Reflections & Resolutions

It's New Year's Eve and a perfect opportunity to reflect on 2012. This past year was an interesting year of firsts, lasts and adventures for myself and my family. I visited Ireland for the third time. I attended my first Steelers game at Heinz Field. My husband shot his first deer during a hunting expedition (calm down, bambi-lovers). Celebrated my last Christmas in my childhood home (Mom is moving to NC).    

A resolution is defined as "the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure." Such a formal definition, but I am determined to do the following in 2013:

1. Exercise more  --  this compared to absolutely no exercise now. I cannot afford to add Spanx as a regular wardrobe accessory.
2. Cuss less  --  I'm not perfect, I do have an occasional potty-mouth.
3. Learn two new skills  --  I plan to take a knitting class with friends (a very popular activity in Hendersonville/Asheville) and pick up the fiddle again. Tapping into my inner-folksy persona - there is a scarf yearning to be made and some ear drums to shatter out there.
4. Commit to writing more in my blog  --  I have slacked off in my posting in recent months.
5. Finish reading the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy  --  I yearn to learn what happens with Christian and Anastasia  --  I've been a very bad girl slacking in the reading department.
6. Finish reading The Hunger Games trilogy  --  I miss reading about Katniss' adventures in archery, politics and love/hate/love.
7. Be more patient as a mother. I have a tendency to over-react if my "mom-antennas" are feeling ultra-sensitive. My children are getting older (15 and 11) and I need to learn to trust their instincts to give them growing room.
8. Find a church that the whole family can benefit from. 

That's it, I came up with eight resolutions. May seem like a lot to tackle, but I have 12 months to accomplish this. I didn't indicate that they have to be perfected - we'll see how I do. 

Here's to a healthier, educated and calmer 2013!   

Big Adventures . . . and Long Overdue Updates

     Hope everyone had a great summer! I'm ready for my favorite season, Autumn. Living in the mountains of North Carolina allows us to bask in the glory of the beautiful leaves in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I'm a big fan of Halloween and this is my favorite time of year to decorate. 

     This post is long overdue - had a busy but very fun spring and summer. In May, I went back to Ireland with my mother and a good friend.  We spent a week in Galway - an amazing adventure. The people are so friendly and laid back. Everyone we met didn't seem to harbor some of the stress us Americans do. Their economy is doing better than ours, so no wonder. Our rented cottage was an 1840s barn converted into a apartment loft called The Swallow Loft. Below are some photos I took:

     

   

    

     Speaking of adventures . . . over the years, I have often thought of starting my own business on the side. My heart has always relished in planning memorable events whether it be for family, friends or at work. I've planned bridal showers, anniversary and retirement parties, creatively-themed birthday events, reunions and special workshops/conferences which has spanned over 15 years. I've toyed with the idea of starting my own event planning business on the side - I took the step by purchasing a website domain to begin designing a multiple-page site for Shabby Chic Event Planning. The core concept is affordable event planning - you don't need to spend a fortune to have a successful event. The shabby chic term is a particular style I favor that is viewed as vintage and romantic and has a nice fit here with our lifestyle in the mountains. I love my current, primary day job at the cancer center, so I'm not going anywhere - this business venture will be on the side and we'll see how it grows in the coming years.     

Exciting times ahead . . . will keep everyone posted!

A Juggling Act

     

     Mother's Day is coming soon - May 13th to be exact.  Kids, get out your stationary, markers and scissors.  Dad, don't wait until the last minute to order those flowers . . . a Pandora bracelet is always a nice last-minute gift, too, if you feel like going the extra mile (or not).

     I happened to look at the calendar this morning and thought about my own role as a mom. I'm a wife and a working mom. Have been a wife for almost 19 years and a mom for 15 years. To me, it's like having three jobs: (1) co-pilot/provider/supporter with my husband; (2) mother to my beautiful two children; and (3) an administrative professional for a large, regional cancer center. I'm on paid salary for only one of those jobs while the other two are priceless. I've been in the workforce since I was 18 years old with the exception of two maternity leaves and a 3-month break when we moved from FL to NC in 2009. That 3-month break was the best time. It gave me a wonderful opportunity to get settled in our new home and help the kids get acclimated to our new environment. The quality time I spent with my husband and children during that time was immeasurable. And, I got to live out my fantasy of being a stay-at-home mom.

