apparantly, there were a few hundred applications and the lady that called me said she was thoroughly impressed with my application. (It seemed fitting that she called on the anniv. of Greg's passing).

So, tomorrow, I meet up with 9 other women to get our apparel, meet each other, get our race packets, rack our bikes, etc. There are a few "first-timer" seminars tomorrow as well and I plan to go to at least a few so I am as prepared as possible for Sunday.

Well...more to come...race report..pictures...sleep!

clean house!

2007-06-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

I am totally addicted to this show these days. I even spent most of last weekend getting rid of our own clutter. There is now a small "pile" that we are trying to get rid of...most of it posted on craigslist..and it will hopefully be gone soon!

We.miss.you.

2007-06-05T11:40:00.001-07:00

I was thinking about what I would write today..or if I would even write anything. Would I go to work? Would I cry? Would I eat? Would I call mom and dad? Would I want to curl up and not talk to anyone? Answer to all-yes.

Dear Greg,

It's been a year and I miss you. There's a hole in my heart that can never be filled. I still have your cell# programmed in my phone. Just.can't.seem.to.delete.it. Mom and Dad still have your voice on their answering machine. I usually do not wait for the machine to pichk up anymore because it rips me apart to hear your voice. I wonder where you are and what you are doing. I had a dream last night that you weren't really dead...like people talk about Elvis sightings, there are "Snooze" sightings. I have so so so many memories of you and I and us growing up. All those funny mishaps. We really did drive Mom and Dad crazy, huh? I think my favorite memory though was when Cameron was about 2 1/2 and we were visiting for Thanksgiving. For some reason, the two of you were up early and you videotaped Cameron checking out Dad's salt-n-pepper shaker collection. He wanted so badly to touch each one and you were behind the camera saying, "Um, no, not that one. No, not that one either." Cameron adored you. I wish more neices and nephews could be as close as the two of you were. I know it's been a year and "technically" we all stood around and said goodbye, but I never really did. I called Mom today and while I was talking, I was thinking.."I'm fine, I'm totally fine."...but no, I completely broke down. She and Dad are going to have sushi. Bill and I are going to have steak...and apple pie for dessert. We miss you, big brother.

love, your little sister

ps..I swear, one day there will be a "snooze" sighting..it just has to happen!

so freakin' tired

2007-05-29T12:58:00.000-07:00

after another trip to louisiana...i.am.pooped.

i am grateful that i don't have to make that trip for 9 weeks.

we have had so much drama over the past few years. i just want it to stop. i want a quiet day. a quiet week. a quiet month. please.

Truck Companies Seek Couples to Fill Shortages

2007-05-24T12:05:00.001-07:00

I laughed when I read this and thought..."will bill and i do this in 10 years when we want a change???"

Truck Companies Seek Couples to Fill Shortages

BY SUSAN GALLAGHER
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Who's Hiring
There are a variety of opportunities in the transportation industry, ranging from smaller local delivery trucks to long haul and tanker positions. See who's hiring right now:

HELENA, Mont. -- Jim and Eva Sisler began traveling the country nearly 10 years ago, a couple of empty nesters in their 50s with a desire to see new places and build some assets before retirement.

Driving from California to New Jersey in two days, using layovers to visit historic sites in the South or ethnic restaurants in Detroit, the Sislers pack in a lot. Back in Montana, they revel in the simple pleasures of home. It's a nice change from life in an 18-wheel truck.

U.S. trucking companies want more people like the Sislers, to deal with what the companies fear will be a worsening shortage of long-haul drivers. The industry is launching an ad campaign for recruitment and is particularly interested in older couples, free of concerns about missed family time and perhaps looking to replace worn-out jobs with new ones before retirement.

They Make How Much?!?!?
Depending on what kind of truck you drive and what kind of routes you take, you can make any where from $30-75K.

Putting two at the wheel helps business: The hours a truck legally can operate double, and freight arrives sooner. Some of the customers demanding just-in-time deliveries, which cut the need for large inventories and warehousing, pay extra for team driving.

It works for the Sislers, who began driving in 1998 after moving from California to Montana to help their son build a house. With that project finished, Jim Sisler looked for work. He alarmed his wife by enrolling in truck-driver training -- often a 3- to 6-week course -- and suggested she do the same.

"I said, 'You can do this, too, darling. You can be a truck driver,' " he said.

Changing Careers
When Sisler drove urban buses in California and Eva Sisler was a homemaker, both knew they'd be home every night. Now they sleep mostly in a truck, usually one of them in the cab's bed while the other drives. Paid by the mile, the Sislers earned more than $100,000 together last year as drivers for Watkins & Shepard Trucking Co. and have built a retirement account.

The United States has about 1.3 million drivers of long-haul, heavy trucks, roughly 20,000 fewer than needed, according to American Trucking Associations, an industry group based in Alexandria, Va. A 2005 study the associations commissioned projects a shortage of 111,000 drivers by 2014, a gap attributed partly to retirements and inadequate recruitment, plus increased demand for trucking.

Additionally, federal security requirements were tightened after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The government established new requirements for transporting hazardous materials, and many companies prefer drivers authorized to transport those materials. In the right quantity, a load of butane lighters and certain cleaning supplies constitute hazardous material.

Reaching out to a larger segment of the labor force is critical to the future of an industry long reliant on men working solo, said Ray Kuntz, Watkins & Shepard chief executive and incoming chairman of the associations. The study found drivers cited time away from home and unpredictable schedules for getting home as reasons for quitting more often than money.

Long-distance haulers of general freight averaged $17.62 an hour in February, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, which calls the job outlook favorable.

Joey and Terri Lynch of Athens, Wis., became a driving team about 15 years ago after he lost the lease on his grocery in suburban Chicago and she left a job as a manager in a JCPenney store. "I worked in high heels and business suits for all that time, and then got in a truck," said Terri Lynch, 59.

Schneider National puts the Lynches on the road for three weeks at a time, followed by three off.

"You can't tell somebody whether they're going to like driving a truck," said Joey Lynch, who listens to audio books on the road. "You have to get out and try it."

#86 done!

2007-05-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

So # 86 on my list was to rekindle a friendship. I tracked down my old college roommate-Khari. We were only roommates for a semester, but we were very close during college and I always felt badly that we fell out of touch. And she was glad to hear from me! We caught up on what we had been doing for the past 15 years and agreed that we needed to keep in touch.

planet of the apes???

2007-05-23T07:54:00.000-07:00

So I watched "Planet of the Apes" last night. The new one with Mark Wahlberg. Parts of it were pretty cool. But, overall, I felt the first Planet of the Apes movie was far superior.

I have started reading City of Bones by Michael Connelly. So far, it's pretty interesting. I wasn't sure about it, but so far, so good.

Do Deer attack???

2007-05-23T07:40:00.000-07:00

I got up at 5:30 this morning with every intention of going to the gym to swim, but for some reason I just didn't feel like it, so I went for a 2 mile walk. I knew there were deer that wander around our neighborhood, but I have never seen 12 at once. They watched me, I watched them...I was about 20 feet from one of them. It.was.incredible. I began to wonder..what do deer do if a human gets too close? Would they attack?

finished!

2007-05-22T11:25:00.001-07:00

I finally finished my list of 101 things in 1001 days...we'll see how it all turns out!

so far so good...but it's only been a day!

2007-05-22T07:01:00.000-07:00

I went over my list with bill last night and we made some additions and some revisions...I am hoping that this will inspire him to make a list as well.

101 things in 1001 days

2007-05-21T11:55:00.000-07:00

I always kept up with my brother's blog while he was alive, but recently re-read some sections and found this site: http://www.triplux.com/1001/otherlists.asp

I have been coming up with some new goals in the past few months and somehow I guess it has evolved into this:

Becka's list of 101 things to do in 1001 days:

1. Compete in the Danskin Triathlon
2. Watch the 100 top Grossing Films of all time
3. See Ebert's '102 Movies You Must See'
4. See all the European Film Award winners
5. See all BAFTA winning films
6. See the IMDB Top 50 Westerns
7. watch Twin Peaks - Season One and Two on DVD
8. See all the 'Best Director' Oscar winners for the last 50 years
9. go a whole day without saying a word
10. buy a lock for my bike so I can ride to work
11. Ride my bike to work for one week
12. write snail mail letters to 10 people
13. read at least 10 banned books (0/10)
14. walk 100 miles
15. go camping and really rough it
16. Do 50 push-ups in a row
17. Learn to make my own jam
18. Write a will and a living will
19. Finish my book
20. Go a full 24 hours without speaking a word
21. Grow my hair out so I can donate 12 inches to "Locks of Love"
22. Send Jesse and Cameron postcards from wherever we travel-even if it's for business
23. Start and Finish the Austin Marathon
24. Learn how to fix a flat tire on my bike
25. Take the GRE and determine if getting into Grad School is even an option
26. Send a secret to http://postsecret.blogspot.com/
27. Take at least one picture a day for a full month.
28. Get a stamp in my passport.
29. Sort through art and craft supplies. Throw out anything I haven’t used and sell it on craigslist--use money to pay off debt/car
30. Go to Blanton Museum
31. Go to the Bon Bullock Texas States History Museum
32. Visit the LBJ Library
33. Go to Perdendales Falls
32. Go to Bastrop State Park
33. Go to San Antonio
34. Visit the Alamo
35. Give up TV for a week
36. Finish learning how to knit (specifically-how to start and end a project as I now know how to do the middle part!)
37. Finish my incomplete cross-stitch projects
38. Save $1/day for 1001 days
39. Give homemade Christmas gifts to family members
40. Pay off both cars
41. Do something nice for someone who will never find out.
42. Send at least 20 Christmas cards and write a personal note in each
43. Write something every day; make time to write
44. Write about the women who have deeply affected my life
45. Take their picture
46. Leave someone a 100% tip on a bill of at least $15
47. Get with Mom and Dad to make final burial plans for Greg's ashes
48. Finish going through Greg's things and make decisions about what to do with everything
49. Take a photo and submit it into a contest
50. Do something totally unexpected for a family member
51. Read all the books on my bookshelf that I haven’t read
52. Make homemade ice cream
53. Start and finish a second Marathon-not necessarily in Austin
54. Learn to mix a great martini
55. Do 100 pushups straight
56. Climb a rock wall
57. Make a household inventory, including pictures and serial numbers, for insurance purposes
58. Utilize freecycle on a monthly basis to help control household clutter
59. Find a church where both of us feel comfortable attending
60. Write down all of my favorite and not so favorite family memories before I forget any more of them
61. Do something unexpected (and pricey) for my parents
62. Do the same for Bill's parents
63. Read at least two presidents' biographies
64. Thoroughly declutter our apartment.
65. Have a family picture taken (me, bill, jesse and cameron)
66. Give up ice cream and chocolate for Lent without cheating once
67. Learn how to Kayak--preferably with Bill
68. Have a date with Bill at least once a month--even if we just go get coffee :)
69. Send Cameron a hand-written letter once a month
70. Send Jesse a hand-written letter once a month
71. finish 71-101

Mission and criteria Posted 3 Apr
The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past – frequently simple goals such as new year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay Focussed. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

UPDATES!!

