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Showing posts with label about me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label about me. Show all posts

Friday, April 20, 2012

Please help me fight back against cancer

2012 Relay For Life of the Quad Cities Community: Video Page - Fight Back - The American Cancer Society -

Please help me fight back against cancer


This year, I am helping save lives from cancer by taking part in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, and I'm hoping you will support me. Each of us has our own reasons for caring about the fight against cancer, but it seems that we all know someone who has personally battled this disease.

I have done this walk for the last six years in honor of my grandfather, George Wiencek. He was my world, before succumbing to colon cancer. The last few years I have also walked for Steve's grandmother, Marie. She was a wonderful women with spunk and character and I was really glad for the time that I had getting to know her before she lost her struggle with pancreas cancer.

My team and I have set a goal to raise at least $100 per person and I've set a personal goal to raise $300. Currently I'm only $290 from reaching my goal. Any donation you can make, large or small, will help me reach my fundraising goal and helps us reach the greater goal of saving lives from cancer!

Please use the link below to visit my personal web page to make a secure, tax-deductible online donation to the American Cancer Society. You can make a one-time gift, or increase your impact by donating monthly!


Thank you and I will keep you updated on my progress!





Cancer affects us all.  If you would like, please leave me a comment in honor or memory of a loved one who succumbed to cancer, or one who is a survivor.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

We Want to Know Wednesdays

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We Want to Know Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Mamarazzi and Crazymama.  I thought I'd give it a try, because when I'm reading blogs, I love reading about the host opinions on books and characters and what's coming out soon, but I'd also like to get to know a little  more about the people behind the blog.  So I'm going to throw in some personal, about me, types of things to keep things interesting.

This week's questions and answers are:

{1} What is something that you currently spend money on that you consider a splurge or frivolous?

There are two things that I consider to be frivolous or splurge spending.  The first thing is, kindle books.  I usually only download the indie books for my kindle.  99 cents or $2.99 doesn't seem like a whole lot at the time - but at the end of the month when I'm balancing my check book, all those small amounts add up to quite a bit.

My second splurge is Lush.  Lush is a natural, environmentally conscious, socially aware company that makes bath and body products such as this bath bomb, which runs $6.45.



Yeah, I know.  $6.45 for a bath bomb that I use one time is ridiculous.  I hear it all the time.  I've tried other companies, and they just don't have the same quality.  Taking a nice long bath with moisturizing, gorgeous smelling water while reading a book is how I relax after a really hard day.

I have cut back on the Lush lately.  There are a lot of other things I need the money for (like kindle books - lol).  I've also recently learned that I'm allergic to lemons and strawberries (among a whole slew other things) and because Lush is natural - they use a lot of lemon in their products, which has vastly limited what I can use from them (and B&BW and VS).


{2} Tell us about your first paying job. How old were you?

My first paying job was when I was eleven.  My grandparents owned a farm in Ohio, and during the summers my cousin and I would spend time there.  Out front they had a little farmer's market kind of set up where they sold some of the crops they grew.  My cousin and I were paid to sell the produce during the day.  It wasn't much, but to kids our age, it seemed like we were rich at the end of the day.

At fifteen I was an Au Pair for a family we knew.  They had one daughter, Maddie, and I babysit while her parents worked, ironed, cleaned the house, did laundry, and sometimes cooked their meals.  The mother had an advertising agency and the father an insurance agency.  I worked for both of them doing office work as well.


{3} Do you plan date nights and extras into a monthly/weekly budget?

I have tried making a budget before, and I'm just not good at sticking to it.  Something always comes up and I have to put out unexpected money.  I do have a savings account that I don't touch, so it's not like I don't plan for things to go wrong.  It's just really hard for me to want to tap into my savings...so I'd rather take the money out of my checking and have less for other things.  I don't know that I necessarily have to have a budget.  I work full time and go to school full time, and my boyfriend and I go out to eat once a week.  It's not like there is anything to spend my money on.  We save up for small vacations.


