Phew...he signed!

The internets have been all a-buzz about "will he" or "won't he" about if Jason Varitek with re-sign with the team or not. Last year, Tek made $10 million dollars...and declined arbitration and entered free agency.

He hoped to be making the same or more money...and wanted a 4 year deal. Issues with that? Well...one, he had the worst offensive season of his career. Two, he is 37 and not getting any younger. Three, his agent is officially the devil and played games with the Sox in terms of Mark Teixiera. Four, when declining arbitration is made any other team have to give up a first round draft pick to take him. Five, he has said openly he wants to return and retire with the Sox.

So..after a bad ecomony and some bad advice from his agent...the devil...Tek was not offered a bunch of money over the next 4 years. Tek was offered 5 million dollars for 2009 (which in this day and age...umm...nothing to sneeze at)...and an option for 2010 for 5 million dollars. Tek and his agent...once again...the devil...were given until today to decide. They hemmed and hawed...and even made statements about considering retirement instead of playing.

But when it came down to it...our captain of the team did what he knew and hoped he would do. He signed the contract. I know many fans got soured on the process, but I am not one of them. I am so happy and relieved that Tek is going to be with Boston for at least the next year, if not the year after. The pitchers love him...all the players do.

So...welcome back Captain...can't wait to see him behind the plate on opening day.

yadda yadda yadda...

Wow...how sucktastic is my blog these days....that the only people who leave comments are people putting annoying ads on here that I have to log on and delete. Whoo hoo! If you want an ad on my blog...contact me and pay for it. This isn't free advertising for whatever you are selling. Plus...barely anyone reads here anyways, so I am not sure who you think is going to be jumping to buy your weight loss pills.

Oh well, it's no one's fault but my own. I stopped blogging for months at a time...and I also stopped commenting on other people's blogs for a while. So, what's fair...is fair.

I was thinking of getting a domain name and a wordpress blog, but for now...I think I am tabling it. The idea of paying to write for no one to read it...just doesn't make a lot of sense...ya know?

I plan on spending some more time here...and going back to my old philosophy of writing for me, for what interests me. I also plan on updating it more often...even if it is annoying dribble that no one else but me cares about. I like the idea of having a record of what is going on in my life. I know I've spent time reading my blog entries from year's past and enjoyed or even cringed at reliving those experiences.

And no...I am not posting this to get people to comment. Just posting my frustrationg about how much lack of blogging led naturally...to a lack of people checking in on my blog. Meh.

yawns...

So, it's 11:15pm...I'd like to be sleeping. I'd like my head to be resting on my pillow. Unfortunately, my next door neighbor secretly wants to be in a really bad band...and it playing some crappy music really loudly. Aurghh!!!

Instead of sleeping...I'll watch an episode of the Real World. It's just as good, eh?

Tomorrow is monday already? Sheesh...

Happy Sunday y'all....

Phew...I just got done with 40 minutes on the elliptical. It's amazing how for so long I couldn't motivate myself to get on the thing....it was basically just decoration. And all in a sudden, I am full of my elliptical love again.

What else to report? I hung out with some old and dear friends from high school last night. I ran into an old friend at the grocery store and got invited to another friend's house warming/Welcome Obama party. I was so glad I went. I was able to see a lot of people I haven't seen since high school. When I moved back home...I didn't know who was still local and lost touch with a lot of people. It was a good time had by all.

I did stay out way too late. I didn't get home until midnight...and I am usually getting ready for bed no later than 10pm because I live like a grandma. Seriously...I do. I am up no later than 7am...usually 6am. I eat dinner at 5pm...and rarely stay up after 10pm. I know...your jealous of my killer life. It was good to break free of my grandma lifestyle for a night though. Good times. Good times.

Even though...as a result, I dissed god and didn't go to church this morning. I set my alarm, but immediately shut it off when it began bellowing at me. I figure...I'll make it up to god next week.

oh..the love returns!

Ahh...I just got off my rusty trusty elliptical machine. I love the elliptical...seriously. I think it's the best piece of workout equipment I've ever had. I adore it. If I could get away with it, I'd marry it.

