A love crush lost on Christmas Eve

THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE POSTED ON CHRISTMAS MORNING...MY BAD!

Merry Christmas!  My favorite holiday.
Christmas Eve day was crazy busy for me.  I took Roxie to the doggie salon in the morning.  She was shaking because she hates going to the groomer.  Her tail was tucked and she was pulling me back out the door.  I feel so horrible making her do something she doesn't want to do.  I had tears in my eyes when I left her there.  I am hopeless!
I stopped at my very favorite coffee place...Ryan Bros Coffee in San Marcos.  Here is why I no longer go to Starbucks...I walk in and while I am placing my order I see the manager go into the kitchen.  She comes out with her bag of dog biscuits and says "Julie take what you want for her".  (they usually have them outside in a container next to a bowl of water). Who at Starbucks knows that my dog is always in the car and knows that where there is coffee, there are dog biscuits?!  No one!  Ryan Bros is the best.  And they have a motto that I try follow but fail quite often.  "Life is too short to be bitter".  Yes it is.
I know there is a psychological term for my behavior in what I am about to say but I can't remember what it is.  I took psychology in college but that was, well...never mind - a very, very long time ago.  The boys upstairs had a party last night.  They have been so quiet lately that sometimes I forget they are up there.   I have called Travis the Sheriff on more than one occasion to go upstairs and quiet them down.  It's really bad.  But last night I decided to feel the Christmas spirit and let them party all they wanted.  It was hard but I did it.  And I was so proud of my loving heart.  And this is where my twisted and warped brain kicks in.  This morning I was getting in my car.  Our condo and the one upstairs where the boys live both have 4 windows facing the parking lot.  So on one hand I let them make noise out of the goodness of my heart and on the other hand?  I couldn't help it that I hit the red panic button on my car and let it rip!  I have such an annoying alarm.  And I got such pleasure in setting off that alarm and hoping beyond hope that it was truly bothering them as they slept in this morning!  Good morning boys...rise and and shine!
Now here is my story relating to today's title...It seems to me that a lot of women have crushes on "hot" men.  I can't think of a single actor who I think is hot.  They do nothing for me.  I don't get many crushes but about 15 years ago my parakeet was sick so I took him into the vet and they scheduled me to see Dr. Bausone who specializes in birds.  I took one look at Dr. Carmine Bausone and I thought I was going to faint.  I had an instant crush on him.  I think one of the things about him was that he was tall.  I like tall men.  And he had dark hair - perfect.  And handsome - yes, he was handsome.  Just perfection (to a 30 year old).  As time has gone by - I have always been more than happy to take my parakeets in to see the "bird doctor".  I even took Emily my kitty in to see him one day.  Dr. Mosley was out that day and they said I could see Dr. Bausone.  Yes!  Be right there!  Over the years I haven't had much opportunity to see Carmine Bausone.  Sometimes will catch a glimpse of him at the office when we are there to see the girls' doctor.  I just knew he would be my forever crush.  Until today.  No, nothing bad happened today.  Except a strong dose of reality.  I was at the vet's office waiting for Zoe to come out and a woman walked in with 2 hyper kids and 2 hyper dogs.  She breezed past reception and said she was going to take her dogs right to the pet resort.  I then heard the receptionist at the front desk call back to the pet resort to let them know that the BAUSONE FAMILY was walking back there.  And the next event is what made me realize that my long term crush and forever love affair has ended.  Zoe and I were walking back to the car and there parked next to me was the Bausone Family.  My tall handsome Dr. Bausone is just a regular husband and father.  His hair is ugly.  He has quite a bit of insulation around his middle.  And to top it off and seal the deal...Dr. Bausone drives a blue, boring, and outdated MINI VAN!  There he was climbing into his light blue mini van aka a looser cruiser and drove his family off down Citracado Pkwy on the way to Christmas vacation.  My 16 year romance...broken in a turn of the key starting up a mini van.  It's over.  Kapoot.  Done.  True love is quite over-rated I'm afraid!  Geez, I sure hope my parakeet, Blueberry, never gets sick...
I did a good thing which turned out pretty darn funny.  I was at the grocery store in the afternoon and there was the Salvation Army girl out there ringing her bell.  I decided to give her all the spare change I had.  I dug in the bottom of my purse and came up with a couple of dollars in quarters, dimes, and nickels.  I stopped to drop this change in her red can and let go of my cart.  Runaway cart heads into parking lot straight for a line of cars.  Good deeds never go unpunished!  Some guy grabbed my cart but was scared of me because he thought I would think he was grabbing my purse out of the cart!  I told him no worries that he was welcome to my purse and if he had any luck finding something in that quagmire that he was welcome to it!
So last night we needed to stop at Vons.  Nothing like last minute Christmas Eve needs.  Luigi went into the store and I said I would wait in the car.  I do that a lot when we go to the store.  Sorry Luigi!  Anyway...as always he wants me to lock the doors to stay safe.  But to no surprise to him he came out of the store and I was gone.  I had been watching a homeless man and his dog standing near the store.  I couldn't stand it anymore and had to go talk to them.  That is where Luigi found me...hanging out with the guy with no teeth and his dog named Tequila.  And what a blessing I got from both of them.  I know a lot of people (esp women) are afraid to talk to people like that but it's hard to keep me from them.  I saw him and told myself that whatever money I had in my purse (remember, I had no change as that was in the Salvation Army can), was going to him.  I emptied out my purse and came up with $3.00.  And I also raided Roxie's cookie bag for the dog.  Roxie looked at me like I had lost my mind.  I told her sorry but she has endless cookies and that black lab look like she needed a cookie.  I got out of the car and walked over to him.  I handed him the $3.00 and asked him if his dog could have a cookie.  He said of course.  She was SO happy to get the cookie.  I think happier than he was to get the $3.00.  He had Tequila do tricks for me and then we talked about Christmas and he told me how his Christmas' used to be when his kids were around.  I petted Tequila.  He offered me a bag of mistletoe that he was selling.  I declined but thanked him.  It was a really cool conversation on a cold Christmas Eve.  Glad I got out of the car and talked to him.  I thanked God for all I had and asked him to please watch over the man and his dog.

