2010: Two Thousand and Amen--A Year In Review

When 2010 started, I will admit it just felt like any other day. It was a new year. A new clean slate. Honeymooners marathon on television, my phone blowing up with mass texts of HAPPY NEW YEAR, David sending me kisses through the phone. (I do not like to go out on New Years Eve; he does. He is always welcome to come over my house for NYE though.), getting kisses from my dogs but that happens every day. But in pure Dani fashion, I set up my goals for 2010 as resolutions do not last for me. So without any more hesitation, here is my 2010 year in review.

What Books I Read (22/50)The Big Love by Sarah Dunn, Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, The Wife of Reilly by Jennifer Coburn, Heat by Mike Lupica, The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff, Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway by Cherie Currie, Everything I Needed to Know I Learned from Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz, Star Craving Mad by Elise Abrams Miller, Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer, French Trysts by Kristen Lobe, Peanuts Philosophers by Charles M. Schulz, Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell, Love, Loss, and What I Wore by Ilene Beekerman, I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar by Sharon Eliza Nichols, Prosperity Pie by SARK, Kick Ass by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr., Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, How to be Happy Dammit by Karen Salmansohn, The Walking Dead Volume One by Robert Kirkman, Life’s Literacy Lessons by Steven L. Layne, The Tattoo Chronicles by Kat Von D, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

What Movies Did I See (47/100)Planet You (LSC 3D Movie), Tooth Fairy starring Dwayne Johnson, Forgetting Sarah Marshall starring Kristen Bell, When in Rome starring Kristen Bell and Josh Dushamel, The Comebacks starring David Koechner, The Good Guy starring Alexis Bledel and Brian Greenberg, The House Bunny starring Anna Faris, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs starring voice of Bill Hader & Anna Faris, Confessions of a Shopaholic starring Isla Fisher, Alice in Wonderland (cartoon) starring Kathryn Beaumont, Punk Rock Holocaust starring bands from the Vans Warped Tour 2003, Jawbreaker starring Rose McGowan and Rebecca Gayheart, Kick-Ass starring Chloe Grace Moretz and Aaron Johnson, Rainbow Brite and The Star Stealer starring Betting Bush (voice), The Suicide Girls Guide to Living starring The Suicide Girls, The Losers starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Chris Evans, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle starring Robert DeNiro, Some Kind of Wonderful starring Eric Stolz, I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell starring Matt Czuchry, Dan in Real Life starring Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche, Sex and the City 2 starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Chris Noth, Horton Hears a Who! Starring Jim Carrey and Steve Carell, Toy Story 3 starring Tom Hanks and Tim Allen,The Twilight Saga: Eclipse starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, Knight and Day starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, I Hate Valentines Day starring John Corbett and Nia Vardolos, Despicable Me starring Steve Carrell and Miranda Cosgrove, The Uninvited starring Emily Browning and Elizabeth Banks, Middle Men starring Luke Wilson and James Caan, Punisher: War Zone starring Ray Stevenson, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World starring Michael Cera, The Expendables starring Sylester Stallone and Jason Staham, The Other Guys starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, My Best Friends Girl starring Dane Cook and Kate Hudson, Easy A starring Emma Stone and Penn Badgley, Psycho starring Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins, Telling You starring Peter Facinelli, Alice in Wonderland starring Johnny Depp, Red starring Bruce Willis and John Malkovich, Paranormal Activity starring Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat, Morning Glory starring Rachael McAdams and Harrison Ford, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 starring Daniel Radcliffe, Santa Paws starring Zachary Gordon, Megamind starring the voices of Will Ferrell and Tina Fey, Bedtime Stories starring Adam Sandler and Keri Russell, Burlesque starring Cher and Christina Aguilera, How to Train Your Dragon starring Gerard Butler (voice)

