Disclaimer: Pity Party Alert

Ah, this wonderful thing we call "life".  My life has been NUTS lately.  Dramatic, may be a better term.  Maybe more dramatic than it needs to be... maybe not.  Well, it doesn't NEED to be dramatic, but I feel my drama is not without cause.

I realized something tonight.  Well, I've realized it before, but I'm coming to terms with it tonight.  Life is what you make it.  The way my life has become is all a result of my own poor choices.  I've always known that but it's really easy to blame others for things.  I can not control the way that people treat me, but I can control who I surround myself with.  I can not control being unable to pay my bills at the exact moment in time when they're due, but I can control what profession I'm in and how I save my money.  I can control who/what I put my trust in, but I can't control how people will manipulate and take advantage of that trust.

Thus is life.

I need to start making better choices for my life.  I think those choices are going to be completely enveloped in ME.  I know this will seem backward from what most people would say, but I need to start being selfish.  I'm sure there are a few of you out there who feel I am already a selfish person.  I agree; I am in a lot of ways.  I go out some nights so I can be with friends and I leave my dog home alone.  I always feel guilty about this.  I agreed to let my neighbor use my garage to store his mowers in exchange for doing my snow all winter.  SO not a fair trade.  As many of you know, I stole my sister's colored sparkler when we were kids, just because I could.  (She Chuck Norris'ed her way to a bloody leg and got them back out of pity... and my mom yelling at me.)  SELFISH.

I'm also the girl who would bend over backward for a friend in need.  I'm the girl who will climb out of bed at 2am to give her drunk friend a safe ride home.  I'm the girl who will drop everything if someone she loves (or even an acquaintance) says "I need/want you to..." I'm the girl who will rearrange her work schedule so that she can make sure to help out anyone who needs it, even if it means working long hours and working nonbillable hours some days.  I'm the girl who will give money to charity even though I have my own incredible amount of debt.  I'm the girl who is still there no matter what's been done to hurt her or make her feel like garbage.  I'm THAT girl.

This last one is the one I need to work on.  I want to be there for people; I really do.  I want to help others, even if they wouldn't do the same for me.  I want to do these things and I DO them.  But, lately it's been coming back to bite me.  My time is not valuable to me... it feels more valuable when I help people with it.  However, lately I've been letting my emotions get the best of me.  I am not good at feigning apathy.  I wish I could turn my feelings off.  I wish I could stop myself from feeling manipulated, abused and taken advantage of.  I wish I could shut off the hurt and pain I feel because of these things.  The problem is, I can ignore these feelings during these moments, but when I get home, they really start to wear on me.  My mind is in overdrive the majority of my conscious time and it's becoming depressing.  I'm not going to be able to BE unselfish if I DON'T take a selfish moment to think of myself and help myself to heal and become emotionally healthy again.  My unselfish acts are going to cause me to become a highly selfish person in a negative way, if I don't allow myself to be selfish on my own, so that I can heal.

I know.  Who planned the pity party?  Jenni Schwartz: Always the martyr.  I guess if you don't want to hear me bitch and moan, you'll know to no longer follow my blog, right?  I promise to have a more peppy blog entry soon, but right now there isn't enough pep in the world to make that happen.

It is what it is.  My favorite phrase.  I guess it's time to retire it if I'm really going to make my life better.  It IS what it IS.  (one last time for good measure)

I'm Ba-ack...

I know what you're all thinking.  Three blog posts in a week and a half?!  This is insanity!  I'm trying folks.  I'm trying to get back in to the groove of things.  I'm trying to bring back the blogosphere.


This guy knows how I feel.

My life has been super crazy lately.  SUPA CRA-RAZY.  Honestly.  I think I've become chemically imbalanced.  I'm dealing.  It's okay.  This year has been so overcharged with changes for me that I'm surprised I've made it this far without just crawling off and hiding in that guy's moustache.  ------------------------->

Seriously, though.  I want to put a huge shout-out to my friends and family for being so supportive of me over the last few months of craziness.  I appreciate it and I know I haven't always been easy to deal with.  I thank you. 

