I finally did it!

After my whole 30 B4 30 project, I was able to get two pieces of artwork framed nicely with a thick, plain black frame. I always wanted to enter my artwork in an exhibit or have my own show featuring all of my drawings and paintings from throughout the years. I always thought it would happen before I turned 30, but instead, TK hung the artwork in our apartment so they could be on display for the several people who have actually been to our apartment in the last few months. Not the same effect, but recently, one of the pieces had to come down and get bubble wrapped.

I entered "Bacchanal" into the Patchogue Arts Council's Juried Member Show that will be up from March 21 - May 22, 2011 in the Callahan Library on the Long Island Campus of St. Joseph's College. Thankfully, I only had to go a couple blocks to drop the piece off, and I know the area ;).

Today (on the first day of the show), like a huge dork, I went to go see my piece and it is currently hanging on the wall in the library with a few other black and white pieces. The show includes textiles, sculpture, paintings and drawings. I have no idea who created them all yet, but I will get to meet the artists at a reception next month. I find it interesting that a drawing of dozens of nude figures named after an orgy is hanging in a library named after a nun. Just a thought I had. Hmmm...

Honestly though, art is a big deal to me. I love creating it. I love looking at it. I love reading about it and I love visiting it. I just love it so much that I studied art and got a degree in it and a minor certificate in the history of it. So, I guess that means I am kind of an expert, right? I do consider myself an artist even though I don't get paid to create actual art every day. I get paid to write, plan and promote, but I don't get paid to write this blog, unfortunately. Maybe one day...and maybe one day I will have my own art exhibit featuring me. It will happen. I just hope it doesn't take another 30 years.

Am I smarter with my smartphone?

In 2009 I purchased the iPhone 3G (which is considered vintage now) and since then, it has been attached to me. And, the ironic thing is that I really don't like talking on the phone all that much. Texting though, that's where it's at.

I think there is something to say about limitless knowledge in a little box with rounded edges. The iPhone gives me answers to my questions with the swipe of a finger and the tap of a fingertip. There are just things that my iPhone can do that most of my friends and my own brain cannot, and that's rough for me to confess. For instance, I have settled many a bet with my Google application. I've found out the names of random songs on the radio using Shazam. And, I've converted currency with Oanda and learned bad words in Italian on iTranslate; all for no reason at all. But, the actual reason I do all this is because I can. I have the ability to do whatever 8 gigs and my AT&T connection allow me to do, and I plan on getting the most out of my $90 voice and data plan.

The only problem with having an iPhone is that I am always connected. I can't use the excuse that I couldn't get to a computer or a phone. I have both. Fortunately, I can say that my battery died or my phone was on vibrate, and be telling the truth...most of the time. (Did I mention I don't really like talking on the phone?)

Now that my friends realize how cool the iPhone is and how much I use it, they have actually gone ahead, made the purchase and entered the technological land of no return. And, as they travel to this land, I have become their iPhone ambassador. I have earned a burrito and a pick 2 at Panera Bread for my iPhone tutelage. I showed them how to use the phone, some of the features and recommended useful or fun apps, and I believe this was all very meal-worthy. Similar to a man, the way to my brain is through my stomach, so I am willing to help anyone who purchases an iPhone and needs help using it. After all, there are cheeseburgers, ice cream and waffles left to eat.

Now, what about that iPhone 5?

I Don't Wanna Grow Up

This is my favorite part of the year. It is the part when I start planning a vacation with the hotel and the flights already booked. So, I know I am definitely scheduled to hit the road.

In August my family and I will be heading to Walt Disney World. For me it will be the 14th time I have traveled to my second favorite place on this great planet we call Earth (My first is Hawaii. It was sick and I am going back in 2012.). I just love going to Disney because it is just so much fun and I can be as immature as I want with little or no repercussions. For example, in WDW as an adult, I have:

• Seen my father, husband, cousin and uncle in costume on a hot summer day
  
• Eaten an ice cream pop while having it drip down my arm
  
• Skipped leisurely through Fantasyland
• Strapped a stuffed Mickey Mouse tour guide to my backpack and listened to him give tips and advice throughout the day
• Raced through Epcot barefoot in the rain to get to a dinner reservation on time
• Eaten an ice cream sundae named The Kitchen Sink after partaking in a seafood buffet (three family members got sick, one quit and TK and I sipped the remaining liquid through a straw to finish it)
• Worn a Goofy pirate hat
• Sang "It's a Small World" with a British accent like Zazu from The Lion King
  

Yea, I have no shame and apparently, no boundaries. I think living this way allows you to really, truly experience what fun is. So, let your guard down and have a great time...even if you need to pay Mickey a visit in order to do so...I'll even send you a sample itinerary.

What happens in Vegas...

After a long weekend in Vegas, I am pretty tired...still. It was a four-day weekend with a lot to do. We started our journey off by flying Southwest from Long Island to Chicago to Las Vegas; all eight of us. Come to think of it, the only luck I had the entire weekend was when the flight attendant forgot to ask me to pay for the two glasses of wine I drank on the flight there.

When we arrived at Mandalay Bay, we changed and headed to one of the bars in the hotel called Eyecandy Lounge. It was pretty late when we arrived, so this lounge was convenient. After a few drinks and even more laughs, we finally crashed. The next morning we woke up and a few of us headed to the breakfast buffet. Las Vegas is the land of the ultra abundant buffet, but TK and I only gave the one at Mandalay a try. After we rounded up the troops, we all headed to the Hofbräuhaus, which is a Bavarian beer garden/hall that also has an ever-popular location in Munich, Germany. They serve their namesake beer by the liter or 1/2 liter (if you are feeling more weak and less German) and it is delicious. They also serve and decorate with pretzels as big as your head. I love restaurants with a theme and this was my favorite part of the trip.

