day of pampering

It's 5:00 and it seems like the afternoon just flew by.  We were dropped off at the salon after 12 and it was kind of full which you really don't expect here.  I wasn't going to get anything done to my hair at all as I'm very skeptical b/c of my hair texture.  As I stated in my previous blog I wasn't too happy with the fact that stylist kept bumping me off b/c of the amount of work required to blow out my hair that in my opinion is poor customer service.  I try to refine myself when I'm here but sometimes the new yorker in me just comes out lol my mother was done pretty fast but when they call me over I was nervous I get my hair washed some straightening product put in and I thought ok they're going to start blowing my hair out with a round brush nope this chick takes a paddle brush and starts drying my hair i'm sitting in the chair like wtf I looked like zz top or like I stuck my head in a electric socket.  The NY version or better said hispanic salon version of a "blow out" is a round brush or roller sets then blown with a round brush and flat ironed.  I was panicking b/c I barely go to salons as it is I texted my mom and she shows up by the chair stylist said sorry I didn't know you were worried and she reassures me it would like nice once she was done I thought it sure better have.  It looked nice when done and I took the plunge and cut off 4 inches from my hair after not cutting my hair for over a year and it still looks long.  After too many bad hair days and dry ends it was necessary after the hair experience we went to the nail salon where we had a truly pampering experience a spa manicure and spa pedicure.  This place is clean and looks like a day spa instead of a nail salon with no crowds rush and nice staff and very good quality polish.  The day of beauty pampering was long awaited and well deserved one of my new year's resolutions this year is to take better care of myself and get groomed more often.  Tomorrow is xmas eve and dinner will be at my aunt's house and we're planning to go to midnight mass which will be a new experience for me as I've never been to one before.   We're going to be leaving soon to see meet the fockers and I'm sure it will be funny. Jr had a nap so his battery is very well charged I hope he will behave for his grandmother while we're at the movies.  I kind of miss phoebe but i'm sure the lazy cat is sleeping on our bed and eating her dry food.  I think next trip we make we may bring her provided we don't fly b/c now it costs a fortune and they've made it impossible to afford anyone to bring their pets along just as everything else is ridiculously expensive when it comes to air travel pretty soon they will be charging us for the air we breathe too. 

spring like day

I can't believe that tomorrow is already thursday time seems to fly by so fast.  Today felt like spring it went up to 75 degrees a heat wave compared to the frigid NY tempratures.  We went out to the stores again since my mother needed some things and I got the baby some new jeans b/c he's outgrown his old jeans since he's gotten taller and it doesn't help that the place where we drop off laundry is a little too dryer happy and it has shown with some of my sweaters and some of jr clothes.  I might even consider starting to do my own laundry again as they say if you want something done do it yourself.  We then came home had some lunch and later after that we went to a local park called Alpine Grove Park to take jr to have some park time.   He loved the slides and ran around but of course when it was time to go he threw a tantrum of course.  The back part of the park is a wooded area where you can do bbq there are chair swings and it over looks the St John's River it is a very beautiful peaceful place to be.  If you're looking for peace and relaxation and a slower pace this section of FL is where to go.  I wish I could've taken pictures or video with my cell phone but my battery died.  When we got home I sat out in the back yard for a little while with jr to get some fresh air I looked at the lake and a group of white birds with long beaks called herons they got pretty close but I prefer to admire them from a distance.  Jr ran a little bit too close to lake and I grabbed his hand right away.  It feels good to be with my mother and spend time with the family despite any bs and it will be very hard to leave when the time comes.  Tomorrow we are taking my mother to get her hair done and I was going to get mine done too but I decided not to b/c of my type of hair not everyone knows how to cut and style my hair even though it's overdue for a cut.  I wanted to cut off about 2 maybe even 3 inches b/c lately I've been having a lot of bad hair days and that's usually a sign that I need a cut.  Tomorrow we're supposed to go and see meet the fockers I'm usually not a movie theater person unless it's a real good movie that I can't wait for it to come on cable or dvd.  Movies have gotten way too expensive and on top of that they don't want anyone bringing their own snacks which I think is ridiculous considering our economy.  So far I've hit zaxbys we may try hurricane grill and I must get my sonic and dairy queen fixes if I don't a chance to hit them all there's always tampa.  We leave to Tampa the day after xmas and it's going to be very hard to leave this all behind my husband even considered moving down here while that's a nice idea there's a lot to consider and I'm not sure I'm ready to leave NY behind considering our jobs, etc.  Not saying it can't be done but I don't want to make the same mistake twice.  We didn't hear or see jr and my mother just found him in her room with the door closed in the dark, cant believe he mastered going up and down the stairs.  Well toddler calls for a diaper change and a bath.  Another blogging session interrupted.  Have to make time later if I don't doze off I notice I have no problem falling asleep when I'm down here wish I could say the time at home.

