Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Waiting To Jog ....

I am so glad it's mid-week.  This Friday is the last day before my VACATION.  A whole week of not really any plans but lots of stuff I'd like to do none-the-less.  Throw in a mix of good weather and the family being in a good mood ... and whola! 

It's a week away from work ~waves to boss~ and I'm so glad to be out of there.  Away from the stress.

Right at the moment I'm waiting on a call ... to meet a friend ... at the gym.  I'm spending a whopping $10 that we don't really  have in our budget to work out at the local YMCA.  See ... I'm a secret treadmill whore.  I know you are surprised ... but don't tell anyone ok?

I've spent the last two days running on pavement, doing a three mile walk/jog loop around my house and my knees and feet are ready for some soft cushiony treading.  Not this awkward maneuvering around tree roots and cars that hang at the end of driveways.  AND, where I can watch a red dot go around an imaginary track and see myself making progress.

What can I say ... I like it.  And as goofy as it sounds, I'm hanging on my phone waiting for her to say she is ready and head on over.

Just like I am ready for it to be Friday!  Today.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Cute

This is how my youngest eats her grill cheese sandwich these days.

Monday, June 28, 2010

A Monday Pictoral (Get Your Mind Out Of The Gutter)

Super hot here today.  That top # is the inside of the house.  No A/C downstairs.  Sweat city.

I broke the bar on the fridge today trying to put that gallon jug of apple juice (see top bar) I totally was so not was so careful putting that big heavy bottle on the shelf without any attitude and I have no idea why it would have collapsed like it did.  Now it's just an illusion (I suggested duct tape to hold it on) of a shelf.



For good measure when the bar let go, it let go of everything that was on the shelf.  Which is this pitcher full of GRAPE KOOL AID.  That's right folks, all over the floor right in front of the fridge. 

But WAIT it gets even better!


I got to clear out my junk drawer.  You know what I'm talking about ... the drawer where every possible stray thumb tack, nail, tape, candles, batteries, pens, tools, etc hang out in a jumbled mess.  (Yes, even my house has a drawer like that ... although now it's all tidy and organized, HA)

I'm sure you are now wondering why?  In the chaos that was my drawer I saw this.  Look closely my friends and you will see what look like teeth marks.  And I can tell you definitely that the black mark, is actually extrement from none other than a mouse.

A tiny mouse.

That I am now attempting to poison.  I FEEL SO BAD.  But what can I do ....


At least I have my assistant on the job.  Right?

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Sunday Stealing: The Eighty MeMe, Part I

1. What curse word do you use the most?  The F bomb.  It's a good stress indicator.  If they are flying, then I am stressed.

2. Do you own an iPod?  My kids have them, I do not.

3. What person do you talk to on the phone the most?  These days hardly anyone.  Mostly it's texting, in person visits or email.

4. Do you still remember the first person you kissed?  I sure do.  He had big soft lips.  Hard to forget.

5. Do you remember where you were on 11/9/01?  I was standing in line at the grocery store, when they made an announcement over the intercom that two planes had hit the World Trade Center.

6. What was the last movie you watched?  Shutter Island.  It was good but weird.

7. Has anyone ever called you lazy?  Never.  If they did, everyone would know it isn't true.

8. Do you ever take medication to help you fall asleep?  Nope.  I have no problem falling asleep.  If anything its the staying asleep part that gets me.

9. Has anyone told you a secret this week?  Not that I can recall.  But if they'd like to, I'm totally available to listen.

10. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?  Muscles.  I have a "thing" for them.

11. What are you looking forward to?  My vacation next week.  Yipee!

12. Do you own any band t-shirts?  Yes I do.  Metallica, Guns & Roses, Van Halen, AC/DC ...

13. What will you be doing in one hour?  Sorting through paperwork.  I usually do it on Sunday's at some point.

14. Is anyone in love with you?  I really hope so.

15. Last time you cried?  I think it's been a whole week.  I cry easily.

16. Are you on a desktop computer or a laptop?   Laptop.  I'm leery of it now, since the hard drive went and crashed.  I don't trust it like I used to.

