When it Rains it Pours

I have about half of my Christmas post done for you; but, believe it or not, life hasn't stopped long enough for me to finish my Christmas story! So, in the meantime I wanted to send this out to you.

I came down with bronchitis before Christmas, am still sick and it stinks big time!

Dave had a pretty challenging day yesterday.

Then today, when I was getting ready for work 2 Sheriff's Deputies knocked on our door to let us know that all of our Christmas yard decor had been vandalized and destroyed. Well, not all of our Christmas yard decor but most of it. If you know Dave, then you know that he loves decorating the yard for Christmas and that he loves our decorations. The Sheriff's deputies realized that our yard had been vandalized because they accidentally ran over one of our reindeer that was in the middle of the road and drug it down the street. The Deputy felt horrible when he realized he ran over Rudolph! As it turns out, five other houses on our street had the same thing happen and other streets in our neighborhood were "hit" as well, their stuff either being stolen or vandalized.

If you pray, please add or keep us in your prayers. Between Dave's bad day at work and everything else, a little extra help from the prayer department wouldn't hurt!

Thank you. And, hopefully, I'll have my Christmas post up soon. I have pics of our destroyed Christmas decor but I'm sparing you from that! You can thank me later! (Just kidding)

Oh my gosh.


I am driving back to work from the county jail where I was doing a nutrition presentation and I see a girl (she was probably between 16 and 21 years of age) pushing a big, old, tan Oldsmobile type car. She was crying.


I drove past her at first and then I thought, this isn't right. So, I turned around to go back to her. By now she was sitting in the driver's seat of her stalled car and still crying. I pulled up beside her, rolled down my window and asked her if she needed to use my phone to call someone. She was very appreciative and relieved. She had run out of gas, had an 11 month old baby boy in the back seat who had luckily just fallen asleep and she had no money or cel phone. They had just come from his doctor's appointment.


The first call she made was to mom. This is where the story gets kind of sad. She was on her way to pick up mom; but, mom's car is the one this girl was driving that ran out of gas. So, her mom's at home with out any way to come get her to help. Mom tells girl that she has no money for gas, either. Then, mom makes it clear to girl that she cannot leave the car on the side of the road. Poor girl. There's an "Uncle Bill," at mom's (or, in the picture) but apparently, his truck is too low on gas as well. Mom suggests girl call mom's boyfriend. Girl doesn't like mom's boyfriend but calls anyway. Right away, before she can even ask, he says he won't, or can't, help.


Now, poor girl is up crap creek with out a paddle. What am I to do? I can't just leave her there and be like, "Oh well, sorry about your luck, I hope it all works out and you find your way home." She's stranded for crying out loud...with a baby sleeping in the back seat of her car!

I called one of my co-workers and we went to a gas station and bought a gas can, filled it with 1 gallon of gas and got some cash for the girl so she could drive straight to the gas station to get enough gas to get home. Luckily, there was a kind, older gentleman who pumped the gas into the gas can for us...those things are fool proof and tricky!

We got the gas in her car, the car started after a few attempts and off she went. Appreciative and relieved.


The thing about all of this is, I feel so lucky. For one, I have a cel phone; so, Heaven forbid if I ever run out of gas, I can make phone calls for help. Second, and this is what makes me feel bad for her and extremely lucky for me, if I ran out of gas there are a ton, a ton, of people I could call that would come help me asap, in a new york minute.



I feel bad for this girl who doesn't have that.

The Joys of Aging!

I have some really horrible and terrible things to admit.

First, my eye-sight, sometimes, is a little tiny bit blurry. But, just a little! I know I need to go to the Dr. to have my eyes checked. I know that I get headaches because of straining my eyes; but, to go to the Dr. is to admit that my superior vision is diminishing! What the heck?! I am now kicking myself for all those times I ate McDonald's instead of carrots!

I used to be able to see things from a 40 foot distance that most could only see from a 20 foot distance. Superior eye sight, I had! I had the eye sight of a fighter pilot's daughter! Wait a minute, I am a fighter pilot's daughter! See, Dad, this is why I never became a pilot, I must have had some innate knowledge that my superior eye sight would quickly diminish once I turned 26 or 27. You see, after 25 everything slowly starts going down hill, folks. Your recovery time from drinking is longer, or so I hear. Your metabolism begins to slow. Brain cells start to die and you don't know everything like you did when you were a teenager. It's a long road, folks, but we've got to travel it!

