...5,4,3,2,1 Happy New Year!

2008 is almost over. This year has been such a roller coaster of ups and downs. But one thing I can say is that it flew by. Especially the last five months.
I think I can put this year into 2 categories: Before the Hurricane and After the Hurricane.
Before the Hurricane I had to deal with the possible move to Texas and the illness of my cat Tabby. Both were not pleasant and seemed to drag on forever! They were two of the most difficult times this year. However, both have been resolved and feel like a lifetime ago. I honestly forgot that Jorge spent any time in Texas. At the time that it was happening, it was all consuming. But now that I look back on it, it was not as bad as I thought and it does not even compare to other events that happened this year. Tabby's illness was a hell of a lot worse. My poor baby has been through a lot this year. She was poked and prodded and even took a strenuous trip to another state. But as I type this, she is laying next to me purring like crazy. Her health has improved 100% and she is as feisty as ever. Thank you Dr. Durocher!
Well, the worst of 2008 was probably the hurricane. The world stops when you get hit by a hurricane. Gustav started wrecking havoc during the last week in August. Lives got turned upside down. My family and I, pets included, evacuated to Little Rock for a week. The drive was slow and miserable. We were all nervous because we didn't know what we would return home to or if we would be able to return home at all. The worst part was hearing stories about the damage and destruction back home. How most of these stories got started, I don't know. We heard the worst of them. I am thankful that the majority of those stories were false. However, extensive destruction was done. We couldn't use the water for a month. Homes and businesses were destroyed. And the financial strain it put on all of us is still felt today. But something weird happened after the hurricane. Time seemed to disappear. The second half of 2008 has flown by! Maybe it was because the worst of it was over and all of the good, fun stuff started happening. I don't know, but I'm not the only one who feels this way. "Where has the year gone?" I hear this at least 3 times a week. It's like how your lunch hour is the shortest hour of the day. When things are good time seems so short, but when they are bad it drags on forever!
Well, my fun started and it is flying by. The NKOTB concert was so much fun. I hear they are coming back again in 2009. I will have to get my dancing shoes ready. New York was amazing! I cannot thank my cousin enough for that trip. We will have to get away more often. Disney with my family was one of the most incredible weeks of my life. It will always be something that I will look back on with great love and emotion.
So, 2009 has a lot to live up too. It will be a great year. I plan on continuing the fun that this year ended with. I know I will be with friends at the Britney concert. Jorge and I are trying to come up with a great new place for us to vacation. And most importantly, Bush will be out of office and Obama will be leading our country. That alone will guarantee that 2009 will be better than 2008!
Have a safe and happy New Year! See you in 2009!!!!!!!!

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!

Aaahhh, the Disney trip! It was such great fun. My parents took the whole family (minus my brother) to Disney World as a gift for Christmas. We stayed at the Boardwalk Resort, in huge rooms with balconies overlooking the lake. It was fantastic! Because Prince J and Princess V are three years old, we made reservations to eat with the characters at least once a day. Sometimes we had more than one character meal a day. This was so much fun! I recommend everyone get the Dining Plan. We ate at some wonderful places and saved a ton of money on food. Some meals would have cost J and I $150, but with the Deluxe Dining Plan we didn't have to pay that. We loved the Flying Fish, Brown Derby, Cinderella's Royal Table, Cinderella's Ball at 1900 Park Fare, and The Liberty Tree. The breakfast buffet at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway is a great place for kids to meet Belle (in her yellow gown), Mulan, and Jasmin. They are usually harder to find than the other princesses. The Playhouse Disney breakfast at Hollywood & Vine and the Winnie the Pooh breakfast at Crystal Palace were so cheery and colorful. Nothing beats Mickey Mouse shaped waffles! The one place I would never eat again and wouldn't recommend to anyone is Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary. The food was terrible and the place was a mess! This is where Goofy molested me. I really don't want to get into it at this time, but lets just say that sometimes a hug is more than a hug. Okay?
Another great thing we got to do is the Magical Fireworks Voyage with Captain Hook. We had a party with Captain Hook and Smee, then we got on a boat and watched the fireworks over Cinderella's Castle from the lagoon. We sang songs and played Disney trivia for prizes. When we got back from the voyage, Peter Pan was waiting for us to take pictures. It was the perfect way to end our trip.
Other must things to see and do is Fantasmic!, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, The Tower of Terror, and the Rock n Rollin coaster. The kids loved the motor speedway, Goofy's roller coaster, the carousel, Dumbo's flight, the Buzz Lightyear rides, and It's a Small World.