{4} Share one of your money saving tips with us.

Before I buy anything, I look online to find out where it's cheapest.  If it's something I can only get at a particular store, I look online to see if there is a printable coupon.  If I'm going to be ordering something online, I go through Memolink or Mypoints first so that I get points back on all online purchases, and then I also use an online coupon if I can find one.  By using these point sites, I get back approximately $250 in gift cards a year.

Another way I save money is by knowing when my favorite stores have sales - like Bath and Body Works and Victoria's Secret's semi-annual sales, and then I tend to stock up while items are at the lower price.And finally, Christine @ http://cmgendreau.blogspot.com wants to know:


{5} If you won the lottery - would you spend it frivolously or use what you need and save the rest? Why?


This question really depends on the amount of money that I win in the lottery.  If it's a small amount, of course, I'll treat myself on something - like a few new outfits.  I would pay off most of my debt and save the rest.  If I win a large sum, then I would treat myself in a bigger way - like a trip to Europe.  I really want to see Italy, Ireland, and Greece and if I won enough money I would travel.  Otherwise, I'd still pay off my debt and save the bulk of the money.  I would probably buy investment property.  I grew up with a real estate family, so investing in real estate seems like a good idea for some of my money.  I would still finish school, and I would still work.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Winter by Tori Amos



In honor of winter and snow and the chill in the air, I am posting a song that makes me nostalgic for when I was younger.  The song is Winter by Tori Amos.  I love Tori.  I really related to her as a teenager - and that's where my blog title came from (as well as my email address) for those of you that don't.


Enjoy


"Snow can wait

I forgot my mittens

Wipe my nose

Get my new boots on

I get a little warm in my heart

When I think of winter

I put my hand in my father's glove

I run off

Where the drifts get deeper

Sleeping beauty trips me with a frown

I hear a voice

"Your must learn to stand up for yourself

Cause I can't always be around"

He says

When you gonna make up your mind

When you gonna love you as much as I do

When you gonna make up your mind

Cause things are gonna change so fast

All the white horses are still in bed

I tell you that I'll always want you near

You say that things change my dear



Boys get discovered as winter melts

Flowers competing for the sun

Years go by and I'm here still waiting Withering where some snowman was

Mirror mirror where's the crystal palace

But I only can see the myself

Skating around the truth who I am

But I know dad the ice is getting thin



When you gonna make up your mind

When you gonna love you as much as I do

When you gonna make up your mind

Cause things are gonna change so fast

All the white horses are still in bed

I tell you that I'll always want you near

You say that things change my dear



Hair is grey

And the fires are burning

So many dreams

On the shelf

You say I wanted you to be proud of me

I always wanted that myself

 
He says

When you gonna make up your mind

When you gonna love you as much as I do

When you gonna make up your mind

Cause things are gonna change so fast

All the white horses have gone ahead

I tell you that I'll always want you near

You say that things change

My dear"

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Get to Know me (12/1/11)

The getting to know you meme is hosted every Thursday by I am A Reader Not a Writer

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?


Strange Little Girl. Trust me it fits. I hear that about myself on a fairly regular basis.

If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?

The Time Traveler’s Wife. It’s just such an amazing story.

Horror or Romance?

Can I have a little romance in my horror?

If you could choose only one time period and place to live, when and where would you live and why?

That’s a tough one. There are so many time periods I’d like to check out. The Italian Renaissance for one, because there were so many things happening. I also think I’d like to be a teenager or young adult in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80s…just to experience the things that happened during those times would be amazing.


Do you prefer a bunch of small gifts or one big expensive one?

I’d rather have a bunch of small things…I’m not much on expensive things.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Getting to know me (week 1)

Getting to know you is a meme hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer every Thursday
What's your favorite season/weather?


My favorite season is fall. I love when there is a little crispness in the air and the leaves change color. I love everything associated with Fall – bonfires, warm apple cider, raking leaves. My favorite weather though, is from May to June when it’s warm enough for shorts and sleeveless tops, but not yet too hot.