     I've always been career oriented, wanting to be successful in my professional endeavors as well as help provide a stable environment for my family. My gain: a little extra financial stability. My loss: about an hour less with my kids in the evening, little less organized house and piled up laundry I dread to face at times. Sometimes the evening meals will be an instant-cook-in-the-fryer or an occasional trip to McDonald's. But, I'm fortunate in that my work schedule allows weekends off so I can be with my family - not everyone has that luxury. At times, I would look with a little envy at some of my friends who were stay-at-home moms. They got to spend a more quality time with their children when they were small and be with them more for after school activities or help out in the classroom more. Fortunately, my husband is my partner in this effort as we would share the responsibility of helping in the classroom, running our kids to friends' or taking our son to karate practice. It's all a balancing act as I am constantly juggling balls that each represent my roles, responsibilities and activities and praying I don't drop one.

     My mother has always worked. She was part-time as an RN while I was little and became full-time as I grew older. It never bothered me - I just never knew any different. My grandmother worked, too. No matter how much my mother worked, she always had time for me and I never felt I was lacking her attention or love. She was always there to help me with my homework or school projects and made time to ensure I ate my breakfast before rushing out the door to catch my bus.

     I got to thinking about my own juggling act after a reading about the recent current events. A lot of traffic has generated across the Internet and news' outlets over Hilary Rosen's remark regarding Ann Romney never having "worked a day in her life." Ouch. I do see two sides to this situation. First side: Many perceived this as an insensitive remark towards stay-at-home moms.  I have the utmost respect for stay-at-home moms and I feel they work incredibly hard, not just at home, but outside of the household to ensure responsibilities are fulfilled. This may include a lot of running around to various destinations, carpools, activities, trips, etc. There are financial obligations as many coordinate the budget for the home and the children. Second side: Many perceived Ann's remarks were taken out of context because they felt she made a statement in referencing Mrs. Romney not having "worked" to interpret as "not having contributed financially." Regardless, everyone knows that to some, perception is reality.  There are no right or wrong answers here.  Sometimes, it's best not to say anything if will possibly result in ruffled feathers. When a war like this rages - as has been for decades - there are never any winners.

     Mothers - whether we work outside of the home or in the household - are a force to be reckoned with.  We will fight to the death for our children, our family and our home.  At the end of the day, it doesn't matter "where" we work.         

American Idol (Top 13) Re-Cap

Those of you who know me well know what an Idol fanatic I am. I have a crew of co-workers and friends in Florida and NC in on this obsession with me and we share weekly re-caps on the performances. Last night was an amazing night for talent with the Top 13 contestants being mentored by Mary J.Blige. Below are my thoughts on the performances:

Colton:	I thought he did well. He has a very smooth voice and really shined singing a ballad that grew up to a soft rock song.
DeAndre:	He really surprised me – I half expected him to suck with his consistent falsetto and flipping of the hair as in past , but he did very well. The guy certainly has moves and chops and no flipping occurred since his hair was tied back (thank god).
Elise:	Not her best performance and I know she can do better. She lacked passion and conviction (as my husband said, LOL) while singing – we could tell she didn’t want to sing this song.
Erika:	I just love her voice – very strong and I liked how she looked at the camera. She’s a real pro and I want to see her sing more rock – she’s the rocker-chick for this season.
Heejun:	This guys is okay – more of a comedian than a singer. He did well, but I’m still trying to figure out why J.Lo loves him so much.
Hollie:	This little girl has a huge, amazing voice. This is one of my favorite Whitney songs (on my iPod) and she did a great job. I can’t believe this is the same girl who didn’t make it past Hollywood last year.
Jeremy:	Nice, smooth, emotional performance. Not my favorite, but he did well.
Jermaine:	I thought this was his best performance – I didn’t expect him to do so well with his range since his voice is so deep. He’ll go through to the next round.
Jessica:	O-M-G, this girl owned the night – she slayed it. I welled up listening to her and couldn’t believe how amazing her voice was! She is going to go incredibly far – after last night’s performance, she could win this whole competition. My favorite female performer of the night.
Joshua:	Great performance and a fun way to kick off the night. You could tell he really enjoys performing on stage. He’ll be around for a while.
Phillip:	I just love this guy – he is so unique and talented and looks like a natural up there with this guitar.　I admire how he takes a well-known song and twists it a bit to make it his own – that is raw talent there, folks. My favorite male performer of the night.
Shannon:	Strong voice, but not her best performance. We could tell she was pitchy and wavering on some of the notes. She has a beautiful voice, but she may be in trouble.
Skylar:	I thought she did great showing a softer side to her. You could tell this is not her forte, slowing it down a bit, but she came through, working her way up to a loud, faster conclusion. The way she held the note on the end – wow.　 I love her – she’s my Miranda Lambert of the season.

