I realized something recently.
It's been 20 years.
20 years, pretty much to the month, that I met Crystal C. Fortunately for her (and me, really), all my incriminating photos are stashed somewhere back in the States.
We met in 5th grade, and became friends pretty much immediately. We were both outsiders. She'd just moved to the school, and me, I'd been labelled a nerd long ago. Fortunately for me, she was a geek, too. I remember Mrs. Roberts, our 5th grade teacher, praising her for pronouncing difficult words correctly.
She only lived a few streets away (our parents still live in the same houses today). I can't tell you what her phone number is today, but I do still remember her parents' phone number. We often rode our bikes over to each other's home, we had sleep overs, I remember numerous Italian family gatherings at her place (I got a number of lessons on how to spell the difficult Italian last name). We played softball together for years. We sat together on the school bus - usually talking about our braces (seriously).
The first time I kissed a boy was at a Halloween party she held. At 15, when my mother gave me permission to get my ears pierced, it was Crystal who came with us - on Christmas eve no less. And at 17, we both signed release forms swearing we were 18, and shared a second piercing between us (left ear).
It was she and I who slipped down to the Flats one night, in disobedience to my father, and we and our daring selves ate at TGI Friday's there on the riverbank. (I know, big risk takers, heheheh - the Flats is a hot spot for night clubs, etc. in Cleveland and at times has been pretty rough).
In college, after she'd moved to Rhode Island, she would drive the 12 hours out to pick me up, turn around and we'd spend the weekend together in Rhode Island, just to turn back around and drive back to Ohio again. In those brief weekends, I was introduced to many of the wonders of fresh seafood - clam chowder, lobster - and another crazy Italian family (her now in-laws, heheheh).
I flew back from Quebec to be the maid-of-honor at her wedding. She did another crazy driving stint to drive out to Ohio for mine.
And now, 20 years later, what are we talking about? Having babies. We've gone all the way from orthodontia to obstetrics - and pretty much everything in between. Here's to you, Crys.
(and yes, we had the split heart Be/Fri and St/Ends necklaces)
It is 12:14 a.m. Sunday after work and i just wanted to let you fellow Buckeye fans know that OSU conquered Iowa like 48-17 this evening. I was watching the news and am really excited for the team that is and has been numero uno ranked in thew nation all season long.
I did my first intubation tonite on a full code in the ER. It, the code, was nasty but I do feel pretty good about my part. My associate Tina was there to guide me and it went pretty well. I won't go into any details about the full arrest as it is just too icky to describe.
Next Friday I interview for a staff therapist position in the Cleveland Clinic's Cardio-thoracic Anaesthesia unit's respiratory doepartment. It is the top heart center in the nation. I am excited and yet don't know if i'll go to work there or not yet. I am still trying to stay by Mommy yet as much as possible. We'll see if i have to make a hard decision if they offer me the job. Gosh, life can be a mess of difficulties some times.
Well, Papa, I certainly hear you about life being a mess of difficulties some times!!! Congratulations on your intubation and good luck with the interview. I'm sure the Buckeyes are making some of our friends back home very happy 'bout now :-)
You went and got that second piercing when you were 17?!?!? and I didn't blow a gasket??!? Of course, that year I had a whole lot going on in my life, didn't I? Still, I remember feeling pretty okay about it. I guess I have to give myself more credit for being sane than I have been.
Actually, Maman, you did blow a gasket. Which I totally didn't understand, because YOU had a second piercing! Of course, by blowing a gasket I mean that you briefly let me know you were upset and did not approve and then never mentioned it again.
True, I did have a second piercing, which I got at the ripe old age of thirty something, which now sounds quite young to me. Or was I almost forty? I can't even remember anymore. I think I may have done it after Popop died.
wow. The trip down amnesia lane. At Friday's, we dined on the only thing we could afford ... a toasted baguette with roasted brie and peanut oil. Pretty decadent considering that I was living in my own apartment, and raking in the huge $8/hr salary from Dillard's! (anyone want me to dress you up in a Polo/Ralph Lauren men's outfit? I can probably still do it heheheh)
Wow. It has been 20 years. But my 2nd piercing is still in use (and the third and the 4th....), the memories are still wonderful ... and the seafood is still fresh here! Mara, I still do the crazy roadtrips .... winkwink. :)
Oh, I almost forgot .... incriminating photos? mwahhahahaaaaah. Oh yeah. I've got some of those! Something about Brett Borovic .... and you gazing at me at some party held in the glamourous setting of my parents' garage(probably wondering when I would move out of my version of teenaged goth-chic). Don't worry. I'll still have you home at a reasonable time. ;)
Hey Crys, did you know he's in a band? In Cleveland? Yes, I found him on the internet. I'm that lame. I just really, really hope that when someone Google searches for him, this my blog doesn't now come up on the first page!!!
oooh...... heeheehee. THAT would be funny. MY FAULT ... but funny. Wow, I'll have to look him up. Speaking of google searches (I do them frequently on my lunch breaks), look up Brian P. It seems he's really made/making a great name for himself! love ya!
