Life is Good

The California 4th

I was driving to work this morning (Yes, I said "work"...I have a job! Well, at least a temporary job - at Yahoo!) and noting the gray gray sky. To be expected after a night's worth of fireworks, sparklers and who-knows-what giving smoke to the air all over the United States!

I was looking at that smoke-filled sky and thinking that in Florida and New York it always seemed to rain on the 5th of July. I always thought it was the environment's way of cleaning up ... washing the smoke from the sky, the remnants of fireworks and the ash all being washed away.

And I wonder - will it rain today? in oh-so-sunny and dry California? Somehow I think it won't. It kind of saddens me. I rather liked the tradition of Earth cleaning up after hosting a big party. ;-)

Happy 5th of July, everyone! If it's raining in your State - Enjoy it!

Sunshine Sun on Me!

Although most everyone thought we had moved long ago...the truth is, we just arrived in California on Saturday, April 28th. The plane landed at 9:15pm PST.

I know, I know. I started packing in February! Well, when you move across the country, it takes a lot of forward thinking. A lot of planning ahead. AND, well, I was visiting my sister and her new baby boy at the end of February, so, of course, I was going to drop off some items when I visited California. One less thing to ship. But before I could drop anything off, I had to begin the packing process and decide what I actually wanted to keep and that I wouldn't need in the next two months.

So here we are two and a half months later. 22 boxes. 4 special care boxes. 2 plane trips and 8 bags. A spare bedroom in my brother's home. A bed and lots of family! California is going to be alright!!

Andy is already back to work. Working remotely.

I am commissioned to research and decided exactly what job I want BEFORE hunting. (Andy's orders. Wise orders.)

I'm rambling. I know. Just trying to update and give some answers to all the many questions people have asked.

For instance, No. We do not have a car. No apt. No job yet. I think that's fair enough, since it is day 3. However, perhaps eating and sleeping through the first couple of days was not really a way to get a car. I think all the stress and adrenaline leading up to the move has taken a toll. Now I am recovered and can begin the new stress cycles of starting life anew.

Lucky me that I have a VERY supportive, loving and helpful family (and friends) to help me along the way!

La la la PACKING...

And suddenly I'm FREE!!

It's an odd sensation the opposing emotions that come with packing for a big move. You are at once excited about the prospects of a new place, but saddened when you think of all that will be left behind. Especially friends.

But the thing that is striking me the most this weekend as I prepare for the westward move all the way across the country to California (!) is that as I work to shed at least 60% of my belongings, I'm at first overwhelmed and upset at all the things that I should leave behind. But, then, I reorganize my thoughts. I think about the possible uses someone else might get from that stuffed animal/book/picture frame/shirt/CD/pot/pan and I am excited for my belonging's new adventure that lies ahead. And, you know what, once I say "goodbye" it's such a FREEING feeling!

I mean, that's less weight I'm carrying around. The next time I move, I won't have to ponder whether or not to take that sentimental-yet-lives-in-a-box-stuffed-animal. I can remember the person who gave it to me, and when I run across a photo of me with that little stuffed lion, I can smile with fond memories, in a much lighter form. Really, how often do we sit down with our "stuff" and re-live memories in the course of our life time? Probably as often as we move, unless we are looking at pictures or the item(s) is out on display. So, my new rule is - if it's not functioning regularly or it's lived in a box since the last move...it's out the door.

Think of all the room I have for new stuff now!!! ;-)

(Okay, I admit...I'm stilling storing some sentimental items. I'm not that strong-willed! But I'm trying to scan most of the written goods! It's the hand-crafted items that are too good to part with, but too bulky to move across the nation!)

Why February is AWESOME!

For starter's - it's a short month. Which makes it different.

And we all learned in elementary that the things that make us different make us special.
Or as it is in high school = Different is cool.

Also, if you get paid on a monthly basis - in February, you get paid more for each day you worked! (Unfortunately, this also means your landlord just scored off your monthly rent!)

Okay, let's get to the main reason that I love February so much...

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY MONTH!!! Woo-hoo!!! Let's celebrate!

And what better way to celebrate than with friends.

My friend Curtis Z. celebrates his birthday on what else? Valentine's Day! Another great thing about February! It promotes LOVE. And, no, you Negative Nancys out there, you cynics. It doesn't have to be about ROMANTIC LOVE. It can be about the love for your FAMILY, the love for your TEACHERS and MENTORS in life, or the love of your wonderful FRIENDS!

