Skrinkering Hearts

The less I seek my source for some definitive
The closer I am to fine  

It’s almost New Years and I’ve been tagged to do a little recapski of the year and I just don’t know where to really begin.

This year, I am again fortunate enough to say that I have been surrounded by and blessed with a wonderful family.   Family that has been through a heck of a lot this year.   You know that saying, “when life hands you lemons, make lemonade?”  Welp, with the lemons my family, my grandparents in particular, have been handed this year, I swear I could be whipping up lemonade drinks for all of you and your friends, for a long while!  (alcoholic versions, of course)  It’s been a tough year with what has been going on.   Looks as though things aren’t looking so good for the start of 2008 either.  The health of my grandfather is worse than we had once thought.  It’s bad.  That’s all I can really bear to write at this point.  But, one thing I know for sure is that I couldn’t be more fortunate, more grateful, and feel more blessed for the wonderful family I do have.   We’re going through a lot, but we have such a strong family, have each other, and we are rallying up.  Trying to deal.  The best we can.  

And then there’s my friends.  My amazing, wonderful, charismatic, hysterical, exciting group of friends.   For them I am so completely grateful and I swear not a day goes by that I don’t realize how good I’ve got it.   These friends, we’ve have been there with each other through it all.   The good the bad and the not so pretty.  The late nights, the run ins with exes, heartaches and triumphs, disappointments and accomplishments.   We’ve all been together, through thick and thin.  These friends I’ve got, them and my family, are one constant I got going in my life.  When life is so fragile and delicate and can really change in the blink of an eye, it’s so comforting to know that I have so many wonderful people with me in my corner.

I’ve been there and done a lot this year.  Competed in two triathlons, took several enriching writing classes and seminars.  Tried new foods and dated different types of men.  I even learned how to (almost) master uploading pictures on this here blog, and yes, I do consider that an Accomplishment of 2007.  There have been so many little moments.  Those small moments in a converstion with a best friend, the inside jokes, the words that don’t need to be said but that are shared accross the table over a lowe lip bite and another sip of beer.  Those many moments that pass by all too quickly.  The feeling in a day when you have the sense that all is just right.  So many little, special, unique moments that I’ve taken in over a year.  Too many to list out here, but all tucked away as meaningful memories in my heart.

Oh, and then there’s the traveling I’ve done this year.  Traveling, which I just can’t seem to get enough of, for I’m forever in search of a little getaway.  I’ve vacay-ed in Miami and Myrtle Beach, Reno and Lake Tahoe, long weekends in NH, Maine, the Cape and NY.   I hope to keep with this travel trend in the year to come too because I find that getting the heck out of dodge just does wonders for restoring the soul and gaining new perspective and realizing that there is so much more than just the city I live in and the sights I see every day.  And also, getting out? even for a day or two, as sweet and wonderful as it is and for all it’s good, it really makes one appreciate home that much more too.

And I have a wonderful home, or apartment rather.  A roof over my head which I think during a year long recap is actually something to recognize because so many people do not have this.  A cozy apartment that I share with someone who is not only just a “roommate” but who is also a best friend.   A cat who is pumped when I arrive back at these digs every day, who loves me with no question and just so happens to be a good snuggler too.   A dependable guy in my life, who’da thunk?!

Ah, relationships.  There have been a few this year, although nothing wickedly awesome to speak of.   I took off 2007 with my heart a little heavy over a certain someone who I had that kind of unrequited love with.   Were distances shorter, timing different, maybe things with he and I would work.   But I finally realized it was time to let that hope go, not let it keep that grip on me as it had so successfully done for so long.   And I eventually learned how to be (pretty mostly) okay with that.   And there have been other men.  Men I’ve dated who have most certainly been duds.  Men who I’ve dated who I just haven’t felt that zsa zsa zsu with.   Men who I’ve felt it with but it just wasn’t meant to be.  Ah, yet through all of these dates, I guess I can say one thing.   I have learned even more what I want by sometimes getting what I don’t.  And learning, well that’s got to be a good thing right?   Getting a little bit closer to fine, relationship wise, I have to feel like that’s what I’ve done.   And sure, some of this learning was at the cost of a couple heartaches and disappointments, but in the end, worth it, because I am able to say that I have grown.

I have grown stronger, more independent.  More confident and sure of myself.  More aware of who I am, the type of friend, lover, daughter, date, and all around person that I want to be.  This year has had it’s ups and downs for sure, but I am able to say that I have lived authentically and loved passionately, and for that, I feel thankful.  I’m ready to say goodbye to 2007, close that chapter and be on to the next.   

Ready for new beginnings.  

Much happiness and many good things to all of you and your loved ones in the year ahead.