Hahaha! I saw that, too! Good for him!
Mara, actually a bit of editorial. The praise for the difficult word was actually in 6th grade, and came from Mr. Gnad. (you know, the one, who at 6th grade camp breakfast would add about a quarter of a cup of coffee to his already almost full cup of milk and call it his morning coffee?)
The word: SUPERLATIVE. Our long-haired English teacher seemed to be shocked that I did not instinctively (mis)pronouce "sooper-LA-tive".
I don't know ... I'd never come across the word before, and took a risk ... potentially making a fool of myself (not that that was unusual then ... or now, for that matter). Luckily, my risk paid off for me at that time, and I pronounced it correctly without hesitation. (For those of you who don't know me, yes, these are the kinds of crazy memories that continue to muddle my brain for 20+ years. I don't know why. For those of you who DO know me ... well, you're not surprised.) :)
Mara! That is SOOOO special... having a loving friend you've known since childhood. Not everyone has that! I lost contact with my childhood friends, and it's such a shame :(
Sending you big hugs from across a big ocean. By the way, you're coming to Chicago???
Yup, that's the plan! Mark wants to study medicine, and there's a program at Northwestern specifically to prepare post-bachelor students get their pre-med requirements. Only program in the country that we found that does that in just one year. As Mark is an alum - double bonus.
Hi Mara, Hi Mark, Hi Liam. I know I havent written or called much but I really wanted to tell you congrats on a beautiful child. Hope all is well. Peace.
I was very pleased to find this site.I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.
This is definitely an exceptionally awesome piece of writing, while I was going through this I could not help but agree with you. I am going to include your blog to my set of favorites and i also look ahead to reading your other blog posts. Carry on the good work, this is amongst the better blogs on the net.
I am not so sure I am quick to agree. On one hand, I faithfully disagree with your statements and on the other hand I kinda get you. Is there something else you would to give us?
I am definitely bookmarking this page and sharing it with my friends. Well done!!! Love the douchebag vids too! AWESOME
I would have thought Tropicana is new/old shitstain of a logo would have gotten worst identity?- If your complete model is pressured to go back on the prior come to feel, the individuals who created it need to really suck.
I am glad to be a visitant of this perfect weblog ! , appreciate it for this rare information!
thanks to the author for taking his time on this one.
Came across your site whilst surfing on my new Ipad. Site is really nice but for some reason it appears to be slightly out of alignment at the top
Hello, We have a Writing Magazine in Spain and I like to start selling it over the borders. Wich countries do you recommend? Thanks
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly comeback.
did you write this yourself?
oo snaps! you're a really good writer!
I have discovered this site very useful. Now i've higher concept on my auto insurance.Amazing! Picture looking yahoo and google for hours just for this and i ultimately think it's in this article!
greetings, I just wanted to comment and say that I was really impressed with your blog. Keep up the good work! You are a really talented writer and it shows
It is my pleasure to check out your article and to enjoy your blog entries. All of them make sense and are very helpful. Have a good day.
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be actually something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and very broad for me. I'm looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
I found about this info several days ago in another page and the leading tips that you bring up here are fairly alike
Hi! Good read i think your page is outstanding with wonderful content which i like to add to my bookmarks. Thank you.
Thanks to this post, I discovered the solution I needed to cure my problem. I will keep you informed of my progress. Nice blog by the way.
Been reading this website for a few days now. It was high quality and specific information. BTW, I love your blog template as well. I enjoyed reading it and hopefully you will write more soon. Do you have a newsletter?
It is my pleasure to visit your blog and to appreciate your articles. All of them make sense and are very valuable. Have a good day.
Hi webmaster and commenters ! The website was absolutely wonderful! Lots of great knowledge and creative thoughts, both of which are welcome! Keep 'em coming. you all do such a really good job at such Concepts. can't tell you how much I appreciate all you do!
One of the most convenient websites I have found for knowledge within this specific niche market. I'll be coming back constantly for new posts.
