Yeah, no ... Not the group who came from the Land Down Under that took the music world by storm in the early 80s only to disappear and never be heard from again ... I'm talking about real men who work hard. Last night we had a crew of guys over at the new house pouring a new cement slab. They had been at the site since earlier in the day, but apparently some issue caused the pad to take a lot longer than usual to dry. The guys were working on it when I got home at about 6:00pm, left to get some dinner, then came back and worked on it until just after 10:00pm. I don't know anything at all about cement, so I hope that it doesn't mean that something went wrong with the pour, but I know they worked really hard on it. They seem like really nice guys who take a lot of pride in what they do which, i think, was what was happening.
As of today I've been with my significant other, aka S/O, for ten years. It's gone by unbelievably fast and I'm happier about our relationship now than I was ten years ago (and I was pretty ecstatic about it then ...). I feel like I won the lotto that really counts in the end!
It's increasingly difficult to find the time to blog... sometimes I really feel like my entire day is spent feeding people and cleaning up after them. If it wasn't for the iPod touch I would never be online at all.
At the end of 2009, I found myself with a pile of frequent flyer miles that expire in March but saddled with so many blackout dates that it would be impossible to use them. Fortunately, I can use them on hotel rooms, so we opted to snag a gorgeous room at the Intercontinental down on the Boston waterfront for New Year's Eve.
Kenneth over at the Kenneth in the (212) blog posted his commentary about an image of skanky people doing the skank on a train in the NYC Subway system that has, apparently, been making the rounds around the NYC blogsphere.
Interestingly, last year I actually witnessed people having carnal relations on the Times Square Shuttle train. I promise, I saw it with my own eyes so this isn't some kind of ... "A friend of a friend's friend saw these drunk skanky people doing the deed on the train." kind of thing. I personally saw the drunk skanky people actually doing the deed with my very own Asian eyeballs!!! For future reference, if you ever walk up to a waiting subway train car and there are two people at one end of the car and about 30 people at the other end of the car and EVERYBODY'S eyes are glued on the couple at the far end ... The chances are really good that the couple is drunk and doing the DEED!
Also for future reference, NYC is NYC and you should feel perfectly comfortable taking out your cell phone camera and taking a bunch of pics or a short video clip for your blog. Being an out-of-towner, I was a bit hesitant to make such an assertive move and I've regretted it ever since. I have no proof other than my word that I, indeed, have seen people doing the DEED on a train. Sigh ...
Perhaps the very best part of the experience is that New Yorkers are hilarious and after people got over the shock, the running commentary was SO New York ... It was like living an episode of Seinfeld ...
It's a new decade. From now on ... NO REGRETS!!! ... Manners and propriety be damned ... Next time I'm getting those pics or that video!!!
As I get older, I realize that I really love my family. When I come back to Hawaii, it really isn't the kind of resort vacation that most people on the mainland think of when they hear that I'm spending winter break in Hawaii. More than anything, I'm coming home to see my family.
It's funny, but when I come back to Hawaii during winter break I feel really busy, but I can't figure out what I'm busy doing. Over the past two weeks, S/O and I have had a bunch of meals with my mom and sister, a bunch of meals with my brother and sister-in-law, a sleep over with my nieces and nephew, a few dinners out with friends, and a few family days at the beach. No colorful drinks with umbrellas were anywhere to be seen over the course of the vacation. It's not a luxe vacation at a posh beach front resort as much as it is just nice to come home.
Tonight is new year's eve and we fly out on a red-eye tomorrow night.
It's hard to leave ...
Five day weekends are a glorious thing.
Christmas: I had a lovely time visiting with my family. And because it rained on Christmas Day, 99.9% of the snow was gone by the time I came home. That was an awesome Christmas gift :o)
Work: More of the same. At least we have an organization chart now. Hopefully priorities will be established shortly and I'll have some idea of what else I'll be working on.
Home: I went through the papers and boxes in the office and threw out five full black bags plus set aside a full shred box. All the stuff in the hallway was taken to Goodwill. So I'm ending off the year with less stuff than I started with. Always a good thing.
Hobbies: Haven't made much progress on either the crafting or reading. I probably should start turning off the computer earlier. And sad to say flute seems to be the first thing pushed aside. Which will make my next flute lesson very pathetic.
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Happy New Year!