17. Are you currently wanting any piercings or tattoos?  I'd like to get my belly button pierced.  I have wanted to do it for a while now but I don't want to go alone to have it done.  I'd like to go with someone who wants to do it too.  Just so you know, there aren't many people out there interested.

18. Would you ever date anyone covered in tattoos?  No.  I like tatoos but not when they are everywhere on somebody.  I'm about making a simple statement, not chaos and confusion in tatoos.

19. What were you doing before this?  Swimming and it was very refreshing.

20. When is the last time you slept on the floor?  A couple years ago, when my husband was really sick.  I didn't want to hit the couch, so I slept in my book nook (very cozy and surrounded by words).

21. How many hours of sleep do you need to function?  I can get by on six.  But I like 8+

22. Do you eat breakfast daily?  I do eat something for breakfast daily.  Usually toast or yogurt, sometimes its a coke and peanut m&m's.  Hey, we all have those mornings.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Fun Things I Did Today

  1. Ignored the fact that my youngest was up at 5:30 AM.  Fell back to sleep until 8 AM.
  2. Discovered all the fun things she did, by herself, while I was snoozing.  (nothing horrible, just watched TV and ate lots of snacks)
  3. Took a ride with a friend to angelfoodministries to pick up a couple of food packages.  They are excellent and a decent price.  Loved having the company for the ride.
  4. Went swimming with my youngest in her little friend's Mom's pool.  85+ degrees today.  It's been years since I've swam.
  5. Had BBQ ribs for dinner, cooked by my man.
  6. Had a hand full of peas and green beans straight from my container garden also.
  7. Watched no less than five episodes of Dexter Season II.  I might not be able to sleep tonight.
  8. Ignored all laundry.
  9. Ignored all yard work and cleaning.
  10. Ate a Hershey Bar on the deck, by myself.
  11. Plan on watching Shutter Island next.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Hello Friday!

I am so glad it's the weekend.  Just 8 hours of torture hard work and I'll be there!  Then it's one more week to go before my vacation.

Woot! Woot!

Happy Friday Everyone.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Bully or Bot?

Here is wihere I admit I'm a facebook addict.  Okay, more like playing the game Mafia Wars, addict.

Tonight, and tonight is almost over, I was hunted but some dude relentlessly.  I sat for over an hour healing myself while he just kept hitting me.  He hit me over 200 times.  While it didn't hurt at all, it was annoying and I wouldn't let him win, in spite of his continual trying.  Yes, I do realize I'm stubborn and in the end I let him beat me down to see if he would go away (he totally did).

I had some ladies check the jerk him out.  By ladies, I mean BB's.  (yes, I belong to a clan, what?)  It looks like he was using something called a BOT (a keyboard that can remember keystrokes).

I am waiting for a Zynga rep to get a screen shot and report him and then I'm going to bed.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Only Wednesday?

I hate my three-year old rule of not blogging about work.  I totally want to.  It's awful and I'd like to vent about it.

But I can't, to be on the safe side.  Even though the one who would read it, is at the root of the problem.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Monday, June 21, 2010

Lovely Monday

No work tonight.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Sunday Stealing: The Oh My MeMe, Part I

1. The phone rings; who don't you want it to be?  A collection agency.

2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart?  For the most part yes.  But sometimes no.

3. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener?  I like to talk what can I say.

4. What was the last compliment that someone gave you?  My MIL, left me a FB response the other day that she thinks I'm a great Mom.

5. Do you play the lottery?  No.  And yes I do realize I can't win if I don't play.

6. If abandoned alone in the wilderness, who would you want with you?  That survivor guy on TV.  Although I don't really want to eat bugs.

7. Do you like to ride horses?  No.  The height and uncertainty of the animal make it so I don't like it.

8. Did you ever go to camp as a kid?  Nope.  I was home.  All. Summer. Long.

9. What is your favorite party game?  Musical Chairs.  It cracks me up.

10. If a sexy person was pursuing you, but you knew he/she was married, would you go for it?  When I was single, the answer was heck yeah.  Now that I'm married the answer is heck NO.

