Off Kings Highway: 01/01/2006

It's the most wonderful time of the year .... the Girl Scout Cookie Sale! I've been inundated by little girls hard selling these cookies and find it impossible to resist. Thin Mints are still my favorite with Do-Si-Dos following closely behind them. Fifteen minutes ago, two little urchins came to the door selling them. It was pouring rain and they were so damn cute, I simply could not say no to them

Some pictures of our St. Lucia trip follow....

January 28, 2006

I’ve been cranky beyond all belief the past days and taking it out on everyone in my path, especially Chris, who is so sweet and even tempered he’s not pissed off at me, but rather very understanding. Today I’m going to really try to be in a better mood. We have a fun night ahead at Lynne’s playing some murder mystery game so that ought to be good.

January 26, 2006, Book stuff

We tore through books on the trip. After, many exhortations from my family and friends, I finally succumbed to the Harry Potter madness and am here to tell you that I loved the first book and am now looking forward to the rest of them.

I also read I Am Charlotte Simmons, Tom Wolfe’s latest, which I thoroughly enjoyed. But the book which totally captured me is Jeannette Wall’s memoir the Glass Castle, which chronicles her hardscrabble childhood replete with an alcoholic, but still engaging and charming father, as well as a very unconventional mother. She and her family moved around and were always one step ahead of the bill collectors, but despite this and many other hardships, she writes of her childhood knowingly yet also with great tenderness. Read it. It’s worth it.

January 26, 2006

St. Lucia was wonderful in several ways. First, it was a chance to both of you to just sit back and exhale. Secondly, it’s a beautiful and lush paradise and the resort was exquisite. Just sitting back on the beach with a drink and a book was exactly what the doctor ordered.

For some reason, I had a few moments of real clarity on this trip. One day when I was happily jumping in the waves, I had this epiphany, or a real return to my childhood. It was when the wave crashed over my head – something about the taste of the salt water on my lips and the smell of the Coppertone sunscreen I was using, made me remember all the happy and uncomplicated days I’d spent at our little house on Long Beach Island. I hadn’t been in the ocean much since we sold our house, and something about the whole experience on the beach at St. Lucia transported me back to that time. I even had a vivid dream about it. My dad and my grandparents were in it and that always makes me happy because it brings them back to life for me, if only fleetingly.

I’m back to work now and I think it will be a good fit. Bob’s a very bright, interesting guy who has his priorities in order. Family first, everything else second. The work will be a challenge for me, and a radical change from anything I’ve ever done before, but I’m good at thinking outside of the box and I think that’s what this job requires. Bob, like Tom Bullock and Bob Weinstein before him, works collaboratively, which suits me. I’ll keep you posted.

January 13, 2006

We’re off to St. Lucia tomorrow for our honeymoon. I desperately need a break after all the excitement of the past weeks. My cold is finally beginning to lift and I cannot wait to get on to a nice warm beach with a drink and a book.

Ciao for now.

January 12, 2006

I’ve been on a real roller coaster these past few weeks. First there was the elation of getting married to Chris, who is my partner in every way imaginable. That was followed by a lovely New Year which came before the letdown of his family going back to England, Saying goodbye to them after such a great visit was really difficult and sad for me. I’d grown quite fond of them and their leaving made me cry. I got an awful cold afterwards, from which I am still recovering. But worst of all was the phone call I received from my sister Gina last week to tell me that my cousin Carol’s daughter Jessie had been killed in a car crash in Pennsylvania. She was in the left lane stopped to turn when a van rear ended her and pushed her into incoming traffic whereupon her car was hit by a pickup truck killing her instantly. She was only twenty six years old and in love and happy for the first time in her life. She’d always felt a bit of an outsider and was just experiencing the joys of friendship, love and camaraderie. Yesterday was the funeral. To say it was heartbreaking would be to underestimate the effect it had on me. She was my cousin’s beloved and beautiful only child. I cannot imagine how she stood there receiving people yesterday. It was a wrenching experience for me, my mom and my sisters.

January 4, 2006

The house is empty now that the family has gone back to England and Chris has gone back to work. I’m exhausted and sick, but it was a great time. I just plan to lounge around for the most part today and hope that I perk up tomorrow. The entire place needs a good cleaning. I just saw a dust bunny the size of my head downstairs. I’m going to try to ignore it and perch myself on the couch with a cup of tea, a book and maybe a movie.

Happy New Year

Yesterday was great and totally relaxing for all. We sat around, finished the keg, noshed on meatballs and leftovers and had a steady stream of friends and family in all day including Gina and John, Joanna, Catherine, Ralph, Jason, Melissa and Bill. We had a rip roaring good game of Trivial Pursuit as well. Joanna, Mel and I teamed up to cream our opponents. I’m competitive as hell and so are Jo and Mel. Lots of good laughs. We had Ralph be a floater to help with the sports questions, which none of us could really answer properly. It was a great day.

The family is off to Philly again. I am starting a cold and feel sort of lousy. Henry has an earache and needs to go the vet. Normalcy is returning, albeit slowly.

Happy New Year to all near and far. I love you.