A few of my favorite things

Things that are making me happy today:

• My car is fixed!
• Car getting fixed only cost...$49.00.
• In shock from minimal cost of getting car fixed.
• My car that is almost 10 years old, still runs like a champ, but no longer like an 80 year old woman who smoked all her life.
• It's Friday!!!!
• My physical therapy has been scheduled to one day a week!
• It's Friday!!!
• I have a massage and a hair cut tomorrow.

Things I'm not so please about today:

• It's Friday and I have to work until 10 PM tonight.
• I am working a wine dinner and I can't have any wine.
• I have to get up much earlier than I want to in order to get to above mentioned massage and hair cut.
• It is so worth it because I have a horrible crick in my neck/shoulder and can't move around much.

Have a happy Friday folks!!!

Ringing in a new me

11 weeks and counting, and counting, and counting. Not really.

I took my belly button ring out last night. I had planned to take it out as I got bigger. Hubby couldn't wait for me to take it out. He never liked it, don't know why. So I was sitting on the couch watching Dancing With The Stars, a whole other story in itself, and I was just seeing how easy it would be to take out the little square that held the ring in. Easier than I thought. So I took it out. And now I miss it. A lot. I don't think I really wanted to get rid of it. A friend of mine is 7 months preggo and she just got a plastic bar and kept it in. Now I look at my belly button and the hole above it and I'm sad. I miss my ring. I didn't get it until I was 23. My step mother even took me to get it. She said if I was going to get it done, she would make sure it was safe. It was funny, I would never get my ears pierced again, yet I got my belly button pierced. I guess part of me feels like, I have to change so much with this pregnancy whether I like it or not, that I feel like I lost a part of me that I could have kept. Now I don't know if I really would have wanted to look down at my bely at 8 months and seen it in there, but now I will never know.

As I sit here and type this, I have tears dripping down my cheeks. Blame it on the hormones. Sissy.

Goodbye dear Ring, you will be missed.

Vacation Time

Not right now. I wish.

Hubby and I are trying to plan a vacation. Somewhere in the US that we haven't been. Not a big city, more of a quiet getaway. We would probably go in late September or early October. I'm looking for suggestions on where to go. Remember I am pregnant, so Vegas is out of the question. Where should we go?

The Sound of a Thousand Mufflers Part II

So hubby went with me to my doctor's appointment this morning and got to hear the car first hand. He commented, "That's really loud." That's what I tried to tell him. He promises to get it fixed this week. As he continued to laugh and hold his ears every time we can to a stop light. Smart Ass.

Unsolicited Advice

I officially got my first piece of unsolicited pregnancy advice today and I'm not even showing. Okay a little bit, but really it's just tummy cushion.

I was sitting at the doctor's office waiting for hubby to have a colonoscopy (he's fine) and eating my first snack of the day. Sitting on the floor next to my purse is my copy (given to me by my sister) of What to Expect When you are Expecting. The woman across from me is writing some notes, but I'm not paying much attention. All of a sudden she gets up, hands me a note and in full outside voice (i.e. loudly) she announces that the book I am reading is not good and the one she wrote down on the piece of paper will "put that one to shame." I said thanks, and she walked out. I looked around and a couple of people in the waiting room looked at me with eyebrows raised. My feeling exactly.

She came back later and sat in a different part of the waiting room and proceeded to tell the people across from her of a better Mexican restaurant than the one they had been talking about. Anyway, in the course of the conversation, we all learned that she is a Labor and Delivery nurse. But still...

The Sound of a Thousand Mufflers

My poor old car is officially in need of retirement. When the lady in the drive through asks you to turn off your car so she can hear you, that is a pretty good sign that the car is about done. That or I just need a new muffler and undercarriage.

What's a happenin' hot stuff?

Title has nothing to do with post. It just popped in there. $5 virtual to anyone who tells me what movie that's from. It's easy...

Well, I just got back to work after a day and a half off and a very relaxing and fun filled weekend to the beach with the girls! We talked and talked and talked and talked. That's what us girls do, you know. We talked a lot about babies and motherhood and birth and the parts of each other's lives that we missed out on or that happened before we knew each other. We had two preggos and two Mommies so lots of information was shared. I am so glad to have these women in my life. It's amazing what information you get from girl friends.

I took yesterday off to recover, but instead spent most of the day with hubby at the nursing home visiting his sick Great Aunt. She is not doing well. It hurts me to see him with her. He gets so upset and I hate seeing him like that. I feel so sad everytime we do to the nursing home. So many of the people there can't really talk or don't make much sense when they do. I can't imagine being locked up inside myself, not being able to speak and interact. Hubby's Aunt is usually very vocal and is very sarcastic so the nurses love her. She was not very lucid yesterday and it was really sad to see her this way. She always has some smart aleck come back when you say something she doesn't like. My MIL said she did say something earlier in the day. She said, "I sure could use a cup of coffee." (They don't get coffee in the nursing home, but she loves her coffee) The nurses started laughing and she said to my MIL, "I don't know what they think is so funny." I didn't get to meet her before she was in the nursing home, but she has always been a close part of hubby's family and her loss will be very hard. She is 91 and has lived a long life and I can't help but hope that she is not in pain and that God will take her when she is ready.

I have been reading lots on pregnancy and birthing and so forth. I have a lot of decisions to make about how I want this birth to happen (ideally of course). Both my sister and I were born at home by midwifes. My Mom was a midwife for many years, a registered nurse and is now a Nurse Practitioner specializing in woman's health. I hate taking drugs for any reasons and tend to avoid them unless I am in a lot of pain. I really don't want any unnatural intrusion when it comes to the birth, but I want to be in a hospital in case something does go wrong. My ultimate goal is for me and the baby to be healthy and safe. I just have a lot to figure out. I am going to interview some other doctors. I don't really like the doctor I have now. I just feel like I am running out of time and I am so busy, I really don't have time right now to take off work for interviews. What to do. What to do.

Well, that post was a little bit everywhere. Oh well!

What I've learned this week...

Not much.

1. Doing a photo shoot in the middle of June outdoors. In Texas. SUCKS.
2. Doing a photo shoot in the middle of June outdoors. In Texas. Pregnant. SUCKS. (Had to throw that in there)
3. Spending 6 hours at the ER with my husband is a terrible way to spend a Saturday. But at least he is okay.
4. They don't really make maternity clothes for the "bloated and looking fat, not pregnant stage". I had to hunt down a belt this morning to keep my pants from hanging out around my ankles.
5. I am really looking forward to eating normal food again.
6. There are some really good golfers out there.
7. There are more really bad golfers out there.
8. Photo shoots are all about the hurry up and wait.
9. And that is all my brain can handle.

How's that for a post?

I'm alive

I'm still here for anyone who might have been wondering. Work has been really busy and when I'm not working, I'm sleeping. That's pretty much what I do these days.

Tell you what, you want something exciting, go look at Little Baby JuJu. I offer you cuteness in the place of my lack of posting.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I have never been so tired for so long in my entire life. Even in college, I was never this tired, for this long a period of time. I'm usually the type of person who has to have quiet, dark and comfortable surroundings in order to sleep. Now, I am about to fall asleep in the middle of conversations, at my desk, walking to my car and scary enough, driving.

This baby is certainly turning my world upside down. I could sleep all day long. Eating has become a whole new thing for me. I love food, especially food that is bad for me, but now, food doesn't look so hot and my diet pretty much consists of saltine crackers, toast, milk, fruit, and vegetables. The only thing that remotely looks good to me is fruit, good for baby, lacks variety though.

Holiday weekend coming up and me, can't wait to sleep it all away. That and buy some pants that fit. I am not showing per se, but my stomach either has forgotten what it is like to be sucked in or just doesn't care. So, needless to say, I have one pair of pants that I feel comfortable in and by comfortable I mean, not stuffed into my clothes like a sausage.

In non-baby related news...

What a week!

What an incredible week. I started the week off feeling like crap. I just thought it was a hangover until Monday and then Tuesday. By 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 17th, I felt bad enough that I left work. I took a nap and just laid around the house until about 4:00 eating nothing but crackers and toast. By 4:00 I decided I would take a preg test, just in case. As I waited the three minutes, totally expecting to have to make a doctor's appointment for a stomach virus, boy was I in shock when I walked back into the bathroom and say two pink lines.

