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Sunday, April 30, 2006

... Funny things fans say...

While sifting through my bizillion emails I got during the chaos of the past few weeks (which I'm just now starting to answer), I found one from a fan of one of my former clients that basically said:

Ask **** if he by chance remembers falling down when ***** performed at _______ Venue in '87. Hehe! I can still picture it...I think he was performing one of the songs he sang on, because he was near the front of the stage dancing. Anyway, he spun around really fast doing several revolutions and ended up on his butt. I remember he stayed down there for a moment and just smiled...embarrassed, but amused at the same time.

Now why, for the love of god, would I ask a client if he remembers falling down in 1987??? And this is one of the more normal emails I would get from time to time. As Rosie would say, "Oh Brother!".

Posted by Lys :: 5:41 PM :: 0 comments

---------------oOo--------------- This Week's S&TC Musing...

Carrie: Maybe we just obsess over relationships that feel un-finished.

Labels: SATC

Posted by Lys :: 4:01 PM :: 0 comments

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Saturday, April 29, 2006

Why is it...

that people at Costco don't look where they are going and just go "la la la" with their carts into oncoming traffic;
that people at Costco try to sell you everything under the sun from Hurricane shutters to hurricane prevention home items, even when I tell them I don't OWN A HOME - I rent an APARTMENT;
that same people say "Oh its free - its just an estimate - doh - did you not hear me the first time?
That people at Costco on a Saturday are CRAZY?
That when one goes out sans makeup and dressed down, that is when this gal runs into everyone, including a former client that I haven't seen in forever! It actually made me crack up when he mentioned that he was shocked to see H. with a girl - he was waiting for H. to come outta the closet. Weren't we all. It was good to see him though.

Also, for today's hot Orlando karaoke hangout - one might want to check out COSTCO. Yup - you heard it right - people were elbowing each other out of the way to try out the new karaoke machine. Somehow a boy singing "Crush" by Mandy Moore just made this gal shake her head in amazement. He finally got his senses together and for his next crowd pleasing performance, he jumped to "Kryptonite". Much better.

Posted by Lys :: 7:36 PM :: 2 comments

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Friday, April 28, 2006

Weekend Reading...

Gotta love this title: "BITTER IS THE NEW BLACK: Confessions of a Condescending Egomaniacal, Self-Centered, Smart-Ass or Why You Should Never Carry a Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office."

After this week, some rest & relaxation is so needed. Now where's the wine glass....

Posted by Lys :: 10:56 PM :: 0 comments

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Saturday, April 22, 2006

Errand Day...

Saturdays, for me, are normally spent recovering from the hellacious week that I had previously. I like to take that time to relax, sleep in and just take my time. I don't want to overschedule myself with appointments, running around and just being on the go-go-go. I'm like that Monday through Friday. Why carry that into my weekend, right?

I've been feeling lately like I'm about to burn out and, with a trial starting on Monday, I've really pushed myself over my normal limits but, since I have to work on Sunday - my Sunday errands had to be pushed to Saturday. Plus, I had to find a SunTrust branch that was open on Saturday (which, in itself, was a nice little detective job). Since I had to work OT this week, the bank was not an option so today was errand day...

What a whole new world opened up to me. The only bank open was in Celebration, Florida, right next to Kissimmee and DIsney World and what a quaint little area that was. If the hurricanes didn't always strike Osceola County, I would seriously think about buying a home there next year. I had to drop Shadow at the groomers, and rush to the bank, making it with 3 minutes to spare. Then I took my time and did my other errands at a leisurely place, realizing that Saturdays being errand days might be nice.

Then, this happened. I picked up Shadow at the groomers and like a kid with a bad haircut when you can't tell her how she looks, she kept pulling at her feet and meowing looking at me - they BUTCHERED the cat! She didn't even want toys and when people would tell her she was adorable, she would meow and look away - its like she's traumatized. She normally loves pictures - to get this shot, was like pulling teeth. I had to catch her while she was trying to fix her bad haircut.

Now, I have to find a new groomer for her - an errand for next Saturday, perhaps.

Posted by Lys :: 7:00 PM :: 0 comments

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Wednesday, April 19, 2006

PSA to all SUV/Truck drivers in Downtown Orlando...

I'm a tad miffed (okay - well more than usual). To the SUV/Truck drivers that park in downtown Orlando - we need to talk.

