1,000 Years of Death

Day: Three Hundred and Three

Photo taken on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 in Lucille Roberts in Massapequa, NY at 7pm.

I love Mat Pilates. It's a toned down version of real Pilates and an easier version of yoga. It's perfect for someone like me who isn't the most flexible and loves core exercises that abuse their stomach muscles. It is relaxing and fun but definitely hard work, especially the Downward Dog because holding up 180 pounds is no picnic.

I have come a long way since trying this class back in 2005 and I respect anyone who teaches or takes the class on a regular basis. I still tolerate the gas passers (hey, it happens) but I still can't bring myself to join in with the group and choose to wait it out. Though when I get home, well, that's a different story. ;-P

Heeey Heeey

Day: Three Hundred and Two

Photo taken on Monday, May 30, 2011 in our kitchen at 806pm.

En garde!

The crabs we catch are vicious and will do anything to remain free. I have had to turn the trap over and pry their claws off the metal until they fall into the bucket and Steve has had to chase them across our deck when two lucky ones actually found their way out of the bucket when no one was looking! One made it as far as the grass by the porch stairs but was retrieved and swiftly brought into the kitchen where the battle continued.

Tonight this guy is going all William Wallace on my crabbing tool and the sharp pings of claw meeting claw has Steve coming in to see what the major hold up is. Steve has to help me maneuver the bucket close to the boiling water because I fear dropping the crab on the floor and him nipping at my toes. After a few more parries the winner of this battle is determined:

Alan Wu

Day: Three Hundred and One

Photo taken on Sunday, May 29, 2011 on the dock at 558pm.

Since I missed the opportunity yesterday for an epic picture, Steve allowed me to tie him to a chair with my jump rope and mimic kicking him off the dock 300 style. That's love.


*Why I titled this Alan Wu: Alan Wu was one of the behind the scenes guys on Talk Soup that wore Coke-Bottle glasses and would do anything asked of him like dance around in red silk underwear. One time on Jerry Springer they had a woman that was to set a record of sleeping with the most men in one day which would be a total of 300. After the clip when they came back to John Henson, Alan was standing over his shoulder holding a slip of paper with 301 on it. He was sad. Both Alan and I had missed out on our chances so that deserves a lonely Wu-hoo today.*

*And now maybe some of you understand why I write Wu-Hoo! in text messages to you instead of woo-hoo.

EPIC FAIL

Day: Three Hundred

Photo taken on Saturday, May 28, 2011 in the living room at 904pm. (Pictured: On the love seat: Mike and Jenn. Stadium seating: Me and Jess. Beanbag chairs: Paul, Michelle and her tongue, and Heather. The manly men: Justin and Steve. On the floor: Chris Reed.)

I had planned it for weeks. Day 300 was nearing and I wanted to do something better than Day 200. I came up with a fantastic idea knowing that my friends and family would totally go along with it but when Day 300 came, it left without me realizing it because we were having too much fun.

Heather discovers the Indo board so we all have a go on it outside. She then concocts her "secret special drinks" for us with a variety of liquors displayed on our kitchen counter. We then all pitch in for food and start Netflixing and talking and laughing and I snap this picture. When everyone finally calls it a night and the last person trudges out the door it dawns on me...

I forgot about my epic picture.

I am so pissed at myself.

Imagine all those fine folks pictured above with war faces on, battling it out in our backyard with hockey sticks and brooms, some wearing capes made of towels, others donning silly hats. You can imagine it, right? It would have been epic, right? All those people above would have definitely participated but I feel I have failed them.

But they didn't fail me at all. They came to celebrate the big day with me and you know what? It was EPIC fun.

^_\

Gob

Day: Two Hundred and Ninety Nine

Photo taken on Friday, May 27, 2011 in the Copiague train station parking lot at 1050pm.


