It's A Girl.

Things have been quite sucky for me lately, but last night I got a little bit of a shot in the arm that I needed.

A little bit of a back story first.  I have two best friends, Joey & Claudia. The three of us have been together since the 6th grade so we're talking 30 yrs now. JEEZ.

In the past year, Joey lost her grandmother, and then suddenly her mother.  I saw her mom last June at Joey's birthday party in Dallas.  I went back to Boston and almost immediately everyone was telling me that her mom had lost a lot of weight and was generally not doing well. She was gone in November.

Obviously my heart broke for Joey. I was trying to rearrange plans to just go home around my birthday and forget everything fun that was going on in my life at the time to attend the funeral. Joey told me to go on with my plans...that she was going to have the funeral immediately and that I wouldn't even have the opportunity to fly down to attend. 

I still wish I could have gone.  Her mom practically raised me as well. The endless hours spent in Joey's bedroom, swooning over Duran Duran or watching movies or MTV and her mom bursting into the bedroom during the Spring demanding that we turn off the Air Conditioner and TV and "Get in the hallway!" because a Tornado was spotted north of town. Ah, west Texas. 

Joey has no brothers or sisters.  She has one aunt, one uncle and one cousin, Gloria, Howard & Jaime. 

Jaime is now expecting her first child, and last night we had a party for her & her husband and for Jaime's father, Howard (who was celebrating his birthday).  No one knew the sex of the baby last night except for the doctor and the baker who made the birthday cake for Howard. Once he cut the cake, the baby was revealed for everyone as the cake was pink inside and not blue.

It was nice to be celebrating life for a change and to be happy & excited about the future.  It's so easy to get lost or caught up in what might be a moment (or in my case, a few months) of disappointment.  I am owning my decision to leave Boston & a great job...and I accept that it's not going to be easy to find a job in California while living in Texas (financially I have to), but I'm still working on it.  My friends want me to return to Dallas....and though I swore it off years ago, the reality is setting in.  It's not that it's even going to be easy finding a job there...and let's face it, I'm not getting any younger.  Still, I'm determined....and last night was nice. To be around friends, family and celebrating new life...in whatever form it may be.

Joey, me, Claudia

with mom

With mom-to-be, Jaime.

Update

In December of 2011 I packed my car up and left Boston, MA, my home of the last 5 yrs.

I had a great job at Children's Hospital as the executive administrative assistant to 3 directors in the I.T. department - one of which was a doctor. I loved my job at Children's, but I just couldn't see myself living in Boston for the rest of my life. I considered New York City as I practically was there every weekend anyway, but for several reasons, that didn't work out either and I found myself thinking about California again. I was originally going to move there before going to Boston, but due to some health problems that I was having, I chose Boston and ended up getting the health care that I desperately needed.

I left Boston on Dec. 18. If it didn't fit in my car, it didn't make the trip...which means at this moment some of my things are sitting in my sister's basement in Maynard, MA. 

I arrived in Texas (my original home) on Dec. 23. I could have been there earlier, but I visited with friends along the way. One being the first "best friend" that I ever had from the 1st grade. Deana & I visited in her new home in Little Rock, AR and we had a great time catching up.  Kentwood Elementary Pathers for life:

My plan was that I would stay with my mom for a few months - work a part time job for some mad money (car payment/insurance) and start applying online to jobs in CA. I really would like to work at Children's in LA, but the problem is that Children's Hospitals are not affiliated with one another. I don't have the option to just transfer to another CH.  I have to apply again just like it's another job with another company.  Sure, it helps that I have 5 yrs under my belt from Boston, but it doesn't give me any advantage really.

So long story short, here it is - April - and I'm no closer to California than I was in December. Disappointing? Sure, but I will continue to stay positive and hope for the best.

I did get selected by Cedars Sinai Hospital for 2 different positions (my resume was selected to the next round of interviews I should say), but I was over-qualified for those jobs and so I wasn't the best choice.  It happens. I understand.

I am currently working as a registered Pharmacy Technician at a Pharmacy here in my hometown which means that I know more about people here than I really care to.  Small town - news travels VERY fast - and suddenly I know more about Viagra and who's taking it than I care to.  If it's not Viagra, it's hydrocodone.  Or Cialis. I'm not naming names of course, because that would violate people's privacy, but again - small town - people I grew up with... it's eye-opening.

Don't get me wrong - if you need medicine then by all means - take it.  I have no problem with it.  I guess it's the ones that are addicted to the point of yelling at me and telling me to go fuck myself because their pain killer isn't ready.  Have a seat over there, sir. Your pain medication will be ready in a few hours.