What New Restaurants I Went To(27/10) Le Petit Auberge (Lexington Avenue in NYC), Boca Grande (Newport Mall, Jersey City), Moonstruck Diner (2nd Avenue in NYC), 16 Handles (2nd Avenue in NYC), Mamas on the Half Shell (O’Donnell Street, Baltimore Maryland), Chaps Pit Beef (Pulaski Highway, Baltimore Maryland), Rodeo Bar (3rd Avenue in NYC), Chickpea (23rd Street and 6th Avenue in NYC), BXL Belgian Café (West 43rd Street in NYC), Empanada Mama (9th Avenue in NYC), Ben’s Chili Bowl (Washington DC), Founding Farmers (Washington DC), Vanessa’s Dumplings (14th Street in NYC), Blue 9 Burger (3rd Avenue in NYC), Dessert Club Chickalicious (E. 10th Street in NYC), Think Coffee (4th Avenue in NYC), Ronnybrook Milk Bar (Chelsea Market, NYC), Steak and Shake (Chicago), Giordano’s (Chicago), Ann Sather Restaurant (Chicago), The Varsity (Atlanta), Hill Country Chicken (25th Street in NYC), Golden Corral (Orlando, Florida), Bar Stuzzichini (22nd Street in NYC), Il Cantuccio (Christopher Street in NYC). FoodParc (6th Avenue in NYC),Lucky’s Burgers (23rd Street in NYC)

What Museums Did I Visit(5/5) Smithsonian Institution: National Museum of American History (Washington DC), Smithsonian Institution: National Air and Space Museum (Washington DC), World of Coca-Cola (Atlanta, Georgia), John Hancock Observatory (Chicago, Illinois), Sears Tower/Skydeck Chicago (Chicago, Illinois)

What Broadway/Off Broadway Plays Did I See(5/10) Sondheim on Sondheim on May 29, 2010, Love, Loss and What I Wore on July 29, 2010, Secrets of the Trade on July 30, 2010, The Language Archive on November 27, 2010, The Pee Wee Herman Show on December 22, 2010

Did I Travel to Three States This Year? No I did not. But here is where I have been and I added Illinois to my list! My ultimate goal of visiting every state in the United States will come true! (1/3) States already visited: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington DC. States visited in 2010 will be in italics.

Good Things I Did for Myself: NO JUNK FOOD FOR MONTH OF MARCH! With the exception of my birthday, this was achieved! Drank more tea, quit soda, ate more fruits and vegetables, Use The Awe-Manac: A Daily Dose of Wonder by Jill Badonsky, sending 5 cards to 5 random people. (5/5), Go 3 months without fast food--Done! It is amazing what a broken foot will do, Cut out swearing words in my vocab. If I do curse, write it down and by December 31, 2010, multiply it by 10 and donate the amount to a charity, walking outside for 10 minutes every day, Donate 100 grains of rice through www.freerice.com for 31 days. It felt good to donate 3,100 grains of rice to the World Food Programme. Told my fellow teachers about the website and they have incorporated into their extended day activities as well as recess activities, try 10 foods I have never tried before, barring allergies. (8/10) Fish Tacos at Houlihans in Secaucus, NJ, Maryland Crab Soup in Mamas on the Half Shell in Baltimore, MD, Grilled Seafood Pizza at Mamas on the Half Shell in Baltimore, MD, Prairie Salad with Cactus at Rodeo Bar in NYC, Watermelon Salad at Empanada Mama in NYC, Bacon Wrapped Dates at Founding Farmers in Washington DC, Sesame Pancakes at Vanessa’s Dumplings in NYC, Pane e Panelle at Bar Stuzzichini in NYC

