raison d’être

I've always loved that phrase and when I saw a beer with that name, I had to pick it up for the party last night. It was a busy day with getting ready, but we had a great time. It was good for a lot of laughs, and fortunately no tears, as we said good bye and good luck to my friend who is departing for the other coast this week.

The fact that she is leaving finally sank in today as I left her place for the last time, with her plants who are coming to live at my house.

This has been a crazy month. Tremendous highs and lows with everything else in between. It started with tears and is ending that way as well though the tears this time are not so much about grief but bittersweet ones. I am so happy that my friend is taking this great step in her life but sad it's going to be on the West Coast.

I am beyond tired right now. I got home from the party way too late and oddly wide awake for the hour it was. I am mentally and physically worn out from so much, including the nasty after hours email I got from my new boss. I'm still working that one out.

So I welcome April. I am happy to be having a moment to catch my breath, get a much needed haircut, do my taxes and put the finishing touches on my new apartment.

Get Out Your Easter Bonnet

Ok, so there was no bonnet involved on my end but I did witness quite a few during my weekend in New York. It was quite the onslaught of pastel colors on 5th Avenue this morning and many hats with small, stuffed animal bunnies mounted to the front. It looked like an odd cartoon taxidermist advertisement. I continued my color assault on my poor eyes by spending the bulk of the day at the MOMA.

Of course I was not in town just for the parade. I was catching up with the girls for lunch and my new NY friend for dinner. The girls had some issues and could not head into town so I was left with an afternoon all to myself. It was really nice and I got back to the hotel to relax, read and take a quick nap since I was still recovering from my nasty cold during the week.

Dinner was another fantastic time. The company was incredible as was the food. It was great and I am still giggling about our waiter's unbridled enthusiasm about mustard seed zabaglione. And the cheese course with an almost toasted marshmallow runny cheese and a make-you-swoon double creme cheese. Oh and additional swooning for the wine. Holy cow. I apparently have been a very good girl to get to enjoy a meal like that!

So while I did not spend Easter with my MA family, I stopped in on my "adoptive" White Plains Italian family to say hello. It was a great visit and one that I walked away from with my heart feeling really good.

It was such a tremendously good weekend, I didn't mind the traffic on the way home.

A Little Cheer

Well, it's been a tough week, but I've appreciated all those who have been of help and understanding. I came home from work this week and got a great cheer up. Who can be sad when they get a bunny cupcake?!?

Goodbye My Special Guy

It is a sad day today as I find myself writing this difficult post. My handsome, special guy, Nikita died yesterday. He was the best dog and I am so heartbroken. I could not bear posting his picture here so I borrowed my friend's special condolence email he sent to me last night. It's the new dog in his family and it actually made me smile on a day with so many tears.

So with that, I have a few words about my amazing dog ^..^

I will miss that big, white head with ears down and sleepy eyes greeting me at the top of the stairs when I get home from work. His tail wagging a mile a minute and stepping on cats, he would tell me all about his day.

I will miss walking him around my neighborhood, feeling so very proud of all the "he's so handsome" and "he's so beautiful" comments I would get.

I will miss feeling so safe and protected knowing that as long as he was around, nothing would harm me. I will miss him putting himself in front of me and issuing a bwoof warning any strangers to keep their distance from his mom.

I will miss his spirit, intelligence, persistence and sense of humor which was often evidenced by that gleam in his eye as he would toss his slobbery, squeaky soccer ball at one of the sleeping cats.

I will miss his determination and stubbornness that didn't wane even as his body was getting old.

I will miss him pitching his toys at me to play with him.

I will miss watching him belly flop into my dad's pool or hanging out in his kiddie pool, happy to be cooled off on a hot day.

I will miss telling him "I'm going to get you" and watching him take off for me to chase him.

I will miss watching him unwrap presents during the holidays. Both his presents and anyone else who isn't paying attention.

I will miss his ability to hear an ice cream sandwich wrapper being unwrapped from a mile away. And his ability to get to the source of that noise in 2 seconds flat.

I will miss him sleeping next to me at night, hogging the bed and kicking me when he had his puppy dreams of chasing squirrels or whatever else.

I will miss him waking me up in the morning by putting his head on my pillow and kissing my face.

I will miss him standing guard on the bath mat every time I take a shower.

I will miss teasing him about his nemesis, squirrels, with every word that begins with a "sq" sound.

I will miss him licking my face when I cry and then bringing me one of his toys to try to cheer me up.

I will miss telling him "get the kitties" and watching his face light up. The cats will probably not miss that.

I will miss watching him being so gentle nuzzling Jack out of the way to make room for himself on his bed.

I miss being able to think about my dog without tears running down my face. I am so very sad it seems a million years away that I will not.

Goodbye my handsome boy. Thank you for everything.

Lesbian School of Dance

It's been so busy with work and life that I haven't had a second to relax. Friday night brought a very happy, informal house warming party that was a blast. It was such a great night for pizza and beer and hilarious conversation. And 25 pairs of giant cat eyes from the creepiest wallpaper I have ever seen.

This winter has been fantastic and I have certainly gotten my fill of snow. It snowed out on Friday late and it was just beautiful to drive home in. It was still snowing the next morning but it was those giant, wet flakes.

The weekend was good and I got a lot accomplished. My kitchen is finally fully unpacked and organized the way I want. Sunday night brought sad news. It's always so difficult when my pets get sick. They can't tell you what's wrong and it's so sad.