I've missed blogging and have been thinking about starting a new blog. I even started setting it up in Blogger. I haven't decided if I want to completely abandon this one, though. I have lots of great memories here and lots of great readers (who are probably long gone by now).
For those of you who have been wondering what I've been up to since my last post in 2013, the answer is a LOT. The short version:
The guy I was dating in 2013 DID put a ring on it (actually, it is my grandmother's ring) and we got married in April 2014. (I should give you the run-down of my wedding experience, no?)
My father-in-law died very suddenly and unexpectedly in August 2014.
We moved in with my mother-in-law to keep her company and to save up money for a bigger house.
A month later, we found out we were pregnant. [insert excited noises here] Baby is not only healthy, but has been the joy of my life so far -- seriously, we made a wonderful child. Good sleeper, good eater, happy and laid-back kid. Oh, and I loved being pregnant. I felt great for the most part. Could have done without the kankles and pre-eclampsia. Oh, and the failed induction was not pleasant...at ALL. But overall, I've been extremely lucky in the mothering department. Please don't hate me. I know a lot of women struggle. I just got lucky. (Man, I should post about my labor & delivery experience.......that was quite a saga.)
After two years of living with my MIL (who is the most awesome MIL ever, btw), we bought our house this past July.
So now I have a husband, a toddler and a house that has so far proved to be a money pit (more on that later). Unfortunately, I also now have cats, thanks to my husband. But it's ok. He's worth it.
I think I'm coming back, y'all. I have all kinds of ideas for posts floating around in my head. Being a full time working mom gives you lots of kindling for venting and sharing. I've been toying with the idea of giving The Hot Girl Lifestyle its own blog, since I'm always on a quest for self-improvement, but am just not sure I want to abandon this blog. I'll continue to post here until I decide. In any case, let's get this party started!
Also, Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all!!!!
Showing posts with label happy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label happy. Show all posts
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Friday, March 01, 2013
RingWatch 2013?
Hi, everyone. I miss you. I miss blogging and reading other blogs like I used to. I would like to say that I will be blogging more, but I don't know if I will. You see, my day usually goes like this:
5am (sometimes) -- get up and go for a run or hit the gym. Ok, full disclosure.....lately, it's been like, twice a month. Usually I sleep in until....
6:30am -- wake up at boyf's, walk and feed dog. Eat breakfast, then go to my house to get ready for work.
9am -- go to work. Yes, it takes me that long to get ready. There is significant dawdling. Unfortunately, I am already supposed to be at work at this time.....
9:20 -- actually arrive at work. I am lucky to have a boss that doesn't care I do this every day. Mostly because she spends the vast majority of her day on the phone, arguing with her lawyer or yelling at her soon-to-be-ex-husband. Or dealing with some other personal life fiasco. I detest my job. My boss is a big part of it. Don't get me wrong, she's a really nice, funny, cool person. I would totally go on vacation with her. I just hate working for her. I should really write a post about work...I have venting that needs to be done.
5:20 -- time to go home. Yes, I make up all the time because I was raised Catholic and if I don't work exactly 40 hours/week, I will go to Hell. If you're not Catholic in any way, you will never understand this.
5:40 -- get home, walk dog, put on comfy clothes (bye-bye, bra!). Boyfriend calls me to have our daily debate: will I make dinner at my house or will I make dinner at his house or will we go out to dinner. I hardly ever make dinner at my house, despite the fact that I much MUCH prefer cooking at my place (he doesn't have a vegetable peeler....or many other things you need to cook with. Which is fine, because he's a bachelor. But lugging my kitchen stuff over to his house all the time gets old sometimes.) He usually wins the debate. Which is fairly logical, because, as he points out, I always spend the night over at his house anyway. (He has a queen-size bed. Nuff said.)
Sometime in the evening -- I get to his house. We usually watch Jeopardy while eating dinner. Then we watch more tv until I fall asleep at 10pm. He is a freak who needs 5 hours of sleep every night, so he stays up.
If you review the list above, you will notice a lack of the following lifestyle activities: exercise, hanging out with girlfriends, blogging, puttering around my own house and doing things that do not involve a screen -- TV or otherwise. Unless we are at work or a doctor's appointment, we are probably together.
...and that is why I have put on 15 pounds. And why my house is a mess. And why I haven't paid my taxes yet. Or done any number of me-time things. Like blog. Or buy some new iTunes. The only reason I am doing this today is because I took the day off.
If you're anything like me, right now you are screaming at your computer, saying, "Dude! What are you doing? You have morphed into a 'we' and have forgotten the 'me'! This is not healthy for you or your relationship! Carve out some me time -- STAT!"
And you'd be right. But trust me, it's easier said than done. Mostly because he is my most favoritest person EVER in the whole world and I never get sick of hanging out with him. When I do have "VB time", I spend a lot of it wishing he was with me -- I just wish he was in the other room so I can get some stuff done.
Now, before you all begin gagging yourselves with spoons, I can tell you that we do argue. We have some things we will never agree on, like the fact that I would like his home to be free of cats and he would like it if I would be better about taking my dirty dishes to the kitchen. (I am notorious for leaving them on the coffee table.) But there is no one I'd rather argue with. Does that make sense?
I recently read an article where the author interviewed several couples. Each couple has been married for eons, and the author was trying to crack the case: what is the secret to a long marriage? Typically, the answer was never defined in this piece (article FAIL), but one part did stick out to me:
Author, addressing ancient husband: Did you ever have moments where you didn't want to be with her?
Ancient husband: Not be with her? What? No. Never. But did I ever want to kill her? YES. Many times.
And I totally understood.
So yes, it is going splendidly. We agree that this is what we've both been looking for all these years and we can't believe we dated all those other people who were so wrong for us. We talk about the future all the time. He gets upset if I speak of my future in a way that implies I'd be doing it as a single woman. We have named our children. Well, ok, we have named the first one. If it's a girl. I have started to realize that my future doesn't make sense if he's not in it. To quote The Princess Bride, it's inconceivable. Even The Czarina and MJ are asking me "So..............are you engaged yet????"
I have to reassure them that RingWatch 2013 is still on. But knowing him, he has stuff planned and up his sleeves, and I am totally clueless. Who knows. Part of me is screaming, "I AM 34!!!! LET'S GET A MOVE ON!!!" but and equal part of me is just happy I found him and I'm enjoying the ride. Ok, that's a lie. It's more like 80/20, respectively. My ovaries are shriveling, people. This ratio may grow even more lopsided if personal milestones continue to pass by without any bended knees taking place. New Year's? Nope. Valentine's Day? Earrings instead. (Which I adore, for the record.) Birthday? Well, at this point, he's 48 hours late....so I'm not holding my breath. Some of you are doing the math and wish to point out that we've only been dating for 9 months. To that, I say, shut the hell up because you're probably a smug married with a baby on your knee. When you know, you know. May 23rd will be one year, so perhaps then???
I have come to realize that good relationships are just as difficult to manage and understand as bad ones. With other guys (read: most of the jerks I dated), I was so wrapped up with "Does he really love me? Is he interested in committing?" Most of my mental energy was wrapped up in determining if he liked me. Now, most of my mental energy is split between 1) doing what I need to do to make this relationship a priority in my life and keep him happy and 2) figuring out how to fit him into my life without losing myself in the process. So it's a juggling game. I'm trying to navigate it. If you sagacious smug marrieds have any advice on how to do this, please impart your wisdom. I wish I could say I feel smothered...........but I don't. This is making it difficult.
In a deliciously serendipitous finale to this post, he and I just called each other at the exact. same. moment. We are ridiculous.
5am (sometimes) -- get up and go for a run or hit the gym. Ok, full disclosure.....lately, it's been like, twice a month. Usually I sleep in until....
6:30am -- wake up at boyf's, walk and feed dog. Eat breakfast, then go to my house to get ready for work.
9am -- go to work. Yes, it takes me that long to get ready. There is significant dawdling. Unfortunately, I am already supposed to be at work at this time.....
9:20 -- actually arrive at work. I am lucky to have a boss that doesn't care I do this every day. Mostly because she spends the vast majority of her day on the phone, arguing with her lawyer or yelling at her soon-to-be-ex-husband. Or dealing with some other personal life fiasco. I detest my job. My boss is a big part of it. Don't get me wrong, she's a really nice, funny, cool person. I would totally go on vacation with her. I just hate working for her. I should really write a post about work...I have venting that needs to be done.
5:20 -- time to go home. Yes, I make up all the time because I was raised Catholic and if I don't work exactly 40 hours/week, I will go to Hell. If you're not Catholic in any way, you will never understand this.
5:40 -- get home, walk dog, put on comfy clothes (bye-bye, bra!). Boyfriend calls me to have our daily debate: will I make dinner at my house or will I make dinner at his house or will we go out to dinner. I hardly ever make dinner at my house, despite the fact that I much MUCH prefer cooking at my place (he doesn't have a vegetable peeler....or many other things you need to cook with. Which is fine, because he's a bachelor. But lugging my kitchen stuff over to his house all the time gets old sometimes.) He usually wins the debate. Which is fairly logical, because, as he points out, I always spend the night over at his house anyway. (He has a queen-size bed. Nuff said.)
Sometime in the evening -- I get to his house. We usually watch Jeopardy while eating dinner. Then we watch more tv until I fall asleep at 10pm. He is a freak who needs 5 hours of sleep every night, so he stays up.
If you review the list above, you will notice a lack of the following lifestyle activities: exercise, hanging out with girlfriends, blogging, puttering around my own house and doing things that do not involve a screen -- TV or otherwise. Unless we are at work or a doctor's appointment, we are probably together.
...and that is why I have put on 15 pounds. And why my house is a mess. And why I haven't paid my taxes yet. Or done any number of me-time things. Like blog. Or buy some new iTunes. The only reason I am doing this today is because I took the day off.
If you're anything like me, right now you are screaming at your computer, saying, "Dude! What are you doing? You have morphed into a 'we' and have forgotten the 'me'! This is not healthy for you or your relationship! Carve out some me time -- STAT!"
And you'd be right. But trust me, it's easier said than done. Mostly because he is my most favoritest person EVER in the whole world and I never get sick of hanging out with him. When I do have "VB time", I spend a lot of it wishing he was with me -- I just wish he was in the other room so I can get some stuff done.
Now, before you all begin gagging yourselves with spoons, I can tell you that we do argue. We have some things we will never agree on, like the fact that I would like his home to be free of cats and he would like it if I would be better about taking my dirty dishes to the kitchen. (I am notorious for leaving them on the coffee table.) But there is no one I'd rather argue with. Does that make sense?
I recently read an article where the author interviewed several couples. Each couple has been married for eons, and the author was trying to crack the case: what is the secret to a long marriage? Typically, the answer was never defined in this piece (article FAIL), but one part did stick out to me:
Author, addressing ancient husband: Did you ever have moments where you didn't want to be with her?
Ancient husband: Not be with her? What? No. Never. But did I ever want to kill her? YES. Many times.
And I totally understood.
So yes, it is going splendidly. We agree that this is what we've both been looking for all these years and we can't believe we dated all those other people who were so wrong for us. We talk about the future all the time. He gets upset if I speak of my future in a way that implies I'd be doing it as a single woman. We have named our children. Well, ok, we have named the first one. If it's a girl. I have started to realize that my future doesn't make sense if he's not in it. To quote The Princess Bride, it's inconceivable. Even The Czarina and MJ are asking me "So..............are you engaged yet????"
I have to reassure them that RingWatch 2013 is still on. But knowing him, he has stuff planned and up his sleeves, and I am totally clueless. Who knows. Part of me is screaming, "I AM 34!!!! LET'S GET A MOVE ON!!!" but and equal part of me is just happy I found him and I'm enjoying the ride. Ok, that's a lie. It's more like 80/20, respectively. My ovaries are shriveling, people. This ratio may grow even more lopsided if personal milestones continue to pass by without any bended knees taking place. New Year's? Nope. Valentine's Day? Earrings instead. (Which I adore, for the record.) Birthday? Well, at this point, he's 48 hours late....so I'm not holding my breath. Some of you are doing the math and wish to point out that we've only been dating for 9 months. To that, I say, shut the hell up because you're probably a smug married with a baby on your knee. When you know, you know. May 23rd will be one year, so perhaps then???
I have come to realize that good relationships are just as difficult to manage and understand as bad ones. With other guys (read: most of the jerks I dated), I was so wrapped up with "Does he really love me? Is he interested in committing?" Most of my mental energy was wrapped up in determining if he liked me. Now, most of my mental energy is split between 1) doing what I need to do to make this relationship a priority in my life and keep him happy and 2) figuring out how to fit him into my life without losing myself in the process. So it's a juggling game. I'm trying to navigate it. If you sagacious smug marrieds have any advice on how to do this, please impart your wisdom. I wish I could say I feel smothered...........but I don't. This is making it difficult.
In a deliciously serendipitous finale to this post, he and I just called each other at the exact. same. moment. We are ridiculous.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Long Absence
Hello, my ever-patient readers! Yes, I am still here in Richmond, and still loving it. I know it has been a long, long time since I've posted last. This is due in large part to the fact I have fallen in love with the guy I've been dating since last May. Remember the blind date? We've been inseparable ever since. He's got everything I've been looking for for so many lonely, single-girl years: brains, good looks, a great family, ambition, great sense of humor, similar goals, similar beliefs, common interests.......and he's a great kisser. What more could a girl ask for?
We spend a great deal of time together (he only lives 5-10 minutes away) and I would not feel comfortable blogging around him (I'd feel I'm being rude) or talking about him without his knowledge, so I have not been blogging. But I will tell you that I am very, very happy, and so is he. Yes, we have talked about getting married and having babies. I have had my last first date. :)
Other than that, not a lot has changed this year. Here are some updates:
I still have the same job, and it's ok. Not the greatest job, but not the worst. I'd love to change careers or get into a job that is better suited to my talents (I really REALLY miss supervising), but I'm enjoying all the low-stress and time off that my current job provides. So it's not the end of the world.
My family is the same, although my brother, Fat Dog, and his wife had a beautiful baby girl, so now I am Aunt VB. Yay!!!It is difficult to suppress the urge to buy My Little Ponies for a 4 month old. I like to joke that I've already started a prom dress fund for her.
I have caught the running bug and now prefer that to all other forms of exercise. I sprained my ankle pretty badly last September, which meant I had to cancel my plans to run a half marathon. I was really disappointed, but it will be on my bucket list for 2013.
Speaking of being in shape, I am a shape.........it is round. Nothing like being in love over the holidays (read: double-up on family get-togethers) to pack on the pounds. Ugh. I am dying to get back out there, but am super busy. And being busy = more restaurant food. It's easy to do the math, even for me. I am trying to get organized and run errands while I have a few days off work, so the next couple of days are not looking good. Hopefully, it is not too cold to run outside this coming week, as the gym will be packed with New Year's "Resolutioners" until further notice. Also, I got this for Christmas, and I'm dying to use it. (Good gift, boyfriend!!!!)
One of the things the boyfriend and I have in common is a shared interest in Russia. We are both fascinated by its history and culture. To catch up with him, I have started to learn Russian. He's practically fluent in Russian, after spending 3 summers there in college. It's not coming to me as easily as I'd hoped. It's my first Slavic language, and my first non-Roman alphabet, so I'm definitely out of my comfort zone. But I can say several things at this point.
I have paid off my car. Woo hoo!!!!
Sammy injured his eye (big corneal scrape) when he escaped through the fence at boyfriend's house, but after 3 months, at least 8 vet trips (including a vet eye specialist!) and $1,000 (yes, a grand), his eye is fine.
I have met several girlfriends and enjoy hanging out with them, but most of my social life involves my boyfriend. He's my favorite person to hang out with, and vice versa. I have been trying to make a bigger effort on the girlfriend front, but it's hard, since most of them are single and want to go out and meet guys in bars late at night (not really my scene anymore). The ones who are not single are super busy, so double dating is difficult to wrangle. So I do the occasional lunch and have joined a book club. I like a lot of the girls I have met, but no one has really clicked with me yet.
