It's about that time...

I rescued my list from the old LiveJournal account (please don't send me weirdass messages, "secretcaller," kthxbai) and am resurrecting it before I go out to Wendy's for lunch. OMFG, this needs a lot of reformatting. Shit, I probably won't finish this in 15 minutes. We can try...

This is another resurrection of the '04-'05 yearly list, courtesy of Bizzy Herbolsheimer, in case anyone is wondering.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Had a health emergency, actually. I wouldn't recommend it.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Yes and yes, because this is what I wrote last year: My main resolution is to not quit my job unless I get something spectacularly fabulous that makes me back into an editor.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope, although I have some great friends at work (3, in fact) who are ALL expecting in 2010!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Chris lost his father in early February. We weren't close (nor were the two of them really THAT close, nor are WE even speaking now), but it was sad all the same. It was the first time I've actually seen the Last Rites given in person.

5. What countries did you visit?
New Orleans, a.k.a. "Land of Breesus." (Yes, I know that's not a country.)

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A condo, and no more writing of rent checks.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
8/8/09, the day I came back to Massachusetts for good.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I'd say moving.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Working a job I didn't like for so long in Philadelphia.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yeah, but it's over and done with. And doctors in this day and age are shockingly incompetent.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A Honda Element.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
BillyB!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Brian Coffey AND Chris Ginaldi.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
That I got out of Philadelphia one way or the other. Oh, and see item 12.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
"Here's to Farting."

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? definitely happier
ii. thinner or fatter? it's a toss-up
iii. richer or poorer? much richer emotionally, not that much poorer financially (ditto the last 2 years)

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Earn money.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Eating out, but damn it tastes good!

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Just outside of Worcester, MA.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
BillyB, via text message.

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Yup!!!

23. How many one-night stands?
I (still) haven't had one of those since 2005.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Hell's Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay and home purchasing/selling/renovation shows. And basketball. Yeah, I still watch it, even if my alma mater majorly blows.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Absolutely yes.

26. What was the best book you read?
"The Millionaire's Inexperienced Love Slave." No, really.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Pako (and Mort, too)!

28. What did you want and get?
Results.

29. What did you want and not get?
A lack of strange nightly text messages (still true).

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Inglourious Basterds.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Um... What the hell DID I do... Matuba, I think. I turned 33.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Nothing; I actually got everything I wanted, pretty much.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Anthropologique, with a hint of British rock star girlfriend.

34. What kept you sane?
Family, friends, Kiki, and BillyB.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
William John Paul Gallagher.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The housing market and national health care.

37. Who did you miss?
All the people I moved back to see in Massachusetts!

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Absolutely, positively, BillyB (and his family).

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009 (and are still learning):
Don't weeze the juice.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

"You've gotta roll with it/ You've gotta take your time/ You've gotta say what you say/ Don't let anybody get in your way/ Cause it's all too much for me to take" (this one always applies)

AND

"I don't know my telephone number/ But you kiss good and I'd like to see you tomorrow"

AND

"Throw me in the bacon pit"

Liam's spirit infiltration.

Now THAT'S the most interesting blog post title I bet anyone has ever seen. WJPG claims that one special day in his life (he read the news today... wait, that's not right), the spirit of John Lennon slipped inside of him and was largely responsible for giving him that edge many have come to despise and a few of us, well, we just love it, don't we. Continuing the bad lyrical puns, it was 20 years ago this week that history was altered and John left this planet (you know he'd stay, but he just can't stand it... that's the other brother talking now), and four years and some months ago I actually stood outside the building where it all happened on his birthday, and wouldn't you know it, but there was a fellow in the group that had gathered around the "Imagine" memorial embedded into the ground in Central Park, and he disappeared before anyone else noticed his oddly striking resemblance. I had the crazy thought that I was looking at an age-progression portrait, although the face seemed short of the 65 years that would've been appropriate at the time. Next year, Jesus H. Christ, it'll be 70. Not that it doesn't make sense; after all, I'll be twice 17 in the summer. WJPG turned 37 in September, and the Old Man is a whopping 42. Ah, and lest I forget, my Liam will turn 33 during our return from Florida next month. Time flies, as I remarked earlier via text to someone planning their child's first birthday party. I have two friends now who swore up and down that they'd never reproduce, at least, not voluntarily. Now one has the year-old son, and the other has twins, of all things. I'm not barren, but I'm certainly not pregnant.

