2009

Bye '09

This year I learned about babies being born (well, I knew about that before, but there was one significant, delicious new one), experienced on-time airline travel, I learned about the history of Philadelphia, saw some great art, spent real quality time with my parents, re-connected with old friends, visited the new Shea (I won't call it you-know-what), went to 2 amusement parks, saw WWE smackdown (again!), celebrated birthdays, mourned deaths, got a couch, learned about co-op buying in NYC, saw my brother, got amazing new staff, had some professional successes, saw a lot of movies, slept through even more movies than I saw, made people laugh, made people cry, started writing again, and on and on!

I learned about more about oncology than I ever wanted to know, walked away from an accident, and kept standing back up even when I needed help doing so.

2009 was a year of kindness and grace. Overwhelming kindness. From friends, colleagues, doctors, nurses, hospital staff, neighbors, and strangers. Its funny - who and what makes up your personal bedrock. People like MNH, HA-N, NC, DPS, I guess are kinda "expected" to be on the list. But REW and JG literally kept breath in my body. I would have given up without them.

"What good's a place to stand up, without a place to fall"

And here is a bit of the year in pics. I am leaving a lot out, part out of privacy, part because I don't actually own a camera.

2010, here I come!!!!!!!

Not Really Feeling It

Thankful and Grateful.
Thankful and Grateful.
Thankful and Grateful.
Thankful and Grateful.
I'm trying.......

Family

The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together. ~Erma Bombeck

Outdone

I thought the card I received the other day was remarkable. Ha! Here is the outside of the card I received yesterday:

That's nice, right? Benign. Neutral. Apparently not...


Does that say "Love, Dr. T and Staff"? Yes it does. My doctor and his staff LOVE me. Alright! Maybe I should send them some brownies...

We're Almost There

Do You Know What Today Is?

Its the WINTER SOLSTICE. The shortest day of the year, folks. From now on, more sunlight!

The Strangest Holiday Card Ever

Thanks, Google Images and "kitathena"

I received this greeting card from a lovely, sweet, competent individuals who provides me with professional services (think someone like your accountant or car mechanic.)

First, you see an animated tree, which seems to either have a heartbeat or is being shocked with a cattle prod. Then, beautiful images of single parents with their children flash across the screen. Is she telling me, "Hey, El, you missed the boat. See, even though you couldn't keep a relationship alive you could have been a happy single mom, but instead you'll have to become a crazy cat lady"? Or is she telling me, "Sorry, only fabulous parents will have a happy holiday"?

Whatever happened to sending out a card with a holiday dragon on it? Or an apocryphal depiction of the end of time? Something bright and uplifting like that?

Now There's a Source of Pride

This was taken from my car (AT A RED LIGHT) in the rain. "Home of the Bull Bag." Ideas, anyone? I don't even want to hazard a guess...

Evacuate. Infected. Killing me.

When you see these words, what do you think of? Horror movie? Devastating pandemic? Calling 911?



Oh. It's just a pop song. Ew.

iT waS cOLd OUt!

Even though it is hideously expensive, we went to MoMA to see the Tim Burton exhibit. He is so crazy talented. For the record, I love hanging out with Laurie, Jonathan, and Sarah.

Brilliant.

The purpose of art is to reduce the distance between people

- Nadeem Aslam

Last Pages

Just when the caterpillar thought the world was coming to an end...



These are the last 2 pages of the most recent altered book.

What is the Sound of Two Garbage Trucks Crashing?

Find out at Prophecy night club!  I went last night, and although I did have a good time, the dj was awwwfffuuullll.

Take this for example:


That is "Quisiera Ser" by Extreme. A pretty little bachata. Now superimpose this over it (just play them both at the same time - it'll work. And your ears will bleed.):



Now take two tylenol and wait for the ringing in your ears to subside...

Morning Moon

Every morning I go out for a run and every morning I am awed by the moon. I'm like a goldfish with a 3-second memory.