I used to have a liver.

All hail to the Groundhog! Punxsutawney Phil, the Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators has spoken, and the word is... six more weeks of winter. Ugh.

Anyway, I decided to have a few people over last night to finish up some booze that's leftover from another party. It was supposed to be 4 or 5 people hanging out for a few hours listening to music and drinking whatever I had in the fridge. Of course nothing's ever simple or small where my friends are concerned, lol. There were 8 people total... it got loud and rowdy and it went LATE.

There were many many shots consumed. I remember trying to keep track early in the evening, but I lost count somewhere around nine... but I know I had a few more. I'm guessing it was closer to fifteen. Most of them were a new shot that Sam and I invented called a Groundhog Sunrise (3 parts Bacardi Rum Island Iced Tea and 1 part Peach Schnapps). Very tasty! Phil would be pleased. There was also a shot of Jaeger in there somewhere. And a few shots of Colombian booze later. In between shots, there were several cans of Miller Lite. Went to bed at 7:40 AM and woke up close to 1 PM. I spent my day feeling hungover, scratchy throated, and exhausted. I'm too old for this shit.

But I had fun.

And now I have to go to bed. I've got 23 six-year-olds to deal with in the morning. Wish me luck.

Here it goes again.

Another friend is engaged. This time it's one of my oldest friends. We met when we were three years old. So I've known her practically my whole life. We went to nursery school, grade school and high school together... and we were roommates in college. I'm happy for her. But she's been dating this guy for two years and I've only met him twice, so I really don't know him. Anyway, now they're engaged.

I found out about the engagement while I was in Avalon at a reading conference with my co-workers (and teachers from other Catholic schools in the area). I was telling my co-workers about it, and talk inevitably shifted to me. Three of my work friends started discussing my love life (or lack, thereof). Apparently, the consensus among those friends is that I'm quite a catch. That made me laugh, because it's not the first time I've heard it. It seems that all my female friends think I'm awesome. Whenever they discuss guys and dating with me, they always tell me that any guy would be lucky to have me... that I'm smart and funny and caring and creative and fun. Am I? I guess. To some extent, at least. And while it's nice to hear the compliments, I'm just tired of it always coming from girls.

You know, I had a whole rant planned when I started writing this blog, but now I just don't feel like getting into it. I'm sick of talking about it and I'm sure you're sick of reading it. It's just that the news of the engagement brought it all to the surface, so it's fresh in my mind. I'm gonna read for a little bit and then go to bed and (hopefully) be less bitter in the morning.

Cruise with me, baby...*

As I drove to work today, I kept getting the feeling that I'm stuck in a rut. It feels like I do the same thing every day. Wake up, shower, dress, fill my travel mug with coffee (half regular Colombian, half flavored... today's flavor was Butter Rum), drive to work, teach, drive home, eat dinner, and then do any combination of the following: read, watch TV, email, check myspace, scrapbook. Then I go to sleep, wake up and do it all over again.

So I was in the car this morning, listening to Preston and Steve (as per usual), sipping my coffee (as per usual) and ignoring my rumbling stomach. I had my oatmeal in my tote bag, ready to be cooked when I got to work. But the thought of eating yet another bowl of oatmeal was suddenly unbearable. I drove past a diner and had the most intense urge for a thick stack of French toast with a side of crispy bacon... and fresh squeezed OJ... and a bottomless pot of hot coffee. The thought was pure bliss. And the fact that I couldn't just pull over and indulge my fantasy made the remainder of my drive even more depressing.

So then I had the idea that I should just play hooky. Wake up early one day and call out sick. Drive to a diner when everyone else is at work and eat my dream breakfast. I could bring a book and read until I was finished my meal... or kidnap a friend and have one of those amazing rambling conversations that you only seem to have over a pot of coffee in the back booth of a diner.