2006-08-11T08:56:00.000-07:00

I really have been incredibly busy with Greg's memorial, moving, custody stuff...and oh, MY WEDDING! Bill and I got married on August 2nd. Very romantic ceremony, on Sunset Rock in highlands, NC with the smoky nmountains behind us.

We got our first "official" wedding present yesterday. One of Bill's aunt & uncles sent us new cookware. Since I had lost most of mine in the flood, this was a very welcome gift.

Yes, we have registered...at amazon.com. I wasn't going to do all of that, but so many people want to know what to get and suggested a registry. So, I went "shopping" online the other day.

Other than that, the custody issues with my ex have gotten ugly...like we didn't know THAT was coming. It's going to be an uphill battle, but I really hope my little one gets to come to texas...it really the better place for him.

Living in Austin...

2006-06-22T18:44:00.000-07:00

Well, I've now been in Austin since last Tuesday, over a week so far. I have to say, it has really grown on me in a very short time. Everyone I have met is incredibly nice and polite, it's great! I am going back to NOLA this weekend and will be there until the 2nd. It will be good to get back, finish packing and spend some quality time with Cameron.

More from the memorial

2006-06-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

Dr. Paul Meyerson
Snooze's close online friend
Most of you have no idea what a MUD is, but if you are to understand how greg lived online, it's an important point. Imagine you are IM'ing (instant message) someone. Now, imagine that you can IM several people at once--you have a chat room. A place where people can congragate. But add characters and rooms and descriptions of those rooms and you have an online town or village. And in that arena, people spend time together. Talking, joking, just being together. This is how I spent time with greg for almost 10 years.

Some people would say that there's a big difference between knowing people online like this--never being there in the same room, or on the phone. But talk to someone, in any way, an hour or two a day, for 5 or 6 years, and any difference there might have been no longer exists. You know the person on a deep and connected level. I spoke to Greg every day, at least for a short while, many times for hours. But not continuously, usually. Talking on MUDs are generally a disconnected series of sentences, fragments of conversations.

I once commented "this is so odd. I say something. You answer me 3 hours later." His response, which made me crack up at the time was a simple shrug, saying "It's the mudder way."

That was perfect for him. No one in your face. No one demanding anything. The mudder way.

I'd come back home from work to a couple of different, but typical greg actions:

Gregory run in circles (if he was feeling pent up)
or
Gregory stomps around (usually if Dale decided to switch the TiVo to something else...)
or just
Gregory bored (which happened a lot since counting himself among the unemployed)

So he turned his attention to his computer and his friends. He must have been on 20 MUDs, and he'd often be on all of them at once, switching between them and keeping 20 conversations going (although often none of them well...greg had an attention span that would make my 5 year old jealous)

One of the good things about being on the MUD was that he could be pretty open with feelings--things that are hard to say in real life. I remember clearly this one story, which I mentioned to Eleanor, about 6 years ago. He told me that he had gotten a call late that night that he was the alternate for a new lung and completely freaked out. He jumped online looking for me but I wasn't around and at the time he didn't have my number. So he ran in circles for awhile before calling the hospital and telling them no, and to take them off the wait list. I remember giving him the what for and nearly screaming at him (as much as you can in a text-only format) that he was an idiot and he needs to get back on that list, blah blah blah. He was so nervous and just nodded at me. Eventually, though, he got on the list again and waited and waited. When it was time for the fateful call, he IM'd me from the car to tell me that he was going in for the surgery and how proud of himself he was that he didn't turn this one down.

As time went by, we started talking more on things like skype--online voice chat. Usually, we'd talk while watching a show, and usually anime, because of how passionate he was about that. Of course, being greg, we'd start 10 series and not finish any of them. He was so patient with the fact that I didn't really like anime, and just kept giving me new things to try until I DID find some that I liked. Now I have to go out and find Cowboy Bebop and Full Metal Alchemist to see how they end.

For sure, though, the thing we all enjoyed watching most together was the new Dr. Who series. he'd upload it to me and our friend linda and the 3 of us would watch it together for the first time. He'd always wait to watch with us and frequently stomp around in frustration because I had to work, or we couldn't find a time, or whatever. if several days went by, he'd still wait, but he sure didn't want to!

He was such a sweet guy, and so shy. I don't think the shyness came across until we started talking, and even more so when we met in person. I remember being on skype with both greg and linda and her 12 year old daughter, lulu, was there and I put my 5 year old, katie, on to talk with lulu...and greg. So katie, being the least shy person in the world, yakked to lulu for 5 minutes or so, before returning the headset to me. There was a bit of silence, broken eventually by greg saying "ok, that was the cutest. thing. ever."

I see his name everywhere still. My friends lists on Gizmo, skype, AOL IM, still sleeping in the MUDs, old emails--even my calendar program popups when it came up with an appointment and gave me the choice of "Dismiss" or "Snooze." They're all still there, but he isn't.

However, one of our mutual close friends online, Jenni and I decided that he would like the idea of us having him as our imaginary friend. He's still asleep in many of the MUDs he talked on, and everyone I spoke to intends to keep his character alive--in spirit--there for as long as the MUD is around. So, I'll always have Greg to talk to, in his way. The mudder way. And eventually, I know, he'll get around to answering. I'm willing to wait.

emily sparkle
keeper of Greg's blog
Like many folks, my first connection with Greg was digital. In 1996, I was on an email list for the local electronic dance community called “boston ravers”. Shortly after he introduced himself to the list, we arranged to meet in person at a Redlight party. I was bringing glowsticks, and he wanted some. I spotted him on the dance floor when I arrived, dancing like crazy in the mist of the fog machine wearing his Batz Maru backpack and laden with colorful bracelets and necklaces. When I introduced myself he hugged me warmly and brightly said “OH! I have a present for you!” After examining his arms in the dim flashing lights, he pulled a bracelet off and presented it to me. Among the glowy beads were ones that said E-M-I-L-Y. I was so touched that he had made this bracelet especially for me.

Greg had a very special ability to connect with people. He did this by sharing his passions for things like music, technology, anime, art, food, and movies with everyone he could through many channels. He loved to introduce friends with similar interests. He’d gather us for movie night or arrange a shopping trip through Harvard Square. We’d convene at the El Phoenix Room to stuff ourselves with 10 cent wings and cheap beer and talk and laugh. Sometimes there were more than 20 of us causing quite a ruckus.

He loved introducing people to new technology. He was my first-line technical support. Greg is single-handedly responsible for my digital addictions to mailing lists, instant messaging, macs, ipods, rss, css, wireless, strongbad, boingboing and countless interesting websites. He helped me set up my first blog and tempted me with the worlds of irc, mudds, Bluetooth, video games, gadgets, flicker, friendster, torrents… well you get the point. He probably did the same for you!

Together we’ve shared many lunches, pizzas, pans of brownies and countless sushi rolls. Greg LOVED sushi and would try anything once. We once got a little carried away and ate over $100 worth of sushi between the two of us. I can’t remember what we were celebrating, but we waddled out of his favorite sushi place in Harvard Square laughing at ourselves for being such sushipigs.

When his health became a concern, I was asked to accompany him to doctors appointments, to be there to take notes and hold his hand when they gave him the crushing news. “You have hard fibers in your lungs… and we don’t know why.” Later he asked me if I would be in charge of his blog when it came time for his lung transplant. It was very important to him that you all have the opportunity to know how he was doing. It has been my honor to perform this service for my dear friend Greg and his community.

As you know, Greg LOVED Anime. He collected DVDs, figurines, comics and anything else he could find with those brightly colored, big-eyed characters and was always introducing me to new series he would find online. To tell you the truth, I didn’t really GET most of it, but the art was fantastic and the stories were bizarre. They all sort of overlapped in my mind and he would laugh with me as I tried to figure out how a cute blue haired Japanese pixie turned into a panda bear when falling into water. He finally found one I could follow along to… after all, the Fruits Baskets series was about love and romance.

When I think of Greg, I hear music. I hear the oontz oontz oontz of dance music and cheeky lyrics and happy hollers from people on the dance floor. He really knew how to keep people dancing through the night. One of my favorite music memories of Greg is hearing him spin on one of the most beautiful beaches on Cape Cod. He had told me he had a fantastic set planned, and I will always remember the beauty in magical moment he created as sun peeked over the ocean-horizon. He had carefully selected the sunrise track and we joyfully kicked up the sand as we danced in a frenzy to the deep voice booming across the beach ”together as one, we dance with the sun, coming up through the sky, dancing together, dancing together, dancing together…”

---

and this is a lot for one entry, but we're putting a pretty face on the new SnoozeRadio, a 24x7 shoutcast of Snooze's mixes that Paul has created to memorialize Greg's mixes.

Greg's memorial

2006-06-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

Here is what I wrote for Greg's memorial (I totally cried too!) as well as two friends of his:

Gregory was always an easygoing baby and marched to his own drummer his entire life. As his sister, I usually just followed along. I can remember giggling when he and his school friend Brendan Fitzgerald put dog food in cookies they were baking for school. They had marked the "dog food" cookies with foil. However, their plan was doomed when Mom took the cookies out of the oven, saw the foil and took it off. When they got to school and opened the package of cookies, they could not find the foil and realized they had to fess up. Greg and his friend had to throw out the entire batch of cookies. Although, I think Mom would have rather made them EAT the cookies.

