Scarface

No matter how many times I pass by these sights, I still find myself staring in awe of their bold presence.

Huff & Puff and I spend a lot of time working in Brooklyn.   One day last week we were on any inspection and of course as always the architectural detail of the connected homes there were breathtakingly beautiful.  Many of the once massive homes had been turned into crackerjack box apartments  which I can only imagine what beautiful hidden gems they are, and would kill to have one. I watched as all the hipsters came barreling out of these places in their skinny jeans, oversized beanies, and hand knitted scarves, only to hop on their 1950's bicycles and head off to start their day. 

The person who owned of one of the homes, that had not been separated into apartments, told us the houses on that street were built in 1901 and at some point of their exsistence Al Capone, one of the most notorious Mafia leaders of all time, used to own every house on the street.  He, his gang members, security guards, and posse lived in them all at one time.  There was one part on the street where the connecting homes had a gap inbetween them filled with grass and a locked fence to get to the empty space.  He told us that was the entry way for them to park their vehicles behind the connecting homes, and to my knowledge  it is unheard of in NY.  You park on the street. It is such a pain. He said there used to be a tunnel than ran under all the connected houses on the street. Incase there was ever a raid from the police they could escape out of the tunnel and to their cars that were parked behind the homes on a secret street. I couldn't believe it!  I was looking at a piece of history and then I became even more envious of those hipstas wondering if they even had any of idea of  this information and how lucky they were to be living there while I'm stuck out on Long Island in a 1970's nik-nak filled house with a redneck. Ugh.  I told myself they had no clue about this piece of information, but that I knew about and it and they didnt. It made me feel better. =)

Before we can actually get to some of these beautiful places we have to drive thru basically...the ghetto.  We've passed a Chinese resturant called 'Da Real Ting'  yes ting, t-i-n-g.  One time we passed a drop off bin where you donate toys, clothes and such and the sign on the bin was supposed to read  'Drop Off Toys, Clothes, & Shoes' but someone had removed the 's' from 'shoes' and the bin then read -  'Drop off Toys, Clothes, & Hoes'.  I found them both to be hilarious signs, but dare not stop and take a pic of either.  Those places in Brooklyn are scary even at 8 o' clock in the morning. 

Christmas 2011

Finally- I've finished unpacking my suitcase from my surprise trip home.  Yes, you read that correct.  I made it home for Christmas. 

I talked it over with Huff & Puff about two and a half weeks before Christmas.  He gave me the green light to go. Originally I was going to drive 18 hours spend Christmas Eve with my family and drive back Christmas day.    I wanted to surprise my family and friends.  I ended up telling my dad because I wanted someone to know I was going to be traveling in my poor little beat up Sentra from  New York to Tennessee.  When I told him I was coming home for Christmas he was so excited, but insisted that I fly.  He said it would allow me to have more time with everyone and that I nor my poor little o' Sentra wouldn't be as worn out and tired when we got back.  He then proceeded to make fun of my car by wheezing and coughing in exhaustion.  I wasn't amused.  He offered to pay for my plane ticket and naturally I gladly accepted! 

Once the ticket was bought my scheming began to surprise my family and  friends!  It was the hardest secret I've ever had to keep.   Endless phone calls to my family and friends of how sad I was because I wouldn't be home for Christmas. Talks of how depressed I was that I had to work on Christmas Eve. I even sent a picture of made up scheduled appointments on a calendar for that day to my family and friends with the caption of "Everytime I flip to this date and see these appointments, it makes me sad."  Lies, lies, they were all lies!   I listened to my family and friends complain to me how it just wasn't going to be Christmas without me.  I would then have to cover the phone as I let out a giggle and an "Eeeeeeeek!" to myself.

