Ramblings

So, really, blogging and blog-reading is addictive.  Tell me about it.  I just spent 2 hours of my 7.5 work day actually working.  This is not good.  Granted, our department has been very slow (hey, if the legal department is slow that’s a GOOD thing!), but honestly – I don’t need to be on the Net that much at work!!  Discipline.  I need more of this.  Memo to self: Cut It Out!!  This is why they have filters and limited access – because of people like me!

Texting While Driving Ban.  Really?  Are we that stupid as humans that we need to have bill for this?  Even as enamored with my new Blackberry as I am, I would never even dream about trying to text while driving – I’m a bad enough driver as it is!!!!!

Rain!  Come on and rain already!!  I’m feeling far too lazy to go out and water my plants!  What the heck is this forecast for 40% chance every day if I don’t get a little?  Update:  I’m getting some as we speak!!  Not THAT kind!!  Get your mind out of the gutter.

Hubby.  What the hell does it matter to you?  I want to cut out a square around the tree.  Did I ask you to do it?  No.  I wanted to dig a trench so I could set up a sprinkler system.  Did I ask you to do it?  Again, no.  So quit questioning me!!!!!  Just roll with it already.

Neighbor guy.  Really??  Why do you have to mow (or whatever  it is you are doing) every other day?  Do you dislike your family so much that you feel the need to be out in the yard making so much noise while I’m trying to relax??

Other neighbor guy.  Why are you such an ass?

Again, blogging is addictive.  This will be my third post of the day.  If I don’t delete it that is.  I tend to write stuff and then realize it’s absolute total crap and I don’t want it out there for you to see (yes my friends, I’m thinking of you – if you saw some of the stuff I deleted you would thank me for not wasting your time!)

Man-Child.  Do. Not. Tell. Me. To. CHILL. ever again.  Or I just may kill you.  I’m serious.

Kid Rock.  Please come back soon.  I had a FABULOUS time at your concert!  As one of my girlfriends described you, “You are skanky-hot!”  I myself don’t find you adorable, but still, I love your new album (oops, just dated myself there! Do they even call them albums anymore?  Told you I was cool!)

I’m thinking in “blogs” now.  Is this normal???

Hubby and Man-Child.  Really, what is the deal with flat surfaces?  How hard is it to throw something away, put something in the recycle bin, or back in the pantry?  Really??  Is there some kind of testosterone thing that prevents you from doing this?  Can it be surgically fixed?  ‘Cause I’m willing to pay for it if it is!

Okay, I’ve bored you enough with the random thoughts floating through my brain.  I’ll go ahead and post this . . . or maybe not.

Gigi

I’ve Been Tagged!

Blame Tara Meme

I have been tagged by the Chic Mama in a blame Tara Meme. Wow – it’s my first time so be gentle in the criticism in the event I somehow screw it up.

1) Who is the hottest movie star?

This is a toughie.  Top three off the top of my head would have to be George Clooney, Johnny Depp & Matthew McConaughey.

2) Apart from your house and car, what is the most expensive item you've ever bought?

Another toughie – because I’m kinda frugal.  Maybe my wedding dress – which I never even wore?

3) What's your most treasured memory?

Having my boy – oh and the first time he ever took a two hour nap!  Before that he would only sleep in 10 minute intervals – this will quickly drive a mom insane.

4) What was the best gift you've ever received?

I get more excited by the little things – like when hubby hung up a shelf, or fixed the kitchen drawers that were falling out because they weren’t on the tracks right.

But as for an actual gift – I guess I would have to say my hammock.

5) What is the biggest mistake you've ever made?

Gee – this is a list that could go on forever.  I’ll just pick one.  Hmmm – I guess I would say certain indiscretions in my youth.  Let’s just leave it at that, shall we?

6) Four words that describe you.

Short, stubborn, sassy, & strong

7) What was the highlight and lowlight of 2008?

Highlight: moving into our new house.  Lowlight: moving

8) Favourite Film

Easy!  Steel Magnolias and Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood

9) Tell me one thing I don't know about you.

I can be very shy

10) If you were a comic book/character who would you be?

I’m going to say Spider Man – I always thought swinging around on those webs would be cool.

This list really had some posers on it!  It was much more difficult than I anticipated!

I now pass this tag onto:

Liz

Angie

7 Favorite Summer Items

Many thanks to Mama's Losin It for starting this workshop -

My summertime faves (in no particular order):

• Sandals.  (of course you knew that shoes had to be somewhere on the list!) High heeled sandals; flip flops, jeweled sandals; the list goes on. But no matter what – definitely not Teva’s.  Not too enchanted with the gladiator look either.
• The Beach! Okay, so technically, it’s not an item, but since this is my blog I rule that it counts.  Unfortunately, since hubby hates the beach (I really think there must be something wrong with him).  I don’t get there as often, or for as long, as I’d like.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• My gardening tools.  Spring/summer means I get to go play in the dirt!