I also remember Greg and I got locked out of the house and he said "not to worry" and had me follow him to the back of the house. He showed me a way to break into the basement through the window and pop it back in...backwards. Well, we got busted hours later when Mom noticed the window was put in backwards and thought someone had broken into the house.

Over the years, I think he tried Mom and Dad's patience. He fell of his bike once and the neighbor brought him back home, dressed head to toe in Band-Aids. Years later, he was eating a piece of bacon while riding his bike, fell off and actually hurt his ear pretty badly. I can clearly remember a neighbor kid running in the house with the bloody piece of bacon worried that it was Greg's ear. Fortunately, it wasn't.

I can remember falling off my bike and Greg coming to my rescue. I had some pretty bad scrapes and he cleaned me up, picking every piece of gravel out of my arms because I refused to go to the doctor.

He made the best chocolate chip cookie pie, the best chocolate crackles and the best cosmopolitan I've ever had. He would also respond to my emails anytime I had a computer question.

I know my parents rolled their eyes whenever his hair changed color, or when he had his ear pierced. I just remember that he continued to march to his own beat.

Greg touched more lives than anyone else I know. This has been eveident to us this past week reading the endless comments from friends of Greg's all over the world. I think for every person in this room, there are at least 10 more we don't even know about.

As Greg's family, we want to thank our friends and family as well as Greg's family for their support over the past several years and we invite you all back to our home to help us to continue to remember Greg.

memorial

2006-06-18T09:52:00.000-07:00

Sad News

2006-06-06T18:55:00.000-07:00

Hey all...

...I don't even know how to start all of this...but, my brother passed away yesterday at the age of 37. I am having a really hard time getting the words out about how I am feeling as everything seems to be happening at once these days. I told my mom the other day I wanted our lives to be boring for a change. We both had a good chuckle over that one. Anyway, go to my brother's site for more information on everything. His good friend Emily has been ujpdating his site for us and we are truly thankful.

www.ezoons.com

love and peace,

Beck

Oooops!

2006-05-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

hey everyone! I just realized I had not posted on here in a long, long time! I actually just changed this blog to be private, so unless you know me, you can't get in. haha.

So, what's been going on you ask? Well, Bill and I might be moving to Austin, TX. I know, that's HUGE. He got a call from a hotel management company asking him to be the Assistant GM of a crown plaza.

There is one con to leaving and that would be Cameron. Chances are I would have Cameron for the summers and Ned would have him for the school year. Reality hit last night and I got a little emotional about it. But the fact remains that life here in nola is going to be pretty difficult for many years to come and I cannot stay, it's wreaking havoc on me emotionally. It still hurts to drive down claiborne aveenue and see the water lines on houses and cars that still need to be towed. We are 9 months later and still no better in my eyes.

Anyway, enough for now, gotta get back to work.

Bill & Becka on the Avenue

2006-03-08T15:50:00.000-08:00

Bill & Becka on the Avenue
Originally uploaded by EleanorB.

Here's the front of the shirt...it says:

When did ya get back?
How did ya make out?

These are just a few of the questions people ask each other around here in a post Katrina world. I think we have our picture taken by at leasst 5 people we did not know. We did now see anyone else wearing these shirts either so we felt very original!

Long Live New Orleans

2006-03-08T15:47:00.000-08:00

Rebecca and Bill
Originally uploaded by EleanorB.

Here's a pic of the t-shirts we wore Mardi Gras Day. If you have never been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the best part is dressing up and "parading" around before the parades actually start.

Yummy breakfast and good memories...

2006-03-04T07:10:00.000-08:00

Today is Bill's grandfather's memorial service. Yesterday was the internment. It was pretty interesting as we went to the family tomb at the cemetary, and after the priest was finished we stayed while the tomb was opened and the ashes were laid inside the tomb. I had never seen anything like it, me being from the north where people are buried under the ground. You could still see some water lines on a few of the tombs, but many were cleaned off. Afterwards we went to Bill's uncle's house for refreshments. It was great to listen to Bill, his sisters and cousins reminisce about their papa. It brought back many memories I had of my grandfather. 16 years later, I still have fond memories of him. Bill will be speaking on behalf of the grandchildren today and he wrote themost beautiful piece, I ma pretty sure there will not be a dry eye in the place when he's finished. He read it to me a few times this morning to practice and I cried (and I never met his papa!). Afterwards, Bill and I went to Slim Goodies for breakfast...always yummy!

mom and dad went home yesterday, I think they went home to snow, but they definitely had a great time while they were here so they probably didn't mind too much. We had a great dinner at Cuvee thursday night. I highly recommend Cuvee for special occasions, great food, excellent service, just a great dining experience.

17 parades later...

2006-03-01T08:40:00.000-08:00

Mom and dad have definitely had the full Mardi Gras experience! They went to 17 parades from Thursday until yesterday. Bill and I just about collapsed yesterday afternoon when it was all over. we had been up early mardi gras day cooking food for everyone.

All in all...this was probably my best Mardi Gras ever. To hell with those who said we shouldn't have Mardi Gras because of Katrina. What they don't understand is that is our culture here, plus it brings lots of dollars to help the economy.

I got to thinking that maybe next year I will ride in a parade. Or at the very least join a Krewe. I checked out the Muses website this morning and it's not expensive to join, but I would have to wait a few years to ride. Amy called last night and they were celebrating Mardi Gras in New Hampshire...Go AMY!!! She turns 40 next year and wants to come down for Mardi Gras. I am thinking of how I can make it a fun experience for her and not just a party on Bourbon street for her :)

Happy Mardi Gras!

2006-02-24T08:27:00.000-08:00

Well, my parents experienced their first Mardi Gras parade last night. They are hooked! I wasn't sure how they would like it, but they were right out in front catching beads and toys. I think they'll have even more fun when Cameron comes home this weekend so they can see how much he enjoys it.

I have a million things to do today before I can enjoy the parades, but I think I can get it all finished. We have really accomplished a lot in this office, but the next few weeks are going to be really, really busy.

I did get get to go to a restaurant I had never been to before. Bill and I had dinner with my parents at Peristyle the other night. Not bad at all. I would probably go there again for a special occaision.

Ok, back to work so I can go enjoy Mardi Gras!!!!

my personality

2006-02-21T14:01:00.000-08:00

the Questioner

you chose CY - your Enneagram type is SIX.

"I am affectionate and skeptical"

Questioners are responsible, trustworthy, and value loyalty to family, friends, groups, and causes. Their personalities range broadly from reserved and timid to outspoken and confrontative.

How to Get Along with Me

Be direct and clear.
Listen to me carefully.
Don't judge me for my anxiety.
Work things through with me.
Reassure me that everything is OK between us.
Laugh and make jokes with me.
Gently push me toward new experiences.
Try not to overreact to my overreacting.

What I Like About Being a Six

being committed and faithful to family and friends
being responsible and hardworking
being compassionate toward others
having intellect and wit
being a nonconformist
confronting danger bravely
being direct and assertive

What's Hard About Being a Six

the constant push and pull involved in trying to make up my mind
procrastinating because of fear of failure; having little confidence in myself
fearing being abandoned or taken advantage of
exhausting myself by worrying and scanning for danger
wishing I had a rule book at work so I could do everything right
being too critical of myself when I haven't lived up to my expectations

Sixes as Children Often

are friendly, likable, and dependable, and/or sarcastic, bossy, and stubborn
are anxious and hypervigilant; anticipate danger
form a team of "us against them" with a best friend or parent
look to groups or authorities to protect them and/or question authority and rebel
are neglected or abused, come from unpredictable or alcoholic families, and/or take on the fearfulness of an overly anxious parent

Sixes as Parents

are often loving, nurturing, and have a strong sense of duty
are sometimes reluctant to give their children independence
worry more than most that their children will get hurt
sometimes have trouble saying no and setting boundaries

Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele

The Enneagram Made Easy
Discover the 9 Types of People
HarperSanFrancisco, 1994, 161 pages

You are not completely happy with the result?!
You chose CY

Would you rather have chosen:

AY (EIGHT)
BY (FOUR)
CX (TWO)
CZ (ONE)

My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 0% on ABC

You scored higher than 30% on XYZ

Let the parades roll....(and other news)

2006-02-18T05:34:00.000-08:00

Well, Metairie had their first round of parades last night. We didn't go as Cameron was not feeling all to well. There are parades uptown today starting at noon, so weather permitting, we may head out. It's a 50% chance of rain...ugh. We also have Tulane baseball tickets, which I would much rather do. Yep, that's me, the baseball fan...and Bill is the Mardi Gras fan. But, I will definitely forego the baseball games next weekend though as it's the weekend before Fat Tuesday and I always thry to get to some of those parades. Mom and Dad are flying in this coming Tuesday and will be here until the Friday after Mardi Gras. They have never come down here for that long...they either really need a vacation or they really, really like Bill. I think it may be a little of both :)

Bill and I had a good Valetine's Day. He decorated my car with all kinds of cute signs and then put candy inside the car in all the little compartments. It was fun! Then when I got home, he gave me a replica of the Ili Bag I had bought last summer and then lost a month later to the flood. It was so thoughtful! I got him a Tulane sweatshirt since we have season tickets to Tulane baseball this year and it still cools off a little at night. We went to Tulane's home opener later on and brought chocolate covered strawberries with us...yummmm! The game was pretty good as Tulane won. Hopefully they'll have another great season!

Last night we watched the movie "Fever Pitch" with Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon. It was too cute! I also had a call from my dear friend Jeni who lives in England. She and her husband just moved into a 600 year old house. I can't wait to go visit her soon. I am thinking maybe Thanksgiving? It all depends on how much the tickets are too. I miss her so much and I feel awful that I could not go to the weddng last summer. From the pictures, she was the most beautiful bride I had ever seen!

Ah, well, that's life isn't it? Cameron should be getting up soon and Bill has come over to make waffles for him, Cameron's favorite...

how do you know?