After a long two and a half weeks December 22nd finally came around!  Time to get Operation:Tennessee Christmas Surprise in action!   I flew out that evening.  It was the longest 2 hours of my life!  I had one of my best friends, Ashley and her husband come and pick me up from the airport.  I couldn't wait to see her face and squeeze her to pieces.  She was in on the surprise. I needed someone to pick me up from the airport and shuffle me around the next day for last minute errands.  Besides, that's what best friends are for right?  We all had dinner together, exchanged gifts, laughed and wrapped presents until the early morning hours.  The next day she shuffled me around to deliever presents to a few friends and shop for a couple last minute gifts.   It took all day so we had a late lunch and she swears I nearly starved her. You would think I did by the way she jumped a curb with her car on the way to Panera.  After we scarfed down lunch we went back to her house just in time to have my friend Julia come and pick me up and on to the next surprise!



My other best friend Jamie had know idea I was coming home.  She and Julia had plans to have dinner together a local resturant in town.  Last year we all had dinner together at the same place. I had been scheming with Julia about surprising Jamie and  I had been telling Jamie how bummed I was that I wasn't going to be there.  They had plans to Skype me while they were at the resturant.   When Julia and I got to the resturant, Jamie was already inside waiting. Julia went on in and I waited outside for her to Skype me on our phones.  I had my finger over the camera so they couldn't see where I was.   They were complaining about how they couldn't see me and I finally walked in the resturant to where they were sitting and said loudly, "Can you see me now?"  Jamie's jaw dropped to the floor.  She then proceeded to call me names and slap me silly, which only meant ... 'Omg! I'm so happy to see you!'  After my beating from her, we hugged it out and both cried.  We all talked and laughed hysterically the rest of the evening.  We the the best time ever.

Jamie & Julia

Julia & I



Later that night we all three headed out to my mom's house for the next surprise - my family.  I knew all my brothers and sisters would be there that evening.    I pulled the same Skype stunt on them as I did to Jamie.  I could tell you about it but I think this video speaks for itself...

Needless to say it was priceless.  We stayed up til the wee hours of the morning having the best time.  We got up the next morning on Christmas Eve and exchanged gifts.  We all got ready and headed to Manchester, TN for the next surprise.  My grandmother was livid everyone was so late. I walked in the house after everyone else to surprise her.  When she saw me she was overwhelmed with emotion and didn't care we were late anymore. Our Christmas Traditions at her house were carried on that day.  Food, laughter, and endless ridiculous games.

We had another surprise up our sleeve for my grandmother. As mentioned in a previous blog, every year my cousins and sisters are begged to death by our moms and grandmother to put together an on the fly skit and perform it for the the fam.  This year we did something a little different.   This past fall I lost an aunt.  My mom lost a sister, and my grandmother lost a child.  It was been a tough year for my grandmother and really my whole family.  Don't worry I'll spare you the details.   So for weeks on end my cousins, my sister and I stayed up late nearly every night for weeks working on a song we wrote together for my grandmother and video editing it.   All the people mentioned in the song are real and the events are true with the exception of the last verse about Culleoka News.  That was about the skit we performed a couple years ago.   Here is the final version of the video.    Be sure to watch The Bloopers Reel at the end they are the best part. I'm already embarrassed for myself and yes I misspelled 'chess pie'.



After my grandmother's there was the mad dash for Tara and I to my dad's house.   When we got there my dad popped in 'Christmas Vacation' and I fell asleep on my dad's shoulder.  I was out like a light!   On Christmas Day morning he cooked a fabulous breakfast and then we exchanged gifts.  Little did he know he was going to be surprised this Christmas too.  Tara and I got my him an ipad2. I knew it was a success when he started laughing uncontrollably almost a little pyscho like followed by a few tears. Yes! 

I savored the last couple of hours I had in Tennessee but the time came for me to head to the airport.  My dad took me and we swung by my mom's to tell her bye one more time.  I even snapped a picture of the "original" Totty crew all together. I love this picture.

When my dad and I reached the airport the tears started flowing.  I couldn't stop it.  I cried the whole way through the airport.  I struggled to speak to the people working in the airport.  I couldn't find what I did with my drivers license from the boarding pass station to the security check point because I was so distraught.  I could not pull it together.  During all the airport chaos, I was so thankful for big sunglasses.  My time in Tennessee seemed like just a vapor.   It was gone in an instant and I was back in New York. When I got home there was a package waiting on me.  A package from my mom.  She had sent my Christmas presents to New York not knowing I was going to be home, but she also sent me something else. 

