Just another Manic Monday!

Reflect on the characteristics of your best friend. What makes him or her so special? Great question, Lisa! Intelligence…determination…perseverance! Aren’t we always attracted to those qualities we lack?

What is one quality you admire most in others? Self esteem! See second sentence in question #1.

Describe an activity that you think is truly romantic. Walking hand in hand, an unexpectedly kiss, not being able to stay apart for any significant length of time.

As asked for, here’s the picture that got explored on Flickr:

I call it Squirrel and Sunflower, cause I’m unimaginative like that LMAO!

Got my stitches out today and it hurt like a MFer!!! I was swearing my head off, and I seriously wanted to PUNCH someone. That shite hurt more than ANYTHING else in this whole cancer adventure. DAMN!!!

I read on my cousin Erica’s Facebook post that Jordon’s Furniture in Avon has restored most of the original Jordan Marsh Enchanted Village! I remember my grandmother taking me to see this and I’m excited to be able to see it again! Since Ikea is in that area too, I think I’ll kill two birds with one stone after my visit to Mass General to get my stitches removed tomorrow. Then…most likely, it’ll be back to work, FINALLY!!!

One of my photos was on Flickr’s Most Interesting yesterday; it’s the 4th one down.

Last night, I invited some folks over for dinner and Apples to Apples, cause I absolutely could not stand being alone one more minute!

For appetizers (and munchies while playing Apples to Apples) I had 3 types of cheese (goat w/herbs, brie & Yorkshire Wesleydale with cranberries), 2 types of crackers (Special K Italian Tomato & Herb, which wasn’t so good with the Wesleydale and Blue Diamond Almond Nut-Thins, which were. The Special K crackers are a recent discovery for me; Megan brought some over when she stayed with me after the surgery and th ey are delish! We also had Boar’s Head smoked Italian sausage, some walnuts, dry roasted nuts, sourdough pretzels and my cousin’s Heavenly Jam, which was particularly good smeared on the pretzels!

I made a turkey breast, massaged with butter and sprinkled with chipotle all purpose seasoning (fast becoming my favorite spice mix); mashed potatoes with sour cream, butter, milk, S&P; maple glazed carrots; cornbread stuffing with onions and celery; turkey gravy; cranberry sauce (from the can…YUM!) and pumpkin pie for dessert.

Today, Wolf told me he was bored of being in the house, so we went off to Carlisle, MA, to Great Brook Park and had a nice long walk (and in his case, lots of sniffing). We even had to wade across a stream at one point! Here’s Wolf, being adorable:

How was your weekend?

And…here we go!

1. Wait! Wait, don’t forget to take some of this food before you go.
2. A sip of Ricard followed at once by a sip of ice cold water is delicious.
3. The trouble is even though I like a bargain, I like my sleep much, much more.
4. Paris, where I would love to go in December, is many miles away.
5. With a faint pop the champagne cork flew out, miraculously flying past anything it could potentially damage.
6. I love when the sky looks shadowy and ominous.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to leftovers!, tomorrow my plans include having some people over for a turkey dinner with canned cranberry sauce (the best, LMAO…oh hey, let’s have a poll: canned or homemade?) and Sunday, I want to get ready to go to MGH to say byebye to my stitches!

1. Amazing family and friends! I’ve got a cold this year…and since I don’t want to pass it on, I’ll be staying home today. But I think I might have a visit later on
2. A quick recovery from some pretty serious surgery. BTW…don’t be afraid to ask your surgeon if he or she can do an necessary surgery via laparoscopy…the healing from that is SO much easier and pain free!
3. Delicious smells coming from the kitchen. It would be nice to relive the smells from my aunt’s kitchen during all the Thanksgivings we shared there growing up.
4. The ability to be able to sit. Don’t take it for granted! I haven’t been able to sit for more than 30 minutes since 11/6 and I tell you what…I’m SO looking forward to being able to sit again!
5. Good insurance. I am exceeding lucky in that I have great insurance via my job. This whole thing has opened my eyes in so many different ways.
6. The ability to renew my registration online…even on a holiday!
7. That Wolf and Jen have hit it off so well! I swear, he’s madly in love with her LOL! Of course, she pets him the whole time she’s here and is usually on the floor with him, so of COURSE he loves her LOL!
8. Even though my home is constantly filled with dog hair (I could vacuum multiple times a day and still there would be hair), I wouldn’t trade my Wolfie for anything.
9. The ability to vacuum again! I went over the house today top to bottom and boy did it need it!
10. That I’m comfortable enough with my own company and am never bored…a good thing when you’re homebound!
11. The view outside my kitchen window and sliding glass door in the living room. Yesterday I saw 4 bluejays, a pair of cardinals, and quite a few other birds just flying by. The bluejays have been visiting my balcony from time to time…I’m not supposed to put out anything for them but…a little bit of seed can’t hurt, right?
12. Books! If you love to read, you’re never at a loss for something to do.
13. The tv has been keeping me company often lately. I never watched a lot of tv but lately…it’s all my mind can handle. Food TV, Sons of Anarchy, Fringe; these are some of my favorites. What shows do you like?

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it!!!

Just another Manic Monday!

You have a brain tumor. Though there is no discomfort at the moment, this tumor would unquestionably kill you in six months. However, your life can (and will) be saved by an operation; the only downside is that there will be a brutal incision to your frontal lobe. After the surgery, you will be significantly less intelligent. You will still be a fully functioning adult, but you will be less logical, you will have a terrible memory, and you will have little ability to understand complex concepts or difficult ideas. The surgery is in two weeks.

How do you spend the next fourteen days? Hmmm, this is a difficult question. I think, depending on the time of year I would either go back to Paris or Japan. I can’t make up my mind! Maybe 4 days in Paris, the rest of the time in Japan…sigh…I really miss Japan a lot. There, I’ve made a decision! Of course, I already have a horrible memory and I’m not at all logical and…what were we talking about?

Every person you have ever slept with is invited to a banquet where you are the guest of honor. No one will be in attendance except you, the collection of your former lovers, and the catering service. After the meal, you are asked to give a fifteen-minute speech to the assembly.

What do you talk about? HAHAHA Lisa! I had this very dream, as I expect lots of folks have. First of all, I hate public speaking, but I think I’d feel comfortable with all those adoring (ahahahah) eyes on me. I would talk about what exactly attracted me to each of these people, although I’m not sure I could do that in just 15 minutes LOL! But I’d give it a try. My first thought was I’d point out their shortcomings, but I’m not that person anymore. It sure would be nice to see some of them!

You have won a prize. The prize has two options, and you can choose either (but not both). The first option is a year in Europe with a monthly stipend of $2,000. The second option is ten minutes on the moon.

Which option do you select? Oh holy MOG the European option without a second thought! I’m pretty sure I could get by on $500/week for a year…and maybe I could sell some of my photographs for more money. Imagine touring Europe for a year!!! Let’s go!!!