So That Happened...

I'm Not Dead

In case anyone out there still cared, I am alive!  So much for my intent on blogging regularly.  It's funny how life happens.  It's not that I didn't want to write, but there has been a lot going on (some good, some bad - okay, more than a lot bad, sadly) and it has been easier for me to handle things by retreating a little.  I hope things get better because 2009 was supposed to be better than last year, dammit.

In other news, today is Ripley's second birthday!  Unbelievable.  I should have known she was entering her Terrible Twos when her two left tires blew out yesterday (a small accident that was totally my fault and no one else was hurt, thank goodness) and I ended up having to replace all four.  I hope she likes her gift.

Must. See. This. Play.

Okay, so who wants to take go with me to Dublin to see MacBecks?  

Seriously.  I'm not kidding.

The California Anti-Texting Bill

Just so we are all clear about what we in California can and cannot do in the car when it comes to texting:

SB 28 Senate Bill - Bill Analysis

Wow, I didn't know about not being able to READ text messages!  I am going to presume this means no writing while at stoplights as well.

Many thanks to Heathyr for the link!

New Week, New Topic

Yesterday's post received a lot of comments - thanks to everyone who put in their two cents.  I really enjoy hearing from you; I find it enlightening and challenging (in a good way).

I am working on a new side project which I will attach to this blog and make public soon, but right now I'm still sorting all the specifics out.  When I feel it is ready I will let you know.  Thanks.

Um, YEAH.

Did anyone else watch last night's 20/20 besides me?  If you did, WE MUST DISCUSS.  Where to begin?

Do we start with the orgasmic births?  How about the serial surrogates?  We of course can't forget the breast-feeding older children segment, but the one that sticks out in my mind the most is the one about the fake babies because y'all?  That was some CRAZY TV right there.  Just...WOW.

Donator's Remorse

I've been donating things to Goodwill for years.  Old clothes, shoes, purses, household items, you name it - if I hadn't used it in a year out it went.  In November I made a point of donating a lot of things and really pushed myself to let go of some of the cutest items that I really never wore but was holding onto just because.  One such thing was a pair of Nine West fuschia leather peep-toe platform slingback heels.  Sounds cute, right?  I know.  I bought them at least four years ago along with a pair of black ones in the same style.

Naturally, I wear the black ones WAY more than the fuschia ones.  The fuschia pair was barely used, so when I went through my closet for the purge I threw them in the donation bag.  What on EARTH would I wear them with, I kept telling myself.

Fast-forward to today.  I was in Marshalls looking at dresses and found the cutest spring/summer piece for 17 dollars.  That is practically free in my book so I bought it. 

You can guess where this is going.

Yes, the new dress matches the fuschia heels PERFECTLY.  Even the style of the shoe matches that of the dress.  And now I DON'T HAVE THE SHOES.  So what did I do?

I went to the Goodwill where I dropped them off to see if I could BUY THEM BACK.

No such luck.  Sigh.  I hate myself.

The One About the Resolutions

Merry New Year!  (If you know where that line is from, I will buy you a cupcake.)  I hope this finds you well.  I am watching the Rose Bowl, eating a tamale and shredding documents like it's going out of style.  Thank goodness for my Mom's office shredder and its 17-sheet capacity.  

So, resolutions.  It's all anyone is talking about today.  You see it in the news: reporters doing stand-ups in front of gym windows with rows of eager and/or hungover exercisers running in place, man-on-the-street interviews asking Joe Blow about what they would like to do this year.  I always say I won't make any resolutions but then I keep a short list in the back of my mind:

1. Take a self-portrait a day.  (This was going to be 'take a picture a day' but I changed my mind, mostly because I want to document how freaking long my hair is now.)
2. Be more patient with others, especially my Mom.  It's a long story.
3. Eat better/exercise more (aka The Usual).
4. Make a significant dent in my debt. 
5. Get more sleep.
6. Reduce my clutter. 
7. Blog daily again.  
8. Develop that other blog I've been thinking about.  
9. Take more photo booth pictures.  

Like this one which I took last Saturday night at my birthday party.  It is my favorite current picture of myself:

 

In other somewhat related news, my childhood friend Jen with whom I reconnected via Facebook (thanks, FB!) started a blog last month.  It's wonderfully written; she's funny, sharp and introspective without being annoying.  I very much like her December 30th entry in which she discusses her 2008 resolution of not buying any clothes last year.  I KNOW.  I find that admirable on so many levels.  Please spend your New Year's Day getting to know her.  You won't regret it.

Birthday Horoscope

From Horoscope.com:

Happy Birthday! The months ahead are likely to start as a rather intense emotional journey as you start carving out a new direction in life – places to go, things to see, but first you’ll have to do some soul searching! There could be a career change for some of you – with opportunities for some travel involved. While it’ll be a wrench to leave home you should grasp these opportunities with both hands! Romance will peak and trough throughout the next few months, but the summer is looking especially frantic as you’ll be juggling all aspects of your life! This will continue well into the fall and after. Taking care of yourself will be very important. Sensible eating combined with plenty of rest will help you recharge your batteries during this hectic time.

Gee, this kind of sounds like my birthday horoscope every year!

I hope Mary Tyler Moore, Ted Danson, Paula Poundstone, Jon Voight, Jude Law, Bryan "Dexter" Holland, Marianne Faithfull and my friend Mike O. have a nice birthday today, too.

Quick Christmas Music Poll 2: Electric Boogaloo

Okay, okay - I totally erred yesterday when I left out both Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and WHAM!'s "Last Christmas" for consideration as modern Christmas classics.  I hate myself for that because I LOOOOVE those songs.  Shoot, I still have the making of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" on Beta.  BETA, people.

So let's make a list, shall we?  In no particular order, here are my favorite modern Christmas classics.  Leave a comment if you think I've left one out!  But don't you DARE add that goddamn "Christmas Shoes" by Bob Carlisle - you know, the one where the kid is trying to buy slippers or whatever for his Mom - unless you want me to punch you right in the throat.  It's the stirrup pants of Christmas songs. Bleeurgh.

• "All I Want for Christmas Is You" - Mariah Carey
• "Do They Know It's Christmas?" - Band Aid
• "Last Christmas" - WHAM!
• "2000 Miles" - The Pretenders (I also very much love Coldplay's cover)
• "Deck the Stills" - Barenaked Ladies

Quick Christmas Music Poll

The best modern Christmas song - the one which could be easily described as a classic - is Mariah Carey's 1994 single "All I Want for Christmas Is You."  Yes or no?  I don't know about you, but it's one of my favorite songs holiday or otherwise.

And for old times' sake, here's a link to the black and white video which I think is WAY better than this one.