What does that mean? Two pink lines? Well, right there on the stick it says I'm pregnant, but I don't believe it. I stood staring at the stick and saying OMG over and over. I then went to the trash and took the instructions back out of the trash and read them, OMG! It's real. I'm pregnant! It's really real. OMG, OMG, OMG, rinse, repeat!

I was so excited, I ran around the house, going OMG, OMG and He (hubby) has to come home right now. Unfortunately, hubby's business partner was in town and I knew they were probably coming by the house together. I really wasn't ready to share the news with anyone other than my hubby. Sure enough they came to the house. We should the partner around the house and then we decided we would all go to dinner. When was I going to get to tell hubby?! I had taken pictures, so when we got in the truck, I took the camera out and held it up to his face. He looked at for a couple of seconds and then looked at me and said "Are we really?" When I said yes, he got this huge grin on his face and immediately said he had to tell P (the partner). I tried to talk him out of it. I really wanted to get it confirmed by a doctor, but hubby was busting to tell anybody. I was too really. So we told P when we go to the restaurant. He is kind of a dry fellow, so his reaction wasn't the excitement I was looking for, but we were excited enough for all of us.

I have been pretty nauseous all week and living pretty much off crackers and toast and Gatorade. I haven't actually thrown up, thank G-d, but I feel like I am going to all the time. My heartburn kicked in pretty good yesterday, so I'm stocked up on Gavascon and Tums.

To add more fun to the mix, on Wednesday, our A/C was out at work along with our computer system. I went home a little early. Then I get home and our A/C at home is broken. Hopefully it is getting fixed today. Needless to say, I'm getting very little sleep and just trying to eat what I can, but I am so excited that I am pregnant and I can't wait for the journey.

P.S. G-d I know I told you that if all my stomach problems were due to pregnancy, that I didn't care, I would do it for the whole 9 months as long as I was pregnant. I see that you were listening and appreciate that, but could me maybe consider a little joke between us and at the most stick to the first trimester? Please?

The Best Picture Ever

Click here to see the best picture I have ever taken.

Randomness

Well, I got suckered into watching all three hours of The Bachelor last night. I haven watched maybe two shows all season. Had I known in the beginning that it was going to be drawn out for-f%#$@^@$-ever, I wouldn't have started watching it in the first place. I would have just gone on line to see who "won". And I had to flip back and forth between CSI Miami and The Bachelor. Ridiculous, that's me.

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On another note, has anyone every tried proactiv, the face stuff? I'm curious as nothing seems to work for me and I have more acne than a 16 year old hormonal boy. I'm wary of anything sold on TV, but if it actually works, I would do it all day long.

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For the last 2.5 days I have felt light crap. I am not sleeping at night. I hate our brand new bed. Hubby loves it, but it is too soft for me. I'm not under any large amount of stress right now, so I can't imagine my sleep deprivation. I have always dealt with sleep issues. In college, it was not being able to go to sleep. For the most part now, I can go to sleep, but I'm awake and tossing and turning half the night. I'm exhausted. My stomach has been bothering me also. At times I am very nauseous and other times it feels like a mixture of constipation and heartburn. I can't help but hope that it means baby, but I don't really have my hopes up. As of yesterday, I thought it might just be a two day hangover, but since I still don't feel well today... I'm not sure.

All I know is I'm tired of feeling like poop.

Anyhoo, what's going on with yous guys!

Fluffy

Puppy Cuteness!

The weekend in pictures. Because I'm lacking anything to say.

Airtime

My husband and I and another couple had dinner last night. The male part of our couple friends is a pilot. He has not flown for a couple of years, but today he was going back up in a Cessna. He gave my husband the opportunity to go with him. As the night progressed, I proceeded to learn that my husband hates flying because he cannot be in control (he has never flown a plane before). I can understand this feeling as I am exactly the same way in cars, especially when driving in the rain. As part of this invitation to fly was the option to actually fly this plane.

As we agreed the points of this opportunity last night - it scares the living beejeebees out of me - I understood on a logical level hubby's argument that everyone has to learn some how and that is where commercial pilots start. I understood his fascination with going up in the plane, I understood him wanting to support our friend on his first flight in many years. I understood this was something exciting for him to do. I also understood that it is dangerous. His argument, it's no more dangerous than driving a car or riding a dirt bike. It's just, it's so BIG. Does that make sense? It seems to me to be a rather large decision to make with your life, but then again, how is it any different than choosing to get on a commercial jet?

I have been flying since I was 4 by myself, so until 9/11 me flying was a pretty normal thing. I trusted my pilots. When I was younger, I spent plenty of time in cockpits (back when that was allowed, during the flight even) and as with any role of authority, I trusted those people and still do for the most part. The only thing I do differently other than the security portion of the flight, is count the rows in front of me and behind me to the nearest emergency exits. I still read my book during the mandatory flight procedures. I still don't pay much attention to what is being said, but I probably should. Like I said, not much has changed in the 26 years I have been flying.

Unfortunately, becoming an adult opens your eyes to certain things. No matter what we do for a living, we are all human. We all have fun (most of us anyway), some of us like to party more than others, some of us do recreational things that are not necessarily good for us or others and might actually affect the way in which we do our everyday lives. Our lives outside of work sometimes do affect our life at work. Pilots, police officers, doctors, firefighters, government employees, etc, none are exempt from the lifestyle choices you and I choose to make. So in a round about way, I am saying that now I realize that the police officer who pulls me over, might be hungover, just like me. The pilot flying my plane may have had a few too many last night, or today for that matter. We hold people in these positions in a high regard, we expect that they live by different standards, that their problems are different than ours, that the way they choose to have fun is different than the way in which we choose to have fun.

Thankfully, hubby and friend and trainer are all safely on the ground, but ever since the moment he called to tell me they were definitely going up, my heart has been hurting. I have a hurt in my heart. I'm thankful they are safe. I have a feeling though that my husband has found a new "hobby". And I don’t like it.

Update: Hubby says it's too expensive to be a hobby. Whatever stands in the way.

Mothers

My dear, dear friend Bekah, who is a wonderful mother herself, wrote a beautiful post to all the mothers out there. Whether you are currently a mother or not, go read this post.

If I were a...

I've seen this various places around the blogosphere, but technically stole it from here. she chose to answer all of them. I'm gonna stick to 5 or so...Pick 5 or do them all. Your choice.

If I could be a scientist...
If I could be a farmer...
If I could be a musician...
If I could be a doctor...
If I could be a painter...
If I could be a gardener...
If I could be a missionary...
If I could be a chef...
If I could be an architect...
If I could be a linguist...
If I could be a psychologist...
If I could be a librarian...
If I could be an athlete... I would play for fun and not for money. I would make honesty and integrity essential to the game.
If I could be a lawyer...
If I could be an innkeeper... I would open a Surf Hotel with my hubby in Costa Rica or Hawaii
If I could be a professor...
If I could be a writer...
If I could be a backup dancer... I would be doing my dream job.
If I could be a llama-rider...
If I could be a bonnie pirate...
If I could be a midget stripper...
If I could be a proctologist...
If I could be a TV-Chat Show host... Instead of having stars come onto a set, I would spend a day with each of them doing their normal routine.
If I could be an actor...
If I could be a judge...
If I could be a Jedi...
If I could be a mob boss...
If I could be a backup singer... that's just too funny for an answer. Unless of course you liek the Scuttle variety singer.
If I could be a CEO... Every day would be "casual day".
If I could be a movie reviewer...

Meme-ing it forward

Okay, I only had one taker on my offer to meme it forward. Bad Bloggers! Kidding, really. Summer asked for 5 questions, so here there are with her answers.

1. If you could become another person for just one day, who would it be and why? Any regular person with no chemical imbalances, really. I'd like to see what life is like for regular people.

2. If you had to eat one thing every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? dammit! I should have eaten before I read this question. I'd have to say, avocado.

