Boo hoo

My second roomie is gone. We've had such a fabulous time. Drinking too much, eating too much, catching up on all kinds of stories.

Sitting on the front stoop talking and reading the newspaper - in our jammies, no less. (Sorry Hudson Place!!)
Keeping my 'real' roommate up while we wined ourselves in the backyard with the dogs.
Flirting with the jitney dispatcher after too many martinis.
Brooklyn til the wee hours of the morning...and the Gate's bouncer's card.
IMing at work even though we're in the same cube.
Smoothies in the morning.
Monsters in the closet? Gotta shut the door.
Did Kali steal your watch again??? Damn doggie thieves.
Our 250% diplomatic, rational approach to choosing what - and how many! - movies to watch on a Saturday afternoon.
Keeping the wine merchant in business.
Drunk dialing. Cute boys in Oregon tonight? Or firemen?
NY office wins. Hands down.
I'm sure there's more that I'm missing....so I'll have to update sometime soon.

But we'll always have 'dance like no one's watching.'

Who said I'm not normal?

crawfordblong (5:01:01 PM): you
crawfordblong (5:01:02 PM): are not
crawfordblong (5:01:05 PM): even remotely
crawfordblong (5:01:06 PM): normal
crawfordblong (5:01:27 PM): except that you have breasts and consider yourself a hetero female

I love Crawford. He makes me giggle.

My feeling is hurt. ;-)

Oh how I'd love to escape!

Why is it that so many experiences that I'd cherish now, but never appreciated when they happened have occured in my lifetime? Why was it that I was a bratty 12 year old who only wanted to go to the beach and look at cute boys when we summered in Portugal?

How I'd kill to be there now.

It's certainly an experience I would cherish now in my ripened "old age." How I'd love to sit in the bay window of the living room and read, looking out over the river valley and all the port grapes thriving. How I'd love to go for a late-night swim in the pool before going to bed. How I'd love to take a luxurious bath in the colorfully-tiled bathroom and its fabulous porcelain tub. How I'd love to walk into town for a delicious dinner at a local restaurant. How I'd love to take a boat ride down the choppy Douro river.

Yes, it's certainly a vacation I'd love to 'do over.' Now. As the woman I am today.

Mr. Angry Man on the Bus

Argh! What gives you the right to be such a jerk? Just because you're angry-by-nature and a pompous ass, why do you have to be so rude? You CHOSE to sit on the inner seat; I didn't ask you to sit there. So, why do you have to take up half my seat as well? And while the dispatch guy was counting seats, did you really have to stand up and help him count? Did you have to question his ability? Did you realize what a jerk it made you appear to be? Oh. Wait. We already know you're a jerk...

I'll never understand people like you. Is it really *that* important for you to complain vehemently under your breath about waiting an extra minute for someone to get themselve arranged? Is getting you home by 12:47 versus 12:43 going to make a huge difference in the grand scheme of things? No, I didn't think so either.

I was always taught the only person anger hurts is you...so no wonder you're what we could call a 'b*&%$face'! If only you'd realize we just don't care.

Books...

If you know me even just a little bit, you're probably aware that I'm a total fiend when it comes to books. Love them. LOVE them. Voractious reader. Could spend hours in the Strand (cheaper than Barnes or Borders) and walk out with several bag-fuls. (not sure if that's a word or a Hannah-made-up-hyphenated something)

Well, one of my newest, latest faves is Laurie Notaro - so, so funny. The tear-streamed face, ohmigod I'm going to pee my pants I'm laughing so hard - on the bus, no less! - kind of funny.

You should totally check her out...she's got the kind of 'club' I think my friends would like: an Idiot Girls Action-Adventure Club. With membership certificates and magnets and everything. We're cool.

PS Whatever you, don't ask my family about how I was a bookworm. My sister might wax poetic on an embarrassingly large number of Hannah-is-a-dork stories...but that's just more proof that, uh..um, I'm really cool. That's my story!

I'm having a moment like this:

"Wanna go with me to the Sadie Hawkins dance on Friday?"