After leaving the Hofbräuhaus, we headed over to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, which was diagonally across the street. There were rock artifacts speckled throughout the lobby area and the dimmed lighting and variety of shops and restaurants made this hotel/casino seem very naughty, but I guess that's rock n roll so, they got it right. We went back to the hotel to get ready for the Cirque du Soleil show. We all got pretty decked out and headed to the Bellagio for O. The acrobats in the show had insane musculature and it was a great show. However, after seeing show after show on Broadway and at Disney, I thought $117 would provide a little something more. The flips, dives and back bends were impressive, but a lot of the characters were creepy, which is pretty customary for a Cirque show. I did love the artistry of the colors, costumes and makeup. After the show, some of us headed over to the Venetian for a couple drinks at their V Bar and Tao Asian Bistro. It was not a late night, so we headed back pretty early and stopped at an In and Out Burger for a snack (of course we did).

On Saturday, we decided to head over to New York New York to ride the roller coaster. It was fun but I am not sure $15 was worth the minute and a half it took to ride. After the coaster, I played three songs of Dance Dance Revolution in the arcade, got sweaty for no reason and then headed over to a pub called Nine Fine Irishmen. It's a traditional Irish pub with padded bar stools and draught beers. Afterward, we hopped in a cab and headed over to the Yard House. TK and I visited one in Arizona and loved it, so we wanted everyone else to see what was so go great about it. The food was good and the beer was even better. They have over 100 beers on tap and I was able to eat a burger with lobster and asparagus on it. I like the ability to try something new every time we visit a Yard House because the selection of food and drink differs at each location. We then stopped at the Luxor and Colleen and I walked back over to Mandalay and the Minus 5 Ice Bar. They gave us coats and gloves and then guided us into the bar/refrigerator for our experience. It was freezing but we enjoyed ordering a drink at a bar made of ice, drinking a cocktail out of a cup made of ice and sitting on animal fur so our rears didn't stick to the bench that was, you guessed it, made of ice. There were ice sculptures, ice chandeliers and pink and blue lights shining through all of the ice architecture around us. It was pretty unique and we learned that people don't normally stay longer than 20 minutes, and neither did we.

That night we all got dressed up again and headed to dinner at Little Buddha at The Palms Casino Resort. It was our fancy dinner of the weekend and we enjoyed the food and the ambiance of red, purple and black velvet with fine silk accents. It felt very luxurious, until I started popping edamame out of the pods and the spices lit my mouth on fire. That was a little rough because I don't really do spicy, but the lettuce wraps that Colleen and Leslie ordered were delicious. After walking around The Palms and not liking the snootiness we felt just being there, we decided to go back to New York New York. Since we couldn't get into the dueling piano bar, we headed across the way and hung out at a steakhouse and enjoyed some conversation.

The next day was all about football. We started watching pre-game coverage at the PBR Rock Bar at the Miracle Mile in Planet Hollywood. Dan had a burger inside an enormous onion ring, TK had macaroni and cheese with crushed up Doritos in it and I got to taste cole slaw sprinkled with Pop Rocks...this was all after I ate a Belgian waffle and half of a chocolate chip pancake. I guess I was hungry. Unfortunately, we didn't ride the mechanical bull before we headed over to Blondies for the playoff games. We enjoyed their wings but we did not enjoy the Jets loss. That was a rough one for our entire group. We drowned our sorrows, or just made it worse, by gambling back at the hotel before heading to bed to prepare for our departure the next day.

Some of us lost and some of us won, but all 10 of us had the chance to bond and spend a long weekend together. Even if one of us had a leg brace, one spent the night in a bathtub, one needed to go to Gamblers Anonymous, one dressed as a rock star, one was the star of stage and screen and one belted out the words to Be Our Guest in public...we all had fun together as a group, and that's what really mattered.

Until next year...

Big Plans for This New Year

I am not the biggest fan of odd numbers, but I think that 2011 might bring me a lot of new and exciting things. First and foremost, I plan on keeping my self-respect and fire so that I can still be called difficult and never weak or naive. So there.

Now for the rest of the year, I have a few trips planned because new experiences are what keep me inspired. This month, I will be heading to Las Vegas for the third time in my life to tear it up with my friends. I've been there for a bachelorette party and with my family, but never with friends. We are all VERY excited. I will be going to see my first expensive Cirque du Soleil show, O, while we are there. The next trip I have planned is for work. I will be attending a conference in San Francisco on "Social Media and Community." The subject matter is very interesting to me, which you can probably see if you are friends with me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter. I am always down to learn new things, and if a world famous chocolate shop is down the street (Ghirardelli), I am certainly interested in traveling across the map to learn about whatever you want to teach me. The last trip I have penned in the datebook is to the one and only Walt Disney World and then Orlando, Florida. I will be away for two weeks with my family. I have been apart from Mickey for too long, even though normal people will say I was just there in 2009. I just love it there because I can break out in song randomly or skip down the street or dance to the music in my head, and no one cares! They just think, "She's feeling the magic," and they are right. The second week of our trip will be dedicated to golf, shopping, dining and Sea World, I think. For us, the second week is spent recuperating from the prior week of go, go, go at Disney. Also, speckled within the year will probably be a couple random weekend road trips with TK to see the states that don't require a plane or train to get to. This is only the beginning of the excitement.

This year, I would also like for TK and I to buy a home. We are outgrowing our current home and I would like to be able to use my Kitchenaid mixer and some of the other items I received for my bridal shower two years ago. It just frosts my cupcakes that all of our stuff is still in their boxes and that I will probably have to replace all of the spices on my spice rack because they are probably expired. I would love a place with a large kitchen and a nice little nook for me to draw, read or write. Ahhhh, that would be lovely. Some other bonuses would be a nice bathtub for frequent soaks and a fireplace to cuddle up in front of, but I won't hold my breath.

