Sometimes you just have to do it.

Whether you want to or not,
sometimes you just have to do it.

Do it for yourself,
do it for others.

Take the time off from the rat
race and pressures from your
daily life.

I did just that today.

After sitting in the airport yesterday
for over 12 hours waiting for United
to cancel my flight, I had had enough!

When I awakened this morning,
I just couldn't do it... I simply
had no urge to head into the office so...

I took a mental health day.

Bright blue skies, perfect low 80's
temperature and no humidity!
Turned off the AC, opened windows!

Went for a walk to get some sun.
Listening to lawn mowers and the
smell of fresh cut grass.  Sounds of workers
putting on new roofs and the trolley's
horn as it warns rail workers it's coming.

Watching all the high school kids head to
school with backpacks and iPods in groups
and alone.  It was as if the Pied Piper were
calling them to come forth.

Oh, how I wish I could retire and enjoy
life's simplest things... but at least I got
to enjoy them today.

Sometimes you just HAVE to do it!

Take me out to the ballgame...

Take me out with the crowd

Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks

I don't care if I ever get back...

For it's root, root, root for the home team

If they don't win (They  DID!) it's a shame

For it's one, two, three strikes you're OUT

At the ol' ballgame.

Phils won over the Mets!

Phanatic streaked in Right Field!

My cousin spotted me in the Suite so

I took his (and her) picture!

How coincidental, sitting in the section just 

below the Suite box!  What are the odds?

Dancing Queen Revisited...

Had a pretty good weekend as weekends go.

Saturday, never got out of the jammies, and 

slept most of the day but the weather was 

perfect to just cuddle up in bed with a good 

book or a good movie.  (Rain, rain, go away,

Come again another day!  Boy, we've had so much rain!)

I opted for the latter, movies, movies, movies! :)

Sunday, humidity was so gross that I got up and

showered and prepared for Church and I sweat so

much (in the AC no less) that instead of taking Mom 

up on her offer for breakfast after Church, I said,

"No thanks!  I'm going to head home and take

ANOTHER shower."

I did just that.  Then I had to help my sister with her

Surprise Birthday Party for her hubby by picking up 

the cake and being the 'official' greeter for guests as

they arrived.

Had some wine and thoroughly enjoyed my time with

family and friends.  

Guess you're wondering what Dancing Queen has to do 

with this post huh?

Well we had music and the usual goofies in the group,

(me, my sister, my cousins, my mom + 1 newcomer), put

Dancing Queen on the Jukebox... and whenever that

song comes on, we all go out on the dance floor 

(if there is one HA!) or make up our own dance floor 

and we go absolutely crazy singing it and dancing 

our bloody feet off!

So, you see, Dancing Queen was revisted.  

Gosh, I love my family!  

We're all nuts!

Life can be good!

Oh, when I got home, since I sweated so much, 

I had shower #3!

BTW, yes, a few years back we all went to see 

Mamma Mia, which featured the music of ABBA, 

as a group and enjoyed the show tremendously...
any ABBA fans out there?
MK?  :)

What a Wacky Day...

Alarm went off and you'd think I'd turn it off and get out of bed.

Not today, I was tired when I went to sleep last night and tired when I woke up.

I did have a few dreams so at least I know I must have gotten some sound sleep but man oh man, were they crazy when I thought about them when I finally got outta bed.

Then I hear the thunder and see lightning outside.  The buckets of rain begin to fall from the heavens.  I put off leaving for work because frankly, I didn't want to drive in the torrential downpour.  I kept hoping it would ease up.  It didn't so off I go.

The rain fell at such a rate that the roads were turning into big puddles themselves.  The highway I usually travel was a bumper to bumper parking lot according to the traffic report on the TV, so I decide to take the back roads instead.

Guess I should get some flippers for my car so I can swim maneuver through the puddles.

By the time I arrive, I am already late for a meeting. :(  By the time I get the laptop booted and email open, I see that the meeting 'might have to get cancelled', Whew, saved by the other engagement!  Yay, no meeting.

