last week

last week was not a good week.
thus the MIA-ness.

my Grandma passed away.
I've been hysterical, but know that she's not suffering now.
The cancer had spread, and she was barely 90 lbs.
I know that she didn't want any food or medicine at the end-
because I was there.

I feel as if she meant- enough is enough...
I'm going to your Grandfather. He's late- where has he been?

So during the funeral last Friday, LML receives a phone call
that his favorite Aunt passed on as well...

Two souls that were making their way up to heaven to be with their loved ones.
And the ones left behind are hurt...but didn't want them to suffer anymore.

The crisis in Japan also sent us reeling and our immune systems have since shut down...
so we spent the day in today, sleeping until 12 pm for the first time since we were about 16.

that being said, i don't know when i'll be back to my regular self.
but thanks for being there for me <3

the globetrotting gamine

thank god for good friends

this was us a couple of weeks ago-

i still have swollen lymphnodes.

my grandma is still in the hospital and should be going back to the rehabilitation center today.

in these past few months, having solidified who my real friends are

and always were has been the only constant.

friday was a day from hell:

no good tidings from the hospital about my grandmother...

running to pick up one nephew...

then the other...

food shopping...

cooking...

i thought that i wouldn't be up for hanging out with the girls

because of the exhaustion.

i am so so so so glad i did hang out with them- we had so much fun.

wine and our hostess' picnic-style buffet (did i spell that right?)

i quite obviously didn't take pictures-

we had way too much fun

and i can't wait to do it again...

so thank you to my friends

(and family)

for a wonderful night

(and all the other times, too <3 )

and thank you to LML

and puppy

for a wonderful weekend

despite me still popping antibiotics...

you make happy

the sometimes crazy me

to all my bloggie loves,

for your reassuring e-mails and comments

and little notes...

wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for you...

you make me dream big...

thanks

<3

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

(my menu's and misc. coming up soon)

my rants.

there is so much going on in my tiny little world (let alone the rest of the world)

that i find it hard to begin and get out everything that's been going on and everything i've been feeling.

i am resorting back to lists to give you guys a glimpse into what's been going on:

1. this weather. really, New Yorkers and all in the Tri-State area...wtf? Hot, cold, humid, cold. Warm, cold. Stop getting me sick!
2. doctors. can you figure out how to talk to a patient yourself while not scaring her? thanks.
3. rehabilitation centers- you're supposed to CHECK on your patients and make sure that they don't roll out of bed, you assholes. how can someone who hasn't walked or sat up for a whole year decide that three days ago would be the day that she'd roll out of bed. we know it was your, you *^*&^%^&%'s.
4. drivers (grrrrr and grrrrr)- why are you trying to kill me by cutting me off with your car? did i do something to you? did me going straight and following traffic laws piss you off? did you believe that i had a deathwish? you're lucky i didn't play bumper cars with you, you dumb &%*k's.
5. children/students: when you leave your school building and you're walking God Only Knows Where, why do you feel above everyone else who is in an AUTOMOBILE while you are not looking when you cross the street? Why are you frolicking while not looking or hearing the oncoming traffic?? Did it bother you when I honked my horn and scared the piss out of you in front of your stupid little friends? Curse at me again and I swear to God I will get out of the car and kick the snot out of you. You're lucky I had my dog in the car and that he's little. Your parents must be so proud and I am so happy I know where you go to school.
6. hospitals- why do you make people wait in drafty hallways when there are quite obviously empty beds and warm empty rooms that the patient will be pulled into directly? i have so many rants about you, hospitals, that I think I can write a book about it.
7. time warner cable- stop dicking me around with these bills and no clean-cut explanations, you animals.

i am sorry i had to rant and rave so much, but this is going on in the world of me.

i hope you lovely readers are having a much better, happy healthy week <3

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

stop the madness

stop the madness.

since last week, it's been non-stop.
LML sick. Me, sad but relieved i have swollen lymphnodes and not cancer.

looking forward to my ear nose throat doctor visit today.

paying bills- running errands- passing out exhausted by 10pm every night.

feeling like no one other than LML knows what we go through.