Where I Went This Year
--TNA Wrestling in Westbury, Long Island on 1/8/2010
--JAPW Womens Division Wrestling in Bayonne, NJ on 1/9/2010
--Lady Gaga on 1/21/2010 at Radio City Music Hall in NYC
--Order Sons of Italy Annual Wine Tasting on 5/21/2010 at Rita and Joes in Jersey City
--Opening Reception for “Melting Flesh” photography exhibit of Ellen Stagg on 5/22/2010 at Fuse Gallery in NYC
--Chikara Wrestle Factory on 5/23/2010 in Union City, NJ
--Sondheim on Sondheim (Broadway play) on 5/29/2010 in NYC
--New York Mets vs. Baltimore Orioles on 6/12/2010 in Baltimore, MD
--New York Mets vs. Baltimore Orioles on 6/13/2010 in Baltimore, MD
--Denis Leary and Friends at Town Hall on 6/26/2010 in NYC
--TNA Wrestling in Brooklyn, NY on 7/2/2010
--New York Mets vs. Washington Nationals on 7/3/2010 in Washington DC
--New York Mets vs. Washington Nationals on 7/4/2010 in Washington DC
--July 4th Fireworks at Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington DC
--Bastille Day Festival at 60th Street between Fifth and Lexington Ave on 7/11/10 in NYC
--12 Angry Mascots at Gotham Comedy Club on 7/28/2010 in NYC
--Love, Loss, and What I Wore at Westside Theatre on 7/29/10 in NYC
--Secrets of the Trade at 59EAST59 Theater on 7/30/2010 in NYC
--I Eight One/NY Jets Event at Village Pourhouse on 7/31/2010 in NYC
--Chicago White Sox vs. New York Yankees on 8/29/2010 in Chicago, Illinois
--Chicago Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals on 8/30/2010 in Chicago, Illinois
--Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates on 8/31/2010 in Chicago, Illinois
--Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets on 9/2/2010 in Atlanta, Georgia
--TNA Wrestling Live! on 9/25/2010 in Rahway, New Jersey
--New Jersey Devils BBQ on 9/26/2010 in Newark, NJ
--NJ Devils vs. Philadelphia Flyers on 9/28/2010 in Newark, NJ
--One Day University on 10/3/2010 in New York, NY
--TNA Wrestling Fan Interaction on 10/9/10 in Daytona Beach, Florida
--TNA Wrestling Bound for Glory on 10/10/10 in Daytona Beach. Florida
--TNA Wrestling Impact! on 10/11/10 in Orlando, Florida
--Jersey All Pro Wrestling on 10/23/10 in Jersey City, NJ
--NYC Zombie Crawl on 10/24/10 in NYC
--WSU Wrestling on 11/6/10 in Union City, NJ
--The Rocky Horror Show at Saint Peters College on 11/9/10 in Jersey City, NJ
--NY Knicks vs. Golden State Warriors on 11/10/10 in New York, NY
--The Language Archive on 11/27/2010 in New York, NY
--Chelsea Handler on 12/3/2010 in Newark, NJ
--The Pee Wee Herman Show on 12/22/2010 in New York, NY

Most Played Music on my iPod: Motley Crue--Red, White, and Crue; Anthrax--Anthrology:No Hit Wonders; Bullet for My Valentine--The Poison; Girl Talk--Feed the Animals; Girl Talk--All Day; Ke$ha--Animal; Jay Z--The Blueprint 3.

Most Watched Television: The Walking Dead, Gossip Girl, 90210, TNA Impact!, 16 & Pregnant, Teen Mom, Celebrity Rehab, Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch, The T.O. Show, Celebrity Apprentice, Bret Michaels: Life as I Know It, WWE Raw, The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, anything on The Food Network.

My Top Five Purchases of 2010: Olsenboye Royal boots (so comfortable and stylish!), Bath and Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar + Forever Sunshine body sprays (when mixed together, it smells delicious on my skin. When used separately, still as delicious!), a Filofax which was an inspired purchase from Gala Darling. I might not be a Virgo, but I adore organization and planning, fishnet tights from We Love Colors which I love to layer on other tights to create a textured look, and finally purple Converse sneakers which I used to walk around everywhere once my foot was well healed.

Loveliest Gift: Wow. This is definitely hard. I would have to say while my foot was in a cast, David going to various book events for me to get books autographed as well as the flowers he sent while I was home. Also, my friend Michael standing outside of a bookstore for five hours to meet George W. Bush and get his memoir autographed and sent to me.


Favourite Websites: Gala Darling, Nubby Twiglet, Celebrity Book Signings and Events, Geek Tyrant

Could Not Be Without: Purple eyelids, my big purple square nerd glasses, a bright big handbag, Converse sneakers, my Pantech Matrix, Blistex Glysomed hand and body cream, Hello Kitty watches, David, my family, Hudson and Sweetums, purple unicorns, Starbucks Vanilla Chai, Think Coffee Chai Latte + chocolate marzipan bars, silly hats + headbands, books, and eternal love.