Fast forward through the day because I was busy as crap and it flew by.  I went to Yoga and sweat my bloody A$$ off (well, not really but how nice would that be to sweat your A$$ off literally?) Then I get on that wonderful road, lovingly referred to as 'The Blue Route' but affectionately known as 'The Parking Lot' where me and tens of thousands of my nearest and dearest sit in single file taking turns lifting our feet off of our brake pedals to creep ever-so-slowly forward towards our Exit Ramps.

Did you ever drive along and arrive at a red light and wonder, "How did I get here?  I don't remember driving past Wawa... or the trolley tracks... or the shopping center... WTF?" Well, after departing my favorite highway, I had one of those moments!

I know I was daydreaming.  Thinking about missing Max (it's been over a week, I miss him and his loud MMEEEEEEEE-OOOOWWWW's) and Andrew and missing him and hoping he's hanging in there and packing for a business trip, what to bring, should I check in the bag or do carry-on, lots of outstanding things at work and sooooo many emails to catch up on, working summer hours tomorrow, oh wait, I am behind on everything, oh crap, I am gonna take it, I deserve it.  Thinking about a friend and wondering about 'N' words.

Oh my, this was like my dream before waking up...all over the place.  Good news is that I arrived home safe and sound.  jAte dinner and then an awesome storm 'rolled' in, in all it's glory.  It had plenty of lightning and rolling thunder!  Spectacular display Mother Nature.  I love to watch a thunder and lightning storm and this one was great.

It reminded me of storms from when I was little.  Brought back memories of sitting and watching the storms. Hearing the rolling thunder in 'stereo'.  We used to call it "Angels bowling in heaven."  Perhaps that's why I am not afraid of such storms although I do give Mother Nature due respect.

Well this is a recap of my wacky day.  A cup of ice cream awaits me.

Did you have a wacky day?

Cheers!

Mass-aaahhhhhh-ge time!

Final day of break from work and I'm headed out for my favorite, a deep tissue massage, or as I like to call it, mass-aaaaahhhhhhh-ge!  Maybe a little bit more shopping too, post-massage of course!

Serenity, here I come.

How about a little JEOPARDY!

I'll take 'Heartbreakers' for $1,000,000, Alex.


Alex:  
Answer:


He came into our lives 17+ years ago on Christmas Eve as the teeniest, tiny-est little creature ever.  He is loved so much and as usual, this morning he greeted my with his usual greeting and waited for me to return his greeting.  I picked him up and kissed him and caressed him with such love and he enjoyed every moment.  I left for work and said goodbye and to be a good boy, as I did each morning.


A phone call at work, as I was heading to a meeting, and I saw the familiar number on the caller ID.  A quick decision to answer or just head to my meeting, I chose to answer the call.


The voice so shaky and filled with grief announced the terrible, heart-wrenching news.


My baby had breathed his last breath and died with no warning or notice at all.


Question:


Who is Max, Alex?  


Alex:  Correct!


It is with great sadness and broken heart that I let my blogging friends know of my little kitty Max's passing today.  We are fortunate that Max passed away today as we are headed out on a few days vacation to Avalon.  I find comfort that he did not suffer and that he went quickly.  I find comfort that we were home to be able to say goodbye and bury him.  I find comfort that I know he was one lucky kitty!  


I posted about my Maximilian on November 21 and how we came to get him in our lives.  Here's a link to  
Max's story feel free to read it so you can know how much we loved this little guy.

R.I.P. Maxie, pretty baby kitty cat.  

I loved you and miss you already.

MUAH!

Here they are in all their glory!

How's that for a cheesecake shot?

Well the July Goal has been met...

and tomorrow I get to walk 3.7 miles from the office
to the running shoe store and get expertly fitted with
my new walking sneaks!

Hope I make it all the way there, my usual walks are
just about half that long... 2 miles...

Already picked up my team shirt to wear.  It's one of
those high performance wicking t-shirts and trust me,
there'll be plenty to wick away from my body!

Good news is that tomorrow should be lower humidity
and no rain... they were having this rain, heat or shine... so
glad it's shine 'cause if I had to do this in the rain I might
have to reconsider!

And the best news of all is that there will be shuttle buses
to take us back to the office!  YAY! We don't have to
walk, (run or jog) back to the office.

Will take a cheesecake shot of the new duds and share later.