Happy New Year

Happy New Year
Originally uploaded by peachicken.

Well, here we go, barreling into 2006... I wonder what this year will have in store for all of us?

As I am sitting here watching Dick Clark (boy, that is some sad stuff), thinking about last year when Tim, Andy, and I made the trek into the city to watch the ball drop, I've been reflecting on what changes the year 2005 brought into my life. Here goes:

1. I started school in January to work toward getting my MLS degree (Masters in Library Science) and am near to being finished with it. It's been a whirlwind, but I hope to graduate in May.

2. I got to go to Boston for the first time! It is the prettiest New England city, I think. (Want to see? Go here ...)

3. In June, Tim and I celebrated our sixth year of marriage by going up to Canada for a visit with my beautiful sister Becky and her new hubby Jerry. We went on an awesome roadtrip, the four of us, doing everything from sleeping in a tepee to having brunch in the Calgary Tower to seeing the carcass of a merman. (See these pictures for proof... and these ... and these ...) It was a great trip and meeting Jerry was by far the highlight. He is a great brother-in-law and Tim and I are thrilled that Becky met her match (in more ways than one!).

4. We moved for the third time in our six years of marriage. Arrgg. It never gets easier.

5. In September, we said goodbyes to our close friends, the Holohans, as they embarked on their move of a lifetime to South Africa. (That really sucked.) But they are doing well and really enjoying the ministry they are a part of down there. I talked to Rach today at 5:00 p.m. my time to wish her a happy New Year, as they are seven hours ahead of eastern standard time. Boy, I miss my Rachel!

6. This Thanksgiving, Tim and I got to do something we've both always wanted to do - see the Macy's Day Parade in person! That was another once in a lifetime, like seeing the ball drop in Time Square, one can only take so much excitement. (The next thing on our list is La Tomatina in Spain!)

7. Finally, this December, I got a new job that I love (so far) as a Children's Librarian.

Pretty good list of reflections on 2005? What are some of yours? (I love comments, hint hint...)

Sick of Being Sick...

Yeah, do a google search for "puke" and you wind up with all sorts of fun things! So this is day what? Could it really be day 86 in Tim's saga of feeling crappy?!? Yes, it was October 6th that he first went to the ER where he got stitches for a seriously nasty cut and soon afterward got the staph infection. (We have just recently learned that staph infections typically come from hospitals, so he probably picked it up on day 1.) Nice huh? You go in to get fixed up and the hospital "fixes" you up with a fatty bill and a staph infection. I should be charging them. (In need of a review of what happened? See Tim's site for a quick catch up. I haven't blogged much about it, because I don't want to seem manic!)

Anyway, talk about something to ruin fall/winter holidays! Halloween (which is my favorite of all holidays) was totally decimated by rainy weather and the sheer need to keep the husband indoors and warm. Thanksgiving was not too bad, we actually got to see the Macy's Parade and Tim was starting to perk up, blistery and pussy, but on the upswing of things. Then Christmas hit and he caught some funky viral infection, causing him to puke up anything he had in his body. He could barely stay vertical for opening presents and visiting with family. (Here is another fun read by Tim .) Now it is New Year's Eve and he is still layed out, sweating through fevers and munching on crackers. And I tonight I just "want to party like it's 1999!" Do I sound like an unsympathetic wife?

Well, it's not like we were invited anywhere or even know of anywhere cool to spend New Years. So I guess it is destiny that we stay at home, drinking ginger ale (instead of real ale) and watching Regis drop the ball on TV (no pun intended, but if you want to go with the implication, go with it). So if you are listening oh ye gods of the holiday spirit, send me a singing telegram or something, will ya?!?

Oh. And happy freakin' New Years to you.