Another idea for this year is a possible baby bump...but don't get too excited! I am just considering it. I don't want anyone spreading any rumors or putting a December 31st deadline on me. Kids change your life forever and I like to sleep, so this is a big decision that I don't need anyone making for me. Since September 13, 2008 (the day after getting married) I have been asked about pregnancy. It is so strange that pregnancy is frowned upon until the day you get married, and then the day after it's like GAME ON! That's a lot of pressure. But, I would like to have a kid before I have to worry about being old and having complications. Right now I have a prescription for prenatal vitamins in my pocketbook. It is haunting me and I am not sure how I feel about it, especially since people talk about morning sickness, weight gain, hormones, mood swings and how your vagina is never the same. I may have to reconsider this whole situation. I'll get back to you.

So, that is what 2011 has in store for me, well, I hope. Watch, I'll reread this on December 31, 2011 and laugh at how wrong I was or, I will peer at it over a huge belly with a bowl of Chubby Hubby ice cream perched on top of it. Either one.

My Hair is a Person

You will notice that I have curly hair from the first second you meet me. People who have to explain who I am usually say, "Melissa is the one with the curly hair." It's just that obvious. It's heavy and it's needy, but it's a part of me.

Now because I have curly hair, one can never tell whether it is uneven or if it needs a cut because it curls differently in spots and it always has product in it. Well, except for the day that my colleagues deemed, "Natural Hair Day." That day I came to work with nothing in my hair and looked like a mix between Slash from Guns N Roses and Tina Turner, as you can see by the photo to the right. For this reason, I do not go to high end salons to get my hair cut. I go to Supercuts where they wash and cut my hair and don't charge me an arm and a leg, especially when I don't ask them to blow it out and I leave with a wet head. Salons charge the same price for someone like me as they do for a Jennifer Aniston look-alike that they have to spend time styling before she leaves. At least at Supercuts, I spend $20 and leave with the same haircut I would've had for $50 at a high end salon. The stylists at Supercuts are licensed and are just as talented as the stylists that charge a ton of money. I am just too frugal to worry about a haircut that won't look any different no matter how you cut it (pardon the pun).

This hair requires a lot of attention, so I use a lot of product to get it the way I like it and I am not flattering myself when I say that I have encountered many people who ask me how I get my hair the way it is. (It's true, just ask TK.) There are days where I hate it, it frustrates me and no style works but people do ask on the good days, so I am putting it out there for everyone to know.

1. I start off with any clarifying shampoo and then a hydrating or moisturizing conditioner. I like Matrix Curl.Life, which I get at Supercuts and also Aveda Root Awakening products, but I have yet to purchase them. I get a lot of samples from online retailers so I try a lot of stuff out before I actually make a purchase.
   
2. I comb my hair in the shower while the conditioner is still in it with a wide-tooth comb, just to make sure that brushing it won't be a hassle later.
   
3. When I get out of the shower I put my hair up in a metal-free rubber band and wrap a towel around my head.
   
4. When I take it down, I use a paddle brush to get all the knots out. I have broken too many weak brushes trying to brush my hair, so paddle brushes are right for the task.
5. Now, this is the part that most people want to know about: the styling products. Well, I use a lot of the Condition by Clairol 3-in-1 Mousse. I go through one bottle in about 9 days. I have been using it since the 7th grade. Back then I used the pink and now I use the purple, maximum hold variety. Since I have been using the stuff for 18 years, I figure that I am probably keeping the product on the shelves myself with 52 bottles used per year...roughly. The mousse is only about $3, but I actually get it in bulk from my aunt and uncle for holidays. They are my lifesavers. It is the only mousse I have ever found that is more like a cream than an airy foam. It is my hair salvation and I tell people about it whenever they ask. Why not? It may help people who don't know how to tame their mane. You can purchase it online at Drugstore.com or at most CVS stores. Also, it even has SPF in it.
6. To top it all off, I use cheap ole Rave Hairspray to set everything in place. It is a little more than $2 and I buy it every three weeks, just about. I have sensitive skin so some hairsprays dry my scalp or make me break out, this one never does. This is another product that I get in the purple maximum hold variety and can buy at any CVS or Walgreens.
7. I then blow dry my hair just to make sure the hairspray sets and my hair isn't soaking wet for when I leave the house.
   

So, now that I have shared the information that has kept my hair looking the same since middle school, I hope that some of you out there will embrace your curly tendrils and not straighten them like so many people do. Or maybe your hair is full, curly and magnificent and you have some information for me. If so, find me on Twitter: @Mel_K or just post a comment below. I would love to know that there are more of us curly-haired girls out there. We are becoming a minority after all.

How Much Do You Love the Holidays?

A LOT! That's how much I love the holidays, and not just because I have a week off between Christmas and New Year's. I like that there is something else to say when rude cashiers choke out a, "Have a nice day," to you before you leave the store. A quick, "Have a Merry Christmas," back at them sends a little tinge of guilt for being so grumpy. Ah, the holidays.

I love houses that are lit up more than Times Square because you know that they feel the spirit too. They don't care that their electric bill is insane for one month and they "aren't related to LILCO," like my grandmother used to scream at me when I left the light on in my bedroom. These families just want their house to be a festive sight as cars pass by. My parents' house on the other hand, now that is an interesting site. My Dad has the projection screen with a Santa flying his reindeer upside down in a circle and the lights blink along with the music that plays loudly from the side of the house. This year, apparently, my parents' house is "that house." You know the house; the one that people pass by and say, "What were they thinking when they decorated this year?" Yeah, we don't know what Dad was thinking. I am hoping it was something along the lines of, "It's freezing out here. Let's just throw some lights up and get back on the couch for the Giants game."

Then there's the Christmas baking. I bake cookies, brownies, cupcakes, etc. This year I think I might try my hand at a few of my friends' recipes and pass them off as my own. (Just kidding Colleen.) I just love to bake and sometimes I don't even eat what I make, but I do like watching other people eat them and worry about their own caloric intake.

