Tis' the Season

This is one of my favorite Christmas movies - although I'm not sure that most would consider it an actually Christmas movie - but I do. After reading ADW's post this morning (don't let the title fool you) I'm feeling absolutely thankful and happy...no really I am. So here you go.




And just for fun



OK what the hell here is one more...

Thanks

First of all thank you to all of you who emailed, phoned and left comments wishing me a happy birthday. I really appreciated it. I had a great birthday - lots of fun.


This song just played on my iTunes. I had forgotten how much I loved it. Lauryn Hill - so much talent.

Friends

I love my friend Kim but she is, as we say, Queen of the Harpies. I can stop at her house for a minute and before I know it it's 5 hours later and she has practically convinced me to stay overnight. The best thing is that it's not like we are doing any big kind of project. We are usually just sitting around, having a meal, playing with her daughter Lucy or watching TV. It's the kind of friendship that you can say anything or say nothing at all and it's comfortable. I love it and it's the type of friendship that everyone should have. Kim is also my art teacher (that's how we met)and she has been instrumental in my art growth and also in growing my confidence. She's simply fabulous.

I have this other friend Maria - we've known each other a very very long time. We met because I was hired to fill in the position she was vacating at a restaurant we both worked at. We hit it off instantly and have been close ever since. We lived near each other for quite a few years and partied our brains out together. Many a drunken night was spent at The Blue Mermaid dancing away with Maria. When we look back on it now we laugh at how we were living. I've also traveled a bit with Maria and having a friend that you can travel with is KEY. We've been to New Orleans and to New Mexico. Those are the two that stick out but I'm sure that there are more.

Maria has been instrumental in my going back to school to get my degree. She did the same thing at 40. She enrolled in school and started from the very beginning as a non-traditional matriculating student at Plymouth State in New Hampshire she then went on and got her Masters and has now enrolled in a program to get her PHD and I couldn't be prouder of her. I used to give her a really hard time about how much time school was taking up in her life - and now I totally get it. When I need to cry on someones shoulder about school I can always call Maria because it goes beyond sympathy - she has actually been there done that and that's really helpful. She is an amazing friend and I probably don't say thank you nearly enough.

I've been lucky enough to make several new friends through school one of them being my professor. Amy has believed in my intelligence from the very beginning. She was my advisor for my first semester and if I had had another professor I'm not sure I would have made it - it was a rough, rough semester. She was amazingly directed and helped me to reign it all back in and get it on paper. She is now the advisor for my thesis and is doing the same thing. We've been able to connect on a level that is beyond teacher student because of our ages - and it's been great.

I'm lucky to have great friends and I mean really GREAT friends - and I just want them to know that I think they are all spectacular.

Yes, yes I know 7 more days....

Thursday Morning & Giving Thanks

I woke up this morning with a sinus headache and what feels like the beginning of a cold- NO NO NO I cannot be sick this weekend. I have far too much to do. My first draft of my thesis is due in full on December 6th and it's not like I have unlimited time between now and then.

Tyler - if you are reading this is why I didn't call last night.

So my mom is recovering quickly but she still has to stay at home. She is not a stay at home person and being stuck in the house is killing her. A result of this is that she has become overly interested in my education. All of sudden she wants to know why I'm not getting a MBA. Are you kidding me? Could a Masters in Social Work and a Masters in Business Administration be any different? I have absolutely zero interest in anything business related right now. I"m going to talk to her today and ask her to find another pet project. I know she loves me and everything and she is just looking out for my best interests - but I don't need another thing to think about.

So on with the Thanksgiving List-

1. I really am grateful for all of my relatives: sister, mom, dad, nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, outlaws you name it they are all great people. I mean it's not as if we don't have our issues - but our issues are what make us pretty god damn funny. We are Irish, loud and love to party. What more could you ask for.

2. My friend Elise and her boys. I am so lucky to have met this family. They have given me something in my life that I didn't even know was missing. I know that Elise thinks that she's lucky to have people that come over and help, but really we're lucky that she shares her life and her kids with us.

3. My friends. I have absolutely fabulous friends. All ages, sizes, colors etc. The one thing they all have in common is that they are all intelligent people - that and of course that they like me.

4. My job - I'm not happy with it right now but because of this job I have a new used car and a great condo.

5. My brain - I'm grateful that is still works after all the shit that I've done to it over the years.

That's the short list of things - I'm sure I'll come up with more later. I have to go get ready we are having Thanksgiving Brunch. I know I know what the fuck is that? I don't ask questions I just show up at the place and time with whatever the tell me to bring. This year the only thing I'm bringing is my laundry.

Have a good day everyone!

Oh yeah 8 more days
See how I slipped in that NASCAR reference when you weren't looking??