Ever had one of those days where you just didn’t want to get out of bed? Where it took every ounce of effort, and you had to dig deep, very deep, to find the strength to get up? Where you just wanted to sit down and cry? Where the weight of the world just seemed like too much?

Yeah, welcome to my Monday. It can only get better from here. It simply has to get better. I don’t know how I’m going to shake this funk, but I know I need to shake it fast. Is there such a thing as Post Birthday Stress Disorder?

One positive note - it is absolutely gorgeous outside. The sky is bright blue and the buildings are sparkling. Maybe it’s a sign that I should grab the camera later and capture some of the beauty. That might help brighten the day.

Hope no one else has a case of the Mondays!

:: The Birthday BBQ was wonderful. Mike did an awesome job preparing great food, and it was wonderful to be able to kick back and enjoy the time with friends and family. We will have to do it again soon - because there is a lot of meat left over! Thank you again to everyone for the well wishes - it really helped make the day special.

:: I finished reading Seabiscuit today. It was really good - in some ways better than the movie. There are some things that are different, but as a whole it reads like a novel, not like non-fiction. I highly recommend it.

:: I’ve posted more photos at Pixelog. I’m still working on getting back in to the daily groove, but I’m not quite there yet.

:: Last but not least, I went to visit Kymberlie tonight. I even got to see her doing her breathing treatment! The blood thinners have already helped her pulmonary embolism, which, if left untreated, can be fatal. I am so thankful they found it when they did. She seems to be climbing up the hill to recovery now. They anticipate she will be there until Wednesday.

I also got to see her flowers, and I took her comfy things like pajamas and striped socks to cheer her up - I will be taking her more goodies on Tuesday. I’ve received e-mails from people asking if it’s too late to send something - it isn’t. I can take her any messages you want to send. If you want to mail something for her, let me know. If you want to send money and have me pick up something, you can use my PayPal address of christine at big pink cookie dot com - just include in the note that it’s for Kymberlie, and if there is something special you want me to pick up - note that too.

She asked that I send a big thank you again to everyone for your positive thoughts & well wishes - you have truly lifted her spirits!

Earlier this week I was trying to think of profound things to share about my birthday - but the day is here, and I have nothing. Another year has passed, with many changes. Many good, some bad, and I’m grateful for all of it.

Tonight Mike is hosting a Birthday BBQ for Kathy & me - her birthday is 8 days from now, so we decided to share the celebration. I am looking forward to spending the evening with our friends! I think that’s why I feel so scattered right now though - lots to do before 5pm!

Also, I spoke with Kymberlie this morning and she confirmed what I read at Trish’s site earlier - she has a pulmonary embolism and had to go through some really hard tests last night. She said she is feeling better today thanks to the blood thinners, and of course they are keeping a close eye on her. I’m so thankful that they found it before it caused any damage. I’ve passed on everyone’s well wishes to her, and she was really touched.

Many, many thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes! I really appreciate it. The weather is gorgeous outside, wish you were here to celebrate with me! Happy Birthday wishes to Andre, Courtney, and Jason and everyone else celebrating this special day with me!

I just spoke with Kymberlie again, and she said she received her flowers and her balloons and she loved them! She said they made her cry - she was really touched that we thought of her.

I actually ended up with more money then I needed for the flowers and balloons, so I am putting together a get well basket for her with goodies and treats for while she recovers. You know where to find me if you want to contribute.

I’ll post an update as soon as I know more.

I spoke to Kymberlie at about 2pm - she sounds less “wheezy” then she did yesterday, but well medicated and sleepy. She said she’s done nothing but sleep today and eat a little bit, which is good. She still doesn’t know a definite date as to when she will be released.

I will be going to see her this weekend and plan to print out the well wishes that people have left on her comments and that I have received for her already - if anyone wants to leave a comment here or on her site or send me an e-mail to include, a note, a letter, or even an e-card to print and take to her, you can use the same e-mail address that I posted below.

She said they told her that there is WiFi at the hospital. Depending on how she is feeling, I may take my laptop so that we can test it out!

I just sent this message via e-mail to a bunch of people, but I’m afraid I may have left someone off. So here it goes - my open invitation to share the love.