I think I will work on this for the new year. Maybe I'll add it to my bucket list, although it may not be a good candidate. A girl I met here does an annual bucket list: 3 things every year she needs to accomplish/do. None of the goals should involve assistance from/reliance on others, so you can't blame anyone else if you don't accomplish them. She has so much fun doing it, and I have been inspired. I only have 2 things thus far:
Ok, I have to go and get some things done. I just wanted to let you know I'm here, and I'm happy and I love living in Richmond. I'm not sure where this blog will go next, but I think that as long as I can leave the vast majority of my love life out of this blog, I will be ok with that. I hope you all understand. Everything else is on the table, though!
I'll try and post again soon. I hope you're all having lovely holidays and will have a glorious New Year, full of hope, luck and fantastic experiences!!!!!!!!!!!
We spend a great deal of time together (he only lives 5-10 minutes away) and I would not feel comfortable blogging around him (I'd feel I'm being rude) or talking about him without his knowledge, so I have not been blogging. But I will tell you that I am very, very happy, and so is he. Yes, we have talked about getting married and having babies. I have had my last first date. :)
Other than that, not a lot has changed this year. Here are some updates:
I still have the same job, and it's ok. Not the greatest job, but not the worst. I'd love to change careers or get into a job that is better suited to my talents (I really REALLY miss supervising), but I'm enjoying all the low-stress and time off that my current job provides. So it's not the end of the world.
My family is the same, although my brother, Fat Dog, and his wife had a beautiful baby girl, so now I am Aunt VB. Yay!!!It is difficult to suppress the urge to buy My Little Ponies for a 4 month old. I like to joke that I've already started a prom dress fund for her.
I have caught the running bug and now prefer that to all other forms of exercise. I sprained my ankle pretty badly last September, which meant I had to cancel my plans to run a half marathon. I was really disappointed, but it will be on my bucket list for 2013.
Speaking of being in shape, I am a shape.........it is round. Nothing like being in love over the holidays (read: double-up on family get-togethers) to pack on the pounds. Ugh. I am dying to get back out there, but am super busy. And being busy = more restaurant food. It's easy to do the math, even for me. I am trying to get organized and run errands while I have a few days off work, so the next couple of days are not looking good. Hopefully, it is not too cold to run outside this coming week, as the gym will be packed with New Year's "Resolutioners" until further notice. Also, I got this for Christmas, and I'm dying to use it. (Good gift, boyfriend!!!!)
One of the things the boyfriend and I have in common is a shared interest in Russia. We are both fascinated by its history and culture. To catch up with him, I have started to learn Russian. He's practically fluent in Russian, after spending 3 summers there in college. It's not coming to me as easily as I'd hoped. It's my first Slavic language, and my first non-Roman alphabet, so I'm definitely out of my comfort zone. But I can say several things at this point.
I have paid off my car. Woo hoo!!!!
Sammy injured his eye (big corneal scrape) when he escaped through the fence at boyfriend's house, but after 3 months, at least 8 vet trips (including a vet eye specialist!) and $1,000 (yes, a grand), his eye is fine.
I have met several girlfriends and enjoy hanging out with them, but most of my social life involves my boyfriend. He's my favorite person to hang out with, and vice versa. I have been trying to make a bigger effort on the girlfriend front, but it's hard, since most of them are single and want to go out and meet guys in bars late at night (not really my scene anymore). The ones who are not single are super busy, so double dating is difficult to wrangle. So I do the occasional lunch and have joined a book club. I like a lot of the girls I have met, but no one has really clicked with me yet.
I think I will work on this for the new year. Maybe I'll add it to my bucket list, although it may not be a good candidate. A girl I met here does an annual bucket list: 3 things every year she needs to accomplish/do. None of the goals should involve assistance from/reliance on others, so you can't blame anyone else if you don't accomplish them. She has so much fun doing it, and I have been inspired. I only have 2 things thus far:
- Run a half marathon, preferably in a town that is not Richmond
- Take more photos (if anyone has any advice on how to make this goal easier to do, as well as how to make it more specific and measurable, that would be great! I never take photos and I need to change that.)
- TBD....I need to think of another goal/change to make. Any ideas, readers??? I am learning Russian right now......perhaps I can continue on that. Or is that boring because I have already been doing that? Perhaps I should get my finances in order or take a trip..........
Ok, I have to go and get some things done. I just wanted to let you know I'm here, and I'm happy and I love living in Richmond. I'm not sure where this blog will go next, but I think that as long as I can leave the vast majority of my love life out of this blog, I will be ok with that. I hope you all understand. Everything else is on the table, though!
I'll try and post again soon. I hope you're all having lovely holidays and will have a glorious New Year, full of hope, luck and fantastic experiences!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, May 27, 2012
RVA Should Stand for "Richmond: Very Awesome"
Greetings, readers! Flattered any of you are still here, as always. I have many many updates for you, as a lot has changed since my last post. I'll do my best to be brief. I think I am in love. I am in love with Richmond. I should have moved here YEARS ago. I have met so many great people, I get to see my family all the time and there's always something fun to do here. It's a great size, there's great shopping and restaurants, there are lots of young people and so much to explore. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I'm done moving. I don't see myself leaving RVA any time soon. I'm so much happier here than I was in Savannah.
Have I talked about my job at all? I can't remember. I don't like my job. I miss my old job in Savannah. I had things to do there. I felt like I was with a team and we all had projects and ideas to work on together. Here....not so much. I strive to fill my day with something, anything. The work is not challenging at all (seriously, you could have a high school diploma and do what I do at this gig). I spend most of my day totally alone, which does NOT work for me, because I'm a social person. I don't really supervise anyone, even though technically I am supposed to. First of all, the people I supposedly supervise don't need me because no one uses our library. We can go for days at a time when no one even comes in. Second of all, my boss signs their time sheets and approves their leave, leaving me with nothing to use for ammo when it comes to supervising them. I really like my boss as a person, and she likes me, but I don't think she's a very good supervisor. I don't think she likes being the supervisor, either. There are so many things I could say about this job -- I am just scratching the surface, honestly. I should devote a whole post to it one day. I don't mean to complain, as I am grateful for this job, and it is extremely low-stress, but as a good friend of mine stated when I was describing my new job to her: "Wow, what a complete waste of your talents and abilities." It's not that this is a bad job. It's just not a good fit for me. I plan on changing careers with my next job. To what? I have no idea.
One of the things that is kind of awesome about this new job, though, is that for the first time in my life (yes, since my first job at age 15), I do not work nights or weekends. This, combined with the barely-40 hours a week and the low stress levels of this job means I can really focus on getting back in shape and my social life, which is what I want to do in a new town anyway. Yipee!! (I have already lost about 15 pounds. WOOT!)
After a few months of loneliness/dating douchebaggery, I found a group just for women in their 30s. There was a happy hour event in March, so I went, halfway dreading it because I was worried they'd all be married mothers and I'd end up getting invited to baby showers (no offense to any mothers reading, but attending baby/wedding showers stopped being fun for me about 6 years ago. They only serve as reminders of how I am not where I want to be at age 33. But don't get me wrong -- I am happy for you. I just want to mail a card instead. Is that ok?). So I get to this happy hour event, and end up sitting next to a group of girls who are all my age, all single/childless/never married AND most of them just moved back to Richmond after living away for some time. Ding ding ding! We have a winner! 4 of us really hit it off, and we've been hanging out ever since. They are so much fun and it's so awesome to see that you're not the last single 33 year old woman in the world. Every time this group gets together, we meet more cool girls, so my social circle is expanding all the time. Sweet!!!
But I am not just relying on them for my social life. There are daughters/sons of friends of my mom who I have been meeting, too. I met with one of them for after-work drinks the other day. I was especially excited to meet with her, because I hadn't seen her since I was in about 8th grade, I was told she's super fun and also because The Czarina told me she would have good career advice for me. And she did! But what I wasn't expecting was that she's also all about fixing people up. Score! A few minutes into our conversation, she asked me if I'm single. I nodded. "You have to meet ____." I asked her to tell me about him.
He sounds awesome! Smart, kind, funny, attractive, no kids/ex-wives, owns his own home, from Richmond, close to his family but not too close, has a good job, he's the same age as me.....so why wasn't SHE interested in him? After all, she's 33 and single, too. "He's not my type. I can see why people would say he's attractive, and he is. But I'm not attracted to him. He's like a brother to me. I've known him for years and years."
"So why is he single?" I asked. There had to be a catch.
"Well, he was engaged about a year or two ago. Then, out of nowhere, she broke it off. He was pretty crushed, because he didn't even see it coming. Actually, none of us saw it coming. Then he dated this other girl for a while, and she ended up getting back with her ex....so he's had a rough go of it."
"Poor guy. He sounds great, though. Sure, fix me up," I said.
"Ok, let's do this right now," she said, getting out her phone.
"Like, right now? Do I have time to brush my hair?" I asked.
She laughed. "No, I mean like let's set it up right now." She began texting him. "Are you free tomorrow?"
"Yes," I replied.
"Ok, he's free, too. You're meeting him here tomorrow at 7," she stated matter-of-factly.
And just like that -- BOOM -- I had a blind date.
We have our second date tonight. I'm really excited. I'll tell you all about him in my next post....that's all for now, kids. I have to get ready for the gym!
Have I talked about my job at all? I can't remember. I don't like my job. I miss my old job in Savannah. I had things to do there. I felt like I was with a team and we all had projects and ideas to work on together. Here....not so much. I strive to fill my day with something, anything. The work is not challenging at all (seriously, you could have a high school diploma and do what I do at this gig). I spend most of my day totally alone, which does NOT work for me, because I'm a social person. I don't really supervise anyone, even though technically I am supposed to. First of all, the people I supposedly supervise don't need me because no one uses our library. We can go for days at a time when no one even comes in. Second of all, my boss signs their time sheets and approves their leave, leaving me with nothing to use for ammo when it comes to supervising them. I really like my boss as a person, and she likes me, but I don't think she's a very good supervisor. I don't think she likes being the supervisor, either. There are so many things I could say about this job -- I am just scratching the surface, honestly. I should devote a whole post to it one day. I don't mean to complain, as I am grateful for this job, and it is extremely low-stress, but as a good friend of mine stated when I was describing my new job to her: "Wow, what a complete waste of your talents and abilities." It's not that this is a bad job. It's just not a good fit for me. I plan on changing careers with my next job. To what? I have no idea.
One of the things that is kind of awesome about this new job, though, is that for the first time in my life (yes, since my first job at age 15), I do not work nights or weekends. This, combined with the barely-40 hours a week and the low stress levels of this job means I can really focus on getting back in shape and my social life, which is what I want to do in a new town anyway. Yipee!! (I have already lost about 15 pounds. WOOT!)
After a few months of loneliness/dating douchebaggery, I found a group just for women in their 30s. There was a happy hour event in March, so I went, halfway dreading it because I was worried they'd all be married mothers and I'd end up getting invited to baby showers (no offense to any mothers reading, but attending baby/wedding showers stopped being fun for me about 6 years ago. They only serve as reminders of how I am not where I want to be at age 33. But don't get me wrong -- I am happy for you. I just want to mail a card instead. Is that ok?). So I get to this happy hour event, and end up sitting next to a group of girls who are all my age, all single/childless/never married AND most of them just moved back to Richmond after living away for some time. Ding ding ding! We have a winner! 4 of us really hit it off, and we've been hanging out ever since. They are so much fun and it's so awesome to see that you're not the last single 33 year old woman in the world. Every time this group gets together, we meet more cool girls, so my social circle is expanding all the time. Sweet!!!
But I am not just relying on them for my social life. There are daughters/sons of friends of my mom who I have been meeting, too. I met with one of them for after-work drinks the other day. I was especially excited to meet with her, because I hadn't seen her since I was in about 8th grade, I was told she's super fun and also because The Czarina told me she would have good career advice for me. And she did! But what I wasn't expecting was that she's also all about fixing people up. Score! A few minutes into our conversation, she asked me if I'm single. I nodded. "You have to meet ____." I asked her to tell me about him.
He sounds awesome! Smart, kind, funny, attractive, no kids/ex-wives, owns his own home, from Richmond, close to his family but not too close, has a good job, he's the same age as me.....so why wasn't SHE interested in him? After all, she's 33 and single, too. "He's not my type. I can see why people would say he's attractive, and he is. But I'm not attracted to him. He's like a brother to me. I've known him for years and years."
"So why is he single?" I asked. There had to be a catch.
"Well, he was engaged about a year or two ago. Then, out of nowhere, she broke it off. He was pretty crushed, because he didn't even see it coming. Actually, none of us saw it coming. Then he dated this other girl for a while, and she ended up getting back with her ex....so he's had a rough go of it."
"Poor guy. He sounds great, though. Sure, fix me up," I said.
"Ok, let's do this right now," she said, getting out her phone.
"Like, right now? Do I have time to brush my hair?" I asked.
She laughed. "No, I mean like let's set it up right now." She began texting him. "Are you free tomorrow?"
"Yes," I replied.
"Ok, he's free, too. You're meeting him here tomorrow at 7," she stated matter-of-factly.
And just like that -- BOOM -- I had a blind date.
We have our second date tonight. I'm really excited. I'll tell you all about him in my next post....that's all for now, kids. I have to get ready for the gym!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Homeward Bound
Interview was a little odd (they asked a couple of questions that were not typical questions). Not sure if I answered them all that well.
I was nervous, and forgot the names of the people interviewing me, so I was unable to send thank you notes to 3 of the 4 people. Luckily, the one name I did remember is the director of the museum library.
I had good feelings (but not great) about how I did.
Tried every day since then to not get my hopes up, dreading a rejection letter and being stuck here for another 6 months or something.
But all was for naught. I got the job!!!!!!!!!!
I start the Monday after Thanksgiving!!!!! I am SO EXCITED. But I think The Czarina may actually be more excited than I am. :)
More later....gotta run. Millions of things to do. Like tell my job I am quitting....they don't know yet! So those of you who know me on FB, keep this under wraps for the time being!
I was nervous, and forgot the names of the people interviewing me, so I was unable to send thank you notes to 3 of the 4 people. Luckily, the one name I did remember is the director of the museum library.
I had good feelings (but not great) about how I did.
Tried every day since then to not get my hopes up, dreading a rejection letter and being stuck here for another 6 months or something.
But all was for naught. I got the job!!!!!!!!!!
I start the Monday after Thanksgiving!!!!! I am SO EXCITED. But I think The Czarina may actually be more excited than I am. :)
More later....gotta run. Millions of things to do. Like tell my job I am quitting....they don't know yet! So those of you who know me on FB, keep this under wraps for the time being!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Movin' On Up
Hey Y'all --
Ok, it's gorgeous outside and I really want to go for a run before it gets too dark, but I had to post super quick. Updates:
1. Yes, I got the promotion!!!! YAY!!! Go me!!! I have worked my butt off for the last 2 years, and it's so nice to get recognized. I am technically "Interim", but I think it's because the school is broke and they don't want to have to pay me -- yes, I am still awaiting word on my compensation. But I will be compensated. Now that my Big Boss is gone (her last day was Wednesday), I am * gulp * in charge. So now I supervise like...20 people. This should be interesting.
2. Magically, my free internet is back!!!! This is soooo awesome, cuz I gotta pay my taxes.
3. Bought a new mattress today. I feel like a grown-up. I got a good deal and waited for a good sale and comparison shopped. I know new mattresses are not very exciting, but I have not been sleeping well for a while and considering my mattress is over 10 years old, I'm pretty sure that is playing a role. For some reason, mattress shopping was an intimidating process for me.
4. Mattress shopping got WAY more interesting today when I walked into the mattress store and was helped by a SUPER hot guy. Swoon! He could have sold me anything. I was a goner. But I stuck to my budget, so that's good. I should have asked if he was included in the price. Tee hee! Note to self: work on flirting skills.
5. Sunday is my birthday! YAY! I am turning *ahem* 22. Ok, not really. But just pretend that I am. I took today off to run errands (and buy mattresses from hot guys). Tomorrow I am going to an oyster roast and a baby shower, and the heading up to Columbia to party w/MJ for my Birthfest (as we like to call it). Hopefully, this will involve smooches with hotties. But I am mostly looking forward to MJ time -- we have lots to catch up on. She and I will go shopping on Sunday, and then my new mattress arrives on Monday morning.
