catching up

It's been a while, but sometimes life throws you curve balls when you were expecting a cutter or a slider. So, the year is almost over but I do have progress to report. First off with the addition of the first-time home buyers tax credit check, I have successfully added money to my savings account. Waiting for the check was a torment in itself since the government has a way of taking entirely too long to accomplish something that seems simple, but at long last and after several "we're still processing your request" letters, the check arrived, WITH INTEREST. I'm thinking I'm going to have to pay taxes on that interest, because that just seems like a government-y thing to do.

Secondly, I booked my trip to the Harry Potter Amusement Park, and am leaving on october 22nd with bells on. In attempting to "find a job i like" per the list, I managed to find a job that mostly suits me but drives me crazy, knowing it's a fine line. So I definitely need this vacation. Fun stories of the trip to come.

Third, for my birthday my dad pulled one out of the hat and got me a garden gnome that looks like a leprechaun. He's adorable and even has a pot beside him for gold, although unfortunately no gold was included with purchase. Thanks to Liza Hendley-Betz at the Failte Irish Import Shop in Lexington for helping my dad find such a unique treat. I will be sure to post a picture of the gnomprechaun soon!

By the way of all things Irish, I attended the Celtic Festival and Highland Games a few weeks ago. I am definitely counting this as a trip to a renaissance fair simply based on the amount of corsets seen squishing already large boobs out of fluffy dresses. Also important to note, the sheer number of kilts was astonishing. There were lots of fresh balls walking around Eminence that day and lots of smiling faces on those men. Slainte!

And lastly, I bought the most ass-kicking shoes I may have ever seen and they definitely fit the "abnormal color or pattern" stipulation. Picture of those soon to come as well.

That's all for now, but I swear I won't keep you waiting that long again. It's just that I never was good at hitting anything but a fastball so I'm learning to roll with the punches while trying not to grow weary of getting the crap beat out of me. (figuratively of course) And I'll try to leave out the sports analogies next time, buts it's mlb postseason and I've got baseball on the brain.

Reading for Dummies

So I finally started the "making myself seem a bit smarter" portion of the to-do list. I read the first of at least two classic novels that I will be reading this year. Charlotte Bronte made me feel more feelings than I have cared to feel in quite a while all for a girl named Jane. I'm thinking that Jane Eyre was the perfect novel to slide me into reading classic novels, here's why. It's not a difficult read, especially considering that it was written in the 1800s. Jane is one of the most lovable characters I have read about and not nearly as annoying as the siblings in Pride and Prejudice, which, by the way, is the second novel I chose. I felt every emotion that Jane felt, fear, courage, confusion, longing, pride..... Two Thumbs up and yay to happy endings when it seems like there's no possible way that one could actually happen. Wish me luck on Pride and Prejudice. I don't seem to have quite the same love for Jane Austen that I did for Charlotte Bronte. Interesting...

Traveling with AMEX

First of all, it is completely important to thank mom and dad for so generously lending thousands of accumulated american express points to pay for my flights. The trip to NYC is officially happening in April and this is honestly the most exciting bit of news I've had in a while. Second bit of exciting news, I also purchased tickets to a Boston Red Sox game. The plan is to hop the bus from NYC to boston, just me and my girls, and catch the game. The seats will allow me to stare straight into the red sox dugout (with binoculars because I'm not made of money) and scope out a future husband.

Word to the wise when booking vacations online with AMEX... scope out all of the info when you're not pressed for time. My mom tried to do it, but can't spell my best friend's last name (not her fault, the name is Gatzke) and the website kept timing out before she could get through it. It required entirely too much information at once and mom isn't exactly the quickdraw mcgraw of computers.

I'm taking baby steps to conquer the list, so that's all for now!

The List!!

-find a job I like
-get a dog
-go to NYC to see Alaine
-Fenway Park!!! (and of course a game)
-add something fun to my backyard
-add money to savings
-find a new hobby and take a class in it
-take more pictures
-go to the Harry Potter Amusement Park
-read at least 2 classic novels
-get back in touch with 3 old friends
-barhop in 5 new cities
-go to a casino
-learn how to rock climb
-acquire a garden gnome that looks like a leprechaun
-run at least 3 5K's
-cook something really complicated
-go see a new band in another city
-buy a "head-turning" outfit and see if it works
-do karaoke
-play soccer with strangers
-acquire ass-kicking shoes in a color or pattern I wouldn't normally choose
-go to a renaissance fair

This is it! I know that some things may seem silly, but I figure that if I accomplish everything on this list 2010 will officially be a kick-ass year. I plan on updating all interested on my progress with all of these things, so stay tuned!