Month: June 2011

I am still not feeling all that great, better than last week, however, still not 100%. I cannot get rid of this nagging cough and not to be gross, but I did not think it was possible for one person to produce so much snot and phlegm. Disgusting, that is what it is, being sick is disgusting. No wonder I can’t get anyone to take care of me. I don’t blame them.
The Irishman downloaded Simon Pegg’s book Nerd Do Well for me, I am beyond excited, I love Simon Pegg, I think he is an underrated actor and needs more attention. His comedy is decidedly British, makes sense as he is from England, if you don’t appreciate that kind of humor, then he is probably not for you. However, I strongly suggest you watch Shawn of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Run Fat Boy Run, oh and let’s not forget his latest, Paul. He was also Scotty in the new Star Trek movie. He is just total greatness; I will watch anything he is in.
So, as many of you have ascertained I live in Texas, in the Dallas area, and as the whole world must know by now the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA championship title. I don’t follow sports, I am not a sports girl, in fact I have a theory about women who do watch sports or claim they do. I will not say that theory here as it will really get me a lot of hate mail and I seriously do not want that. Let’s just say I would rather shop than watch a sporting event, I would rather read than watch a sporting event; I would rather watch a movie than watch a sporting event. The only thing I would not rather do is cook. I would watch a sporting event if it meant I didn’t have to cook. Having said that, I do enjoy seeing sporting events in person. Expect I do not think I would like watching soccer; it is the most boring game on the planet earth, except for golf. Is golf even a sport? Do you exert yourself doing it? I don’t even know. What is more I don’t even care. I think most women don’t. But I won’t go into that as it is part of my theory.
I have not had coffee in over a week, I like cream in my coffee and I cannot drink anything with milk in it right now due to the above mention infliction. Feel bad for me please.

Well it is Monday and it is a new week, last week was hard, one of the hardest I have had in a while. I was sicker than sick, had to go to the doctor twice for medication. We lost someone very special to us and other things I won’t talk about here. This week can only get better. Let me just say it was enough to make one drink themselves sick. I am a total teetotaler or else I would have considered it.
I want to know one thing, when did manufacturers water down the nighttime cough and cold medicine? Last year they were greatness, this year no effect whatsoever on me. Nyquil, Tylenol, Alka-Seltzer, nothing. Very disappointing. I was so sick and nothing would help alleviate any of the symptoms.
Well I watched the Real Housewives of New Jersey this morning while getting dressed for work, I have to say I have a newfound respect for Kathy; she has been through a lot with her daughter. If you have not seen the show, this was one to watch. Her daughter had a tumor on her brain the size of a softball. She is healthy and successfully healed now, thank God, but I cannot imagine the fear that went through Kathy watching her daughter go through that.
Well I am still not up to my normal, perky self, so I am going to sign off for now. I will try for more substance tomorrow.

Dear Dee,

It is said that it is not death that we fear but the fear that we won’t be missed once we are gone. I hope you know that will not be the case with you. The moment your soul left our plane of existence you were missed.
You and I were an odd pair for friends, what with you being my ex-mother-in-law. However you were my children’s grandmother, that bond is sacred. I would never have interfered with that. We had an unspoken rule that we never talked about your son. I always tried my best to remember that above all he was your son and no mother wants to hear nothing but bad about their child.
You were a good friend to me and when my own mother passed you were there for me. There were so many times over the years that you were there for me.
You went through some rough times, a rough few years if truth be told. You came out the other side stronger and with more faith than normal people have.
When I tell people that I love my ex-mother-in-law they simply stare at me. Most people don’t get to have the kind I had. Oh we had our differences over the years. You thought I should have had more of a social life, done things differently. But deeper than those disagreements was a friendship. Have no fears that you will not be missed. You already are and always will be.