The only other thing really of note, other than things going swimmingly (despite still waiting to be officially hired back; at least I have insurance), is that I got yet another text from Brian Coffey, telling me yet again that something reminded him of me. When I responded in the negative, he got defensive ("If you can't handle it," etc.). I had to remind him that HE was the one who couldn't handle it, and that was that. Even better (or worse, depending on your perspective), I engaged in this conversation with L. as witness. After I'd had my electronic say, I thanked him (L.) for being normal. Inbetween then and now we went to NYC and are about to spend the weekend keeping company with his little sis out in Auburn. Also, Xmas is a whopping 2 weeks away from tomorrow. Shit, I need to wrap things. Yo yo yo.

A fabulous Saturday.

Getting up early on the first Saturday in November produced these results:

1. Free beer at the Sam Adams Brewery in JP
2. Drunken meandering at the Arnold Arboretum
3. Burritos at Anna's Taqueria
4. Nap
5. Watchin' a movie
6. Pumpkin lattes the next morning en route to Worcester/Auburn (after getting up much later than the previous day)

Life is still good. Black Friday and the rest of Thanksgiving weekend will take place in NYC; although the Phils lost the Series, well, they still put up a decent fight. I'm tired of listening to Cole Hamels whine and his inconsistent pitching, but I don't think Brett Myers will ever get back into the rotation where he deserves to be. Meh, I don't like Charlie Manuel much anyway. Alas, but at least they still have JayWerth (who really should replace J.D. Drew in right field for the Sox, AHEM). But, until next baseball season, football, basketball, and hockey will just have to fill the void. I'm waiting for the day on which I have an awkward sighting of a certain person who shall not be named, but at the same time I simply don't care. I used to worry about what I'd be wearing, what I would say, etc. Now, shit, I could give a flying fuck. Honestly, I hope his life is just as miserable as he made mine. Losers shall attract other losers, and let's just hope that for the love of god they don't reproduce. That is all. Now, back to my job, which I love. Yes, yes I do. I also love when authors are nice. Ah, small miracles. I'm rambling, and I blame the whoopie pies from Worcester. Heh, alliteration!

Go Phils!!!

The World Series starts tonight: Phils v. Yanks. You know the drill.

Orange.

No, not the 'cuse, although I do love the mascot and once called the town home. I'm talking about the color that's in the air, on my clothes, everywhere. It's the season, and it's fuckin' AWESOME. This morning it was in the 30s, and the rest of the week is still supposed to be chilly. Of course, next week it's going back up into the high 50s, but to hell with that. Fall is where it's at.

We got the ONK/Tacoby Bellsbury sign on TV when we went to the Sox on 10/2 (see Facebook for photographic evidence), and the past couple of weekends Bill and I have been driving all over, up to the Topsfield Fair and out to Bolton to do some apple picking. The cold snap makes for good spooning, that's for sure. The Sox didn't make it past the ALDS, but the Phillies are still in it (and I know they're going to repeat, simply because THE YANKEES MUST LOSE).

Other than that, work is fine, the apartment is fine, and I miss my cat, but she'll be here soon enough. It's been one hell of a year, shitty in the beginning, but so very much better these past 3 months. I heart Bill so much that sometimes I think my head might explode.

Sox-to-bah and lovin' it.

We're going to see the Sox tonight and it's chilly out. Fall RULES!

This is THE weekend!

