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.

30 B4 30 Day 24: Ride the Greenport Carousel

Even though I am going to be 30 in several days, I don't consider myself a real adult. I mean, I have a full-time job, I got married two years ago and I pay my bills on time, but when it comes to life, I make a joke of everything (except cancer because that stuff's not funny) and I just want to have fun. To me, growing older only means I have to check a different box on forms and I may have to get more tests at the doctor. Like Peter Pan, I don't want to ever grow up and lose my sense of humor or my sense of adventure. So, today, I decided to Ride the Greenport Carousel to reassert my youth.

The carousel is on the edge of town and it borders the Peconic Bay on one side. The structure is huge with three rows of large horses which cost $2 each to ride. I chose the black horse with the blond mohawk because he seemed like he had a lot of personality. Fortunately for me, my friends share the same youthful attitude that I do because Leslie and Allison rode alongside me. None of us are afraid to have fun, even if it means waiting on line behind 5 year-olds to ride a carousel in the middle of a bayside town. As the horses lifted up, dropped down and circled around for a few minutes, I feel like I really got my two bucks worth.

I have a great family who provided me with a very enjoyable childhood, which is why I think I am trying extend it as long as possible. Walt Disney World is one of my favorite places on earth and I get chills just talking or thinking about it. It is one place on earth where adults and children can laugh and play together. Walt Disney created Disneyland so fathers could have somewhere to go to have fun with their children. Every time my family and I go to Disney, we all have fun together and we range in age from 63 to 29 (I am the youngest). There is no shortage of laughter or good times when we are at Disney, especially when I force everyone to eat an enormous ice cream sundae called the Kitchen Sink or when my dad gets picked to go on stage at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue and wear a ballerina skirt. Now that I think about it, maybe silliness is genetic because we are all young at heart and we love it.

On the other hand, being a grown up isn't so bad because now I really know when and how to have fun. It is like Pablo Picasso said, "Youth has no age," and I truly believe that. No matter if I am 30 or 80, I am going to do what I can to stay young. What fun is it to get old and cranky anyway? Forget that. I'd rather hula hoop and juggle.

30 B4 30 Day 23: Send a Secret to Post Secret

Every person has a secret, and don't lie because you know you do. Personally, I only have a few because I consider myself an open book. I am just a horrible liar and anyone I talk to can tell. When people ask me a question, if I know the answer, I offer it. It is harder to keep up with lies than to just tell the truth. At least one person knows each one of my secrets. There may be more because some of my friends have big mouths, but that is OK because I am comfortable with myself at the ripe old age of 29. Today I chose to Send a Secret to Post Secret and, of course, it was anonymous.

Post Secret is a mail project started by Frank Warren where people send him serious and not so serious private thoughts that he may post to his blog or add to his books. When people send in their postcards, he is free to do with the secrets as he wants. I decided on the secret that I would send in and then found imagery to be paired with the text. (TK even helped me.) I made my anonymous, homemade postcard and I am going to send it tomorrow, in a random mailbox. You can never be too safe...

I believe that a secret should remain a secret and that is why I am not telling you what my postcard looks like or what it says. Sorry. You didn't think I would spill the beans, did you? It wouldn't be a secret anymore if I did. Also, out of respect for some of my friends and family, I have a few secrets in my mental Rolodex that I will be taking to the grave. Their secrets are not my secrets to tell, so I am being responsible with their privacy.

I submitted my own secret because I support what Frank Warren is doing. He created a project and has received a lot of response and interest. It would be very hypocritical of me to not encourage this creative and interesting outlet that he chose to establish online. I can only hope that my blog and my submissions are half as popular as his site is, but, like I said, I am an open book so there are no secrets here.

If I have inspired you to purge yourself of a secret that has been eating away at you for decades or if there is a naughty thought in your mind, send your anonymous homemade postcard, to:

Post Secret
13345 Copper Ridge Rd.
Germantown, MD 20874

It feels kind of nice to let out a secret and send it away. It's like the secret isn't mine anymore. Now it's Frank's to worry about. Enjoy!

