The Dromomaniac

So! Stoked!

First off, somehow, someway, I'm cured. I feel fantastic. And no, I'm not being sarcastic.

Second off, Marshall's remains the bomb. We done combed the post-Christmas mall in search of boots to no avail. Marshall's? Five minutes. Heart.

Third off, I'm SO friggin' stoked for tomorrow! I haven't been downstate in almost a year. We're heading to Ithaca for lunch (Moosewood, y'all) and then to the Hudson Valley to stay with Rich & Kels for a night. I'm so excited to see them because, well, they're them. And because Kels is a bridesmaid, so we probably need to actually figure out what she'll wear. THEN, the goodness continues with two nights in Manhattan. We're meeting up with Brian (who I miss tremendously!) and then with Kristin and Phil (who I also miss tremendously!!) THEN, we're heading to LI for dinner with the faux-dated Moe and Mike. -Phew- THEN we can sleep. But fuck it! I don't wanna sleep!! I get to see my friends and family and that, my dears, has been too long in coming.

Add exclamation points as you will.

Although...

being sick SUCKS, it is nice to have the time to stay home and recouperate. This time last year, I was feeling mad guilty every time I couldn't make it to an appointment, but at least now I have sick days and time off. 'Tis quite helpful. It's also wonderfully nice to take care of my battered bod; tea, tons of moisterizer, and sleep do wonders for a girl's complexion. And since I can't smell a blessed thing, cookies and wine hold zero appeal.

Zut! I think I need to be sick more often.

Tragicomic

Those of you who know about my family situation know of the constant tango that goes on with my dad. He's not in good shape at all - he's been drinking too much for too long and organs (etc) have been shutting down periodically and permanently as a result. This has, however, been going on for about ten years. I used to get panicked calls from various hospitals that I had to come right now because it might be it. 'It' was never it, because, as my brother puts it, my father is too bitter and pissed off to die. But it seems a holiday event that he enters the hospital under rather dramatic circumstances, and this year, he did not fail to deliver. (And do keep in mind I'm not heartless, but after all these years, I have to find the humor in all of this to keep from going crazy...)

So. On Christmas, I rang his house, but no one answered and no one called back. While this is not that unusual, I figured I'd try again in the generous spirit of giving. Apparently, he'd fallen off his chair on Christmas Eve and could not get back up. Again, this is not unusual, but it astounding that someone so incapacitated can issue threats and decrees. He refused to allow help to be called. So, he stayed there. His wife threw some blankets on him and he stayed on the floor all night and well into Christmas. Again, the comedy comes in if you know his house - the man's got kazillions of animals. So he must've been on the floor, dogs, cats, whatevers crawling over him all night. Finally, around noon on Christmas, she called the cops and the ambulance. He was rushed to the ER (the 3rd time in a month). No one knows what's wrong with him for a change, but he's getting two blood transfusions, which is so very Keith Richards of him.

The new year will be off to a good start.

Horn o' Plenty

Santa once again brought me my annual illness. So very thoughtful of him. I'm down for the count.

Though, really, can I blame anyone? I mean, other than myself for insisting on going out every night for the past month? I was trying to keep it all advent-n-shiz, but that's just a bad idea.

So anyway, Christmas was very fun. We spent Christmas Eve with Paul's parents, two generous and kind people. I'm very thankful that they've welcomed me into their family so easily. We stayed there until around 10, and raced home to exchange one present each. Paul got me a white tiger cub, complete with life-like meows, purrs, and movements. It's insanely cute. I've named her Sasha. I gave Paul Adventure by Davidoff because he'd been eyeing it up for a while and thankfully, he likes the scent. After, we attempted to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" when we got home, but I faded and went to bed.

On Christmas, we opened up the other two we'd gotten each other. He got me the sweater I'd wanted from REI, and a jacket for outdoor activity - lightweight, but pretty damn thermal. I gave him the sweater he wanted from REI, and a t-shirt he'd seen in NYC. We headed out to his brother's and then to his friend's house. We did manage to squeeze in a hike through the snow out in Clarence, but we didn't end up making dinner which was a shame.

For now, I'm going to curl up with Sasha and try to sleep this off. Wake me up in time for next year's cold.