• Summer clothes!  So much more freeing than winter clothes.  In the summer everything is laid back and casual and the clothing reflects it.

• My back deck.  It’s my favorite place in the whole house.  In the summer I live back here.  It’s usually got a beautiful breeze flowing through and it’s very peaceful – until the neighbor decides it’s time to mow – again.
• And my lounge chair – which is on the back deck.  I recline with a good book and beverage and could stay there all day

• Hair clips.  I mean really – how can you get through the summer without clipping up your hair?

Many thanks to Momma @ Live Laugh Pull Your Hair Out for pointing the way.

How Much To Share?

As I am slowly working my way into the blogosphere – I keep asking myself how much information to expose. I realize that I have to be real and I have to be honest and share – but how much? If I’m not any of those things then truly I have nothing to say.

I would like to write more about my son – but once he figures out that I am blogging (and I think he has an inkling) will he appreciate some of the stories I could share? Most likely not. As it is; I know he has stolen his naked baby pictures out of the family album so that no one will ever see his cute little tiny baby tush (sssssh, don’t tell him but I know where he hid them and have posted for you to see! Wasn’t he a cutie pie?!  Yes, I am a mean and sneaky mom – I admit it).  

 

So, I feel pretty certain that any sharing of info about him would be taboo. You know how easily we parents can embarrass our teens to death! Ditto for hubby-kins.

Then there’s the whole safety issue. Although I’m sure all the folks that read my blog (wait a minute – I’m busy rolling on the floor and laughing hysterically at that comment – particularly since I think I’m just about the only one reading it.) are exactly as cool, friendly and safe as they seem to be (and for the record, I am cool, friendly and safe).

So where do you draw the line?

Angie

PS – I just realized I have two; count ‘em TWO followers – so apparently I’m not the only one reading what I jot down.  Many, many thanks to Liz and Chic Mama for joining me in my nutty little world!

Patio Saga

Oh the tug of war between us.

He wants a patio; I think the money would be better spent somewhere else – say like toward or son’s outrageous tutition or maybe toward getting him a new bed since the one he currently has is in horrible condition

The outcome? We now have a perfectly lovely patio that we just did not need to have right now.

As I am sure you don’t know (how can you since I just stared blogging?) we moved into our home in September (after waiting forever for it to be built). We send our son to a Catholic High School which charges an eye-popping amount for tuition; not to mention all the various mandatory fees, books, etc. So as I’m sure you realize between that and the new mortgage – things are pretty tight.

I’m a patient woman – I need new dining room furniture. I would like to do some other things to the house. We NEED an outbuilding. But, I can wait. I don’t have to have any of these things right now. In my opinion, the patio should have been one of the lower priorities.

But in his opinion; we need the patio so he can have a place to put his beloved grill. And we need to get our old patio furniture off the screened-in porch and onto the patio to make room for outdoor furniture that we don’t even have yet! Yes, it’s all logical – in his mind.

He is our financial guy. He pays the bills, etc. We generally discuss major purchases and usually agree. He is very conservative when it comes to money (well, in pretty much every other aspect of life too, come to think of it). That’s why this decision is such a surprise to me.

But yet, he is currently on the phone with me telling me how poor we are. I’m biting my tongue – hard. Really, really hard.

GRRRRR - Teenagers

Why is it so hard to get them to do the simplest things? Why?

He knows that he is supposed to clean the kitchen after dinner. The definition of after dinner to me is – immediately after dinner. The definition of after dinner to him is whenever he feels like it after dinner. This makes me absolutely nuts.

Once again, last night, before I crawled into bed at a shockingly late 10:30 – I reminded him that the dishes needed to be done and I needed his signature on two papers that I need to send back to the school before the end of the week. I informed him in no uncertain terms that if the kitchen wasn’t clean when I got up in the morning I would drag him out of bed by his ears and he would do it before I let for work.

Well guess what vision greeted me as I stumbled into the kitchen for a much needed cup of coffee? Yup. A mountain of dishes and two unsigned forms. This is my biggest pet peeve – I want my kitchen clean when I get up in the morning. Granted, it would be easier for me to clean my kitchen every evening – and would be done correctly. But I am trying to teach this kid of mine responsibility and all that jazz. Besides, I’m a firm believer in chores. He lives in the house, he is fed, clothed, loved, etc. He is part of the family and as such, should pitch in. He doesn’t have too many chores. He is to clean the kitchen, do his laundry, clean his room & bathroom and help take out the trash & recycling. This is not a lot to ask from a 14 ½ year old - especially one who is home all day long during the summer.