What have I been up to?  Working.  Sleeping... or rather NOT sleeping.  I've always had a bout of insomnia but I think I only sleep 2-3 hours a night most nights anymore and I very rarely partake in my favorite past-time anymore... NAPPING!  What else have I been up to?  Oh, hanging with my dog... getting used to having a clean house with no one to pick up after anymore, actually spending time with friends instead of staying holed away in the attic.  That last part has been really nice and a huge change from the sheltered life I've lived the past few years.  I like it A LOT.  Lately my life has been super consumed with... TORTILLAS.  I've been helping out that fine dude at Tacopocalypse in the tortilla department and I have the burn marks to prove it.  I would liken it to say that I'm almost a tortilla pro!  He's lucky I like him a little bit.  ;)

See?  I'm still boring.  I didn't say that this blog post would entertain you.  I just hope to blog a bit more often now.  It's a nice outlet, so I'm hoping you don't have to get too much negativity out of me, though there's sure to be some.  What can I say?  I write the most when I'm pissed off about something. Meh, it is what it is.

My nephew, Easton.  LOVE him and his lil' pig nose.

Want to be left with total cuteness?  Okay... you asked for it.  It's my lil' man boy!

I'm Working On It...

You know, the thing that still gets me about the breakup with Jack is how he made me look to his family and friends.
I tried so hard to make that relationship work.  I've tried so hard to save his name and not make him look like the ass he is.  I have so many secrets about the things he put me through and what he did to me and it will all remain that way.  I'm not going to make people hate him because, in spite of it all, I still have respect for him.
Jack's family is HIS family.  They don't need to hear the reasons we really broke up, because they are his family and they NEED to be on his side.  I won't take that from him or sway it in any way.
In spite of what they think, I've always loved and respected Jack's family, even when he didn't.  What really pains me though is his grandmother.  This is a woman who I instantly loved and wanted to be a part of my life forever.  She literally wishes me dead now.  I don't know what Jack said to her but based on what he has said to me, it can't be nice.
I just hate knowing the lies are out there and still coming back to haunt me when the truth is so much worse.
I'm not denying my part in the demise of the relationship.  I know I was a huge bitch over the last few months.  I know I became emotionless and uncaring.  It was the only way I could deal with the situation without a daily breakdown.
I'm still not going to spout off negativity about Jack.  It's not my place and I wish him the best.  I really do.  I just wish he didn't have to take me down in order to build himself up.
Do I still miss him at times, in spite of all of the negativity? Absolutely.  He has a lot of great traits.  Do I miss his family?  All the time.  Do I miss his friends?  Yep... Even those assholes.
I'm over the loss of the relationship with Jack... I just can't seem to get over losing so many relationships at once.

New Phone

What I would like to know is how anyone ever lived without swype.  I just got my new phone yesterday and I'm already addicted to swyping.  I can't help it. 

That's all I'm blogging for.  Oh yeah, and I got the blogger app on my phone, so I thought I'd best test it out.  ;)

What's that?  You'd like to see the first picture ever taken on my new phone?  Okay, but be prepared for total cuteness...

Hey! I swear this post ends on a positive note!

Disclaimer:  The blog you are about to read is raw.  This is real.  This is me.  It's all coming out there and it's full of negativity.  If you want no part of that, read no further.  There may be parts that will offend some of you.  There will be parts that will make me sound like a raging bitch.  There will definitely be parts that make you change your opinion of me, more than likely in a negative light.  It is what it is and I am what I am.  I won't apologize for that.  I gave you this disclaimer.

I should add: it's long and there are no pictures.  I'm sorry.

I do know how long it has been.  I'm very aware.  My world has been tilted and spun and completely imploded and rebuilt (kind of) over the last year.  You may remember this post from last year.  A wee bit o' negativity well-rounded out to a life on the right track.  House. Dog. Fiancé.  BAM.  "Well, here's a little story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down..."  (If you don't know where that lyric came from, you're either too old, too young, or not cool enough.)

Where do I begin?  Here's a little run through for those of you who chose not to click the link above.  Last year at this time, I had bought and been living in our very first home with my fiancé, Jack, for about a year. We had a puppy who was just over a year old and we were on our way to the whole lot: marriage, babies, A LIFE together.  Fast forward about a year and HERE WE I SIT.