30 B4 30 Day 22: Sketch in Central Park

Ever since I could remember, I have sat with paper and a pencil and have just drawn. When I was a kid, I wanted to be an artist, a librarian and a background dancer for music videos. I guess I thought I would have a lot of time on my hands as an adult. Since my brother didn't let me play G.I. Joes with him, I sat and sketched images of my family, my house and whatever inanimate objects I could find. In high school, I began to draw portraits of friends and family members and then in college I was formally trained in figure drawing and still life. I haven't created many landscape drawings in all the years I have studied art, but when a friend of mine suggested that I Sketch in Central Park, I thought it would fit perfectly with my 30 B4 30 project.

Mary Kate and I walked into Central Park looking for a large open space with people lounging on the grass and trees hanging around creating shadows. We plopped ourselves down on a bench and I took out my sketchbook and pencil, and began drawing. I tried my hardest to capture the trees, the lamppost, the concrete path, the metal garbage pail and a few people that were enjoying their day in the park. Little did they all know, they were modeling for me. Most of the drawings I have done included a naked person sitting in front of me for three hours in the same pose so I could depict the way their spine curved, their face wrinkled or their leg folded. Today, I can't find anyone willing to take all of their clothes off so I can draw them. It's not something I go around asking people. So, this was a little more difficult because some objects were in motion, even if it was ever so slightly with the wind. And, I had a time constraint of one hour because TK had to be picked up across town. However, I have come across things many times in my travels that I would like to sit and sketch, and this is one of the only times I have actually done it.

As I sat there, Mary Kate and I caught people looking at me and my drawing, and we realized that I was one of those artists that people stand behind to analyze their process. It made me feel like I didn't have to hold on to that little bit of jealousy anymore. I am an artist, even if a paycheck doesn't tell me so. Getting paid to do something can be validation that you have the skills necessary to complete that job, but for me just doing it and coming up with a finished product is validation enough. I don't need anyone to tell me I am an artist, I have a degree, a passion and a talent that tells me so. Sometimes, I just forget that I have this in me because life gets in the way and it is a shame. Creating art allows my true self to come out and express itself, and for that, I am thankful. Maybe one day a paycheck will agree with me.

30 B4 30 Day 21: Go to the Top of the Empire State Building

I live in the shadow of the busiest city in the world and I feel like I haven't taken true advantage of it. Even though I have not seen all there is to see, I have been to the Met, the MOMA, the crown of the Statue of Liberty, Tavern on the Green, on a horse and carriage ride, to F.A.O. Schwartz, the Museum of Natural History and Patsy's. In New York City, there are countless things to do and they are all in walking distance. Pedestrians have access to some of the most interesting and magnificent places in the world. I don't think anyone has enough time in their life to do everything available to them in NYC, but it doesn't hurt to try. So, today I added another NYC landmark to my list by Going to the Top of the Empire State Building.

Mary Kate and I went into the Empire State Building and took every elevator and escalator to get to the 86th floor. We decided to get the $20 tickets for the 86th floor and not the 102nd floor. We felt like there was no need to go to the smaller crowded space while at the top of the city. Claustrophobia at 102 stories is not an interest of mine. When we got out to the observation deck, I realized that it didn't look anything like it did in Sleepless in Seattle because the surrounding deck was more narrow than I thought. However, I did hear the song, "Make Someone Happy," by Jimmy Durante in my head while we were up there.

The view was spectacular even with the summer haze that sits on the city when the temperature exceeds 90 degrees. The Building is surrounded on all four sides by the island of Manhattan and the significant buildings that make the city the spectacle that it is. I saw the Chrysler Building, the Met Life buildings, the Statue of Liberty and the Flatiron Building. They looked miniature from up there, but still just as majestic as they are from the street level.

I can't believe that, in almost 30 years of my life, I never made it up to the top of the ESB. (That's what they call it online.) It is an icon and since the skyline was catastrophically altered forever with the collapse of the World Trade Center, the Empire State Building is the symbol of the city. There has recently been talk of building a similar skyscraper adjacent to the ESB, but I feel that it won't be as aesthetically pleasing and it will take away from the significance of the ESB. The ESB is a unique structure and I feel that it should stand alone. The Building stands as a sign that you are approaching the Big Apple and welcomes you into one of the best cities in the world.

30 B4 30 Day 20: Get a Ridiculous Pedicure

A lot of women think it is a necessity to get their hair done, their nails done and wax all of the hair off of their body. I am not that girl. I get my hair cut at Super Cuts for $20, I only get pedicures before weddings, I pluck my own eyebrows and I bite my nails. I am very low-maintenance. So today I chose to Get a Ridiculous Pedicure for my 30 B4 30 project.

