I want to be a bookseller

Last weekend P and I decided to take a drive.  It was New Year’s weekend and with three days off, he was starting to get bored and I was restless having everyone at home with me.  There were a few books I wanted to pick up so we decided to take a trip to our favorite used book store up in the Ipswich area.  We meandered up and when we pulled into the parking lot we saw the building was EMPTY!  The whole thing!  No used book store and no antiques shop below.  Just a sign saying they would be back after lunch…..no forwarding address, no we moved sign.  NOTHING.  I was (still am!) devastated!!!  We loved that place.  Not to mention finding a used book store that isn’t part of the Salvation Army or in Barnes and Noble is near impossible. 

As we drove away I had the very strong desire to open my own book store.  A quaint little shop here in our town where we would sell some new, old and maybe even rare books.  We could have a small little coffee station in the store and a lounge area to read.  Free wifi of course and I could bake some bread and make some jams to sell.  During the slow hours I could relax and crochet and read.  I wouldn’t have to have the store open 10am to 9pm like retailers; a reduced hour schedule like noon to 7pm would be perfect.  Maybe only a few days a week too.  I go have book club meetings and maybe even work with the library on things. 

I thought of it all.  I got totally wrapped up in it, even telling my mom she could move up here and work it with me. 

But it isn’t possible.  At least not right now. 

But WHY?

Am I just scared and using my health as an excuse?  Or would it really be a bad idea?  I love to read.  I would love to have my own shop.  I have the perfect location in mind.  I could find funding I am sure (grants for women owners seem to be a good place to start). 

But could I do it?  And should I do?  And will I do it?

Maybe…someday….maybe…never…

Ringing in the New Year!

2012 is sure to be filled with a ton of excitement. P and I get married in October, then go on our honeymoon to Hawaii.  My brother turns 30 around Thanksgiving so we are going to celebrate it with my family in PA. I am continuing my Master's classes (thanks to the disability department at school for getting my financial aid sorted out). Many new babies and weddings this year for friends and family.  Plus any exciting things that may happen along the way.  I am looking forward to a new year filled with exciting times and new adventures.

I have set some resolutions for myself for this upcoming year.  With no pressure though. These are things that I need to work on either way so I am adding them to my resolution list.  

1. Use my Wii fit to exercise and get my exercise age down from 44 to something closer to 31. I want to make sure I am not on O2 24/7 when I walk down the aisle to marry the love of my life.

2. Eat healthier foods, and cook more so the whole family eats better.  We all need to eat better and stop with the processed junk foods.

3. Pay more attention to world happenings. I am ignorant to what is going on in the world. The news always depresses me but then I don't know anything of importance.

As I ring in the new year tonight with my soon to be hubby I reflect back on the 2011 year.  So much happened! P proposed to me (by far the most exciting!). I started grad school.  We had our first family vacation together. We got a dog. I started the transplant evaluation process. My family got to visit me and see my new home.  P bought a new car. I got my hysterectomy.  My afghan won 1st prize at the local fair.  And that is all I can remember right now.  There were many little moments through out but these are the most memorable.  Unfortunately not everything was happy. We lost many CF friends.  The greatest lost for me was Bree.  I still miss her terribly and hope she is enjoying her time with those she loved and lost before her.  

I hope everyone has a happy and healthy new year and takes whatever life hands them in stride.  There will be good times and bad times but through it all we will press on.  May you all be safe this evening!!!

2010 Comes to an End

What a year!

Looking back on the past 365 days really amazes me.  I do it every new year's, as do most people I am sure.  But I think this one has the most changes.  I'm now officially living in Boston with the love of my life, I have a new family, I'm a surrogate mom, I've made new friends up here, I've started the Grad school process, I've been approved for SSDI, I met so many new CFers, I managed to make 2 full holiday meals (for the first time! Christmas and Easter), I spent my first Christmas away from my family, and I am finally content in my life.

I think that is one heck of a year.

Many lessons were learned as well, both new and old.  Life is short, we need to live it to the fullest each day.  Friends and family are way more important than anything else.  And only you can make yourself truly happy.

This year has been an amazing one.  Filled with love, laughter, sadness and joy.  It definitely had its down, and we lost way too many friends along the way.  But overall it was great.

Everyone has resolutions, I usually do too, but this year I think I will pass.  Nothing like setting yourself up for disappointment from day one!  So instead I vow to make my 2011 as wonderful as I can, despite the hospitalizations, the sickness, the breathlessness and the worries.  I will make it a year to remember, as each year should be.  I hope you all will do the same!

Be safe and Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year's!!!!!!!!

I can't believe it is 2010 already! I feel so old lol. I also feel like I am slacking on all my readers. I apologize for that. Being at Peter's house I don't have access to any of my stuff on my computer (I might go buy a laptop this week and then when I go back home I can transfer everything to it so I am not so slacking anymore). There really isn't much to update all of you on. My lungs still feel the same. I am enjoying not working and relaxing at his place. Spending time with Tina and Shawn and Peter has been fabulous.