Hubby growled, “You oughta take away the computer or something.” I might point out that hubby is not the disciplinarian in our house. Never has been, never will be. So I told him to wake the boy up and get him down here as that was the deal. Why should I have to do all the disciplining around here? After 14 1/2 years it gets old being the Mean Parent. Naturally, hubby didn’t.

I took my coffee and paper out to the back porch and decided I’d deal with it after I had a shot or two of caffiene. I’m not a morning person and after staying up to the ungodly hour of 10:30 I was a little more cranky than usual.

In the end, I decided I was not up to listening to bitching and moaning that early in the morning. So I got dressed for work and as I was walking out the door – I hid the computer.

I’m sure I’ll be getting a panicked phone call soon and a nomination for the Meanest Mom award – which I will display proudly on my mantle should I win.

Mothers of teenagers know why some animals eat their young.

Angie

Adolescence is perhaps nature's way of preparing parents to welcome the empty nest. ~Karen Savage and Patricia Adams, The Good Stepmother

****
UPDATE: Just got the call. Very casually apologized for the kitchen claiming that he couldn't fit all the dishes in the dishwasher. (Yeah right). Also had an excuse for not handwashing them. Claimed he did turn on the dishwasher - no, he didn't. Explained that it was my fault that he didn't sign the forms because he didn't know he had a deadline. Then casually asked about the laptop. I told him that I took it because of the kitchen. More excuses. Then asked where it was. I told him I had it (utter lie - it's hidden very well in the house). Response - "Are you serious!" My response - "Yes." His response - "Whatever" Typical teenage-speak. Am I wrong to feel smug? Naaahhh.

A Mid-Afternoon Mini Rant

All I wanted was a Snickers bar. Granted, I don’t need a Snickers bar. But I was lusting for one.

Instead, I had to settle for M&Ms. Not that there is anything wrong with M&Ms – but they are not a Snickers.

The reason I had to settle is because for whatever reason our breakroom is so damn hot it melts anything chocolate in the vending machine. Except, of course, for the M&Ms – which melt in your mouth – not in the vending machine.

I have complained to Office Services before. As the breakroom is mostly windows they tell me there is nothing to be done. Really?? It’s hot enough to melt the chocolate right off the candy bars and there is nothing to be done? Sounds like out and out bs to me. So what about the folks who eat lunch out there – should one suffer from heat stroke would that make Office Services take another look? My stars – the CHOCOLATE IS MELTING!!! That alone should make someone sit up and take notice. That means its really, really hot in there!

Now I have eaten a bag of M&Ms I didn’t want and the guilt is setting in. ::sigh::

Angie

Where to begin? So much fun this weekend.

I had finally made a decision on the whole blackberry vs. ozone issue earlier this week. Yay me! I must be getting better - this time I only agonized for two weeks. Anyhoo - I decided on the Blackberry. OMG! I received it Friday morning - I'm in love with this thing. So that was the beginning of a great weekend.

My weekend actually started at noon on Friday. My wonderful, fantabulous friend had bought Kid Rock concert tickets for my birthday. Since the concert was in a town about an hour and half away - I took off early so we could get out of town early. Didn't happen exactly the way we planned. It never does.

I came home and took my son to lunch - because he's been stuck in the house all week (actually all summer). While at the restaurant, my boy receives a text from another friend of mine who was planning to attend the concert too - she has an extra ticket and wondered if he wanted to go with her family.

Now my first friend and I were planning a girls only, spend-the-night event. The second friend was planning to attend the concert with family and friends and return the same evening. So after talking to hubby, we agreed that he could go. This would be his first concert.

So after lunch, I had to dash over to #2's house to drop the boy off and then race back home to pack. I was supposed to meet up with #1 around 3:30pm which was when she expected to be home. Of course, with #1, I knew this wouldn't happen. So finally, around 4:00 I get to her house and we get on the road. Apparently, she needed this WAY more than I did. She's been having a week (or two) from hell at work and so I listened to her vent most of the way.

For whatever reason, neither one of us thought to actually reserve a room ahead of time. This is really strange - particularly for me as I tend to like to plan ahead. Also, neither one of us thought to get directions to the venue. Luckily, the place was really easy to find. Finding a hotel proved to be another matter.

We should have left earlier than 4:00 though - because when we hit town we hit rush hour. Now rush hour where we live is laughable. Especially since I come from Houston where rush hour is really and truly RUSH HOUR. But rush hour in this town isn't laughable and while it wasn't RUSH HOUR, it was Rush Hour. So we were stuck in traffic for a good bit of time - my husband would have lost it completely - thank goodness he wasn't invited.

