When I was younger, I worked at a few hotels in the Catskills, but none meant more to me than Kutsher’s Country Club. I don't even remember interviewing for the job, but I worked at the front desk and occasionally, in the main showroom. Milton and Helen Kutsher, who owned the hotel, were very present in the day-to-day operations and I saw them daily as their offices were both just behind the front desk.
I recently found this article which brought all the memories back to me. I'd love to see this documentary. Just seeing the video, which features Helen Kutsher herself (she's the voice you hear at 0:16 and then you see her at 0:18), made me want to know more.In the article, it's mentioned that this hotel was the inspiration for the movie Dirty Dancing. I had always thought Grossinger's was the inspiration since I had read somewhere that Eleanor Bergstein, the woman who wrote the movie, stayed there as a young girl. Now I'm reading that she stayed at both resorts.
Makes sense though, because to me, my experience at Kutsher's was much like that of the characters in the movie - just there to have fun, enjoy the summer, and flirt with the boys. There were so many boys at the hotel, most of them students working there just during the summers, and many of the staff lived in staff quarters during that time. Just like in Dirty Dancing, the staff quarters were old bungalows, away from the eyes of the guests. And the staff, just like in the movie, hung out together socializing and having fun.
There were two guys I remember vividly from my time there - Scott David Danziger and Chuck Everson. Scott worked at the hotel as a bellman, was Jewish, was very cute, and super smart. For some reason, I think I remember him saying he was going to be a doctor. I wonder if he ever did that? He was also very witty, and a great conversationalist - we literally "talked for hours". I had such a good time that to this day, I can remember what I was wearing that night.
The other guy, Chuck Everson, went to Villanova University and was a rookie basketball player who had recently been drafted by the Utah Jazz. He was at the hotel to participate in the annual Maurice Stokes Benefit game. He was 7'1" tall and four years older than me. I remember calling my Dad that night to ask him if I could stay out a little later (I was 18 or 19 at the time, but still living at home) because I wanted to look "cool" by taking Chuck to a local dive bar I had heard some of the waitresses in my family restaurant talking about.
He was so tall, that even with the bench seats of my Chevy Monte Carlo pushed all the way back, his knees were up to his chest. He was extremely handsome, very nice, and a really good kisser - that part I found out later when we went back to the hotel. It was late and the lobby area was vacant; where we were sitting, we couldn't really be seen by anyone passing by. Not that I would have cared - all I was thinking about was that I was kissing a really hot guy almost a foot and a half taller than me, who played basketball for the NBA! What a story I had to tell my friends!
I don't know much about sports (then or now) but I recently Googled him and found several articles. Apparently, he was featured in an HBO special and some other videos because of an incredible game that was played between Villanova University (his team) and Georgetown University - a game that Villanova won, making them the 1985 NCAA Champions (that's Chuck in the back row, third from left).
From what I've read online, the game is often cited among the "greatest upsets in college basketball history". Wow, who knew?? He's married with two teenage kids, both whom play basketball, and he's been involved with coaching youth basketball for over twenty years. And he's still kinda cute!
Boy, this post sort of got off-topic, didn't it? For me, it was a nice walk down memory lane. The Catskills hold incredible memories for so many people, and I feel very special to have been there to make so many of my own. My best friend and I often reminisce about the good times we had back in the eighties. There were many of those famous Borscht Belt hotels that I've either worked at or frequented and most people I know have also worked in at least one of them at some point in their lives.
I'm hoping this documentary will be available for download or purchase at some point in the future since I know I won't make it to New York by the 26th when it's showing. I guess I'll just have to replay my own documentary...right in my own head.
My cousin is hot. This picture is evidence. And it's not just from the back that she looks good. She's got great skin, eyes that you can drown in, a beautiful smile with perfect white teeth, and long, glossy hair. She also has an MBA. Good looking and smart; a deadly combination.
She's started taking pole dancing fitness classes for exercise. Yes, for exercise. No, she's not a stripper. It all started with the S Factor class she discovered but has progressed into a real interest in the actual art of it. It's hard and I've seen the bruises on her legs and arms from learning how to smoothly execute the moves. She sometimes takes video, which she only shares with a few people, and I've watched her become better at it. The difference is actually noticeable.