I suppose that there's a part of me that is a little depressed, but I'm trying really hard.  I'm working extremely hard.  I come home and I crash..or I get online to look for jobs.  So website updates and replying to e mails have somewhat hit the back burner and I look forward to the day when I am able to just resume that lifestyle. ha! 

I know that I've ignored countless e mails or Facebook messages from many, many people. Please don't take it personally. The part time job turned into full time because I don't have a habit of calling in sick and I actually show up to work on time and come in for extra shifts when others call in.  I need the money because I cannot dip into my savings that I have set aside to get to California.

So I'm going to try to just update and blog here... again, thanks for checking in on me.  And if you need an AMAZING administrative assistant in the LA area, let me know where to forward my resume.  Also, some of you have asked me if I was going or could go to the New Orleans jazz fest to see Foo Fighters - I would love to, but it's just not a possibility at this time.  I realize I'm one state over from it, but financially it's just not smart for me to do at this time.  Have fun if you're going or if you're going to any of the upcoming shows. I'm there in spirit.  :-)

PsychFest / Austin, TX

I spent the weekend of April 30 in Austin, Texas with my friends The Black Hollies as they played Austin's PsychFest. We had a great weekend, & it really was the first time that I spent 3 days w/a band - being the only girl... and I can tell you that I've had enough fart jokes & ball-busting for the rest of my life. Add in a few (New) Jersey style jokes here & there and you're good to go. Did I mention the constant teasing with their bad Texas accent imitations or insisting on calling him "Jimmy Ray Vaughn" rather than just "Jimmy Vaughn" because he's the brother of "Stevie Ray Vaughn?" At some point I just learned to shut my mouth & stop insisting on no 'Ray' for Jimmy. I was out numbered.

It was nice to be in my home state for a little while & enjoy a little warmer weather - even though the temp dropped 40 degrees on Sunday in only a matter of a few hours. Austin is a great place. It's like no other Texas city. It's liberal, laid back and weird. I don't ever see myself returning to the Lone Star State, but if I were to somehow end up there again, it would be in Austin...the live music capital of the world.

The Black Hollies played Sunday evening and had a great crowd & a lot of people showed up or admitted that they made the trip just because the guys were there to play. It's always nice to hear people compliment your friends.


Saturday was spent hanging out in various record stores in Austin, lots of Mexican food, a BBQ at our friend Christine's house and then checking out a few bands at PsychFest which ran for three days. It was held at this old Power Plant right off of 6th street and honestly - it was the coolest place to hold the festival. I helped out a little by working the merch. table for the guys. Good times.

The first photo is Herb, Justin & Jon. Second photo is Jon Gonnelli & me (look ma, no braces!!)

Here are a few more pictures from the weekend. Thanks for letting me hang out boys, & for inviting me along, Jon. :-)







With Herb Wiley















With Justin Angelo Morey

















With our friend Christine













Goofing off with Herbie



















Herb models the latest in hat fashions.























Hung out at Gibson Guitars in Austin.

























Selling some merch with JG

















The Black Hollies

The Hard Luck Five return much to the delight of...me.

Saturday, February 19, Jack Leto celebrated his 70th Birthday and the only wish he had was that Rye Coalition play for his birthday.

Honestly, I should have come up with this idea on my 40th. I'm jealous I didn't think of it.

So me & a few friends headed to Maxwell's in Hoboken for the sold out show and me being the genius I am forgot earplugs. My ears are still ringing.

The show was amazing. I don't know if there has ever been a better live show. These guys haven't played together in five years, but the energy - the enthusiasm and the talent was overwhelming. I still can't believe I get to know these people and get to call them friends. Amazing night. Happy Birthday, Mr. Leto. I hope to be as cool as you one day. 70 yrs old in the mosh pit and I had to stand back against the wall for fear of getting hit. You sir, are a legend.

A few photos:

And here is a video shot by Jenni Matz. Some of the video is actually mine - Jenni used it to edit into this final version:

New Blog

This is a new blog .... I go back and forth, I know, but this style is just better for me. I don't have the time and/or patience to figure out WordPress.  I have trouble with their format all the time.  They constantly have updates that are a pain in the ASS to deal with so *middle finger to WordPress*.

I'll try to bring over all of the other blogs I had posted, because I know that you're probably reviewing them over and over and making them a part of your daily routine.

*roll eyes*