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I'm actually being paid to go out on New Years Eve. Don't hate, I'm telling the truth. I have to let that thought sink in myself. I'm being paid tonight to do what I truly love and do best- someone else's make-up. As I start the new year with a fresh new job search (More on that later) I need to remember that anything is possible...ANYTHING.
2007 is done and that's a good feeling. We made it though another year. It had a lot of highs and a lot of lows but we made it and that's what counts. Bring on 2008 and we'll take it as it comes. Maybe I'll write more personal things on this blog and maybe I won't. Stay tuned- more will be revealed.
Health and Happiness,
~Liz
For various reasons I've decided on an up do for New Years Eve. Tonight I gave it a test run. I bought the hair band at CVS for $5.99. It's black crochet and comfortable. I'll have to flat iron underneath my hair so it looks smoother.
Most of us know Amy Winehouse is shall we say....retired. Click here to check out Adel the new voice of Great Britain and the one some are calling the new Amy Wino minus the baggage.
Thanks Ivan! Click here to see the list.
Pretty Pretty & Fabulous:
Most life-altering footwear purchase: Uggs
Most life-altering beauty finds: Strivectin
Grooviest attire: Everyone who dressed like Amy Winehouse for Halloween.
Most inappropriate crushes: All of them in my case!
Most beloved new blog: Cobra Snake
Accessories trend I thought I'd be into forever but apparently I'm already over it: Wearing black all the time.
Best reason to get out of bed on a weekend morning: Shopping and lunch with Jimmi.
Number-one new style idol: Cory Kennedy
Most adorable yet potentially uncool choice of TV fashion icon: Agatha Christies Miss Jane Marple on PBS.
Miss Marple
Politics:
Most life-altering event: Having no health insurance.
Most life-altering information: The Scooter Libby Trial
Grooviest onstage attire: Barack Obama
Most inappropriate crushes: All of the closeted Republicans
Most beloved new blog: Crooks and Liars
Accessories trend I thought I'd be into forever but apparently I'm already over it: Wearing camouflage.
Best reason to get out of bed on a weekend morning: Because I watched Real Time with Bill Maher the night before and I am comforted.
Number-one new style idol: A marine named Jayel Aheram.
Most adorable (Because they are so misguided) yet ultimately uncool choice: Working class people voting Republican in the last election.
Jayel Aheram
Entertainment:
Most life-altering career move: Anna Nicole Smith dying.
Most life-altering beauty find: Britney Spears and a pair of clippers.
Grooviest onstage attire: Britney Spears at the VMA's.
Most inappropriate affairs: Lindsey Lohan's rehab romances.
Most beloved new (New for me) blog: Rosie O'Donnell's blog.
Accessories trend I thought I'd be into forever but apparently I'm already over it: Amy Winehouse always carrying McDonald's drinks.
Best reason not to get out of bed on a weekend morning: I Love New York and The Hills marathons.
Number-one new style idol: Britney Spears and her Starbucks cup.
Most adorable yet potentially uncool choice of TV fashion icon: Every wacky designer on Project Runway.
Amy Winehouse
Relationships & Spiritual:
Most life-altering decision of 07': The need to be happy with my work.
Most life-altering wonderful find: New friendships with lovable people.
Grooviest character trait: Moving forward and not dwelling on the past.
Most inappropriate character trait: Taking things personally.
Most beloved new revelation: I can stick up for myself.
Personality trait I thought I'd be into forever but apparently I'm already over it: Working for lots of material possessions.
Best reason not to get out of bed on a weekend morning: Because I don't want to and I don't have to answer to anyone.
Number-one new style: Meeting people in person, not online.
Most easy to fall into yet potentially uncool choice: Settling for less than what I deserve.
Me
Eats:
Most life-altering purchase: A great plan for eating.
Most life-altering find: Teriyaki
Grooviest attire: The clothing that fits after loosing just 10lbs.
Most inappropriate crushes: Junk food!
Most beloved new food: Fruit & veggies.
Food I thought I'd be into forever but apparently I'm already over it: Pizza & pasta.
Best reason to get out of bed on a weekend morning: A chance to move around.
Number-one new trend: Three healthy meals a day & healthy snacks.
Most yummy yet potentially uncool food choice: All the extras at Christmas.
High Tea
Travel:
Most life-altering trip: Being the first to take my nieces to NYC.
Most life-altering travel find: The beautiful weather of L.A.
Grooviest travel attire: Leggings, a cotton dress and flip-flops.