So far, 2011 rocks. I can't wait to see more!!!!
Ok, it's gorgeous outside and I really want to go for a run before it gets too dark, but I had to post super quick. Updates:
1. Yes, I got the promotion!!!! YAY!!! Go me!!! I have worked my butt off for the last 2 years, and it's so nice to get recognized. I am technically "Interim", but I think it's because the school is broke and they don't want to have to pay me -- yes, I am still awaiting word on my compensation. But I will be compensated. Now that my Big Boss is gone (her last day was Wednesday), I am * gulp * in charge. So now I supervise like...20 people. This should be interesting.
2. Magically, my free internet is back!!!! This is soooo awesome, cuz I gotta pay my taxes.
3. Bought a new mattress today. I feel like a grown-up. I got a good deal and waited for a good sale and comparison shopped. I know new mattresses are not very exciting, but I have not been sleeping well for a while and considering my mattress is over 10 years old, I'm pretty sure that is playing a role. For some reason, mattress shopping was an intimidating process for me.
4. Mattress shopping got WAY more interesting today when I walked into the mattress store and was helped by a SUPER hot guy. Swoon! He could have sold me anything. I was a goner. But I stuck to my budget, so that's good. I should have asked if he was included in the price. Tee hee! Note to self: work on flirting skills.
5. Sunday is my birthday! YAY! I am turning *ahem* 22. Ok, not really. But just pretend that I am. I took today off to run errands (and buy mattresses from hot guys). Tomorrow I am going to an oyster roast and a baby shower, and the heading up to Columbia to party w/MJ for my Birthfest (as we like to call it). Hopefully, this will involve smooches with hotties. But I am mostly looking forward to MJ time -- we have lots to catch up on. She and I will go shopping on Sunday, and then my new mattress arrives on Monday morning.
So far, 2011 rocks. I can't wait to see more!!!!
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Notes from My Brain
Random, random list......this is what happens when nothing big happens, and I don't post for a week. Sorry, peeps.
1. Have I told you about my stalker here at work? Yeah. His name is Cleveland, and he stalks me. He tries to talk to me and ask me questions about my personal life. He has asked me for my phone number and if I have a boyfriend, etc. Needless to say, this is pretty awkward and not really welcome on my part. Not only do I have a boyfriend, but I would never date a student here at the school where I work, anyway -- it's just not a good thing to do professionally. Cleveland became so persistent that I had to tell him that my boyfriend would beat him up if he saw him talking to me. I also dropped heavy hints about my boyfriend's "temper", "weight-lifting" and "gun". It got so bad, that I began to wear a fake engagement ring to work, and walk to my car with other people.
He disappeared randomly and suddenly, last fall semester. I thought I was in the clear. Until this week: he requested me as a friend on myspace. It kind of freaked me out because my page is private, so there is little (if any) identifying information to be found by random people. He had to have sat there and hunted me down from some big list and remember what I look like. It kind of creeps me out. I denied the request and didn't reply to his drunken e-mail. I hope this will be the end of it. If he tries to talk to me again, I am going to call security. But part of me is freaking out a little, because what if he's a psycho and this will just royally piss him off??? Ugh.
2. It's official: I suck -- SUCK-- at dieting. At this point, I figure I might as well give up until after the cruise, because let's face it -- I'm not going to eat well while I'm on that boat. There will be a chocolate buffet, people. A chocolate buffet. Take a minute to imagine that. Yeah. I'm toast. This is in addition to the 24-hour pizza and ice cream station. So really, it's a lost cause. But I swear on all things sacred that I will go hard-core diet when I get back. I have to. Or else I will truly be a heifer. No, seriously -- it's starting to piss me off. There's no reason I can't lose at least 20 pounds. That is not even that much. I am being ridiculous, y'all. There's really no excuse.
I have been pretty good this week, after totally blowing my diet last weekend--more on that in a minute. Thank goodness I have very little junk food in the house right now. That helps a lot. I am still working out a lot, but not quite as much as I used to.
3. Speaking of last weekend, I went shopping with Barbie (aka the girl that Repo dated after me) and one of her friends. We had a good time, and I got some really cute stuff: a square-neck "going out" top in this color, an embroidered, tie-back, semi-see-through summery top in a pale dusty blue color, a cable-knit sweater for work in this color, a pair of jeans, a green/lavender/white-striped sundress and a new pair of black flats (old pair had been chewed by Toby). I also used my Sephora gift card from Xmas to buy some Nars blush. Thanks to some gift cards and great sales, I only ended up spending $100, including lunch at Steak n Shake.
Oh, how I miss S&S. We used to have one here in Columbia, but it closed down. They are my favorite burgers and shakes EVER, so I have been experiencing some withdrawals. My cheeseburger with pickles and half-chocolate/half-vanilla milkshake were so freaking delicious. It's kind of good that the closest one is an hour away from me. Or I really would be in serious diet trouble.
Although I had fun, I did get kind of annoyed hanging out with Barbie and her friend. They are both 23, and I had forgotten how immature 23 year-olds can be. I'm sure I was the same way when I was their age. So I was glad to get home at the end of the day, and away from all the drama and hyper-active ditziness. They are fun girls, but I need them in small doses.
4. I was supposed to get some Magic Hat beer for CN while I was in Charlotte. He loves it, and they don't sell it in SC. But I couldn't find any in the areas we were in. I felt really badly, because he was looking forward to it. So to make it up to him, I made him breakfast on Saturday morning: fried eggs, turkey bacon, sausage, french toast, hashbrowns and biscuits. He brought the orange juice and we had a feast!
By dinner time, I still felt like a lame girlfriend for letting him down, so I made him dinner, too: Chili Mac, which he had never had before. It's a dish popular in the midwest. You put spaghetti noodles on the bottom (NOT macaroni noodles, as some imposter recipes call for!), chili beef (which has been cooked with chili spices and beer) on top of that, then kidney beans, diced onions and lots of cheese. It is soooooooo good! It is very similar to Cincinnati-style chili, only I don't put cinnamon in it. But if you ever get the chance to try Skyline Chili or any other Cincy-style chili, you will love it! I know the cinnamon sounds weird, but trust me. Nothing beats this meal on a cold, rainy day.
5. I am still doing pretty well on the budgeting. But I can see the effects of the increasing gas prices: although I am buying the same things I buy every week, my Wal-Mart bill has been slowly creeping. All the stuff I used to buy for $50 is now more like $55-60. Ouch. In order not to de-rail all of my budgeting hard work so far, I am only bringing $200 with me on the cruise.
I figure, I have already paid for my ticket, which covers all my food. I don't drink alcohol. I will probably drink tap water for most of the cruise (I don't really drink sodas anymore). I don't gamble. I won't use their over-priced spa/salon. CN and I have decided not to spend any money on the $100-a-pop excursions. Instead, we are just going to find a beach and pop a squat. If we order sandwiches from room service before we get off the cruise ship in the morning, we can even avoid paying for lunch! The only things I am planning to spend money on include: half of the parking at the port and a few souvenirs. So I am thinking that I will be able to only end up spending about $150.
6. I am really excited about my upcoming orientation for Big Brothers Big Sisters. It will be in 3 weeks!!! I hope I do ok on the interview. I hope I like the little girl they pair me with. I hope she likes me! I was thinking of some fun activities we could do together. Here's what I've come up with so far:
take Sammy for a walk
bake a pie or cookies
color in a coloring book
play with Barbies
paint our fingernails and watch a movie (maybe a Disney princess movie??)
play a card game/board game
read books (I like reading books to kids)
go to a museum or the zoo
What do you think? If any of you (Becky!) have little girls, please share some fun ideas with me! I don't really know what kids are into these days. I'm worried she will be let down that I don't have any video games at my house.
7. I know a lot of you also read MJ's blog. Well, she doesn't really blog about her personal life anymore. She now does a dog-related blog. So that means, any dirt about her dating life will have to come from me. I would love to divulge some stuff for you, but I need to talk to her and see what she is ok with. I don't want to step on her toes. But I'll see what I can do.
8. CN and I just celebrated our 7 month anniversary. Hate to get all sappy on you, but it has been the happiest 7 months of my life. He is everything I have ever wanted or hoped for in a relationship. I honestly didn't think that men like him existed. And I know he must feel the same way, too, because he FINALLY dropped the "L" word a few weeks ago and gave me a key to his place. Aw.
Ok, more on next week's cruise coming up in tomorrow's post!!!
1. Have I told you about my stalker here at work? Yeah. His name is Cleveland, and he stalks me. He tries to talk to me and ask me questions about my personal life. He has asked me for my phone number and if I have a boyfriend, etc. Needless to say, this is pretty awkward and not really welcome on my part. Not only do I have a boyfriend, but I would never date a student here at the school where I work, anyway -- it's just not a good thing to do professionally. Cleveland became so persistent that I had to tell him that my boyfriend would beat him up if he saw him talking to me. I also dropped heavy hints about my boyfriend's "temper", "weight-lifting" and "gun". It got so bad, that I began to wear a fake engagement ring to work, and walk to my car with other people.
He disappeared randomly and suddenly, last fall semester. I thought I was in the clear. Until this week: he requested me as a friend on myspace. It kind of freaked me out because my page is private, so there is little (if any) identifying information to be found by random people. He had to have sat there and hunted me down from some big list and remember what I look like. It kind of creeps me out. I denied the request and didn't reply to his drunken e-mail. I hope this will be the end of it. If he tries to talk to me again, I am going to call security. But part of me is freaking out a little, because what if he's a psycho and this will just royally piss him off??? Ugh.
2. It's official: I suck -- SUCK-- at dieting. At this point, I figure I might as well give up until after the cruise, because let's face it -- I'm not going to eat well while I'm on that boat. There will be a chocolate buffet, people. A chocolate buffet. Take a minute to imagine that. Yeah. I'm toast. This is in addition to the 24-hour pizza and ice cream station. So really, it's a lost cause. But I swear on all things sacred that I will go hard-core diet when I get back. I have to. Or else I will truly be a heifer. No, seriously -- it's starting to piss me off. There's no reason I can't lose at least 20 pounds. That is not even that much. I am being ridiculous, y'all. There's really no excuse.
I have been pretty good this week, after totally blowing my diet last weekend--more on that in a minute. Thank goodness I have very little junk food in the house right now. That helps a lot. I am still working out a lot, but not quite as much as I used to.
3. Speaking of last weekend, I went shopping with Barbie (aka the girl that Repo dated after me) and one of her friends. We had a good time, and I got some really cute stuff: a square-neck "going out" top in this color, an embroidered, tie-back, semi-see-through summery top in a pale dusty blue color, a cable-knit sweater for work in this color, a pair of jeans, a green/lavender/white-striped sundress and a new pair of black flats (old pair had been chewed by Toby). I also used my Sephora gift card from Xmas to buy some Nars blush. Thanks to some gift cards and great sales, I only ended up spending $100, including lunch at Steak n Shake.
Oh, how I miss S&S. We used to have one here in Columbia, but it closed down. They are my favorite burgers and shakes EVER, so I have been experiencing some withdrawals. My cheeseburger with pickles and half-chocolate/half-vanilla milkshake were so freaking delicious. It's kind of good that the closest one is an hour away from me. Or I really would be in serious diet trouble.
Although I had fun, I did get kind of annoyed hanging out with Barbie and her friend. They are both 23, and I had forgotten how immature 23 year-olds can be. I'm sure I was the same way when I was their age. So I was glad to get home at the end of the day, and away from all the drama and hyper-active ditziness. They are fun girls, but I need them in small doses.
4. I was supposed to get some Magic Hat beer for CN while I was in Charlotte. He loves it, and they don't sell it in SC. But I couldn't find any in the areas we were in. I felt really badly, because he was looking forward to it. So to make it up to him, I made him breakfast on Saturday morning: fried eggs, turkey bacon, sausage, french toast, hashbrowns and biscuits. He brought the orange juice and we had a feast!
By dinner time, I still felt like a lame girlfriend for letting him down, so I made him dinner, too: Chili Mac, which he had never had before. It's a dish popular in the midwest. You put spaghetti noodles on the bottom (NOT macaroni noodles, as some imposter recipes call for!), chili beef (which has been cooked with chili spices and beer) on top of that, then kidney beans, diced onions and lots of cheese. It is soooooooo good! It is very similar to Cincinnati-style chili, only I don't put cinnamon in it. But if you ever get the chance to try Skyline Chili or any other Cincy-style chili, you will love it! I know the cinnamon sounds weird, but trust me. Nothing beats this meal on a cold, rainy day.
5. I am still doing pretty well on the budgeting. But I can see the effects of the increasing gas prices: although I am buying the same things I buy every week, my Wal-Mart bill has been slowly creeping. All the stuff I used to buy for $50 is now more like $55-60. Ouch. In order not to de-rail all of my budgeting hard work so far, I am only bringing $200 with me on the cruise.
I figure, I have already paid for my ticket, which covers all my food. I don't drink alcohol. I will probably drink tap water for most of the cruise (I don't really drink sodas anymore). I don't gamble. I won't use their over-priced spa/salon. CN and I have decided not to spend any money on the $100-a-pop excursions. Instead, we are just going to find a beach and pop a squat. If we order sandwiches from room service before we get off the cruise ship in the morning, we can even avoid paying for lunch! The only things I am planning to spend money on include: half of the parking at the port and a few souvenirs. So I am thinking that I will be able to only end up spending about $150.
6. I am really excited about my upcoming orientation for Big Brothers Big Sisters. It will be in 3 weeks!!! I hope I do ok on the interview. I hope I like the little girl they pair me with. I hope she likes me! I was thinking of some fun activities we could do together. Here's what I've come up with so far:
take Sammy for a walk
bake a pie or cookies
color in a coloring book
play with Barbies
paint our fingernails and watch a movie (maybe a Disney princess movie??)
play a card game/board game
read books (I like reading books to kids)
go to a museum or the zoo
What do you think? If any of you (Becky!) have little girls, please share some fun ideas with me! I don't really know what kids are into these days. I'm worried she will be let down that I don't have any video games at my house.
7. I know a lot of you also read MJ's blog. Well, she doesn't really blog about her personal life anymore. She now does a dog-related blog. So that means, any dirt about her dating life will have to come from me. I would love to divulge some stuff for you, but I need to talk to her and see what she is ok with. I don't want to step on her toes. But I'll see what I can do.
8. CN and I just celebrated our 7 month anniversary. Hate to get all sappy on you, but it has been the happiest 7 months of my life. He is everything I have ever wanted or hoped for in a relationship. I honestly didn't think that men like him existed. And I know he must feel the same way, too, because he FINALLY dropped the "L" word a few weeks ago and gave me a key to his place. Aw.
Ok, more on next week's cruise coming up in tomorrow's post!!!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Yay! Valentine's Day!
Boy, is this year's Valentine's Day better than last year's! (If you don't remember, I'll let you go re-cap that for yourself. I'll skip linking to last February's archive...) It's nice to be happy instead of bitter and angry. It's refreshing. Ok, now I'm rambling.
At first, CN wanted today to be all about me. To quote him: "No! Valentine's Day is supposed to be all about the girl!" -- Reason #271 why I am dating him. And although I like this concept a LOT, and had very little argument against this idea, I told him that I wanted to do something for him, too.
So tonight, I am going to make him dinner. Here is the menu:
*Spring mix salad with cherry tomatoes, bacon bits, mushrooms and Esperanza dressing
*Filet mignon, marinated in mustard, balsamic vinegar, pepper, rosemary and some other stuff, then topped with carmelized onions and bleu cheese crumbles
*Garlic mashed potatoes
*Steamed broccoli
*Low-fat chocolate cheesecake with whipped topping
MMMMMMM!!!! I will put the recipes on my cooking blog tomorrow. I don't have time to do it today.
After dinner, I have a couple of little surprises for him. Although, maybe I will save them for tomorrow night.....I dunno. I will play it by ear. We might eat too much and just lay around and watch tv. Yeah, we are exciting like that.
Tomorrow night, CN is taking me out for V-Day. I have no idea where or when or what to wear. Hmm. I'd better ask him for a few details...he won't tell me anything. "It's a surprise." is all he will say. Eeek! I am excited.
