Word of the Week...and Cruising Part 1

After a 3 week hiatus, back by popular demand, it's the Word of the Week:

zenacious (adjective) : committed to a relaxing pursuit or interest

I'm sure it will come as no surprise to those of you that know me, that I am zenacious about cruising. My next cruise is scheduled for February 7th, 2009...that's 7 months and 5 days, for those of you that need accuracy. That's just not soon enough for me.
Why cruising? Because I have found it to be the best vacation deal for the money. Let's say you wanted to take a trip to Las Vegas, for 7 days. Round-trip airfare, hotel for 6 nights, 3 squares a day for 7 days, drinking and gambling, you're easily looking at upwards of $2,000. For less than that, I can drive to a port, my room and food paid for, drinking and gambling money, AND I get to visit different countries. How awesome is that? Not to mention the entertainment, pool, piano bar (shout out to my sistah Princess Laura), art shows, lounges, and games. All this for about $1,200. Less than that if I drink a lot of fruity drinks throughout the day. I get so hammered, that I don't drink the next day.
Cruising for me is all about the ship. Yes, the ports are lovely; love seeing different cultures, eating different foods and seeing new beaches. But the ship...ah, that is the end all. Sea days are orgasmic. Get up early, grab some breakfast and head to the pool. Finding a GOOD chair is a chore sometimes, but I'm usually up early enough to grab the chair I want: The one closest to the pool bar and to the right of the band. Pure heaven. For me, it doesn't get much better than that. Oh, and for pure extasy, I have the drink of the day in my left hand and a cigarette in my right. I am zenacious in my attempt to reach this state.
Usually, I cruise with my sister Lisa. She's all about the ports; actually, she's all about the beaches at the ports. On port days, we usually get room service early, and then we're off the ship. We have scouted and scouted months before and know exactly what beach we are going to. We spend as many hours as possible at the beach, before heading back to town to do the other activity we BOTH love on port days: shopping. I usually know exactly what it is I want to purchase in each port (see blog "It's Hard Being Anal") so we go from shop to shop until I find the best price. Lisa has a large family of 8, so we go to ALOT of stores (especially the shops that have "stuffies"). Once shopping is done, it's back to the ship.
The atmosphere on board is to die for. Everyone is laid back, the REAL world is far off, and all the passenger are zenacious about just kicking back and relaxing for an entire week.
Many people I know suffer from various addictions: alcohol, marijuana, OCD, soft drinks. I'm addicted to cruising. A very expensive habit to be sure, but oh, so worth it.
What are you zenacious about?
Next: Cruising takes a new twist with the bloggers of Big Ed's Evil Krewe.

Lots of Drama...And Ending With Joy

So, after being gone for almost 3 weeks, you would think I have much to say. Actually, I do, but if I try to talk about everything this blog will go on for days. So I will tell you since I've been gone, much has happened in my life. There has been: secrets and lies, disloyalty, depression, hurt feelings, anger, advice, dancing, drinking, disappointment, a hot date, great food, lousy food, anguish, frustration, loss of control (ugghhh), strength, lack of sleep and ulcers. And finally, there is joy. None of the other things matter as much at this very moment, because there is joy and love.
You hear about it all the time from others who have experienced it, but you never really know the joy of a grandchild until you have one of your own. You watch, as the first time, your very own child, lovingly kisses his/her child for the first time. It's such an overwhelming emotion...I'm not sure there is a word for it. But my heart is feeling this emotion for the first time. And it is good.
Then, YOU hold your first grandchild for the first time...and for me, all the hopes and dreams I have or had for my own son, are geared to this new baby. As I held Gavin that first time and told him how much I loved him already, I explained to him how lucky he is to have such a wonderful Mom and Dad. I told him about Gator football and how I just KNEW his first word would be Gator. I explained to him what a cruise ship is and how much fun we were going to have some day on one of those great ships. And through it all, I cried more than he probably ever will in his life. Then, came the really hard part....I had to give him back to his Dad.
Now, if you look under the heading under my blog you will see this word: Control. It's not that I have to BE in control all the time, I need to FEEL as if I'm in control all the time. It's a major pitfall of my personality, along with loyalty from friends (that's for another blog). So when I had to give Gavin back to Stephen, I had this feeling I was losing control. Not to worry, I knew this was coming. This was part of the reason I took off for a few weeks; I need to learn how to let go and still not feel as though I am missing something.
And so with the joy of Gavin comes a new life lesson for me: letting others take the driver's seat while I stand back and watch. And maybe, just maybe, I can be of some help....but only when I'm asked. This should be mighty interesting. Stay tuned.

