My move to Buffalo was a very good decision. If I had stayed in Rochester I doubt that I would have faired very well. I was working at the Sutherland Group and living at my Dad's house after leaving an abusive relationship. Under pressure from my abusive boyfriend, I had purchased a brand new vehicle. I found myself trapped, in order to pay for the car, I couldn't afford to live on my own.

So I ended up crashing the car, totaling it (not on purpose). The car was gone and so was my ball and chain. My friend Mary had already moved to Buffalo and was living with her boyfriend Adam and they offered to have me move into their 2nd bedroom for a very low cost. They lived on Main Street, steps from the Amherst Street Rail Station. I could take a train to the local community college ECC and not need a new car, a new ball and chain.

I left Rochester, I left a lot of things, my family, my abusive ex, my past. It was refreshing but I had a very hard time. My past wasn't so easily left. Actually, it followed me. Shortly after arriving, the city of Rochester seized my bank account for unpaid parking tickets, of course from the ex. The only money I had in the account was enough to pay for the monthly bus pass I needed to get to school and work.

I have been in Buffalo for 11 years now, the longest I have ever been anywhere in my life. I am a Buffalonian more than I am anything else. I went to ECC City Campus, I transfered to Buffalo State and I have worked and contributed ever since I got here. It is here that I have found faith again, here in one of the most distressed cities in the US. I love Buffalo even when in the beginning I hated it.

Cleanups
SAVE THE DATE – APRIL 16th is the date for our Spring Clean-up 2011. Saturday, from 9-12.

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For the past 15-20 years, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper has organized biannual (spring and fall) cleanups* along various local waterways to remove litter and other accumulated debris. Scajaquada Creek has always been one of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper’s largest cleanup sites. Continued attention to litter removal at the trash racks and along the banks of Scajaquada Creek from the trash rack in Delaware Park to the mouth is part of ongoing efforts by volunteer groups. Local citizens monitor the trash rack at Delaware Park and hold the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works accountable when need be. Over 500 volunteers joined Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper for the Fall 2010 Shoreline Cleanup at 34 sites around the Buffalo Niagara region. A fantastic effort for the Fall!

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Please let me know if you want to clean up Squaw Island. I told them I would bring 0-5 people. They need people for multiple locations in our areas. It really is rewarding knowing you are preventing all the trash from going into the water ways.

I don't think much of my first kiss maybe because I didn't really like it. I think I was about 13 and it happened with my next door neighbor, Kelly. It was more something that had to be done rather than me wanting it. One day we got off the school bus and it happened in her driveway. I don't even remember who initiated it, I barely remember having a relationship with her or even how it ended. It's strange, I don't really remember a lot of things and it is maybe because I don't want to.

I'm sort of mad that my first kiss was like this. I suppose they are always awkward and often forced but I wish it was with a guy. It was very hard to deny who I was and to pretend to myself and to everyone else. It was just a very difficult time in my life filled with a lot of confusion. It didn't help that we lived in the country and I didn't really know what was normal until some time after I left. Why am I telling you all this?

P.S. I like the topic suggestions.

This is how close our family cottage came to flooding. The river (Susquehanna) crested late yesterday and is now going down. In the flood of 72 the water reached the top of the second floor! We are all relieved not to have to clean up the mess.

If I start going to the spinning classes 2x's a week it should be gone by the time I go to Florida at the end of April at the rate it has shrunk already.

The one thing that might get in the way of my work out routine and my life in general is my wrist. I started getting dull pain in the right wrist about 6 months ago. My right wrist is my dominant and I believe it is related to repetitive actions and working on the computer. It freaked me out a bit and I started taking glucosamine. So far I have taken a 100 of them and the pain has been on and off since then. Now the pain is on and I am recently out of glucosamine and am not sure if it is worth continuing. From what I understand glucosamine really can't harm you but the scientific data is inconclusive as to whether it really helps with joints or not.

I definitely need some help in ergonomics at work and at home. I'm pretty sure the first thing I need to start with is the mouse. Not sure what I should do really. I question going to a doctor for this particular thing because I'm not really sure what they can do for me. Does anybody have any suggestions as to what to do? Any kind of advice about ergonomic mice or whatever? I don't know if it is carpel tunnel or if it is the beginning of arthritis or what.