So e:hodown's alaska pix with the mushroom reminded me that I have pix to post...

First- my sister's family's amazing halloween costumes. (my sister would like to take credit for these, but really all credit goes to my amazingly crafty mother.) It started out with the idea of making the baby a garden gnome. Then sis and BIL decided to be other forest 'creatures'- namely a mushroom and a flower. I was curious to see how they'd come out, and all I can say is WOW. Also, I think my sister looks like a freaking model. (someone told me recently she looks just like me, which I think is completely untrue, but also a huge compliment, so I'll take it!)





And then to round things out, a few pix of my niece's first birthday.


Wearing the birthday hat my aunt knit for her.


what little kid DOESN'T love balloons?!

And finally- she got a rocking horse, which she absolutely loves. She gives it hugs and kisses all the time, and loves to pet and cuddle it. And then when she rides it she has the hugest smile. So freaking cute!!!!

Aww shucks. Well thanks guys.
I really wasn't trying to be a drama queen seeking affirmation... At least, not on a conscious level...
I mean sure, I know a journal should be for ME, not for YOU... but at the same time, if I didn't want anyone to read it, I'd write it in a notebook that I stash under my mattress. Or, I'm just an attention whore?

But anyway, thanks. I feel loved.

And now I feel like I should try to find something worth writing about...

Hmm. Well, it's not necessarily worth writing about, but... here's an update.

Well things are good here. Work is going well... One of these days I need to start looking for a job. And since I have no clue where I want to go, I am stalling on that front. Do I go back home where my parents are? VA where it's warmer and my sister is? Stay here (if they'll have me)? Back to WNY? Go to Chicago, just b/c I love that city? Go to texas/vegas, just b/c they're offering a RIDICULOUS salary? And then of course, how do I ask a guy who I've only been dating for a few months (even though I really like him) "oh btw... if I move next year, are you coming with me?"

At the same time, work is totally infuriating sometimes. The attitudes some people have, the sense of entitlement. SOMEtimes, not always. Or the people who think they're going to "trick the system" or take advantage of worker's comp, etc. So that stuff is frustrating. But also making things work again, and restoring people's function and/or relieving their pain is really satisfying.

Hartford is fine. Kind of a dumpy city... shuts down on the weekends... but there's plenty to do in the neighboring towns, etc. Though for such a small city, the traffic is unbelievable. Totally ridiculous, and road-rage-inducing. And the utter disregard for, say, common traffic laws. Like huge trucks simply STOPPED in the turning lane, for hours, during rush hour, to unload. Not pulled over, not parked, just STOPPED, in the middle of traffic. Seriously?! WTF. Or people just running out in traffic without looking, and then screaming at me and giving me the finger when I have to slam on the brakes in order to not hit them, b/c I have a green light and they just didn't even look.

the boy is good. Really good. And I'm really glad he got to come to Buffalo with me, and meet some of you. He was saying last night that he's getting a little freaked out that we haven't annoyed each other or had a fight yet, and that he thinks we need to have a fight, just so we can survive it and get it over with. But the thing is... I honestly can't think of anything to fight with him about. All my previous fights have been b/c a boy acts like a douche and then I am all hurt and wounded... then I pout and act like a baby, and things go to hell. But... this guy... isn't a douche?! It's like it throws my whole worldview upside down, and I don't know what to do. Ha!

But, we're like boring old people. I feel like my life has made the switch from single-party-girl to boring-couple-girl. Most nights we eat some dinner and fall asleep watching a movie on the couch. And while part of me feels like that makes me "lame"- at the same time, I'm perfectly happy with it. And in all honesty, *this* is more who I am... a homebody. Staying out til 4 and getting wasted isn't really me- it's me putting on a show and trying to be cool. So, maybe I'm lame and boring now. But- I'm happy that way.

Although this weekend a few friends are coming in to town, and we're going to the Harvard-Yale game. I'm hoping to see some friends from school... should be fun. And, my dad went to Yale. And my boy's dad went to Harvard... so it might even be a chance to get our parents to meet each other. Except, my dad had both his knees replaced a couple weeks ago, so he may not be quite up to it by next weekend. But maybe that's good... both our moms are making incessant wedding comments, so maybe it's better if they DON'T get together quite yet.

Oh- well here's some crazy news to tuck away at the end...
A month or so ago I started doing the Wii Active "30 day challenge". It's not like a crazy high impact workout, but, I figure it gets me motivated and gets me off the couch. Gets my heart rate up a little, and uses muscles that I haven't used in a while.

Well, after a couple weeks, my ankles were a little sore. So I took some advil and took a few days off. They got better. I went back to it- they hurt again. So i asked a guy at work, kind of in passing "hey, what does it mean if your ankle hurts right here?" and he checked it out and said 'here?? yeah, you need xrays". So I got xrays. he said 'you need an MRI'. So, I got an MRI. And- I have stress fractures in both ankles and both heels. WTF?! From doing freaking WII?! So, I feel like a ridiculous wuss. But, the upside- it is DOCTOR'S ORDERS that I do not exercise. So really... that means it's not my fault I'm being a lazy ass. I'm not allowed to exercise! Even if I wanted to! Unfortunately I seem to have also extended it to mean "eat like a pig- doctor's orders". bleh, time to get back on track....

Hmm. so. That's what's going on in my glamorous life...

I always have some story or another getting me all fired up... I'll try to remember some to share with you...

Just wondering if anyone reads me anymore, or if I should just quit...

I don't know if this is real or not, but god this shit pisses me off.

This is an email my dad sent me:

THEY CAN'T READ THE BILLS THEY VOTE ON...
BUT THEY CAN PLAY SOLITAIRE AND CHECK BALL SCORES
Nothing else need to be said. This is one of their THREE DAY WORK WEEKS that we all pay for. I am ready to start from the beginning by voting out all elected officials and not letting any of them stay in office for more than two terms. No more lifelong healthcare, retirement, voting in their own pay raises, taking perks on our taxes, etc.



House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk, pictured standing, far right, speaks while colleagues Rep. Barbara Lambert, D-Milford and Rep. Jack F. Hennessy, D-Bridgeport, play solitaire Monday night as the House convened to vote on a new budget. (AP)

The guy sitting in the row in front of these two... he's on Facebook, and the guy behind Hennessy is checking out the baseball scores.

These are the folks that decide how much and where the money you pay in taxes is spent...they regulate the US budget and are the ones who can't get the budget out by Oct. 1, Seriously...

So, we've got a 30 day budget extension. Well, guess what, 30 days from now we will be in the same boat. I guess this makes it easy for the news 'reporters' as all they have to do is recycle the same headlines from this week and from 2 years ago. And these yo-yo's will still be playing games....

Wow... Best tantrum ever.