london eye :: london :: sept. 1, 2008
A wise man once told me, “You can only move forward, never back.”
That was a little over ten years ago, but that line (or the general gist of it - memory like a sieve over here) has remained front and center since that comment was left on my blog. That guy, some random weirdo from London, who I’d never meet (NEVER!), happened to be responsible for the second best night of our entire 2008 London vacation. While we had managed to lose touch for a few years, we’re back to being bloggy friends… who have taken the friendship offline. (Eating dinner, hanging out in a pub with the SCA geeks and exchanging English lessons (“Dog’s bollocks!” vs “It’s pronounced Peebiddy.”) was both fascinating and amazing. I can’t wait for the next trip out there!)
Anyhoo, I digress.
When I look back at the past, I almost always end up digging through my blog archives because so much of my life is recorded there. Sometimes, it’s the pictures that matter, sometimes it’s the words… but mostly, it’s the people that matter. It doesn’t matter if it’s good things or bad things that catch my attention - everything that happens, happens for a reason. Sometimes, the reason is crystal clear and sometimes, I can spend years waiting for the reason to make itself apparent
In a nutshell, 2008 was a good year - reconnecting with old friends, bringing new ones into my world, celebrating milestones with my family - all these people ended up playing a bigger role in my life than anyone could have imagined. I’m looking forward to beginning 2009 knowing that these people are in my life.
I made a resolution in 2004 that, once we were in New England, I would make the effort to spend more time with my friends. It’s taken me a while to get to that point - and it required a bulldozer *ahem* - but I’m thrilled beyond belief that I can hang out with them again. Aside from the bulldozer, this wouldn’t have been possible without social networking apps like FB. I’m hoping to spend more time with my friends and less with their FB profiles in 2009.
It’s been a heck of a year, 2008, but I’m excited to move on.
I’ve made mistakes. I’ve had my ups and downs, ins and outs, my share of bad breaks, but when it’s all been said and done, I raise my
Vanilla Coke and swear, “God, it’s been fun!” (The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - ‘Dogs and Chaplains’)
with dad :: manchester, ct :: most likely 1979
Merry Christmas, Dad.
us, stonehenge :: salisbury plain, uk :: september 4, 2008
Twas the night before Christmas and Tam was home and lonely.
She really missed her man. Oh yes, the one and only.
His mom is sick with cancer, so off he went like Dancer.
Without Rudolph whose nose does glow, my man got stranded in the snow.
From Buffalo to Ohio he tried to go, but Mother Nature kept saying “no.”
His fender, it got bendered and useless his car was rendered.
His car was taken on a flatbed and visions of tires danced in his head.
From miles away, there’s not much I can say…
except F*CK YOU, OHIO! Have a happy holiday!
Hey, I never said I was a poet.
hundred acre wood :: da ‘brook :: 2008
This is, without a doubt, my second most favorite place in the entire world.
Creating this room - even with the handy idea card from Home Depot - was one of the biggest home improvement challenges I’ve ever faced. (And I’ve built walls before - framed AND drywalled!) There was a lot of time spent on this room - sourcing the fabrics, accessories, furniture. I did everything I possibly could to make this room a reality. I knew that when it was done, I didn’t want to look at it and know I half-assed it.
J went to Ohio to spend Christmas with his mom. I should have gone, but life being what it is, I opted to stay home, alone, with the dogs. He barely made it to Ohio - he got stranded in Buffalo on Sunday night. Then he got into a car accident on Monday just as he crossed the border. The accident was nothing. A little fender bender. Everyone walked away. Minor damage to the car - not enough for it to be totaled, but enough for a visit to a body shop. The worst part, for him, was the waiting. It took the cops over 3 hours to get to the accident to write up the report. Then it took forever for the tow truck to get there. He’s not good with waiting.
He’s also not good with the whole talking thing… when he called me again and again and again while waiting for the cops, I knew something was wrong. By the time I got home on Monday, I was a frazzled mess. After I had dinner, I headed up to the Hundred Acre Wood. I even slept there last night. I spent some time up there tonight while on the phone with a good friend. I will probably sleep in there again tonight. (Cue the Police’s “The Bed’s Too Big WIthout You”.)
After my seven year exile in Toledo, I knew that Ohio was the most evil place on earth. A lot of the really bad things that have occurred in my life occurred during my stint as an Ohio resident. My last trip there sucked, too. I decided I was NEVER EVER EVER going back. I figured that since my husband was from there (A souvenir, if you will…), he’d be safe.
Nope. Not so much.
You can be in an excellent relationship, but you never know just how strong it is until something completely f’ed up makes you take a good, hard look at it. Our first test was when my father died. I don’t think I would have made it without him. No, I know I wouldn’t have made it without him. He’s definitely a huge part of what keeps me sane. This week, he got to test me. I think the sweetest words ever uttered by him in our ten years together are “You’re my rock.” Not “I love you.” Not “I do.”
I wish he had a place in Ohio like the Hundred Acre Wood where he could hunker down for the rest of his stay and feel safe and snuggly and warm.
As it is, Hundred Acre Wood or not, I won’t be happy until I’m in my most favorite place in the world - his arms.
the best part of the ucmb bassline: viz, derek & i :: university of ct (frat rock, i think) :: winter 1997