weekend is over

This weekend I spent it at home and yesterday I didn't get a chance to sleep in b/c jr woke at 5:30 and had no intention of going back to bed.  I was dozing off on the couch at one point which is a no no b/c he needs to be supervised all the time you can't even leave him alone for a second.  If you can't see or hear him he's up to something.  Yesterday he behaved pretty bad and tried my patience like you wouldn't believe the joys of parenthood and this is all a part of the terrible twos as they say and my sleep deprivation didn't help my mood or tolerance level.  He went down for a long nap which was good I was able to relax for a few hours watch some tv that has adult content besides disney playhouse and nick jr.  I like cartoons as much as the next person but even they can become redundant at times. Today I made up for it and slept in and late for me is 7-8 am. I felt better b/c of this.  I like the old school cartoons like tom & jerry, woody woodpecker, pink panther, smurfs to name a few most kids today wouldn't appreciate cartoons like that but they were funny and unusually violent for that time period.  Funny thing is I think I laugh at them and like them more than the child does, and already know what's going to happen before it happens lol.  I did some housework not a lot took out trash it seems like there is always something to do at home.  I had no problem falling asleep last night and I won't have any problem falling asleep now but I sure won't want to get up tomorrow b/c it's Monday and I hate Mondays.  Today I had some company which was nice we had dinner and while I was on the sofa I felt myself knodding off again so I went to take a shower to keep myself up,.  A shower will wake you up most of the time.  I so wish I didn't have to go to work tomorrow but I have 5 days left and it's off to Florida.  I so need a break it's not even funny anymore.  This week I have to start making a list of what I'm taking, and the part I hate the most packing the suitcases I hate it to so much I'd rather have my husband do it.  I have to make sure the fridge is cleaned out and we don't leave nothing inside that will rot or spoil.  Take out the trash and make sure the litterbox is clear we are still debating whether or not phoebe is coming with us.  More likely than not we might leave her home.  She's a loving cat but a real pain in the butt traveling all she does is meow to the point that it drives you bananas.  Sometimes she's good but she has her moments.  I wanted to go to Rockefeller Center before I left to Florida to see the big xmas tree the angels and go into the st patricks cathedral it's architecture is beautiful but as I've said in my previous entry I feel a sense of peace when I go there I think you do in any church.  I can sure use some peace, prayer, etc. right now I know so many people who are going through things now and its so sad including right here in my own family I ask myself and ask Him why? why us? A very good friend of mine just told me her mother had to make an emergency trip to see a sick relative it's sad b/c I wonder why things always happen around the holiday season people passing away or getting sick or some sort of bad news I think the holiday season is bitter sweet it is happy but it also has it sad moments too.  I tend to feel down towards the end of the year b/c I start to reflect on the whole year what has happened, etc.  but out with the old and in with the new as they say.  I hope 2011 brings better things for everyone.  Well it's after 10 p.m and I'm really feeling tired off to bed I go or I will definitely not get up on time tomorrow.  The dishes can stay right where they are in the sink there's always tomorrow.