Thirteen Things about SuzyThings I LOVE About My New Job 1. My boss gave me a Christmas present - she donated a sheep to the Navajo people (Heifer International) in my name! Bizarre, but true. 2. I have my own desk. (It is really an ugly old metal thing, but it is mine, all mine.) 3. Today, I got to play with origami all day long. I am making a bulletin board about the Chinese New Year, so I made a sweet little chain of paper lanterns to go across it. Oh yeah, self-taught. Take that Martha Stewart. 4. I know more about the Dynix module (our OPAC) than any of the other people that work there. 5. There is a theater RIGHT next door. We share bathrooms, even. 6. Hearing the rest of the staff laugh and talk; and knowing that they all genuinely like each other. 7. Being in charge of my own programs and setting my own schedule and pace. 8. Working in a bigger library. (You could totally fit my old library into the children's section of the library I work at now.) 9. Less work! (I get to actually sit and read books as my job!!!) 10. I am right down the street from Long Island Sound, and I hear that Mamaroneck has a Cherry Blossom Festival! 11. Sal's Pizza. (Need I say more?) 12. I am the resident "artist" of the children's room. They look at me with fear and wonder. 13. Finally (and most importantly), my boss respects me and everyone treats me like a valued colleague. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Lazy Daisy 2. Yellow Rose 3.Susie Pie 4. Leanne 5. Memoirs of a Squashed Toad 6. Whiskey Talking 7. Lisa 8. Barbara Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Christmas Grrrl

Suzy
Originally uploaded by peachicken.

So the family is on their way home; Becky and Jerry to Saskatoon, the folks to New Hope, & Andy back to Brooklyn. It was a great visit, full of drama and suspense, action and inaction, hugs and insults. How can one ask for more?!? It was nice to have everyone under one roof - we haven't all been together in about 2 years. And even though I am know throughout the world as "Monica, the Party Nazi" (from Friends - "crummies" and all that...), I think (hope) that everybody had a good time. (Check out the pictures on Flickr...)

Family Photo

Family Photo (minus Tim)
Originally uploaded by peachicken.

Here is the whole family in Time Square, except for Tim who was taking the shot. (My dad looks mean, eh? He isn't. He is just a big cuddly ball of silliness - he just has his "NY Bodyguard" face on.) We played a little bit in the city; I got to take my mom to Toys 'r' Us to see the giant lego Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building, also the Barbie house and Candyland. It was really neat to have us all together for a bit.

We didn't stay long in the city, though. My momma started feeling really awful (like passing out kind of bad) with dizzy spells and nerve tingling and panic sweats, soon after we took this picture. So we split up and Dad, Tim, and I took her to the emergency room back in Westchester. About 5 hours later, they still didn't know what caused her whoosy-ness, but she is feeling better. One of the nurses in the ER said that it may have been subway fumes (if they shut the system down for a while, the fumes are really strong when it starts back up). And since this was the first day of subway use after the ridiculous strike (yes, I said ridiculous), then maybe that had something to do with her bizarre reaction. Anyways, they ran all kinds of tests on her and they turned out looking pretty decent. So send some happy thoughts and prayers her way so she can enjoy the rest of her trip with her babies.

(As a side note, this is a better shot of my hair... like it?)

Thirteen Things I Love About Christmas: 1. White lights sprinkled all over town (Tuckahoe is covered in them!) along with pretty garlands and wreathes with red bows... 2. Family get-togethers and big meals with tablecloths and fancy dinnerware... 3. Giving someone something that they totally love and watching their face light up with glee... 4. Our Christmas tree and the ornaments on it that mark special moments in our lives... 5. Candlelight Services... 6. Adding a new piece to our nativity every year and making up a story to go along with each piece... (This year it is a storyteller and the innkeeper!) 7. The advent calendars my mom makes for me every year... 8. Cuddling on the couch in a tree-scented room, watching Christmas movies... 9. Getting Christmas cards from people I really miss! (hint, hint...) 10. Snowglobes... There is nothing like those little snow filled utopias. 11. Christmas cookies!!! (My mom is bringing me some homemade snickerdoodles. Yum.) 12. Cd's with nothing but Christmas music, on a loop, playing 24/7... 13. And finally, hot chocolate laced with peppermints!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Christmas Picture 2005

Christmas Picture 2005
Originally uploaded by peachicken.

Finally, a picture of our tree. And now, I can relax (well, sort of)! I finished the school semester and my last class on Monday night. I think I did well, though it's tough working full time and taking 12 credits in a graduate program! This has been a REALLY rough semester and I am super happy to have it behind me. Now if I can just make it through this next one, I'm home free!

