christmas wrapping

"Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses from 1981 is my favorite Christmas song!

"Bah, humbug!" No, that's too strong
'Cause it is my favorite holiday
But all this year's been a busy blur
Don't think I have the energy

To add to my already mad rush
Just 'cause it's 'tis the season.
The perfect gift for me would be
Completions and connections left from

Last year, ski shop,
Encounter, most interesting.
Had his number but never the time
Most of '81 passed along those lines.

So deck those halls, trim those trees
Raise up cups of Christmas cheer,
I just need to catch my breath,
Christmas by myself this year.

Calendar picture, frozen landscape,
Chilled this room for twenty-four days,
Evergreens, sparkling snow
Get this winter over with!

Flashback to springtime, saw him again,
Would've been good to go for lunch,
Couldn't agree when we were both free,
We tried, we said we'd keep in touch.

Didn't, of course, 'til summertime,
Out to the beach to his boat could I join him?
No, this time it was me,
Sunburn in the third degree.

Now the calendar's just one page
And, of course, I am excited
Tonight's the night, but I've set my mind
Not to do too much about it.

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
But I think I'll miss this one this year.
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
But I think I'll miss this one this year.
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
But I think I'll miss this one this year.
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
But I think I'll miss this one this year.

Hardly dashing through the snow
Cause I bundled up too tight
Last minute have-to-do's
A few cards a few calls

'Cause it's r-s-v-p
No thanks, no party lights
It's Christmas Eve, gonna relax
Turned down all of my invites.

Last fall I had a night to myself,
Same guy called, halloween party,
Waited all night for him to show,
This time his car wouldn't go,

Forget it, it's cold, it's getting late,
Trudge on home to celebrate
In a quiet way, unwind
Doing Christmas right this time.

A&P has provided me
With the world's smallest turkey
Already in the oven, nice and hot
Oh damn! Guess what I forgot?

So on with the boots, back out in the snow
To the only all-night grocery,
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
In the line is that guy I've been chasing all year!

"I'm spending this one alone," he said.
"Need a break; this year's been crazy."
I said, "Me too, but why are you?
You mean you forgot cranberries too?"

Then suddenly we laughed and laughed
Caught on to what was happening
That Christmas magic's brought this tale
To a very happy ending!

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
Couldn't miss this one this year!
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
Couldn't miss this one this year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!

transit strike

With the loss of my Sidney, a little thing called xmas shopping--which entails finding my mom a "southwestern" table cloth (whatever that means--and hell, I live in NEW YORK)--and a crippling transit strike...I have been...alas...out of the loop lately. And I appreciate the wishes from the people who wrote me about Sidney, either here on this blog or seperately at my private email. I love friends!

I missed work the first day of the transit strike, but the second day I had to go in...too much to do. Somehow I scrounged up a carpool...which was remarkably quite easy! Me, Sean, Brocco, and my friend Regina were the regular riders. A few miscellaneous people tossed in on the ride in and out of the city on the various 2 days also included Paul (Brocco's friend), Lilliana--Sean's co-worker, and a girl whose name escapes me right now, but she is Brocco's friend and she jumped in the car at somepoint while we were all stuck in traffic on the West Side highway for the remainder of the trip back to Brooklyn. Convesation in and out of the city involved mostly music as Sean played d.j., I drove because I am kick-ass at it, and we listened to Nick Cave, Wilco, Steve Reich, Depeche Mode, Pogues...some Indian music, and much more. We discussed pie and ice cream and if fruit really belongs in ice cream...or if it is best left in pie. I think the general consensus was that it is best left in pie. By this point I think the carpool was all suffering from exhaust poisoning. At one point a cruise ship travelling along the Hudson passed us by. We imagined all the passengers were busy getting their "drink-on" the ship and mocking us. It sailed outta sight, most likely bound for the Bahamas. We, on the other hand, were left breathing in fumes. I must say the commute into the city was an absolute breeze. No worries...little traffic, a breeze. The two commutes home were a fucking nightmare. Both nights 3 1/2 freaking hours to get from mid-town Manhattan to Brooklyn. Brooklynites were screwed really. I don't care what you saw with people walking across the damn bridge or the LIRR. We all live no where near those bridges, and our commuting options were few and far between. My car, which I have merely for short excursions upstate and long weekends out of the city etc. was our best option sadly. I don't like using a car to commute to work...it was by far the most action the car has gotten in a long time. Mostly it sits parked and unused for weeks. By the time we got home, we were tired, exhausted, and passed out after a glass of wine. I am happy I am off today and talks seem to have resumed again. So whatever, I don't want to bore...I just offer this up as an explanation as to my whereabouts lately.