I was born in 1980 so I wasn't really an 80's girl with Frito nails or sprayed out bangs, I just existed and sometimes wore neon spandex pants. In elementary and middle school, I was never someone that anyone wanted to dress or be like. I even had a long braid on the top of my head that I used to whip mean boys with. I should have been on the show "What Not to Wear" so Clinton and Stacey could cut my hair and help me to dress like a girl. I also had no front teeth until I was seven, I got braces at ten and the doctor discovered that I had scoliosis that same year. There was definitely a modeling contract in my future...SIKE! I think it was the period between 5 and 15 years-old that really shaped my opinion of my physical appearance and it wasn't the most positive or feminine.

So, this evening I went to the nail place with my friends Colleen and Nicole, and I decided to get my nails done in some crazy color with a crazy design. I love shopping and clothes, but I am not one to spend money on my appearance or worry too much about it. If I need a haircut, I get one. If I want a hamburger, I eat it and if I need a dress, I check the clearance rack. Don't get me wrong, there are days when my hair isn't cooperating, my muffin top hangs over my pants and I get seriously down on myself. Today though, I decided that since we had big plans for the weekend that I would be a girl for once and put an artsy twist on it. I chose a color called "Jade is the New Black," which, you may have guessed, is green. Then I decided to get a girlie design and had a sunflower with some gold flecks painted in the corners of both toes. I spent $28 without tip which is expensive for someone who refuses to pay more than $3 for hairspray.

On several websites, it says that a good way to usher in your 30th year is to pamper yourself and after all the massaging, lotions and attention to detail, I feel relaxed and my nails look pretty...interesting. Fashion is an extension of your personality and creativity, so why not be more expressive with it without having to make a political or inappropriate statement. Just paint your nails green instead. That's what I did.

30 B4 30 Day 19: Write My Will

No house, no kids, no need for a will, right? Wrong. If I died tomorrow, which I really hope I don't, there would be plenty of items in my possession that TK would wonder what to do with. I mean, I have a whole collection of penguin decorations for Christmas and I know people are just wishing for me to give it to them. So, I decided today to Write My Will as my 30 B4 30 item because, at almost 30 years old, it is time to think responsibly.

Before I begin, let me explain to you that creating my will was not scary because I am not afraid of death. I am only afraid of how I will die because I don't want any pain. I believe that there is a heaven where souls are at peace and my grandmother and my friend Tom Mirabelli are both waiting there for me. So whatever happens, happens.

I came up with my basic last will and testament, and have good reasons for all or most of my decisions. I found a free fill in the blank form online, which served as the template for the very first version of my will. So, here is what I came up with:

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

of

______________Melissa Anne Kuehnle_______________

___XXX-XX-XXXX_(you didn't think I would give you my SSN, did you?)___

1. Declaration

I hereby declare that this is my last will and testament and that I hereby revoke, cancel and annul all wills and codicils previously made by me either jointly or severally. I declare that I am of legal age to make this will and of sound mind and that this last will and testament expresses my wishes without undue influence or duress. (This is for real!)

2. Family Details

I am married to _TK (that's his name to me)__ hereinafter referred to as my spouse.

3. Appointment of Executors

3.1. I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint __TK__ as Executor or if this Executor is unable or unwilling to serve then I appoint _Michael Gonzalez, Sr. (he said he was up for the job, if need be) as alternate Executor.

3.2. I hereby give and grant the Executor all powers and authority as are required or allowed in law, and especially that of assumption.

3.3. I hereby direct that my Executors shall not be required to furnish security and shall serve without any bond.

(Blah, blah, blah...)

3.4. Pending the distribution of my estate my Executors shall have authority to carry on any business, venture or partnership in which I may have any interest at the time of my death.

3.5. My Executors shall have full and absolute power in his/her discretion to insure, repair, improve or to sell all or any assets of my estate, whether by public auction or private sale and shall be entitled to let any property in my estate on such terms and conditions as will be in the best interest of my beneficiaries. (Blah.)

3.6. My Executors shall have authority to borrow money for any purpose connected with the liquidation and administration of my estate and to that end may encumber any of the assets of my estate.

