44 Questions

I wonder who starts these things...

Received in an email:
Send back to me and to several more friends!!

1. Do you like blue cheese? No!

2. Have you ever smoked? an occasional cigar

3. Do you own a gun? No

4. What flavor of Kool-Aid was your favorite? Fruit Punch

5. Do you get nervous before a doctor appointment? Not usually

6. What do you think of hot dogs? Maybe once a year I'll have one but only if it's practically burned on a grill.

7. Favorite Christmas movie? Love Actually - and I'll watch it anytime of the year!

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? COFFEE!

9. Can you do push ups? Probably if I tried, but why try?!?

10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? my copper bracelet for it's medicinal value

11. Favorite hobby? Watching soccer, crocheting, reading

12. Do you have A.D? Negatory

13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? Wouldn't say hate but want to worry less and have more fun!

14. Middle name? Kathleen

15. Name three thoughts at this exact moment: It's snowing again! - I should be working - My feet are cold

16. Current worry: How much will it snow?

17. Current hate right now? Hate is such a harsh word...

18. Favorite Place to be? At home, hanging with my pup preferably watching the Revvies play.

19. How will you bring in the New Year? Going to a party close to home, but will probably be home in bed, asleep by midnight.

20. Where would you like to go? To Alaska to see the Aurora Borealis

21. Name three people who will complete this: N/A

22. Do you own slippers? Several pairs

23. What color shirt are you wearing right now? Black shirt with a red hoodie over it

24. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I haven't tried it.

25. Can you whistle? sure

26. Favorite color? green/blue

27. Would you be a pirate? Huh?

28. What songs do you sing in the shower? Whatever is stuck in my head, most recently Christmas songs - "I had Christmas down in Africa..."

29. Favorite Girl's Name? Marius Starr

30. Favorite boy's name? Gianni

31. Do you ever what it? This question obviously lost something in forwarding.

32. What's in your pocket right now? nothing

33. Last thing that made you laugh? probably something my friend said at dinner last night

34. Best bed sheets as a child? I don't remember, they were sheets. I did have Wonder Woman and Daisy Duke Underoos, now those were cool!

35. Worst injury you've ever had? Cat Scratch Fever, required a trip to the ER and high doses of antibiotics.

36. Do you love where you live? Yes

37. How many TV's do you have in your house? 4

38. Who is your loudest friend? Not a distinction I'd make

39. How many dogs do you have? A big, happy, fluffy one!

40. Does someone have a crush on you? Maybe, hopefully...how does one know the answer to this?

41. What is your favorite book? Just one? I love the whole Janet Evanovich series, "The Time Travelers Wife", many Nicholas Sparks book, and...

42. What is your favorite candy? Cadbury Milk Chocolate Mini Eggs - only available at Easter

43. What is your favorite Sports Team? New England Revolution - GO REVVIES!!!

44. What song do you want played at your funeral? "It's In Every One Of Us" by John Denver

For Singing Out Loud!

I sing everywhere; car, work, stores...

I like to think it's an endearing little habit that I have but some probably think otherwise. I sing along to the radio, I sing whatever is stuck in my head when there's no radio and if neither are an option I make something up. The dog and cats have their own theme songs and I frequently tell them how lucky they are because there are lots of animals in the world that have no songs about them. For the record, when I am in public I don't sing at the top of my lungs or anything; I sort of just hum along under my breath. I can, for the most part, carry a tune - however I do this better with music to back me up or with the good acoustics of the shower. I am happy to report that (so far) I have been able to refrain from singing along to my iPod while working out at the YMCA!

So I'm told, I've been doing this since I was a little kid. My grandmother used to love to tell the story about me being around 4 years old, randomly one day standing up in the backseat of their Volkswagen to sing, "I am a Promise, with a capital P..."

Felicity

Finally took pictures of the Fusion!















Although my mom said it looks like an old lady car and my dad said the color I chose was something a grandmother would choose; with a manual transmission, moon roof, 6 disc CD player and the capability to sync with an iPod, it's definitely not your father's Oldsmobile.















There is a story behind the pink lei on the shifter. In 1989 we went to Florida for Christmas and to celebrate my grandparents' 50th anniversary. While we were there we went to Disney World and Alina got to go with us because she was on vacation from school. My grandmother gave us each some money to spend at Disney and with my money I purchased the pink lei. For many years it hung on the bedpost in my room and then a couple vehicles ago I decided I would wrap it around the shifter. Now it is just tradition for it to be in my vehicle.















This squirrel arrived at our house on Christmas Eve. Apparently she had heard of the demise of squirrels on South Lane over the summer because she insisted on riding inside my car, seat belted in for additional safety.

Wishing You...

Feliz Navidad, Mele Kalikimaka, Merry Christmas

However you choose to say it, I hope everyone has a good one!

23rd of the Month Mailing

Resurrecting the art of letter writing.













