CLICK HERE FOR FREE BLOG LAYOUTS, LINK BUTTONS AND MORE! »

Monday, February 14, 2011

My dearest Cupid...











An Ode to Cupid...

Excuse me Cupid,
Let's have a word.
You see, my day has been absurd.
It started out all nice and mellow,
but not for long you silly fellow!
In came one with cherry cheesecake
they were so good they made my knees quake!
Another came with yummy pinwheels
so delicious, delighted squeals.
My treat to all, brownies galore
flavor so good, made you want more!
The desserts kept coming throughout the day
I knew that later, I would pay.
The sugar high has come and gone,
and I've spent my night in one big yawn.
My stomach's churning all about
and it's all your fault, without a doubt!
So Cupid dear, please listen close
you keep your arrows and your bows.
You're nice enough, but your purpose is unclear
for EVERYDAY my love ones I hold dear.
So for those of you who enjoy this day
I hope you celebrate in the very best way.
Just please remember that no matter what,
you should love everyday no ifs, ands or buts!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Close encounters of the German Shephard kind


As serious as life can be sometimes, we've all had moments in our life that we can look back on and get a good chuckle out of. I have many such moments, most of them were humorous at my expense. I do, however, have one moment that I can always count on to make me smile and since everybody deserves a good smile, I'm going to share it with you whether you like it or not.

If you know me at all, you know I have a dog named Monkey. He's the sweetest thing and of course, I love him to pieces. I work long hours though and the guilt of leaving him home alone for such long stretches got to me and so I have a dog walker who comes in to, well, walk him. She is a nice older woman, probably in her late 50's to early 60's and she has been taking care of Monkey since I got him. Unfortunately, she happens to be a tad bit scatterbrained. Some days she comes at the wrong time, sometimes she even comes on the wrong day. It's not usually a problem but out of this scatterbrained-ness (I know it's not a word!) comes one of the funniest memories I have.

Monkey has a best friend, her name is Callie. She was his very first friend and Callie's owner/mother and I are also very good friends. Monkey is a small shih-tzu and Callie is a not so small German Shephard. Strange combination but best friends they are. We were having a play date one day, only Monkey was at the groomers getting his hair did. When he was done, we left to pick him up, leaving Callie at the house. On our way to the groomers I get a very panicked phone call from my dog walker.

"Hello?"
"Hi, Joy? It's ___________ " (i'll leave names out to protect the innocent)
"Hi ___________. How are you?"
"Well," and I can hear the panic in her voice "I'm at the house, and there is a very big German Shephard here and no Monkey." Now I can only imagine what could have been running through her head at this point.

"Oh," i'm cracking up at this point "you weren't supposed to be at the house today. It's tomorrow that I need you. Monkey is at the groomers. That is his friend Callie. She is very sweet, she won't bite or anything"
"I'm sure she is very sweet but she won't let me leave! She is standing in front of the front door and won't budge"

So here is this poor woman, expecting my little 15 pound guy, walking into my house and being completely surprised by a not so little German Shephard! Not only that, but the not so little German Shephard is guarding the door and won't let her leave. I think I would have been just as panicked as this poor woman but instead, I was barely able to control the hysterical laughter that was fighting to come out as I pictured what was going on in the house in my head. She finally managed to escape by throwing a treat away from the door and all ended well. You would think this close encounter with the Shephard kind would have taught this woman to be a little less scatterbrained, but alas, it hasn't. Maybe next time I will have to find a Great Dane!

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Outta Control

Control is a funny thing. There isn't much we have control over in life. We can control ourselves as far as the things we say, the things we wear, how we look, we can control the choices that we make, like what college we will go to, what job we will take, what color we will paint our house... Aside from that, thinking we have control over anything is laughable.

So, laughable is where I am in my life right now. It seems that the universe has seized control of my life and is having a very good chuckle at my expense. So far, I have fallen down stairs while trying to move a tv, put a pretty decent size hole in my wall due to the fall, fallen down yet again on my front steps on the ice and hurting myself just a teeny tiny bit, and now, I have water finding it's way into my house and destroying my kitchen wall and it's beautiful paint job! I feel like I have to tiptoe around because i'm not sure when the universe is going to drop a piano on my head! The two falls were bad enough but this water situation has really wrecked my life this past week. I have cried, I have screamed, I have done everything but literally beat my head into a wall and at the end of the day, I HAVE NO CONTROL!!! I can't control my management company that refuses to address the problem, I can't control the water coming in through my walls, I can't control the money that I have to put out year after year due to this water issue, and accepting that I have no control over all this has not been, and still is not easy for me.

