You guys, this is the last depressing dead Grandma story. Promise.
I associate music with my Grandma. It's very jarring to hear songs that we used to sing as kids with her playing the piano. So, anything good. Show tunes, Christmas carols, rat pack selections.
I have had this song stuck in my head for he past two days. My grandma and grandpa used to sing it together at the piano.
But, I get to sing with her at everyday now, right? So it's a way that she lives on. See? Not that depressing.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Grandma D.
If you didn't notice on my Facebook, my grandma died last night.
She had Lewy Body--physically Parkinson's and mentally Alzheimer's. She was still very lucid--she was getting weaker and weaker--sleeping 20-22 hours a day. She hadn't eaten since Saturday and was provided morphine from Hospice.
It is very sad to see my grandpa going through the mourning process. He is a very strong, stoic Italian and to see him cry makes it so very real.
Praying the rosary a lot...making dinner for the family...pasta, of course.
At least I get bereavement pay from work. Good times.
For g-ma
She had Lewy Body--physically Parkinson's and mentally Alzheimer's. She was still very lucid--she was getting weaker and weaker--sleeping 20-22 hours a day. She hadn't eaten since Saturday and was provided morphine from Hospice.
It is very sad to see my grandpa going through the mourning process. He is a very strong, stoic Italian and to see him cry makes it so very real.
Praying the rosary a lot...making dinner for the family...pasta, of course.
At least I get bereavement pay from work. Good times.
For g-ma
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Au revoir
I bought a plane ticket to Paris and Rome for December. I am going by myself. Maybe I'll find the love of my life. What part of the city should I find a hotel in?
Also, very excited to see Pomme.
Also, New York anecdotes coming soon.
Also, very excited to see Pomme.
Also, New York anecdotes coming soon.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The drive
*** I wrote a draft of this post in July. You know, when I got back from New York City. I didn't have the pictures ready to upload yet, so I saved it as a draft. Enjoy! ***
I've decided that I am going to milk this whole trip thing by telling you about it in stages. You know, to be more thorough. And to have more blog entries.
Have you ever driven with me through Ohio, Pennsylvania or New Jersey? I'm sorry to hear that you have not as of yet had that pleasure. As you know, I am AWESOME. This, coupled with my uncanny ability to refrain from peeing for days at a time (okay, not days, but more than 24 hours!) and my bubbly disposition, make me wonderful for going through such long states. No offense, Moi.
So, here we are driving, when I spot something that excites me greatly. My voice jumps two full octaves (quite the accomplishment for me, if I may say so) and I shriek: "Look! The rocks are starting to come out! I love rocks!!!!!!!"
I said this because, as you may have surmised, I find driving for 12 hours to be boring. And I love rocks. Especially the kinds that are found in mountain ranges. Yay.
Noa (who is now 21 and not really Noa anymore, but for consistency's sake...) responds rather dryly, even for her "Are we still in Ohio? And who likes rocks? They are boring. They are the most boring thing in the world."
People with pet rocks like rocks. It also stands to reason that people with rock collections like rocks. Besides, these are cool rocks. They are part of a mountain range. And some of them are red.
Then we noticed that we had been passing an inordinate number of busted tires in the road. So we started counting them about halfway through Ohio. By the time we got to our destination, we were at 73. That's just insane.
As we neared the end of Pennsylvania, it was diner time. We were going to merely snack on what was in the car, but then fate intervened. Signs reading "Blue Tequila, next exit" compelled a dinner break.
Excitedly, we pulled up. And then started having second thoughts. It was probably the shadiest restaurant to ever be attached to a Days Inn. The parking lot was filled with beat-up pick-ups and urban tumble weed:
When we got inside, Noa and I looked around to discover that this Blue Tequilla place is the cheap, boring version of The Beltline Bar on the inside. The lay-out was not nearly as awesome. I blame the Days Inn for this. Speaking of Days Inn, to go to the bathroom, Noa had to go to Days Inn. When she explained to the hotel staff that she was not staying the night, but she was eating at Blue Tequilla they looked at her funny, surmised that she was from out of town, and then let her use the employee restroom. Awesome.
The Menu:
Some drinks:
What is a "WOO-WOO"? Let me tell you:delicious. It is a vodka-cran with Peach Schnapps. I had two.