More friends' birthdays this month:

Madison on the 4th
Dave S. on the 15th
Kevin H. on the 21st
Amanda A. on the 22nd
Andrea C. on the 28th
Aunt Connie on the 28th

My friend since 3rd grade, Kellie C. celebrates her birthday on February 22nd. Mine is on the 24th. It has been a long time joke between the two of us that either I'm "too young" to understand or she is "older and therefore wiser" or, now that we are past our teens (when it is cool to be older), I get to make fun of her for how "OLD" she is for two days before she can turn the insults and harassment back around on me. Another reason this two day difference contributes to the greatness of February is that - every February, Kellie & I reconnect. No matter where we are or how far we've traveled, we know that in February we will catch up with one another. In fact, once Kellie dropped her phone in water and couldn't retrieve her old phone numbers. So, she bought a new phone and kept the old one until February - when she knew I would call, and she could up date me with her new information - including new phone number! Ah, February - the glue between friends.

February also marks the birth of my first nephew, Aidan!!! Who just turned four this month! Yippie!

On a national level, February is Black History Month and International Friendship month! Now, go on, if you don't already have one...go and find yourself a friend to celebrate. If s/he's black, you get bonus points!

Groundhog Day (February 2nd)! Who doesn't love a day that sits around waiting for a groundhog's shadow? I mean, that's just pure entertainment! And the movie isn't so bad, either.

For you football fans, February often hosts the SUPER BOWL!

PRESIDENT'S DAY is observed on the third Monday of the month. HOLIDAY! Any month with a nationally observed day off is an exceptional month!

I could go on and on and on.

World Marriage Day - the second Sunday in February.
Lincoln's birthday - February 12th.
George Washington's birthday - February 22nd. (The same as Kevin H. and Kellie C. Boy, I have brilliant friends!)
Susan B. Anthony's birthday - February 12th.
Thomas Edison's - February 11th.

BOY SCOUT DAY is February 8th!!!!

I mean, doesn't get any better than this!! February is FULL of love and kindness and celebration and smart people's birthdays and it's just AWESOME!!! And it flies by in a hurry...so get out there and APPRECIATE IT!

I love you, my friend!

xoxo And I'm in love with February! xoxo

Hollis Steffan Blanton, 7 lbs 7 oz

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I'M A TIA (for the fourth time) TO A NEW BABY BOY!!!!!!!

My sister gave birth to her second child at 12:33 AM PST!

I'm a very proud Tia. Today I have bragging rights! So, here I am, bragging!

He's healthy. He's thirsty. And he's my little nephew!!! I've been told he's really cute, too. I believe it! But I still am anxious for the photos!

Happy New Nephew Day!!!

"I'm so lonely..."

Poor neglected, Blog.

Linda has been too busy (or too lazy) to keep up with you.

I bet you are lonesome over here. Or are you? Have people been stopping by to see you? and yet, you have nothing to say to them. I bet that is embarrassing.

Oh, pobresito, Blog. I'm so sorry to have let you down. After all this ambitious talk about not neglecting your readers...and here we go doing just that.

Well, maybe next year, things will be better.

The good news is...you have your health! You're still in tact!

Happy Holidays, Blog!

Brrrrrr...

'Tis the Season for COLD. BRRRRR Brrrr...

Kids, I don't know if you've stepped outside today, but (I'm talking to the New Yorkers and North Easterners now) it is Fri-gid! Brr.

It's 23 degrees, and feels like 6 degrees!!!!!! (according to weather.com) AND, to top it off, it's windy as all get out!

In fact, as I was hurrying to work to get out of the cold, I actually got toppled forward by the wind! Talk about a mighty wind....

The good news is...if you want to get somewhere fast...get some wheels and get in front of that wind...cause you are going to fly! (Travelers going NW only, please.)

HAPPY WINTER, EVERYONE!!!!

"Party Smart"!

Check it out...my friends Josh and Tamra have entered the Doritos Crash the Superbowl Contest! (You enter a 30 second commercial, the community votes, and if you win - your commercial gets aired during the Superbowl, you win tickets to the game, and you get some moolah!! And if any one deserves all that - it's these two cats - Josh and Tamra!)