Gavin Riley Scott
Born June 26th, 2008. 9:10 p.m. 7lbs, 7 oz. 20 1/2 in. Proud parents of Casey Anderson and Stephen Scott.
Bubbe Elaine is getting used to her role. Will be blogging about the event and other thoughts on life in the next few days.
I'm baaacckkkk......and I've got lots to say.

Landslide

I took my love and I took it down
I climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow-covered hills
'Til the landslide brought it down

Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changin' ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?
Mmm, mmm, I don't know
Mmm, mmm...

Well I've been 'fraid of changin'
'Cause I've built my life around you,
But time makes you bolder, even children get older
oh, I'm getting older too
So...

I've been 'fraid of changin'
'Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder, even children get older
I'm getting older too
I'm getting older too

Oh, Take my love, take it down
Oh, you climb a mountain and you turn around
And if you see my reflection in the snow-covered hills
Well, the landslide'll bring it down
Oh, and if you see my reflection in the snow-covered hills
The landslide will bring it down
Oh, oh, the landslide will bring it down

--Fleetwood Mac

Peace, Out...For Now

There are times in my life, when I just want to be left alone for a while. I don't want to answer e-mails or chat on the phone. Lisa will tell you: it's cyclical. About every 6 months or so I wrap myself up in a cocoon for a few weeks. I take this time to re-evaluate the path my life is on and the way in which I want to proceed with my life. I learned this during chemotherapy. When you think you are going to die, you take the time to appreciate the people in your life and figure out all the things you want to do before you die. During my illness, which I don't talk about often and to too many people, one of the many things I promised myself was that if I lived I would start riding roller coasters again. As soon as I was well enough, I rode the Tower of Terror at Disney MGM Studios. That was the end of that promise. I had already stared death in the face, I didn't feel it was necessary to face it again from 16 stories high.
My mind and body are telling me I need to slow down a bit. I'm going to be a young Bubbe soon, I am moving to a home of my own in a few weeks, and of course there is work. I need to take the time now before life gets too hectic. So I will take the next few weeks "off" as it were, to try and determine what the next step in the long path of life I should take.
I will definitely let everyone know when Gavin arrives. There will be pictures, of that I am sure.
I won't be gone long.

Rambling

Thanks to all of you that have inquired as to whether I am a Bubbe yet. Unfortunately, the answer is no. Seems that Gavin just wanted to give all of us a big tease this past weekend, gearing up for making his first appearance, but alas, it is not to be...yet.
Casey went to the doctor today; both are doing very well. The doctor believes Gavin weighs about 7 lbs. right now. Casey is no longer having contractions, but I am almost certain, she is ready to see her feet again. When I spoke to her this afternoon she was in very good spirits. She's a better person than I. I remember being 38 weeks along and thinking "If someone doesn't pull this child out of me soon, I'm going to bend over and pull him out myself." Stephen was 3 weeks late, weighed 9 lbs 7 oz. After 8 hours of pushing, the child did not move an inch. Needless to say, I had a C-section. Brett was right on time; he was a planned C-section, weighing in at 8 lbs. 2 oz. Thanks to both of my children, I have a scar that runs the length of the Hudson Bay. And I wouldn't have changed a thing. Ok, show of hands: how many of you men are completely grossed out? Anyone? Anyone?
When I spoke to Stephen yesterday, I said something to the effect of, "I'm ready for you to have this baby already!" He replied, "Really? Me too!" I then realized who I was talking with and said, Um, yeah, so I think I'll go now." Open mouth, insert both feet.
In the weeks to come, I'm sure I will be blogging about the joys of being a Bubbe and how gorgeous my grandson looks when he smiles. But for now, we wait.

