Everyone Loves a Boston Girl

My favorite things about this weekend:

-When my dad made me a pomegranate martini on Thanksgiving and I had to have him re-make it because it was legit all Grey Goose with a splash (at most) of juice. Everyone laughed and made fun of me as my dad claimed, “we don’t know what ‘too strong’ means in this family!” Excuse me for not being in the mood to get ridiculous on one martini when I was 20 minutes away from having blueberry champagne (delish!) and wine with dinner. And like my sister said, “the last thing we need is Susie blacking out on Thanksgiving 2007…the last thing she’ll remember is dancing on the counter and us telling her to put her shirt back on.” With my luck, something like that would totally happen. I’ll never be invited back.

-When we asked my mom about the 5 covered dishes that were on the counter right before we ate Thanksgiving dinner. “Oh, they’re leftovers,” my mom said. How is it possible to have leftovers before you even eat dinner?? Still can’t figure that one out. But I do know that I got to take a bunch back to Boston, so I’m OK with that.

-When my sister and her boyfriend got me addicted to online Boggle. And when they went home to Chicago and called me at 3 a.m. on Friday because they saw my name signed on in the Boggle room. I was worried something was wrong when I saw her calling me so late, but when I picked up she said, “Sues…are you playing Boggle right now???” Ummm maybe. Reason #8592345 I choose not to start playing Facebook’s Scrabulous.

-When my dad gave me more jelly fruit slice candies. He has, no lie, given me a package of them the last 4 times I’ve been home. I’m starting to get a little confused as, yes they’re delicious, but why? My mom said he makes sure to go in the candy store every time they’re visiting Maine just to buy them for me. I don’t remember ever expressing any great deal of excitement over jelly fruit slices, but I do think it’s very sweet of him. And I’m sure I’ll manage to eat them.

-When, once back in Boston, we had to call my mom to get a phone tutorial on how to open a bottle of champagne because Chelsee and Nina hadn’t opened one before. And the last time I did, I almost took someone out. My mom had really explicit and helpful instructions…Like I said, my family drinks a lot. Ha. And when I gave a really lame toast because I feel like you should always toast when you drink champagne. Correct?



On another note, this is what I really want for Christmas. Anyone? Pretty please?

Chloe Heloise Bag


Would it be bad if I said I reallllly miss having a puppy cuddling with me right now? Because I do. It’s going to be hard sleeping tonight. Waaa, I’m never happy.

Tomorrow’s Monday. It’s not going to be a fun week.

One more night of dogsitting. I know I haven’t shut up about it, but it’s honestly running my life right now. It’s making me seriously not want children because I cannot live like this. But, as I was telling my mom, at least with kids, you can bring them home and put them to bed for the night. Dogs, not so much. They won’t sleep until I sleep.

They were pretty well-behaved at my parents’ house, but once we got back to theirs, they went psycho. The puppy has been constantly attacking the older dog. I know she’s just playing, but poor Cissy is 13 years old and just wants to be left alone. Cissy is not feeling well today. I know this because she wouldn’t eat her freshly cooked chicken breakfast, and I can hear her stomach making weird noises (please dear lord, do not have any accidents), and Mitzi has been jumping on her/biting her/dragging her around by her bandana all day. I feel really bad for her, but I can’t spend my whole day breaking up fights (now I know how my parents felt!) and I need to get my own stuff done.

Finally, when I was at my wits end, I looked over on the bed and saw this:

And proceeded to start running around, jumping on Cissy. Sighhh at least it was peaceful for a moment. Again, now I know how parents feel when they’re ready to sell their children on the black market, and then catch a moment of pure sweetness and realize how much they love them. It’s the little things.

My second meme in a week. Ooh yay. I am seriously lacking sleep and am extremely out of it right now, and since this is pretty mindless, it’s perfect for me. Thank you, Nicoleantoinette. I have almost 3,500 songs in my iTunes and lots of random stuff, so this should be interesting.

MEME Rules:
1. Put Your itunes/ music player on Shuffle
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER WHAT
After you’ve answered all of the questions, tag 5 other people and then let them know they’ve been tagged to do the meme themselves!

IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY?
Icky Thump by The White Stripes

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Sleep All Day by Jason Mraz (omg, that is so sad for me)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Mouth by Bush (umm interesting)

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
On Top by The Killers (nicee, I like that)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
If You Find Her by Future of Forestry (no clue…)

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
I Just Don’t Know What to do With Myself by The White Stripes (wow, this is making my whole life sound so pathetic)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Control by Mute Math (does that mean I’m in control or I’m controlling?)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
You Get Me by Michelle Branch (aww cute again)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Tomorrow by Ryan Adams (oooh true)

WHAT IS 2+2?
Little Demons by Julian Velard

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Outer Space by Until June

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Almost Honest by Josh Kelley (veryy interesting)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Pretend You’re Alive by Love Drug (sooo sad again)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Now That You’re Gone by Ryan Adams

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Please by Tristan Prettyman (hmmm)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Angels by Robin Thicke (awww)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Stop This Train by John Mayer (omg, my life seriously sucks. ha)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Wake Up by Hilary Duff (hahaha that would be so horrible. And yes I do have a few of the Duffsters songs on my iPod. Sue me)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Answers & Questions by Earlimart

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Balancing the World by Eliot Morris (go me)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Friend of the Devil by Counting Crows (ehhh, does that make me the devil?)

WHAT SHOULD YOU POST THIS AS?
This Time by Christopher Jak

That was funnn. I would totally tag people, but I’m pretty sure I might already be typing this while sleeping so I think I might just not. But you should all do it…because it’s fun. I promise.

Let’s pray the dogs sleep more than 4 hours tonight. Two more nights. I can do it. I can do it. I can do it.

I obviously have to do a “what I’m thankful for post” because it’s Thanksgiving (well, it’s actually over, but as far as I’m concerned, until I go to bed it’s still here. I always date my posts back since I do most of my writing at 3:00 a.m. So, technically it’s Friday right now, but as far as you’re concerned it’s still Thursday evening. So when you see me say things like “I’m soooo tired,” and it looks like I’m writing it at 11:30 p.m., it’s probably really 4:00 a.m. I suck at going to bed.)

My family has this tradition where we go around the table saying what we’re thankful for before we can eat Thanksgiving dinner. We’re not religious at all, so I guess this is kind of like our grace. We make fun of it constantly (one year my mom made us hold hands! And my dad and male neighbor were sitting next to each other; it was totally awkward), but then when we go to do it, I always feel like crying. We all say such nice things about each other and our lives; I know I’m so lucky in so many ways; I can’t help getting super emotional.

My list of cliche and sappy what I’m thankful for’s. Seriously though, I’m not going to make stuff up just to be original…deal with it:

-My family. Duh. I am constantly saying nice things about them here, but I really do consider myself incredibly lucky. I don’t have a huge extended family that lives close by, so holidays are pretty much the 4 of us (and any bfs who happen to be hanging around) and I lovee how low-key it is. Especially since I don’t live at home anymore, I really enjoy coming back and just hanging out and relaxing like the old days. And despite a few minor dysfunctions, we all have pretty nice relationships with each other and enjoy being together. A lot of families can’t say that.We have our neighbors over every Thanksgiving and they are seriously the best people in the world. I’ve lived in this house since I was born and they’ve always lived across the street and are pretty much my grandparents. And since I don’t have any actual grandparents, I really appreciate their company and love.

-The fact that I live in Boston. Honestly, sometimes when I’m walking around the city, I just stop and think about it and am amazed. Not everyone gets the opportunity to live in such a nice city and have so many opportunities every day. I love that I can walk absolutely anywhere in the whole city, plus neighboring cities and towns, from my apartment. I’m also super thankful for my apartment (um, and the people I pay my rent to should be thankful for me). I can pretty much barely afford it, but it is soo worth it (T stop is across the street, apt. is a nice size, they are generous with the heat, we have a trash room next to our apt. so we don’t even have to bring our trash down…seriously, it’s the little things. Not bringing trash down make me really really happy). Sure, some of the people in Boston totally suck, but when it comes down to it, Boston is a historical and beautiful place and I honestly love it with all my heart.

