Common Scents

I don't wear perfume. I haven't for almost 10 years. I stopped after I was diagnosed with asthma and realized perfume aggravated it.

But, after seeing all the ads before Christmas for the zillions of perfumes available now, I want to start wearing it again.

When I was around 12, I started to get interested in perfume and make-up. At the time, one of the popular brands was Jean Nate. Now, pronounce it right; it's "zhen na-te" with the accent on "te." I had the whole works, the bubble bath, lotion, eau de toilette (always loved that ). I thought I was so sophisticated, wearing this "French" perfume. After I finished my Jean Nate bath, my brothers would complain that I had stunk up the bathroom.

From there, I progressed to real perfume and my scent of choice was Shalimar. This is truly a perfume from France, introduced in 1925 and is still around today, an oldie, but a goodie. Of course, the ads for these perfumes are quite over the top now. If my mother read how this scent is being presented today, she would never have let me wear it:

"Shalimar is a fragrance to excite and express desire. She who dares to wear it, is asserting her femininity and ultra sensuality. Hers is carnal seduction at the frontier of the forbidden. Shalimar gives her the freedom to express her feelings and desires relating to her perfume with the utmost in passion. Wearing Shalimar means surrendering control to the senses."

Who writes this stuff? Can a scent truly seduce someone? I believe a person should stick with one perfume, make it your "signature" scent, so whenever a person smells that perfume, they'll think of you. I know when my boyfriend from high school, Carmine (yes, he was from Jersey, but he wasn't a guido!) gets a whiff of Shalimar today, he cannot help but think of me.

Just before I stopped wearing perfume, I was in love with a scent that I actually bought online from Victoria Jackson. It's just known as her "Signature Scent." I had noticed the scent on a woman I was acquainted with and asked her what it was. I was very surprised to hear the answer because this woman was quite wealthy and could afford to wear whatever. I purchased it and I'm not exaggerating when I say I was stopped numerous times by total strangers, asking me what I was wearing.

Now, it seems, every celebrity has their own perfume line. Do people buy a perfume just because there's a "name" attached to it? Celebrity perfumes actually do the opposite for me. I haven't decided what scent I'm going to select, but I doubt that it will be one of these (though Miss Piggy's "Moi" sounds intriguing.

From Wikipedia:

Musicians

50 Cent: Power [1]
Ashanti: Precious Jewel[citation needed]
Avril Lavigne: Black Star
Beyoncé Knowles: True Star, True Star Gold (backed by Tommy Hilfiger), Emporio Armani Diamonds (backed by Giorgio Armani)
Britney Spears: Curious, Fantasy, Curious: In Control, Midnight Fantasy, Believe, Curious Hearts, Hidden Fantasy, Circus Fantasy [2]
Celine Dion: Celine Dion, Notes, Belong, Always Belong, Memento, Enchanting, Spring in Paris, Paris Nights, Sensational, Sensational Moment, Spring in Provence, Chic
Carlos Santana: Carlos by Carlos Santana[3]
Cher: Uninhibited by Parfums Stern, Inc. [4]
Christina Aguilera: Christina Aguilera by Christina Aguilera (2007), Inspire (2008), Christina Aguilera: By Night (2009).[5]
Cliff Richard: Miss You Nights, Devil Woman
Deborah Gibson: Electric Youth (mfd. by Revlon, 1989-1990)
Enrique Iglesias: True Star (backed by Tommy Hilfiger)
Gwen Stefani: L. A. M. B., L by Gwen Stefani, Harajuku Lovers (Includes 5 Different Fragrances)
Jennifer Lopez: JLo Glow, Still, Miami Glow, Love at First Glow, Live, Live Luxe, Glow After Dark, Deseo, Deseo Forever, Deseo For Men, Live Platinum, Sunkissed Glow [2]
Jessica Simpson: Fancy, Fancy Love
Julio Iglesias: Only, Only Crazy [6]
Kiss: Kiss Her, Kiss Him
Leona Lewis: Leona Lewis[7]
Luciano Pavarotti: Luciano, Luciano Pavarotti
Kylie Minogue: Darling[5], Sweet Darling, Showtime, Sexy Darling, Couture, Inverse (Men)
Mariah Carey: M by Mariah Carey, M by Mariah Carey Gold, Luscious Pink, Forever
Michael Jackson: Mystique de Michael Jackson, Legende de Michael Jackson [8], Magic Beat Unwind, Magic Beat Heartbeat, Magic Beat Wildfire, Michael Jackson Mystery [9]
Prince: Get Wild [10], 3121
Sean John: Unforgivable, Unforgivable Woman, Multi-Platinum
Shania Twain: Shania by Stetson, Shania Starlight[citation needed]
Tim McGraw: McGraw, Southern Blend
Usher: Usher For Him, Usher For Her
Victoria Beckham: Intimately Beckham for Her, Intimately Night for Her, Beckham Signature for Her
Alejandro Sanz: Siete Alejandro Sanz Men, Siete Alejandro Sanz Women