CN's parents sent me a super-sweet V-Day card today. Aw. They are so nice. It's good to know I make the cut, so to speak.
How is your Valentine's Day going? I hope it's as good as mine. Ack! I gotta go. I have a lot of cooking to do!
At first, CN wanted today to be all about me. To quote him: "No! Valentine's Day is supposed to be all about the girl!" -- Reason #271 why I am dating him. And although I like this concept a LOT, and had very little argument against this idea, I told him that I wanted to do something for him, too.
So tonight, I am going to make him dinner. Here is the menu:
*Spring mix salad with cherry tomatoes, bacon bits, mushrooms and Esperanza dressing
*Filet mignon, marinated in mustard, balsamic vinegar, pepper, rosemary and some other stuff, then topped with carmelized onions and bleu cheese crumbles
*Garlic mashed potatoes
*Steamed broccoli
*Low-fat chocolate cheesecake with whipped topping
MMMMMMM!!!! I will put the recipes on my cooking blog tomorrow. I don't have time to do it today.
After dinner, I have a couple of little surprises for him. Although, maybe I will save them for tomorrow night.....I dunno. I will play it by ear. We might eat too much and just lay around and watch tv. Yeah, we are exciting like that.
Tomorrow night, CN is taking me out for V-Day. I have no idea where or when or what to wear. Hmm. I'd better ask him for a few details...he won't tell me anything. "It's a surprise." is all he will say. Eeek! I am excited.
CN's parents sent me a super-sweet V-Day card today. Aw. They are so nice. It's good to know I make the cut, so to speak.
How is your Valentine's Day going? I hope it's as good as mine. Ack! I gotta go. I have a lot of cooking to do!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Best Sick Day Ever!!!
WARNING: This might be the gushiest, mushiest, sappiest post I've ever written in my whole life. If you are annoyed or have a weak stomach, you may want to just look at the pictures. :)
Ugh, I have had the worst cold all week. I'm getting better, but I have been in and out of work all week. Yesterday was the worst -- I was out all day. I felt terrible, but managed to sleep most of the morning.
When I got up to eat my breakfast, I got a call from work. Someone had sent me flowers on the one sick day I've had in months! Shoot! Luckily, my coworker offered to drop the flowers off at my house on her lunch break. Look at what was inside the box!!
(Can you see my Sudafed that I've been popping like peanuts? LOL)
CN sent the flowers to me to cheer me up since I have been sick all week! They are still in the process of blooming. Every time I go in the living room, it seems like I have another flower. They are irises (irisii??) of different colors. They are gorgeous!!
The note was so sweet, too. "Hey Babe, just thought I'd cheer you up since you're sick. Hope you're feeling better. P.S. How many points do I get for this? -- CN"
Well, needless to say, he got a lot of points yesterday. He even took a mid-afternoon break to come over and hang out with me for a little bit. Then he went back to work and I began to make his birthday dinner (yes, he actually sent me flowers the day before his own birthday! Is he unreal or what?). By this point in the day I was starting to feel a lot better.
He wanted chili and cheesecake, so that's what he got! As I waited for the chili to finish simmering, I got all gussied up (I was sick of looking gross and sickly, you know?). When I opened the door, he told me I looked so good he wanted to forget eating dinner! (Woo Hoo!!!) I told him dessert was later. ;) He had two helpings of chili and a big piece of cheesecake. He opened his birthday card and saw that I got him two tickets to the Falcons game next month. I think I must have "done good" because he jumped up and came across the table to give me a big hug and kiss. It turns out, he has never been to a Falcons game before, so I think he's pretty excited! (Yessssss! Go me!)
Did I tell you that we are having dinner with his parents on Saturday? And that he invited me to go to his parents' house for Thanksgiving? Yeah. I don't think I can go -- The Czarina would probably kill me--but it can't hurt to ask.
"Doesn't it feel like we have been dating forever?" he said last night.
"Yeah, but it's only been like....2 months! Weird, huh?" I replied.
He nodded.
"Have you noticed that everything between us is just so....easy? Like it's just totally smooth sailing all the time?" I said.
"Yeah. With everyone else I've dated, it's been like pulling teeth," he replied.
"Yeah, I usually feel like..."I trailed off.
"...like one person is always trying harder than the other?" he asked, finishing my sentence.
"Exactly!! This is so much better!" I said.
"I know! You're the best girlfriend I've ever had. I really mean it. You are," he said.
"Really?? Well, I didn't know guys like you even existed! I am so glad that we met," I gushed.
"Me too. I've been looking for someone like you for a long time," he replied.
"Happy Birthday, Baby," I said.
Then we hung out together for the rest of the night. Just the two of us. I won't go into details, but um.........you can guess. ;)
Ugh, I have had the worst cold all week. I'm getting better, but I have been in and out of work all week. Yesterday was the worst -- I was out all day. I felt terrible, but managed to sleep most of the morning.
When I got up to eat my breakfast, I got a call from work. Someone had sent me flowers on the one sick day I've had in months! Shoot! Luckily, my coworker offered to drop the flowers off at my house on her lunch break. Look at what was inside the box!!
(Can you see my Sudafed that I've been popping like peanuts? LOL)CN sent the flowers to me to cheer me up since I have been sick all week! They are still in the process of blooming. Every time I go in the living room, it seems like I have another flower. They are irises (irisii??) of different colors. They are gorgeous!!
The note was so sweet, too. "Hey Babe, just thought I'd cheer you up since you're sick. Hope you're feeling better. P.S. How many points do I get for this? -- CN"
Well, needless to say, he got a lot of points yesterday. He even took a mid-afternoon break to come over and hang out with me for a little bit. Then he went back to work and I began to make his birthday dinner (yes, he actually sent me flowers the day before his own birthday! Is he unreal or what?). By this point in the day I was starting to feel a lot better.
He wanted chili and cheesecake, so that's what he got! As I waited for the chili to finish simmering, I got all gussied up (I was sick of looking gross and sickly, you know?). When I opened the door, he told me I looked so good he wanted to forget eating dinner! (Woo Hoo!!!) I told him dessert was later. ;) He had two helpings of chili and a big piece of cheesecake. He opened his birthday card and saw that I got him two tickets to the Falcons game next month. I think I must have "done good" because he jumped up and came across the table to give me a big hug and kiss. It turns out, he has never been to a Falcons game before, so I think he's pretty excited! (Yessssss! Go me!)
Did I tell you that we are having dinner with his parents on Saturday? And that he invited me to go to his parents' house for Thanksgiving? Yeah. I don't think I can go -- The Czarina would probably kill me--but it can't hurt to ask.
"Doesn't it feel like we have been dating forever?" he said last night.
"Yeah, but it's only been like....2 months! Weird, huh?" I replied.
He nodded.
"Have you noticed that everything between us is just so....easy? Like it's just totally smooth sailing all the time?" I said.
"Yeah. With everyone else I've dated, it's been like pulling teeth," he replied.
"Yeah, I usually feel like..."I trailed off.
"...like one person is always trying harder than the other?" he asked, finishing my sentence.
"Exactly!! This is so much better!" I said.
"I know! You're the best girlfriend I've ever had. I really mean it. You are," he said.
"Really?? Well, I didn't know guys like you even existed! I am so glad that we met," I gushed.
"Me too. I've been looking for someone like you for a long time," he replied.
"Happy Birthday, Baby," I said.
Then we hung out together for the rest of the night. Just the two of us. I won't go into details, but um.........you can guess. ;)
Monday, October 15, 2007
Too Good to Be True?
Warning: This post may induce vomiting due to its sugary-sweet goopy mushiness.
I'm starting to wonder if CN is a real person, or merely a figment of my Overactive Imagination. Examples:
1. Changing our status on myspace to "in a relationship" was his idea, not mine. (Cliche, I know. But I get little warm fuzzies everytime I see it. Aw. And yes, PH, I realize this dooms the relationship! LOL) Usually I am the one who wants to define the relationship first. But I feel so secure in this relationship (a total first for me), I just figured we'd get there eventually. No worries. (That being said, I would encourage every single girl reading this to keep dating until you find that guy who makes you feel REALLY secure in the relationship. It is an awesome feeling!!! I'm thinking, "OH! So this is how it's supposed to be! Aha!" You cannot put a price on it. There is an unquestioned trust, and it's amazing.)
2. He does the following, without my having to bring it up: mows my lawn, takes out my trash, helps me carry stuff, holds my purse when I need an extra hand, helps me walk my dogs, takes my trash to the dump when I miss the morning trash pickup -- which is often. It's the little things that count, you know?
3. Nothing fazes him. Not my messy room, not my estrogen-fueled emotional breakdowns, not my zits, not the crazy stories about my weird family, not my terrifying addiction to sugar, not my financial woes, not my barfing on our first date, not my cellulite, not even the scary/weird/depressing stories about my exes. When my dirty little secrets come out, I am still accepted.
4. Yesterday, we were on our way to Wal-Mart and were stuck behind a car that had broken down. Most people would go around it or do a U-turn and leave the scene to go find an alternate route. Not my boyfriend! He put his car in park and got out to help the total stranger push his car out of the intersection. Who does that???
5. Over dinner last night, he was telling me about how he's picky about leftovers. When he has a to-go box of restaurant leftovers, he won't leave them in the car because they get gross. And if he's driving his Jeep, he won't even keep them at all, because the Jeep's interior is open like a convertible would be and he worries someone walking down the street will open the box and spit on his food or something. (Because that's what people do...look for open cars so they can spit in a total stranger's restaurant leftovers....LOL) Anyway, he said that one night he got a pizza before meeting up with a friend at a bar, but he couldn't finish the whole pizza. Since he was driving the Jeep, he didn't have anywhere to keep the leftovers "safe" from random spitters, so he gives the rest of his pizza to a homeless guy. Again, who does that??? And he wasn't bragging about it or anything -- he told me this story like everyone just gives their dinners away to homeless people all of the time. "Sometimes, you make me feel like an asshole," I said when he finished. He was puzzled.
6. He wanted me to meet his parents this weekend, but told me that if I wasn't ready, it was no big deal. Although I was a little nervous to meet his dad (who was described as someone who is very difficult to please -- nothing is ever good enough for him, apparently), I said ok. And I LOVE his parents. They are scarily similar to my parents, actually. His parents already knew a bunch of stuff about me, because CN had told them all about me. CN's parents are so funny and very, very nice to me! His dad even invited me to come to CN's hometown for a big festival they have in November. I even got good-bye hugs from his mom and dad. Aw.
7. CN's birthday is next week. I asked him what he wants for his special birthday dinner, and he said, "Oh, whatever you want to eat, babe, is fine with me!" -- Who does that???!! I actually had to argue with him that it's his birthday and he can eat whatever he wants. I had to drag it out of him that he wanted chili and cheesecake! LOL We had to have the same conversation about his birthday present (halfway through, I realized that he'd really like Falcons tickets, so I shut up then!). He was never going to speak up about what he wanted to get! "Oh, you don't have to get me anything!" -- Who does that??? When it's my birthday, I practically type up a list for everyone! (Hopefully, this means he will be totally overwhelmed at the Falcons tickets!)
8. He drives across the street (picture how silly that looks, y'all) to pick me up. And last night, he backed his car into my driveway so that I could unload my groceries more easily. But then he ended up unloading them all for me. He could have just parked at his house and made me carry my own groceries across the street, which is what most people would have done. Which was what I was planning on doing. Time and time again, he proves to be even more thoughtful than I would ever have hoped. It's like he can read my mind and then takes it one step farther. He anticipates things even before I think of them. I told him he needs to hold Good Boyfriend Seminars and charge $250/person. Men need to learn from him.
9. He has the ability to make me be nice to everyone, even annoying students and boring old people. I have found myself being more patient and driving more safely, too. I think before I buy (he's really good with money) and I think before I eat (he's a far better eater than I am). If he ever found out that I was rude to a stranger, had a car accident due to my impatient driving or that I was short with an old lady, I would die of embarrassment. Even when he's not around, I try to live up to his expectations. I think I'm dating a saint. I don't think I've ever admired a boyfriend so much. Even The Czarina doesn't have that much influence on me. He and I joke about how I should wear a "What Would CN Do?" bracelet.
10. He tells me that I spoil him. [Insert shock and awe here.] I literally replied with, "Huh?!" I have cooked for him a few times. And I took him to breakfast the other day. I keep my legs shaved. But that's it. And he thinks I'm awesome. Wow. That was easy.
I know it's not good to put people on a pedestal (I myself hate being on them--too much pressure), but I can't help it! I guess to me, he just stands out, head and shoulders above the rest. I'm not saying that I don't deserve him (because frankly, after all the crap I've been through, I think I've earned this!), but he definitely makes me want to be on top of my game and keep him around until further notice.
Of course, eventually, I will screw this all up. Or he will. It's too good to be true. There's no way that he's normal. He probably buries bodies in his backyard or something. Right? I mean, by now, every guy I've ever dated has let me down in some way or another. CN hasn't done it yet. I'm not saying he's perfect (if I had my way, he would stoppit with his Howard Stern addiction). I just keep telling myself, "Oh, the other shoe will drop soon enough, he'll do something stupid and I won't look at him the same way anymore. Or I'll do something really stupid and mess it all up and fall into a deep and lonely depression." -- but it STILL hasn't happened yet! Part of me kind of wants to get it over with, you know?
It's sort of like being on a roller coaster. It's so fun, but so scary at the same time. You're sure you're going to die, but you don't, and that just makes it so much more wonderful. I haven't felt this lucky in a long time. Maybe I'm just slowly going insane and he's actually an average guy. Or even worse, an imaginary boyfriend. Gah, is he even real???
I'm starting to wonder if CN is a real person, or merely a figment of my Overactive Imagination. Examples:
1. Changing our status on myspace to "in a relationship" was his idea, not mine. (Cliche, I know. But I get little warm fuzzies everytime I see it. Aw. And yes, PH, I realize this dooms the relationship! LOL) Usually I am the one who wants to define the relationship first. But I feel so secure in this relationship (a total first for me), I just figured we'd get there eventually. No worries. (That being said, I would encourage every single girl reading this to keep dating until you find that guy who makes you feel REALLY secure in the relationship. It is an awesome feeling!!! I'm thinking, "OH! So this is how it's supposed to be! Aha!" You cannot put a price on it. There is an unquestioned trust, and it's amazing.)
2. He does the following, without my having to bring it up: mows my lawn, takes out my trash, helps me carry stuff, holds my purse when I need an extra hand, helps me walk my dogs, takes my trash to the dump when I miss the morning trash pickup -- which is often. It's the little things that count, you know?
3. Nothing fazes him. Not my messy room, not my estrogen-fueled emotional breakdowns, not my zits, not the crazy stories about my weird family, not my terrifying addiction to sugar, not my financial woes, not my barfing on our first date, not my cellulite, not even the scary/weird/depressing stories about my exes. When my dirty little secrets come out, I am still accepted.
4. Yesterday, we were on our way to Wal-Mart and were stuck behind a car that had broken down. Most people would go around it or do a U-turn and leave the scene to go find an alternate route. Not my boyfriend! He put his car in park and got out to help the total stranger push his car out of the intersection. Who does that???
5. Over dinner last night, he was telling me about how he's picky about leftovers. When he has a to-go box of restaurant leftovers, he won't leave them in the car because they get gross. And if he's driving his Jeep, he won't even keep them at all, because the Jeep's interior is open like a convertible would be and he worries someone walking down the street will open the box and spit on his food or something. (Because that's what people do...look for open cars so they can spit in a total stranger's restaurant leftovers....LOL) Anyway, he said that one night he got a pizza before meeting up with a friend at a bar, but he couldn't finish the whole pizza. Since he was driving the Jeep, he didn't have anywhere to keep the leftovers "safe" from random spitters, so he gives the rest of his pizza to a homeless guy. Again, who does that??? And he wasn't bragging about it or anything -- he told me this story like everyone just gives their dinners away to homeless people all of the time. "Sometimes, you make me feel like an asshole," I said when he finished. He was puzzled.