3.7. My Executors shall have authority to engage the services of attorneys, accountants and other advisors as he/she may deem necessary to assist with the execution of this last will and testament and to pay reasonable compensation for their services from my estate. (Blah.)

4. Bequests

4.1. I bequeath unto the persons named below, if he or she survives me by 30 (thirty) days, the following:

Name:________Kaitlyn Russo (Alyson's daughter)_________
Relationship:_________niece ________________________
Address:________Medford, NY_______________________
Bequest:_All of my books, excluding photo albums and scrapbooks (She's smart now and she is just getting smarter. Most smart kids like books.)

Name:________TK_________________________________
Relationship:_______husband_________________________
Address:_______Holtsville, NY_______________________
Bequest:_My artwork, jewelry (excluding grandmother’s ring) and car (He needs something to remember me by.)

Name:________Angelina Gonzalez____________________
Relationship:_______mother _________________________
Address:_______Medford, NY_______________________
Bequest:___My grandmother’s ring (This is all I have from her after she died.)

Name:________Mary Kate Mahoney___________________
Relationship:_______friend _________________________
Address:_______Levittown, NY_______________________
Bequest:___My accessories (She always compliments me on my choice of earrings or bracelet. I think she would really appreciate my collection of cheap jewelry.)

Name:________Angelina Gonzalez____________________
Relationship:_______mother _________________________
Address:_______Medford , NY_______________________
Bequest:___ My bachelor's degree and master’s degree (My mom is proud of my academic achievements and already has my bachelor's degree framed and hanging on the wall in her house.)

4.2. I bequeath unto the organizations or institutions named below the following:

Name:__Savers (They sell the donated items and give the money to Big Brothers Big Sisters. It's a circle of charity.)________
Address:____Medford, NY_________________________
Bequest:___All clothing and footwear that friends and family do not claim_

Name:___Brighter Tomorrows (A domestic violence agency.)__
Address:_______Shirley, NY_________________________
Bequest:_____All toiletries and makeup (They need these items the most.)

4.3. If at the time of my death any of the property described in 4.1. and 4.2. above is no longer in my possession or part of my estate, then the bequest of such property shall be deemed null and void and shall no longer form part of this will and testament.

4.4. If any of the persons named in 4.1. above do not survive me by 30 (thirty) days, the property bequeathed to such a person shall become part of the remainder of my estate.

4.5. If any of the organizations or institutions named in 4.2. above no longer exist, the property bequeathed to such an organization or institution shall become part of the remainder of my estate.

4.6. If any property described above is encumbered by debt for which the beneficiary of such a bequest does not want to assume liability, such property shall revert to the remainder of my estate.

5. Remaining Property and Residual Estate

I bequeath the remainder of my estate, property and effects, whether movable or immovable, wheresoever situated and of whatsoever nature to my spouse _TK__.

6. Alternate Beneficiaries

6.1. Should my spouse not survive me by thirty (30) days then I bequeath the remainder of my estate, property and effects, whether movable or immovable, wheresoever situated and of whatsoever nature in equal shares to:

Name:__Angelina Gonzalez___________________________
Relationship:______mother___________________________
Address:______Medford, NY_________________________

AND

Name:__Michael Gonzalez, Sr.________________________
Relationship:______father ___________________________
Address:______Medford, NY_________________________

6.2. If any of the beneficiaries named in 6.1. are proved to be indebted to me by means of a legal instrument, then his / her share of my estate shall be reduced by the amount of such debt.

6.3. Should any of the beneficiaries named in 6.1. not survive me by 30 (thirty) days I direct that the non-surviving person's share goes to his / her natural, adopted or step children in equal shares.

7. Special Requests

I direct that on my death my remains shall be buried in a mausoleum of my spouse’s choosing and all funeral expenses shall be paid out of my estate. (I have a little bit of life insurance and I don't want to be buried in the ground for bugs to crawl all over my body.) I would like for TK to pick a song to be played at my funeral that represents me and my personality. (I am not into depressing music.) I would like for attendees to wear whatever color they wish to the wake and funeral. There is no need for only dark colors to be worn. (I am a colorful person and don't like monochromatic outfits, even in my death.)

8.1. Words signifying one gender shall include the others and words signifying the singular shall include the plural and vice versa where appropriate.

8.2. Should any provision of this will be judged by an appropriate court of law as invalid it shall not affect any of the remaining provisions whatsoever.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I hereby set my hand on this 25^th day of August 2010 at 9:46 p.m. in the presence of the undersigned witnesses.