2006-02-09T06:13:00.000-08:00

An old friend from college called me at work yesterday. It was good to talk to her as I really have not kept in touch with too many college friends. I was probably on the phone a little longer than I should have been at the office, but we had a relly interestig discussion.

She has recently gone through a really bad breakup with a guy who she was living with. They were talking about marraige, looking at houses to buy, etc. And then she found out he was cheating on her. He made the mistake of printing out an email and leaving it on the kitchen table (or maybe he wanted her to see it, who knows). Apparantly, someone he worked closely with had her eyes on him and he gave in. Apparantly, this had been going on for almost the entire time he had been dating my friend. She was heartbroken and couldn't believe she fell for his lies.

So, my question is how do you know that someone is being honest with you? My ex-husband was not honest with me. He had an affair, he siphoned money from our accounts with out me knowing until it was too late. Do you trust from the beginning and then get hurt in the end? Or do you constantly question someone's actions, ony to drive them away in the end because they are tired of you not trusting them when they are being completely honest with you? And if you haven't had that "talk" about honesty and trust , are you setting yourself up for failure? What I mean is that if you don't have that discussion in a relationship about what being honest and trustworthy means to each of you, then there are no guidelines and each party can pretty much have free rein. I'm not sure there is a correct answer for this.

My mind was on this all day yesterday and I am sure Bill noticed, because I was in a wierd mood all day. He did ask me a few times if I was okay, I really don't remember what my response was.

Work has been crazy busy too. I seem to work my but off all day and then bring work home and stay up until 11 pm working. I've already decided that I will not do anything work related until at least Sunday afternoon this weekend. Bill and I are taking a practice GMAT test and then going to watch Cameron play soccer. We may stay in Abita saturday night...although I think bill still needs to ask his uncle if we can stay in his house up there.

that's all for now...just had to vent today I guess.

Found this today

2006-02-02T19:13:00.000-08:00

here's another blog that really speaks volumes about what it is really like down here. I don't know who the blog belongs to but I read a few posts and I felt it needed to be posted here.

http://katrinavictimssos.blogspot.com/

Girl Scout Cookies!

2006-01-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

Bill is ordering us some Girl Scout Cookies...Yay! I love them so much. Although, I am feeling like I have eaten too many cookies. After barely sleeping, I am feeling really under the weather today, not sure what that is all about as I really do not have time to go home and sleep. I have Cameron's parent-teacher conference this afternoon. I've never been to one before, so I really have no idea what to expect. he starts soccer this week too. That means I need to go out and get my new Soccer Mom chair so I will have a place to sit and watch the games. I hope Bill will come to a few games too, I think Cameron would enjoy that.

Okay, I HAVE to get back to work now so I can leave early and meet with Cameron's teacher.

can't sleep

2006-01-30T02:30:00.000-08:00

I've had some trouble sleeping for a long time now. There is always the chance I am still stressed out over everything that has happened with Katrina.

I can say that this past weekend felt more normal than any other weekend in a very long time. Bill took me out to dinner Friday night, it was nice to have a date with him, I hope we can keep things like that up in the future. I had gotten a bunch of Sara's friends together for dinner Saturday night since she gets married on Friday. Being pregnant, she didn't want an official Bachelorette Party, and I think she really enjoyed being out with the girls. we went to The Melting Pot. It's a chain, and a tad overpriced, but it was fun and I definitely recommend going with a group as that makes the experience so much more fun. Afterwards, Bill and I made our way to see Bag of Donuts, but it was starting to rain and Southport Hall (where they were playing) was really crowded, so we opted to just go out for a few drinks. We ended up at Lucy's, I had not been there on a Saturday night in about 4 years and I think the last time I was there was for happy hour last March! Most of the people in there were barely 21, so we did not stay long.

Yesterday was by far the best though. We went to Envie in the quarter, had coffee and bagels and sat and read our books...it was soooooo nice. After a while we wandered to a little place called Fiorello's and had onion rings, fried crawfish and a Barq's and read some more. Once we were full, we took the long way back to the car and wandered through the quarter some more. We stumbled across a little "antique" store with all kinds of neat things in it. There was a great china cabinet for only $530 and it was in great shape. Then we walked by a couple who had a table set up with books for sale and we checked out the titles. After we got back to my/our place, I spent the rest of the afternoon sorting through my massive postcard collection and Bill finished reading the book I gave him for Christmas. He then cooked me a wonderful dinner...cornish hens with rice pancakes...very good!

Sometimes when I think of how things are going with Bill...it really does take my breath away. I never thought in a million years I would actually find someone who would capture my heart the way he has. I mean, he puts up with my mood swings, bad temper (which is is not as bad as it used to be), and my anal retentiveness. He has showed me one of my personality traits...I tend to start projects late at night. this is not necessarily a good thing when you need to go to work the next day and need sleep. He's okay with me and my hot flashes (at least I think he is)...

...Yes I said hot flashes. I know, 34 is way too young to have them, but I do. Apparatnly, your mid-30's is not too young to start having symptoms of menopause. But it is not officially "the change" yet. I may have another 10 years before that happens. But a few of the symptoms are that you get night sweats or hot flashes while you sleep and they wake you up and hence the reason I am up at 5 am and writing...can't sleep...too hot!

Well, I am going to attempt to get one more hour of sleep before I have to get up and start the day. Bill and I are going to start at least walking for 30 min this morning. I haven't really gained any weight, but I am seriously out of shape!

Furniture and other news...

2006-01-27T13:10:00.000-08:00

Let's see, what's new you ask? Well, our office has laptops, desktops, folding tables and chairs. I went out and bought one of those all in one machines so we can print and copy until the really nice one comes in. I feel like I have been working non-stop, but at the same time I feel like I could be doing so much more. I guess it's just the perfectionist in me, which is not always a good thing.

Bill brought me along to his grandmother's 90th birthday dinner at Cannon's last night. Pretty good food. Bill's family is really nice so it was a good evening all around.

I have been staying up way too late these days though. I was so tired last night that I think I fell asleep the minute my head hit the pillow. My sinuses have been bugging me still. I think if they are still giving me problems by monday, I'll call the dr and see if he'll give me Flo-nase, something that will help me breath! Apparantly I'm not the only one with this problem though. Since Katrina, a lot of people have had really bad counghing, sinus problems, allergies, etc.

Let's see...what else? I get to go to Oklahoma next week to see another university's career fair. Should be interesting and definitely helpful. I think it will also be really great to get out of town for a day, I remember really enjoying travelling when I was in sales because it meant you weren't doing the same thing day in, day out. Not that I have a boring job, it keeps me on my toes, but getting to travel feels a little like a treat since Katrina.

Okay, I feel like I'm making things sound like they are dull around here and getting out of town is the best thing that's ever happened. Not so. It is just something different, that's all.

On the whole, life has been pretty great. I was reading through my blog a few days ago and it seems I may have gotten a few wishes granted. Hmmm...met Bill and he really is great. I feel like I have met someone really special. He just seems to know the right thing to do...and if he doesn't, he asks. I remember alst summer I was writing about how I really didn't know what it was like to be in a relationship where both parties really cared about one another and I wondered what that would feel like. I feel like I've got that now...and it feels good. It's nice to enjoy going home to someone every day who you know really cares about you.

Enough for now, I actually have to get some work done before the end of the day!

update!

2006-01-05T17:28:00.000-08:00

Thought I would put an update on here since it has been awhile.

I am finally back at work for Career Services, but we don't yet have furniture or computers. The monitors came in today and then we'll be getting laptops with docking stations...very nice. I'm finally getting an office out of the deal, so I'm pretty happy.

Bill and I went to Connecticut about a month ago and he met mom and dad. It went pretty well I think.

Then my parents came down here for Christmas, which was even better. Bill and I also went to Mississippi on Christmas morning to pick up his daughter, then we picked up Cameron on the way back, then my parents at the airport. It was a very long day, but lots of fun. Cameron liked all of his presents from FEMA...oops I mean Santa!

Anyway, time to get to bed, I'm fighting a sinus infection...more later!

My Birthday meaning

2005-12-28T06:56:00.000-08:00

Your Birthdate: May 4

You have an extraordinary character - moral, responsible, and disciplined.
Your sincerely and honesty shine through in almost every situation.
Driven and focused, you rarely let your emotions get the better of you.
You're level headed and rational. People count on your to look at things objectively.

Your strength: Your unwavering loyalty and ethics

Your weakness: Your rock solid stubbornness

Your power color: Navy blue

Your power symbol: Shield

Your power month: April

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Getting Settled...at last

2005-11-27T06:14:00.000-08:00

Hpe everyone had a great Turkey Day! Cameron and I did. We spent the day with Bill's family, lots of people, but a really good time.

Cameron has been here since Tuesday night, he likes having his own room and his own bathroom. It just needs more toys! He knows that Christmas is coming and he'll need to tell Santa what he wants and be good.

Bill and Cameron are getting along great. We went to the zoo yesterday, it has just reopened since Hurricane Katrina. We went with Bill's 3 sisters, their husbands and kids. There were a lot of crowds, but Cameron was pretty well-behaved. He even kept Jimmy, Jeanne's little boy entertained while his mommy went to the restroom. He's really great with little boys. He was hitting himself in the head and falling down and Jimmy was laughing so hard at him. It was so cute!

Bill and I are taking a quick trip this coming weekend. We're heading to CT to see Mom and Dad. We'll barely be there though. Getting there late Friday and leaving early Monday. There'll be enough time to drive Bill around CT a bit. My parents are taking us out to a nice dinner one night and I'm sure we'll have the cousins over for dinner another night.

I made a great dinner last night. For the first time I made Baked Burgundy Beef Stew. It was yummy!

Oh, well, enough for now. Bill has gone out to get donuts for Cameron and then I'm taking him to see Santa before bringing him back to his dad's. Then I'm off to pick up some things for the new apartment.

Finally...things are starting to look up around here!

2005-11-23T12:56:00.000-08:00

Since my last post a lot has happened. Tulane has me working full time. Not what will be my regular position, but hey, I am happy to help if it means I get to stay employed. I moved into an apartment down the hall from Bill. So far, it's working out. I'm still getting things unpacked, but the apartment should look really nice once I'm settled.