Sai has a "smart key". He has been known to confuse a few people that are lucky enough to get behind the wheel because when they go to shut him off they realize there is no key in the ignition. It's usually sitting in one of the cup holders but sometimes it's still in my bag in the backseat or on the passenger seat or in the trunk. Tonight, they're in Steve's hands as I follow him back to our casa after retrieving Sai. I admit, it's a bit nerve-wracking to not have the keys in the car and watch the key light angrily blink at me but it feels like a thrilling adventure at the same time!

"Collah!"

Day: Two Hundred and Ninety Eight

Photo taken on Thursday, May 26, 2011 in our bedroom at 933pm. (I am in love with the back of my neck at the moment.)

Here it is: the official Boston Marathon 2011 Jacket! I am super excited to get this in the mail and immediately start wearing it everywhere. I'm still flying high from actually completing my first marathon and keep replaying the day's events in my head from time to time. Now I finally can get the 26.2 sticker for the back of my car too!

I never thought I would see the day I could push my achy joints to finish a race that long. When I first started running again I didn't set a marathon as a goal, hell I didn't even think I could do a half either. I just wanted to do Blazin' Trails the following year and not have to walk at all. It has been a wonderful journey full of injuries, sweat, and tears but ultimately happiness.

Currently I am training for two more upcoming marathons in the fall, the first by myself and then running as Jamie's guide again (so excited and honored!). But after that, I might try my hand at triathlons. Problem is, I know NOTHING about biking. Anyone interested in coaching a total beginner?



Sleepwalker

Day: Two Hundred and Ninety Seven

Photo taken on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 in the bedroom at 107am.

This is usually the time I get up but since right now I reek of sweat, booze, and karaoke goers, I need to get up a tad earlier if I want to get my shower in before leaving for the train. I like the fact that the clock face is displaying a rising sun which doesn't make me feel too bad about getting up that early. But it's when I turn my alarm back a few minutes that I start to feel a little annoyed:

A night picture?!?! See, even my phone agrees that getting up any time before 5 is just ludicrous!

Party in the USA

Day: Two Hundred and Ninety Six

Photo taken on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011 in our private karaoke room in Duet 48 in New York, NY at 850pm. (Coworkers pictured from left: Julia, Me, Valerie, Cassandra, Samantha, Dr. Zong, and Peggy. Dr. Mwando had stepped out of the room when we took the pic but he was a big part of the night so that's him below singing some Usher.)

I can't sing. Nor have I ever claimed that I could even though Kim and Pher swear that I thought I could be the next Barbara Streisand and was convinced I would be a singer. I don't remember this at all. I like to sing especially in the car and the shower, but I totally suck. And even though I know this, I will still sing to you any chance I get.

My coworkers have no idea what they are in for when they invite me along for one of their karaoke nights because I croak instead of hold a tune but hell, I don't know what I'm in for with these party animals! I am apprehensive at first, tentatively leaning over Valerie to sing into her microphone when Dr. Zong starts us off with a little BSB, I Want It That Way. Everyone is totally cool and relaxed and just punching in numbers to popular hits, singing their hearts out. I finally work up the courage (have a drink) to ask Cassandra to be the Rihanna to my Eminem.

Yeah, that's right. I rap for my coworkers and at first they sit in stunned silence and then as if on cue, they all burst out laughing. This is a side of me they have never seen before. Never would they think the geeky white girl in medical records with the anime action figures on her desk would rap or listen to anything besides Lite FM. When the song ends I feel like one of them, I'm included, and it's a great feeling to just be accepted into a fun group of people. Now I'm flying high, I'm singing anything they throw up on the screen and taking notes from our Mistress of Ceremonies, Cassandra. She tries to pass the title to me but after hearing her belt out Beyonce, there is no way I can fill those shoes.

By the time Bossdad arrives, we have already bonded over Brad Paisley's Alcohol and force him to sing it again with us and then he has to have his solo, Gnarls Barkley's Crazy as well (since that is the theme of the Surge). When it gets close to 11 they have to pry the mic from my hands and push me out the door to catch my train. Tonight has been an awesome, awesome night that I will forever remember and always want to replicate with anyone who is willing to partake in this kind of fun. There are so many songs we didn't even get a chance to perform! I am definitely up for this again! Who's in?