But, sadly...I had neglected it for a long time. I just got out of the habit of hopping on and running on it. I got in the mood for a little elliptical time and went to town. I planned on just going for 20 minutes or so...but once I started, I kept going. I ended up going for 50 minutes. And so my love of my elliptical begins again.

Now comes the hard part...getting up early again. I am going to set my alarm for 5:30am or 6am...and run while I watch the morning news. The only problem has been...actually getting out of my warm bed at 6am.

I will do it though....I WILL!

Spring training...is right around the corner!

Ah, I haven't written about my lovely Red Sox for a while....since basically the season has been over. You know what is funny...and maybe a tad pathetic is that I am probably a more obsessed baseball fan during the offseason than when them boys are actually playing. See...during the season, I have the games and the ebb and flow to keep me going. But the offseason....it's just a long, evil, mean tease. Constantly wondering what is going to change...what is going to happen. I usually read the on going updates and drama on Boston Globe's website. I read numerous Red Sox blogs and see if they know stuff I don't know.

So...all in all...what has happened this off season so far with the boys known as the Boston Red Sox. Not a huge amount. Of course there was the drama with "Will He/Won't He Come to the Sox" with Mark Teixeira. Of course, the Evil Empire of the Yankees got him. This of course sounds like complete hindsight, but I always thought the Yankees would snag him. They had a gaping hole at first base...and were looking to upgrade. Teixiera said he wanted to play on the east coast and wanted to play for a team that would be a World Series contender. So, the Yankees fit. Now, of course...since his agent is the devil...aka...Scott Boras...it went down the Sox looking like fools. But all in all...I am okay with it. We didn't need a first baseman and were willing to make room for him. I'll miss his bat, but I would have missed Mikey Lowell more.

And without spending 180 mil on one guy...the Sox were able to spread that money around to a lot of people. They locked Pedroia into a 6 year deal...locked Youkilis into a 4 year deal with an option for 5. They were able to bring Brad Penny, John Smoltz and Rocco Baldelli (swoons) to the team...for little money up front.

And they did resign the man I call my baseball boyfriend, Jonathan Papelbon, to a one year deal worth $6.25 million. They say they are working on a long term deal, but well...I wouldn't hold your breath.

We know the Yankees reloaded big time...and the Rays are still a formidable presence in the AL East, given what they did last year. People are saying the Red Sox will be finishing 3rd this year in the AL East and won't make the playoffs.

Of course...I am a die hard fan. But I wouldn't bet against the team. The Yankees spent a half a billion dollars...and only made their team marginally better. And last year, they sucked a lot. The Red Sox have been smart so far...spending money wisely and if things work out, they are a team to be watched. Their bullpen is top notch, their starting rotation is crazy good...and if they don't suffer injuries like last year, I think the team looks playoffs bound.

Ah...is it April already. I cannot wait for opening day against the Tampa Bay Rays...show them a little revenge for snatching away our World Series dreams last year.

Let's go RED SOX....AND....

For the sake of all things holy and right...

RESIGN TEK!!!!

a moment in history

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

-Barack Obama

When I read those words yesterday...just reading them, I got teary eyed. I wish I had been able to watch the Inauguration live....but I read the transcript at work and then watched it when I got home. It's an amazing time in American history and without a doubt, Obama has challenges ahead of him, but if anyone has it in him to face the issues of today, I gotta believe that Obama is the guy.

P.S. Prayers go out to Ted Kennedy who suffered from a seizure at one of the luncheons yesterday. Hugs and healthy vibes being sent to him.

1/20/09....the day is finally here!

I was lucky enough to have the day off yesterday in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I felt like yesterday was 2 holidays. It was celebrating the legacy that is Martin Luther King Jr and what he gave to our country....and the second holiday is that yesterday was the official last day of GWB being in office. It's about time.

Ah, what a nice day it is, eh? As of noon, Obama will no longer be the President-Elect, but he'll actually be the President. I cannot wait. I wish I could be home today and watch the inauguration live. I'll DVR it, but it just won't be the same. I am so jealous of those people who are going to be down in DC and watching it right in front of their eyes.