Her body has transformed also. Kind of like a ballet dancer - long and lean. Well, as long as someone of her stature can be - she's barely over five feet tall. But it seems to have worked, and in addition to looking good, she loves it as a form of exercise. She's only been doing this for about two years, but it's turned into a real passion.
And she must be doing something right, because that picture is pure art.
Last year I did two posts detailing some of the upgrades we did on our truck. One of those upgrades was new shocks. Just last week, Ed discovered that those shocks were leaking (whatever the hell that means). That resulted in him having them taken off the truck, then packing them up to send them back to the manufacturer for them to figure out what cause the problem.
Needless to say, he's not very happy about it. And he's written a new post about it. I now present you another installment of "Ed's View"...
I have a rant!
Eight months ago I purchased six Road King Shocks for our Coronado and about a month after installation, they started to fail. That’s not to say that the shocks weren’t good – they worked great! They certainly absorbed more impact than any other brand shock I’ve had on a truck, and created a smoother ride, making the rough roads a little more bearable. But that didn’t last.
Built into the shock, but visible from the outside, is a plastic wiper which is supposed to keep the shock shaft clean as it travels in and out of the shock body. This wiper is supposed to stay in the shock body, but it did not. Instead, it worked its way out of the shock body and up the shock shaft where it left the shaft unprotected. The result? Six leaking shocks.
I should have known there were going to be problems with this company from the beginning, when they didn’t ship the shocks to me when they said they would. I had to call to find out where they were and when I did, was told that UPS lost them. I found this hard to believe. I suppose it’s possible, but I think it’s highly unlikely for sixty pounds of gas filled shocks to be "lost". I believe they used the age old excuse of blaming someone else - some manufacturers and sellers use this technique to cover up the fact that they forgot to ship an order, lost an order, didn’t even place the order or are just plain incompetent. I’m getting used to this way of doing business, because I have no choice, but I’m not happy with it.
I finally received the shocks in May 2011 and found them to be very stiff, which is good. Since they’re supposed to absorb energy, otherwise described as “shock”, the stiffer they are, the better. Usually stock shocks are easy to compress by hand and install with only a couple of wrenches, but these shocks needed a shop and a good bottle jack. Not knowing if there would be any other complications, I took the truck to a shop and let them do the job of installing the shocks myself. At the time of installation, I discovered the seller had shorted me some bushings, so I had to go to a hardware store to get them myself. Had I not found these bushings, I would have had to wait a week or more until the seller could ship them out to me.
This brings us to the present – leaking shocks that I had to remove and ship back to the manufacturer. I'm not holding out much hope that they will expedite the repair process. I spent $2000.00 for parts, labor, and shipping, and now I have a truck that’s been sitting a week already without shocks. I suspect I’ll be looking at another week at least before I even get them back. They hawked these shocks at the biggest truck shows in the country, year after year, telling people how they offer "ten times the damping force of other shocks" and that "no after-market enhancements are needed". They also said they can be rebuilt up to three times during the lifetime of the shock and don’t need the first rebuild until they hit three or four hundred thousand miles of use. We only went about 100,000 miles and already there’s a problem.
When I called the company and told them about the problem I was having, they told me they’d never heard of anything like it before. I hate this answer - especially from someone who just sold me their product! I am not comforted by the knowledge that the company hasn’t had any other calls like mine. Why should I care about that? It literally makes no difference to me. You’re getting the call now. I am having a problem with the product you sold me, and I can’t see how it makes a difference whether I’m the first person or the last person to have the problem. What I want to know is what you’re going to do about it.
To me, telling me you’ve never had a call like this before, is just a manipulation tactic; trying to make me somehow feel bad that I’m having an issue. As if I shouldn’t be bothering you with it, that you don’t have time for me. It reminds me of the place I bought my truck - after spending over two-hundred thousand dollars, once I was in possession of the item they sold me, they acted as if they didn’t have time to fit me in and fix problems that were occurring, even though everything was under warranty. It’s an unscrupulous technique, unfortunately practiced by far too many businesses these days, especially in trucking.