Christmas Eve Day

Went to the mall this afternoon.  I can't even begin to describe the crowds.  And the strollers.  Honestly, they are the most annoying contraptions.  And where are the kids that should be in these strollers?  Why are they not in these puke-stained cheerio encrusted little seats on wheels?  I will tell you where they are.  They are looking one way and running into me at full speed.  Kids are the craziest little beings.  They look one way, walk another, and then when they run into you they give you the look.  The "what the hell" look.  If they could think and talk fast enough they would be saying "I'm telling my mommy you biznotch".  Meanwhile...back at the mall...Mommy is pushing this creepy looking stroller with a crazed look in her eyes and she has completely filled this thing with shopping bags.  I'm pretty sure that there are shoppers in the mall who leave the kid at home and just take the stroller.  I'll bet you big money on that one! It's a sure-fire way of getting everyone else to move the heck out of the way or get crushed!  Craziness I tell you. 
I had a coupon for a free burger at Red Robin and it's at the mall so I wanted to redeem it.  They call it the birthday burger.  Hey, what a concept.  Anyway, it's nice to get a free $10 burger.  But as I found out today, nothing is free.  The other night I was at PF Changs.  The server brings me a dessert and discreetly says "happy birthday".  And my dad says "aren't you going to embarrass her and sing"?  And the server whispers..."we are not allowed to sing - we will get fired if we do".  Amen to that!  My kind of place.  Back at Red Robin...they give you this free burger and you think they couldn't possibly want to do more for you.  Wrong.  I am pretty sure about 87 employees walked up to the table.  The server placed a hot fudge sundae in front of me, and they all belted out some sort of crazy sounding birthday tune.  I was completely surprised and embarassed!  And as you sit there while they are serenading you, can see all the other customers staring.  Stop staring, people!  Take your strollers and get out!
On a serious note, as we sat in Red Robin a woman came along pushing her elderly mother in a wheelchair (NOT a stroller).  She got her mom seated - it was just a small table for 2.  It was one of those half-booth, half-tables.  Mom sat in the booth.  But instead of this woman sitting in her chair she went and shared that small little space on the bench with her mother.  It was sweet to see.  They both ordered a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and they sat there enjoying the wine and sharing a chicken quesadilla.  They didn't talk.  I don't know why but I guess they didn't really need to.  Will I do something like that someday with my mother?  Well...no.  She does not like Red Robin, she does not like cheese quesadillas, and she certainly would not like a glass of cab.  But this mother and daughter did and it seemed as if they were having a delightful meal.  Like I said, it was sweet.
It's past midnight.  It is officially Christmas Eve Day and tomorrow is Christmas 2010.  Wish I were having Christmas where it snows...♥