I think this is the best season yet – these kids are amazing. I thought Mary J. Blige did a great job as a mentor. She’s one of my favorite R&B performers – someone give this woman a judge’s chair already.

My top 4 picks:
Erika, Phillip, Jessica and Hollie – I voted for all four of them last night!

My prediction of who is going home:

I predict Shannon and Jeremy will be in the bottom two. I think Shannon will go home – not because she did bad (she didn’t) but because I feel the others will get more votes.

Book Excerpt IV - Friendships

     The word “friend” is defined by the Webster dictionary as one attached to another by affection or esteem or a favored companion. When I was growing up, it took time to build friendships. First, you met that person, face-to-face, and would eventually decide that this is someone you could be around again because you might have something in common. It took time to build that relationship whether it started in the playground, a sorority/fraternity or perhaps working together. Today, you can send someone an online “friend request” without ever having met them and instantly become connected when they accept it. I’ve been blessed with friendships dating back to my childhood. I’ve met friends through college. I’ve built friendships with colleagues from work.

     I’ve had friends since elementary, middle and high school that I’ve kept in my life like family. You know who you are: JoAnn, Shelly, Sarah, Molly, Lisa, Robin. From being kids to adulthood through marriages, careers, children, moving away, we stayed in touch. It’s a bond that cannot be broken – we’re family. We grew up together and we remain together.

     I’ve made friends in college who are my sisters. Heather and Amy and I could look back on our years in Pittsburgh and wonder at times how we got out of situations alive. Hysterical memories infused with adventures in drinking and surviving college life away from the watchful eyes of our parents. Years later, we’re married with children but we fondly look back to our days of youth and finding our next adventure as that person inside of us never grows old.

     I moved far away to Florida and grew up a bit. Partying slowed down a little and I began to focus on my career. I made many friends many friends in FL. Those friendships, starting out as professional colleagues, eventually led to sharing a drink after work on a Friday evening or working on a special project and getting to know each other in a different light. Nancy, Angela, Wanlee, Sandy, Suzanne, Kathy, and Mary Kay became my work family, eventually becoming close confidants outside of work. I made friends through social gatherings: Julie and I have been friends for over 18 years. These relationships progressed into close bonds that continue even as I moved up to North Carolina.

     I’ve had to stand by and watch friends get hurt through a divorce, a death in the family, a sick child or betrayal by another friend. I’ve tried to help pick up the pieces, but I learned being a friend did not mean saying or doing, but listening. Just being a set of ears or a shoulder to cry on can be most powerful. Being a friend means never saying I told you so, never offering unsolicited advice.   