11. When was the last time that you lied?  Probably today.  Trying to not hurt someone's feelings or misleading my preschooler so she wouldn't pitch a fit.

12. Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you?  Yes.  I married a man with different religious beliefs than me.  I'm catholic and he is atheist. 

13. If you have a S/O, who pursued who? If not, do you like to pursue or be pursued?  I like it when it's a two way street and you both are trying to pursue each other.  For me and my husband, it was a mutual thing.

14. Use six words to describe yourself.  Neat, Nice, Funny, Understanding,

15. Name a song that could make you cry?  The Wind Beneath My Wings. 

16. Are you pleased with your education?  Put it to you this way, if I had it to do over again, I'd get my bachelors degree.

17. How do you feel about gun control?  I don't care either way.  I just don't want anyone to shoot me.

18. If your house was on fire, what thing would be the first thing you grabbed?  My Vera Bradley bag.

19. How often do you have a romantic weekend?  Not enough.  We do get romantic nights.

20. Do you think more about the past, present or future?  The past.  I'm trying to get over it but it's hard.  Those memory movie clips of the past play often.

21. What was the last adult magazine that you have read?  Yesterday.  I read Parents. 

22. What are you told about your eyes?  That they are big and brown.

23. How tall is just right? 6' 2"

24. Where is your dream house located?  On a beach in Hawaii.

25. Do you have a secret fetish?  I do but I'm not telling.

26. Have you tried bourbon? If yes, what type?  Yes and it was DISGUSTING.  Burned my throat.

27. Have you ever seen a male or female stripper?  Both actually.  I was hugged by a female stripper and she was stark naked.  Talk about awkward!!

28. When was the last time you were at TGI Fridays?  A long time ago now.  Several years.

29. When was the last time you were at Church?  See blog title.

30. Where was the furthest place you traveled today?  To the grocery store.  Less than a mile away.

31. What was your favorite job?  Babysitting.  Like was simpler then.

32. What condiments do you like at your BBQ?  BBQ Sauce, ketchup, pickles, corn and pasta salad.

33. Bud is hosting Thursday Thunks this week. Will you play?  Probably not.  No offense Bud but one MeMe per week is enough for me.

34. Do you look like your mom or dad?  Neither.  I'm adopted.

35. Who was the last person that you showered with (it's okay to leave out the name)?  My husband. Duh.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Saturday Amnesia

I did so much today that I seriously cannot remember what I did.

What I can say is this .... it's 9 PM and my arm and leg muscles are killing me.

Friday, June 18, 2010

The End

I am so beat and at the same time, THRILLED that its the weekend.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

To My 8th Grade Graduate ....

To My Darling Son,

I cannot tell you how proud I am to see this day come.  I can still remember the first day of kindergarten with you holding my hand.  A nice sunny day, you dressed nicely in sweatpants and polo type shirt.  You favorite sneakers at the time were Pokemon and there were still Velcro.  It took you a long time to learn the art of tying your shoes.  But this letter isn't about that.  You ran right into your new classroom and just gave me a wave over your shoulder.  You didn't look back.  I might have cried a little over it.

You have come so far in the past three years.  You have begrudgingly become a reader and while your first choice of book is an anime one, you can easily read through a science fiction story and do a decent book report.  You write honestly about how you feel and make comparisons of yourself to characters. It took some time for this years teachers to understand you and how unique you are but they did it beautifully and I cannot thank them enough for that.

I will admit I was less than excited to go tonight.  Not because I didn't want to see you walk across the stage but because I had no idea it was all happening until this morning.  At 9 am to be exact.  Long after I had taken you to school.  You never mentioned a thing.

It doesn't take but a little bit of knowing you to get why you never mentioned it.  You didn't want to go.  I heard you loudly and clearly.  No amount of suggesting sitting with friends, bribing you with ice cream or telling you how important it was to me changed your mind in the hours before I wanted to leave.

