Poopy People

My friend Squeege said that she hates it when people treat her poopy.

I have this habit of having a hard time giving up on someone that I've called a friend, even when they treat me poopy.

I don't know if it's a lesson I must learn that I am just not getting or if it's just me. I can't let go.

I like that my life experiences have shaped me into the person I am today, and that includes the poopy people.

I like that I like walking in the rain and the snow.

I like that I cry when I watch "Pretty Woman", "The Fugitive", and the Olympics.

I like that I love my cat, even when he's crazy and driving me nuts.

I like that I choose to love with all of me, from the roots of my hair to the tips of my blue toenails. (Yes, Mags, they are blue...haven't been pink since that scavenger hunt...thank you!)

I like that even though it hurts sometimes, I won't let that stop me from loving that way.

I like to be kind to others.

I like helping.

I like surprising people with things--little or big, it doesn't matter, it could be cleaning their garage while they are at work or stopping by unexpectedly with flowers for the garden. Or it could be calling you up out of the blue and taking you to lunch or even just letting that car ahead of me into the merge. It could even be as simple as making sure that the garbage is taken out or that there are no dishes in the drainer.

I like that I know who I am and yet I am constantly evolving.

I like that the difference between being loud, rude, and obnoxious and being out-spoken, confident, and silly are all a matter of perspective. And, that the people who get me know the difference.

I like that I've found someone who allows me to be who I am without compromising who they are, and together it makes a pretty spectacular "we".

I like that they feel like they can be who they are and they trust me to protect that and nourish that.

I like being optimistic.

I like focusing on the positive rather than the negative.

I like conversations that ramble and have you talking over each other to get a word in edgewise.

I like conversations where I just listen and never say a word.

I like making the choice to live with no regret.

I like it when a friend teaches me how to treat them, good or bad. I don't like hurting others, I try not to do it on purpose. When a friend lets me know that they value me enough to allow me to know that I'm hurting them or treating them in a way that they don't like and likewise when I make them feel good and treasured. I like knowing that my friendship and our relationship is valuable, important enough to work through being human with one another.

So, I guess that I kind of, in a weird way, like poopy people.

They remind me of how I deserve to be treated.
They remind me that I have good people in my life.
They show me how not to act.

They are a good lesson for a lovely Thursday in February.

>NaCl

Love letter to my Valentine...

February 14, 2010

Dear Valentine,

So, I figure that anyone can buy jewelry, diamonds, trinkets, chocolates, or the whatnot for their Valentine, but it takes a special Valentine to buy you just the "right" things.

Pink roses, pink butterfly socks, a cute stuffed Barry...I mean bear, Twix (my favorite) & Butterfinger (your favorite), two different kinds of coffee, and coffee creamer. Plus, we had a great sushi dinner at one of my favorite restaurants.

AND, that was yesterday. I still have surprises in store for today!

I am all kinds of lucky.

It's weird how much I like that the roller-coaster is never quite the same, but it's always exhilarating. I think it's just because we are sharing the ride together.

Things that make me happiest:

You always open the door for me.
You say, "bless you" when I sneeze (most of the time).
You appreciate the little things.
You pay attention to the details.
You know that I love silly socks.
We spend hours talking about everything.
We can have a great time out with our friends, singing karaoke until 2am.
We have the same great time, sometimes even better, sitting at home with a carpet picnic and our favorite tv shows.
We are both excited about the Olympics.
Sometimes all we want is a bowl of our favorite cereal.
Sometimes we just need time apart to appreciate time together.
As fun as something is, it is just not "as" fun as when we are together.
>NaCl--Always. Yes, that is an absolute. How do I know? Because...
"Who's my monkey?"
You know, I think your truck needs a carwash...
PANTS!
I can't wait to see where this roller-coaster takes us in the next 525,600 mintues, but I'm guessing that I'll be next to you, with a big smile, and my hands thrown up into the air.

If you live to be 1,000, you'll never know how much I love you, how much I appreciate you, how much I cherish you.

>NaCl
Always.
xoxox
831

Jabberwocky

JABBERWOCKY
Lewis Carroll
from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"



He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

Thought of the day...

We both said, "I really love you," The Shriners loaned us cars We raced up and down the sidewalk twenty thousand million times...

Pearls of Wisdom on a Saturday in February

Remember when you are going through something and you say to yourself, "This will get better." or "I hope this gets better." Don't forget to take stock and look at the now and say to yourself, "Wow, it did get better." Don't forget to enjoy the now, stop waiting for something to happen because it will and when it does, you are strong enough to handle it. Appreciate the little moments.

An oldie but a goodie from our Hallmark friend Maxine, "When you touch bottom, remember it's all in who's bottom you are touching" And a second favorite, "When life hands you lemons, tuck 'em in your bra, can't hurt, might help."