I wish adults would have just been honest with us! When you're growing up, you hear about how your 20s are a time for fun; but, that in your 30s you are so much wiser and more secure and that the 30s are SO MUCH better than the 20s. When you're in your 20s, that's difficult to imagine. Especially when you surpass the age of 25 and slowly, you notice changes. Things like, colds kicking your butt and pulling muscles in your neck when twisting your ankle...yea, go figure! I wish adults would have said, "Enjoy your twenties kid, because everything starts to change once you hit 27!"

I am honestly kidding. I do notice differences, though, between 21 and 28...and thank God for that! Except for the whole eye sight diminishing, pulling neck muscles when I almost trip and fall, colds kicking my butt, etc, etc. I can't wait to see what the future holds...probably eye glasses!

Can ya tell I don't like change...which is ironic seeing as how I was a military brat and moved a lot during my childhood, something I didn't really ever mind. Hmmm...

Group Christmas Dinner Re-cap

Our Group Christmas dinner was at Jenn and Josh's house this year. We ate in their new dining room!

Notice in the below next picture how Ben and/or Andy stocked up on their sodas...they didn't have a waitress to bring them re-fills so they came to the table prepared! Sounds like Ben and Andy (they tip their waitresses based on how well their drinks are re-filled) and in years passed, they have come to the table w/sodas stuffed in all of their pockets! With manners like ours, we're ready to dine with royalty, baby!

We had plenty, PLENTY of food! And, pay special attention to those mashed potatoes.



Did you see those mashed potatoes?

Every year, I am in charge of bringing the mashed potatoes and every year I have made instant mashed potatoes. Well, this year, I wanted to surprise everyone and make REAL mashed potatoes! I am so proud of myself! I made them with out a hitch! No fires, no smoke-alarms...I only thought one time that there might be a fire when the boiling water over-flowed onto the stove (we have a gas stove now) and the flames under the pot grew exponentially! I was scared for just a second. Anyway, thanks to MUCH coaching from my Martha Stewart sis-in-law, Jo, my potatoes were GREAT! And, they're SO EASY to make! Who would've thought?! They were fluffy and creamy and got the seal of approval from the group! I cannot talk about my mashed potatoes with out mentioning my helper. Dave, my husband, who was actually very helpful, thank goodness for me!

We ate so much, too much, that we all got bloated bellies:

So, we decided that we must open presents before dessert!

I must mention, Ben took FOREVER opening his present! Jeez, he needs a little more practice! (Snicker, snicker, I drew Ben's name and I wrapped 3 fake presents, stuffing each one in the next and then wrapping it again and I used lots of tape...he usually covers our presents in duct tape though, so, this was just payback...thanks for the lovely idea, Paula! Hahaha)

His real present was too big to wrap:

No offense to anyone; but, I think I got the best present of the night:

My own Mini Keurig one cup coffee maker of whatever flavor I choose! "Heaven, I'm in Heaven..."

To Paula, Michelle, Joe, Jason and Adrian...your presence surely was missed. There were only seven of us. It was a little, just a little, quieter! We love you. We miss you. Merry Christmas! Can't wait to see you guys next year! Hope you enjoyed the pics.

To everyone else, hope you enjoyed the pics, too!

Group Christmas Dinner

Tonight is a very special night. It's very special; but, it will also be a little bit sad.

Tonight is our annual "Group Christmas dinner." Every year my friends and I have a traditional Christmas dinner complete with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin muffins and so many pies that I'm sure we gain weight just by looking at them! In October, we usually do a Christmas name draw and buy a Christmas present for the lucky recipient we have chosen. Promptly after dinner and before pie consumption, we exchange gifts. Getting dinner on the table, eating and opening presents provides a lot of laughs and memories that we will joke about until the next annual Christmas dinner.

It is a great night. It is a fun night. There is a light heartedness. There is an excitement. There are laughs. There are shared memories. The year is reminisced. We share our "high" and "low" from the year. Like I said, it's special.

And guess what, folks????! At last year's group Christmas dinner something caught on fire and guess who had nothing to do with it??? That would be me! That's right, a dish towel caught on fire and I had absolutely nothing to do with it! I'm so happy I remembered that! See, everybody pulls Missyisms!

Anyway, the dinner will be a little bit sad tonight because in numbers, we have shrunk. There will be people who are missing. So, tonight, I want Michelle, Joe, Paula, Jason and Adrian to know the will be sorely missed, they will be talked about in reminiscing (all good, of course) and again, sorely, sorely missed.

Here's to the next time we can all be together!

Cute dog!