Personal investment - I was assistant director on the "Ladies Night" video!!! yahoo!


Here is what Josh & Tamra have to say:


"WE NEED YOUR VOTES!!
PLEASE VOTE and make your COMMENTS on our (TWO) 30 second Commercials!!!TODAY!!!!

There are a couple of steps to registering on the site before you vote. No biggie.
Then Simply: Click the heart under our clip (love it), & make a comment.

VOTE ON OUR 2 COMMERCIALS: go to
1.) http://www.jumpcut.com/view?id=CDF3DB60825711DB8CF8266C9A2E700D&type=

2.) http://www.jumpcut.com/view?id=6392FF22835511DB9CDA5A856F9CC894&type=

p.s.
The quality and sound are compressed on the site for some reason.
So ignore the medium quality of the commercial. The original commercials
are hi-quality.

Thank you!!! WE LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH!!!

XOXOXOX
Josh & Tamra
JoshAndTamra.com"




So what are you waiting for? GO VOTE!!! (Thanks. It means a lot to me.)

Today is the Day...

...My sister comes to town!

All I can say is that I'm very excited. Originally we weren't going to see one another for Thanksgiving or Christmas. But my sister is BRILLIANT and was able to schedule a business trip for Monday and fly in a few days before for some Family Fun Time!! She's bringing her son with her, too!!! Which is bonus fun times! My nephew is two and he's adorable and he's started talking but I haven't seen him in person since he really started talking..so I'm excited! (I'll call him "EJ".)

Plus, EJ likes LIONS! I love LIONS! EJ likes to ROAR like a lion! I LOVE EJ!

EJ left me the cutest message on my phone a few months ago. It was simply him roaring like a lion. But, man, is it ever a good solid Roar! I've been trying to figure out how to grab it off my phone and add an audio clip to my blog. I think the first step is to buy a connector cable for my phone to connect to my computer. And since I haven't begun to even look at what kind of cable I will need...I suppose I really haven't been "trying to figure out" anything. But in my head, I have made some noble efforts. In my head, once I get off my butt and teach myself some technology, it is going to be brilliant! Everyone will hear the wondrous EJ's ROOOAAAAR!

Oh, I'm can't wait until they get here!! *jumping up and down in anticipation*

Oh Pooey!

Having a rough week. Tired, cranky. Just got over two colds back to back and now I feel like I might be coming down with another one. And I can't even begin to wrap my mind around the holidays.

I went for a relaxing lunch-walk and a bird pooed on me.

The worst part is, I felt it and heard it...then checked my scarf and forearms of my coat and didn't see anything and chalked it up to water - dew - soapy window-washer suds.

Later, as I brushed my hand across my shoulder to grab my bag - I instead grabbed a handful of poo. So, my nice walk to window-shop and unwind turned into a nice jaunt through Grand Central Station in search of a restroom. The restroom had water, but no paper towels. So in order to rid the shoulder of my coat of bird poo, I had to keep wadding up toilet paper as thickly and tightly as possible..wet it a bit...then try to clean up. This, of course, took several repeat attempts to get *mostly* clean and replaced the bird poo with toilet paper crumbs. Dee-lish!

It gets better.

I thought I got everything off but the toilet paper lint. I decided it was time to head back to the office, where it was safe. Or at least, I was accustomed to the trials and tribulations that would face me there. I stopped by Jamba Juice to get a Cold Buster, trying to forget the week and take a positive step for myself. When I went to brush the length of my coat back to reach the back pocket of my pants...I instead (yep, you guessed it!) had another brush with BIRD POO! Ugh.

I daintily paid for my cold busting immunity boosting smoothie and the kind people at Jamba gave me a wet napkin with which to partially clean my coat. I then received my delicious looking smoothie, but (for fear of spreading bird-poopy germs to the straw) left it untouched until I could get back to the office and properly wash my hands again.

The entirety of the walk back to the office was accompanied by orange sticky smoothie running down the side of the cup and all over my hand and the cuff of my coat. Good thing I was going to wash my hands anyway.

The good news...

Three good things came from this fun little episode.

1. It reminded me that I had a blouse and skirt to pick up at the dry cleaners. I will drop off my coat at that time.

2. My friend informed me that a bird pooping on you is a sign of good luck. (Hey! Look at that!)

3. I wrote this blog entry.

Happy Hump Day, ALL!!