6. He wanted me to meet his parents this weekend, but told me that if I wasn't ready, it was no big deal. Although I was a little nervous to meet his dad (who was described as someone who is very difficult to please -- nothing is ever good enough for him, apparently), I said ok. And I LOVE his parents. They are scarily similar to my parents, actually. His parents already knew a bunch of stuff about me, because CN had told them all about me. CN's parents are so funny and very, very nice to me! His dad even invited me to come to CN's hometown for a big festival they have in November. I even got good-bye hugs from his mom and dad. Aw.
7. CN's birthday is next week. I asked him what he wants for his special birthday dinner, and he said, "Oh, whatever you want to eat, babe, is fine with me!" -- Who does that???!! I actually had to argue with him that it's his birthday and he can eat whatever he wants. I had to drag it out of him that he wanted chili and cheesecake! LOL We had to have the same conversation about his birthday present (halfway through, I realized that he'd really like Falcons tickets, so I shut up then!). He was never going to speak up about what he wanted to get! "Oh, you don't have to get me anything!" -- Who does that??? When it's my birthday, I practically type up a list for everyone! (Hopefully, this means he will be totally overwhelmed at the Falcons tickets!)
8. He drives across the street (picture how silly that looks, y'all) to pick me up. And last night, he backed his car into my driveway so that I could unload my groceries more easily. But then he ended up unloading them all for me. He could have just parked at his house and made me carry my own groceries across the street, which is what most people would have done. Which was what I was planning on doing. Time and time again, he proves to be even more thoughtful than I would ever have hoped. It's like he can read my mind and then takes it one step farther. He anticipates things even before I think of them. I told him he needs to hold Good Boyfriend Seminars and charge $250/person. Men need to learn from him.
9. He has the ability to make me be nice to everyone, even annoying students and boring old people. I have found myself being more patient and driving more safely, too. I think before I buy (he's really good with money) and I think before I eat (he's a far better eater than I am). If he ever found out that I was rude to a stranger, had a car accident due to my impatient driving or that I was short with an old lady, I would die of embarrassment. Even when he's not around, I try to live up to his expectations. I think I'm dating a saint. I don't think I've ever admired a boyfriend so much. Even The Czarina doesn't have that much influence on me. He and I joke about how I should wear a "What Would CN Do?" bracelet.
10. He tells me that I spoil him. [Insert shock and awe here.] I literally replied with, "Huh?!" I have cooked for him a few times. And I took him to breakfast the other day. I keep my legs shaved. But that's it. And he thinks I'm awesome. Wow. That was easy.
I know it's not good to put people on a pedestal (I myself hate being on them--too much pressure), but I can't help it! I guess to me, he just stands out, head and shoulders above the rest. I'm not saying that I don't deserve him (because frankly, after all the crap I've been through, I think I've earned this!), but he definitely makes me want to be on top of my game and keep him around until further notice.
Of course, eventually, I will screw this all up. Or he will. It's too good to be true. There's no way that he's normal. He probably buries bodies in his backyard or something. Right? I mean, by now, every guy I've ever dated has let me down in some way or another. CN hasn't done it yet. I'm not saying he's perfect (if I had my way, he would stoppit with his Howard Stern addiction). I just keep telling myself, "Oh, the other shoe will drop soon enough, he'll do something stupid and I won't look at him the same way anymore. Or I'll do something really stupid and mess it all up and fall into a deep and lonely depression." -- but it STILL hasn't happened yet! Part of me kind of wants to get it over with, you know?
It's sort of like being on a roller coaster. It's so fun, but so scary at the same time. You're sure you're going to die, but you don't, and that just makes it so much more wonderful. I haven't felt this lucky in a long time. Maybe I'm just slowly going insane and he's actually an average guy. Or even worse, an imaginary boyfriend. Gah, is he even real???
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Thursday 13
I'm alive, but barely. I just wish I could mainline some caffeine. *yawn*
Sorry about my long absence, but I don't have much to report! Everything has been smooth sailing, really. Since it's Thursday, I will make this a list of 13 things that have been going on so you can catch up! And nothing is wrong -- I just used the cloud logo because it's very dreary and rainy here today. Which is not helping my sleepiness!
1. I have 88 people reading this! Woot! I feel special. I had to re-send some invites today, because the guest invite only lasts for 2 weeks, so if you have been using the guest access, please create an account or face my wrath.
2. I am E-X-H-A-U-S-T-E-D today. I stayed up late hanging out with CN on Tuesday night, went to trivia last night until 11:30 and tonight I will be up late again. On Friday, I'm meeting up with the Happy Hour Girls, so I won't get any sleep tomorrow either! Aack! Thank goodness for coffee! If I can just hold out for Saturday morning, I will finally catch up on sleep.
3. Things are still going swimmingly with CN. He is wonderful and I'm really really happy. I think this is the first guy I've ever dated where I literally have nothing to complain about, even after dating him for a month. I swear the guy can read my mind. He is thoughtful, fun, considerate, affectionate, honest, patient....I could go on and on. He has yet to let me down. Period. Maybe I should change his name from Cute Neighbor to Mr. Wonderful?? LOL ugh, I think I just barfed a little.
4. Of course, the Pessimistically Paranoid Voice in me is saying, "Ok, no one is this great. There's got to be something he's hiding from you. He likes to wear women's underwear. Or he doesn't want to have children. Or he doesn't see anything wrong with torturing animals. Maybe he's got bodies buried under his house. There's got to be SOMETHING!! Get him to spill it!!!" -- But I'm still not finding any evidence. He's just.......really nice and sweet. To everyone, even strangers. Very normal guy. Geeky and shy, but normal. There's just nothing bad about him, really. It's kinda freaking me out a little.
5. He got tickets to the USC/Kentucky game tonight! I am SO FREAKING EXCITED. The tickets are really hard to get, especially since we are ranked 11th now. And I really hate Kentucky, because they are a big rival of my alma mater, Indiana University. So I really want to see them get creamed tonight. It should be a really good game -- both teams have been doing better than usual this year. The game is being televised nationally (ESPN), so if you watch it, I will wave to you from the crowd! I'll be wearing the garnet-colored tshirt. :)
6. I am taking MJ, KT, VW, CN and his friend The Runner to a big Halloween party thrown by S (one of the Happy Hour Girls) every year. This is the 5th annual Halloween party, and everyone has to wear a costume. It should be really fun. MJ & I are going to be Sprockets and The Runner is going to be The King (as in, Burger King). I don't think anyone else has their costumes picked out yet. CN is thinking about growing a mustache and going as Tom Selleck's character from Magnum P.I., much to my dismay. He looks very strange with a mustache -- I've seen pictures. So I need ideas, people. I am very anti-CN-mustache. Help me!
7. Other fun fall activities we (ie, MJ, VW, KT, The Runner and CN & I) have planned include: going to the corn maze, going to "Scarowinds" (Carowinds, the closest amusement park, has special Halloween features this month) and going on a ghost tour. And then, next week, the SC State Fair comes to town. EEEEEEK!!! I love October and Halloween!!!!
8. My roommate E and her boyfriend B are in the midst of what will probably end up being Breakup #3. I feel really bad for them, because I think they are both great people, but I think they are very ill-suited for each other. They have very different families, religions and goals. There are some trust issues on his part (he snooped through her phone) and she has some ex-boyfriend issues (I don't think she's recovered emotionally from her ex, who is a complete asshole). She would never in a million years cheat on B -- that's not what I'm saying. I just think that maybe she's not ready to be close to someone emotionally right now. And his family doesn't like her and probably never will. To make it worse, when they pick on E, he rarely sticks up for her, which has been causing some problems for them. Throw in the fact that he will never leave SC and she wants to move somewhere else eventually, and you begin to wonder why they are dating in the first place. I do not doubt that they love each other, but sometimes love isn't enough. You have to be on the same page about stuff. And they just aren't. E is willing to call it quits, but B is kind of in denial and thinks they can work things out. Since they work together, E is worried how it will affect that situation, especially since B is the boss's son.
So, in a nutshell, it's a big ol' mess. I have been trying to support E and listen to her, because she is upset about all of this. I hate to see her upset right now, because she has a bunch of other personal problems at the moment. She's majorly stressed. I just really think they need to call it quits -- for GOOD. They both need someone who is better suited for them. Hopefully they will figure this out and both move on with their lives. Until then, I'll just have to keep baking her brownies! I think they are helping.
9. Butter wrecked her car the other day. She's fine, but her car is totaled. She doesn't know exactly what happened, because it all happened so quickly, but it sounds like she blew a tire and lost control of the car. She drove into a big ditch. She was a little shaken, but she's fine now.
10. CN's dad is in the hospital, about an hour away. I think I told you he has cancer. Yeah, it's not good. Anyway, CN's dad's back has been hurting. He thought it was just a pinched nerve or something, so he went to the doctor. It turns out he's got a tumor on his back. So he's in the hospital right now, getting biopsies and stuff. CN doesn't like talking about it, and I can tell he gets upset, so I don't like pressuring him for details. But he did mention that he may go down there tonight instead of going to the game, depending on how well his dad is doing. He also may go down to the hospital this weekend to stay with his parents. I told him that I will go with him if he wants me to. So hopefully everything will be ok.
11. Um, ok, how about something not so Debbie Downer-ish? I watched the Strangers with Candy movie the other night. If you liked the Comedy Central show with Amy Sedaris and Stephen Colbert, you will LOVE the movie. It's pretty funny.
12. Tomorrow night is the reunion of the Happy Hour Girls. We have all been so busy for the past few months, we haven't gotten together in ages. Now that the summer is over and we are all done with vacations and other things, we can start meeting up at Wild Wings again. I am very excited to have girl time!
13. I am reading two Neil Strauss books right now: The Game, which is about the Pick-Up Artist community, and The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band. CN is letting me borrow it. It's about one of my favorite 80s hair bands, Motley Crue. Have I ever told you I'm a huge Tommy Lee fan? I think he's hilarious and really interesting. Aside from all the hepatitis stuff, anyway.
CN saw my copy of The Game, and asked me about it. I explained the book a little to him. Now he's on a mission to steal it from me and read it. I told him he didn't need to worry about picking up any chicks right now. :)
Alright, now you're all caught up, my wonderful little readers! I hope everyone's having a great day! You think I put enough links in this post? LOL
Monday, September 24, 2007
The Smitten Kitten
That would be me. *sigh!*
Warning: This post might make you barf a little. I'm going to be a little gushy, folks. Sorry.
I had a great weekend. Friday night was great! CN called me about an hour before we left to meet up with MJ & VW at The Hunter-Gatherer (a bar/restaurant):
"Hey, what are you wearing? I've never been to this place, before and I don't know what it's like," he asked.
"I'm wearing a dress, but you can wear whatever you want. I just wanted to wear my new shoes, and the only thing that went with them was this dress," I said.
"Ok, cool. Hey, I invited my friend The Runner to join us. Hope that's ok," he said.
"Sure! He can talk to KT, because she's a total gym rat, and she's coming, too," I replied.
"Ok, I'll pick you up soon," he said. We got off the phone.
A little while later, he knocked on my door. I was pleasantly surprised: without any prompting from me, he rose to the occasion and didn't wear his usual tshirt and jeans! He looked really nice! Yay! Brownie points for him!
We matched. Again. I swear, we always wear black. We look like we are going to funerals all the time. *rolls eyes*
We met up with MJ, VW and The Runner and had a very delicious dinner. KT joined us right before the band started. MJ, KT and I were the only ones familiar with Loch Ness Johnny, but the guys seemed to like it, too. After talking to the band members for a little bit after the show, we all went our separate ways.
I don't remember the details (Ok, maybe I just don't want to share them!) but CN and I hung out alone at my house for a little while until he went home. I'll let your imagination fill in the details. Wowza. I was definitely looking forward to watching the game with him the next day!
The next day, after cleaning up my house a little, going to the store to buy the ingredients for dinner and taking a nap, it was time for the USC vs. LSU game. CN came over and we began to watch the game as we snuggled on the couch.
I don't really know what happened during the second half...because we didn't watch it.....
So then I started on dinner (Chinese beef and broccoli) while he told me funny stories. You should have seen how he wolfed his food down! He was entirely too excited about dinner! "This is the way to get on my good side!" he said. (I made note of this for future reference.)
After dinner, we watched Borat, which is hysterical if you haven't seen it yet. By the time it was over, we were both pooped, so we called it a night.
I wasn't planning on seeing him on Sunday, but he texted me during the afternoon to see if I still needed help with my weed eater. "Yes, I can't get this one part on," I replied. He said he'd come over and look at it.
The next thing I know, he has assembled it correctly and proceeds to begin mowing my backyard! "You don't have to do that!" I yelled, over the noise of the weed eater. He turned it off.
"I know. I want to," he replied.
Aw.
"Now that is how you get on MY good side!" I exclaimed, laying a big smooch on him, despite the fact he was very sweaty and covered with bits of grass. He told me to go back inside so he could finish up. I gave him another smooch.
Not surprisingly, this scene led to a joke between us about my affair with "the gardener". LOL
I felt all warm and fuzzy inside. He earned SO many brownie points with this move. "CN is mowing my yard right now, no questions asked. What a keeper!" I texted to all my girlfriends.
Afterwards, he left to go shower and meet up with The Runner to watch an NFL game, and I went to the local Greek Festival with MJ & KT. It was so freaking hot that we didn't stay very long -- we were melting! I went home after eating my gyro.
By this point, I was exhausted and was planning on watching a movie until bedtime. I popped in Blades of Glory and dozed in front of the tv. I wished CN had been there to watch tv with me, but he was still watching the game with his buddy. "Oh well, I've seen him enough this weekend, I guess," I thought. I fell asleep. I woke up to a text message.
"The Falcons lost again. I'm heartbroken," CN said.
"Do you need me to console you? Is this a dire emergency?" I asked.
"Yes! A dire emergency! You should come over," he said.
Cool, he read my mind, I thought.
"I'm really glad you came over," he said when I got there. "I missed you."
"I'm glad you wanted me to come over. I missed you, too," I said.
"Sorry. I've had a few beers. I'm going to be corny right now," he explained as he popped in a DVD. (Note to self: encourage him to drink beer more often.)
To avoid making my readers sick to their stomachs, I won't tell you what else he said. But I will say that we didn't watch much of that movie, either.
He's so sweet, so thoughtful, so funny. I think I'm a goner, guys. This one's a keeper, for sure.
So it's going really well. Now I know what everyone was talking about when they told me to start dating nice guys. :)
Warning: This post might make you barf a little. I'm going to be a little gushy, folks. Sorry.
I had a great weekend. Friday night was great! CN called me about an hour before we left to meet up with MJ & VW at The Hunter-Gatherer (a bar/restaurant):
"Hey, what are you wearing? I've never been to this place, before and I don't know what it's like," he asked.
"I'm wearing a dress, but you can wear whatever you want. I just wanted to wear my new shoes, and the only thing that went with them was this dress," I said.
"Ok, cool. Hey, I invited my friend The Runner to join us. Hope that's ok," he said.
"Sure! He can talk to KT, because she's a total gym rat, and she's coming, too," I replied.
"Ok, I'll pick you up soon," he said. We got off the phone.
A little while later, he knocked on my door. I was pleasantly surprised: without any prompting from me, he rose to the occasion and didn't wear his usual tshirt and jeans! He looked really nice! Yay! Brownie points for him!
We matched. Again. I swear, we always wear black. We look like we are going to funerals all the time. *rolls eyes*
We met up with MJ, VW and The Runner and had a very delicious dinner. KT joined us right before the band started. MJ, KT and I were the only ones familiar with Loch Ness Johnny, but the guys seemed to like it, too. After talking to the band members for a little bit after the show, we all went our separate ways.
I don't remember the details (Ok, maybe I just don't want to share them!) but CN and I hung out alone at my house for a little while until he went home. I'll let your imagination fill in the details. Wowza. I was definitely looking forward to watching the game with him the next day!
The next day, after cleaning up my house a little, going to the store to buy the ingredients for dinner and taking a nap, it was time for the USC vs. LSU game. CN came over and we began to watch the game as we snuggled on the couch.
I don't really know what happened during the second half...because we didn't watch it.....
So then I started on dinner (Chinese beef and broccoli) while he told me funny stories. You should have seen how he wolfed his food down! He was entirely too excited about dinner! "This is the way to get on my good side!" he said. (I made note of this for future reference.)
