A Likely Story!

Last Look

Several end of 2004 thoughts as I head out the door -

* I have much to be thankful for. While it was a not-so-great year in several areas (economical and professional as well as the dreadful election outcome) I missed hurricane damage four times, all my flights landed safely, I got to spend 10 days in CA with my entire family, I met some wonderful friends this year and as of this second, all my family and friends are alive and safe and healthy. Compared to the tsunami-stricken areas, I am oh-so-fortunate and incredibly thankful for what I do have.

* I am STAYING at my job. Decisions were made that will favor my clients and myself. Baruch Ata Adonai. I love my job and don't have to look for another one. And I am getting a raise as well. TOTALLY unexpected since our company never gives raises. Never say never.

* Things will get better. 2 November I was suicidal. I can share that with you now. Things were sad, scary and touch&go there for a long time. Only two people knew...a blogger buddy and a personal buddy. Thanks for listening, buddies. Life is much better now. I promise.

* Having puppies in your life is always a good thing.

* One of the best things that happened to me this year was having someone tell me that I was their hero.

That's my short list. Tomorrow, my Birthday Resolutions.

NNSD, party safe and Bye-Bye 2004

Blogger's Without Borders

THIS is what blogging can do for the common good.

Please check them out and help if you can. Adding them to my sidebar as well.

Good luck, Jonas and gang!

Mmmmmm...Beer!

Took this test and guess what???

I tashte like Alcohol. Heh. Heh. I taste like beer. I like beer. Buy me a beer. I'm not drunk, I can drink plenty without... What was I saying? Beer. What Flavour Are You?

Why Am I So Tired?

Just crawled into my nice comfy bed after waking up suddenly on the couch downstairs...laptop in lap, EAGLES on Monday Night Football and having no earthly concept of where I was or what I was doing.

Could barely keep my eyes open tonite. Work was certainly slow and boring today, something that almost never happens, but given the holiday week it was dead. Spent the last two hours of the work-day re-organizing the files on my desk and catching up on filing that I'd allow to accumulate.

If it's like that tomorrow, please call me at work...that is if you know my work #. And many of you DO, so please go for it :-) It will help me stay awake!

Had meant to finish up with my 2005 budget tonite, had meant to bake Toll House Cookies, had meant to work out, had meant to watch the game. Well, at least I watched the first half before conking out.

And now, I'm crashing once again. Not sure if it's our cooler than usual weather or what, but I haven't been this tired in ages.

So nnsd to all of you...I have an appointment with my pillows!

Rick Spence...

...is just so darn cute! And Betsy, you totally know what I mean, right??

This Time Last Year..

At this time last year...

I had never been active in politics. I'd never donated money to a campaign, done a visibillity event, placed a political sticker (hell, ANY sticker!) on my truck, argued with a friend over politics or met a politician. I didn't know what a blog was. I was on the internet 13, maybe 14 hours a month...with dial-up. (HA!)

I'd hadn't had a roommate since college, never spoke up at work if something wasn't to my liking, had no local friends other than Trace in Miami and three friends from work. Weekends were spent working out and not doing much else.I'd never downloaded music. I had no idea what Netflix, Craigslist, iTunes Music Store was. I had a quiet life in a too-big house and was basically wasting away from self-imposed hermititude (made up word).

And then I met a blogger. And in a nutshell, life was never the same again.

2004 has been one of the brightest , funniest, saddest and most interesting years of my life. I'm definitely a better person for what I've been thru and what I've witnessed. And thankfully, there is no going back to the way I used to be. Sadly, some of my friends have had problems with that. But that is their problem, not mine and ultimately change is for the better.

I love end of the year retrospectives. Gives you a chance to look back and revisit the events that shaped your year. Have gone back and read almost every post I've written since starting my blog. Brings back memories.

Thanks to all of you for reading and posting. Funny how this little experiment called a blog can bring the coolest, neatest and most awesome people into your life!

Expect the Unexpected

I balanced my checkbook today without procrastinating.

Which is incredibly odd in and of itself.

Normally, I don't procrastinate at all. Hardly ever. Except when it comes to balancing my checkbook. When I was still married I took care of all the bills and such, and the checkbook was balanced on a daily basis. When I moved out, the trend continued. Then all of a sudden, I'd bought a house and heaven knows why, but I turned into the Princess of Procrastination. And I put it off. One month...then two...then 10! Yikes!