Speaking of freedom, I also finished out my term (Sounds like slavery, eh? Well, it was kin to it...) at the Pelham Library on Friday. Talk about pure sit-com material! Part of this year's "New Year Resolution" totally stems from this experience - I will never allow myself to be put in that position again. Hey, you live and learn, right? And that is ALL I am going to say about that drama.

In effort to have some catharsis in my life, as I change paths a bit, I got my hair cut! (Can you tell in the picture?) I figure, since it works so well in tragic films, it would be the right move for me. I went in to just have it trimmed and came out with an entire burden lifted. (I think she must have taken off like 10 inches or so!) My hair, which used to be an "Alice in Wonderland" length is now a flippy-do that is just past my shoulders. I suppose the formula works out - if new semester and new job, then haircut. Merry Christmas everybody and may you all find catharsis!

Here is my Rachel's Christmas tree. They just moved to South Africa, so they couldn't bring all of their ornaments and decorations (shipping costs). So Rachel wrapped her tree in her scarves and mittens, and topped it with a winter hat. The funny thing is that it is like 90 degrees down there right now! (The one ornament you see in the middle is a picture of me and Tim - they are such good friends!)

Good news! I just got Skype! (Wondering what that is?) It's this computer program that lets you talk through using the internet, for free. I got to talk to Rach for about a hour on Friday morning! Tim has been having fun with the program, too. He got his buddies Josh and Jesse hooked up and now they do "conference calls."

See Suzy Smile

Suzy and Andrew
Originally uploaded by peachicken.

Ever had a really rotten day, and when you get home, you have this really sweet package from someone you miss and haven't seen in forever?!? I just got a traveling scrapbook in the mail yesterday, from my buddy Andrew in TN. (This picture was taken at the 2004 JCCT Banquet... and it also graces the cover of the scrapbook.) The gesture itself almost made me cry! How amazing is it to have people like this in your life?!?

This is my motto... at least until I start my new job. Grrr...

Thirteen Things Suzy still wants to do in the city... 1. Ice skate at Rockefeller center, being envied and adored by onlookers... 2. See a Yankee game with my brother (while garbed in a Met's t-shirt, of course) 3. Take my mom to Serendipity's for a frrrozen hot chocolate... 4. Ride on the carousel in Central Park... 5. See the "Naked Cowboy" on a cold day (heehee)... 6. Make monkey faces at the animals while I visit the Bronx Zoo... 7. Have a hot bowl of soup from the "Soup Nazi" at the Soup Kitchen International... 8. Go to the "Mermaid Parade" on Coney Island... 9. Attend a Trekkie convention. 10. Have some famous "Baby Watson" NY cheesecake at D'Aiuto's... 11. Go to a Rockettes show at Radio City... 12. Be at the filming of The Daily Show and wave at Jon Stewart... 13. And finally, (the big one) to have dinner in the Rainbow Room... Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Lazy Daisy (my momma) 2. Leanne 3. Ivory Frog 4. Lisa (Shew! Blog-scoping is tons of work!)

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Christmas Lights
I love Christmas! I just got off the phone with my momma, making preparations for their visit up here. (Any suggestions for cheap/free holiday NY City things to do? I got free tickets to the MoMA for the whole fam so far, looking for more ideas, though.) Anyway, I love this time of the year. I love seeing warm twinkley lights shining out under a blanket of snow. It warms me up. Yet, there is also something charming about holiday light misfits... Below is a list of some crazy Christmas light masacres:

• Crazy Carson Williams Christmas lights gone wild or a "modern-day Griswold (turn up your sound for this one...)
• Here is the same house, different song - Carson Williams
• This is a good one, uglychristmaslights.com...
• Need more? Go here...

I've been tagged. So here goes:

Seven Things To Do Before I Die:

1. Visit Egypt and smile at the Sphinx.
2. Spend 4th of July at the UFO festival in Roswell.
3. Settle down in a great little town, have a kid, a house, a fantastic job, and join some civic organizations!
4. Loose 30 pounds.
5. Write a travel guide book that people refer to as their "travel bible."
6. Finish my scrapbook of our 2004 summer.
7. Go on "Safari" with Rachel in South Africa and see lions and tigers and... giraffes.

Seven Things I Cannot Do:

1. Eat sushi.
2. Finish my scrapbooks.
3. Clean a toilet. (Arrgg.)
4. Cook for a living.
5. Tell time on a clock (unless it's digital).
6. Spend the rest of my life in NY.
7. Stomach seeing any of Tims' blood.