In the case with the shocks, there is not only some kind of flaw in manufacturing, but also a flaw in their customer service; there isn't any. They should be bending over backwards to make me happy, and so far I’m not at all impressed. I’ve fired off an angry letter to the company, expressing my displeasure and I’ve asked for them to cover the shipping costs. As of this writing, they have not replied. Shocker.
I’m hoping to hear something soon but I’m smart enough not to hold my breath while waiting.
Have you ever watched Inside The Actors Studio with James Lipton, where he sits down and interviews celebrities one on one? It's fabulous. He always asks the actors the same ten questions. I've often thought, what if James Lipton were to interview me? What would my answers to his ten questions be?
You can stop holding your breath now - my answers are right comin' right up. The questions really seem to require a one word answer, but I'm not good at being brief, so in most cases I've given more than one. If you want to pretend I gave just one, use the first answer I listed.
1. What is your favorite word? Right now I can only think of delicious and funicular. I'm sure there are more...I'll be back.
2. What is your least favorite word? Bipartisan - because it's bullshit. But I also hate the following words and phrases: staycation, my bad, outside the box, on the same page...
3. What turns you on? Creativity. But after that, intelligence, witty banter, mental stimulation, clothing design, books....oh, so many things.
4. What turns you off? Poor spelling and grammar - drives me NUTS. Smoking. And in the last few years, I've noticed that smells bother me. Ed calls me a bloodhound, I can smell anything, anywhere. I find there are a lot of smells I dislike; tuna, onions, crude oil, dirt, wet dog, grease, strong perfume, burlap, sour dairy, lavender, sage.
5. What sound or noise do you love? My first choice would be silence, but after that, I love the sound of a fierce thunder storm with torrential rain.
6. What sound or noise do you hate? Women with little girl voices. Screaming children. Snot sucking in public. People who scrape their fork against their teeth to pull food off - it's not just improper etiquette, it makes my teeth hurt. And I also hate the constant sound of a television.
7. What is your favorite curse word? Fuck.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Lawyer. I'd also like to try my hand at cheesemaking. I know, weird, right?
9. What profession would you not like to do? Anything that requires physical work in hot conditions. Anything repetitive like a factory. Or working in retail - I did it at nineteen years old, but at my age now, I couldn't bear the idiots. And there are a LOT of them.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "Oh, thank me. You're finally here. All of your friends kept asking when you were coming and now I don't have to listen to them hounding me a thousand times a day."
Last August, Justin Original Workboots contacted me and asked if I would hold a giveaway contest on my blog.
Uh, yeeaaah! Why would I say no to that??
So I created a post, ran it here and on another trucking blog I sometimes write for, and also posted about it on my personal and my blog Facebook page ("Like" me if you haven't already!), and away we went.
I didn't get as many entries as I would have liked, but I did see a lot of people coming over to check out the posts, so that's a good thing. And we did have a winner who I suspect was pretty happy.
In addition to the free pair of boots Justin Original Workboots provided for the contest, they very generously offered another pair of boots for me to give to a friend to test and report back on. I was so thrilled to be able to call my friend Anthony, who owns his own business and works harder in one day than I do in a month, to tell him that I was sending him a kick-ass pair of gorgeous work boots! OK, he probably couldn't care less about the gorgeous part, but I knew he'd be happy to hear about the free part.
Anthony wears workboots almost every day of his life. He spends most of his time in his shop, creating custom cabinets for the homes of some very wealthy people in the Nashville area. Yes, he's even worked in the homes of country music stars!
His time is divided between standing for incredible amounts of time behind machines in his workshop, to climbing ladders for installs, to being on his hands and knees to get the bottoms of the cabinets just right, to walking through sawdust and dirt and mud and whatever else is required when on a job site. Anyone who has been on one knows you can encounter just about anything - from rebar to sharp objects to nails to rocks to heavy objects nearly missing you and your feet (hellooooo, steel toes!).
Anthony has been in Tennessee for a long time, but he's not a native. He was born and raised in New York. I don't think I need to point out that New Yorkers have a no-bullshit, tell-it-like-it-is style of communicating. I knew that of all my friends, Anthony would the best one to get an honest opinion from. And that's exactly what he provided.
The following are exact quotes from him regarding the boots:
"I love that they have a soft, non-marking sole."
"They bend and are flexible in the right areas. They don't pinch."