You see, apparently a mass facebook message went out to many of my friends and family from all over the U.S. about this blog post I wrote One Light Goes Out, They All Go Out! I was completely unaware of this.  One day I came home only to find my friend Julia had sent me this ornament in the mail. At this point, I had no idea I would be home for Christmas. I loved it and of course it made me cry.

Little did I know this was going to be just the beginning of something so wonderful!   The next day I received another and another, and then another.  Finally, I started started asking questions and found about the facebook message and it was none other than my sneaky sweet little angel friend Julia. 

The ornaments continued for weeks and 'mail time' became my favorite time of the day.  I would sing the Blues Clues 'mail time' song everyday and yes- I would wag my tail too.  I think my 'mail time' was a lot of other peoples favorite time of the day too. I would receive text messages everyday from different friends, "Has the mail ran yet?"  "Who's did you get today?" all anxiously checking Facebook in the afternoons to see what I received, but it didn't stop there.  I received ornaments from people who never even got a FB message but just heard about this 'Operation:Tosha's Tree'.  Even Mrs. Linda Aunt Jemima got me one!  Not only did I receive ornaments, I received little notes, Christmas cards, gifts, care packages, and I even received the book 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' story that had a recording  of familiar voices of people I used to work with and that are dear to my heart reading each page.  Every ornament that came represented the person that sent it or something that reminded them of me.  It was so great.

When I opened my mom's package on Christmas Day night I found a little note that read, "This was the most affordable way I could get us and some of your friends to you this Christmas season.  We all love and miss you tons."  There were ornaments for days with different family members and friends pictures in every ornament.

After having a hellacious time in the airport and missing everyone at home, it was the perfect thing to come home to and find these little gems awaiting me. They were the perfect addition to the rest of the ornaments on my tree. She also sent me this ornament in it's own wrapping with another little note that read, "Winna Winna Chicken Dinna!" Very funny mom.

Receiving little pieces of home in the mail everyday through this holiday season was by far one of the sweetest and most thoughtful gestures someone has ever done for me.   To all of you who contributed, thank you, thank you, thank you for making my 2011 Christmas one I will never forget.

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

We've upgraded from the 1960's t.v.  Thanks 'Santa Puff'.







Aunt Jemima's

Thanksgiving Day.  Besides life, love, nature, music, family and friends, Here are a few random things I'm thankful for -car chargers, toilet paper, NyQuil, Bobby pins, Body Glide, High Fives, the opening song in The Lion King, and bacon. 

I ran in the Massapequa Turkey Trot 5k  here in New York on this Thanksgiving morning. This was my first race running without a partner next to me, but then I thought about several friends back at home who were running the BoroDash this morning and it made me smile.  There were close to 600 runners behind the starting line.  I found my little place to stand in right behind a mother and daughter who looked to be about mine and my mom's age.  I thought about my own mom and how I wish she was there running with me, but I knew she was probably elbow deep in her famous chicken and dressing preparing it for Thanksgiving dinner.  I stayed behind the mom and daughter team for most of the way during the race.  I finished the race with the time of 40 minutes and 12 seconds.  I wasn't crazy about my time, but umm....hello? Have you ever ran a race in the ridiculously cold weather in New York?  I could feel my esophagus freezing by the mile.  It was terrible, but I had fun. I found a cute turkey in the crowd running the race today and his beautiful wife took the picture. "Isn't it Ironic, don't cha think?" - Alanis Morrisette

 Once I crossed the finishline I called one of my best friends back home, who is also a runner and just finished her first full marathon.  I am so proud of her.  As soon as she picked up the phone and said to me in her perky warm voice "Happy Thanksgiving!" I started to cry. It's pretty much been that way for me all day.   My phone was lit up like a Christmas tree all day with phone calls and text messages from home, which then caused tears to fall.  I know it's good for the soul, but I hate crying.   Thankfully I had evening plans for Thanksgiving. 