Most inappropriate thing about travel: The horrendous time spent at the airport.
Most beloved new location: Malibu and the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Travel location I thought I'd be into forever but apparently I'm already over it: Rockefeller Center at Christmas.
Best reason to get out of bed on a weekend morning: I have a flight to catch.
Number-one new travel revelation: Two weeks is long enough to be away from home.
Most fun yet potentially uncool choice: Traveling with girlfriends.
Mulholland Drive View
Jams:
Most life-altering ticket purchase: I saw The Nightwatchman twice this year.
Most life-altering beauty: The Nightwatchman's guitar.
Grooviest onstage attire: Grooviest onstage attire: The Nightwatchman
Most inappropriate crushes: All of them in my case!
Most beloved new song: I really like Stronger by Kanye West.
Music trends I thought I'd be into forever but apparently I'm already over it: I don't hark back to the 80's music so much anymore.
Best reason not to get out of bed on a weekend morning: VH1 plays the top videos of the week.
Number-one new style idol: Amy Winehouse's hair.
Most adorable yet potentially bizarre choice of music icon: Bjork always.
Tom Morello of RATM is The Nightwatchmen.
****Another really cute option here and here.
Check out Mathieu Franics: A Boy Wearing Make Up. This guy does these great tutorials on make-up application using MAC which we all know is the best and most readily afforable make-up line. I like his tutorial on eyeliner. Now go glam it up on New Years!
"It was December 24th on Hollis Ave in the dark
When I seen a man chilling with his dog in the park
I approached very slowly with my heart full of fear
Looked at his dog, oh my God, an ill reindeer"
I really am over harking back to the 80's for music, but I thought of this 1987 Christmas classic by RUN/DMC. This was a fun song and video. Remember when they would speed up the video to make people look like they were running fast? That was a cool effect from the 80's.
Now RUN is a money grubbing reverend with a corny ass reality show. DMC can barely talk and "judges" a rap show on MTV and then of course Jam Master Jay was murdered in 2002. I know things change, but this is a little much.
Last night Sara's birthday party was at Fluid nightclub off South Street. We had a ball as it so happened to be the Sex Dwarf event packed with all the usual suspects/friends. Jimmi and I laughed all night about feeling like two old cougars on the prowl.
This old cougar enjoys a holiday cocktail.
The events theme was entitled "Snowball" and Jimmi was the (ahem) Queen.
Me with the bouncer, Reese (Age: 25). He is also a professional boxer in Philly. Don't you love how he put the fist up? Jimmi says it looks like a pose with my future abusive husband I however was loving his muscles.
Me with a really fun person (Age: younger than me) whose name escapes me. A poor memory is another cougar characteristic.
The diet of a cougar consists of french fries, a Philly staple to be consumed in the wee hours of the morning when their is no hope of burning off the calories.
Jimmi couldn't believe this slice was NYC style. It doesn't take much to thrill an old cougar.
My 6 year old niece Lea created this "gingerbread" house at school yesterday. It's actually made from graham crackers, miniature marshmallows, frosting and candies. Of course, Aunt Lizzy had to make a big fuss and snap a picture with my camera phone. So cute!
As seen on Crooks and Liars
The California Nurses Associaton are working with the family of Nataline Sarkisyan, a 17 year old from Northridge, California, who is lying in the intensive care unit at UCLA Medical Center hoping that CIGNA will approve the liver transplant she desperately needs.
You heard that right, folks. A seventeen-year-old needs a LIVER TRANSPLANT and the insurance company is making up their mind whether to pay for it. And certain presidential candidates think we should all be required to buy “affordable coverage” from these people. Bless their hearts.
At a minimum, can you go read and comment on nyceve’s dkos diary on this situation to help build a tsunami of public anger and embarass Cigna into approving this medically-necessary treatment?
Cigna? I got yer embarrassment right here. Please recommend and comment at the Kos Diary and digg this story. And thanks.
UPDATE: FANTASTIC news! Apparently, Cigna’s offices were flooded with phone calls and all the work that CNA/NNOC coordinated to support Nataline paid off as Cigna decided late this afternoon to reverse its previous denial.
…(I)t is deplorable and appalling that CIGNA needed to have hundreds of people pounding on their doors and besieging them with calls to take the humanitarian step they should have done long before today,” said Geri Jenkins, RN, a member of the CNA/NNOC Council of Presidents, who spoke at the Glendale rally.
