I am ready to write about my weekend happenings, it all started Friday afternoon, with my new schedule I work on Fridays. I am not ready to give up picking up Tessa at school every other Friday so I am taking off part of the day to spend with her. So off I go, when I get to the school, she comes out and my car will not start, I have had some issues with it, but nothing like this until now. I called Alex and he dropped everything to come to mine and Tessa’s rescue. He was able to tow my car back to Jeffrey’s house.
Tess and I had a lovely afternoon as we were able to walk to the park and have a picnic snack and she was able to play with the other children at the park.
As soon as Jeffrey got home he and Alex worked on my car, went and bought the part they believe is causing all of the mischief and fixed it.
This was after Jeffrey had already put in a full days work, he could have easily said I’ll take you home mom and look at it tomorrow. But my sons don’t do things like that, they help immediately. I do believe I have the best sons on the face of the planet.
The next day Jeffrey called and he was sick and asked if I could come and take care of Tessa, 3 guesses as to how long it took me to say yes, hang up the phone get dressed and go over there.
Tess and I played all day and I took care of both her and my son, it’s good to feel wanted.
Sunday was spent with the Irishman, we went to see a movie and grocery shop, boring to some, fun for us.
Tomorrow is another Monday for me, I shall persevere, as I only work two days, then off two, this is not a bad schedule whatsoever.
Birthday Synopsis
Well, my birthday weekend is over, the month continues, in the immortal words of Tracy Lawrence, Time Marches On. I had the best birthday this year, not just due to the presents but due to the fact I got to have lunch with Jeffrey, Elizabeth and Alex. It was not only enjoyable but fun, I have really funny kids, they have the most amazing humor. So happy I was chosen to be their mom, the only missing element was Tessa.
Let’s see, I know you want to know what I got, so I shall go down the list in order of birth, from Jeffrey I got a Starbucks gift card, he told me he knows how much I love my “Friday” coffee treats. Very thoughtful!
From Elizabeth a new Coach purse, all three of my Coach purses have come from her; this one is the trademark brown, only with purple trim! It is so pretty! I immediately had to empty the old one and put everything in the new one!
Alex gave me the gift of pampering; he got me a gift certificate for a mani/pedi at a salon called the Beverly Hills Salon! I get to be a movie star! How cool is that? I can go in with my coffee treat, holding my purse and get the star treatment.
The Irishman, I know you are all wondering about him, well, he gave me the gift of communication. I got the new IPhone 5, at first I was like, my IPhone 4 works fine, but then we got to the Apple store and I fell in love with the white one. Then Siri talked to me! OMG I think I am in love with Siri! It was a very cool and thoughtful gift.
He and I had a combination of lunch and dinner, at the Londoner in Allen, it was nice, it was a really nice day.
Next year I don’t know if I want to acknowledge my birthday as it will be a huge one, a really huge one. I don’t even want to say the number, I don’t feel this number, I feel like I am maybe 25, however I know my body is going to start betraying me, that I will eventually just cave. I really don’t want to get osteoporosis, which really terrifies me. My grandmother had it and her spine curved, I know it caused her a lot of pain, she never complained about it, but I know it was not fun. I remember the doctors wanted her to wear a metal contraption that would help straighten her spine, but that was more painful than the actual curvature, so she quit wearing it.
On that note I will say goodbye and go eat my yogurt for the calcium!
Results of Experiment
Yesterday was my experiment, my 24 hours of no negativity, well, let me tell you it was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. The thing that tripped me up was an interaction with someone from a lower level of support that did not know what they were doing and did not listen to what I was asking or telling them. It was completely frustrating, I slipped, I was negative in my head, then I learned a former co-worker passed away, while not a negative reaction still sad. My BBFF experienced a loss this past weekend; you don’t want to be complete sunshine while offering comforting words. My heart goes out to him and his family, so not an easy day to maintain a positive outlook in life.
Today I shall strive to do it all over again, I am determined to erase negativity out of my life, while I realize it is impossible to erase all of it, I do believe one can get rid of the majority of negative thoughts and actions.
So Alex is taking a history class this semester, I am beyond excited for him, I ordered his text book online, to be honest I may break it open before he comes to get it! I know he will do well, he has an avid interest in history, I do believe he gets this from me. Also he gets his ability to argue from me, I know this is a strange thing to be proud of, however, not for this family. He is a calm arguer; I like that he never loses his cool in a debate and can make his point, intelligently, with thought provoking points.