I was an advocate of this even before the passage of California's Proposition 8. This is an idea who's time has come, people!!! We can preserve American marriages by banning divorce altogether. Let's all do our share to make it happen in 2010! Go to 2010 California Marriage Protection Act | Safeguarding Marriage From the Evils of Divorce and find out more!
Just back from seeing Up in the Air with S/O and S/O's pal Sister P., who, if you haven't guessed it already, is a nun. No, Sister P. doesn't wear a habit like Sister Bertrille of the Flying Nun fame, but rest assured, she is truly a nun (and no she doesn't fly ... at least when I'm around ...).
I've never been much of a George Clooney fan, but his performance was truly a great one!
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Taught at Mass College of Art and at Boston University, published a cookbook for our family and friends (through blurb.com), began studying Italian in earnest, saw Moby in concert. 2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Didn't do so hot this year but plan on making 2010 be rather kickass. 3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No immediate relatives but several friends! 4. Did anyone close to you die? My grandfather passed away in September. 5. What countries did you visit? Hmmm. I didn't leave the country this year, not even to go to Canada. 6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? A trip to Europe under my belt and a downpayment on a house. 7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Not sure if specific dates will be etched into my brain, but I'll remember how I felt when I got the news that Romeo had kidney disease, and when my grandfather died. Oh, also the inauguration of Obama was a historic event that was incredible to be able to see, even if only on television. And the week that my long-lost friend (17 years lost!) Leanna came to visit! 8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Teaching, and receiving agent interest on my unfinished book (I need to get it done and follow through!!). 9. What was your biggest failure? Not getting further on the novel than I would have liked. Not doing anything about my health goals. 10. Did you suffer illness or injury? A few colds (including the massive eye and nose dripping head cold I have right now), otherwise mostly was healthy. 11. What was the best thing you bought? Tickets to Italy for spring 2010!!! YAY 12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Joe for putting up with me for a ninth straight year! 13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Let's just say that they know who they are. 14. Where did most of your money go? Probably eating out too often. Fixing appliances that seemed to always break. We did better this year, being able to save for Italy, pay down some debt and should have a good start on a down payment on a house for next year. 15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Visiting Italy! 16. What song will always remind you of 2009? Negramaro, Il Distrazione 17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? Happier, fatter, richer. 18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Worked on my novel. 19. What do you wish you’d done less of? sleeping in instead of going to the gym. 20. How did you spend Christmas? We went to the "Pitt" as we affectionately call Pittsfield, MA. where Joe's parents live. Was happy, peaceful and full of good wine, food and excellent company. 21. Did you fall in love in 2009? I fall more in love with Joe every year. Sappy but true. 22. What was your favorite TV program? True Blood, Legend of the Seeker, Sanctuary 23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Glenn Beck is higher on the list. 24. What was the best book you read? Just one? Oh my. I really loved La Bella Lingua: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language by Dianne Hales. I bought several copies for friends this Christmas. 25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Polly Scattergood and St. Vincent 26. What did you want and get? Tickets to Italy! A Canon Powershot and a Flip Cam 27. What did you want and not get? Zelda for the Wii. A raise (company froze them, just as so many other companies have). A magic fat-disappearing wand. 28. What was your favorite film of this year? Star Trek 29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 38. Nothing terribly memorable. Went to Clio and ate at the bar. 30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? My job could have been less painless personality-wise, I suppose. Also, I still haven't mastered the ability to care less about what people think of me. 31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Back to my roots (blonde!). But otherwise, as bold and distinctive as always. 32. What kept you sane? Joe! 33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? David Tennant 34. What political issue stirred you the most? There are oh too many. 35. Who did you miss? I ended a long dying friendship this year and that makes me immeasurably sad. 36. Who was the best new person you met? My friends in my most recent Italian class. 37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. I'm always learning. I need to get better at applying. 38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. (popular Italian song, Ma il cielo e' sempre più blu) Chi sogna i milioni, chi gioca d’azzardo chi gioca coi fili, chi ha fatto l’indiano chi fa il contadino, chi spazza i cortili chi ruba, chi lotta, chi ha fatto la spia na na na na na na na na na Ma il cielo è sempre più blu uh uh, uh uh, ma il cielo è sempre più blu uh uh, uh uh, uh uh…
Let me know if you do the year end meme!