Slave to the Grind

Or, 'slave to the gring' and my half-awake fingers mistyped for me.

Welp, kiddos, it's back to work for me today. For three hours. I'll try to school 'em best I can in that time. Meanwhile, here are some bits of curios:

-Twice in as many days, friends and I were asked if we are sisters. NB that I look not at all like either. One was wearing a hat I made for her and I was wearing a similar hat, so maybe it was our yarn. And for the other, while I would love to resemble her, I do believe the enquirer was drunk. 

-Someone googled my brother last night and found this blog and then seemed to read through every page. Damn, that sounds boring.

-Rumor has it I'm getting my car back today, but I do believe that largely depends on whether I can get Paul up before I have to be at work.

-I may play candy striper and visit a hospital-bound friend. I think he's getting frightfully lonely, as I imagine anyone would be if stuck in a hospital indefinitely this time of year.

-About 10 years ago, a friend 'hired' my best friend to play his girlfriend for an evening. He was trying to get revenge on a girl that just broke up with him, so we all went to eat at her family's restaurant. My brother and I were a couple (since the ex had never met us before) and Moe was Mike's girlfriend. Moe did such a great job, I think Mike did end up a wee enamoured. Anyway, I'm trying to get us to all go out to dinner again on New Year's Day, but that requires me actually calling Moe, which I haven't done yet.

-ANOTHER friend is pregnant! Congratulations to Sean & Riana! Riana's about 2 months along, apparently the results of newly-wedded bliss! Of course this means that they won't be able to come to our wedding, which is just beyond selfish, but I may find it in my heart to forgive. 

With Rick Astley, I Thee Wed

While discussing our wedding and Rick Astley, Paul and I somehow determined that his lyrics will be the perfect wedding vows. Ok, well, Paul didn't really think so, but I do (and not in a punny way). So I immediately got jacked up about the possibility and Paul noted that I'll be Rick Rolling him on his wedding day. To which I will indeed say yes.

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

White Out

So we had a little holiday shindig planned for yesterday, but given the weather, we assumed no one would make it. We'd planned to start around 1, but Paul just finished snow-blowing the driveway by then and no one had called or shown up yet. By around 2, some folks came, and by 3, we were in full-swing. I am most sincerely impressed by Buffalonians dedication to a party; it was damn near impossible to drive yesterday, and yet, they all found a way. It was so much fun; really, I'm continually impressed by how open and kind and intelligent and down-to-earth the people I've met up here are. The highlight of the evening was when my boss called to tell me we had another snow day today. Which was good timing because I would've been a hurting chick if I had to get up at 5:30.

I think the roads are clear today, and I have a part-time job interview at 3:30. I've been worried about money lately, which I don't think I really ought to be, but with the economy the way it is, I can't help but want to squirrel up funds just in case.

And So?

Another 

SNOW DAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!

And

I don't want to keep proclaiming my happiness because y'all are going to think it's some pharmaceutical cocktail talking and not me. And while I'm not discounting the former's influence, I must defend the latter.

I - finally - started working on the article about the Gullah book. I'm only partially into the book, but I know from experience that I have to start writing NOW while I have the seed in my head or I'll lose it. 90% of the time, the finished product is completely different than how it began, but I need that beginning to then shape and shift. I got that going this afternoon. My writing skills, as I'm sure you've noticed, have gotten rather weak, so it took me much longer than usual to form three paragraphs that, I feel, capture my angle. The book and the subject are fascinating, so I'm certainly not lacking material. But it feels good to be back in the game.

I'm happy because, after a few scary weeks, the folks I know who've been illin' seem to be on the road to recovery. One will be day-by-day, but the other seems heading towards health. All things considered, that's not short of a miracle.

I'm also all happynshiz because of work. I've gotten good feedback, and, given the economic times, I'm making sure it stays that way. I also found out that work will pay for my coursework in Art Ed. Which is totally and insanely awesome because, I've discovered, weddings ain't cheap.

And last, but most certainly not least, I'm happy because of Paul. I feel so cheesy professing my love on a blog (which, as my 6 year old Russian student would say, 'is ew') BUT - it's true. I've never felt so settled and easy and calm. And that, for me, is everything.

Open for Business - UPDATE

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!! SNOW DAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!