The majority of this is going to be new information for you.  Some of you will know parts of it.  Some of you will have heard rumors.  A few of you will know most of it.  None of you will know all of it.  But guess what?  I'm at the point where I'm sick of people asking questions.  I'm sick of telling the story.  I'm sick of explaining myself when it's none of your god damn buisness in the first place.  But... here it is.

Here's the main question answered for you all: YES.  JACK AND I ARE NO LONGER TOGETHER.  I gave Jack his ring back in November 2010 after 3 1/2 years together and an almost 2 year engagement. It was a mutual decision. Wait, wait... hold on.  This date may seem odd to those of you closest to us.  Yes, we lived together up until about a month ago.  Originally it was so close to the holidays that we decided it best to fake it for our families... and we did.  Then we were nostalgic BECAUSE of the holidays so we started to fall back in to the ol' swing of things, including our glorious fights... oh the fights.  We kept putting off telling everyone and it was working as housemates for a while.  Then it came time for my brother's wedding.  Well, we faked it through that, down to my wearing the engagement ring for the reception.  Yep.  After that things got bad.  Ugly.  We told our families we had split, but we were still attempting to be housemates for financial reasons.  That did NOT work.  Jack finally moved out at the end of July.  Isn't it funny how when it's truly the end, the only things you remember are the good parts?  I have to be honest.  Even with everything we had been through, that entire weekend all I kept thinking was "is this the right thing?" and "if it is right, why am I so upset about it?"  I mean, the engagement had already been broken off for 8 months at that point; why does it still hurt?  Why am I crying about it now, another month later, while writing this blog?

Why did we split you ask?  Oh, thank you for asking!  That's a delightful question to answer.  I'm sure that everyone who splits from their partner LOVE to answer that question.  There are a multitude of reasons and frankly, I'm not going to delve in to it.  Yes, I know I said I would bare all, but I'm not about to slander Jack.  He is a good person with a good heart regardless of how we've treated each other.  I could list for you a thousand reasons why we worked but the handful that explains why we didn't overshadow the larger number tenfold.  This is not only my business to share and I will respect Jack enough not to give you our reasons.  I know some of you think you know, but you have no idea.  I've shared some with some of you, but all of it with none of you.  I'm sure Jack would have completely different reasons for why we split than I do.  When it comes down to it, I think Jack and I are both great people as individuals, but when we are together we are completely toxic.  That doesn't make for a happy home.

Oh, that happy home?  Unfortunately for me, the home is all in my name.  Jack was able to walk out without a care or concern for it (although he feels this is unfortunate on his end... he would have loved for it to be the other way around).  So, I'm left with a huge house for myself and my dog and the financial burden of it as well.  Don't get me wrong; I love being a homeowner.  But when you pair up paying for a ginormous house I don't need with all of my other financial problems... this is where the Schwartz Shit Show begins.  Welcome.

Finances:  Remember when I didn't work for 10 months and used to blog daily?  That's where it began.  Debt can build up quickly.  I have a mortgage, I have credit cards, I have a $4000 knee replacement for my dog and all of those other lovely bills.  Bills, bills, bills... blech.  I know you all know how that goes, so I won't be using this blog to play the martyr over my financial woes, though they are very real and will very likely make me forclose on my home eventually... until then, I'm planted.  Oh, I should add, I'm in quite possibly the most underpaid and underappreciated field ever: social work.  Just to give you a feel for how serious my problem really is.