Now, I don't think that all of our problems will be solved because Obama is now going to be our president, but I do believe that things will start to turn in the right direction. I have hope when I think of our country's leadership for the first time...since well...ever. It reminds me of the feeling I had when Clinton was elected....hopeful of the direction the country could take. Obama has a lot more work to do and his road will not be as easy, but I still have that same sense of hope and confidence.

Welcome Obama...the nation is waiting.

Get some FREE rice cakes...

Since it is January...and people are all about being healthy and working out and losing weight, I thought I would pass on this link to Quaker Rice Cakes.

I can remember when rice cakes were so disgusting...when they tasted like cardboard covered in saw dust. In the past few years, I have come to LOVE rice cakes. They are yummilicious. To me, they no longer taste like "health" foods....which you eat because they are good for you, but taste horrible.

So, click the link and try them out. You can get the chocolate or the cheese ones. I've had the chocolate ones before...and they are yummy. I am trying the cheese ones. I've also had the caramel drizzle ones before...which sadly, they aren't offering for free. But if you are at the store...try them out. They taste SO good. They taste like candy...seriously. Mmmm!

That's right...rice cakes taste like candy. I said it. I stand by it.

It's still cold...and I am turning my cold heart on VH1's Sober House!

One...it was NEGATIVE 22 degrees when I woke up this morning. That's crazy bananas, right? When I went to start my car this morning to go to work. Yep, it started...because my car is good to me. But the noise it made was flippin' hilarious. It sounded like a lawn mower when you start it. I was smart and let it warm up for 10 or 15 minutes before I headed out to work. I'd say that it was because I knew it was smart for good car maintenance, but I'll be honest...it was because I didn't want to drive to work in a freezing car with my hands on a steering wheel that felt like a block of ice.

Okay, enough about the cold. It's cold. Brrr. cold.

I just finished watching the first episode of VH1's Sober House. It is the reality spin off show to VH1's Celebrity Rehab. I now officially hate that show. I'm still gonna watch it...but I hate it.

Most people know that I work in the addictions/criminal justice field. I already had issues with Celebrity Rehab. I don't think that it is effective or even ethical to have people to go rehab and have cameras there. I don't think people can get what they need and get to the dark and ugly that is usually behind most addictions when people know that a camera is on them 24/7.

So, I grumbled when I heard they were putting their sober living on tv as well...especially since sober living can be so volatile. I recorded it on the dvr...and just finished the show. Ugh. One, this place is a trainwreck and doesn't function at all like the sober living/halfway houses I know. One, the men and women live together in a house. Umm, what? Not a good idea. I don't know of any successful halfway houses that are co-ed. Why don't you just make it a brothel to make it official. Ugh. Then, Stephen Adler...the drummer from Guns n Roses comes to the place higher than a kite. He comes in with heroin on him. They take what they can find, but they don't get all of it....which he hides and then takes. So, then he is high and with the other residents. He starts to react...and starts throwing up all over the place. Hmm...nice sober environment. Then...the woman in charge calls Dr. Drew...who I like to call Dr. Enabler.

He gets there...and asks the staff member if she would be okay with Stephen Adler staying in the house. Umm, what??? So, she says no...and thinks he should go back to treatment. Good call...she just doesn't win that argument. What is their decision....they decide to send him HOME with another staff member and bring him back the next day to the house. WTF??? He went to a treatment staff member's house for the night. That is just bananas. The halfway houses around here...you have to be 30 days sober in order to be in residence. If you relapse, you have to go back to treatment and show 30 days clean before you can come back...because if not, you are putting yourself and more importantly the other residents at risk.

The show is just about entertainment...and that is sad since people's addictions are not just for reality tv fodder. *rolls eyes* And the scenes from the upcoming season...show almost all the residents either drunk or high and then shows Stephen again being caught with heroin in the house. It shows someone else going into cardiac arrest from using. So, is this show and experience helping anyone??? Dr. Drew runs a rehab facility...he should know better, but sadly he is more interested in being on tv and being famous than he is in helping people battle their addiction.

Ugh....with a side of Ugh.

Brrr...and then some!