Yes, I'm going to get the majority of my stuff from Philthydelphia (or Killadelphia, as Lamb of God would say) this weekend, along with Liam. The cat hasn't yet made the trip, but she's on the schedule for sometime in October. That month's going to be busybusybusy anyway... Oh shit, that's NEXT month. Well! L. pointed out the other day that I've been here almost 2 months, which makes it almost 4 months that we've been in constant contact with each other. Seems more like forever and not just a short period of time, considering that now the leaves are changing and a minute ago it was hot as hell and the sun was setting after 8:00 at night. We're taking the train down and driving a UHaul (Lil' Sammy represent!) back. I hope that Dad is wearing an appropriately pastel polo shirt when he picks us up at 30th Street Station tomorrow afternoon. It could be any one of them: carnation pink, butter yellow, salmon, lilac. He has a veritable rainbow of them, all of which set off his permanent tan. Somehow, I find it hard to believe that Mom was tanning alongside him yet her skin has reverted to the translucent French-Canadian hue while his has evolved into something close to beef jerky. I suppose I'm fortunate to fall in between the two, rather than favor one or the other. I definitely don't freckle, but Liam has that market cornered with his Irishness. No, no red hair this time. Just one tattoo. And he has his wits about him, thank Christ (you're welcome). I can't imagine life without him, and life has been very, very good for the aforementioned past 4 months. Finishing the week off, I interviewed for my job (with some modifications since I left in '07) yesterday and it seemed to go well. I have to tweak my resume for the company president so the important things jump out--that is, I've worked on the products that the position focuses on, quite conveniently--but it would appear that things are on the right track and that I will be a full-time WKL&B employee again before the end of the year. Phew. I know how lucky I am (VERY), and I'm ever so thankful. I don't subscribe to a higher power other than myself, but I do think that fate has finally turned around and started giving me the good shit over the bad shit.

Ah well. Back to work, I suppose...

I heart my life.

No, really. And I'm not on anything that's forcing and/or convincing me to think as such. For realz, it's de troof. I have many people to thank for the sitcheeasheeion, Liam Gallagher most of all, but that doesn't mean that other contributors have been marginalized. I keep people in my life for a reason and don't befriend just anybody--and I'll cut you out if you misbehave, don't cross me--so things are quite copacetic right now, if I do say so myself. I got my old job back, I got my apartment, I got mah love, and it's all good. I feel so positive that I might crap myself. What!

Catharsis is...

... When your ex finally takes two seconds to move you from the coveted #1 friend spot on their social networking page of choice. Not that this sort of thing should really matter at all, considering how the person in question never bothered to update their status to "in a relationship" during the course of said affiliation. Ah, and, lest I forget, the lies regarding his age and height are still ever present. From the perspective of someone who stands just shy of 66 inches, you, sir, are still short (bad pun intended) of the 68 you claim. The real catharsis won't come until I'm 100% deleted as a friend, but somehow I've escaped that fate for the moment.

This begs the question, however, of why things like one's status should matter. Have we become so mindlessly sucked into our virtual worlds that the health of our relationships depends on a click within a check box? I can't say that I find myself falling victim to such an extreme, but I would much prefer that someone who's in a relationship say so rather than not. Moving to the next previous ex, this was his major flaw--honesty in general, that is, and not just online. One thing I can't stand is being cheated on, and god forbid that I ever wind up as the "other woman" without knowing it. I hate to say that it's happened before, but it has. But I digress.

Now that most of us are thoroughly indoctrinated into the social networking world and therefore dependent on the accuracy of the information contained within, the least people can to is to not lie about the big-ticket items. Fudging on height and age isn't as reprehensible as doing the same regarding one's eligibility status, unless we're talking someone who claims to be six feet tall and isn't even close to that in a good pair of heels or someone who knocks 5-10 years off of their age because they want to target a younger demographic. It all comes out in the wash, ladies and gents, when you meet for that first fateful time. I gave the short fella credit, but in the end, it just didn't work. Nobody's fault, just plain old incompatibility.