"No," he said simply, but I didn't believe him. I knew better. Boys will be shy. They are afraid of love, I told myself, you must coax them, show them the love light. I followed him all the way to his PE class at the gym with the Elizabeth smile frozen on my face as I asked, "Why? Why won't you go with me? Why?" until we hit the baseball field and he just took off running.

Autobiography of a Fat Bride, Laurie Notaro (p8)

...and there you have it. Boys say girls are complicated and will never be figured out. Lemme tell ya, folks, boys aren't so simple or 'easy' either. Just when you think you've got at least a little bit of a clue - dammit if it's not yanked from your grasp.

Just ask me about waterfights - I dare you. And I'll give ya a dooooooozy of a story. I just don't get it. And I thought he liked me?!?!

Ay.

Chicago...oh how I love the Midwest.

Ok, so I don't. But walking 26+ miles there in two days with thousands of other people was pretty fan-damn-tab-u-lous. It's always nice to truly walk in someone else's shoes, so to be on the receiving end of all the 'stuff' that I dish out - fundraising, blah blah, training, blah blah blah - is always interesting, and sometimes downright humbling. As always, I'm reminded why I'm committed...why I chose to walk this path.

One of the most touching moments, though, was after Closing Ceremonies, I was walking next to a "mom-type" woman. Conversation was somehow initiated by one of us; typical post-walk chatter about feet and blisters. I asked who she was walking for and how she got involved (yes, yes, typical Walker Buddy, staff blather). She kinda smiled, her arm around my waist, my arm around her shoulders, and said she was walking for her daughter, Dawn. Dawn was a 21-month survivor. Dawn had just turned 32.

And it hit me...again. It very well could be me. It hasn't been so far. There's no one in my family - that we know of - that's been diagnosed; we've got every other kind of cancer, though. The statistics say that 85% of women diagnosed this year will have no family history. It could be me. Unfortunately, it's not as rare as it once was to be under 50 and be diagnosed with breast cancer. It could be me. I'm about to turn 30 and I do self-exams and I go to the gyno (ack!) regularly. I'd hate for my mom to walk in my honor.

So there it is guys and dolls. Time to keep going...on with the fundraising...on with awareness. On with trying my damndest to make a difference. Somedays the difference is just in my own head and heart, but that, too, can be just enough.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Ghandi

Thanks for be along for the ride with me...you have no idea how much your love and support means.

Smiles,
Hannah

Unconditional love...

I know I talk about my dogs a lot. I know that some people think I'm nuts because I talk about my dogs a lot. I know people think I'm a little off-kilter calling them my "kids." One excuse could certainly be that they're as much my family as I could have seeing as my blood, 2-legged family is many, many miles away.

I just got back from working our DC event this afternoon, so I'm sitting here catching up on emails...after an afternoon of sleeping because I was THAT tired. Of course, naptime included snuggle time with a sleek Kali and my bo-hunk Mav, but - apparently - Mav still misses me. I just got a big ol' head plopped in my lap with those brown hound eyes staring up at me. A "get off the computer look and pet me" look if ever there was one.

Now, that's love. ;-)

G.N.O.B.S.

So, I've got this friend. Her name's Greer. We've known each other since we were seniors in high school. She went to Rome during her college years and wrote me handwritten letters. Who does that?!?! For some reason, I always wrote back to G.N.O.B.S., not Greer. The acronym is just her initials, but it's always made my inner voice chuckle. Yes, once again, more proof that Hannah's a dork.

She's a copycat blogger...;-) Check it out! She's got quite possibly the most rid-ICK-ulous job I've ever encountered. And has the "fortune" of working with a nutso boss-woman who loves to flash her [fake] perky boobs and the moodiest [PMS-y?] straight man ever.

She's a hoot and I love having her as my friend. Even more so since she got the autograph of Jesse Martin who happens to be my #1 out of my Top Five (gawd, I love High Fidelity) "Freebies" list. (As in, if I'm in a relationship, the Top Five people who I just couldn't say no to should they happen to be standing nekkid before me and worshiping the ground I work on...) I love Greer. Is it ok to love Jesse more?

