Have I mentioned how lucky I am lately?

Living in Geneva is proving to be a nice experience. Each morning I get to walk along the lake and some mornings are definitely better than others. This morning was outstanding. There was a perfect breeze that was cool and warm at the same time, but the colors on the horizon over the lake were stunning. There is no better word to describe what I experienced this morning. It was just gorgeous. Blues. Purples. Red and pinks. And the orange. Just colors that are so hard to create, but come so naturally in nature. Belle and I walk a loop every morning that starts and ends our walk around the lake. We are lucky, lucky creatures.

Did I happen to mention there are oodles of wineries here, too? Not a bad perk.

Man bit by rabbid BAT!

Hell, yes I said it! "Man bitten by RABID bat!" Okay. There are a few things that go along with this little story, but first I should give you the story as emailed by C. Elizabeth Cameron, Director of Environmental Health for Tompkins County. Please read the following then direct your attention back to me....

"A bat captured on Sunday, August 24, in the small City park across North Cayuga Street from Northside Kinney Pharmacy and across Cascadilla Street from Gimme Coffee, tested positive for rabies.

The man we seek was definitely bitten by the bat while he picked it up. He stated that the bat bit him and exclaimed at the pain it caused. He is described as 20 to 25 years old, white, approximately 6 ft tall with brown hair longer in the back and on the sides and dark eyes. His arms and hands are tattooed with particularly noticeable tattoos on his knuckles. He was with a young woman with blonde dread-locks. They had a medium dog that was not on a leash.

This man must begin the rabies post-exposure regimen immediately. Without rabies shots, this man could incubate rabies, become rabid and die.

Please contact Frank Chase or Skip Parr at the Health Department, 274-6688, if you can assist in locating this man.

Thank you.

C. Elizabeth Cameron, P.E.

Director of Environmental Health

Tompkins County Health Department"

I am soooooo not making fun of this man. At all. I'm really not, but if you remember I had a little bat episode in my apartment three days after moving in. I had to go take little Salazar to be tested after he bunked with me for two days. Unfortunately, it all ended badly for Sal, but good for me. He tested NOT positive for rabies, but imagine if he had...

If you remember, I posted a blog regarding the book "Rant" where the man contracts rabies, becomes rabid, and spreads it across the world. It becomes a badge of honor for people to contract rabies and be able to track it back to Rant. So....what if this guy becomes Rant and the world all gets rabies and weird? I'm just saying.... So, please....I beg of you if you see anything resembling this coming towards you call public safety or the EMT's or Batman or whoever it is you call. This is what a rabid person looks like:

Know the signs!

It could have been me, kids. I have narrowly escaped the claws of death. Or at least a series of really, really horrible shots. Oy vay!

Extreme Home Makeover is a product. They aren't a charity. They aren't doing all of this out of the goodness of their hearts. It's a business with sponsors and a budget and a bottom line. This is what I have been reminded of as I've wandered down to the site of the project in the middle of Geneva. Literally in a middle class neighborhood in Geneva. The march of the volunteers coming down the street took five takes. It's a production. Not to mention that I've gotten in trouble for something every time I go over there. Last night I boycotted, but may try it one more time tonight.

And another thing? They aren't using local businesses. The contractors are from something like an hour or two away. The volunteers aren't local because you had to sign up to volunteer like a month ago or something like that. The excavators aren't local. They weren't even asked. That's not okay with me, by the way. The neighborhood is completely taken over. There are trailers in the parking lot of a funeral home on the street. The work doesn't stop, even though there is a funeral at that home today. Where is the community in that? Can you imagine having to listen to Ty's big gob as you are trying to respect and remember a loved one? I don't think so.

Anyway, that's my assessment of the project. They can go away now, please.