We finally get near the exit of the venue - and of course, there was even more traffic because of the concert. It's getting close to 6:00 - the concert starts at 7:00, so we are scouting around for a hotel - because I had remembered that when I looked at hotels (but for whatever reason didn't book one) that there were supposedly a number of them within a four mile radius. We didn't see any in the area. Hmmm. So my dear friend begins to make noises about just going to the concert and driving home after. NO, no, no!! This was to be a get away for both of us that we had been planning and talking about for the past three months. We will find a hotel. So we stop at a convenience store and I swear the two guys that helped us didn't seem to know anything about the area. Finally, we get back on the highway (by now, had hubby been with us, his head would have completely exploded), still in good spirits and go back two exits where we had thought we saw a place. Score! A Red Roof Inn (not fancy - but at that point who cares?). We run in, stand in line forever only to be told that there was no room at the inn. Crap. They send us down the road to another place. Comfort Suites. We scored big time. Not only did they have room and the rate was reasonable - but the place was brand new. We had virgin sheets, pillows, bathroom. It was great. But now it's creeping up on 6:45 and we are all icky. So we rush up to the room to spruce up a bit. We had the front desk call for a cab, so we wouldn't have to worry about parking etc. Let me tell you - that was the fastest spruce up ever.

We got to the concert a little late - but that was cool because the first band was still playing and really not the reason we went. I haven't been to a "rock" concert since high school. I've been to others but not a true rock concert in many years. It was way tamer than I expected - but it was utterly, utterly awesome. We eventually hooked up with #2 and her crew (and my son). I have been hoarse ever since. It was like being back in high school - only better. The place was packed but everyone was cool with each other - I didn't see any arguments or fights or anything that could have spelled trouble. It was the perfect first concert for the boy. He loved it.

#2's crew was nice enough to drive us back to the hotel. And boy am I glad we had the hotel. After talking to my son the next day, the normally 1 1/2 hour drive home took them four hours! Apparently there was concert traffic, construction traffic, two wrecks and a very, very long train. Meanwhile, #1 and I slept like babies.

Up and out early on Saturday - made it home before ten. Meet up with all our friends at my favorite little's guys 2nd birthday party. Fun was had by all.

Tonight, dinner with dear, dear friends.

::sigh:: What a wonderful life.

The stuff dreams are made of . . .

I would kill for this closet – wouldn’t you?

Notice all the space for the shoes?  ::sigh::  The fact that it’s large enough for a chaise?  The chandelier?  And fresh flowers?  ::sigh::  I love the way everything is behind glass doors.

The only way I could get a closet like that would be to convert a whole room.  Which really isn’t feasible – not to mention the fact that my husband would have a stroke if I attempted this.  He would figure it would just give me more incentive to buy shoes (not that I need the incentive).

If I had that closet I would put a lock on the door and spend lots and lots of time in it.  Perfectly happy to putter around re-arranging my shoes.

Angie

Indifference

Indifference drives me absolutely nuts. I firmly believe that if you have a job to do – you bring your A game and do it right.
I am so tired of dealing with people who don’t care about doing their jobs well; if at all.

What is so frustrating about this is that I find it across the board – it’s not just an isolated incident. I see it where I work. I see it where I shop. I see it everywhere. Heaven help me – I even see it in my family!

If you don’t like your job – get a new one. If that is not feasible – then suck it up buttercup and put your best effort forward until you can find a new one. What completely amazes me though is that their managers don’t seem to see the problem. Well, on second thought, the managers are probably just as indifferent. Aargh!!!

I have seen receptionists – you know the “first impression” of a company – who glare at visitors when they enter the building; who consistently send phone calls to the wrong departments - - repeatedly; who do not make a valiant effort to put on a good first impression. It drives me wild. Were I the president of a company this would NOT BE ACCEPTABLE at all.

Now granted, I wouldn’t want to be a receptionist – having to be “on” all the time – but they have chosen to accept the job – so do it well! I wouldn’t want to work in retail or in the food industry either. But again, you chose to accept the job – do it to the best of your ability with the best possible attitude.

With that being said, I have worked in positions where I wasn’t happy or didn’t like the job or the company – or even my co-workers. And I still put my all into it – because that is what you are supposed to do -- until I found a way out. Now, I work for a great company, in a great (for the most part) department with great people. Yes, I have off days – we all do. But that is not the problem of the person on the receiving end. They deserve to be treated with respect and receive the best possible assistance that can be offered.

People notice when you do a job well-done and with a positive attitude. Especially in today’s world of sub-standard service. I have written notes to managers to praise employees who go above and beyond. I have also written letters to Presidents and CEO’s to let them know when I am dissatisfied.

I think if we settle for less than this is what we get - we have to demand better - from others and ourselves.

Angie

"People forget how fast you did a job - but they remember how well you did it."