I think I may have just experienced the top of the hump

...it's all down hill from here!

Weeeeee!

Weirded Out

At the end of my holiday weekend, I received a somewhat disturbing phone call.

Basically, the person that called said they got my number through a mutual friend but wouldn't tell me who they were, who the mutual friend was or why they were calling. The first thing this person said after I answered the phone was "Hi Linda, is it too late to call?" I said, "No, it's not too late. Who's this?" and they said, "Oh, I get the feeling it's too late. I'll call back tomorrow." To which I responded, "No, it's not too late, but who's calling?" Again, they responded, "No, I feel it's too late to call, we'll talk tomorrow." I eventually got him (it was a male voice with a foreign accent) to say the call was regarding "friendship", but he kept saying "we'll talk about it tomorrow." It was just overall strange. Probably just a "mutual friend" with very poor social skills...but I didn't like the secrecy and "we'll talk about it tomorrow". I told him not to call again. Also, the call was a "restricted call".

I hate these types of incidents because I become really worried and start obsessing over all the possible things that could go wrong - is he a stalker? did he hurt a loved one, steal their phone and is perversely messing with me? - and until I get confirmation that everything is okay and I'm being overly paranoid, I worry myself sick.

Word to the wise - if you are socially inept, please have your friend call your "mutual friend" and forewarn them before you spook this "mutual friend" out by calling from a restricted number at 11:00pm on a Sunday, and then refusing to talk to the person YOU called and refusing to give them your name, reason you are calling or the name of the person who gave you their number.

Next time - just don't bother. Because the next time, I will call the police.

Success and HAPPINESS!

Saturday, I threw a 30th Birthday Party for Andy.

He knew about the party, but did not know that his entire family was coming from Maine & Boston to celebrate! AND that all of his friends would be ROASTING & TOASTING him.

I have been anxious and a little stressed for about a month and half now in the planning process. Most of all, these last couple of weeks, as I began getting sick and could no longer focus on the details when it was MOST crucial!

Amazingly, due to the extraordinary FRIENDS of both Andy and me, and our amazing, talented families...The whole party and especially the Roasting & Toasting went off without a snag! It was just amazing!!! Andy didn't have a clue and was rendered speechless for a good portion of the evening (but totally happy).

And I got about ten offers to host other individual 30th birthday bashes. Maybe I should open a business?

[picture coming soon]

Sickies be damned!

Despite being sick all this last week...

Despite originally obsessing over and hating my haircut...

I have come out on top - with a cute do and time to finish this scarf!


AND, I get to keep the scarf guilt-free!

Turns out, Leslie no longer works with Laura. Her last day at Laura's office was Friday!

New do. New scarf. Happy girl.

I feel better already!

Flood 'Em Out!

Last Wednesday (the really rainy one), I was suppose to go to this networking event after work. But it got cancelled. So instead, I stayed late at the office organizing, planning, catching up on this and that. Sorting e-mails, you know... Just general crap that I'm usually too distracted to do at home.

Finally, around 8:30 or 9:00pm I left work for home. I was exhausted. I was hungry. All I could think of was when I would get home, kick up my feet, eat a nice dinner and unwind while knitting or watching one of several Curb Your Enthusiasm episodes on my dvr.

Wasn't I pleasantly surprised to come home to a freshly watered down bedroom?

Answer: NO. I WASN'T!

I took off my boots and socks in the bedroom and put my foot down into a nice cool puddle of water at the foot of my bed. What? Had I really dragged in all that water? NO. So where did it come from?

I looked up.

Answer 1:

Dripping, coke-like stain on ceiling.

I looked to my right.

my whole wall is swollen with water!

I take a closer look at the wall

water is literally dripping
and crawling down my wall...

It seems the only thing keeping my room from being completely flooded is the paint that is somehow wrapping the water in little bubbles like a fish swimming in a plastic baggie.

Oh, but wait...I guess the ceiling is not painted and couldn't contain the flood.
You see this big stack of clothes here? This is the freshly laundered stack of clothes that I didn't wear because I didn't want them to get wet on this rainy day.

Well, guess what? They are SOAKED. Six items deep on the top - all sweaters and jeans - Completely and utterly SOAKED. All the way through!

I suppose I should be thankful that my clothing hadn't been put away yet, or that puddle on my bedroom floor would have been more like a lake.