The craziest part of my holiday is the gift giving. I buy for almost everyone I know: my husband, my family, my friends, my friends' kids, my landlady, my boss, the people I work with, my dog, etc. This year I even added my yoga instructor at work. (It was something small. Don't get all "brown noser" on me. It wouldn't get me anywhere in yoga any way. Come on.) But, every year it never fails; I always think of buying gifts for people I barely know. For instance, year after year I think about giving gas station attendants or cart attendants at Target gloves or mittens because they must freeze out there, but then I think, "I will look creepy and gloves come in sizes. Who knows what size they are?" I have also thought about buying gifts for the folks at McPeak's Adult Home because I haven't had grandparents since 2003, but I can't afford to buy for them all and I can't just buy for the Italian and Puerto Rican ones that remind me of my grandparents. That would just be wrong. So, I just buy for the people that I know and say, "Merry Christmas" to those that I don't know because a smile is contagious and I am giving them something after all.

It is only 4 days until Christmas, but Christmas Eve is really my favorite holiday because my family all gets together to be silly and spend time with each other, and I like the anticipation of it all. I mean, Santa comes on Christmas Eve. Yep, I still believe in Santa Claus and I am glad that I do because it will make it easier to convince my children that He exists (yes that is a capital H). This year, I don't think I made the naughty list, so I am hoping he drops off some good stuff. I think I might even sweeten the deal and leave him some cookies that night too. I think he slips into my house through the air conditioner vent and feeds Duncan Beggin Strips so he doesn't bark. Then he tiptoes into the living room around 3 a.m. and realizes that he is at the wrong house and hops over to my parents' house to drop off my presents. Honestly, every year my presents say, "From, Santa" or "From, Chilly Willy" or "From, Yukon Cornelius," and no my mother does not write them on the tags; they are really from who they say they are from...really.

Anyway, this is all what I have made up in my head for the holiday season. Don't you just love the holidays? :)

Very Thankful for Thanksgiving

On this Tuesday before Thanksgiving, I find myself thinking about what I am thankful for in my life and so, I have come up with an extensive list. Here goes:

1. Family (most obvious)
2. My hub TK (almost as obvious)
   
3. Friends (another obvious one)
   
4. Pencil Sharpeners or Erasers (when there isn't one around, how annoying is it?)
   
5. Animals and wildlife photographers/videographers
   
6. The Internet
7. Soldiers (they fight for our right to be who we are)
   
8. Nail files
9. Bathtubs (nothing better than a long relaxing soak)
   
10. Post-its
11. Craft fairs
12. Fruit (always the healthy option)
    
13. Kindhearted people
14. Cemeteries (so you can still visit the ones you love)
    
15. Knowledge
16. Taste buds
17. The other four senses
    
18. Football
    
19. Piggy Banks
    
20. Hair ties
    
21. Bookmarks
22. Art
    
23. Talent (everyone is good at something)
    
24. Baked goods
25. Hot Cocoa and Chai Tea Lattes (or I wouldn't visit Starbucks)
26. Magazines
27. Sales and the clearance section
    
28. Gentlemen (not all men are gentlemen)
29. Sports bras
30. Ribcage (for protecting my organs during sports and my brother's hugs)
31. Chip clips
32. Witty comebacks (some people just need to be shut up)
33. Stacy London & Clinton Kelly (they help those that can't help themselves)
34. C Sections
35. Music
36. Alcohol (when necessary)
    
37. Good customer service (especially when traveling or during the holidays)
    
38. Cameras
    
39. High fives (a display of your teammate's approval)
    
40. Holidays (an excuse for families to get together)
41. Insurance
42. Slippers
43. Yoga
    
44. Disney (I can be a kid again and this list is not in number order)
    
45. Waiters/Waitresses/Bartenders/Bussers (who the heck wants to get their own food)
    
46. A job that pays money
    
47. Calendars
48. Libraries
49. Caller ID
50. Smelly candles

Those were the first 50 things I could think of, but I know there are more.

Thanksgiving is the time of year to remember to say "thank you" for all the things and to all the people that have made living your life a little easier. So to you, I say "Thank you." (Only in English this time.)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Rockin' Out with Rock Band 3

Now I know what the 3 stands for in Rock Band 3, and no I do not believe it reflects the succession of editions. I think it depicts the time you stay up until on a Saturday night to play the game. We bought the game for XBOX 360 on Thursday and stayed awake until 3 a.m. Saturday, well Sunday morning, playing with our new digitally-formed band "Disfunktion." (TK spelled it that way, I didn't.) We even dressed up like rock stars in honor of Halloween. Don't ask!

TK and I both have Rock Band, Rock Band 2 and The Beatles: Rock Band and I like them much more than Guitar Hero. Fortunately, I can play the bass and now the keyboard on the medium ability level, and unfortunately for some, I can sing on medium as well. There is the occasional song that my fingers don't move fast enough for, but I try to avoid them as much as possible because there are more than enough songs to choose from. I think the game booklet and the website both claim that there are over 2,000 songs to play. I don't even have that many on my iPod.

Players also have a lot of options for customizing their rocker. My rocker's name is Mellie, I know it's not very unique but TK thinks Mel is a guy's name even though that's how all my friends refer to me and I hate the name Missy because it makes me sound like a 4 year-old cheerleader, which I am obviously not. I apologize to all of the Missies out there but the name just doesn't fit me and I am entitled to my opinion, or so I am told. My rocker, Mellie, currently has a beehive hairdo, a nose ring, a red and black half shirt, black suspenders, black leather thigh high boots and black bootie shorts. Not an outfit I would choose for my own body, but my rock star avatar fits in it very well, especially while playing Spoonman on bass.

Rock Band is something that TK and I enjoy playing together. We laugh, we compete and we have fun, especially when I get a 100% on a song and he gets a 99%. That's my favorite part of the game. I haven't checked if it is one of his favorites...but then again, we are rock stars and our attitude should be all "who cares" and "it's all about the music." For me, it is all about fun and that's exactly what Rock Band 3 is.