Monday morning, find out that my Grandmother fell out of bed at the Rehabilitation Center in Queens. Rush Grandma to hospital, will go there to attempt to acquire surveillance tape today, before i pick up my nephews from school.

Scared because pup had a big bump on his back, yet relieved because it burst on its own (gross, i know)...and he seemed never to be bothered by it.

now, off to doc, ready for this crazy day.

more soon from me.

love to you
love me,
the globetrotting gamine <3

yesterday...

the past two days, after my last post had been trying and mostly horrible (other than endless support from family and friends)...

after finding something in my neck sonogram, i was panicked that there was something horrible wrong with me...the doctors couldn't figure out what it was so i was told to schedule a cat scan.

so i cried...all morning two days ago, all night between LML and puppy squeezes and had barely slept. i was led into the catscan room, with LML waiting in the sub-waiting room early yesterday morning.

i bawled like a baby about the iv drip and what's wrong with my neck?
i bawled some more when the cat-scan doc handed me a tissue.
i got stuck with a saline iv drip and then my cat scan began.

at first, i thought i was getting ready for lift off with that whirring noise from the spinning stuff inside the donut.

hold your breath.

breathe.

hold your breath.

breathe,

said the cat-scan dude.

he finally said, 2 more minutes...

and at that exact moment, i felt my whole body burn up

and then i thought i peed myself-

a side effect that cat scan dude did NOT tell me about.

then he told me he forgot to tell me an absolutely normal, as i was checking my pants.

LML took me shopping and for lunch.

shopped some more, came home...took a shower while he smoked a cigar in the backyard...

right when i step out of the shower, phone call from the doctor.

i have nothing bad!

NOTHING

NOTHING...

i did a dance with puppy...

jumped on LML when he walked through the door...

and i still haven't slept, possibly from joy.

so i wanted to thank everyone, for calling and listening,

and your thoughtful e-mails...

i know i would have made it through anything

because you guys have my back :)

love me,

the globetrotting [sleepy] gamine

freaking out

i am freaking out and i absolutely cannot calm down. i apologize for my spelling and grammar in advance because i am not even thinking straight.

those things that have been swollen in my neck since last month is are still there. yesterday was my appointment for a neck sonogram and chest x-ray. today i called the doctor for the results of the tests...

chest x-ray clear
though there are funny looking lymph nodes on the left AND right side of my neck.

i am going to be sick.

i have a catscan scheduled for tomorrow. i don't appreciate things not being the way they should be in my body. i sleep more than a normal person, take my vitamins, eat nutritiously with maybe a fattening thing once or twice a month like a cupcake and i am usually under 130 pounds...
though i'm sure after today i will not be under 130 pounds anymore.

anyone out there to calm me down?!

productive day!

good news: i have been uber-productive today! i am so excited that i got everything i set out to do, done!

that's what a snow day (again!) is good for!

bad news: well, i can't tell you the bad news- but it's not mine! lol

this weekend will find me and LML snow-shoeing to get our errands done, since our predicted 8 inches last night turned into a magical 16-18 in new york city! do you believe this?

ick. slushy, soon to be dirty snow. it only stays pretty for so long.

today, i officially opened my etsy shop. it's not complete yet, but you'll notice a link on my sidebar to the left :)

i marked quite a few things off of my master to do list that i don't even have listed on my january list!

other than that- how are you guys doing? anything new?
i wish i had something more new to share with you.

i have been cooking the same old things :)
oh, yesterday morning i went out before the snow hit (but i think i told you guys that)
and i've been working on my other manuscripts/illustrations.

i
am
exhausted!

please share with me anything fun- y'all make me happy <3

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

update to my pet peeves list

pups pet peeve is being photographed :)

welcome and good morning to you, my bloggie friends!