So, at the end of the day, what's girl to do? I can't fight the powers that be, I can't change the fact that I have no control, so do I just shrug my shoulders and let the universe continue to laugh at my expense? Someone out there has to have some sage advice... Someone has to know how to take back control... For heaven's sake! Help a girl out!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Give me back my brain! Please?

The brain is a funny thing. You have no control over what it does. You may think you do, it lulls you into a false sense of security that way, but just when you think you have it under control, it takes over and BAM! You're life is not it's own anymore. It's like the old Epcot show Cranium Command (for those of you who remember it) where there is a troop of "brain soldiers" charged with the efficient running of the brain. Well that troop doesn't always follow orders, sometimes they take matters into their own hands and like to have a little fun at my expense (or yours for that matter).

Here is how my brain soldiers are ruining my life right now. Insomnia. I don't want it, don't want to even hear the word but yet, the brain soldiers have decided that now is the right time to torment me with this. I'm tired, I can feel it. My eyes are heavy, I have dark circles and I have no motivation to accomplish anything, but yet, the brain soldiers have taken over and here I sit having had no more than a wink of sleep last night and ready to pull my hair out. I get all nice and comfy in my bed, turn off the tv, turn off the light and wait. Still waiting... And, still waiting, but nothing! It's as if my brain has forgotten how to fall asleep and the longer I lie there, the more anxious I become about not being able to fall asleep and the longer I stay awake. I have even resorted to sleep aids but to no avail. They work only when the brain soldiers let them. Last night it was melatonin but the brain soldiers decided they were having too much fun tormenting me and brushed off the melatonin like it was nothing.

So here is my plea brain soldiers... Cut it out! I'm taking control of my brain back! I want to sleep so for heaven's sake and for the sake of all of co-workers who have to deal with me cranky due to no sleep, GIVE ME BACK MY BRAIN!!!


Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Eating my way through Phoenix

So I just came back from a short trip to Phoenix with my Aunt to visit my cousin and his family. It was great to escape the horrible NY weather, even if it was just for the weekend. Phoenix is a nice place to visit but it seems like the majority of our time there is spent on eating. So just in case of any of you are planning a trip to Phoenix in the future here is my eating advice...

Famous Daves BBQ... http://www.famousdaves.com/

Atmosphere was definitely what you would expect to find in a chain BBQ place. The clientele, WOW is all I can say. Staff was overwhelmed and the service was mediocre. We asked about the ingredients in one of their side dishes (what kind of cheeses were in the homemade mac and cheese) and not only did the server not know but he had to go through 2 managers to find out! The food came really fast and the ribs were awesome! On a scale of 1-10, I give it a 6.5


They advertise themselves as "Arizona's New York Deli" and I have to tell you, they aren't lying. Their menu is broad and the food lives up to the hype. I had a corned beef sandwich that could rival an New York Deli that i've been to. The service was eh, but lucky for them the food was great! On a scale from 1-10, I give it an 8

Saguaro Grille in Carefree http://www.saguarogrille.com/

I really have nothing to nice to say about this little spot in Carefree, AZ. The staff was uncaring and borderline rude. We waited about 40 minutes for our food to come out with little apology from anyone. Our waitress was clearly overwhelmed (I almost felt sorry for her) and the food was alright but not worth the hassle. On a scale of 1-10, I give it a 3.5

And last but not least....


This is my FAVORITE place to go whenever I go to Arizona! It's a japanese restaurant with hibachi or regular dining. If you go before 7pm you can partake of their happy hour menu which has some great things. Their sushi is fresh and delicious and the service is great! The atmosphere is trendy and i've never been there when it wasn't crazy crowded. It has a hopping happy hour and seems to be the place to go for a night out. On a scale of 1-10, definitely a 9.5 (cause nothing in this world is perfect)

So there you have it. My eating adventures and recommendations for your next visit to Phoenix. Bon Apetite all!!!