I was 16 years old. I was hanging out with 2 of my girl-friends that went to a different high school than me, and their friend Chris was coming to the mall to hang out with us. I had no idea who this person was, all I was told is that he was a SK8R guy, and he played guitar. I assumed based on that information that the guy was at the very least, pretty cool. I remember when he showed up. He was adorable. Brown hair, kinda long on top, parted in the middle, the cutest smile I had ever seen. I remember commenting to my friend Melissa about how cute he was. He loved music just as much as I did, and we just connected.

A few hours later, the 4 of us were sitting in the food court eating lunch, he was sitting across the table from me. We spent a lot of time looking at eachother during that lunch, and toward the end, I hand both my hands under the table resting on my legs. I felt his hand come over to hold mine and I think my heart stopped for a moment. ‘NO WAY!’ I remember thinking to myself. It couldn’t be! My other 2 friends were much prettier and way skinnier than me, there is no way this guy could be interested in me.. I thought.

He didn’t let go of my hand the entire rest of the afternoon, and for the next 8 months, we were inseparable. It was great. We had so much fun together, I’d go see his band play at small clubs all over Long Island, I’d go to the skate park with him and hang out with him and his buddies, we’d go to the movies, wander the mall, whatever, it didn’t matter. He lived 2 miles away from my school, so I would often go to his house after school.

I remember feeling on top of the world. I was going to be with Chris for the rest of my life. Nothing could come between us.

I was a highly competitive swimmer at the time, and for our 6 month anniversary, he showed up unexpectedly at one of my meets, with a dozen red roses.. it was the first time I’d ever gotten flowers.. it was awesome.

2 months later, in late august, shortly before the first day of my sophomore year of high school, I was sitting at home listening to Radiohead's Pablo Honey album in my bedroom, when Chris called me to break up. I had no idea it was coming. I was completely devastated. My heart had been crushed into a million tiny pieces of pieces. I cried and cried, and for a couple of weeks I was walking around so heart-broken, it felt like it could barely even beat.

Then school started. I was hanging out between classes over near by (former) best friend Jill's locker...when she said "I have to tell you something, and I don't know how" ...

As it turned out, Jill had been seeing Chris behind my back since a week or 2 before he broke up with me..

As you can imagine, I was FURIOUS.. I threw a scene in the middle of the hallway, calling Jill every name I could think of.. despite a few attempts on her part over the rest of the year to talk to me, I didn't utter a single word to her again until about 10 years later when I ran into her at a mutual friend's funeral.

Hi! I'm Sandy! I was born and raised in a picture-perfect suburbia. Less than 20 miles away from New York City, on Long Island in a town called Valley Stream. I series of events has landed me in southwest Florida though I have hopes to one day move back up north. I'm not meant for the tropics.

I am married to my best friend and soul mate. We have 2 cats, London and Winston Arthas, and a house rabbit named Ronin.

I am a legal secretary for a midsize firm in Fort Lauderdale. I love my job, I love the people I work with, I even love my boss. The commute is about 30-40 mins which isn't awesome, but it gives me some quality time with my good friend, Music.

I'm on a seemingly never-ending quest to lose weight, but I'm confident that the track I am on now will get me where I want to be.

I'm certain you will read plenty more about me over the next month.

I thought I would get back to things for a bit, and this 30 day meme sounds like fun.. lets see how long I keep it up..

The prompts for the next 30 days, starting in my next post:

Day 01 – Introduce yourself
Day 02 – Your first love, in great detail
Day 03 – Your parents, in great detail
Day 04 – What you ate today, in great detail
Day 05 – Your definition of love, in great detail
Day 06 – Your day, in great detail
Day 07 – Your best friend, in great detail
Day 08 – A moment, in great detail
Day 09 – Your beliefs, in great detail
Day 10 – What you wore today, in great detail
Day 11 – Your siblings, in great detail
Day 12 – What’s in your bag, in great detail
Day 13 – This week, in great detail
Day 14 – What you wore today, in great detail
Day 15 – Your dreams, in great detail
Day 16 – Your first kiss, in great detail
Day 17 – Your favorite memory, in great detail
Day 18 – Your favorite birthday, in great detail
Day 19 – Something you regret, in great detail
Day 20 – This month, in great detail
Day 21 – Another moment, in great detail
Day 22 – Something that upsets you, in great detail
Day 23 – Something that makes you feel better, in great detail
Day 24 – Something that makes you cry, in great detail
Day 25 – A first, in great detail
Day 26 – Your fears, in great detail
Day 27 – Your favorite place, in great detail
Day 28 – Something that you miss, in great detail
Day 29 – Your aspirations, in great detail
Day 30 – One last moment, in great detail

Just came across this tonight .. this is EXTREME cuteness!

So this morning John went for a walk in the park right across from my house. Turns out while he was there, he noticed a sign that said "Lost Cat!! Long haired orange tabby cat, 3 years old, lost collar, on medication, please call if found" .. When he go home he gave me the number and when I left the house I went to take a look at the picture on the sign. Sure enough...

So of course I had to call this person and tell them about the cat. I know if the tables were turned I would want to know what happened. The whole drive to work I anticipated the conversation, and when I got to the office I discussed it with a few coworkers in an attempt to psyche myself up! Before I lost my nerve, I went into an empty office, closed the door, and made the call.

The woman I spoke to, Linda, was very nice. I explained to her what I had found and what I did and that I felt terribly sad about the whole thing. I told her that I named him, she chuckled and told me I was "cute". I mentioned to her that one thing I was so worried about was that if the cat was loved. She assured me he was.