Actors/Actresses

Amitabh Bachchan: Amitabh Bachchan by Lomani Perfume for Men
Alan Cumming: Alan Cumming [2]
Antonio Banderas: Spirit, Mediterraneo, Diavolo Hypnotic, Diavolo Donna, Diavolo, Blue Seduction
Catherine Zeta-Jones: Elizabeth Arden Provocative Woman, Red Door Revealed
Charlize Theron: Dior J'Adore
Eva Green: Dior Midnight Poison
Milla Jovovich: Emporio Armani She, Emporio Armani Night for Women, Dior Hypnotic Poison
Elizabeth Taylor: Passion, White Diamonds, Forever Elizabeth, Black Pearls, Diamonds & Emeralds, Diamonds & Rubies, Sapphires & Diamonds [2]
Gloria Swanson: Estée Lauder Youth Dew
Hilary Duff: With Love... Hilary Duff, Wrapped With Love
Isabella Rosselini: Daring, Isa Bella, Manifesto, Storia
Joan Collins: Spectacular
Joan Crawford: Estée Lauder Youth Dew
Kate Winslet: Lancôme Trésor
Uma Thurman: Lancôme Miracle
Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen: N.Y. Chic, L.A. Style; One, Two; Hamptons Style South Beach Chic
Nicole Kidman: Chanel No. 5 (see No. 5 The Film)
Keira Knightley: Chanel Coco Mademoiselle
Raven Symone: That's So Raven
Sarah Jessica Parker: Lovely, Covet, The Lovely Collection: Dawn, Endless & Twilight
Shahrukh Khan: 'SK' by "SK" by Jeannes Arthes. SK Silver for men, and SK Gold for women.
Shilpa Shetty: S2 (pronounced S square) by Mark Earnshaw
Clive Owen: Lancôme Hypnôse
Henry Cavill: Dunhill London
Ewan McGregor: Davidoff Adventure
Monica Bellucci: Dolce & Gabbana Sicily
Reese Witherspoon: In Bloom
Scarlett Johansson: Calvin Klein Eternity Moment
Rachel Weisz: Burberry London for Women
Ioan Gruffudd: Burberry London for Men
Gwyneth Paltrow: Estée Lauder Pure White Linen Light Breeze, Estée Lauder Pleasures, Estée Lauder Pleasures Delights
Liv Tyler: Givenchy Very Irrésistible
Queen Latifah: Queen
Halle Berry: Halle

Athletes

David Beckham: Instinct, Intimately Beckham for Him, Instinct Intense, Intimately Beckham Night for him, Beckham Signature For Him
Derek Jeter: Driven[11]
Maria Sharapova: Maria Sharapova
Michael Jordan: Michael Jordan, Jordan, 23
Carlos Moyà: Carlos Moyà
Jeff Gordon: Halston Z-14

]Fictional Characters

Miss Piggy: Moi
Barbie: Barbie, Barbie Blue, Free Spirit, Sirena, Summer Fun, Super Model
Dora The Explorer: Dora The Explorer[citation needed]
Marvel Comics and DC Comics: X-men, Storm, Spider-man, Hulk, Superman
Strawberry Shortcake: Strawberry Shortcake[citation needed]
The Powerpuff Girls: Bubbles, Buttercup, Blossom[citation needed]
Austin Powers: Mojo [12]
Desperate Housewives: Forbidden Fruit [13]

]Misc.

Calum Best: Calum
Danielle Steel: Danielle
George Kurdahi: Lebanon's George Kurdahi, GK
Jade Goody: Shh..., Controversial
Joan Rivers: Now & Forever
Kate Moss: Kate, Velvet Hour, Kate Summertime
Katie Price: Stunning, Besotted
Kim Kardashian: Voluptuous
Kimora Lee Simmons: Baby Phat Goddess, Fabulosity
Lata Mangeshkar: 'Lata Eau De Parfum' by Gandh Sugandh
Naomi Campbell: Naomi Campbell, Mystery
Prince Nicolò Boncompagni Ludovisi: Prince Nicolò Boncompagni Ludovisi, Giove Nettuno Plutone [14]
Svetlana Stalin: Svetlana's Breath
Zeenat Aman: 'Zeenat' by a Saudi Arabian company
Paris Hilton: Paris Hilton, Just Me, Heiress/Heir, Can Can, Fairy Dust, Siren
Alex Curran: Alex
Chanelle Hayes: Mwah!
Christian Audigier: Ed Hardy [15]

Back To Reality

It's back to work for me tomorrow after being off for 11 days straight. And when you count the time off this month for the cruise, I only worked 9 whole days in Dec. So, I can just see all the crap waiting for me. I wish I liked my job. Actually, the job itself isn't that bad. It's all the stress that comes with it. And, as much as I tell myself I won't let it get to me, I don't see where I have much control over it.