"They feel like a used boot that is new. They're very comfortable."
"They give the ankle support without binding your ankle. You know when you take a boot off and your ankle feels bruised? These don't do that."
"They're really nice looking - I like the distressed look of the leather."
"And of course, I love the steel toe for work."
I grilled him a little more, just to make sure he wasn't bullshitting me. He not so delicately said that he doesn't have time to bullshit me, that I asked him what he thought and he told me. Uh, okay. Right to the point, as usual.
I've known Anthony for almost 23 years. I think the first night we met - in a bar, in the Catskill Mountains - he was wearing jeans and workboots.
I've seen these boots in person and he's right - it's a good looking boot. The leather is distressed perfectly and the color really looks great with a pair of jeans. It's clear they're well made and look as if they'd last a long time.
I'd like to thank Justin Original Workboots again for choosing The Daily Rant as a vehicle for a giveaway contest, introducing their product to any of my readers who may not be familiar with them - specifically their new J-Max collection.
Oh, and did I mention I know where you can get a pair? Cavender's Boot City. OMG, if you've never been in this store, you have never seen cowboy garb at its finest. Hats, belts, Wranglers and Ropers (look that up if you don't understand the connection), pocket knives, bolo ties, and boots. Oh, the selection of boots! I've been to the store in Amarillo and let me tell you, it makes me want to go all Urban Cowgirl within ten minutes of being under their roof.
But you don't have to go to Texas to find these workboots. In fact, you don't even have to get off your couch - you can order online.
I've always had a bit of a stationery obsession; pens, paper, notebooks, journals, greeting cards, handmade papers. I love Office Depot, shopping for school supplies and browsing stores like Papyrus. Oh the beautiful stuff to be found in that store!
I think it must run in the family. Recently, I was using a pen I found at my mother's house. She saw me using it and said, "Is that your pen or mine?"
"Yours, but I have one just like it." I said.
"Well, I don't want you using that one." she said, and took it from my hand.
"I've been using it all week! You didn't even notice. Now you want it back. I love it." I said.
"Yes, and that's why I don't want you to use it." she said. "You'll forget that it's mine and you'll take it."
"I'm not going to take it." I said.
"I only use that pen for special occassions. I don't use it to just write any old thing." she said.
"Really? You have a pen you use for special occassions?? What kind of special occassion calls for a particular pen?" I asked.
"Just...things....stuff I like to write." she stammered.
I just had to laugh. But I totally understood what she meant. There are times, if Ed asks for a pen, which I know he's using to sign a bill or lading or hand to someone else to sign a bill of lading, I totally give him the shittiest pen in the truck. I am not losing one of my good pens to a dock worker.
I have one of these same pens my mother is coveting, and I love it. Retractable. Fine point. Blue ink. Writes amazingly smooth and has quick drying ink. I look for it everywhere I go and so far, I haven't found one.
I'll probably have to order it online. Or, I do know where I can find one...
Last year I did a post listing my favorite iPhone apps. I had just gotten my iPhone a few weeks earlier and went a little crazy buying everything I liked. I've deleted some but added others. Here are a few of my new favorites:
Google Latitude: So I can track my friends and family and they can track me. An app where you can share your locations with anyone you choose. It comes in handy with my trucker friends - a quick glance and I can see just where they are and whether or not we might cross paths. That's how RuthAnn found us in Phoenix a few months ago.
Audible: The vehicle for my audiobooks. It's probably one of my most used apps, especially when we're doing a lot of driving. The night passes so much more quickly when you have someone telling you a story.
Instagram: My favorite app. I love taking a picture and tweaking it and I love the square format it uses.
Fring: Video calling, for free! I've already Fring'd with Ed (a test call), my mother and my best friend in Nashville.
AccelaStudy: I'm using this to learn Italian. It has quizzes, flashcards and an audio practice test. The native speaker is easy to understand and I find myself using correct pronunciation when saying the words after he does. There are several languages to choose from.
Water My Photo: Just a really fun app, that transforms a photo you took to make it look like it's reflected in a pool of water. I don't know that it's a necessary app, but it's a fun one.
Moleskin: Named after the famous Moleskin journals were inspired by the black notebooks used by Oscar Wilde, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway and Henri Matisse. It's great for taking notes and organizing thoughts.