friday at last

This has been one long work week it dragged on and it seemed like Friday was never going to come.  Today I got a break and didn't drop jr off at daycare and on my ride to work the mta never ceases to amaze me with their incompetence they leave the doors open in the freezing cold and don't even say why we were there for a while until they finally closed no explanation.  We get to myrtle bway to transfer for J and I was going to do you think that train waited for any customers to transfer nope it just zoomed by open doors and zoomed away.  I got to work with enough time to get something at dunkin donuts and walk quickly to work.  There are days I can't stand that place today I did a bunch of corrections to letters and when I go to stuff the letters there are no envelopes already stuffed with brochures and of course I had to stop and stuff fold etc. a totally tedious process.  I think this is totally unfair that we have also stuff and assemble them too when we have other work to do but these people think they know everything.  We were supposed to get our new sofa today the store screwed up the manager from the store was a total jerk and it almost made us cancel the order and we're still debating if we should.  It's not enough that I didn't get my merchandise on time due to your store's incompetence but on top of that you have an attitude to boot gtfo.  After calling customer service and pressing all of these annoying prompts I absolutely hate automated options on the it should just press 0 to speak to a HUMAN being with half a brain in their head.  On my lunch break I paid the bills online and I went outside to grab lunch the bank was horribly crowded the atm lines were unreal but this is pay day so it is to be expected.  I said forget this if anything I will do this tomorrow in my area why stress myself out? After lunch I was so tired and I was having trouble staying awake,.  I zoomed out of there at 4 only to be aggravated once more by a smelly crowded J train I hate crowded trains and sure enough when it was time to get off I did and I waited for the M train and I'm glad it came right away.  The fun began when I tried to call my husband not only 1 but 5 times and neither of us could hear one another and the call kept dropping I was infuriated and so was he.  I finally gave up and waited till I got home to call and even then it sounded bad.  I'm being punished for joining AT&T I HATE this company with a passion I find out the reason we were having trouble was due to not one but two cell phone towers down I was like wtf are you kidding me? not only do you have the worse service in the metro nyc area send me a useless post card saying you're trying to improve service in this area only to have two cell towers down.  I was fuming!!!! Every time I hear that saying "rethink possible" or your world delivered I say stfu you can't even handle the local market and demand.  I get on the phone with them and give them a piece of my man only for some fool who sounded like zorro telling me that he apologized for my inconvenience and gave us a generous $25 credit toward our next bill WHAT!  That's a crock.  Your service stinks and it's expensive.  I was also told $400 to cancel both phones and $275 just for mine I was tempted to do it and I still am.  I don't think I or any other customer should have to continue to put up with their shitty unreliable service and be bound by a contract on top of that.  I know my service goes down again I'm calling back and this time I will calling corporate offices.  What a way to end a day.  I'm sure glad that next week will be my last week before I go on vacation and I sure hope this coming week goes fast b/c I will breath a sigh of relief when our van pulls away to head out of NYC for two weeks.  I need a break from this job, this city, the subway, everything.  Well it's 11:00 and i'm ready to collapse into bed.  I sure hope I will catch up some on extra rest this weekend b/c I could sure use it.