3. If reincarnation is to be believed, what animal would you want to come back as and why? A human, obviously. No really, a cat. cats get to sleep 16 hours a day, can lick their own genitals, and manage to retain affection from their companions even when acting aloof or downright hostile.

4. If you could do anything in the world, and get paid to do it, what would you do? help people solve everyday problems. talk therapy, if you will, combined with action.

5. You're shipwrecked on a deserted island with no real hope of being saved, do you make the best of it and build a home or try to get off the island by building a raft? no hope? I'd build a home and hang out, unless there were extenuating circumstances, like my children being in danger, or something. I'm afraid of the ocean. Even more than before, after watching Open Water.

do the dance

Is it strange that any time I hear Joy to the World, I silently and invisibly do the piano bar dance with full gestures and all.

Happy Mommies Day

Happy Mother's Day to you all you wonderful mothers out there in blogland. I can't wait to join you. And a special Happy Mother's Day to my Mom and my sister and my step-mom and my MIL. I have lots of Moms!

My Mother, my best friend.
My ear and my shoulder.
My advisor and my healer.
My survivor.

What my brain can handle

No more yanky my wanky.

Had one or two too many drinkies last night. And now for a list of what I've learned this week.

I've learned this week:
I've learned that the time between Monday and Friday is relative to your workload.
I've learned that if I don't wear my clothes often enough, I find that my ass no longers fits into them.
I've learned that my husband I fight more when we drink.
I've learned that if my husband thinks I look, I believe I look good. At least for a little bit.
I've learned that most of the stuff on my desk goes in the trash.
I've learned that crying at night makes my eyes puffy in the morning.
I've learned that I cannot wear moisturizer at all. It makes me break out. And I've tried a ton of them now.
I've learned that whenever I'm running late, my water light goes on in my car and I have no gas, and my butt doesn't fit into any of my clothes. When the shit flies...
I've learned that if you enable people for long enough, you might as well just do it for them.

And that, folks, is all my brain can handle (I just typed candle instead of can handle)!

Meme it Forward

Sarcasmom is Meme-ing it forward from dbsmall. The case is this: dbsmall asked Sarcasmom 5 questions a la Interview Style. In turn, Sarcasmom asked me 5 questions a la Interview Style. Here are her 5 questions with my answers.

1. You have been banished to a deserted island for eternity. You can take 1 book, 1 album or CD, and 1 photograph.Tell us what they are and why.

Gone With The Wind or The Bible/Torah. I love Gone With The Wind, but with the Bible I don't know that you could ever get bored. I would take a compilation CD that has jazz, rap, hip hop, country, reggae, salsa, etc. A little bit of everything. For a photograph, it would have to be a picture of my entire family.

2. If you had one ticket for a round trip on a time travel machine , would you go back in time or into the future?

I would go back in time. I don't have a specific time, but going into the future seems as if it would make me want to come back and change things. And we all know what happens when we try to change the future. (Back to The Future)

3. IF you could have 1 Super Hero type power what would it be? Why?

I would be able to transport myself places in the blink of an eye without transporation. No more traffic!

4.What is the most likely reason that you name would appear as the headline in my morning newspaper?

That is a tough one. My initial reaction was, I never do anything newsworthy. Then my reaction was, don't be so self-depricating. So I would probably be a headline in your paper as JAZZY CHANGES THE WORLD WITH NEW INVENTION. A girl can dream, right?

5. If you had to choose one, and by choosing one give up the other, would you choose love, or money?

I always choose love. With no one to share money and wealth with, it isn't worth anything. Love above all is what keeps this world running, not money.

Now it's my turn to Meme it Forward. Leave a comment if you are interested in me asking you 5 questions and I will come up with 5 questions, a la interview style. When you answer them, send me your answers and post your answers on your site and I will post your answers on my site as well.

Downtown Houston Skyline

What are you looking at?

Saturday Storm

Spam Search

First with the Spam samples (why does that sound dirty?) Just a few of the subject lines from my Spam Filter today.

Penis Pills: Vimax Penis Enlargement Pills (Um, I hate to break this to you, but, I don't have a penis. Maybe that's why you want to make it larger?)

Get a 500 Cash Advance in just 60 seconds (If I knew it was that easy, I would have been rich by now)

Get a 1500 Cash Advance in just 60 seconds (I'm so popular, they want to give me more money)

Got ink? jaiqmvp (Um, yeah, I got ink. Do I get a cookie? I don't, however, have jaiqmvp)

Play Poker like a Superstar (How exactly does a Superstar play poker. Is that like, "Be Ben Affleck"?)

Smart Spin handles all your small storage (What about my big storage?)


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And a sampling of my search strings: Crazies in the House

"me topless" Okay, I can kind of understand "you topless" but "me topless" what is one trying to find here? Self exploration taken to a new level.

"on the farm lived a chicken and a horse, both of whom loved to play together. one day, the two were" I kid you not.

"dating single shooters" Okay, maybe this makes sense.

"super nanny topless sexy" Okay, if you say so.

One Stall of Separation

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:

ONE STALL OF SEPARATION RULE

There is a a major bathroom rule that I'm afraid, a lot of the population has not learned. This rule is the One Stall of Separation rule. You see, if there are more than 5 stalls in any given bathroom and the bathroom is not full, it is not necessary to take the stall right next to the only occupied stall. Now, I am a creature of habit, and I like to do my business on the same toilet every time (at work, for example), but I will change my potty routine if necessary so as to maintain the One Stall of Separation rule.

Please share this with your colleagues and friends. This is serious misconduct that must be rectified.

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Your post by numbers for today is:

Number of days worked this week: 5
Number of days it feels like I worked this week: 258,258,465,846
Hours I have to work today, Friday, the official end of the week: 13
Number of weekend days I get: 0
Number of days working for hubby: 2 (Saturday and Sunday)
Number of Bitches in our household: 1 (that's ME for you slow people)
Number of days out this week: 2
Number of hours of sleep I want: 453,125,875,478
Number of cars broken down this week: 1
Cost to fix said car: $1500
Number of happy mechanics: 1

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In other news, JuJuBee had her baby. This world is now blessed with Madeline Grace, born April 26th, 2005. Go on over and tell them hello!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!!!!!!

Prayers Please

Please stop by over at Becky's Place and continue the prayers and white light.

Genuine Original

This is a fly by post, but I just wanted to say, that I genuinely appreciated The Genuine Original guest posting this weekend and writing such a fine post at that. Thanks G Man!

Oops!

Well it seems that we have another great couple trying to bring offspring into the world. I have no idea after reading my blog and some of the other Mommy/Daddy blogs one would choose to do this on purpose, but I wish her the best of luck.

I can still remember my first time. No, not that first time and yes I still remember that too but I told Jazzy I would keep this clean, although I will do requests.

The day I was told I would be a Daddy the first time still stands out in my mind. I had long given up on the fact that I would be a father. I was married for 7 years and tried to have children without any luck. I was sure that God put me up against the requirements of being a dad and decided that I was not the material that needed to be raising a child.

It had never entered into my mind when my wife sat on the stairs and teary eyed looked at me and tried to explain the situation. You see we were not married at the time. Not that it really mattered that we were married, but my heart exploded that day. Like the Grinch when his heart grew, so did mine.

I hope that Jazzy and hubby are blessed to have that feeling. Of course I won’t tell her the feelings I have the first time my child pooped on me, but that’s for another post. Good Luck Jazzy, and like I have always said, you are welcome to come over to my house I have plenty of that……..

WATER!

Genuine

13

For all of you supersititous people, the title for this post is not meant to scare you. For me the number 13 is a great number. You see, I was born on Friday the 13th, 1974 during a partial lunar eclipse.

I'll wait while you make your crass remarks about how that explains so much...

Done?

Good. Now I thought we would take my lucky #13 and play a little blog game with it. Pick 3 people on my blogroll and visit their 100 Things list if they have one. In the comments, tell me who you visited and what #13 on their 100 Things list was. If that person does not have a 100 Things list, well, tell me #13 on your list. If you don't have one, make one up.

Now, let's play Lucky #13!