~ Howard Newton

Being Green ain't that easy

I want to be more green, I really do.

I am the queen of recycling – if I see something in the trash that should be recycled – whoever is to blame gets a lecture. I use cloth bags for all my shopping. I have tried to force my husband to use them since he does all the grocery shopping; but he refuses to be caught dead carrying them. Although, I must admit that I don’t blame him since most of my bags are very ~ahem~ feminine. So instead, I insist that he return all the plastic bags back to the store to be recycled – which, if the truth be told, he waits until we can’t walk into the pantry because there are so many and then, only because I have a fit.

I have a rain barrel that is finally up and ready to go. No significant rain yet though. Although, I would like to have a pump on that baby! How cool would that be?

I have an insulated lunch bag and bring my food in re-usable containers rather than plastic bags. I have insisted that one of my usual lunch partners do the same – since he was throwing away at least 3 or 4 baggies a day! Wasteful.

I use a “green” dry cleaner. Although, they still wrap the clothes in all that plastic – so just how green can they be?

I have intentions of making my own cleaners, detergents, etc. I even have all the ingredients to do so. So what is stopping me? Convenience and the assumption that they won’t work quite like their commercial adversaries do. Plus I’ve read that some of the homemade detergents can ruin your washing machine & dishwasher. So, I keep putting it off.

I’ve tried to buy some of the “greener” products on the market. But they don’t seem to clean up to my standards – which is what makes me think making my own won’t be much better.

It’s also hard to be greener when you have to fight against your own family’s mind-set. My husband is the most wasteful person of papertowels. It’s scary how many we go through. I’ve tried sponges and washable cloths. The problem with this is that he has a tendency to leave them in the bottom of the sink all wet. Which then grosses me out completely when I pick it up and it is all cold and slimy. So I end up throwing it out and we go back to papertowels. I realize that he is “old school” and trying to teach this dog new tricks is probably a waste of my time and breath. But honestly – would it kill him to wring out the cloth or sponge?

So anyway, while I’ll never be an “eco-warrior” I will still try to do my own little part to be greener. What do you do? Do you have any tips, ideas, or particular “greener” products that work for you? Feel free to share.

Angie

"It isn't easy being green" ~ Kermit, the Frog

Having An Only Child

One of my friends’ husband recently decided to take their two older children on a weekend trip to D.C. This left my friend home alone for the first time ever with her youngest. I might add that her youngest has also been her most challenging. They came over for dinner one night that weekend – and she was exhausted. She had never realized just how much attention one child needs; especially when he is high-energy.

She can handle all three with no problem. They keep each other entertained (when they aren’t trying to kill each other) and out of her hair most of the time. But with the one – with no one to play with or talk to – she became an instant target. I had to laugh – because this is exactly what my husband and I went through with our son.

Having just one has its pros and its cons. Once or twice when he was smaller he asked for a little brother. Then after thinking about it one day he came to me and informed me that he didn’t want a little brother after all. When I asked why his answer was that he would have to share us with the new baby – and he didn’t want to do that. What insight from such a little guy.

We never planned to just have one. Or two or three. We had the one and he was a very, very busy baby and I knew I couldn’t deal with two tiny ones at the same time – especially if the next was as busy as the first. So we just kinda enjoyed him and didn’t think about it. After awhile, I began to get those “baby blues.” My husband was against another one. He felt that he had two (one from a previous marriage) and that was enough. He also felt he was too old (he’s twelve years older) and wanted to retire someday. Selfish? Of course. But I think if I had really pushed the issue he would have caved – he loves little ones (and me) too much. But time flew by, as it so frequently does, and then I looked up and I was 40. Too late. Well not really, but I don’t think I could deal with the anxiety and worry of a “late in life” pregnancy – unless I absolutely had to.

Even though my boy is no longer a little guy – he still seems to require a lot of attention from us. In fact, he just called to beg me to come home for lunch just so he’d have a little company – and so he wouldn’t have to make something for himself (he can be lazy – as most teenagers, I suppose). My husband still seems to be his best playmate. They talk sports, roughhouse and basically do all the things that brothers would do. Sometimes it goes a little to far however, and hubby has to remind him that he IS the father.

I admire all the moms out there with more than one child – I don’t know how they do it. But I also admire the moms of “onlys” because I know just how challenging that can be also – particularly with those incredibly busy, busy babies.

Angie

“The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.” ~Rajneesh

Why Can't I Decide??

What is wrong with me? I just can't make decisions on certain things. I need/want a new phone. I'm torn between the Blackberry Curve and the HTC Ozone. I've read the reviews, compared the features, etc.

I've even waited for two weeks for the HTC Ozone to be available in the store so I could go look at it and play with it and physically compare it to the Blackberry.