I have a good friend who lives only about four miles from me. We are what some would consider unlikely friends as she is 40+ years older than me, however, I consider her one of my nearest and dearest. We first became acquainted when we worked scooping ice cream together in my high school days. Ever since then, for the most part, we communicate through letters (no, not email, actual pen and paper letters!). For my birthday probably about 12 years ago, my present from this friend was a mailing on the 12th of each month for an entire year. I received funny cards, letters, post cards with sayings on them and what a treat it was to know I would have some "real" mail at least once a month.

Almost four years ago, I decided to return the gift and send her something on the 23rd of each month for a year. However, once the year was up I didn't want to stop so I told her it was no longer a birthday present, it would just be our tradition. To this day (literally) I make sure I get a note in the mail to her for the 23rd of the month. And depending on what's going on in my life, many months there are more correspondences in between, both me to her and her to me.

So if it's been a long time since you've *written (not typed) a letter or even a quick note to someone, think about doing it. I can tell you it puts a smile on my face when I open the door to my mailbox and see a real letter waiting inside just for me.


*Signing a Christmas card does not count!

Naughty or Nice

Who says you can't be both???

I heard this concept on a TV commercial yesterday (while housebound) and I like it. I think a balance of the two is probably healthy...as long as it leans a little more towards nice. Perhaps this is what is referred to in the song "Santa Baby" where it says "...been an awful good girl, Santa Baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight..."

Welcome Winter

Two Days + Two Storms = White Christmas

It also equals by the time the second storm is over, somewhere around 15-18 inches of snow. Yes, winter has arrived in New England and this year I don't even think global warming could keep us from having a white Christmas with only four days to go.

On the plus side, with the snow coming in two storms, it at least has given us a chance to clean up in between instead of having to do one big dig of the total snowfall. Since I have no need to brave the storm I plan to wait it out inside today. There's a chance the snow will turn to sleet for a while so I'll leave snow removal until it's all over so the sleet can fall on the snow instead of potentially making a cleaned surface slickery.

Jak has already been out a few times. He's such an easy dog (at least when it comes to weather) and is not bothered by whatever faces him when his portal to the outside world is swung open for him. He does however have a lot of long hair on his feet which invites the snow to get balled up in between his toes, making it hard for him to walk. So when that happens it's time to come in and get warmed up.

Here are a few pictures I took this morning. Warm wishes to you on the snowy winter day!

What I Learned

Days without power: a humbling experience.















I try very hard to learn something from the experiences I am presented with. For the past few days I've been trying to figure out what I learned from being without power for three and a half days. Some conclusions that I've come to are as follows, in no particular order...

Overall it was a humbling experience on several levels. First and foremost you have to be able to ask for help and/or be able to accept help when offered. For example, when someone invites you to use their shower, you say thank you very much I'll be there in ten minutes instead of no thanks I'll be fine. It also takes humility to walk into your cold, dark house where the dog and cats and plants are existing at a steady 40 degrees. When I completely fell apart on Sunday night that was what finally got me; I couldn't bare the thought of going out and having to walk back into our cold, dark house again. It gave me a new depth of understand for those who are unable to afford heat and especially for those who are homeless altogether.

I learned that nature can be beautiful in its destructiveness. Broken trees and limbs down everywhere entangled in power lines, but the trees still standing covered in ice with the sun shining on them made it look like a winter wonderland.

I know now that sleepless nights combined with a cold, dark house and word that it will be another day before the power comes back on will push me over the edge. "I can't stop crying..." I said to my mom in between sobs.

And finally the most important thing that I think I learned is this, with or without power, a Golden Retriever on a sugar high is hard to handle. So Jak, NO MORE CHOCOLATE!!!

According to the electric company's website there are only four remaining houses in our town that still do not have power. Those people have my deepest sympathy and empathy. For those who have only just gotten it back in the last day or two, they have my congratulations and a hearty welcome back to life as we knew it!

Disappearing Days

Ice and snow; Christmas shopping...when???

Christmas Eve is a week from today which leaves one week to do my shopping. Last weekend was lost with the effects from the ice storm. This weekend they're predicting significant snowfall Friday into Saturday and Sunday into Monday. Thankfully I don't have much shopping to do. Some stuff has been ordered online, some stuff has been made so I only need a few hours of good weather to finish it up.

In the good news department, I took delivery of my 2009 Ford Fusion last night. ("Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.") I ended up going to a different dealership where the people were much nicer and willing to work with me to get to yes. I have decided to name her Felicity; as in Felicity the Fusion. (Tamara please tell Samantha I have named my car!) Felicity means happiness and I'm happy with my new car. Plus everyone should have some happiness in their lives everyday!

I'll post a picture of the Fusion soon. It was dark when I got home last night and inclement weather has kept me from running out with my camera today. And yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I said I'd post ice storm pictures. I've been busy, but soon...

News

The answering machine is picking up!!!

