As I celebrate....

As I celebrate the upcoming arrivals of my friend's babies and continue to hear news of yet another friend who will be welcoming a new bundle of joy, I have to take a minute to ask you all to say a prayer for my cousin and his wife who last weekend lost their baby during the almost 4 1/2 month mark of their pregnancy. His wife had a terrible first couple of months with extreme "morning sickness" (which actually turned into all day sickness!) and had become extremely ill last weekend then ended up losing the baby. It would have been their first. As they take this time to grieve, I ask that you all think of them. I know it's not easy.
So, as I attend my first baby shower in a string of baby shower invites this coming Saturday, I will celebrate the life of the one who is growing inside the belly's of my friends, and know that GOD has a plan for all of us and one day Jon and Sarah will welcome their first child into this world when HE is ready.

You had me at "You're welcome, sweetheart"

I met this boy last night at a movie premiere of his latest movie, "Brideshead Revisited." You all may know him from "Chasing Liberty" or "Matchpoint." He's even in the upcoming movie "Watchmen." His name is Matthew Goode. AND he's very British. AND he's very, very cute. I had my pic taken with him and as soon as my friend e-mails it to me I will add it to this post. He was super nice. And, did I mention he was cute? Don't worry I even told him so. AND I hadn't even been drinking.

So, here's the pic....just know there was a weird thing happening with the flash, so he's making a weird face because we weren't sure if the pic was taken or what....but it's still cute!!!



Speaking of drinking, I went out with Deidre, Tracey, Lori, Cori, and Shelly to see the Motorcars on Saturday night. It was quite entertaining. Aside from a few yelling matches and one drunkass calling Micky....Willy....it was a great show. If anyone wants to see my pics from the show you can go here.

There's some kind of light at the end of this tunnel

This weekend will end my trend of staying home and doing nothing on the weekends. Yippee!! Not that not going out is the end of the world, but man was I getting boring, eerr, bored. My one saving grace was last Thursday night when I went out with Deidre and Michelle. Although the night ended with a loser of a waiter yelling obscenities at Michelle, it was fun to see and catch up with them.

BUT, this Saturday will be fun. I'm going with Deidre, Tracey, V, and Lori to the Motorcars show at Gilleys. This will fun, fun, fun. Good friends, music, and drinking. Woo-Hoo!! I seriously can't wait! I love the new MMC song!

Congrats to Sara on her engagement to Clint! This is only an assumption that I'm invited, but I can't wait for the wedding. She's certain to be a beautiful bride! Speaking of weddings, or not, I am now up to 4 friends having babies by the end of the year. 3 girls and one Baby Boy Durbin. Yesterday I was shopping for some baby gifts and I just so happen to pick out the same outfit for 2 different people and the guy goes, "Wow is someone having twins?" I told him, "no but all my friends are pregnant this year and I'm going to go broke on baby gifts instead of wedding gifts." haha I can't help it. I LOVE babies! And I especially love baby clothes. How is something that small? So freakin' cute.

For V....

What was I doing 10 years ago?
Let's see....I was 22 and it was 1998....I was still in college going to UT Dallas and I had finally settled on my 4th and final major: Literary Studies. It had been a year since the falling out between myself and 2 of my best friends from high school and I was trying to move on with my life and having a terrible time doing that. When you're young you think everything is the end of the world. I had hit a pretty low point in my life at that time. Lucky for me I work with some pretty amazing people and they showed me what friendship is supposed to mean. And I'm thankful for that.

Five snacks I enjoy in a perfect, non-weight gaining world:
1. Cheeze-its
2. Brownies
3. Chocolate chip cookies
4. Chocolate covered strawberry's from Godiva
5. Snickers/Mr. Goodbar

Five snacks I enjoy in the real world:
1. Hidden valley Ranch dip with carrots
2. Fuji Apples
3. Cherry Tomatoes
4. Pineapple
5. Clementines

Five things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1. Travel
2. Do charity work
3. Buy a new house and car for my Mom
4. Take care of my grandparents
5. Buy a new house and car for myself!

