Month: November 2010

Yesterday was the best day in a long time. I not only found my favorite cousin in the entire world, the day before, yesterday I spoke to her on the phone. We talked for one hour and 43 minutes! The only reason we hung up is both of our phones were dying! Cindy is my real cousin, as many of my readers know, I am adopted. Cindy is my blood cousin; my birth mother and her dad are brother and sister. When I was growing up I idolized her, would follow her everywhere, I know she got sick of me!
We have not been in contact in years, not big fight, no falling out, just one of those things where you lose contact. Was the days before Facebook and the search engines, I will be forever grateful to Facebook from this point on. I found her on Facebook; there are so many Cindy’s out there, and a ton with our maiden name, which as you all know I never say, for privacy reasons. But the day before yesterday I decided to give a stab, again, and this time there was a Cindy with a picture I recognized. It was my Cindy!
It was amazing catching up with her, finding out what is going on and what has gone on with all of the other cousins, aunts and uncles.
I also got to see Wanda again after work, love spending time with her, since Sandi passed I have been feeling adrift and disconnected. Visiting with Wanda makes me feel connected again. So grateful that because of Sandi I have so many amazing friendships that will continue on.

Yesterday I discovered a local radio station is playing Christmas music already. This made me happy. Last night was Castle night, I cannot wait to go home and watch it! Love, love, love Nathan Fillion. For a Canadian he rocks.
I know yesterday I talked about finding Christmas presents for other people and Elizabeth wanted to know what I found for her. Well she reads this! Just know I do know one thing I am getting you so far, but you are elusive, I cannot pin you down on anything! I say is that what you want, you say maybe. So coy!
I love Christmas, I love the lights, the smells, the brightly wrapped presents, I love choosing the perfect gift for my loved ones, i.e. my children and granddaughter and of course now the Irishman. I love a real tree, the smell, just amazing. I am not a big fake tree person, every year, I swear I am going to go the day after Christmas and buy one, but I never do. Oh, I look at them, but never purchase.
This time of year I actually bake, I bake cookies, sugar cookies, I love making the shapes then icing them, I really loved it when the kids were little. I don’t know if they remember this, but we always made the cookies and iced them with the different colors of icing. They were so good, made better because we all made them. I miss that. Making the cookies with them. Maybe Elizabeth can come down from her farm and we can steal Tessa and make cookies.
I have not gotten political here in a long time; I just want to say how disgusted I am by our current president’s lackadaisical attitude toward American jobs. He made a trip to Mumbai and told them he supported them taking our jobs. I work in a place that would love nothing better than to take my job and move it there. Thank you Mr. President for making it easy for them, there is a lot going on in the political arena these days that I find distasteful. I seriously wonder who the Republican contender will be in 2012, I find Sarah Palin unpalatable, I don’t understand how she is so influential. I am so shocked that the masses have embraced her and her ignorance. I don’t pretend to get it. I also cannot see another 4 years like these last two have been. I am disturbed by how the current administration seems to not like Americans. He seems determined to bring it all crashing down. I love this country, I don’t pretend to understand how someone could want to tear it down, move our jobs overseas and no one calls him on it? Am I the blind one?
Ok enough of that, I am incredibly tired today, this weather makes Chewie drive me crazy. He wanted in and out all last night, and I don’t want to not let him out on the off chance he has to go do his business. But that was not the case 3 out of the 4 times, he just wanted to go and sniff the cool air! So, broken sleep for me, which is not good, I am going to go home and watch my programs and lock myself in my room. Maybe just leave the backdoor open until I go to bed. But I have to tell you I did that yesterday and he still woke me up all night. I love the cold air, but he acts like this is the first time he has sniffed it!

This past Saturday was the big take Jess shopping day to get his outfit for the big family Christmas photos. First stop Bueno, yay! Then on to the mall, the shopping experience was made so much more pleasant by the sales girl Ann. She was personable without being obnoxious, helpful without being intrusive, the perfect blend. We were successful! Great outfit for Jess, sent photo to Amy, her approval was forthcoming, and then a tasty Starbucks treat! All in all a very successful shopping trip.
Then it was grocery store then home, Sunday was spent totally inside the homestead. Laundry was done, sheets changed, saw Alex, all in all another good day.
The schedules for Thanksgiving Day and the day after came out; I am working 7:00 to 3:30 both days. Very happy with those hours, I can sleep in two hours both days. Before you think oh wow she has to work, I volunteered to work. It is good money and two relatively easy days.
So I found the perfect Christmas present for the Irishman, I am so freakin excited about it! I cannot wait to see the look on his face Christmas day when he opens it! It is perfect! I am way excited about Christmas; I have in mind what I want to get Tessa. I am not doing any major shopping until after we move. Then it is on! Shop till you drop then crawl!
So this next two months means no new shoes for me, I will be funneling all of my extra cash into Christmas. Happily so.
Today is my BFF’s birthday; I want everyone to give a huge shout out to Tammi! Happy Birthday to someone who has been my best friend since we were thirteen years old! She has been there through thick and thin. Tammi you rock, I hope you have a totally awesome day!