This is what Angel thinks about her stocking: "Poor me." *sad face*



This is what she thinks about getting a new one: "Really?" *cautionary excitement*

The Ugly Truth

I thought this was kind of funny:

About a month ago, Dave and I watched the movie, "The Ugly Truth," with Katherine Heigel and Gerard Butler. GERARD BUTLER...have you seen Gerard Butler?!?! Oh. My. Goodness. Gerard Butler is beautiful, B-E-A-utiful!

Dave enjoyed the movie and chuckled at the funny parts. I enjoyed the movie, too...enjoyed the fine specimen that is Gerard Butler!

The day after we rented "The Ugly Truth," Dave spent some time playing video games and I decided that this was the PERFECT opportunity for me to watch Gerard, I mean, the movie again!

I started the movie and was thoroughly enjoying Gerard Butler, er, I mean, the movie. In the middle of the movie, I decided that a small bowl of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream would make this experience even dreamier and what do you know, there was some in the freezer! OH! For shame! So, there I was, snuggled up on the couch, devouring chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, savoring each yummy calorie all the while admiring this beautiful, beautiful man. It was like my own little personal Heaven. And that, folks, is my ugly truth!

I believe...

1. I believe that people should not make snide, rude or judgemental comments to people regarding their pets. Humph!

2. I believe that, "celebrate does not mean food," but, food can be such a good way to celebrate! Darn it!

3. I believe that people who judge other people for their love of animals are self-centered and empty on the inside.

4. I believe that my next few posts after this will be funny and light-hearted. Are you relieved?

5. I believe that there is a right way and a wrong way to read a candy thermometer and leave it to Missy to read it the wrong way! When you heat fudge to 250 degrees instead of 236 degrees does it still turn out OK? I don't know!

6. I believe that there are many, many different types of "smart." There is people smart, book smart, car smart, technology smart, numbers smart, comedy smart, putting-things-together smart, fixing things smart, kitchen smart, art smart, kids smart, organized smart, logical smart, abstract thinking smart...should I continue?

7. I believe that the best way to start off your Monday is NOT to have your dog urinate and defecate on the carpet in your new house because she, the dog, is too wimpy/high-maintenance, maybe to walk on wet grass/mud and use the bathroom outside!

8. I believe that a life w/out Missyisms is a life not worth living. Ha ha, no, not really. I'm just kidding.

9. I believe that life is a banquet and most poor suckers starve to death! (Who said that?)

10. I believe that you better stand tall when they call you out, don't bend, don't break, baby don't back down! (Who sang that?)

I believe we will survive!

I believe the best is yet to come!

I believe that I have lost some blog readers after this!

I believe...OK, that's enough for now.

:)

Anger is a Mask for Pain

I've been wondering why lately, when I get angry or upset, I feel angrier than I've ever felt in my life.



In the past, when I would get upset about something, I would feel and go through the emotions that ensued and sure, that sucked sometimes; but, I think I was better off because of it.



For the past 6 or so months, though, when I have gotten upset about something I have felt angrier than I ever have in my life. Anger from the tips of my toenails all the way up through the roots of my hair. It is like the anger consumes me, all 70 trillion cells of my body are angry.



I don't like feeling that angry when certain situations happen.



When my parents separated and divorced I literally only cried three times. I don't know why.




I don't know if I was trying to be tough or what coping mechanism I was using.



Fast forward a few years and I started going to a wonderful psychologist, Rose.



Rose changed my life.




I love Rose.



My friend, Paula, is definitely a crier...I love her so much for that. Songs, commercials, movies, TV shows, jokes, you name it, can bring her to tears and I learned from her that it's OK to cry.




It's funny, though, because even as a child, with out any influence from either of my parents, I would get embarrassed when I cried. As a little girl, when I would get hurt, I would run to my room to cry privately. My mom, of course, being privy to that, would always seek me out and help me feel better.




I was talking to Rose once about crying around the same time I realized that Paula cried at movies a lot more than me and that is when she told me this phrase that I'll never forget as long as I live, unless of course I consume too much aspartame between now and then and when I am 78 I have crappy brain cells that prevent me from remembering my past!



Rose told me, "Anger is a mask for pain."



After that, I kind of let the flood gates open! Paula and I would sit side by side at movies like Armageddon and Ladder 49 and literally sob and sob!


Still, though, I prefer to cry privately.



So, I don't know what changed.

Movies still make me cry. But, the real life stuff, for some reason, stopped making me cry and all I felt was the anger.

Until last night. For whatever reason, I allowed the flood gates to open again.