Seven Things That Attracted Me To My Spouse:

1. His thoughtfulness and compassion.
2. His incredible smiling eyes.
3. His protective nature (in so many ways!).
4. Our love for the same things (silly stuff, reading, travel, museums, our cats, etc.).
5. Our philosophies jive.
6. The way he looks at me when he thinks I'm not noticing.
7. He is my best and closest friend.

Seven Things I Say Most Often:

1. "Freakin' Crap."
2. (in a high pitched voice, as noted by my husband...) "Juno, come here..." or "Mr. Pan, come here..."
3. "I'm cold." (signifying to Tim to toss me a blanket)
4. "I'm sooo mad at ____!" (fill in blank with co-worker's names)
5. "I love you."
6. "My little monkey..." (this in reference to Juno, my cat)
7. "I miss ____" (fill in blank with friends/ family)

Seven Books I Love:

1. Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
2. Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor
3. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
4. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
5. Woman in the Dunes by Kobo Abe
6. Candide by Voltaire
7. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Seven Movies I Would Watch Over And Over Again:

1. The Last of the Mohicans (and I have watched this over and over again, right mom?!?)
2. Moulin Rouge
3. Batman (yes, the one with Micheal Keaton and Jack Nicholson)
4. Princess Bride
5. Star Wars (mostly episode IV - A New Hope)
6. Breakfast at Tiffany's
7. Labyrinth (David Bowie, ahh yeah.)

Seven People I want to Join In, Too:

1. Christie
2. Rachel and Chris
3. Jill
4. Lynnae
5. Tim

(And feel free to comment below as the other two remaining - I don't know who else has a blog!)

The Metropolitan Opera House

The Metropolitan Opera House
Originally uploaded by peachicken.

Tim and I went to see La Boheme at the Metropolitan Opera on Tuesday night. It was spectacular! I had never been to an opera before so I was unsure about the whole experience, but going to the opera was on my life list (and going to the Met was on my NY list) so this was a MUST. The Met is an amazingly beautiful building, with crystal chandeliers, cascading staircases, plush furniture, and elaborate costumes in glass cases. Typical ticket prices range from $350-110, especially for good seats. Tim and I were seated in the Prime Orchestra, six rows back - WOW. (And we got our tickets for $40 each through a friend of mine who is a Met patron!) Merry (early) Christmas!

We began our evening by missing our train to the city (and no, it wasn't because I was primping). Reminiscent of the night he proposed to me 7 years ago, Tim forgot our tickets on the fridge of our apartment! So we trudged back to get them and he drove us into the city, getting to our dinner reservations just in time. We had a lovely dinner at Gabriel's and even had one of their famous homemade desserts! (My boy is so sweet.) We strolled over to the Opera House for the main event of the night. The opera was everything I hoped for. Just the set and costumes alone were enough to take my breath away. (For more pictures of our night, go here...)

I think the most significant failures in public libraries happen when we forget our cultural history. Just recently, the NY Public Library sold off 16 of its’ endowed pieces of art, including the famous “Kindred Spirits” by Durand (that shows Thomas Cole and William Cullen Bryant in the Catskills). This piece of art is not only one of the finest Hudson Valley portraits, but it also reflects the historical greatness of the NY Public Library. (Think: Bryant Park right next to the NYPL...) By selling its treasures, it signifies a paradigm shift in the ways that libraries used to view themselves as cultural and educational centers for the community. If our library identities are up for sale at Sotheby’s, then how are we to be leaders in disseminating information? This grieves me. To see a great response to this horrendous act, and to see why I am now boycotting Wal-Mart ("from Wal-Mart to Wal-Art" heh), click here.

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland
Originally uploaded by peachicken.

Well, our first snow of the season has fallen. Too bad I can't go outside and play - I have papers to write still. But happily, it looks like we might have a "White Christmas" after all! (This is a pic of my fella on a stroll through Central Park. Furry, isn't he?) In the words of Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye, and Vera Ellen:

"Snow, snow, I wanna wash my hands, my face and hair with snow. Snow...I long to clear a path, and lift a spade of snow. Snow, oh, to see a great big man entirely made of snow.

Here's to it!