The dog... ugh this was such a tough one.  For months Jack and I fought tooth and nail about who was taking Kaiah when he moved out.  She was really the only "possession" either of us cared to have.  In the end, she is with me, and it's actually really sad.  Jack and I didn't work for many reasons but in the end, I feel like I'm the evil one because I gained got stuck with the home we were trying to create and was lucky enough to get the dog that we had been raising since she was only a few weeks old.  You know what?  It absolutely broke my heart.  Yes, I was lucky to gain her, but I had to take her from Jack.  That makes me cry right now thinking about it.  In the end he didn't fight with me for her.  He stated that it would be best for Kai to be in the house than for her to be stuck in an apartment with him.  Even if we hated each other toward the end, the one thing that Jack always loved and treated right was Kaiah.  It killed me a little bit.  I made a point to not be there when Jack finally left, not because I didn't want to say "goodbye" but because I didn't want to have to see him say "goodbye" to her.  She waited on the doorstep EVERY DAY for weeks at 4:00 waiting for him to come home from work.  She is just now realizing that he's not coming back.  Maybe I'm too emotionally attached to her, but it killed me having to watch that and having to tell her that it was okay.  I can't even imagine what it would be like to be a parent in a divorce.  I still can't say "dad" around Kaiah without her ears perking up and her getting excited.

Oh... did you think that was the end?  That would be INCORRECT!

I'm gonna add a quick lil' note here to tell you that I'm not even going to delve in to my work problems.  There are too many eyes on the internet.  I don't have bad things to say about my place of work, more so just my personal thoughts and feelings regarding my choice of profession.  Everyone has work complaints, right?  Really it's another blog for another day.

So, how am I?  Why, thank you for asking!  I'm an emotional trainwreck.  Today has been the day from hell.  I've dealt with the insurance agency of some bitch who backed in to my car and is trying to blame me for it.  The only want to pay me 80% of the damages.  Bull shit. 

Today I've also dealt with receiving not-so-lovely news from my doctor.  I've filled a brand new lifetime prescription for it.  Hypothyroidism.  For life.  Literally.  I received another lovely blow from my doctor regarding the unlikelihood of my ever having children... not impossible, but not likely. 

I've dealt with a few other things, but they were more the result of my being an insecure, emotionally raw being today, so I'll keep that to myself.

Let's see... what other shitty things are happening with me?  Hmmm...  I think that covers it pretty well.  (Except I forgot to mention that Jack got to take the good couches, the PS3 AND every dvd player in the house... making life less entertaining for me!)

Good stuff?  Well, how about we start with the in-the-middle stuff.  Some of you may be asking, "Is there a new man in your life?"  Great question folks.  I don't know.  There is, but there isn't.  It's not really a public knowledge relationship, though some of our mutual friends know about us.  There's no definition on it, though it's been "going on" since May.  I guess you'd say we're... yeah, I don't even know.  This is why it's in my "in-the-middle stuff" category.  I don't know what we are or what we're doing so... yep.  He and I have been able to support each other through very tough times for both of us lately and what we "are/are not" works for us right now. I'm not going to go further in to it because, again, there is another party involved and he is entitled to that privacy as well. 

The good stuff:  I've met a lot of people over the last 3 months that I'm now glad to call my friends.  I've not really had a chance to let new people help me cope as much as I have over the last few months.  I've always depended on my life-long friends for that.  Don't get me wrong; my long-time friends have been very supportive of me as well.  I'm just saying that I am surprised at the support I've received from new friends.  I love and appreciate you all.  You know if you've been there for me over the past few months, so I don't feel that I need to name names.  Thank you.

I've also had a wedding-filled summer that has been amazing.  I would like to take the time to apologize, however, because my summer was SO filled with weddings, I've not made it to several and I've not made it to a lot of other events because of weddings.  It's hard to make decisions about who to be with and for what reasons and what event is more important than the next.  Thank you for loving me even if I didn't make it to a special day for you.

Last, but definitely not least, my family.  The thing I've always appreciated most about my parents: they let me make my mistakes and learn from them.  Okay... scratch that.  I can't really say that I've ALWAYS appreciated that, but I really do now.  My parents have always scolded me and they've always taught me right from wrong and they've always told me when I've messed up and what I should have done instead, but after doing so, they let me move on.  They let me try to fix it and they try to help if they can.  I love you both for that.  Thank you.  My little sister.  The little bitch.  We've had moments where we've wanted to tear off the other's face.  She roundhouse kicked through a french glass door 'cause I stole her sparkler.  Haha... I love her.  She is my rock and will listen to me bitch about anything.  My brothers... ah, my brothers.  If I need comedic relief, I know who to call.  I also know who to call if I need to be grilled/teased.  I thought we were supposed to outgrow that...