Word of the Week

Yes folks, it's that time again. My how Monday's creep up on us so quickly. The moment you've been breathlessly waiting for for 7 days is about to be revealed. It is...

nimiety • noun: excess, redundancy

You will understand why I chose this word in just a moment. First, a Gavin update:
Casey went to the hospital Saturday night as she was having contractions 5 minutes apart for an hour and a half. They monitored her for 2 1/2 hours and sent her home. Without getting into too much details so as not to gross out the men that may be reading this, she is moving along in labor slowly and we should expect Gavin to make an appearance in the next few days. Stay tuned!

So, why nimiety you may ask? Well, believe it or not I am still packing up my house and have found that I have a nimiety of crap. Lots of it. Unopened wedding gifts from my first marriage. Birthday cards from high school boyfriends I don't even remember. Dead roses from my Bat Mitzvah. A broken can opener. And I keep this shit, why?

Over the past few weeks I have made numerous trips to Goodwill and the Salvation Army. So much so, they know me by name now. And I don't mean a few boxes of this, or a couple bags of clothes. I mean carloads of junk. A blow-up bed. A "Mr Goodwrench" sign. (where this came from I have no clue). Vases. I had such an nimiety of vases, I could have opened a florist shop. Ladies, you will appreciate this: You know those pair of pants/jeans you keep because you know one day, some day, you will fit into them? I found mine; they were a size 6. Yeah, right...as if. Now some 12 year old will wear them proudly.

However, I have 2 boxes, that many would think of crap, that I call my boxes of memories. Odd stuff to be sure: The Power Ranger sheets Brett used to love; the clay "something" Stephen made for me in first grade; all the ticket stubs from every Gator game I've attended; a 1950's boys and girls etiquette book; both of the boys holiday outfits.

If you ask me, you can never have a nimiety of those kinds of memories.

A List

diet coke*baby powder*line dancing*"oh the humanity"*Josh Holloway*Cozumel*fruity drinks on the lido deck* tiaras*pigs*the smell of Coppertone suntan lotion*dippity doo*Windows XP*Barry Manilow*my bed*tailgating*Lillian's*bugger*flip flops*American History*grits*Gators*cherries*classic rock*my mother*"Top Chef"*holding hands*morphine*the Atlantic Ocean*stewie*F.I.L.F*Holiday Inn*Julia Roberts*Queen*"tank you vedy much'*Dubs*grilled onions*cancer free scans*"The Catcher in the Rye"*new credit cards*anything purple*Saturday Night Live*G-d*"outta site"*bacon*beth*The Declaration of Independence*VW vans*soccer*smell of fresh mowed grass*captain and diet*"it's still not funny"*the bee gees*the Mets*moonlight on the beach*"Forever In Blue Jeans (damn)*Stephen and Brett*ESPN GameDay*Salty Dog Saloon*men with nice tushy's*"Rocky Horror Picture Show*"Stellllaaa.."*Max*cruises*everyone in Big Ed's Crew*discos*creamed spinach*berber carpet*sweatshirts*"Ocean's 11"*Chevy Luv*Atlanta airport shops*dolphins*Bree*japanese cherry blossom lotion*"Why you gotta hit my hair?"*pinhead*benjamin*rorscache tests*AC/DC*Pittsburgh Steelers*"Charmed"*John Heald's Blog*gender studies*JFK*grape Nehi*Shul*"The Stand"*disney world*Jamacia, mon*simple things*Bravo*"I hate spunk"*steak*rubies*Noah Wylie*"The Love Boat"*"one wild and crazy guy"*bud light*making love during a thunderstorm with the windows open*"The Goodbye Girl" (song and movie)*honesty*omelettes*piano bars*CB's*"we washed our socks"*Banana Splits Show*roses*the time warp*gold*HIM(you know who you are)*"Tonight's the Night"*Hannukkah*TV Guide*Marc*positive people*reggae*"gag me with a spoon"*Big Brother*Bath and Body Works*gopher*gator flannel pj's and matching slippers*Ben Franklin*money*"Saturday Night Fever"*cucumbers*loyalty*"Where ARE we?"*"Fat Bottom Girls"**Latka*Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies*LOST*"Night Moves"*lounge chairs*Rex*"Pretty Woman"*Jack and diet*blogging*talapia*Gopher*"are we there yet?"*GREASE*"Brown-Eyed Girl"*Kohl's*"Mr. Ed"*boxers*Jaime*jewelery*"Life is like a box of chocalates, you never know what you're gonna get"*Thomas Jefferson*hot tubs*"Good Morning America"*the beach*candles*MASH*
potatoes*Barbarino*bubble baths*TMM*sleeping*xanax*Lisa*babies*romance*
These are a FEW of my favorite things.

