Month: June 2010

I don’t even know where to begin; I have had such a fun filled, friend filled weekend so far.
Let’s see, it started Friday after work with a phone call from Randy with the most amazing news, I won’t tell what as it is his news. Just know it was absolutely 100% amazing. Then a short nap, so I could be wide awake to spend the evening at my friend Taslim’s home, he and his family are so warm and welcoming, he hosted a party with so many wonderful people in attendance. And the food! It was Bangladesh food and it was wonderful. I met so many nice people and had the best time. Then an early Saturday morning, off to the Fillmore in Plano with fiancé to meet friends to watch paint dry. Well I say paint dry, but it was two soccer matches in the world cup. I don’t know what any of that means, but I had so much fun hanging out with our friends Gladys and Don, their daughter Sam and their friend John joined us along with Mark, another friend. The only ones missing from that crowd was Henry and Alicia and their daughter, their presence was missed, however I am sure we will get together with them soon.
We were there from 8:45 to 5:45, it was a long day, and I admit I went to bed early. Today is a memorial at work for the co-worker who committed suicide. Well, it is more of a time for the people she left behind to say their final goodbyes. She leaves questions that will forever go unanswered.
I know this will probably garner me a lot of criticism, but I believe what she did was the ultimate act of selfishness and narcissism. She only thought of herself, not her children, not her parents, not her friends. We all go through tough times, then those times pass and life gets better, then some more tough, then the better, it is a cycle. Life is never perfect, it is messy and complicated. That is the last thing I am going to say regarding this issue.
So on a happier note, am spending the day again with fiancé. All in all it is a good weekend.

Happy Happy Happy Starbucks Day! Friday at last! So much going on this weekend, so much happened this week. First off, Elizabeth took me to task yesterday about something she is totally correct about. How horrifying as a parent to tell your twenty-one year old daughter she is one hundred percent correct about an issue. I may never live this one down. Anyway, am working on rectifying situation.
This morning, when I stopped by Starbucks, my least favorite worker was at the drive thru window. He is the one I had to go to corporate and complain about. Well, I am happy to report that they must have given him more customer service training, because he was pleasant and polite and most importantly got my drink order correct! So happy he did not lose his job and was able to learn from his mistake.
Yesterday I did not get home until 5:00 p.m., that is a long day when it starts at 3:30 a.m., the pups were not very happy with me, however, were happy to see me! I had a meeting yesterday regarding our new shift bid which happens very soon. I am not going into that here, as I really don’t address anything here except the strange things that float around in my head.
So, on to my busy weekend, tonight is dinner at a friends house, really more like a party, this friend is a dear friend of mine and I recently met his lovely wife and children. They are originally from Bangladesh and I am enjoying learning about their culture and the part of the world they come from. Don’t you just love America? A place where you can meet anyone and learn anything! I am looking forward to this evening as he and I are friends with a lot of the same people and some of them I have not seen in a while and I am looking forward to meeting new people.
Tomorrow is the big soccer game with fiancé at the Fillmore, Jess if you are back you should bring Connor and come, he could meet Samantha, however, she is not girlfriend material, you know I have plans for Tessa and Connor, am working on the pre-nuptial as I type this.
I will be exhausted on Monday; do I foresee a day off next week? Hmmm? Probably not, as I want to save all of my vacation days for other things I have going on.
Well, happy Friday everyone, I hope you have a great Starbucks day and a great weekend!

I am one of those people completely addicted to Words with Friends, it is an app on the Iphone, I am finding I am totally, horribly competitive. I cannot help myself, I want to dominate! I am like the aliens that come to earth! I not only want to rule, I want to completely disseminate and dominate my opponent! This is not a pretty trait, I am like that with board games as well, I was also like that when I played basketball and volleyball in school. I try and squelch that part of my personality, however, that doesn’t always work. I think back to where I obtained this trait, my mom was not like that, but my dad was. When we played dominoes I always wanted my dad to be my partner because he was like me, he wanted to win. My mom just wanted to have fun. I do not know how she lived with the two of us!
There comes a point where no one wants to play with me anymore. So sad; I hope I don’t scare off my words with friends opponents!
So what is going on in everyone else’s world today? Today is Thursday so that means tomorrow is Starbucks day, so I am very, very happy.
On Saturday I am going with the Irishman to a pub in Plano to watch a soccer game. I know nothing about soccer, I am going to socialize. I have talked my friend Gladys into going with her husband and beautiful daughter, I am trying to talk my friend Kristie into going, this way I can have someone to talk to while he is watching fake football. If anyone knows anything about soccer please feel free to give me some pointers so I can sound a little bit intelligent!