Posting by numbers and randomness

Number of people in our household: 2
Number of days of dishes washed last night: 2
Number of minutes it took: 45
Number of wine glasses washed: 10
Number of bottles of wine drank this week: 8
Number of beers drank last night: 4
Number of times I hit snooze this morning: 5
Number of times I will think about a nap today: infinite
Number of sunburned hubby's: 1
Number of pairs of pants that currently fit my big, fat ass: 1
Number of emails in my inbox: 1539 (no lie)
Number of meetings today: 1 (Thankfully)
Number of blogs I hope to read today: 25 (at least)


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In regards to my post about baby making, I wanted to clarify. I don't mind if my friends ask about our "journey" to parenthood, it's the strangers that freaks me out. Not total strangers, but the lady in the employee cafeteria or the guy from engineering asking me when I am going to have a baby just freaks me out a little bit.

A friend of ours, who is quite a bit older than us, and is sort of a father type figure to me, asked last night when we were going to have kids and if we were working on it. It was like telling my dad, "Yeah, we do it all the time." Ackward.

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In other exciting news, Shooter's Station will have a special guest speaker tomorrow. Treat him well, and you never know what you might get. No, really, you never know. Tomorrow, the Genuine Original will be guest blogging right here in my humble abode. Please keep him in check.

Who Am I?

You Decide.

Advanced Global Personality Test Results Extraversion 83% Stability 46% Orderliness 50% Empathy 56% Interdependence 43% Intellectual 56% Mystical 43% Artistic 70% Religious 76% Hedonism 43% Materialism 43% Narcissism 43% Adventurousness 43% Work ethic 23% Self absorbed 50% Conflict seeking 36% Need to dominate 56% Romantic 83% Avoidant 16% Anti-authority 30% Wealth 16% Dependency 70% Change averse 56% Cautiousness 70% Individuality 70% Sexuality 50% Peter pan complex 50% Physical security 76% Food indulgent 76% Histrionic 70% Paranoia 43% Vanity 63% Hypersensitivity 70% Female cliche 70%

Take Free Advanced Global Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

Makin' It

So hubby and I are trying to have a baby. We stopped preventative measures at the beginning of February and that's about all we have really done in trying to have a baby. Other than makin' it so to speak. Now I didn't go telling a lot of people that we were trying because, well, it's kind of personal, it kind of puts the pressure on and one other thing. It seems so strange that we talk to little publicly about having sex until you decide to have children. As soon as two people get married, people start asking, "So when are you going have a baby?", and the only response I can come up with is, "Soon." They come back with, "soon, huh?" which seems to warrant another answer, "We're working on it." It's like saying, "Yeah, we're having sex on a regular basis. Would you like to hear more about my sex life?"

Why, when you decide to have kids, does everyone decide, let's talk about our sex lives. Shall I announce to the world, "We were having sex before, but now we do it with purpose." "Would you like to know how many times a week we do it?" or "We tried to have a baby last night. When did you last try to have a baby?" Seriously now.

She's Baaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!

My baby sister is back online after 2.5 months. She is the mother of these two beautiful creatures. Please go welcome her back to the Blog World!!!

Welcome back Teesers!

My Nephews. Don't they look like trouble?

Photo Meme Live

I did it. I know you guys doubted it, but here it is.

Lizzie asked for:
1. The view from my kitchen window. (I took a better one, but the camera ate it)

2. My favorite tree (huh?) This one just happens to be across the street.

3. my special place


Brando asked for:
1. the inside of my medicine cabinet

2. inside of the fridge

I forgot to turn the kitchen light on. Sue me.
3. inside of closet


Amber asked for:
1. my morning hair (evil woman! Your turn!)

Excuse the jammies please.
2. my blogging perch (if I showed you , I'd have to... since I do most of my blogging when I shouldn't.)
3. my tooth brush (???)


Amy asked for:
1. inside of my trunk

2. the prettiest thing in my house (since my house is fairly new to me, I picked the whole thing)

3. the ugliest thing in my house (my current "entertainment center")


There you have it. My life in pictures.

And as a bonus pic, the baby birdies have hatched.

Hubby just called and said one of them already fell out of the nest. Not a good sign.

Mommy/Daddy Blogger Wannabe

I've noticed as I look along my blogroll that the majority of the blogs I read are all Mommy/Daddy Bloggers. I don't have children as of yet, but I love reading about children. I love reading about parenthood. I love reading when someone announces they are pregnant or when the kids do or say something hilarious. I read in terms of how I may apply their experiences when I have children. So, I guess that makes me a Wannabe. Hopefully, I won't be a wannabe for long.

Wouldn't You Like to Know

I remembered what my pithy, brilliant post was going to be. That's the good news. The bad news, the post is not so much pithy as intriguing maybe.

I have a couple of bloggers that I check on fairly regularly. Their lives have become an integral part of mine. I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about them and worrying about them or celebrating something they are celebrating. These bloggers change over time, morph to some extent as my time committed to blogging ebbs and flows. Currently there is one in particular blogger that I think of often. I admire her, not only for her strength, of which she has boat loads, but for her personality, for her writing, for her openess and her sharing and all that she seems to be online. I would love to meet her. If all of her that comes out online is even 10% of who she really is, she has got to be someone I would like to know.

When I first reading Dooce, she was number one on my list of bloggers to meet. And although I would still love to meet her and him and her, others have moved up on my list.

Some other bloggers that I would absolutely love to meet.

Ms. JuJu Bee - we have become fast friends and I want to see what she is really like. But hence, I must wait until Baby JuJu comes at least.

Him and Her - They remind me so much of my hubby and I. The silliest of all.

There are so many more, but I have got to get back to work.

Who is on you list of bloggers you would love to meet.

Baby Dreams

So, in the last two weeks, two of my friends have had dreams about me being pregnant. Can poritive thoughts on someone else's part have an affect on my reproductive system. If they can, that would be great, cuz I'm ready for that journey (now when I actually am pregnant, forget I ever said that, all bets are off).

I had a really good blog post in my head on the way to work this morning, but it has since flown the coop (sp?). So, pretend I wrote something funny and pithy and worth commenting on. Go ahead pretend to comment on my pretend pithy post.

Photo Meme

Long ago, in a far away blog land, the photo meme was born. I struggled to do my own photo meme, but not having a digital camera at the time, well, it made life difficult. These days, I'm a little more in tune with the rest of the world and have managed to get me a digital camera. So with that, I ask you to tell me what you would like to see on my photo meme. Ask and ye shall receive. Dont' make things too easy.

So what three things would you like to see pictures of?

Cheater

I'm a cheater. It's hard to admit and it is really tearing me apart.

I'm cheating on my colorist.

I don't want to. I don't know how it happened, but it just happened. I've always been happy with her work. I really like sitting in her chair as she colors my hair and we talk girl talk about her rodeo boyfriend and when he will propose. But, something is coming between us. That something? Money. Problem #1? I don't have any money. Problem #2? Hair is beginning to look like dirty dish water.

But there is a silver lining on this dark cloud. I have a gift certificate. Problem #3? It's for a different salon. I can't bring myself to make the appointment. They are a very nice salon and I have been there before, but they aren't My Salon. And I like My Salon. And I really would rather use the rest of the gift certificate on a massage. But, problem #2 is beginning to bother me a lot. What to do? What to do?

Sorry, I know, I don't post for, like, ever and then you get this.

Shock and Awe

Am I the only one whose mouth drops open every single time I see a gas sign? I cannot believe how high gas is going and the numbers the "experts" keep throwing out about where the numbers will stop. Because I tend to believe very little of what the government says, due to the fact that I believe they give us a tenth of the real truth, I wonder if there is anything us wee little people can do about the rising cost of gas. I'm not expert, duh, but I would think that if there was some way to "hurt" the industry, that the people with the money and the power, could get the government to do something about the problem.

I've seen the email where it says not to buy gas on a certain day. Great in theory, but ain't gonna happen. Car pooling? We love our cars. I'm guilty as anyone. I live across the street from someone I work with and we rarely car pool. What if I need my car during the day? What if she has an emergency? How would I get home. Selfish reasons, all of them. I would be fine without my car during the day. I occasionally run errands, but usually I'm too lazy to leave property. At least a couple of days a week, it would be feasible for me to carpool. What would it take to force us to change our habits, to carpool, to not buy gas on a certain day?