Ah. Friday.

Yet another reason to LOVE Craigslist...

You can register to vote! I just re-registered for the millionth time in the last couple years (ANOTHER address/state change) through a very cool site, Working Assets . Several clicks, fill out some information, change your address...print the PDF - and voila! You fold the piece of paper and send it in.

Very cool. Very easy. And we all need to do our civic duty and vote...it's *OUR* welfare at stake!

Spring has sprung...Hannah's goin' outside!

Alright. It’s official.

I’m an addict. Getting cable for the first time since Amy Becker and I lived together in Raleigh, NC – yes, it’s been THAT LONG! – was perhaps a not-so-good idea. Ok, so I LOVE it. I can sit and watch Animal Planet or TLC (gawd I love me some hot carpenters!!) for hours at a time. Our free month of HBO-on-demand is great for catching up on all the series’ I’ve missed. But the TV is at the end of my bed. So I’m feeling like lump…a rather large lump. I have got to commit to getting out and weaning myself of my crack-like addiction. Which leads me to…

“A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men.” - Roald Dahl

Spring has finally gotten around to being sprung! So, even though my allergies are killing me, I can finally take the kids for walks without their poor lil’ feet being burned by the rock salt. I can take a walk ‘round my new ‘hood, go down the Cliffside park in Weehawken, down to the water, down to Hoboken, walk to TARGET (yay!) if I wanted to. Get rid of the winter weight the “kids” and I have put on. Get ready for bikini season – I’m getting a tan this year come hell or high water!

Speaking of new neighborhoods, wanted to let y’all know – or remind you, whichever the case – that once again, my address has changed. I know, I know, I’m the moving-est chick you’ve ever come across…sorry! I only wish I’d gotten over my issues with having a Joisey address a year ago, because Weehawken is GREAT. Small town-y feeling, with phenomenal views of the city from the end of the street, and a hop, skip, and a quick bus ride into the city. Did I mention that it’s much less expensive than Brooklyn was? Oh…AND we have a backyard. The kids are in LOVE. Every time I walk in the kitchen, maverick thinks he’s being let out. Luckily, that spring has sprung thing means that I can just leave the backdoor open when I’m home and let them come and go as they wish. Nifty, eh? So, in case you wanted to send a housewarming present or card or handwritten letter, here’s the new address:

(email if you want it nannerli74@hotmail.com)

What else is new? Well, work is ROCKING. We’re so far ahead of the game right now, it feels like I’m continually playing catch-up. Yes, that is technically a good thing. I’ll be heading to our DC and Boston events to help produce them…and I’ll make an appearance in Chicago as a participant (more on that later). So, May and June will be busy-as-a-bee months for me. If any of y’all in the aforementioned cities want to say hello while I’m there, would love to see you!

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” - Dr. Seuss

On the work-note, I was asked to attend a Barnard Women in Business event recently by one of my top fundraisers who was speaking. The topic of the evening was volunteerism and how to give back to the community you live in. It was rather eye-opening for me, I have to admit. I’ve been such a community activist and “uber” volunteer – the gal with no time because I’ve overbooked myself with all my various passions – that I’d forgotten along the way that there are people out there that truly don’t know that the addictive part of giving to the world at-large are the rewards you reap. There are people out there that don’t know how to volunteer because they’re so out of touch with themselves and their own interests. Wow.

"We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same." - Carlos Castaneda

I SO encourage you guys to see just how wonderful giving of yourself or your time can be. No, you don’t need to take a rescue dog through obedience class or try to convey your passion for reading to an 8 year old girl in third grade – those are MY passions. “Volunteering” can come in so many different packages. It could be as simple as donating a bag of dog food to your local grassroots animal rescue. It could be volunteering your fashion or make-up skills at an event that helps teach under-privileged women how to best present themselves in a potentially life-changing interview. Why not baby-sit for your best friend so she and her husband can go on a date together? “Volunteer” for your country – and register to vote. It could even be as simply as feeding someone’s meter before the traffic cops come. It’s whatever you have time to give. It’s whatever interests you. Just try it on for size and see if you like it…it will deepen your connection to your community or to yourself. It might just change your life. Or at least the outlook you have.

"Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers." - Veronica A. Shoffstall

On a sobering note, I’m being constantly reminded of how precious life is…and how this is the only one we have, so make the most of today. Don’t wait until tomorrow. Tell those folks in your life how much you love them. Waiting for the “perfect” time or figuring out the “perfect” way to say it means you’re losing out on sharing the feeling. I don’t know about you, but I’m NOT perfect and don’t want to be wined and dined and handed bushels of roses. I’d much rather get a quick email from a friend thanking me for my friendship. Or a goofy voicemail from someone that calls me her favorite ladybug friend! Or a phone call from my sister about a movie we used to watch ALL THE TIME growing up. Something to make me smile, feel loved and highly valued. Just DO it. Oh, by the way, thanks for being in my life!

“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have.” - Eckhart Tolle

As most of you know, I’ve decided to “do” yet again…this time in the form of walking in the Chicago version of the Walk I work for. Have to admit, I’m getting pretty excited about returning to the ranks of walker-dom. it brings back all the memories of people I’ve met along the way – from the first time I participated, to people I met all over the country during our 2003 season, to the people I’m already meeting who will make 2004 just as invaluable. Even better, I’m sharing it with my sister. She’s starting to understand how amazing this experience will be, but won’t really understand how life-changing it can be until probably a week or so after the event itself.

How IS it life-changing? Other than being physically challenging and walking a marathon over a weekend? Other than raising a minimum of $1800? People are kind. It doesn’t matter where you live or who you work for or what kind of car you drive. People are smiling, laughing, crying, hugging…even complete strangers. One of my DC-office counterparts said it best, “thousands of strangers becoming family; united by a single cause.” Brought together because they’d love to see breast cancer NOT affect another family. To celebrate lives; to honor lives lost. To bring awareness to communities and the people in them that breast cancer doesn’t discriminate…and that 85% of people diagnosed have no family history.

“Do or do not. There is no try.” - Yoda, 'The Empire Strikes Back'

So, while I’m not REALLY walking for myself, I am. I don’t know that I won’t hear those words – “you have breast cancer.” I don’t know that someone I love deeply won’t hear them either. So I’m willing to take the steps to become a change-maker. Wanna join me? Come cheer us on? Perhaps live vicariously through me and donate? (see link below to donate) My training has started, so now that I’m back in “Hannah’s newsletter” mode, expect to hear about it…and the people I’m meeting. Yay for spring!

“Not a shred of evidence exists in favor of the idea that life is serious.” - Brendan Gill

Sorry to be so long-winded…it hasn’t felt like a lot has been going on of late, but I guess I’ve been much more pensive than I thought!

Love ya, mean it!!!

Hannah & the kids

PS My mom’s doing REALLY well…no cancer, tumors are gone, she wasn’t part of the 2% that lose their voices, and she’s up and moving around! Yay!!

Mack's a SUPA-staaaaaaaaaaaaaar!

For those of y'all who don't know, I've been volunteering with a group called A Cause for Paws and running one of their rescue dogs through Basic Obedience. Mack is just a peach, but needed some manner-teaching. Here's the email I sent out after our "graduation" last night:

Whoo hooo! I just wanted to let y’all know that Mack-a-doodle – and I! – graduated from basic obedience. How very cool is that? I was absolutely, 9000% certain that we’d fail the down/stay and not graduate (what a failure I am :-p)…but he totally surprised me. Every time we’ve worked on down or down/stay in the last coupla weeks, he’s been hideous. His sit/stay was beautiful. His heeling is really good. He’s gotten sooooooo in tune to stopping/auto-sitting when I stop (especially at the curb, waiting for a light – what a dollbaby!). But the down and down/stay was foul. And with moving and the rest of my crazy life, I haven’t had the time to spend tons of time working on it.

