My aughties in review

The first 10 years of the '00s were a busy time for me. A lot of stuff went down. I:

• Left four jobs (2000 [layoff], 2001, 2004 and 2009 [layoff]);
• Filed for unemployment (2001, 2009)
• Moved twice (in with M in 2000; 2002)
• Got married (2002)
• Bought a house (2002)
• Turned 30 (2003)
• Saw M's grandmother, grandfather and uncle die (2000, 2001), as well as my uncle (2009) and other loved ones.
• Went to Italy (2004)
• Found out M has lupus and went through chemo with him (2005; worst year of my life)
• Won a large amount of money on a scratch ticket (2006)
• Cruised to Bermuda (2006, 2009)
• Hit 1,000 posts on this here blog (2007)
• Had a baby (2008)
• Became a working mom (2008)
• Lost power for four days in the ice storm (2008)
• Became a SAHM (2009)

Busy, busy. It's a new dawn, a new decade, and I'm feeling good. I just wish it would stop snowing before I pull a Jack from the Shining. I haven't left the house (except to pull the Boo around on his sled for 10 minutes) since New Year's Eve. Which was also pretty much spent in the house.

Have black dress, will travel

On Sunday night, my uncle passed away suddenly. He was 59 years old and leaves behind a heartbroken wife of 37 years and three devastated daughters, my cousins who I grew up with. I spent a good chunk of this week in Tampa attending the services. Not an easy week for anyone. It's been said until it's become a cliche, but hold tight to your loved ones. Nothing, not even your next breath, is guaranteed.

The summer of death continues

First Ed McMahon.

Then Farrah Fawcett.

Then Michael Jackson.

Then Billy Mays.

Now my job.

Yes, it's true: I got laid off. I honestly am not surprised so there's no shock, but I'm still processing it. I get severance and unemployment. I will be OK. But this is a cruel summer.

Michael Jackson memories

"Beat it, no one likes to be defeated..."


"If you're thinking of being my baby, it don't matter if you're black or white..."


"And my momma always told me, be careful who you love, be careful what you do, because the lies become the truth..."


"And if you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change..."

So much has been said about Michael, especially well-written in this post from my friend Dan and this one from SonicClash. But in some ways, I feel like words aren't enough at a time like this. Yes, he was a weirdo. Yes, he was wildly inappropriate with young boys -- and no, I would not let my son have a sleepover at his house. But he was also a genius. He helped define my childhood in the '80s. My son will never understand his influence and stardom, because by the time he came along, MJ was a freakshow whose talent was ebbing.

But how can you top Thriller?

The Pepsi commercial?

Bubbles the chimp?

Neverland?

A tortured genius taken too soon. Sleep well, Michael Jackson. Maybe in the next life you'll find peace.