I wish I could detail all of the highlights from this trip, but there were far too many. We had 7 jam packed days of fun. Well planning is the key to a successful vacation when traveling with 8 people. We did almost everything we set out to do. Prince J and Princess V had a ball. It was so much fun to watch them experience Disney for the first time. On the last night of our trip, my mom was trying to figure out who was Goofy and who was Pluto. She was getting them mixed up. My husband told her that Pluto is Mickey's pet dog. She then asked "What is Goofy?" J told her he is also a dog. To this Princess V responded "Goofy is not a dog. He wears pants!" Such a smart 3 year old!

Coming Soon....Pt. 2?

So, this is my third attempt to post part 2 of my New York trip. My first two drafts have been lost. At this point I do not have the energy to rewrite about my trip. Trust me, I had a blast. I'm sure I will try to write about it again in the future, but for now I will have to put it aside. My next post will be about my Disney trip. Check back soon to read all about it.

New York Trip part 1

New York and Equus was amazing! We got to meet Daniel Radcliffe & Richard Griffiths (The actors who play Harry Potter and Uncle Vernon in the HP movies.) As you can see from the picture, they were kind enough to sign my playbill. How cool is that? Dan is such a cute little thing. I just wanted to pick him up and put him in my pocket. He is so teeny tiny! As for Uncle Vernon, ugh I mean Richard Griffiths, he is huge! He has a belly that hangs to his knees. But I have to say this, that man can act! His performance was flawless. Daniel was fantastic too. I never once thought "Harry Potter" during his performance. And as for that famous nude scene, it was extremely intense. I was on the edge of my seat with my head in my hands. Dan killed it! Oh, and the guys who played the horses were hella hot! Especially Lorenzo Pisoni who plays Nugget. We got a chance to attend a work shop with him the day after the play. It was really nice to hear his take on things.

All in all, I give this trip two thumbs up. If you get a chance to make it to New York before February, you must see this play. It will be well worth your time.

I have to cut this short, but I will be posting more about my trip, so check back soon!

The BIG Apple

Start spreading the news, I'm leaving today. I want to be a part of it- New York, New York!!

Well, the time has come. I am off to New York and I can't wait! I have this nervous excitement that is hard to contain. There is so much I want to see and experience, but I'm sure I wont get to half of it. The weather might hamper some of our outdoor fun. They are predicting rain and snow for a couple of days. Yikes! I have no idea how to navigate in that kind of weather. I just know there is a patch of ice somewhere waiting for my behind. I can barely walk on dry, even concrete without tripping and breaking something much less a slick, slippery surface. This is sure to be an adventure!

...It's up to you, New York NEW YORK!!!!!

....and I will eat cake

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

WOW! 35................

YES WE CAN!!!!!!!!!!!

The Times They Are A-Changin'

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'

YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN!

Where has the time gone?

Wow! I can't believe it's November already! So much has been going on and I have not had a chance to write. So, here is a quick list of some of the things that's been happening.
I finally read the Twilight series. Thanks Courtney! It was really good. I must confess that I love Jacob Black. Yes, Edward is perfection and all that, but I love my little wolf boy. The Twilight movie is coming out this month and I can't wait to see it. Hopefully it will be amazing.
My friends and I went to the New Kids on the Block concert. LOVED IT!!!! I touched Donnie!!! The concert was so much fun. I felt like I was 16 again. After all of these years, my heart still belongs to Donnie. I guess you never really get over your first love.
This Halloween my family dressed as characters from the Wizard of Oz. I was the Wicked Witch of the East. My costume was fantastic! I was surprised so many people knew who I was dressed as. I mean, the only part of her that anyone has ever seen is her legs and feet. I guess those black and white striped stockings and ruby slippers are very memorable. Also, I 'm sure it helped that I was surrounded by the other characters. It was so much fun to see every ones reaction as we walked down the street. Not many parents dress with their kids. It is so much more fun when the whole family gets involved. On a side note, why do parents drink alcohol while trick or treating with their kids? Can't they just take a couple of hours of their time to spend it with their kids sober? Drink when they are finished or when you are at a Halloween party. I will never understand the need to drink to have a good time. Some people just need to grow up and act like responsible adults/parents.
Anyway, November and December will be hectic. My birthday is in a couple of weeks, I will be in New York for three days right before Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving itself, Disney World for 7 days the second week of December, then it's Christmas. Whew! That's just the big stuff. I will be one busy bee! So much is going on and I can't wait.
I will try to find the time to write more. Until then........
Oh wait!!!! DON'T FORGET TO VOTE ON NOVEMBER 4th!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Warshington, you betcha! (wink)

Washington does NOT have an 'R' in it! Stop pronouncing it like it does.