PC or Mac?

I’m a PC girl. I haven’t used a Mac since elementary school, and wouldn’t know where to find anything on a new Mac.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?

I wanted to be several things when I was little including Rock star (which changed when I realized my fear of singing in front of other people), Teacher (which changed when I saw how awful my classmates treated our substitute when I was in 8th grade, and I realized I would be teaching their children), Lawyer (which I’m still considering)…The most inappropriate thing I wanted to be growing up was a dancer like Jennifer Beals character in Flashdance. I don’t know why my mom let us watch that as a kid, but at the time I didn’t realize that she was an exotic dancer.

Favorite music?

I love music in general. I’ll listen to almost anything. My favorite music of all time is probably new wave/80’s synth pop/80’s goth. I’m a huge fan of the Cure, Depeche Mode, Erasure, Peter Murphy, Psychedelic Furs, Morrissey, The Smiths and many more obscure bands. I also have loved Tori Amos since I first discovered her at age 14 or 15. I really related to her music as a teen, and I’m still a fan, though her music style has changed. I like oldies and swing music as well. I went through a phase at 19 where I went swing dancing all the time with my friends and to sock hops and bought all my clothes authentic 30’s and 40’s from a vintage store specializing in those eras. As far as modern music goes, I hate to admit that Lady Gaga and Ke$ha get stuck in my head. I love anything I can dance to. I love dancing, so if it has a beat I can move it to I love it. I also am a big fan of Joss Stone and Adele – love their smoky, jazzy voices. I like the Band Perry and the Zac Brown band. I like Irish music and anything that sounds southern bluesy.

Facebook or Twitter?

I mostly use Facebook. It’s a very bad habit (darn you Farmville!) and a way for me to keep in touch with my family and friends scattered across the country. I do use twitter though as well, but less often.


What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit?

I like the Secret Circle on the CW… its way out of my age range, but I loved those books growing up, and so I watch it like a junkie. Movie wise I love some bad ones, lol, - Harold and Kumar, Clerks 2, Grandma’s Boy and Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion to name a few. As for books, I am not really embarrassed about what I read.

Friday, December 17, 2010

What I Want

I've been meaning to do some kind of wish list here, but with work and school and the kids I haven't had the time.  So now, even though Christmas is less than 10 days away, here is my list:


Hot Topic has this cute hat/scarf/mittens all in one at their shops, but I don't see it online.  They have buffalo, dogs, bunnies, etc, but I love the leopard.  Fun AND practical.  $34.99
















Bath and Body Works  These cute socks are infused with shea (which smells amazing) and peppermint.  They're also available in other scents and infused with lavender or vanilla.  A steal at $5.







        


Homedics Squishy Pillow
I love these pillows.  My last one ran into an tragic accident with the vacuum and I haven't been able to find another Homedics brand until now.  They're $9.99 at Bath and Body Works and only $8 with the 20% off coupon Bath and Body Works always sends in the mail.






Barnes and Noble





I love making lists and I love music.  It seems like my life has a soundtrack.  This book looks like a lot of fun.  $16.95.


Alice in Wonderland is one of my favorite books.  I'm trying to convert all my paperbacks into nice books like the ones in this collection that Barnes and Noble has.  Last year I got the works of Jane Austen.  This year I want Alice.  $19.99




Lush

$34.95 a sparkling gold star filled with 6 of the Christmas bath bombs.  I got one a few years ago and the star was silver then.  I've kept it and I'd love to have the gold to match.  Not to mention the bath bombs are the best! 




I'd also like a ceramic hair straightener but I don't know much about them and I'm open to suggestions on which brand is good.


That's my wishlist for this year.  What are you hoping to find under the tree?

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

List of the Day - Places I want to go we go back to Florida for vacation

1. Cakes by Caroline for a white cupcake with white icing. Her cupcakes are to die for and only 50 cents each.

2. Disney - I'd like to go with my parents or my brother or a small group of people - because Steve won't ride anything fun.