i don't like to start off my posts in a negative manner, but you know how it is when you just need to vent!

i have a pet peeves list that i've been working on and TODAY is the perfect day to add to it.

without further adieu- my pet peeves:

1. Black Friday- really, what's the point?
2. when department stores bring out seasonal decorations way too early
3. when there is a hole in your favorite sock.
4. when the first sip of your beverage isn't what you thought it would be.
5. misplacing something you need until you find it when you don't need it anymore.
6. people who take their opinions to a whole other level, bordering insanity
7. rumors! why don't people feel they're good enough to talk about themselves, but they feel they have to make up things about other people?
8. when the spices fall out of your hand and overflow onto a dish you're cooking.
9. snow. endless, not beautiful, slushy new york snow that keeps you from doing what you want!
10. being sick when you don't want to be!

grr.

what are your pet peeves?

at this present moment...

the heat is on non stop in my home...
keeping us warm and safe during the chilliest time of the year...
the coldest since 2009!

the cold water is not working in my pipes- eeps!
and i am to bake yummy things in the oven.
i may go out and brave the cold later for supplies
since we are getting snow again tuesday and wednesday-
and it's not a good idea for me to go outside
when i am already sick. eew.

in the meantime,
my assistant is sleeping...
i am treading through my 'january list' by throwing away papers i don't need...
and daydreaming about spring.

i find when it's cold outside, you always think about the warmer weather...
how lovely it feels when the sun beats against your skin...
right now, if you go outside it's frostbite city.

egads!

no worries- i have so much to do here
that it's ridiculous
and i find myself inexplicably happy
as usual...

and so does pup...

(where we'd like to be)

where would you like to be?

my january list update

so it's sunday, and i am home sick like no one's business.
it is supposed to be dropped to 7 degrees in New York tonight- egads- and i am worried i am going to get so much sicker.
i keep having to check the boiler to see if it's working and has enough water pumping through it, and i'm afraid if i nap it won't help me.
so pup and LML are taking a nap for me while watching the married with children marathon.

i figured that i'll be stuck at home at least for a couple of days this week, because it's going to snow- again!
so here's the perfect time to update my January List/Project...

so here's the list and my updates...

edit and complete all stories and novels- i have finished and published my big manuscript (send me a private message about it here if you'd like), my first children's book, and as of right now I am illustrating my second children's book. i worked on my writing portfolio and it's in perfect order ~:)


illustrate children's stories (for my nephew) - working on second book and there's so many more that i should inspire myself by taking a drawing class.


clean out the house of negative stuff- i have some more things to go through and throw away but i have done so much! i am quite pleased with what i've accomplished with this list item.


clean it out of un-necessary clutter- garbage bag upon garbage bag have been thrown away and there are so many more waiting to be packed. so exciting to know you're going to start off on a clean slate.


take all loose photos and put them in album- i have entered photos into 2 albums and i need more albums! lol


complete all scrapbooks, unfinished or untouched- haven't gotten to this list item yet, but have organized scrapbook stuff into one drawer. it's ready to go!


print out what needs to get printed out on this computer- that's my tomorrow morning task and it will be complete by lunchtime, though i have done a lot of that this week!


delete un-needed files from computer- i did that with the documents file and have organized them into folders as well. progress!


upload all photos into usb disc AND photo programs - i should be getting this done this week


select photos to be printed- this list item might be the most difficult because i have so much else to do, but i do have until the end of the month! 


get them printed (and repeat above)- ditto.


finish reading all books left before i buy or pick up a new one- i am reading the books on my sidebar, and i have 27 books to read that i am quite excited about. i will be working on them this year.


call church to pick up clothes for donation- my niece decided to pool our clothing donations for the salvation army...check!


go through and complete everything on my to-do list, which has come down considerably in the last two days. I am VERY excited about this.- now i accomplish a daily to do list and it works out so great! i have knocked so many items off of my 'master' to do list that this was the only solution


send out those packages! - its too cold to be out for too long, but as soon as it gets warmer, i am on it!


make those appointments (snow keeps stopping me from doing this)- still being stopped :/


start book club- that's going to happen by february 1st!


organize all files/bills - i can't tell you how cathartic it was to do this but i am not done with this list item yet. i felt so productive tackling one drawer the other day that i treated myself to a cookie.

seriously.


make a list of places from here to long island i'd like to see- i have and i think i may have blogged it! if not, i will blog it soon!


make my new years resolutions- ahhh that's going to be a long list! better get crackin' on it.