Wooly Willy: Once you see this, you'll likely remember it from your childhood. Who didn't have that plastic covered piece of cardboard with the magnetic pen to create oddball looks.
RoadNinja: I got this because of the endless barrage of billboards I've seen, put up by Lamar Outdoor Advertising, a company who dominates the billboard market, and the people behind the creation of the app. It's a handy tool to see what's coming up at the next exit - restaurants, gas stations, hotels and attractions - it's all there with the tap of a finger.
Redbox: I love Redbox. I can't think of another place where you can get a movie for a dollar. They're everywhere these days and most of the places we've found them (grocery stores, Walmarts, drugstores, etc.) have easy truck access. So we can pull in, get a movie or three, hunker down for the night with popcorn and a beverage, and enjoy the latest flicks in the comfort of our own space. Can't find a better deal than that.
REALTOR.com: Everywhere I go, I'm checking out the real estate. I have a few places in mind that I'd eventually like to move to, but as a truck driver, we can really live anywhere since we don't have to worry about finding a job in the town we choose. I'm not planning to live in Arizona forever, so I like to know what my options are as I travel across the country.
My iPhone is by far my favorite gadget. I can't wait to get my iPad when it comes out. And maybe eventually, I'll convert to a Mac, although I'm really happy with my sweet little Toshiba.
But until then, I'll be living the Apple life to the core!
My sister-in-law recently sent me this picture of their dog, Ollie. I believe the photo was from Halloween, but I seriously think he could wear this get-up on a regular basis and gain street cred in his doggie social circle.
He's only about eight inches off the ground, but if you saw him barreling toward you, it'd give you pause, wouldn't it?
My friend's son is changing schools, so she asked me to do her a favor today while she was at work - it's open enrollment and she wanted me to take him to the new school to get started on his testing so he can begin classes on Monday.
The school I was taking him to was my old high school. I actually graduated in New York, but I did my freshman, sophmore and junior year in Arizona, and that's the school he was transferring to. As I was sitting in the Administration Office waiting for my friend to meet me, I realized that the last time I had set foot on that campus was sometime in 1984.
TWENTY-EIGHT years ago.
Talk about feeling old. So old, that before my friend's son went into the building I said, "Pull your pants up, or pull your shirt down - whatever works so your underwear doesn't show. And make sure to turn your cell phone off."
This kid is smart, in the gifted program. And he's an athlete. He's going to do well at this school, no doubt. But at sixteen, I'm not sure he understands that it's not a good idea to walk into a new school with your pants halfway down your ass. What is it with the kids today that that's even a style?
And what's with me saying "what is it with the kids today"?? Although, as I was reminded by a friend today regarding another situaion, I probably should have been born in another era.
Preferably, one where you were taken to school in a horse and carriage.
Yesterday a large box arrived via UPS, addressed to me - inside, the two little boxes above - each one about 3.5" wide by 5.5" long by 3.5" tall. Of course I knew what they were since I did order them, but I was amazed to see such a tiny box. Inside were my tiny, beautiful new Corso Como ballet flats!
I bought my first pair at Nordstrom Rack last weekend for $22.00 - a total steal since it's so hard to get flats that are so beautiful and dainty for my gigantic feet. The ones I bought were black and I immediately knew I needed more, so when I got home I went online and ordered two more pairs. They came in this little pouch: Can you believe that my size twelve shoes fold up in a pouch the size of a grapefruit? Amazing. The leather is like butter (they actually call it "butter skin leather" on the website) and they have a great rubber sole with this purty little flower design. They don't even feel like you're wearing anything. They're like leather socks. I ordered them in pewter and got a second pair in black. They're so comfy. So versatile. So little. With my limited storage space in the truck, they're just perfect and will go with so many thing; capris, skirts, leggings, jeans. I can't wait to get them in other colors.Click HERE to see what they look like all unfolded and to order a pair of your own!
Took this photo of gigantic stuffed Angry Birds at the Fry's Electronics Store in Phoenix, Arizona. The birds are everywhere these days. They're celebrities.
This store had Angry Birds plush animals, Angry Birds magnets, Angry Birds keychains, Angry Birds playing cards, Angry Birds iPhone and iPad cases, Angry Birds candy...where does it end?
