Where Does Time Go?
My 'baby' is 16 today!
It's surreal to think that amount of time has passed. I sat here today thinking about all the birthday parties, Halloween costumes, Emergency Room visits, mass quantities of macaroni & cheese, Happy Meals, vacations with him tethered to me preventing him from 'wandering off', and about a million other things that make Jacob... Jacob.
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
Happy Birthday Son!
Partly Cloudy
After several days of rain (which we desperately needed) the sun is shining brightly...
...but it's still gray, damp, and gloomy in my head.
I keep humming "I can see clearly now the rain is gone" and it's driving me bonkers, I have NO clue why it's on my mind. It's like my subconscious mind is playing tricks on me. Doing its best to brighten my day. It ain't workin. And I don't know why...
*sigh*
From Fire To The Floor.
I woke up this morning to Fox News (not my choice, the man had left it on) broadcasting two vastly different stories.
The Forest Fires in Southern California: I have been to SoCal several times, twice to San Diego. It's just frightening to see the fires out of control. They were broadcasting footage of families leaving in the middle of the night. I can't imagine how terrifying that must be. I used to think that earthquakes were the greatest thing to fear in California, but now I'm starting to think the fires may be. All of those in the line of fire are in my thoughts and prayers now.
Marie Osmond collapses on 'Dancing With The Stars': Ok, brace yourselves but this is one reality-type show that this self-proclaimed addict does not follow! Imagine that. But I was as intrigued as anyone else this morning when every network was showing the bits of tape of her dropping like a rock to the floor. Poor Marie. I thought she handled it quite well, God knows I've had my share of embarrassing situations and I could certainly sympathize. It's been reported that some of the audience thought it was 'staged' but I knew instantly it wasn't the first time I saw the clip; had it been staged, Marie would have been checking first thing to make sure her backside was covered and she didn't! Don't really know what to make of all the 'reasons' I've heard thus far, and really don't care, but I have to give her kudos for handling it so graceful. But then again, it's not all that surprising I mean she's been an Osmond all her life, she's got to be used to the ridicule.
Friendly Fire
"I really hope we can stay friends." "Despite all that's gone wrong between us I do hope we are able to remain friends." "I don't hate you, I really think we'll always be good friends."
ATTENTION ANYONE LOOKING TO BREAK UP WITH ANOTHER PERSON
We honestly don't want to hear any of the above statements when we break up, ok? One of my single girlfriends is currently 'breaking' up, well, I guess she's breaking up. Actually she's just kicking a bad habit, I think you have to actually date someone in order to break up with them, and I wouldn't call their relationship dating, if you know what I mean.
Today she tells me of their last conversation when he says, with all the sincerity of a raging yeast infection, "I know we're always gonna be buddies!" Buddy, my ass. I realize that most men and women who are trying to let someone down gently want to make things as easy on the person they're breaking up as they can, or that's what they say. We all know it's just to make them feel better for their slime-bag behavior. And that slime-bag behavior isn't gender biased, I know some pretty foul men and women. But lets face it, you've probably been intimate with the person you're breaking up with, there's more than likely been a lot of time spent getting to know one another, possibly even promises of a more committed union, so why if you've decided you can't date them (or be married to them) anymore do you want to call them a 'friend'?
I'm not trying to imply that we should harbor hateful feelings, but a friend? I don't think so. A friend is someone I call on when I'm needing support, not a person that I invested time in getting to know only to be told that they're not interested in spending that kind of one-on-one time with me anymore.
I'd much rather end a relationship with something like, "I don't want you to have a disfiguring car accident, or be struck down with some incureable disease, but if you do have to suffer a little heartache similar to what you've caused me along the way, then so be it." Now that's honesty.
When I stood in my kitchen some 10 years ago listening to my then husband ramble on and on as to why he didn't think he wanted to be married anymore he finished by saying, and I quote, "I'm really hoping we can be friends Shannon." to which I replied "Listen Dickwad*, I don't need anymore friends, what I need is a father for these children." Be my friend? Are ya kidding me? We've lived together for 11 years and after constantly being told what a failure I was as a wife, mother, human being, you're telling me that a divorce will erase all those feelings and somehow foster the perfect environment for friendship? Don't insult my intelligence, I know perfectly well he had no intentions of being my friend. Just like my girlfriend knows that her guy-pal isn't interested in a new friend.