My Sidney-beans...

It was with a heart full of sorrow that I made the sad decision to put my Sidney to sleep this morning. The past weeks have been some of the hardest I have faced. Sidney did not have a fractured leg...that would have been easy to handle and treat. Sadly his problem was more serious, and although I knew that his life would be a short one due to the complications of a lung mass...just 10 little years...I never prepared myself. In the past week he lost the use of both hind legs and would drag himself around. We confined him to the bathroom to minimize his stress and movement and wait for more thorough testing to come back. He just started deteriorating rapidly unable to control bladder or bowels...instead laying on the bathroom floor sad, in pain, scared, confused. Sidney was a very proud, clean, and refined kitty--living under these conditions was unbearable for me to watch or continue to put him through. I made him the best kitty bed I could and included a heating pad for him to stay warm. I petted him, kissed him, and talked his head off too! But last night when I came home, I washed his lifeless tail and hindlegs with cat shampoo diluted in water, cleaned up around his area kissed him, shut the bathroom door and made the call to my vet to have him put down this morning. No longer did his little tail wag when I called "Sidney", no more purring or belly kneeding. My kitty had given me 10 years full of unconditional love and it was time for him to rest. The vet was so caring. We stayed in the room with Sidney and his passing was peaceful...I stroked his head and kissed him and said my good-byes. He looked so peaceful, so relaxed, no longer in pain. I will get his ashes back in a few weeks in a little kitty urn. I may take them to Texas to sprinkle in the backyard of my parent's new home in the country. I think he would like that. He always wanted to be an outdoor kitty, chasing birds, mice, and just being free. I am a better person for having him in my life....he was my baby boy cat.

Sidney giving his infamous "come hither" eyes which I fell for all the time. Sidney was very dapper...he was a tuxedo kitty. Everyday he would wear a tux with "tail", white gloves and spats. A walking fashion show and beyond handsome.

Sidney curled up with his "sister" Sam. She is a sad kitty tonight. She enjoyed being alpha-cat and biting Sidney's ankles when she wanted in the spot where he was sleeping. Even though he out-weighed her...he always gave-in.
Here my precious Sidney napping and showing off that cute little white spot on his nose.
That damn bird!
Sidney letting me show-off his very handsome face.
Sidney being Sidney...enjoying life!

sidney

Ugh...I am not sure who told my male cat that I got a bonus but he has already managed to spend it. I didn't mention this before, because I like to live in the world of denial. See, if something is going badly I try to avoid the topic in hopes it will just go away. Yes...very logical...very sane...I know. So when a few weeks ago Sidney started moving very slowly and showing signs of trouble jumping up and down from things, I figured the mass in his lung was causing him problems. I never had it removed because the operation could have very well killed him and I did not (and still do not) have five thousand dollars. So he has survived well and happy without the operation for three years now, albeit with a nagging cough now and then. So, we took him to the vet who said, other than the mass, he seemed healthy and she didn't notice any mobility problems, but put him on steroids to relieve any inflammation. Two weeks go by, he gradually continues to move slower and slower. In the past three days he started dragging both hind legs. I spoke with the vet who feared it could be tumors on his spine, but only an x-ray would reveal that. I research the internet which yielded numerous possibilities. I am now faced with putting him down I fear...a thought I shove to the back of my mind, because I live in denial as you know. We took him back to the vet this morning for x-rays which revealed he has a slight fracture in his hind leg. This is actually good news believe it or not. We now wait to see what treatment will be. He is not the best candidate for surgery as anestesia (sp?) could kill him due to the mass, so it is possible he will have to be on "bed rest" the next few weeks. As the fracture has not shifted, but rather stayed in place, it is possible to perhaps heal on its own. Still the vet trips have been beyond expensive and if we opt to have surgery there goes what little is left...and quite a few peoples presents will go to healing his leg.