HOWEVER. He’s a prince. I put him in a down – and threw a treat down his throat. Told him to stay…and took off. I didn’t turn back to look, but also didn’t hear Marie say anything. Such a good sign, right? So, I touched the thing (can’t remember what it was) and turned around to come back – yes I was walking very, very fast. AND HE WAS STILL IN POSITION. Ok, so it wasn’t perfect. He definitely looked like he wanted to break the down…but he was in it!!! He did pop up right before I got back in position…but who the hell cares, right? He did it, he did it, he DID it!!! I was sooooo proud. (and yes, he got another whole treat thrown down his throat :-p)

The only other comment (other than working on his breaking the down) was that the leash was too tight on the heel/sit…which was totally handler error. I’m so used to holding a really tight leash with my two that poor Mack “suffered.”

So, we did it. And Mack’s a STAR!!! Alice said that since we’ve been going to class, he’s been more laid back – not totally chill, but working on it. He’s also been playing much more nicely with all the folks over there. Personally, I think he’s just as damned tired as I am hoofing back and forth from the LES to Union Square. What a walk! Alright, so I’m multi-tasking and using the walk to class as a training walk, too. My Chicago walk is FAST approaching – less than 90 days. Ick. Now I just need to do more training work with MY kids.

Anyways….sorry for being so long-winded. I’m just so proud. And I’ve had WAY TOO MUCH COFFEE. ;-)

What a neat time to be a part of our [liberal] generation...

A couple of my friends are toying with the idea of heading West to get hitched this weekend. I think it would be awesome! Ground-breaking! Phenomenal!!

Neat-o article about San Fran and the throngs of people lining up to get married.

Ah...what a time to be alive! History in the making...

Yes, this *is* what passes for intelligent conversation with some folks...

CBLong74 (12:35:00 PM): a freakishly small head and large breasts, or a freakishly large head and little breasts?
nannerli74 (12:35:16 PM): hmmm
nannerli74 (12:35:18 PM): tough one
CBLong74 (12:35:33 PM): believe it or not, that's not a comment completely out of the blue

um?! Nuff said. We're just odd ducks that happen to think alike. And he makes me giggle.

Crawford just makes me laugh...

Part of a recent conversation with Crawford (who, for a birthday present once bought me a domain name - www.bornabitch.com. What ever happened to that, anywhoooo?):

nannerli74: semantics. get on with it.
nannerli74: (i love being witchy :-P)
CBLong74: but, see, you're not gratuitously witchy... you understand the proper use of domineering ... ness.. anyway... you're not some teeny-bopper throwing a temper tantrum

Heh.

THIS is why I love New York, NY

Self-explanatory...but I agree with this poster. THIS is the New York I know!



Hugs,
hannah

Update on my mom's India experience...

Oy vey. It is indeed a crazy, lawless, yet gorgeous country. Get this:

"Here's an enduring image of India: driving into town yesterday, we passed a local bus with the usual 100 men on top & hanging on. This one also had a missing windscreen, but the driver compensated by wearing a crash helmet. I just love it."

Direct quote from the madre. Nuts!

Happiest of happy damned holidays...

So. It happened. I finally got attacked by the Christmas spirit. And I even bought a coupla presents. I checked the date - and lo-and-behold, I was right on schedule; December 15th as predicted. Have to admit, though, I'm still not so keen on the Christmas carols. I know, I know. I'm a scrooge. But at least I admit I'm a scrooge. I love giving gifts - just not big on holiday-themed muzak that starts creating ear-worms over Halloween weekend. Because, yes folks, that's when the assault started this year.

My excuse can be that I'm heading to the exotic world of India for the holidays. So, while worrying about how the dreaded Dysentery Diet is going to affect me...only to find out that Hannah's Hieney needs to bring its own toilet paper - ! - because it's just not available in India.getting various vaccinations, and collecting various packages and items 'round town for my mother (just ASK me about the "bag of babies" and the uterus - I dare you!), I haven't had much time to be feel-good and get in the mood. The Christmas mood, that is.