3. Moon Under Water for their curry - nom nom nom.

4. The Dali Museum

5. Tijuana Flats for a Tijuana size vegie burrito with Thai chili sauce

6. Thai house - their panang curry and vegetable soup are the best (even if I will probably have to use my epi-pen to eat it)

7. Caddy's on the beach - what can be better than a day of sun, drinking rum runners while listening to tropical music on one of the prettiest beaches of Tampa Bay?



8. The Indian Market in Pinellas Park - I'm out of rosewater, I'd love some of those pistachio donut ball type of things, and I'm out of henna.

9. The Globe for Chai Tea and to see what weirdness is going on.

10. Italian Village to have pizza with my brother - it's our thing.

11. Greek Village for Tzaziki and Greek salad and to expose Steve to Greek food since he has never been.

12. Ybor City, the Castle and that little dive bar we went to last time. Hopefully we can talk Josh into driving so we can both have fun.

13. To see Courtney to get some highlights.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year

I just wanted to say happy new year to everyone.

It's been a good six weeks since I blogged anything. I promise this year I will be better at it.

This last year was a year of many changes for me. New love, a new state, a new job, a new school, a new apartment, and the list goes on and on. This is huge for me, considering I was in the same stagnant place in my life for about seven years before this. It's been a little scary but at the same time exhilarating. In short, my whole world as I've known it has been turned upside down and topsy turvey. This is a very good thing, but there have been a lot of bumps along the way. I am grateful to have a roof over my head, a job to pay the bills, and above all else, someone who loves me and that I want to share my life with. These things are especially important in a time when so many people are without.

I am hopeful for this new year. I have hopes that the economy will get better. I have hopes that my health will be better. I have hopes that less people will go without.

That is all I wanted to say for now. I wish everyone that reads this all the best for 2009, and I promise to be back later and to write more often.

Friday, June 13, 2008

road trip

I'm almost home from my crazy cross country tour. I'm all moved into my apartment and MOSTLY unpacked. I'm currently in Ohio and we should be back in Florida on Tuesday.

In two weeks we went to Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas (twice), New Mexico (twice), Arizona (twice), California, Oklahoma, Kanasas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and now Ohio. When we leave Ohio we will go through West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. That's 20 states in two weeks.

Two weeks in the car with my parents and 15 year old neice, and we are all still alive. It's a small miracle. Additionally I have been sick the whole trip, and have to go in for testing when I get home.

We did a lot of Route 66 on the way home so we saw some crazy things.

I will write with details when I get home and I'm not working on this laptop - also including pictures.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

101 Adjectives that Describe Me

This was a hard list for me to make. We had to do something like this for my speech class, and it was hard enough coming up with the ten adjectives describing myself. It's hard to even think of 101 adjectives once you sit down to make the list. As part of the speech class assignement we had to ask someone else to describe us in ten words without looking at our list. So if anyone wants to list adjectives they think describe me, they are welcome too. I like seeing what other people think of me - even the bad. It gives me something to work on.

1 accidental (yeah I know, a weird one, but I wasn't planned).
2 amused
3 anxious
4 armed
5 average
6 aware
7 balanced
8 blushing
9 breakable
10 bruised
11 capable
12 chaotic
13 chunky
14 clean
15 clumsy
16 content
17 crafty
18 cuddly
19 cultured
20 curvy
21 dark
22 descriptive
23 determined
24 distracted
25 dizzy
26 dreamy - Given to daydreams or reverie.
27 educated
28 empathic
29 empirical
30 encouraging
31 enthusiastic
32 ethical
33 fair
34 feminine
35 flexible
36 friendly
37 family-oriented
38 giddy
39 giving
40 green-eyed
41 guarded
42 gullible
43 harmonious
44 helpful
45 honorable
46 humorous
47 hungry
48 imaginary
49 imaginative
50 imperfect
51 impulsive
52 inquizative
53 intuitive
54 jittery
55 kind
56 liberal
57 literate
58 loved & loving
59 loyal
60 maddening
61 moody
62 naughty
63 nostalgic
64 obcessive
65 open-minded
66 optimist
67 forgiving
68 overwhelmed
69 pale
70 peaceful
71 personable
72 philosophical
73 polite
74 productive
75 protective
76 real
77 rebellious
78 receptive
79 romantic
80 sassy
81 sensual
82 short
83 sincere
84 soft
85 spirited
86 spiritual
87 strange
88 thankful
89 thoughtful
90 ticklish
91 tolerant
92 upbeat
93 whimsical
94 wide-eyed
95 wisftul
96 youthful
97 zealous
98 stressed
99 passionate
100 playful
101 enduring

