Alexandra Vaillancourt

396|left|Alex Campbell||no_popupToday’s column is going to be free form, off the top of my head talking—what’s that called? There’s a name for it. “Stream...

I have a hard time minding my own business. I’m constantly observing people and their surroundings, particularly when riding public transportation. If I can...

I got pierced. Until today, I had one hole in each ear, a look I’ve maintained for the past nine years or so. Conservative. Ordinary. Mainstream. A little boring.

Here's how I did Christmas this year, in "jotting down notes" form.

Thursday, 12/24

Wake up at 3 a.m., get picked up by taxi at 4 a.m. Catch flight at 5:30 a.m.

Christmastime is here. I’m big into Christmas. Having grown up with no religion, Christmas to me means an evergreen tree (bought for $20 or less at the liquor store parking lot), music, presents, lots of food, friends, and family.

I hated my cell phone. I wanted a new one. I asked my Facebook friends which phone I should get. I got hundreds of responses. Okay, maybe not hundreds, but at least twelve.

Today’s column will be a hodgepodge of subjects; a little of this, a little of that. Got a couple of things on my mind today.

I’m not crying as much anymore. My best friend Amy was in the ICU for five weeks due to H1N1. There were times when it was touch and go, but I soldiered on and did what I could. I visited nearly every day after work. I had my cell phone out at work to answer any calls of updates. I kept my cell phone by my pillow to take any calls in the middle of the night. I checked in daily with either Amy’s partner or two mutual friends. I, in turn, gave updates to about five other people on a regular basis.

When I was a child, my family always celebrated Thanksgiving at my paternal grandmother’s house. We’d schlep from Manhattan to Queens on the subway—it seemed a world away.

At the preschool where I teach, we have two pet goldfish, Copper and Kipper. They swim together in their tank like two best friends, sharing space and food. It wasn’t always this way.