March 4th

Today is Ollie's ninth Birthday. This is how the day was supposed to pan out for him

park,
breakfast
vet
beach, which would have been fun...it was low tide at noon
nap, which is always welcomed
dinner, another welcomed event
frozen turkey neck...b'day treat

This is what happened

Park, where he didn't want to be this morning. The snow is too wet and balls up between the pads in his feet. He is not a happy camper after a snow storm.
Breakfast, which he didn't want to eat after the park that he didn't want to be in.
Vet, where he didn't ask to be taken. He had to have his final blood tests and he is still there because they called me to suggest I leave him there longer so he could have his teeth cleaned. I agreed. This is about the time Ollie's hating me.
Got the quote
Missed the beach, because by the time he's done at the vet, the tide will be up and you can't have the dogs there unless the tide is low. Also, I was meeting a friend there with her dog and it wouldn't have been the same to go down without mine...
So now, I'm presuming I'll pick him up in a couple of hours and he'll be drowsy from the anesthetic, BUT he will have beautiful shiny teeth.
I think I'll save the turkey neck treat for tomorrow. On second thought, I think I might just move his birthday to tomorrow. If no one says anything, he'll never know.

Shhhh

Other than that, I think someone has been approved to assume the lease on my car. I used this website. It's awesome...you can get practically any car, especially in this market. My car had been posted for maybe 12 hours before I had an interested party contact me. As I don't have the luxury of time, I took the first offer and now just have to wait for the paperwork to go through.
This is a HUGE load off my mind.

I'm fighting a chest infection, which I AM going to win. This is not going to turn into bronchitis. I have too much to do thins month to get sick....this includes lots of good bye drinks and dinners, which are all bitter sweet.

Now, I'm going back to looking through my clothes. Pulling the ones I'm never going to wear again and packing the lucky ones that will be moving with me.

Later....

I'm Thinking Snow Day

In the ten years I've been in the States, this winter has been the coldest and with the most snow. I suppose, being my last one, I shouldn't complain.

We woke up this morning...we, being Ollie and me...to a foot (30.5 cm for those of you who are metric) of snow outside my front door and they're saying at least another 4 inches before it stops later this afternoon.

Ollie's not a fan of SO much snow because it gets stuck in his feet and he can't walk, but he looks cute, and that's what matters!

Not sure I'm going anywhere in my car today!

Here I am...

I've been SO boring the past few weeks, I had nothing fun to blog about.

Things that have happened since the last time we met...

* A woman gave birth to octuplets. Adding to her already large family of six kids...now it's WAY too big. I have no doubt you're all up to date on this story. A lot of the media outlets here won't cover her any longer. It's sad for all the children, and the mother is incredibly selfish. She will never be "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" material.

* I stopped all insemination procedures. The next step is IVF and here in the US it isn't covered by my private health insurance (even though I pay $500/month!).

* We are in the beginning stages of the biggest snow storm of the season. When I wake up, there will be about a foot of snow on the ground and it's going to keep snowing all day Monday.

* I've decided to move back to Sydney. I started contemplating it when I was there in Sept/Oct last year and booked my ticket last week. I leave the first week of April and have an appointment with a Fertility Dr the week after I return.
March is going to fly by. After being here for ten years, I have SO much to organize.
- I have to find a moving company that I like...
- Ollie has to have his final blood tests next week. This after having the first ones in October. The quarantine process to bring animals into Australia is extremely stringent. I've spoken to the freight man at JFK who had to book him on the flight and has to approve all the paperwork.
- I need to find someone with good credit to assume the lease on my car. I'm going to be sad to give it up. I love my car, but it IS just a car and someone in my family has the same one, so hopefully I'll be able to borrow it now and again (was that subtle enough???)
- Anything I own that plugs into a wall has to be sold. Also my grill, bike, espresso machine, couch and a couple of other things. An email went out to everyone letting them know, although a couple of friends have dibs on some pieces. Craigslist, you're all thinking...and I hear you, but I really don't want strangers coming over when I'm here alone.
- The girls at work have been very supportive and most are sad I'm leaving...but they'll have a reason to visit Australia now! I've finally found a great group of girls, most of whom are my age and I love going to work every day, but I need to go back to my roots...my family and friends. I know it's the right thing to do.

It's funny how when I've told people I'm going, they suddenly HAVE to see me, especially guys. One of them told me a couple of weeks ago, when we were out that although he doesn't see me often, now I'm not living in the City, it's nice to know I'm not that far...and still in the same country!!! Another is now single and is finally ready to be with me. I told him he has horrible timing and I'm not not leaving because of this. He understands and I'll see whether he does what he said he will do...I'll let you know what it is, if he does.
There are a couple of other wrenches that have been thrown at me to see whether I'd change my mind, but I'm not. My ticket is booked, I need to get pregnant...I'm leaving.

I'm back to blogging and will keep you up to date with the moving and farewelling drinks and dinners.

N x

Cleanse

Last week I did a three day detox juice cleanse with most of the girls I work with. It was awesome, and addictive!!! We did it through a raw food cafe in Rye, NY.

Coconut water, a green juice, electrolight lemonade, a blended soup, a green salad and an almond milk...but I don't eat nuts, so my milk was substituted for another green juice. I wasn't hungry at all and other than the caffeine headache, I loved it. We all did, one of the girls even lost 7lbs.

The girls who didn't do it first time around, are doing it this week and some of the girls who DID do it, are doing it again. It really is addictive. I feel SO great and would love to do another 3 days...and I think I might after my Birthday, next week.

Happy New Year

2008 ended (thankfully) with neither pomp nor circumstance. It's last few weeks were actually rather uneventful....

No pregnancy
A couple of dates I'd rather forget
Lots of work
Fun Holiday drinks/dinners with friends
and a Ponzi Scheme

2009 began with a thump....literally....I drove over a pot hole on my way home last night and, consequently, have a flat tire.

I met friends for New Year's Eve dinner in NY, then a party in Jersey. I had planned on staying at my ex husband's seeing as he's away and I could take Ollie with me. I'd driven in during the snow storm in the afternoon, got Ollie settled and got myself spruced up for some fun and frivolity. I must say, I'm not a huge fan of NYE, especially in NYC....it turns into amateur hour, but I had friends in from out of town, and would have gone anywhere to spend time with them.

I got back to the apartment and felt weird staying there, so I packed up my stuff and Ollie and I drove home at 2am. I'm usually good at spotting pot holes, before I drive over them, but this one just appeared out of nowhere!!! As soon as I'd run over it, I knew, but it took a while for the tire pressure light to come on and by that time, I was, thankfully, just about home. It was about 10 degrees F and I was NOT going to get out and walk, so I limped the car home.

I've organized for it to be towed to the dealership in the morning, but today, I'm stuck at home. Thank goodness I have homemade soup in the freezer.

May 2009 be a wonderful, healthy and prosperous year for everyone...

YUM

I made kick-ass roasted butternut squash soup tonight. It's the first time I've ever made it!!! I roasted the squash first in the oven (obviously) with my new favorite ingredient....coconut oil.

Just wanted to share this news....

More about the last post

After some comments and re reading about my date, I need to reiterate a couple of points....

I'm not a stingy bitch - I DID offer to pay for dinner, but he wouldn't hear of it. I also offered to pay for gas (petrol) because the light was on when we drove into Manhattan, but he assured me we would make it. We did...

I was kidding about the earrings. I really did get them, but being pissed because he didn't notice, that part was a joke.

Anyway, he's away for the first part of this week, but we'll probably go out again. I'll give him a second chance!!!