New Year, New Resolutions

Goodbye 2009 and HELLO 2010.

This last year has been marked with many amazing moments, some of which include the birth of baby Dominic, a wonderful belated honeymoon to Buenos Aires, an unforgetable trip to Las Vegas with Paul's family over the summer and offer of a new start on a career that desperately needed one.  Now though, I did decide to stay where I was at, after searching long and hard to get out of there, I feel that it has been the best decision I could have made... I was just not ready for that challenge quite yet.  Paul and I made it through our first official year as husband and wife, which was not always easy but so very worth it, on every level.  With him I am learning to be a better, more compasionate and patient person, one whom knows when to finally just shut up and let the moment happen, rather than manage every minute of it.  But with all of the good that came out of this year, there were defintely the moments that made it more stressful than I could have ever imagined life could be.  The holidays were tough, no one that knows what went on would argue this, but as always WE MADE IT.

So with 2009 behind us, I look to 2010 with all of it's wonder and promise and I am determined to make the most of what I have learned in the last year, hell the last 29.  I turn 30 this year, something that seems to be a big milestone, or at least I am viewing it as such and I want to make the most of it.  So I am working on a list of resolutions to help move in the direction of the person that I have been working to become but until this moment was not clear on the process.  So hear goes...

Resolution #1 - I will be more patient with people and with myself.

Resolution #2 - I will remember to breath, even when it feels like I am drowning.

Resolution #3 - I will work on enjoying the time that I have with my family, friends and the wonderful people around me.  They are here for a reason and I need to remember that and spend more time aknowledging this fact.

Resolution #4 - I will not be so hard on myself or the people around me.

Resolution #5 - I will work on transforming myself into a vegan.  This is something that I have thought about for quite some time and know that it will be hard, but it is the right decision for me.

Resolution #6 - I will love more, hate less.

Resolution #7 - I will actually hold these resolutions as goals for life and continue to work on them, well after the New Year has come and gone.

So with that I wish everyone a VERY Happy New Year and tonight I am off to enjoy my last meaty meal with tons of bread and dairy and all the things that Non-Vegans love... :)

LOVE!

John Mayer is God

Rarely do I make religous references or assume any religion of any type, but when it comes to John Mayer and his latest CD, I have to say that he is GOD.  He is a lyrical genius!  I know that he does not have the best press,  but when it comes to making music he can do no wrong.  I just got his CD and I am already in love with everything on it.  Here is a taste of what you can expect should you choose to follow John into the light...

HALF OF MY HEART w/ Taylor Swift

I was born in the arms of imaginary friends
Free to roam, made a home out of everywhere I've been
Then you come on crashing in
Like the realest thing
Trying my best to understand
All that your love can bring

Oh, half of my heart's got a grip on the situation
Half of my heart takes time
Half of my heart's got a right mind to tell you that I can't keep loving you (can't keep loving you)
Oh with half of my heart
I was made to believe
I'd never love somebody else
Made a plan, stay the man who can only love himself

Lonely was the song I sang
'Til the day you came
Showing me another way
And all that my love can bring

Oh, half of my heart's got a grip on the situation
Half of my heart takes time
Half of my heart's got a right mind to tell you that I can't keep loving you (can't keep loving you)
Oh with half my hear, with half of my heart
Your faith is strong but I can only fall short for so long
Down the road, later on
You will hate that I never gave more than half my heart
But I can't stop loving you, with half of my

Half of my heart
Oh half of my heart
Half of my heart's got a real good imagination, half of my heart's got you
Half of my heart's got a right mind to tell you that half of my mind won't do
Half of my heart's got a shot gun wedding to a bride with a paper ring
And half of my heart is the part of a man who's never truly loved anything
Half of my heart, oh half of my heart
Half of my heart, oh half of my heart!

Control of Time

There are really no words to describe the movement of time and the lack of control that you have over it.  Over the years I have fought to prove that I knew better, that I am above time, but somehow it has caught up with me and I am faced with the pure and simple fact that I am 29 and I have no control over anything, especially time.  Time changes everyone, one way or another and you are powerless to stop it.  I know now that I am not 23 anymore, once thought to be my perfect age and that the people around me are not who or what they were 6 years ago as well. 

But I know this, I am thankful for every moment that I have in this life, with this family, in this love and I would not stop time to change any of that.

This week, seeing as it is only Wednesday, has been a long one.  Paul's mom had surgery, a fellow collegue was found to have a brain tumor and we found out that a co-workers wife's cancer has come back, not an easy week as I mentioned before.  I have to admitt in the midst of it all, I had a minor breakdown thinking about all that can get to us and take us over and how little control we have over it all.  Did I mention that I hate a lack of control?  But at the end of the day that is not the point, the point I hope is that we have to be thankful that we have this time at all and that it continues.