Please be advised that if you have a SUV or a TRUCK, that does not mean to park your vehicle in a space clearly labeled COMPACT CAR. COMPACT CAR means that - COMPACT CAR. Means SMALL VEHICLE. It's like the drivers have a type of car dsymorphic disorder - like they don't want to admit that their vehicle is MUCH bigger than my little Cougar which, by the way, is a small, compact CAR!

I have noticed that there is a growing trend in my job's parking garage that it is getting harder to manuver down the thin ramps and aisles because there are a number of SUVs & Trucks sticking out of the compact car spots. Not only that, these guys don't seem to realize that there is an importance in (A) Parking in the lines, (B) knowing that the spaces on the 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th levels are smaller than those on the 7th, 8th and 9th which were built to accomodate said SUVS & TRUCKS, and (c) not an iota of curtesy for a fellow driver. I can't tell you the number of times I have almost gotten into a fender bender because there is a truck jutting out of one of the spaces as I am going up a ramp which I have to avoid and bearing down on me is a zealous banker/lawyer zooming down in the other direction thinking he's in the Daytona 500. Dude - C'mon.

Which brings up another PSA - To the over-excited bankers & lawyers who seem think our garage is their own private race track - you need to switch to decaf proto! Obviously - your little bout of manly racing - so not amusing.

Posted by Lys :: 6:35 PM :: 2 comments

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Monday, April 17, 2006

My Little Princess..

Behold, this is my little princess - spoiled beyond belief, but such an adorable little monster (when she is not trying to scratch or bite someone, namely moi!)

She had her yearly appointment at the Vet for shots and such on Friday, hence her posing for this pic. She's basically a good cat, but the poor thing was told that she needed to have an operation in a few weeks because she broke one of her back teeth and lost the other.

Do you know how quickly one's life flashes before their eyes when confronted with a very pissed off cat's fangs? The Vet didn't stand a chance. When the Vet said she had to have said operation, Shadow turned her head, looked at her and, I kid you not, gave out a very pointed hiss where the Vet took a couple steps back away from her. Shadow's not dumb.

So, I discussed the financing of said "operation" only to find out its going to be either $574 highball/ $350 lowball - (estimated). Ummm.. WHAT? That's easily quite a few pairs of shoes or my plane tix to Las Vegas. And, of course, Shadow doesn't have "pet insurance" so this is coming out of my emergency fund. My dad suggests to call her past vet from up north to take a look at the photos, etc. and let me know if this vet is trying to take me to the cleaners. I'm leery of this Vet only because she told me that Shadow needed "therapy" last year for her "anger issues" and wanted me to DRIVE with Shadow to Gainesville. Umm - HELLO! I don't think so. That would produce more anger issues, for both me and the cat. So yeah - I'm going to now question everything the doctor says.

Of course, once Shadow knows she's sick, the damn wench milks it for all its worth. Even when she has a cold, the cat will sneeze away and then give out this little plaintive meow, fully aware that Roomie will give the cat a cookie if she feels bad. Shadow's a born manipulator. So this weekend, it was a chorus of various pleading "Meows" to the "Don't bother me, I'm resting" growls to the "I need sunshine" howls. The cat got spoiled.

She then took out her anger issues on her buddy, the lizard, and tried to throw him over the balcony. She went into the kitchen and howled until she got her own little pork chop. She even tried to pilfer the Doritos. (Mind you, she rarely eats people food). However, when little miss princess pilfered my Hagaan Daz Light Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream, all bets were OFF! That, most definitely, is NOT for kitties, even if she broke her tooth.

Posted by Lys :: 5:56 PM :: 0 comments

---------------oOo--------------- Oui! Oui!

Ok, I don't know WHAT started all of this, but lately I've noticed that my speech has been peppered with some quaint little French phrases, i.e. tres chic, manifique, non, etc. I don't know WHERE the hell I get this from - either watching Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network or the marathon of What Not To Wear or Vogue.. Perhaps there's some sort of French osmosis going on as I often fall asleep to the television… I have never, ever, taken a day of French in either High School or College. The only French I've learned has been from my fashion magazines and the movie Sabrina.

So, now I can swear in Spanish, understand some key Tongan phrases, tell someone that they are an old woman in Polish and now I am starting to rattle fashion phrases in French. Don't worry - there is no hope for Brit phrases AT ALL! Living in the land of the rat has erased ANY desire I may have once had to go to England. They can't drive on the right side of the road when they go to Disney and the phrase, Bloody Hell, makes me want to commit Bloody Murder!

Kat and Rosie, more often than not, will probably equate this new skill to my often disappearing Philly accent - don't know WHERE it comes from, but can't get rid of it for 3 weeks after it starts.