Maybe I was wrong to insist you go.  I didn't think so at the time but as I watched you heartily go for the slam of each door we walked through and then stop it at the last second with your hand, did I really understand how angry you were with me for making you do that.  (and how badly I feel for your wife ultimately because she will miss that you are mad by your doing that)

In the car I just couldn't bear to hear you choking back sobs.  Staring out the window, so close, that if it were rolled all the way down you'd fall right out.  I stopped at the end of our street and told you to get out.  When I said you could go home and sit in your room, no games, no TV and no computer, I hope you realize that it was to make the point of if I am not having fun NO ONE IS HAVING FUN.

YES, I went anyway.  Sat with another Mom and her girls.  Mixed in the audience, full of your classmates and their relatives, and the empty chair right next to me.  Your seat.  In a way it really was for the best.  You'd keep asking me what time it was, getting up to go to the bathroom, biting your nails and fidgeting in your seat.  Crowded, hot auditoriums aren't your thing.  You would have pointed out to me that your two best friends weren't even there, like I had suggested they might be.  You would give off a strong vibe of annoyance.

I got my camera ready when they began showing a video of candid shots with the kids in your class.  But there wasn't a single one of you.  I took a snapshot of the chair next to me instead.  It was hard not to cry when I thought about your sister, two years before, in this same room laughing and carrying on with her friends as the awards were handed out.  I listened and applauded as homerooms were called up and students names called out to receive their diploma's.  When it came to your spot, I watched the presenter just set yours aside.  Many were set aside, you weren't the only one not there.

Two hours later I found myself back home, the house silent.  Your door firmly closed with a hand written "Go Away" sign on the door.  I had to laugh.  You and I, are so very much alike.

I would have thought that both of us sleeping on it would have made it better.  But somehow this morning was just as bad.  Our morning ride.  Silent.  I did notice the sign was gone.  Vanished as quickly as it had arrived.  There were many things I wanted to say to you about the night before but it was just too early in the morning to really get into it.  (and yes, it was obvious, with you back at the window, hoping to crawl out it, AGAIN, and all, might have been a deterrent.)

The best was the end of the day.  Your sweet phone call to me.  Apologizing for how awful you were to me last night and this morning he added sheepishly.  I gladly accepted and enjoyed hearing about a special BBQ held in the honor of the entire 8th grade (good kids only, of course) and how much you enjoyed it.

Yes, it has been an interesting three years and, regardless of the last 24 hours, I am looking forward to the next four and man you become.  I love you no matter what.

Congratulations,
Love,
Mom

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Notes From Earlier

As I sit in the world's longest snoozer of a boring meeting, in a back row by myself, I am thinking about ~

  1. Dexter Season II
  2. Eating FAR TOO MANY peanut m&m's and how that under minded my plan to eat health today.
  3. What the Superintendent of Schools person in front of me thinks of this Information Technology presentation.
  4. How many days are left until Friday (2).
  5. Did I leave the A/C running?
  6. World Peace.
  7. Any sort of dinner plan for tomorrow night.
  8. The four, close knit little red bumps in a cluster on my elbow.  Upon closer inspection scratching I have determined it is not hives or some sort of food allergies.  Verdict ~ mosquito bites.
  9. Needing to reschedule my son's therapist appointment for tomorrow night so I can just stay home.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Nothin' But Work

Its a double work day for me today and I'm cranky.

What else is new right?  (you in the back be quiet!)

I am finding old people very annoying.  In the past week I've had to deal with them on three different occasions (not including dealing with my own parents).  The first annoying guy is working on advertising for this upcoming concert series that I am booking bands for.  I get that he needs to know what the line up is and I am working on it.  But emailing me constantly asking for updates?  Gets under my skin.

I did reply nicely to him and I'm sure that will satisfy him for at least the next 24 hours.

The second annoying guy I have to deal with at work.  He was not my choice.  My choice was actually a more laid back individual who I think I would have gotten along with swimmingly.  But my boss trumped that and now I'm stuck with Mr. Sticklerpants.  (I'm not going into details but just trust me on this one).  Who sends me emails, lecturing me on stuff I am not doing for him.  Granted he is nice in the way he words them, but I get the underlying meaning.