We had a great time on New Year's. Went to a party and saw a band. I stayed sober to drive home haha. I didn't mind. I actually got drunk beforehand while making dinner for everyone so it worked out well. It has been the first year in about 9 years I have had someone to kiss when the ball dropped. Wow how sad is that? We made up for it though, it was a great night (any sexual inuendos should be left at the door people I was not refering to that haha).

Hmmm what else to blog about? I relly don't think there is anything else.

I will try to update this week if there are any happenings!!!

Love to you all and hope everyone had a safe and fun new years!!!!!!!

New Year's

    

my BFF and I...It was well past 12 here but she wanted the pic with the hats on :)
  

my mom and I...yes that is me under all that!!!

my mom, her boyfriend and my aunt

New Year’s Eve was a lot of fun!!!!  I had a great time at both house parties I went to.  And I managed to stay sober so I could drive home and sleep in my own bed.  Mainly because I had to get up so I could make it to LBI (Long Beach Island in NJ) for the lighting of the lighthouse.  

Which I was wrong about in my previous post.  It hasn’t been lit since 1932.  It was built in January 1859 so it was the 150^th anniversary of the building of it.  It was FREEZING!!!  As you will see by the pictures we were all bundled up.  My batteries in my camera wouldn’t even work right!  At least that is what some guy told me when we were leaving.  I managed to get a few pictures before it just died on me.  We had to walk a few blocks to get to the park.  Seems everyone in NJ was there to see the lighting!!  And LBI is a small island so God only knows how it was holding all those people hehe…well it does during the summer but winter it is like a ghost town.  My Aunt lives down there so we were able to warm up at her house.  

So back to new years.  I did not get my new years kiss, though there really wasn’t anyone there that I wanted to kiss.  And the one person I would have kissed was not able to get out that night.  He was on baby duty.  Oh well!!!!  I still had a fabulous time and stayed out until 3:30am!  SO LATE for me!  Even my BFF commented that she couldn’t believe I was still there. 

Well enjoy the pictures!!!!!

NEW YEAR'S EVE

Well here it is NEW YEAR’S EVE!!!!!!!  Yay!!  Time for a new year woot!!!!  This one wasn’t as bad as I had thought it would be.  I was only hospitalized once!  Though who knows what the appointment on the 14^th will bring hehe.

I have lots going on tonight.  2 parties to go to, which I will be taking and posting pictures of.  And then Tuesday, I am so super excited about this, my friend Frank Farry was elected to the House of Representatives and Tuesday is the inauguration ceremony in Harrisburg.  AND I AM GOING!!!!  They rented a bus and I was able to get on it so I can see him get sworn into office.  I just have to change my dermatologist appointment from Wednesday since I will have to work that day instead.  Not a big deal, its only my skin and how often I will I get to see a friend be a member of Congress???? 

In honor of New Year’s I did a resolution list:

They are in no particular order, just how they came to me. 

1. Have more of a social life.  I never see my friends anymore and going out has become a once in 3 months thing.  I don’t want to be a party animal again but I would like to keep in contact with my friends so they know I still exist. 

2. WORK OUT.  I haven’t been to the gym in forever.  Mostly because of my lack of energy which I also need to work on. 

3. Get my energy back.  Not sure how I can do this but I have a year to figure it out. 

4. Read more.  I tend to get sucked into the internet just like everyone else but I need to stop.  I need to read more.  I love to read and I love to get lost in stories.  

5. Write more.  This doesn’t necessarily mean blog more.  Just write more.  I have my short story written but it could use some tweaking before I attempt to send it to a publisher.  

6. Work on that pesky thing called health.  I know my numbers suck and I know I need to work on them.  Exercising will help that.  So will a better mood.  Once I nail those down hopefully my numbers will improve.  I’m not asking for much, just 45%. 

7. Figure out my finances and get them in order.  I need to be realistic about my spending…I don’t buy anything except food and gas.  All I do is pay bills…thanks student loans and the US government.  I need to start saving.  My 401k is not that great and when I stop working I will be relying on that to pay off things that I can’t keep paying while not working.  That was a mouthful.  I did start this by setting up LOTS of automatic payments with my online banking.  So that should keep me in line.  I don’t spend money on things I don’t need I spend too much trying to pay things off then end up having to put basics on the credit card like food and gas when I run out of money.  Beats the purpose of it haha! 

8. Be a better person.  I am not happy with who I am and I need to work on that. 

9. Cross more things off of my 101 things to do in 1001 days list. 

Well that’s all I could think of for now.  I am sure as the days go by in the next week or so I will think of some more things. 

Hope everyone has a safe and fun new year’s.  Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!!!!!!!!!

EDITED to add:

I forgot tomorrow I am going to LBI to watch the lighting of the lighthouse.  It hasn't been lit in over 400 years or some high number like that.  :)