Sticks and Stones

Day: Two Hundred and Ninety Five

Photo taken on Monday, May 23, 2011 in the Valda Smith Recovery Room Suite inside the Surge at 240pm.

As we are getting ready to host our Survive the Rapture Luncheon on Saturday, I cross the living room and find the only walking hazard then proceed to trip over it. It is the video game holder and my third metatarsal catches the cover without me noticing (yeah, my feet are that big). As I take a step down the cover opens up, keeps the toe securely in its grasp, and when the foot lands that's when the pain shoots up my entire leg.

A slew of F-bombs pierce the quietness of the Reab Household. Steve appears in the doorway. "What'd you do?"

Rather than admit I still do not know the length of my own feet, I blame him for leaving the games out. He takes no offense to this, being that this is not the first time I have stubbed my toe in his presence and every time I usually blame him for rearranging the furniture when I leave the room. "That couch was definitely three centimeters to the right when I went to go get the iced tea from the fridge!"

As the day wears on, the bruise gets darker and the swelling bigger. Today I ask my buddy, Dr. Mwando, if it's broken. He gets down to foot level and squeezes the toe. "Ow."

"Nope. Not broken. But come down to Recovery later and we'll throw you in the C Arm."

Yay! The C Arm!

One of the residents did this for me two years ago, right when Das Boot came off and I was clear for running but a day later-no joke-I decided to vacuum my apartment then stubbed my pinkie toe on said vacuum after I was too lazy to put it back in the closet. I successfully broke that little guy (the toe not the vacuum even though throwing it through the window did occur to me) and had to push back the running debut for another two weeks until I could wear my sneaks again.

So I go on down to Recovery once all the patients leave and we awkwardly stick my foot in the C Arm and take the picture. Drs. Zong and Mwando, Peggy, and Kise look at the x-ray and all come to the conclusion that it is not broken (phew!) and I should just not run for awhile (I'll probably run later). Feeling left out, Kise then sticks his ankle in the machine because it's been clicking lately so I get to press the big orange button to take the picture and then I get to join the doctors and the tech as we decide what to do about Kise's ankle-clicking problem which is nothing. Just don't walk on it, Kise, then it won't click.

Problems solved!

Cuttlefish?

Day: Two Hundred and Ninety Four

Photo taken on Sunday, May 22, 2011 outside of Rachel's Waterside Grill in Freeport, NY at 934pm. (Picture taken from the sidewalk garbage can: Me, Moma, Grandma Z., Charlie, Daddio, Father Bill, and Steve)

We are celebrating Charlie's 31st birthday tonight (a little early but who's counting?) and before he arrives (a little late but who's watching the clock?) I check out the menu and point out what he will most likely will order. It's the most expensive dish on the menu which he has a habit of ordering. It started back when he was a kid when he went out to dinner one night with Grandma Z. and Pop-Pop. He couldn't have been in middle school yet but there he was, menu propped up in front of him, looking at it with determination in his eyes. When the waitress came to take his order he told her he would like the lobster. Pop-Pop nearly choked. "You'll have a hamburger!"

Sure enough, once Charlie gets here and orders his usual coffee, he decides on the twin lobster tails stuffed with crabmeat. Steve hears him order it but I don't catch it since I am debating over which fish I want blackened-salmon or cod- so he nudges me and lets me know Charlie is going for the lobster. I smile. Of course he is; not only is it his birthday dinner so he gets whatever he wants but my older brother also has impeccable taste when it comes to food. Now movies on the other hand...  ;-P

We Didn't Start The Fire

Day: Two Hundred and Ninety Three

Photo taken on Saturday, May 21, 2011 on our deck at 314pm. (Pictured at the table: me and Heather. Men in the back: Justin and Steve)

"It's the end of the world as we know it."

The Rapture.

Doomsday.