46...no different than 45

I am now 46 years old and I'm ok with that.  Can't say I feel any older. Yesterday was a nice birthday.  Got my first call at about 2:30 in the morning!  Actually someone called me by mistake but I still consider it my very first call to welcome in a new year!  It rained all day.  I took a nice long nap.  Had dinner at PF Changs and then went to my church's Christmas program.  It was the strangest performance I have ever been to.  I just didn't get it.  It took a whole lot of artsy fartsy confusion to get to the core of the story at the end which was about Jesus.  Frankly, it was a nightmare.  I think it was too trendy and modern for my simple tastes. 
I am in the process of making 21 Christmas treat boxes for Luigi's employees and his bosses at Henry's Market.  I tried to figure out something cute yet cost efficient.  I found boxes like Chinese food take-out boxes that were for Christmas.  Found those at Michael's for a dollar a piece.  I'm going to layer in them.  Bottom layer will be homemade caramel corn, next layer cookies, and the top layer will be decorated chocolate covered pretzels and peppermint bark.  A Candy Cane on the outside and we're good to go!
Went to Target today.  Awful.  Crazy people out there.  Not much more to say about that.
Leaving on another cruise in just about a month.  Please don't envy me.  I'm going with my parents.  Not much more to say about that one either.  I'll bring it  up again later in January.  I am scared.  Very scared.
Very busy work week ahead.  I have an ugly project to do.  But the 4 days should go by pretty quick.  And then it's my favorite holiday...Christmas! ♥

Busy!

This is a very busy week for me.  And for some reason my place of employment expects me to show up and actually work 8 hours a day.  They obviously didn't get the memo that I AM BUSY.
Last night I met Brenda in Temecula.  Great to see her.  She was really kind and treated me to a pedicure and then to dinner at PF Changs as a birthday gift.  Delicious food and enjoyable company to share it with!
Tonight...I wonder if I will get a Christmas Tree?  It is 6:40 and I haven't left the house yet.  I think I'm running about 50/50 here.  I don't plan on mentioning the tree again unless I get it done and post a pic.  Other than that, it's all talk.
Saturday was a fun but different kind of day.  Had lunch with Rhonda at Olive Garden (thank you, Rhonda) and then we went over to the coast to visit a little place called Tracy's Piercing.  For some reason beyond my comprehension, Rhonda wanted her nose pierced!  I think it hurt me more than it hurt her.  I spent half the time watching the piercing and the other half trying to figure out if the "piercer" was a guy or a girl with a lot of testosterone!  Jury still out on that one for me.  Is "Mel" a Melvyn or a Melinda?  Here are a couple of pics.  Not sure if it's visible or not but the second picture shows a long needle (3 inches) going from the outside and coming out the nostril.  I kept making horrible faces and Rhonda kept telling me to stop it!  I think she was about ready to send me to my room.  Well, in this case she would have had to send me to the car!  Cheers, Rhonda!

I found out yesterday that I was accepted into a book club!  My very first one and I'm super excited.  I tend to read the same types of books so maybe this will nudge me out of my comfort zone which is often a good thing.  My friend Jeanette invited me.  They meet every 6 weeks on a Sunday afternoon.  The person who picks the book, hosts dinner at her home.  Sounds like fun!  When I find out the name of the book I will be reading, I will let you know!
I am a little "iffy" on the whole concept of "online shopping".  On one hand, it's a few clicks and voila, stuff is at your door.  On the other hand, I actually like to touch things before I buy them so it's tough for me make those "clicks" on the computer.  And I noticed that almost everything I want to order is either out of stock or back ordered.  But I guess that is no different than going into a store and something not being available (which is usually my luck).  I was really upset when I ordered something DAYS ago...something that said "in stock and available to ship".  And then time goes by and all of a sudden it's on back order with no projected date of delivery.  I called again today and was told it's a specialty item - limited quantities - seasonal - and whatever else.  I finally just canceled the stupid order and I am not a happy shopper.  It was important to me so I am really bummed.  Merry Christmas anyway - I'm told it's the thought that counts.  I hope so.
Zoe is growing (fast) and doing just fine (proof below). In case you are wondering...YES, I do serve meals on clean dishes - don't worry about dining at my house and finding cat hair in your lasagna.  I promise! ♥

Opening up mouth to meow!

Really Zoe?!