Friday, April 25, 2008

100 Things

I've seen so many other people do this, and I thought it looked like fun. So here goes:


1. I love Steve.
2. I have since we were 12.
3. We met in middle school.
4. It took us 16 years to finally be together.
5. He is worth the wait.
6. In those 16 years we both learned a lot about what we do and don’t want out of life.
7. We want each other.
8. I’m a bath product junkie.
9. I can spend hours in the bath –especially with a good book.
10. I have at least 50 bars of soap at present.
11. And over 100 other bath items.
12. Lush is my absolute favorite bath & body company.
13. Lush’s Think Pink bath bomb is my absolute favorite scent.
14. I would spend my whole paycheck if Lush or another company made other products in that scent.
15. I also love Lush’s “Honey I Washed the Kids” and “Rockstar”, Bathed and Infused’s “Cremase” and Pixie Potions “Faery Candy” scents.
16. Steve says I need Lush rehab.
17. He’s probably right.
18. I also make soap.
19. I used to sell it at the pier at the sunset festival each night.
20. Now I make it for fun with my Emily and Helen.
21. We also make lavender eye pillows.
22. And we’re learning to crochet.
23. I’m a college student.
24. I’m majoring in art history and museum studies.
25. I want to be a curator in an art museum.
26. My favorite artist is Botticelli.
27. I hope to study in Florence in a couple years.
28. My mom’s spaghetti sauce is the best I’ve tasted.
29. I also love Thai food.
30. I almost always order panang curry because I’m afraid I won’t like the other dishes as much.
31. I like Indian food too.
32. Especially samosas.
33. I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 14.
34. I’m also lactose intolerant.
35. Some dairy foods are worth the consequences and I eat them anyway- especially tortellini.
36. I love flower flavors, especially violet, rose and lavender.
37. When I was younger I wanted to be a rock star, a lawyer, a storm chaser, a chef, and a writer.
38. I’m afraid of public speaking.
39. I’m afraid of singing in public too- even though I took voice lessons when I was 14 and again in college.
40. Bad grammar annoys me.
41. So does people wearing socks with sandals.
42. I’m afraid of spiders.
43. Lawn gnomes creep me out too.
44. I love to dance.
45. I took at least 15 years of lessons – ballet, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, pointe, and swing.
46. I wish I had the time and money for all those classes now.
47. Steve agreed (begrudgingly) to take ballroom with me.
48. I also love yoga – but I never have the time.
49. I love taking photographs but I wish I was better at it.
50. I love to read.
51. My favorite authors are Dean Koontz, Laurell K. Hamilton, Jane Austen, Christopher Moore, Chuck Palahniuk, Douglas Coupland, Augustan Burroughs, Deepak Chopra, Patricia Cornwell, and Francesca Lia Block.
52. My favorite books are “The Time Traveler’s Wife” and “The Zen of Oz.”
53. I’m a sucker for books about fairies, vampires or werewolves.
54. I love fairies.