Posted by Lys :: 5:34 PM :: 0 comments

---------------oOo--------------- Gator Anyone?

Well, Alligator Season is hunkering down on Florida residents. This morning, on the radio, there was a "warning" that we might see one of those daggone creatures sunning themselves, resting or just lookin' for some lovin' as its also mating season. Residents were warned to call the Florida authorities and they will send out one of the Gator Chasers. You ever wonder why Mickey Mouse doesn't have a family friendly gator? Wait - maybe he does - Minnie's shoes and handbag.

Apparently the gators are rampant throughout Central Florida and you can hear them at night singing with the frogs as we have a ton of swampland/lakes around these parts.

Interesting fact - if you FEED a gator, it's a federal offense. Dammit - and I was just tryin' to figure out what to do with those damn raccoons that have been hangin' out around the trash bins at our complex. Not worth facing a federal sentence for.

Photo courtesy of here.

Posted by Lys :: 12:51 PM :: 0 comments

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Sunday, April 16, 2006

This Week's Sex & The City Quote...

Carrie (Buying a pregnancy test): Which kind do I get?

Miranda: Here. This one's on sale: half-off.

Carrie: I just spent $395 on a pair of open-toed Guccis last week. This is not the place to be frugal.

Posted by Lys :: 1:16 PM :: 0 comments

---------------oOo--------------- What's in YOUR purse...

Well, both Kalisah and Beth chronicaled their purse contents, so I'm going to *attempt* to do mine as well... If I don't emerge - someone send out a search and rescue...

Pink croc wallet filled with receipts (of the crap I have YET to return), various debit/credit cards, checkbook, Starbucks gift cards and various membership cards. Oh - and there's some money in there too;
My new spiffy Nars Orgasm gloss;
Smashbox Evoke lipgloss (now discontinued *tear*)
Bare Escentuals Buzz Latte lipbalm;
Chanel Metallic Vamp lipstick;
Bottle of "Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker". *Heavenly!*;
Small overstuffed brush/cosmetic bag with various eyeliners, contact stuff, brushes, mascara, eyeshadow and whathaveyou (and yes, thats where the condoms are housed - a gal can never be too safe);
A quad pan of MAC eyeshadows that won't fit in said overstuffed cosmetic bag;
Pen;
Highlighter;
Small paper flags for when I flip through legal docs at home;
IPod shuffle & its lovely bronze leather case, w/ earbuds;
Vast collection of change in the bottom (to save for a rainy day;
Vaseline Hand & Nail therapy lotion;
Nail glue;
Brush;
Skelaxin for my shoulder (which still acts up from time to time);
Advil (for preparing to deal with work - you should see the HUGE Costco bottle of the stuff on my desk); and
Gum

Phew - and after doing that, I realize that I need to clean out the bag and change it for this week...

Posted by Lys :: 12:23 PM :: 0 comments

---------------oOo--------------- Spring Approaching...

For me, Easter symbolizes renewal and Spring.. No matter how much I can stress out over stupid stuff, either at home or at work, on Easter, I have to sit back, enjoy the lovely spring day and be grateful for another day.

Whether you celebrate Easter, Passover or just Nature's rebirth.. here's to a wonderful day!

Posted by Lys :: 12:18 PM :: 0 comments

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Friday, April 14, 2006

Emotional Shopping is Not Good for One's Wallet...

So, last night, yes I did the unthinkable - I went on an emotional shopfest... I was so mad that while driving home, I passed by the mall and this is how it started:

"Oh - wait, my sandals are at the shoe guy - let me just stop and pick them up to wear tomorrow". Then, as I park the car, I go to the cobbler, pick up my favorite sandals and have a revelation - "Oh, let me just take a peek at the shoes at Steve Madden - I'm sure I won't like them once I see them". I picked them up and put them down 4, count 'em 4 times, then left Steve Madden thinking "Oh - let me just go check out Macy*s and see if they have them there". As I'm trotting down to Macy*s, I pass by one of my fave clothing stores that *lo and behold* there's a damn coupon - so in I go, out with 2 new tops that I don't necessarily adore (and they are going back, Dammit!) and a tank top to wear with my smaller size jeans...

THEN, as I'm trotting down to Nine West, I see Sephora - quick pit stop - yeah, right. I walked out with this and this. THEN finally - Macy*s and they didn't have the shoes BUT they had a gorgeous Aqua blazer at 50% off.

