Riddle me this Batman....

I just drove through 5 states this past week: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey & Pennsylvania. And I mean literally through all of them; coming home, we came an entirely different way which took us through a completely different area of New York than the way we came in, which was through the city.

Do you know that there were more tolls, and for more money - over a shorter distance, no less -- in Massachusetts? No word of a lie. The shortest distances travelled were the most expensive in my own state. Why is that?

Did I mention that our roads were in the worst condition? Right......
What are the tolls paying for anyway??? The Big Dig Fiasco, that's still one of the worst looking eye sores in all of history? The faulty tiles that killed innocent passengers in the tunnel? State employees wages?

Anyone..? Anyone...?
Bueller.......?

Recharged and Re-energized.....

I feel good.
Vacation, though stressful at times with two kids who tend to like to fight -- was really great.



New York was so much fun and as always, was not a long enough stay. We need to go back again! And Hershey Park....if you've never been, I highly encourage it. It was so much fun - and so clean - and truly, they think of everything when it comes to food. I mean truly, from Falafel to Grilled Chicken Salads to typical carnival fare - they have it all. And then of course...there's the chocolate. I'm personally not a huge chocolate person, but it was hard to resist all the free candy; especially the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

I've got a few rants regarding my travel, but I'll save them for another day. Instead today, I present to you, the pictoral review of the "I'm Just a Girl Family Vacation"....

Hiatus...Vacation...Siesta....

Long awaited, and long overdue...the "I'm just a girl" family is going on vacation.
Manhattan....Hershey Park, here we come!

Picture to follow when I return...

Would that be boring....or just one boring life....

The other night, I started reading some of my older posts from the first year I started blogging.

What I found most interesting is that without having an office environment in my day to day life -- my life has so much less to rant about. Which is a great thing - but at the same time, makes me feel relatively boring in comparison.

I mean, don't get me wrong - I could rant plenty about staffing or customers -- but I actually like them so it's not really worth the rant. I have total satisfaction with my job, I generally like my staff -- and I truly love my customers. Love sounds like a strange word, but I have regulars that I look forward to seeing every day. Some are little loco and funny; others are just great people -and it feels like my circle of friends has increased with some of them.

So I apologize if I've been less than entertaining this year; at the same time, despite some not so great events in life - I'm pretty happy. And I don't think that necesarily equates to boring...

Much Ado about Nothing...

...There's nothing I hate more than nothing.

Nothing keeps me up at night...
I toss & turn over nothing.
Nothing could cause a great big fight...

Stewie: For the love of God, shake me! Shake me like a British nanny!

Today I experienced one of the most painful things I've yet to encounter in life....
I had kidney stones.

I experienced my first ambulance ride - because there was no way I was driving myself; I couldn't, though I thought I might. I sure as hell tried to be able to; but it came on like a freight train with no brakes.

By the time the IV was in and I got the pain medicine, I was ready to actually sell one of my kidneys for the pain to stop.

I'm tired and sore tonight -but yet so many worlds better than how I was this morning.
I wouldn't wish it on anyone; oh, and to anyone who is a guy - and heard it's "like childbirth".
Umm, no.

I'm here to tell you - it's far worse than giving birth; it's by far the most discomfort I've ever felt, ever.

EVER................

A 'No' uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble.

All children behave as well as they are treated.

Discipline your son in his early years while there is still hope. If you don't you will ruin his life.

Praise your children openly, reprehend them secretly.

Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation.

Discipline doesn't break a child's spirit half as often as the lack of it breaks a parents heart.

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child learns to feel shame, he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement he learns confidence
If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.
He a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.

Teach your children well.

I know I can be colorful; I know I can be gray...

I just got through watching the end of "Rock Star" for oh, I don't know - the hundreth time.

I love, love, love that movie.

Jennifer Aniston is absolutely adorable in it; and I think what I love best about it, is that it's just this great little story of how someone loses themselves - but then finds their way home.

Something that doesn't always happen, unfortunately.

Its the New Zoo Review....

not really...just a book review.

So, I finished Dan Brown's "Demon & Angels" last night. I could not put it down.
I was half way through yesterday and just went non-stop to the end last night.
It was like a movie in my head! Twists, turns, education...history, art - and just when my original suspicion of who the bad guy was, was confirmed - I realized that not everything is as it seems. Loved it.

I even think I enjoyed it more than DaVinci Code.

But I would never see the movie if they made one, just as I didn't watch "DaVinci Code". The camera can never recreate as beautifully the image that is created in the mind's eye.

