Post Wedding "partying" @ the Parting Glass 

Our favorite Parting Glass waiter, Law 

Literary Update

Okay... so... I finished Confederacy of Dunces. It was hysterical. Very easy to read and I actually laughed out loud in parts.

I finished the 4th Harry Potter last week and am halfway through #5. Yes, I know. I am behind the times, but 4 & 5 were just too big... I had to work up to them. 4 was really good. 5 I am still undecided about.

What else to update. I have heard from California boy. He sent me a post card from Utah. We've IMed twice and he's emailed me. Actual, relatively lng (for him anyway) emails. I have really been missing him the past couple days.

The "crush"... well... I have actually talked to him on the phone twice now. He couldn't attend the wedding, but surprisingly, he actually considered it. Odds are I will see him soon. Should be interesting.

Now... dear friend... about the dream and the email.... Odd to say the least. Why did it take so long for him to reply? Was he too seeking closure? I think you are better off now. I think you have the life you were meant to have. I hope you realize how lucky you are. As for the other one... the one I have spoke of for years. You are kidding yourself. There is more there, whether you chose to admit it or not. Not that anything will ever come of it. I think it is just one of those great relationships that we need to keep us alive. And if you ever wonder about the what ifs that come with that email... if things had not worked out between you two, most likely we wouldn't be the friends we are today. I hate that you live so far away. But you are the one person in my life that I talk to or email weekly and don't feel the regret of letting a friend slip away. I envy the life you have and I am glad you are one of my best friends for life.

Happy now???

Chaos

Okay... I got sick of listening to Jen complain that I never update my blog. I never have the time or ambition.

But as seeing how the last real post I made was to laugh a Jeter and his first EVER grand slam, I will write and celebrate Jason Varitek's first EVER grand slam on thursday. He is just AWESOME.

Life is just crazy. Chesh turned 30. She is a mom of 2 now. The boys are adorable. I can't wait to see them again in 2 weeks.

Last weekend was Katie's wedding, this weekend is Jamie's. (I am in it), next weekend I am heading to Boston for happy hour @ Charlie's, a Rock Club performance and a Sox game. Please don't let Wakefield be pitching. Weekend after that is Dominic's christening, then Lauren & Andrew's wedding. AHHHHHHHH.... I am almost looking forward to school just to have free time again.

Mom is doing well. 3 weeks down, 3 to go.

I have the headache from hell and have to be up @ the butt crack of dawn.

Hope Jen is happy now.

A very young Red Sox fan tried to convince Jamie to marry him instead of Matt. This was the last time Jamie was seen standing on her own accord. 

Jamie is seeing what horrors await here. This is the beginning of the evening... it ended w/ puke in a car and Jamie swearing she was going to die. I am happy to report that did not happen and the car is once again clean. (thankfully it wasn't mine!!! You rock Jen!) 

Jamie had to get a picture with six different guys out @ the bars. Here's bachelor #1. 

Jamie explained the importance of safe sex to this young man 

More tasks completed 

Save a horse, ride a cowboy 

Randomness... I went to HVCC w/ Jason and here he is crashing Jamie's bachelorette party. He gets props for his Spongebob creation. Found Jason, know where Dave & Vicky are... if only John Roberts would turn up. 

A Bride to Be To Do List!! Jamie dilligently completes her tasks 

Party girls 

What do you do with a drunken sailor??? Give him a shot of Irish Whiskey - Jameson, of course!!! 

The Bachelorette 

Moonshot Manny

CAREER GRAND SLAM LEADERS Through July 5 (x-active)
1. Lou Gehrig 23
2. x-Manny Ramirez 20
3. Eddie Murray 19
4. Robin Ventura 18
4. Willie McCovey 18
6. Jimmie Foxx 17
6. Ted Williams 17
8. Hank Aaron 16
8. Dave Kingman 16
8. Babe Ruth 16
11. x-Ken Griffey Jr. 14
11. x-Mike Piazza 14
11. Mark McGwire 14
11. Gil Hodges 14

Derek Jeter - 1

Haha.... Look @ my boy sitting there @ #4. Ironically, that was his number on the Mets.