What way to celebrate our last moments on earth than with good friends and good samwidges? Sure, I already know this morning when Steve leaves for work that the other Hemisphere is still in fine shape at 6pm their time but we can't be too positive. We still have a few hours before our life-ending earthquake hits New York. I just don't want to be doomed for eternity knowing that the last time I ate one of Steve's Infamous Supermelts was months ago, so we heat up the griddle and set to work. When we go to the fiery depths of hell this evening, at least we'll be full.

When 559 rolls around we fearfully lift our beer glasses (Justin opts for rootbeer since he's driving later) and we all stare intently at the cable box clock. It starts to rain (water not frogs) but it makes us wonder a bit... maybe we're not taking Harold Campings' prophesy seriously enough.

At six o'clock we wait a few seconds...

Cheers!

We make it through the Rapture unscathed!

As we imbibe our respective drinks and get back into fun conversations, we get a visitor to our deck. Then she so boldly visits our screen door:

I think she just wants to get in on the action of still being alive and free to jump from tree to rooftop to telephone wire till her little heart's content. Heather makes her a peanut butter samwidge to join in our celebration and as she devours it we all name her.

Meet our deck pet: Beatrice Tabitha Nesbitt

Swans and ducks and now squirrels! Feel free to come to our home and feed the animals (that includes Steve and I as well).

Swing Time

Day: Two Hundred and Ninety Two

Photo taken on Friday, May 20, 2011 at the neighborhood park in Great Neck, NY at 728pm.


Steve and I enjoy the time change when working with the twins because it enables us to take them out for walks and into the community which we know they love. It is a nice change of pace since this past winter was cold and snowy and kept us inside all the time. But right now we're chillin' on the swings and savoring the spring time air and I'm pumping so hard I can rival Inside Out Boy.

Charles in Charge

Day: Two Hundred and Ninety One

Photo taken on Thursday, May 19, 2011 in front of Donovan's Grill & Tavern in Bayside, NY with Daddio and Steve at 8pm.


Moma is supposed to be in the picture as well but she is going on her 57th hour of being stuck in Richmond International Airport due to inclement weather. As you can tell by the clear sky behind us this is very true and her plane ought to be grounded for at least another 15 hours until it clears up. Though she hasn't missed out on much tonight. Everyone's meals are "eh" and I think Dad's disappointment in his usual Shepherd's Pie has made him realize that there are other restaurants on Bell Blvd worth trying. We had intended to go somewhere else but Dad had a "Katie being Katie" moment instead: when we couldn't find parking close to the other dining establishment we came to Donovan's because they have their own parking lot.

"Stop looking at me swan!"

Day: Two Hundred and Ninety

Photo taken on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 in our backyard at 1119am.

Yeah, I pretty much take this picture for the sole purpose of using a Billy Madison quote as my title.

Fast Times at Reab High

Day: Two Hundred and Eighty Nine

Photo taken on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 while chillin' across the best bed in the world at 945pm.

I am the worst test taker in the world. Especially if it is a multiple choice exam. I am not fond of any choice that has more than one answer such as "both B & C" or "all of the above" and I definitely loathe the dreadful: NONE OF THE ABOVE.

Then what was the f-ing point of asking the question then?!?

I hated taking the SATs because sitting that long for a test is just cruel and then to make you fill out an extra section not knowing which one is scored and which isn't, who the hell made up that stupid rule? And I never could wrap my head around the fact that if you answered incorrectly it is worse than not answering the question at all. WTF?! It took me three tries to break 1000 and not because I am dumb but because I dutifully made it through the first two sections and lost interest by the time the second math section came up. And God forbid my fifth section happened to be math instead of English because then I took the SATs advice and didn't even do it at all.