     I’ve watched friends die. My friend from college, Candy, was diagnosed with a brain tumor shortly after we graduated from Point Park University. It was a shock when we found out. When I was in my early twenties, I thought we were invincible. Cancer can’t find us – that happens to other people. Candy, this beautiful, tall red-head who made me laugh one Halloween when we went to a party and she was dressed as the Chiquita woman. I recall falling off my barstool laughing when a couple guys in our party were eating her candy-fruit earrings while she was still wearing them. She was a presence – how could she get cancer? Two days after hearing of her diagnosis, Heather, Tory and I jumped into a car and drove 12 hours to Lansing, Michigan to see her before her surgery. We didn’t know how she would come out of the OR, but we wanted her to see us before the procedure knowing we were there before she went under. Six months later, we made another trip up there to go wig shopping with her laughing our asses off at how ridiculous we looked, taking turns in front of the mirror. We enjoyed her friendship for five more years before she passed away from the disease. In our eyes, she never stopped dancing. I lost another friend this year. Andrea and I were friends in elementary school and that continued for the next three decades. She died in February 2012 of leukemia after fighting the disease for three years. She was a soldier, a wife, a mother and a friend. Both women were loved my many.

     All of these friendships were alive and well before “friend requests” came along. I already knew their “info” and already had “photos” of our friendships. I wrote on some of their locker doors in high school before writing on their online “walls.”  

     Friendships do not end in death. They continue to live on as legacies in our hearts.   

Éirinn go Brách

     I'm going back to Ireland in May! I just wired the deposit to the owner of the cottage we're renting, so it's official. I'm so excited to go back - I've been there twice before with my mother and we always gravitate to my favorite city, Galway. I feel very much at home when I visit there. My first trip was 10 years ago on a bus tour, hitting several cities in a one-week span. It was enjoyable, but very fast-paced and we were on an assigned schedule. My second trip was 7 years ago on a bed-n-breakfast tour. Slower-paced as we drove to selected cities of our choice. Both times, Galway was the highlight of our trips. It sits on the eastern part of Ireland, near the waters of Galway Bay. Several scenes of "The Quiet Man" movie (classic John Wayne flick) were filmed in Galway. It's also a shipping destination as well as a college town with a vast array of fun pubs and the friendliest Irish folks. Below is a photo of the cottage we will be renting along with one of the views:

    
     There's even a horse on the property named, Molly. It's two minutes from Galway City and close to other tourist destinations, such as the Cliffs of Moher, the Aran Islands, the beaches of Connemara. We have a favorite store, Standun, that we like to frequent there for our wool, shawls, jewelry and Waterford crystal stemware. Galway is truly magical with its culture, excellent salmon and breathtaking views. The pubs are are fun in the city. One in particular called, The Quays, is my favorite pub. First, it is beautiful inside - much of the interior was imported from a French medieval church with stained glass (on the walls and floors), carved wood, Gothic arches and pews. The last time I was there, we saw a live band playing Beatles music.

     I've mentioned in previous posts that I plan to get my first (and probably only) tattoo while I'm there. I've already made my appointment with Irish Ink for the day after my arrival and have decided which design I want above my left ankle. I want to commemorate my third trip to Ireland with something permanent to remind me of my fun times there. I began corresponding with the owner last year via email, so this is a long time coming. Here's the kicker . . . my mother does not know I'm getting this tattoo. This will probably put her over the edge as she's not a big fan of them, but she'll come around. My daughter knows and she's excited for me. My husband? Not so much. He's afraid I'll contract a disease from a dirty needle. Bless his heart - he'll be fine once he sees how tasteful it will look. I did a lot of research on where to go to get it done and I was impressed with how Irish Ink operates. I promise to post a photo when I arrive back from the trip.

     My grand master plan is to finish my book in Ireland. I'll most likely finalize the chapters during my layover in Newark and flight (I can never sleep on a plane). My intention is to type the last paragraph in Galway, to make it official, then cap off the ceremonial touch with a bottle of champagne with my mother and her friend joining us on the trip.
    
     As you can see, I have a special place in my heart for Ireland. The title of his post, Éirinn go Brách, means, "Ireland Forever." If ever I win the lottery, I always said I would pay off my children's college education, our bills, then buy a vacation home in Galway. A girl can dream, right? 