My parents are flying in Christmas Day...they have never been here for Christmas so it should be pretty fun. Bill and I are taking a very quick trip to CT in a few weeks to see Mom and Dad....yep, he's going to "Meet the Fockers". I think they'll like him.

Tonight we're going to a debutante ball. I've never been to one, definitely a new experience for me!

All in all, life is getting a little bit better everyday...

...HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

And so it is...

2005-11-10T23:01:00.000-08:00

Another two steps back today. Well, yesterday anyway. I just looked at the time and it is past midnight. So, Thursday was the rough day. It started off pretty well. Then I checked my emails while cooking dinner at Bill's. It looks like I am going to lose my job...no money to pay me. It is 1 am and 7 hours later, I am still crying about it. I know once the sun rises today, it's a new day and I cannot sit around feeling sorry for myself. But, right now I am falling apart at the seams and finding the positive in all of this is proving to be difficult.

Positives...Bill is great--I'm defnitely in it for the long-term with him. Cameron is a wonderful son. I have some really great friends who care about me a great deal. My family is giving me a lot of emotional support these days.

Negatives...I thought things would be more on track by now and they're not and it has definitely taken a toll on my emotional well-being. While I can stay with either Bill and/or Tom and Sheila until I find an apartment, the job siutation needs to be taken care of first. Plus I don't want to wear out my welcome with Tom and Sheila, they are great friends and I want to keep it that way. If I stay with Bill, it could put a strain on our relationship. We agreed that it would not mean we are living together and it would be only temporary, but then everytime I would have Cameron, I would need to stay somewhere else. I just don't know what my next step needs to be.

Message from the Northshore...

2005-11-09T07:04:00.000-08:00

Bill and I walked down to the Sheraton to get Starbucks and Canal Street looks like a war zone. I went for a 3 mile walk/jog after and I felt like I was jogging through a 3rd world country. Last night, Bill and I had a major discussion about the status of our careers here and what we would do if Tulane let us go. Would he move away? Maybe. Would I follow? I am seriously thinking about it. What's holding me back? Cameron. Even though he is not with me everyday, I just don't know if I could live more than a few hours away. I had a hard time getting to sleep last night as I kept thinking about all of these big decisions that have to be made and it's starting to take a toll on me emotionally. It felt good to get out and exercise though, I do feel better. Well it's time to go see if my apartment is ready..if not, I will work on getting my deposit back...drama, drama, drama!

Also, my friend Tom posted this on the "September Ends" website...well done Tom.

To whom it may concern,

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation for the slide show you put together for your site. You have accomplished where other have failed…to accurately portray the scope of the damage to humanity that Katrina left in her wake in the NOLA area. I too struggled to respond when out-of-state friends and family asked the question we’ve all heard…”So, what’s it really like there?”

Now I simply forward a link to your site.

Below I have pasted in an excerpt from an email I sent to one out-of-state friend one month after Katrina hit. As you will read, much of my content was spent trying to answer this very same question. If you feel I was in any way accurate in relaying our sense of being, feel free to include this excerpt in the “Stories” section of your site. I would be honored to be in such good company.

Since Katrina things here are...well...I think the only word that can

describe it is surreal. Nothing about my old life (was it really only a

month ago?) feels the same. There’s an eerie feeling of disconnect between the people here and those of you out there in the “real world” where our lives have become a kind of macabre reality television show.

Speaking of which, now that we have TV service again I've been able to see the news coverage that the rest of the world has been watching throughout. It's interesting, but I've seen nothing that actually captures the feeling of ground zero. So, I will do my best to answer your question “how does it feel to actually be there”.

It's almost like you've left your own body, only to walk along side yourself...watching yourself live this new life. The first few weeks we rose early each day and spend our time scrounging for the supplies we needed to make it through another day…gas to keep the generator running, water, food, and ice…enough to last until tomorrow when it all starts over again. The temperatures hovered in the high 90’s which, when combined with the contents of defrosted freezers lining each street and the raw sewage that backed up into the drainage ditches in the neighborhood, created a smell so overpowering that I had to consciously “will” myself not to vomit.

The hardest part for me has been watching the toll that recent

events have taken on the people around me...my friends...my family...co-workers...many of whom now work full-time trying to rebuild a portion of the "life" they lost so quickly and decisively. It's like everyone here, everyone around you, is "floating" through their day…waiting to wake up from this bad dream

During it all I've built some strong new friendships and have lost

others…as people in my life decide there is nothing more for them here and move away.

As strange as it sounds, this has made me more aware of the nameless strangers you unconsciously interact with each day. A visit to the neighborhood grocery is hard because you see the pain and exhaustion in everyone's face...everyone looks live they've been crying recently.

People are brave though and Southerners are instinctively polite. Everyone you meet manages a small smile and is quick to offer whatever words of encouragement they can muster. Neighbors work together to clean up their yards, tarp each others roofs, and there is a genuine sense of concern that has become part of our collective consciousness...protect the young...help the old...do for the unable.

Even now, a full month later, our stores are nowhere near fully stocked and the few restaurants that have managed to reopen have new "Katrina Menus" (read sandwiches) due to food shortages or delivery issues. Can you imagine the irony of seeing people that live (lived) in the gastronomical capital of the world standing in lines for over an hour to eat sandwiches? After two solid weeks of eating military MRE meals and feeling alone in the world these lines have become a new social epicenter for us all…a chance to explore the new affinity we all suddenly share.

I have friends and neighbors who have lost their homes, and others that have lost their businesses. In comparison, my wife and I are very fortunate...our children are safe, we have our home, our business, and we have each other. Everything beyond that is now so clearly secondary.

I don’t yet know what to expect in the coming months and years but I can tell you that there is a quiet sense of determination in the people here to that gives me hope.

Drama, Drama, Drama...

2005-11-08T13:49:00.000-08:00

Although I think if everything were going smoothly, there would be cause for concern.

Let's see...the apartment I was supposed to move into on November 1st is still not ready. The previous tenants had not moved their things out. I was given many assurances that it would happen on various days, etc, etc. I was finally tonld I would be able to move in this morning. Imagine my surprise when I walked in and there were still someone else's belongings in the apartment. I'm not talking about a few books or anything like that. I mean an entire room! Basically I have given the landlord 24 hours to move everything out and have it move in ready or else I want my deposit back. Fortunately I have more than one place available for me to stay at, but the past few months have finally taken their toll on my nerves. I find myself crying for no apparant reason and as much as I try to do this in private, it's getting harder and harder to hide it from the people I spend time around.

On the job front, I had gotten a second job at Linen's and Things, but I think that will be short lived as my old department, Career Services wants me back and I anticipate I'll be back full time very shortly. Much more drama there than I care to describe at the moment, I'll go into it another time.

Let's see...keep your fingers crossed that I will be back at work full time soon and that I will have a place to move into soon as well.

Take care!

Finally!

2005-10-22T10:31:00.000-07:00

Yay!

Finally, I have time to sit down at a computer and give an update! Once I got back form Connecticut, I temporarily moved in with my friends Tom and Sheila who live in Mandeville. They have a huge house and cameron and I have our own bedrooms. Tom told me to stay as long as I need to, but, I have been out there every day looking for another place to live. The outlook for apartments does not look good. So many places are damaged and the ones that are not are VERY expensive. So far, I still have a job with Tulane. At least until the end of the month that is. I will pretty much be back full time by December 19th, but for now, it is just part-time. Since I have a lot of time on my hands, I will be going to get a part time job--probably something in retail to keep me busy and make a little extra money.

Things with Bill are going great. He's taking me to a Mardi Gras ball in November, so I do get to go dress shopping...yay! We are also going to go to CT for a very quick long weekend...he wants to meet my parents. So, we will have a weekend of "Meet the Fockers" in CT...should be interesting.

Ned is getting married. His girlfriend Denise, is moving in with her two girls and they will be married in the next few months. I wish her the best of luck...he still has not changed.

I finally bought a car! I now have a 2006 Nissan Sentra. Very nice, VERY good on gas!

I also want to apologize for not updating this sooner. Tom and Sheila don't have internet at their house, so my email and internet access has been limited. But, the library is open in Metairie, so I will make more of an effort to keep in touch with everyone! Hope all is well!

trip to nola today

2005-09-19T16:02:00.000-07:00

Well, I was able to get into the city before the mayor put a stop to people getting back in. I took about 2 rolls of film of my street, my car and the apartment. I never thought I would have seen anything like this in my lifetime. Had the city not flooded, I would have fared really well. Very few trees were down and there was very little hurricane damage to the house.

After I unlocked the door, I had to kick it in because a bookcase had floated to the door and was stuck to the door. The nold was about halfway up the walls and even up to the ceiling in some places...it was gross. The fridge was on it's side, probably from having over 3 feet of water in the apartment. When I left the Sunday before the hurricane, I had put two plastic laundry baskets on top of the bed. When I returned today, they were in the kitchen--must have floated there. I was able to salvage some photo boxes I had on a shelf in a closet, some framed prints hanging on the walls and my jewelry boxes. My clothes were covered in mold, but the family christening gown seemed to be okay and I took that with me too.

The smell was rancid...it was nasty. I opened up my car door to check it out and the smell was even worse. The insurance co. is totalling the car---time to start shopping for a new one!

Anyway, pray that Tropical Storm Rita does not come and flatten the city for good! I am leaving for mom and dad's in connecticut tomorrow and will be back in about a week.

Hope all is well with everyone!

hugs

trip to tulane and uptown...

2005-09-18T14:19:00.000-07:00

Bill flew in Thursday and it was great to finally see him! Funny thing, I ran into Steve and Nita at the airport, friends of Ned's, I had not seen them in over 4 years. From the airport we went to Abita Springs, had dinner and crashed.

Friday morning we were up before dawn and headed to the Primate Center where we were escorted by tulane police into the city. The smell was not as bad as we thought it would be, but there were a lot of trees down. The med school had a musty smell, mostly from not having power. We got into the med school and retreived the computers and files we needed to retrieve. From there we were escorted by 3 armed tulane police to bill's building were we retrieved more computers and files. Then we picked up three vehicles to drive back to houston.