So I guess that the point of this blog is to tell those I love that I am thankful for their place in my life and that I love them!  So thank you!

Dedicated to Loved Pets Everywhere!

I found this article today on a website that is dedicated to reviewing movies, but the editor posted a personal blog that broke my heart and made me grateful for every moment I have ever had with a pet in my life...

Finally today... I made reference to personal stuff going on in yesterday's post. What happened was that Sarah and I lost our cat Kirby yesterday after 17 long years together. It's no exaggeration to say that Kirby was probably the best friend I've ever had. He was more like a dog than the typical cat. He was just with me almost constantly - my whole daily routine revolved around him. He sat with me in my office while I worked, he watched thousands of movies with me in the home theatre over the course of his life. In his later years, he slept on my pillow at night and woke me with a gentle lick on the forehead... you know, so I knew he wanted breakfast sooner rather than later. He was just a great pal. I first brought him home after a visit to my family in North Dakota (he was given to me for free by a high school friend) when he was just a few weeks old - small enough to sit in the palm of my hand - and he's been with us through thick and thin ever since. About 4 years ago, he was diagnosed by our vet as being in the early stages of kidney disease, so we figured his number was up. But with a careful diet to keep his weight up, and nightly fluid injections to ease the burden on his kidneys, he thrived. He was happy, playful, his old self. Loving life. Until Monday afternoon that is, when it became clear that he'd finally reached the late stages of the disease. About 5 PM we noticed that he was having trouble seeing, and he was a little wobbly. He wasn't in any pain, just puzzled by the fact that he couldn't see. But Sarah and I knew this was it - the next thing that follows after sight loss is heart failure, and we absolutely didn't want him to suffer that. So we decided to make his last night a blast. His favorite time of the year has always been the holidays, because he LOVED turkey. So I drove around until I found a grocery store that had fresh turkeys, and we cooked it for him. He got excited as the house filled with the smell, and he eagerly devoured a couple plates full when it was done. We sat with him and just spent time with him the whole night. Then yesterday morning, we took him in to the vet, and he agreed it was time to let him go - that we were doing the right thing. So we said our goodbyes and I held him while they have him the injection. And then he was gone - peacefully, happy right to the end. And today, I'm just gutted. I feel like my right arm is missing. It's amazing how these creatures who are so small and ask so little of us, give us SO much back. As bad as I feel today... I have a lot of happy memories. It's worth every minute.

So anyway, over the next few days if these posts are short, and it seems like my heart just isn't it... that's because it's not. I appreciate your patience as Sarah and I try to deal with the loss of a very important member of our family.

Thank you Kirby, for being our best friend for 17 years. We miss you so...

Love At First Sight

There is nothing that prepares you for that moment when your eyes lock with someone and you just know that you will love this person forever. That no matter what they do or where they go, because of this moment nothing will ever seperate you. I discovered this moment when I met Kelly's baby, Dominic Jon Tedrow. He is beautiful, precious and the most amazing little thing that I have ever encountered and I know that no matter what I will never forget the moment that I fell head over heels for this child.

Facebook...

My mom has a facebook... Enough said!

Going Solo...

Though it seems like a lifetime ago, I once lived alone and for quite some time. I loved being able to claim my space and know what was what and do as I pleased. And then about 3 years ago that all changed when I moved in with my then boyfriend and now husband. I was forced to get accustomed to someone else's habits and needs and find ways to deal with having someone else in my space at all hours of the day. Though it was tough in the beginning and if you were to ask either of us at the time, I am sure that we were not certain that we would make it... But we did.

And now, with Paul away visiting his brothers... I would like nothing more than to have someone crowding my space. I am grateful that we are independent enough to have our own lives and travel as we see fit, but it is comforting to know that we have one another to come back to.

I will make the most of this time alone, but I will surely make the most of the time that I will have with him when he returns.

A Much Needed Post on Vegas

So it has been like 2 weeks since we went to Vegas but I still feel that it is neccesary to post a few pictures and some notes on the fantastic 4 days that we spent in Vegas. We were fortunate enough to stay at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay and it was amazing... Super cool suite with 2 bathrooms and a HUGE tub, easily could have fit 3 people in there... And I mean the tub.



And we were able to get a cabana while we were there... And I have to say that it was the best decision weve made in awhile.











We had a great time with Pauls mom and brother Robert and his friends Nancy and Josh.





So after all the pool time and gambling and eating and drinking we were able to se LOVE the show at the Mirage. I have seen it before and I have to admit that on the first round it brought me to tears, so I was game to see it again. And luckily it did not disapoint, still one of the best shows I have ever seen.







Not sure why... But at the time, this seemed like a great idea!



So we flew out there but the flights home were a hot mess and a lot more than we wanted to spend, so we rented a car. Now we requested a compact and well we got this...