On the other hand, I am supporting commercialism and hype by going on the Mayercraft II. Yes. I am. I am rooming with two girls from London and one from California. I've never met them and hadn't even known these people existed until I looked into finding a roomie for the cruise. I wasn't going to go. I said that I wouldn't. The cruise is almost twice as expensive this time around, both for the boat and the airfare since it leaves out of California. Last year I was on the first to the last deck in the bottom of the ship. This year? Not even close to that. We are on the Verandah deck with a balcony. How sweet is that? Not only that, but I will be in California AND Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The cruise is in March this year, rather than February and is a day longer. We are spending two days at sea this time around. That means two days of jam packed music onboard the ship. The line-up is incredible; John Mayer, OAR, Guster, Ryan Shaw, Jessie Baylin...they are mixing up some pop sounds with some great new blues artists. YES! I am pretty excited.

Speaking of excited. Tomorrow night is John Mayer at Darien Lake and Saturday is my great Aunt Alice's 80th birthday party! I can't believe she is 80! You would never know. She is an incredible woman that I used to be scared to death of when I was little. I have since grown to love and respect her and realize that she pretty much just says it like it is - a trait a few more people could use and that a few more other people could tone down a little.

Okay. Off I go. Keep on rockin' in the free world.

Tuesday. What a weird day.

So we have finished two days of our summer week-long day camp and I spent the end of it in the emergency room with one of my guys on staff who got his finger's ass kicked by a craft saw and a pinewood derby block. Apparently, stitches were applied although I thought that my bandage of gauze and island green duct tape seemed to be working juuust fine. I guess that's why I'm not a physician. I am of the school of thought that most anything can be fixed with duct tape.

Geneva is a weird place. We walk into the ER (which we had to drive 25 minutes to get to because there is no hospital or urgent care at all in Seneca County) and the place is PACKED. There are hardly any seats open, but Ed checks in while I am out in the parking lot calling the office to give the heads up on the forthcoming worker's comp claim. Crap.

Anyway, I walk back in and my seating choices are limited. I eventually choose a chair fairly close to Ed because he is a relatively big guy and I know he's got my back if anyone decides to get a little funky with me - even with his duct taped finger. There is one guy reading out loud an entire little pamphlet type comic book about being saved and the Lord and he is doing his best to sound out the words in his monotone, droning-on voice. Eventually, the word "sublimation" caused his great consternation and I thought he was going to stall out, but he was a trooper (assumingly because God was on his side phonetically) and read on. I picked up one of the packets and tried to figure out how much of the story was left. He didn't distinguish between the thought bubbles and the regular narratives, so I had a tough time following along as I was trying to read "Health" magazine.

Then there was the eye guy. He comes in reeking of booze (much like I am drinking at this moment, although his aura smelled a little more along the lines of Milwaukee's Beast) and tells them at the front that he's got concrete in his eye. Ummm? Okay. It wasn't wet concrete and it wasn't watering, red, itching, or anything else that might indicate there was concrete in this man's eye. He and (presumably) his mom go and sit down.

Sitting up closest to the TV (showing the Disney channel) is a mother and daughter. The mother apparently has a migraine and is wearing sunglasses and spandex. In walks a large man holding his back who apparently tipped over in his apartment. He is happy to see the mom and daughter, though, and they start chatting it up. They obviously know each other. A few minutes later in walks a mother and little boy. The mom has three bags of snack Doritos and some drinks. They are clearly settling in for the long haul. This mom and son know the big man and the mom and daughter and I am just waiting for a block party to break out. The ER is becoming like old home days. Ole concrete eye wants in on the action and goes back to the front desk asking how long it is going to be, but then starts trying to get in on the reunion action. I am stunned at what I am witnessing, but I believe that what I am witnessing is a lack of adequate health care and people who don't have insurance.

My time in the ER ended with a shipment of residents and their smell from a local nursing home. Do you know that smell of a nursing home? My sister was an aide at a home for a few years and it is beyond me how she could do it. It's a total no go for me just based on the weird smell. I finally got the text that granted my freedom three and a half hours later telling me that my staff guy's wife was coming to pick him up. Hallelujiah.