Last week when I was finishing up my Christmas shopping I went to Normstroms.  When I got to the checkout counter in the makeup department, I was greeted by a tall, older, beautiful, sweet lady named Mrs. Linda.  She reminded me of Aunt Jemima slash meets Madea.  As I was checking out we started conversating and she immediately asked me, "Honay-where are you from? Your voice is like southern home cookin' to me! "  She was orginially from the south as well. Conversation continued on for awhile and by the time we were done Aunt Jemima had given me her business card, home number, cell number, a mama's kind of hug which of course caused me to 'tune up', and an invitation to come to her house for Thanksgiving.

Orginally I had plans to go to the Macy's Day parade after the run today,  I carefully weighed my options of going to Aunt Jemima's house, knowing it would be full of soulfood and laughter, or watching SpongeBob float in the air by myself I went with Aunt Jemima's.  It wasn't a very hard decision.  I called her yesterday to confirm I was coming.  I asked her if there was anything I could bring and what time I should be there.  Her response was, "Honay just bring yourself.  We'll be snacking on stuffed mushrooms around one o'clock but around three o'clock we gonna 'lay it down'!"  She then gave me her address and told me she was looking forward to me coming.

When I arrived there were several white people standing out in the front yard of the house address she gave me.  I called Mrs. Linda and told her I thought I might be at the wrong house then lo and behold out comes Mrs. Linda where all the white people were! I said,"Mrs. Linda! I was so confused because all the white people in the front yard!" Yeah, I said it.  We're tight like that. She thought it was hilarious.  When we were in the house she put me straight to work.  She told me I was on 'table duty'.  She told me to go to her china cabinet and set everything up.  I immediately wanted to go to Pinterest and type in table setting! I had no idea how it really is supposed to be set! At my family's Thanksgiving our 'fine china' is a stack of sturdy paper plates, plastic cups, and spoons, forks, and knifes all slung on the counter top with a line of hungry people all the way from the kitchen wrapped clear around into the living room.  I did the best I could and no one said anything about the table not being set right.  Thank God. 

The rest of the evening was filled with laughter, old family stories, and endless eating.  Everyone made me feel comfortable and right at home.  It was wonderful.  Today I was thankful for Mrs. Linda and her family taking me in as one of their own. 

Sidenote: I would just like to say that not one but two fine china pieces were broken in the course of the evening and no- neither time was due to me!  Another thing I'm thankful for - paper and plastic dishes.

Happy Turkey Day everyone!

One Light Goes Out, They All Go Out!

It's November 22nd and I have finished nearly all my Christmas shopping.  My gifts are wrapped and under the tree I've already put up and I've listened to my fair share of Christmas music. Andrew Ripp's new Christmas EP 'Light of Mine' came out today and I highly recommend it.   Call me crazy but there is reasoning behind all my madness.  I won't be home for Thanksgiving and Huff & Puff and I received conformation this week we were more than likely going to be here in New York through Christmas. I'm so glad we have work, as I am continuing to learn everyday, but skipping Christmas in Tennessee makes my heart sad.

Next week after Thanksgiving Huff & Puff is heading home to Tennessee for a short couple days to get his tags renewed on his truck. I'll not be joining him for the 18 hour smoke filled gallop to Tennessee on Trigga.  When I found this out I was determined to finish my Christmas shopping and turn Huff&Puff and Trigga into Santa Puff and his truck into Trigga' the one mirrored Reindeer. I didn't want to mail all my gifts from NY.  One-that's just no fun.  Two-who doesn't like a pretty present to open?  Three-It is tradition for me to have endless nights of wrapping my gifts and making them perfect like only a true Virgo does while watching my collection of nearly every classic Christmas movie there is.  I am only lacking a few.  Well obviously I didn't bring my collection of Christmas movies with me to NY and ABC Family's '25 Days of Christmas' hasn't started yet,  so it left me no choice but to go buy a new classic Christmas movie to add to the collection back at home.   I bought Christmas Vacation. I don't know how this movie hasn't made it into my collection yet.  My dad loves this movie.  I miss my dad. 