Five jobs I have had:
1. English as a Second Language Tutor/Composition and Rhetoric Tutor
2. Babysitter
3. Vet. tech
4. Dance teacher
5. Pet sitter

Five habits:
1. Apologizing for things that weren't really my fault
2. twirling my hair with my fingers
3. Listening to the Jim Brickman playlist on my Ipod to go to sleep
4. checking my e-mail/myspace every morning at work
5. rolling my eyes (its a habit I've had since I was a teenager! haha)

Five places I have lived:
1. Houston--for 5 days after I was born, then we moved.
2. Littlefield
3. Mesquite
4. Garland
5. Allen

Five people I’d like to get to know better:
(Blogger/Wordpress/Xanga/Myspace blogs...whatever)
1. Deidre
2. Kristin
3. Michelle
4. Jamie
5. Heather

Internet Stalking

First, last Saturday I attended a wedding of someone that I have petsat for at least 6 years. About 2 years ago she went to work for Miller Brewing Company. I'm not quite sure what she does exactly, but its pretty important because she travels alot and makes really good money. About a year ago she met this guy and they started dating and before I knew it he moved in and from what I could tell by the many pictures that began popping up all over her house that she had found "the one"....at 45 years old. He proposed to her on Valentine's Day. One day later I got a phone call telling me about it and asking me if I could housesit for her when she went on her Honeymoon. The ceremony was beautiful. It was in this old church in McKinney right off the square and the reception was in this old wood house directly behind it. I knew not a person there. I was sitting by myself at this table and eventually I would be sitting with her parents and sister and niece. You know how when you see two people together and they just fit? Well this is how it is between her and her new husband. And now I'm staying at their new big fancy house in McKinney. The best man made a toast at the wedding that made me laugh....he said, "Dave married the woman of every man's dream....someone who can provide free beer all the time!" haha...trust me I know...she leaves me a case of Miller Chills every time I stay at her house! Anyway, the point of me telling this story is that I am 13 years from being 45 years old, GOD help me, and there's hope for me yet to find my "one," right?

Ok, My name is Dawn and I have become an internet stalker. In the playbill from Altar Boyz my favorite from the show put his website in there. So, of course I go and look at it, etc. Well then I decide I'm sure he's on myspace. So I look him up. Yep, there he is. So, I decide, well he has no clue who I am so I will ask him to be my friend. So, I did. And now, a week later...my newest "friend" on myspace. thankyouverymuch! I need to get out of the house more. Good grief!

If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere....

Enough cannot be said about how fabulous my vacation to NYC was. I took way too many pics, especially at the top of the Empire State Building and of the Statue of Liberty (it's not like she was posing for me!), but the excitement overwhelms me when I'm there, so I couldn't help it. I'm going to try to break down the events for you.....

Saturday, June 21st:

We left about 6:30 in the morning and arrived in NYC before noon because we have a connecting flight in Memphis. We get to our hotel which is actually an one bedroom apartment in Washington Heights. This is in WAY upper Manhattan. It doesn't say that in the description. When we arrive in front of the apartment there's a roadblock with crime scene tape all around it. I'm thinking, great, where are we!?!?! I do a little investigation and found out that Washington Heights was once where the Irish commuity settled (interesting, huh?) and over the years has been sorta taken over by the Cubans. And not at all scary. The worst was the crime scene tape, but for the entire week we were there, police patrolled all the time, so it was super safe. And no one ever bothered us...and if you know my Mom and I, neither of us look cuban or african american or a cross between the two. People were very friendly, so that was great. The 1 train was 2 blocks from the apartment, so a quick 20 minute ride and we were in the middle of Times Square. I love the subway. Dallas needs something like it and I don't mean the Dart rail. So after we get settled in Mom and I head for Times Square to look around and find something to eat. We ate at Bubba Gumps. I had eaten there before in San Francisco. Let me just tell you not to waste your time in NYC eating there because it tastes NOTHING like San Francisco. Afterwards we walk down Broadway and come across about 4 blocks worth of a Street Fair. The most amazing fruit smoothies and slushes and fresh watermelon and pineapple. Oh it was Heaven. And lots of vendors. I got an I LOVE NY sweatshirt in purple. yay! So we spent the afternoon there and then headed back to the apartment because we were both tired. But before we headed back we stopped off at Roxy Deli (Deidre this is where you and I ate a few times when we were there) and got some pound cake, brownies, and some pecan thing my Mom wanted. They were yummy.