I did have time for reflection, though, commuting to work on my glorious L Train the other day. I've had a really good year. One that I can look back on and be really proud of. Proud for making the more difficult personal and professional decisions and following my heart. Proud of the woman I am and am constantly becoming. So incredibly proud of our little 6-pack of Worker Bees in the NY office...what a feat we pulled off, y'all. Certainly makes me excited to see what a more-settled 2004 will bring! Ah...the anticipation of my 30th year!

And of course, then there's you...the "general public," otherwise known as my nearest and dearest. Thank you. Not just for your support and friendship, but for your honesty and the swift kicks to the backside when I needed them. The hugs, the tears, the words, the love...it's all been welcome whether or not I've conveyed that to you. Yes, a lot of personal growth comes from within, but the unconditional support of a network - friends, family, et al - is invaluable. So, I feel a heartfelt thank you and reminder that you're the best is in order.

Thank you!

I was rereading an all-time favorite book of mine recently. The idea was to read it and mark all the passages that resonated with me in order to pass it on...a little insight into the heart and mind of me, if you will. (Yes, only mildly terrifying, I know!) I came across a passage that I wanted to share.

"Sometimes you meet yourself on the road before you have a chance to learn the appropriate greeting. Faced with your own possibilities, the hard part is knowing a speech is not required. All you have to say is yes."

Pearl Cleage, What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day (p149)

It always reminds me of how scary it can be to see the "real" you - the you that you want to be, but you're not quite sure if you have the courage, the money, the qualifications, the _____ (insert insecurity here). It's frightening! But, you know what, it's also incredibly rewarding. And freeing. If there's one decision that I'm terribly proud of making in the
last year, it's that I took the leap.and found my net in New York. I followed my heart. And it petrified me - truthfully! But I listened the "voice" that said it was my path. I hope you listen to your own voices. They can be right!

So, I'm out. So is 2003. And, 2004, here we come! I'm excited on many levels. Stay tuned for pix from the Ashmore Excursion in India. Stay tuned for my marathon progress (oy vey!). Stay tuned for updates on the Romancing of Hannah. (slipping that one in there to make sure you're paying attention!)

Oh - in case I hadn't passed the word along, I've got a weblog - aka blog - goin' if you're interested in keeping up with my goings-on. Check it out: http://hashmore.blogspot.com/. Bookmark it and come back often!

Other than that, have a safe and incredibly happy holiday season.may all your dreams come true!

Much love and I'll see you in the new year,
Hannah
Kali & Maverick send canine snuggles!

Just remembered a compliment I got of late...

A good pal o'mine was telling me of his admiration for Pink - the rock star of all rock stars. He happened to mention that whenever she crosses his mind, her songs come on the radio, or she comes up in converation, he thinks of me. The actual thought that he gave me was "Huh. That's who Hannah would be if she was a rock star."

Nifty, eh? Well, *I* happen to think so...Pink's pretty damn cool - and a cutie patootie, too!

Just my thought of the moment. Thanks for compliment, Craw-dad!

Snowy birthday to me! Snowy birthday to meeeeeeeeeeee...

Just as I suspected it might, 29 is – so far – turning out to be grand. Ok, ok, ok. So it’s only been 3 days, but still. My birthday week was great. It might have been slightly skewed in my favor because I was rather obnoxious about counting down to the actual day. For weeks. Hey, I love birthdays in general, but particularly my own. Even more so when it’s a “cool” number like 29; my last twenty. Representative of the last vestiges of youth – ha! I’m now the last age I’ll ever admit to…just like my grandma. Eternally 29. Wait. That won’t work…I want to be 30!

It started with presents mid-week (that arrived way too quickly for my mother’s liking) from the parental units in In-jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Yes, the package requested that I wait until the actual day, but it also had a “yeah right!” underneath…proving once and for all that mothers really DO know all. Or maybe it’s that I’m more predictable than I’d like to believe. Hmmm. Don’t know that I like that. Regardless…I behaved myself and only opened one of the three packages inside. And the birthday cards. (A decision couldn’t be made as to which one, so I got THREE! I love being spoiled!!) And the other presents sat on my desk. And sat. And sat. And tempted. And seduced. And taunted. And begged to be opened. No, really. They did! So I HAD to give in…I just had to. It wouldn’t have been nice. Heh.