To all of the veterans in America, thank you. I can’t say it often enough or more sincerely. I grew up with the knowledge of everything you do for us as a whole. No matter who is in the White House, you are there, protecting and fighting for our right to vote in whoever we want. I am in awe of you and the sacrifices you make for me and my family on a daily basis. I am in awe of the sacrifices your family makes so you can go fight for us. I don’t have to words to sufficiently express my gratitude for everything you do.
This day belongs to the ones who have served and are now retired from that service. I send thanks to my uncles who fought in WWII, to my ex-husbands Grandfather who lost his leg in WWII, to my brothers who served during Korea and Vietnam, to my cousins who were in the Marines and Air Force, to the very first one of my ancestors who came here and was in the Continental Army, to my friends who were in the Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force, National Guard and the Coast Guard. You people simply rock.

One thing that can make me happy is discussing Whedonesque topics. Nicholas Brendon was on Private Practice the past two weeks, for those of you not in the know, he was Xander on Buffy. His performance was nothing short of brilliant. Truly Emmy worthy, I hope the academy is paying attention. The same night, on Grey’s Anatomy, Amber Benson, once again, for those not in the know, Tara on Buffy. I want everyone to know that I have raised my children the correct way, that night I received a text from Elizabeth exclaiming “OMG Willow’s girlfriend is on Grey’s”. Then “Xander is on PP”! It was a proud parent moment.
God bless Shonda Rhimes, the creator of both shows, she is a self admitted Buffy fan, she has a lot of the Buffy/Angel alums on her shows. Huge thank you to her!
Yesterday I got my copy of Toy Story 3 in the mail! So excited! Cannot wait to watch it, yes, I saw it in the theater, however, this is a watchable movie and I will be watching again. With or without Tessa.
Oh! Huge news! I have been given the task of taking Jess shopping. His sister has specific things she wants him to wear for family Christmas pictures. My idea for their family photo is all of the boys dressed as Snoop Dogg, Jess’ son being Snoop Pupp of course, the girls as Katy Perry, with their Patriarch Ed being Snoop Clause. Brilliant Idea! I cannot wait to see those pictures! Amy, seriously, think about it! OMG I am cracking up just thinking about it. Greatness! They are the perfect family to do it, as it is so out of character. They are all so classy and sophisticated that no one would expect it! Perhaps if they decide against that they can do it for April 1!

Last night I had a dream about Sandi, only I don’t think it was a dream. My family has a history of seeing people who have crossed over in their dreams. Anyway, she asked me how the first Mary Kay meeting went without her. I told her I had not gone, granted it was a conference call, but they hold these things after I am asleep, she was not happy with me. She was infamous for her CTJ’s, for those of you not from the south that is a Come to Jesus Meetin’, well, I got one. She told me she was disappointed with me, that I needed to support my sister consultants. She is right of course. But it is just so hard. I don’t know why I am having such a hard time with this. There are days, and this is one of them that I feel as if I am surrounded by jello, everything moves in slow motion, I can’t stop crying, this morning was particularly bad. Makeup ruined for work, but no one sits by me anyway so I guess that is ok.
Without Sandi I am the odd man out, I feel as if I am on the outside looking in on all of my Mary Kay unit members. Not that I feel unwelcome, just an outsider. I just want this to end; I want to be normal for me again. Oh I smile, make jokes, deal with a twelve year old that hates me, but on the inside, I can’t stop. In the infamous words of Gary L Carter, Good Gawd Amighty, enough. But the thing is I don’t know how to break this. Coming to work and talking to people who just have problems with email or can’t type their own names correctly is becoming increasingly difficult as I want to tell them, you don’t have real problems.
This past August when Sandi and I were at seminar together she told me she wanted to host my wedding shower. Now that will never happen and the thought of having one just makes me cry. Of course it is a moo point, yes, moo, like a cow’s opinion, it doesn’t matter, due to no one else has offered. So that is a blessing. I don’t even know if I could deal with having one without her there.
I know I am morose these days and blame no one for not reading me; perhaps eventually I will get back to some semblance of normalcy for me. We all know I am not the definition of normal on a good day. But perhaps I will be Angie again.