No Cosmos for me!

I finally saw the "Sex and the City" movie last night. Yes, I guess I am the last person on Earth to do so. Everyone I know absolutely loves this movie. I heard non stop commentary about the clothes, the love, and the laughter. I must say, it was a cute movie. I did laugh and I did shed a tear or two. But, this movie fell way short on expectations. It felt as though this movie was shot in the late 80's early 90's. The clothes were not that impressive. Most of it should not have been worn by women of their age. Yes, the wedding dresses were beautiful and those blue Manolo Blahniks were to die for, but the rest of it was just okay. Carrie's hair is in desperate need of a hot oil treatment and some frizz control. She looked terrible through out most of the movie. AND the fact that she married Big is just ridiculous! I NEVER would have thought she'd do so. Such a disappointment! Anyway, the movie was not bad. I'm sure I will watch it again on HBO. Maybe then I'll be able to understand what all of the hype was about.

WOW!!!!! Well said!

EVE ENSLER writes:

I am having Sarah Palin nightmares. I dreamt last night that she was a member of a club where they rode snowmobiles and wore the claws of drowned and starved polar bears around their necks. I have a particular thing for Polar Bears. Maybe it's their snowy whiteness or their bigness or the fact that they live in the arctic or that I have never seen one in person or touched one. Maybe it is the fact that they live so comfortably on ice. Whatever it is, I need the polar bears.
I don't like raging at women. I am a Feminist and have spent my life trying to build community, help empower women and stop violence against them. It is hard to write about Sarah Palin. This is why the Sarah Palin choice was all the more insidious and cynical. The people who made this choice count on the goodness and solidarity of Feminists.??
But everything Sarah Palin believes in and practices is antithetical to Feminism which for me is part of one story -- connected to saving the earth, ending racism, empowering women, giving young girls options, opening our minds, deepening tolerance, and ending violence and war.
I believe that the McCain/Palin ticket is one of the most dangerous choices of my lifetime, and should this country chose those candidates the fall-out may be so great, the destruction so vast in so many areas that America may never recover. But what is equally disturbing is the impact that duo would have on the rest of the world. Unfortunately, this is not a joke. In my lifetime I have seen the clownish, the inept, the bizarre be elected to the presidency with regularity.
Sarah Palin does not believe in evolution. I take this as a metaphor. In her world and the world of Fundamentalists nothing changes or gets better or evolves. She does not believe in global warming. The melting of the arctic, the storms that are destroying our cities, the pollution and rise of cancers, are all part of God's plan. She is fighting to take the polar bears off the endangered species list. The earth, in Palin's view, is here to be taken and plundered. The wolves and the bears are here to be shot and plundered. The oil is here to be taken and plundered. Iraq is here to be taken and plundered. As she said herself of the Iraqi war, "It was a task from God."??
Sarah Palin does not believe in abortion. She does not believe women who are raped and incested and ripped open against their will should have a right to determine whether they have their rapist's baby or not.??
She obviously does not believe in sex education or birth control. I imagine her daughter was practicing abstinence and we know how many babies that makes.??
Sarah Palin does not much believe in thinking. From what I gather she has tried to ban books from the library, has a tendency to dispense with people who think independently. She cannot tolerate an environment of ambiguity and difference. This is a woman who could and might very well be the next president of the United States. She would govern one of the most diverse populations on the earth.??
Sarah believes in guns. She has her own custom Austrian hunting rifle. She has been known to kill 40 caribou at a clip. She has shot hundreds of wolves from the air.??
Sarah believes in God. That is of course her right, her private right. But when God and Guns come together in the public sector, when war is declared in God's name, when the rights of women are denied in his name, that is the end of separation of church and state and the undoing of everything America has ever tried to be.??
I write to my sisters. I write because I believe we hold this election in our hands. This vote is a vote that will determine the future not just of the U.S., but of the planet. It will determine whether we create policies to save the earth or make it forever uninhabitable for humans. It will determine whether we move towards dialogue and diplomacy in the world or whether we escalate violence through invasion, undermining and attack. It will determine whether we go for oil, strip mining, coal burning or invest our money in alternatives that will free us from dependency and destruction. It will determine if money gets spent on education and healthcare or whether we build more and more methods of killing. It will determine whether America is a free open tolerant society or a closed place of fear, fundamentalism and aggression.
If the Polar Bears don't move you to go and do everything in your power to get Obama elected then consider the chant that filled the hall after Palin spoke at the RNC, "Drill Drill Drill." I think of teeth when I think of drills. I think of rape. I think of destruction. I think of domination. I think of military exercises that force mindless repetition, emptying the brain of analysis, doubt, ambiguity or dissent. I think of pain.??
Do we want a future of drilling? More holes in the ozone, in the floor of the sea, more holes in our thinking, in the trust between nations and peoples, more holes in the fabric of this precious thing we call life?