Anyway, I know this is more information that any of you ever needed to know about my life.  At least now my extended family can know the facts, my facebookers can realize the truths and my tweeters can understand my constant bitchy nature.  It's not an excuse... just an explanation.  Sorry to offend... but not really.  I gave you a disclaimer.

Don't Get Excited

I'm not quite making my return to the blogging world yet, but damn it, this made me tear up so I'm sharing it.  I love cute dads.

Other blog?

That's right.  I may not be blogging HERE, but I blogged on my other blog.  New book review.  Check it here.

I promised to blog about this but I'm not happy about it...

Here's a link to win a fabulous Le Creuset piece!

I don't want to share and this is probably more of a hindrance to my chance to win than an increase, but alas, here's the link:

Bentobloggy

Love

I love some Paramore the way it is, but I also love this... especially the dog.  :)

LOVE it!

Alpacas With Post-Punk Hair

It is what it is and I love it.

How do you not love some Dexter?

Can't help it.  I love him.  I would probably marry Michael C. Hall... and maybe even Dexter Morgan, if he were a real person.  I think I could look past all of the murders and whatnot. 

So, what's Dexter's favorite Christmas song?

P90X Update

I'm back on the P90X wagon.  It wasn't like I really meant to quit, but when the only room in your house that you have ample space to workout in, literally has the floor torn out, it is kind of hard to keep up the routine.  So, I did the first 3 1/2 weeks of P90X Lean (the more cardio, aerobic focused program), quit for 3 weeks, and am currently back to it.  I wasn't sure if it were better to pick up where I left off or restart the program.  I opted for restarting.  I am now currently starting week 4 of the P90X Lean program.

Here's the thing:  I think I am becoming slightly obsessed.  If it gets to be midnight and I haven't found time in my busy schedule to complete my workout, I do it then.  At midnight.  The day we got our carpet put in the basement, I skipped doing my Legs & Back routine because the carpet guys were in there all day and we moved furniture back in (which I figured really could COUNT as my legs and back workout), but I felt guilty as all get out the entire time I tried to fall asleep that night, even in to the next morning.  The thought of skipping a day makes me feel guilty.  I can't let my main man, Tony Horton, down!

Here's some good news:  I have lost 13.8 lbs in the first 3 weeks!  Really it's probably closer to 15 lbs., since I've eaten and apple and steamed rice and am fully clothed today (Yes, I LITERALLY just weighed myself), and the first time I weighed myself before starting it was first thing in the morning, wearing next to nil (sorry for any visual that may have occurred... yikes).  WOOT!  I know it will slow down tremendously as my body adjusts but 13.8 lbs. averages at 4.6 lbs. per week and that is definitely motivation enough to keep going!  Not that the thought of Tony Horton being disappointed in me isn't motivation enough. 

Do you all know the P90X program?  If not, I'm sorry because you have no idea what I'm talking about and are probably asking yourselves, who the H (F for my more vulgar friends) is Tony Horton?  He's the p90X guru, folks.  You can link to the P90X site at the top of my blog or here, if you want to know more about what I'm talking about.  I just always assume people know because there is a P90X infomercial on every six seconds.

Anyway, I'm off because I need to get in my YogaX before I go plan my afternoon counseling sessions and that shiz is 90 minutes long so I need to get to it! 

Can't Handle It...

Okay, so I know I haven't posted a REAL blog post in a LONG time but you HAVE to watch this video.  I get really annoyed by cutesy animal videos, but seriously... SERIOUSLY.  Just watch it.

Guess what I wear as a hat?

A lentil. 

I love this.

The Great Outdoors that is the Greater South Side

*Disclaimer:  This post contains graphic gory disgusting details toward the end.

 I thought I would take a little time today to enlighten you all as to the fantastic woodland creatures that you can all meet if you come visit.  You know you all need an outdoor adventure, so COME ON!


Orbil



As any of you who are facebook or twitter followers know, I recently made friends with a darling Orb Weaver!  He spun new webs outside my front door every night.  He has now moved to the back door.  How do I know that he is the same one, you may ask... I just do!  He's special!  Here is a really crappy photo of him.