I think anger is "easier" because it seems stronger or tougher, but more damage can be done from anger than from crying. Crying and sadness, that seems weaker. I don't feel as emotionally strong during or after crying. But, when you're crying, there's no need to fight and when you're angry, well, that's when the fighting happens.



I don't know what the point of this is. Just wanted to share.




One other thing that I think is, that when someone does open their floodgates in front of you, you better damn well be there for them. If not, I think that the damage you're doing, the message that you're sending, is irreparable.

1. I am 28 years old and I still believe in Santa Claus! I believe in the magic of Christmas.



2. I made scrambled eggs last week with out using my cookbook! Whoo-hoo! Go Missy!



3. I also successfully made a home-made grilled cheese sandwich last week!



4. I pre-heated the oven one night last week with out checking to make sure that it was empty and it's a good thing Dave reminded me to check because there was a pan of brownies covered with tin foil in the oven! That could have been bad! When will I ever learn?!?!



5. I am so excited because we (and I use the term "we" very loosely, so loosely that, "we," in this case, solely means Dave) only have the exercise room to paint and then the whole inside of our house will be painted!



6. Our guest bedroom is actually starting to look like a bedroom! It's painted and the bed is set up and ready to use! That's so exciting!



7. I had our down comforter cleaned, it is dry clean only (Butler Cleaners is the best, btw!). I washed the duvet cover so it was ready for the down comforter, put our new pillows on the bed with clean pillow cases, climbed into the duvet cover (you have wiggle your way into the duvet cover in order to stuff the down comforter in it and, it was at this point that I asked Dave if the quirky way I do things amuses him, to which he replied dryly, "Sometimes."!) and got the down comforter all squared away in the duvet cover...that's actually quite a feat. Then, I crawled into our winter-prepped bed and basked in all its glory! I felt as though I was warmly wrapped in soft clouds while drifting off to asleep. The next morning was the hardest morning ever to get out of bed because I was so comfortable! I love down comforters. They're so soft and warm and, well, comfortable!



8. I made a collage of Lake Tahoe pictures and bought a frame for it. I plan on hanging it above my bath tub. Dave asked me why I have not hung the picture yet. I could not believe he was asking me this! Does he not know who I am?!?! This is the girl that needed her grandparents to help put a new mop sponge on a mop. This is the girl who accidentally backed under a rotating ceiling fan with the mop sticking straight up, while trying to get the new sponge securely in tact only to have the mop get knocked by the fan and bang her right in the head, which caused a lil' tantrum that involved repeatedly banging the mop on the floor...thank goodness she was home alone. This is also the girl, who when trying to put a stool together accidentally screwed through the part of the stool that you're supposed to sit on...I still don't know how or why that happened! So, when he asked me why I had not hung the picture I replied honestly, "Because I don't know how (to which he laughed, but I just kept talking) and I don't want to try and put a big hole in the wall or worse, some how make the wall fall down! So, I'm waiting for you," I told him (which made him laugh harder...but he knew it was true!).



9. See, my life is full of Missyisms!



10. I don't have a 10; but, 7 and 8 were so long it makes up for it!

My sister-in-law is an "old soul". And, no, I'm not calling her old! An old soul, I think, is some one who is wise, wise beyond their years. They are spiritually wise, emotionally wise and just plain smart. Smart about life, smart about relationships, smart about people and smart about almost everything.

I had the Christmas blues last night. I don't even know where they came from; but, it was out of no where and I became quite wistful. I was driving home from running errands and blaring the song, "Oh We Need A Little Christmas," I love that song, so much that I put it on repeat and only listened to that song on the drive home.

Ghosts of Christmas Past flooded my memory (good ghosts, that is) as the song played and played and played. It's a great song.

It's amazing to me the gamut of emotions one can feel throughout the holidays. One can experience the "high" of the season while at the same time, feel the low. And, with the holidays, I don't think there is any in between. The feelings do not ride in the middle of the spectrum, everything is amplified and that is why the holidays can be a tough time for some.

So after dinner, I called my sister-in-law to make sure that she was still speaking to me after I insulted her on my blog yesterday by saying that she likes Tom Brady. That was mean of me. I should never accuse anyone of such a thing!

As luck would have it, she got the joke and is still speaking to me, which is a good thing, because if she wasn't I would have had to drive up to her house wearing my reindeer antlers and my favorite Christmas sweatshirt and hurl pumpkin muffins at her until she spoke to me!