Tidbits

Absurdity
Driving into work this morning, I was stopped at a light behind a very new Nissan Xterra. This by itself is not notable. But this fairly new car had 10 bumper stickers, although none were actually afixed to the bumper. 10 bumper stickers. All for LSU, except one. 10 guesses at what the other one was. As we turned the corner I noticed that the front windshield also had at least two more stickers. I get it, you're an LSU fan, welcome to Texas. Glad you feel at home enough to plaster your opinion all of your car. Absurdity.

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Baby Birdies
I have a wire basket with fake flowers outside my back door. For about a week I have noticed that every time I open the back door, a little bird flys out of the basket. On Friday evening while we were grilling, hubby took the basket down and sure enough there was a nest. Two little eggs were in the nest. On Saturday I decide to take another picture. Three little eggs were in the nest. And on Sunday, Four little eggs. There have been no new eggs since Sunday.

We have kind of adopted a cat from our neighbors across the street. He is orange and has beautiful stripes. We have named him Tigger. He trots across the street whenever he sees one of our cars come into the drive way. Hubby feeds him. He's a smart little cat. He is fed well, but apparently his feline instincts are telling him to get that bird and her babies. The other night hubby was sitting outside playing with Tigger while I cooked dinner (yes, I cook on occasion). We have an empty plant pot that is pretty large that was sitting under the basket with the nest in it. Once Tigger figured out that there was a bird in the basket, he hid in the pot waiting for her to come back. Sneaky little sucker. She flew back to her nest and Tigger went flying out of the pot. He missed, but I swear if he eats those babies, I'm gonna be so upset. I know it is in their nature, but I am hoping that they will survive. I would hate to walk out my front door for work and find that one of those babies met it's death while trying to learn how to fly.

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Lazy

I have lost my motivation once again for working out. I was doing okay, working out at least two times a week. I drove home last night with plans to work out, but as soon as I got home, laziness settled and I sat on the couch watching bad TV all night. I will missing LOST tonight so will be looking for a recap tomorrow. She's way more important than LOST, but man I hate missing my show. And Alias too. I just got into Alias recently so I can miss that one.

An Orbituary

Common Sense Died 24/7/365 in America

Today, we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend by the name of Common Sense

who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since

his birth records were lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such value lessons as knowing when to

come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm and that life isn’t always fair.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn)

and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not kids, are in charge.)

His health began to rapidly deteriorate when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations

were set in place. Reports of a six-year old boy charged with sexual harassment for

kissing a classmate; teens suspended for using mouthwash after lunch and a teacher

fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student; however, they could not inform parents when a student became

pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Finally, Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense finally gave up the ghost after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, she spilled a bit in her lap and was awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion;

his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.

He is survived by two step-brothers, My Rights and Ima Whiner.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

If you still know him, pass this on; if not, join the majority and do nothing.

Another Meme because I lack creativity

This was tagged from Amber.

Accent: Slight Texas accent, more if I'm drinking
Bra size: A man must have started this meme (I agree with Amber) None Ya.
Chore I hate: sweeping and mopping the floors
Dad’s name: Robert
Essential makeup: cover up
Favourite perfume: I don't really wear purfume. I wear body spray, Vanilla usually.
Gold or silver: Silver
Hometown: I consider Austin my home, but I don't live there.
Interesting Fact: ??
Job Title: Marketing Coordinator
Living arrangements: Living with hubby in a 3 bedroom house.
Mom’s birthplace: Houston, TX
Number of apples eaten last week: 0
Overnight hospital stays: none
Phobias: heights, snakes
Question you ask yourself a lot: What was I doing?
Religious affiliation: With God… yes. ditto
Siblings: 1 brother, 1 sister
Time I wake up: Around 6:45 except Mondays when I get up at 5:45
Unnatural hair color: Blondish with highlights
Natural hair color: Dark brown
Vegetable I refuse to eat: brussel sprouts
Worst habit: laziness
X-rays: teeth, back, both writsts, both knees, both ankles
Yummy food I make: Stuffed chicken
Zodiac sign: Not sure, I think Lion.

Can you believe it?

4 posts in one day. Well, I have a lot to make up for.

So, let's have a little blog fun.

First part: first person to comment on this post, go to 3 people on my blog list that you have never read before and visit them and say, "Hi! I'm sharing Jazzy's blog love today." The next person to comment, go to the blog of the person who commented above you and visit 3 people on their blogroll that you have never read before and say, "Hi! I'm sharing Jazzy's blog love today." And so on and so forth. Get it?

The second part is for you to tell me in your comment one person on your blogroll (or more if you would like) that is not on my blogroll that you think I should check out. I promise to go check out each blog you refer to me and tell them that you sent me to visit them with some blog love.

Now go spread the blog love!

Don't Drink and Drive, Duh!

You know how I'm taking that online Defensive Driving Course? Well, I'm sitting there watching one of the many informational videos regarding Drinking and Driving (Don't Do IT!), and they are talking about how we socialize and drink, blah, blah, blah. Keep in mind, most of these videos were shot in like the mid 70's. Real up to date their folks.

Anyways... Socialize, drink, blah, blah, blah. Double take. They show this dad with a toddler giving her beer! Giving her beer people! What is up with that? Gotta start em young I guess.

Great message Texas. Don't Drink and Drive. Just give your baby beer for fun.

To A Woman

I was having a particularly "fat" morning and being very negative about myself. Then I thought about this poem I wrote and had to do my, "You are beautiful" mantra. It didn't work real well, but it reminded me to at least try and be positive So here is the poem. Remind yourself every day, that you are beautiful.

To A Woman

You are beautiful.
Today. Right Now. Just as you are.
In whatever you are wearing.
Make up, no make up.
You are beautiful.

You are not what you weigh.
Pounds and inches are not what make up your existence.
Thoughts and feelings, your beliefs, your fears, your loves,
Your friendships, that is what make you you.
You are not what you weigh.

You are human.
You feel, you love yourself, you love others.
You hurt yourself, you hurt others.
You make mistakes, you do great things.
You are human.

You are a woman.
You are a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend.
You empathize and sympathize.
You love and you lose and grow, live, and learn.
You are a woman.

TV is Evil

I took this last night with only candlelight. Doesn't the TV shadow look Evil?

Moving right along.

Okay ladies

So, after I swore to always check on my "real life flesh" friends before all of my "Real live blogger" friends, they seem to have fallen off the face of the earth. Ladies, are you alive? Em has an excuse but what about the rest of you. So, you are pregnant, so? And you and you have two kids and jobs. So! I need you! Guilty yet?

Because I'm lazy

Stolen from Chana:

1. What time did you wake up this morning? 5:45 am
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Meet the Fockers
4. What is your favorite TV show? CSI Miami, Without a Trace, and Crossing Jordan
5. What did you have for breakfast? a Kellogg Special K Bar
6. Peach yogurt or granola? Granola, I don't do peach
7. What is your favorite cuisine? Italian
8. What foods do you dislike? Raw onions, protein bars
9. What is your favorite crisp flavor? crisp? I guess sour cream and onion
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Okay, don't laugh, NOW 17 and 18
11. What kind of car do you drive? 1996 Volkswagon POS
12. Favorite sandwich? Turkey
13. What characteristics do you despise? Rudeness
14. Favorite items of clothing? Jeans
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Italy
16. What color is your bathroom? the ugly wallpaper from the previous owners is still up.
17. Favorite brand of clothing? Lerner NY
18. Where would you retire to? Hawaii or Costa Rica
19. Favorite time of the day? 7:00 pm, that's when I have the most energy
20. What was your most memorable birthday? my last one was my best
21. Where were you born? Austin, TX
22. Favorite sport to watch? Football or baseball
23. Who do you least expect to send this back to you? Everyone
24. What book are you reading now? French Women Don't Get Fat by Murielle Guliano
25. What fabric detergent do you use? Tide
26. Coke or Pepsi? Neither, Sprite
27. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Night owl
28. What is your shoe size? 6 to 6 1/2
29. Do you have any pets? we have sort of adopted the cat from across the street
30. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with your friends? no, not yet
31. What did you want to be when you were little? a dancer
32. What are you doing today? working, working, working, blogging, working, working, working

The Date

Driving into work this morning listening to morning talk shows, one station was talking about an email from girl about a really strange first date. The girl said her and this guy really hit it off at a club so she agreed to go out with him. He planned their dated and told her to dress retro for a theme date. She dressed up in her best 80's garb and waiting excited for her date. She was surprised when he showed up in a 1950's comfortable dressed like Fonzie from Happy Days. She thought that was a little strange, but went along with him. He said they were going to some place that ended up being far away (according to people that called in the place was 4-5 hours away). He took her to an old drive-in movie theater. Afterward they went to a sock hop. Then he took her out into the woods to make out (didn't happen). The DJ's thought it might be a joke, but who knows these days.

anyways, it got me to thinking about my worst or weirdest date. Before I started dating my husband I did some online dating. I had been emailing back and forth with this one guy who seemed a little young, but hey I was getting back into the swing of dating after 4 years, so I was pretty open to new "experiences". The fact that he lived with his parents should have been the first clue.