-My completely amazing friends. I sound so freaking cliche, but I honestly feel really lucky to know the people I do. Most of my friends are childhood friends and many I have been friends with since 2nd grade…some even earlier! Growing up and through high school, I lived pretty much within 5 minutes of 5 of my closest friends. And now, in Boston, we still live within 5 minutes of each other. I think it’s invaluable to be friends with people who have watched you grow and change throughout life, but unfortunately many people grow apart throughout college and beyond. We all split up through college, spent 4 years apart, and then made our way back to Boston. And I am sooo lucky (I keep saying lucky…maybe I’m just smart) that I still love them soo much and wouldn’t trade them for anyone else. And I obviously really treasure my newer friends too…aka mostly Sara. And my favorite UNHer Kyle. Some people it just feels right with.

-That I have passions in life. I think it’s really important to have something you love in life. Something that nobody can ever take away from you. Something that makes you who you are. Something that makes you incredibly happy no matter what the rest of your life is like; even if you are completely alone, without friends, family, a significant other, etc. I have three things that allow me to be perfectly content no matter what my life situation is. I am pretty much euphoric if you give me a pen and paper (or maybe a computer with Word) and let me write. I will also be 100% satisfied if you give me a book or a magazine to read. And I feel entirely in my element if I’m in the kitchen cooking. I can’t even describe how amazing it feels that I can actually make a living doing the things I am most passionate about (well, besides cooking…maybe some day). And once again, I have to thank my parents for encouraging me and allowing me to find what I love in life. Obviously the whole cooking thing is still relatively new and I’m not anywhere near a professional chef yet, but I do have the best teachers in the world. And my apple pie was pretty darn good tonight. Yay.

OK, I have like a billion more things I’m thankful for (legit, I could list them all night long), but you’re probably bored and I’m tired. I only got 4 hours of sleep last night with the pups, and even those 4 involved Mitzi sprawled out on top of me, and Cissy snoring next to me (she has major sinus problems, the poor thing). I ate far too much today and I’m sure I’ll do more of the same tomorrow. I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving And furthermore…let the shopping begin!!

Obviously the eating continued today. As did the family time. Thankfully, the dogs slept from 2:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m., basically a miracle. And, so far they have not been terrors in my parent’s house (only one accident so far, yay!). They also had $200 flowers from Winston’s delivered to my parents with a card that says “Happy Thanksgiving…Love, Cissy and Mitzi” (haha!). The only problem I encountered was when I wanted to take a shower. The dogs would not leave my side and followed me upstairs and into the bathroom. When my mom brought them downstairs, they cried. She tried to convince me to let them stay with me while I showered, but come on, I think I deserve 15 minutes of privacy.

I hate to say it, but it actually feels a little bit nice to be so needed. Even if it is by dogs. The last time I was this needed was when my ex got back surgery and I traveled from Boston to NH every few days because he “needed” me to be with him. These dogs need me, but they give it all back in 100% love (except for the occasional accident). They don’t whine/complain/bitch because I am talking on the phone or doing work instead of paying full attention to them. And they are amazinggg snugglers.

This was the first year I didn’t go into downtown the night before Thanksgiving and I had absolutely no desire to. I wanted to spend time with my family, instead. Family time in my household basically means sitting in the kitchen talking/cooking/eating/playing board games. Thank God my sister’s boyfriend fits in pretty amazingly well with us and doesn’t think we’re all huge dorks because we chose to spend 4 hours tonight playing the Jeopardy board game (he was actually the most enthusiastic of us all) and making lame jokes about Alex Trebek. Tomorrow will probably either be Scrabble or Boggle. I unfortunately left Balderdash at my apartment.

We had a huge lobster dinner, which felt more summery than Thanksgivingy, but who cares…I am always down for lobster, especially when tomorrow is going to be filled with turkey, stuffing, etc. We had my pumpkin chocolate chip squares for dessert, which everyone loved (yay!). My apple pie looks OK for tomorrow, but it was not easy to make. Why? I had to bake it at my aunt’s who doesn’t really cook; ie had NO spatula (how is this possible??) and no ingredients. I basically had to bring flour, sugar, and all that from my apartment. She does, however, have at least 9 containers of bread crumbs from Legal Seafood in the fridge, and at least 14 sticks of butter that have been opened. And at least 20 packages of batteries in the fridge as well. And wine everywhere.

Tomorrow will be another family-filled day and then our Thanksgiving with the fam (all 4 of us+sister’s boyfriend) and our two neighbors who are pretty much family. I love the low-keyness of it all, and my mom’s obsessive need to make everything perfect.

Umm make that two accidents. Damn it. I’m going to bed.