The third annoying person is my next door neighbor.  Our shared fence has a rotting post and it seems to me that each time I am outside when she is, there is discussion on fixing that post.  This last discussion we had went something like this ....

"Can your husband fix this post here, the fence is leaning again."

"He looked at it, it's rotted."

"Should I bring someone in to fix it and we can share the cost?"

"No, I can't afford to pay for someone to fix it."

"I can see how, with three kids, you not having the money to do it.  I'm on a fixed income myself." (gee thanks for your consideration.) "Well can we take some rocks and put them on your side prop it back up for now?"

"Sure"

Now I know this isn't going to work.  The fence post is rotted.  No amount of propping up the fence is really going to save it in the end.  But for the moment, it solved what she is seeing on her side.  Course on my side, I get to look at a stack of stone.

I realize that someday I too will be old and annoying to people younger than myself.  But when I've got a million plus one things going on in my life, I am not thinking nice thoughts when I am helping them with their requests.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Like Nails On a Chalkboard

Words uttered by my three year old that make me cringe ...

"I don't care."

While I do realize she doesn't grasp what she is saying.  She just sees the reaction that I give when she says it.  I'm trying to redirect her but at one point ... lets just say I didn't handle it very well.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Sunday Stealing: The Dark Side MeMe

1. You’re building your dream house. What’s the one thing that this house absolutely, positively MUST HAVE? (other than the obvious basics of course)  Lots of bookshelves?

2. What is your dream car?  At the risk of dating myself, I am partial to 1987 Mustang GT's in black (obviously!)

3. What is your favorite website that isn’t a blog?  Amazon.com

4. iPhone 4 or Droid, which do you want?  I have no desire to pay for the web on my cellphone (yet.)

5. When you’re feeling down or lonely or just generally out of sorts, what do you do to cheer yourself up?  Read a super trash romance novel.  It's a great escape.

6. Tell me about something or someone that you love that most people seem to hate.  My high school "at one time" BFF.  Women do not like her at all.  Her showiness and thinking "she's all that" don't bother me but the ladies are generally rubbed the wrong way by it.  I remember her as my only friend in High School and all the rest, doesn't matter to me.  She makes me laugh.

7. What do you want to be when you grow up?  I have no idea.  I thought I wanted to be an Assistant to the President of a Company but now that I am?  I'm reading to move on, to something ... else.

8. Would you go on a reality show if given the chance?  Yes.  I didn't even have to think about that one.  Just plain YES.

9. Who was your favorite teacher when you were growing up. (Grade school, Middle School, Jr. High or High School only.)  A High School Social Study teacher named Chief.  You couldn't fail his class.  He had a little doghouse drawn on the top corner of his classroom chalkboard.  If you were really bad (and we had some really bad kids in our class) he'd write your initials in it.

10. You get one pass to do something illegal or immoral. What are you gonna do?  Rob a bank.  Isn't that what everyone would do?

11. What were you doing 10 years ago?  The very same thing I am now, except I have three children instead of two.

12. By this time next year, I ... hope to have saved some money.  A lot of money.

13. Do you think the United States will elect a female President in your lifetime? Do you think this would be a good thing?  I don't think so.  Women have that "cry" factor that men don't.  To be the President of a Country you have to always, always, always be strong.  Never showing any sign of weakness.

14. Which fictional, TV show character you would shag anytime?  Dexter.  What?  I'm watching the series and I like him..

15. What is your greatest pet peeve?  People crunching food.  If I'm not eating too, to drown out the sound, it drives me ape shit.  Gets worse as I get older.

16. Tell me about your most recent trip of more than 100 miles?  Its been so long, I don't remember the last time I traveled more than 100 miles.  Maybe our trip to Old Orchard Beach, ME.

17. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?  Dictionary.  I am a lover of words.

18. Do you have a nickname? What is it?  Mom, MaMa, MOM, Mother, Mommy.  I sometimes answer to none of it.

19. What are you dreading at the moment?  My daughter goes off to college.  Two more years.

20. Do you worry that others will judge you from reading some of your answers?  Nope.

21. In two words, explain what ended your last relationship.  Here is three ... my big mouth.

22. What were you doing this morning at 8am?  Being woken up by my three year old, clearing her throat just outside our room.

