The Decade List or How I Remember the '00's

Photo copyright MyrtleArt Photography

Jenni over at Absent Minded had the fabulous idea of making a list of memorable moments in the last decade being that it's the first decade of the new millennium. Thinking this was a great way to spend a Monday night, I decided to play. 


The Decade List:

• I graduated from high school.
• I graduated from college.
• I lived in Bremen, OH; Detroit, MI; Warszawa, Poland; Alexandria, VA; Farmington Hills, MI; and Dearborn, MI
• I met the other half of my soul
• I married him.
• I became the proud parent of a turtle named Sir Rupert Sheldon
• I adopted Mr. Reilly Patrick - my fave pound puppy!
• I worked about a million jobs.
• I was laid off...twice.
• I changed my name.
• I had two passports issued to me due to said name change.
• I lost a grandparent.
• I lost a good friend to stupidity and a shotgun.
• I laughed.
• I cried.
• I was the shoulder for others to cry on.
• I watched the WTC fall in the middle of campus with about 100 others.
• I joined a sorority.
• I hung out with fraternity boys that I now consider some of my very best friends.
• I watched so many friends get married and have babies.
• I watched a good friend get divorced.
• I made friends for life.
• I lost friends due to no fault of my own.
• I voted in historic elections.
• I watched my country go to war while living in a country that was violently opposing the war.
• I contributed to the saved lives of countless greyhounds.
• I learned more about myself than in the previous decade.
• I maintained a 19 year friendship with my Best Friend even though we haven't lived in the same city for more than 4 months in the past 10 years.
• I met my hero, Steve Yzerman, more than once.
• I have shaken hands with past and current sports figures, including Mr. Hockey.
• I watched the Stanley Cup Banner raise to the rafters in Joe Louis Arena.
• I watched #19 retired to the rafters in Joe Louis Arena
• I was in attendance at Superbowl XL in Detroit; the 2006 World Series in Detroit; the past four Preakness Horse Races at Pimlico; and countless other sporting events.
• I've traveled around the US, Poland, France, Germany, Luxumbourg, Italy, Czech Republic, Austria, Turks and Caicos, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas
• Most of all, I've lived, I've loved and I've laughed.

What's your list?

Here's to a spectacular next decade!

Photo copyright MyrtleArt Photography

Hark, Hear the Bells...

Merry Christmas! I'm sitting in a hotel room in Grand Rapids, MI typing as the icicles drip and form pools of icy patches on the sidewalk - in other words, winter on the West Side. We are 2/3 into our annual "criss-crossing the Mitten Christmas adventure" wherein we take two days (one for each side) and do a whirlwind visit to the family. It's a duet of family gossip, lots of ham, random and sometimes thoughtful gifts, hugs, eggnog and cookies. I love it  but also love that it's only once a year and it only lasts two days.

Photo copyright MyrtleArt Photography

So here's to family, food and fun. Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukah/Merry Festivus/Happy Kwanzaa!

That's What Christmas Means to Me:

Former Red Wing, Igor Larionov's daughters are not only gorgeous, they can actually sing too! This year they teamed up with the Hockey Fights Cancer Foundation to record a holiday song and music video to benefit the organization.

I'm LOVING the video that features fans and NHL players holding signs that show what Christmas means to them. The song is also available on iTunes as a download but I've embedded the video here for some holiday cheer. Enjoy!