I just watched the MTV Movie Awards. I know I am a few days late. I DVR then I watch. I am beginning to hate commercials. I just want to go on record with two things, first I have a huge girl crush on Katy Perry, second I have a huge crush on Russell Brand. Her new song California Girls is amazing, ok, three things, who on this earth does not have a thing for Snoop Dogg? I love him; he is just the coolest thing ever.
Let’s get back to Russell Brand; he is just funny, crazy funny. I will watch anything he is on; especially The View, he and Sherri Shepherd have mad chemistry. They seriously need to find a project to work on together. But in his personal life, he and Katy Perry make the cutest couple. Not as cute as me and the Irishman but almost.
I thought the whole Tom Cruise thing was stupid, but I loved the Sandra Bullock tribute, I love Betty White, I am going to cry like a big old fat baby when she goes.
I have decided it is time to go try on wedding dresses, who wants to go with me? I need an objective person, I would take Jess, however he says I would have to get him drunk first and I am not having a drunk straight male helping me pick out a wedding dress. Good grief, can you imagine? So, I kinda know what I want, I really want the red velvet, but I would have to have it customer made. Hmmmm, anyone know a good seamstress? No one compares to my mom, I am very picky.
Everything I see in the magazines or online looks so sweet and innocent, I am neither of those things, maybe naïve at times, and sometimes I guess I can be sweet, I think I am too honest to be sweet. At times I am brutally honest. That is really not a good thing, if you don’t want a question answered seriously never ask me.
Here is the question of the day; I don’t think I have enough to keep me busy, so, should I get a new pet? Perhaps a cat?
My lease on my apartment is up in December. Huge decisions will have to be made before then. I hate making decisions; I wish someone would just take over for me and make them all. Then just tell me what I am going to do. I am taking applications if someone wants to apply for the job of making all of my decisions. Except for what I will wear, that is one decision making item that is all mine. And my shoes, no one gets to decide what shoes I wear except for me! But everything else is up for grabs! Just let me know your qualifications and why you think you would be good at making all of my decisions. I will decide next week.

I went to bed early last night, 7:30, and had a hard time waking up this morning. My doctor’s nurse called and said they want me to come in for further blood work to check for chronic fatigue syndrome. So I will be calling them today after work to go in for that. Yesterday I went to Starbucks, however I did not cheat, all I did was get a turkey sandwich, no coffee treat. I am determined not to cheat on my Starbucks Friday! I so want to go wedding dress shopping and I have to look good for that. It is almost United Way time as well, so I will need to get into prime physical condition for fund raising!
I talked to my favorite nephew Chris yesterday afternoon; he and I do not talk often enough! He is total greatness, I admire him so much. He became a foster parent, not only a foster parent; he took in children that really no one else wanted. He has had the same two children now for years, they are siblings and with him as their parent and role model they have blossomed. I am so very proud of him.
I picked up my new glasses yesterday and they are taking some getting used to. They are the progressive lenses and trying to find where I can see the computer screen out of them is a bit of a challenge. Oh, this makes today, new glasses and new shoe Wednesday! Woohoo! Happy New Day!

Ok I have narrowed it down to two different wedding songs to be played at the reception/party, neither one is from the 1970’s, I am in a quandary.
Here is the first:
I love you a bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck
A hug around the neck and a barrel and a heap
A barrel and a heap and I’m talkin’ in my sleep
About you, about you
‘Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your purdy neck I do

A doodle-oodle-ooh-doo
A-doodle-oodle-oodle-ooh-doo

I love you a bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck though you make my heart a wreck
Make my heart a wreck and you make my life a mess
Make my life a mess, yes a mess of happiness
About you, about you
‘Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your purdy neck I do

A doodle-oodle-ooh-doo
A-doodle-oodle-oodle-ooh-doo

I love you a bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck and it beats me all to heck
It beats me all to heck, how I’ll ever tend the farm
Ever tend the farm when I wanna keep my arm
About you, about you
‘Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your purdy neck I do

A doodle-oodle-ooh-doo
A-doodle-oodle-oodle-ooh-doo
A-doodle-oodle-oodle-ooh-doo
A-doodle-oodle-ooh-doo-doo

Here is the second:
Well down in Panama city
They perfected the art of the tan
And those Oklahoma girls
They sure know why they call it heartland
Well up in Seattle, boy they’ll have you prayin for rain
And those Tempe, Arizona women’ll have you beggin for shade
And from the Valley girl talk to that Southern Belle drawl
Oh my Gad
Hey hey y’all
My girl, she’s American made
(raised right here in the USA)
Yeah my girl, she’s American made
(hotter than an Independence July day)
Ah She loves flag flying, hot apple pie, cold beer at a football game
My girl, she’s American made
Well there’s a Tennessee girl that will always have a place in my heart – that’s right
And those Broadway beauties, they sure know how to play their parts
Ooh, Louisiana ladies got a mojo that makes you wanna stay
Yeah, but there’s a city full of angels, always waiting on me home in L.A.
Yeah, I can hand down in Texas, while them girls sing along
Living on Lonestar beer and Pat Green songs
My girl, she’s American made
(raised right here in the USA)
Yeah my girl, she’s American made
(hotter than an Independence July day)
Ah She loves flag flying, hot apple pie, cold beer at a football game
My girl, she’s American made
Mmm, she loves flag flying, hot apple pie, cold beer at a baseball game
My girl is American made
Yeah my girl is American ma-a-a-ade, oooh
My girl
(raised right here in the USA)
Oooh give me an evening in Alabama with a babe
My girl
(raised right here in the USA)
Oh and up in Indiana, man, rollin in the hay
(raised right here in the USA)
And over in Hawaii you can find a good lei
(She’s American made)
(raised right here in the USA)