That was Wednesday. Three days before the “actual day.”

Friday, I came into the office to find an Elvis in gold laḿe sitting on my keyboard…I do love me some Elvis! Hunka hunka burnin’ love just for lil’ ol’ me. The flip side was that I also had a Storypeople card – and a lot of y’all know how I just LOVE Storypeople. (If you don’t know about them, hurry yourself to www.storypeople.com and devour! They’re awesome!) My mom called and sang her goofy version of “Happy Birthday” – on speakerphone. But that part was unbeknownst to her…I told her later. I HAD to share. Priceless! So the day-before-the-actual-day got off to a fabulous start, too.

Until the snow. We ALL know how much I adore cold, wet, white, wintery weather. It’s my favorite. Bah humbug. At least this time, it wasn’t ME doing the moving…just Olive and her couch. (If you haven’t heard the stories of Hannah moving in every type of inclement weather, just ask.) The snow that had been predicted to hold off until the afternoon began earlier than expected…and kept coming and coming and coming. Luckily, we didn’t have to leave the office for food supplies as we’ve begun a fantastic Lunch Co-op where we take turns cooking for each other. So, we had yummy sammiches for lunch. Well, everyone else had one…but y’all know me. I had to have two. Stuffed. Beyond stuffed. Believe it or not, I didn’t catch on when Olive let us know that after a brief respite, there would be “dessert.” Really, I was blonde – for just a few minutes. ;-)

To preface, I’d been bummed earlier in the week because I’d been outvoted in my pecan pie option for our holiday dinner. So, I’m on the phone. Giggling, laughing, minding my own bidness. And then I hear singing. My co-workers are amazing! Simply the best, to borrow Ms. Turner’s words. They got me a pecan birthday pie…candles and all. How totally cute is that? Oh. But we didn’t have just the pecan pie. We also had the sweet potato and apple crumb options. Thank gawd for women that can eat! I had 2 pieces – shocker. We rock! And rolled ourselves out of the “cafeteria,” back to our desks…only to close the office at 4:00pm because the weather was just that hideous.

One would think that the good birthday WEEK would end there, especially with a dire weather outlook, right? Well, wrong. The rest of my birthday weekend was definitely all warm and snuggly and I was spoiled and cherished…and I loved every minute of it! Some of y’all know that there’s a new boy “sniffing around” (to borrow my mother’s phraseology). Well, he came into town to help me transition from 28 to 29. We ate and drank and played Scrabble (really!) and I dodged snowballs…and had a wonderful time “basking in the luxury of each other’s company” (HIS phraseology!). How mushy did that make my insides go? Alright, dammit. I admit it! It exists. The softer-side-of-Hannah is coming out; full-force.

And that’s that. Or at least all the details I’ll divulge about the rest of the weekend. Heh. The birthday week continues with cards and presents still trickling in…but there’s a whole year that I’m looking forward to. If the last few days are representative of the year to come, then I’m even more excited than I’d have anticipated. I work with some of the kindest, most thoughtful, considerate people I’ve ever encountered - worldwide. I’m in serious Like with a fabulous man who likes me just the way I am (which one never fully appreciates how rare and wonderful that is until you’re given the gift). I have a job that I know I’m lucky to have – not just from a professional perspective, but from a human growth one as well. And I have lots and lots and lots of people who I’m blessed to call “friends.”

Yes, I have to admit, I’m damned lucky to be me. Blessed 165% to have the people and life I have. Thank you for being a part of it, y’all! As always, thank you for helping me become the woman I’m supposed to do. I certainly couldn’t do it without you!!

Happy, happy holidays!

Hugs and kisses,
hannah

“Dreams that do come true can be as unsettling as those that don't.” - Brett Butler

“If you don't risk anything you risk even more.” - Erica Jong

“What I am actually saying is that we need to be willing to let our intuition guide us, and then be willing to follow that guidance directly and fearlessly.” - Shakti Gawain