And

Still

I

Cannot

Decide!!

This is not a life or death decision -- those I can make with my eyes closed. I also realize that I can return it if I don't like it. But still ... how too choose?

These are the kinds of things that make me crazy. It shouldn't be a hard thing. So why is it?

All I want is a smartphone. That's it. But the choices are too many. I've finally narrowed it down to these two and am now stuck.

I've done this before when trying to decide what color to paint my old hallway. I had paint chips taped to the wall for THREE months. Again, not a life or death decision and I could always paint over it if I didn't like it but there again the decision was agonizing.

My hubby's no help in this decision either since he is of the opinion that I don't NEED a smartphone and thinks it's stupid that I am insisting that I do. But yet when he says we NEED a patio poured and I don't ..... well, that's another conversation all together.

So here I sit obsessively comparing the phones online . . . while my laundry is patiently waiting to be done.

So have a heart - give me an opinion; something. I need help.

What a beautiful day!

As I sit here on the back porch listening to the birds (and that annoying barking dog) feeling the warm sun on my skin; I feel truly thankful.

I have a wonderful life and every once in a while I have to stop and remember that. Sometimes, well truthfully, a lot of the time, I get all wrapped up in the every day minutiae. We all do I suppose.

I try to remember all the blessings in my life -- but it's hard when there's work, housekeeping, laundry (the never ending laundry!!!), raising my son, trying to be a good wife (note to self: you've been falling down on that front - try harder!), etc.

Anyway - I thought I'd take a moment to share some of my blessings with you - in an effort to keep them forefront instead of letting every day life take over.

My husband - the light of my life. He truly loves me even though I'm a crazed, sometimes OCD-driven woman. He cooks for the family every day and is the perfect role-model for our son.

My son - my world revolves around him. He drives me completely crazy and makes me laugh like no other. He is a smart, good looking, sweet, considerate and caring boy (he takes after me!). As much as I miss the little guy, I'm truly looking forward to seeing what kind of man he will become.

My friends - what would I do without them? I can count on all of them for various things; someone to gossip with; someone to laugh with; someone to cry with; someone to party with - the list is endless. They all love me unconditionally.

I have a beautiful home - though right now it could be cleaned. I have my health. I have a good job. While not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination - we have enough to get by.

All in all I have it pretty good - and I would do well to remember that as the laundry continues to pile up; as do the bills; the housework, etc.

Did you read (or hear about) this couple in Thomasville, NC?

Danielle Starr, the bride pictured, told Anthony Mohoney (the groom) that she’d rather be married to him for one day than not at all.

She got two days.

You see, Anthony has been battling testicular cancer for nearly five years. 48 hours after the wedding, he died.

Danielle has been quoted as saying, “It was amazing while it lasted.”

They say that he was alert before and during his wedding but that his health quickly began to deteriorate after the ceremony. His mother is quoted as saying, “He got back into bed and didn’t get back up.”

This story touches my heart. Danielle loved Anthony so much, that despite the pain that she knew would be destined for – she married him. She lay with him in his bed until he died – saying she didn’t want him to be alone.

She married him knowing that she would be a widow in the very near future. She married him not knowing how long she would have with him.

What a brave and loving young woman, Mrs. Mohoney. To love that freely and unselfishly is truly a blessing. How many people can do that? And I don't mean in an instance as extreme as this one.

How many people truly open their hearts to others and offer unselfish love and commitment? This story dares people to look deep into themselves to see whether or not they have open hearts and are unselfish in their dealings with those they profess to love.

Small children generally offer their love so selflessly. It's as they (we) grow older that things begin to change. It shouldn't. We should all be so selfless.

What a true love story if there ever was one. If you’d like to read the whole story – here’s the link. http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/07/13/article/cancer_patient_who_married_on_saturday_dies

Angie

"I hold it true, whate'er befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all.I hold it true, whate'er befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all." -- Alfred Tennyson

101 Things About Me

Since I’m totally blocked today – I thought I’d take the time to jump on this bandwagon. But I have a feeling this is going to be waaaayyy more challenging.