This game also fools you into thinking you could actually play a real instrument with strings or keys. The farthest I got was clarinet in elementary school and I can only remember playing "Hot Cross Buns." Pretty basic fourth grade stuff. I wish I could play the piano or the bass. I think it would do wonders for my street cred. For now, I will settle for playing the digital bass, keyboard and singing with my fake and funky rocker. I like to think I am pretty bad ass, even if I am wearing penguin flannel pajamas while I play.

Can't Dress it Up

I just can't decide whether or not I am dressing up this year. Should I be Slash, a zombie or nothing at all?

I am really not feeling it. Halloween isn't the happiest, most fun day of the year for me. In 2006 the holiday changed for me. As you may have read in a past post or two, my very good friend Tom committed suicide on Halloween four years ago and since then, I haven't been able to catch the excitement that others feel.

Halloween used to be a holiday that I looked forward to because the parties were fun and the costumes were creative. When I was a kid, I loved to trick-or-treat because I walked around the development with my uncle as our chaperone. I couldn't wait to get home from school to head out with my uncle, my brother and my cousins. That's what my memories of Halloween are made of.

Now, dressing up and partying is OK for other days of the year, but Halloween is not what it used to be for me. The days leading up to the 31st are always filled with thoughts of Tom and sadness. I miss him all the time, but mostly around this holiday, for obvious reasons.

So, I am thinking I may just sit this year out because partying just doesn't seem right and it probably won't until I have my own child to dress up. (I miss you Tom.)

Growing Pains

It is always painful for me when I realize how short life is and that those around me are getting older, including my parents.

My father recently had arthroscopic surgery on his knee and they were able to fix his meniscus but not his ACL. The doctor also told him that in the next few years he would probably need knee replacement surgery. This whole situation has really bothered me because I worry. I went to his surgery with my mother because I felt like if something happened to him and I wasn't there, I would never be able to forgive myself. He's my dad after all.

I believe that my dad is my biggest fan. He thinks I can do whatever I put my mind to and that I am capable of anything. He thinks I am stronger and smarter than most people and always suggests that I try things to see if I could compete against others and win. He always accepts me for who I am and doesn't think about loving me, he just does. He is the only person that I allow to call me Missy. I don't let others call me that because it makes me feel subordinate and I don't want anyone to think they can make me feel that way, but when my dad does it, it's endearing. I am completely fine with it because I am his little girl and will always be, regardless of age or motherhood.

So, now that my parents are getting older, I am feeling it tearing at my heart. I don't know what I would do without them and I plan on following them wherever they might go because I want my kids to know them like I knew my grandparents. As an adult, I realize that I need to make my own life, which I have, but I also know that I can and will make a life wherever I choose as long as I have those that I truly love around me. Thanksgiving and Christmas are big family holidays for me, and I would never want to celebrate them alone. My family is very important to me and two years ago I was able to add TK to it, which makes it even more enjoyable for me.

Every day when I worry about those around me getting older and aging, I am thankful that there is a tomorrow and that I can take my life one day at a time.

Fantastic!

Every year for the past 4 years, I have created a stellar fantasy football team (in my opinion) and competed against strangers, and TK. Shockingly enough, I have made it into the playoffs every year and have beaten TK more times than not.

I think I know enough about football and the NFL to pick a team that can rival any other team on ESPN...well except for this time. This year, TK kindly invited our family to join ESPN and draft teams so we could beat each other up in the fantasy sports world. It has been fun so far, but I am not quite getting the result I thought I would. Unfortunately, I chose a team that sounds great, but the players can't all perform at the same time so my team score is suffering.

I am currently, 2 and 3 and, honestly, this is a swift kick to my ego. I can't even talk trash to anyone because Peyton Manning got me 7 points this week, when he usually gets me more than 20, and I barely squeaked by my brother-in-law's team, which only had 7 players because he left one guy that was hurt and one guy that was on a bye on his active roster.

If only I could huddle up my group and give them a pep talk. But, they don't know me or my silly little team, especially since I named it, "Under Worked, Over Paid." If they knew me, they would probably be a little peeved with me, so in an effort to improve my luck, I have modified the name. Following recent sports news, my new team name is "Testy Texters" and I kind of like it because it pokes fun at the old creepo, Brett Favre, who I can't stand.

OK, wish me and the Testy Texters luck!

Cruisin' on a Sunday Afternoon

The day before my birthday my husband says to me, "Let's book a cruise. I have to get out of here." So we did and we left a week later. We got on the Carnival Miracle in New York City and headed for Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and Grand Turk. Personally, I thought it was a miracle that TK wanted to plan a trip to anywhere but a living room during football season.

We had two days at sea so we hung out at the sports bar watching football. I hated that people were allowed to smoke cigarettes, but we were in international water so the clean air laws were out the window, literally. Of course we made a few visits to the 24 hour buffet and sat at the card tables. We had a lot of time to spend on the ship while we were traveling south. At the Fun 21 table we met some of the friendliest people in the world. They were Peggy & Tony from NJ, who had the same wedding anniversary as us (that day) and Ann & Chris from Boston. They were very nice and full of personality. They also introduced us to John & Barkley (a hysterical blind man and his cute seeing eye dog), Anna & Joe and Robin & Kevin, more awesome people. We ate most dinners with them and I laid by the pool with them because they saved me a chair most days. It was so refreshing how courteous and considerate they were; always saving us seats and always inviting us to whatever they planned to do. We really felt loved and TK was happy that they taught him how to play blackjack.

The first day at sea I spent mostly in bed. The rocking of the boat really messed me up. I didn't think I could get seasick, but I severely underestimated how rocky the boat gets during hurricane season. My stomach was pretty woozy most of the trip, but that didn't stop me from stuffing my face for most lunches and dinners. I took full advantage of the unlimited amount of grub. Even though I am a New Yorker, I enjoyed the pepperoni pizza they made fresh for you whenever you asked. I didn't try the sushi, but I had two appetizers with every dinner. Hey, why not?