Then I carried my daydream further... what if I spent the rest of the day doing something adventurous? I thought back to college... the good old days, when I didn't feel guilty about cutting class. Rick and I used to hang out all the time back then, and he would call me randomly and say, "Wanna go to lunch in Long Island tomorrow?" And we would. We took many random day trips while I was at La Salle. West Virginia, Baltimore, Pottsville (and the Yuengling Brewery), Long Island, Atlantic City. We went to Richie Ashburn's viewing at Memorial Hall and spent the rest of the day touring Philadelphia. But not the historic tour of the city. We went to the Plateau, the Water Works, drove around old neighborhoods... nothing planned or specific. And one day I came home from class and he was waiting on the front step of my apartment because he wanted me to go with him to the car show. So we went. Just like that.

It seems like it's such a hassle to do anything adventurous these days. Take today, for example. I had the urge to just skip work and hit the diner, but I couldn't. Calling out requires too much planning. In order to call out of work, I have to make sure my classroom isn't a complete mess, I have to leave lesson plans for a sub (or email them to my principal), and I have to wake up early enough to call out. Unless it's something I know about in advance, and then I can request off ahead of time. But where's the spontaneity in that?

I really want to be spontaneously adventurous again, but since it's not as easy as it used to be, I'll settle for being just adventurous. Sometime soon... perhaps in the spring... I'm going to call out of work, go to a diner for a huge breakfast, and then take a day trip somewhere. With some kickass music in the car. Nothing too far or expensive, just something different and fun. And I want a partner in crime. Any takers? I'm totally serious about this. I need to carpe my diem again. It's been far too long. ¡Vámonos!

*Bonus points if you can name that tune.

Attraversiamo!

Happy New Year to all!

Out with the old... I spent the last hours of 2007 in good company, eating good food, drinking good drinks, and smoking good cigars. There was lots of laughter and best of all, no drama. It was the perfect way to end an amazing year.

In with the new... I celebrated the beginning of 2008 into the wee hours o' the morning. I got very little sleep, but it was well worth it. And I spent all of New Year's Day camped out on the couch doing nothing important at all... uploading pics, watching bad TV, eating ramen, recovering from my hangover. It was great.

Even though last year was awesome, it had to end sometime. In the words of Elizabeth Gilbert... Attraversiamo! Let's cross over.

Last year I posted a New Year's missive bitching about resolutions. This year I went ahead and made some. Go figure. There are only five of them, and I think they are good ones.

1. Read 40 quality books this year.

2. Make serious effort to find another job.

3. Keep track of expenses. This involves making a spreadsheet listing the bills I pay each month and writing down everything I purchase.

4. Cut the clutter. Teachers are notorious pack-rats, and I'm guilty. I always save things that "I might use someday." So it's my resolution to keep only what I need and get rid of whatever is weighing me down. That might apply to people as well as things. We'll see. Simplify, simplify...

5. Keep doing what I'm doing. Last year was a year of self-discovery, adventure, accomplishment and socialization. I've started to shed some of my insecurites and look at myself in a more positive light. I want to continue doing that as much as possible.

my book goal

At the end of last year, I decided to keep track of how many books I read in 2007. I made a personal goal to try to read 50 books by the end of the year. I had no idea if that was even possible, but I figured I'd pick a number and go for it. As it turns out, I was unable to meet that goal. Seems it was a bit too high for me. So as of today, I have read a grand total of 33 books in 2007. Not too shabby. I'd like to try for 40 next year, now that I know what I'm capable of. Any recommendations?

Books I've Read in 2007 (*indicates a book I've read before)

1. The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd
2. The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
3. Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities by Alexandra Robbins
4. The Last Days of Dogtown by Anita Diamant
5. Good in Bed* by Jennifer Weiner
6. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
7. Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
8. Jane Austen in Scarsdale: Or Love, Death, and the SATs by Paula Marantz Cohen
9. Sotah*, by Naomi Ragen
10. Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson
11. The Rapture of Canaan by Sheri Reynolds
12. Bet Me* by Jennifer Crusie
13. The Year of Living Famously by Laura Caldwell
14. The Autobiography of God by Julius Lester
15. The Cat Ate My Gymsuit* by Paula Danziger
16. The Next Big Thing by Johanna Edwards
17. Swapping Lives by Jane Green
18. The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner
19. Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie
20. How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls by Zoey Dean
21. The Buenos Aires Broken Hearts Club by Jessica Morrison
22. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
23. Outer Banks* by Anne Rivers Siddons
24. Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos
25. Me and Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter
26. Night by Elie Wiesel
27. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
28. Among Schoolchildren* by Tracy Kidder
29. Promises by Belva Plain
30. Jephte's Daughter* by Naomi Ragen
31. The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier
32. The Authoritative Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
33. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