I am extremely tired today, so this shall be short, please check out the post I put up about honey and cinnamon, I do believe people will find it interesting
Singing
This morning I woke up with the urge to listen to Andy Griffith and sing at the top of my lungs, so that is just what I did, I am sure if they neighbors heard me they would have called the police and reported me for noise pollution. However, I don’t care, I was making a joyful noise up to the Lord.
Isn’t it funny how a song or group of songs can take us back, my soul wasn’t here, it was in every FreeWill Baptist Church I ever attended as a child. Sunnylane, the one off of Blackwelder and of course the First FreeWill Baptist Church of Owasso. Those old songs tend to take me back, I am suddenly standing next to my grandma and grandpa singing my heart out. Or next to my best friend Tammi, knowing my voice was horrible and not caring, I know God does not care how badly I sing as long as I am singing praises to Him.
I am reminded today how fortunate I am, I have amazing family and friends, and a non-stop supply of coffee, it is a good time to be alive.
I didn’t get any responses to my question of the day, not surprising, I am going to tell all right here and now, I would want to know. I may, at the time, “shoot” the messenger, however in the long run I would thank them.
I am still mulling over my visit with my cousins Cindy and Paula, I hope they come down here to visit, I would love to take them around and show my kids off to them. Take them to see Jeffrey and Alex, then to the farm to see Elizabeth and all of her animals. I know they would enjoy it, I would even cook for them. Yes, it would be that big a deal.
Well it is Friday and I have enjoyed not being at work, I hope everyone has had a great day and has a fantastic weekend.
Renegades, Rebels and Rogues
Well here we are people the last day of 2012, I cannot say this year has been kind to me, however some really amazing things have happened. I am on the radio! Can you believe that! I still cannot believe my friend Shanon asked me to do the show with her. I am awestruck that someone had that much confidence in my ability to talk. Thank you so much Shanon for giving me such an amazing opportunity, I don’t have the words to express how much your belief in me means.
The Irishman was sick for almost all of 2012, we go into 2013 hopeful for continued recovery, it has been a rough year in that respect. But God is good and ever present and I believe led him to the right doctor to get him on the road to recovery.
My children are all healthy and doing well, I am so proud of all three, Jeffrey, Elizabeth and Alex; I literally do not know what kind of life I would have without them. They make everything better, when I see a text or call from one of them I smile and happily answer, except when I am at work Alex! I could not resist that, he knows what I mean.
As I look back at the past year I not only see the struggles, I see where I have been blessed beyond measure, I have my health, I have my wits, most of the time and I have amazing friends. I still do not understand what I ever did to deserve such amazing people in my life I am just grateful God saw fit to bring them to me.
I go into 2013 ever hopeful, not only for my life and the lives of my children, but for my friends and for the world. I go into 2013 with a positive attitude, with prayer for a better life and for continued growth, spiritually not physically, and with a renewed determination to make myself the best I can be. Without going into the Marines.
In my family the number 13 is a good luck number, we never really bought into the whole superstitious thing; we like to turn things around. I can only imagine what a whole year of 13 will bring.
So for Christmas Elizabeth gave me an ITunes gift card to download my two favorite albums that she stole. Tracey Lawrence and Kiss, well I have downloaded Tracey Lawrence and I cannot stop listening to it. I know what you are thinking, isn’t this the same singer that beat his wife in a hotel room in the ‘90’s. Yes, yes it is, however if the world can forgive Chris Brown the week after he beat the living daylights out of Rhianna, I figure it is time for us to forgive Tracey.
There is one song in particular that I love, Rebels, Renegades and Rogues, I have always considered myself a rebel and renegade, not so much a rogue. But what truly makes me a rebel, you ask, that is a good question. Well I have always gone against societal norms, as in I was and continue to be a girl nerd who knows fashion. An unusual combination, or used to be, not so much anymore, turns out I was a trail blazer, who knew. As for the renegade, well, I have never done what was expected, I drive fast, I rail against authority, not really, the last part, the first yes. Anyway if you are a country music fan I highly suggest you give Tracey Lawrence a try, some of my favorites are Alibis, Texas Tornado and If the Good Die Young.