23. Do you have any famous relatives?  Not that I know of.

24. How many different beverages have you drank today?  Mostly water.  At least six glasses of it.

25. What is something you are excited about?  Vacation.  It's coming up in a couple of weeks.  I'm already planning the day trips for us and really hope the weather works with me.

26. When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group?  A very long time.  I used to teach a Religious Education class, weekly.  Granted they were kids, but not any less intimidating.

27. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?  That I needed to brush my teeth.

28. What were you doing at midnight last night?  *censored*

29. What’s a word that you say a lot?  Lets see ... rhymes with truck.

30. Who is your worst enemy?  Carbs.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Taking Stock

Things that I have an unmanageable amount of (in random order of course) ~

  • Children's toys (age 3 and up)
  • Video Games (it's a toss up as to which game system has more, gameboy, wii, xbox, etc)
  • Beanie babies (some with tags and some without)
  • Books (all types, sizes, subjects)
  • I feel that books should be mentioned again, because I. have. that. many.
  • Single Earrings (just where have their mates gone?)
  • Shoes (for someone who claims to not really care about shoes, I have too many)
  • Framed pictures (more than I have the wall space for)
  • Nail polish.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Good Morning Friday

I love that I have today off.

But I don't love that I'll be spending the morning shopping for dining room chairs with my Mom and my brother in tow.  I am not sure how he got invited along.  He probably invited himself.

Later on today my husband has his "second opinion" appointment for the plantar fibroma in his foot.  I can sense he is anxious about it and I'm glad I can be there to support him and hear what really is involved.

In other news ... my brother is already here.  Early.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Bedtime Madness

I don't know what it is about those two words that make 3-year old's duck and hide.

"Bed time"

But these days, ever time I say it ... she is GONE.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Doing The Humpty Dumpty Dance

Enough of this whole work business.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Leading Up To The End

Years a lifetime ago I made a life changing decision.  I made my first trip to an aquarium store.  Just barely twenty I will never forget walking around this warehouse type place filled with different tanks of fish.  Guppies, Goldfish, Gourami's, Catfish, Cichlids, Tetras, Plecostomus AND all different types of plants.  Don't even get me going on the tanks.

Without getting really geeky here, I'll say that the hexagon tank really caught my eye.  It takes up less space (which at the time, I lived a home in what seemed like a closet) and there is more depth but less floor space.

It is a lot like have a bright lamp depending on the size (trust me).  So I went for it.  I think I spent about $200 on the entire set up.  Stand, lighting, rocks, cover, tank the whole nine yards.  I had my first full time job, still lived at home ... and thought hell yeah when I took it all in.  I justified it in my head as I would have it for years and truly get my money out of it.

And I did just that.

At read lots of books and guides on keeping fish.  I have never bothered with salt water, there is just too much chemistry in it for me.   But if you can use chemicals and plants to get your water to neutral .... and get fish to live in the tank over time, it becomes established.  There were plenty of fish that croaked in those beginning years.  I've grown plenty of banana plants and raised lots of tetras.

But it got tedious after awhile.  I was engaged, married, moving and pregnant in rapid succession.  I didn't want to give up and my best friend at the time (EBF) offered to take the tank from me.  Allow me time to raise my kids and she wanted to enjoy it too.

I sort of thought I wouldn't get it back, especially when she added a giant conch shell from her honeymoon trip to Hawaii.  One day she surprised me by saying she was ready to send it back, the shell even came with it and I added a promise that the day I was done with the tank, I'd get it back to her.  Because it stayed doing all that time, it came back to me still well established.  I upgraded it a bit and add two black and white convicts.  They are from the cichlid family and look like fish in old fashioned prison uniforms.

I picked two good ones.  A boy and a girl, if ya know what I mean.  And in very quick order there was a corner full of babies.  Very cool learning experience.  The survivors turned my two to twelve.  I brought the six I could catch to a local pet store.  Again, in very quick order there was a corner full of babies.  At the end of that stage there were fourteen black and white fish, living in a 25 gallon hex tank.  I didn't go back to the pet store this time.  I gave one away to a friend (it died less than a month later).  I just let the cards fall where they may.

