Ok, I'm back...
Well, it has been quite a while since my last posting and for that I apologize, although to whom, I am not sure. Myself, maybe? In any event, I am back at work and trying to have a bit of holiday detox from the past two weeks. Food, Family, Friends, and of course, holiday beverages can leave a person feeling a bit less than human. However, it is a brand new year and I am sure there are lots of exciting things coming down the pike. At least, I hope there are. Not a whole lot to report about the holiday, although did get a chance to catch up with the family and some old friends while I was at home. Turns out some of them (the friends) are still the same as when I knew them before--back in high school if you will, and I must say that it is a little scary that after almost 9 years they are still living the same lives and just expecting people to cater to them and that nothing will have changed. I have sometimes been sorry that I moved away from home, but this was certainly not one of those times. I guess when you go home, you really realize how much you can change when you broaden your horizons and are open to new experiences. Oh...ow...that was me, falling off my soap box. Anyway, I hope all had a wonderful holiday. Any good stories to share? Share them here.

Pet Peeve
Well, I am at home for the holidays and so far so good. However, last night, I stopped at a local beveraging establishment while I was on my way home. Just went in to have a beverage and then go home. I was by myself, which I know can leave me open for some random bar commentary, but last night, I got one of my all time favorites that people say to me. Now, I will preface this by saying that I am not an unhappy person and while in groups where I know a lot of people, I can be quite gregarious, when I am in a situation where I am alone or not too familiar with the other people, I tend to be quieter until I feel out the situation...so, I am sitting at the bar enjoying my bud light and this guy leans over and says: "Smile, it can't be that bad." Well, first and foremost, he knows nothing about my life, so does he really in fact know that it can't be that bad? I seriously can't stand when people say that. However, even if I looked as if I was in a bad mood, that is no reason for him to make such a comment. The truth is that I wasn't in a bad mood. I was just hanging out. Just because I don't walk around with a smile plastered on my face does not mean that I am not in a good mood. Sometimes I am just busy thinking about things and apparently seem to be in a sour mood. However, that is not the case. I just hate when people say that. They don't know me, they should just shut their pie-holes. Holiday cheer to all!

Holidays
The holidays are a very interesting time of year. Some people get happier, some more depressed. Some fluctuate from one to another. You have family obligations and work obligations and numerous other things to deal with, so the real question is how do you balance it? Most of the time I really enjoy the holidays. I get to see family that I don't normally get to spend time with, especially since I live a good distance from them. For some reason this year doesn't seem to be as jolly as years past. I know I should just buck up and try to make it happy but I am just not feeling it this year. I know this may be sounding a bit retarded considering that the real meaning of the holidays is to be charitable to others and be thankful for what you do have and the happiness that is currently in your life, but sometimes a person just doesn't feel like doing that. Perhaps that person feels like not dealing with it and possibly just maintaining a good old fashioned slight beer buzz to make it through. I know I am not the only one who considers such an option, even if I don't go through with it. Oh well, the holidays were upon us before we knew it. I am sure they will be over in the same manner. To anyone reading this, I wish you the happiest of holidays and the best of things to come in the new year.

Surprise Party
Ok, so last night we had a surprise party for one of my friends 28th birthday. We got about 10 people to go over to her apt. and get things ready while her boyfriend took her to dinner. We got the call they were on the way back and dimmed the lights. Of course, we forgot to relock the deadbolt, so we hear her starting to get a little scared b/c she knows that she locked it. She comes inside and can sort of see us and thinks someone is robbing her. So, before she really even gets the lights on, we had to jump up and yell the obligatory 'surprise' before she started to freak out. I am not sure if she had any idea that we were going to do this, but it was an awesome time. 5 bottles of wine were purchased and 90 cans of Miller Lite. Again, this was for only 11 people. 90 cans. I do think we put away about 40, though. It was awesome. At the end of the evening, there was some aerobicizing--why, I am still not sure...there was also a bit of breakdancing in the form of the worm which was awesome if I do say so myself. Later!