These past 11 days have been totally stress-free and I've enjoyed it so much. I acquired a couple of things that I'm taking into the office:



This will be warning for all who enter my space. And, when they start getting to me, I will read this:



Will any of this help? Probably not. But it's a new year and maybe, some of those folks who drive me crazy made a resolution to try and keep the drama to a minimum. I can only hope.

Liar Liar

It's that time when we're supposed to, at least, THINK about making some positive changes in our lives. I've never been one to make New Year's resolutions, other than the typical lose 10 pounds or some such thing. But, this year, I've been doing some serious soul-searching and have identified a character flaw that I want to work on.

I'm a liar. No, I don't lie about things to other people. I lie to myself. I rationalize some things that I do and lie to myself about why I did it. I've already had an opportunity to address this issue just this week.

I was angry with the LSH about something that happened that he could have easily prevented. Now, I'm not apologizing for being pissed off at him; he admitted that it was his fault. But, I took that anger and used it to make a decision that affected other people. At the time, I told myself that I had legitimate reasons for this decision. But, I was lying to myself. I made the decision because I was mad at the LSH and wanted to punish him.

So, then the hard part came, admitting this to him. But, I swallowed my pride and confessed. And, guess what? The world didn't end. And, I felt much better.

So, that's my resolution. And I'm not lying.

In My Life

One of my very favorite songs is "In My Life." This time of year always gets me thinking of the past, of "people, places and things that went before." So, I think the next few posts may be about some of those things. Today's post is about Dogs I Have Known and Loved.

1. Smokey - On the Christmas Eve that I was either 3 or 4, we lived in Valley Stream, NY and my dad worked for Coca-Cola in Long Island City. On that day's drive into work, he watched a car ahead of him slow down and toss a bundle out of the car. He stopped and found a black puppy inside the bundle. He brought it into work with him and, with the help of several co-workers, he got the dog bathed and presentable to bring home. That night, to our amazement, my dad came in with this little guy with a big red bow around his neck. We were all shocked, including my mom, who had no idea that my dad was bringing this new family member home. He was black as smoke, hence his name.

2. Laffy My aunt had gotten a miniature poodle she called Nappy, which was short for Napoleon. I loved that dog and couldn't wait to visit them so I could play with Nappy. Smokey had passed away, so we were dog-less. The breeder where my aunt had gotten Nappy was having another litter, so we adopted Laffy, the name I gave him, which, in keeping with the French General's theme, was short for Lafayette. Although he was a gift for me, he really became my mother's dog. After my mom died, Laffy became a different dog. He would lie on the bed on my mother's side all day and couldn't be budged without a fight.

3. Tinker This dog was part of the package when I married my first husband. Tinker was a Weimeraner. He was a great dog, very smart with a gentle disposition. However, the marriage didn't last very long and when it was "bye-bye hubby" time, it was "bye-bye Tinker" too.

4. Patrick - After Smokey died, I asked my parents if I could have an Old English Sheepdog. I had seen Disney's "The Shaggy Dog," (the original one, not the re-make, where they used a bearded collie instead of an OES; totally unacceptable. There is only one dog that can lay claim to being the Shaggy Dog and that is the OES). But, no way. They're too big, too slobber-y, too hairy. So, now, being an independent, self-sufficient woman, I finally got my first OES. Don't ask me why I named him Patrick. I just always said that, when I get my sheepdog, his name would be Patrick. And he was everything you expect a sheepdog to be, big, goofy, intelligent, friendly (sometimes to a fault). One thing about this breed, wherever you go with them, people smile. I tell you, if you're looking to meet people, find an Old English and take him out somewhere. They are a people magnet.

5. Chloe - I stopped by my local Petsmart for dog food for Patrick and they were having an Adopt-A-Pet Day for a local, no-kill shelter. I went for dog food and came home with Chloe, a 14 month old Briard.
At first she was very shy, but within a few months, she became the Princess and took over the position of alpha dog from Patrick. (Sheepdogs tend to be wussy, in the first place, and he was almost 14 years old, so he really didn't give a shit, at that point). Briards are very intelligent and can be quite domineering, even of their owners, if not trained. I discovered this first hand and hired a trainer for ME, so I could learn how to handle her. She turned out to be a wonderful pet and my best girlfriend.