When I got home I got good news that I begged my way into the last spot for Research in Life Course Studies for the fall. This is a required course and I needed it to stay on course with my program of study. I am also registered for Theories of Human Development, Using statistical software, and Teaching, Curriculum, and Change. There were some really other great courses that I was planning to take, but driving to Rochacha two nights a week is about my limit. Anyway, I was pretty happy that I got my schedule straightened out.

Have I mentioned that there is an unusual number of attractive men in my new neighborhood? Well, if I haven't let me tell you...there are. I was just heading to take Belle for a walk this evening and as we were coming down our outdoors stairs a very common, but nice looking man a few years older than myself came around the corner with a large German Shepard. We chit chatted a bit since dogs are always good ice breakers. I hope that our dogs get the chance to sniff each other again soon. There was something interesting about him along with the fact that there was no wedding ring (but I know that means nothing even though married men should be mandated to wear a wedding band).

And so with that I am finishing up my beer and heading off to bed. Just another day.

I'm a lucky girl.

I am a blessed person.  There is no way to get around it.  I really, truly am.  I know that I often say that things suck and that I am miserable or all in a tizzy about this or that, but when it comes down to it, I am a lucky, blessed, loved person.  Where does this all come from?  It comes from me reflecting on the summer I have had so far and where I was two years ago - even a year ago- compared to where I am now.

When I look back on the very first blogs, I am amazed at who I see and hope that person is gone forever.  I hope that I never again lose sight of who I am, the potential I have, and the direction in which I am going.  I have things to do and accomplish.  And I know I can do them all.  Okay, okay...but why the sudden rush of optimism and warm fuzziness?  Well, I have just had a really great couple of weeks and some really cool things have happened in the last few months.

First, there was Martine - a totally unexpected relationship that came out of nowhere.  I had no intentions of hosting any foreign exchange student, but I am so glad that I did because she has just made an impact on the clarification of my values, beliefs, morals...all of it.  I miss her like mad and can't wait to be able to share that kind of relationship with someone else some day.

And then there is the adventures that I have experienced over the last year and this summer.  John Mayer in DC.  A weekend in Gettysburg with my family.  The great bat escapade in my new apartment.  Moving to a new neighborhood with an unbelievable number of incredibly attractive men.  Last weekend in Wellsville with my best friends.  John Mayer again in a couple of weeks.  The Indigo Girls in l'il ole Geneva in September....starting classes again in a few weeks.  I just have so much on the horizon and I love it!  

So, let's put my feet on the ground and talk about it already!  This past weekend I got to spend time with my best friends of ten years...almost.  Even though I can't believe it has been almost that long it feels like they've been in my life always.  I can't believe the things they stand by me through...my craziness, my strange disappearances when I just decided it was time to go away for a few days (usually to Canada before anyone knew about Brian), my dysfunctional relationships and hair-brained ideas (like taking the LSAT's or going back for my doctorate).  Whatever it is.  No matter how ridiculous it is, they are there.  They listen, they care, they support, and they laugh.  For that I am such a lucky girl!  The memories that I have so far are insane - a chipmunk that just magically appears in a shower, running the Boilermaker and not being able to walk the next day, Cristin getting decked at PJ's or Katie on the ready to perform a restraint at JB's to keep Cristin from getting her ass kicked....Good times, girls!

So, yeah.  I spent the weekend in Allegany County with people I adore.  I got to see my friend Kristen, who now has twins - a boy and a girl- who are almost two and Katie who has Emily and Amelia and Cristin who now has Emma.  They are amazing kids!  Saturday night I got to spend time at the Bailey's and have incredibly delicious pork and a few beers, celebrating Colin passing his boards and I saw an old friend whom I had no idea he had such a man crush on my Johnny Mayer.  I think he would have a bromance with John if the opportunity arose.  I wish that I could have stayed later and enjoyed the music and bonfire.  I am sure I missed some good times!  Next time!

And Sunday Katie, Cristin, Emily, Amelia, and I went blueberry picking.  We had such an awesome time telling stories and talking about ridiculous memories and laughing and chasing after babies with "devil horns."  As much as I love blueberries, I love Katie and Cristin more.  Thank you for being my bestests even when we don't see each other for months.