Andrea (Carlesi) Roberts . . . Tribute to a Dear Friend

     Our circle and KHS graduating class of 1987 has suffered a sad loss with the passing of a dear friend and colleague, Andrea (Carlesi) Roberts. Many of us knew her as Andi. She leaves behind a loving husband, Brian, and two beautiful children, Carolann (6) and Dillon (3).

copyright 2011 Jennifer Domenick, Love Life Images

    

     I had the pleasure of growing up with her, having known her for over 30 years. Our social circle spanned across numerous genres in elementary, junior and high school: cheerleaders, athletes, band members, drill team, majorettes - she was friends with everyone. She had an infectious laugh - I remember hearing it in the hallways when I would be retrieving things from my locker and thinking, yep, I know that laugh anywhere. 

     The word "hero" is befitting of her. She was an American soldier in Iraq flying helicopters for 101st Airborne. When I first learned she was going overseas to fight for our country, I recall thinking, wow, followed soon by amazing . . . how incredibly brave she is . . . what an unbelievable accomplishment.  She and I kept in touch during the time she was serving in Iraq. On occasion, I would receive an email from her when she was able to access a computer. They would have a little downtime for some fun and she shared with me that they had just finished watching a camel spider fight. She knew I had an insane phobia of spiders and relished in providing me details of their size, color and how crooked their legs looked as they fought in a makeshift ring. She shared that they had to get creative sometimes in the desert to produce a little fun and she immediately thought of me when witnessing these spider fights. Nice. I still get the heebie-jeebies thinking about that story, but I laugh and am thankful that I have this fun memory with her. She served our country well and made us proud. A true fighter. She fought two battles: one for our country and the other against leukemia. She is the epitome of courage. 

     A few months ago, I had heard she was in the hospital receiving treatment for her latest bout with leukemia and I decided, on a whim, to call her one evening. I wasn't sure if she would be up for talking, but she answered her cell phone on the first ring and recognized my voice right away. She sounded groggy, obviously under the effects of the meds, but her spirits seemed to be up. Brian had just left from visiting her and she was alone at the moment, stating this was a good time for her to talk. She started asking me questions about my family and how we liked living in NC. Shortly thereafter, she changed the subject and started asking questions about many of our high school classmates, throwing out names: Shelly, Missy, Joann, Kathleen, Mindy, Terry, Robin, Sadie, Jodi . . . do you hear from any of them? Did you know what they were up to these days? she asked. She then started asking me about some of our previous teachers: Mr. Rybicki, Mr. Bowers, Mr. Ashe . . . are they still teaching or are they retired by now? she asked. She inquired if anyone started making plans for our high school reunion.  She commented that she hadn't heard anything. She expressed concern that poor Molly has been so involved for most of our reunions every time and someone else really needed to do this job and give her a break. This made me laugh - I told her not to worry about it and assured her someone would eventually raise their hand for the job. She hoped she could make it. If she felt well by then, she definitely wanted to try. By now, her voice was getting groggier and I wanted her to get some sleep. We shared some laughs and I think going down memory lane provided her with a distraction from what she was going through at the time. I told her she needed to hurry up and recover because our gang wanted to have her join us for dinner again at the Mariner. She promised to get back on Facebook soon. I told her she has a lot of people who love her and are praying for her recovery - everyone would be happy to see her post something. We promised to make dinner plans again.  

     Andi, we miss you. Your friendship . . . your laugh . . . the funny stories of your kids . . . your photos on Facebook. Your legacy will live on in our hearts and in your beautiful babies. I know you will be at our reunion this year in spirit . . . we will have a special toast in your honor.

Rest in peace . . . our dear friend . . . our hero.          

My Addiction

     I guess the first step is to admit I have an addiction. My name is Juli and I am addicted to . . . award shows. I feel better now. Whew, a load off my shoulders.