Love always,
Angie

Well it is official, I am as sick as all get out, my glands are swollen and sore, I can’t breathe, my eyes won’t stop watering and my throat hurts. Of course I am at work spreading my germs, I do work for a major telecommunications corporation after all, and I am just a worker bee. I know what you are thinking, you could get it FMLA approved, well, let me tell you, I never have luck with that. It doesn’t matter what illness I have, that stuff never goes through for me. I was in the hospital having a procedure and it was denied. Crazy nuts. Oh well, I shall persevere, I am going to call the dr on my lunch break and see if he can see me today. I think I need medication, no not for the mental part, the physical.
I have not seen The Real Housewives of New Jersey yet, so no recap for that show, however I did catch Game of Thrones, and all I can say is wow. I wont bore everyone here with a recap as I know many of you are not fans of this genre, but if you are and don’t have HBO, please download the episodes as soon as you can. Because, well, WOW!
I saw more cars on the road this morning than I have ever seen since starting this shift, which was a year and a half ago. I think other people are starting to copy the 5:00 am start time. That or they have stayed out all night partying and are just now going home. And if that is the case, what do these people do for a living that they can do that? I have often wondered at the people who can party like a rock star during the week and then go to work the next day. What do they do for a living that they can do that? If you are one of those people that do that I would love to hear from you!

Well it is official, I have a summer cold, or sinus infection, I can’t decide which. I know that I am sneezy, congested and headachy. I am going to the gym today and see if I can sweat it out. The stair machine makes me sweat like I don’t know what. I may even go in the sauna; see if that will do it. I know I don’t like feeling this way.
This morning was my weigh in, I lost more weight, very happy about that, I have been eating much better, my clothes are beginning to feel better and I am wearing a pair of jeans today that I will not be able to wear much longer. Let us all do the dance of joy.
This is how bad I feel, last night, the worst sequel on the face of the planet was on the television when I turned it on and I did not have the strength to change the channel. Sex and the City 2, so painfully bad, even the costuming was bad, almost every outfit they put Samantha in was hideous, that red dress with the silver spike things on the shoulders, seriously. What was that? And I know Samantha’s character is over the top, however, the blatant disrespect they had her show for a culture was just unbelievable, literally. I don’t care who you are, you know when you go to the Middle East, and you behave in a certain way because they do not make allowances that you are American.
We want people to behave like us when they come here, and I agree with that, however, when we go to other countries we should be respectful of their customs as well. If I ever get to go to a country where the women dress more modestly, then yes, I will buy a few scarves and shawls and cover myself when appropriate. One does not travel to offend, rather one travels to become educated and yes to have fun, however you can do neither of those things if you are sitting in a foreign jail cell.
Anyway there was so much wrong with that movie I can’t even begin to recount them all here, every time Sarah Jessica Parker talks about making a 3rd I cringe. I loved the series so much and the first film was greatness, please ladies, leave us to our memories. We will forget the SatC 2 and move on.

Today is my Dad’s Birthday, he would be 100, he was born in 1911, he took the journey home in 1993, and I still miss him. On this day I would like to share all of the things I learned from him.
I learned how to laugh, my dad was a funny man, he always said it was better to laugh than to cry, he could find the humor in almost any situation. He taught me how to look at life with humor and not to take myself so seriously. He taught me loyalty, if you believe in something, stick with it, don’t give up, fight to the physical or metaphorical death. He raised me in a Christian home where morals and values where prized above all else. If you can’t do it in an honest way, don’t do it at all, if what you are doing harms others, stop it. Simple rules really, but ones that don’t seem to be taught anymore.
My dad was a visionary, he taught me to trust what God was trying to tell you, I remember when the church that he and my mom had started, First Freewill Baptist Church of Owasso, was ready to expand. They bought the land, then they had a deacons meeting to decide how big to build the church, how many should they plan on seating. My dad said without blinking an eye, one thousand, everyone laughed nervously, then realized for once Foy was not joking. You see God had given him a vision for that church, he was determined to see it through. He knew then that his body was preparing for him to go home; he would not be there to see the new church built. But God had given him one last vision for the church he had worked so hard for. At that time maybe 150 people were coming to service regularly, so you can see why the rest of the deacon board and the minister were hesitant.
Well they did not build that new church to seat 1000, instead they planned on 300, the day they opened the doors to the new church sanctuary they had to add a service because they didn’t have room for all of the worshipers. My dad didn’t live to see that his vision was indeed from God, but everyone else saw it and smiled. They should have trusted Foy. I know without a doubt that when he arrived before God that He allowed my dad to see what would happen with the future of that church and it was good.
One cannot talk about my dad of course without talking about my mom; theirs was a true love match. They were incredibly romantic with one another, small things, her baking his favorite cake, or having his favorite cheese in the refrigerator. Every night they read the bible to each other, I have never witnessed a more intimate act between two lovers. You could tell their faith brought them closer and closer together every day, and they were married for 58 years before my dad passed away.
My dad taught me so much, humor, compassion, how to argue and win, how to drive, how to carry a rifle, how to see the world in a positive way. I will always love you dad, I will always remember you and tell your stories to my children and grand children and beyond, I will continue to do my best to instill your values in future generations. Happy Birthday Dad!