SIGNED: _______________________________

WITNESSES

As witnesses we declare that we are of sound mind and of legal age to witness a will and that to the best of our knowledge Melissa Anne Kuehnle is of legal age to make a will, appears to be of sound mind and signed this will willingly and free of undue influence or duress. We declare that he / she signed this will in our presence as we signed as witnesses in the presence of each other, all being present at the same time. Under penalty of perjury we declare these statements to be true and correct on this 25^th day of August 2010 at 9:46 p.m.

Witness 1.

Name: ______________________

Address: ________________________________________

Signature: ________________________

Witness 2.

Name: ______________________

Address: ________________________________________

Signature: _______________________

So this is what I came up with for all of my worldly possessions and I think it is pretty comprehensive. Let's be realistic, I don't have much and I don't know anyone who really wants what I have. I think most people are more concerned with what I eat for lunch than what I can give them. Now to print it and have it signed by two witnesses. Hmmm...

P.S. Anyone who is mentioned in this will, don't get excited because I don't plan on dying anytime soon. I have more than a week left to this 30 B4 30 project and I am no quitter. Also, if anyone pisses me off, I have no problem removing their name. Watch it!

30 B4 30 Day 18: Create My Family Tree

My family is huge, hysterical and very important to me. (How could you not love uncles with nicknames like Rocky, Beaver, the Big Chill and Peanuts?) My mother's side is Italian and my father's side is Puerto Rican. (Can you guess which side the uncles are from?) My mother is the second oldest of eight and my father is the second youngest of six, but they chose to only have two children; my older brother Michael and me. We grew up in my grandparents' house with our parents, five of my mother's siblings and my grandparents. I love being part of a big family because holidays are truly happy and there is no shortage of love or laughter. My belief is that a full house is a happy house. So, since my extended family is so big, I decided to Create My Family Tree as today's item for my 30 B4 30 project.

Unfortunately, my family tree didn't have too many branches, but I did find out some interesting facts after paying $19.95 to use Ancestry.com. For example, my mother's father's brother Angelo (who had the same name as my mother's brother and my godfather) was in World War II and he worked in Special Services or, as I like to call it, spied on the Italians. He was executed by the Italians after they found out about his "special" job and he was buried in Florence, Italy. He received a purple heart and a silver medal for his service to our country. We even found out the exact burial plot row and number. My mother was excited about this tidbit of information and believes that we must go to Italy to find his gravesite. I say we leave tomorrow...

We also found out that my mother's grandmother (they are both named Angelina) was born in Messina, Sicily and her father's name was Giuseppe Sciacchitano and he was born in Girgenti, Italy. They have the most difficult last name to spell, not like Kuehnle is any better, but I was way off when I first typed it into the form. However, Sciacchitano is a full-blooded Italian name and I love to say it. It is pronounced SHACK-eh-tanno. Well, that's how my mom says it anyway.

Searching for my dad's side was a little less satisfying. I did find out the birth and death dates of his mother's parents, Domaso and Aurora Hernandez. They were born in Puerto Rico and died in New York. Then my father tells me that he thinks my great-grandfather had two families. (I'm sorry, what?) I am still in search of his children and the supposed other wife. Also, I heard that Domaso was too tall to fit in his coffin when he died, so they had to cut off the bottom of his legs and bury them in the coffin alongside his body. Not sure if either of these stories are true yet, but I will make sure to interrogate my family members the next time I see them.

The basic layout of my family tree has been created, but I am still not satisfied. There are several questions I still need answered. I will be taking the remaining 29 days of my month subscription to find out the names of my orphaned grandfather's parents and if I have more family out there that my father doesn't know about...yet.

30 B4 30 Day 17: Read the NY Times, Cover to Cover

Do you ever notice how detached you are from the world when you don't read the newspaper, check your e-mail or watch TV? I feel this way when I am on vacation, and I very much enjoy it, but I also like to be in the know. On a daily basis, I scan a number of local papers for mentions of my employer. Sometimes I even stop to read human interest pieces or stories about art theft. Today, I decided to Read the New York Times, Cover to Cover and that took me about 4 hours to complete.