SO, now it's 10 of 9, the mall is closing and I return to Steve Maddens. I proceed to pick up the shoes and put them down again, decide "Why the hell not" while computing how many days of ramen noodles are ahead of me - try them on and my heart broke - they looked PERFECT on. PERFECT I say, PERFECT and they were $10 off. SCORE! (well in my warped mind - hey every penny counts, right). So the black patent Pawlas came home with me, along with a host of other stuff that I didn't necessarily need (and about 40% of it is going back tomorrow).

This morning as I'm getting ready to go into work, I was thrilled! The outfit was tres cute with my white cropped jacket that I got a few weeks ago, the new wife beater tank top and jeans with The Shoes.

Even better - I made a priceless discovery - I have a defined waist now - if only Stacey London & Clinton Kelly could have seen the outfit. You could really see the weight loss. They would, most definitely, make me return the two shirts I do not adore, but I think the shoes would have made the cut.

My wallet, however, is threatening me with a restraining order...

Labels: Shopping

Posted by Lys :: 9:21 PM :: 0 comments

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Be Careful - it's Catching...

Warning to all Politicians in and around the Orlando area: The Arrest Bug is catching.

First Mayor Weeble Wooble, Buddy Dyer, was indicted for alleged election fraud and, eventually reinstated;

Then Ernest Page, former interim mayor during the Buddy Scandal and Orlando City Commissioner, originally hit the scandal circuit when his wife was slapped with a restraining order for allegedly attacking Ernest Page's "so called" mistress . As of March of THIS year, Ernest Page has been arrested and plead not guilty to bribery & corruption charges, which are still pending; and now…

Senator Gary Siplin aka "Huggie Bear" has been arrested. According to MSNBC, "Siplin is facing two charges, including a felony grand theft charge and a misdemeanor charge for allegedly misusing the services of officers and state employees"... The footage of him climbing a fence evading arrest was TOO much. And, in true "R. Kelly" fashion, he turned himself in to Boss Hogg & Crew at Polk County rather than facing the OPD & Orange County Sherriffs.

So - word to the wise - to all Florida politicians doing things on the downlow, the media WILL find out about it.

Can I have an "Oh Brother". Well, at least Sen. Siplin smiled for HIS mugshot.

Now back to our regularly scheduled discussion….

Posted by Lys :: 2:34 PM :: 0 comments

---------------oOo--------------- Overwhelmed...

Have you ever had so much to do that you head immediately starts to pound when you begin to think about it?

That is my hell today. No amount of Starbucks, shopping, cosmos, chocolate or asprin can help right now. I'm glad I'm so damn efficient, except I'm starting to see that its my curse. Now I've done the wonderwench role way too much where people ASSUME I can handle everything in 5 minutes or less.

Ahhh - well, *rolls up sleeves* What can a gal do?

Posted by Lys :: 11:45 AM :: 0 comments

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Monday, April 10, 2006

Cosmos, Anyone?

I splurged - I know... but one of the gals at work suckered me with a Southern Living At Home Catalog and I just got in my new martini glasses, aren't they ooh-la-la?

And, with proof, my first cosmo made at home :)

**UPDATE** Glasses are NOT shatterproof - knocking one into the other WILL cause said glass to break. Not only that - they do not hold up very well to a cascading colander, bowl and pan that fell off the top of coffee maker which is next to the sink while I looked for what LITTLE space I had on the counter to make Baked Vodka Pasta (NO Bec - I did not have more than one martini and cooking under the influence..(i think - OOPS!) Well - off to get new set. My co-worker is very pleased... more sales for her. I should get a commission!

Posted by Lys :: 8:02 PM :: 0 comments

---------------oOo--------------- I Know I Said No Shoe Shopping...

However, by no fault of my own *cough cough* I had a 20% off coupon from Spiegel that I HAD to use, so I bought these. Hey - it expired tonight AND not only that - they are tres cute, don't you think?

I know I know - so sue me - how about I give up shoe shopping in July?

Posted by Lys :: 7:48 PM :: 0 comments

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Sunday, April 09, 2006

Classic Sex & The City...

Miranda: We should start a brothel where the men are cute and the sheets are 500 count Egyptian cotton. Samantha can be the Madam.

Samantha: At least something exciting would be happening in this town.

Carrie: We could have one in every neighborhood, like Starbucks

Posted by Lys :: 2:37 PM :: 0 comments

---------------oOo--------------- I. Want. These.

And WILL have these for Vegas...