thinking out loud

It's a miracle that I'm still even awake at this time b/c usually I'm resting in bed or conked out.  Tomorrow jr will be dropped off by his father which gives me a break and I'm able to sleep in a little longer which makes a difference.  I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday this week has been tortorous and the past few week overall have dragged on like my vacation is never going to get here.  Today was a pretty stressful morning and I made it to work a few minutes late but better six than 15 minutes late.  I get to work and can't wait to calm down and unwind after the hustle and bustle of dropping the child off and commuting into the city and what do I hear almost immediately getting into the door the usual bs of these people and it really gets on my nerves at times I mean cmon don't you have anything else to talk about it's the same bs over and over again them being broke, gossiping, etc. it's like a  happy land social club instead of a freaking office. One of them is overdue to be told off only reason I don't do it b/c she's not worth my time or aggravation but not everyone takes the high road.  Me and another co-worker of mine who feels like me we pass notes back and forth we shouldn't but we do and she saw us and started talking smack.  Whatever how do you know we're talking about you you're not that important seriously.  Anyways after wishing they'd all drink a nice cozy cup of STFU I begin my work and tune their crap out with my ipod.  My supervisor comes over to me and points out an error I made ok I'm human so I take it stride but after a while it got old she came back with several returned letters that had to be corrected and resent.  Sometimes when we're at work we just want to be left alone I know I do.  I like working alone and to myself I work much faster.  Well the early afternoon comes I take out my xmas cards and start doing them I have my hotmail screen up and to my surprise I see someone spying at my computer screen I was so into doing my xmas cards I didn't even notice right away until I looked up and saw her and gave her eye contact and she walked away I felt like asking her can I help you? I would think after all this time you still want to try and get something on me, a real shame that some people have no excitement in their lives I look at this way you don't get paid to look at what i'm doing and you might want to be careful who you're "watching" especially when you live in a glass house yourself and a bunch of stone may come at full force and break your house down very fast.  Another so called mature person who is either 40 or almost there.  I'm telling you I've come to the conclusion that some people NEVER grow up no matter how much time passes or how old they come become, they say age is just a number it sure is it's all where your head is at. This is the reason I should've gotten an ipad or android tablet to use while I'm at work this way no one can spy on me. I then left to lunch to mail my cards I sure didn't want to be outside in that freezing cold weather but I needed to run some errands and grab something to eat.  I opted for a quiznos sub.  I couldn't wait to get back to my desk so I can warm up again.  I leave after 4 and the train was packed of course it never fails the stupid J and M trains were acting up.  The J train I was on starts going local and when the M comes it was also full but I found my way in didn't care.  I finally made it home after 5 very frozen indeed. Shortly before that my cell phone dies, I need to get a phone with a better battery life heck I need to get rid of AT &T period their service is horrible I never had so many dropped calls frozen touch screens, etc. when I had tmobile or metro pcs.  on top of their service being crappy their expensive.  I even read on consumer reports they were ranked worst service provider saying they don't have enough towers well build some more lol I think I'm going to get so sick and tired of them one of these days that I will just pay termination fee and look elsewhere I really like that EVO phone or a galaxy s phone would be nice too it would be even more appealing if I didn't have to sign a contract I'm not making that mistake again.  I want to be free from commitment from any service providers.  Iphone is a nice thing but I sure as heck wouldn't switch to them just to have a phone with great features and shitty service hey steve jobs who the f* wants a phone that they have to hold upside down just to get reception???? I sure don't if it costs that much it should at least have a good solid signal and clarity when you're talking.  This evening the occupational therapist from early intervention came over to evaluate jr and he determined that my son needs occupational therapy and I'm not exactly thrilled about his findings.  First we were all tired we had a long day me working the commute the baby at daycare and this guy also looked tired.  I didn't like the fact he had him in highchair instead of on the floor free for him to move around better I think that frustrated him a lot.  I think I prefer if any therapist comes to the home that they come on the weekends during the week is too much by the end of day I'm exhausted and not focused much.  I realize everything is in the best interest of my son but I felt like he had a better connection with the other therapists and I'm going to express this to the service coordinator tomorrow after this we attend a meeting we'll see where this goes.  I was told I may not like every therapist and they're sure right about that i'm not even crazy about the coordinator either but I bite the bullet for my son's sake people are human besides having a title behind their name sometimes there's a connections sometimes not.  I'm so glad tomorrow is friday and I have less than week left till we finally hit the road for Florida I look forward to the road trip seeing my family regardless of all the issues that have been going on lately and a break from that office, the mundane routine and the fast past of this city.  Well I'm beyond exhausted and I'm headed off to bed.  I need to make sure my cell phone alarm is set b/c as tired as I am I will not hear it and oversleep and who wants to be in a rush in the morning. 

