The things I remember...today, yesterday...since the day my life took that last turn.

Yesterday when I was babysitting, Maddie complimented me on my seashell earrings, salmon-colored zip-up hoodie sweatshirt and my Red Sox hat (hey, the kid's got good taste!). Let me remind you that she's 2.5 years old and already has a great sense of fashion. Yes, I just gloated about my style as well :)

Today I was reading customer reviews for the Therm-a-Rest ProLite 4 women's sleeping pad on the REI website. In one excerpt a customer wrote, "Other reviewers didn’t like the slipperiness of it. I’ve fixed this by putting a small piece of 'rug grip' under it. The 'grip' is multi use; which I won’t go into here..." and left it at that. It was my first experience with sexual connotations in the customer review section of an outdoor gear website :)

Yesterday at work, on my way to the timeclock to punch in, I walked past Kathy and Mary whose bottoms were at perfect angles to be smacked. So...I smacked 'em real good and real hard. Kathy let out a happy yelp while Mary had a look of horror on her face. Only today did Kathy inform me that Mary's "not really into that." Oh well, I'll have to find some other bottom to smack.

Two days ago, I picked up the NYC Ballet Workout DVD from the public library and am about to give it a try in my room. I told a friend about it and he said, "I'm pretty sure the ballerina workout includes anorexia and smoking cigarettes." So, I've decided to drive to the corner store for a pack of Marlboro reds and stare at my new groceries until they've gone moldy and I have to throw them away.

Actually, I realize how rude that sounds. I have friends who are or have been dancers, and I'd like to assure you that they neither smoked like fiends or ate nothing but air. Through the years they continued to look quite healthy. So, I tried out the ballet workout and it seems I have some practicing to do. My plies just aren't the same as they were when I was seven! For dinner I had a fabulous meal and no cigarettes...just like those wonderful ballerinas in my life :)

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Today I was looking through my calendar for the past year, since my breakup with Peter and move from RI back home....

I remember the racquetball tournament and visiting Vancouver in January. At the end of the month is when I got my beautiful new car!

In February I worked full time at BHO again and came up with those awesome nursing questionnaires.

Renee had her galbladder surgery in March, just a week after Jilly came back from Africa (YAY!).

April was uneventful other than handing in tax returns - JOY OF JOYS! - and house-sitting for Cheryl, fun!

May was my incredible vacation month: road-tripping through FL and seeing Peru for the first time...mi amor nuevo! Necesito regresar! It helps that I 'fell in love' while I was there...with the country, the culture, the foods, traditions and Carlitos del campo.

June started my relationship with Cristian, which led into a jam-packed waitressing month in July, topped off by the __th annual Bonito Bash! I haven't a clue how many I've had...anyone?

August was a strange month, brimming with hours upon hours of waitressing and a great camping trip. But it was overshadowed by mom's scare with melanoma and that clinical trial.

When September came, I finally sold my old Subie, sang in a jazz night at mom's temple, went on a semi-blind date, acted as an extra in a Hollywood film ('Taking Woodstock' - see it when it comes out, I'm the camp counselor near the motorcyles yelling for her campers to find their buddies in the traffic jam scene! Look for Bill too, he's the bearded hippie pretending to interview someone during the traffic jam) and went on a fabulous camping trip in Lake George. It was Renee for a day, Roger, Allen and me, communing with nature, fishing, flirting with the cute guy in the gear shop (that was all me) and flirting with the cute bartender at the local groggery (that would be the guys this time).

October was a slow month for work, but I spent a GREAT week in Colorado with Mike and Kate, Allie, Dave in Boulder, Gansett and my newfound airport buddy Pieter. I hope to make it back out there sometime...my one true love (of many) is waiting for me at La Rumba, ready to shake it down!

November was a big month - I celebrated my birthday (my favorite holiday!), Jason & Dana got married, Missy had a baby (welcome Mason!!!), gram spent a week in the hospital and I finally applied to go back to school!!! Here I come Worcester, haha....

This all brings me to today. I've started working for JB again for the holiday season and my baskets are gorgeous! It's only the beginning of December and I'm sure there will be many more adventures to write about. My recap on the year is early, so I can start reflecting and refocusing now for the new year, and not get get too distracted as the holiday chaos ensues. Changes are coming my friends, changes are coming!