Because we lived on opposite sides of town, we met in a central location. When we got there, I hadn't eaten, but he already had eaten (date, eat? am I that off the dating scene?). I needed to eat, so we went to Jason's Deli. Now, I am a very independent woman and don't expect a man to pay for everything, but he didn't even offer or act like it was strange that he had eaten already. So while I ate, he sat there and stared at me because his social skills were lacking to a degree (a rather large degree). After I ate we played the "What do you want to do?", "I dunno, what do you want to do?" game until I finally realized that if I didn't make some decisions (obviously this man didn't have opinions or a personality for that matter) we were going to sit there all night, doing our own little comedy routine. So we went to a Tapas bar/restaurant that had live music and flamenco dancers.

We happened to run into an old friend of mine that I hadn't seen in like 10 years, so we played some catch up, but I did my best to include my date so he wouldn't feel alienated. Seeing as he couldn't hold a conversation, this proved to be difficult. After a while, I decided to cut my losses and head on home.

The next day I had an email from him. I tried to tell him as nicely as possible that I didn't think we had that much in common, but that he was a nice guy and I wished him luck. I had decided to do online dating because I hadn't dated in so long and had lost myself in my last relationship. Doing online dating helped me to realize what it was I was looking for in a relationship. I told myself when I started it, that I wouldn't waste anyone's time, mine or someone's elses. I had learned from past mistakes to trust my instincts. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt, but I have really good instincts and they are usually right.

So anyway, I sent him this nice email. A couple of hours later, I have a scathing, nasty email from him where he called me some choice names. When I tried to respond, he had blocked my email. I was shocked! But I guess that he really wasn't mature enough for an adult relationship and I got out in time to not dig deeper into the depths of his crazy.

So what is your worst/weirdest dating experience?

TGIF! Free Condoms Anyone?

TGIF! Gotta love SPAM!!!

Defensive Driving Cliff Notes Version

I'm taking an online defensive driving course right now to try to dismiss a ticket for following too closely. I know, I know, but I got of easy. He stopped me for speeding, not using my blinker at following too closely. The date of the ticket? 12/28/04. The reason for my space cadet moves? 3 days after Christmas. First day back at work. Duh! Anyways... Taking this course is providing not only a pain in my ass, but some amusement as well. I thought I would share, cuz I'm cool like that.

Defensive Driving Wisdom: (my commententary is bolded)

Never drive on a sidewalk unless you are crossing a sidewalk to enter or leave a driveway or alley. Remember! Pedestrians have the right-of-way on sidewalks. You must stop for pedestrians before crossing a sidewalk. Good to remember. No driving on sidewalks.

In high-density traffic areas, you may sometimes see an entire street, or a few traffic lanes on a street, marked with cones. The cones indicate that a lane or street is being used for something other than the normal purpose. Other than the normal purpose. Such as?

A GREEN light means GO. That's what that means!

A RED light means STOP. That explains a lot.

You must not drive down a road or street marked with a DO NOT ENTER sign. In case you were unclear as to what DO NOT ENTER actually meant.

A red circle with a red line through it always means NO. NO, NO, NO

If you are driving the speed limit, but are still going slower than other traffic, do not drive in the left or "fast" lane. If you are in the "fast" lane, move to the right when another driver is close behind you and wishes to pass. Amen! Can we post this little tidbit on some bill boards?

A general rule of thumb: the speed limit near a school is 15 mph lower than the regular posted speed limit on that road. (Just an interesting little fact that goes along with SLOW CHILDREN.)

If a train is coming, WAIT until it passes before crossing the tracks. Only do this if you value your life!

RIGHT LANE ENDS means that the right lane ends up ahead. Note to self.

Do not drive on a sidewalk, except to cross it at a driveway or alley. See above for reference.

Never drive to the scene of a fire, a collision, or any other disaster just to have a look. (This never would have even occured to me. Sickos.)

Drive as far to the right as possible if a vehicle with one light comes toward you. It could be a bicycle or motorcycle, but it could also be a "one-eyed" vehicle. One eyed Willie!

As you move through another car's blind spot, use your horn or lights to warn the other driver of your presence. This could create a problem don't you think if everyone did this. honk, beep, honk, flash, beep, flash, honk, CRASH!

Adjust your seat so that you are high enough to see the road. If you are still too low, you should use a seat cushion. Do this before putting on your safety belt. Now, I'm short and all, but if you need a car booster seat, you probably shouldn't be driving. (no offense to short people, merely for entertainment value.)

This, That, and the other

I'm still here. Been working on a killer project at work and am finally nearing the end. Well at least the part where I present it initially and then most likely have to start over from scratch.

I really don't have much interesting to say. Sorry, Caption Bores A Lot here. But wanted to put something here so that people know I am still alive.

So happy Hump Day folks.

No more Yanky my Wanky

Donger need food. Definitely no more Wanky Yanking.

After managing to not have a single drink all week until last night, I managed to tie one on pretty good. Normally I stick to beer or wine, but last night I went all Sex and The City and had sour apple martinis. 6 of them. 6 Martini = Hangover-tini, technically it's more like hangover-biggie, but let's not split hairs. Split head is what it feels like.

I have lots of productive work that needs doing, but that little "tini" is causing me to bumble and mumble around my office rather than be productive.

snoooooooooooooooooooze!

Sorry, I'm here. Kind of.

Brain Fart

Life is good, Life is grand, life's a big, fat rubberband...

Daily photo: Shadows

And the ball rolls on...

Thanks to all of you for your kind words and thoughts. I love my husband very much and it always helps to have empathy from friends to remind me of that. Thanks guys.

So, I'm sure all of you are wondering if I have decided to give up meat. The answer is no, I am just going to eat all things in smaller portions. Weight is relative as is self image. I am struggling to deal with my 30 year old body while still pining for my 21 year old body. Man was I hot back then. Man am I not now. On occasion I do look in the mirror and say, damn, I look good. But those times are few and far between. I know, don't be so hard on myself. I'm working on it.

Part of why I posted that previous post in response to my girls posting their demons, was the message. The message hit me hard. Why are we so hard on ourselves, and so easy on others. We hold ourselves up to a bar that is so hard to reach, while accepting others faults with not a question as to why. In discussing something with a friend last night, I realized just how far I have come in my life in terms of emotional stability and acceptance. I should be proud of that fact and I am, but not to the extent that I should be. Instead I constantly beat myself up about why or how or when I feel things that I feel and whether or not I should be feeling them. I am overly conscious of my thoughts and feelings to a degree that many might think strange. But in the past I just reacted, rather than think about my feelings. I was a constant victim. I am no longer that person. I am prideful and strong to a point that sometimes it hurts me. I have to remind myself that I am not alone in this world. That there are really no unique thoughts or feelings, that someone, somewhere has not had or felt at some point. Why not share with others these demons, rather than face them alone. Together we are stronger than one. Thank you to Tiff, Becky and Bekah for being in the battle field with me as I fight my demons. I hope that I can be of help to you on your battlefields.