Nataline’s mother, Hilda Sarkisyan, expressed her profound thanks to CNA/NNOC. “We couldn’t have done this without you helping us to stand up against this insurance company and forcing them to finally do the right thing. It is not right in this country for it to take a rally, a protest, and a major press conference to get an insurance company to listen.”
“Every politician who thinks the answer to our healthcare crisis is more insurance should stop and think about Nataline Sarkysian,” said (CNA/NNOC Executive Director Rose Ann) DeMoro. “Insurance is not care. Paying for insurance coverage is not the same as assuring you will receive appropriate care, even when recommended by a physician as it was for Nataline. Insurance corporations profit by denying care to the sick, and that is no way to run a humane healthcare system.”
And I Repeat:
Paying for insurance coverage is not the same as assuring you will receive appropriate care, even when recommended by a physician as it was for Nataline.
Paying for insurance coverage is not the same as assuring you will receive appropriate care, even when recommended by a physician as it was for Nataline.
Paying for insurance coverage is not the same as assuring you will receive appropriate care, even when recommended by a physician as it was for Nataline.
Paying for insurance coverage is not the same as assuring you will receive appropriate care, even when recommended by a physician as it was for Nataline.
A while back I was putting fuel in my work vehicle. The area where the pumps are located is dark and deserted, eerie if you will. After fueling up I was on my way but realized I forgot the brand new fuel cap so I returned to the pumps. When I arrived there was a big scary looking gentlemen who looked as if he was no stranger to the penal system, fueling his oil truck. I jumped out of my vehicle and grabbed the gas cap. With a friendly smile he said,
"Oh I was going to save that for you!"
I wondered how he could possibly have known the cap belonged to me, but at least he seemed friendly so whatever. I thanked him and drove off.
A few days ago I was back at the pumps. I was having trouble getting the pump to work for me and another man in an oil truck hopped out to assist me. This guy was young and adorable. It wasn't lost on me how good he looked in those Dickies pants and shirt. The name patch on his shirt said Jaimie and after he took several minutes getting the pump to work he completed fueling my vehicle. I introduced myself and thanked him as we parted. At that moment Mr. Scary pulls up, jumps out of his truck and proceeds to tell me that the last time he saw me (picking up my gas cap) he thought of me for the rest of the day because he could not believe he had seen such a pretty face! Well I was taken aback but in an effort to be gracious I replied,
"Thank you. That is very sweet."
Today I went to the fuel pump again. I was relieved Mr. Scary oil truck driver wasn't there. I went back to the office to return the fuel pump key when I suddenly noticed an oil truck parked behind me for no apparent reason. I walked into the office and dropped off the key. When a came outside a few minutes later the truck was still there. "That's curious," I thought. It crossed my mind, "Could that be him?" I got back into my vehicle and started washing my hands with Purell. I'm applying hand lotion and watching as this truck pulls in front of me for no apparent reason. After a couple of minutes the door opens. Sure enough it's him! He is walking towards my vehicle carrying what appeared to be a white bag, a McDonald's bag possibly? I couldn't believe this. It's 6:00AM. I'm in NO MOOD to deal with this guy. Is he bringing me breakfast? I can't accept food from him! He starts waving at me. I was so annoyed. Guess what I did? I just drove off and left him standing there.
I know it was rude, but I can't deal with this. That was so creepy for him to sit outside my place of employment. You know he was checking the license and numbers on my vehicle. UGH! I was harsh but I think I need to be with this one. When I'm nice he just reads into it. It doesn't help matters that last night I watched a film called, Crazy Love based on a true story about a women who married her stalker after he blinded her with acid thrown in her face.
Not my stalker, unfortunately.
Well of course there is Wino. Now she is arrested. In keeping with the path that the disease of addiction takes Amy is running the whole jail, institutions and death gamut. She is a tragedy waiting to happen. She will never release another great album nor will any producer work with her (Mark Ronson has made that clear already). Stick a fork in Amy she is done UNLESS she finds recovery but that's a long shot. In the meantime, addiction is a progressive illness and without the desire to heal her prognosis isn't good.
Nickelodeon star and 16 year old sis of Britney Spears, Jamie Lynn Spears is knocked up by her live-in 19 year old BF. That's delightful, isn't it? Another sad situation in the Spears family. Unfitney was the last to know according to tabloids. Well that stands to reason. She isn't exactly emotionally available.
How about Philly anchor Alycia Lane calling one of New York's finest a "dyke bitch." She also hit the woman according to the charges. Apparently tough guy Alicia was drunk at the time. Consequences of your drinking Alicia? You might want to examine that a little closer.