Well yesterday I did it; I faced my worst enemy, the stair machine at 24 Hour Fitness. The last time we had faced off was years ago, I conquered him then and I shall again. The last time I started using the machine I was able to go 3 minutes and worked my way up to 30. This time around, I was able to go 6 minutes, and I will work my way up to 30. I am aiming for 10 minutes on the beast today. The cravings are subsiding, I have not had diet coke since Sunday and am cutting back on the coffee, instead of a pot every morning, I am having half a pot before leaving for work. I have cut back gradually; however, I can assure you on weekends the whole pot will be missing. I have also cut back on Starbucks, which is killing me, not just missing the coffee treats, but the whole experience of going there. The overwhelming aroma of the coffee, the smiling faces all of it. I miss it; however I cannot control my reactions right now, so I will continue to stay away until I can.
My goal is to look halfway decent, I will never have a flat stomach again, unless I go under the knife. 4 C-sections have seen to that. Once that muscle is cut there is no amount of exercise that will get it back to what it was. If I had given birth naturally I might have a chance, but nope, no chance at all. Like Jacqueline on RHNJ my belly button is sad. Only a doctor can make it happy again.
Yesterday was a great outfit day; I wore my new blue polka dot Calvin Klein sundress with a cute shrug and my blue suede Steve Madden pumps. I have to admit, I looked really good, although, losing weight will make the dress not fit properly, even yesterday it was loose where it should not have been and was not when I originally bought it. So, yay me!
June is upon us; tomorrow would have been my dad’s 100th birthday, so expect a huge write up for him. I am working it out now. I want it to be a fitting tribute to a truly great man.

As I watched the Real Housewives of New Jersey this week I could not help but think we are watching a woman implode from all of her pressures. Of course I am talking about Teresa Giudice of course. At first glance, if you have not watched the previous 2 seasons, you just think this woman is just a raving lunatic. But having watched the previous seasons I was left wondering why is her brother so hateful towards her? Does he not realize the pressures his sister is facing? Of course we don’t know the back story here, perhaps he is hurt that she did not come to him for brotherly advice and comfort when she started learning about the financial woes of her family, perhaps he tried to reach out to her and in her shock she pushed him away. Embarrassed for her younger brother to see what can be perceived as failure. We don’t know all I know is that I see two people in an inordinate amount of pain and lashing out at each other. On to Melissa, Joey’s wife, Teresa’s sister-in-law, the previous two episodes left me really not liking her, especially when she allowed Kim G to trash Teresa, she did not participate, but she did not stop it. She should have, she should have told Kim G that Teresa is her family and she is not allowed to say bad things in front of her. This week Melissa actually began redeeming herself, she encouraged Joey to contact his sister and to put this feud to rest. They are family, family is forever. She earned a little respect there.
Still love Caroline, man she just does not put up with any nonsense and good for her! I have one question what is wrong with that Kathy woman? She seriously is inappropriate on a lot of levels, confronting Teresa at a fashion show, going to Caroline’s house when she doesn’t know Caroline. Met her once! Seriously, Kathy, pay for some common sense, you will not be sorry!
Well I am on week 2 of Weight Watchers; it is getting a little easier, staying away from the puffy cheetos and sour skittles. Although I miss my old friends greatly, I don’t know when the missing stops. Is there anyone else out there addicted to junk food? Anyone else having withdrawals? Hopefully after this week it will be better. I have gone back to the gym; I was there Friday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. I will be there today as well. I hate the gym, I think we all know that, it is my nemesis; today I face my mortal enemy, the stair master. Wish me luck!