And so it begins...

It's the start of the holiday season. It sort of seems strange to mention "the holiday season" before Thanksgiving, I usually associate the holidays solely with Christmas. But Halloween is a holi--wait, I just looked up holiday in the dictionary and it's not, by definition a holiday as no businesses actually close on this day and no one has this day off from work. (of course, if that is the definition of holiday, then in the world of the arts, Columbus and President's Day are not holidays)

But, I digress.

Either way, I am happy that it is this time of season. I love fall. I like baking. I don't like the pudge that comes with it, but that's another issue.

I love the silly costumes that come with this month. I actually was hoping I could dress up this year for Halloween, but surprisingly, I'm working that day/evening. Well, I'll have a little free time at night, so maybe I can dress up as something generic.

I would like to mention what I wanted to dress up as this year...maybe I can put more thought in it next year and really pull it off.

Ok.

These may seem a little obscure, if you've never seen these specific movies. But they are the bomb-diggity if you have.

#1:

The Swedish Chef.

The best part about dressing up for Halloween, is not only do I like dressing up, but I enjoy pretending to be like the person I'm dressing up as. "Spurgyflurderschmorgendoggen....Bort Bort BORT!"

#2:

Baby Jane Hudson. From the movie, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane.

This would be a great Halloween idea. It's a great movie with legendary actresses and it's a plus, because Baby Jane is a total nut case!

#3:

Fanny Bryce. From the movie, Funny Girl.

You don't have to be a big Streisand fan to appreciate the hilarity of the scene where she's dressed up and performing as a pregnant Ziegfeld Girl. It's classic.

I realize that in posting my ideas, there is a chance these ideas could be stolen. (shifty eyes...)

Well, if you want to do it! I would love you for it! It's good stuff.

Random thoughts

This nice fall weather is sure making me nostalgic for some outdoor adventures. Like long hikes, camping, or apple picking.

I also miss having a backyard. A place where you can walk outside, plop yourself on the ground and have nice clean place to read your book or have a family barbecue or dinner.

Well anyway, I went on a nice bike ride around my neighborhood parks, and although I ran into areas that were shamefully littered, there were areas that had a nice view of the Hudson and had cute little families running around playing.

Maybe I'll put up some fall decorations around the apartment. Ya know, decorative fall leaves and a little pumpkin.

I think I'm getting anxious to be in a schedule and be active and working. I feel like I'm in a bit of transitional period, right now. Perhaps I should prepare myself before the madness begins. Set goals, create good habits, etc.

We'll see.

Bread machine : 1, Anna: 0

(I just realized that I often will keep score with inanimate objects in my blogs. Tin can-1, Anna-0...hmmm.)

The bread machine hates me. I keep trying to be creative and make things like applesauce bread and banana bread, but the bread machine laughs in my face and makes me look like a total dunce! Well, maybe I am. But either way, I just wanted to make some yummy bread without heating up the house. I mean, those are kind and wholesome things, right? To share delicious bread with the world in my nice cool apartment.

Part of me hopes that after about an hour (which is still the time left on the machine) I will be pleasantly surprised and my bread will turn out fine! Yet, I have ruined bread before.

Why doesn't this homemaking stuff happen instantly?

Maybe the recipe on the website was not accurate? Yeah. Yeah, sure. That's it.

What do you do if you put to much yeast in it? Nothing, I suppose. It's too late.

sigh...it's just too late.

Hubby appreciation

I feel like I should also thank my husband for his love and support in this ordeal.

The Sweetheart was there waiting with me while I sat in the pre-op area almost in tears, (I was incredibly nervous--more than I needed to be) he held my hand and kept my mind on other things.

And after surgery, he came in and gave me hugs and kisses and filled my prescriptions. He carefully walked me out of recovery room and hailed a taxi home.

Once home, he made me applesauce, a cold compress and lots of water. He also made our bedroom into a little theater, so I could snuggle next to him and watch (and fall asleep to) movies.

When I was coherent, I really enjoyed all that time with him. I love that guy so much.

Post-op and pretty

Last Monday, was my final surgery after a year and half with the cyst.

I almost don't believe that it's gone. But, I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.

Mom came into town for that week, for moral support. She's a super lady. She kept me company while I was healing. We'd play games, laugh at Bill Cosby sketches, and when I had more energy we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art--twice.

It's always so nice to have her in our home. She is so pleasant and easy-going. And one of my best friends.

Here's a pic of my mom and hubby chilling out, literally. Our bedroom is the coolest room in the apartment (notice the A/C unit in the background. It was set at like 69 degrees!)

So we like to hang out here often.

Mom also kept herself busy by making me a new skirt! She is so talented!

I explained to her what I wanted and we picked out the material and she came up with the design all her own. I love it!!

She also altered a shirt, which she made in the seventies. It's has the most beautiful embroidery. I've always loved this shirt, but it never fit right.

So with her amazing talent she came up with this!

I think this was the most productive surgery and recovery I've ever had!

If you're lucky she might make you something...

Update #497

I know I probably talk about this incessantly on my blog, but I've had this for over a year now, and it has really affected me.

Yup. I'm going to mention....the cyst. My parasitic nemesis.

Mr. OKC. (Odontogenic Keratocyst)

Actually, I just realized--all this time I've had this cyst, not once have I given it a nickname.

How about Dengtigeron!

Yes. He can transform into yellow liquid and wriggle his way into tiny areas and then expand and crush all that lies in his path! Mwahahaha!

Well, anyway, Dentigeron is finally going to be removed tomorrow morning. Whoo hoo!

I have to be up and at the hospital by 5:45am. My surgery is at 7:30am.

And over the past couple days I have, in a sense, been preparing myself for tomorrow's events.

I recognize that I will be out of it for the next week or so, so I wanted to be sure that things were in order during my recovery.

Here was my list:

Clean my apartment

Shave legs

Do laundry

Receive blessing

Some of these items seem like obvious things to do before an operation.

But, never would I expect myself feeling as though I needed to shave my legs.

However, I think I came up with a good reason.

I am going to be loopy and swollen for about a week. A week is about the time it takes to grow a decent amount of leg hair. Will I want to shave my legs then? NO! So, then after two weeks of not shaving, I be feeling better and my legs will be at a scare factor of, say, a 2 instead of a 5!

Sweet!

Anna-1 Leg hair-Nada

oh and Dentigeron-----Hasta la vista, cystie!

How to give yourself a facial

I am going to show you the best way to make your skin the freshest and clearest, through simple steps of a DIY facial.

Step one:

Buy a face mask.

You can purchase a face mask at your local pharmacy. Make sure it's green. That seems to be the "it" thing these days. Being green, right?

Step two:

Apply mask to face and wait a good 10 minutes to let it get all hard and crusty. However tempting it may be, DO NOT EAT THE MASK.

Step three:

As you may find your face is completely immobile! Try your darndest to make normal faces without cracking the mask. It's quite fun. Almost like getting Botox injections...nearly every expression looks the same.

In order:

Languid, Pensive, Sultry, Confounded

Step four:

Once you've tried out a few facial expressions, now give into temptation! Let loose! Stretch your face and break through the mask! It will crack and flake all over. Again, DO NOT EAT THE MASK.

Step five:

You know what's next.

Wash it off!

Step 6:

Ta da!!! Now you have a beautiful, healthy glow.

Now GO! Seize the day!! If you've got it! Flaunt it!