Helena Handbasket: December 2009

2009: So Many Blessings in Such Little Time

Here are just a few of many wonderful memories and experiences this past year. Many more will be made in 2010 and I look forward to sharing them with you!

Old friends and new friends kicked off 2009 with a small but fun NYE party at my place.

Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama was spent with some really cool chicks:

My best friend since kindergarten became a mommy this year. Raina and her husband Erwyn hosted a baby shower/brunch in February for their baby girl, Kennedy.

Valentine's Day surprise from Will!

Game Night - Winter Edition at my place in February:

Seneca Valley High School varsity basketball made the March playoffs! Deanna and her squad cheered them on at the University of Maryland.

Will and I share the same birthday - March 15. We spent our birthday weekend paintballing and dancing the night away with our good friends:

Congratulations Raina & Erwyn! Kennedy Morgan, born on March 21:

Happy Easter!

My first half marathon! Frederick Half Marathon finisher, May 3:

Volunteered at the beer ticket stand for DC 101's Chili Cook-off in May:

Caribbean Wine Festival at Linganore Winecellars with Shereada & Isha, May 23:

Ocean City with Deanna, Courtney, Sana, and Deborah in June:

DC Caribbean Festival, June 26:

Rock the Bells concert, July 12:

Reggae Wine Festival at Linganore, July 18:

Game Night - Summer Edition at Makeda & Dutch's place in August:

Sana and Sue visit Deborah in NYC, August:

Labor Day weekend BBQ at Nicole's, September 6:

Happy Sweet Sixteen Deanna!

In October my Honda went to heaven; the accident wasn't exactly a fun ordeal but...

I got a new car! Goodbye to having no car note (*tear); helloooooo to navigation and heated leather seats:

Family Day, October 11:

Zap Mama show at Black Cat:

Marine Corps Marathon finisher, October 25:

Costume Party!

Thanksgiving in NYC with Deborah and Deanna:

The blizzard that brought the DMV to a grinding halt, December 19-20:

Christmas Eve at Dad & JoAnne's:

Christmas with the Celmer Girls (and Roach):

Life is good,

Notorious K.

Hurt Lyrics

I really dig this song - had it on blast in the car earlier today.

i hurt myself today
to see if i still feel
i focus on the pain
the only thing that's real
the needle tears a hole
the old familiar sting
try to kill it all away
but i remember everything
what have i become?
my sweetest friend
everyone i know
goes away in the end
you could have it all
my empire of dirt
i will let you down
i will make you hurt
i wear my crown of shit
on my liar's chair
full of broken thoughts
i cannot repair
beneath the stain of time
the feeling disappears
you are someone else
i am still right here
what have i become?
my sweetest friend
everyone i know
goes away in the end
you could have it all
my empire of dirt
i will let you down
i will make you hurt
if i could start again
a million miles away
i would keep myself
i would find a way

-NIN

Your sweetest friend,
Notorious K.

Sleep Chronicles: 12.22.09

I was on a boat with a bunch of friends (mostly girls in skimpy swimsuits, go figure) and we had four young children with us. As we left the pier and turned the corner, we kept having gut feelings that something was wrong with the water. We didn't know what was happening but we frantically turned the boat around to head back to the dock. There was one male among us who was operating the boat - he was yelling out orders at everyone. At one point, I jumped into the water and opened my eyes to see what was wrong but despite the clear water I couldn't see what the problem was.

As we reached the narrow pier, everyone got out of the boat and stared at the water. Many other people were making their way back to land in a similar frenzy. Gears shifted and now there was a greater problem at hand. Where were two of the four children that were with us earlier? A little girl and a little boy had gone off to play under the pier in the water. Someone screamed "They can't swim!" Everyone's heart fell as we started searching for the children. I winced as I glanced between the wooden planks and saw a little girl's face under water. Her eyes were empty and her hair swirled around her face as her body lay lifeless. The little boy was still lost and I began screaming for someone to pull him up. I began yelling desperately "It only takes seconds! It only takes seconds!!!" (I assume I meant that it only takes seconds for a child to drown). Someone pulled a handful of pencils the little boy was playing with earlier out of the water and gave them to me.... but without the boy. I began weeping and sobbing uncontrollably. Then I woke up.