And finally on a lighter less disastrous note, I received a lovely and unexpected Xmas gift this morning. No this wasn't the usual candle or shower gel this was a VISA gift card for a very generous amount. So nice. I'm off to have my tooth drilled, enjoy your day.
"What I try to do every day is figure out how to help somebody,” she said later in the event. “You can try to help somebody every single day, and I’ve tried to do that as a public servant, as an activist, and now as a senator." ~Hillary Clinton
I was actually impressed that she referred to herself as an "activist." That's usually such a far left term and I don't think I've ever heard a candidate refer to themselves as such. Actors and writers yes, but never a presidential "I want everyone to like me" candidate. OK, I just wanted to make that little observation. The End.
Check out A Haunting every weekday at 10am and 2pm on the Discovery channel. It's actually spine tingling in the middle of the day!
Bundling up in the wee hours of the morning.
No motivation to go out at night.
Dry skin.
Space heaters everywhere.
Craving carbs.
Crowds everywhere, unfriendly, rude people.
Scraping ice off the windshield.
School isn't canceled often enough.
Jealous of people in warm climates.
Counting the months until Winter is over.
I just sprayed what I thought was a perfume sample on myself then I googled the titled of the fragrance and discovered it's a men's cologne. Wonderful. Yesterday at Sephora they were just throwing samples at the angry mob waiting in the huge line. Why was the line huge you ask? Because the computer/cash registers kept crashing.
From now on, when I want to have a pity party for myself I'm turning to this picture! No one does a pity party like Paula. I can only aspire to making everyone in the room uncomfortable as they listen to me go on and on about how victimized and unappreciated I am. I'll print out this picture and hang it up just to remind myself how the master does it.
Bush Years Bundle posters are here! Share the real terror (The Bush Years) with your enlightened friends. Makes a great gift!
( HuffingtonPost ) Get all three posters- Price: $50.00
1) GOP Villains of the Bush Years
GEORGE W. BUSH
DICK CHENEY
KARL ROVE
ALBERTO GONZALES
SCOOTER LIBBY
JACK ABRAMOFF
CONDOLEEZZA RICE
RUMSFELD
PAUL WOLFOWITZ
HARRIET MIERS
PAUL BREMER
GEORGE TENET
JOHN ASHCROFT
MIKE BROWN
JOHN BOLTON
2) The Slogans of the Bush Years
GATHERING THREAT
AXIS OF EVIL
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
FIGHT'EM THERE NOT HERE
BRING'EM ON
STAY THE COURSE
LAST THROES
HECK OF A JOB BROWNIE
GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR
I AM THE DECIDER
STUFF HAPPENS
3) The Worst Events of the Bush Years
ABU GHRAIB
HALLIBURTON
PREEMPTIVE WAR
WALTER REED
BLACKWATER
EXECUTIVE POWER
BODY ARMOR
KATRINA
GUANTANAMO
YELLOWCAKE
WATERBOARDING
When you live with a crazy person it produces a lot of anxiety. Often times you find yourself wondering if they will die soon. That's not mean, it's just honest. You can't reason with them. They are incapable of listening or giving. They need to feel in control at all times and are rage-a-holics among other things. These people have deep seated issues from childhood and insecurities and fears you can't imagine.
When you live with a person like this, I have found the best thing to do is keep the focus on yourself and arm yourself with the following tools....
* Don't react- they love confrontation.
* Learn to leave the room or the house, it's easier then you think.
* Surround yourself with healthy people who have boundaries.
* Remember, they are all about control and control is an illusion for you as much as it is for them.
* Never take anything they say or do or don't do personally. They were sick long before you came along.
I hope this helps someone because it helped me to write it.
No matter how bad things get, no matter my finances or lack there of I can always, ALWAYS be grateful this mess isn't my life. I think I would shoot myself...or someone else....at the very least I would take a hostage.
As seen on D-Listed.com
Jakob Dylan (38)
Jesse Metcalfe (29)
Felicity Huffman (45)
Mario Cantone (48)
Donny Osmond (50)
John Malcovich (54)
Joan Armatrading (57)
Michael Nouri (62)
Beau Bridges (68)
Dame Judi Dench (73)
Dick Van Patten (79)
Kirk Douglas (91)
It was a grueling day in NYC. I'm feeling a lot better today. The weather really held out for us and I was so grateful. It can do whatever it wants now I just wanted to get to NYC without rain or snow. With that, I have to be honest about my day.