I mean really.  I swear only to me would this happen.  After the whole Halloween Costume Debacle this year, where I had to sent back the Betty Rubble costume three times because it was either too big, missing it’s bones-belt, or sewn completely wrong, I should have known.  Oh, and the time my girlfriends and I placed an order through an “Adult Store” and I got the wrong order, two times.  And had to call to explain exactly what my order wasto ensure I’d get it right.  Oof.  I should have known this would happen!

So last week I finally ordered my laptop.  I found one that I was pumped about, has all the bells and whistles that hold any meaning to me (which doesn’t take much, you’re looking at THE most un-tech-savvy gal here ever).  Anywho.  I didn’t want to be dealing with lines and such in Best Buy around the holidays, so I just whipped up the order online, thinking I’d be all set that way.  Even had it sent to my work so that I wouldn’t have to worry about it getting swiped at my apartment or not getting there or not having someone to sign.  So yesterday I get the call on my cell, some automated someone, saying that the package was on it’s way today and woot!, it’s actually coming earlier than they told me so I was totally pumped.  Excited to have this puppy in my possession just in time for the long weekend and in time to be figuring out how to get my new iPod touch all connected to it.  I mean, I didn’t think it was going to be any easy feat or anything.  Didn’t go getting all high up on my horse assuming that I’d be busting out posts via the comfort of my bed whilst sipping a cocktail and listening to new downloaded songs, but I was at least thinking that I’d have the hardware to be able to make that a reality one of these days real soon.  

Well, not so much.  The package did in fact arrive this morning.  The secretary here signed for it and all, tells me that I have a package and I’m all psyched, bring the thing to my office, but get busy and kind of forget about it for a bit.  Then, I get some free time, I look over to the box which is a big brown box, you know, lap top size, or so I think right?  Wrong!  Wicked wrong!  The box says iRobot on it!  A random Roomba Silver Vacuuming Robot!  What the hell?!  So now I’m all, curious and not sure what to make of this beast.  I mean, I’m thinking, did my dad send me this as a late Christmas present?  Did my roommate send it?  Will Smith? My mom?  There’s absolutely no packing slip, nothing to identify said object and I just… don’t know what to make of it!  I look at the address label and see in the upper corner that it was sent to Best Buy from iRobot.  So it’s Best Buy’s fault?!   

So I calmly place a call to Best Buy.  I mean, I’m not surprised, not in the very least, that something like this has happened to me.  I mean, I have come to expect this shit; it’s just kind of humorous.  Yeah I would have liked the thing for the weekend, but really, I would have needed some serious time to figure the whole thing out, and it wasn’t like I was dying to get it today and can’t just wait a bit more.  I’ve gone this long sans laptop, it was just a fun thing I was pumped for, whenever it came.  

Welp, Best Buy knows absolutely nothing about little iRobot here.  They had nothing in their records of the thing and they suggest that I return it to the store, telling me that they will fast track this lap top to me, ASAP, like, in 2 days time and won’t even charge me for it.  But I mean, with no slip, no receipt, no nothing, how am I supposed to just go up to the returns counter and give them a vacuum and say I’m returning it?!  They know nothing about it!  So anyone could just buy this thing at say, Target, and go to Best Buy and they’d accept it?!  Ha, who knows, really, that’s the least of my worries right now.  So they say the laptop will be here in two days, by Monday.  

Except I’m not working Monday!  Oof.  So, I call Best Buy back, wait another what seems like 4 hours, listening to some God awful music and a silly automated man telling me about deals! deals! deals! and sales!… and finally, finally I get connected to a customer service representative.  I ask them whether, you know, since I’m going to Best Buy to return the vac, can they just send the laptop there instead?  Makes sense, no?  

Well, no, not so much.  Customer Service Rep numero deux states that, opps, they failed to tell me before that the laptop is on back order!  Back order!!  They don’t have any in the warehouse, and none in the stores near me, and oh they’re so sorry, but, I’ll just have to wait!   

Seriously?!  

So I complain a bit.  Not in a bitchy way, because really in the grand scheme of things I just don’t care that much.  I know it’s not these reps fault, but it’s still annoying right?, so I want to say something, get something done to help me with this damn inconvenience.  I tell them that I had ordered this last week as a gift and needed it for the weekend (lie, not a gift), and that this is really a big inconvenience, and um, what can you do to… fix that?  Well, nothing, necessarily about the computer.  But they did end up not charging me for the expedited shipping, oh so nice of them.  And, finally, they so graciously, my God!, promised me a $50 gift card (being sent, hopefully?!) to me, to make up for it.     

Ha, and all I can do is just freakin laugh.  Seriously, it’s not a big deal to me at all.  I don’t let this stuff really get to me.  I just want my lap top, that’s all!, whenever it happens.  And yeah, sucks it’s not here for the weekend but what can ya do.  It’s life, right?  My life, so something that would happen to me.   If nothing else, a good blog story and frankly, I’m pretty psyched about some new vacuum that I may or may not ever return.  