This is really some good information. Does it really need to be put that way though? I don't mind it too much, but don't you think some people might take offense? Not saying I do, just saying it may need to be changed to avoid comment drama. Nonetheless good post.
Hello there. This is a remarkable page. I might e-mail this to my friends. I found this website while searching on internet. I'll be sure to come back. thank you for sharing.
superb blog & writing skills. you make this look easy lol. Keep up the great work I'll be back to read more of your posts later my friend!
This is getting a bit more subjective, however this is a great blog.keep up the good work.
Chicago is the biggest urban center in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city retains its status as a most important place for business. With many journey attractions is it must visit for holidays with yourself. By
Interesting approach towards this. Im curious to think what type of impact this would have globally? There are times when things like this begin to have global expansion and frustration. Ill check back to see what you have to say.
I do agree with all the ideas you've offered on your post. They're very convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are very short for newbies. Could you please extend them a bit from subsequent time? Thanks for the post.
That is really good info. Like it a lot.
Badass post guy it will be cool to check out the rest of the site
This is absolutely a topic thats close to me so Im pleased that you simply wrote about it. Im also pleased that you did the subject some justice. Not merely do you know a great deal about it, you know how you can present in a way that folks will want to read a lot more. Im so pleased to know somebody like you exists on the web.
Great examine. There is currently very a lot of information about th is subject around the net and some are most defintely much better than others. You've got caught the detail right here just ideal which makes for any refreshing transform ??¨?C thanks.
Barcelona is the major and the most populous city of Catalonia and the second biggest city in Spain, after Madrid. Barcelona is today one of the world's leading holiday, and its influences in science and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's most important global cities. FC Barcelona is a sports organization best known worldwide for its football team, one of the largest in Europe. Discover most beautifully places of Barcelona ... with alone ...
Hello there! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this site? I'm getting tired of Wordpress because I've had issues with hackers and I'm looking at alternatives for another platform. I would be awesome if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
Admiring the time and energy you put into your website and detailed information you present. It's nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn't the same unwanted rehashed information. Great read! I've bookmarked your site and I'm including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up! I'll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back in the future. All the best
I want to encourage my friends here to visit this very cool blog!
Hey I am so thrilled I found your web site, I really found you by accident, while I was browsing on Askjeeve for something else, Regardless I am here now and would just like to say thanks for a remarkable post and a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the moment but I have book-marked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the fantastic job.
It's a pity you don't have a donate button! I'd without a doubt donate to this fantastic blog! I guess for now i'll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to new updates and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group. Chat soon!
As I website possessor I believe the content material here is rattling fantastic , appreciate it for your hard work. You should keep it up forever! Best of luck.
Zune and iPod: Most people compare the Zune to the Touch, but after seeing how slim and surprisingly small and light it is, I consider it to be a rather unique hybrid that combines qualities of both the Touch and the Nano. It's very colorful and lovely OLED screen is slightly smaller than the touch screen, but the player itself feels quite a bit smaller and lighter. It weighs about 2/3 as much, and is noticeably smaller in width and height, while being just a hair thicker.
eAavtmCb Valium
What a marked send! Offer you for sharing it on your site.I've been visiting your blog suited for a while conditions and I many times summon up a marvel in your recent posts. Thanks for sharing.
I'll gear this review to 2 types of people: current Zune owners who are considering an upgrade, and people trying to decide between a Zune and an iPod. (There are other players worth considering out there, like the Sony Walkman X, but I hope this gives you enough info to make an informed decision of the Zune vs players other than the iPod line as well.)
Sorry for the huge review, but I'm really loving the new Zune, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it's the right choice for you.
I'll gear this review to 2 types of people: current Zune owners who are considering an upgrade, and people trying to decide between a Zune and an iPod. (There are other players worth considering out there, like the Sony Walkman X, but I hope this gives you enough info to make an informed decision of the Zune vs players other than the iPod line as well.)
The new Zune browser is surprisingly good, but not as good as the iPod's. It works well, but isn't as fast as Safari, and has a clunkier interface. If you occasionally plan on using the web browser that's not an issue, but if you're planning to browse the web alot from your PMP then the iPod's larger screen and better browser may be important.
I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this web site. I'm hoping the same high-grade website post from you in the upcoming also. In fact your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own website now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a great example of it.
Wow! This can be one particular of the most beneficial blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Basically Magnificent. I am also a specialist in this topic so I can understand your effort.
obviously like your web-site but you need to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts
Be/Fri - Your Mama Is Dead great ideas for this world!