Hmmm.... so, tomorrow I head to Toronto for a conference. Should be fun. I just need to get away. I have been taking better care of myself since school let out. Although I should be working out just now but haven't made it that far yet and I have to leave for SPAC soon. Today was my first day of summer school and I don't go back until July 18th. Whoohoo...

What else? Haven't heard a peek from California boy since he left. Bastard.

I got a Friendster request today from a girl who was in 3rd grade @ school 14 when I worked there back in 2000, before I left to go to Grad School in Buffalo. She lives in Indonesia now. Very random, but still cool. I was only a classroom interpreter back then. Making no $$$.

I dreamed last night that I lost my job for September. It's like this cosmic joke that I get laid off just before I am up for tenure. Let's hope it is all just a dream.

I haven't talked to ANY of my friends since school let out. Are you out there? Are you alive? This is going to be an insane summer. I have 3 weddings, (1 that I am in) and a Christening (I am a Godparent). I am heading to Boston in August for Happy Hour, a Rock Club show and a Sox game. Of course, it is all tentative.

My mom goes to the radiologist tomorrow to prep her for radiation. Although apparently there was an article in last week's paper that says that radiation is harmful. Who knows??? They'll give her the radiation schedule then. It's supposed to be everyday for six weeks. What a way to spend the summer.

I have become the Flat Stanley expert. 2 different people in my sister's office have given me custody of their Flat Stanleys. The first one (Flat Austin) went to Disney with us. We took his picture everywhere. The second, was supposed to learn more about NY State. So I took him to school and took pictures w/ our Kindergarten class... We wrote tons of post cards explaining all the places around here. It was quite fun. And sadly, I have yet to read the book.

Speaking of books. I am currently reading 2: @ SPAC: A Confederacy of Dunces. It's hysterical. and @ home: At Ground Zero. It's a collection of short stories written by young reporters there as 9/11 happened and having to report on it. It's interesting.

So.... off to work I go. Go SOX!!!!!

Script Re-Write

Hmm... How did we get here? How the hell? (sorry quoting Rent)

All right... where to begin? My ex-boyfriend from eight years ago decided to email me last week telling me that I am the only girl he'd be happy dating at this point in his life. He's looking to settle down, get married, buy a house, have kids. Not sure if all that is with me or not, but I am not waiting around to find out. We have nothing in common, never did.

On a sad note, Eamonn's burned down this morning. My friends and I have spent many interesting and intoxicated nights there. It's sad. Especially after all the McGirr family has gone through.

Can I tell you it was rather disturbing to see Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez in the dugout. Manny's arm was around Johnny and Johnny's head was on Manny's shoulder. I believe it was a new episode of Queer Eye for the straight guy.

Speaking of which, the Sox on QE was hysterical. Seeing Tek get his back waxed was amusing. Kevin Millar is a dork.

So... California boy is moving back tomorrow. I am remarkably calm about it. Maybe because I knew it was coming since I met him. Last year and the whole girlfriend in California w/ breast cancer came up and then him moving out was a bit terrifying. Since we met in the fall of 2003, he had become one of my best friends. We hung out almost everyday for over four months. We talked about everything and nothing. We didn't have to do anything, we could just spend time together. Since he moved out, we stayed friends much to my surprise. When he graduated last month, he surprised me with his desire to stay here. He and his girlfriend purchased a house here as an investment. He was looking to get a job here.

Then last week, after an afternoon, hanging out by the pool, he tells me that he's moving back. He would be homeless and jobless by the end of June and had no options. I hate the thought of never seeing him again. It makes me sad. We said goodbye last night and it was hard.

It's a weird relationship. I have been completely in love with him practically since we met. Although he says we are just friends, I have never had a friendship like this.

If this were a script of a movie, I would re-write it. I would have him act on the doubts he has about his relationship with the girlfriend and realize how much we belong together. He would decide that he'd be happier here with me than in California without me.

On his job hunt, he found a TOD job for me. I asked where. He said California. He said he thought about waiting another week before he left and having me drive out with him - at least as far as the Mississippi (Private Joke).

Grrr....

On an aside, I had a nice phone conversation with the previously posted "crush". I decided to be brave and call him in response to an email. I like how that feels. Nothing will ever come of him and me, but he's great for self-confidence. Someone that I admire in many ways and who feels I am worth their time. There's a nice comfort level in it.