Now - if I paint the underside of the shoes red, they will look almost like those Christian Louboutin's that Kelly Ripa has and I've been dyin' for (but REFUSE to pay $899.99 on Ebay)

Posted by Lys :: 2:16 PM :: 0 comments

---------------oOo--------------- Reflections from George...

"I don't believe in happy endings, but I do believe in happy travels, because ultimately......you die at a very young age, or you live long enough to watch your friends die. It's a mean thing, life." George Clooney on the idea of living happily ever after.

Posted by Lys :: 12:47 PM :: 0 comments

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Saturday, April 08, 2006

Let's Cruise!

Alrighty ....

A decision has been made...

Plans have been set...

and this gal is putting out an open invite to her friends to join her on XL's Doc & Johnny Cruise to the Bahamas in September... Thanks to a little monkey *cough cough*, Alex, and the dear man himself, Doc, I've decided that I'm going to jump on board the funship of debauchery that is the Doc & Johnny cruise and just maybe, maybe get into a wee bit of trouble...

Now who's with me?

Posted by Lys :: 10:55 PM :: 0 comments

---------------oOo--------------- I'm Feeling Lazy Today...

And I REFUSE to feel guilty about it. I think, after the events of last week, cosmos are a must! The only thing I plan on doing tomorrow is FINALLY putting together my new coffee table that has been sitting in the entryway in a box for oh, about a month, and making baked vodka rotini. Other than that, I refuse to read one work related blog, website, or my work email. Wonder if I can go the full 48 hours without checking the email..

Posted by Lys :: 9:00 PM :: 0 comments

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Friday, April 07, 2006

Random Things Overheard During Happy Hour...

Well, while out tonight with some friends and co-workers.. heard a few interesting tidbits that made me think "Alcohol & Vocal Cords = Non-Mixy Things".

Here's a few choice selections:

As dorky lookin' redneck boy looks around the club he whispers to his friend "Dude, I'm with the hottest piece of ass here tonight"
Same Redneck idiot later says to his friend, "Did you see my girl's rack".
"If you hook me up with that brunette, I'll buy you a shot".
"We got to make the rounds again, once around the room" says a lawyer to his boss's SECRETARY!
"Dude - I like **ssy, not **ck"
"Someone gave a judge a "Motion to Kiss My Ass" and didn't get sanctioned - it even got published".
"Don't Fuk with me today".
"I'm not sleeping with you."
"Three for One" chanted repeatedly by a bunch of associates aka frat boys.

Sometimes, I wonder - they really don't wanna know what I think, do they? Maybe next time I'll have to remind them of what they sound like sober.

Posted by Lys :: 11:10 PM :: 0 comments

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Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Buddy - We Need to talk..

Ok - I'm a tad miffed at the Orlando City Government. We are always "in the know" re: government issues because their PR team just blasts everyone and then we get Mayoral emails as well. I.E. Buddy Dyer issues this whole big "I'm in your corner" concerning Ernest Page, our recently ousted whatever he was not too long ago, on the heels of him catching heat for the whole Neo-Nazi rally (that was a big failure, btw). As a matter of fact, his staff will email blast anyone over every little thing that is "newsworthy" and that is not a negative reflection on dear Buddy.

As y'all may remember, Buddy is NOT my Buddy. We don't get along. The times I met him, he reminded me of a oily car salesman. His security guard reminds me of a scurrying rat (appropriate, you think, since we live in the land of Disney, after all). So with that being said, he and I REALLY have issues now. I'm starting to think his staff keeps him in City Hall since the whole march issue much like Dick Cheney is kept out of the public eye - only emerging when told to. I never see WeebleWobble (as we have affectionately named him because he always weeble wobble's on the issues) running around to Starbucks, the Boheme or Church Street like months past. Needless to say, he hasn't been on the forefront of events to think about - well, until today.

I work downtown which means I have to take the Orlando version of Boston hell traffic (I-4) into the city from the land of the damn Rat. It's a good 30-40 minute drive. About 2 weeks ago, we were told that beginning on April 3, the ramp to get to my office would be closed for 3 weeks (read - 6 weeks) so to please take a detour. Well, I'm a good little do-bee and take said detour which is an additional 20 minutes out of my way. I have to leave over an hour early to get to work on time because I have to take the backroads from I-4 to Kaley to Orange Avenue and zip along that way to downtown. Lots of stoplights. Lots of stupid drivers. Lots of "what the ****" when people don't look where they are going. You get the picture. Well today, I guess a toddler was running the train tracks because the gates kept going up and down, up and down, up and down for about 10 minutes.. Yikes - another delay. So now, lets see - I'm 20 minutes late for work by the time I blast through the traffic, sans coffee late for a very busy day. Not a good way to start, right?