 

snowy New Jersey

these are the pictures that LML sends me from NJ this morning!

notice the snow up to my Father-in-laws knees....

Pup couldn't be bothered to go out this morning. New York was snowy with some big fluffy flakes. Pup retreated to the living room and commenced assisting me in downsizing paper pile (more on that later)

Hope you're warm and toasty wherever you are :)

i love life

good morning, bloggie friends :)

please don't be mad at me for not blogging yesterday. i had so much to do and i have so much information to share that i am afraid of an onslaught of what i have to post will make you bananas.

Monday was a wonderful day, spent with my family and a dear bestie, talking about life and (what else?) food!

I was about to finish my manuscript when I realized that i had to go over it again (and thank God I did!) and at this very moment I am placing it on a different format.

Since my January list includes cleaning up house/shop and moving out clutter, Tuesday and Wednesday had me do just that...until 4 am yesterday morning, when I felt something protruding from my neck. Crying hysterically, LML woke up and cuddled with me and tried to assure me that it was from me being sick. I felt bad and tried to be very quiet and still so he could go back to sleep.

By 11:30 the next day, I had done laundry, hung out with my sister, and finished a visit to the store for the necessary items. AND I had gone to the doctor, who solidified what LML had told me. So now I have to change up my vitamin regime and take my anti biotics until I am better. And keep my neck warm. I am parading around the house in a sweat suit and scarf, drinking lots of tea. It's quite fun today really because...
I am cleaning out EVERYTHING! This began on Tuesday, when I moved my printer from my office to my dining room table where I get the most sunlight. From that point, I cleaned out every internet file and moved every box of binders and papers that had not been filed yet and started downsizing.

(that's where the information I've gathered comes from...)

Binders FILLED with stuff that I was gathering before we got married. Tips on how to organize, clean up clutter, and general happinness.

It makes me uber-happy.

I will not be in contact with anyone today until some things are completed. I need structure! I need schedules- AND I'm addicted to them. I have also been preparing a lot of vegan meals, vegetarian meals and general yumminess.

How have you been spending the week?
Did you hear about the pending snow storm in New York?

Ew ew ew

Let me know- I love hearing from you all :)

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

a little sicky

this guy is taking care of me

today while i am sick.

my head is pounding and i have the sniffles...

and sometimes i get a lick.

he curls up on my tummy

to keep me warm and toasty

and squirms until he moves...

cuz he gets a little roasty.

so i hope your tuesday is going well

and you're not feeling under the weather.

i'll have some tea...

by tomorrow, i'll feel like me...

all cuz me and pup are together :)

happy tuesday!

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

[as always, all material written or captured by photos on my blog...unless otherwise noted...are by me!]

ah....ah....CHOO!

i don't understand.

it's june.

and i'm home sick like a dog.

not this dog. a mean nasty boogery one...

a big thanks to my nephew...

there he is. he started it and passed it on to me and LML while we

were a few miles away from this place.

thanks, man.

right now, i am home watching TV...

but just the Fit TV channel.

looking at what i should be doing. i couldn't even make it through a warm up.

pretty much all i want to do is this...

ok, no.

not the most flattering picture of me...

but probably what i look like right now!