    

     In order to feed this addiction, I watched the Golden Globe Awards last night. Not just the ceremony, but also the pre-awards red carpet event. I just love watching the interviews, the beautiful gowns, the dapper tuxedos and the display of nerves on the actors which proves to me they are just like us, except attending a grown-up prom in front of millions of people. I enjoy seeing my favorite actors outside of their roles and just being "human." We sometimes forget how nervous some of these celebrities may be feeling attending these events: excited for what is to come, perhaps anxious to see an idol across the room. Seasoned actors having attended these events in the past know what to expect. Some enjoy it, using it as an opportunity to mingle with old friends while a few may be there to just get through the obligatory appearance and go home after one drink at the after-party (if they even attend one). Some presenters are praying to make it to the mic without tripping on the stage and being able to read the teleprompter without looking like a fool. Some want to loosen up with their peers at the bar and nosh on fine foods, but at the same time, be able to banter easily with colleagues and other esteemed actors they admire and respect. Some enjoy the attention bestowed upon them while others may be new to this activity, therefore, navigating unchartered waters. Some never get used to the attention and try to shed their inner-introvert with a smile and a handshake. I just love analyzing the psych that surrounds these events. The Golden Globes is a more laid-back version of The Academy Awards (Oscars). Everyone appears more relaxed, seated with their colleagues at tables in a smaller setting rather than the formal seating arrangement of a huge venue such as the Kodak Theatre. I could dedicate a whole blog entry on The Academy Awards, but we’ll wait until after February 26^th.

    

     I was stoked to see one of my favorite actresses, Jessica Lange, win her Best Supporting Actress in a Supporting Role/Drama award for "American Horror Story." She definitely deserved it. What a class act. I have admired her since I saw her in "King Kong" (1976) with Jeff Bridges. I read the book, too, which included photo footage of the movie within the pages. I admired her work again in one of her more haunting performances in "Sweet Dreams" (1985) in which she portrayed Patsy Cline – she disappeared into that role and was truly Patsy. I credit Ms. Lange for my interest back then in Country music and Patsy Cline songs.

    

     As a host, I thought Ricky Gervais knocked it out of the park. Ricky is like sushi to me: not everyone can stomach it, but if you enjoy it, it’s delicious. I personally love Ricky’s humor and the fact that he just doesn’t give a shit what people think. Much like how I feel most of the time. If you don’t want to know the truth, don’t ask. He had some great one-liners and poked a lot of fun at people, but he didn’t go too far. It was enjoyable to watch him onstage this year vs. last year’s painful performance. No one’s panties seemed to get twisted up this year – or so I thought I could see on the TV screen. I especially loved his dig at Jodie Foster’s beaver and she was a great sport. I did cringe a little when I realized later in the show that her sons had attended the ceremony and heard the dig (ew). Seth Rogan almost had me spit out my cheese/cracker when he revealed his attempt to hide his erection standing alongside Kate Beckinsale. Classic. I appreciate raunchy humor and it’s more likely to occur at the Golden Globes vs. the Oscars. Love it! And Jane Fonda? She looked phenomenal in that dress.

    

     Looking forward to the Oscars (Feb 26^th) and the Primetime Emmy Awards (Sept 23^rd)!

Not a Lazy Sunday / Book Excerpt III

Today was a gloomy, rainy Sunday in the mountains, but I woke up to the smell of cooked bacon, pancakes and freshly baked cookies. After I realized I didn't pull into the wrong house last night (LOL - my husband is the best!), I enjoyed a moment of solitude with my java while my kids and their friends slept in. Sometimes, I feel like I run a bed-n-breakfast for my kids' social circles, but then I shouldn't complain - at least my kids like bringing their friends over and hanging out. Feels good to always know where my kids are and they're safe. As much as I would like to enjoy the occasional quiet time, I'm thankful their friends like to come over. Thank goodness for Sam's so we get snacks in bulk. After their friends left to go home, my son and I decided to go bowling which is something we haven't done in a long time. I forgot how much fun it was and the pleasure of wearing the most godawful, ugly shoes.

We had a good time and my little man bowled two strikes! Here's one of them:

Beaten by a 10-year-old. He's very competitive and doesn't like to lose, so lucky for him, I suck at bowling. Okay, I know you can see the gutters in the footage. They're for me, not him - yes, I'm that bad. When we moved on to a game of pool, I showed him who was boss. See, I'm actually good at pool. I learned to play well during college because (a) I enjoyed it and (b) I thought it was a great way to meet guys. I showed the little guy a few tricks on positioning himself and aiming for specific pockets. My coolness factor went up a notch in his eyes.