1. I’m 41 years old (today, in fact!)
2. I’m about 5 ft 1in (yes, I realize that I’m short)
3. I’ve just lost about 40 pounds (yay me!)
4. I’m terrified that I’ll put it back on.
5. I recently picked smoking back up (maybe that accounts for the 40 pds)
6. I’m terrified I won’t be able to quit again.
7. I like wine . . . a lot.
8. I love my boss – she’s fabulous, encouraging & empowering
9. I’d like my job better if I were busier though
10. I love the internet.
11. What the hell is the fascination with FaceBook, etc. – don’t people have better things to do than update their status every hour on the hour? Why do people care?
12. I like to think I’m open-minded while at the same time
13. I’m very fixed in some of my thoughts and ideas
14. My son will soon be 15
15. This too terrifies me.
16. I’ve been married for almost 19 years.
17. My husband asked me to marry him after only 3 months of dating
18. We got married only two months later.
19. I cried for three weeks after – wondering what I’d done
20. I know some of my friends never thought we’d make it this long
21. I know some others thought it was because I was pregnant – I wasn’t.
22. It turned out to be the best thing I’ve ever done
23. I love my husband more than he’ll ever know
24. I should show him more often
25. I love to read
26. I LOVE shoes (okay – maybe I’m obsessed)
27. I’ve got the best friends in the whole world
28. I love the beach – I’m ready to live there
29. My husband hates the beach – this may be a problem
30. I am not a morning person.
31. But I’m not the night owl I used to be either
32. I needed the patience I now possess back when my son was small
33. My son is the most wonderful kid in the world – I’m very proud of him
34. His father gets most of the credit because he has modeled the kind of man my son will grow up to be
35. My son also drives me crazier than anyone else I know (except maybe for my mom when she was alive)
36. I love inspirational quotes
37. And funny ones
38. Mexican food is one of my favorites
39. I am absolutely TERRIFIED of frogs/toads.
40. I love to work in my garden until I see one of the above
41. Then I yell for my son to come finish what I’ve started
42. And, usually, he does it for me. What a great kid
43. I hate doing laundry
44. But I’m always doing it
45. My husband thanked me for always keeping him in clean clothes last night (totally out of the blue)
46. That made me love him even more
47. I can’t stand rain for more than one day
48. It depresses me and usually puts me in a bad mood
49. BUT – I don’t like to water my plants – so I know we need the rain – can’t it come at night while I’m sleeping?
50. My hair is brown (with a little help)
51. I have a purple streak on the right side
52. My eyes are brown
53. My friend is taking me to see Kid Rock soon – I’m very excited
54. My husband is wondering what kind of freak he’s married to (purple hair / Kid Rock, etc., I’m sure he’s thinking mid-life crisis)
55. I’m kinda into Feng Shui
56. Mainly to drive my husband crazy :-)
57. My son calls me the Vocab Queen
58. Yet my math skills are somewhere on the level of 2nd grade (sad, I know)
59. I loved being pregnant – it was the best time of my life.
60. I don’t know if I could have dealt with more than one baby at a time
61. But I love babies
62. I’m the disciplinarian
63. Sometimes I have to force my husband to do it – because I get tired of being the bad guy
64. Some of my friends thought I was too strict when the boy was small
65. But they admire his character and behavior now
66. I hate to be idle; unless I’m reading
67. Email was the best invention EVER
68. I’m a big chicken
69. But I wish I wasn’t
70. I love crossword puzzles and other word games
71. I believe that happiness is a state of mind
72. As is optimisim
73. I feel sorry for negative people
74. But I try not to be around them (it’s contagious!)
75. I love stationery – I have more of it than I can possibly ever use
76. But I keep buying it
77. I HAVE to have a stockpile of papertowels in the pantry, or I get nervous
78. I love to have friends over
79. I really enjoy the game Catch Phrase – it’s the only game hubby will play
80. I’m extremely competitive
81. I can be extremely stubborn too
82. I’m not an animal person
83. I can be very Type A
84. But I’m working on loosening up
85. I can’t understand why some people procrastinate
86. But sometimes I do it too – but not when it involves others
87. It irritates me when people neglect to use SpellCheck
88. I can be very shy and self-conscious
89. But it’s not nearly as bad as it used to be – it used to be almost deblitating
90. My husband says I’m not the same woman I used to be – I hope that’s a good thing
91. He’s pretty much the same man I married – that is a good thing
92. He also says that I couldn’t be married to anyone else
93. He is SOOOO right
94. I believe we should live life to the fullest
95. But sometimes I’m too lazy
96. My hair drives me crazy
97. I can’t stand a dirty kitchen
98. I don’t cook – at all
99. Another reason to love my hubby – he does all the cooking
100. I hate to exercise
101. I love shoes (did I already say that??)

Wow – that was challenging! But easier than I anticipated. Now you know why my profile reads “What can I say? I’m complex!” I’m a mass of contradictions!

Angie

“I love life and I love that about people . . . I adore the human experience, I really adore the . . . I love the contradictions of people . . . I don’t mind being sexy and girlish and womanly, and all those things at the same time . .” - - Jewel

I LOVE to read!

Do you love to read??

I LOVE to read! Almost too much so.

I’ve just finished two great books – in less than four days.

