I've got to make this short, as my drugs are about to kick in. My moments of lucidity have been brief this week due to some pretty intense pain medications. The long and short of it - my lower back gave out (I was just standing), and then I got a killer flu. The bad combination of pain, coughing, sneezing and some other unknowns caused me to have an oh so Victorian moment on Monday morning. I passed out, and scared the you-know-what out of my boyfriend by convulsing while I was unconscious. This led me straight to the emergency room, and after many tests and 6 hours later, I came home with lots of drugs.

I'm on the mend, but still feeling quite ill. My boyfriend has been a gem...no an utter rock-star by taking care of my invalid, doped-up self. Seriously, lord only knows what would have happened had he not been there.

So, until I am better and come down from my meds, I will not subject you to my babbles. I will be back. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.

Support a Good Cause!

Every year, I focus on a worthy organization where I can donate money, volunteer etc. I have given this a lot of thought, and decided to devote my time and efforts to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. One of my wonderful co-workers is a leukemia survivor, and I have had the distinct pleasure of meeting a number of other lymphoma survivors this past year. Unfortunately, I have also met people who have lost loved ones to the ravages of this disease.

All of these encounters, and encouragement from a very close friend of mine (you know who you are) have persuaded me to join Team in Training, an organization which brings people together who are raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The basic idea - we all train for a Lymphoma event together (in this case, it's a triathalon taking place in San Diego on July 1) and work together to raise the money for a very ambitious donation goal. The kick-off meeting is Saturday the 27th, and after that, we meet 2-3 times a week to train.

So, if any of you readers care to make a donation to this worthy cause, please drop me a note. Every little bit counts, and your support will mean the world to me (especially as I suffer the aches and pains from biking, running and swimming). And, if you are so inclined, I encourage to find a Team in Training organization near you!

Snow in Malibu = End of the World?

Ok God, what gives???

On January 27th, I officially said goodbye to my Cambridge apartment. Along with the able assistance of my family, friends and boyfriend, I carefully loaded all my belongings into a Penske truck and hoisted my precious car onto a tow dolly. It was a long day of lifting, carrying and climbing, but it was done. And all through it, I smiled.

On January 28th at 7:00am, Allan and I climbed into our 14 footer, and girded our loins to spend the next 6 days in this far-from luxurious truck cab. After lots of hugs, goodbyes and tears, we pulled out onto Route 2 and commenced the Westward trek. Despite the tears, I smiled on.

For the next 6 days, we consistently drove 12 hours a day. I won't lie, it wasn't easy and we were exhausted at the end of every day. We had some fun (notable were the stops at Laughlin, NV, the poor man's Vegas and the beautiful states of AZ and NM), but as a whole, it was challenging - we had to spent New Year's Eve in a cheap hotel in Amarillo, Texas when the I-40 was shut down due to ice storms; we drove through teeth-clenching, rage-inducing bumper to bumper traffic in New Mexico (seriously, people got out of their cars and build snow men while waiting for ANY movement); I had to watch the oil slowly leak out of my car after a wayward rock smashed the oil pan (it cost me $600 to fix!). I think you get the idea. Despite these patience-testing trials, I smiled on.

When we pulled into our driveway in California on January 4th, I was ecstatic. Never mind that I was now a California resident...I didn't have to be in that *&!@#@ truck anymore. We made it. We survived the long haul, and didn't kill each other along the way!

Many of you must be asking - why in the world did you want to drive cross-country, but most importantly, why were you smiling the whole time??? In answer to the first question - I have always wanted to drive cross-country and I don't regret doing it. But, I will never do it again. More importantly, the answer to the second question. Why was I smiling?

Why?

Because the warmer shores of California were waiting for me. Beckoning to me. Calling me. I could permanently pack away the bulky winter sweaters, Timberland snow boots and long underwear. The shovel and ice pick that resided in the trunk of my car could be retired. Snow tires, numb fingertips and salt-stained shoes would be a thing of the past.

Or so I thought...

It's been warmer in Boston then it has in Southern California ... California has had more snow than Beantown ... These are clearly frightening signs of global warming, but seriously God, couldn't you have at least let me enjoy a little Southern California sunshine?

My Candid Confession

It's been a while since my last post, but I m still here. My head is barely sticking out above the bijillion packing boxes, but I am here. But I need to to talk to you dear reader. Rather than persist in dissapointing you, I need to come clean.

Here I go.