Anyway, as we were talking, the floodgate that was my mouth opened and out poured all of the Christmas blues that were lingering in my subconscious! My sister-in-law has an angelic, harmonious voice and when she began responding to my distress it felt like an angel's wings lifted me up and there I was on the Christmas high by the time we hung up the phone! It was amazing, she said all the right things, and she was not saying them just to say them, she was saying what she meant.

I am one blessed girl to have a sister-in-law like her!

I hope that this season, so far, has been good to you and that you are finding the good that is in this season. I hope that you have some special people to share this season with, as well. Take care, folks.

Angel

OK, for all of you non dog lovers or non dog freaks, this posting may be too far fetched for you. (Haha, get it: dogs, fetch, haha!) Just a warning!

Dave has a daughter but we have no kids together. What we do have is 3 dogs, 2 cats and numerous fish...fish that keep multiplying because unbeknownst to us, we ended up with the fish- tank of love and procreation, folks!

Because of the non-existent human baby between the two of us, our dogs, unfortunately, get treated like our children! Therefore, each and every four-legged creature in our home has their very own Christmas stocking. Their very own Christmas stocking that gets proudly displayed in our family room! OK, wipe that incredulous look off your face!



These are the dog's three stockings (Duke's is the one on the far left, Angel's is the one in the middle and Frisco's is the one on the far right.)

Frisco's stocking says, "Favorite Dog," and it contains a picture of Frisco and Angel. For the past few years they have shared a stocking and been none the wiser and happier because of it!

Well, last year, on Dec. 18, we got our newest addition. An adorable hobo puppy that we named Duke. If you ever check my blog's comments you might, in the future, see a comment to this post from my wonderful sister-in-law accusing me of "Indian-giving" Duke to their family. What you have to remember, folks, is that she likes Tom Brady and can anyone who likes Tom Brady really be trusted? Remember that if you read a comment from her regarding crushing a dear little boy's hopes and dreams of acquiring the most adorable dog in the world and think to yourself, "Would Missy ever do such a thing?" Nah, nope, never, not me!

Oh crap, is that my nose growing? Did I just type that out loud? Oh well.

Wow, it's so easy for me to get sidetracked!

So, long story short, my mission on Dec. 26 last year was to get a stocking for Duke, our new addition. Dave ended up going shopping with my sister-in-law and me and while we did end up with a great stocking for Duke, Dave found this:



It was 50% off because everything is 50% off the day after Christmas. Dave fell in love with this stocking for our dog, Angel. If you look closely you'll see that it already has her name on it. He then became convinced that Angel needed her own stocking and so he bought it.

I love that Dave loves our dogs this much because I love our dogs that much, too. I am very passionate about animals; so, it works well for our marriage that he's an animal lover too...though I don't think he ever intended on having as many pets as we do; but, oh well!

I never intended on having to display, year after year, a stocking that I think is hideous! I mean, it's BABY BLUE, folks! Baby blue with fake fur, silver wings and a funny, fake, blue stone! OMG! And, just to let you know, the picture above doesn't do this stocking justice, it's much tackier in real life than it is in the picture! So, at night when I'm happily admiring our Christmas decor, and my eyes wonder to Angel's stocking, I sit, stare and sigh, at her hideous stocking and then I feel bad for poor Angel that she has such a hideous stocking and I think that she deserves better, our poor pudgy dog that she is! But, Dave won't let go of that stocking. He just loves it. UGH.

Innateness

If this is even possible, I grew to love my mom more than I already did on this past Thanksgiving. If you've read previous postings on this blog then you gather that when it comes to me and the kitchen, disaster and mistakes tend to occur! Well, on Thanksgiving, I was so validated and felt totally comforted because I learned that I come by this culinary clumsiness naturally! Yes, folks! It's a miracle! I am not alone! Wonder of wonders! There is some one else out there that I can relate to! Awww, the comfort and relief...
R E L I E F!!!!!!!

Do you know what it's like to have realized that I'm not the only one in the world who makes mistakes like cutting beef log into cute little triangles and then realizing, after you have all these cute little triangle pieces, that maybe you should have peeled off the skin before cutting all of these cute little pieces, which now need to have the skin peeled off individually? I love that those same goofs happen to my mom! I feel such relief, so much, much relief that I cannot effectively describe it in writing!

See this face that my mom is making:



I make that face countless, numerous, MANY times when I'm in the kitchen! Unfortunately, this is no joke. That is the face of, "CRAP!" The face you make when you realize that you've made a silly (I'm being nice by calling it silly) mistake in the kitchen.