Have you seen all the stuff for sale? I just can't decide who is my favorite. I like Red Bird because he's the OAG (Original Angry Bird), but I also like Yellow Bird because he has a triangle head. But then piglet is cute too. Oooooh, the choices.
Do you play Angry Birds, and if so, who is your favorite?
Today I took a little stroll in the front yard, armed with my iPhone to take some Instagram shots to share with you. Now you can see what I see every day when I wake up here in Southern Arizona.
This first photo is the ubiquitous Saguaro Cactus, found exclusively in the Sonoran Desert. They are the largest cactus in the United States and can grow anywhere from fifteen to sixty feet tall. They are known for their water storing capacity and after rains have been plentiful, a fully hydrated saguaro can weigh between 3,200 to 4,800 pounds. With the right growing conditions, they can live to be two-hundred years old. Next we have one of the many Palo Verde trees you will see in most areas of the Southwest. Spanish for "green stick", it alludes to the general color of the bark of the tree. When the trees flower, they produce a bright yellow flower. Most of the year though, they look like this. These are some of the spines found on the Saguaro; they cover each of the ribs on the columns of the cactus. Saguaro ribs are often used on furniture and in a decorative manner after the cactus has died and dried out. This is the path from the front door of the house looking out towards the cul-de-sac. As you can see, there isn't much landscaping. Most homes, unless landscaped with decorative rock and native plants, or fake grass (real grass is rare as it's very labor intensive to keep green), just have dirt in their yards. Neat, often raked dirt, but dirt nonetheless.This is an Agave plant, commonly referred to as the Century Plant. Alot of people confuse it with Aloe because the leaves look similar. It's also not cacti, even though it seems to love living among them, the sharp spine at the tip of each leaf leaf allowing them to blend in seamlessly. This next photo is our view of the Santa Catalina Mountains. It's the "preferred" view on the Northwest side of town. We've had this view for over thirty years, long before it became desirable to have this view.
It's the most prominent mountain range in Tucson (the city is ringed by five mountain ranges) and it has the highest elevation at 9,157 feet. Often in the winter, we'll see snow on top, sometimes halfway down the peak. Most of it melts quickly, leaving the bulk of it on Mount Lemmon. I think I only remember once (or twice) that I've been here when there was actual snow on the ground, it doesn't usually make it that far. My best friend asked me if the sky is really that blue. Yes, it really is. It's rare that the sun isn't shining here (one of the reasons I'm not crazy about the place), and you can plan a picnic for any date, during any month, at any time in the future and be pretty confident that you won't be rained out.
This week has been in the high seventies during the day and the low forties at night, but thankfully we're going to get back into the sixties, which is where I like it.
Ed and I have been home since Christmas Eve. We've been doing a lot of running around for errands and shopping but equally as much lounging around. Since we're in the desert, the landscape is pretty dismal and very brown; most time of the year but especially during the winter.
As I sit in the lazyboy, flipping through the many magazines I've received during the weeks I was on the road, I look out the window and don't see much color. Thankfully, I have this beautiful stained glass lampshade made by my step-father Frank, perched beside my lazyboy. It provides all the color I need to complete my day of loafing.
It is just after midnight, about thirty minutes into 2012. As I sit here reading the New York Times, the TV is on in the background because there are others in the room watching one of the New Year's Eve celebrations.
As I listen to the music (most of which I don't know, by artists I've never heard of), I realize how much I hate noise. Specifically, noise from a television. More specifically, noise from a television when a show is on that I have no interest in watching.
I only watch four television shows a week on purpose. Any other time I have the television on, it's usually the Food Network or Food Channel playing, or we're watching reruns of something. And it's not loud. Here, in this house, it's turned all the way up to "burst an eardrum". And it's always, always on. And it's fucking annoying.
I just read an article about a bootcamp in South Korea created to get kids away from technology and another article about The Joy Of Quiet. That's something I'm going to be needing a lot more of in the new year - quiet. I don't know if I can go completely without technology, but I'd like to be alone with my technology in a quiet place. Uninterrupted. I don't want to interact with anyone. I want to sit and read, write, ponder. I don't want to hear a television. I don't want to hear a radio. I would just like to take a week in nature and get away from everything.