On the third day when we were heading into Puerto Rico, there was a bird flying in front of the ship like he was leading us into port. It was like he said, "Oh, Old San Juan? Bienvenidos! Follow me." When we arrived at Old San Juan, we took a little walk until we found the carriage rides. We took a horse and carriage around town so we could get acquainted with the town. The last time I was in Old San Juan, I was seven and I only remembered a Pizza Hut and cobblestone streets, so I needed to brush up on a few things. After the ride, we did a little shopping through the streets because TK wanted a fedora and I wanted some jewelry. We made a stop at Restaurante Raices because we saw it on Man vs. Food and heard that the food was delicious...and it was. TK had the Chuleta Kan Kan and it was a pork chop as big as both of our heads together. After dinner, we picked up some liquor from the duty-free shop, dropped it off in the room and then headed to Senor Frog's. That was a fun bar, but it was only TK and I so we didn't really get into the mix.

On the fourth day we headed into St. Thomas. The boat docked at 7 a.m., but we are not early risers so we got off the boat when we felt the need and that was at 10 a.m. We did a little shopping and TK finally found his fedora. Then we took the skyride up to Paradise Point where there were a few shops, some parrots and amazing views. There was even a little bar where TK had the world famous Bushwhacker, but I am not sure how famous it is being that no one at home knew what I was talking about when I told them we ordered one. It was a frozen concoction with Bailey's, Kahlua, vodka, rum, creme de cacao and Coco Lopez topped with whipped cream and a little nutmeg. It was tasty but I opted for a pina colada because my stomach wasn't ready for all that alcohol before noon. I am 30 now so I am getting old. After taking the skyride back down to street level, we did the tropical thing and went for lunch at Hooters. I know, I know...TK wanted wings, I think??? After lunch we headed back to the boat because we didn't have much time on the island that day. We got back to the boat and changed for dinner, which we were having in the steakhouse that night. That food was delicious too and the service was on point. We felt spoiled.

On the fifth day we arrived at Grand Turk and that was somewhere neither of us had ever been to. It was beautiful. We pulled right up to the beach and found the guide who would be taking us on our dune buggy tour. I shared a buggy with TK and our entire group drove all over the island for two hours on the left side of the road. The people were very friendly and the livestock ran wild. We saw horses, donkeys and cows just roaming around and hanging out. We saw a lighthouse, we watched the waves from a cliff and we drove across the beach. It was a lot of fun and we love doing wild things like that. Then we met all the cruising folks at Margaritaville, and let me tell you, this Margaritaville was like no other. It was a restaurant and bar but it had a DJ, an enormous pool, poolside cabanas and beach access. It was a little like MTV spring break but I loved it and wished we could have stayed longer. Grand Turk is definitely a place I would return to in the future. It was so tranquil and lovely, well, outside of Margaritaville.

On the way back to NY the next couple days, I tried to walk around the boat as it swayed from side to side and I actually slept like a baby at night because I was getting rocked to sleep. It was near impossible to walk in heels and it was a little scary because I kept having thoughts of the Poseidon Adventure and what I would do if the boat flipped over in the middle of the Atlantic. People did say that they have been on cruises where it was worse and we were having 6 - 8 foot swells, so that eased my nerves.

After eight days at sea, TK now wants to take a cruise every year for the rest of his life. He thinks it's the only way to travel. However, I will stick to three hour plane rides instead of three hour tours until my stomach settles, and I will definitely invest in those gray granny wristbands or some Dramamine the next time I get on a ship during hurricane season. Lesson learned.

So, I'm 30

Now that I am 30, I can't say that I feel any smarter, more mature or cooler, but I can say that I have received some pretty great gifts, so that's a plus.

TK bought me a Nikon D5000 SLR camera so that I can take crisper pictures and be able to actually blow them up larger than 5" X 7". The camera came with a very large manual so I think I am going to have to suffer through that very shortly. I feel like most people don't read the manual for their cameras so they don't even use half of the features that are built in. I just think that is useless and a waste of money, so I will read it or, at least, skim it all.

My parents' gift to me is fabulous, and I can say that because it involves NYC. They reserved a room for TK and I at the Michelangelo in the city. It looks like a pretty luxurious hotel. They also reserved a table for us at Victor's and bought us tickets to see In the Heights. The food at Victor's is Cuban and Hispanic food is one of my favorites. I will try not to order rice and beans because there are so many delicious dishes to choose from, like Ropa Vieja for instance. Ropa Vieja translates to "old clothes" and it is seasoned, shredded meat that is just so moist and delicious that it almost melts in your mouth. I love it and I think everyone should try it at least once. Maybe I will have a Mojito to complement my meal as well. Big plans!

My aunts and uncles were also very generous with me this year. I got a gift card, some cash and a photo album. All of my gifts this year were very generous and I am very appreciative.

Two other things to mention about my birthday festivities are the two very delicious cakes that were purchased for me. One was for the celebration at work and it was a yellow cake with light chocolate frosting and peanut butter filling. It took a few glasses of milk to get down but it was good. My co-workers did well. The other was for my family get-together and it was a layer cake with chocolate mousse, chocolate cake, cheesecake and chocolate ganache. My mother bought it at Audrey's Bakery in Sayville and it was so good. I don't like anything shiny in my cake (i.e. custard, pudding, fruit, etc.) so I love mousse and peanut butter fillings. These two cakes were perfect...for me!

Another thing I just HAVE to mention is that I will be going on a cruise for my 2nd wedding anniversary with TK. We are leaving from NYC and heading to San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, USVI; and Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos. We are so excited because we are really stretching out our summer and TK has never been on a cruise before. I'm also excited that I can eat 24 hours a day if I want. Not the best idea while traveling to Caribbean islands, but a great idea indeed.

Moral of the story = Turning 30 is pretty damn good!