This realization has made me think back to all the past years of holiday baking that my mom and I have done. We should have had a video camera on us. It would have been a hoot, I'm sure.


And even though I inherit this kitchen ineptness naturally, my mom's mad kitchen skills still far surpass those of my own. She's a kitchen goddess compared to me! She can make quiche and Paula Deen cookies and I don't think she's ever set anything in the kitchen on fire!


Here's a few more Thanksgiving pics...I'd have more but Paul started pouring mimosas and I had to drink them or his feelings would have been hurt. I had to drink all three that he made me throughout the course of the day. That kind of replaced picture taking. Sorry!


You rarely see me making this face in the kitchen...unless I'm sitting on my butt and eating something!

Our Thanksgiving chef (look at how happy he is...in the kitchen!):

Our Thanksgiving beverage maker:

This is what I love about Thanksgiving:

That's the extent to which my kitchen gets used on turkey day and it's to prepare this (which is a hit by the way! I'm not going to tell you that I almost set another fire because I pre-heated the oven, then thought that I had better make sure nothing was in the oven, which was a good thing because there was a pan of brownies in the oven covered in tin foil. That could have been bad; but, we're not going to dwell on that!):

Up next for the blog: some holiday pics of Missy and Dave's inside decor and their tacky, tacky stocking that Dave just LOVES- UGH!

Blogging About Being Sick

Promptly after Black Friday, like on Saturday, while helping my friend move (and I use the term "helping" loosely! lol), I started coming down with something, feeling sicker and sicker as the day progressed.

Fear not faithful blog followers, the flu do not I have, for it was the bringing down of a bad, bad, stupid, strong and idiotic cold that struck me down, down, down a road I'd rather not have traveled.

Just between you and me, I am such a baby when I'm sick. I think things like, "Poor me!" and I feel so bad for myself when I'm sick; it's a pity party of one, for sure!

When I lived with my mom and would get sick I used to say things to her like (I can't believe I'm admitting this to you), "Mom, you're poor, poor baby...," insert groaning and moaning here. The point: I'm a big baby... when I'm sick.

As I've matured, obviously, I keep the whining and complaining to myself...except for that one phone call to my mom to let her know how rotten I feel! Lol

My mom would take really good care of my when I was sick. So would my grandma when we lived with them. They put up with my ridiculous requests to have butter spread over every available square centimeter on the sourdough toast they were serving me that couldn't be burnt, but had to be a nice golden brown. They made sure that the magic chicken noodle soup was stocked in the pantry and that Sprite was on hand a plenty.

So, nowadays when I get sick, I get a little anxiety...I get anxiety that Dave won't take care of me as good as my mom did! Much to my utter and total relief, when he woke up from his nap on Sunday and realized how sick I was, with out me even having to ask, he made the trek to Wal-Mart and returned with all of the necessities to relieve my suffering:

Sourdough bread
Chicken Noodle Soup
Baked Lays (they're better than saltine crackers when you're sick, I promise!)
Sierra Mist
Tylenol

I was going to live!

He even brought home one of those rotisserie chickens that is already cooked so he would have dinner for himself for the next few nights. Ahhh, a man who has the foresight to take care of all his hunger desires. You see, in my house, people never go hungry. I make sure that there is always delicious and wonderful food cooked a plenty. No one is used to fending for themselves in my house, for I'm such a goddess in the kitchen!

The fever has left, I've woken up and sanity has now been restored.

I have fun pics for you that I'll post this weekend. It's hard to do good blogs when you're head is full of phlegm and mucus!

Just a few more things before I depart:

I love that Dave put up with and answered me seriously when I asked him, "Dave, my mom always gave me Chicken Noodle Soup when I was sick because she said there was magic in it to help you get better...do you think if I eat the rotisserie chicken instead of chicken noodle soup I'll be missing out on the magic and not get better?" He only chuckled and reassured me that the rotisserie chicken probably has magic in it too. (In my defense, my Martha Stewart sister-in-law cooberated that chicken noodle soup has magical tendencies, so HA!)

My girlfriend is coming down with a cold, too. We commiserated together and wondered, when did we get to the age that a cold knocks us on our arses? When, also, did we get to the age where the winter time change knocks us on our arses as well and we feel like we shouldn't be out of the house after 7pm because 7pm is actually late?

We're only 28; but, ahhh the joys of aging!

Thanksgiving Post 1 Day Early

Have you seen the Verizon Wireless commercial? The Verizon Wireless dude is surrounded by tons and tons and tons of people. They are his "network," his "network of family and friends."