Ed can come with me. In fact, I'd love for him to come with me. As long as he understands the ground rules - no talking. Or at least, very little talking.
Another year has passed us by, which means it's time for me to search the depths of my noggin to answer the following questions. If you happen to do the same thing on your blog, please leave me a link in the comments - I'd love to read what you've written.
1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before? Watched the defeat of bees which included a suprise visit from a rattlesnake; got an iPhone and went a little crazy in the app store; met the Plum Trucker and RuthAnn in person; went to the Louisville truck show as a VIP; did a round-trip, regular run between Baltimore and Seattle for FOUR months; virtually attended the wedding of a Prince; discovered the Instagram app; held a giveaway contest sponsored by a major boot manufacturer; went parasailing, found a conch shelland survived a hurricane in the Turks and Caicos; visited an airplane graveyard; and “grew” a money tree.
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn't make any last year, but this year I resolve to learn Italian via audiobook, eat less fast food, try to do a little exercise, eat more fresh fruit (which I love, but don't eat as often as I should), and manage my time better.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My friend Jen, from ARI, gave birth to a beautiful little girl they named Scout Quinn.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes. Two very loved people. My Aunt Jennieand my beloved stepfather Frank.
5. What countries did you visit? We went to the Turks and Caicos – during a hurricane, no less.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? A smaller body. More vacations. Time to just sit and write stuff.
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? The day my step-father died and the three weeks leading up to it, for obvious reasons. The shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords, which happened when I was home in Tucson, at the store where I grocery shop! President Obama finally captured and killed Osama bin Laden and Muammar Gaddafi, which I will remember because it was constantly on the news. And June 28 for personal reasons.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Losing 12 pounds.
9. What was your biggest failure? Gaining it back.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nope, knock on wood. Healthy as a horse, again.
11. What was the best thing you bought? My iPhone. Life is not worth living without it.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Ed’s, during this event. I was a crying, babbling mess because I was tired, annoyed, and overwhelmed, and he handled me so kindly, taking care of me and the situation like a champ. He is truly a knight in shining armor. My knight.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I don't get depressed, but I am often appalled. This year, the biggest transgression belongs to some of my stepfather's family members, regarding their behavior before and at the time of his death. No phone calls, no letters, no text messages, no NOTHING. After all he did for them, it makes me want to line them up and smack them one by one. Hard. Also, there are some people in my own family who didn't offer condolences to me personally when he died. I find all of that absolutely appalling. There's no excuse. None at all.
14. Where did most of your money go? Vacation, dining out, and investments.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Surprisingly, having more time to drive, I could listen to my audiobooks.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011? "Turning Tables" by Adele - I first heard it on Glee, performed by Gwyneth Paltrow - I think she did a great job.
Anything by Amy Winehouse, because 2011 is the year I first discovered her - I know, I must have been living under a rock, but Glee was also responsible for that when Santana (OMG, she's the sexiest thing on two legs!) sang "Back To Black"; and this song by Christina Aguilera and Beverly McClellan. Beautiful.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? I'm always pretty happy with the exception of some life bumps (like deaths), I'm still as fat as I was last year (-12 pounds, then +12 pounds = 0 pounds lost), and I have more money than I did last year, as I fully funded my IRA this year. Woo Hoo!
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Talking to my stepfather about his life. I had intended to gather information, but it just didn't happen. Now he's gone. I also wish I had taken more pictures...of everything.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Waste time.
20. How did you spend Christmas? With family in Arizona…and it was actually a little chilly this time!
21. Did you fall in love in 2011? I actually fell a little more in love with Ed this year. Seeing how he handled the death of my step-father, and watching his kind, gentle nature, made me realize how very lucky I am to have him. He doesn't just say he loves me, he always, always shows it.
22. What was your favorite TV program? Well, I never miss Glee, Grey's Anatomy, or Project Runway, but in addition to that, I'm absolutely addicted to Choppe,d and I also watch David Rocco's Dolce Vita and Nadia G's Bitchin' Kitchen whenever I have the chance.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Well, I wouldn’t exactly say hate; it’s more like a growing dislike.