All of my love girls!         

So it's been a few days, eh?

Well, kids. What can I say? I've been busy. Just a few things going on in my life...you know...like moving, camping, getting ready for summer program next week, coordinators starting back full-time, checking out/meeting the oddly disproportionate number of hot/seriously attractive men living in my new neighborhood. All good stuff, don't get me wrong, but let's face it it keeps me from blogging.

So let's revisit the topic of the last post - the John Mayer trivia quiz. I love him. I do. I eat, sleep, and breathe John Mayer like I used to do with the Indigo Girls (no I am not gay...keep reading) during my college/fresh out of college years. John makes me happy. Okay. His music makes me happy. Nonetheless... So I log onto the Local-83 fan club site and get ready to take the quiz. There are people in the chat room talking smack about the GD quiz! People were actually trying to psych each other out and get each other all nervous. Apparently, it worked because I did not win. I knew the questions that pertained to the Mayercraft Carrier (cruise), but I hadn't read the latest celeb gossip on Johnny that morning and a lot of the questions came from his set list the night before or things that he said in his concert (like dream cheating on Jennifer Aniston). I didn't have a prayer. Anyway, I need to devise an alternate plan to meet John and convince him that we should be together always. Forever. Love. *sigh*

And then there was a move thrown in. I no longer live in Seneca Falls, but rather reside in Geneva now. There is a great path along the top of Seneca Lake and amazing views of the lake that Belle and I see every morning when we take our little walk. My new apartment is approximately the size of a postage stamp, but we seem to be getting on okay. Storage is an issue, but I have found places for all of my shoes, which was a concern. I have rented an additional storage space and it is filled to the gills - mostly with books that I can't seem to part with. Anyway, we are doing fine and the men in the neighborhood are remarkable. I am confused by this phenomena, but there seems to be a large proportion of young (aka my age) professionals with dogs who live in the little circle. I live in a row house on a brick circle with an awesome park in the middle, so that is where everyone takes the dogs to do their business. Belle loves the fountain and dips her paws in it almost daily. The water runs down the steps into a shallow pool at the bottom. This is where Belle frolicks. Happy day. Other than the bat that shared my apartment for a day and a half my first week there, the move has been fairly uneventful.

After a weekend of moving, I traveled to Gettysburg to camp for the weekend to celebrate my nephew's 14th birthday. We had a good time for the most part, with the exception of a few thunderstorms (my tenet was waterproof!) and a few small family skirmishes. Not to worry, though. We are all still talking and good to go. One of the coolest things about the KOA where we stayed was the pet playground. It was a godsend for Belle and Libby. We spent a decent amount of time there and it almost tired out Belle.

Saturday we headed to the Boyd's Bear concentration camp/mecca. This place is enormous, but the rumor is that they've gone bankrupt, so there wasn't nearly as much stuff there as there was in October during our last visit.


Here are Andrew, Morgan (cousin), and Grace with the "Head Bean."

After that exciting trip, my mom, her husband Jeff, Morgan, Andrew, and I went on a ghost tour to the Hawthorne House and Cemetery Ridge. The Hawthorne House was occupied by Confederate sharp shooters during the battle and several were picked off in the attic, which is where the tour starts. As we sat in the attic, the guide told us stories about the Louisiana Tigers and that they were recruited from the ranks of prison and other institutions. They were fierce and nasty and it's possible they are where the term "Ragin' Cajun" came from. It was from this vantage point in the attic that Jenny Wade was killed 600 yards up the road while baking bread for the Union troops. Anyway...while we were in the house I had some weird things happen, but I will spare the details for all of you non-believers. After leaving the house we went to where the orphanage was during the war (now the museum) and then to the Grove of the skirmish at Cemetery Hill. The Grove (now Gettysburg High School's football field) is said to be the most haunted area of Gettysburg and you could definitely feel a different energy there. As we stood and watched the fog settle down onto the field the guide told us that 2500 soldiers went into the Grove and less than 400 came out. I can not comprehend this in my brain? How do you line up and march straight into enemy fire? It blows me away (no pun intended). As I was standing there, I kept getting whiffs of cherry tobacco, which was very common during wartime. After the tour we got back to teh camp site very late and after yelling at not only my mother, but my grandmother, too, I climbed into my tent and zonked out.