The tank took up residence in my living room.  In various spots.  For years.

Those little fellas lived for years together.  All of them.  I enjoyed them and enjoyed them and enjoyed them.  One by one they passed.  Sometimes it was the older/stronger ones picking on the weakest.  Other times I wasn't really sure what caused their demise.

Twenty years I had that tank.  The silicone seal holding the glass together finally gave way to a small leak.  I knew it was only a matter of time.  I had a spare five gallon tank (don't ask why) that I put the remaining fish in.  I used the same rocks and water.

That tank is currently sitting on my corner kitchen counter, no working light or heater.  A filter that hasn't had the cartridge changed in many months but it is still filtering.  And there is one single fish.  The lone survivor.  The strongest.  He has greeted me, as I take my daily vitamins, every morning.

This past week I  notice he is having a hard time staying upright.  When he is in his little cave, his fins move very slowly and he lays on his side.  He does come out and eat and say hello but I can tell his life is coming to an end.  There's no heavy breathing, no frantic fin movements, he is very graceful even now.

Seeing him makes me think about the decision I made so long ago.  And how far I've come.  How far this fish has come (at least twelve years) and where he is going, any day now.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Sunday Stealing: Another Question MeMe

1. It's 2AM and you are not home. You are more than likely:  I'm dead.  I am never out at 2 AM these days.  Like Ever.

2. What's the last thing you spent more than $100 on?  Yesterday I spent $140 on my smallest cat at the Vet's Office.  She has a UTI.

3. What do your bank checks look like?  They are sporting the generic look.

4. Where did the shirt you are currently wearing come from?  The Salvation Army.  I freaking love that store.  It is so CHEAP.

5. Name something that will be on your Christmas wish list:  A kindle.  And I'm dreaming because it is too much money.  Period.

6. What color is your toothbrush?  Pink.

7. Name something you collect and tell us about it. Books.  Which reminds me I need to take a serious look at my reading stacks and weed through books I'm not particularly interested in reading, so I can make room for the ones that I do want to read.  Heh.

8. Last restaurant you ate at. Who were you with? How was it?  I just went to Longhorn's last night with my husband.  For date night.  It was AWESOME.

9. Who was the last person you bought a birthday card for?  My friend Jenn.  And I totally forgot to include it with her gift.  I do that more than I care to admit.

10. What is your worst bad habit?  These days?  Eating crap.  It has to stop.  I need to treat my body better.

11. Name a magazine you subscribe to?  People Magazine.  My guilty pleasure.

12. Your favorite pizza toppings?  Mushroom.  I love it.

13. Whose number were you looking up the last time you used a phone book?  The number for the Vet's Office.  (that'd be in the online phone book.)

14. Other than family, who is the person that you love most?  My friends.

15. What is the last thing you cooked?  Boxed Mac & Cheese for the kids dinner last night, before we went out.

16. Name something you wouldn't want to buy used?  A bigger bed for my son, so his twin bed can go to my youngest.  Beds are freaking expensive to buy new.  I am hoping to find someone who wants to get rid of theirs.  So far, no luck.

17. Which shoe do you put on first?  I have no idea, whichever.

18. What is the last thing you remember losing?  A CD of music a friend of mine made.  I want to load the songs into my new phone and I cannot find it to save my LIFE.

19. What is the ugliest piece of furniture in your house?  Our old entertainment center.  It's in my son's room ... where old furniture goes to DIE.

20. Last thing you bought and ended up returning?  Jeans.  They were too big for my husband.  (I had to go back twice, btw.)

21. What perfume/cologne do you wear? If none, why?  I wear Poison and have for years.

22. Your favorite board game?  Clue. I like figuring out who did it.

23. What was the last board game you played?  Monopoly City.

24. Where did your vehicle come from?  China probably.  Just kidding, the dealership?

25. If a movie was made about your life what would the theme song be?  I'll be there for you, the Friend's theme.

26. You're sad, who can cheer you up easily?  My kids.  They light up my life.

27. What was the color of the bridesmaid dresses of the last wedding you went to?  I can't even remember the last wedding I went to.  I haven't been to one in years.  They were pink probably.