Just Saying...

For all of those people that are not quite ready to see that Jon of Jon and Kate Plus 8 is just as bad if not worse than Kate well here you go...



Explain to me how you can even pretend to care for your kids when you are running around St. Tropez with not your first girlfriend since your wife but now your second. I am just going to put it out there that Jon is a D-Bag and as mean as Kate is, at least she is not a cheater and all around bad example.

My Sister

I just want to say that I love my sister to tears for many reasons... But specifically for the fact that she can turn a totally normal gesture into the funniest story I have ever heard.

And it went a little something like this...

Katie: "So I decided to order Mom and Dad a little something to send to their room for their anniversary."
Me: "Oh yeah, what did you end up sending them?"
Katie: "Well I went with the champagne and chocolate covered strawberries... Not that they drink but still."
Me: "Oh geez"
Katie: " Well Mom might have some, and if not we can drink it on Sat when we see them."
Me: "So how much was all that?"
Katie: "I don't know... (best part ever) I WAS AFRAID TO ASK."

And there you have it.

New Page...

Not sure what I think about this new background, but let me know what you think. I am leaning towards this being too bling but maybe it is perfect.

Vegas Baby...

I am so excited... One month from today Paul and I will be in Vegas and hanging out at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay. Looking forward to sun, fun and a little relaxation.

Anti Climatic

I was so ready for change and then the curve ball... You think that you are ready and prepared till the options are presented and then you realize that you were all talk.

I WAS ready and now I don't know.

Buenos Dias - Nueve Dia

It is our last full day here in Buenos Aires and with that being said we decided to hit up a couple of things that we had not had a chance to look at to this point. First on the list was El Obelisco, a monument representing the 400th Anniversary of the city.

After we got some photos, we walked the Avenida de Nueve and well it was loud, crowded, and everyone was smoking... So we decided that we would head over to Avenida Santa Fe for a little less people and lunch. Once there we decided to head over to the mall, otherwise known as Alto Palermo where we ended up eating at a little cafe. I ordered what I thought was going to be a salmon salad, but I imagined that it would be cooked on a bed of lettuce, but what I got was more like locks on salad with cheese that smelled pretty strong. It was not good, the first time that I can really say that here but still.
Once we got away from lunch we wandered the mall where I picked up a couple of tank tops, that I love and then we hopped the subway home.
It has been a long week and though we should totally be finishing it up with some grandeous night out, we are not. We both feel that we have seen and done all that we wanted to and with still a few things left on the list for next time.
We leave tomorrow...

Buenos Aires - Ocho Dia

I am really enjoying our time here in Buenos Aires, the people are nice and everyone is beautiful and healthy looking, well except that most of them smoke. I guess everyone needs at least one vice. We decided today was going to be a light day and headed over to the Japanese Gardens and then onto La Bombadera, the home of the Boca Juniors team in Buenos Aires.
The Japanese community donated the garden to the city of Buenos Aires and though it is a little smaller than expected, it is truly scenic and wonderfully quiet.












After a lovely and serene walk through the Japanese Gardens we hoofed it to the subway to head over to La Bombadera. This trip was totally for Paul but after seeing how much people love this team and have so much pride associated with them, I fell in love as well.











After a long tour, which was totally great we headed back to the apartment to go back and forth on the "where do you want to eat" convo. Finally we realized that the reason that it took so long to decide is that we were not really hungry and that we did not have the energy to bother with a long drawn out meal.. So we went to McDonald's and then home. I have to say it was the best thing that we could have done... So tired and just wanted a night off.

Buenos Aires - Siete Dia

Today was an early day, the first so far on this trip to date. We got up and headed down to Florida Street for a walking tour that my sister got for us as a birthday gift for me. Totally cool idea and since we ended up being the only 2 people on the tour it was even better than we could have anticipated.
The tour started at 10am and we walked the area around Florida Street and Plaza de Mayo and mostly the historical sites in that area.
This was the most beautiful church that had a great history and story that of course I will not get correct, so I will just leave it as it was a beautiful church, inside and out.












This was the site of the Islam Center in Buenos Aires, but there was a bombing and it killed 21 people so now it is a memorial site where there are 21 trees planted in thier honor. To this day no one has been brought to justice with regards to this horrific tragedy.


This is the hotel that Madonna practiced her Evita speech from in order to be prepared for filming... Even though there were only a few on site shots actually filmed in Buenos Aires. I thought that was odd.


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After the walking tour we wandered down to Puerto Madero to check out the water and the famous Puente de la Mujer bridge.



We ended the day with dinner at Casa Blanca... Again. We had totally intended to eat at La Cabrera, the infamous parilla that is famous for their large portions of meat but the wait was 40 minutes and there was no guarantee that we would not be eating with the smokers... So we hit up the place that we knew would be great, and it was.