When we finally left merrily on our way, we crossed happily into New Jersey and hit THE WORST TRAFFIC EVER! And, of course, New Jersey has crappy radio stations. **hours** later, when we had finally inched another mile into New Jersey, the cars on the highway started driving at the posted speed for no apparent reason. Whatever, New Jersey. So, we get to the nice little house in the nice little neighborhood where we are staying with my very wealthy cousins (really my dad's cousin and his wife and kids) and Noa says "wow. These are really nice houses." But, the house number that we need does not exist. Uh-oh. We decide to call their house. SuperNiceWife picks-up the phone:
SNW:Hello?
Aussie: Hi! SNW?
SNW: Are you here? We were scared you might have gotten lost!
Aussie: I think we might be. Well, either that, or I have the wrong house number...
SNW: [gives house number]
Aussie: Okay, lost it is! The GPS has us in the wrong place.
Noa: [light bulb goes off] When I input the destination when we left my house, there were two options for their house! I just remembered because it was **hours** ago.
Aussie: Let's switch it then!
Noa: okay!
::The GPS takes a convoluted way back to the same house::
Aussie: Shut the front door!
SNW: [gives us directions]
We arive at the house. Remember how Noa (and I, honestly) thought that the other houses were super nice? Well, their house is an old Victorian style house, maintained much in that style and was at least 3 times the size of the others, with a gorgeous garden. I mean, gorgeous.
Their kitchen was almost the size of a four-person apartment at Aquinas. We had a whole floor of the house to ourselves. A TV room, bedrooms and a bathroom. Insane.
Plus, they were super nice and drove us to the train station and picked us up every night when we got back. SO NICE!
I've decided that I am going to milk this whole trip thing by telling you about it in stages. You know, to be more thorough. And to have more blog entries.
Have you ever driven with me through Ohio, Pennsylvania or New Jersey? I'm sorry to hear that you have not as of yet had that pleasure. As you know, I am AWESOME. This, coupled with my uncanny ability to refrain from peeing for days at a time (okay, not days, but more than 24 hours!) and my bubbly disposition, make me wonderful for going through such long states. No offense, Moi.
So, here we are driving, when I spot something that excites me greatly. My voice jumps two full octaves (quite the accomplishment for me, if I may say so) and I shriek: "Look! The rocks are starting to come out! I love rocks!!!!!!!"
I said this because, as you may have surmised, I find driving for 12 hours to be boring. And I love rocks. Especially the kinds that are found in mountain ranges. Yay.
Noa (who is now 21 and not really Noa anymore, but for consistency's sake...) responds rather dryly, even for her "Are we still in Ohio? And who likes rocks? They are boring. They are the most boring thing in the world."
People with pet rocks like rocks. It also stands to reason that people with rock collections like rocks. Besides, these are cool rocks. They are part of a mountain range. And some of them are red.
Then we noticed that we had been passing an inordinate number of busted tires in the road. So we started counting them about halfway through Ohio. By the time we got to our destination, we were at 73. That's just insane.
As we neared the end of Pennsylvania, it was diner time. We were going to merely snack on what was in the car, but then fate intervened. Signs reading "Blue Tequila, next exit" compelled a dinner break.
Excitedly, we pulled up. And then started having second thoughts. It was probably the shadiest restaurant to ever be attached to a Days Inn. The parking lot was filled with beat-up pick-ups and urban tumble weed:
When we got inside, Noa and I looked around to discover that this Blue Tequilla place is the cheap, boring version of The Beltline Bar on the inside. The lay-out was not nearly as awesome. I blame the Days Inn for this. Speaking of Days Inn, to go to the bathroom, Noa had to go to Days Inn. When she explained to the hotel staff that she was not staying the night, but she was eating at Blue Tequilla they looked at her funny, surmised that she was from out of town, and then let her use the employee restroom. Awesome.
The Menu:
Some drinks:
What is a "WOO-WOO"? Let me tell you:delicious. It is a vodka-cran with Peach Schnapps. I had two.