I also don't believe in studying and it is a rare occurrance (like this one) for me to do it. I've been known to do a cram session as I walk down the hall to my impending doom but my philosophy has always been: if I don't know it after sitting through the class and doing the assignments, then I will never know it. And I am okay with this. If my brain doesn't want to retain information on Trigonometry it won't and instead will save the room for something more important like what channels Marty McFly, Jr. asks for in the year 2015.*

But here I am tonight, attempting to study up on some of the finer points to becoming a notary public for the Surge. Tomorrow morning I will sit through the exam of 40 questions and will spend the majority of the time second guessing myself and erasing the right answer to put in the wrong one. I am petrified to fail this test yet I will stop studying the minute Steve gets out of his shower to watch a new episode of Naruto Shippuden. I already know what will happen tomorrow: I will begin the test the right way until I get stumped halfway down the page then flip it over and work backwards until I meet up with the question that stumped me. I will then fuss over the scantron and stare blankly into space for several minutes until people start leaving which will make me so anxious that I will finally just finish to finish. Then I will pretend like this test never happened and go about my life until I hopefully get a pass slip in the mail.

If I don't recieve a pass slip you might see me on the five o'clock news in 4 to 6 weeks.




Answer: He asks for 18, 24, 63, 109, 87, and the weather channel...which is 247.

KakaSaku

Day: Two Hundred and Eighty Eight

Photo taken on Monday, May 16, 2011 in our bedroom at 136am.

Yeah I know I have to be up in four hours but I just can't help it. I've been sucked into a shameless smut fanfiction about Kakashi and his student, Sakura, and it's so good it would be a crime to close down Miles now. Steve has been out for at least two hours, my arm he's leaning on has fallen asleep, and I know I'm going to be exhausted at work tomorrow but I'm hooked. I used to read only Fullmetal Alchemist stories and I never thought I'd get this into Naruto fanfiction but phew *fans herself* this pairing can give Roy and Ed a run for their money.

Crabby Patties

Day: Two Hundred and Eighty Seven

Photo taken on Sunday, May 15, 2011 out on the dock at 1122am.

Donny lends Steve a crab trap and he wastes no time bringing it over to our neighbors, Joe and Linda-who are known in our community as the Crab People-to learn how to set this puppy up. Joe shows us how to bait and then get the crustaceans out of the trap while Linda gives us a Crab Cooking 101 class in her kitchen a little while later. It is the first time that I eat crab this fresh-five minutes out of the pot-and it is the sweetest and freshest crab you could ever possibly eat.

This morning Steve can barely contain himself, he wants to pull up the crab trap so bad to see what our leg of chicken has attracted. Unfortunately it is just a little guy so we can't keep him so we throw the trap back in, knowing he'll find his way out sooner or later. But we're excited about our new hobby regardless of how unsuccessful we are on day one. These "greenhorns" aren't giving up anytime soon!

My Hero!

Day: Two Hundred and Eighty Six

Photo taken on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at Justin's new apartment in Plainview, NY at 1135pm.

Justin is using his superhero strength to pick up my 180 pound frame specifically for this shot. I entertain the idea of fumbling around with my camera to watch him squirm under my weight but I thought that to be too cruel to do to a good friend. Especially since he let us come over to play Marvels and I drink two of his cream sodas during the game.

When I first arrive this afternoon, he is decked out in a camouflage tee and I make it known to him that he is not dressed up in a Batman shirt and this disappoints me. So Justin disappears into his room only to come back donning a retro Batman shirt instead which totally makes my night.

Super Strength + Vintage Batman = Awesomeness

Talking T-Shirts

Day: Two Hundred and Eighty Five

Photo taken on Friday, May 13, 2011 in the Manga Dining Room in front of our DVD collection at 1150pm.

This shirt was spotted at ICon and immediately purchased. Need I say more?

Raito

Day: Two Hundred and Eighty Four

Photo taken on Thursday, May 12, 2011 at my desk in the Manga Dining Room at 1029pm.

I've been letting my hair air-dry since my last cutting because the right side is not falling right and no matter how much effort I put in, it won't do anything but fall flat. So instead of wasting my time and electricity, I leave it alone. Sure it's looked like shit for the past month but the style is unworkable. I have to patiently wait for it to grow out.