It was all so vivid and disturbing and I woke up feeling so heartbroken.

Wide awake when I should be sleeping in,

Notorious K.

Mr. Snowman

Poor Mr. Snowman.

LOL,
Notorious K.

Pressed to try Cranberry Raisinetes

Cranberry Raisinetes on their own are nothing special - they taste like regular Raisinets. I decided to experiment so I substituted them for raisins in an oatmeal chocolate chip raisin cookie recipe. I thought, maybe they would make the cookies more interesting.

By the way, one of the secrets to baking good cookies in my opinion: parchment paper.

They turned out nice - thick and chewy; although I can't say the cranberry Raisinets were any better than using regular raisins or Raisinets.

Still bored,

Notorious K.

Small Victories: I Got the Last Snow Shovel

I walked to CVS this morning not expecting to find any shovels left but I needed to get out of my apartment and get a little exercise/air. Lo and behold, there was one left. It wasn't a regular-sized shovel but it was better than nothin'.

See how the handle expands? Oooooooo! Ahhhhhh!

I knew these atrocious rain boots would come in handy one day:

Before:

After:

I'm probably going to be sore as crap tomorrow but at least I got my heart rate up.

Time for a nap,

Notorious K.

DC Snow Apocalypse

I was bored so I cleaned off my car. I cleaned it off earlier today but you would never know it.

Snow me no likey,

Notorious K.

Avatar 3D

After seeing Avatar in a 3D IMAX theater, I'm spoiled. The movie was fantastic and like nothing I have seen before. Fantasy and reality blended ever so nicely in this film and I was entertained for the duration (almost three hours)!

Alice in Wonderland opens March 5, 2010 and I can't wait! I'll make the 40-mile trip to the IMAX theater without thinking twice.

Tired, delirious, yet giddy from a fun night,

Notorious K.

Conversation from 7:20 a.m. @ McDonald's

Old guy: Do you speak a Chinese language?
Me: No.
Old guy: Oh ok, hahaha. Well do you speak any Asian language?
Me: No.
Old guy: Really? Do your parents?
Me: No. My parents are white.
Old guy: They're white? Oh? *looking mad confused*
Me (trying not to be such an ice queen): I was adopted. I grew up in Maryland.
Old guy: And here I am being stereotypical, please forgive me. I haven't been in this area for years. I grew up in Takoma Park.
Me: Ok?
Old guy: Well your parents have a beautiful daughter.
Me: Ha. Thank you. *awkward silence* I'm thinking to myself, please let them hurry up with my oatmeal, please oh please oh please oh please.

The guy was just being friendly. Still, I thought it was funny.

Next time: drive-thru,
Notorious K.

The (Accidental) Panini Win

I made a panini for Deanna tonight that reminded me of a 'witchcraft sandwich.

Ingredients:

Tyson's honey roasted chicken breast strips

Two slices of Pepperidge Farm Sour Dough bread

Sabra caramelized onion hummus

Thick slice of Gruyère cheese

Baby spinach

I assembled the sandwich and threw it on the George Foreman grill for a few minutes. Deanna loved it!

“Life is like a sandwich - the more you add to it, the better it becomes.” - Unknown

Yum,

Notorious K.

Our Christmas Tree

But where is the actual tree you say? The festive ornaments? The twinkling lights? The sparkly tinsel? I'll tell you where it is... all that crap is on a shelf somewhere in a store I probably won't venture into until after the holiday chaos subsides.

Maybe I'll buy a tree when they go on sale December 26. Maybe...

Yeah right,

Notorious K.

Wildfire Restaurant

My dad celebrated his 69th birthday last Sunday. Deanna and I treated him and his wife, JoAnne, to a late lunch at Wildfire in McLean, VA. The food was inexpensive, presented nicely, and very, very tasty.