After dinner, we watched Borat, which is hysterical if you haven't seen it yet. By the time it was over, we were both pooped, so we called it a night.
I wasn't planning on seeing him on Sunday, but he texted me during the afternoon to see if I still needed help with my weed eater. "Yes, I can't get this one part on," I replied. He said he'd come over and look at it.
The next thing I know, he has assembled it correctly and proceeds to begin mowing my backyard! "You don't have to do that!" I yelled, over the noise of the weed eater. He turned it off.
"I know. I want to," he replied.
Aw.
"Now that is how you get on MY good side!" I exclaimed, laying a big smooch on him, despite the fact he was very sweaty and covered with bits of grass. He told me to go back inside so he could finish up. I gave him another smooch.
Not surprisingly, this scene led to a joke between us about my affair with "the gardener". LOL
I felt all warm and fuzzy inside. He earned SO many brownie points with this move. "CN is mowing my yard right now, no questions asked. What a keeper!" I texted to all my girlfriends.
Afterwards, he left to go shower and meet up with The Runner to watch an NFL game, and I went to the local Greek Festival with MJ & KT. It was so freaking hot that we didn't stay very long -- we were melting! I went home after eating my gyro.
By this point, I was exhausted and was planning on watching a movie until bedtime. I popped in Blades of Glory and dozed in front of the tv. I wished CN had been there to watch tv with me, but he was still watching the game with his buddy. "Oh well, I've seen him enough this weekend, I guess," I thought. I fell asleep. I woke up to a text message.
"The Falcons lost again. I'm heartbroken," CN said.
"Do you need me to console you? Is this a dire emergency?" I asked.
"Yes! A dire emergency! You should come over," he said.
Cool, he read my mind, I thought.
"I'm really glad you came over," he said when I got there. "I missed you."
"I'm glad you wanted me to come over. I missed you, too," I said.
"Sorry. I've had a few beers. I'm going to be corny right now," he explained as he popped in a DVD. (Note to self: encourage him to drink beer more often.)
To avoid making my readers sick to their stomachs, I won't tell you what else he said. But I will say that we didn't watch much of that movie, either.
He's so sweet, so thoughtful, so funny. I think I'm a goner, guys. This one's a keeper, for sure.
So it's going really well. Now I know what everyone was talking about when they told me to start dating nice guys. :)
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Flashes in the Love Stinks Pan
Ugh, you know I hate it when I whine. Not only do I manage to annoy my readers, I annoy myself. To boot, it makes me feel guilty. I am a very lucky person, with much to be grateful for: health, money to pay my bills (um, hopefully...), my family is safe, my car is currently running, etc.
So this post promises to be 100% WHINE-FREE. *readers cheer and applaud*
Instead of whining about how much love stinks, I'm going to list anecdotes from those moments in my dating history when something GOOD actually happened. (Single guys, you might want to take notes.)
This might take me a while. Let's see....it can't all be bad....right?
One summer in high school, I briefly dated this guy, who, despite my raging acne and teenage insecurities, thought the sun rose and set on me. (At the time and to this day, I have no idea what he was thinking. Seriously.) I would love to say that I appreciated him for seeing such wonderful things when he looked at me, but he ended up being a horrible kisser, so it didn't last long. Also, his main hobby was dropping acid in first period, which really wasn't my scene. If I remember correctly, the vast majority of my attraction to him was due to the fact that he worked at Steak n Shake and he would give me free milkshakes when I came in. Also, he had a fantastic collection of rave/techno CDs which he'd let me borrow. Gosh, I had such high standards then...but, he does stick out in my memory because of a wonderful evening. He called me one afternoon and asked me if he could pick me up at 8pm. "Sure," I replied. "What are we doing? And wait...you don't have a car."
"Don't worry, it's a surprise," he said.
My parents said it would be ok, although they didn't like him very much (he had a few too many piercings for their taste). As I started to get ready (for what, I had no idea), I realized with horror that I was breaking out in hives all over my body. (To this day, I have no idea what caused it, nor have I had hives since). In order to avoid looking like a freak, I was forced to wear jeans and a long-sleeved top to hide my itchy, red bumps. Keep in mind this is in the middle of summer, so this outfit was very out-of-season and was making me sweat buckets. Wow, sexy.
8 o'clock rolls around, and he picks me up in his friend's car: a brand-new white sports car. He had somehow gotten off of work early and talked his coworker into letting him borrow the car.
I was already impressed. And we hadn't even gone anywhere yet.
We got in the car and headed towards downtown Indianapolis. (Remember, I went to high school/college in Indiana). He refused to tell me where we were going. Once we got to the heart of downtown, he parked the car. We got out, and he grabbed my hand. "Come on!" he said excitedly.
We walked into the ground floor of one of the skyscrapers and got into the elevator. I was curious when he hit the button for the top floor. I had no idea what was going on.
The elevator doors opened, and we stood at the entrance to The Eagle's Nest. It had just opened, and I had only heard about it: the rotating restaurant on the top floor of a hotel. (You can see a pic of the view if you click on the link). We got a table by a window and ate dessert as we watched the sun set over the downtown skyline.
Now, I'm not one for romantic gestures, as the vast majority of them make me throw up a little in my mouth, but this was pretty good, I gotta say. Anytime a guy puts forth effort like that, I'm always impressed. Considering I can still remember every detail of it over ten years later, I'd say this was one of the best dates of all time. Even though he ended up locking the keys in the car and we had to wait for a locksmith to open it. Which was pretty funny, actually.
I dated a guy my sophomore year of college. He's a great guy, and we are actually still in touch. We just have nothing in common. He is a rock climber. I am not. So that pretty much sums up why things never worked out between us. After finding myself on the side of a mountain in Kentucky one weekend, I remember thinking, "Ok, I just don't know about this."
*Readers who know me in real life are staring at their computer screens right now, jaws in their laps. "VB? On a mountain??? Willingly??"*
But the reason I will never forget him, even if we lose touch, is this: he would write me love letters. Good ones. So good, in fact, that I have kept every single one of them. (Maybe I should tell him?) To date, he's one of only two guys who ever wrote me love letters. Since he lived in Indianapolis and I was away at school in Bloomington, we had a long-distance relationship. So phone calls and letters were really how we spent time together between 2ce monthly visits.
The letters were never too corny or sappy. Just very sweet, thoughtful and honest. At the time, I remember being amazed at how open he was about how he felt. Come to think of it, I still am. But one letter in particular stood above the rest. It was a card. The front was blank, except for a little red heart. The inside had something short and cute printed in the middle of the facing page. But I can't remember what the little printed greeting was. That's not why I kept the card.
I kept the card because in every possible space, crammed in teeny-tiny writing, over and over and over, it said, "I miss you." It must have taken him forever, and I would say he wrote it at least 100 times, all over the inside of the card. My eyes welled up with tears instantly. Every time I take the card out to look at it, my eyes well up again. And sitting here, typing this story, my eyes are welling up just thinking about it. I'm sure he had no idea at the time how much that card would impact me or how much I would treasure it. Whenever I think about it, to this day, it puts a smile on my face to know that at one time, someone felt that way about me.
Again, it's the effort that gets me when it comes to falling for men.
*VB leaves to go find kleenex.*
Ok, deep breaths. I'm better now. Gosh, maybe I am a little sentimental, now that I think about it. I have always said I'm not much on bubble baths and champagne, but maybe I am. I have always thought of myself as liking the same kind of romance as The Czarina: the very unromantic kind. "Fall for the guy who jumps your car," she has always told me. (Apparently, WLF scored major points with her by jumping her car one day. I gotta say, that would also score major points with me.)
There is something to be said for a guy who goes out of his way to make your life easier, even if it doesn't involve roses or chocolates. A reliable man whom you can count on is most definitely a keeper.
Which leads me to my final anecdote. While this isn't as grand a gesture as what the high school boyfriend did, and it doesn't bring tears to my eyes like the card from the college boyfriend, this gesture I'm about to share made me just as happy.
Right out of college, when I was living in Fayetteville, NC and teaching school, I dated a string of army guys. (Ft. Bragg is in Fayetteville, and so men in that town outnumber women by about 8 to 1. It was a fun year, let me tell ya. I always tell people that Fayetteville is like Disneyworld for Single Girls). Anyway. The first guy I dated was named Dan.
Soon after we started dating, Dan was getting out of the army and moving home to Oregon. Because he was in the process of getting out, he had some time off, and since he was technically no longer in the army, he needed a place to stay for about a week before his flight left to Oregon. I told him he could stay with me.
Meanwhile, I was working 12 hour days as a first year teacher. One day, I whined to him about how filthy my apartment was and how I had no time or energy to clean it. "I'm cleaning it tonight when I get home. I can't take it anymore," I said. Then I went to work.
By the time I got home that night, he had cleaned my entire apartment. Everything. He even put the clean dishes away and picked up all my clothes. He even dusted. The whole place was spic and span and smelled fresh and clean. When I realized what he had done, I began to literally squeal with delight. "Yeah, guess what I did all day?" he said, a big grin on his face. I literally jumped into his arms, showering him with kisses and then proceeded to make him dinner.
A few days later, he moved back to Oregon. He wanted to keep in touch, but I really didn't see the point. We didn't have all that much in common and we hadn't been dating very long. But he was a really sweet guy. I'm sure he's making some girl in Oregon very happy now.
Well, those are the three that stick out in my mind the most. I'm sure there are more, but I can't think of them right now. In a way, it's experiences like these that keep me going, that keep me hopeful about dating. Someone did nice things for me once, and someone will do them again. Although the relationships never worked out with these guys, I am grateful to them for showing me how there are good guys out there and that I am worth a little extra effort.
So this post promises to be 100% WHINE-FREE. *readers cheer and applaud*
Instead of whining about how much love stinks, I'm going to list anecdotes from those moments in my dating history when something GOOD actually happened. (Single guys, you might want to take notes.)
This might take me a while. Let's see....it can't all be bad....right?
One summer in high school, I briefly dated this guy, who, despite my raging acne and teenage insecurities, thought the sun rose and set on me. (At the time and to this day, I have no idea what he was thinking. Seriously.) I would love to say that I appreciated him for seeing such wonderful things when he looked at me, but he ended up being a horrible kisser, so it didn't last long. Also, his main hobby was dropping acid in first period, which really wasn't my scene. If I remember correctly, the vast majority of my attraction to him was due to the fact that he worked at Steak n Shake and he would give me free milkshakes when I came in. Also, he had a fantastic collection of rave/techno CDs which he'd let me borrow. Gosh, I had such high standards then...but, he does stick out in my memory because of a wonderful evening. He called me one afternoon and asked me if he could pick me up at 8pm. "Sure," I replied. "What are we doing? And wait...you don't have a car."
"Don't worry, it's a surprise," he said.
My parents said it would be ok, although they didn't like him very much (he had a few too many piercings for their taste). As I started to get ready (for what, I had no idea), I realized with horror that I was breaking out in hives all over my body. (To this day, I have no idea what caused it, nor have I had hives since). In order to avoid looking like a freak, I was forced to wear jeans and a long-sleeved top to hide my itchy, red bumps. Keep in mind this is in the middle of summer, so this outfit was very out-of-season and was making me sweat buckets. Wow, sexy.
8 o'clock rolls around, and he picks me up in his friend's car: a brand-new white sports car. He had somehow gotten off of work early and talked his coworker into letting him borrow the car.
I was already impressed. And we hadn't even gone anywhere yet.
We got in the car and headed towards downtown Indianapolis. (Remember, I went to high school/college in Indiana). He refused to tell me where we were going. Once we got to the heart of downtown, he parked the car. We got out, and he grabbed my hand. "Come on!" he said excitedly.
We walked into the ground floor of one of the skyscrapers and got into the elevator. I was curious when he hit the button for the top floor. I had no idea what was going on.
The elevator doors opened, and we stood at the entrance to The Eagle's Nest. It had just opened, and I had only heard about it: the rotating restaurant on the top floor of a hotel. (You can see a pic of the view if you click on the link). We got a table by a window and ate dessert as we watched the sun set over the downtown skyline.
Now, I'm not one for romantic gestures, as the vast majority of them make me throw up a little in my mouth, but this was pretty good, I gotta say. Anytime a guy puts forth effort like that, I'm always impressed. Considering I can still remember every detail of it over ten years later, I'd say this was one of the best dates of all time. Even though he ended up locking the keys in the car and we had to wait for a locksmith to open it. Which was pretty funny, actually.
I dated a guy my sophomore year of college. He's a great guy, and we are actually still in touch. We just have nothing in common. He is a rock climber. I am not. So that pretty much sums up why things never worked out between us. After finding myself on the side of a mountain in Kentucky one weekend, I remember thinking, "Ok, I just don't know about this."
*Readers who know me in real life are staring at their computer screens right now, jaws in their laps. "VB? On a mountain??? Willingly??"*
But the reason I will never forget him, even if we lose touch, is this: he would write me love letters. Good ones. So good, in fact, that I have kept every single one of them. (Maybe I should tell him?) To date, he's one of only two guys who ever wrote me love letters. Since he lived in Indianapolis and I was away at school in Bloomington, we had a long-distance relationship. So phone calls and letters were really how we spent time together between 2ce monthly visits.
The letters were never too corny or sappy. Just very sweet, thoughtful and honest. At the time, I remember being amazed at how open he was about how he felt. Come to think of it, I still am. But one letter in particular stood above the rest. It was a card. The front was blank, except for a little red heart. The inside had something short and cute printed in the middle of the facing page. But I can't remember what the little printed greeting was. That's not why I kept the card.
I kept the card because in every possible space, crammed in teeny-tiny writing, over and over and over, it said, "I miss you." It must have taken him forever, and I would say he wrote it at least 100 times, all over the inside of the card. My eyes welled up with tears instantly. Every time I take the card out to look at it, my eyes well up again. And sitting here, typing this story, my eyes are welling up just thinking about it. I'm sure he had no idea at the time how much that card would impact me or how much I would treasure it. Whenever I think about it, to this day, it puts a smile on my face to know that at one time, someone felt that way about me.
Again, it's the effort that gets me when it comes to falling for men.
*VB leaves to go find kleenex.*
Ok, deep breaths. I'm better now. Gosh, maybe I am a little sentimental, now that I think about it. I have always said I'm not much on bubble baths and champagne, but maybe I am. I have always thought of myself as liking the same kind of romance as The Czarina: the very unromantic kind. "Fall for the guy who jumps your car," she has always told me. (Apparently, WLF scored major points with her by jumping her car one day. I gotta say, that would also score major points with me.)
There is something to be said for a guy who goes out of his way to make your life easier, even if it doesn't involve roses or chocolates. A reliable man whom you can count on is most definitely a keeper.
Which leads me to my final anecdote. While this isn't as grand a gesture as what the high school boyfriend did, and it doesn't bring tears to my eyes like the card from the college boyfriend, this gesture I'm about to share made me just as happy.
Right out of college, when I was living in Fayetteville, NC and teaching school, I dated a string of army guys. (Ft. Bragg is in Fayetteville, and so men in that town outnumber women by about 8 to 1. It was a fun year, let me tell ya. I always tell people that Fayetteville is like Disneyworld for Single Girls). Anyway. The first guy I dated was named Dan.
Soon after we started dating, Dan was getting out of the army and moving home to Oregon. Because he was in the process of getting out, he had some time off, and since he was technically no longer in the army, he needed a place to stay for about a week before his flight left to Oregon. I told him he could stay with me.
Meanwhile, I was working 12 hour days as a first year teacher. One day, I whined to him about how filthy my apartment was and how I had no time or energy to clean it. "I'm cleaning it tonight when I get home. I can't take it anymore," I said. Then I went to work.
By the time I got home that night, he had cleaned my entire apartment. Everything. He even put the clean dishes away and picked up all my clothes. He even dusted. The whole place was spic and span and smelled fresh and clean. When I realized what he had done, I began to literally squeal with delight. "Yeah, guess what I did all day?" he said, a big grin on his face. I literally jumped into his arms, showering him with kisses and then proceeded to make him dinner.