But I thought by now my hair would have moved past all its boyish phases; I was wrong. I watched it grow out from Justin Bieberish and thankfully this time it passed by Jim Halpert. I can't hide it under a ski cap a la Snow Villiers this season but Prince Valium made a pit stop last week and now this. Now I am a few emo centimeters shy of a full out Light Yagami.

Tonight I made the executive decision to grow it long again.

Power Shot

Day: Two Hundred and Eighty Three

Photo taken on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at Cedar Creek Park in Seaford, NY at 654pm. (Pictured: The Legs from left to right: Steve, me, and Chris Reed. The peeps on the serving line: Mike and Jenn)

Oh it's that time of year again...HANDBALL TIME!!!!

Being that I'm from the North Shore, it may sound odd to you how much I love this game. But being that everyone I'm playing with on this court is from the South Shore, you know how I learned to love it.

What is cool about this particular game is that anyone can play, at any level, and it's always fun. As much as I enjoy the fast paced intensity of a one-on-one with Steve (or what really should be called a one-on-assbeater), I take pleasure in playing with as many people as we can get on one court. Hilarity will ensue and someone always gets hurt but it's the camaraderie that counts.

Purple Nurple

Day: Two Hundred and Eighty Two

Photo taken on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 in the bedroom at 1002pm.

One of my favorite entries I wrote for Life's Adventures was about me getting a new phone. I highly recommend you reading that one to fully understand why I am holding a new purple phone with very little effort on my part. It will help you grasp the concept of me being lazy and I know what you are thinking-I move around way too much to be lazy-but I assure you, I'm lazy. Because honestly, instead of me writing a BLOG entry here, I am directing you elsewhere.

Lazy.

Pretty much the new phone of that previous BLOG entry, the Orange Rumor, has been slowly deteriorating. First the right arrow stopped working which impeded on the fluid navigation of Facebook on my phone but Katie being Katie, I found a way around it so I didn't have to go to the Sprint service shop. Then the 7 button stopped working which made it very hard to delete my voicemails so I just stopped doing that too. Then the 8 and 9 stopped functioning as well and I just made calls through my contact list or the Surge phone or just didn't make a call at all. I think this behavior would have continued on for awhile if it wasn't for Moma calling up Sprint herself for another reason and then forcing me to get on the line and speak with a representative. And then they MAILED it to me because you and I both know, that new phone would sit in the store for awhile before I actually walked the four blocks to pick it up.

...Yeah, I'll voluntarily run a marathon but I won't subject myself to four city blocks.

Stay

Day: Two Hundred and Eighty One

Photo taken on Monday, May 9, 2011 on the stairs leading to the attic at 1132pm.

I have been going nonstop for six weeks now. As the BLOG has documented, this past month I was in eight different states. Eight. I still have to get through four more days until I finally get a chance to breathe and maybe unpack a box or two or all of them that are still stacked everywhere. If you haven't noticed by now, I try to squeeze in as many things as I possibly can into one day/week/month/year/eternity. I am all about living my life to the fullest, every second counts, and I'm not about to slow down.

But tonight, tonight I just want to lay in bed and watch a Southie* with Steve-O and just be. And even that is a moment I'm going to try and stretch to its limits.




*Our name for South Park reruns on Comedy Central.

Happy Moma's Day!

Day: Two Hundred and Eighty

Photo taken on Sunday, May 8, 2011 in the lobby of the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, VA at 3pm. (Pictured: Daddio, Moma, Preston, Kimberly, and I. Back Row: Thomas Jefferson)

Very much like my parents' birthdays, it is still very hard to come up with a great gift idea for their respective Sundays. Luckily for me but not so much for my mom, she misplaced her set of keys recently therefore I am able to purchase her a new Coach key chain for Moma's Day as a little extra gift. (*Note: Kim had been the one previously to buy her a Coach keychain. It was a cute flip-flop. The one I buy her, has two cute flip-flops. Just saying.) So besides that and her very nice plants from Kim and Pres, we take her out for an amazing brunch at this lavish hotel. It was Kim's idea two years ago and it was a fabulous way to spend a morning: gorgeous surroundings and unlimited trips to the dessert station. But last year, we forgot to call the day after Mother's Day so we were then #150 on the waiting list. Yeah, 150. It's really that good.