I am not a speed reader or a slow reader, I just read EVERY article in the Times and learned quite a bit about what is going on in the world I live in. For instance, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan, China, Korea and Venezuela are horrible vacation spots, and colleges want parents to stop babying their kids. Very interesting. Also, I learned that LaDainian Tomlinson was a pretty good pick for my ESPN fantasy football team (so there TK!) and President Obama should be able to take a vacation, after all, he has one of the most difficult jobs in the world. The guy needs a break. I know I would need a pina colada with an umbrella in it from time to time if I was the President of the United States. Who am I kidding? I would need a few drinks if I was the president of the PTA. Obama also doesn't take mulligans (do-overs) in golf, which shows that he is an honest person. I don't take them either. I just suck and accept it. Which leads me to believe that I should study the Stack and Tilt Method of golf that was explained in the sports section. It is all about keeping your weight on your front foot and keeping your arms in. It is probably easier said than done.

There were also other stories that really caught my attention. Like:

• They have a bar in the David Barton Gym so that people can have a few cocktails after they work out. Doesn't that just cancel out what you just worked off? They say they want to make the gym a more "social scene," but I don't think anyone would want to have a conversation with me if I was all sweated up and had just thrown up because I had a cosmo after running 2 miles. Gross.
  
• Caster Semenya, the runner who the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) thought was a man, is back to racing. Personally, I feel bad for her. I can't imagine taking a test to prove I am female. I would tell people to hang out with me once a month so I can rip them apart with words while I am PMSing. That would really be sound proof.
  
• A Van Gogh painting is still missing from a museum in Egypt. These stories I always read because art interests me. Art theft is most interesting because it baffles me how and why people do it. I would be afraid to steal any piece of artwork because most pieces are so fragile that I would probably ruin it and then it wouldn't be worth anything. Then I would be in jail for something worth $100. That would be my bad luck.
• And finally, there were paragraph marks left in the Giants story. My editor eye caught that. Oops!

So, reading the New York Times expanded my knowledge of current events and I think I would even like to read it on a regular basis. Next time though, I think I will just read the lead paragraphs instead of every article in its entirety. Reading the newspaper shouldn't take all day. It should really just take the length of time it takes me to drink a hot cocoa and eat a chocolate chip scone. That's about it.

30 B4 30 Day 16: Send My Parents Flowers

I can't complain. I had a great childhood with family vacations, Barbie dolls and Plaster Fun House birthday parties. My parents always focused on what was best for my brother and I, and never asked for anything in return. They just wanted us to be the best at whatever we wanted to be and to have respect for ourselves and others. I am not the best at anything, but I do have good manners, so I am not officially disappointing them. Today I decided to Send My Parents Flowers to show my appreciation for their love and support.

I bought my parents a bouquet of lilies on ProFlowers.com and included a card that said:

Mom & Dad, Thank you for the support and love for every one of my 30 years. I appreciate all you have done for me and I just hope I haven't given you too much grief while I was becoming the person I am today. God couldn't have done a better job choosing parents for me. I love you, Melissa XOXOX

I definitely had to add that part about not causing them too much grief because I was a difficult teenager. I was a good student, with honors classes and A's, and I was an athlete, so I stayed away from drugs, but I did have a mouth on me and I was pretty dramatic when I got upset (still am). I tried to push the envelope whenever possible and gave my mother attitude on a regular basis (this ended in adulthood). I was a typical pain in the butt teenage girl. My mother hopes that I have a daughter just like me and if I do I am naming her Rapunzel and locking her in a tower with a shaved head. There is no need for a clone of me. I can be, or maybe I just am, annoying.

While in college, I realized how lucky I truly was to have the parents that I do. They have been together since high school and they are just as much in love now as they were back then. They are each other's best friend and it sets a really great example for what a married couple should be. I mean, sometimes it is sickening because they are my parents, but I'll confess, it is kind of cute too. After college, I learned to open up to them and it strengthened our relationship. They know I am nuts and they accept me and most of my peccadilloes. Since they are my parents, they kind of have to love me and I have to love them, but if I did have the choice, I still would have chose them. I mean, they are fun on vacations, they laugh at my jokes and they cook my favorite foods, so I really can't complain.

P.S. If they don't find out for themselves that they should be expecting flowers, please don't be a thunder thief and tell them. Much appreciated.

(NOTE: Mom called and thanked me for the flowers. She also said I was silly and I agreed.)