After tulane we still had a few hours before curfew so bill and I went to his grandmother's house and took some pictures. She really didn't have too much damage, maybe a little roof damage and a lot of trees in the yard.

We then went to my apartment. I didn't have the key with me, but we were able to peek into the mail slot and take pictures of the outside of the building to show where the water line was. It looks like there was about 2 feet of water in the apartment. my car was completely flooded as there had been about 5 feet in the street. It was pretty gross, but now I get to shop for a new car.

Saturday we were up at dawn again and drove to houston to the tulane office to drop off vehicles and computers. Then we actually had some free time to relax and recharge our batteries. We had dinner at a really great tex-mex place called Tilas with bill's sister and brother-in-law.

I am now in Zachary, la until tuesday and then I'm flying to see mom and dad in CT. It will be good to get away and not be around all of this craziness. If I can, I'm going to try to get back into the city tomorrow to get into my apartment to take pictures and see what may be salvage-able...wich me luck.

Hope all is well with everyone, I think once I egt to CT, i'm going to sleep for three days, I'm tired!

latest update---going into the city

2005-09-13T20:31:00.000-07:00

Bill is flying into Baton Rouge on Thursday, his dad will pick us up and we will spend the night in Abita. Friday morning, we will go to the Primate Center and Tulane will bring us into the city. From there we will check out the damage to his building, get his hard drive, anything we can from his apartment and his sister's apartment and a few cars for the family. If we have time, we may swing over to my place to check out the damage. I don't know what the water levels are so we may not even be able to get to that part of town.

From there we will either spend Friday night in Abita or start heading to Houston. Saturday night will be spent in Houston and I'll fly back to Baton Rouge on Sunday.

I am in the process of getting my car totalled out and as soon as I do so, I will be getting another car and temporarily staying in Mandeville until I can get back into the city.

The other thing I have thought of doing is taking a road trip and visiting people I have not seen in many years as they have been offering theor homes to me. I have always wanted to take a road trip by myself to visit people and now I actually have the chance to do it!

Anyway, that's the latest...I am sure there will be more later.

TGIF!

2005-09-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

Only, half the time these days I can hardly remember what day it is. But, my FEMA money went through! Yay! That was a really nice surprise to get in my bank account.

What else has happened the past few days. Hmmm, I have been really busy getting Cameron settled into school and I have been helping Terri picking up my nephews.

I did see a slideshow of photos from my neighborhood and it does not look good. It looks like there was at least 4-5 feet of water in the street...yuck. But, I have gotten upset about it and have realized that there really is nothing I can do until they let us back into the city. My parents and Bill have been super supportive through everything. Bill is driving here next weekend to take me away for a few days as Cameron will be at his dad's.

Other than that, everything is pretty much the same around here, although I think everyone is ready to go home and get on with their lives.

1st day of freedom!

2005-09-06T16:20:00.000-07:00

I know it sounds silly, but today was the best day I've had yet. Terri let me use her car today to get Cameron to school and to run a few errands. I went driving for about an hour and it felt sooooo good to get out and be by myself.

Good news, I found out Tulane will continue my salary! Very good news, it means I don't have to stress out too much about money and can relax a little bit.

Cameron had his first day of school. I think he liked it but was really worn out as he crashed in the car on the way back to the house.

That's about it for now as even though I had a really good day, I am really tired and need a good night's rest!

Sunday...

2005-09-04T12:17:00.000-07:00

Went to church with the in-laws this morning. There were a lot of other New Orleans area refugees there. Some even from my area! It was good to connect with other new orleanians. I miss my city, my home.

Bill and I continue to be in touch via text message and the occasional phone call. I can't wait to see him again...not sure when that will be, but he's safe and that is really all that is important.

This afternoon I am planning on taking a very long nap and then I think tomorrow I need to find a way to get out of the house by myself for a while.

Also got to talk to Marcella this morning...she is so wonderful, such a great friend/sister to me. I don't know what I would do without her.

another update

2005-09-03T11:52:00.000-07:00

yesterday had another interesting twist to it. Jennifer and I decided in the morning that we had to get out of the house so we went to go volunteer at the red cross. seeing as how we are victims of katrina ourselves, we really were not emotionally ready to deal with what we saw. we went to one of the churches here in baton rouge and we realized that we are very lucky. we have had beds, showers, home-made food, laundry when we want it, tv and internet when we want it. we barely made it 3 hours and left sobbing.

I did get cameron back yesterday! it was soooooooo wonderful to have him back! he is very attached to mommy right now and barely lets me out of his sight. i am out for a few hours with my ex-mother in law and we have made a stop at the library to use the internet.

i also met my ex-husband's girlfriend yesterday. a little wierd, but she seems very nice.

well, i have 12 minutes left on this computer and then we're going back to the house to rest.

Hearing from more and more people

2005-09-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

I finally got to talk to Bill yesterday for about 20 minutes...it was so good to hear his voice and know that he's okay. He said to thank my dad...apparantly he was trying to get my dad to help him get in touch with someone to come save them. He is on his way to austin now with his grandmother for about a week and then he'll be in houston...i think we may hook up at some point--we keep trying to go to the movies, but katrina got in the way.

Here are more people I've spoken with...

Mary, scott and erica are in ohio--they are going to relocate there permanently

Louis and his mom are in houston, their house was in lakeview so i'm not sure what their next move will be.

jason's company is moving him to atlanta and putting him up in corporate housing and they will have him work out of the office there. susan will look for something temporary. Jason was in the hospital in houston until today with a really bad asthma attack.

I am in Jackson, LA with my ex-in-laws. we have been given a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house for the next few months. cameron will be put into schools in zachary and i'm going to sign up to be a substitute teacher.

I did talk to one of my employees today and she is also in the baton rouge area. she sopke with our boss and he's going to go up north somewhere to practice medicine and said that he will make sure we have jobs to go back to.

that's all for now...time to get some rest!

news about my neighborhood

2005-09-03T11:22:00.000-07:00

Looks like I don't have a car!

"According to friends who stayed (and escaped in the last few days), and the loyola blogspot; uptown, the universities, and audobaun park are all dry. The garden district is dry. I don't know about the claiborn side of the streets. The problem in the area is no cops and LOTS of people walking around with guns, carjacking people trying to leave, etc."

Rob and his dad are okay!!!

2005-09-01T18:00:00.000-07:00

Jennifer's good friend Rob and his dad Mike had stayed in NOLA for the storm. no one had heard from them since Monday at noon. We finally got word just now that they are okay. They are at their hardware store and have been helping rescue people and are going to stay and continue to rescue people. the other good news is that Jennifer's house in gentilly terrace is most likely okay and not flooded.

I also heard from ned's cousin cindy, they are in dallas and her parents are on their way to them.

I am feeling very thankful right about now...

More people found safe

2005-09-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

I got a text message from Margeaux, one of my employees, she is in Tyler, TX with her family and will have email access in a few days and will email me. Winter is in Baton Rouge with relatives and her cats. I have her cell and am going to try to text message her.

I heard from Kevin and he's in Little Rock. Misty messaged me back and said she was safe but didn't say where she was, I found her email and sent her an email to find out where she is staying. Michelle and Joe are in Dallas. Jason and Susan are in Houston, but Jason is in the hospital with severe asthma problems, I sent an email to mom to have her call them to check and see how he is doing.

Valentina is on her way to Houston.

It was good to hear that more people got away safely.

Bill is evacuating!!!

2005-09-01T06:29:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it. I got a text message from Bill at about 2 am saying they were moving him and his family to Lafayette. He is safe.

I sent out several text messages last night trying to find out where people are and if they are okay. So far I have heard from 3 and we are all scattered about.

On a sad note, Jennifer has not heard from her friend Rob LaFleur who had stayed behind with his dad. If anyone reads this and knows him, please email me so we can find out if he is okay.

Lots of love to everyone :)

more updates

2005-08-31T20:16:00.000-07:00

I was able to talk to ned tonight. he, denise and cameron are going to start making their way to baton rouge tomorrow. we know that denise's house is still standing, but her vehicle was parked in metairie so it's most likely gone.

jennifer told me today to go ahead and make a claim on my car and to also contact FEMA to see what assistance i can get.

On another note, a very positive story. I talked to terrilynn tonight and her church's pastor was given a set of keys to a fully furnished 3 bedroom, 2 bath house in the baton rouge area. ned's mom, stepdad and his grandparents are going to be living in the house...for free. i may be staying there with cameron for a little while as progressive is asking ned to come back to work as soon as he can. raynell and i did not have enough gas to check out his house today, but we could see his subdivision through the trees on the highway and we did not see any damage. he probably does not have any power, but it seems like mandeville and the rest of the northshore will be up and running pretty soon. we saw many roads being cleared and supplies/food being delivered to local stores.

tulane has their emergency site up at emergency.tulane.edu if you want to get updates on tulane.

there are still some people i have not heard from and do not know where they evacuated to. My friend's mary and scott who lived in harahan i never got in touch with, but i do have her yahoo email and will send her an email...hopefully she has email access where she is.

i know valentina and her mom, husband, stepson and dog went to northern mississippi, but i have not heard anything else from her. her subdivision in slidell was under water and i am pretty sure her house is gone. my friend debbie went to lafayette with her daughter and her daughter's babysitter but i have not heard anything else since they got to lafayette. her house is in lakeview and is most surely gone.

lots of love...

Finally in Baton Rouge!

2005-08-31T18:12:00.000-07:00

Raynell and I got to her kids in bush, LA which is north of Mandeville today, They live in an extremely rural area and there were trees down everywhere but her ex's house was spared--it was incredible. They had no power and had no idea what was happening in the city. When we got there they were literally getting ready to pack up their car and start driving north to find a place to stay.

I have never seen anything like this damage--it looks like a war zone. Baton Rouge had some branches down in Miss Pat's subdivision, but nothing really all that bad. We have been told that some parts of Baton Rouge are still without power. We barely had enough gas to get here as there was no gas from Mobile until we got to Baton Rouge. the gas light was on in Raynell's car and we just were praying we would make it to a gas station. The line to get gas was almost 3 blocks long.

Raynell has her kids with her and is staying at a cousin's house in Baton Rouge tonight and I think she is planning on going to San Antonio tomorrow to meet up with Luis. Luis was quoted again in today's USA Today. We made sure to pick up a copy.