Good weekend to you!    

Tonight I am getting together with five of my very best girlfriend’s for our annual Christmas celebration. 

I look forward to this every year.  We’re all lucky enough that we’re able to get together pretty often for an impromptu coffee, dinner, after work cocktails, birthday celebrations, etc.  Last May the six of us took a trip to Myrtle Beach, making a pact that this would be yet another start to an annual tradition.

Seldom do we get together where it’s just us six, just the girls.  These times are special and unique in their own way, offering us an opportunity to catch up in a way that we wouldn’t if there was a bigger group, significant others, etc.

Today my heart is overflowing with emotion again, at how lucky and blessed I feel to have such an amazing group of friends.  These girls mean more to me than I could ever eloquently put into words here. 

Last year we decided (in the midst of a little martini haze) that it might be fun to write letters to ourselves, to open the following year at this time.

I was in charge of the safe keeping of said letters, and tonight, we’ll be opening them up and reading what we had to say a year ago.

In addition to the holiday festivities we’ll be having tonight, we’ll also be toasting to D, the very first of our core group of ladies to be engaged!  It happened yesterday afternoon, and how very appropriate, just in time for us all to get together the next evening to celebrate.  I couldn’t be happier for my dear friend.  She has the most wonderful boyfriend… sweet, kind, intelligent, hilarious, generous, and so much fun.  It’s almost even more special too, because we have seen this relationship develop and progress from the very beginning.  From when three of us and D were living together a couple years ago and she met her boyfriend.  Us all meeting him for the first time, their first date, their first apartment together, and then buying a condo this past year together.  They’re a perfect much, so good together, and I couldn’t be happier.

So, with that, I hope that all of you have a very special holiday, filled with family and friends, and many wonderful memories.

New HOH in the house!  Can you guess who it is?  Hint: He’s a blogger, likes wearing Santa hats, enjoys long walks on the beach, and has a new baby girl.

I am not going to say that I read his blog solely based on The HOH alone, because that would unfair.  I would however, be lying if I did not say that The HOH (obviously) earns this particular blogger big bonus points in my books.

And onto other news….

The Second Installment of Questions, continued from the first batch:

What do you miss most about your childhood?  Jelly shoes.  And that carefree, free-spirit, naive feeling that I associate with them.  And not having to pay bills!  Sometimes, living with both my mom and my dad, the three of us together. 

Finish this sentence: “Happiness is a thing called”…Retail therapy.  A martini from this bar.  Shoe shopping.  A good haircut and mani/pedi.  A sincere compliment.  Feeling content, and centered.

What is your favorite place you have traveled to? If you could go anywhere, where would you go?  One of my most favorite, recent vacations was to Miami last year.  It was just for four days, but so relaxing, with jacuzzis, pool bars, and buckets of beer delivered to us on the beach.  And we met Ami and Nunez!  Obviously also Lake Tahoe is one of my all time favorite places I’ve traveled to.  I really enjoyed Myrtle Beach too.  Places I’d love to go one day?  Ireland, Alaska, London, Italy, Hawaii.

What is your most favourite Christmas memory?  Some of the best memories I have are from when my dad lived closer.  I’d spend the earlier part of Christmas Eve with my mom’s family, then go to my dad’s side, where we’d sit around and sing the 12 Days of Christmas with my cousin playing the piano.  I remember the drives back to my dad’s house at the end of the night, listening to Christmas music on the radio together.  And Christmas morning with him, opening presents together and then going off to my mom’s to open gifts.  It was a lot of back and forth, and in hindsight, although at the time I felt sometimes torn on who to spend the holiday with?, I had some of the best, most memorable holidays back then.  They were often cramped and rushed and back and forthed, but they were so… special.

How many kids do you want? Any? Boys/girls? Names?  Definitely want some kiddies one day.  If I could pick?  I’d want two or three.  But I would be happy with any number, as long as the child was healthy.  I like the names Aiden, Emma, Jacqueline, Zach, Melanie, and Jack.

Would you rather live in a nice house in the suburbs with a big yard or a great little condo in the city close to everything?  Right now?  I’d chose the great condo in the city close to everything.  When I’m married with little ones?  Suburbs.  Big yard.  Garden.  Etc.

Given the option, would you be a stay at home mom?  For a good chunk of time I think I would.  Eventually as the kids grew up a bit, I’d want to go back to work again.

What are you most proud of, and why?  Well, I’m pretty proud of the fact that I have my graduate degree, and I got it at a pretty young age, considering.  I was just turning 23 when I graduated.  I put in a lot of hard work the summer right out of college to complete the program in one additional year.  It was definitely worth it though.  

What is your favorite cocktail?  Oh!  I’m in my element now.  Cocktail cocktail, I like a good gin and juice.  I like my gin with sprite and a little cranberry.  I’m also a big beer girl.  I love a cold beer.

