25 things...thoughts to end the year.

Rules: Once you are tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits or goals about yourself. At the end, choose 25 people to tag. You have to tag the person that tagged you.

1. I'm learning to like being quieter.

2. Good things are just around the corner...and patience is the lesson I'm (re)learning.

3. I could eat a bacon, egg & cheese sandwich every day and not feel guilty.

4. I miss my friends. A lot.

5. I feel a little bit like I'm in purgatory now, but know that I'll look back on this in a few months/weeks/years and realize I should have enjoyed the downtime more.

6. After not living anywhere near my family for most of my adult life, I'm really enjoying being near them...even when they make me nutso.

7. My nephew makes my ovaries work overtime. Only MY kids-to-be will sleep...

8. I keep running across stories of people who's Karma caught up to them (in an "ick" way) and it reminds me that the high road is ALWAYS the path.

9. I actually like running in the middle of a snowstorm.

10. Part of me wants to sell all my stuff, let someone 'borrow' my dogs for a while, and disappear on a round-the-world trip. And another part of me wants to find a 'real' job, play house, fall in love, make babies, and settle down. Which part should I nurture?

11. I think grunder-punders - or "underpants" as my sister calls them - are superbly ugly.

12. I wonder which of my business plans I'll finish first...and set in motion!

13. I've enjoyed going backwards down Memory Lane, even when the memories were dark and ugly.

14. I love working, but definitely appreciate the notion of being a Lady Who Lunches.

15. I wish I saw my British family more often.

16. I really want to kiss a cute, good-smoochin' man to ring in the New Year.

17. I know a whole heckuva lotta peeps, but only a few of them have seen me sad, vulnerable, or been asked for help.

18. I'm working on being more vulnerable, but not doing very well. ;)

19. I believe in the law of Karma and reincarnation.

20. I have the best used library card in Washtenaw County!

21. I think my dogs see/feel ghosts at my sister's house. (sorry, Jess)

22. I really want Cottage Inn pizza.

23. I'm not what I would call "high maintenance," but I definitely use some high maintenance - high end? - things

24. Coffee makes me a MUCH nicer person.

25. I still don't understand why Q-Tips have an expiration date. And I don't know what squirrel poop looks like. Or where midgets buy their thigh-high stockings. Those are the most perplexing questions of 2008...

Let's go Blue!

And, no, Morgan, NOT the Giants.

So, Sunday morning, I woke up in a giant puddle of water, aka my parents' basement. No shizzle. All the snow we've had in the last couple weeks was melted by the rain last weekend...and my parents live halfway down a hill. Yep, youz gots it - FLOODING.

Not like I was floating in water, but it has definitely ruined all the carpets and the futon that was underneath my lovely air mattress. Good times, man.

But. At least they have power. And heat. And I'm hiding out at my sister's while she, her BF, and the Delicious Nephew are out West.

The really bad news? I've already finished all of Californication season 2. Mmmm...Hank Moody!

Really?

Here's a new one for me: q-tips have an expiration date.

Wha'?!?! Huh? HOW?

Best compliments?!

I was recently told that I was one of the "most fun people" an age-old friend of mine has known in his lifetime. And, I gotta say, that's one of the BEST compliments I've ever had. "MOST fun"?! Go me!

Another one came, randomly, when I was heading in to the City from The Hawk on the bus. One of those hot, humid, nasty August days in NYC and I'd been waiting for the bus for (what felt like) forEVER. Got on the bus and had to go alllll the way to the back for a seat. There was a guy sitting across the aisle from me singing along in a very "outdoor voice" to whatever was on his Discman (not kidding)...very irritating - loud singing in a closed area, total bus faux-pas. Well, just before I got off the bus, he pulled a headphone off and said, "Girl, I know you're sittin' down, but you have got the best legs I've seen in a long time."

Ha! And I didn't even know he'd glanced my way. Made me smile AND feel like a jerk for being irritated in his general direction.

Your bestest compliments ever? Don't be shy now...share away!!!

what santa gave me for christmas...

ok, maybe not Santa. there's a slight chance my hormones may be to blame. it's more interesting, not to mention convenient, to blame santa!

so, what IS the present? it's a small condominium complex of a pimple lodged directly under my right nostril. lovely. and ri-DIC-ulously painful. i don't think it's one pimple; it really is a condo complex...there's at least a zillion teeny pimps make one grandiose one.

the treatment is an icepack and some zit cream. gorgeous. but who wants their holiday family photos including a second nose?!

my new fave word.

ficando

"A Portuguese expression that means they are kissing and doing other things but without any obligation of being faithful or getting into a relationship afterwards."