After running a few errands at Walmart (always lovely to people-watch there), we headed home in time to watch my beloved Steelers in the playoffs. Sadly, they lost. Devastating. I thought for sure we would get a field goal after we went into overtime, but the Broncos surprised us with a touchdown. My son even wore his lucky Troy Palomalo wig, but to no avail. I'm in mourning and will be wearing black to the office tomorrow. My co-workers and bosses know what a dedicated Steelers fan I am and know not to talk to me about the loss. A moment of silence, please . . . . at least the Steelers' paraphernalia will be on sale tomorrow, so I can prepare for next season. Okay, I feel a teenie-weenie bit better now.

I've made some progress on my book. Below is another excerpt:

COLLEGE YEARS
     I loved to party. I was very social during my college years, craving that continuous connection with my friends as well as searching for love. Sometimes this led me down some comical paths.
     I attended the University of Pittsburgh from 1987 through 1989, but needed to transfer to a smaller school – did I mention I loved to party? Yep, instead of excelling in my grades, I excelled in blowing off steam. My grades suffered at Pitt and this didn’t sit well with my parents because I was on a free ride. Back then, I could not have cared less. My only goal at that point in my life was just to get by and pass my classes while scoping out for the next party alert to surface. My mother saw the path I was going down and suggested I consider transferring to a smaller college. We investigated Point Park University, a smaller, private (and very expensive) option. Mom saw this as my way out of trouble and to focus better on my classes. Point Park also had a very good reputation as a higher learning institution, well-known for its school of journalism/communications and performing arts. Things improved slightly for me as I pursued my degree in journalism and I became involved in extracurricular activities, such as Student Government and college basketball cheerleading.  I did not have any experience with cheerleading growing up and I had no business trying out. I did it on a dare and was fully prepared to not make it. I had planned to laugh about the experience over a few beers later. Imagine my surprise when I actually made the squad. I really pissed off a couple of girls who had cheered in high school and certainly deserved to be on the squad. To this day, I'm still not quite sure I know how I made it, but it's possible they didn't want the cookie-cutter personality. I was always down-to-earth and didn't change my tune when I talked to certain people. I talked to guys the same way I talked to my girlfriends. I did have 13 years of dancing school experience. Many of the half-time shows consisted of dance routines and seemed to be moving further away from the traditional cheer-only performances. I decided to stick with the squad and, to my surprise, I found I enjoyed it. The games were fun to watch and I had the best seats in the house being a part of the excitement. And, yes, I got invited to some great parties. 

     Attending a smaller, private college afforded me the opportunity to get to know a lot of people in a short amount of time because we would run into each other frequently. This enabled my friends and I to circulate the party connections and get to know the Van Wilders of the campus. One of them in particular was an art student who I thought was cute enough for me to get to know better. He had a party one night in his dorm room that my friend Amy and I attended. Free beer, fun conversations and convenient - his dorm building was connected to ours with a walking bridge over the dividing street - no need to travel far and we didn't have to bundle up in 20 degree weather. Two beers turned into several and I woke up the next morning on his bed with him. We were both fully clothed so I know nothing happened aside from the typical make-out session. Only one problem - I couldn't hear a damn thing. Using "Van Wilder's" phone, I called Amy and informed her I couldn't find my hearing aids and I didn't remember taking them off. I also advised her not to bother saying anything because I couldn't hear her - I just needed her to get over here and rescue me. Within minutes, she was rapping quietly on the door and I let her in. We didn't want to wake up Van Wilder and his roommates, so we decided to find the aids ourselves. She and I crawled around the room on all fours, feeling the sticky, gross floor and under the beds. Nothing. We even searched the garbage buckets. Ew, nothing. I really started to panic. Then Amy recalled seeing party-goers occasionally taking trash bags of beer cans and bottles out to the hallway garbage room. At this point, desperate measures were necessary. Bet most of you can't attest to dumpster-diving for hearing aids - I can! Amy and I emptied every one of those garbage bags and low-and-behold, found my hearing aids in the very last one. To this day, I don't know how the hell they ended up in the garbage and I probably don't want to know. Nothing will sober you up faster than coming thisclose to losing $2,000 worth of hearing aids and having to make that dreadful call your parents. Of course, the phone call would have been one-sided since I wouldn’t have been able to hear them.

