I Want You To Want Me

Oh, I am feeling all kinds of special.

Halfglassistan is becoming quite the not just my imaginary kingdom of all things awesome destination of curious bored work-avoidant discerning loyal subjects minions readers within six degrees of anyone everywhere.


Which is, ummmm, just freakin' awesome.


Because, as CatCon would tell you — loudly — if she were here: I want you to want me. I need you to need me. I'd love you to love me.

'Cause I'm just a needy obnoxious melodramatic attention whore an extrovert like that.

Not So Very Wordless, But Certainly Shameless, Wednesday

Insert Fingers in Ears and Commence the LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA's (aka code name: TAHITI*)

Today is one of the high holidays of Halfglassistan.


If you've been paying attention, you knew it was coming: I began a sentimental journey at the beginning of the month, added to it, sprinkled in a few wordless clues here and there, and had the intention of telling the tale of the Wedding Wedding today, its 10th anniversary.


Then we were taking off for TAHITI*. 


Now, before you go getting all worked up and wondering how the hell Team Wedding can come up with that kind of coin (you know who you are) — let me explain.


Yes, Tahiti is a real place. No, TAHITI* is not. Except how it exists in my mind. Kinda like Cat Con. (In fact, she made all the arrangements. She has the best taste.)


TAHITI* is where there is no cancer. No unemployment. No bills. No agonies of aging parents. No chemo. No scans. No tests. No fevers. No antibiotics. No tubes. No migraines. No scales. No thinning gray hair. No chipped teeth. No weird aches. No insomnia. No fears. No hate. No confusion. No changes. No passive-aggressiveness. And no cancer. Did I say no cancer? That's OK. TAHITI* so doesn't have cancer, it doesn't even have a word for cancer. You can see why I'd be confused.


In TAHITI*, we are always young and beautiful (or, as Cat Con says, younger and beautifuller — because we're never not beautiful). We are always laughing. We are always singing. We are always dancing. We are always loving.


Hmmm. If you've spent any time at all in Halfglassistan, I think you'll realize we've been to TAHITI* before. We do a lot of laughing and singing and dancing regardless of what else is going on. And the loving? Well, we're all about that around here.


In fact, there's no need to tell the story of the Wedding Wedding. Yeah, it's a good one, even in my not-so-humble, oh-so-biased, opinion. But, right now, what happened that day isn't what's important. What's important is that 10 years later, there is not just an anniversary of a beautiful fall evening, but — that there is a Team Wedding. And TWHQ isn't a figment of my imagination, but a real-live place. In the real world. Where all of those not fun things I listed above do exist. 


And we go on in spite of them. We are better because of them. 


We're not celebrating today that I put on a stunning rum-pink satin beaded dress 10 years ago and carried the most gorgeous champagne-colored roses with just a hint of pink at the petals' edges. We're not celebrating that I smiled and kissed Mr. J before our minister even began the ceremony — yet don't even remember doing it, because it was so natural. We're not celebrating that Mr. J and I, from memory, recited vows that each had written to the other. And cried through them, along with everyone else in the room.


No. I've realized that what we're celebrating today is that, 10 years later, I love and respect Mr. J even more than I did that night. Even more than I would have believed possible.


After spending the week among loved ones who, for whatever reasons, have forgotten who they are and what they mean to others — we're celebrating that we still can appreciate who we are together and what we mean to each other. 


After helping another loved one memorialize the husband she lost just five days after their 40th wedding anniversary, we're celebrating that we've at least had 10 together — and praying we have many more.


And, after meaning to leave for TAHITI* yesterday around noon, but being sidetracked — we're celebrating that we get to go to TAHITI* at all.


So, au revoir, y'all.


We're in TAHITI*. See you when (if) we come back.

Mr. and Mrs. Wedding

Wordless Just-A-Wee-Lass-Dreaming-of-a-Wedding-Wedding Wednesday

Wedding Wedding X

What a happy face.


I don't know if this is before or after I said my vows 10 years ago. You'd think the presence of the wine glass in my hand would be a clue ... but no.


That is either a "Woo-hoo! Let's do this!" grin, or a "Woo-hoo! We did it!" grin.


Hmm ... I'm thinking the bigger clue is that my makeup still looks fresh — and that, my friends, means it is before the waterworks.


Stay tuned. It's Wedding Wedding week here in Halfglassistan.

Blogging, Tweeting, and Facebooking, oh my! (#BeatCancer)

OK, my social-media-savvy* subjects, er ... followers, ahh ... readers! 

Readers, yes, readers. That's what you like to be called. 