Breaking up really is hard to do, but there's a right way and a wrong way, just like most every other situation in life :)
*Name changed to protect the low life sperm donor I was once married to.
Gently Used
I've been a registered member of eBay for about 8 months now. When I found out I was going to be a grandmother I started 'shopping' for things I'd need at my home. I'll admit the first few weeks were addicting and frustrating. I'd bid on item after item only to be outbid (usually at the last minute) by a more seasoned shopper. Finally I won my first auction! It was for a Fisher Price "bouncy seat" that vibrated and had a mobile-type thing with fishies and real water that bubbled. I think with shipping I paid a little over $30 for the gently used item. A week or so later I was looking around a local consignment shop and found a multitude of bouncy seats that had been just as gently used for less than half of what I'd paid! To add insult to injury I also ran across several 'pack & play' cribs that were almost identical to 3 I was bidding on at HALF the price they were on eBay. What gives?
I have made a few other purchases on eBay, and was very satisified with the product and the price. But I had been burnt on the baby items and since had only bought things locally either new or used. Tonight I was bored and roaming around eBay, I found myself once again in the Baby Dept. My daughter had asked me to get the baby one of those night light's that had a projector in it for Christmas, the kind that projects images of stars, moons, Winnie The Pooh, and most everything else onto the ceiling. I agree that the grandprince would love this and it will also help lull him to sleep...we hope! There weren't many on eBay but after doing a little investigating I started looking for new items on Wal-Mart.com and Target.com, to my amazement I found that one item on eBay was almost triple the cost of the identical item at Wally World...BRAND NEW!! The eBay item wasn't clearly identified as new or gently used (a very popular term there). I debated about sending the seller an e-mail with the URL of the Wal-Mart site but decided against it.
I guess when you're shopping online, particularly at auction sites, it's definitely a must for the buyer to beware, huh?
Too Old For This?
Ok, all you musicians out there, please tell me this is going to get easier...
I honestly thought I'd be better at the piano playing than I am. It's just maddening when I try to learn a new piece! It seems like my left hand and my right hand operate under two different brains. ARGGGGGG!
This was supposed to be a relaxing hobby, wasn't it? 
Cool Site...Give It A Try!
Food For Thought
Dwelling on the negative simply contributes to its power.
~Shirley Maclaine
Sensible Shopping
I've been in a serious, committed (yes, legally bound), relationship for over 5 years now. Prior to meeting him I was playing the 'single-girl game' for a little over 6 years. I've admitted before that single at 19 is light-years different from being single at 32/single Mother of two. Currently I have a couple of girlfriends still playing the game, and I am frequently reminded of my own days of singledom.
Today one of my single friends was talking about lingere and BoTox. She'd bought one and is considering the other. This same friend recently got a tattoo. After our conversation ended I thought to myself, "I always wanted a tattoo, she never, ever said anything about wanting one. That's my damn tattoo, I never had the nerve to get!" From there my mind began to wander and I was thinking about my single girl 'intimates' versus my old ball-and-chain unmentionables. When I was single I didn't have the finances to do a lot of shopping but rest assured I did a lot of clearance shopping at Victoria's Secret. I bought the prettiest, laciest, undies and bra's I could find. Now I buy the plain, sensible, Bali's while on sale. What gives? Did I buy the more alluring stuff as a means of ropping a man? The evidence would suggest so. And the underwear, well, while I haven't resorted to 'granny panties' in 100% white cotton, I can't remember the last time I bought something lacy or satiny.
Some would probably say this is TMI for an internet blog, and maybe it is, but I'm curious if any other formerly single gals have fallen into the same pattern? And while we're at it, let's talk about frequency of leg shaving... on second thought, lets not!
I think I am going shopping this weekend! I've realized I kinda miss the lacy, pretty, unsensible, stuff. Even though I'm not technically playing the 'mating game' anymore I should still treat myself to something pretty...and sexy!