Las Vegas
I would like to say that this post is about me going to Las Vegas, but alas, it is not. This is a small ode to a show that I have grown quite fond of in the last three weeks, even though it wasn't even on last week.

Anyway, I just had to put it out there that this show is pretty good. It has all the good elements--drama, comedy, romance, action. Who could ask for anything more, really...well, except for a little more shirtless Josh Duhamel, but then that is always a given. Last night was awesome. They had a convention there with collectors of swizzle sticks. There was a whole thing about how they needed extra security and then the president of the association's prize swizzle stick was stolen by the vice-president and they caught it all on tape. It was hilarious. If you aren't checking this show out, you should. Monday's at 9pm. Las Vegas Website

Feeling Better
Well, after my last entry, I am feeling a little bit better. I thought I would share a story of an invitation I received to celebrate the New Year. There is a local establishment where I reside wherein every Saturday night they have karaoke. I partake in this event some Saturdays, but the first time I had ever seen it, the man that was in charge of the karaoke was also dressed as Elvis since not only does he run the show, but he is part of the show as an impersonator. I must admit, he is quite good at his job. So, for the last couple of weeks, I have been in there to partake in such activities and have become friendly with some of staff and the karaoke man. So much so, that he invited the bartender and I to be his guests at his New Year's Eve show at the local Moose's Lodge. Now, I must admit when I was thinking about how I would spend NYE, this was one thought that totally didn't cross my mind. Now that it has though, I have to say that I am a bit intrigued. I think it would be truly fascinating and fun to witness the start of the new year in such a venue. I have not agreed to such a thing as of yet, but I am highly considering it.

Bad Day
I know most of the stuff that I post here is sort of whimsical and of a humorous nature. Well, today I am just not feeling it. I'm not sure I want to put this out there for all to see, but things have been a little hectic for me and I am not sure how to deal with it. It is very hard to watch someone that you love going through something very painful. Especially when you also have a personal stake in the situation. I guess you just have to keep moving forward, but sometimes isn't that the hardest thing of all. Making progress and feeling normal again. So far, I have been pretty lucky in my life and don't think that I am not aware of that fact, but sometimes things just suck. I guess in the end you hope that there is some sort of grand plan that we are all following, but sometimes it is extremely hard to see it. I suppose for me, this is one of those times.

Trojan Horse
So, got into work this morning to find an email detailing our holiday schedule. It seems as though management has decided to give us about 16 more hours of vacation than they had originally given us. Now, while I am entirely grateful for such a gift, it does leave me a little suspicious as to what their intentions are. Believe you me, I work in an industry that is all about the almighty dollar so I am a little concerned about this extra paid time off. They also mentioned that another token of appreciation would be coming to my house over the holidays. I hope it isn't a pink slip.

Car Trouble
Yet again, my car is acting up. That isn't the best part, though. The best part is that supposedly my boyfriend, who is now my ex-boyfriend, changed the sparkplugs in my car a couple of months ago when we were dating and apparently replaced them with sparkplugs that are not designed for my car. You know, I guess that is just the way things go in life. You think you might finally be getting ahead to be smacked in the face with such idiocy. I guess people are right when they say that something can be too good to be true. Although I don't know who those people are. Although, it is nice around the holidays to shell out $500 to fix a car that shouldn't really be having major problems in the first place. Oh well at least this time at the mechanic stuff wasn't stolen out of my car by the workers. That is a good sign, right?

Today's Activities
I got to spend today in lovely Northern New Jersey. Montvale to be exact. I must admit that the place doesn't have much, but it does have a really cool shopping plaza that also includes Anthropolgie. I have to give props to that store because it is actually more hip clothing that is made for women who aren't built like 12 year old boys. You know, made for women that actually have hips. That is one of the many reasons I enjoy that store. Another is because I found this really awesome pair of jeans that have some type of velvet-y feel and a really cool rinse. So, if you get a chance, hit Anthropologie!