As you may already know, Kymberlie was admitted to the hospital yesterday. As you might also know, Kymberlie & I have known each other since 2000, and worked together for 2 years. I don’t think there is anything that Kymberlie loves more then a nice bouquet of flowers (except maybe flowers & balloons!) so I want to send her some. I was thinking of taking them to her in person tomorrow, but I’m sure she could use all the cheering up she can get today. She’s never been in a hospital before in her life.

I know it cost a lot to send someone flowers, but I thought that maybe if we all pooled our resources I could pick out a super nice arrangement and have it delivered late this afternoon? If you’re interested in chipping in (even if it’s just a buck or two), I can take money in through PayPal and order them later today. I just realized this morning that it would make her really happy and so I wanted to give everyone a chance to join in!
If you want to send a few dollars in, you can send them to me through PayPal by using my e-mail address of christine at big pink cookie dot com (just put it back together - trying to fool the spam bots!) Log in to PayPal and go to the “Send Money” screen. I’ll check what is there by 3:30pm or 4:00 CST today (I know, short notice, I’m sorry!) and send an arrangement on it’s way to her.

I am going to go by the hospital tomorrow or visit her at home on Sunday, so if you want me to take something to her then (and don’t get this before my 3:30 or 4:00 cutoff today) I don’t mind at all - there are plenty of stores nearby that I can go to and pick up a treat for her and deliver it in person!

Would you think less of me if you knew that I really, really, really want a Barry  Williams  Autographed Photo, personally made out to me with “Have a Sunshine Day” or “To a totally groovy chick” inscribed on it? The Brady Bunch first aired the night before I was born. I think an autograph from Greg Brady is just the thing I need… Oh! Wait! There are autographed photos from Christopher Knight, aka Peter Brady, signed “Porkchops and applesauce”! Or how about “To the Brady in you”? These are just too wonderful!

Hmmm… my Dad is pretty hard to shop for - maybe I should get one of Tony Dow from Leave it to Beaver that says “Knock it off Squirt!”

If a Brady or Leave it to Beaver isn’t your thing, you can also get Sean Astin, Bernie Kopell, and many more![via Daria.]

They told me last night at the H-Town Happy Hour that I should be very careful admitting this, as the Catholic mafia may come and hunt me down or something … but I’m throwing caution to the wind.

Pope John Paul I died the day after my 9th birthday. September 28, 1978. I remember hearing on the news that he had died - watching TV before school, already in my Catholic school uniform. We talked about it in school and learned about the Papal election process. He was only pope for a month and two days, and after they held an election for a new pope, Pope John Paul II took his place.

Yesterday, I spotted on the Captivate monitors in my elevator at work that Pope John Paul II had to cancel his regular appearance because he is ill. He has actually been sick for some time now, as he is quite old. Hard to believe he has been pope for almost 25 years.

Just how freaky weird would it be if he died right around my birthday too? Not that I want him to - but I’m actually afraid that he will. Am I cursed? I mean, what is up with that?

Surely the Catholic mafia is going to be out to get me now…

(I should note that I am Catholic, in case you are wondering. And no, there isn’t really a Catholic mafia. That I know of.)

A fantastic time was had by all at the H-Town Blogs happy hour last night! Ahhh… I realized why I have been able to tolerate Houston a lot more lately - it’s all the great people that are here. It is always so cool to meet other bloggers in person. I know how intimidating it is at first - heck, I managed to miss many gatherings for about 6 months last year - but once I got over that, it put a completely different spin on blogging for me. Thank you to everyone for coming out and making it the fun evening that it was - it was great to finally put faces to names and blogs I have been reading for awhile (I have read Michelle’s site for probably at least a year, and just recently discovered Emily’s). What I always find interesting to see is how much the “real world” personality complements the blog. Mad props for Cabo for putting us in the private room - it was great to have the place to ourselves!

In attendance last night:
:: Kathy & her husband Tom, Jish (our excuse for the event) :: Syd & Liz, her roommate :: J-Mo Jen :: Mike :: Chuck (who keeps me in the political loop) :: Elaine and her husband Kenny :: EJ :: Angela :: Matt :: James :: Emily :: Michelle and her non-blogging boyfriend Jim.

Fortunately no stalkers showed up, but Emily did touch the tequila. If you want to hear what we sound like, Emily did an Audblog post for posterity. There is also a lot of photographic evidence showing up at the blogs of those who attended, including a few Moblog posts that I made.