28. What house cleaning chore do you hate to do the most?  Cleaning the toilets.  Doesn't everybody hate that?

29. What is your favorite way to eat chicken?  With my hands, I guess.

30. It is your birthday. You hope the cake is?  Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Saturday's Slacker List

Things that I might or might not do today ~
  •  Mow the lawn.
  • Laundry.
  • Purchase a gallon of milk.
  • Take my son to Gamestop to spend his gift cards.
  • Get some seedlings ready for planting.
  • Catch up on work.
  • Sweep the floors.
  • Head out to a nice dinner with my husband.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Oh Yeah

It's FRIDAY!!!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Happy Thoughts

Tomorrow is FRIDAY!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Out Of Left Field

I received this in my email box from a friend that dates back to my EBF (Ex-Best Friend) days.  She sent it on Saturday morning.  I was surprised to hear from her until I read it.

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"I don't know how much you know about what is going on with my husband and I, but we have split and I got an apartment in our town that I will be moving into this week. My middle child wants to stay with my husband which I am good with because they have a connection that will be good for the both of them to get through this. I do not think my husband has said anything to anyone so please if nothing has been said to your husband, let him tell, and he will when the time is right. This has been very amicable to which is what we wanted for the kids sake. My husband is a good guy but we just aren't happy anymore or if ever truly happy. You know our history it was just a matter of time. My oldest child was not shocked at all and 100% supportive with my decision. My middle child is hurt, the youngest is ok he's young. I do want to spare him any embarrassment at work, so please if you and your husband talk about it please have your husband keep it discreet at work for my husband. Thank you "

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I've know this couple for eighteen years, I knew them as individuals, I knew when they first met as a couple, I was there for the wedding.  I haven't seen them, hardly if at all, in the last five years now.  Am I surprised really?  I guess I'm not.  I think she felt compelled to tell me, albeit at the last minute, because we all were planning on going to an incredibly boring event wedding shower and I was thinking they would both be there.  Actually I was looking forward to seeing her.

We did attend the event and her husband (I'll call him G) was indeed there.  He brought his son.  The youngest.  He is seven now.  The last time I saw him, he was two.  I watched G act completely normal.  At one point one of the work guys was there with his three month old baby.  G couldn't get enough of the cute little bundle and said "he'd be talking to his wife about more." And he winked.

He hid his pain well.  Making us laugh the entire time as we sat at the "work" table, essentially by ourselves.  I found myself studying him.  Years ago there was some speculation that he might be gay.  It caused a stir in our suffocatingly tight knit group when he was showing some porn of that nature to the other men in our crowd, which struck a few as "odd".  This tied in with the low libido that we heard about and the begging for it that yielded nothing but frustration.  As I sat and stared watched his interactions with others I still had no idea one way or the other. (although he was very knowledgeable about woman's shoes)

In the end ... I just felt sad for them and their three kids.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Tough Tuesday

I think that the Tuesday after a holiday is always a difficult day.  You have that extra day off and probably spend it eating extra food and watching extra TV.  All that excess means Tuesday ... blah.

Obviously you get through it and all that jazz and life goes on.  And before you know it, it's Wednesday and that means Friday is just around the corner.

People call that wishing your life away.  I call it, longing for the constant weekend.

I made some changes here to my blog.  Nothing noticeable on the surface, just some changes to my "feed" and I am now allowing the web crawler to visit me.  I'm done hiding myself these days.  I've decided life is too short for that.  If my boss really wants to read my daily drivel ~waves to boss~ he can.  It just makes him creepy.  Not me.

I'd like some exposure.  I'd like some comments.  I'd like to hear from people who are out there who happen to come along to my little corner of the world and find something funny ... or something that they agree with (or not agree with, whatever) and that isn't going to happen if I keep myself tucked away.

I'm willing to take that chance, again.  Change is in the wind for me.  And I'm excited to see what happens.