It was so great to see Jennifer and her mom, but it is very emotional here. I got word that Ned, Denise and Cameron are coming to Baton Rouge tomorrow. Denise sent me a text message asking how long it took us...I made sure to tell her about the gas situation. I hope they get here ok...it took us 9 hours today.

Bill is Safe!!!

2005-08-30T21:15:00.000-07:00

Bill called from New Orleans a few hours ago and for the time being, he is safe as is his family. This phone call was such a relief. He told me they have a generator for power, they have food, water, and they are above the water line.

He did give me a few phone numbers to call...a few relatives to let them know that they are okay. I emailed my parents to ask them to make the calls as we cannot make any phone calls here in Florida.

Bill did say that he would be out of contact for an undetermined amount of time, but he would contact me as soon as he could.

leaving valparaiso...

2005-08-30T19:01:00.000-07:00

Raynell and I will be leaving val-p tomorrow morning as early as possible in the hopes of reaching baton rouge. She will drop me off at Jen's mom's house and then continue on to San Antonio to meet up with Luis who was able to get out of the city. His parents live there so that will give them a place to stay until we can return to the city.

This has been such an emotional day for everyone. I have not heard from Bill and knowing that there have been 3 shootings in downtown NOLA has me really worried. We are happy Luis got out. His friend Brian is leaving tomorrow for Morgan City to be with his family.

We did get out of the house today for about 3 hours and it felt good to be out on a nice day and not be glued to the tv.

I have to say, I feel so incredibly thankful, grateful, etc for getting out alive. For whoever reads this blog, please say a prayer, think good thoughts or whatever you would do for my friend Bill and his family who are stuck in the Tulane University Medical Student Housing Pavilion which is next to the University Hospital in Downtown New Orleans. It has now been over 24 hours since we've had contact with him and we are all very worried for their safety.

Loss of a city...

2005-08-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

Due to Katrina, New Orleans is demolished as well as many cities and towns in Mississippi and Alabama. I am pretty sure from all of the news reports that my part of town did not flood, but there are many trees down so I'm a little worried I may not have a home to go back to.

Right now I am at Amy's house in Valparaiso, FL with my friend Raynell...co-owner of the Garden District Bed and Breakfast. Her boyfriend and the other co-owner of the B&B, Luis, stayed behind to try to save the house. We begged him to come with us but he refused to leave. He is now trying to get out of the city with his friend Brian. I think they are making their way to Morgan City and maybe to Lafayette. Raynell and I are trying to decide how we could get to Lafayette as well. I looked at my duffel bag and backpack on Amy's floor and realized that may all that I have left. I laid awake last night and thought of items I didn't have time to pack and take with me..the christening gown that has been in my family for generations, my son's baby book, and many, many photographs that can never be replaced.

The city is rapidly drowning from the breaches in the levees around the city. We have shed a lot of tears today. Phone lines are completely jammed so email is our only form of communication and even then, not everyone has internet access where they have evacuated to. Let me change that, we can get calls on Amy's landline, but we have not been able to make any outgoing calls.

I was able to text message a few friends and made sure they were okay. Bill is essential staff and had to stay. We finally got in touch yesterday. His grandfather died on Sunday and he has about 12 people (co-workers and family) with him. I am hoping he is okay and hopefully safe.

sleep is a good thing..

2005-08-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

only, I haven't had much of it in the past few days! I have had something going on almost everyday after work this week! On Tuesday, I drove to Baton Rouge to have dinner with one of my oldest and dearest friends from high school. We've known each other for 19 years. He lives in New Jersey but the company he works for sends him down here a few times a year for work so we always try to get together at least once a year. The cool thing is that we don't sit around and talk about high school stuff. We talk about our kids, his wife (she is really cool), who I may or may not be dating. And most recently, our friend's wedding in England that I wasn't able to go to as my brother was in the hospital getting a new lung. He brought pictures...she was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen. She looked better than I did on my wedding day. In any case, we had a great dinner at Sullivan's Steak House, I think I may have rolled out of the restaurant as I ate way too much. My crohn's is paying me back for it now, but meds are helping.

I had dinner with Bill last night. We cooked at my place. I just did a very simple sun-dried tomato pesto with bow-tie pasta and chicken. He made the salad...it was different, but very good. I had romaine lettuce, blue cheese, blueberries and a dressing he made from scratch. I didn't get a chance to watch and see how he made it, but the dressing looked like it had balsamic vinegar, olive oil, creole mustard, there was something else I am pretty sure, but I was keeping an eye on the pasta. We had a really great time, I laughed a lot---hadn't done that on a date in a while. Anyway, like I said before, he is at least becoming a really good friend.

The other guy? Frank? Have not heard from him. I'm a little surprised as he seemed a little too happy to find out I was single. And, now that I have had some time to think about it, I am not sure he and I would be all that compatible. He gives off the impression that he is really conservative. Not a good match for me...I'm way too liberal.

My son comes back tomorrow after being with his dad for the past two weeks. I have been missing him a lot in the past few months. The past year he has ben living with his dad because he bullied me into it. Yep, that's right, we're not even married anymore and I am still letting him bully me around. To get past it, I just make sure that every second I spend with my son is precious. It's strange though, when he lived with me I would say things like "go play" and now I say "let's play". So in a very wierd way, having less time with him has changed the way I parent him. But every second he is not with me, my heart hurts. It makes me wonder how many other moms out there are in the same position as me with a bully of an ex-husband.

Allright, enough of that...time to get happy!

Work is great and tonight I start volunteering at NOMA, I am very excited about that. Off to work I go, hi ho hi ho :)

Brand New Day!

2005-08-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

Hmmm..what's new? I am officially Office Manager today! I looovvveee it! I have a door, I can go to the bathroom without asking for permission! Yes, I know, it's the little things that keep me happy :)

I had a second date yesterday with Bill. Really, really nice guy, kinda cute too! If nothing else, he'll be a really great friend. We have a similar sense of humor and since we're the same age, we grew up watching all of the same shows...that was a fun conversation yesterday. He also made a point to ask my middle name. Marc didn't do that and I remember asking him (after dating for 7 weeks) if he knew what my middle name was and he had no idea...this was just one way he showed me he was not interested! But, Bill asked me all kinds of questions yesterday, it was nice to just get to know someone.

On the other hand, there's Frank. I was at a birthday party in the Maringy on Saturday and this guy that I have met a handful of times over the past year or so asked me if he could take me out sometime. He is pretty cute, he's a chef for the Coast Guard...so he can cook, gotta love that. I honestly did not think he even knew I existed. So, he has my number, let's see if he even calls.

Yup, that's right...two guys. I must be crazy! But, if I keep it to only casual dating, I sholud be able to at least date each one a few times to decide which one, if any, I would want to date exclusively.

Oh, well, that's life, isn't it? Time to go back to work!

Monday, Monday...

2005-08-15T07:08:00.000-07:00

My son came over this weekend. He had his first day of school on Friday, I know, really early, but he will finish before Memorial Day. We spent the weekend visiting friends and then babysat Saturday night. It was hardly babysitting though. It's really just a way he can see one of his friends and the parents (who are good friends of mine), can have a date night. My ex and I rarely went out after we had our son and I think that was part of our problem. We never spent any time alone together.

Well, one more work week left in my current position and then next Monday, I'm off to the new position!

Major Changes!

2005-08-10T10:34:00.000-07:00

Well, I got the position I interviewed for! I'm going to be working a little father from home, but I can walk 10 min. to a free shuttle so I won't have to pay for parking, Yay! I gave my 2 week notice to my office here and they actually asked me to stay 2 extra weeks! I cannot believe it...wait, yes I can. But, I told them that the new office really needed me and I had to leave in two weeks. Sooo, I will finish my "old" position on Aug.19th and start the new position on Aug.22nd..I can't wait!

Other than that, things have been pretty normal around here. I'm still on a dating hiatus...enjoying it too. Let's see..it's been about 2 months so far with no dating and 4 without..? I do kind of miss having someone to hang out with, but I don't want to just be with someone because I'm lonely, I want to be with someone because they are the right person and because he feels the same way about me. At least this break has helped me learn more about what I want and what I don't want.

Waiting is the hardest part...

2005-08-02T06:40:00.000-07:00

So the job I interviewed for last week called me on Friday to ask if it was okay to start calling my references. I know that they have called 2 out of the 3 and both called me right after and said it sounded as though I got the job. So now I wait. I watched "The Aviator" last night after I got home from work to take my mind off of thinking about it.

Good news though, mom was here over the weekend and cooked lots of yummy food for me, so I don't have to cook for a few more days. Not only is her food good, but it's usually pretty healthy.

My son was with me this past weekend as well and the three of us had a great time. We went to the Mid-City Art Market on Saturday where he was able to make a collage at the Emerging Artists tent and mom got another Ili Bag. If you don't know what an Ili Bag is...go to this website, http://www.ilibag.com

I have two Ili Bags and I get compliments everytime I carry one!

On another note, taking a break from dating is working out very well. I am really enjoying my time to myself. I am joining Crescent City Cyclists this weekend so I can join them for some really great long bike rides. I am also going to take knitting classes. Yes, knitting classes. I've always wanted to learn, so I figure now is the time to take classes like this. I am also going to take golf for the fall semester. It's something else I have always wanted to learn and I think if I were to get into another relationship, it would be something I could do with my significant other

On another note, I am four chapters into the 6th Harry Potter book. So far, so good. I will read more at lunch though.

Quote of the day

2005-07-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

V. just emailed this to me...very good...

Waste not fresh tears over old griefs.

– Euripides, 484-406 B.C., Greek Tragic Dramatist

Keeping my fingers crossed...

2005-07-26T14:01:00.000-07:00

And my toes, legs, etc! I had a great job interview yesterday. The new position would not be a lot more money, but it would be a better fit for me and where I want to go in my career. And, it's the type of position that if I wanted to stay in it until I retire, I would feel comfortable doing so. I am supposed to find out tomorrow, I am sooo nervous. At least my Harry Potter book came from Amazon yesterday so I have been reading that to take my mind off of things.