The people that couldn’t make it were definitely missed, and I hope they can come out and join us next month! I’m trying to think of some “weekend” activities that would be good for a large group - where kids can attend, or people that just can’t make it during the week would be able to come out. Anyone have suggestions? (I don’t care if you live in Houston or not - you still might have good ideas to toss out there!)

Ahhh… the memories of things like “Squish Jish!” and Hypnoboobies will last for some time… and now I’m really looking forward to going to the Ren Fest in October and hanging out with some fantastic people!

Last night was my first night of the big season premiere week - I had no interest in any of the shows that were on Monday, and Third Watch doesn’t start until next week. By the way, what have they done with Crossing Jordan? *sigh* I hope they didn’t end the show - it was a lot better than many that are still hanging on.

But back to my original point … what is up with all of the car commercials and baby commercials? I watched 8 Simple Rules, I’m With Her (good, but I doubt it will last a full season), Frasier, Law & Order SVU and Judging Amy … and it seemed like every single commercial break had car commercials and commercials for Fisher Price toys. Uhm, hello? Marketing? There are people out here that aren’t looking for a new car, and who have no need for baby/toddler toys. Thank goodness I have a Tivo - I finally paused the TV and started watching everything late so that I could fast forward through the commercials! I was almost ready to scream if I saw another car or baby!

:: H-Town Happy Hour tonight at Cabos. If you’re in Houston, I hope you can make it!

:: I tweaked all of the blog skins over the weekend, fixing the blogrolls and hopefully taking out all the code that was slowing some skins down. Let me know if you have any problems with them.

:: I actually posted in Pixelog. I know, you’re shocked. I already have more photos edited and ready to go, and may even post another one tonight! Enjoy!

Like most women, I have a bit of an addiction to shoes. I can admit it. I like shoes. I like purses too, especially black ones. On a number of occassions, I’ve had to stop myself from buying a purse or a pair of shoes that I didn’t really need, but I really wanted. That last push of self-control is hard, but so worth it in the long run - something I can appreciate as I clear out all of the unused stuff from my apartment.

Friday night I called Kathy to let her know where we would be going for dinner in downtown. When I called, I asked her where she was at, what she was doing. She was at a shoe store - about to buy more shoes!

Thanks in part to her blog, I could rattle off three pairs of shoes that she has purchased in the past month. Add to that the fact that she has posted many times about how she wants to save more money, that she needs to save money, etc.

Me: You bought the boots, you ordered more boots, and you bought those tennis shoes at Target.
Her: But I need these. They are sneakers. I need them for running.
Me: You are *so* not going to run in those shoes.
Her: Uhm… yes I am!
Me: Then you can run in the sneakers you got at Target! PUT DOWN THE SHOES. Now.
Her: Oh, ok. Fine. I put them back. I’m leaving the store.
Me: No you’re not.
Her: Yes I am - I’m outside. Can’t you tell I’m outside? (makes whooshing sound in to phone like wind blowing.)
Me: I still don’t think you’re outside. (laughs at mental image of Kathy in shoe store making whoosh sound.)
Her: Yes I am! I’m starting my car! Can you hear my car?

I could finally hear her car, and I was satisfied that my mission had been accomplished.

I think that from now on I should offer shoe shopping intervention services. Just call on me if you’re about to spend that money that is burning a hole in your pocket, and I’ll talk you out of it. If you can truly justify your purchase, then I will approve your purchase. (By the way, slide on sneakers are not shoes that you can run in.) Sort of like a little help group for the shoe addicts out there.

Question is, who am I going to call when I’m out shopping, trying to buy the things I don’t need?

It’s that time of year again. Season premieres are finally here! I have the Tivo set to pick up Frasier and Judging Amy tonight, but I forgot to tell it to record one show. 8 Simple Rules also premieres tonight, in a season that will be reworked to fit around the fact that John Ritter died. “8 Simple Rules…” to Live On has all the details.

Know what is guaranteed to make your Monday a good day? Receiving a bouquet of a dozen gorgeous red roses at work! Whee! They are just so beautiful, and definitely makes my Monday a happy day! (Click photo for larger version.)

Why did I get flowers today, you ask? Because Mike and I (finally) met in person a year ago. So he sent me flowers to celebrate! Awwww…