Sunday afternoon we headed back to the battlefields to explore Little Round Top and Devil's Den. Andrew was pretty stoked to see where the 21st unit from Maine held the line, saving the entire war from going in the other direction.



We were all having a nice time in the area, exploring the monuments, climbing on the rocks and then it happened. I heard "Belle! Get back here!" I looked over to see my mother's head coming from out of a bunch of weeds and then heard "....PISS ME OFF!" I hesitated a moment, unsure as to whether or not I should go see what happened, but realized that it was likely that this little gem was running solo on the hallowed grounds of Gettysburg. I walked over to see my mom limping up the hill with Belle's leash in her hand and her lip quivering. I look down and see her knees all banged up and a bruise already starting on her shin. Apparently, Belle pulled a little too hard down the hill and mom caught her foot on a rock. After having my mother give me some dog parenting advice I went to find Andrew and Morgan so that we could go clean up her knee. She wasn't impressed, but to my knowledge my mom is the only female wounded at Little Round Top! Nice work, mom! YOU are now a piece of American history! Your blood has been left where many other proud, brave, patriotic soldiers fought. I am sure none of them were tripped by a dog, though.....
So that was pretty much the end of our day. We said goodbye as we ate our lunch in separate cars in the Arby's parking lot (it was hot, we couldn't leave the dogs in the cars) and then traveled onto route 15 together. Until next time, Gettysburg....

Cross your fingers for me, kids....

So I sat with great anticipation for 2:00 p.m. to roll around today. It's the reason I got out of bed this morning. What happened at 2:00? The John Mayer trivia contest to win a meet and great at the Darien Lake show. You are judged on speed and accuracy and I admit that I was not very speedy. They gave like one note and you had to write the name of the song. Now, I am pretty good, but seriously...? I do know, though, that I got the Mayercraft Carrier questions correct because I WAS THERE, dammit! Yeee haw!

We will get a call on Monday if we won. There are five winners per show and you have to pick up when they call. Here's my issue. I have a dentist appointment on Monday, but you can bet your bippy that if the phone rings when his fingers are jammed in my yap I am going to make someone pick it up. I don't care if it is the hygienist. Someone is going to pick it up.

Can you imagine if I actually got to meet John? I would wet my pants. In any case, kids. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

So annoying.

So think of a day when all you could focus on was getting to a point in your day when you were able to do something that you really wanted to do.  Maybe it was going to a concert later.  Maybe it was meeting a friend for dinner.  Maybe it was going to buy a new pair of shoes or taking a long walk on the trail by by the lake.  Do you have a time in mind?  Can you think of something that you wanted to do more than anything?  Great.

Now, think of a time when you got to that point and when you finally started shopping for the shoes you couldn't get into it. There weren't any that you liked.  They were all too tight.  The walk on the trail was blazing hot and the gnats were flying up your nose.  Do you remember how annoying that is?  That was my evening last night.

Last week I missed yoga because I was spending time with my niece and nephew (and was loving it).  When I miss a week I really feel it the next week.  (Practicing yoga is incredibly quick in terms of seeing and feeling the benefits, by the way)  So, last night was yoga night.  I leave work and stop at Country Max on the way home.  I can't decide on fish food.  Then I can't decide on cat litter and then I can't decide on cat food.  Sure, you would think that you would just buy the same kind that you've been buying all along, right?  SOunds good in theory assuming that the store has the brand.  No such luck.  And now I am running late.  I get home, change into my yoga clothes and am trying to convince Belle that she needs to make a quick trip out to potty.  She looks at me, grabs her stuffed squirrel and takes off through the house.  I don't have time for this.  I get the Mellow Mutts and she goes into her crate.  Now I have to zoom to yoga class.  I make it in time, but my mat is wet.  Why is my mat wet?  I smell it and it smells normal, but it's still wet.  Here's hoping I don't downward dog and have my feet slip.