I haven’t gone through your entire archives, but how did you come up with Skrinkering Hearts?  Well, my girlfriends and I basically made up the word skrinker back in college.  The explanation of it all can be found here.

Would you date a guy whose hair you didn’t like?  Ha, good question!  Well, I’ve done it before.  And admittedly, I was a spec annoying about it.  Trying to get him to use less gel, grow it out, funk it up a bit.  He, needless to say, and understandably, didn’t appreciate my antics all too much.  Then again, he just wasn’t the right guy.  And the hair?  It was just something I could easily pick on him for.  If the guy was right?  Yes, I’d date one without a wonderful HOH, but it wouldn’t be my first choice, I’m not gonna lie.

If you HAD to choose between buying a bag or buying shoes, which would you pick?  Oof!  Um, shoot.  As we speak I am on NY&Co (everything is 50% off today, go!)… and I’m currently tossing up getting a new bag, or new pair of shoes.  Aww screw it, I’ll get both.  But if I had to choose?  Shoes.  I think.  Eek, this is one of the toughest questions yet! 

What’s your favorite outfit to wear- any day, any occasion. Just the over-all favorite. And WHY?  This is a tough one for me too!  I guess it all depends on the occasion.  I have these pair of jeans that I got on the cheap from Old Navy that are wicked comfy, and always get me some good compliments.  So I’d go with those…. aaaaannnd, probably my red heels (either the peep toe ones or the other pair, but definitely a red shoe), and I have this black shirt with some type of rouching?/gathering on the sleeves and under the boobs, so that it’s kind of more snug up top, and then it empire waists itself out (wow, that sounds really quite confusing and intricate and really, it’s a cute, simple black shirt that’s on the sassy-er side and makes me feel good!).  I hope that made sense.  I’d add in some type of silver earrings, either my “m” necklace or my other favorite that kinda looks similar to this, and be good to go!  I guess this is the one I’d pick because I feel comfortable and confident in it. 

I also want to know the status with the firefighter.  Oh.  The firefighter has a live in girlfriend who apparently is a knockout.  I found out this piece of information from my cab driver. (I say “my cabdriver” and I mean it.  He gave me his personal cell number to use at any time.  Sketchy you say?  Maybe.  Convenient?  Absolutely.)  I haven’t seen Mr. F in a while though.  I guess that’s a thing of the past now that I know he’s coupled up.  Le sigh, another one bites the dust.

All I can ask, dear brookem, is for advice when I adopt little George Michael in the new year.  Aww, I cannot WAIT for you to get a kitty!  Well, my advice?  Don’t go to the humane society unless you plan on getting him that day!  Otherwise?  You’ll be sitting in your car driving home calling up a friend with tears in your eyes, because the kitty you had your eye on cannot be put on hold for one day.  Truly, just go in there with an open mind.  You may have a color/gender/etc. in mind, but when it comes down to it, you’ll be in there, holding all the different kitties, and you’re gonna just KNOW.  You think you don’t like black cats?  Well you wait until one curls up in your arms and falls asleep, purring as he snuggles himself into you.  You’ll know when you find him.  Little Georgie!

What is your best Halloween costume ever?  I once dressed up as a present.  I cut out legs into a large, life size box, wrapped that beast up with wrapping paper, put a bow on my head, and voila!  It was all very 80’s and not one I’d bust out again, but looking back, damn, kudos to me for pulling that number off so nicely.

Worst Christmas present ever received?  Ha, just this year actually!  At our company Christmas party.  We each had to bring in a gift for the Yankee Swap that was about $15.  There was one doozy of a gift thrown in, a joke gift.  Well, I thought I was in the clear, because I got the number 1!, got to choose at the end out of all of the gifts!  So I had a nice Red Sox fleece blanket in my hands (so comfy and cozy and I was SO amused), next thing I know, my boss says the wild card needs to go.  Someone picks the wild gift, hates it, is able to switch with anyone, takes my blanket!!, and I end up with… wait for it… a Chicago White Sox 1997 busted Christmas ornament.  Swell.

Worst tequila night?  Oh man.  Welp, I spring breaked in Mexico, so you could handpick a night from there and that might begin to capture it.  I pretty much can’t do tequila now (sorry Brandy), other than margaritas, which I love.  Straight up tequila shots?  I did enough of them in Cancun to last me a LIFETIME.  By the time I figured out that the crunchy stuff I was chewing on was in fact the Dos Equis bottle that had somehow broken, and not the chips in front of me, I knew tequila and I were pretty much over.  Oof.

Worst kiss?  The 36 year old man (you’d think he would have been a little more seasoned!) who came AT ME with his tongue OUT and did the whole stab and jab thing in my mouth.  Eek.  Nasty.  Not good at all.  I just ran into him last night when I was out to dinner too.  Go flippin figure!