Sunday, June 22nd:

We left about 10 because we had to catch 2 different subways and the only connection I could figure out was to ride the 1 train to 59th & Columbus Circle and then walk over to 59th & Lexington to catch the 4 train to Yankee Stadium. The walk was way longer than I had anticipated, but we got there in plenty of time. The new Yankee Stadium looks gorgeous on the outside. So we go inside "old" Yankee Stadium and grab some hotdogs, a pretzel, and a coke before we head to our seats. The seats were great and I was just high enough to get some great pictures. We stayed until the end of the 5th inning when it decided to pour down rain. They kept announcing to stay until the rain stopped, but I looked at Mom and said, "I've seen enough baseball, lets head back." So we did. And we walked up Lexington Avenue to Bloomingdales and went in to "browse." I ended up buying some shoes. haha After that we headed towards Radio City Music Hall, then over to Rockefeller Center then back up to Times Square. We ate dinner (I can't recall where) and then headed back to the apartment.

Monday, June 23rd:

We got up early as I had spent the night before making an agenda for the day using my most fabulous map of NYC ever. We started with a stop at 125th street for a visit to Grant's Tomb and breakfast at McDonalds. Then we rode the train up to Central Park. It start raining of course. So we spent the whole time walking around Central Park in the rain. It was actually quite fun, since we had umbrellas. We were going to do the art museums too, but they are closed Mondays. Figures, huh? So we walked the 79th Street Transverse through Central Park and headed towards the Dakota (where John Lennon was shot and killed) then to Strawberry Fields to see the "Imagine" stoneway. It was very peaceful. Then we continued up 79th Street and ate at this bar-b-que restaurant. It was ok. Not my most favorite, but I was hungry! Then we headed back to the apartment to shower and change for our first musical, Altar Boyz. It was the most hilarious musical I have ever seen. I don't know if any of you watch "So You Think You Can Dance," but one of the boys from last season, Neil Haskell, was in it. That was quite a nice surprise. I did, however, pick out a favorite Altar Boy. I refer to him as my favorite gay musical boyfriend, Ryan J Ratliff. I don't know that he's gay, but his character was. But who cares, he's cute and has amazing blue eyes. My seat was front row and the seat right next to the front of the stage. I felt like I was in the musical. I highly recommend this musical to anyone! It apparently has a touring cast, so I'm thinking I'm gonna watch for it to come to Dallas and go. haha We ate at this salad place by the theater. It was so yummy! Then, by this time it was after midnight so we headed back to the apartment.

Tuesday, June 24th:

I met up with a friend from high school for lunch in SoHo. I hadn't seen her in 15 years, and it was as if we see each other all the time. We instantly started talking and didn't stop until we said our goodbye. It was great to see her and we made plans to see each other again when she comes home for Christmas. yay! After lunch Mom and I headed to Chinatown because I wanted a fake purse. So we are walking along and this lady comes up and goes, "coach purse?" I said yes and she motioned for me to follow her. So I did....up a block, around the corner, up 4 more blocks to where I was handed off to guy, who I followed another block, who then handed me off to another guy, who I followed to this big white deliver truck. He opened the door and then slid open this door inside and made me crawl in and then slid the door shut. All of a sudden I'm in this truck filled with 4 other poeple with 12394823419 purses in it from Coach, Dooney and Bourke, and Louis Vuitton, etc, etc. My head was spinning. I was so nervous about the stupid truck pulling off while I was in it that I quickly started looking through the purses and other stuff and picked out 3 things from Coach and paid a grand total of $55. Then the door slid open and I crawled out and was on my way. I crawl out and my Mom goes, "So what did you get me?" I said, "nothing." I mean if she wanted something she could have crawled in there with me, right? But she chose to stay outside so she got nothing. I offered to crawl back in there, but she told me no she was only kidding. So, I got the purse I had actaully wanted at the Coach store plus 2 other over the shoulder wallet/purse type thing. One for me and one for Deidre as she had asked me to get her something. After that we caught the train to Little Italy. It's so pretty there and quaint. I was looking at my map trying to figure out where the other train was we needed to catch when this guy walks by and asks if he can help me. I tell him no because I had figured it out but thanks. So he says to me, "well I was born and raised here and I know everything about it but if you don't want my help fine, just be careful." Really? I didn't ask for him to say that to me. I just sorta roled my eyes and walked back up the street to SoHo and caught the train I needed. It was just really unnerving, you know? So we go back and change clothes and catch the train to the Amsterdam Theater for "Mary Poppins." We had front row seats for this too, right behind the conductor (who was super cute!). Words cannot express how absolutely AMAZING this musical was. It was almost 3 hours long, but who the heck cares, the way it was done you would never have even felt you were sitting there that long! The singing was amazing. The tap number to "Step in Time" was amazing. They do "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" different from the movie....it was spectacular! I told Deidre when this comes to the Dallas Summer Musicals we were going because she has to see it! Afterwards, we ate at the Hard Rock cafe where I had the most wonderful chicken dinner ever. Then it was really late so we headed back to the apartment for bed.