Apparently, last Friday night, she was cat sitting a neighbor's cat and ran next door to give the neighbor's cat some food and water. Her front door didn't close all the way... Tabasco (Teddy Bear is what she called him .. Tabasco is a much cooler name) got out then. She didn't realize it until Saturday morning and spent the whole weekend, and this week, looking everywhere for him.

She cried a few times on the phone with me, and I told her if there was anything I can do to let me know. Given the topic of the conversation, I'd say it went pretty well.

I was in the bedroom this morning getting ready for work when I heard what sounded like a cat crying. It sounded very much like Winston Arthas. I JUMPED up and ran around checking on all the fur-kids to make sure everyone was okay. Fortunately they were. So I just assumed it was some random outside noise or something and didn't worry about it. ...

Fast forward about 45 mins.....

I open my front door as I prepare to leave the house, and I see a dead fluffy orange cat laying less than 2 feet from my front door. I totally freaked out. It was horrible. The cat was totally in tact, I didn't see any scratches or blood or anything. Also there was no collar or anyway of knowing who he belonged to, so I named him Tabasco.

John was still at work so I had to handle it by myself, which was not the most fun I've ever had. I wrapped him up in a sheet then put him in a trash bag and brought him to the bin. I didn't know what else to do and I had to do something.. I couldn't just let him stay there!

Of course then it gets me thinking... what happened? How did Tabasco end up on my front porch?? Was he loved by someone?? Is someone out there looking for him??? Hopefully he is at peace now.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Got married!! Visited Europe!!! Got married!!!! Had a breast reduction!!

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I did fairly well with my resolution for 2009... only strayed a few times... this year I have one I'm going to try.. it won't be easy.. but that's what I thought last year too!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes.. my niece was born.. and my best friend's baby girl was born.. and wow, lots of people actually.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
This is the first year I can remember nobody close to me dying.

5. What countries did you visit?
England, Ireland, Scotland and France.. and technically Germany too, even if it was just the airport.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Other than money, which I guess is a given these days for everyone... I hope in 2010I have a new kitchen and perhaps an idea when we can GTFO of Florida.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 10 - my wedding day! also.. August 22 .. the day my neice was born. and Jan 6th.. the day I had my breast reduction.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
After years of deliberation .. I finally got over the fear and got a breast reduction.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I didn't acheive to make my weight loss goal.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major.. just some colds and whatnot.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I would say the wedding, but I only paid for part of that.. so I guess I'd have to say the best thing I bought is the honeymoon!

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I have no idea.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Nonody really.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Wedding/honeymoon

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
WEDDING/HONEYMOON

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Geek Like Me by the Wonderstrucks

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder? Happier.
b) Bigger or smaller? A little smaller.
c) Richer or Poorer? Richer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Running in the morning.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Ice cream.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Opening presents with my husband and the fur-kids... then having dinner at mom in-law's house.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
*queue the cheese* .. I fall in love more and more every day with my husband.

22. How many one-night stands?
0

23. What was your favourite TV program?
True Blood and Glee

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I do not HATE anyone.

25. What was the best book you read?
The Twilight series.. go ahead.. make fun, I don't care.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I'm a bit embarrassed to say this year wasn't musically the best.. I have been a bit of a slacker.

27. What did you want and get?
a Husband and a kitty (not 1... but 2!)

28. What did you want and not get?
A raise. (Got a good review, but the firm didn't give raises this year due to the "economy")

29. What was your favourite film of this year?
I'm going to Avatar.. only because it's the best movie I can REMEMBER.

30. What did you do on your birthday
Celebrated at home with take-out and husband

31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
2009 was actually the most satisfying year I have had in as long as I can remember. I can't really think of anything that could have made it better.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
I'm not big into "fashion" .. I pay enough attention to not look like an idiot, but I don't really have a personal concept.

33. What kept you sane?
My husband, my bunny, my kittens, and my optimism

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Edward Norton.. just like every year.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Healthcare.

36. Who did you miss?
Pete... especially this year.. It would have been so wonderful to have him around for the wedding.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
I don't recall meeting anyone who particularly stands out.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Bringing 4 pieces of luggage on an 8 day cruise is not necessary.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
No clue

John got a netbook for Christmas... I can't tell how I feel about it. It's compact, portable, has good features like a built in web-cam, super long battery life ... really there is nothing wrong with it... Nettie we call her. But I just can't get over the size. I mean the screen size.. 10.1... it's SO small. I have to scroll to even just look at one picture. I don't think I'll be able to get used to that. And the keyboard will take a bit to get used to as well.

That's all.

Look! It's a Timon!!

=)




In other news... we are back from our wedding/honeymoon and we had the BEST time!1 Still getting back into reality and will make a full post later this week/weekend!

The wedding was wonderful!! I'm so happy with the way things turned out. The only complaint I have about it is that the DJ was full of fail. But other than that it was great. The ceremony was awesome. I never in my life felt so much emotion.. it was awesome.

cartooncheryl I got your note!!! What an awesome surprise!!! Thanks!!! =) =)

I'll have much more to say about the wedding and some pictures when we return from UK.

Travel over here was much better than we expected. Lufthansa is awesome! We watched a movie then slept for most of the way, in between meals and glasses of wine during the flight. The stewardess even gave us a complimentary champagne toast and a rose, for the wedding. It was cool.

After being awake for about 24 hours, and traveling for about 12-13.. when we finally got to the hotel we took a nap for a few hours, then headed down to Piccadilly Circus to see some sights. It was interesting and we had fun!

Tomorrow most likely we will do some super touristy things!! We're looking forward to it! =)

Thanks again to Steve, Petra, VA & Glenn for coming!! It was so great to see each of you!!! It really meant a lot that you were there!!