That is how I feel my life is. I feel constantly surrounded by family and friends whether it be physically or simply in thought.


As I sit by myself typing this I do not really feel by myself at all. I feel blanketed, comforted.


This is what I'm the most thankful for everyday. Truly, truly, truly, thankful for; thankful not just from the bottom of my heart but from my whole entire heart, inside and out, for this fortune.



I don't know what I did to deserve this.


All the wonderful friends and family that I have. When I say wonderful, I mean it. My friends and family far and wide are all wonderful.


This is what I'm thankful for, the blessing of all these individuals in my life, everyday, 365 days a year. How did I get so lucky? I don't know. But, I do know that I am blessed and I don't ever take any of you for granted (if you're reading this, know that I'm talking about you)!


Love ya!

I am the Proud Owner of...

MY VERY OWN MIAMI DOLPHINS JASON TAYLOR JERSEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





Christmas came early to me! My very special friend totally surprised me with my very own Jason Taylor jersey!





For those of you who don't know who Jason Taylor is, he is only the finest defensive football player in the NFL who gets the glory and satisfaction of knocking evil-doer Tom Brady on his a**!





I love Jason Taylor! He's done good, good things for the Miami Dolphins!





So, we went to our friend's house to watch Monday Night Football and there was this gold box sitting on the kitchen counter. I got excited and exclaimed, "Andy, is this chocolate?????" Andy usually doesn't have sweet treats at his house; so, when he does, which is usually around Christmas, I get excited. I know, pathetic! lol





He replied with a very simple, "Open it."





I didn't think anything of it, only cataloging in my brain that after dinner I would be able to satiate that little craving for something sweet with a delectable chocolate from this box and I went about my business.





When I settled on the couch to watch the football game, Andy walked into the living room from the kitchen, grabbed the box, and handed it to me.





Nobody has to tell me twice to eat chocolate, I thought!





When I took the gold lid off the box, there was tissue paper gently folded over something soft.





What? Is this fudge, I wondered?????





I pulled the little piece of reflective tape (that should have been my first clue) off of the tissue paper and began removing the tissue paper. I started to see turquoise.





NOOOOOOOO, I thought, it couldn't be!!!!!!!!!!! Then, as more and more tissue paper was removed, my vision began to focus on the big number nines. I slowly began to realize that chocolate was not what was in this box...it was better than chocolate!





At this point there was a lot of giddy screaming and giggling!





This was sooooooo, Sooooo, SOOOOOOO much better than chocolate!

*Sigh* My very own Jason Taylor jersey! AWESOME! Isn't it beautiful?!?! It is. It's beautiful and I LOVE it!

Insomnia

I had a FABULOUS weekend. It was one of those weekends where sleeping is low on the list of priorities. It was one of those weekends that makes you feel alive and vibrant! It seems like every minute, beginning at 3:30 PM last Thursday was jam packed with things to do! Maybe that's why I couldn't sleep last night.



I went to bed because I was exhausted! EXHAUSTED! Unfortunately, the minute my head hit the sweet, feathery pillow I was bombarded with millions and millions of thoughts. Thoughts that prevented me from sleeping. Thoughts that woke me up from that peaceful, easy feeling!



I cataloged them so that I could share with you! Aren't ya glad?



1. First, I thought about the new Twilight movie. This weekend, I accidentally became a Twilight fan (now, I'm a "Twi-hard", lol). As I'm trying to fall asleep this is what I'm thinking (keep in mind that I have not read the books): Who will Bella end up with? Everyone has said that by the 4th book the reader loves Edward again; so, what happens to Jacob? Does he die? Does he turn bad? Does he get another love interest? Hmmmmm....I should have counted sheep!



2. Then, my thoughts wondered to THANKSGIVING! Thanksgiving is this week! I'm so excited! I planned my whole Thanksgiving day:



Get up early, don't sleep in too late. Get to mom's by 10 in the morning because surely, she'll have some yummy hors d'oeuvres. But, just so I'm not starving I will have a nice slice of whole wheat toast with peanut butter- a good, hearty breakfast. And, to keep with tradition, Dave and I will get Starbucks on the way to mom's. Hopefully we'll be there in time to watch the parade. ("As the parade passes by...." name that musical!)

I want to get to mom's kind of early so that I have time to play with their dogs before everyone shows up and they are banished from the premises because we're mean like that. Then, when my Grandma and sister-in-law are there, we'll start to go through Black Friday Sales Ads. O M G! (I think this is really what woke me up, prevented me from being able to sleep.)