So, we start class in corpse pose.  The "ultimate" relaxation pose.  Other than mountain pose, this might be the easiest yoga pose of all.  You literally lay on your back, put your legs and arms flat on the floor and lay there.  That's all.  Except I'm not feeling it.  My back hurts.  I can't focus.  There is a guy out in the hallway watching us.  I can't get the thought that I should be at home packing out of my head.  I'm trying, but I'm just not getting there.  Now I'm just pissed, which is really just the antithesis of yoga practice.  At 6:00 I look at the clock.  I have half an hour to go.  6:15 I look again.  So disappointing.

ONce again, it comes down to being in the moment.  Yoga is so about being where you are.  Leaving the past behind where it is and not worrying about the future because you can't do anything about it right then anyway.  So when am I going to start embracing this?  I talked about it during my Kenny Chesney blog and here I am revisiting the issue once again.  Tonight I am going to do it.  I feel the tightness in my jaw and I need the calm that comes from practicing yoga.  I am going to go home, let Belle out and do some yoga in my living room.  And I am going to be in the moment and I am going to enjoy it.  Dammit. 

The outline in my head for today's blog says that I have three major things to discuss today. We'll see how that all works out.

Last night was the Leann Rimes/Kenny Chesney concert at CMAC in Canandaigua. If you've never been, the venue is beautiful. The sound is amazing. The architecture is appealing. The food is Dinosaur Bar B Que. No, I'm not kidding. (If you've never been to the Dino, you seriously need to get there.) I bought lawn seats and did not have the benefit of the cover, which proved to be an issue when it began to torrential downpour. What is it with rain and concerts this summer? Last week at John Mayer I got soaked, but was at least under cover. Anyway, I stayed for the show and it was pretty awesome.

I noticed at the John Mayer concert that I got really caught up in getting pictures and video and started to do something similar at the Chesney concert. At some point I realized that I just needed to be in the moment and enjoy the music, the rain that was soaking through my jeans, and all of the drunken idiots around me. So I tried. And for the most part I would say that I did pretty well. It stuns me how drunk people still get in public, and although I was never quite that bad I am glad that I am past that "stage." There were several girls who were wet, wearing short mini skirts, drunk, and rolling down the hill in the mud. One girl was so drunk she was laying in a ball in the mud yakking her guts out. How is that fun? And how about the middle aged guy who was taking advantage of a grab and touch on her wherever he could? Eventually, she did get up and continue to drink. Thank God. She could have become seriously dehydrated or something.

At the end of the show, Kenny played "She Thinks My Tractors Sexy," which is apparently a big time bra throwing song. Something like seven bras landed on the stage. The first three he picked up, showed to the audience and put over a microphone stand with a bunch of other bras from previous shows (I assume). The last four he just let lay on the stage, which I am sure disappointed the girls whose ta-ta's were now flapping around. Now I get that Kenny is in damn good shape and is looking as fine as ever (as long as he leaves his hat on), but seriously, ladies...what do you think throwing your bra on teh stage is going to get you?

Here was my thought on the drive home: "What happens to all of those bras her gets on stage?" Wouldn't it be great if he had them cleaned and donated them to a domestic violence shelter or something? Maybe I need to suggest this to him. What's the point of carrying around random bras when they could be put to use by women who need them? Bras aren't cheap, Kenny. Pay it forward!

My last point...I spent a lot of time trying to figure out if Kenny had shaved and/or waxed his armpits. He was wearing a sleeveless shirt and would throw his hands in the air and all that jazz and since I couldn't actually see him I had to watch him on the big screens, which gave me a clearer view of the armpits. I've always been a little skeeved out by men's armpit hair, so I did notice that Kenny's wasn't all bushy and gnarly. But, then I started thinking about the new manscaping revolution that seems to be happening. I was relieved to see that Kenny had not actually removed all pit hair, but apparently just trimmed up and called it a day, which made me wonder if he manscpaes everywhere? When did it become so popular for men to shave *ahem* down there? I'm just wondering. Can someone else make a judgment as to whether or not the guy has pit hair?