I am very excited for 2011! Hopefully I will not break anything two months into the new year like I did in 2010. Even though most of my 2010 was spent indoors and in a cast of some kind, this year was definitely an eye opener of a year. I learned who my true friends and loves are, I learned what is best for me, and I learned to live life in the present--not in the future or in the past. I also learned to be happy and positive. I am on the right track now.

Do you have any goals for the New Year? How was your two thousand and amen?

Christmas Haul 2010

Merry Christmas everyone! Yes I know this is the season of giving, but I would like to share with you what I got this year. I have everything I need--this is more of what I would WANT and received.

From my students: A heck of a lot of chocolate, a hot cocoa mug, a $25 gift cheque from American Express, a fuzzy pink scarf, a tabletop clock,an egg tray, and a $15 dollar gift card to Dunkin Donuts.

From my friend Fran: A purple mood changing watch

From my friend Melissa: Neil Gaiman's Coraline on DVD and an Alice in Wonderland coloring book.

From my friend Christine: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse on DVD.

From Giovanna Shannon/Lisa Vicari: A $50 gift card to Lane Bryant.

From my friend Randy: a plaid pink scarf, Paris Hilton perfume, and Baby Phat perfume/lotion set.

From my family: A Fleur De Lis pin, a Jewish hand pendant (its for good luck), Hello Kitty slippers, a Hello Kitty water bottle, clothes, and a nail care kit/body scrub set.

From my David: Despicable Me on DVD, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem video game for the Nintendo DS, The Rocky Horror Picture Show/Shock Treatment double feature DVD set, The Doors Special Edition DVD Set, Wonder Woman The Complete First Season DVD Set, a Christmas Snoopy doll, Unconditional Love by Philosophy perfume, the book The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption by Jim Gorant, and a Hello Kitty Party game and case for my Nintendo DS.

What did you get this year?

Appreciation in 2010

Saw this prompt on And This is What She Said and thought I would give it a whirl.

What’s the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it? (Author: Victoria Klein)

There are lot of things I can say that I appreciate. My life, my family, my David but all of those answers are pretty cliche'. So what do I appreciate the most in the past year?

Having the ability to walk.

See, back in March 2010 I had a stress fracture in my left foot that rendered me un-walkable, if that is even a word, until May 19th. I was out of work, home all day long, missed out on a great vacation to Phoenix, Arizona with David, missed out on movies I wanted to see, missed out on events I wanted to go to, missed out meeting Cherie Currie from the Runaways, and overall had major cabin fever. I even missed having sex/pleasuring myself because it was uncomfortable to do! I would look forward to physical therapy and doctors visits because I got out of the house! That is not my idea of great time.

After being home for close to three months, I definitely looked forward to going into work, going into NYC, and just walking period. I feel for those that are stuck to wheelchairs and crutches all their lives. I try not to take elevators or escalators a lot, unless it is a pretty steep climb uphill and I know that I could not handle it. I was so proud of walking over the summer I remember walking from 14th and 6th Avenue to 54th and 6th Avenue! I was not tired at all! My foot was sore the next day but the fact that I did it, made me feel so proud. I definitely appreciate my ability to walk.

Now it is your turn to answer the prompt....

In Memoriam: The Late Greats of 2010

2010 seems to have been the year of death--the year that we as an American culture lost a lot of greats. Let me let you take a look back at the entertainment, sports and wrestling legends who unfornuately left us this year. Thanks to Entertainment Weekly for the info as well as Wrestling Wrap-Up. If I have forgotten anyone, let me know in comments and I will add.

ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS DEATHS OF 2010

--Dennis Hopper
--Lena Horne
--John Forsythe
--Corey Haim
--Barbara Billingsley
--Gary Coleman
--Phil Harris of the Deadliest Catch
--Tony Curtis
--Greg Giraldo (this one really affected me as his television show on Comedy Central was David and I's first ever date. Greg had sent me tickets and told me to "get my ass and a guest" to his taping. I decided to take David and as they say, the rest is history.)
--Rue McClanahan
--Patricia Neal
--Eddie Fisher
--Lynn Redgrave
--Teddy Pendergrass
--Leslie Nielsen
--J.D. Salinger
--Tom Bosley
--Harvey Pekar
--Blake Edwards
--Elizabeth Edwards
--Irvin Kershner
--Jack Tatum
--Bob Feller
--George Steinbrenner
--Jimmy Dean
--Ronnie James Dio
--Dixie Carter (actress, not president of TNA Wrestling)
--Peter Graves
--Andrew Koenig
--Alexander McGueen
--Howard Zinn
--Robert B. Parker
--Don Meredith
--Zelda Rubenstein
--Malcolm McLaren
--Peter Steele
--Paul Grey
--Bob Sheppard
--Jack Tatum
--Robert Schimmel
--Stephen J. Cannell
--Bob Guccione
--Sparky Anderson
--Dino DeLaurentis
--Pat Burns

WRESTLING DEATHS OF 2010
--Jim White
--Tony Halme (known as Ludwig Borga)
--Ida Mae Martinez
--Jack Brisco
--Christopher Kluscarits (known as Chris Kanyon, Kanyon, or Mortis)
--Gene Kiniski
--Kinji Shibuya
--Salvador Cuevas Ramirez (known as El Supremo)
--Aurelian Smith (known as Grizzly Smith)
--Michael Verdi (known as Trent Acid)
--Lance McNaught (known as Lance Cade)
--Jimmy Wehba (known as Skandor Akbar)
--Gertrude Wilkerson (known as Luna Vachon)
--Tony Osborne
--J.C. Bailey
--Mike Shaw (known as Bastion Booger, Norman the Lunatic, Friar Ferguson, Makhan Singh, Klondike Mike)
--Jorge Gonzalez (known as El Gigante, Giant Gonzales)

Things I Love Thursday -- 12/16 Edition

Baby, it is cold outside! It is funny but I have learned that the more love you have in your heart and body, the warmer you are...so in the interest of staying warm, here is what I am so much in love with this week!

--This website Defaced It is exactly what it says--a photo blog of things that have been defaced. Some of them are really cute while others make you go "huh?"

--Trying to cut out putting Sweet N Low in my tea. Instead I have put honey or agave nectar and it tastes so nummy!

--Getting lots of sleep over the weekend.

--9 Days til Christmas! Definitely in the holiday spirit.

What are you so much in love with this week?

Things I Love Thursday - 12/9 Edition

Another week...another list of what I love this week! This is a great habit that I have developed as sometimes I can be Ms. Gloom Negative but to combat my villain superpower, Ms. Sunny Positive comes through!

Here is what I am in love with week:

--Riding a vintage NYC subway train. It was amazing! To feel how it was "back in the day" as us Generation X would say. I was amazed by the cushioned seats! Also copies of original subway advertisements were on the train as well. If you are in the NYC area on a Sunday, take the F train to 2nd Avenue. It runs from 10am to 4pm. Make sure to do before December 26th as then it will be over!

--The Cheddar and Apple sandwich at 3B's located at FoodParc. Oh my goodness so nummy.

--Marino's Watermelon ice. Yes I know it is freezing out but Italian ices are so good!

--Having the ability to take a situation that could have been chaotic and rowdy and solve it. I am one of the teachers who does lunch duty and yesterday I was the only one for the entire 3rd grade. I had all of the 3rd grade sit on the other side of the cafeteria and the 5th grade, who share the same lunch period, sat on the other side. It worked out perfectly.

--Baby wash/shower gel! So soothing and moisturizing.

--My sparkly beanie hat.

--Having students tell me that I become a different person with my glasses off. Mmmm...maybe I should get contacts and fool them sometimes?

--Layers of sweaters to keep me warm as I go to work.

--Making the cutest mitten ornaments for my students. I got them at Oriental Trading. Luckily I only have 60 students!

--Receiving Christmas gifts early. Thanks Michael!

--Getting lovely comments on my Chronicle Books giveaway blog. I hope I win!




What are you in love with this week?