Until I finally settle into my new California digs, my postings will be sporadic. I know, I know - life is hard without me - the reason you get up every day for work, the reason your life has meaning (leave me with my illusions ok?) Believe me, I want to do more, but trust me when I tell you that my blogging will be very consistent once I make it out to the "other" coast. A combination of homesickness, and the inundation of new sights, smells, sound and culture will all be ample fodder. I know I am beginning to sound like Chicken Little, but I promise.

Anyhoo - as I already mentioned, I am neck deep in packing boxes. I am doing my best not to slowly go insane before I head out. The move has been in the works for so long, I just want to be there already. Beam me up Scotty....NOW!

Needless to say my apartment is a little pathetic right now. Apart from the fact that it resembles a cardboard maze, it is sorely lacking in Christmas cheer. Normally, I buy a Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving and put up my tasteful and subtle decorations. A wreath goes up on my front door and my Itunes holiday playlists start stretching their legs. And, like a little kid on Christmas morning, I cannot wait for the first sign of sunset, so that I can light my Christmas tree and bask in the warm glow of its scintillating bulbs and savour the sweet smell of pine. The absence of said tree is slightly disheartening, and I keep needing to remind myself that Christmas really is only three weeks away.

It's all worth it in the end. On December 28th, I will commence the long trek cross country (yep, driving) to be in my new home.

P.S. If anyone has a desire to lose some holiday poundage, I can supply some good exercise! Come help my load the truck on the 27th, and I promise you'll lose at least 2 of those suckers.

Me and Jimmy Stewart

I was out for an evening stroll with Mr. Jimmy Stewart the other night, and one of our friends captured a tender moment. I felt so glamorous and the dress I was wearing was a real steal at Nordie's Rack. The martini was just the way I like them: straight up, slightly dirty with three olives. And Jimmy, well, he was a perfect gentlemen - a virtual Romeo who swept me off my feet.

Ok, ok. No, Jimmy Stewart is not my boyfriend (although he does look quite handsome and debonair in that picture). My real boyfriend (who is MUCH, MUCH more handsome and debonair than Mr. Stewart) photoshopped this today, and I can't believe what a good job he did! Unbeknownst to him, he happened to chose a picture from the set of "The Philadelphia Story", a play I did when I was in law school. I love the irony.

For those who are curious, here is the original picture:

Big Events in the U.S.A.

Wow - it's been a big day. The election results; the Supreme Court hearing regarding partial birth abortion; Rumsfeld's "resignation"; the first woman as speaker of the house; and locally, the election of Massachusetts' first black governor.

And, let's not forget yesterday's earth-shattering announcement that Britney Spears is divorcing Mr. Federline. To borrow from The Onion, "A Shattered Nation Longs To Care About Stupid Bullshit Again." Case in point: despite all the crazy stuff happening in the world, Britney's decision came to my e-mail inbox in the form of a CNN.com alert. I mean really. Does CNN think I really care about this?? Clearly, Britney's decision is far from amazing - it's simply something that even a drunk, LCD-tripping monkey . . .no, wait, that's too smart...a drunk, LCD-tripping Paris Hilton could have called from the first day that Kevin asked Britney on a date. (It's a shame she had to bring two children in the world before figuring it out though).

I just spent four whole sentences on Ms. Spears - now 5 - so I guess I "care." Pfaa. I am watching the news right now, and I almost choked on my wine when one political pundit tried to tie the current political events to the demise of Ms. Spears' marriage. "I guess this is a message to president Bush to get out of Iraq as quickly as Britney ended her marriage to Kevin Federline." Who would have thought the "marriage" of these world events were at all related?

'Nuff said.

She's Back... Finally...But in A Different Place

I am finally recovering from my long blogging absence.

Now, don't go judging me - It was a conscious decision on my part, as I buckled down for a very challenging past two months. Work had me traveling on almost a daily basis, and I have been wrestling with some pretty weighty (but good) decisions. Given that I barely had time to sleep, much less exercise (gulp)- alas - blogging took a back seat to the more pressing matters of my life.

But, my respite is over. My self-imposed blogging exile is no more. The blogging board has been very vocal about their displeasure over my silence, but I did receive written permission from the same to take a wee break. And for that, I thank you profusely.

So, from now on, my blogging will resume with the same pointless vigour that I had when I commenced this on-line journal. But, there will be one big difference. . . .

[Insert drum roll and suspensful music]

An East Coast girl I will not longer be. You read it right. I am leaving jolly old Boston for the warmer shores of California.

More to come soon. I promise.