"Holiday!... It will be so nice... holiday!"

We leave tomorrow for the grand Grand Cayman Island! Yay!

I got my now-traditional vacation bikini wax the other day (still $30, woohoo!) and my waxer was telling me all about her recent trip to Grand Cayman. In between ripping the hair folicles out of my unmentionable area, she was telling me all the fun things to do and good places to go and even though I was in a compromising position and in uncomfortable pain, I got excited. An interesting dichotomy to say the least! I was excited before but it's always nice to get those reassuring positive comments from a total stranger who's pouring hot wax on you, you know?

If we see any famous people, I promise to take plenty of photos of the back of their heads to share with you all.

Miss me.

JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes.

As some of you may or may not know, my husband was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes 10 years ago. He blogged about his experience, which I encourage you to check out here.

Again this year, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is holding a Walk to Cure Diabetes on October 4th. Please visit his blog to learn more about Diabetes and how you can help work toward a cure that is within reach.

http://occasionaloutlook.blogspot.com/

With much gratitude,
MD squared.

Happy First Day of Fall!

Today is one of my most favorite days of the year. So I'd like to wish you and yours a Happy First Day of Fall and all of the enjoyment that comes with the season. May you be warm and snuggly, may you drink hot chocolate while picking apples, may you watch football and the new season of television wrapped up in your favorite sweatshirt or blanket while sitting by the fireplace, may you burn your cinnamon-apple-flavored candles, may you enjoy the smell of the briskness in the air as it seeps into your lungs, and may you enjoy it now before that blasted winter comes along.

Love,
Mickey D.

Wuv, Trwu Wuv.

Q. How do I know my husband loves me and accepts me for who I am and my body for what it is?

A. Because he points out when the girls in Playboy have smaller breasts than me to make me feel better about my chestial shortcomings.

And quite honestly, I appreciate that.


*I'm sure you understand why there is no photo with this post. If you need a visual, pick up the latest edition of Playboy. I'm much bigger than that.

My Olympic Moment.

Me and the amazing Ms. Kerri Strug. She of vaulting with a broken ankle but still sticking the landing to win an Olympic gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta games and now a presidential appointee in the Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and training to run her fifth marathon fame. And me, of sitting in the audience appalled that we are the same age and have lead completely different lives fame.

However, I'm about 7 inches taller than she is. So I've got her on that one.

102 Minutes + Seven Years

Did anyone watch the documentary "102 Minutes that Changed America" on the History channel last night?

It was video captured by people who were in the vacinity of the World Trade Center on September 11. There was no host and no script. It showed the 102-minute time period between the first plane hitting the first tower and the eventual collapse of the two buildings through eye witnesses and news channel footage. It was people with their personal, handheld video cameras watching the events unfold from their apartments complete with their raw emotion and reactions as well as real-time interviews with people on the street as they watched everything take place.

I'm not certain I could fully articulate how I felt watching this. Certainly not well enough to do myself justice. I experienced every human emotion possible - from anger, confusion, outrage, sadness and fear to pride in our fellow Americans who were reaching out to help perfect strangers and sheer amazement at the bravery shown by the members of the police, fire and EMS departments. At times, I was almost sick.

I have watched everything I can about this day. I was one of those people who, in the days following the attacks, watched the news coverage everyday until 4 in the morning, waiting to see if something else would happen and struggling to see if someone would give an explanation as to why this happened. Even now, if I see there is a special on the architecture of the twin towers or something, I will watch. I simply cannot read, watch or learn enough about it. But this documentary was unlike anything I've ever seen. It's cliche to say that I felt like I was there, but I really did. It was incredible and horrific.

I'm sure most people can't see these things any longer because it is emotionally exhausting and painfully difficult to watch and that's completely understandable. But I have to. It's my way of making sure that I REMEMBER. Even though I remember every detail about the day from my experience, it's important to me that I remember that some people weren't lucky enough to be sitting in the Toledo Zoo marketing department watching the events on television. They were there, they had friends and family members who were there, they have children to whom they've had to try and explain why those buildings aren't there anymore and if they want to share their stories because its helps them to feel better, then I will listen. And watch. And cry.

You all must love my "Face"!

So I just signed up for that Facebook thing that the kids are talking about. And when I say just, I mean just. I added a photo and did a little snooping around on old friends and then I checked my email. I had 4 requests from people who I only know because of blogging! You know who you are. You all must have your finger on the pulse because I got them all at the same time! I have to admit, I saw the friend request names and I was all, "Who the heck is this? I have stalkers already?! I guess people like what they see."

But then I clicked and saw your profiles and I was all, "Oh fun, that's that blogger girl and that blogger girl! I have 4 instant friends who didn't attend my high school or even live in my city! LOVE it!"

Just so you 4 know, you have been officially added as my friends. Welcome!

I'm still new to this phenomenon. I was a lame Myspace participant, which I may subsequently close. I checked that thing like every 6 months, and there is no way I can maintain two social networks. This dance card is full. And I hear Facebook is way cooler. And I always did hang with the cool crowd...

What's cuter than cute?

We went to Chicago over the weekend to visit our new niece, Tess. She is 6 weeks old now and is pretty much the coolest baby in all the land. She is so good, the only time she made a peep was when she was hungry or needed to burp. Which, I can understand, that's how it works in my house as well. MD was asked to be the Godfather, which means that if we accidentally put her in the car and take her home with us, it won't be a big deal.

Get me a knife and fork, I could eat this kid up. I adore her.