A few days later, he moved back to Oregon. He wanted to keep in touch, but I really didn't see the point. We didn't have all that much in common and we hadn't been dating very long. But he was a really sweet guy. I'm sure he's making some girl in Oregon very happy now.
Well, those are the three that stick out in my mind the most. I'm sure there are more, but I can't think of them right now. In a way, it's experiences like these that keep me going, that keep me hopeful about dating. Someone did nice things for me once, and someone will do them again. Although the relationships never worked out with these guys, I am grateful to them for showing me how there are good guys out there and that I am worth a little extra effort.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Thursday 13
Huh. The Thursday 13 site where I usually get my header graphics from is pretty much gone. I guess the found of this meme decided to stop keeping the site going. Looks like Thursday 13, as an official weekly event in the blogosphere, is over. *shrugs* Such is the web, no? Knowing me, I'll still do Thursday 13s anyway. I live in a world of rules and boundaries. I am anal. And that's ok with me. Most of the time. Anyway. Ahem.
Thirteen Things That Make Me Happy Today
1. The weather is beeeeeee-utiful. Sunny, light breeze, lower 70s. *sigh* To make it even more sweet, I had the morning off to enjoy it. Sammy and I took a lovely little walk. This was the kind of weather that would make me skip class when I was in college.
2. Remember how I was worried about my tire? Well, I did run over something--a nail. On the recommendation of a coworker (thanks, LB!) I took my car to this tire place she likes. They had me in and out in a half hour. They just plugged up the hole. Cost? A whopping $7.50.
3. KT is making me a birthday cake! It requires cherry pie filling! And chocolate!!!!! Normally, I dislike any fruit/chocolate combination, but I make an exception for cherry pie filling. I'd eat that stuff out of the can with a spoon. I will try to take a pic before I chow down so you can see what it looks like.
4. Since it will be my birthday cake, I am going to eat as much of it as I damn well please. The diet can take a break for one day. Ok, three days. Actually, at this point, I could probably eat the whole cake in one sitting. Look up "sugar addict" in the dictionary...
5. My birthday is in 5 days. Next Tuesday, I'll be.....28. Eeeeeek! Getting old isn't fun, but who doesn't look forward to their own personal holiday? It's Birthfest '07!
6. MJ and KT are also planning some sort of surprise for me on Saturday night. I have no idea what it is. They called to say that I have a birthday surprise and said I can dress up if I want. (Duh. It's my birthday. Dressing up is de rigeur or whatever that dumb French phrase is.) And I have as-yet-unworn shoes to wear. Hmmm...must buy new outfit. I wonder what my surprise is....
7. No one has ever planned any kind of surprise for me on my birthday before. So just that alone is pretty cool. I hope my surprise is two cakes instead of one. Ok, maybe not. My waistline wouldn't recover from that kind of celebration.
8. "Dare" by Gorillaz. I can't stop listening to that song!!! It is so happy and fun to dance to! I jam out in my car to it. With the windows down. Making a complete fool of myself.
9. Ready to turn green with envy? Guess who's coming to town on the night of my birthday!!! Postsecret. And since I was smart and kept my student ID after I graduated, I am going with KT, who is currently a student. It's free, but you have to have an ID to get in. MJ doesn't have one. We need to find her a fake. Or, I could just smuggle her in with one of my gigantic handbags. Hmmm...will have to figure something out.
10. When I go out on Saturday for my birthday, I am going to find a really hot guy and make him kiss me. It's my birthday. I think it's a law, right? I mean, I'll be the Birthday Girl. Smooches are in order.
11. Speaking of guys, The Rat Pack is coming to visit us again! Woo-Hoo!!!! Superfun guys. Can't wait.
12. Boss Lady is gone for a whole week. (She's a nice lady. So it's not that. It's just less stressful. I mean, who doesn't like it when that happens?)
13. I feel better. Which means I will feel well enough to go to Happy Hour tomorrow with E and go shopping and get a pedicure on Saturday!!! Woo-Hoo!!!
1. The weather is beeeeeee-utiful. Sunny, light breeze, lower 70s. *sigh* To make it even more sweet, I had the morning off to enjoy it. Sammy and I took a lovely little walk. This was the kind of weather that would make me skip class when I was in college.
2. Remember how I was worried about my tire? Well, I did run over something--a nail. On the recommendation of a coworker (thanks, LB!) I took my car to this tire place she likes. They had me in and out in a half hour. They just plugged up the hole. Cost? A whopping $7.50.
3. KT is making me a birthday cake! It requires cherry pie filling! And chocolate!!!!! Normally, I dislike any fruit/chocolate combination, but I make an exception for cherry pie filling. I'd eat that stuff out of the can with a spoon. I will try to take a pic before I chow down so you can see what it looks like.
4. Since it will be my birthday cake, I am going to eat as much of it as I damn well please. The diet can take a break for one day. Ok, three days. Actually, at this point, I could probably eat the whole cake in one sitting. Look up "sugar addict" in the dictionary...
5. My birthday is in 5 days. Next Tuesday, I'll be.....28. Eeeeeek! Getting old isn't fun, but who doesn't look forward to their own personal holiday? It's Birthfest '07!
6. MJ and KT are also planning some sort of surprise for me on Saturday night. I have no idea what it is. They called to say that I have a birthday surprise and said I can dress up if I want. (Duh. It's my birthday. Dressing up is de rigeur or whatever that dumb French phrase is.) And I have as-yet-unworn shoes to wear. Hmmm...must buy new outfit. I wonder what my surprise is....
7. No one has ever planned any kind of surprise for me on my birthday before. So just that alone is pretty cool. I hope my surprise is two cakes instead of one. Ok, maybe not. My waistline wouldn't recover from that kind of celebration.
8. "Dare" by Gorillaz. I can't stop listening to that song!!! It is so happy and fun to dance to! I jam out in my car to it. With the windows down. Making a complete fool of myself.
9. Ready to turn green with envy? Guess who's coming to town on the night of my birthday!!! Postsecret. And since I was smart and kept my student ID after I graduated, I am going with KT, who is currently a student. It's free, but you have to have an ID to get in. MJ doesn't have one. We need to find her a fake. Or, I could just smuggle her in with one of my gigantic handbags. Hmmm...will have to figure something out.
10. When I go out on Saturday for my birthday, I am going to find a really hot guy and make him kiss me. It's my birthday. I think it's a law, right? I mean, I'll be the Birthday Girl. Smooches are in order.
11. Speaking of guys, The Rat Pack is coming to visit us again! Woo-Hoo!!!! Superfun guys. Can't wait.
12. Boss Lady is gone for a whole week. (She's a nice lady. So it's not that. It's just less stressful. I mean, who doesn't like it when that happens?)
13. I feel better. Which means I will feel well enough to go to Happy Hour tomorrow with E and go shopping and get a pedicure on Saturday!!! Woo-Hoo!!!
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Sick Day
I'm blogging from home. I don't feel good. Woot woot! Finally got my wish. I was going to go into work this morning, because I had a class to teach. But my car wouldn't start. I took this as a sign that the universe was letting me play hooky today, so I just went back to bed after calling in. I really don't feel good.
My car likes to play this key game with me. You see, the key is worn down and the part of my ignition that reads the key doesn't always want to recognize it. Or the spare key. (The reader needs to be replaced, but I don't want to spend the $300. One day it will stop working completely, but for now, I will take my chances.) So I have to plead, beg, pray and cry to my car for the key to work. And sometimes, it won't. Which means you have to let the reader reset. This could take 2 minutes or 2 hours. Today, I gave up after trying for 15 minutes. And of course, as you can guess, this never happens to me unless I'm in a hurry. I hate my stupid car.
Had a great weekend. Friday night I went out with E and my new friends Tay and S. We have started to make Friday happy hour a weekly event. We go to Wild Wings and have girl talk. This week, we must have really enjoyed ourselves, because we stayed for 8 hours! My butt started to hurt.
E was making me laugh, because she uses this slang I'd never heard before. She and our friend W use it. BBs (Baby Balls) are guys who are under 25. YBs (Young Balls) are guys who are between 25 and our age (late 20s). To hear them talk about the benefits of dating BBs and YBs cracked me up. And now I've started to say it.
You know I embrace any chance to talk about balls...
Anyway, at one point, this really annoying drunk guy started talking to E. He wouldn't go away or shut up. She and I were right in the middle of a conversation, so we found him to be quite irritating. Eventually, I grew tired of playing nice and said, "Are you done? Because you're drunk and annoying and we're in the middle of a conversation. Do you mind?" Just at that moment, a guy friend of ours walked up and we explained our dilemma. It turned out that he was friends with the drunk guy. Oops. Me and my big fat mouth. We apologized to the drunk guy, but our friend assured us it was no big deal--the guy is pretty annoying when he's drunk. Of course, after all that, we felt obligated to talk to him the rest of the night. We never did finish our conversation....
The next night, I went to a birthday party with Stuckey, MJ and K. It was a good time. We had a funny small world moment, though. A group of guests were sitting in the living room, when someone brought up a name of an old friend of theirs. It turned out that about 5 of us also knew him. No one thought anyone else at the party would know this guy, because the guy never goes out. I don't think I know anyone who has less of a social life. So this was so funny to us that somehow, we all knew him. For about 5 minutes, everyone just kept saying, "Wait, you know him, too?" It was very odd.
Sunday, I went to lunch (dinner?) with MJ. We ate grits with fried chicken fingers on top. Mmmmmmm. We had a really nice time. She and I have been spending so much time together, K has started to call her my wife. What can I say? She rocks.
Later on, I went to see Because I Said So with K. Diane Keaton played The Czarina, and Mandy Moore played me. The only difference was that The Czarina doesn't nag me about my laugh, she nags me about my weight. So if you ever wonder what my relationship with my mother is like, go see that movie. It was pretty cute, I must say. Thankfully, my mom, to her credit, would never call me mid-date. After the movie was over, I called The Czarina to tell her that her house was probably bugged. Because they captured her essence on film.
I think I kinda hurt her feelings. She said, "I'm not that meddlesome, am I?" and I assured her she wasn't. But I said she was pretty close. (And I do think that if given the liberty, she would do a lot of the things Diane Keaton's character did in the movie!)
I know this post is boring, y'all. But I don't have much to write about. It's all good in da hood, as they say. I love my friends. And I'm really enjoying hanging out with them. But I do have a secret. A big secret. Which I won't get into right now, for various reasons. But if all things go as planned, I will be making a very big life change in the next few months!!! And I am really excited!!! I will tell you when the moment is right, promise. Or, as usual, you can just email me and I'll tell ya.
My car likes to play this key game with me. You see, the key is worn down and the part of my ignition that reads the key doesn't always want to recognize it. Or the spare key. (The reader needs to be replaced, but I don't want to spend the $300. One day it will stop working completely, but for now, I will take my chances.) So I have to plead, beg, pray and cry to my car for the key to work. And sometimes, it won't. Which means you have to let the reader reset. This could take 2 minutes or 2 hours. Today, I gave up after trying for 15 minutes. And of course, as you can guess, this never happens to me unless I'm in a hurry. I hate my stupid car.
Had a great weekend. Friday night I went out with E and my new friends Tay and S. We have started to make Friday happy hour a weekly event. We go to Wild Wings and have girl talk. This week, we must have really enjoyed ourselves, because we stayed for 8 hours! My butt started to hurt.
E was making me laugh, because she uses this slang I'd never heard before. She and our friend W use it. BBs (Baby Balls) are guys who are under 25. YBs (Young Balls) are guys who are between 25 and our age (late 20s). To hear them talk about the benefits of dating BBs and YBs cracked me up. And now I've started to say it.
You know I embrace any chance to talk about balls...
Anyway, at one point, this really annoying drunk guy started talking to E. He wouldn't go away or shut up. She and I were right in the middle of a conversation, so we found him to be quite irritating. Eventually, I grew tired of playing nice and said, "Are you done? Because you're drunk and annoying and we're in the middle of a conversation. Do you mind?" Just at that moment, a guy friend of ours walked up and we explained our dilemma. It turned out that he was friends with the drunk guy. Oops. Me and my big fat mouth. We apologized to the drunk guy, but our friend assured us it was no big deal--the guy is pretty annoying when he's drunk. Of course, after all that, we felt obligated to talk to him the rest of the night. We never did finish our conversation....
The next night, I went to a birthday party with Stuckey, MJ and K. It was a good time. We had a funny small world moment, though. A group of guests were sitting in the living room, when someone brought up a name of an old friend of theirs. It turned out that about 5 of us also knew him. No one thought anyone else at the party would know this guy, because the guy never goes out. I don't think I know anyone who has less of a social life. So this was so funny to us that somehow, we all knew him. For about 5 minutes, everyone just kept saying, "Wait, you know him, too?" It was very odd.
Sunday, I went to lunch (dinner?) with MJ. We ate grits with fried chicken fingers on top. Mmmmmmm. We had a really nice time. She and I have been spending so much time together, K has started to call her my wife. What can I say? She rocks.
Later on, I went to see Because I Said So with K. Diane Keaton played The Czarina, and Mandy Moore played me. The only difference was that The Czarina doesn't nag me about my laugh, she nags me about my weight. So if you ever wonder what my relationship with my mother is like, go see that movie. It was pretty cute, I must say. Thankfully, my mom, to her credit, would never call me mid-date. After the movie was over, I called The Czarina to tell her that her house was probably bugged. Because they captured her essence on film.
I think I kinda hurt her feelings. She said, "I'm not that meddlesome, am I?" and I assured her she wasn't. But I said she was pretty close. (And I do think that if given the liberty, she would do a lot of the things Diane Keaton's character did in the movie!)
I know this post is boring, y'all. But I don't have much to write about. It's all good in da hood, as they say. I love my friends. And I'm really enjoying hanging out with them. But I do have a secret. A big secret. Which I won't get into right now, for various reasons. But if all things go as planned, I will be making a very big life change in the next few months!!! And I am really excited!!! I will tell you when the moment is right, promise. Or, as usual, you can just email me and I'll tell ya.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Thursday 13
Thirteen Things I'm Happy About Right Now
1. I get to go home and see my family next week. I'm very homesick. And ready for my fam's delicious, homemade traditional meal. My fave? Greenbean casserole. Fat Dog and I fight over it every year.
2. While I am there, I get to see my Aunt Awesome (as opposed to my super-cool, yet frigid Aunt European). I heart her. She embodies all the warmth, silliness and laid-back attitude that Czarina lacks. Don't get me wrong, I love my mom, but sometimes she can be very....German.
3. Czarina is taking me furniture shopping, too. Woo-hoo! (I think she specifically used the word "rug" in our discussion. This is good.)
4. My dishwasher works now. Hooray for men who can fix stuff! Sometimes, a little plumber's crack is worth it. (Seriously, the plumber did indeed have plumber's crack.)
5. My cracked shower wall will also be fixed soon, and they don't have to take the tub unit out. The repair will take 5 minutes.
6. None of these repairs is costing me a dime.
7. I found a kick-ASS consignment store this week. I got a pair of Gap jeans, a virtually new pair of Ann Taylor Loft pants, a sweater from NY & Co. and a gorgeous, 3/4 sleeve tweed jacket from Arden B. for ....(drumroll, please)...$92. I love consignment shopping...
8. We have this awesome radio station here in town. It's called Steve-FM. It is the best. Check out what I was jamming to on the way to work yesterday:
White Wedding -- Billy Idol
Don't Stop til You Get Enough -- Michael Jackson
(This One Goes Out) To the One I Love -- R.E.M.
What You're Thinking -- Information Society*
Anyway, they don't have DJs, which I love, because talk radio annoys me. So it's just music and commercial breaks. They play....well, really whatever. If you want to listen to it on the Internet, go to their website. Try it. Maybe you'll like it.
9. Sammy has started sleeping up by my face as opposed to down by my feet. I can only take this as a sign of increased affection on his part.