Sox won. Tek hit a homerun. He made a beautiful play blocking the plate the other day.

Only one full day left of school. Two half days and a 10 am dismissal left. Whoohoo!!!

Endings

Hey... anybody out there?

All right, I've written blogs in my head a hundred times but I never find the time to get it down here.

First - my mom. Well, she had the second surgery. They tested the lymph nodes, the margins and another non-invasive benign tumor and everything came back negative, so it looks like the cancer didn't spread. She'll start radiation on July 7th with a doctor she wants to fix me up with.

Second - my ex. The bookstore/band guy. He sent me and email telling me that I am the only person he would be happy dating at this point in his life. That he's looking to settle down and get married and buy a house and have kids. What is that? Who does that? We dated for 5 months 8 years ago. We never had anything in common, well, nothing that matters anyway. We've tried dating again since then and it NEVER works. Should I have to settle because he seems to be the only person who wants to be with me at this point in MY life?

Third - California boy. I seriously thought a year ago that when he moved out of the Club, I'd never see him again. It was heartbreaking. His girlfriend came to live here. Yet, we still stayed friends. We'd meet for coffee and email and IM. But then she went back to CA, and he graduated and bought a house here and it seemed that he was staying - that he WANTED to stay. Then Saturday, after a perfect afternoon hanging by the pool and just having fun, he tells me, (only because I asked if he had any trips to California coming up) that his landlords want him out of his lease early and since he has no job and the house he bought will have a tenant through July that he's moving back to California - NEXT WEEK. I hate it. I don't want him to leave. I don't want to lose him.

Fourth - "the crush" We are still friendly. Occasional emails. Nothing exciting to report other than his uncanny timing.

Fifth - the school year is almost over. 9 days left. I am sad to see it end. I really loved my job this year. I've loved the people I worked with. 1st grade seems so daunting after 2 years in Kindergarten.

So... I guess that's it. Or at least all that is interesing. I will have to have a baseball rant soon.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms.

When I was little my mom wasn't working. She went back to work when I was 6, in 1st grade. My favorite memory of her was reading the book "Runaway Bunny." She used to always say, "Because you're my little bunny and I love you." It's about a little bunny who keeps trying to run away but his mother always finds him and brings him back to her.

For mother's day this year, I was in Hallmark and found a really cute stuffed "Boyd's Bears" bunny, holding a little bunny. They were both white, like in the story. So I bought them, and went and bought the book b/c my mom didn't have her own copy. I gave them to her last night for mother's day and made her read it to me just like when I was little.

We heard from the surgeon today. The news wasn't as good as we had hoped. Cancer. She goes to the surgeon tomorrow and he told her to bring her family with her. My sister and I are going. As is my Aunt Pat who went through all of this eight years ago and is still going strong. If I could wish one thing it would be for everyone to have their own Aunt Pat. She is amazing and is really helping my mom through all of this better than any of us can.

My greatest fear

My mom had surgery this morning. It went well. They removed two nodules. One was benign, the other is 'questionable'.

I am trying to be positive, but I am scared. She just turned 70.

I have had this paralizing fear of losing my parents. I don't think I know how to function without them.

Our fish finally died the other night after 28 months. I went this afternoon and bought a new one. Mom wanted a red one. I named him Sox.

The Yankees are pathetic right now. I find amusement in it b/c it shows that you need to be a team to win, not just have A-Fraud and the Big Prick. Cashman (AKA Pipsqueak) needs to go. They are not playing Bernie which pisses me off. They released Karsay (he was not the problem of the bullpen) and they sent Bubba back down. Grrr... I have nothing against Giambi. I don't hate him, but why the hell is he in the lineup???

At least for the first time in a long time, the East Division is interesting. Baltimore, Toronto, Boston, Yankees and Tampa Bay. Who would've thunk it?? Even though the D-Rays are a glorified AAA team, they are a great spoiler. They never lose ALL of their games. And I know it's also early, but still... They are predicting no October baseball in the Bronx this year. That'll be interesting.

Heading to a conference in Rochester tomorrow. Fun, fun, fun...

mjk