24. What was the best book you read? Oh, Lord. This is a hard question to answer this year, as I've devoured SO many books! I can narrow it down to five - will that help? Nothing To Envy by Barbara Demick (Best book I've ever read. Ever. LOVED it.) Mosaic by Diane Armstrong (Fantastic true family saga. Very absorbing.) Loving Frank by Nancy Horan (Fiction based on fact about the love affair between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mameh Borthwick. I really enjoyed this one.) Blood, Bones & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball 25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Amy Winehouse. I know, I know. I live in a cave. But when she first came out, I poo-pooed her, thinking it wasn't my kind of music. She is SO my kind of music. Then she went and died. WTF?
26. What did you want and get? An iPad. Well, I didn’t actually get it yet. Ed bought me an iPad 3 for Christmas. Yes, yes, I know the only iPad out right now is the 2, but Ed wrapped up a little note promising me the iPad 3 when it comes out in early 2012. Exciiiited!
27. What did you want and not get? A week in Tennessee with my best friend.
28. What was your favorite film of this year? We watch a lot of movies, especially from Red Box – what a great invention – pick up a movie in one state, drop it off in another, at only $1 per night - how can you not use this service?? Of the ones we saw, I liked “The Last King of Scotland”, "The Switch", "The Help", and "Hanna".
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I spent my 44th birthday in St. Louis, Missouri, because that's where we happened to be, so we took a few days and explored the town (The Hill, Downtown, the BBQ joints). But we actually went to Turks and Caicos for my birthday trip (even though Ed desired that location more than I did) – we snorkeled, met a really nice couple from the UK, and battened down the hatches when the hurricane came. Good times.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011? For driving: Spaghetti strap tank, velour sweatpants, and socks. For anything outside of the truck: Capris and flip-flops in hot weather, jeans and sneaks in cold.
32. What kept you sane? Frequent visits to Barnes & Noble, talking to my best friend, and snuggling with Eddie.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? My mother said The Crustaceans. I’m pretty sure she means The Kardashians. I’m not really into them, so I’m not sure why she said that, but I guess I'll go with it because I can’t think of anyone I was obsessed with this year.
34. What political issue stirred you the most? The horrid anti-immigration laws being drafted and passed in states like Arizona, South Carolina, Mississippi, and specifically Alabama.
35. Who did you miss? My brother, because I don’t get to see him enough, and my family on the East Coast, for the same reason.
36. Who was the best new person you met? Mark, even though it was a short-lived friendship, and RuthAnn Bradbury. THAT meeting was a long time coming. She’s great!
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011. Well, I don't know if I learned this in 2011, but it was talked about a lot: Less is more. And I know this because I live it every day. When on the road, I have a limited amount of stuff with me, and by having to leave things at home because of space considerations, I have realized that I don't really need anything. I have everything I need within arm's reach. People own too much stuff, they live above their means, and they think they need "things". Money is wasted buying crap for your kids (toys, video games, etc.) that they'll never remember when they get older. Your money would be better spent creating an experience where you can spend more time with them, creating an indelible memory. It would do kids and families good.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. This comes from one of my favorite songs of the year, called "Come On Get Higher" by Matt Nathanson. I like the Sugarland version better, but either way, I'm lovin' this song.
So come on, get higher, loosen my lips Faith and desire in the swing of your hips Just throw me down hard And drown me in love
Yesterday Ed took the truck to the shop to have some motor mounts replaced; the truck has over 400,000 miles on it now and it was time. I haven't driven in it yet, but Ed said there was a noticeable reduction in vibration. In this case, that's a good thing.
Today we had the passenger side window replaced. There was a crack creeping up from the bottom and as I mentioned in this post when we got our driver's side window done earlier this year in California, that it's an FMCSA no-no. The guy who repaired it this time actually came to our house! Nice guy, originally from Romania (which I was thrilled to find out!), who used to be a truck driver himself for thirty years. Ed and he had much to discuss. With all the chit-chat the two of them were doing, it probably took longer than normal, but in the end we had a bright, shiny new windshield! It was beautiful.
This is the third window we've installed on this truck since we got it. It's so convenient that these guys come to you, but coming to the house was the best deal because while Ed went out to meet the guy, I got to sleep late. I needed my energy - to run errands, do returns and hit Nordstrom Rack in the afternoon.