The problem with this is – I then tend to “forget” what I’ve read. My son tells me that’s because I read too fast and don’t take time to “absorb” the books. This is most likely true. Particularly since, in my very recent past, I’ve bought (BOUGHT, mind you) three (yes that’s right THREE) books that I have already read not too long ago.

I read the jacket and think “Oh, this sounds fantastic!” and hurry up to the checkout line. Only to discover when I get home and have settled onto the back porch and opened the book that three pages into it – I’ve already read the damn thing!! Drives me absolutely crazy.

So, what’s a girl to do?? I love to read and once I start a book that is particularly interesting I can’t help but race through it. Even if that means when I pick it back up I may have to re-trace a few pages (because I was too tired the night before to comprehend what I was reading).

Some of my favorite authors are: Jodi Picoult (love her!), Stephen King (of course), Dean Koontz (gotta love him), Michael Connelly, James Sanford, Maeve Binchy . . . . I could go on all night!

So. Who are some of your favorites? Any recommendations? Do you suffer from the same affliction I do?

The Power of Girlfriends

If you have them – then you know exactly what I am talking about. Women need each other. Unfortunately, some women don’t seem to get that and prefer to tear other women down rather than build them up. Those are the women I desperately try to avoid.

To those of you out there with little ones in the house – I know how hard it is to make time for yourself – much less your friends. But, particularly as your kids get bigger and more independent – you will begin to realize just how much you need friends.

Sure, husbands and boyfriends are great – especially if you count them as one of your best friends. BUT – there is only so much that they can offer you. They may sympathize when you have cramps – but they don’t know what it’s really like. They can try to understand when you are in the throes of PMS and ready to kill the first person who looks at you funny – but they’ve never been there. They may tell you how fabulous you look when you are feeling bloated, your hair is freaking out and your skinny pants don’t fit anymore – but, once again, they’ve never been there. You get where I’m going with this, right?

I have many girlfriends and they all fill different spots in my life. I’ve got my party friends, my sympathetic ear girlfriends, my shopping friends, my – yes, I-will-help-you-bury-the-body friends, etc. Some of these friends fill more than one category too.

When my hubby and I were going through a particularly difficult patch (really the only major one in 18 ½ years – thank God), one of my dear friends was the only thing that kept me from either taking my son and moving out or killing my husband in cold blood. She was there whenever I wanted to rant and rave and she was there calming me down. She offered me a place to stay if I left – either in a rage or for good. She offered an alibi if I killed him in a fit of rage (just kidding). She also offered great advice to me (and my husband on a separate occasion) and helped us to get through this very difficult time. I love her dearly.

I found one of my high school friends through a social networking site. It was great. But, one night we were talking on the phone (granted, wine was involved) and she told me that she thought it was great I had so many girlfriends. She had seen a picture of me and my girls on the site. She then informed me that she really didn’t have any girlfriends. It made me sad. It made me even sadder when I missed her call after she drunk-dialed me (don’t judge – we’ve all done it) late one night a month or so later and sounded so unhappy and told me she really needed a friend. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to connect with her since. I continually worry about her and hope that we can connect again soon so I can offer her that unique brand of friendship that women can have and so desperately need.

I know that I can count on any of my girls for anything whenever and wherever I am in my life. And they know they can count on the same for me.

Me
“I get by with a little help from my friends.” John Lennon

WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE??

I just looked up and realized that it is July!! 2009!! How the hell did that happen? This month I’ll be 41. I don’t have an issue with being 41 – really and truly. What I don’t understand though is how did I get here? Just yesterday I was 22. How is that as children our concept of time is that it takes forever? Waiting for birthdays and Christmas seemed like an eternity. Now – I blink my eyes and another year has gone by.

I tell my friends with young children – enjoy every minute, every phase and stage. Because once you put those little sweeties into kindergarten time will move at warp speed!! Truly. I know this for an absolute fact. Just last fall, I walked my little guy into kindergarten – and then cried my way to work. And yet somehow, this fall, my little (big, no check that GIANT) guy will be a sophmore in high school and driving! WTF?

Anyhow – depressing as this may seem – I’m not going to let it get me down. I am all about living in the moment; enjoying everything I can. That’s not to say I don’t worry, or am never depressing or pessimistic; or am never angry or frustated. I do and I am. I’m normal (kinda, sorta, maybe?).

I just recently got into reading blogs. I have a few that I follow daily and they have inspired me. But what will I blog about?

This little blog is going to be a development in progress. I really don’t know how to classify it. Will it be about my family? Some. Will it be about me? Eh, maybe a bit. My job? Probably not – unless something seriously funny or enraging happens. Life in general? Definitely. Politics? Not really, I know just enough to be dangerous but not enough to make intelligent arguments. All I know is it seems like something I feel compelled to do – before too much more time elapses.

Me
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” Dr. Seuss