6. Bailey - Patrick passed away about 6 months after Chloe joined us and she was the solo dog for about 6 months, when I saw an ad in the local paper about a litter of OES puppies for sale. How could I resist? So, that's when Bailey entered my life and is, as I write this, laying on his bed on the floor next to me, both of us very happy to be here to see the new year in together, along with the LSH.

A HAPPY, HEALTHY, & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!

Last Minute Shopping

I know I'm a day late and a dollar short, but I just found a shop on the web that has the most unique and quirky things. These are a few on my wishlist ( I wanted to just show the pix, but couldn't figure out how):

Dying to take a shower??? Then this is for you.
UncommonGoods

Where should I hang this?
UncommonGoods

I'm definitely getting this:
UncommonGoods

Send a message when that new guy (or girl) comes by to pick you up:
UncommonGoods

Now, THIS is for the guy who has everything:
UncommonGoods

I think Donna, True Heart Girl In Jersey, might like this:
UncommonGoods

For all you aspiring writers:
UncommonGoods

You have male:
UncommonGoods

They say this is their #2 best seller:
UncommonGoods

Hey, PITC, does he have this one?
UncommonGoods

This one's for Otin:
UncommonGoods

For your favorite teacher (or student):
UncommonGoods

A girl can never have too many shoes (and cheese):
UncommonGoods

And, finally, the "WTF" gift:
UncommonGoods

The Money Pit

I enjoyed this film when it was first released, mainly because of Tom Hanks. Watching he and Shelley Long (whatever happened to her?) attempt to "improve" their home was fun, but do you know what I've discovered? It's not quite as much fun in real life.

Here's how it starts. The LSH & I agree that we need to replace ALL the windows, 12 in all, including two picture windows, plus a sliding glass door. We had some money left from a home equity loan we took out last year to replace the roof and there's a $1500 tax incentive to install energy efficient windows. We had a few contractors come over to give us their sales pitch and estimates. We picked our guy


and sat down to look at windows. After much discussion, we decided in some rooms to replace two windows with one larger and to move some windows. Well, here's where it begins. If we're doing all that, we may as well get all new siding. O-kay.

The day comes and the crew starts ripping off the old siding and what do they find??? Termites. Great. Now we need to get an exterminator in


Then, we needed to get an electrician in to move something or other; I forget what and why.


We left for vacation right in the middle of all this. We told the guys that we expected to find a bus in front of the house when we returned, so we could have that whole Extreme Makeover experience.


Unfortunately, it didn't quite happen that way. When we opened the door upon returning, I honestly just stood there, not prepared for what I was seeing.


I admit, they weren't done yet. The living room (where they had also repaired the cathedral ceiling) was torn apart, furniture draped in old sheets, dust EVERYWHERE, and my dog, lying in the middle of this, with a pile of dog s*** next to him, so happy to see us. AND, it was 1:45AM (as in the morning).

Now, I admit, I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to all this home improving. I suppose if I was, I would have realized that, with all the changes we made regarding the size and placement of the windows, new sheetrock had to be installed and EVERY room now needs to be painted.

Ok, time for a deep breath. I can handle this. Just think how nice it will look when it's all done.


So, the next morning, I'm having my coffee, gazing out of my brand new large kitchen window when I thought I'd go online to see what we will need to submit when we file our taxes to take advantage of the $1500 tax credit. I find the site, detailing the eligibility requirements, one of which was that the windows have a "Solar Heat Gain Coefficient" of 0.30 or less. Sounds good. I mean, we bought Andersen windows and the installer said all Andersen windows qualify. I look up at the window, which still has all its stickers on and see a "SHGC" of 0.32. WTF?? I jump up and, like a crazy lady with PMS



I run to all the other windows to find the same thing. The LSH called the guy immediately, who expressed disbelief at what he was being told. He said the Andersen people had said that all their windows meet the government standards. It turns out that that was true.....until June, when the government changed the standards. So, right now, we still owe one more payment and, if this can't be sorted out, that payment is going to be minus $1500.