Personal Demons

It seems that I have been living in my own little "woe is me" hole and have lost site of some very important things. It seems that some of my very dear friends are wrestling with some personal demons lately and I have been oblivious to them. And I feel like a horrible friend. First off, I am going to admit something and vow to make a change. I have been reading other people's blogs more than my friends. In what little time I have, I check people's blogs, who although I have made a connection with, I have never meet. These three women above I know personally. I have gone through good times and bad with them. Some more than others, but they are patches in my quilt of life and I have neglected them. And I am truly sorry for that. I vow to put those that matter most to me first and foremost in all that I do.

And with that, I step very timidly into the ring with my own demons...

Breath, I'm scared...

First off let me say that my husband does not really understand this site or the need for me to have it. At this point we have agreed to disagree and have agreed not to argue about it. On occassion he reads it, but very rarely and rarely does he say anything when he does.

So what I have to say is really hard for me to say here as it pertains to him.

Here is my demon. Sometimes I think that my husband and I aren't meant to be together. To put this in some perspective. I'm liberal, he's republican. I'm Jewish/non organized religion, he's very Christian and is finding Christ more and more and basing his life more on Christ. This in an of itself is not a bad thing by any means, but it makes it difficult to find common ground sometimes. We have a lot of the same views on how to raise children (we don't have any yet), but somethings we strongly disagree on. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of things that we do agree on despite these differences. And we have always said that despite these differences, we know we were meant to be together. We enjoy each other's company a lot. We do have fun together almost all the time. Unfortunatley, I've noticed a lot of those times, we are drinking. Whether that really has anything to do with it, I don't know. We don't date, we don't do romance very often, we don't have serious conversations. Perhaps I am just going through a stage, and sometimes that happens, but I worry the more I find things that we disagree on.


Little things about him have been driving me crazy lately. Things like his only child mentality where he just doesn't pay attention to what he is doing and spills things, or leaves things lying around or forgets to pack things because he thought I was taking care of it. Or the fact that he eats like he is at home when we are at a formal function. I am no etiquette queen, but when I am at a nice function, I bring out my good table manners and use them. He either doesn't have them (which I doubt, I know his mother and know she raised him better) or he just doesn't care.

Before we started dating and were just friends, I used to call my husband Mr. GQ. He was always dressed nice and looking hot. Now that we are married and "comfortable" I can hardly get him to wear anything other than work out pants, T-shirts and soccer sandles. I will be dressed to the nines and he's in soccer sandles. I don't want to be a nag. I don't want to be a bitch. I don't want to be un reasonable. I pride myself on being logical and fair in relationships to the best of my abilities. I also know that I suffer from depression and therefore, my emotions can sometimes control me more than I can control them.

So, in honor of 3 beautiful, brilliant woman that I mentioned above, there is my demon. Facing it head on comes next.

So you say it's your birthday...

No, it's not my Birthday too, and I don't know why that song popped into my head at the exact moment of me having to think up a witty and fun title for this post. I can't explain my crazy, so just deal with it.

I haven't been around here much lately. I haven't even been able to catch up on my must read blogs very often. Life has beena roller coaster of sorts lately and I'm still reeling from the ride.

I'll recap without getting too specific on certain parts. Learn from others lessons and all.
About a month ago, someone very instrumental in my life, moved onto another location and is no longer that large a part of my life. Needless to say, my life has become more difficult due to this change. Enough said...Except that with that change, I have very little time for "extracurricular" activites, if you know what I mean (blog, blog). So I am MIBA (missing in blog action.)

In terms of my personal life, which I share almost wholy with you, I have been feeling overused and under rested. My social life has run rampant for the last 5 months and I'm feeling as though I have been run over by a Mack truck repeatedly. I absolutely love being social. For many years of my life, I either didn't have many friends, or didn't know how to be social. So I am very appreciative of the friends I have now and the engagements that enable me to see them all on a regular basis. This year is a special year as a lot of my friends are turning 30. What this means though is that each and every one of them deserves and blow out party. Of which I have had at least one a month for the last 5 months. Throw into that mix, weddings, moving, anniversaries, housewarming parties, rodeo, etc... and I am partied out. It pains me to even say/type those words, but it is true. I'm done. I need a break that includes a remote control and a mindless movie and lasts about a week.

Throw into that me getting sick last week and it is still hanging on tight. So lighter loads to come soon, I promise. I will be witty and snarky and fun soon. Really, I promise.

In other news, I have started another blog for fitness and health. Leave a comment here or there and I will include you in the mix.

To Meat or not to Eat...Meat

I attended a wedding of a close cousin this weekend and something was brought to my attention. There were a couple women there that were vegetarians. Now, when I was younger, I was somewhat of a vegetarian. Somewhat meaning we ate fish and chicken, but no red meat. Now what I noticed or rather what was brought to mind this weekend is that everyone I know that is a vegetarian is really skinny. And very healthy. Now I know this isn't the post PC reason to become a vegetarian, but in my mind at this moment, vegetarian = skinny, which in turn makes me want to become a vegetarian so that I can = skinny. So the question is, to meat or not to eat meat?

Word association

Todays word association word of the day is:

Sick (cough, cough)

Hope everyone out there feels better than I do!

Word association

Since I am drowning at work, but I still miss my blog world and getting those wonderful comments, for the next couple of... well, til things settle down, we'll be playing word games here at Bundles of Babbles.

The game for today is, word association, blogstyle. I will give the first word. The first person to comment tells us what the first thing to come to mind is when they read that word. The person after them has to tell us what the first word is that comes to mind when they read the word that the commenter before them left. And so on...

So, the first word is

BLUE

Your turn.

Emotionally Drunk and Sober

I have been struggling the last couple of days emotionally and finally had a mini break down last night with my husband, magnified by a bottle of wine. I'm fine, just emotionally drained. I've been going non stop socially since about November of last year. And work has been crazy since my boss left. So all day long it's need, need, need at work. Then at home it's need, need, need. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love all my friends and family, but I need me right now. I need down time and not to think. Anyways... the point of my post... As I discussed the basis of my breakdown and the ways in which to fix it, I decided that I would wait to make major decisions until I was emotionally sober. So that's my new phrase, Emotionally Sober.

As of right now, I am still emotinally drunk.

Blogging Buddies for Fitness

Okay, I have some people interested in the Blogging Buddies for Fitness idea, so here's what I think I'm gonna do. As soon as I have some free time (I'll wait til you stop laughing)... Free time... I will create a new blog called Blogging Buddies for Fitness (BBF). I'm hoping to get BBF.blogspot.com as the name... Anyway, I will create a generic username and password and share it with everyone that is interested. That way any of us can post. Comments can be used as well for updates, motivation, etc...

What do you guys think?

Flightsin

We have this thing between my MIL, my hubby and me. My MIL is always going "HUH?" in this high pitched way when she doesn't hear something or doesn't understand something. Hubby and I constantly make fun of her because of this. One day at Christmas we were all sitting around and the following occurred:

MIL to Hubby: "You never listen to me."
Hubby: "What?" (whenever you say anything about listening or hearing and hubby says what, you know he heard you, he's just being a smart ass)
MIL: "I SAID..."

Much laughing followed.

So during the drive down to Corpus Christie a couple of weekends ago for Nana's 80th birthday, Hubby and I were having a conversation about something I don't recall.

Hubby:, "blah, blah, blah, blah..."
Me: "mmmm hmmm, blah, blah, blah..."
Hubby: "Blah, blah"
Me: "Quite So."
Hubby: "Flightsin?"
Me: "Yes, flightsin, that's exactly what I said. Because it made so much sense in the context of our conversation."
Hubby: "Well, I didn't hear you."
Me: "That's what we should say to your Mom from now on when she says, 'huh'. That would really confuse her."

So this morning, hubby gets up to get in the shower and said something and I said, "Quite so."

Guess what the response was.

"Flightsin"

Lightbulb moment

The lightbulb may be cracked though. You be the judge.

I have an idea. As I am trying to get back into exercising, (yes that was what I did this weekend), I thought perhaps creating Blogger Buddies for Fitness might be an idea. One reason I think many people fail at losing weight/getting fit and staying fit is motivation and accountability. It helps me when I have someone I have to answer to regarding my goals to get and stay fit. For some people this is a personal trainer, but since most of us can't afford a personal trainer, we rely on friends and family to help us.