Well, today it's in the paper that BUDDY is not closing down Anderson Street Exit - as a matter of fact, it states: Officials postponed the closing that was to begin today as part of the renovation of the interchange of I-4 and State Road 408 (East-West Expressway). TODAY? Wait - I have an email from the city saying it was APRIL 3. So I've been late 2 days in a row and it was supposed to start TODAY? What - is Buddy stuck on Stupid?

The article goes on to say that they don't know when they are going to close the ramp because some idiot left unlabeled communications lines or some mess and said "lines must be identified and rerouted before work can continue". How about identifying a closing date first? Better yet - what about telling your people that they are not closed and some of us could have been on time, if not EARLY for work. Some of us wouldn't have been held up behind kiddies playing Trains R Us.

Buddy - you know the write in section for the upcoming elections. When it says "Mayor", I think I'm going to nominate my cat for mayor - anything is better than you, even Mickey Mouse! Uggh!

Labels: Orlando

Posted by Lys :: 5:58 PM :: 1 comments

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Tuesday, April 04, 2006

One in a Million...

Every April 4, I try to take a few moments to reflect back on the past year or so, and be grateful for the friendships and success that I have experienced as well as try to think how I can be a better person. They always say that people you meet through time leave a lasting impression on a person, and there is one person who, in particular, left one of those impressions - my friend Justine. On April 4, 1990, Justine passed away from Neuroblastoma at the young age of 19.

Justine was someone who was just amazing - kind, thoughtful, never had a bad word to say (unless you REALLY got her ticked - which was rare) and a true genuine person. Even when she was sick, she never wanted to trouble people and would act like she was fine. One memorable thing that happened to her before she passed was that one of our producers actually got her to meet the New Kids on the Block, her absolute FAVORITE group. Unfortunately, she had less than a year from when she was diagnosed to when she passed. When Justine died, I was 17 at the time and her death profoundly affected me.

The day we met, she told me that someday she was going to be Miss America. I remember walking into the studio on my first day, encountering one of the more popular "couples" fighting and Justine pulled me to the side, giggled, rolled her eyes, and whispered "They are always like this". Knowing that I was new, combined with the fact I was nervous as all hell, she took the time to make the set less intimidating and I was able to chill out and relax.

Whenever I saw her, it was like no time had passed and just would catch up and gossip on set. Not to mention, she was one of the ones who taught me how to pouf my hair into the proper 80's high hair format and would stress the importance of rhinestones & stilettos *LOL* Oh lordy - the fashion choices we all made back then. We loved the same groups (except New Kids - I couldn't stand those guys) and when it came to movies - she adored the movie Dirty Dancing and Madonna - puleaze - girl could lipsync every one of the Material Girl's songs. Justine's friendship was unwavering and, when I was going through drama with my parents, she was there for me. Let's not even talk about the phone bill - damn that was high.

So, when she died, I felt the loss. It wasn't the first time I had a friend die, but Justine - I asked for years, "Why Her?" To this day, I always feel a tinge of regret for being a teenager and the stupid choices I made, one of which was getting grounded for sneaking away to Philly on a weekend. I got caught on the train by my father and was grounded for 6 months. By being grounded, I couldn't go back to Philly for the funeral and my mother refused to budge on that point.

When I went to Philly during college, I was able to spend some time with her family. It was during that time, her sister gave me a package from Justine with a photo and some poems that Justine wrote and framed before she passed. I treasure that and both the photo and the poems are one of the first things I see in the morning, reminding me to value each and every day that we are given.

When it comes to charities, St. Jude is one of my favorites because of their great work with Neuroblastoma patients. Unfortunately, Justine was diagnosed at 19 when most people are diagnosed between the ages of 1 and 5. The odds were against her. I think in today's day and age, with the great strides that they have made, things might have been different for her, but God needed her then. Only He knows why but, during her time here on earth, she was an positive role model for everyone.

Justine is one of those people that can be described as "One in a Million". I cherish her memory and our friendship and, if I am only one tenth of a person that she was, then I think I have done pretty damn well.

Labels: Friends, Memories, Random Mess

Posted by Lys :: 7:33 PM :: 0 comments

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Monday, April 03, 2006

Pass the Cosmo please...

Carrie: An hour later I had solved the unsolvable friendship equation. It seems the answer is this: cosmopolitans plus scotch equals friendship with an ex.

Posted by Lys :: 7:29 AM :: 0 comments

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