When we finally left merrily on our way, we crossed happily into New Jersey and hit THE WORST TRAFFIC EVER! And, of course, New Jersey has crappy radio stations. **hours** later, when we had finally inched another mile into New Jersey, the cars on the highway started driving at the posted speed for no apparent reason. Whatever, New Jersey. So, we get to the nice little house in the nice little neighborhood where we are staying with my very wealthy cousins (really my dad's cousin and his wife and kids) and Noa says "wow. These are really nice houses." But, the house number that we need does not exist. Uh-oh. We decide to call their house. SuperNiceWife picks-up the phone:
SNW:Hello?
Aussie: Hi! SNW?
SNW: Are you here? We were scared you might have gotten lost!
Aussie: I think we might be. Well, either that, or I have the wrong house number...
SNW: [gives house number]
Aussie: Okay, lost it is! The GPS has us in the wrong place.
Noa: [light bulb goes off] When I input the destination when we left my house, there were two options for their house! I just remembered because it was **hours** ago.
Aussie: Let's switch it then!
Noa: okay!
::The GPS takes a convoluted way back to the same house::
Aussie: Shut the front door!
SNW: [gives us directions]
We arive at the house. Remember how Noa (and I, honestly) thought that the other houses were super nice? Well, their house is an old Victorian style house, maintained much in that style and was at least 3 times the size of the others, with a gorgeous garden. I mean, gorgeous.
Their kitchen was almost the size of a four-person apartment at Aquinas. We had a whole floor of the house to ourselves. A TV room, bedrooms and a bathroom. Insane.
Plus, they were super nice and drove us to the train station and picked us up every night when we got back. SO NICE!
Monday, July 19, 2010
The Mastermind
My cousin is obsessed with the Meyer's Briggs test. I told him that I took it in college and he asked me what I got. Personally, I am shocked that I rattled off "INTJ" as though it was the nuclear bomb code. Frankly, I am shocked that I remembered.
He then spent the next 15 minutes discussing how I was The Mastermind and as he read through would stop and say "Oh this is totally you." and "I can see you xyz-ing".
Thanks?
In other news, I am still searching for full-time work. This sucks. I hate my life. But, at least there is some movement in my company. I might get the "Librarian" title soon. That will help immensely. A whole year after I got my degree. Why did I bust my ass to get through that again?
I am doing beaucoup travel in the next two months. Well, beaucoup pour moi. I still haven't found a Europe buddy, so I'm stuck in the states. I refuse to go abroad by my lonesome. I think if no one mans up and comes with me by the end of 2011, I will be literally forced to go by myself.
So, with travelling, I'll have more to report. Hopefully entertaining and fabulous things and not "And then my car broke".
That's all for now, I suppose.
He then spent the next 15 minutes discussing how I was The Mastermind and as he read through would stop and say "Oh this is totally you." and "I can see you xyz-ing".
Thanks?
In other news, I am still searching for full-time work. This sucks. I hate my life. But, at least there is some movement in my company. I might get the "Librarian" title soon. That will help immensely. A whole year after I got my degree. Why did I bust my ass to get through that again?
I am doing beaucoup travel in the next two months. Well, beaucoup pour moi. I still haven't found a Europe buddy, so I'm stuck in the states. I refuse to go abroad by my lonesome. I think if no one mans up and comes with me by the end of 2011, I will be literally forced to go by myself.
So, with travelling, I'll have more to report. Hopefully entertaining and fabulous things and not "And then my car broke".
That's all for now, I suppose.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
United
Not much new on the Aussie front.
Except now I'm a union representative. Cool, huh? We'll see how this one goes.
And the question of the day: black or grey?
Except now I'm a union representative. Cool, huh? We'll see how this one goes.
And the question of the day: black or grey?
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Rain, rain
It rained all day. This made for AWESOME sleeping weather this morning. And then I got up and had to go to work.
Boo.
I am going to a Baby Shower this weekend. They are registered at Burlington Coat Factory. Really? They're really thinking ahead by getting that summer baby a load of coats...
In other news, it has come to my attention that MMMono does not read my blog. I came to discover this as I engaged her in a conversation under the assumption that she had the necessary knowledge from said blog and she was lost and I had to verbally tell her my blog entry. Not nearly as much fun. Also, Fail for MMMono.
And now, this is officially the trashing MMMono blog. She'll never read it anyway. Go on, it feels so good!
Boo.