Anyway, that's the daily report. Now I'm gonna sit right here and have another beer in Mexico.

Rant

Has anyone else in the world besides me read the book "Rant"? The author is Chuck Palahniuk, who also happens to be the writer of "Fight Club." Granted, Fight Club was pretty f'ed up, but I wasn't expecting Rant to be quite so odd. Admittedly, I chose the book based on the artwork on the cover, which is how I often choose what to read.

Rant is the oral history of Buster "Rant" Casey as told by those closest to him, since Rant is no longer actually alive. Rant is an odd character, to say the least and I can't seem to shake the story from my mind. Every time someone mentions something about rabies, snakes, spiders, or erections (yes, I said "Erections") I think of Rant. He spends his days plastering boogers to the wall and sticking his arms into unknown holes in the ground waiting for rabbits, snakes, spiders, and whatever else lives in the ground to bite him. He makes the odd association of coming to age with being bitten by a spider, so every time he is with his girlfriend he has to wait to be bitten by a spider before he can perform. I personally think Bob Dole had the right idea by just taking a pill, but then again, I am not a man who gets off on spiders, snakes, and other varmints.

Anyway, Rant eventually contracts rabies and begins a super epidemic where people brag and link themselves to him as the source of their infection. They become almost vampire-like and attempt to bite each other. Rant dies by going down in a flame of glory in a car crash, seeking immortality in order to go back and influence history so that he can continue in his quest to make himself a superspecies of sorts. I know. It's bizarre. Normally, I would never haver read this kind of book since I am no fan of sci-fi, but once you get so far into a book you have to finish it. That will teach me to pick solely based on covers for a while. I am glad it's over, but I can't get it out of my head....even with the new book I am reading.

A few nights ago I started "The Art of Racing in the Rain," narrated by Enzo the dog. Don't start thinking that I am a complete weirdo. It's actually an interesting perspective since Enzo watches the wife become ill, but is unable to let them know that she is becoming more ill. I'm not ready to write about this book just quite yet, but I can say that last night Enzo discribed a scene where the wife had left him in the house for three days with no food and water. He does what any dog would do who is left alone for that long and shreds the baby's stuffed animals. When his owner, Denny realizes that he has trashed the baby's room he lands a blow to the side of Enzo's head. That really kind of shook me and I've been thinking a little differently in terms of how I am speaking to Belle. I don't care if it is a work of fiction. Dogs have feelings, too, and I love Belle so why should I yell at her at the top of my lungs for grabbing the sandwich off the counter and bolting? Isn't she working on instinct. I'll give it to you that it's not right and it drives me incredibly crazy, but she doesn't deserve to have me freak out on her.

Okay. I think that's the end of my rant (so to speak) for today. I should be heading to the Kenny Chesney concert tonight in Canandaigua, but it's been raining all day, so I need to make a decision as to whether or not I am going. I guess I might as well. What else do I have to do? Pack you say?

Long time, no see!

Wow. It's really been since February that I posted a blog? That's crazy...

I am determined to resurrect the blog. There was a lot going on and I am not sure why I wasn't keeping up, but I am back at it! 2006 is gone, so I may need to change the title of the blog...

Anyway, a quick update:
1. I am now addicted to Vitamin Water. Yum.
2. Belle is now 13 months old. I can't believe it!
3. Martine has gone back to Norway. I still miss her and suspect that I always will.
4. In my true summer routine, I will once again be moving. This time to Geneva NY.

That might be it for now....look for new posts in the future!

2 pieces of history....All in one week!!

Okay. NutriSystem update. It's gross. G.R.O.S.S. It is slimy and full of fish gelatin. Do I need to say more?