And that’s a wrap!  Thank you to everyone who joined in on the “fun!”

Do you know what you get when you mix a 40 minute commute, a girl with her period (don’t get the creeps, it’s life!), and Anna Nalick on the radio?

Tears.  Tears in my car.  I was that girl today.   Driving to work, trying to merge into oncoming traffic, when Anna Nalick’s Catalyst came on, and I just lost it.  Right then and there on the highway, sitting in stopped traffic next to Mr. I’ve Had What Looks Like Six Cups of Coffee Already, listening to what I can only imagine was some schmaltzy Christmas number as he airdrummed his steering wheel in merry amusement, scooting his way to my passenger side window.   And opps, little did the poor dude know what he was about to make eye contact with this morning.  He looked over, I looked up, my blurry eyes met his.   He saw my tears and he gave me one of those sympathetic sad, pouty looks, him in his red plaid scarf and L.L. Bean looking coat, also lined with a plaid looking something (you know the one I’m talking about).   And then he shrugged.  And I kind of shrugged back; gave him a little half-assed smile in between the ugly cry as to signify I was okay.  The ugly cry which I was trying to hold in for at least that moment because really, you only let your nearest and dearest see the ugly cry, and even then it’s embarrassing and you hate that you’re doing it.   But when it’s a complete stranger, like Mr. Coffee here this morning, well you try your best to regain some sort (?) of composure so you aren’t looking completely off the handle during this moment, knowing full well of the strong potential that Mr. Coffee will soon be making his way into work and very well will bust out this story about the girl who was bawling uncontrollably next to him on his morning commute this morning.   Har har har, good water cooler fodder for all!

I’m okay now though.  I guess I just needed a good cry there as I’ve been keeping a lot in these last few weeks.   And they weren’t all sad tears, not even!  Some were confused and unsure tears.  Tears of uncertainty and fear, what if? tears.   Tears of relief and tears of thanks.  No reason tears, or PMS tears (ahem) I guess.  Just tears, tears that needed out.   Held in tears that I guess were waiting for that perfect 40 minute car ride and some sad ballads to finally let loose and escape.  Tears warmly received by the kind, knowing, understanding and sympathetic smile of a stranger on the highway this morning.

I know, I haven’t been all too bloggy lately, huh?  I’m going through another one of those blogging funks I seem to hit every now and then.  Slow to respond to comments, slow to comment on others blogs, etc.  But I’m here, and I’m reading you all.  I think I’m just going to keep myself in a holding pattern for a few days and then (hopefully), get back to business as usual (whatever that means?).

But I mean, the good thing is, I have about 20 more questions from all of you that I’m about ready to bust out in the next few days.  Not that you’re holding your breath or anything, I’m just sayin’.  If you asked a question and you’re wondering if I’ve blown answering them off, I haven’t.  They’re coming soon, I swear.

Oh, I bought this today, just for your info: 

Which, is about the comfiest thing ever.  Warm and cozy and yes, I’m wearing wool socks with it, proudly. 

Night.

“Flakes have began to fall in Boston today in what forecasters predict will be a blinding winter blast that may bring 1 to 3 inches of snow an hour at the height of rush hour.

Governor Deval Patrick sent all non-emergency state employees home early and encouraged private employers to do the same.”

I guess working for the state has it’s bennies.  I made it home, just as the snow started up, and oh man is it coming down fast now.  Of course, New Englander’s, notorious for dealing with the wicked winter weather, are all freaking out.  You would think that they have never dealt with this type of thing before!  Weather is all over the news, on every station, talking of school closings and such (over 300!), stating that people should get off of the roads ASAP.  It’s just all over the place, these warnings and reports, and it’s everywhere and damn am I ever happy for DVR, as this is a sweet opportunity to catch up on some shows. 

Something about inclement weather makes me wish, just for a little bit, that I wasn’t single.  Snow and rain makes me want to be cozied indoors, with a warm drink in hand, under the blankets, snuggling with a man that will be around for several storms to come.  It just has that effect on me.

I remember I used to have a fantasy of making out with a guy in the rain.  I told an ex this, and once, after we had gone to sleep on a hot summer evening, he woke me up in the middle of the night.  It was pouring.  He took my hand, and I followed him.  He held the screen door for me with one hand, and with the other on the small of my back, he gave me a little nudge.  I was in a tank top and his boxers.  I didn’t question it.   We got outside and in the middle of the driveway, in the steamy, pouring rain, he pulled me close to him.  And we made out in the rain for what seemed like an eternity.

I think of that night a lot when it’s raining outside.  And in the snow, for a quick minute I let my mind wander to a place where I am nestled up in bed, not by myself, but with a man that will sweep my hair out of my eyes and put his arms around me and pull me in for a bear hug as we spend the day thinking that there is no place we’d rather be than right there in that moment. 