Nice! Santa, can I have one of these tucked in my stocking on Christmas morning???

what i learned today...

- in order to have a successful outdoor run in a Michigan winter, it's not the layers that are important, but whether or not the roads are plowed.

- it IS possible to overdress (and sweat your ass off) for a run in 4-degree weather. [Two pairs of long johns, a Cap 4 Patagonia turtleneck, smartwool socks, and a windbreaker? Really? that's overdressed?!]

- when 4 wheel drive vehicles are having a tough time on the roads, it's probably NOT time to go for a run.

- people slow down for runners in this hood when the weather's great, but speed up when the roads are nearly impassable. totally logical.

- running for 31:28 feels more difficult than running a half marathon. in Alaska.

- joan jett makes killer running music!

I think I now understand the appeal of a treadmill.

It's a British invasion...

My Dad's back in the States (from Greece) for a coupla weeks, so it's all things Britannia for a while. From some serious tea steeping, to horrible old English 'comedy,' to the age-old jokes my Dad and Uncle used to drown us with.

Now, if only I could find some Marks'n'Sparks pork pies.

i wasn't an american citizen.

I found out today that I haven't been listed as an American Citizen - for 28 years!!! Huh. I have a Social Security Card/Number. I have a Passport (ok, I've got 2 but who's counting?). I went to go get a replacement Social Security Card today and the woman looked at me like I was foreign.

(hahaha - technically, I AM foreign)

Apparently, I've been listed not as an "American Citizen Born Abroad," but "Foreign." Even though my parents took my AMERICAN passport with them when they registered my sister and I with the Social Security Administration when we moved here in 1980. Gives one a whole lot of faith in the efficacy of our government, eh?

And you'll be thrilled to know that I am now listed as an American Citizen. Because I am.

I'll take "Donuts with a side of donuts," please.

Who knew that there was a 'race' in Raleigh that involved running with a side of Krispy Kremes? Not kidding. I even read about it in this month's Runner's World! More than that, some of my friends and I are thinking about invading Raleigh that weekend - ok, I'd be returning - to take part in the Hot Donut Deliciousness.

Here's the skinny (punny, aren't I?): it's a fundraiser for the NC Children's Hospital that starts at the NCSU Belltower. You run from there to the downtown Krispy Kreme (only a couple miles and RIGHT BY MY OLD APARTMENT!!!), scarf a dozen donuts, and run the 2 miles back to the Belltower. Winners get donut-shaped medals and a dozen (more) donuts.

So, Raleighwood friends, you in? Jamie, Tall Beth, Short Beth, Chele, Zieggy, Kathleen, Wendy K, Buckner, Okons, Eric, Erik, Mara, Jodi, Greg, Aden, DeWitte, who's gonna be in town on February 7th. Most importantly, who wants to play hotelier to a bunch of super fun chicks?!?!?!

Oh the stories that Krispy Kreme could tell...

Check out the website and don't forget to register!!!

birthday prezzies.

This year, it's a toss-up for fave present. Is it the 90-minute massage that the BLonger surprised me with? Or was it using the birthday spending money my mom gave me to buy dinner at the Bellagio Buffet?

No, I'm not kidding. 'Twas one of the best meals I've ever had - ever...and it was a buffet! Unlimited helpings. Delicious combinations. I rarely eat dessert and I ate Napoleons 'til I had to unbutton my pants. I even had pasta - "carbo-loading" and all that.

But massages do rock. I'll letchy'all know post-massage - yay tomorrow! - how it goes. I asked for a sports massage and someone who's comfortable with a deep tissue work. It'll probably hurt like hell and be delicious all at the same time! Purrrrrr.....

And....I'm home.

Whirlwind trip to Vegas! Fun on SOOOOO many levels. My feeling lonely-ness was definitely cured a little this weekend. There's nothing like hanging out with some of your favoritest friends ever to make a girl feel loved!!!

Great stories. Great food (and lots of it). Great giggles. Adventures of all sizes, shapes, and colors, mischief, a wee bit of mayhem, and a butt-load of merriment...zackly what I needed!!!

Speaking of butts, mine's better. C'mon, you know you wanted to know! Definitely not nearly as 'broken' as it was this time last week and will be even better post-chiropractor and post-massage (thanks Crawdad!!!) tomorrow. Whew.