The coolest song in a really long time has emerged. What is it, you ask? Well. Some of you may know that a remake of "Thriller" has/is being done. For the fourth straight time in a row I am listening to my Johnny (John Mayer for those of you living under a rock) rock it out to "Beat It" with Fall Out Boy. How freakin' cool is that? You can listen here. You know you want to!! (I am on to time five)

The other cool little piece of history is that I got to meet LuLu Westbrooks Griffin. You can check out a little about her here, but for those of you who are little too tired to click the link, she is one of the students who were involved with the Civil Rights Movement in 1963. She has a documentary out called "LuLu and the Girls." She will be coming to our after school program in South Seneca to teach a module about civil rights, tolerance, and her experience of being locked up for 45 days for doing what she thought was right.

Okay. Back to work. Go listen to Beat It again. I'm sure gonna.

It's always something, isn't it?

So I know it has been a really long time since I've blogged...I guess just before I went on the Mayercraft Carrier? I can't remember exactly. In any case, I am really going to try to start blogging again because it was so helpful the last time I really tried to lose weight. You guessed it. I am back at it. This time I am trying Nutrisystem. I seem to not have enough time in my day to really prepare good food or find the right balance of nutrition, so I am giving it a whirl. PLus, since it is considered "health and wellness" my benefits through work pay for it. Currently, I am sitting at my desk trying to gag down split pea soup. It looks disgusting, it doesn't taste quite so bad, but I am trying to get the ingredient of "fish gelatin" out of my head. I didn't mean to look. Really, I didn't. It just sprung up in front of my eyes as I was turning the carton. At this point I am literally just taking a big spoonful and swallowing it as quickly as possible, followed by a water chaser. Yuck. The good news is that I don't have to eat it again because I can tell them not to include it in my order. Thank God. If I could just open my throat and dump it down, I totally would. So enough of that for now...

How about some pictures from the cruise and my boy Johnny Mayer?
This is John and David Ryan Harris on the Lido Deck. We got an acoustic set Sunday afternoon that was amazing. David Ryan Harris is an awesome artist himself, but regularly plays guitar for John. I also met him (DRH) in the elevator on the cruise!















Again on the Lido Deck.










This is during his Friday night show. I am thinking this was during "Gravity"?

















Someone screwed up and gave me a ticket to the Q&A session for his Local-83 members (fan club). I wasn't a member then, but you can bet your ass I am now!

I don't feel like being introspective!

I can't find the inspiration to write about 2007, so I am just going to skip it and launch straight into 2008!

What's going on? Well....a lot!

First, we have been saddened by the passing of Martine's grandmother in Norway. Martine flew out on Tuesday for the funeral and will return on Monday. It is quiet around the house and the animals are confused.

Belle was spayed this week. She was pretty stoned when she came home Tuesday night, but she is bouncing back quickly. We had a cat chase attempt yesterday, but I put a halt to that fairly quickly. She is such a pretty girl.

Classes started last night and I am so jazzed about my first class. Qualitative Research Methods. I get to go observe someplace public for at least an hour four times throughout the semester. We can pretty much choose any place we want, but it can't be observing kids and we can't observe our own employees. I went round and round about where I wanted to go. This morning I decided. I will do my observations at the Dinosaur BBQ in Rochester during their blues performances. Specifically, I will be studying the behaviors of those in the blues culture. How jealous are you, Dad? :)

And finally....I am on countdown to the big departure day for the Mayercraft Carrier. That's right. The Mayercraft Carrier. I will be going on a cruise with John Mayer and 12 other musicians at the beginning of January to the Bahamas! John is playing two headlining shows and one on the Lido deck. The other artists are interspersed throughout the cruise in the nightclubs on board. How rockin' is that going to be?

I have also started running again. Doing pretty good but class last night threw off my entire schedule. Argh.

Okay. Back to work. Yuck.

Please check back soon

I am working on a "Remembering 2007" post. Please keep checking back because I will be posting again. Be patient! It was another rough year.