Tis The Season

A few posts back, I related a story about some diners in a Philadelphia restaurant picked up the tab for another table's meals and how it continued throughout the day. Well, I had an unexpected opportunity to do something similar the other day.
Thursday morning I stopped at the local Quik-Chek on my way to work to get a White Chocolate Mint cocoa. It's not something I do regularly, but, with the snow on the ground and the chill in the air, put me in the mood.
There was a man in line in front of me, buying a coffee and paper, paying with a credit or debit card. The cashier ran it through, but it came back declined. The guy started checking his pockets for cash, but came up empty. He started to head outside to see if he had any money in his car. I thought "oh, a perfect "Pay It Forward" opportunity" and told him I'd take care of it. Of course, he protested, saying it wasn't necessary. I said I knew that, but I wanted to and wished him a Merry Christmas.
It wasn't much, just a coffee and paper, but it was a good way to start the day. I highly recommend it.

Good Will Toward Men

True story.

Last Saturday, our flight home from Miami was cancelled. How one handles this news upon reaching the departure gate, I believe, reveals much about a person. Upon hearing the news from a fellow passenger, I responded as I usually do, when hearing news I don't like: "You're kidding, right?" Why a total stranger would suddenly decide to play with my head and lie about our flight status didn't occur to me. I was just hoping he had a cruel sense of humor. But, no. He was actually a very nice, honest guy just passing on the bad news. So I got in line with the rest of the airport's version of the cast of "Lost" to find another option home, while the LSH sat because of a recent leg injury.
I was talking with a few fellow strandees when we hear loud words coming from the head of the line. I turned to see a large man throw back his fist and punch out a woman, totally landing her flat out on the floor. Well, that got all the testosterone in the immediate area heated up, causing many of the males to descend on this guy, yelling "Hey, buddy! You can't hit a woman!" and such. Now there's more yelling and shoving and then, suddenly, the PA system comes on and, over all this mayhem, we hear:



I loved it.

Anyway, the real story was that, after waiting what seemed to be forever, the daughter of the woman that was in front of this guy and his wife, invited about 6 other people to join them in line. The guy's wife started to say that they needed to wait in line and the DAUGHTER (maybe 20 years old), raised HER fist to punch the wife out, the husband saw this and got his punch in first. The cops came, took statements, nobody pressed any charges and that was that.

Of course, this show was hard to miss. A man waiting for another flight at the next gate came over and asked what was going on. When he heard the story, he asked "so, where's this flight heading anyway?" When he was told "Newark," he responded "Oh, Jersey. It figures." Thanks, TV Housewives and Guidos, for helping to keep the stereotype of Jersey alive and well to the rest of the world.

Catch-Up Time

I've been away awhile, so I thought this would be a good time to catch-up (ketchup/catch-up. Get it?? Ha-ha. Or, in deference to the season, should I say "Ho-Ho?").

Thanks to those of you inquiring about my health. After a slew of tests, the medical community can definitely say that I'm suffering from peripheral neuropathy. Idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, to be exact, which is the medical community's way of saying that they have no idea what is causing it, but if they use a fancy word like "idiopathic", they can still charge exorbitant fees. I have my own theory as to what's behind this which I may share with you in the future. But, for now, the best I can do is grin and bear it.

The cruise did not disappoint. We just chilled out in the Caribbean heat, doing only what we wanted to do or do nothing, which is what i wanted to do most of the time. I only disembarked (that's boat talk for "got off") the ship once, on Monday, when we were at Samana in the Dominican Republic to swim with the sea lions.



Now, I admit, this is not us. We have some pix on CD which I'm too lazy to find right now, but, you get the idea. Sea lions are very cool. I'd say they're kind of like an aquatic dog. It was a lot of fun. The beach there was also gorgeous. The LSH was approached by a local and asked if he wanted to score some ganja. Now, if you know him, you realize how truly funny this is. He was baffled and asked me several times why I thought this guy approached him. I had no idea, other than this bro had poor character judgment.

I did not disembark again until they made me on Saturday when we were back in Miami. At the pool, in the shade,there were some double width wicker chaises with soft pads and pillows. That's pretty much we I spent my cruise, armed with a good book, crossword puzzles, and a waiter who knew when it was time for a refill. However, if you want to get drunk while you're on a cruise, be sure to get a home equity loan before you go. Pina coladas $9.99. They had a drink called Cool Runnings, served in a pineapple. It was delish, but at $11.99 a pop, I had to limit my intake.

I played bingo once, lured by the chance to win a free cruise for two. I didn't win that, but I did walk out of there $200 richer. I-20 is now my favorite number.

Of course, a lot of time was spent eating. I'd been dreaming about these chocolate croissants they served at breakfast last year. And, thank God, they still had them. On the morning we returned to Miami, I managed to smuggle some extras out in a paper napkin. Tacky, I know. But, they were sooooo good!