Hurricane's Suck!

Whew! I finally have electricity, cable, Internet, and phone service. I must admit that I thought I would be without the above for a lot longer. Electricity was restored on Friday, and the rest started working at 3:30 this morning. I was up at the time and shouted with glee when I realized I could watch TV. I am so behind on my shows! I really need to catch up.
So, let me fill everyone in on my week from hell. I ended up evacuating to Little Rock with J, my dad, my brother and his two cats and my two cats, Tabby & Sophie. J didn't want to leave, but my mom and sister called every 20 minutes begging us to evacuate so we gave in and traveled to Little Rock. Now, none of us were happy about making this trip. What would usually take 7 hours took 15! You think we were happy campers? And to top it off, my cats were stressed out and miserable. They fought with one another and refused to stay in their kennels the whole ride there and back. We stayed in Little Rock from Sunday until Friday. J and I had not planned on staying there that long, but we didn't drive our own car so we were stuck. His work was not happy about that, but that is a whole nother story for another time. Tabby and Sophie did not like being in the same room as my brothers cats. Tabby refused to eat or drink for 4 days, so I brought her to a local vet to get checked out. She was given IV fluids and an appetite stimulant. The vet also said we had to separate my brother's cats from my cats to help alleviate stress. As a result, Todd and his frisky felines moved into their own room. By Thursday night I noticed that Tabby calmed down a great deal and she started drinking on her own. I couldn't wait to get her home so that she could start eating. Which she did by the way. I must say there was one highlight to our trip. J and I got to tour the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. Words cannot describe how wonderful it was. I recommend everyone take a trip to Little Rock just to visit it. It is amazing how the state of our country can change in just 8 short years. So much of what President Clinton accomplished gets overlooked because of the Monica Lewinsky scandal. If it takes getting a blow job in the oval office to balance the budget and have a surplus, to decrease the unemployment rate significantly, to be admired and praised by the United Nations and the rest of the world, then I say W should take it like a man. Tell Condi to strap on some knee pads and get to work! Anyway I digress.
Hurricane Gustav did a pretty nasty job back home. I am just thankful that the storm weakened and didn't hit us at the force that was predicted. My brothers house was hit by a tornado, but it is not a complete loss. My father's bakery had some roof damage and J's truck got messed up by flying debris. Other then broken down trees, our place was fine. It is astonishing the amount of help South Louisiana is getting from other states. They are working around the clock to get us up and running again. My love and heartfelt thanks go out to them.
Well, I hope everyone made it though the storm unscathed. Let's just hope Ike stays the hell away. I can't go through this again!

Hurricane Gustav and Beauty Queen VPs

I am sitting here praying that Hurricane Gustav will turn in another direction. Most of my family has evacuated to Arkansas, but I am staying near by. It would have been so hard to drive 12 hours with my two cats in the car. J is staying to take care of his saltwater fish. It is almost guaranteed that we will be without electricity for several days. I hope the generator he has as a back up will keep all of those fish alive. I will be at my parents house with Tabby, Sophie, and my Dad. He also has a generator, but he will use his to power the AC and refrigerator. Hopefully the house will not be unbearably hot for the day or so we will be without power (the generator cannot be turned on until the the worst of the storm is over.) I hate being hot! I can't sleep or get comfortable when it's hot. I have been through this before with other hurricanes and I am not looking forward to it. I will try to update more before Gustav hits. If not, I will write about it when it's all over with. Wish me luck!