The race itself? Alright. Running the Strip rocked, but the rest of the course sucked - b-o-r-i-n-g. Totally unprepared water stations and they were out of water AND Gatorade for several of them (not a good thing in the event world). Signage? What signage?

And the medal SUCKED. Tiny and boring. Rumor on the street is that the race was sold to Elite Racing of Rock'n'Roll Race fame - might have to go back and run it again just to get some killer bling in medal form!!

Overall, a fantastic birthday. Can't wait for the next one!!!

before i go to vegas thoughts...

1. muscle relaxer makes me not feel like my butt is even a little bit broken.

2. my broken butt isn't AS broken as it was. perversely, working out made it feel BETTER.

3. i realized tonight that i have a rather long list of crushes. and, oddly?, sadly?, that list might include Dog the Bounty Hunter's tallest son. no, no, no, NOT Dog. and not even the short son...just the tall one. sad, right?

4. don't even ask, because i'm not gonna publicize my list o'crushes. why? to protect the guilty: me.

5. my space bar is starting to stick on my laptop. well, maybe stick isn't the right word because it doesn't actually work all the time. i don't always get an immediate space...irritating.

6. i'm going to vegas tomorrow. with some of my best girlie friends. and, this time, there's a very good chance that what happens in vegas will indeed stay in vegas...or at least a LOT of it might stay there.

7. HAPPY ALMOST BIRTHDAY TO ME! HAPPY ALMOST BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!

8. when i get back from vegas, i need to really, seriously get on with my life. no more "retirement." not only does it not pay well, but i don't like feeling useless or directionless. suggestions? anyone? anyone?

9. my dog partially invest a dead, poisoned mouse today. i think she knew i was planning on leaving for 5 days...but, still, that's not nice.

hasta la pasta!!! i'm NOT taking my computer with me...offline for 5 whole days!!!!

seriously?

so, just to prove that dogs really ARE just like kids, mine are acting out big time. BIG. TIME. No, I haven't pulled out the bags to pack - yet. But they must know something's up because...

One seems to have twisted/pulled something in one of his legs and is limping rather pitifully.

And the other - THE OTHER - left me a present. In the form of a very dead, partially chewed up mouse. As in it's dead because my mom and I put poison in the ceiling after we found a dead mouse a few weeks ago. So, um, yeah, my dog CHEWED UP (and probably swallowed) A POISONED MOUSE.

And guess who's going away for the next 4.5 days?! To Vegas. For my BIRTHDAY.

Seriously?!?!

dammit. dammit. dammit.

FRUSTRATED would be an understatement. Just opened a document I've spent a gazillion hours compiling, alphabetizing, proofreading, and typing...and the whole thing's corrupted. Luckily I can't connect to my mother's printer, so I HAPPENED to have an earlier version, so I don't have to start completely from zero. But. Still.

Irritated. And it's due tomorrow. Gonna be a long night. Only had 3 more entries. BAH.

Why am I blogging? Because I'm too pissed in this moment to look at it and taking a mental break. Effin' computer.

monday, monday...

1. Saw an ambulance driving down the road today. And GET THIS - people actually pulled over to let it pass. Crazy. SOOOOO not NYC.

2. I done hurt maself...and probably shouldn't run this weekend in Vegas. But...

3. I'm GOIN' TO VEGAS!!! With some of my favoritest peeps ever. And there's gonna be fun. And mischief. And merriment. And, yes, some running.

4. I've been playing detective into my own past and it's a little weird. Reconnecting with people I, quite literally, haven't even thought about in 20 years. And I've lived a lotta places and gone to even more schools!

5. I've been workin' out. Check it out.

6. I'm gonna be hangin' out with the nephew at least one day a week for the month of December. My sister has to (finally) go back to work, so I get to play with StinkButt.

7. My sister has another thing coming if she thinks that *I'll* be the one that makes this kid loud and chatty. Granted, he is a talker and super busy (even at 5 mo), but has she looked at herSELF lately? She's no wallflower.

8. BTW, for all y'all out there who may have reacted with a "you are SO loud, Hannah" to the above statement, I haven't always been this loud and, um, forthcoming. I am, believe it or not, the QUIET female in my family. My dad is, indeedy, the quietest in our family. Poor, out-talked man. ;)

9. Tell me this isn't the most delicious baby ever (yes, it's the delicious nephew):