First Holiday Party

I went to my first holiday party this past Wednesday. It was fun--I wore my "special" suit I saved just for the occasion. Not much really to say about it other than non-stop good sushi and all the wine you could want. Oh--yes and an amazing art collection in the house. I was highly envious. I sat down in the restroom to take care of business and across from me hanging on the wall, in the bathroom mind you, an original drawing by Jean Cocteau! Crazy. First picture is me in the middle of my two co-workers--a gorgeous trio if I do say so myself.
Next up--my good pal Saadia and I in front of one of the way cool paintings I spoke of. I am sure I have mentioned this before--but look closely at Saadia, and next time you are watching old re-runs of Night Court look for Saadia in the opening scenes blowing smoke at the camera and looking like the unruly 80s NY teen that she was. We talk about Bauhaus a lot and her love of Peter Murphy and hate of Robert Smith. Despite the latter, I am still her friend.

Blonde(ish) no more

I went to bumble and got my hair cut (just cleaned up really) and colored Friday/Saturday. I have gone on and on about bumble. It is one of my favorite places and quite frankly I like my hair played with. And what better way to have that done, by a non-pervert, then to have it cut and colored. And the shampoo-guy was working the massage too! I was loving it. Anyway--in light of the cold wintery days, I decided to go dark--I have sorta chocolate colored hair with slight red undertones now--it is quite a change. I am afraid to go to work Monday as I really don't want to deal with all the questions from my co-workers over it...I would ideally like them to just ignore it and let me go about my usual day, but I think that is not gonna happen. So I will post a picture of the new color soon, which isn't really "new" as I have had this color before.

COME ON!!

Hmmm...how many Arrested Developments references can I make?

There are no creative juices flowing from me lately...and I have neglected this blog in a way. No photos...nothing. Depressed maybe...maybe not...I don't know. But tomorrow is my first holiday party of the season, yipee, so I will be sure to post photos and breathe some life back into this pitiful thing. I did promise wedding photos didn't I? Eh...I make lots 'o promises...

And what's with 22 y/o boys at work burning Elliot Smith CDs for me to listen to? I mean, Christ....

Tom Petty

I am giving Tom Petty two snaps up for not having LSS.

the bullshit factor

Yes I am in a bad mood. For a variety of reasons. But can I just point out the bullshit in my life is really surpassing the acceptable point lately. I know it does me no good to focus on the negative...and I don't...not always. I suppose the only good "light at the end of the tunnel" is that I consider myself a good judge of when bullshit is being doled out to me. Maybe that is actually a bad thing. When I sense b.s. I usually cease having anything to do with the individual or entity shoveling it in my direction. The beauty of being "older and wiser" I suppose. So that is it...no one likes negative vibes. I am trying to keep mine in check, so I write them out here with the intention of leaving them behind.

This is going to be the most bitchingly fastest bike in all of Orange County...Or Grab-ass in the shower

My post has nothing to do with any of that. So I bought my ticket to go back to Dallas Dec. 24th - Dec. 31st for Christmas. I'm driving to Newark to take the plane out--which probably saved me $50. I don't know why I must be in NY for New Years--as if I am going to have some sort of revelation of phantasmical fun. I will certainly sip wine and pass out by 11:45pm. But as for my break in Dallas, I am looking forward to being anywhere but work. Natalia knows why...sigh. So I welcome the retreat, but not the family stress. But what are ya gonna do?

Limbo

Limbo people!! Limbo!...shit

The Demise of Limbo

Now, has anyone else been reading reports that the Pope intends on abolishing Limbo? The place where babies go if they die before being baptized. Can he do this? Doesn't he need some "higher" permission? And what about all those babies now displaced? To me Limbo always seemed like a party place...somewhere you could kick back and unwind. It seems better than having your ass burned off in hell while wearing ragged clothes and being jabbed with a hot poker. My god, the clothes! And Limbo seems more laid back then uptight heaven where you are probably forced to mind your manners, watch your language and hope you don't drop your chocolate ice cream cone on your white gown. In Limbo you are neither suffering nor are you in paradise...you're just hangin'. So, I asked my husband, who is not sure if he has ever been baptized, if he would then go to Limbo when he dies. He replied, "No, as I have had plenty of opportunities to get baptized, but haven't." So in other words...his ass is going straight to hell.