I am going to a Baby Shower this weekend. They are registered at Burlington Coat Factory. Really? They're really thinking ahead by getting that summer baby a load of coats...
In other news, it has come to my attention that MMMono does not read my blog. I came to discover this as I engaged her in a conversation under the assumption that she had the necessary knowledge from said blog and she was lost and I had to verbally tell her my blog entry. Not nearly as much fun. Also, Fail for MMMono.
And now, this is officially the trashing MMMono blog. She'll never read it anyway. Go on, it feels so good!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
New Career choice
I am making the plunge. I am changing my career. No more waiting.
Wait for it....I am going to join the military to become a spy.
Seriously. Guys! Stop laughing!
Okay, maybe I've been watching too much Burn Notice...
Wait for it....I am going to join the military to become a spy.
Seriously. Guys! Stop laughing!
Okay, maybe I've been watching too much Burn Notice...
Friday, May 28, 2010
Nonchalance
I am attempting it. I am attempting to be okay with this situation, but I am simply not happy with the way my life is turning out. It is making me upset--reclusive, even. It is very difficult to get out of bed unless it is absolutely necessary. Even then, it takes FOREVER. I feign nonchalance, a lack of caring or strong emotion in the face of it, but how could I be nonchalant?
I went to see Rent--local theatre was putting it on and my friend a super hot, tragically gay friend--we'll call him Bari-- stared as Mark! That had the opposite effect as originally intended. I LOVE Rent, you guys. LOVE IT! Like, I was going to move to NYC and live in alphabet city and dance in the moonlight. Just depressed me a bit. The youth and wonder of my life is gone.
I have this stuck in my head, because BOY and I communicate in song sometimes and this is what he told me to do.
I went to see Rent--local theatre was putting it on and my friend a super hot, tragically gay friend--we'll call him Bari-- stared as Mark! That had the opposite effect as originally intended. I LOVE Rent, you guys. LOVE IT! Like, I was going to move to NYC and live in alphabet city and dance in the moonlight. Just depressed me a bit. The youth and wonder of my life is gone.
I have this stuck in my head, because BOY and I communicate in song sometimes and this is what he told me to do.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Wait, the line was where?!?!
Kids, I have crossed the line. Apparently, I aimed for the moon and hit the Delta Quadrant.
$port and I were chatting as per usual whilst I was "working". Abridged convo as follows:
Aussie: Are you emotionally prepared for me to make a bitchy comment?
$port: I'm always ready for that
Aussie: Good. One of the new ladies at work put up a picture of her 4 kids. It is a portrait studio pic and not only is it "funcitoning" as a calendar which annoys me greatly, but they are some ugly kids. I do not want to see that at work.
$port: Wow. You really need to quit your job - it's making you evil
Aussie: LMAO [No really. I laughed out loud and for an extended period of time]
$port: Seriously. That was an UBER bitch comment
Aussie: I warned you. . .
$port: No, bitchy is that someone smells funny. Don't even try to cover it up. Just go to confession and hang your head in shame
Will do, $port. Will do.
Guys, I really need a new job. It is a matter of my eternal soul's salvation. It took a great deal of soul-searching and moral direction for me to refrain from posting aforementioned pic on this here blog so as to let you all vote on the alleged ugliness of the children. Instead:
$port and I were chatting as per usual whilst I was "working". Abridged convo as follows:
Aussie: Are you emotionally prepared for me to make a bitchy comment?
$port: I'm always ready for that
Aussie: Good. One of the new ladies at work put up a picture of her 4 kids. It is a portrait studio pic and not only is it "funcitoning" as a calendar which annoys me greatly, but they are some ugly kids. I do not want to see that at work.
$port: Wow. You really need to quit your job - it's making you evil
Aussie: LMAO [No really. I laughed out loud and for an extended period of time]
$port: Seriously. That was an UBER bitch comment
Aussie: I warned you. . .
$port: No, bitchy is that someone smells funny. Don't even try to cover it up. Just go to confession and hang your head in shame
Will do, $port. Will do.
Guys, I really need a new job. It is a matter of my eternal soul's salvation. It took a great deal of soul-searching and moral direction for me to refrain from posting aforementioned pic on this here blog so as to let you all vote on the alleged ugliness of the children. Instead:
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