Inspired by GGC… This year I have done the following:

• Brought in the New Year by kissing my boyfriend.
• Got a Wii system after a month of trying.  Feel huge sense of accomplishment.
• Took eight different flights in the month of February.
• Turned twenty-three years old, which acted as a reminder to my brothers as to how old they are getting.
• Have both Mack’s siblings visit (separately) during the spring. Adore his family even more then I already did. 
• Worked full-time while being full-time student my last semester. Realize people who do this longer then three-months are rock stars.
• Fly out to Florida, again, to find an apartment out there. Know the flight routes from Phoenix to Jacksonville really, really well. (Flights between PHX and JAX by June: 12 (since it always has a lay-over)).
• See my parents again when they visit for my graduation and to see my brother’s family.
• Graduate from college again.
• Pack up Phoenix apartment and move cross-country to Florida for Mack’s job.
• Don’t enjoy the Move From Hell.
• Drove from Phoenix to Jacksonville trip three times by the month of July. Officially hate that long stretch of I-10.
• Telecommute to job in Phoenix. Grow incredibly isolated and lonely.
• Get an iPhone but maintain my regular, non-smug attitude.
• Drive up to Georgia just because we can.
• Get a new job here in Florida.
• Fly out for weekend to Phoenix for nephew’s third birthday. Have a blast and almost cry when we leave. (Flights to date between PHX and JAX: 16).
• Find my differing political views under attack.
• Find kitten under car. Decide to adopt him (much to Mack’s annoyance).
• Visit animal ER first time since Isabelle passed on in November 2007. Brings back lots of sad and emotional memories.
• Kitten adopts Mack.
• Visit Nashville, Tennessee for the first time.
• Visit Seattle for Thanksgiving and see family and friends. Realize how much I miss the northwest.
• Mack visits family in Oregon. Take opportunity to clean apartment. Am sore for a week.
• Have happy uneventful holidays.
• Fall even more in love with Mack.
• Realize that despite the occasional shit storms, my life is over-all really good.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
~Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850

Technorati Tags: review of 2008, new year’s eve, new years, 2008, past year, accomplishments

My parents and brother up in Seattle have been hit pretty bad by the snow storms in the past two weeks. Last I heard, the snow count in inches at my parents house was up to twenty-three. Luckily, my parents were able to escape the snowy hell and go to Phoenix to visit my brother’s family for Christmas. My other brother, however, was not so fortunate.

Despite being snowed in, my brother has ventured forth everyday to, at the very least, get coffee. Like me, my brother can very much be a homebody… except when there is no other option but staying at home. To say he has cabin fever would be putting it nicely. As he put it to me the other day: his laundry and room has never been cleaner and all his DVDs do, in fact, work. 

Yesterday, per holiday tradition of our family, we all called each other up to wish happy [ holiday of your choice - omg PC! ] and generally chat. I called my brother, up in Seattle, who was pissed that:

1. He was stuck in 23 inches of snow
2. The parents house had been without power since 5:30AM.

The second problem didn’t bother him as much since, in winter of 2006 when I was still living there, we were without power in freezing temperatures for eight days. After that little experience my parents bought a generator (when I had of course moved to warmer climates, jerks). The being-stuck-in-the-snow-for-the-upteenth-day annoyed him most of all since he had had plans for friends to come over, which were pretty much history with that much snow.

As he complained away in his frustration of the snow just not GOING AWAY, he made mention of the fact that he sincerely hoped that the roof would not cave in under all that snow. Now, this is the brother who is a professional window washer. Keep this in mind as you read what I suggested:

“Why don’t you just climb up on the roof and knock it all off?”

Amused, my brother chuckled and said he wasn’t stupid, thanks. He wouldn’t do that unless he was anchored to something like the chimney and… then again, if he did fall off he’d have about 23-inches of snow to break his fall. I pointed out if he did anchor himself he’d be okay and yes, he had lots of snow to break his fall. Thinking my brother got that I was joking (since I myself would lavish in an excuse of being snowed in not to get off my lazy butt) I wished him a merry christmas and put that out of my mind.

A few hours later, my parents called to see how my Christmas had been and made mention of the fact my brother in Seattle was bored silly. They casually remarked that he had been on the roof earlier in the day knocking snow off. Snorting, I said I sincerely hoped he at least anchored himself to the chimney like he and I had discussed.

I think at that point my parents realized the power of stupidity that their children together can produce. Sure, I think my brothers getting drunk after one of their weddings and chasing a skunk probably hinted at the stupidity factor, but suggesting knocking snow off the roof? Yeah, their children have grade A smarts.

Technorati Tags: genetics, siblings, brothers, holidays, christmas, stupidity, good ideas, snow, seattle, conversations

Happy Holidays from Mack, myself, and our bazillion animals that rule our lives. Hope you’re all having a good break from it all and relaxing. In a fit of pure geekdom we’re watching the whole LOTR trilogy. Yes. We’re hardcore like that.

Happy Holidays!

Mack is watching Shaft while I am working on logos for a client. I have my headphones on and am vaguely chatting with a friend online. Out of the corner of my eye I can see what is happening on the wall where the movie is being projected. (SPOILER FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN/ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THIS MOVIE!)

Me (10:23PM): OMG Christian Bale just got SHOT.

N (10:23PM): WHAT!!!!!11

Me (10:24PM): omg, sorry, MOVIE.

Me: Okay, I’ll drive us to the store in my car BUT we’re listening to Mamma Mia soundtrack.

Mack: … I’ll drive my car.

Mack: I got a surprise for you.
Me: …
Mack: It’s a good one, jerk. Here.
Me: … what is it? [Mack hands me shot glass]
Mack: Try it.
Me: [sniffs it suspiciously then gives him a look] It’s alcohol.
Mack: Trust me and try it!
Me: … it’s eggnog!
Mack: Yeah, damn good eggnog at that.
Me: [takes another sip and encounters a lump of some sorts. Swallows then faces puckers]
Mack: Oh yeah, about that. When it says ‘Serve chilled’ I thought it meant put it in the freezer. It led to an interesting situation when I took it out 15 minutes ago.

1. If you make a mistake either run and hide or stick it out and just look cute so the punishment will be less severe.
2. The louder you complain, the faster what you want will come to you.
3. Older does not necessarily mean that they hold any sort of superiority over you.
4. Pretty much any surface can be laid on. Sometimes you just have to knock shit off of it to make it work.
5. Anything is edible if you put your mind to it.
6. 5AM really is the best time of productivity… especially for exercise through the apartment.
7. Enemies lurk everywhere. It’s best to attack everything, just to be safe.
8. It’s always good to have someone to look up to.
9. Ask for help when you need it. The world is a big place with lots of tall objects to scale.
10. You’re never too old for toys.
11. Never underestimate defensive positioning. Sometimes laying down flat under low-lying objects really can save you.
12. Evasive dodging can save you from a sticky situation.
13. When you jump into a bath tub full of water don’t act like you’ve made a mistake: work it.
14. If you’re not feeling the affection, don’t force yourself.
15. When you’re happy: show it.

Technorati Tags: lists, things i have learned, cats, kittens, life lessons, animals