SNOWPOCALYPSO!

Yeah, yeah, yeah. The mother of all snowstorms is about to pounce on us. Blahblahblah.
Doesn't change the fact that I'm on call and as the person who lives closest to work, I'll have to go in, snowmageddon or not.

My dad called me today to make sure we were battening down the hatches. He almost sounded mad that I wasn't over my head with anxiety over the threat of some snow. P'raps you don't remember, dude, but we get this sh!t every year. Same old, same old. Get a hobby- and preferably one that doesn't involve watching CNN and the Weather Channel round the clock. I love him, but retirement has not been good for my father. Between his doomsday weather-watching and firing off angry emails to politicians, he needs something more positive to focus on. Take up knitting! Or maybe origami?

Anyway, I thought this cartoon from www.nataliedee.com perfectly sums it up:

Blue (Haired) Moon

It's been a weird week at work.
It's been slow as hell, for one thing, and every body is in the middle of some mid-winter doldrums that results in a total lack of motivation. We should all be allowed to go home and do whatever we want, because that would be more productive.
Anyway, the seniors in the community where I work are feeling something odd as well, I think.

Yeah, it looked a lot like this. For reals.

In addition to the woman dressed as Rerun from What's Happening (see previous post), on Tuesday, my coworker and I were passing through "ground zero", otherwise known as the mailboxes. Lots of folks mingling around, checking to see what mail they got today. And by us strolls this woman H., wearing some kind of very large pink lacey blanket draped about her head, held in place with a hair clip or two. She gaily waved hello to me and continued on her way, pushing her walker. She looked like an old, white Erykah Badu with that turban. Unfortunately, we had to report this, as H. had a fall recently and hasn't quite been her old self. She never would've even left her apartment without being perfectly dressed, hair perfectly done, lipstick and full makeup in place. And then there was this conversation I overheard shortly before going home:

 Two ladies greeting each other like close old friends. 

Lady 1- I wanted to tell you the good news- Andy's coming home today!
Lady 2- Who?
Lady 1- Andy. My husband.
Lady 2- You're married?
Lady 1- Yes, you know that.
Lady 2- Well, where was he?
Lady 1- (now peeved) In the hospital.

What's Happening!

Thank you, elderly woman at work today dressed like Rerun from What's Happenin' wearing your wig backwards.
You made my day.

Kids in the Hall nostalgia

"If you roast 'em all in a fondue pot, sure bet they'd complain a lot!"



"No, come back! I REALLY want to be YOUR friend!"

Grant-Lee Phillips Good Morning Happiness

2010 recap & resolutions

1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Finished the National Novel Writing Month challenge! I wrote 50,000+ words in 30 days! (Actually, it came out to more like 24 days, which is actually even better.)

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't remember my new year's resolutions. That can't be good. I will try better for this year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No one really close. Just through work. But I work in a senior community; it's not too unusual a concept there.

5. What countries did you visit?
Just the one I'm in.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Balance.

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Uhhh, none apparently.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

  Definitely finishing NaNoWriMo. Oh, and I won some pretty sweet makeup brushes from an online contest.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not winning the lottery? I don't really want to think about this one.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Actually, no. How about that?

11. What was the best thing you bought?
TIE: new camera / box of 36 Uggly Wugglies

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My sister! She started learning a new career this fall and has been really dedicated to it.

And the guys who founded the It Gets Better website.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My dogs. One licked her bottom till the hair fell out and she was bleeding; the other licked his butt so much that he herniated discs in his back. Mucho steroids, mucho bedrest, mucho vet bills. Sigh.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Toilet repairs. Veterinarian.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to Vermont with LB. I'm still happy over that vacation.

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Great Expectations-Gaslight Anthem, Diamond Street Church Choir-Gaslight Anthem, Sulphur to Sugarcane-Elvis Costello, the Worst Day Since Yesterday-Flogging Molly, Dream City-Free Energy, Good Morning Happiness-Grant-Lee Phillips
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

(a) happier or sadder? even, I think.
(b) thinner or fatter? a little thinner, but we're working on 'fitter'
(c) richer or poorer? not maybe richer, but not as poorer (definitely poorer in grammar)

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. Exercising.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Shopping. Worrying.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
As usual, with my family Christmas Eve and my in-laws on Christmas day.


21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
With the characters I'm writing about in my NaNoWriMo story.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Loved a lot of new ones this year, but by far & large, favorite has to be Sons of Anarchy. 

 

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't think I 'hate' anyone, but there are some people who are wearing more on my nerves than before.
(For the love of crap, Terri, I'm not talking about you. I know you were worried that I was, weren't you?)

24. What was the best book you read?
The Song is You- Arthur Phillips

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Gaslight Anthem. Seriously, I was starting to grow concerned for myself, judging by how many times I've played their damn songs.

26. What did you want and get?
A new camera- not quite a DSLR but more advanced than a point-and-shoot. And didn't bankrupt me.

27. What did you want and not get?
A new car. But I really didn't try too hard. I was only going to pursue one by winning a contest.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Ondine with Colin Ferrell.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went out to dinner with friends at one of my favorite places in Ithaca. I turned 38. But I do this weird thing where I always overestimate my age. For some reason, I had myself convinced I was turning 40.


30. What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
the Uggly Wugglies. They made going places fun.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
2010 was the year of sh!tcanning uncomfortable shoes. Even if comfy=schluppy.

32. What kept you sane?
My dear friend LB & the others I've met through the BABB bunch!

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Marcus Mumford from Mumford & Sons.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Don't ask don't tell  / gay bullying- so proud of the It Gets Better project

35. Who did you miss?
My little Gram. As always.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
That would have to be Gary & everyone in the BABB clubhouse :)

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.

Ugh, it sounds all 70s touchy-feely, but believing you can do something will allow you to actually do it. Saying I'm a writer helped me to buckle down and write.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
C is for cookie; that's good enough for me.



And now for my resolutions...

1. Write every day
2. Exercise more regularly
3. Don't be so crabby