With all the mildewy musty perfume of our bedroom, not knowing when the rain might end, nor if the paint would hold...Andy and I slept on the futon in the living room.

A few hours later, I checked back in on the bedroom.

the water drop had made almost a foot of progress!

I'd love to say that the neighbors were again attempting to flood us out. Seeing as the bathroom tactic failed. However, I really don't see how leaving your air conditioning unit in the wall one floor above us has much to do with the water that seeped down into our bedroom...even if it was the very same wall.

As could be expected, Mr. M showed up two days later than he said he would....and then said "Let's wait until it drys, and then we'll fix it."

One week later...

Tonight it rains again. I hope I don't drown by tomorrow.

I know, I know....

Slackity, Slack, Slack.

I still can't shake this stinkin' hack-hack (cough)!


The good news is...I'm adjusting to my haircut. It relaxed a bit. I can sort of style it. I might even be inclined to say...I like it.

Hmmm...

Not love it. Like it.

But that's better than hate.

Picture soon.

Have a good stormy evening (if you are in New York...where it is stormy.)

Press PAUSE

I haven't abandoned you, Blog. I just need a break.

I have some draft entries saved...my head is getting more and more congested, though...and I can't seem to get the words in line.

So, I'm just taking a little pause to get better (hopefully) before it gets worse.

Bear with me...stay tuned...

We'll return with breaking news shortly!

Snip, Snip, Snip, SNIIIIP

Hair go bye-bye.

Too much this time.

Man, I LOVE the haircutting process. I love the sound of the scissors. The feel of the weight of your head grower lighter by the second. I love watching all the chopping and snipping and shaping of the hair.

But boy do I hate when they cut too much.

I made an appointment for 6:00pm on Friday. My hairstylist asked me to show up at 5:30pm. I asked my boss if I could leave early on Friday (it was a slow day, I had worked late earlier in the week....) she said "yes." I got to the hair salon at 5:35pm. I waited for an hour and a half to get my hair cut.

And, in the end - I waited to long for my hair to be cut too short!!!

Feeling very frustrated and down right now ... cause all that I can do is wait.

(Oh, and next week I get to meet a bunch of Andy's close long-time friends for the first time as I host his 30th birthday party. And my bangs (yeah, bangs) are doing this funny almost cowlick-like thing. Even Andy (for the first time) agrees it's not so great.)

Blegh. Maybe it'll relax and look better in a couple of days. Still...too short, I say! too short!

I want to be in high school...

...so that all my thoughts can become open and descript again. So that my words will leak from my fingertips without regard to how they sound to anyone but me. My words and thoughts will be my own and they will be so powerful and unique that they will grow from thoughts into poems from poems into prose and from prose into stories to be passed on for generations to come.

I want to take my observations of the people around me and knit together little stories of their lives from the thirty seconds that I observe them while I glance up from my crossword puzzle. I see them standing there, with a story. A history waiting and begging to be written. All I have to do is let myself imagine again.


Thank you, my fellow blogger, for the inspiration...whether you know it or not.


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DON'T ASSUME YOU ARE AN ASS

Standing in the middle of The Yarn Connection, I called my friend Laura* at work.

She answers the phone in a very professional manner, "Good Afternoon, [Insert Company Name & Department Here]."

To which I reply, "God, sound a little happier."

We both start laughing a little at my sarcasm and friendly mean-ness and I ask, "What's your favorite color?"

To which she replies, "This isn't Laura. This is Leslie*"

"Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry. I...I...was just joking. You didn't sound unhappy..."

Leslie: "Can I put you on hold a moment?"

My stunned utterance, "Yes." (Oops! What did I just do?!)

Leslie quickly returns to say, "Laura stepped out to lunch. But, my favorite color is red."

Me: "I..You...What I was saying...Joking with Laura....You didn't sound ... You sounded professio...I thought...[insert more rambling and sticking foot in mouth]"



This has been a story about how you should never assume that the person who's number you have dialed, is the person who will answer that phone. (Even if they do sound remarkably similar in the first two seconds of spiel and you aren't really paying too much attention anyway...since you are distracted by all the pretty yarn you are going to buy in order to knit your friend a scarf.)

Lesson learned. Now I must publish this blog and go start on that lovely red scarf...



*Names changed to protect the innocent.