Goodbye 2009 and Hello 2010

Today is the last day of 2009, the last day of the year, the last day of a decade. This has been a decade of ups and downs. Downs are obvious, lost some extremely important people in my life (Mom, Grandma and Poppi to name a few). Ups are also obvious birth of beautiful nieces and nephew (shout out to Miyah, Brie, Jake, Ella and Dara), births of some of my closest friends' children (shout out to Alex, Katharine and Cooper).

I look back at the year and see how far I have come. I look forward to 2010 and see how far I have to go. And I am thankful for both!

I hope 2010 brings you all the good you deserve! Happy New Year!!!

So, how did I do?

Early this year I posted some resolutions that I had set for 2009. Not a big fan of resolutions as often we set them and break them so quickly. Also, people set shallow goals and not things that will make them a better person, happier or improve the world in general. So, here are the ones I set and my thoughts on how I did...

1. Take better care of myself (physically and emotionally). - I think I did pretty well on this. I've stayed in shape (for the most part, minus some set backs due to health and schedules). I've let go of a lot and really don't let things bother me the way they used to. I will continue this into 2010, that's for sure!

2. Be a better daughter, sister, cousin, friend and "mom" to those I care about the most. - Okay, so define "better"...lol...I've tried to be more focused on my life and those that I care about and those who care about me. I was able to spend time with my cousins and their families. I got to visit Jules in CA and see her when she headed back East. I reconnected with some friends that I had drifted from and even strengthed other friendships. As for the "mom", Lupe is everything to me. She had a tough year with her health and I haven't balked when she needed a vet visit, medication, or just attention. Lupe is told every day that I love her and she gets a "G-d bless Lupe" everytime I leave the house. Again, I will continue this one into 2010.

3. Pay off more debt. - Didn't do as well as I had wanted to on this one. There were things that came up that required attention and money (still love Miss L) and that was tough on getting debt paid off. Will continue to watch expenses so that I can look into buying a home.

4. Be more patient and less jumpy towards people. - Hot and cold on this one...need to keep working on it. But there are a couple of instances where I bit my tongue and didn't snap at someone where previously I would have.

5. Achieve professional success and goals. - Got the promotion I wanted in February. Working on a certification for contract management. Been a good year on this one!

6. Do more things I like. - Check...definitely did this and very happy I did :)

So what's in store for 2010? Time will tell, but I am looking forward to the new year and prosperity, health and peace for us all. Well, for most of us :) For others, karma does come around. But I digress...

Post holiday Monday

I made it through the Christmas holiday...enough said...

Yesterday I went to visit a friend from work, her husband and their 5 day old baby daughter. She was absolutely beautiful. Now, I am the type that doesn't think all babies are cute. In fact, I have seen some very funny babies in my life. Skylar is not one of them. It was nice to sit and talk with them for a couple of hours. And then wonderful to get back home to my place and spend some time doing things I wanted to...playing cow, stingray, ball with Lupe...you know, the important stuff.

So, its Monday now and things are VERY quiet at work. I'm supposed to make it through until Thursday? Yikes! I'm hoping to get my hair cut today, but my friend that cuts my hair has a son at home, so not sure if I'm going to be able to get it done this week. Sigh!

I hope Santa was good to you all! Taking a couple of days to reflect on the year and look forward towards the next :)

Peace on Earth...

Just wanted to say Merry Christmas to all!!!

I get wished a Merry Christmas all the time. Does it bother me? No. Its really just someone being kind and hoping you have a happy holiday, whatever holiday you may celebrate. I even have some people who know I don't celebrate Christmas wish my a Merry Christmas. Again, doesn't bother me a bit, but it does usually cause a good chuckle when the person realizes what they have said.

This year I've realized that there is something to be said for the "Christmas Spirit". People are either completely stressed out about shopping, cooking and family or they are relaxed and enjoying this time of year. Having not celebrated Christmas for the majority of my life and then celebrating it for a few years, I was a mix of the two. Now, I'm the relaxed type, although there have been moments of stress in dealing with family...I don't want to even mention the traffic! But I can only hope that the spirit of the season does touch people, even those who do not celebrate Christmas.

So, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, whatever...just please be safe and enjoy the time to be with loved ones. May this be a holiday season to remember!

She did it!

Just wanted to give a huge shout out to Jules for getting through her entire chemo cycle! I know its wasn't an easy road, but she's done and can look forward to getting stronger and better. More treatment is coming, but right now I am so happy for her! G-d bless Jules!!!

She's 2!

Just wanted to wish Lil' K a VERY happy 2nd birthday! And to congratulate her mom, dad and brother on this important milestone in their family!