I feel like most of us know what to do in order to get fit in some form or fashion. Like we know that eating fast food all the time is not conducive to a healthy body. But sometimes it's hard for us to follow a plan, to be disciplined. I do better when I know I have to answer to somebody other than just myself.

See, I have a kinesiology degree. I spent 6 years in college learning all about being healthy. I spent hours in dance classes, weight training classes and biology and chemistry classes that explained what good and bad foods do to your body. I even was a personal trainer. So, yeah, I know what I should do, but I don't do it!

I am perfectly capable of writing up a work out plan for myself. I even have weights at home. And videos. And a fitness ball. And a punching bag. Where do I spend my time? On the couch or at Buffalo Wild Wings. I have trained many a friend and when we worked out together, I was the motivational one. I was the one saying, "We have to go to the gym" and "No, we can't miss one day." But, I do better if someone else writes up the plan for me and then asks about my progress. I do better, say, if my doctor suggests me going on Sugar Busters. Or Body for Life or South Beach. I don't believe in fads, I believe in lifestyle.

Anyway, so my idea would be to pair up bloggers as Blogger Buddies for Fitness. One would be a motivation for the other. One would be held accountable to the other. Such as "you posted that you were going to do 20 minutes of cardio. Did you? What did you do?" I suppose that we could set up another blog just for this. We could somehow make it so anyone could log in and post or comment. I haven't put a whole lot of thought into this, but I trust that my wonderfully intelligent readers will have some brilliant ideas. So what do you say?

Mailbox row

In Flight

Sign on picnic table in Corpus Christie. It was on every single picnic table. Ewww.

I am...

Stolen meme with a twist. I found this meme over here and decided I would put a little twist on it. Instead of me filling out who I am, I am going to let my readers do it for me. So tell me in your own words, who you think I am... I might just add the final list to my side bar over yonder. I'll start it off for you, you continue.

Remember this is all about me...

I am a confused cat not sure where to turn at the sight of headlights.
I am a firecracker prior to takeoff.
I am vanilla ice cream.

Brain Teasers

I did something this weekend that I haven't done in awhile. Months actually. It felt good, but now is beginning to catch up with me. My body aches and my mind is trying to figure out what is going on. This thing I did starts with and E and ends in an E. If you do this thing on a regular basis, your body adjusts and doesn't scream, "What the hell have you done to me?" days later. If you do it regularly, others can see the difference and so can you. If you don't do this regularly, others can see the difference and so can you even more. Can you guess what it was?

First person to guess, gets... the satisfaction of being smarter than the average bear.

The Art of Massage

Look, me, on a Sunday, posting. Now pick your jaw up off the floor. It's not THAT outrageous.

I got a much needed massage yesterday and afterwards, feeling refreshed and a little less lumpy, I fed my poor body some crap because frankly, my ass just isn't big enough yet.

I digress. The title of this post has to do with what I think every Masseuse should know, but doesn't seem to know. There are a few things as a customer that I think are really necessary when one is about to place their hands to knead on another person's body.

1. Always ask what specific areas of said person's body need the most work. Where do you tend to hold stress, etc...
2. Do you have any injuries I should know about
3. How is my pressure?
4. Do not under any circumstances, talk during the massage. If I wanted idle chatter, I would go to work, not the spa.

You would think these things would be standard, but I think in all the massages I have ever gotten, only one masseuse has asked all of these questions.

So as not to put all the responsibility on the giver of the kneading of the Gods, as a client, you must do certain things as well.

1. Always shave all important touchable parts.
2. Shower before you go. No one wants to rub a stinky person.
3. Put good-smelly stuff on so you don't stink.
4. Bring comb and something to put your hair up after massage. No one wants to see your greasy mane.

So there you have it, Massage 101.

I know this was a terribly interesting post...

I'm cool, no really, I am...

All the cool kids are doing it so, like the good little follower I am...

bold the states you've been to, underline the states you've lived in and italicize the state you're in now...
Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C /

Go HERE to have a form generate the HTML for you.

Missing In Action

So, I've been missing in the blog world for awhile. I really do miss you all and miss filling your brains with my useless information. Unfortunately, I am lacking time, brain power, will power, you name it, I'm missing it. I feel like a gerbil in a cage that just goes round and round on that little contraption, but never gets anywhere. So that's just a little explanation as to where I am and what I am up to.

I will try to post more often, but if I don't, please don't forget that I care about this here blog.

Just for Kicks... Driving to work this morning in the pouring down rain, I heard a commercial for lotion. Not just any lotion. Crack lotion. I thought that was hilarious. It's for dry, cracked skin, but they just kept saying, Crack Lotion.

Something

He has been complaining that some of us have not been holding up our end of the blogging bargain. So I told him that I would post. So here you go.


something
SOMETHING
sOmEtHiNg

Go ahead and say it...

What's this?

What is this? This is a post. You see, according to the rules of blogging, I'm supposed to type stuff here so you can read it and stuff. I seem to have forgotten how lately. Sorry about that.

I'm still drowning in catch up work from my time out of the office so I will be scarce still. But I wanted to wish a happy birthday to two dear friends. Happy B-day Jenn and Nikk. Sorry you guys have to share a birthday, but I hope that it is a great one for both of you!

In other news, I've lost something very important to me. It is a vital part of my everyday life and it has been scarce lately as well. So if you see my brain, would you kindly return it to me? Thank you.

I miss you internet!

A very special day

Today is a very special day. For most of you it is that day in which pink and red have gotten puked all over the place and bashing love into our heads in normal. But at our house, it is my hubby's birthday. I like Valentine's Day, don't get me wrong. Or rather, I used to like it before it became this over promoted "Hallmark" holiday. Great, it's a day laid out to tell people that you love them. Shouldn't we do this everyday? Hubby normally sends me roses, which I absolutely love, but the last couple times (birthday, Valentin'es etc), I have told him to save the money and spend it on me elsewhere. I absolutely love flowers, but I really prefer to get them when I don't expect them.

Anyways... my point was to wish my hubby a happy birthday. He is 30 something today and older than me and that is all I will say. He is wonderful and caring and loving and a lot of other things that I will keep to myself. I am so happy to have him in my life everyday. So Happy Birthday Bebe! I love you.

The A Twins

Here's some more Pictures.

I'm back at work, but very busy and out again tomorow and Wednesday for a two day seminar. So here is some cuteness to tide you over until I can catch up. 

Baby Heaven

I am officially in baby heaven. My nephews are absolutely adorable and I can't get enough of holding them. I am changing clothes and changing diapers and loving every minute of it. As I type, the poor boys are getting their wee wees snipped. I am glad I did not go to that appointment. My sister is struggling with it and I can only imagine the pain a mother feels making that decision and having to go through it. But all this baby stuff is making me want one more, so soon enough it will be me I hope. I am getting plenty of sleep, but I'm not the one feeding babies every 3 hours.

I am at my sister's dad's (we have differet fathers) school on the computer in the middle of his computer class. It is a strange feeling. I went to this school over 25 years ago. It is an alternative laid back school that is amazing, but very different from where I finished my schooling. To give you an idea, I am sitting here as they go through class, not a single person is wearing shoes, they get removed at the door. I am working on a Mac computer and uploading photos of my nephews for my sister's dad. The class seems to be writing articles, but others are listening to music, others are looking up things on the internet. It is all very laid back.

Anyway, I just wanted to check in. I am having a great trip and reality will hit hard when I return. I promise lots of pictures and visions of smelling baby heads.

Babies here I come!

I'm off to see the babies, the wonderful nephews of mine. (Sung to the tune of, I'm Off to See The Wizard)

Will be back with lots of pictures. See you in a week.

I just busted myself in the mouth with my phone.

I just keep telling myself, two days until I will be in baby heaven.

Sea of Paper

I am peeking at you through the piles and piles of paperwork I must weed through before I leave tomorrow. AGH!

UPDATE: Take my brain. It's dead.

Go Wild!

Thanks once again to Mia at Ciao! My Bella for my Wild new design. Can't talk now, but will try to post later! Rawrr!