On a side note, what is up with McCain's V.P. pick? This has to be a joke, right? I'm waiting for Ashton to tell us we are all being punked! Just because millions of women were excited about Hillary Clinton does not mean they will be excited about Palin. She is nothing like Hillary. Governor Palin is simply window dressing. Lets say McCain wins the election, then dies while in office, would you want Palin as your President? This is not an unreasonable question to ask. John McCain is 72 and in questionable health. How many cancer scares can he have before it's too late? This is all too much for me. Palin doesn't even know what the Vice President does! She said so in an interview. Okay, enough of this. I have to make sure my Obama/Biden sign is secure so that it wont fly away during the storm.

What some people will do for a buck!

A lot has happened since the last time I blogged. First off, I missed almost a whole week of work because of an intestinal infection. That was soooo not fun! I was so nauseated that I couldn't move. Thank all that is holy that I am now better. I don't think I could have survived one more day.
Secondly, Tabby has been having a problem with fleas. Because she is in such poor health, she could only be treated with chemical free products. I tried everything I heard about: organic white vinegar, olive oil, original Dawn liquid soap. Nothing worked. In the mean time, Tabby was scratching so much that she had bald patches and open sores. Her behavior was changing and she was eating much less. I called her vet and he recommended a chemical product for Tabby and for the house to be fogged. I was stunned! Everything that I learned about cats with Renal failure claimed that chemicals of that nature would most likely kill them. I told this to the vet and he said that's a chance you take. Wow! What an uncaring asshole! Now, I should point out that after everything we went through with Tabby, I said I would NEVER go back there again. It was a very bad experience and the vet was never available to help or answer questions. Why I called him that day, I don't know. I guess I was desperate! So, as a result, I decided to contact another veterinarian. This vet came highly recommended by everyone I talked to. I was very nervous to bring Tabby in. The thought that this vet might suggest to euthanize her, caused me to fall into fits of tears. However, I sucked it up and made an appointment for that very same day. My husband came with me to insure I didn't fall apart or make any rash decisions. He was my much needed support.
I must say, the minute I walked into the clinic I knew I would love that place. It was calm and quiet, the people were warm and friendly, and everyone seemed genuinely happy to be there. Also, a huge, 3-legged cat roamed the halls. How could you not love it? The place was perfect!
We met the vet and the first thing he said was, "This cat doesn't look like a cat in renal failure."
Huh? What? I'm sorry. What did you say? He looked over Tabby's chart from the last vet and asked if he could do a complete blood panel and health check. He said he knew we spent an insane amount of money on her care already, but from what he read and what he saw, he wanted to run his own tests. He told us how much it would cost (half the price of the last vet) so that we wouldn't be surprised by the bill. We didn't ask him to do this, he just did!<3<3 It would take about an hour to get the results. Of course we agreed to do the tests! It took 2 weeks for those results to come in at the last vet! I had a Strong feeling things were gonna be different.
Well, I was right! Tabby is not in renal failure! She is not dying! She does have kidney problems, but not life threatening. Almost all of her levels are in the normal range and those that are not are only slightly raised. The last vet said her levels were "astronomically high" and would not come down. When the new vet heard that, he was puzzled. He was also shocked to hear that we were told that only a kidney transplant would save Tabby. Oh, and she doesn't need that $400 oral surgery. Her teeth are perfect. She is now eating a special dry food for cats with kidney problems. The last vet said she couldn't eat dry food because of her "bad teeth."
To make a very long story short, the last vet lied to us and scammed us out of a lot of money. As for the flea problem, Tabby is allergic to flea poop. That's why she was so miserable. She has been treated and is almost 100% better.
Do I want to kill the old vet? Hell yes! The amount of emotional stress he put me through, is unforgivable. Not to mention the amount of money we spent. They say karma is a bitch. Well, that asshole better watch out!

I'm Here!