I shall sign off for now, the next time I talk to you all it will be 2013, a new year, a new beginning, a new hope. See what I did there, I snuck a Star Wars reference in there, BBFF that was for you.
Teaser
Yesterday was a fun-filled day, I got my new glasses, I look amazing in them, then buying cookie butter for myself, Elizabeth, Jeffrey and Alex. Then picking Tess up from school, we went on an adventure, we went to the duck pond, where there were so many ducks! I had never seen that many ducks in one place. She played on the playground, then it was off to McDonald’s for some food and more playing on the playground. We went back to her house for playing with the dogs and, well, on the swing set out back.
Then it was dinner and Target with Elizabeth Anne, always love spending time with that girl, at our favorite place, Taco Bueno, of course, then Target.
I had an amazing conversation this morning with my friend Shanon, I cannot wait to be able to fill you all in on that. However, it is not time, just know I am going to have a major, amazing announcement soon.
I have cleaned the kitchen, done laundry and watched Hercules, I miss that show, the bad outfits, the bad acting and the fun. So much fun on that show! Alright, going to have a diet coke, thank you Irishman, and watch The Avengers, again.
Politics
Yesterday I was talking to Alex, I reminded him the Vice-Presidential debate was on later and he said he wasn’t going to watch it, however he is going to vote. His mind is already made up and he doesn’t need to watch anything. He then said, “Mom, does it really make a difference in the country who is president?” I sat there for a moment, gathering my wits, and said yes son it does.
I then told him of the days when Jimmy Carter was in office, the country was dismal, it was as if the sun had ducked behind a cloud, for four years. Gas lines were everywhere, the economy was in the gutter, the whole country was depressed. Jimmy Carter was the worst president we had ever had, up to that point, Obama is giving him a run for that title.
I explained that when President Reagan took office it was like the sun was shining again, people had hope, people became more patriotic, there was pride in America again. Little by little the economy strengthened, the attitudes improved and our country began flourishing once more.
It makes a difference, however, I am going to say this, I don’t care what your politics are, if we disagree, we disagree. That does not make anyone less of a friend, it just means we have different views on things. I am seeing so many heated debates on Facebook, it is crazy, its politics people, is that what your friendship is based on? My friendships are not based on that, they are based on mutual respect, admiration for certain qualities people posses that I might not, it is not based on how someone votes.
I do believe everyone should vote, it is our duty, our right, it is what our forefathers fought for, it is important we honor their sacrifices for us.
Dream State
Ok, so, on Monday night I got no sleep, it wasn’t that I couldn’t sleep, I could sleep, however when I would fall asleep I was having the strangest dreams.
I was dreaming the apocalypse was upon us, in all dreams that was the recurring theme. So in dream number 1 the end is imminent, Jess calls me and says “listen, the apocalypse is coming and I need to run some errands, come over here and watch my dog.” So of course, being the good friend that I am, I go to his house to watch his dog. Now this is no ordinary dog, it is huge, pure white with green eyes. While Jess is gone on his end of the world errands it begins to rain, rain is too mild a word, it was torrential. The dog runs out and will not come back in, I have to go out and get soaked trying to get this beast back in the house. I wake up before I can convince that animal to come back in.
Dream b, it is the end of the world, I decide I am going to Bonham, so I tell the Irishman “listen, it’s the end of the world you go find your kids and be with them I am going to Bonham.” So I load up the car with canned goods, blankets, pillows and my shoe collection. Oh and dog food, I put Nacona in the car and we go to McKinney and get Jeffrey, Alex and Tessa. Off to Bonham we go, the roads are congested and it takes us over two hours to get there.
When we get there I tell Elizabeth I am taking the bedroom off of the kitchen and Tess decides she wants to stay with Gigi. Then I inform Elizabeth Anne I hate the outdoors so I will do all of the cooking. I wake up at that point, I guess we were going to live off of pancakes. I don’t know what my great cooking plan was, these dreams were so weird. I think I am watching too many shows about the end of civilization as we know it. Reading too many books about it, I don’t know, but I know last night I slept and don’t remember anything I dreamed about, so it is all good today.