     Mom, Dad, I have something I need to tell you, but you need me speak. I lost my hearing aids.

     What?! How the hell did that happen?

     What did you say? Listen, just let me get this out.

     Where were you when you lost them? Do know how much those things cost? 

     Wait, I’m sorry, maybe YOU didn't hear me - I said I CAN'T HEAR YOU! I lost my hearing aids, remember?! Gotta go . . . Bye! 

     Okay, that conversation never happened, but I could only imagine what a disaster I would have faced.  

Happy New Year: Reflections & Resolutions

     I wish I could say my 2012 is off to a great start, but I ended up going to bed New Year's Eve at 9:30pm with a fever, chills and a migraine. A real bummer because I had planned to watch Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve with my hubby and enjoy shrimp cocktail, sushi and champagne while my daughter had a couple of girlfriends over for a slumber party. Didn't get to enjoy any good food or spirits - bleh. I did feel a little better on New Year's day, but I still had the residual headache and my voice sounded like I smoked 20 cigars last night. Some guys like the sound of a husky voice on a woman, but it didn't feel sexy to me. Felt much better today, returning to work. I don't let a silly illness get in the way of my writing, so I have listed my top 2011 picks below:
    
MY TOP 5 FAVORITE MOVIES OF 2011:

1. The Rise of the Planet of Apes - I was rooting for the apes.
2. Paranormal Activity III - The scariest of the series!
3. Bridesmaids - Brilliant - I laughed so hard, I cried.
4. X-Men: First Class - I'm a huge fan of this franchise - the actors were superb.
5. The Help - One word - AMAZING.

MY TOP 5 BOOKS OF 2011:

1. Bossypants - Tina Fey
2. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
3. The Help - Kathryn Stockett
4. Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
5. A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness 

MY TOP 5 TV SHOWS OF 2011:

1. Modern Family
2. The Middle
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. American Idol
5. The X Factor

MY TOP 5 ALBUMS OF 2011:

1. 21 - Adele
2. Get Closer - Keith Urban
3. Born This Way - Lady Gaga
4. Teenage Dream - Katy Perry
5. Here and Now - Nickelback

MY TOP 5 SINGLES OF 2011:

1. Rolling in the Deep - Adele
2. Someone Like You - Adele
3. Marry the Night - Lady Gaga
4. Long Hot Summer - Keith Urban
5. Pumped Up Kicks - Foster the People

     As you can see above, my taste spans across genres.  2011 has been a fulfilling year for me. I started writing my book and started my first on-line blog. I also started something new by taking fiddle lessons, which has been fun. The kids have grown and matured, getting involved with more activities and their social circles. My husband's business is thriving and his clientele is expanding. My career has become more challenging yet interesting as I learn more about the oncology field. We finally moved into a brand new cancer center on the hospital's campus and I have grown internally with my love for being a part of something big for the Western NC region.

     I hope 2012 will continue to prosper for us as well as for my friends and loved ones.  I typically don't do new resolutions. In the past, I would attempt to promise to lose weight, cut down on my cussing (this will never work, LOL - outside of work, I have a potty-mouth, but I try to limit it around my kids), or work-out more. Too much pressure on myself. What I can promise to do for 2012 is live better than I did the year before and try something new. I'm looking forward to my third trip to Ireland in May.  My "try something new" will be when I get my first (and probably only) tattoo while I'm in Ireland. I've already been in touch with the owner of the parlor in Galway via e-mail and have everything planned out. I haven't told my mother yet, who is flying there with me - I'm sure she'll think I've lost my mind - but I wanted to do something to commemorate this trip. My husband is not thrilled - he's afraid I'll contract hepatitis (he doesn't have any tattoos) - but I assured him this place is very reputable and I did my research. I'm excited for what 2012 will bring!