It has been about a month since my last post so I thought it was about time that I gave an update on what's been going on.
The news that we got about Tabby was not good. The vet said there is nothing more that could be done except for maybe a kidney transplant. She was so thin and weak that I thought she would not have long to live. Thank God that was not the case! Tabby is doing sooooo much better! She is eating like crazy and is alert and active. I know there will come a time in the near future where things will not be so great, but as for now, things are really wonderful!
Well, it looks like J got a new job! He was offered a position today and now he is in negotiations for all of the specifics. If things work out, and I think they will, we will be moving to a town about an hour or so away from where we live now. Hopefully I can transfer to location close to where we will be living. If not, it will be my turn to look for a new job. Cross your fingers that I will not have to do that! Looking for a new job is no fun at all!
Not much else has been going on. Been keeping up with Big Brother. It is not such a good cast this season. I fell in love with Mad Men! If you have not seen it, you are missing out. It is so good! I started watching season one of the West Wing again. Aaron Sorkin is a genius! He needs to write another television drama.
Lets see.......what else is going on................? Well, I guess that's it! I will update soon. Promise!

Tabbby's Home!

Well, it looks like the damage to Tabby's kidneys is very extensive. Her second test results showed that her levels did come down, but they are not in the normal range. The vet let her come home on Thursday afternoon and we are very happy about that. Now, its been a task of getting her to eat and take her medicine. I am not very good at getting a cat to take a pill. The first night Tabby kept spitting it out. We tried crushing it into her food, but she sniffed it out right away. Yesterday, J managed to get the pill down her throat on the third try. Needless to say, Tabby was not very happy about it. We are also trying to get her to eat a special kind of food that is supposed to help the healthy tissue of her kidneys. It stinks to high heaven and she only eats a little of it. We are giving her some seafood as well so she can at least be eating something! Her weight loss is crazy. I can feel her bones when I pet her. It's so sad. The vet said we are not at the point yet where I have to decide to "put her down", but it's all I'm thinking about. I can't imagine having to make that decision. On Thursday, July 10, Tabby will get some more test done to see where we stand. I pray that her levels are not escalating. So, in the mean time I am spending as much time as I can making sure she is comfortable and is getting enough to eat and drink. I know we have a hard road ahead of us. I just hope we have a happy ending.

Tabby Update

Yesterday the vet called with Tabitha's test results. She is suffering from kidney failure. I had to bring her in asap to be admitted for treatment. They are giving her antibiotics and I.V. fluids to flush out her system. When I visited her today she looked so sad in her little cage. She has a brace on her front leg to keep the I.V. in and it prevents her from walking. It broke my heart to see her that way. However, I did get some encouraging news. They seem to think that Tabby is making some improvements. Her eyes are clearing up and she is urinating regularly, but we wont know the extent of it until they compare last weeks test to this weeks one. Hopefully, the vet was aggressive enough with his treatment so that Tabby will be okay and can come home soon. We miss her so much!

Here we go!

Yea! I go on vacation in 3 days! I cannot wait! I don't have any real plans, but being able to sleep a little later and not having to put on a suit for 5 days, just makes me giddy. The past 2 weeks have been a roller coaster ride of emotions and chaos. I need this break!

My sweet, sweet, 13 year old kitty, Tabby, has been showing signs of slowing down for the past 2 months. Two weeks ago she stopped eating her regular dry food. Then she stopped going up the stairs. So we brought her to the vet to get her blood work done and we are now waiting for the tests results (it's been 6 days!). Since then,Tabby started eating this really great canned food. Her energy seems to be improving a bit, but she is no where near her old self. Well, last night she peed on the floor in the downstairs bathroom. I am so worried about her. Just when I thought there was some improvement, this happens. Hopefully, she can be treated for whatever is wrong with her. I don't know what I will do if she doesn't get better. Tabby has been my constant for so long. She has been with me longer than my husband has. So in the mean time, I am loving her and hugging her every chance I get. I'm trying my best to keep her comfortable and happy. Hopefully, we will get the results back soon, deal with what's wrong, and fix it immediately. I hate seeing her this way.

On a happier note, my friends and I are going to see New Kids on the Block in concert! It is going to be such a great time. I can't wait!

Home Sweet Home!

Wow, so much can change in a couple of weeks! J is back home for good. Things didn't work out like he hoped, so he resigned from his position in Texas. I have such mixed emotions about it all. I am happy that he is back with me and that I don't have to move, but I am sad that this opportunity wasn't what he thought it would be. Obviously, money doesn't buy you happiness. If it did, J wouldn't have been so miserable there.