When we arrived in the city we went to this restaurant called Mars2112. I heard about it from one of the kids I work with and of course being a kid, she failed to mention the food is awful. The atmosphere is super galactic and fun but the people working there are NOT in character and they really takes away from it for me. Aside from wearing a star trek like uniform, they were about as into being there as anyone working on a Saturday during the holiday season.
American Girl Place was a nightmare with droves of people and nowhere to rest. We did do a lot of shopping and their displays are gorgeous. The girls got an adorable photo taken with their dolls. It's darling. The show we saw was wonderful but after standing in yet another line for an hour, I have to say "Afternoon Tea" at American Girl was a real bummer complete with a rude waitress. I spoke to the manager and we got loads of free food and champagne but I felt so rushed. We guzzled our tea and left for Rockefeller Center. It was far from the experience it should have been.
I'm so glad my Mom got to NYC with the kids and I took loads for pictures we will have forever but I would do it differently next time. I guess the moral of this story is anytime you go to a place that caters to children, expect long lines. The girls enjoyed the day through their innocent eyes and that's really what it was all about. Today for my birthday they gave me a jewelry holder shaped like a female form in a long gown. I love it and they know their Aunt Lizzy so well. I'm seeing to that.
Shopping in American Girl Place
Hell On Earth. Look at the line wrapped around the building.
Afternoon Tea: I don't look as stressed out as I was.
When we asked to take this pic, the martian gestured for us to hurry. Charming huh?
Wondering if the planet Mars has better food then this place.
Lights, Camera, People!
Well I'm off to the Big Apple tomorrow with the kids, my sister-in-law and my Mom. We are celebrating my birthday in my favorite way- New York and the kiddies! I'll be sure to post pics from the day. Last night we got together and talked about dressing warmly and where to eat lunch. We decided on a place that looks pretty cool so stay tuned for those pictures.
Today I received an unexpected birthday gift. When I told the person I was knocking on 45 this Sunday they were shocked. That's sweet and of course I do cling to those compliments more and more with each passing year. I was so moved at the touching card and present. It felt so good to be acknowledged for the job I do and the effort I put into it. I really did start tearing up and then crying but pulled myself together before it could turn into a moment like THIS...................
BTW- Click here to see the thing that made me laugh out loud today.
My new favorite song and the video is hawt. I'm downloading this now!
Remember feeling so sorry for Blanche only to find out in the end that she was the real bitch who was only getting paid back? Boy do I relate to this movie and that's all I'm going to say about that. ;)
This is my new favorite song, The Killers cover Joy Division.
Recently, I've really been struggling with a resentment. Sure I feel justified and all that business but that's really not the point is it? The point is resentments hurt me in the long run and I don't need them. What to do in this particular case stopping just short of arsenic poisoning? Well the person isn't going away anytime soon (unfortunately) so I need to shift my focus off this person and back on my life where it belongs.
An Untimely Death isn't Always a Bad Thing.
Ok so I stole this concept from Pax's blog because it makes for an interesting blog post this time of year. I have some basic philosophies for the holidays and I don't mind sharing them here...
* First off I don't do work parties anymore. I quit doing those at my old job and I vowed not to start up at my new job and I haven't. Recently, they had a pot luck party for someones promotion in the break room-YUK! I happily gave towards the gift and signed the card because I was genuinely happy for the person's success but the party, which was being held on my day off was a no-go.
* This brings me to another rule of mine year round but it applies especially at the holidays. Generally speaking I don't do pot luck parties. Recently however I did attend one and bring food. The host was young and the evening was so fun but as a soon to be 45 year old, I only bother to drag myself out for catered functions and house parties of close family members.
Over recent years I stopped going to my job's holiday party in part because the restaurant wasn't to my personal liking. Hey, I'm not paying for what I know will be a lousy dinner when I can eat out anytime.
* If you want us to exchange holiday gifts just let me know. Normally, I don't hold people to gift giving because it's a lot of unnecessary stress both shopping wise and financially. However, if you want to exchange I'm all for it and will do so with joy in my heart. I love giving and receiving presents.
So there you have it, my holiday rules. These apply to me personally but I think everyone should do what makes them happy. There are no "rights or wrongs" with this stuff. Creating these boundaries for myself at the holidays has really kept the holidays in their proper perspective. Remember people- Christmas is only one day. Cheers!
You have to see this amazingly clever ad Martin Scorsese does in tribute to Alfred Hitchcock. Watch from start to finish it's pure entertainment. I wish every great director would remake Hitchcock as a tribute.
* Incidentally, you may think this CD is overkill but I love it!