Jack and friend... I'm very aware that
he could probably live inside of Jack's beard.

Jack and I now have a new friend that moved in close to our house!  Want to meet him?  He doesn't have a name, and frankly, I haven't seen him except for the ONE time... but as far as I'm concerned, he's a buddy.

Releasing our new buddy in to the wild...
 that is, a bush in front of our house!

I believe I may have previously mentioned the squirrel family that we have living in our trees as well.  If not, we have several squirrels that live here.  Kaiah hates them because they tease her.  She'll chase them up the tree and they'll get to a branch, just barely above Kaiah's reach and will chatter at her.  I honestly think they are mocking her.

(I will also add that there are a variety of birds and bunnies and this guy that live here, but they aren't super news-worthy.)

Now, on to the real story.  Shortly after I discovered the Orb Weaver, I also discovered that there are two owls living in our pine tree.  I went outside with Kaiah one night and I heard this noise that I could only assume was the collaborative noise of 3 dying dogs.  Well, all of a sudden, I look up because I hear a rustling and an owl swooped out of the tree, right at my head!  As soon as it got across the street, I could hear it "who whoing" back and forth with the remaining owl in the tree.  I assumed since I heard the noise no longer that it was some weird mating noise or conversation the two were having before the dear friends parted ways.  This all happened about 2-3 weeks ago.

This is where the story really starts.  About a week ago, I started scolding Kaiah when we went outside because she wouldn't leave the eave extension alone.  Then, a few days ago I started smelling what can only be referred to as "the smell".  I told Jack that there was something that was clearly dead in the eave extension.  He told me he checked and that there was nothing there.  BOY was he WRONG.  Finally after two days of the stench increasing, I forced Jack to take the extension out and check even though he ASSURED me it was just "stagnant water".  As soon as he pulled it off he goes, "oh... there's something in there all right". 

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT WAS?!?!?

A DEAD RACCOON!!!  A completely mushified decomposing pile of maggots, teeth and a tiny striped piece of tail!  DISGUSTING!  Jack tried to convince me it wasn't a raccoon but I know raccoon tail when I see it.   Sick.  It was seriously mush! 

What does this have to do with the owls you ask?  I have decided that the noise that I heard the night of the owls was actually that raccoon trying to free itself from my eave spout and the sound alarmed the owl and made it fly across the street!  How horrible is that?  Maybe I could have saved the probably rabid little dude, had I known!  Sad!

Okay, that is all for my nasty nature stories.  Here's a cute picture of Kaiah in her new tie-dyed bandana I got her at FarMar this weekend to replace all of the grossness!

Such a pretty girl!

A month later...

Wow.
It's been almost a month since I've blogged.
I'm aware of how ridiculous this is.
I've had a lot going on.
Tore up the basement.
I'm actually developing a caseload at work.
This means that I've had to work.
Several new diagnoses.  (Yay... NOT.)
Brought back the phrase "NOT".
You know, the uje.

I've also decided that I can break down to the first syllable of "usual" by saying "uje" in order to make it sound right.  Care to disagree with me?  You come up with a better solution.  (Saying the whole word is NOT an option.

Here's a picture to make up for the load of crap I've just made you read.



Just a lil' something to show you how upset I was by my "Texas Toast" which 
was actually a tiny slice o' bun.  I'm aware of how unflattering this picture is.
It still makes me laugh.  A lot.



What I'm Sportin'...




Microsherpa!  I just bought this blanket and LOVE it!



Must I explain?




I can't breathe without it!



Green Tea!  Coats my throat so nicely!



 




<> PJ pants and slippers!    

<> 

Sore ALL OVER!

  

GUYS... I think I'm sick.  : (

Mmmmm SNACKS!

So, this whole P90X with new diet thing has turned me on to a couple of new snacks in accordance with the new meals I've fallen in love with (which I shared with you in my last P90X blog. 

Let me also take some time to say that I am officially through my first 3 weeks of P90X.  Legs & Back absolutely wore me out for some reason (and then I still had to do that dreaded Ab Ripper X) yesterday.  I am SORE!    But guess what, people?!?!  I feel AWESOME!