Soooooo on to a new adventure! I can't wait to see what happens next!

My Baby's Back!

Woo Hoo! My hubby is coming home for the weekend! He arrives Thursday night and leaves Sunday evening. It's a short trip, but at least we will be in the same space for 40 hours! The next time we will see each other is for the Fourth of July weekend. After that? Who knows!

Still HANGIN" TOUGH

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK will be in concert on October 18th!!!!!!!! Tickets go on sale June 21st. I am so there! My partner in crime and I have started making plans. If anyone is interested in joining us, just let me know. It will be fantastic!

J has left the building

J left for Dallas this morning. It was a very teary goodbye. He kept pushing back the departure time, but eventually he had to grab his stuff and go. He just called to tell me he made it there safely. Thank Goodness! I am not sure when we will see each other next. Hopefully he will be able to come down sometime before July. Until then, I'll take it one day at a time.

9 days and counting

It looks like I will not be moving to Dallas for another six months. J wants to see how things will work out before moving me and all of our worldly goods there. I refused at first. I can't imagine living apart from him for that long. But what he said makes sense. What if he hates living there? What if the job sucks? What if the move turns out to be a huge mistake and we are stuck there? So, he said to give it six months and we can make the final move then. We will visit each other once a month or as often as our schedules allow. I know this will drive me nuts. I am freaking out! J will be leaving in NINE DAYS and I wont see him until Fourth of July weekend. After that? Who knows! I have a feeling that I will be moving there sooner than planned. It will be too hard to be away from him.

By the way, the support I have received from family and friends has been truly amazing. Thank you, thank you, thank you! From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

It is Official!

J got the job in Dallas. His first day is May 27th. He is extremely excited and I am trying my hardest to be happy for him. I told everyone in my family about the move and they are very sad. They don't want me to go. My sister said she does not want to tell the Prince and Princess yet. They will be so upset.
I am not sure when I will be able to move. There is so much to do in such a short amount of time. Hopefully J will be able to make it back a couple of times to help me pack and move. This is a task I don't want to take on alone.
Honestly, I thought I would be handling this much better then I am. When J first told me he took the job I was numb. Then it felt like a six ton elephant was sitting on my chest and I couldn't breathe. Then I became really angry.

Now, I'm just sad.

I don't know what else to say.

News Flash!

Texas is back on the table. J is there now. Don't worry, I am fine.

The Town Crier

I assure you I am fine. WE are just short of perfect. It was NEVER an issue. Private matters sometime become public. Even though I asked for discretion, I shouldn't have expected it. That is why EVERYONE is on a need to know bases. I appreciate the concern. I know it comes from a good place. I just hope the people I have tried to protect from unnecessarily worrying and stressing out about my life, do not get wind of any possible hardship.

FYI, Texas is off the table for now. Everything is working out.

Blue Skies Are Gonna Clear Up, Put On A Happy Face!

Things are looking up! This has been a fantastic week! On Wednesday J and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary. He surprised me with the complete series box set of The West Wing. I was super excited! I triple love that show and miss it greatly. Then on Wednesday I cut off all of my hair. It is really cute! It's a sassy little graduated bob. I have not worn it this short in 9 years. The days of the pony tail are gone. Oh how I will miss you!
Today I booked some activities for the family Disney trip. I know it is still 7 months away, but I am so excited! It will be super-duper fantastic. I can't wait!
But the most exciting news of the week is: my cousin C booked a trip for us to go to New York in November to see Eqqus on Broadway! We will also be going to the opening night of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. It will be A-MA-ZING!!!!! We are trying to figure out what else we can do while we are there. Any thoughts? I am open to all suggestions.

I miss my ZZZZZZ's

It is 1:06 early Tuesday morning and I can't sleep. In the last 3 days I may have slept a total of 7 hours. Why is this you ask? Well the answer is I am sick with bronchitis and the cough medicine is keeping we awake. I am on my third prescription and nothing has changed. I have even taken this super concentrated liquid that suppose to knock me out for hours. I was warned by my doctor that this would be in my system for 12 hours so I should go to bed as soon as I take it to sleep it off. Well, that didn't happen. I slept 2 hours that night. I am not even sleepy to be honest, but it is making me kind of loopy. I took half of a Xanax a little over an hour ago to see if that may help me, but so for it has not. I don't know how I will be able to go to work tomorrow. I have a 9 hour day that does not end until 6.
You know, it may not be just the cough syrup that is keeping me awake. It may be the combination of the cortisone shot, antibiotics, cough medicine, AND the Adderall! Whatever it is it sucks! I pray that I can get at least 5 hours of sleep tonight. That's all that I am asking for. Oh wait, that won't happen! I would have to fall asleep in the next 30 minutes. Okay, I will shoot for 3 hours. My fingers are crossed.