Real Housewives of New Jersey Stress
Well, another weekend is gone, another three day weekend is gone, I got to spend Friday in Bonham seeing Jeffrey, Elizabeth and Alex. A great day indeed, I spent time at the shop with the boys, and then I went to Elizabeth Anne’s office and got the grand tour.
She has so much Office stuff, from Dunder Mifflin Paper to a Dwight bobble head, so cool! I took pictures and posted them to Facebook, so if you really know me and are friends with me you can see the items there.
Then it was off to pick Tess up from school and take her to Jump Street for an adventure, we jumped and ran and had a ton of fun. Then it was McDonald’s so she could eat and play some more. She made friends with some girls on the playground and had a ton of fun there as well. A good afternoon indeed.
On Saturday, it was Avengers day, I watched everything, from the gag reel to the extended scenes to the one narrated by Joss Whedon. Then I watched the movie again, for the 7th time, yes you are reading correctly, the 7th time, no I did not assimilate into the movie yet. I don’t believe that happens until like the 30th time. So I have plenty of time to pick out my outfit that I will be wearing for all eternity in the film.
I stayed up last night and watched the first part of the reunion show for the Real Housewives of New Jersey. I am so stressed out by that show; Theresa is either living in such denial, is delusional or is a pathological liar. I can’t decide, even when confronted by the fact that she does not write her own blog and doesn’t even know the meanings of the words used in the blog she will not give it up. She put down Caroline for being overweight and not having any plastic surgery. Ok, what kind of world are we living in when women are put down for NOT having plastic surgery? I know I talk about it a lot, wanting to have it, but I would never put down anyone for not having it. My mother and grandmother were beautiful women and they never had plastic surgery. Shame on you Theresa for putting someone down for being natural, shame on you for saying your husband could get more phone numbers at a bar than someone else’s husband. What? Who would brag on something like that amid the rumors of your husband cheating on you? Seriously? I believe Jacqueline over you, it is that simple, as does most of America, I do believe you are narcissistic on a level that is beyond comprehension. I do not believe you were that way the first season, you were more into your daughters and your home life, yes to some extent your looks, however we are all to some extent into our looks, but now you have surpassed everyone on a level that is just scary. Stop putting others down to make yourself feel better and know that when a parent has passed you do not EVER say anything about them that is derogatory in nature. I don’t even know if I can stomach watching the other two installments of the reunion, but I probably will.
The New Deal
Yesterday on the way home from work I had an interesting conversation with Alex. We were talking about the upcoming election, the importance of voting and of course it turned to how badly the current President is performing. Then we started talking about the depression, the real one, and how his grandparents had made it through and how The New Deal (President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s programs) had affected our family on a personal level. I told him that his grandmother’s family, my mother, was directly affected as it put her brothers to work. Before that things were not looking good for the family as her father had just died and there was no income, the boys went to work on the WPA, they worked at building roads. In a way they helped create the infrastructure of our country as we now know it. Roosevelt put people to work, he did not give them a hand out, he gave them a hand up, and that is what we need now. People need to work, not collect food stamps, I know my way of thinking might be wildly unpopular these days, but I was raised in a family of workers.
My parents were migrant workers in the 1930’s; they worked their way from Oklahoma to California, picking cotton. My dad used to tell me no work was menial if it was honest, if you have an honest job do it with pride. Do your best, take a stand, do what’s right, which is what I learned from my parents and grandparents. My aunts and uncles as well, at one time the whole family was picking cotton to make ends meet and put food on the table.
When my parents arrived in California my dad worked in a gold mine, after that he was hired on at McDonald Douglas where he eventually was able to transfer back to Oklahoma. My parents were not afraid of physical labor, they were not afraid to get their hands dirty. I am so proud to come from a people that work hard, take pride in whatever they do and helped shape the landscape of this country.
I am not ashamed I come from people that picked cotton, dug ditches, worked on cars, farmed, in fact did whatever they had to do in order for the family to survive. In the process they helped their neighbors, they took food, made blankets for the homeless, picked up homebound widows and took them to church and out to lunch, took people grocery shopping and showed me how to be selfless. There are too few selfless people in this world today; we need to get back to that, helping people, helping them work. Hand up, not hand out, which is what we should be focused on, let’s bring back the job programs, teach people a trade, so they can take pride in all that they accomplish.
Angie World 