The Owasso, Oklahoma that exists today is very different from the Owasso, Oklahoma that I am so enamored with. I am enamored with an Owasso that does not exist today, the Owasso of old was one where everyone knew your name and it was a small town. The one that was used in the filming of The Outsiders, the one where I had my first major love of my teenage life, the one where I discovered alcohol for the first time, the one where I first understood what community was, that one is gone. Never to be seen again. When I first moved to Plano, TX I discovered a slightly bigger, more snobby (if that is possible) Owasso, it definitely had the Owasso vibe going for it. However, there was something missing, what was it you ask? Well I am not sure I can find the words to tell you what was missing, but I shall try.
For one Plano was not a small town, it just had that vibe of being one, Owasso was a small town and gave off the vibe that it always wanted to be just that. I don’t know who or what changed that, perhaps it was when the first McDonald’s made an appearance. Did that bastardize the feel and look of Owasso? Was it when they put up the first hotel? Perhaps it was when they lost Angie to Atlanta. I can’t exactly tell you when the Owassoness of Owasso disappeared; I can only tell you that when I go back today, it is gone. Perhaps it disappeared with the first Kum and Go convenience store (yes you read that correctly).
I miss Owasso, I still wax on about it, as you know from reading me here, I love Plano, I don’t know that I ever want to leave, well, let’s put a few caveats in here shall we. I would totally live in New York City, or London, or oh, Wyoming, or a year in Alaska, in the snow, or the mountains in Colorado, or the beach in Florida, well if BP can be stopped. Or Los Angeles, or Charleston, the list is endless of the places I would like to live. I don’t even know if it is so much live as visit, the list is endless for the places I would love to visit.
I would love to visit Ireland and meet my future husband’s family, if they raised such an amazing man; I know they are truly amazing people. I would love to visit Scotland and seek out the Bay City Rollers (no irony people, only truth) I would love to visit Egypt, Mesopotamia, Rome, Florence; I want to walk where Christ walked. I want to touch the places Cleopatra touched. There is still so much to see for this small town girl.
I still miss Owasso, I would never live there again, even if it was the Owasso of olden days, but it will always be in my heart, just the way it was when I lived there. The educational foundation I received still serves me well today, it is the reason I want to see the world, I learned about it in Owasso.

I know yesterday’s post was enigmatic at best. However, I had no words in which to express myself. A woman I work with passed away in a horrific way. If you live in North Texas you might have seen it on the news. It was Friday afternoon on highway 75 and Legacy. She pulled her car over to the side of the road and started walking down the highway, then just stepped in front of an eighteen wheeler.
I can’t help but wonder what kind of mental anguish she was in to have thought that was her only way out. You never know what the other person is going through, even the one you sit next to, or work with, or pass in the hall. Choose your words carefully, give your smiles freely; you just never know who needs it.
I want to tell every single one of my friends right here and now, if you find yourself at the end of your rope call me, not only will I tie a knot at the end, I will hang on to the bottom so you don’t fall off. Remember there is nothing so bad that time won’t heal, and nothing so horrific that you cannot work out by taking action or simply talking to someone.

My heart is heavy and my mind is reeling. I can find no words right now to express the depth of my feelings at this moment and time.

Well, today is the day, Starbucks Day! I am having an iced Dark Cherry Mocha, and it rocks! I am seriously loving the Dark Cherry Mocha. I have a new addiction.
Yesterday was a very busy, tiring day. Meetings from 10:00 am until I left at 2, then rushed to meet Alex at the doctor’s office, and then had to leave there to go with Elizabeth to the dentist. And yes, I do know that my children are old enough to go to those places by themselves, however, they still like their mom there. As long as they want me there, there I will be. I was so tired from all of the running around, that I was sound asleep by 7:30 last night, and slept hard until 3:00 this morning. I am feeling a little more refreshed.
Finally spoke with the nurse yesterday, I do not have cancer, nor do I have an infection, she said all of the blood work was amazingly good. Well almost all, my cholesterol is high for the first time EVER. It is 205; it is normally in the 150’s. However, in my defense, I did have a Starbucks right before the test. But I am going to be more conscience of what I am eating. Along with my coffee treat I picked up a cheese and fruit plate for lunch.
They found no physical reason for the tiredness, I am wondering if my schedule is getting to me. My normal wake up time, without an alarm clock, is 6:00 am. So I wonder if I go back to a more traditional schedule if the tiredness will end. But I don’t want to do that! I love getting off at 2:00 pm. So it is a quandary.