Oops...it's been a while. I've been cruising around and haven't spent much time looking at my own blog. You know, it's funny and ironic...that I check other people's blogs almost daily and am always anxious for them to update what is going on in their world, but then...I neglect my blog something fierce. Well, I guess it is because I am self-centered and lazy....and of course, I know what's going on in my world. lol

Let's see...it's cold as can be up here. And by cold, I mean...really really cold. I have lived in Upstate NY/New England almost all of my life (with a short stint in Indiana...which trust me, it's cold there too). So, yes...I expect cold. I am used to cold. And honestly, I prefer cold to hot and humid. You can throw a million layers on, but there is only so much you can tactfully take off.

But...when it gets to this level of cold. Come on now...it's ridiculous. This morning, it was 2 degrees when I woke up with a heavy wind. When you walk outside...the wind just brings a whopass of cold right through you. And tomorrow...let's check weather.com....it is going to be a high of 9 degrees and a low of NEGATIVE 11.

I wouldn't complain...oh wait, isn't that what I am doing right now...expect for that I want to start running again. I miss it...and I am not going to get myself back into the shape I want to be in without it. But, I am not someone who runs on a treadmill or a track...so I am an outside runner. I did it all winter long last year and want to start again. I don't really mind running in the cold...because after about 15 minutes, your muscles warm up and it is really quite comfortable. Except, the temp needs to be at least in the double digits for me to even consider it...so for the week coming up, I think I'm going to be running on the elliptical and forgetting that the outside world exists.

Let's see...what's going on other than it being BLEEPING cold. Umm, I hung out with 2 good friends over the weekend. It was nice to see them. We don't hang out nearly as much as we should. We all tend to make plans and let them fall through. We just hung out, chit chatted and then played some Nintendo Wii. If I had the money, I would sure like to buy a Wii. If you want to buy one for me...please feel free. It's just plain fun I tell ya.

Alright...that's enough of a mini-update for now. I am seriously considering upgrading my site to an actual domain....for all the non-readers I don't have. lol So, I had better get back into the habit of posting here if I am going to consider actually paying my hard earned cash to blog.

Hugs all...and stay warm out there.

Back at it...to work that is!

Today was my first day back from work from my Christmas/New Year vacation. Going back on a Friday was just bizarre. It felt like Friday and Monday at the same time.

All in all...the day went well and I wasn't as much in the weeds as I thought I would be. The weeks were pretty quiet when I was gone. The only downside....I was pretty tired. I had gotten used to going to bed and getting up whenever I felt like it. I kind of psyched myself out about having the alarm go off at 6am...so of course, I couldn't sleep. I tried to go to sleep at 10pm...nope, not tired. I was still awake at 11pm...at midnight...and yep, at 2am...I am still awake and watching some documentary on msnbc about prisons. I am not sure what time I actually fell asleep...I just know it was after 2am.

Let's see...anything else. Well, obviously, I am planning on spending more time blogging. I had gotten out of the habit of doing it...and in reality, I really like it. Even if it is pointless drivel...I like recounting my day and what is going on in my life. So, expect to see me more often around these parts.

And last but not least....like countless others before me, Facebook has become my new obsession. Seriously. I am constantly playing with it...and updating it. It's like a new toy I got for Christmas. The coolest thing is reconnecting with old friends that I haven't been in touch with for years and years, especially my college friends. You see, my college closed a couple of years after I graduated, so it's not like we ahve an active alumni association, etc. But yeah...I am loving Facebook and often spending way too much time there. So, if you don't see me here...you know you'll see me over there.

Happy Monday..err...Friday all! *winks*

Welcoming 2009....and wondering what it will bring!

2008 seems like it has flown right by...and here is another year upon us.

I am never one of those people who makes New Year's Resolutions because I think there are just made to be broken. I usually make these long winded lists of goals and things I want to work on.

This year, I have one main umbrella goal. I want to be more organized in my life....in all areas. I want my home to be less cluttered. I want to be more organized at work. I want to be more organized with my life and the plans I make.

All in all...I want my life to just be more organized. It's a constant goal of mine and something I struggle to do well. So, I am working on it....as the constant work in progress that I am.

Welcome 2009...and I am hoping you brings lots of good things with you.