Emmit and Me

If any of you have read the book "Marley and Me" then you all know how heartwrenching the book is but there are also some hysterical moments in it as well. My dog, Emmit, is a black lab who is a clone of Marley! Everyone in my family who has read the book has commented on how Emmit and Marley are the exact same dog! Everything about him is the same...from eating poopy diapers to knocking down a Xmas tree. He even has health problems like Marley!

We just found out on Xmas eve that Emmit tore his ACL...once again! Last year in October, he tore his ACL on his left hind leg...now it's his right hind leg. He had to wear a cast and had trouble getting up and down our back porch steps to go to the bathroom. He loves to sleep where ever we are so when we would go upstairs to bed, he would start to cry because we were away from him. So I would camp out on the couch so he could lay on the floor right next to me. He's such a momma's boy!

So, anyway, please say a little prayer for my canine son, Emmit, as he has to have surgery on January 6. I know he'll be fine but I am a mother and worry!

I have a cute side note that Andrew had asked me over the summer. I told Andrew that Emmit was my first baby. He didn't seem to understand and he asked me, "Was Emmit in your belly too?" I had to explain that he had a mommy and a daddy that were dogs...explaining that was more difficult than I thought! Anyway, I thought it was cute!

"Oh, What a Night..."

So, we got together with some friends over the weekend for an adult only weekend of FUN! We headed to Atlantic City, had dinner at Buddakhan, and drank ourselves into a coma at a martini bar inside Balleys! Due to my recent paycheck downsizing, courtesy of the powers-to-be, I didn't spend much money on gambling. I wan't a bore either but just limited myself to a few dollars to at least give myself the chance to win BIG and quit work! Unfortunately, neither happened! We did, on the other hand, had an interesting night at the bar! We drank, danced, drank, sang, and drank... We even made a new friend named Robert! He was literally comparible to the Energizer Bunny! He danced nonstop from the time we got there around 9:30pm until we left which was around 3:30am. Last time I checked, he was still there offering pole dances on the step railings. I had the chance to talk to him and claimed that he was a professional dancer that has worked in over 40 states in the US. No matter what his resume, he was full of energy and very entertaining. Also, he was sober the entire time...just drank water!

Santa...I Can Explain...

So, my annual Christmas fundraiser, Letters From Santa, is over! I sent out the final touches tonight and hopefully everyone will be happy with their letters from the big guy! I had a good response, not as great as in past years but since all of the money raised goes towards Lebanon County's Relay for Life/American Cancer Society, EVERY dollar counts!!! I sell the letters for $2.50 each and each person gets a personalized letter with specifics about themselves in it. It is addressed to them and they get it in time for Xmas. Andrew LOVES it!!! In past years, I've sold an average of $200 worth...this year I brought in $120. It's less, but like I said, it's every dollar that counts! I keep thinking that it's penny pinching or that people just forget! Next year, I'll have to see about maybe coming up with a website or something. We always have it posted on our Relay website: www.lebcorelay4life.org so in the future, you can always check it on there!

This year I didn't have as many interesting letters as in past year. Usually I get some letters to go an elderly person in a nursing home wishing for a boyfriend and some knitting needles but this year I got a 35 year old wanting a beautiful wife and a license to sell beef?????

Anyway, just want to thank everyone who supported my fundraiser and look forward to doing it in the spring with letters from the Easter Bunny!!! It's all of you who support Relay for Life that allow us to put a stop to this terrible disease!!!

The Three Wisemen Were Neither Wise Nor Men...Discuss

Andrew's job his year was to set up our nativity scene. I told him that he could set it up where ever and how ever he wanted in our living or dining room. He found the perfect spot for it in our living room and set it up as seen in the picture.

Note: the wiseman that brought frankincense (or as Andrew seems to think...Frankenstein) is laying on his back.

I had asked Andrew if he fell and he said, "No, I put him on his back." When I asked him why he said, "Hello, because he is dead!"

Boy, did I ever walk into that one! I actually had nothing to say after that...nothing!

"I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends"

The past 2 weeks have been somber for me...let's admit it! Just because my career has been upheaved against my will doesn't mean that I need to have a negative outlook on my life and let things stand still. I can still have fun and have a life! This past weekend, I did a little bit of everything! I went to my work holiday party (which was surprisingly pleasant), we had our 4th annual Christmas party with my bestest friends, and I finished my Xmas shopping (which unfortunately was reduced against my will as well). ***Keep in mind, that I am TRYING to paint this negative picture not so negatively...still bitter!***

My friends and family have bent over backwards to make my life more sound. They try to tell me that this is all happening for a reason, that good things will come out this. I also appreciate their kind words of encouragement and giving me the whole "go get 'em"

speech but what I most appreciate it the funny moments of laughter that I get from a few special peeps who know who they are! Saturday night I laughed so hard that my stomach muscles hurt the next morning! That was what I needed and I am indebted to those people! I love you all so much for being my bestest friends in the whole wide world!!!

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

We made our trip to and from NYC without any weather problems. We were worried that it would be cold or snowing. On Sunday, it was raining the entire time but it didn't stop us from seeing the city! We were fortunate that it wasn't too cold...just wet! We ended up just walking around the Rockefeller Center vicinity and stopped at a few shops. We made our way down Fifth Avenue and stopped in a few shops such as FAO Schwartz, The Disney Store, NikeTown, and so on. We checked out the unlit Xmas tree in Rockefeller Center despite the wind and rain. We managed to destroy 3 umbrellas while we were there! We went back to our room for a quick nap time pick-me-up and then went to our favorite Italian restaurant in Little Italy...Da Nico's. It's the best!!!! We HIGHLY recommend it! Then, we walked around Times Square for a bit!

The next morning, the weather was much more cooperative with us! It was sunny and 48 degrees!!! We woke up and headed to Macy's Santa Land!!! It was so much fun! I had seen bits and pieces of it on youtube.com but you don't get a true sense of it until you are there! While we were there, we made a stop to visit Santa Claus himself! Andrew ended up waving to him in terror but avoided sitting on his lap or getting his picture taken with him. I ended up sitting on his lap and realized the anxiety one has when asked the ultimate million dollar question: "What do you want for Christmas?" Honestly, when Santa asked me, I responded "I don't know." Now, you may ask "What kind of answer is that?" In the heat of the moment, I had no idea but can now tell you about 30 things I would like at this very second! It is very stressful and puts a lot of pressure on you! I understand why kids get freaked out by it! Andrew much rather shoot Santa an email from our laptop! Quicker and stress-free! I see where he's coming from now!

We then went to check out the window displays for Saks, Macy's, and Lord and Taylor! By far, Saks was the most beautiful where Macy's was more towards kids! We also went to Bryant Park and went ice skating! It was a challenge but we did it! Andrew only lasted about 10 minutes. It literally took longer to get his ice skates on than the amount of time he spent on the ice. Oh well, at least he can say he ice skated in NYC!

A Funny Misunderstanding!

So, the other day I told Andrew that we were going to run some errands and that he needed to clean up his toys so we could leave. Andrew took his time cleaning up and finally put everything away. As I'm getting his shoes on, he says to me, "Are they home?" I didn't know who or what he was talking about so I asked him who he meant and he said, "Eryn, Pank, and Romy." I still had no idea what he was talking about because it was so random. He said, " You said that we were going to Eryn's...I thought they went to Spain!"

Translation: he thought when I said running "errands" that I really was saying "Eryn's". The sad thing is that he really thought we were going to their house and was REALLY excited b/c he thought he was going to play with Romy!

Eryn: if you're reading this, I'm sure you'll get a kick out it!!! I thought it was cute!