This weekend went by way too fast; it was once again cram packed with activity. First off on Saturday it was a shopping excursion with Elizabeth Anne. So much fun, I love shopping with that girl. She is hysterical. First it was a stop to our favorite place, Taco Bueno, yum, where I proceeded to get a tostado that was almost all lettuce, huge disappointment. But other than that snafu, all was good, well other than taking Park, who knew that was a huge parking lot! Not me, will not be going that way again.
Saturday night was a retirement party for a dear friend, I am so beyond happy for him. I finally got to meet his family; they are just as nice as he is greatness. So much fun getting to see him so happy and relaxed and surrounded by his friends and family. I am happy and jealous at the same time!
Sunday was shopping for household things; I still have not gone grocery shopping. It is a chore I absolutely hate. But it is a necessity as the Irishman’s children will be with us on Tuesday thru Friday morning and well, children do enjoy eating. I did make a stop for a treat for myself, I went to La Madeleine for their tomato basil soup, which is the most amazing thing I have ever put in my mouth. I don’t get it that often because it is cream based and full of calories, so it is a once in a while treat. It has been about a year since I last had it. It was time.
I was in search of boots for me yesterday, I found none that spoke to me, so I bought none. Oh, the most amazing thing happened in the mall, I saw my ex-step-brother-in-law’s ex-wife! She looks just like Demi Moore and no I am not exaggerating. It was nice seeing her again; she has not aged a day and is still just as nice.
I fell asleep at 7:30 and woke at 1:00, finally went back to sleep at 2:00, then the Irishman woke me at 3:12! My alarm did not go off! Apparently it is an IPhone glitch. I hope it is fixed by tomorrow morning.
So, the past two weeks the Irishman has been fixing the coffee in the mornings, except for Saturday and Sunday, major confession time. He makes better coffee than I. I always thought I made good coffee, turns out not so much. His is way better, so just for that fact alone I have to keep him around! Wedding on!
Happy Monday peeps! Go out and make your week a great one!

Every woman has a fashion piece in her wardrobe that makes her feel like a rock star. I am convinced of this. For me, it is my Betsy Johnson brown leather belt. It just rocks and when I wear it I feel like a rock star. I wear it with my lower cut jeans with my brown lace up boots, which totally rock. I feel different, I walk different, it is just a feeling that I could totally live the rock star life. And when I say rock star, I mean rock star, not pop star. I feel like I could have been Deborah Harry in her Blondie days.
I have a lot of designer pieces in my wardrobe these days, but none make me feel like a rock star like that Betsy Johnson belt. I could never have afforded it except for the fact that a department store was going out of business and it was at a super reduced price. Love it!
I know I haven’t mentioned this in a while, but I am not doing well. I still miss my friend, I think about her every day, there is so much going on right now that I would love to have her opinion and advice on. I’ll be honest, I don’t know where to turn for that advice, she is the only one I know that had experience in what I am going through. I know that sounds selfish and I should be happy that she is at peace and no longer in pain, but I miss her so very much.
On a happier note, today I am going to see Jeffrey and Elizabeth, possibly Freddy and Arthur and Mickey, Doggie and the other various animals that live with Elizabeth. I am more and more realizing that I did a great job with my kids. They very simply rock.

This morning I heard a song by Styx, yes, Styx, it was Babe, I loved that song. I loved Styx, well, I loved Tommy Shaw. Who did not love Tommy Shaw? He was so cute! And he has stayed that way. So many rock stars from that era have not stayed cute, but Tommy Shaw looks exactly the same. Nothing short of amazing people. I had the biggest crush on him, I wanted to marry him.
So many teenage crushes, when I think back there were so many cute boys from that time. Tommy Shaw, Scott Baio, The Bay City Rollers, Peter Frampton, Leif Garrett, Andy Gibb, John Travolta, Robby Benson, Rick Springfield, Shaun Cassidy, OMG who did not love the Hardy Boys! So many! I miss them. I miss the much simpler time period. The only thing I had to worry about was my hair being perfectly Farrahed and which poster to put on my bedroom wall.
However, the hair products are much better today than they were then, and I do love my mineral makeup, and the skin care products have improved greatly, I don’t think I could give up my Mary Kay products of today to travel back to yesteryear.
And microwaves, I could not give that up, now that I think about it there is a lot I would not give up to travel back to that time period. I guess I will have to settle for listening to my albums and looking at my disco ball.

Yesterday was Election Day, I love Election Day. I don’t do the early voting, I like to go on the actual day of. So that is what I did, yesterday, in the pouring rain, the pouring, cold rain. I thought it would be a quick in and out, but I guess everyone had that idea. There was a line all the way around the gym. I went to the Methodist church to vote, and that is a big gym, the size of a school gymnasium. The line went fairly quickly and an hour later my voice was heard via the vote. I didn’t get a sticker though; my polling place was out of them.
I never tell who or what I vote for, I might tell my children, but that is it. My parents never told. The only president anyone knows for sure that I voted for was Ronald Reagan. I loved him. He was my first presidential vote. You never forget your first.
I do find it rude when people ask about the way I voted, to me it is sacrosanct. It is a secret ballot. I like it that way. I never vote party lines, I will say that. I listen to the debates, read everything I can and then try and make an informed decision on what I think will be best for not only my family, but my community, my city, my state and my country.
Enough of civic duty stuff. I am having a tough time getting back into the swing of things; it is rough getting up at 3:00 am. Last night I fell asleep at 6:30 p.m. then woke up at 2:00 a.m. Today I am going to try and stay awake at least until 7:30. Wish me luck!