I do have her card...maybe I can drop it off this weekend?

Happy Birthday Lil' K!

Cookies, cookies and some more cookies!!!

Saturday I made 8 dozen oatmeal scotchies for a friend's cookie exchange Saturday evening. I had thought I had all my ingredients until I went add the vanilla...the one thing I forgot to check when I made my shopping list. It was about 12:30, freezing cold and I hadn't showered after the gym. So, I went out in my sweats and a baseball hat to look for vanilla. I don't live overly close to a grocery store but there is a CVS nearby...success! My place smelled like warm butterscotch all afternoon! The party was a lot of fun and I got a bunch of cookies and recipes.

Problem is, how is one person going to eat multiple dozens of cookies? Answer, I'm not! CB and her family are donated food to a local family in need and my cookies are going in with the donation. They asked for assorted cookies, so assorted cookies they will get! Phew!!!

Yesterday I went to CB's house and she, Alex and I made sugar cookies. Well, Alex and I were trying to make sugar cookies, but CB was more interested in covering me with flour. She kept throwing the stuff at me or taking her floury hands and rubbing them on my face. I mean, really!

So, if I gain 20 lbs. this season, its all the cookies fault! :)

Top 5

Lupe asked me to post her top five list from this morning...so here goes...

Top 5 ways to make Lupe-dog happy...

#5 Come home.

#4 Bring me to see someone.

#3 Belly scratches

#2 CRACK (if you don't know what crack is and you have a dog, go buy a pack of Denti-Stix, you'll find out soon enough).

#1 Give me 2+ inches of snow that I can roll, romp and bury my face in!

Its December, its the Northeast, its going to snow!!! Wish we could have snow days like the schools do...

Its December already?!

Wow, I can't believe it! Thought I would bore you all with a run down of my Thanksgiving weekend...

Wednesday - plan was to drop off Jeep for oil change and spend day with BF and her kids doing some shopping and baking homemade pumpkin pies. Plan was changed as Lupe had some accidents in the house (pee and vomit) so she had to go to the vet. I let them do the sterile urine sample and surprise, surprise, surprise...UTI. Looking at another 3 weeks of antibiotics. Jeep oil change went well, need new tires (was hoping to get through the winter). Pie baking? Well, besides Courtney throwing pumpkin all over the kitchen and having to run out and find the can stuff, it went okay. She did notice my right eye looked pink, I wear contacts, that happens. Although, when I got home, it was tearing pretty bad all night.

Thursday - headed to MA for the weekend. Picked up brother at the airport in CT and he and I went to the cemetery for some time together to talk about Mom, Grandma and Grandpa. He pointed out another 24 in our family that relates to me. Mom and Dad's birthdays and anniversary are all on a 24th (Feb, Jun and Dec). Grandma was born in 1924. Auntie Steffi was born in 1948. And I was born in 1972. Never made that connection. We had Thanksgiving dinner at Mary's son's firehouse. The food was great. Enough said.

Friday - woke up with my right eye completely swollen and crusted shut. Spent a couple of hours looking for a walk-in clinic that was open and accepted my insurance. Found one at a small hospital in Stafford Springs, CT. Diagnosis? Pink Eye...great! After getting my prescription filled went back to Dad's house to wait for family coming over for lunch. Randi, Rich and the girls and Bruce, Carmela and Michael all came over...along with a friend of my Dad's. It was amazing having everyone together.

Saturday - got those new tires for the Jeep and had to drive Jay back to the airport. Was supposed to get together with a friend from town, but she has 2 small kids and I had pink eye. Was not feeling great and tired, so I crashed pretty early.

Sunday - was supposed to head home, but I needed to get the tires check and the place was closed on Sunday...so, plans changed to head home Monday morning. Spent the day/afternoon with Mary shopping at IKEA. Lots of fun! We were going to head to Sephora, but I think she was shopped out.

Monday - tires checked and headed home. Lupe was not happy...she likes being in MA because she gets to eat lots of stuff I don't feed her. Problem is, it causes severe indigestion for her...she was feeling it and I think the antibiotics aren't helping that. I did have lunch with a former co-worker/friend which was AWESOME!!!

So, its Thursday and I'm back to my normal routine for the most part. Left eye is still a mess, hoping it clears up in the next couple of days. Lupe not eating or pooping much...Cipro sucks! Supposed to have handed in my self evaluation at work on Tuesday...haven't even started and don't want to do it at all. My boss isn't pressuring me to get it to him yet, so I'm okay for now.

Blah, blah, blah, blah...boring post to write...probably even worse to read :)