Still a little down...

2005-07-25T07:06:00.000-07:00

My son spent the weekend with me and we had fun. Went to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, not too bad. I still love the original, but Johnny Depp was fabulous!

I found out my son has met his dad's girlfriend...over a month ago. It turns out they will be getting engaged soon. They have only been dating about 4 months...it just seems so fast. I am happy for him, I have no feelings of ill will, but I hope he is good to her.

I spent Sunday feeling a littlw down, still can't figure out why. I watched "Vanity Fair" and "Bride and Predjudice" and went out walking since I haven't worked out in a while. It started to downpour on me while I was out and I didn't even try to run for cover. I just walked in the rain...I must have looked so pathetic. Now that I think about it, it was kind of funny.

Anyway, it's Monday and I have a lot of work to do. I also have an interview for a promotion this afternoon, I am so nervous!

Random Act of Kindness?

2005-07-22T11:02:00.000-07:00

I had gotten a flat tire this week and did the usual, call roadside assistance, have the spare put on, etc. Drove to my regluar shop and they did not have the tire size that I needed. So, I headed out to Elmwood to go to a shop I've been to before for oil changes and stuff and they had the size I needed and a few different price ranges. I picked one of the less expensive tires because, let's face it, I work in education and make very little money. Well, the guy at the counter happened to be one of the managers and he gave me a $50 discount because he felt I needed it! I was dressed nice (just came from work), so I didn't look like a bum, so I just thought since I had given them a lot of business in the past, he was just being nice, wanting to keep me as a customer, etc. I talked to V. later last night and she asked me if I gave the guy my phone number. "No" I said, and she pointed out that he was hitting on me...okay , I must be really clueless! But he did make a comment about how I "had it going on". It's nice to know I've got it going on, but he wasn't my type anyway, but what he did was very sweet and I think I will continue to give that shop my business.

Sooo much better today!

2005-07-21T08:34:00.000-07:00

Last night was so much fun! It was not just a girl's night, we had about 2 of us girls and 3 guys. Went to Nacho Mama's on Magazine, it was a blast just to hang out and socialize for a little while. I got a phone call this morning for an interview at the hospital. I had applied for an office manager position a few weeks ago and since I had not heard anything, I had figured they had decided to interview someone else. But, no! They called me and want me to come in Monday afternoon! Yiippppeeee!

A little down today

2005-07-20T12:58:00.000-07:00

I had lunch with V today. She's probably my best friend here in New Orleans. We have been through some really amusing experiences together and she's one of the few people I tell everything to. I still have not spoken to T since I emailed him about how rude he was being to me. It hurts a little that he has not responded. I guess I was wrong about yet another guy. I went on a date with someone I had been recently set up with and I felt horrible. Here was a perfectly nice guy, I was not into the date at all. He was driving me home and we passed "Hana", a great Japanese place and we both said "I Love Hana" at the same time...we both laughed and talked the entire drive back to my house. The problem, I am not attracted to him at all. Zilch. Nada. Nothing there. This is so typical of me. I'll meet someone who seems so wonderful only to find out that their faults are deal breakers for me. Then, still broken-hearted, I'll trudge back out there into the world of dating again and meet someone really nice only to realize that they would be a really cool friend, but I have no desire to date them.

Sometimes, I wonder what would have happened if I had stayed with my ex-husband, N. I listen to stories that married people tell and sometimes it seems like ti would have been better to stay married to an abusive jerk rather than date liars and players. I know it's wrong to even have that thought. I know it was good to get out. And while I really enjoy my freedom when I'm single, I miss coming home to someone. And since N. never wanted me around anyway, I don't know what it would be like to come home to someone you really love. I bet that would be awesome. I know, it's just a fantasy, it will never come true.

Oh, well, time to go back to work and then I get to have Margarita's...it's girl's night!

The Pact

2005-07-17T12:39:00.000-07:00

So, as it turns out, the new guy has lost major points with his rude manners and has been let go. "Another One Bites the Dust!". Sorry, I heard that song on the radio yesterday and I chuckled as I had just given the guy the boot for his rudeness.

Still a little bummed this morning, I headed off to get some coffee and chill for a bit. I talked to an old boyfriend (who is now a great friend) and he said "It's time for a pact". He proposed that if neither of us are engaged or married in five years, then we should just be together from that moment on. So, if I don't meet another guy for the next 5 years, hey, I get to marry Bryant. He is good looking, successful, and there would be no surprises. We know just about everything about one another. He knows my son, actually, he's the only guy I've dated that has met my son and my son likes him. My parents like him. but for some reason, I have this strange feeling it will not turn out well. One of us will meet someone and run off and get married and the other one will feel somewhat jilted. At least that's what would happen in the movies...wait, wasn't there a movie about this already? Right..."My Best Friend's Wedding". Oh, well, at least if I go out and I meet a total creep, I can use the excuse that I'm engaged...

...I know, I know, this has disaster written all over it...I need to tell Bryant that we cannot have this pact...someone will get hurt.

Enough for now, going to the movies with Bryant to see "Wedding Crashers".

Back to work!

2005-07-13T14:17:00.000-07:00

My son and I flew back to NOLA yesterday, got in town around noon and I was back at work by 2 pm...how dedicated is that? I'm glad I went in though, I found out that my immediate supervisor has accepted another position and will be leaving our department at the end of the month. Good for her, lots more work for me. I feel a little badly that I have applied for another position, but to bo honest, if I get it, I'm taking it. After working for some real jerks over the past 10 years, I've learned that no one will take care of you, you have to take care of yourself. Maybe it's a little harsh, but it's true. I'm happy for my boss, she deserves the new position she's going into.

On the dating front, I heard from someone I had met recently and had really liked. Except that I got the impression that maybe "he just wasn't into me" and had started to move on. Well, he sent me an email this morning about how he had backed off because he had gotten the impression he was not the only guy I was dating and he is more of a one-woman man and if I was dating more than one guy, he figured he would just back down. A little history...I had gone to see Alanis Morrisette with a guy friend, but he is just that...a friend. Well, apparantly, this threw the new guy off..I must have made it sound as though I had a date. When I thought about it, if I had been in his shoes, I totally would have felt the same way. Like him, I only date one person at a time...it gets way too complicated to juggle more than one person! I tried it in college once and it was a nightmare keeping that going. Never again.

So, I am having dinner with the new guy tomorrow night and I'm pretty excited about it...on all of our dates, we end up talking for hours on end. I love it!

Well, the work day has ended and I need to go shopping...food (no food as I have been gone for 2 weeks), clothes (outfit for tomorrow!), and general household supplies, plus a present for my super cool neighbor who took care of my cat while I was out of town!

"Home"

2005-07-09T13:59:00.000-07:00

Everytime I hear Michael Buble's song "Home", I feel like the world stops for a moment just so I can hear this song. I don't know why, but it speaks to me. I went for a walk this morning know we could fly home today and the second I heard this song on my mp3 player, I just slowed down. I thought of all the failed relationships/dating experiences in the past few years and I think I really just need to be by myself for awhile...at least another month anyway. I talked to one of my oldest friends in New Orleans and we both decided both she and I are in no frame of mind to date anyone right now...I won't go into her story, but as for me, I just don't trust anyone anymore. I need to get past that. I know I have hurt a few guys that were probably perfect for me, but I was not in a "good place" so to speak. I need to learn to be happy on my own. I am getting there, I am beginning to really enjoy weekends when it's just me around the house...not having to worry about anyone else but yourself is a good thing sometimes.

I was also really homesick today. I changed our flight from this morning to Tuesday morning since there was a chance we would get caught in the possible contraflow. For those who are unaware, when there is an evacuation in Nola, they have started what is called contraflow. Meaning, all lanes go either West or North. And since my car is parked by the airport the road we would pull out on is a contraflow road...it would have been ugly if we got stuck in it. And, not wanting to get stuck in a storm with my young child, I made the decision to stay in CT a few more days. Now, the storm will barely hit Nola and I am wishing I flew home today. My neighbor is still taking care of Penelope (the cat)...I'm picking up a gift for her tomorrow since she was too nice to watch her for me. Well, dinner will be served soon so I'm outta here, but I will leave you with the lyrics to "Home"...

"Home"

Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home
Mmmmmmmm

Maybe surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh I miss you, you know

And I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
“I’m fine baby, how are you?”
Well I would send them but I know that it’s just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that

Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I’ve got to go home

Let me go home
I’m just too far from where you are
I wanna come home

And I feel just like I’m living someone else’s life
It’s like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
But this was not your dream
But you always believe in me

Another winter day has come
And gone away
And even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home

And I’m surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel alone
Oh, let me go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

Let me go home
I’ve had my run
Baby, I’m done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It will all right
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home

Hurricane Dennis update

2005-07-07T19:26:00.000-07:00

It looks like Florida will yet again get the brunt of a major hurricane. I don't want the hurricane to come to NOLA, but I have many friends in FL and I feel badly that we will be spared while they have to worry about their homes and families. My friend Amy might be coming to NOLA though. She moved about a year ago to Fla. and her bf still lives here, we decided we would have a hurricane party should she decide to come to the city.

I am definitely ready to go home too. I do love visiting Connecticut, but a week is plenty and I miss my own bed.

Just a funny website :)

2005-07-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

I was emailed this link a while back and it had me laughing so hard I cried! if you need a good laugh...go here and read up!

http://www.threadbared.com/

The power is out and the cat is at home alone!

2005-07-06T19:00:00.000-07:00

Tropical Storm Cindy hit New Orleans last night and after talking to my upstairs neighbor, I have found out that I have no power! She is taking care of my cat while I am on vacation at my parents house in Connecticut...she is too sweet to take care of Penelope for me, but I would do it for her and I have! I have just taken another look at the weather channel and the National Hurricane Center and it looks like the main part of the storm is going to hit Alabama...fine with me. I figure we'll get some rain and wind but nothing major. However, almost 300,000 people in the New Orleans area are without power and I'm one of them right now. I would hate to be without power for any longer than I have to. Although...my electric bill will be really low this month!

Well, it's off to bed...Mom and I were supposed to go get manicures and pedicures and, well, we just got sidetracked :)