New York Moment

I just had such a "moment" watching the Rockefeller Tree Lighting on DVR. Happy smiles with tears in my eyes. Nothing like it.

Massage from the twilight zone

I'm a fan of massages. I love the spa music, the low lights, the scent of lavender and someone actually removing some of the tenseness from my muscles. I've had over 100 in my life, probably, by now. And with all the coupon sites, I can still get one from time to time.

I haven't had one in about 3 months and currently can't sleep through the night without pain and a heating pad in the wee hours. So when I saw a chiropractor's office offering a massage I thought this was the jackpot. I could see a physician and maybe even get cracked here and there. (also a fan of holistic medicine and chiropractors).

Today was the day. I cashed in my voucher and got amped for my massage (squeezed in between vet appts and buying appts and working in the store). I show up to a tiny little room where my shoes had to go under the table. The music was an R&B acapella ensemble Christmas CD where their voices were the instruments and there was a fair amount of wailing. The lotion smelled like Bath & Body Works peppermint. But weirdest of all - the woman spoke a healing prayer over me when she saw my diabetes port for my pump. She prayed that my body would heal and told me if I believed then the next time I went to the doctor I wouldn't need insulin anymore.

Seriously.

No, seriously.

I thanked her. What else do you do when you're draped with a towel over your thong and in mid-massage? I also tipped her as I left. Partially for the guilt of how heavy the awkwardness in the room was after that moment, partially because she had tried to heal me and mostly because the whole thing cost $29 with a daily email group coupon thingy.

I will not be retuning. But I will be cashing in one of my next 3 coupon massages next week to try and work out the memory of this one.

Dog Pee

Some days are just harder than others. Try to handle with grace and humor and get through it.

Christmas All Around

I have traditionally hated the Holidays the last few years. I'm not sure what changed this year - having my own home, being grateful for so many things, or just being so absolutely stressed out-crazy that it feels good to enjoy a moment of Christmas lights here and there. But I am over my Scrooge-ness, it seems!

The tree is up and the house is decorated. I bought a new wreath for the front door and stockings for the fireplace. And I hope to put Christmas lights in the tree and front porch this evening!

I have a love affair with Christopher Radko ornaments and try and collect at least one new one a year. They're mouth-blown, hand painted glass and each ornament takes 7 days to make. They're awesome. And my tree is covered with those, Pier One glass and Old World Christmas. (check out the cool built-ins in the house. Amazing details).

I can't wait for the after Christmas sales to stock up on even more. This year the one I can't keep looking at is new to the tree from a 1/2 price bin in January. It's a huge pale green glass ball with a glass insert of a painted partridge in a pear tree inside. I LOVE it. More pics to come. Definitely.

Lots and lots and lots

Misty does in fact have a brain tumor, but yes, over a month later I used the present-tense "has." Misty has been on prednisone since her initial vet visit. We've had to add a couple other medications as well and continue with 30-day visits; however, she is doing incredible! I have to remind myself that it's only treating the symptoms and not the tumor, so this won't go on forever. But I have my baby girl back and she's back more than ever! She runs, barks, plays and is back to her best fighting weight! I couldn't ask for anything more this year.

However, we've moved into our house as well. It's been about a month, but there are still boxes and piles and things to go through each and every day. Slowly I'm pulling the place together. It's an old, old place, built in 1940 and feels like it sometimes with the cold and dust everywhere. But it's beautiful and will be crazy awesome once we finish all the reno.

Here's a before and after of the kitchen, just as an example:

Amazing, right?

AND we opened a second store. Am I crazy? Absolutely. Have a lost my head a few times? Beyond yes. But I'm trying to seek the good and positive and enjoy these moments. When else in my life will all of this happen at once? (NEVER! Thank God - I hope).

Changes

Life is changing and I'm not quite sure I'm ready. I'm welcoming the good, of course. Don't we all? But as life moves on, not all changes are always easy. And this particular instance of change is anything but easy. Anything at all. My heart is so heavy as I even try and figure out how to say anything.

I took my dear sweet Misty to the vet this morning. Things haven't been easy for a while and I was hoping instead of old age there'd be a simple pill to make her the puppy I've loved for over 13 years again. Somehow I knew it wouldn't be that simple. It's like that quote from Steel Magnolia's character Truvy - "Time marches on, and sooner or later you realize it's marching right across your face." I'm not actually sure how accurate that is to this moment, but it seems cynical and real enough to work.

The vet told me this morning that Misty has a brain tumor and is rapidly suffering functionality, vision, hearing, muscle, etc. She started steroids this morning. But the vet is only giving her a few days to show improvement before he makes us talk about next steps. I feel empty and numb, like I'm slowly drifting into a dark and comforting depression. That usually follows the extreme tears that poured upon learning what I feel somehow I already knew.

The prognosis isn't completely tragic and there's a chance for a few years if her body decides to fight. But after watching her have a seizure this morning, and realizing it wasn't her first, I'm coming to terms that this is just another change in life as it moves on around me. I'm just clinging on, legs flying behind me as it moves so fast it's blowing my hair back, flinging me along with the bumps and mountains.

My dear sweet Misty-Miss. My heart, my love. The truest, longest relationship I've ever had and I can't imagine one day without her.

life in my color

Long weekend ending (well, actually it was just two days, but I haven't had two days off in a row forever. It's amazing how long it feels), wine poured, hummus and naan on the table and this on the ITunes. Perfection.