Hi there bloggybuds!  Well you all offered up some pretty kickass questions last week in this post.  I worked on them a bunch over the weekend,  and I’ve decided to give them to you in two installments.  Because that’s just how I roll.  Thank you to all of you who asked away!

In order:

What are the ice cube slots in the ice cube tray called?  Ohh…I think I’d just call them “the slots.”  Oof, I don’t know; I’ve never thought about this!  I will have to think more on this one, especially for the MOOSE game!

Talk about your favorite musicians/songs.  I probably have the most eclectic music taste ever.  It really depends on what mood I’m in.  If I want to dance it out, then I can seriously get down to Britney, or Justin Timberlake, and lately, will.i.am.  But more often than not, I listen to more mellow, chill music- Joshua Radin, Van Morrison, Timmy Curran, Feist, Imogen Heap, Ben Harper, Sia, Regina Spektor, Tadhg Cooke, Maria Mena, John Mayer, and Elliot Smith are among a bunch of my favorites.  I like a song with a good beat, good instrumentals, especially involving the violin, in particular.  Speaking of, Damien Rice!    How could I forget him (even featured on my HOH pick)?   Songs with lyrics that I can connect to, which I find that the chunk of above mentioned artists offer.  I also like the classics like Clapton, Tom Petty, The Eagles, and Pink Floyd.  All of that being said, and as open as I am to different genres and such, I am NOT a fan of hardcore screaming rock, OR country.  Mostly, I’m down for pretty much anything, and I LOVE finding out about new artists and going to shows.  It’s one of my most favorite things to do.

Oh, pray tell, how you change the image on a wordpress template (that’s one of the things that has me shuddering in fear when I think of switching from blogger).  Oh dear God, someone asking me for techy tips?  Come my dear friend, enjoy a few cocktails with me first.  Shall we take shots?  Oh, you prefer wine?  Pinot or Shiraz tonight?  Or are you more of a beer lady?  Actually, this one I think I have kind of nailed down.  First off, you need to have a template in wordpress that let’s you customize your header.  A bunch of them you’re able to do this, but some you can’t.  If your template has the option to switch it up, then you pick out a picture you like, upload it, and it directs you on how to crop it to fit up top there.  Or, you can find your own picture, crop it yourself in some photoshop or “paint” application, and save it with a border and your own words/font choice in there.  Hope this helped!

If you could pack it all in and move somewhere new, where it would it be?  Oh, I would definitely move to the West Coast.  Somewhere warmer.  Very likely to Lake Tahoe (did you know that the ratio of men to women there is 8:1?!?!  Heaven!).  I could definitely see myself there one day.  The only thing missing (besides all of my family and friends, except for my dad, who is already in the area) is the ocean.  I love the beach and the lake both equally, in such different ways… it would be hard to be that far from a beach.   At least in New England, I can drive an hour either way, and get to either the ocean, or a lake.  Oh, and I’d miss my fall.  I would really hate not having an autumn.

I want to hear about your Dream Lov-ah.  Lov-ah, or boyfriend?  There’s a difference, I think.  If I were to take a lov-ah, Carrie-style, a la SATC, I’d want him to be… cultured, and… seasoned.  With an accent.  Someone who enjoys the romance in it all.  Who would take me, spur of the moment, to new and exotic places.  A manly man, who is passionate.  Knows what he’s doing.  Compassionate, also a bit edgy.  Smells good and is a little on the rugged side.

And your ideal shoe.  Hmm.. something that would make me feel sexxy.  And sassy.  Something with a good high heal, either in a bold color (like a classic red), or a simple black, with an understated piece of flair- like a funky buckle or a hint of sparkly thread.   

Was your deleted effort the music meme I had on my blog today?  No!  It wasn’t; but I’ve seen that around the blog circuit lately.    

You seem to like changing your headers up. Maybe you should let your blog readers submit pictures for “header of the week/month” or something like that. Thoughts?  That’s a fun idea!  I have been switching it up like a mad woman lately, huh?  For the longest time I just had the boring old nothing on blogger.  Because I couldn’t for the life of me figure out the header upload there.    Then I made the switch to wordpress, and stuck with a pretty, picture-esque Lake Tahoe scene, which I loved, and likely will go back to again sometime.  Then, then!, I wanted to incorporate my love for shoes in the mix, so I switched to this!  Oh, and before that it was the fall one.  Now the holiday/drink one.  Geeze, I am out of control.  I’m always up for suggestions, so that’s not a bad idea at all! 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?  Let’s see… I’d be nearing on 36.  So, I’d hope to be married, with a couple babies in tow, ideally.  Working in the same field, just fewer hours, at home more.  At a job that I’m able to take time off to travel and vacation to wonderful places and that pays enough to still buy lots of shoes.  I want to live near my close girlfriends so that our kids can play together, and we can still do happy hour, regularly.  I guess my wishes are kind of basic.  I hope to be surrounded by close friends and family, all who are healthy and happy, and me, living my life as authentically as possible.