Creepy people smile and creepy people lie and creepy people seep into your life...

Seriously, this totally cracked me up today.

So, I'm stocking the cooler and the phone rings. I answer it - and there's this muffled, low voice saying something I can't understand. So I ask them to repeat it; so they do - but again, it's not clear, I'm not sure what they're saying - so I apologlize and ask them once more. This time, I hear it loud and clear.

It's an obscene phone call.
Seriously!?!?! Seriously.

So, I say "OMG, seriously?!?! That's nasty! An obscene phone call?!?! Seriously, you know I have caller ID, right??".... next thing I hear: Click.

Laugh my ass off I did.
And then... I thought - "I'll get you my pretty....".

So, I do a 411.com search thinking no one is stupid enough to do that from a land line.
Oh yeah... he was.

So I decide to call my little phone friend who lives in Needham. But now he's shy; he doesn't want to take my call. (You don't say....?) So, I left him a message basically saying while I haven't had a call like that in 20 years and that it was pretty funny - don't ever call me again. And it's not 1984, we have caller ID. Dumbass...

An hour or so later, the phone rings. Someone else answers it, and isn't really clear on what the caller is talking about; there's reference to my leaving a message - and so I know immediately who it is....and so I take the phone.

First...he tries to say it wasn't him: it was his brother, or his son. (Of course it was you - I recognise your voice silly man.) Then, he apologized and said it will never happen again. (At least he had the gumption to call and apologize. He sounded embarrassed, if nothing else. But he definitely sounded.....special.)

Shaaa, I'd say not! There is no more anonymity in society my little friend.

Go call some other girl to see if she wants to BEEP your BEEP BEEP.

I've got one word for you - and it's Denis Leary's favorite.
Google it.

What's up with me Wednesday....

1. Reading a book with low expectations is fabulous. So, I'm a quarter deep into Dan Brown's "Angels & Demons". And I am lovin' it... I got it on uberclearance ($3.99) at Barnes & Noble and since I'd heard so much negative press about it, I figured - what the heck. Can I just tell you - it's really good so far. Not sure why no one liked it because truthfully - while I loved, loved, loved "The Davinci Code" - the ending left me cold; it was anticlimatic. So I'm happily enjoying this one, piece by piece.

2. Keeping on my rant regarding Mercedes drivers. Seriously -- today, two people almost killed me on the road. Both of them, Mercedes drivers. The first one was on 93 South; flying up on my left and swerving in front of me without so much as a look in the mirror was a surprisingly young kid driving his sedan. I only know he was a kid because he pulled up on my left so tight to me, I looked over to see who the flip was edging in my lane; and all I kept thinking was he must be from Andover and Daddy bought it for him. Truly - a baby. And the other one was right in front of my store -- at the light in front of me, I turn green before him and start making my turn and he SLAMS on the gas to make his turn, barely letting me finish mine. Entitlement is obnoxious. It's only a car logo on your hood - and it's not made of gold. Get over yourselves...

3. Double yoga days rock. Today I did an amazingly strong and hot class; this afternoon - a much easier but good class. I am going to sleep like a baby tonight...

4. It's Patriots Pre Season night! I'm curious to know if we'll see Welker on the field at all; it would be nice, even if for only one play. I know the game is only good for one quarter - but I like seeing the back up quarterbacks. It's always good to see the rookies compete for spots too. I enjoy it anyway.

5. Nothing ventured -- nothing gained. There are always opportunities for a third store; but sometimes, things come in multiples. There's one strong contender in the running at the moment.... but its too soon for me to spill the beans on it. But would be pretty sweet....pretty, pretty sweet.
5.

Warrior pose battles inner weakness and wins focus. You see that there is no war within you. You're on your own side, and you are your own strength.

So, I'm trying to practice as much yoga as I can before the holidays kick in and I won't be able to.

I'm going both to the new studio across from the store - and my old studio where I live. Truly, there's nothing like the one near my house; it's always hot, it's always strong and it's always an incredible workout. I'm dripping with sweat when I leave; whereas the one across from the store, I barely break a sweat - which is okay because I have to work after. I'm hoping to do "doubles" on Tuesday and Thursday - morning at one studio, and afternoon at the other.

Namaste.

Monday, Monday...it's here to stay...

So sad to have seen the weekend end.