up late

Last night I had no problem falling asleep and I slept so good that if it weren't for my husband waking me up I would've kept sleeping.  It was 6:30 I should've been up by at least 6 if I'm not dropping jr off.  Well It took me a while to get out of bed the weather was cold and drizzly and most mornings I do need some coaxing to get out of bed.  I try to be as quiet as I can walking so that I don't creak the wood floors and wake jr up.  I usually wake up by watching ny1 but no time today I used the bathroom and jumped in the shower and let the water hit my face, throw on my clothes and sneakers and grab my jacket and bag off to the train station and for some reason this morning the train was a little behind.  It was like a ghost town on the train and on the platform.  I got the best seats in the house the two seater.  Considering I woke up late I got to the city early but not early enough to stop and get breakfast and punch in on time so I punched in first and then went back outside which technicall i'm not supposed to do but no one is around that early so I went to dunkin donuts and the ms congenialty twins who usually take the orders weren't there today I got my stuff and left and as I was walking to work I see something dripping out of the bag the darn hot chocolate leaked all over my wrap, donut, etc.  I thought wtf I knew I was in a fog mentally but I wasn't expecting this to happen to me I know they usually put the hot chocolate and coffee in a separate bag.  I walk back to the store with this nasty bag and tell them what happened and they replaced my order.  I politely asked if they would put the hot chocolate in a separate bag someone else would've probably told them off but you know what I didn't have the energy to argue I was barely awake myself and there's a possiblity I also could've turn the bag the wrong way.  I'm up late tonight which is extremely unusual b/c by 11 i'm in another dimension snoring.  I made it through the day at work sent out a ton of mail, did other work and printed out a black friday quiznos special and I couldn't believe that they actually have the nerve to tell you which sandwich to pick even thought it doesn't say this on the coupon I guess a call needs to be to the corporate office I just don't get these restaurants in the lower manhattan area they think everyone is a yuppie and can afford their outrageous prices.  I met up with my husband and son after work he was getting new tires put on and to kill time we went to look at furniture at raymour & flanigan and I didn't think that I'd like anything from their and I've been told they're very expensive but after the broken bed frame I've learned that you have to spend the extra money to get a good sturdy quality product especially when it comes to furniture.  I saw two sofa sleepers but he still wants to shop around which is fine.  I'd like to get a chocolate brown microfiber or a nice dark olive green.  My son of course was running around the store and we both had to keep after him.  I notice you can't run after him b/c he thinks you're playing with him and run even more.  :(.  Tomorrow is the usual clean up and organize.  After me and my son got home while he went back to get more work done on the car I eat some left overs and left overs are ok to a  point turkey is good when well seasoned and cooked well for it to stay moist but overall it's a dry and I prefer mine with gravy but I guess we finished all of it last night.  I still have left over but I will have to buy some more gravy at the store.  Some people can eat left overs for days I'm not one of those people maybe one day after that I just want to throw it in the trash.  I went to frost the cake yesterday and they forgot to spray the pan with pam non stick before baking so it got stuck to the pan so I have to bake another cake.  Today was the official start of black friday and while I was on my way to dunkin donuts I saw this group of 3 women with a grocery shopping cart filled with bags from macys and other stores lol now that's a unique idea and they looked like they were headed toward century 21 well better them than me as I said in my blog yesterday blk friday isn't for me.  I was watching the office and boy is that character played by steve carrell is such a schmuck sadly there are people like that at work actually there are some real characters in the office now seinfeld is on and while it's funny I'm slowing knodding off and my son wakes up early so I'm going to end it here or I will pay for it tomorrow morning when he's up bright eyed and full of energy so off to bed I go to catch some zzz's. 