What celebrity would you like to trade hair with?  Ohhh… good one!  Hmm.  I always love Jennifer Aniston’s hair.  I think I would just want it to be a little… thicker.  I also like Kate Hudson’s- but, same thing- I want thicker.  I like Kate Walsh’s too… very pretty, sassy I think, just not sure how the red would look on me.   Oh, how about Sarah Jessica Parker?  Yes, I like her’s a lot- I think it’s got nice texture, and she looks good light or dark.  Yes, I’ll stick with that.  My friends would probably say that I have her hair already though (in her shorter days).   Oh, wait wait!  Katherine Heigl!  Yes!  I LOOOOVE her hair.   I think it always looks good.  She has the type of hair that you can sweep up in a ponytail, and it doesn’t have any fly aways or anything out of place looking.  It always looks really pretty to me.  And classy.  Wow.  I love hair. 

If you had to donate your entire saving account to one charity, who would get it?  Wow, it’s tough to pick just one, huh?  Part of me wants to say something to do with cancer research, etc., because that’s such a thing that hits so close to home for me, and really, whose life has not been affected, at least in some way, by cancer?  Another part of me wants to give to people with disabilities, and their families, also a subject I’m quite well versed in.

What’s your favourite post that you’ve written?  Well hmm, good question.  This one is really close to my heart, because I’m talking about my parents and their divorce and what I remember about that time.  Then this one is just a fun one that I like.  And I also like this one, because it reminds me what wonderful friends I have, and to cherish the little moments in everyday life, and to focus on the here and now.

How do you take your coffee?  Depends on whether I get a hot or iced one.  Is that weird?    Hot I get cream and one splenda (sometimes I put the splenda in myself, and just add half).  Iced, I get extra skim milk, and one splenda.  And I love French vanilla.

What’s your favorite feel-good, go-to chick flick?  Dude, picking just one is so tough!  It’s a toss up between Dirty Dancing, Fried Green Tomatoes, Pretty Woman, and The Sweetest Thing.  Then of course, there are the chick flicks that are tear jerkers and not so much… uplifting pieces.  Like My Best Friend’s Wedding, or Stepmom.  Good movies, but I wouldn’t really say “feel-good” so much as “I need a good cry so I’m turning to a cinematic experience.”  

Can men and women be friends?  Oof.  I think that a man and woman can have a platonic relationship.  I think often times though, the boundaries of such relationships can get a little… fuzzy?  Blurry?  But I think it can happen, and it does happen.  I think it takes a certain type of two people, type of understanding, and… similar beliefs, for it to work.

So how much of the person you are in “skrinkering hearts” is real you?, Is there a different brookem outside?  Well, basically, what you see here is what you get.  Most of the time, the way I write is the way I would talk, or have a conversation with someone.  I write about real, true things that happen or that I experience, and my thoughts and observations.  I’m a pretty open book.  I guess if there’s one part of the “real” me that you don’t get much of on here, it’s my tendency to talk openly, candidly, and bluntly about things like sex and relationships.  I guess I talk about relationships to some degree, but the down and dirty (that I do see on some blogs), is kind of kept a little more under wraps here.  In my real life, I’m far less reserved about that stuff, and my conversations with friends usually resemble (sometimes word for word) Sex and the City episodes. 

When you’ve had a shitty day, what do you do to unwind and improve it?  If it’s a shit day at work, I will sometimes take a little break during the day, go to my car and put on some music, and cry.  Or I’ll go out during my lunch to walk by some water, which always seems to help me put things in perspective and gain some clarity.  After work, I’ll call my mom, or a friend as I’m driving home.  I’ll pick up a bottle of wine, put on something comfy, and watch endless episodes of SATC (wow, I’m talking a lot about SATC on this post), or Stacy and Clinton.  Or I’ll read a magazine, go for a run.  Do something mindless or something silly to take my mind off of things for a bit.  Usually all of that helps.  And sex.

What constitutes a really good day?  I guess it depends.  Sometimes I find a good day is a day that’s productive, where I get things accomplished that I need to get done.  You know, seeing things on the “to do” list get crossed off.  But most often, it’s just a day where I don’t have anything that I “have” to do, but have the chance to do things I’ve been wanting to do.  A day where I can sleep in a little, work out, run some errands/go shopping, meet my friends for dinner and drinks, and have a good hair day. 

Who is your favourite character on “The Hills.”  This question is so appropriate for tonight!  I’m currently watching The Hills season finale pre-show.  My favorite character…. hmmm.  I’m going to go with Justin Bobby.  Sorry, that’s a bold face lie.  I think I’m going to go with Whitney.  Because yeah, I do like to make fun of her voice and her way of always stating the obvious (”Wow.  You guys broke up like a year ago and he’s (Jason) already engaged.  That’s so fast.), but she’s also the most, dare I say it, down to earth seeming.  And frankly I’ve never seen the girl be mean.  And she has nice hair to boot.  Oh, and she just said she loves fashion.  Which we already knew, but that just confirms even more why she’s one of my favorites.  And I’m also a Lo fan. 

