Things of Significance

Another bulleted entry. Another easy way out.

• Broke one of my nails off! It was a two-part process. First, on a Wednesday, I jammed the tip of my nail very hard into the wall while I was groggily reaching for a sweat jacket that was tossed next to my dresser the night before. ('Cuz that's how I roll these days.) The pain was immediate, intense, eye-opening. A little bit of blood oozed out from around the nail bed. The following Friday Penny succeeded in kicking my nail while I had the audacity to change her diaper. The nail needed to be removed immediately because it was sticking out of my finger in a way that made me feel slightly nauseous. It looks so pathetic now.
• Fixed a very special antique lamp that is shaped like a jaguar. It's green. I wonder if Free ever saw it? It lived in the Woodruff's bus during the summer I camped out in it. It is super-cool and as soon as I discover the whereabouts of my camera batteries (or just by new ones when I give up) there will be a pic.
• Had my pool drained and refinished. It looks incredible now. The pool people are coming daily to scrub the sides, add the acid, clean the filter, and check the acidity levels. I am far too disorganized at this point in my life to deal with it. Besides, their fee is very reasonable and the are British, not Floridian, and they are a small breath of fresh air for a couple of minutes a day. Incidentally, I do most of my face to face socialization with contractors and the girls behind the counter at Walgreen's.
• Gone to Walgreen's on a daily basis!
• Started a bunch of bathroom painting projects that are not yet finished. This will give my brother something to do when he gets here Sunday. He is going to be living with me...probably for a long time. If he's still here when I leave for Jersey in a few years, he's going to be obligated to stay here and pay me rent until it's time to leave it and sell it. I've been doing him A LOT of favors lately, because he's my brother and I love him, but I might need some favors eventually too. He has an excellent opportunity to live an independent life here without the scrutiny that would naturally occur when living with parents. He has a good chance to grow and I hope he does.
• Read a couple of really good books. I read Hiassen's Lucky You and Tim Dorsey's Hurricane Punch. I read for the second time Tom Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities. The copy I read was Rob's from his college years, in which he underlined and made small notes in the text. That's a pretty nice way to read a book.
• At the moment I am about 3/4 of the way through a book tited A Prayer for Owen Meany. John Irving, the author also wrote The World According to Garp and The Ciderhouse Rules. He's written more but those are the ones I've read. All incredible stories. Owen Meany was the first one I'd ever read. It was a gift from my friend and mentor, Pam as a birthday present in the fall of 2002. It's a story that changed me. When I'm done reading it maybe I'll be able to articulate just how that happened. The Owen Meany character reminds me of Rob, from his small stature to his unusual voice to his honest and brash nature. The way Owen's story ends, how Rob's story ended, and the nature of my own life story at this time-not entirely similar but enough to think about. More on that later...

End of the Year Thingy

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?

I got a bird’s eye view of a lot of things that I’d prefer not to even remember.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I kept some of them. I did lose weight. But I didn’t calm down much like I had hoped.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Some people at work had babies, but that’s about it.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes, my husband.

5. What countries did you visit?

Is Florida considered another country? It’s like another planet as far as I’m concerned.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?

I would like to actually regain the intense focus and ambition that I had in the earlier part of this year. I would like to have more peace in my life.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Probably the biggest one would be August 2.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

It doesn’t feel like an achievement anymore, but packing up our entire lives as a family and moving out of state.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Any time that I may have lost sight of how precious life is.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?


Nothing big.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Size 8 jeans. Oh and a slammin’ 4/3/2 with an inground pool on half an acre, flanked by conservation land, a retention canal on a dead end street that happens to be right in the middle of the daily migration of 3 tortoises. Oh and sand cranes. And frogs and slugs and all kinds of creatures I happen to like.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

The people who rallied around me after Rob passed away.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Not even worth mentioning. Just watch the news.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Household expenses, moving expenses, relocation expenses.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

All of the promise that the move had to offer.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?

There are always a few answers to this question: “How to Save a Life” by The Fray, “Leave Out All the Rest” and “Shadow of the Day” by Linkin Park, and “Little Lovers So Polite” by the Silversun Pickups.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

Sadder,
Thinner,
About the same

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Slowing down, smelling the roses, picking daisies.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Bickering, quarreling, fuming

20. How did you spend Christmas?

With my parents, inlaws, grandparents, and the baby, cooking, drinking wine, and trying to make the best of it.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?

Next question.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Never just one answer for this one. The Office, Scrubs, CSI (just Las Vegas really), NCIS, Sunrise Earth, Sponge Bob, The Backyardigans, Animal Precinct and the news. Ellen. Martha Stewart’s show. That’s about it.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No. That’s a good thing, right?

24. What was the best book you read?

Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Silversun Pickups.

26. What did you want and get?

Recognition at work.

27. What did you want and not get?

Spending the rest of my life in paradise with my husband.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

I never got out to the movies so I didn’t see anything really current. However, I guess I’d have to say that I really enjoyed Little Miss Sunshine.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I just tried to get through the day. I may have had a couple of nice phone calls. Nothing special. I turned 33.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

I think we all know the answer to this.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

Jeans, t-shirts, some skirts, some nicer tops, just trying to look like I give a crap for once.

32. What kept you sane?

Lots and lots and lots of emails and phone time and text messages. I love technology.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Wow, that is hard to answer. Most of them I just don’t have any use for and doubt their sincerity. Maybe Bob Barker, because I think the whole spaying your animals thing is very important and it’s the kind of issue that a celebrity can tackle with sincerity and with actual results.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

The war, the economy, and as always healthcare.

35. Who did you miss?

My husband, and also everyone I left behind in NJ.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

I’ve met some people that I’ve know for a while with new eyes, and what I’m seeing is beautiful.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.

It is sometimes way too short. Don’t waste another minute on anything that gives you guilt or pain if you can possibly help it. Don’t wait for happiness to find you. Seek it.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Love is the answer, at least to most of the questions in my heart.
-Jack Johnson, from “Better Together”