Next week is my "chilled out" week, which... let's face it... isn't really chilled out at all.  However, I am excited for a new routine for the upcoming week.  THEN, after next week, I will start part deux of the program!  Exciting!  This will also give me a new routine for 3 weeks.  (Can't wait!  After this week I will be officially 1/3 of the way through my P90X Lean... then it will be on to P90X Classic, which means the addition of Plyometrics... yikes.)

Take a look see below for two of my new favorite snacks...

These are way yum... but guess what?
It turns out they are NOT so great for you
even if I did buy them in the health food market.
(Yes, they are sweet potato and beet chips!)

This however is FANTASTIC!  And good for you!  (Soy nuts + dried cranberries + pumpkin kernels + almonds = yumtastic!)

Everybody's NOT Fine!

Do not be deceived by the happiness on everyone's faces!

I just watched the most horribly terrible movie ever.  It was not a BAD movie.  It wasn't written poorly or bad in the sense of a review, but it was terrible in a sense of, I-never-want-to-see-it-again-because-of-how-it-made-me-feel terrible.  If that makes sense...

The movie was/is "Everybody's Fine".  If you haven't heard of it, it stars Robert DeNiro, Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale & Sam Rockwell.  It's about an older gentleman (DeNiro) who travels across the country to see his children.

The movie literally upset me from the very beginning.  SPOILER ALERT:  I have no intention of ruining the movie for anyone; you just will go in with more of a knowledge about the movie than I had going in (which was nil).

It starts out with a scene where DeNiro is shopping and is trying to spiffy up his home because all four of his kids will finally be coming to visit at the same time.  He buys wine, a grill, cleans the place up and is clearly looking forward to it.  Of course, everyone cancels.  Immediately I am upset because I have to see him all disappointed.

Moving forward, he decides to go visit them on his own.  Upon visiting, everyone shoves him back out the door because they don't want to discuss a certain event that is happening with one of his sons.  SO, I am constantly devastated by this because I can not handle seeing him get shoved out the door.  (It also makes you think about all of the times that you didn't make time for your family... but more about that in a little bit.)

Meanwhile, at one of the bus stations, the kid from "Empire Records", (you know him... "Stop calling me 'Warren'.  My name's not f*ckin' 'Warren'!"), jumps him and smashes his medication which he needs, because OF COURSE he has a health concern.  (That's not a MAJOR part of the movie but it's still upsetting.)

Then there is the climax.  I shall go no further as to not give too much away in case anyone wants to see it.

I found myself overly upset throughout the entire movie.  Like I said, the opening scene had me upset and I was sad (and bawling like a baby) throughout the entire movie; partially because of the movie's content, but more so because of how it made me reflect on my own life.

It really made me think about all of the times in my life when I haven't made time for someone, or have avoided a person just to avoid having to talk about a certain topic or event.  It made me think about all of the times I've cancelled plans because I was feeling lazy or didn't feel like talking to people.  You think, yeah, they'll be upset, but it's not a big deal if I'm not there.  The truth is, sometimes it IS a big deal.  Just because someone tells you that it's okay that you didn't make it; it doesn't mean that they weren't disappointed or upset by it.

We've all been disappointed and we've all had our feelings hurt.  Yes, you can't be there for everything.  You can't always make everyone happy (no matter how hard you try).  Yes, sometimes you do have to think about you and making time for yourself... but at what cost?  Is it better for you to sit around and watch a movie instead of going and playing cards with your grandparents for an afternoon?  Is it better for you to browse the Internet instead of picking up the phone and calling to chat with your mom or dad?   Yes, everyone needs "alone time", but think about all of the people that you know that have nothing but "alone time" and would love nothing more than to hear a loved one's voice on the other end of the phone.

As you can see, this movie really made me reflect on my life and decisions I've made in the past.  Sorry for being a sap today.

Get in touch with someone who loves you today.  You never know how much it will truly be appreciated.  It could make someone's day.  It doesn't cost any money; just a little bit of your time. 

Wine and and a good book?

I feel like kind of a loser sitting at home drinking a glass of red and reading a little of "The Catcher in the Rye", but you know what? I'm perfectly at peace with that. :)