After I finished wrapping my presents I couldn't bare to see them just sitting there not under a tree. I miss my white Christmas tree with pink lights and all things glittery. She was a beauty last year.  So today I had to have a tree.  A real one with the vintage bulbs.  That's what I saw in my head to go along with this old vintage house we're living in.  Well I ended up having to get a fake one, but I did get the vintage bulbs. They were on sale at Wal-Mart. #Rollback I hate that place. 

After a long day working in the gloomy cold weather, Santa Puff and I put on some Dave Barnes & Andrew Ripp Christmas tunes and began putting up the tree. As we were putting on the lights, the song 'Mary & Joseph' by Dave Barnes came on in my opinion one of the best Christmas songs ever written and in that moment that warm fuzzy Christmas feeling started welling up inside me.  I looked over where Jon and Jose would sit in the living room thinking about how I wish they were still here with us.   I'd probably be making fun of Jose and singing Feliz Navidad just to get my jollies for the night and praying to God that Jon would at least get the english lyrics right in the song.  All the past Christmas memories started rushing back to me like a flood...putting up the tree with my dad as a little girl, fighting with Tara over who was going to put the star on top, the Christmas after my mom and dad's divorce and sitting in lawnchairs with my dad in the living room - mom got the furniture, making sugar cookies with my nana for Santa to eat on Christmas Eve. I miss my nana. All these flashes of Christmases past overwhelmed me with emotion and I started to cry a little. Yes, I can be a crybaby from time to time. Then I looked up at 'Huff & Puff' and realized he had that same gazed look on his face as if he had just seen his own ghosts of Christmas past.  I then realized it could be worse and I could be completely by myself.  I was thankful for 'Huff & Puff' in that moment and was glad he was there to be a part of putting up the tree with me.  One of my favorite things to do at Christmas. #theseareafewofmyfavoritethings <--- #Icouldnthelpmyself 

Once we got the tree up and lights on, I could hardly wait to plug the lights in and see the warm Christmas lights all aglow! I plugged them in and Viola! They came on - for all of five seconds - and then they went out.  What. The. H?....is wrong with this house and it's raggedy electrical system. First the breaker flips nearly every time I dry my hair, then not one but two juicers fried, and now it wants to mess with one homesick girl's Christmas tree?!  I felt just like Clark Griswold when he went to plug in his lights to the outside of his house and it didn't work. He snapped and began kicking the plastic reindeer in his front yard.  I swear I would have done the same thing if there were plastic reindeer in my livingroom at that moment.  To be honest, I'm surprised there's not a set laying around in this nik nak filled house.   I blew a fuse in the bottom set of bulbs.  I didn't let it kill my Christmas spirit though, I went out in the nasty rain and bought several fuses for backup you never know in this house came back and changed the ones in the bottom set of bulbs. God said, "Let there be light!"



I have to say the 1960's t.v. really adds to the picture.





To my sisters: Stop trying to read the name tags in the pic to see which ones are yours. 
To my friend Julia: Your's is the pink wrapping paper with white snowflakes and a green Christmas tree! hehe.

In the first couple of weeks I arrived in NY.  I went to the city and found this ornament and thought, "Oh that will be the perfect addition to my tree when I get back home for Christmas.  Little did I know it would be an addition to my tree in NY and the only 'addition' at that.   I miss my Dave Barnes ornament.  Yes, I realize I have mentioned Dave Barnes 3 maybe 4 times in this blog.  I can't help it.  We're sort of  'in love' & 'together' he just doesn't know it.

And...one last thing.... I have sat infront of this beautiful lit up tree the whole night listening to Christmas music writing this blog and just as I am finishing up.....Lo and Behold what happens....

  


 Please take note that the bottom set is now the only set working. Seriously?
"One light goes out, They all go out!" #12PainsOfChristmas

  Unbelievable.