Tomorrow I sign the lease on my lovely place in Waltham, a return that's been 5 years in the making. I had no idea that the Watch City would be the center of my universe. This calls for meatballs of the Swedish variety. Nothing like some good gravy to cleanse the mind and body while I browse the aisles of a certain retailer on the lookout for a brand-new bedroom...

End of an era, start of the new.

I've finally made the jump to blogspot. LiveJournal had simply too many Russians and their pr0n was becoming overwhelming. I get mine exclusively from Cat in a Box, thanks very much. Cossacks need not apply.

Anyway. Yes, I'm well aware that it's nigh on 4 in the morning in the East, and yes, I'm fully awake and cognizant of what I'm doing. Falling asleep on the couch--only because of a distinct lack of a bed right now--and that, before 10 pm, is the obvious explanation for this apparent insomnia. It's also not for lack of happiness. I have many a thing running through my head these days. Just yesterday, in fact, as I cruised past Walden Pond on 126, the sun caught the water and I couldn't help but smile as a sense of placidity washed over me. I felt grounded, relieved, and satisfied, among other adjectives. This second time around in New England is it for me.

Part of my satisfaction lies in my discovery of what might be the perfect apartment, save for the slightly aged marigold electric stove. Still, I can deal, because I harbor a secret fear of exploding gas stoves. Not that I've ever experienced that, but the scene from Fight Club in which Ed Norton destroys his IKEA-filled luxury digs seems to have resonated with me over the years to an extreme. Alas, I'll have to deal with the slow, retarded method of cooking, but even so, it's what I grew up with, so no worries, really. The place I'm liking so much is in Watch City--Waltham--a scant mile or so from the Aspen office over by Brandeis, and merely 3 from the abode of the most wonderful man I know, over yonder in Watertown.

After reconnecting with my closest peeps here in Beantown, I received a cascade of "I told you so" in varying forms regarding my last relationship, some veiled no more thinly than "I never liked that guy, anyway." I won't go out on a limb and say that the relationship I had in Philly was a mistake, because it turns out that in my twisted little mind, I NEEDED that relationship to force me to take stock of things and realize that it wasn't the right place for me, nor was he the right person. I found myself being the breaker-upperer (heh) rather than the break-up-ee, for once. I'm usually the one who's far more attached and invested in a relationship, and therefore the one who takes the dissolution much harder than the one whose idea said dissolution was. I was being honest, though, when I told Chris that I didn't see a future for us. My saving grace came when he turned Jekyll-Hyde on me and showed his true colors. I hold nothing against him but for his constant whining about being under-educated and held back by his family. If you don't like the situation, hell, try LEAVING PHILADELPHIA.

Now, about the aforementioned new guy, I can't gush enough. Bill and I have much in common on all sides of the equation, ranging from aspirations to our inherent fears. We've been through the emotional wringer and back again for various reasons. Although we're still very much in the beginning stages of our relationship, I can't deny the level of comfort I feel with him. Deep down I long for corniness and those little, subtle displays of affection that most people simply take for granted. When Bill reaches for my hand in the grocery store or makes faces until I acknowledge him with a kiss or other response, I get such a rush... the rush that was missing from my last two relationships. Dealing with a cheater is never fun, but dealing with someone who has no idea what he wants isn't much better (and never mind the whole doesn't-get-the-difference-between-discussion-and-argument bit I found in so many of my old emails about him). I don't see Bill having the potential to succumb to either fault at this point. We have many activities planned for fall, and finally, I have someone who wants to do things with me. I'm anxious with delight.

Well. So hopefully the apartment will work out in the coming week, and then after that I'll be back to work in Waltham. Last I heard from HR, my documentation on their end was "93% complete." Wondering what that last 7% is... In the meantime, I'll go back to re-learning all my shortcuts and haunts. Ah, Boston. How I missed you so.