30 B4 30 Day 30: Write a Book

I have gone through 29 days of new things as I journeyed toward 30 years-old. Some items were ridiculous and some were just plain, well plain, but they were all milestones for me. All things I have never done in 29 years of life and did in 30 days before my 30th birthday. This project made turning 30 more fun for me, even though I knew that it was just an age and not a state of mind or body. So for my final item on my list of 30 B4 30, I have decided, with some advice from my friends, to Write a Book called 30 B4 30.

I have always wanted to write a book, but I never knew what I wanted to write about. Was there enough to create a book about my grandmother? Or figure drawing? Or my trips to Hawaii, Disney or Tennessee? I didn't think so, but after publishing blog post after blog post about all of my completed tasks, I realized that I have developed enough text to fill the pages of an entire book. I will be adding an introduction and a conclusion to the 30 B4 30, but I have finally found something that I can print. So, I researched a few publishing companies and sent them my information. They have contacted me but I wanted to make sure I didn't answer any of their questions until this project was complete. Now that it is, I can call them back and see how much money this madness is going to cost me because it will be expensive. (I am also tallying up how much these 30 days have cost me and will get back to you with that figure as well.)

I don't know if anyone will read this book I am publishing, but I think enough people have read this blog and just maybe they will be interested enough to purchase it as a book. Kind of like The Julie/Julia Project that started out as a blog, then a book and then a movie. I don't think it will ever become a movie because I think maybe my mother, my boss and a few of my family members will end up buying the book, but it is interesting to wonder who will play me. Hmm...

Now that my 30 days are complete, I want to thank you for taking this journey with me and for supporting me with each and every post. Like I said in my "Learn to Say Thank You in 30 Languages" post, I wish there was a sentiment I could say to you that would thoroughly show my appreciation, but there isn't, so all I can offer is a wholehearted THANK YOU because I really do appreciate your interest and hope you will continue to read what I have to say. After all, life is nothing without people to share it with.

XOXOX
30 B4 30

UPDATE: The total price of my 30 B4 30 is $338.63, but that is before any publishing or anything else. 30 days, 30 new experiences and more than $300 later, I am happy with the result. Thanks again!

30 B4 30 Day 29: See the Sunrise

I am not a morning person. I was even born at 7:17 at night. In the morning, my stomach is never ready for food and I have skipped many a breakfast because thinking of eating food has made me nauseous. So, unless I stayed up all night long, I have never seen the sunrise. So, today I made my object to actually See the Sunrise and it was so darn early.

I set my alarm for 6 a.m. because I did my research and found out that the sun was going to rise at 6:25 p.m. Then I peeled TK out of bed because he said he wanted to come with me. I am used to dragging him places he doesn't want to go (i.e. botanical gardens, plays, movies, etc.) so this was no different. We drove to the marina and saw the sun trying to rise but there was a large cloud blocking its way. There have been a few days where I have come home and the sun was coming up, but I have never sat and watched it as it did. So, after about 15 minutes, the sun broke through the clouds and came out, and then it burnt my retinas and I saw bright spots for the next few minutes. Not ideal, but it was nice.

I have seen many sunsets, especially in Hawaii where we chased them every night to get the perfect picture but never did. Being there to see the sunset was more memorable anyway. It is a pretty amazing phenomenon to see the sun rise and set on a clear day. It reminds you of life's cycle and how dependable some things are. Even when you don't know what tomorrow will bring, at least you know that the sun will come up and the day will begin.

"The sun will come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, they'll be sun." That Annie was so perceptive.

30 B4 30 Day 28: Try 30 of the 31 Flavors at Baskin Robbins

Like I have said before, I am a foodie. I love to eat and it kind of shows. (No wise cracks please.) One of the foods I love to eat is ice cream and one of the most famous places for ice cream is Baskin Robbins. In NY, Baskin Robbins shares their location with Dunkin Donuts just in case you want to have some coffee or a donut with your ice cream cone. Tonight I decided to Try 30 of the 31 Flavors at Baskin Robbins because I felt there was a need to stretch out the summer just a little bit more.

Baskin Robbins is famous for having 31 flavors of ice cream at any one time. I called one location to see how many flavors they had on tap and the creepy guy said he would serve 30 of them to me personally. So, obviously, I decided to steer clear of that place and chose another of the five locations in a three mile radius. I took my friends Colleen and Nicole with me and it was a great idea because Nicole knew the guy behind the counter. She practically mainlines Dunkin Donuts iced coffee, so he knew what she drank and what car she drove. This guy was great. He piled up the 24 flavors from the showcase and then went searching in the back freezer to find the 6 remaining flavors to complete my 30. Some flavors were great and some were pretty disappointing. For instance, after trying Chocolate Chip, you should not immediately try Lemon Chiffon or Bubble Gum (which had mini Chiclets in it). I also suggest you pass on having Birthday Cake after Chocolate Explosion. However, my favorite flavors were Pistachio Almond, Rocky Road and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Those were especially delicious. I can really eat ice cream all year round and plan to.

The moral of the story is to choose one flavor at a time, but try them all. Like Whoopie Goldberg's advice from the movie, Corinna, Corinna, which I can't add verbatim because I don't know the exact wording, but she says you can't die until you have tried all of the flavors and I still have one left...even though I don't know what it is.

Also, it is good to know that you have good friends that will laugh at you first and then completely support your crazy ideas. This is key.

30 B4 30 Day 27: Kiss in the Rain

I am a sucker for romance and I watch romantic comedies over and over until I know all of the words. For instance, I have seen The Holiday, Sleepless in Seattle and Someone Like You dozens of times. I have even repeatedly rewound Pride and Prejudice to the part where Mr. Darcy tells Elizabeth that he loves her while they stand outside in the rain and argue. It makes your heart hurt because you know they both love each other and are both too proud to just let it happen, without words and other people to get in the way. That scene is very intense for us hopeless romantics, so today I decided that my item would be to Kiss in the Rain for my 30 B4 30.