Never bounced a check, since I checked my balance online and roughly knew what was what...but still...why had this control freak of a person changed overnite? And when I did get around to balancing, it was only after a series of doing everything else I could think of under the sun to postpone the inevitable. Trust me, you don't want to know some of the ploys I utilized to push back doing the deed.

And then this afternoon, I just sat down and did it. Whoa. What's up with that?

It wasn't until I'd finished that I realized what I had done. Not sure how my mind played that trick on me but it did. Not only did I complete the task, but I'm amazed it got done with NO procrastinating at all...not one bit. Which sorta scares me and really mystifies me. What was different from today than all the other days? Is this the start of a new trend in Kathyland? Maybe a birthday resolution that needed to happen?

Have a clue? Please share, cause I am fresh outta clues.

Nothing Says Christmas Like Lasagna

...and Garlic Bread.

Hey Dad and Mom...I'm using my oven. Second time in almost two years. Aren't you proud of me??:-)

Decided last week to have a somewhat nicer dinner on Christmas than my usual cereal, or cheese snack and glass of milk dinner. My roomie celebrates Christmas so I'm taking it up a notch by making (ie- heating up) Lasagna and Garlic Bread. Meant to pop it in the oven after my short nap, except the short nap turned into a 3 hour snooze.

This has been a really laid back day. Slept in, cleaned out the garage, finally disposed of all my Kerry/Edwards and Betty Castor campaign signs that I just COULDN'T throw away, and took all the political stickers off my truck (K/E, Castor and Stork) and replaced it with one of my birthday presents from Paul and Eric.

My buddies Chris and Jillian are nuts about ‘Family Guy’, so I took their advice and have 2 season’s worth of DVD’s to watch for the rest of the night.

Timer just went off...time to eat.

Merry Christmas!

Presents

For someone that doesn't celebrate Christmas, I've gotten some really nifty presents in the last 24 hours..

Laughter - While getting my hair done yesterday afternoon, my stylist JV had me laughing so hard (as usual) that today my stomach feels like I did 100 crunches...yeah, as if!!

Wonder - While waiting to get my hair done yesterday, this little red-haired, freckle-faced 3 year old girl all dressed in purple came up to show me that she'd lost one of her front teeth. And the conversation that followed centered on who would visit her first Christmas Eve...Santa or the Tooth Fairy?

Friendship - Paul and Eric's house, where else? Paul and Eric are two of the nicest, coolest, funniest guys you'll ever meet. I call them my 'two angels'. Met them thru the Stork Campaign and we just clicked. Now I can't ever imagine them not being in my life. Their party last night was wonderful. Incredible food, lots of fun and interesting guests (got to meet Paul's mom!) and overall the best time I've had since they were at my house a week earlier.

Family - Did my annual 'Call the family' call on my way home from Paul and Eric's. They all liked my poem...Matt and Jeff were especially impressed, and it was heaven to be able to talk to everyone. Shared with my brother Patrick and my nephew Tommy that Christmas Eve with my family is such a defining moment for me that I have 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' as the ring tone for all of my family members.

And last but so not least...

A Shiny New Blog - My buddy Scott has a new blog. Check it out...I am beyond impressed. Merry Christmas, Little!

For My Family

‘Twas the night before Christmas
And I’m on the phone
My family’s in CA
And I’m here alone

A yearly tradition
Takes place once again
The whole crowd comes over
Eats, drinks, and settles in

My parents have been cooking
For over two days
More food than you can fathom
It’s our Irish-Hungarian ways

There’s ham, turkey, meatballs
Dinner rolls too
Aunt Maggie’s Jello Salad
And yeah, lots of booze

The house is crammed tight
With sisters and brothers
Dozens of cousins
And numerous others

Then suddenly the phone rings
Yep, that would be me
Calling to chat
With Diane then Denise

Tommy, then Matthew
Dad, Mom, Nichole &Terry
Patrick my brother
They all sound so merry

Then Mike, Kelly, Lindsay
Auntie Chele and Brian
Jeff, Casey, Erika,
I wanna start cryin’

Devon, Darian, Heather
Lori, Mr & Mrs G
Hopefully Patrick and maybe Damaris?

My family’s all there
And me, I am not
I’m back here in FL
80 degrees, humid and hot

I miss them so much
And love them much more
So I call on Christmas Eve
Instead of walking thru their door.

I talk to everyone
To see what is new
To tell them I love them
I know they love me too

Thank goodness for phone calls
It’s part of the night
It’s just like I’m with them
And that feels just right

Merry Christmas, Guys... I Love You!