Wednesday, June 25th:

We got up thinking we would do the whole 5th avenue walk then head over to the Radio City Music Hall tour, but the only tour we could get on started too late, so we nixed the idea of that. I took Mom to see Carnegie Hall and Carnegie Deli. We found this cute little Christmas ornament shop and bought some stuff. Then we went to eat at this really nice deli and had the most delectable sandwich and cheese cake. YUMMY! We had tickets to the 2 pm matinee of "Young Frankenstein." This musical would have been way better to me if we hadn't seen "Mary Poppins" first. It didn't live up to what I thought it was going to be. And there were a lot of young people at this show and a lot of foul language coming from the stage. It was a little uncomfortable. It was, however, good. And the dancing number to "Putting On The Ritz" was exceptional. Megan Mullally was great (just imagine Karen from Will & Grace with singing), but it was Andrea Martin who stole the show. (she was one of the aunts in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding) Afterwards we went to The Chrysler Building, Grand Central Station, and the Empire State Building. Then we ate at this Italian Restraurant I spotted and it was really good. I had ravioli. Scrumptious. We headed back to the apartment because we had to be up by 4 am the next morning for......

Thursday, June 26th:

4 am came really early, but we headed to the Times Square studio of "Good Morning America." We got VIP status so we got to go inside ahead of everyone and be placed right in front of where the cameras were going to be and stood there for and hour. We got a tour of the studios...we got to be side stage during the 1st hour of GMA and we got to go into the control booth. Then in the 2nd hour Mom and I were celebrities on GMA as we were standing right behind the hosts when they came back on air! Then at the end of the show we were on there just a few seconds more. It was so exciting! My Nana called us and said, "I just saw you on tv! Ya'll looked great!" Then Deidre texted me that night and said she saw us too. haha After GMA we went and did the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island ferry and tour. That took most of the afternoon. Then we came back and took a nap then went in to Times Square and walked around and bought some souvenirs and then ate at this Cuban Restuarant. I had this Cuban Chicken meal. It had a ton of garlic on it, but it was so freakin' good. There was a Cuban band playing too. It was quite magical in there. I had a lot of fun. By this time it was late so we headed back and packed our suitcases and then flew home the next day.

If you would like to look at my pics, they can be found by clicking here.

NYC was fun, and I will go again in a year or 2 for more shows. I definitely want to see "Gypsy" when I go. One thing I don't like about NYC is that you have to pay for every drink, there is no such thing as refills up there. I mean I like coke, but $2 for every glass is ridiculous.

Good news!

I got my tongue biopsy today and it's a granuloma...which basically means I had some kind of trauma in the area and instead of just healing it created scar tissue and just kept granulating in, thus creating a bump. The dentist said it should never appear again. woo-hoo

A side note....he asked me if I was pregnant to which I answered, "haha, NO, but everyone I know is." He told me this type of bump usually occurs in pregnant women. Good grief.


**I'm working on the NYC post, when I'm done, I'll post it :)**