That's how you know the POWER IS ON when you're not at home. When I left for work at 9:00 this morning it was not on so when I called at noon and heard "Please leave a message after the tone" I did a happy dance!

Pictures from the storm are still come. I hear Maggie has some on her camera so I'll try to get those from her and the few that I took posted on here soon.

Breaking Point

Forty-nine hours, forty-seven degrees.

It happened at about ten o'clock last night, I had finally had enough of the lack of electricity. It had been out for 49 hours and the house was down to 47 degrees. I ran around the house throwing things in a bag, grabbed Jak and headed off to my dad's to spend the night. Given the circumstances this seemed like a good plan but I had forgotten one little detail. When I had gotten home around 9PM I found the remains of a bag of candy that Jak had found and helped himself to. So although there was heat at my father's, there was no sleep because I was trying to contain a 75 pound golden retriever who was on a sugar high. Although I didn't put all the pieces of the puzzle together until this morning so not only did I not sleep but I hadn't a clue why Jak was acting the way he was.

We still do not have electricity, going into the 64th hour now. But who's counting?! I took Jak for a walk this morning (to burn off some sugar) and actually did see utility workers within a 1/2 mile of our house so hopefully (PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE) we will be back on line sometime today. We're tired, we're cold, we need showers, but we're hanging in there. I considered briefly, asking the utility workers how much longer it would be with tear filled eyes, but in the end decided I didn't want to take them away from their work.

I'm actually at my work using the computer and absorbing some heat. I have taken a few pictures, but the batteries in my camera were dying (and no power to charge them) so I'll post them when I can and take some more if I get a chance.

As bad as things seem, I know it could be a lot worse. I have a whole new empathy for people who are without utilities for a lot longer than 64 hours. And as much as I'd like the utility workers to go a little faster, I do appreciate that they are out there working at whatever pace. The temps are above freezing today and although the nights have been cold it hasn't been solid bitter cold days. Tomorrow it's supposed to be near 50 so there's always hope!

Long Night

Crack, smash, thud; another broken tree.

It was a long, icy night in our town last night. On any given night I put my fan on when I go to bed, blowing away from me because I just need the white noise. The electricity went out at about 9PM last night and was not back on as of 9AM this morning when I left the house. I had a hard time falling asleep without my background noise which was only made worse by the fact that what I could hear was the trees breaking outside my window. I know it was even worse in the western part of town because in my sleepless state I was listening to the activities of the fire and police departments on the scanner and it sounded pretty bad. At daybreak this morning I heard one of the firemen say it looked like the trees had exploded on his street.

I'm holding out hope that the power will be back on sometime today but no guarantees since when I called the power company for an estimation, they wouldn't even give one. I spoke to my brother in New Hampshire this morning and he said he thought pretty much that whole state is without power. I'm not a huge fan of snow, but let me tell you, I'll take snow over ice any day.

Do you see what I see?

Christmas Music

What Christmas CD are you playing?

Right now I'm listening to Kenny Chesney's "All I Want for Christmas Is a Real Good Tan" - I'm not always a fan of Kenny Chesney but I do like this CD. Also I've been listening to my old favorite, Ally McBeal "A Very Ally Christmas" - Vonda Shepard and some of the cast sing on it. Robert Downey Jr. actually sounds very good and I love Ally's version of "Santa Baby".

I received my Straight No Chaser "Holiday Spirits" CD in the mail yesterday. I like it so far but haven't listened a lot. I meant to bring it to work with me today but was distracted by the fact that we're on the verge of an ice storm so maybe I'll remember tomorrow.

Blah Day

Nothing to write; updated pictures instead.

6 Words, 11 Syllables

"I want a hippopotamus for Christmas..."

I heard this, one of my all time favorite Christmas songs, on my way home from work tonight. (It rates right up there with "Dominic the Donkey" in my book!) I was so stuck on the song a few years ago, a friend of mine got me a hippo for Christmas. My hippo is actually a little smaller than a football and is bright pink with a big red heart on the butt, so not like a real hippopotamus which is probably a good thing. It was an unexpected gift that made my day so I named him Christmas, because to me giving a gift to make someone happy without the expectation that the gesture will be returned is what Christmas is all about.

"...only a hippopotamus will do no crocodiles or rhinoceroseses I only like hippopotamuseses and hippopotamuses like me too!"

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is...















I actually wouldn't mind getting it before Christmas if possible. And if you can get the dealership to come down $500, I'm even willing to make the payments. For the most part I think I've been a good girl this year so if you could help me out I'd be greatly appreciative. There's even some cookies and milk (eggnog with kick if you prefer) in it for you come Christmas Eve.

Thank you in advance for considering my request. Please give the reindeer a pat on the head for me. All my best to Mrs. Clause.

Love,
Hope

Straight No Chaser

You have to listen to this!

It's a link to YouTube just in case you are at work and that's frowned upon. I just ordered their Christmas CD, I hope the whole thing is this good!