But this year we are #15 and Kim and her lawyering ways gets us a spot for the Champagne Brunch two days in advance. I think all of us enjoy the delicious spread and I know for a fact Preston loves the jazz musicians set up in the corner. One lady even comes over to remark on how interested he is because she too watches him grab a chair, pull it across the room, station it in front of their instruments, and literally sits back with his hands behind his head and watches them intently. Preston never ceases to amaze us.

So Moma, I hope you enjoyed the brunch and the rest of the day spent hanging out with your daughters! We love you very much!

^_\

For Kimberly's take on the weekend and some really great shots of everyone please click here! (My fave is of Preston with the alligator...you'll know which one.)

Mawwiage

Day: Two Hundred and Seventy Nine

Photo taken on Saturday, May 7, 2011 with the lovely bride, Jessie, at her wedding in Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield county, VA at 645pm.

I am having a blast at Jessie's wedding right now; the DJ has been playing tunes I totally rock out to in my car, the food is barbeque which is AWESOME, and the folks sitting at our table are a nice bunch of people. This is my first Virginia wedding and I am enjoying the laid back atmosphere a lot. I'm really glad I get to witness her and Matt's special day and I wish them much love and happiness for years to come! Congrats!

^_\

Footsie

Day: Two Hundred and Seventy Eight

Photo taken on Friday, May 6, 2011 with Moma in BT Nails in Midlothian, VA at 639pm.

I'm not very girly but when it comes to getting pampered and massaged, I will NEVER say no. Moma coerces me into pedicures when I return from college saying that they use lotions to rub your feet and it is so relaxing you could fall asleep. She has me on the lotion part because if I don't have to do it compulsively, maybe I can actually enjoy it for once.

And I do. I am so hooked. As long as I choose a polish that I can see through, I will sit in that chair until they forcefully kick me out. Plus the girls that work there are amazing and do a thorough and great job, digging out all the damage I do to my nail beds from running and making my man feet look presentable. They are miracle workers!

Yo quiero Taco bell.

Day: Two Hundred and Seventy Seven

Photo taken on Thursday, Cinco de Mayo, 2011 in Taco Bell on Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown, NY at 943pm. (Pictured from right: Steve giving Eskimo kisses to Jenn's burrito, me and my-what Moma likes to call-Prince Valiant hair, Aunt Linda, Jenn, and Mike-who is flabbergasted at the moment)

For some reason, the five of us are positive that if you wait until 9pm on Cinco de Mayo surely you will have no trouble getting into a Mexican restaurant because who would honestly want to party all night long on a fun, festive holiday like Cinco de Mayo?

Everyone apparently.

Mike is turned away from On the Border as we all wait for him inside Sai because we already know it's bad news when all the windows of the joint are blocked by people standing and the party has overflowed into the parking lot. Though the hostess telling him it would be a three hour wait has him shaking his head and mumbling about it all the way to Mangoes, which only has a 35 minute wait.

Wrong.

There is no way a place that has 100 people standing around outside have only a 35 minute wait (they quoted us over the phone). Steve doesn't even pull in but goes straight past it and into Taco Bell which has no wait at all. We have to celebrate and we have to celebrate right. We were craving empanadas but we'll just have to settle for cheesy gordita crunches.

Though Mike is too upset to even consider our favorite TBell meal. He's still uttering "three hours" after each bite. I guess next year we'll learn from our mistake and just park ourselves in the bar at On The Border two days prior to the holiday.

Simply Meant To Be

Day: Two Hundred and Seventy Six

Photo taken on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 in the Time Out Room at 928pm.

This happens by accident and when I go to "undo" it, I stop.

I actually like it.