2007: A Recap

We're nearing the end of 2007, and I decided to take a few minutes to reflect on the past year. I have to say, it was one of the best years I've had in a very long time. Allow me to recap the highlights for you:

Even though I was technically finished my grad school classes in December of '06, the graduation ceremony was held in February. So I started my year by graduating with my masters... and a 4.0 . And I don't feel bad bragging about that, because I worked my ass off to get it.

Also in February, I threw myself a graduation party. I figured I earned it, especially considering I hadn't done anything special for my previous graduations. It was a kickass good time.

In April, I was in yet another wedding (number three!)... and despite the drama preceding the Big Day, I had a good time at the ceremony and SO much fun at the reception. And I LOVED my dress.

In May, I bought a new car. I'd wanted to buy a red SUV for ages, and I finally decided to do it. And I'm so glad I did. It's an awesome car.

In June, I got to visit my dear friend Bonnie (and her husband Mitch) in New York. While I was there, Erin went into early labor... and her and Mike welcomed Henry Michael into the world two weeks early!

In July, I took the trip of a lifetime... three weeks in Australia! It was an amazing trip. It wasn't exactly a vacation, because I was there to chaperone a boychoir. But I had the BEST time getting to know the boys, hearing them perform, and seeing the sights Down Under.

Also over the summer, I threw three awesome parties. A Memorial Day party in May, the Wild West Bonanza in August, and a Kill the Booze party at the end of the summer. All good times, as always.

In September, Sam and I started looking at apartments... and found one! So at the end of September, I finally moved out of my parents' house!

And not a moment too soon... because in October I turned 30. The big 3-0. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. And I got to eat fondue!!!

In November, Sam won tickets to see Dane Cook. She took me, Karen and Joe... we got to ride in a limo and meet Matt Cord and hang out in the press box with Preston and Steve. And Dane was hysterical!

Then this month, Sam and I threw our first party in the apartment. We packed the place with as many friends and family members as possible. Good stuff indeed.

All in all, it was a fantastic year. 2008 is gonna have to work awfully hard to top it. I'm ready. Bring it on, bitch.

I’ll be home for Christmas

This was my first Christmas away from home. It was interesting. I wrapped all my presents in the apartment and transported them to my parents' house on Christmas Eve. We had our annual feast for Christmas Eve dinner - all sorts of yummy Ukrainian foods, including borscht, pierogies (potato and sauerkraut), and buckwheat (which I refuse to touch... just the smell turns my stomach). After the extended family left, my parents and I exchanged presents with Doug and Jill. They went back to North Wales that night and then to Jill's brother's house on Christmas Day. It was the first time Doug and I didn't open all of our presents on Christmas morning. But it wasn't so bad. I stayed at the house (on the sofa bed... ugh...) and my parents and I exchanged presents in the morning. It was different without Doug, but at least we got to see him the night before. It's all good.

It's funny how much your presents change when you get "old." And how excited you get over things you would have tossed aside ten years ago. This year I got a battery operated screwdriver, an umbrella (auto open and close... yay!), flannel sheets, a bottle of blackberry brandy, perfume, flavored coffee, a book, a Target gift card, an AMC gift card (now I can go see "Sweeney Todd" for free!), and season three of "Mad About You." Plus, my parents gave me a gift bag filled with food stuff (grater, baster, hot cocoa mix, taco dinner kit, applesauce, etc), and some money to put toward furniture and stuff for the apartment. Good haul.

Now I have the rest of the week off... simply glorious! I plan to spend it well. Going to the movies, going shopping (both grocery and fun stuff, because I feel like treating myself), visiting friends, going to parties, and catching up on some reading. And whatever else I can squeeze in. And absolutely no lesson planning until sometime next week. I refuse to even think about work.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas! Enjoy the rest of the Christmas season!