You know that saying, "When God closes one door he opens another." Well, he's a prankster, so they are usually not obvious and sometimes you think, "I can't fit through there," but the lesson is usually not easy, so what makes you think that the door or fitting through the door would be?

When a friend says to you, I NEED this. Do whatever you can to make that happen. Sometimes it's just seeing that someone is willing to make an effort that makes the difference.

When someone asks you what makes you unique, when in doubt, use "I love cheese."

Keurig Coffee Pots are made my little baby angels.

If you are feeling blah and out of sorts, get up and do something really physical. Clean the garage, organize the pantry, clean up the yard, it may seem silly, but it helps to get those muscles moving and helps to clear the cobwebs from your head, too.

"Pearls given with love are more precious than diamonds given for show." Nora Roberts, Megan's Mate

Olive Garden's unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks is sometimes just what you need.

Always try something new. Even if you think you won't like it. Try, you might surprise yourself.

Tell the people that touch your life, impact your life, no matter where they come from--home, work, play--that they matter to you. Life is short and sometimes it ends unexpectedly.

No matter how many times you have said it before, tell the people that matter that you love them, often.

Spread joy and happiness like it's going out of style.

Happy Saturday in February!
I love you!

Randomness for the 1st Wednesday in February

So, what happens when you realize that all your hard work, sweat, blood, tears, fears, through all of it that your dream has been finally realized?

Well, for some this would be it. They would be content to say, I'm done. I've achieved what I set out to achieve and now I have it. Put it to bed, rest, job well done.

I say, find a new dream.

"I like cheese." is my favorite quote of this season of American Idol so far. The best part is that it was in response to Simon asking him to tell him something interesting about himself.

Daniel, who is four, shows his mom a picture in the comic book he's reading of a computer and says, "Mom, see, we can download it." Computer savvy at 4. He'll always find new dreams. He'll never stop. I like that.

Mom posted a picture of her and the kids from this past Sunday. They had a little dinner party for her birthday weekend. It's a great picture.



I get to see them all in 50 days. I'm counting down the days.

I love Tennessee. It's been almost two years and it's just like it was the first day I arrived. Full of wonder, happiness, and that indescribable something that pulls you in and let's you call it home.

Barry. What's there to say. This picture was taken in January of 2008. Two years ago. It's still one of my favorite pictures.



So, we just had one of the worst "cold-weather events" in quite a few years here in TN. The schools are just going back into session tomorrow. They've been closed since Thursday of last week. It amazes me that through the six inches of snow, that turned into six inches of ice, and have taken their own sweet time to melt away that it's only six weeks until spring.

Barry's mom is already talking of beds and moving some bulbs and rearranging the garden for the new planting season.



But there it is again, that feeling of, "Time for a new dream." It won't look the same as it did last year. That's good. I like that it evolves into it's own entity every year.

I can't wait to see what comes.

I am so grateful that today is just another Wednesday in February.

Now, it's 2010, where's my flying car?

02022010

Happy Groundhog Day!

It's been an interesting year.
I'm hoping that 2010 is everything that 2009 was and more.

We are starting it out right. Took a trip to Georgia to play in the snow. Stone Mountain makes a tube run out of 200,000 lbs of snow.

We went to the World of Coke museum, it was a lot of fun. We got to try different Coke products from all over the world. Weird and delightful.

I got to have a fondue dinner on a boat.

Had dinner with my senior prom date and reconnected with being 18 and crazy once more.

Got to see a fabulous concert of Jonathan Coulton, made new concert friends, and ran into Tennessee friends while we were there.

Doubletree Guest Suites were a pleasant surprise, just don't expect ice after midnight. Also, expect them to double charge you then tell you that it's your fault and not credit back any of the NSF's that they caused in the first place.

February is off to a good start. Today is the first Tuesday of the month and I think I might cook for Barry and his mom.

Then we have Mardi Gras at my friend Sharon's house. It is always a pleasure to dine on a meal cooked by Sharon. OMG.

Our friend Rob is turing 40 that weekend, so we are having a bash for him. He's created his own band for the event.

Let's see, my little brother is another year closer to 30 and my mom & dad have an anniversary coming up.

Then it's March. I'm looking forward to March most of all. My darling daughter will be turning Sweet 16 early in the month and at the end of the month Barry & I are driving up to Wisconsin to get J for spring break 2010!

A good time should be had by all.

So, looking forward the going is good. I hope that it's good for you, too.
More soon. It's been too long since I've posted. Maybe I'll start telling stories again.

Like about how we got 6 inches of snow and Tennessee has been closed for the last five days...True Story...