Despite the rough cut, the border getting into the picture, and not being what I had intended...it fits. It feels right. It's definitely us. All I want to do is shrink our outlines, smooth the edges, and plaster us over the last scene in Nightmare Before Christmas but I make a wrong turn and end up with this and that's okay. It is easily fixable and I have the time to play around more but I like the way the image lays inside of us. My eye is drawn to the curve of the hill and I think it's funny that we try to copy the silhouettes but do opposite handholding without even thinking about it.

Steve reintroduced me to Nightmare when we started hanging out back in our Genesis days and "Sally's Song" defined what I had been going through as his friend (that and Gavin Degraw's "Nice to Meet You Anyway" but Steve finds that song sadder than this one and also he doesn't like the fact that Degraw rhymes "special" with "special"). Obviously we worked through all the obstacles because we're together but back then, I really didn't know how long I would have to wait.

And honestly, I would have waited forever.

That is, unless he married someone else, then I would have taken a hint.

Hummingbird

Day: Two Hundred and Seventy Five

Photo taken on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 in the upstairs bathroom at 1147pm.

I hate clipping my fingernails. I hate the sound of it regardless if I'm doing it or I witness someone else doing it but I hate the feel of clipping them off as well. It makes my arm hair stand on end. In order to accomplish this awful task, I hum to distract myself. And I don't hum anything in particular like Yankee Doodle Dandy, I just hum. The volume of the humming will fluctuate depending on how much it is bothering me which really just bothers whoever is hearing me hum.

Mangia!

Day: Two Hundred and Seventy Four

Photo taken on Monday, May 2, 2011 with bossdad at Centolire on Madison Avenue in New York, NY at 113pm.

It has reached the point that there is absolutely nothing to buy my parents for their birthdays; they seriously have everything they could possibly need. The days of buying my dad a CD from The Wall are over because even though The Wall hasn't been in the Walt Whitman Mall for a decade, I am sure the CDs I purchased for him still have the cellophane on them including the blue sticker that guarantees a replacement CD if it should scratch (or end up on a different CD you did not buy at The Wall). The days of me picking out ties for him are over: 1) because mom is the queen of matching shirts and ties and 2) because every tie I buy him finds its way into the Goodwill bag after one wearing. The days of cuff links didn't even start because mom has cornered that market and it is dry already, folks.

So that leaves Broadway shows and food. I would have picked another Broadway show but seeing that I have still yet to take him to his last year's Father's Day gift of Avenue Q, I settle for food. I let him pick the place and time and here we are! Dad's birthday luncheon! I can't possibly go wrong with this birthday gift because we always order the same thing when we dine here: fettuccine bolognese (which is the best damn bolognese I have ever eaten).

I can tell already that the gift of a dining experience with yours truly is definitely better than a Goofy tie.

Team Reab

Day: Two Hundred and Seventy Three

Photo taken on Sunday, May 1, 2011 in Sai on the way to JFK airport at 503pm. (Pictured in front seat: Steve and I; Backseat: Anna and Pher; Back-backseat: Mike and Jenn)

I don't care if it is only for an hour, I am happy to see Pher and Anna. Since we end up hitting traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike and have to wait a half an hour for gas at one of the rest stops, it only leaves us with enough time to drive Pher and Anna to the airport. We had planned on all going upstairs to Dad's apartment for a soda and some relaxation before heading out but that plan has gone out the window. Instead poor Jenn and Mike are losing circulation in their legs as I try to maneuver around the potholes and bumps in NYC so they don't smash their heads into the ceiling. Despite the cramped space, we are all enjoying each other and catching up on what has been happening in each other's lives.

Pher and Anna had a wedding this weekend and are now on their way back to Arizona and I am sad to see them go. I'll be seeing Pher in July when he comes back from his trip to Italy but Anna has to go straight home (booooo work!). I am grateful for this car ride, a chance to joke around with both my family and Steve's and look forward to the next time we will all meet again under one roof. Just hopefully not Sai's roof.