The Final Countdown: 10h 15m

For those of you who have read my blog in the past, who are my friends (near and far) I want to personally wish you all Happy Endings and New Beginnings; thank you to all of you who have been a part of a year that didn't suck! Whatever you find yourselves doing this New Year's Eve, do it with a smile and excitement for the new adventures ahead. 


I don't own a Mayan calendar (and don't plan on being done with this trip in a year) but just in case this next turn around the sun I'm working on my plans to: Make achievable goals and celebrate the little successes along the way, fall in love with something new every day, enjoy delicious food, make each day feel like a birthday and tell my friends they are ridiculously smart, talented, funny and important each time I realize it; stay close with my family and tell them I love them every time we talk, take more pictures, sing out loud even if I don't know the lyrics, wear lipstick, attempt to learn a language, go to the art museum and take a trip somewhere I haven't been. IT'S GOING TO BE A YEAR TO REMEMBER....I hope so many of you are a part of it! Cheers to you and yours, be safe, be happy and be excited!

Well, that sure sucked ass

TWO posts for the entire year of 2011?  That must change.  That will change.

Hang on, I'll make it four posts....

What do Michael Jackson, the Hubble Space Telescope and my happy mouth have in common?

You're trying to come up with something dirty, aren't you?  Well, it's not, so stop trying.  The correct answer is the year 1988. 

Regan was president, the Hubble Space Telescope was put into operation, Sony Bono was elected mayor or Palm Springs, CA, and the US experienced a severe drought.  Bettlejuice, Rain Man, and Die Hard were in the theatres and it only cost $3.50 to see them.  Average rent was $420.  A gallon of gas would cost you a dollar, stamps were 24 cents and a winemaker was putting a cork in a bottle of wine.  

If I could pull a 'Back to the Future' move and get a message to my 12 year old self in 1988 that on the evening of June 10, 2011 I would have the pleasure of sitting down to a home cooked authentic Italian meal in Chicago (where the 35 year old me now resides) with totally amazing friends and enjoy a bottle of 1988 Chianti opened special for the occasion, my 12 year old self probably would have said something like, "So?" with a doubtful, crinkled forehead expression.  

But it happened.  And it was amazing.  Take that, 12 year old self!

I caught myself wondering, was it the wine itself or the total package of good friends and a family recipe shared around a dinner table full of stories that made me smile and laugh and forget about everything but the moment?  Was it because we were all sharing the experience of the wine that made it taste better?  Did the deliciousness of the wine flavour our conversations in ways ordinary wine couldn't?  

I've poured extravagant wine, wine that could be classified as an orgasm for your mouth, with no special celebration nor company even to toast with and enjoyed it just fine, but felt unfulfilled.  I realize now it is because I am a firm believer that you can have the best experiences, but if you have them alone it's almost like they didn't happen.

Here, consider this....if you were given the opportunity to eat at a three-star Michelin ranked restaurant but had to do it alone, with no dining companion, or be invited to a pot-luck dinner on paper plates in the overgrown backyard with the best of your friends, which would you choose?  Both are great and to some that would be a tough choice; without pause I know my choice.

Life can be really challenging, frustrating, boring or exhilarating, your call.  Moving through this concrete jungle of mine with my best friends experiencing these events with me reminds me not to just go through the motions.  Have something to say about it!  Experience it with every one of the five senses!  No matter if  you choose three-star restarants or "not-squirrel" themed parties.    

 

Left Lane Closed Ahead - Merge

All good things need fixin' every now and again, including MJ Pen Test. Now, don't you fret...nothing but the design and the frequency in which I post is changing.

Well, that and the hopes that you, my readers, grow in numbers (but more about that little nugget later!)

For now, I'm working to get the layout spifted up and maybe when I'm through we'll have a little re-opening party or something.

I'll bake a cake.