55. I can’t wait to go to Fairy Fest in Phoenix.
56. When I get married I’m wearing fairy wings down the aisle.
57. I want to live in California – somewhere around Pasadena.
58. Monkeys are my favorite animal.
59. It’s also my Chinese astrology sign.
60. My normal astrological sign is Pisces.
61. I was born on the Ides of March.
62. I love spring flowers – especially daffodils, lilacs and lily of the valley.
63. They remind me of childhood and my grandfather.
64. Strawberries with milk and sugar, rye toast, and Indian corn also remind me of my grandpa.
65. He is the greatest man I’ve ever known.
66. I miss him. A lot.
67. He died of cancer when I was six.
68. Because of this I participate in Relay for Life every year with my college.
69. I grew up in Ohio.
70. I moved to Florida when I was 12.
71. I have 4 half brothers, 3 half sisters and 2 stepsisters.
72. I grew up with two of my brothers. The rest are a lot older than me.
73. I would like to have 2 kids.
74. A girl – named Lorelei and a boy – named Skye.
75. I love music almost as much as baths, books, and art.
76. Tori Amos is my all time favorite musician. I’ve seen her in concert 3 times.
77. I also love Depeche Mode and the Cure.
78. I love making cupcakes – especially from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World.
79. Scrabble is my favorite game. My cousin and I have marathon games of it. I also play it online through Facebook.
80. I don’t like jasmine. It smells like decay to me.
81. My favorite movie is Labyrinth. I watch it all the time. I love the song “As the World Falls Down” from the movie.
82. My favorite actor is Joseph Fiennes. He’s gorgeous – but he also is a great actor, and I respect his role choices and abilities.
83. My cat’s name is Luna. I talk to her like she’s a human. I’ve had her since she was a baby.
84. I have one white eyelash. Even when it falls out, it grows back in white.
85. I’m not sure what my natural hair color is. I think it’s a medium brown.
86. I prefer my old NES to the new game consoles.
87. My favorite games are Burger Time, Bubble Bobble, and California games.
88. I love the 80s.
89. I miss Jem and the Holograms, Popples, and She-ra.
90. In more recent times – I love Invader Zim, The Fairly Odd Parents, and the Power Puff Girls.
91. I used to collect comics – mostly X-men, Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, and Squee.
92. Margarita’s and Rum-Runners are my drinks of choice.
93. I was in 4-H growing up.
94. I spent my summer’s on my grandparents’ and uncle’s farm as a child.
95. I love horses. I ride western saddle.
96. I hate cleaning the bathroom, but I don’t mind washing dishes or vacuuming.
97. I still prefer regular mail to email.
98. One thing I’d like to work on more is my procrastination problem.
99. I don’t believe in having big houses with rooms you never use. I think families are closer and grow together more in smaller, cozier houses.
100. I’m very close with my family.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Things I love/May Favorite Things part 1