Well, there you have it, part one.  I’ll bust out the rest of them sometime this week.  Thanks for playing along!

My To Do list.  Not nearly complete.  I just felt like I needed to jot these things down immediately,  in my office today between clients, so as not to forget them.  Because I would.  Forget them. 

The razor I have sucks the big one.  I used to use the Venus Divine.  No issue there, but I thought I’d switch it up since I needed some new blades, and decided to go for a whole new razor.  Wicked sucks.  Not good at all.  Blah.

I’ve been wanting to make a hair appointment for weeks.  Luckily, my highlights are the type that you can’t really tell when they grow out much… they all just kind of blend in together.  But I know that if I get my hair did, I’ll feel better.  You know how a good hair cut/highlight does the trick.  And a mani.

Oh, and tomorrow, my dad will be coming in, visiting for the weekend with his lady friend slash new fiance!  And he’s one of those December birthdays, this Saturday in fact.  Which means, I need go buy some gifts, and frankly I just don’t know what to get him this year.  When he wants something, he goes out and buys it.  I was thinking of an Amazon giftcard or something.  I know it’s sorta lame, but at least then he can pick out what he wants, right?  Who knows.  Suggestions?

Notice how “buy wine” is on the list twice?  Unintentional, which might be a surprise.  Apparently I just wanted to make sure the wine purchase happened.  Another sucks situation, because, I still forgot to pick up a bottle (or three) on the way home tonight.  But there are beers.  And after the day I had, beers will be consumed.  Oh hell yeah.

Speaking of, today my friend told me that last night he “accidentally got drunk.”  Whatever that means, I just thought it was kind of amusing.  Tonight I plan to accidentally, sort of on purpose get drunk.  Not so much drunk, drunk, but at least a little booze buzz that will help me fall asleep easier.

(Wow, that last sentence really makes me sound like the one who should be seeking out substance abuse counseling rather than being the counselor referring clients to said types of programs.)

Last night I went to Mama Mia with three of my girlfriends.  Abba!  Do you ever feel like it’s colder in the city?  I live not far from Boston, but holy hell, the 15 minute difference made it feel about 20 degrees cooler, and good God, WINDY-er, big time.  We ate at Ivy, this really great Italian/American tapas restaurant near Downtown Crossing.  The waiter spilled some wine on me.  We split a really yummy bottle of Shiraz to warm us up, some delicious little tapas including a three cheese macaroni with truffle oil dish that was to die for.  It’s one of my new favorite gems in the city.

Oh, I’m working on the questions you’ve all began to ask me!  Thank you for contributing, and thank you all again for your suggestions with the laptop stuff.  And shit, I just remembered, tomorrow I need a new HOH! 

Okay.  I’m getting sleepy (mission: beer buzz accomplished).  Goodnight!

I guess I’ve done my fair share of lists on here, and you have probably read more than you ever imagined you ever wanted to really know about me.  Some of these bad boys include:

• some “finish the sentence” type things about myself
• things that make me happy
• what I’m a sucker for
• and things that flip me out
• uh, what I like about St. Patty’s Day
• several things I’m looking for in Mr. Right
• an interview by Brandy
• things that I believe in
• TV men I dig
• quirky randoms
• some various surveys
• secrets
• oh, and how I determine whether there will be a second date

And I know that’s a lot and all, but I was even all set to let you all have more of me here tonight, with yet another actually different, fun! (it would have been, I swear!) type meme (I hate the word meme, FYI).  I filled out the whole thing in it’s entirety, left the room for a minute to get my laundry, and oops, came back and accidentally the hit delete button.  And now the whole damn thing is gone and I’m just not able to bust it out again.

But then I thought, hmm, maybe we (you know, you in all your awesomeness who read what I write here and maybe, any lurkers? I might have, and I), could play a little Q&A game.  I don’t know, could be fun (right?).

So, you can ask me whatever you want about me, or what you have read here.  Maybe what you’d like to see me write more about, or about my favorite pair of shoes, my favorite character on The Hills, or what the hell is up with The HOH obsession.  I’m pretty game.  Any random questions you might have, might be wondering about me.  Ask your questions in the comments and I’ll try my best to answer what I can in another post sometime this week.

We’re having fun now, right?

And I’ll leave you with this.  The only Christmas gift I’ve gotten so far, for my meowser:

Oh, PS- I know lately it seems I’m going a little switch-up-the-header crazy.  Bear with me.  And I know this one is blurry, but I liked the cocktail and the lights, and thought the blurry-ness just kind of… fit.