We were returned back to reality a bit too abruptly, when we got to the gate for our 12:10PM departure flight and found out it was cancelled. We were re-booked on an 8:50PM flight and didn't walk into the house until 1:30AM. But I got a big, wet, warm welcome home from Bailey (affectionately known as "The B"), always the best part of coming home.

Pay It Forward For Real

We're back, safe & fairly sound, from our cruise. It was as wonderful as we expected. Very relaxing and laid-back. I'll post more about it in the next few days, but, because I'm short on time tonight, I just wanted to share this story that caught my eye. I just love these kind of tales!

Gone Sailing

I really wanted to post before we leave for the cruise, but I just don't have time. I may Tweet now and then, if I put down my pinacolada long enough to text. So, Bon Voyage, all.

Later.

PS. I also want to thank all of you who continue to stop by to see if I've posted. I appreciate your interest and will work on being a better blogger when I return from this much needed getaway!

Post Thanksgiving Thanks

My thoughts exactly.

However, because I've generally been in a foul mood for the past week or so, I thought I should make an extra effort to think about what I'm grateful for right now. I'm a day late, but, I suppose, it's never too late to be thankful for:

My husband, the LSH*, although, currently he's on my s*** list. Long story, but I believe, due to the drama he has created, I can now be considered the LSW*. But, I love you, sweetie. For better or worse.
Grateful for my brother, Tom, who is always "there" for me, through the good and not so good.
Grateful for "the girls", my friends from childhood, who are always there to lend an ear or a hand. And, of course, make me laugh my ass off (unfortunately, not literally).
Grateful that I still have my job, although they're killing me, with too many responsibilities and the stress that comes along with that. But we need that paycheck, even without a raise this year.
Grateful that, at this time exactly a week from today, I'll be spending the night in warm Miami and on Saturday, board my luxury cruise ship to tropical ports beyond. I'm purposely using the pronouns "I" and "my" because not really sure if the LSH will be able to make it (see first item on list).
Just finished watching the Paul McCartney@Citifield special that was on last night. I'm grateful for those Beatle memories and that I was able to attend the Citifield show last July.
Grateful that I was able to re-connect with so many great people from my high school graduation class at our recent reunion and we have Facebook to continue to keep in touch.
Grateful that, although the doctors' still haven't been able to figure out what is causing my neuropathy, I now know that I DON'T have diabetes, MS, Lyme's Disease, lupus and small-cell lung cancer. Now, if they can only find out what I DO have that's causing this.
Grateful that I was born in America, that we have a roof over a heads and food in the pantry and clothes in the closet.
Speaking of closets, I'm grateful that I finally got around to cleaning my closet out today and getting a bit more organized. I actually got these things. Although this is the online site, you can buy them in many stores and save the shipping. They do actually work, although they are plastic. Wood would look nicer, but then, they wouldn't cost $19.99.
Grateful that my buddy, Bailey, my 13 1/2 year old Old English Sheepdog, is still with me and is currently sleeping peacefully at my feet.

There are many other things I'm grateful for, but these are at the top of the list. It's not really a bad idea, doing this grateful thing. I'll have to remember to do this more often.

*LSH - long suffering husband LSW - long suffering wife

Those Were The Days

Ah! The long-awaited reunion post. I'm sure you've all been on pins & needles in anticipation.

Let me start off by saying that, since I began this blog, I've been reluctant to tell my age. I've danced around it a bit, but I've avoided specifics. I think one of the reasons has been that, since I don't know many of you personally, I've thought that, if you knew my age, you'd have pre-conceived ideas of who I am and what I'm like, based on my age. I mean, when I was younger, I always thought that this age is OLD. But, hell, in order to maybe appreciate my reunion stories, I'm going for it.

I recently attended my 40th class reunion. Yes, we were the Class of '69 at Edison HS in Edison, NJ. There were about 514 in our graduating class, and about 160 of us were at the reunion. I also attended my 20th reunion and my, how we've changed and I don't just mean physically. I didn't enjoy my 20th. All the conversations seemed to be about what one did for a living, how much money you had, the size of your home, the car you drove, etc, everyone trying to outdo each other. I remember one woman in particular who brought pictures of her home, room by room, her swimming pool, etc.

But, as I said, times have changed. The conversations were more about "so, how's life treated you?" There were happy stories of kids and grandkids and sad stories of loss and illness. Of course, there was a ton of reminiscing. And the class clowns were still clownish and those who were voted "Best Dressed" were still stylish, the "Best-Looking" guy was still looking good and even the Class Couple were still together (the hubby in that pair was "Mr. Best-Looking." In fact, there were 7 couples of high school sweethearts still married. To each other. I found that amazing. There were some people who I recognized right away, some who looked familiar, but couldn't recollect their name and some people I didn't know at all.