1. Steve - what's not to love? He's thoughtful, kind, funny, hardworking, honest, and cuddly. He smells really good. He is beautiful in and out. He makes me laugh. I feel safe with him. The world feels right with him. He makes me smile so much that my face hurts. When I stare into his beautiful eyes there aren't words to describe how I feel. He knows me and accepts me for who I am. He doesn't want to change me. He supports me following my dreams. He is a good son and a good father. He can fix almost anything (God, that makes me so hot!)... He's cute when he drives... and when he's slightly buzzed and singing to music on his laptop. When he smiles at me, it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. He thinks I'm cute - even when I'm being obnoxious or airheaded. He's obnoxiously cute when he dances. He road rollercoasters for me. He agreed to take ballroom dancing with me even though it terrifies him almost as much as rollercoasters.

2. Luna - So her breath stinks like fish, and she leaves a fine layer of hair all over my clothes. She is still my best friend. She's cute and fat and soft and rolly polly. She listens to me and doesn't talk back although she occassionally looks at me like I'm retarded. She cuddles with me at night. She always wants to know where I am and what I'm doing. She makes me feel better when I'm sick or sad. She's funny and she makes me laugh.

3. California - It's honestly the most beautiful place I've ever been. I loved Monrovia/Arcadia off historic Rt 66 where I stayed. It was cool to see people doing Tai Chi in the park in the morning. The mountains were beautiful. The ocean was beautiful. The amount of culture was incredible. Every kind of food you can think of. The street markets and festivals. The health food. The vegitarian food stands on Venice Beach. Santa Monica's boardwalk. The Burrito places. The cool shops, independant theaters and book shops in Pasadena. USC. If I could afford it, I'd love to live there.

4. www.Lush.com - There stuff is a little overpriced.... but it's all natural, organic, vegetarian, and not tested on animals. They are a socially conscious company that is very green. The "Think Pink" bath bomb is the most amazing thing I have ever smelled and makes the water a lovely shimmery pink. The "Honey I Washed the Kids" soap smells wonderful, lathers great, and leaves me smelling pretty all day. They have solid shampoos that are small, portable, and double as soap and bubble bath when you travel (Karma Komba is the best, but Seanick isn't bad either). I also love anything that has the candy scent (Creamy Candy, MMM Melting Moments, and Rockstar Soap). Finally the Snow Fairy (Candy Floss and Banana) and Sonic Death Monkey (chocolate, orange, and coffee) shower gels smell yummy and work as shampoo and bubble bath too.

5. Thai food - Vegie Spring Rolls dipped in Chili sauce. Thai salad with peanut dressing. The vegie soup at Thai House is so good and one of my comfort foods. Tom Kha Kai soup without the chicken - so warm and good (curry, coconut milk, lemon grass). Panang Curry with Tofu - I love it so much I'm always afraid to try anything else because I'm afraid I won't like it as much (red curry & peanut sauce). Pad Thai is yummy too. Plum wine is so sweet and makes me glow. For dessert sticky rice with sliced mangos and coconut ice cream. So simple yet so yummy.

6. Flower flavors - Ok, I know this one is a little weird... but I love the flavor of violet. Violet mints. Candied violets. I had the best ice cream ever and it was rose ice cream. I also like rose flavored hard candy and rose-hip tea. I like pansies in my salad. I made lavender lemonade last May and it was really good too.

7. Indian Food - naan bread dipped in riatta. Chai tea (i so love chai tea! - and with a shot of expresso for a pick-me-up- but that's another category all together). Masala over basmati rice. And most of all potato and pea samosas. (drooling a little). An Indian restaurant is where I had rose ice cream too. Oh and the Indian market here has these doughnut things with pistacio in them that are really yummy. Not all Indian resturants are created equal. I don't know what a lot of the stuff is, so I prefer a buffet where I can try a bunch of stuff and figure out what I like. Oh - and Tasty Bite makes really really good Jaipur vegetables to make at home. Oh and Moon Under Water makes good Indian curry.

8. Henna/mendhi - I love having mendhi done. It's like therapy. I'm not talking about those spray on or stencil artists you find at a lot of festivals. My friend Darla is a true artist. She makes up these crazy, beautiful, elaborate designs in her head and does them all free hand on my body. Having henna done is a great cure for stress. I go to the Globe, get some Chai tea, and let Darla go to work and it's so relaxing. I instantly feel better about whatever was bugging me. I also like bindhis (I used to wear them all the time), bangles, sari print pillows, curtains and bedding, Sarees - (http://www.utsavsarees.com/pages/saree-large.asp?icode=SLSVP6) I know I'd look ridiculous - but they're so beautiful. I'd wear it everywhere. Ok... I guess I like a lot of things India. The women are beautiful and exotic. India gave us Kumar. I like Ganesh and Shiva and the rest of their mythology. I have a Bollywood dance video - and I feel like a complete ass when I do it, but I really wish I could move that way. And I'll keep working at it (so long as no one is looking) until I have it down.