*UPDATE* I didn't fall asleep until 5 in the morning! J called my boss to let her know what was going on and I didn't have to go into work until noon. Whew! That night I slept for 7 hours. Boy did I need it. I am starting to feel much better. I still can't breathe through my nose, but I am definitely on the mend.

What Now!?!

Oh, the twists and turns of life! Everything seems to be turning upside down. In two weeks time my life can change forever. I just don't know if it is for better or for worse. I want good news! I need good news! Please let this be a positive turning point in my life. I don't know if I can handle anything else.

The Lone Star State = Lonely

It looks like I will be moving soon. By this time next month, I may be living in another state. It is something that I am not happy about, but must be done. J and I have tried everything possible to stay here. Nothing has worked. I will greatly miss Princess V and Prince J. They are the loves of my life. They are growing up so fast and I will hate to miss one second with them. Hopefully, things will improve and J and I can move back in a year or two. Until then, I will have to make the best of my situation.

Reunion

I need to reconnect. Find a common ground. I am no longer the person I once was. I have changed. What is important to me has changed. My focus has shifted.

I like the person I've become.

From Boys to Men

I am old. I am much older than I feel or than I think I am. It's sad really, to one day realize that you are not that young adult you once were. You are now a fully grown adult woman. Sigh! Oh, yesteryear. How I've missed you!
This realization hit me like a ton of bricks one day at work this week. Little Miss K, who is a young college student, is a part time worker at my job. She is really cute, sweet and quiet. I very rarely hear her speak, much less see her become giddy with excitement. Well, that all changed on Thursday. Miss K was all a tither when she saw that a visiting college baseball team was staying at the hotel next to our building. I had the perfect view of their comings and goings, so I invited her to sit down and watch them through the office window. She was all smiles! As I was looking out through the window it hit me, I'm too old for this! Those were little boys out there! The way I viewed them changed. Something shifted. No longer was I the giddy girl fawning over college boys. Their appeal.... gone. However, something did peak my interest.
I turned to Miss K and said, "I'm sorry, but those boys are too young for me to look at, but their coach is kinda cute."

Adult ADD Sucks!

I cannot have caffeine and it's driving me crazy! I want chocolate and coffee and coke! Because I can't have it I want it more. My body is having withdrawals form Starbucks. Oh, how a slice of chocolate cake would make me happy! I understand that the absents of caffine is making me healthier, but it is also making my life a whole lot less fun! I just want a brownie. One itsy, bitsy, little brownie. Is that too much to ask?

HANGIN' TOUGH

OH MY GOD!!!!! The New Kids on the Block are getting back together!! I thought I was excited about the Spice Girls, but this tops it a million times over! I was soooo in love with Donnie when I was younger. I thought for sure we would meet and fall head over heels in love. Ahhh, the good old days. I can't believe I saw them 8 times in concert! My Mom was extremely supportive of my obsession. She even took me to Boston so that I could see where they lived. I met Joe's Dad by the way. I have the pictures to prove it. Gosh, I would have gotten arrested for stalking if I did that now. Oh how times have changed!
Any who, you can go on www.nkotb.com and sign up for their newsletter AND hear a snippet of their NEW SONG!!! This is too much. I pray they go on a reunion tour. I AM SOOO THERE!

2008 Baby!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. I know I did! This year was really nice. I spent time with relatives I have not seen in a long time. It was great seeing everyone.

J and I are planning our vacations for this year. It looks like we will be going to Vegas. I wanted to go to Boston for a Red Sox game, but I think that wont be happening. I don't know. It is all still up in the air. I want to go to some place fun. I just don't want to lay on the beach. If anyone has any ideas, I am open for suggestions. I have two more weeks until I have to turn in my dates at work. I look forward to hearing from everyone!