The party ended at 11PM, but continued in the Hospitality Suite until God knows when. I just know I went back to our room around 2:30AM, but stayed up another 2 hours, laughing and talking with my roomies. In the morning, we had a private room, so we could breakfast and spend a little more time together. It was as if no one wanted to leave, lingering over cups of coffee until the wait staff had removed the linens from the tables and we were forced to vacate the room. There were lots of hugs and kisses and vows that we have to get together soon. I know how often I've said that to people, but somehow, it never happens. But I think, this time, we all meant it. We actually set a date.

It's Been A Long Time

Bet, by the title of this post, you think I'm going to relate some stories about my class reunion. No. Not today. Don't really have time.
But, until yesterday, it HAD been along time. In fact, it was so long ago, I can't remember the last time....


I threw up. Yes, Sitting at my desk at work. Suddenly, my body got super hot and my stomach started doing flips. I jumped up with my hand over my mouth (just in case) and ran to the ladies' room, not very conveniently located, but I made it. It's such a horrible feeling, isn't it? Your body has taken control and there's nothing you can do to stop it.
When it was finally over, I was wiped out. Luckily, someone had heard me in there and had already told my boss what was happening. He must have thought she wanted him to do something because all he kept saying was "I can't go in there!" Not that I wanted him too.
Anyway, I went home and went to bed and the episode past.
Speaking of episodes, did you see the Seinfeld episode that I was thinking of yesterday while all this was happening (if you're a Seinfeld fan, you'll know the one).

Dog-Tired

I had a wonderful time at my class reunion last night. I haven't laughed so hard or so much in a long time. I got MAYBE 3 hours sleep, so, forgive me for not going into any detail right now. Jersey Girl is going to pay some bills, eat some dinner and turn in early. (Last episode of Mad Men will have to be DVR'd).
Stay tuned for thoughts and stories.....................

All Systems Go!

Tonight is my xxTH High School Class Reunion and it looks like my body is going to cooperate and feel well enough to attend. It's at a hotel and I have a room with a few of the "girls." Gotta run and try to take a few years off this face!

Jersey Girl Goes To Barnes and Noble

I've made a commitment to myself to start reading again, so I stopped by Barnes & Noble today. While perusing the shelves, the cover of a book caught my eye. I picked it up and couldn't believe my eyes. This book contains two of my favorite literary genres, Jane Austen (if you can call her a "genre") and vampires! And it said it was a NYT Bestseller. Where have I been? Am I the only book person that hadn't heard of this book?



It's the original text by Jane Austen with added scenes of "bone-crunching zombie action." Is this sick or what? I can't wait to start it! If I enjoy this, I may just have to pick up:



While I was engrossed amongst the bookshelves, one of the employees stopped by and asked me if I'd like a cupcake. I politely accepted, noting I never say no to anything sweet. It was only after I took my first bite did I notice i was in the "Diet" section. Do you think he set me up?

You know all those "What To Expect" titles: When You're Expecting, During the 1st Trimester? I've never read any of them, so I can't say whether they're any good or not, but I saw the newest addition to this series today and, if you ARE expecting, I suggest you pick this up and start reading it to your eventual prodigy:




And last, but not least, here's one more book I saw today. I doubt if I'll read it, but, perhaps some of the single ladies out there might be interested:

Modern Weddings

Whenever I attend a wedding, I'm always curious to see what, if any, new or different elements are included.

We attended a wedding last night. It was the wedding of Mike's cousin's stepson (I assume this is an example of a distant relative). The relatives on this side of the family (his mother's side) live in either Vermont or California, so we never see them and I'm not even sure how we got invited. It just happens that the groom was marrying a young lady from the Jersey Shore, so the wedding was local for us. Five of Mike's siblings and their spouses attended also, so we had our own table, which was great, being as I didn't know anyone else there. Mike's dad was there with his girlfriend, Barbara (Mike's mom is deceased). They were seated with the cousin. Barb & I are around the same age and she was very disappointed to not be at our table, which we were referring to as "the kids' table."

Two things about the reception stood out for me. First, the couples' song was The Beatles "In My Life," one of my favorite love songs. I guess The Beatles' music has officially transcended generations. Second, they had an artist there who was standing with her easel and paints, where I could watch to see what she was doing. When we first sat down, she had already painted the other side of the room, detailing the windows and their drapery, and a few tables. Once the bridal party arrived, she got really down to business. Eventually, the picture showed the bride, standing on the side of the dance floor, watching her groom, with tears in her eyes, dancing with her mother. I'm assuming the artist's job was to capture a moment at the reception, which she did. It was really lovely; I've never seen this done before.