thanksgiving

It's been a while since I've actually blogged in my original blog says alot about my life that I'm always on the go and don't have much time to blog in here.  Sometimes I wish I had more down time to rest, reflect, etc.  Today was Thanksgiving and it was pretty cold and it eventually rained.  Yesterday I flew out of work and on my way home went to the supermarket to pick up the ingredients for coquito which is a pr version of spiked egg nog consisted of evaporated milk, raisins, cream of coconut, and borden egg nog and bacardi rum.  I've always loved this and it tastes good especially when you leave it in the fridge for days or even a week or two.  You can also make it non-alcoholic.  Well the associated closest to my house is the most annoying and disorganized place I've ever seen.  First item I found was coco lopez cream of coconut, and it took me two more times passing the same aisle to find the next few items unreal and the aisles are narrow these are the reasons I love pathmark and stop and shop b/c at least you can move through the aisles with ease.  My husband picked up the liquor and made everything and it came out pretty good I'd like to make a virgin version of this b/c I'm not much of a drinker and like the coconut taste.  Thanksgiving is a time when you think about what you're thankful for I think that we should be thankful everyday of the year for what we have and every day that we wake up is a blessing and a start to another day.  I'm thankful for my health, that my husband is healthy and in remission, my son is a very active and spunky toddler,  I'm thankful that I have a job in these tough economic times even though it doesn't seem like it at times since I rant about it a lot in many of my entries but I know I'm lucky for this as it seems like a job these days is a luxury few have.  This helps me provide for my son and household I'm also thankful for medical insurance that many in this country don't have or can't afford . I think it is a shame that these are basic needs that we should have and many don't.  Holidays are a time of joy but they're also a time of sadness., Everytime the holiday season comes around I get sort of depressed I've always been like that for as long as I can remember especially when xmas and new years rolls around.  I spoke to my mother today and she spent thanksgiving in my aunts house I sure wish she could've been here for thanksgiving but the distance and finances make this difficult my only consolation is that we will be with her for xmas.  She mentioned to me that the holiday gathering is getting smaller and it sure is.  I remember when I was a kid the gatherings were huge aunts uncles spouses grandparents, trees food it was great but as the years pass things happen people change divorces, etc. and my grandparents grew older and moved away to Florida that was hard when they left but we had a new place to visit.  Had some great times in that home too but eventually my grandmother got older, more depressed, and when she got sick it was a shock to all of us and when she passed I took her death extremely hard,  she was like a second mother to  me and we shared a very special bond, I was one of the few who truly understood her and accepted her for who she was.  I felt the same about her with me.  This time of the year saddens me a little b/c this was her favorite time of the year, the holiday season, she'd get up early and start the preparations for dinner, tons of food, she always would want to make everyone feel welcomed.   I miss her for many reasons but holiday time is the true reminder of how much.  Get togethers now are very different I feel welcomed but don't feel the warmth I once did when she was alive.  It seems like these days people don't put importance on family these days and it shows in many ways.  Today a relative of mine came over and prepared the turkey stuffing and cake which we were too stuffed to even eat and I will frost it and eat it maybe later or tomorrow night.  Time used to last forever and now it seems like time flies by so fast and it waits for no one.  I watched the thanksgiving parade on tv and what seemed like a long parade flies by on tv.  I saw some of the old floats like snoopy kermit the frog and lots of nice new colorful floats.  I saw the parade live in 2007 and it was really nice to see everything in person it's not the same at home on tv.  I think next year we will take oc jr to see it I think he will like the characters, etc.   We said grace and ate our meal and I actually was knodding off on the couch afterward I sure wish I didn't have to work tomorrow.  I see a lot of black friday deals but I don't see myself getting up so early to deal with crowds, pushing, etc. just to get a good deal on an item I've heard of fights, and someone losing their life at the walmart and that in my opinion takes away from what thanksgiving is all about giving thanks not wasting your time and spending money you don' t have on inanimate objects like electronics, etc.  I value my life, my sanity and personal safety a whole lot more and the only way I'd take advantage of a black friday deal is if it is online and I can shop in the comfort of my own home and lap top.  Another small victory happened even though the road ahead is long they took the first step in getting the help they need and I feel very sad for them b/c I never imagined they would get to this point but they always say the first step is the hardest and my mother was sad that they couldn't spend the holidays with the family and hopefully they will able to spend xmas with the family or at least we will be able to visit.  This person makes me very angry at times but at the end of the day he is family and I do care about this person even though it may not seem like it at times.  After Santa appears in the thanksgiving parade is the unofficial start to the xmas season.  I'm counting down the days till our road trip 20 days left.  I look forward to driving down and spending time with my mother whom I haven't seen in a while and she is excited to see her grandson and just appreciate the change of scenery and slower pace of life.  It seems like that day is never going to arrive but I know it will be here before you know it.  I love vacations but they sure end too fast.  I wish I can afford to take a whole month off or more we can all dream can't we? lol.  I sure hope everyone enjoyed their thanksgiving stuffed their face with good food and spent it with family and friends.  I sure wish I didn't have to wake up early and work but everyone else beat me to the punch of requesting the day off if I'm still there next year I'm requesting the day after thanksgiving off in August this way by this time next year I will be cozy in my bed instead of setting my alarm clock for the usual time tomorrow.  Well off to frost the cake sure wish it was chocolate but it's simple white cake.  Still have my sweet tooth even after all of these years.