(even though it was taken last year in the dominican republic)

my grandmother is still in the hospital.

they are still running tests to see what she's got.

nightmares have been running rampant through my head.

i've been taking my vitamins...

obviously they didn't help since i look like

the above picture.

step, step, step....says FitTV...

oh!

crazy ex-bff tried out for the jersey shore.

have i ever complained here about it?

that LML made me watch it once and

i yelled at him for making me lose an IQ point?

i don't remember.

see...

now i don't feel so mean and bitchy anymore...

for saying that she was causing drama instead of just listening to me...

and respecting my wishes...

that i just wanted privacy...

well, if she gets on the show, that's shot to shit...

don't you think?

oops. sorry...started to daydream about sleeping again.

i can't go back to sleep. i CAN'T!

i get crusties and goo coming out of my eyes and it makes me want to hurl.

ok.

have a wonderful day. enjoy the sunshine for me <3

and thank you for the comments!

love,

gg

Being Sick Sucks

looking at pictures and reading anything is usually therapeutic for me.

except this past weekend when I felt like death.

Thankfully, LML had the smarts to drag my ass up out of bed, and out of the house to escape for at least one night, 2 days. Off we went to our favorite place, even though we had to go there to run family errands.

So sick, that LML made me lunch and dinner, and made me eat every few hours.

So sick, that I must have driven him crazy during what I hope was a sinus headache.

Yet Sunday, he drew up some more courage, and dragged me out *with* puppy to the outlets.

LML= knows how to make me feel better.

Upon our many discussions, we came upon some sad realizations. Realizations that I've discussed with you guys before (you know, about crazy people and stuff of the like)...that I've discussed with LML for years and years. You just never know when the stuff is going to happen, and when it finally does it's a cross between a relief and a sad realization...

Aside from that, and I am sorry for sounding odd as I am still recovering from the effects of all things, tylenol, therafly, afrin AND robitussin *not kidding*...

I realized a few things this past week/month:

• family is always going to be there for you, no matter what
• if you've found the right one, you're significant other is going to be there no matter what (and i've found the right one :)
• if you dream hard enough, it tends to come true
• there are some friends who will always be there, and there's friends who were never really...
• puppies are love epitomized
• holding on to things you should have let go of a long time ago holds you back
• miserable people want to make other people miserable (ok, so I didn't find that out recently, but it's omnipresent)
• finding out who your real friends are is priceless

ps- picture of the duck and chick too weird? i like it. sorry :)

hope you all had a wonderful weekend,

mg

analyze this!

ok, ok...you can say it...

i'm always "reflecting". which my mother calls, analyzing. which is why i became a counselor. which is what drives my husband crazy.

one year ago today, we were away, and my friends lives were about to change forever with the birth of their baby son!

he's the yummiest baby in the world, and LOVES to give kisses!

meanwhile, me? Right now, instead of packing to go away... to play MONOPOLY and drink HOT CHOCOLATE...i'm sick at home (day 3!).

Sick like a dog....which is a phrase I never fully understood.

At least LML will bring home honey?

Oh please, please let the man bring home honey.

My nose is drippy, my head's all achy, my bones hurt, and my throat gets scratchy if i don't drink something every half hour.

E.S.P.

buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

LML: bring home honey. Honeeeeeyyyyyyy. Your wife needs honeeeeyyyyyyy.

Please.

what would you do in my predicament?

Symphony of Sick

Achoo sniffle sniffle

Sneeze sneeze COUGH

What else is there to do when you're sick and under the covers for two days? Someone help me!

Update: a few hours later...

*have discovered the wonders of chamomile by drinking 3 cups
*took out my Susan Branch Christmas Keepsake book- and can't believe our first 5 years of Married Christmases are almost over
*realized I cannot listen to some songs without weeping
*literally, weeping
*caught up on my favorite show, Accidentally on Purpose
*almost ate all the peeps

*made hot chocolate
*decided on what to make for dinner (artichokes and peas)
*decided on what to make for dessert (baked apples)

That's good for someone who's freezing and unbelievably ill. Ew.

Oh, and I ordered a book! More about my book issues soon!