The bride graduated from Harvard and Georgetown Law School, where she met her groom. During one of the FOUR toasts, someone mentioned that, in preparation for this toast, she went back through old e-mails between her and the bride. I smiled, realizing the days of saving meaningful letters tied together in an old shoebox, are gone.

One very humorous moment. The groom's younger brother, the best man, began his toast with the mike a bit too close to his mouth and the first word we heard, very loudly was "Fornication.' Everyone was laughing and I don't think he understood why. You could hear one of his nearby buddies say to him 'fornication?" Then the best man explained what he was really saying was "For an occasion" such as this....." Which had all of us laughing more. Of course, this was all captured on video, so that moment has been captured for eternity.

At each place-setting, there was a note from the newlyweds thanking everyone and explaining that, instead of wedding favors, they donated that money to the Leukemia Society. At the time, we were unaware, but learned later that the groom had been diagnosed with leukemia 3 years ago, but went i to remission after about 18 months of treatment. Sadly, the leukemia returned in June and he is currently undergoing some new, experimental treatment.

All in all, a lovely, though bittersweet, occasion.

Halloween Humbug

I do not enjoy Halloween. There. I said it out loud. I admit, it's surprising, considering my love for chocolate and things sweet. But, like with most things nowadays, I believe we've taken it a bit too far. Driving home last night, I passed numerous homes decked out like it was Christmas, with orange lights decorating the entire house. When did this all begin? And why? I know, some will say it's all harmless fun. I just don't understand why everything has to be an extravaganza now.
Another reason why my dislike for the day is odd (I don't even want to use the word "Holiday," because it's NOT a holiday! If it were, schools and post offices would be closed!) is that I LOVE scary things. The gorier, the better. (That's probably one of the reasons I became an EMT; I know. Sick, isn't it?) Nothing like a good, sick movie with flesh-eating zombies or chain-saw wielding maniacs, to keep me happy on a Saturday night.
Now, don't get me wrong. I have great memories of trick or treating from my childhood. We would go out with our friends for hours, without parents in tow, scouring all the nearby neighborhoods and getting tips from other kids on who was giving out the "good stuff." Sometimes, we'd have to make a trip home to drop off what we got so far because our bags (sometimes just a pillowcase) would become too heavy. I remember one neighbor, Mrs. Levine, who would make caramel apples for the neighborhood kids.
So, I'm really not sure when my dislike, or, at least, apathy, started. All I know is, Halloween is on a Saturday this year and, being the Halloween Scrooge I am, I hope it pours! BOO!

Random Randomness

What's this I'm hearing? Two NW pilots fell asleep in the cockpit last night and flew 150 miles past their destination??? I'm speechless.

I'm feeling very patriotic tonight. The LSH & I have decided to help stimulate our economy and go for broke; we just signed a contract to replace all our windows, doors and siding. What have you done today for your fellow American?

I heard something that disturbed me today; Waterford closed their factory in Ireland and now, all that beautiful, Irish crystal is be ing made in Czechoslovakia. Is there such a thing as a Czech leprechaun?

After the day i had at work today, I realize I don't like a lot of people.

Anyone planning on going to see the Michael Jackson movie? It's only going to be in theaters for only 2 weeks. Then, I'm betting it will be on the store shelves just in time for Christmas for, whaddaya think, $99.99?

After reading other folks' blogs and listening to co-workers, i realize I lead a pretty unexciting life. And, guess what? That's fine with me!

I resisted Facebook for the longest time. Finally, I created an account a few months ago, after being harassed by friends, but I rarely checked it. Then, when I finally checked it out, I was amazed that so many people I used to know, particularly from HS, had found me. Now, i admit, I enjoy it.

Weeks ago, I mentioned I wanted to re-design my blog. I still haven't done anything. And, would you believe, I've had my Blackberry for almost 3 months and i haven't programmed one name or number yet? I couldn't transfer anything from my old phone because it just crashed. I would pay someone to do it for me; hmmm, maybe I'll call up one of the nieces/nephews.

For the last two weeks, I've taken advantage of one of my local supermarkets' delivery services and must admit, I'm enjoying it. They sucked me in with free delivery for 60 days. Even if I have to pay for delivery, it might be worth it. That's how much I despise food shopping.

Got another wedding to attend this weekend. It's being held at quite a nice, luxury hotel nearby. I hope I'm feeling well so I can enjoy myself Saturday night.

It was just announced that Bonjovi is set to be the first concert at the new Giants Stadium in the spring. Maybe I'll finally get to see the local Jersey boys live in concert.