10. I got my Christmas bonus check today!!! And it was very nice!!!! YESSSSS!!!
11. IU Basketball season has started!!!!
12. I think I have lost a teeny-tiny bit of weight.
13. I leave for Indianapolis in exactly one month.
* I provide a link to the lyrics in case you don't know what song I'm talking about. You'll recognize the "pure energy" echo in the background!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Thursday 13
Thirteen Things Which are Frustrating Me
1. The instructor who will be conducting her classes in the library for the next 3 weeks. She might be the MOST annoying person in the universe. One of those people who thinks the rules don't apply to them. Who thinks that shoving free Mary Kay samples in my face will make me like her. Who thinks that I want to hear her life story--again. Who thinks she knows what she's doing in the library. Who cannot explain anything to her students at all and so they come to us for help, and we get to basically teach her class for her. Besides, her hair looks like it was cut with a Flowbee. Ugh, she irritates the piss out of all of us.2. The fact that I've been trying to write this post since 5pm and it's now quarter to 8! Her students are all very needy because they have no idea what they are doing. I'm running out of patience.
3. I cannot decide what colors I want to paint my living room and dining room--they are joined, so they have to go together. I'm thinking a pale sandy-peach color like this on the walls. And then in the kitchen, a sort of teal color. As an accent in the living room, I'm thinking a burnt orange. I don't know. I've also toyed with having a gray living room, a green living room, a white living room, a chocolate living room, a butter yellow living room and even a sort of cantaloupe color with accents of brown and pink. Argh, I wish someone would just do it for me like on TV.
4. I keep chickening out on ending things with Cop 2. He's too nice! I can't do it! Maybe I should give Shannen Doherty a call....
5. People who cop an attitude with me when I tell them something they don't want to hear. A girl came up to the desk and asked, "Can you give me some change so I can get money for some coffee?" and since we have a strict policy against that (and since we are not a friggin bank), I replied, "I'm sorry, but I can't do that for you. We don't make change for the vending machines, only library purposes." Two minutes later, she came back over to the desk and informed me that she thought I was rude! And this coming from someone who blatantly interrupted another student to ask me that in the first place! Grrrr...I'm sorry, but I don't see how I was rude at all. She was interrupting, I provided the information she needed. She can bite me.
6. Only one of my umpteen friends in Indianapolis offered to put me up when I go up there to visit in December. I can't believe that. I guess they are all just assuming I'm staying with someone else. Or that I'm made of money and I am staying in a hotel. What really gets me is that my oldest friend in the world, J, didn't even offer. Then again, she hasn't been the best of friends to me lately. Remember my weekend in Charleston with the Assholes? But that's ok. I'm staying with College Boyfriend and his parents. That means homecooked food and a hot tub.
7. I can't find information about nose-picking in China. I did learn, however, that giving a clock as a gift is not a good idea in that country. Don't know why....just saw that it was not a good gift. Hmmm...can anyone explain that to me? And if so, can you also tell me if it is socially acceptable to pick your nose in public in China? Because that's what I heard.
8. Guys who don't plan dates. I have been set up on a blind date. Blind Date guy called me and wanted to take me out. And that's as far as he got. In order to avoid an awkward silence, I basically had to come up with all the details--when, where, etc: "Ok, so....when is good for you?" and so on. This is not my job! It's the guy's job! Always be the man with a plan, guys. Please. It makes the woman feel like an idiot. We want a man who is in charge. Do guys only go so far as thinking about the acceptance or denial, and then they stop?
9. Not having football tickets. Seriously, this is killing me. I haven't gone to a single USC game this year. I would like nothing better than to go to the game this Saturday. It would make my week. Maybe I will at least be able to tailgate...after I get off work on Saturday! (I am covering for someone--it's ok, I get comp time.)
10. Lack of time to get organized and get my head straight. I have so many things to do and organize before I move! I have been running around like a chicken with its head cut off for about 2 weeks now. I'm tired! But I am checking a few things off my to-do list. I got my hair done, my dentist appointment, the visit to the vet, the shoes repaired, the library books returned...I'm getting there.
11. Lady Starfish isn't coming to visit for a couple more weeks. I know it's not her fault that her trip was postponed. But I really miss her. At least now she will come when I'm in my new house. That's good.
12. Blonde Nurse is in Germany right now, visiting with German Nurse. I haven't even sent her a baby gift. The baby is about six months old now. I suck as a friend. But what can I send? I don't know what she has, what she needs, what ships easily....can you use American gift cards if you live on an American Army base in Germany? Will they work internationally on the internet? Any of my mom readers have any good ideas?
13. Money!!! I am so freaked out about having enough. Every time I talk to my mortgage guy, I swear he tells me $40 more each time--my mortgage started of "around $700" and yesterday he told me my monthly payments will be about $870!! Help! I have to buy a fridge! And decorate! And plant stuff in my front yard! Eeek! I'm going to be house poor, I just know it.
Ok, enough complaining. Now, I will make a super quick list of 13 Things that Make Me Happy right now:
1. My mortgage guy told me that in one year, the houses in my new neighborhood have increased in property value by $12k!
2. I am so freaking excited about going to Indy!
3. I actually enjoy painting rooms.
4. My coworker brought in lemon cake today. I heart her.
5. I get to go home in a half hour.
6. I love my friends. I have the best friends ever. They send me random text messages and I just love those. They offer to help me move. They give me dating advice.
7. Woo-hoo on my blind date! I guess I have broken my curse of being single for 6 months after every break-up. Fingers crossed this one isn't an asshole, loser, creep or nerd. And that he is funny, smart, ambitious and has some things in common with me. I can wish, right?
8. My Awesome Aunt is coming to Czarina's for Thanksgiving. I could just eat her up. She is the best aunt ever.
9. Tomorrow is Friday.
10. Professor Flowbee is leaving now.
11. I will be a homeowner in less than 10 days!! And I just found out that we have Election Day off, so that means I have an extra day off to move. Yessss!!!
12. I don't have anything planned for this weekend, so I should be able to catch up on some stuff I need to do. I am a dork because I love being productive.
13. Lowe's and Home Depot are offering a "6 or 12 months same as cash" deal right now on appliances. I am going to see what Sears offers, too, then make my fridge decision. Anyone have a preference between Lowe's and Home Depot? They seem to be the same to me.
Sorry for the rambling, guys....things are kinda crazy right now...I'm sure I'll have some crazy story about a guy after this weekend.
Monday, April 17, 2006
It's a Dog's World
What dogs want most in life is for no one to go away.-- Jose Saramago
This weekend was GREAT. I am completely and totally in love with my Sammy. He is so funny and adorable. I picked him up after work on Friday. The lady who sold him to me was almost in tears when I came there to get him. She said if I ever need a dogsitter, she would love to do it because she's going to miss him so much. She also told me that he is trained not to get on furniture or beg or bark, so he's a very well-behaved little dog. (The Czarina will love this.) She also told me Sammy has a microchip, which I was glad to hear. She gave me all the paperwork and told me he is due for shots. Then I paid her and we left.
He was a little hesitant to get in my car, but he just napped as we drove home. He worried me a little because he didn't eat for the first 24 hours, but from everything I've read, that is pretty normal. I took him over to Repo's house, where he got to meet the two black labs over there. Tank loved Sammy and began to play with him immediately, but Giz was annoyed by Sammy, so he just growled. (I've learned that some big dogs don't like smaller dogs.) Sammy adores Repo and does whatever he asks. This of course, makes me insanely jealous! And of course, Repo loves to rub it in.
Then I took Sammy to my house, where he had to sniff and investigate everything. I was hot, so I took a shower, and Sammy watched me shave my legs. He kept trying to eat the shaving cream. I checked my mail and discovered an unexpected check (hmmm, could Sammy be my lucky dog?) which was really nice. After a walk and some water, Repo came over to hang out with us. We ordered a pizza (Sammy doesn't bark when someone comes to the door!). We played fetch for 2 1/2 hours while we watched tv. Sooooo relaxing. Nothing like a dog to make you feel like you are home. And Sammy is so funny! His little face and googly eyes just kill me! He was so intent on catching the ball, he would forget to watch where he was going, so he ran into the wall, the couch and the table a couple of times. But he's fine.
Lady Starfish called to see how I was doing and to congratulate me on being a pet owner. She's known how badly I've wanted a dog, and she is a huge animal lover, so I was glad she called. She began to laugh at me because she said I have "New Pet Owner Paranoia", which is true. I worry about every sneeze and what he will get into when I'm not looking or bad things he will eat because I've been careless. I told her I keep envisioning emergency room trips to the vet. She told me that as long as the dog is eating and seems happy, everything is ok. Dogs are easy for the most part. Whew!
He whined when I was going to bed, so I let him sleep in the bed with me. Just this once. (He likes the bed I got him, so he's been sleeping in that ever since.)
On Saturday, we went to Petsmart, along with K. He was a very good boy and I learned that you should always take another peson with you to Petsmart, because you will spend all of your time keeping your pet under control and away from big dogs that are trying to eat your little dog. Sammy just loves everyone, so he got a lot of petting from strangers. K played with him when we got back, so he has bonded with her as well. Brunette brought her huge and totally out-of-control golden retreiver, Jackson, over for a walk on Saturday. We learned quickly that Jackson was just too crazy and too big for he and Sammy to hang out together. It was just too much. Jackson is sweet, but it's just not something Sammy is ready for. So she took Jackson to the groomer's instead. (Jackson's main problem, I think, is that he needs to be neutered!)
I went out to dinner with K and her family Saturday night, so we left Sammy alone for the first time. I put up the baby gate so he would be confined to the kitchen. I think he would probably be ok if he was left loose in the house, but I wanted to be sure. Two hours later, when we got back, I opened the door and announced that Mommy was home. There was dead silence.
Oh my God. I killed the dog. He choked on something or died of loneliness. I am a bad Mommy, I thought. I was freaking out.
So I walked around the corner, and there he was, my little Sammy. He had the most pathetic-looking face that just seemed to say: Why did you leave me? What did I do wrong? Why do you hate me and leave me in the kitchen? Which of course, broke my heart into a thousand pieces. Then I took down the baby gate and he was all over us, licking us, jumping up, etc. So I think he is ok and not too traumatized. I'm crossing my fingers because he's alone for 3 hours today until I can go home at lunch to walk him.
The rest of the weekend was spent mainly playing fetch, taking walks and napping with Sammy. He's learning that it's ok to snuggle on the couch with me. Otherwise, he stays off the furniture. He did lots of sniffing and peeing. (Is it normal to take 2,458 walks in one weekend?) I think he is pretty happy so far, especially since he started eating yesterday. We have to work on some training (he doesn't beg for food, yet cannot grasp the concept of "sit"). He will sometimes stop dead in his tracks in the middle of a walk and refuse to move, which baffles and annoys me. But so far, so good. He is just wonderful! And I will try to have some pictures soon. Trust me, he's adorable.
I'll try not to be too dog-obsessed. But for now, I'm pretty immersed in all things Sammy-related.
Tiny updates: Repo's eye is basically healed, but he has an infection near his eye which we think is related to the main injury. (No details--let me just say it's really gross and swollen.) He's going to the doctor today. I'm getting tired of my boyfriend being sick/injured all the time! If he had a warranty, I'd be asking for my money back!
K found out this week that her boyfriend, Navy Guy, won't be around for long. He was hoping to get into a program here in Columbia, but it fell through and now he will be leaving for San Diego in May. For three years. This is quite a crossroads for their relationship and it makes me sad because I really think they are good together. We will have to see what happens.
This weekend was GREAT. I am completely and totally in love with my Sammy. He is so funny and adorable. I picked him up after work on Friday. The lady who sold him to me was almost in tears when I came there to get him. She said if I ever need a dogsitter, she would love to do it because she's going to miss him so much. She also told me that he is trained not to get on furniture or beg or bark, so he's a very well-behaved little dog. (The Czarina will love this.) She also told me Sammy has a microchip, which I was glad to hear. She gave me all the paperwork and told me he is due for shots. Then I paid her and we left.
He was a little hesitant to get in my car, but he just napped as we drove home. He worried me a little because he didn't eat for the first 24 hours, but from everything I've read, that is pretty normal. I took him over to Repo's house, where he got to meet the two black labs over there. Tank loved Sammy and began to play with him immediately, but Giz was annoyed by Sammy, so he just growled. (I've learned that some big dogs don't like smaller dogs.) Sammy adores Repo and does whatever he asks. This of course, makes me insanely jealous! And of course, Repo loves to rub it in.
Then I took Sammy to my house, where he had to sniff and investigate everything. I was hot, so I took a shower, and Sammy watched me shave my legs. He kept trying to eat the shaving cream. I checked my mail and discovered an unexpected check (hmmm, could Sammy be my lucky dog?) which was really nice. After a walk and some water, Repo came over to hang out with us. We ordered a pizza (Sammy doesn't bark when someone comes to the door!). We played fetch for 2 1/2 hours while we watched tv. Sooooo relaxing. Nothing like a dog to make you feel like you are home. And Sammy is so funny! His little face and googly eyes just kill me! He was so intent on catching the ball, he would forget to watch where he was going, so he ran into the wall, the couch and the table a couple of times. But he's fine.
Lady Starfish called to see how I was doing and to congratulate me on being a pet owner. She's known how badly I've wanted a dog, and she is a huge animal lover, so I was glad she called. She began to laugh at me because she said I have "New Pet Owner Paranoia", which is true. I worry about every sneeze and what he will get into when I'm not looking or bad things he will eat because I've been careless. I told her I keep envisioning emergency room trips to the vet. She told me that as long as the dog is eating and seems happy, everything is ok. Dogs are easy for the most part. Whew!
He whined when I was going to bed, so I let him sleep in the bed with me. Just this once. (He likes the bed I got him, so he's been sleeping in that ever since.)
On Saturday, we went to Petsmart, along with K. He was a very good boy and I learned that you should always take another peson with you to Petsmart, because you will spend all of your time keeping your pet under control and away from big dogs that are trying to eat your little dog. Sammy just loves everyone, so he got a lot of petting from strangers. K played with him when we got back, so he has bonded with her as well. Brunette brought her huge and totally out-of-control golden retreiver, Jackson, over for a walk on Saturday. We learned quickly that Jackson was just too crazy and too big for he and Sammy to hang out together. It was just too much. Jackson is sweet, but it's just not something Sammy is ready for. So she took Jackson to the groomer's instead. (Jackson's main problem, I think, is that he needs to be neutered!)
I went out to dinner with K and her family Saturday night, so we left Sammy alone for the first time. I put up the baby gate so he would be confined to the kitchen. I think he would probably be ok if he was left loose in the house, but I wanted to be sure. Two hours later, when we got back, I opened the door and announced that Mommy was home. There was dead silence.
Oh my God. I killed the dog. He choked on something or died of loneliness. I am a bad Mommy, I thought. I was freaking out.
So I walked around the corner, and there he was, my little Sammy. He had the most pathetic-looking face that just seemed to say: Why did you leave me? What did I do wrong? Why do you hate me and leave me in the kitchen? Which of course, broke my heart into a thousand pieces. Then I took down the baby gate and he was all over us, licking us, jumping up, etc. So I think he is ok and not too traumatized. I'm crossing my fingers because he's alone for 3 hours today until I can go home at lunch to walk him.
The rest of the weekend was spent mainly playing fetch, taking walks and napping with Sammy. He's learning that it's ok to snuggle on the couch with me. Otherwise, he stays off the furniture. He did lots of sniffing and peeing. (Is it normal to take 2,458 walks in one weekend?) I think he is pretty happy so far, especially since he started eating yesterday. We have to work on some training (he doesn't beg for food, yet cannot grasp the concept of "sit"). He will sometimes stop dead in his tracks in the middle of a walk and refuse to move, which baffles and annoys me. But so far, so good. He is just wonderful! And I will try to have some pictures soon. Trust me, he's adorable.
I'll try not to be too dog-obsessed. But for now, I'm pretty immersed in all things Sammy-related.
Tiny updates: Repo's eye is basically healed, but he has an infection near his eye which we think is related to the main injury. (No details--let me just say it's really gross and swollen.) He's going to the doctor today. I'm getting tired of my boyfriend being sick/injured all the time! If he had a warranty, I'd be asking for my money back!
K found out this week that her boyfriend, Navy Guy, won't be around for long. He was hoping to get into a program here in Columbia, but it fell through and now he will be leaving for San Diego in May. For three years. This is quite a crossroads for their relationship and it makes me sad because I really think they are good together. We will have to see what happens.
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