…from my Google home page.

Politeness, n. The most acceptable hypocrisy

A bit cynical perhaps, but I like it anyway.

That’s kinda how I am today…I have that goofy, giddy, can’t-quit-smiling feeling that comes along when most everything seems to be going right. Quite a difference from even several months ago…

I have a good job with a great company, I have my health, good friends and I’m dating a terrific guy. Who wouldn’t want to be me?

Mind you, I know that none of the audience this is intended for makes a habit of reading my blog, but obviously that isn’t stopping me.

I live in a nice apartment complex, and as such I pay a little more money than those who might live in a not-so-nice complex. One of the amenities we have in my nice complex is curbside trash pickup twice a week. This is great! I just drop my trash bags at the curb on the way to my car on Monday and Friday mornings, never having to carry them more than 20 paces. Easy and convenient, right? Apparently not to a couple of my immediate neighbors, who persist in leaving sacks of trash sitting outside their door in the community breezeway.

People – please. CARRY YOUR DAMN TRASH OUT!!! Unless you never leave your apartment, its on your way to whereever you’re going. If you don’t care how your surroundings look, then fine…go live somewhere where no one else does either. Its embarassing to have friends over who see your mess. THIS IS NOT THE GHETTO!

5209 and 5212…you know who you are!!

The treeskirt rearranger takes a break. 

See why I call her the Devil Cat? 

It really won’t look much different than the Christmases I’ve had for the last four years. I’ll sleep in, wake up alone (except for the cat!), read, watch some movies and catch up on some household chores. If a large dose of ambition comes along, I’ll even get a workout in.

Most of you who read this blog know that I don’t have family here in Atlanta, and in fact am estranged from the family I have elsewhere. Before my divorce, I was welcomed as a part of my former husband’s family, and the holidays were always a time for everyone to be together. That all went away when he and I split up in June 2001.

After that, the holidays ceased, for me, to be a season of joy and thanks. They became a time to be endured – ignored and forgotten about, ideally. Thanksgiving and Christmas were spent alone, huddled away in my apartment watching bowl games and TV marathons of NYPD Blue or Law & Order – but definitely no holiday parades. I’d go back to work and hear everyone around me talk about the nice time they had. When they asked how my holiday had been, I’d smile and say fine. But I really hated the holidays. They didn’t seem to have much use for me either.

This year is different, although it may not look like it on the surface. Rather than a glass with barely a sip in it, my glass is considerably more than half full. I have a good job with a great company, and I enjoy the people I work with. I live in a nice apartment in a city I love. I have a new car, food in the fridge and (a little!) money in the bank. I have good friends who time and again demonstrate how much they care about me, and I’ve just started dating a wonderful man. When I add all that up, I get WOW!

Will I be by myself on Christmas? More than likely. Do I wish that were different? Sure. So what’s different about this year?

This year, I am capable of stepping outside my own reality for a moment and realizing how incredibly lucky I am and have been. I have so much. This year, I am content and happy. That’s what’s different.

A Gift From Someone Special

My Tree 

My friend Mellissa pointed out to me yesterday something that I had been aware of, but not yet done anything about. The recent posts to my blog have all been written in hurt, anger or sarcasm. This should be a place where we share the happy things in life too…so I’m following her lead here:

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:14 a.m.
2. Diamonds, pearls, silver or sea shells? Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Lemony Snicket
4. What is your favorite TV. Show? Law & Order
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Can of Mt. Dew
6. What is your middle name? Michelle
7. Favorite cuisine? Mexican
8. What foods do you dislike? Vegetables & seafood in general
9. What is your favorite chip flavor? Pringles Cheezums
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Boston – Boston
11. What kind of car do you drive? Kia Optima
12. Favorite sandwich? Baloney & Miracle Whip on wheat
13. What characteristic do you despise? Dishonesty
14. Favorite item of clothing? My Navy hooded sweatshirt
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Private island in the Caribbean
16. What color is your bathroom? Black & white
17. Where would you retire to? Italy
18. What was your most memorable birthday? 32 – With friends in Dallas
19. Goal you have for yourself? A great relationship with the world’s most amazing man.
20. When is your birthday? September 10
21. Are you a morning person or a night person? I am an afternoon person
22. What is your shoe size? 10
23. Pets? Cats – Mouse & Jasmine, Dog – Jack
24. What did you want to be when you were little? Astronomer
25. What is your favorite candy? Skittles
26. What is your favorite flower? Stargazer lily
27. Besides the general things like friends and family, what are you most thankful for today? My job
28. If you could choose what would be your last words on earth, what would they be? Thanks to everyone who loved me and was good to me, even in the times when perhaps I didn’t deserve it.

…from my Google homepage.

voluptuary: A person devoted to luxury and the gratification of sensual appetites.

Somehow I found that very apropos.