Being Anal is Not Fun

7:00 p.m. If you look to the right of this blog, you will see links to some of my favorite blogs. Do you see the WIDE spaces between the links??? IT'S DRIVING ME MAD!! I have tried to fix this for 2 damn days, have spent at least 6 hours trying to repair this. Why, you may ask? Why all this work because of a few spaces? Because I'm anal. Also known as Type A personality.
You know who we are...the ones that have the most organized desks at work. Our houses are spotlessly clean, or so we would like you to believe (most of the crap is thrown in the closet). Everything in our drawers are folded neatly. We normally have exact change at the cash register (can't have change LAYING around). One thing out of place and, "OH MY G-D! THE WORLD MAY END!"
Lord knows I have tried to break free of this addiction. I must admit, I'm getting better at it. I can actually leave the dinner dishes in the sink for more than an hour before I MUST put them in the dishwasher (proper place). When I go on vacation, I don't HAVE to put my dirty clothes in the dirty clothes bag, I can leave them on a chair. However, I haven't worked this out at the office yet. I still leave my desk every day, with every pen, pencil and pad in it's proper place. Oh, and a list of "To Do" items for the next day.
But no, this spacing thing has gotten to my inner anal. I have gone as far as to join a techie group to try and get help. I'm pacing the floors waiting for an answer. Could someone please pull this corncob out of my anal?

Update: 9:20 p.m. Corncob released. Issue resolved. Now maybe I can get some sleep.
Thank you Danny. I owe you.

Word of the Week

Drumroll please....

chockablock • adjective * very full

Now why this word? Presently, I am chockablock of desire... Desire for what you may ask? Well, there are many things, but I won't go into all of them.
Lisa, my sister, is out on the Navigator of the Seas this week with her husband. She has sent many text messages to me from the Caribbean. It sounds as if she is having a blast...and I am truly happy for her. However, her trip does remind me that I am still 8 months and 3 days from seeing my favorite family and 8 months and 5 days from actually setting foot on a ship again.

Call me crazy, and I might just be, but I'm getting a bit tired of sitting home on the weekends. Mind you, I do find ways of keeping myself busy; packing, shopping running errands, etc. However, at night, I wouldn't mind going out for a drink or to a movie. And to be brutally honest, doing those things alone is not only boring but a bit embarrassing. Therefore, I would like to find someone to spend quality time with. I am chockablock of desire to find a companion. (Please, no pity parties here...just spouting off a bit.)

But I don't want to end this blog on a down note, so I leave you with this question:
How many people (other than the present numbnuts running for President) do you know that are chockablock of shit?

Have a great week chockablock of fun!