It didn't actually happen like it does in the movies. I showed up at TK's job and texted him to come outside, to which he answered, "Now?" Yep, so he came running out. I got out of the car, walked over to him and then kissed him, while kind of giggling. He asked what I was doing and I said, "Kissing in the rain." He laughed and kissed me back. Then he said, "OK, it's raining, let's get in the car." And, with that, our romantic tryst was over.

Romance isn't always what you think it is going to be. Love isn't all hearts and fireworks like we learn growing up and watching Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. I learned about romance and love by watching Disney movies and from my inseparable parents. I always wanted a Prince Charming and a happy ending, and I got that on September 12, 2008 when I married my best friend. He wasn't a knight and he didn't have shining armor, but he does love me, want to protect me and want to spend the rest of his life with me. He didn't have to prove himself by climbing a tower to rescue me or slaying a dragon to save me, but he did get down on his knee in a castle to propose, with fireworks in the background, so, to me, that is as close to perfect as I can think of.

We will be married for two years this year and we laugh with each other every day. Of course we fight and slam doors too, but that comes with the territory. And, like Caroline Manzo from The Real Housewives of New Jersey said, "Anyone who is married and tells you that they don't fight is a liar." She's right, fighting is natural because you care about each other and have to tell each other how you feel. In the end, it doesn't matter how much we fight because we are in love and we know we will live happily ever after, just like the story says. (Even if I can't have romantic makeout sessions in the rain.)

30 B4 30 Day 26: Send a Message in a Bottle

People have been sending messages in bottles since before the book by Nicholas Sparks and the disappointing movie that followed. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest message in a bottle spent more than 92 years at sea. As my item for today, I decided to Send a Message in a Bottle to follow in the footsteps of other curious people throughout history.

I had TK bring me home an empty bottle with the labels removed and I wrote a letter to roll up and put into the bottle. This is what the dated message said:

Well, hello! I bet you didn’t think you would find a bottle with a message in it on your trip to the ocean today, but I knew you would or at least someone would eventually.

I will be celebrating my 30^th birthday this year and in the 30 days before my 30^th birthday I have decided to do 30 things I have never done, and sending a message in a bottle was one of them. I call it my 30 B4 30 project and now you are part of it. Sorry…or you’re welcome, depending on how interested you are in reading this message.

Fortunately for me, I’ve made it to my 30^th birthday. Some people do not and I do not take my age for granted. In 30 years I have been on many adventures, so I wanted to send this bottle on its own adventure to go wherever it may. I believe that life is too short to not enjoy it however much you can. If there is something you are a little apprehensive about because you are afraid, weigh out the pros and cons and make a decision. Whether it is to jump in feet first or say no and turn away, being decisive is what’s important. “I don’t know,” is an incredibly damaging statement, especially if it isn’t followed by, “but I can find out,” because it provokes inactivity and laziness in your own life. There are many people in the world that are too wishy-washy in their decision making and aren’t active participants in their own lives. Please don’t be that person. I am not a self-help guru but I do think that people owe it to themselves to take the reigns on their life and be the person they want to be. So, be that person because you are the only one stuck with you for the rest of your life.

Enjoy,

30 B4 30

So yes, I made an obnoxious, vain statement to a complete stranger. I just thought that the message in the bottle should be empowering so that the person who bears witness to this little project I have started can actually get something out of it. I am not trying to change anyone's life, I am just trying to make him or her feel a little better about him- or herself, if there is a need for some uplifting. There is no harm in brightening someone's day or helping them find their smile.

Tomorrow I will take this bottle to the ocean and toss it in so it can begin its aquatic journey. I just hope I don't break it or throw it too close to the coast. Photos of this act to follow...

UPDATE: While cruising back from Grand Turk on the Carnival Miracle, I tossed the bottle off the Lido Deck into the Atlantic Ocean. So, right now, I think the bottle is floating somewhere between Florida and New Jersey.

30 B4 30 Day 25: Plant a Tree

With all of the charities and organizations out there, I believe that the earth should be at the top of the priority list because if we don't save the environment and its creatures, there will be no diseases or hunger to worry about. I have to say though, I am a sucker for charitable causes, which is not a bad thing. I try to help every Keep Art in Schools, Stop Hunger and Cure Cancer organization out there, if I can but I don't have enough money or time to help them all. My husband tells me to just do what I can do so I decided to Plant a Tree to make a contribution to the environment.

During my lunch break, I ran to Home Depot real quick to scoop up an inexpensive tree that I could plant in my parents' backyard. I found the perfect mini Christmas tree and bought it for $8. It is an Alberta Spruce and I nicknamed her Bertie because if you are going to bond with a living thing, it should have a name. When I called my parents to tell them I would be planting a tree at their house today, they laughed and my dad suggested I plant it behind the shed. (They have experienced a lot of my antics over the past 29 years.) Then my mother told me that she had enough trees. I don't think there are enough trees in their yard because it lacks a mini Christmas tree. Who doesn't want a little Christmas tree in their yard? So, after work I drove over for laundry night and took Bertie with me. My mom told me to pick a spot in the back so that the tree had enough space to grow where it would get full sun. I chose a spot to the left of the shed, instead of behind it like my dad suggested. Funny guy. I dug a hole two times the size of the root ball (their term, not mine), shook the tree out of its container and placed it in the hole I had just made. I didn't even get dirty, but wouldn't mind if I did because Bertie deserves it.

Global warming, the polar ice caps and the greenhouse effect are all things I don't know enough about to comment on, but I do know that every time a tree is cut down, another tree should be planted and wild animals should not be brutally slaughtered because a human being just felt like it. However, I do eat meat because people have been surviving for centuries doing so and I do have one leather pocketbook that I got for free. I am not a vegeterian or a tree-hugger, especially not with Bertie because she has needles, but I do know what is right and how to treat things that are in danger. Now, let's just hope that WWF, the Sierra Club and the Ocean Conservancy don't read this submission because I can't afford it.