9. Long baths - My favorite way to relax at the end of the day. I fill the tub with hot water and throw in some bath salts, bubble bath or a bath bomb. I bring in a good book, sometimes light some candles, sometimes bring in a glass of wine or a captain and coke, and I can spend over an hour in tub. I come out a little wrinkly but I smell good and I'm stress free. I love baths - they are ok plain but they are so much better with smelly stuff. I've already mentioned how much I love Lush. I also like www.bubblesofrockport.com bath bombs - especially the Halloween scented and fairy scented ones, www.scentsationalsoaps.biz pear body butter, http://sugarliciousscrubs.com/Kashmir-Saffron-Cedar-Scrub-Sundae-pr-17.html kashmir saffron sugar scrub, http://www.sisteragnes.com/ soaps in Cinnamon apple Peach, and Bird of paradise, www.pixiepotions.com tub truffles in chocolate orange, and goatsmilk lotion in Faerie Candy. Those are my favorites but I'm always trying new products and companies.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

The Greatest Man I Ever Knew


My earliest childhood memories revolve around my grandfather, George Wiencek. I only had six years with him, but they are six of the best years of my life. My memories of him are very vivid, which surprises many people because I was so young.

I remember going out into the fields with grandpa and picking Indian corn. I remember the buckets of multi colored Indian corn seed kernels. I remember “helping” in the garden. I remember picking the strawberries he had planted just for me, and eating them with milk and sugar. Sometimes we would eat raspberries instead.

I remember sitting on a bale of hay and watching him work in the garden or lawn. I remember him holding buttercups under my chin, and proclaiming I liked butter. Every spring there were daffodils, tulips, and narcissus. He taught me how to draw all of these. We cut roses from the rose bushes for grandma and we drew those too. Even with all the flowers growing outside, my grandpa still bought her a dozen red roses on a regular basis.

I remember sitting in his lap in the brown recliner while he read me story after story until I we both fell asleep. He was so patient with me. I remember Campbell’s chicken and rice soup with ketchup and pepper. I remember being really young and gnawing on rye toast, and him eating it after I had already slobbered it up. I remember the Hostess Chocolate cupcakes he used to take in his lunch.

I remember the day I kept sneaking into the kitchen and ate a whole box of Popsicles. I was so sick. He didn’t yell at me for eating the whole box. He took care of me rather than yelling at me or lecturing me on a lesson I had already learned the hard way.

Grandpa George would come and get me as much as possible. He made me feel wanted and loved. He taught me how to play Solitaire. To this day, I can’t play it for very long without crying. He bought me my first bike. It was beautiful – dark pink with glitter. He taught me how to ride it, and mended my scrapes when I’d fall.

I remember the way he smelled, Old Spice and Vix. I remember the cough drops he ate, and sometimes let me have. To me, my grandpa represents love, patience, strength, long-suffering, honor, loyalty, and everything else I want to be. Whenever I think about doing something even mildly wrong, the first thing I think about is what he would think, if he knew what I was doing. My memory, honor, and love of him keeps me on the strait and narrow.

Grandpa George was, and remains the greatest man I have ever known. In six short years he made a lasting impact and taught me many lessons that will never leave me. As I grew older, and learned more about my family and it’s history, I have come to appreciate my grandfather even more.

In 1986 his life was cut short when he lost his battle to colon cancer. It was dark times for everyone. Visiting him in the hospital was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Towards the end he started to forget things, and people. My mom shielded me from that experience. I’m grateful to that. It would have broke my heart for him not to have known me. He died December 13th. Many people say that six year olds are too young to understand death, but I knew. I knew the finality of it. I understood my best friend was lost to me. I said my goodbyes at the viewing. I cried through the funeral. I still cry sometimes. All I have left are my memories, some photos, and the blanket we used when we napped.

Every year I take part in Relay for Life through my college. I will continue to do it after I graduate. Relay for Life raises money for the American Cancer Society. The money raised goes to cancer research as well as assisting those with cancer in our area. I take part in Relay for Life in memory of my grandpa, and in hope that some other little girl or boy doesn’t have to lose their grandfather.

If you would like to make a donation to the American Cancer Society and support me in this year’s Relay for Life, please visit my Relay page at http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RelayForLifeFloridaDivision?px=2463619&pg=personal&fr_id=8252&s_tafId=118512
 
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