Saturday, the kiddies and I went to the most beautiful town in the Boston area - "SWellsley" (Thanks AE for the backstory on the nickname!) where we spent the day at Elm Bank and enjoyed the Massachusetts Marketplace Festival. It's an annual event where local farmers market types come and sell their wares. We got to get food from our favorite little Amish farm, StoneyBrook out in Montgomery, MA. The BEST peach pie in the whole entire world!! Pear Bread, Shoefly Pie...mmmm, good.

I found a few new food vendors that I'm excited to see their products at the store; but I was rather disappointed in this year's event. There were far less vendors than before, and the food wasn't as good either; I packed a sheet for us to picnic -but there was no food to have lunch with. Usually there's a caterer, but this time it was one guy working the grill, and everything was sold out by 12:30. But that's okay - we still had so much fun.

Sunday, it was the Feast of the Madonna in the North End. One of the smaller ones - but still so yummy. I had an Arancini and I am now good for at least another year with that incredible indulgence. Speaking of indulgences, the chocolate covered marshmellows - were insane. Insane!

We then left after a while and went to the Nevin's Farm shelter in hopes of seeing adorable little puppies; but we got there just as they closed. So, instead we hopped in and out of store and the Rockingham Mall before settling in for dinner. (Not that I was incredibly hungry after that Arancini, but hey - I found the room for it.)

It's weekends like these that make it difficult to enjoy Monday.
And I'm always thankful for this blog, because when the kiddies get older and don't want to hang out with me anymore, I can always look back and see all the fun we used to have.

Once upon a time, in your wildest dreams....

I've always believed that when you dream of a person who's passed - it's a visit from them.

I'd never had one -but I've always firmly believed that's what it means - and if ever a friend mentioned that they'd had a dream about a loved one, I'd try to reaffirm that belief with them so that they'd feel good about the experience.

I don't typically remember my dreams; and if I do, the funny thing is - they don't typically involve people I know. I mean, I know who they are - but they don't look like the people they're supposed to be. Almost as if it's just representation of who they are; but usually it's almost just so faint, it's like a watercolor painting that wasn't quite dry and someone threw water on it so the images start to melt away.

But this morning, I dreamt of my Mom. She was there... and she was sick, but she wasn't incapacitated; and she was walking along the beach with me - which is rather ironic because she never liked the beach, and I even vaguely recall saying that to her -- but yet there we were. Anyway, there are many details to the dream which I won't get into here - but the way it ended was that she sent me a birthday gift. The last thing before I woke up suddenly was hearing her voice saying "because it's your birthday honey..."

I woke up..... and I cried.
(We all know how infrequently I cry. It just felt so real, I could still smell the ocean.)

I thought maybe today was the 8th -- but it's not; tomorrow is 3 months that she passed; my birthday is next month.

And today.....I had a visit.
Maybe it's an early birthday present.

Tuesday Top 10..

So many things I'd love to write about and yet....
I've opted to go with a fluffy top 10.

Here are my top 10 favorite smells - in no random order.

1. Nag Champa
2. The smell of food cooking in a house, esp. with garlic -- love, love, love savory scents
3. Pumpkin pie baking
4. Sephora - oh yes, the store has a specific smell, and it's amazing.
5. Vanilla, in just about any configuration: Candles, Food, Perfume, Soap....
6. Cedar
7. Baby Powder with Lavendar
8. Lavendar & Lemon
9. The smell of good leather
10. The smell of a fire pit/fireplace

What scents make you feel warm & fuzzy?

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N...in the summertime!

So it's official - and booked.
The I'm Just a Girl family is going on vacation. In the next few weeks, we're hitting the road and taking the kiddies to.... Hershey Park! Very, very fun.

First stop, is Manhattan. I've been promising and promising that we'd take them there - and after the last time we went, we spent so much time thinking and talking about how much they'd love it - we have to bring them. Besides, it's a good stopping point inbetween the ride. So, one day and night in NYC and then three nights at Hershey Park.

The best part is that none of us have been there before; so unlike Disney, where G & I had been there prior to the kids ever going - this is going to be a first for all of us. A real family adventure, so to speak.

And this girl can not wait!

We interrupt today's previously scheduled post....

....to bring you this:





I wish I could say that he was looking at me ("hey, how you doin'?), however the truth of the matter is that this photograph isn't even mine.


An acquaintance went to "Picnic at the Park" and happened to have this shot of Jason in her photo album. I'm just borrowing it (taken creative license) since I happened to stumble upon it.


You know what they say....Finders, keepers.


But we can just pretend that he's looking at me, right? Just for funsies...