So — my social-media-savvy* readers —today, Friday October 16, is #BeatCancer day. I know, I know ... coming on the heels of yesterday's proclamation of arbitrary and capricious holidays, you may doubt my veracity.

But this is legit, my friends. And cool as hell, to boot. 

(*keep reading, non-social-media-savvy readers — I promise it will make sense ...)

All you need to do — my social-media-savvy readers — is blog, tweet, or update your FB status with the hashtag #beatcancer. That's it.

And then what happens, you ask? Well, some folks with some very deep pockets will donate $.01 for each mention of #beatcancer. (I KNOW, RIGHT?)

Hmm? How deep are the pockets of these donors, you ask? Well, we're talking EBay/PayPal and MillerCoors Brewing. Hell, I put some of my money in both sets of those pockets just within the past hour (professional dues and a six-pack, but that's not important right now). And I'm cheap. They? EBay/PayPal? MillerCoors? They've got lots of moolah to donate. So make 'em.

And to what, exactly, are they donating? Just some utterly awesome non-profits, all 501(c)(3) and accredited by The American Cancer Society. 

They are: 

SU2C (Stand Up to Cancer)

Alex's Lemonade

Bright Pink 

and 

Spirit Jump .

I know what you're thinking. I do.

You're thinking: "Wow. Just wow. This HalfGlass Chick lets us know about some pretty sweet stuff."

But wait — there's more. (Yeah, I said it.)

There is more: You'll also be helping to set a Guinness Book World Record for the most social media mentions in 24 hours.

(!!!!!!!!! That's just my inner geek spazzing out over being part of a real, live, honest-to-God Guinness Book of World Records record! !!!!!!!!!!! Ooops, there it was again.)

And actually, there is even more. (Wait! What? No, you're not getting a Snuggie®.)

Click on this link: http://beatcancereverywhere.com/  and see a live, streaming update of all the action.

You just can't get more geek-chic than that.

*And, now, for my non-social-media-savvy-readers (you know who you are — you don't even know what social media means, even if you do use it, Mom. And some others, too, but yeah, this is for you, Mom): it's a lot easier than you think, so don't go all "Oh, I don't know how to do that stuff" on me ... ALL YOU NEED TO DO, MOM, IS TYPE THIS: #beatcancer in your Facebook status. That's the pound sign, b-e-a-t-c-a-n-c-e-r, no spaces typed into the little thingy at the top of your FB page that says "What's on your mind?"

Just type, along with whatever else is on your mind: #beatcancer.

And to think I was trying to think of what to write about today.

'Cause it's kind of a big deal.

It's my 100th post.

So this worked out just fine.

Thanks for playing, guys.

p.s. #beatcancer, #beatcancer, #beatcancer

p.p.s. I love you, Mom :-)

By Royal Decree ...

As Her Royal Highness Princess Snarkerella, it is my duty (one of many) to consider (many applicants) and determine (eeny-meeny-miney-moe) the High Holidays of Halfglassistan.


[trumpets sound]


[trumpets sound again, as HRH is late to the podium]


[trumpets playing a light jazzy number while HRH is delayed behind the velvet curtain as she fiddles with her hair]


And ...


[TRUMPETS SOUND]


Ahem.


I — your humble leader — declare (-are, -are, -are) — today (-ay, -ay, -ay)  Overflow Day (-ay, -ay, -ay) — upon which (-itch, -itch — OK, kill the echo effect) — upon which we fill the official drinking vessels of Halfglassistan (Libbey®) until they overflow with hope. 


Why today? Why today? 


I say, "Why not today?" 
We overdose on hope, not because it is easy — but because it is hard. 


Hmmm? What's that, you say? Ummm, yeah — no, I can't take credit for that last turn of phrase — good catch. But — I like it. And — it fits. 


So — go forth, and — hope. 
That is all. 
Carry on. 


CROWD:"Snarkita! Snarkita! Snarkita!" 

ME:"Don't cry for me, Halfglassistanita ... " 


Oh, please — you didn't see that coming?

Wordless Working-for-A-Living Wednesday

Wordless Wayback-Wedding Wednesday

Straight-Up Pizzazz Included

Labor Day holds a different meaning for me this year.

Instead of taking a break from the daily grind, I'm yearning for it. I miss being part of the workforce. I miss being part of something larger than myself. I miss having my opinion sought out and valued. I miss having unarbitrary deadlines.

I could go on (and on, and on ...), but I know myself well enough to recognize what I'm doing typing this post (I can be quite the professional crastinator) and shall stop. Now.

Time to go into all-around general awesomeness mode — and find someone who wants my kind of genius on their team.