3. Black Friday Sales Ads. Should I get the Nikon Coolpix s230 that's on sale that day? I don't know! No, I decide at 10:30 PM, I should just spend my money on Christmas presents. But, darn-it! If I'm getting up that early, shouldn't I get a reward? But, do I really want to spend my money on that? So, then I think, what would I rather have, a new digital camera or a garage door opener? I hate logicalness! (That's a word, by the way, especially at 10:30 at night when you can't sleep!) Grrrrr...("You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch," now starts playing in my head as I picture credit card company CEOs meeting with retail CEOs and maliciously plotting their sales ads, tempting us and tempting us and tempting us...bastards!)



Eventually (like, by 10:45), I decide that I will only buy presents for others on the day after Thanksgiving. I went through the Christmas presents that I want to buy. I cannot post that list and those thought processes here...I gotta keep something a secret, lucky for you!



Silently, (of course silently, because I wasn't talking to myself while Dave was next to me sleeping soundly) I vowed to myself, after much debate, that I was not, WAS NOT, going to use any credit cards the day after Thanksgiving. Good girl. Then, why does that make me feel so sad?!!



Whenever I even begin to ponder using my credit card, Suze Orman's imaged pops into my head and her disappointment, harsh words and judgemental face squashes any thought I ever had of swiping that little piece of plastic magic at any store. Dave and I have been good. I don't think we've charged anything in over a year! I decided that I'm not gonna ruin that now.



4. My thoughts now turn to this blog and 10:45 PM is when I get the idea to share my insomnia with you. Lucky reader!



5. I don't remember what thoughts happened next, for I peacefully slipped away to la-la land. A land sans a scowling Suze Orman and evil CEOs, just the excited anticipation of the holidays to come!

K I S S

Tonight's the night I get to see the

Hottest Band in the World,

K I S S

They put on a fabulous show! Rip-roarin music, fire, blood spitting, high heeled boots, coordinated dances with guitars...it's fabulous, a fabulous show worth every penny because that's what they give you, a show.

Tonight will be the 5th time I've seen them perform and every time we see them, we think it will be our last; yet, low and behold, they keep coming back! Works for me!



Dave, my Uncle, 2 cousins and myself will all be decked out in our vintage KISS tee-shirts. How cute, huh?!?!?!



Unfortunately, I do not think that tomorrow I will have a tale for you about how we met KISS, like I did with Frank Sinatra Jr. I think KISS will be a little harder to "stalk" than Frank Jr. That's just a feeling, a little premonition I have. I can be pretty intuitive, you know! You can't get nothing by me!

OH! Today is going to

drag by for me!

~Politics~

Before I talk politics, let me first squelch your dread or anticipation of any controversial message that you may anticipate me sending. I have a very general claim that is not affiliated with any political party.


So, please read objectively, putting all Republican, Conservative, Democrat and Liberal beliefs aside. (Is "aside" a preposition?!?! Crap, I think it is!)


My one "beef" with politics has always been that there seem to be two, three and four "truths" in situations where it seems there should only be one truth. In many scenarios one can ask a Republican what happened, a Democrat what happened, a member of the Independent party what happened (in the SAME situation) and receive three, yes THREE, different answers.


I don't like that. There should only be one answer for one situation...because only one thing happened! Now, I'm not so naive that I don't realize that people's analyses of what happened contribute to the response of varying answers. I just don't like it.


For example, it has been said that there are people working for President Obama in the position of "czar".


Republicans claim these czars might possibly be in these positions illegally, not getting approved by congress, etc. Some Republicans claim there is much secrecy surrounding these appointed czars.


Democrats, have a different point of view. They claim that these czars are simply members of President Obama's cabinet. They're not "czar's," per se; but, cabinet members.


My point, question, is: Why are there two answers????? Are they simply cabinet members or were they hired illegally? I don't want a specific answer to this question. I'm using this current event just as an example of what frustrates me about politics.



I guess I don't understand why it's not black and white. It makes perfect sense to me that human behavior has grey areas; but, something as factual as our government's business...it doesn't seem right that the information gets so mucked up that there are a million different stories and claims to just one action.



OK, just wanted to get that off my chest!

Here's a Big Blonde Missyism for Ya!

On Veteran's Day, my sister-in-law and I met to have breakfast together. One of the many things discussed was that they needed Dave and me to feed their pets on Friday. We discussed how I would get a key from her. Then, we moved on to solve all the world's problems.



Fast forward to Veteran's Day afternoon. Dave and I stopped by our sister's place of business to drop off snow chains at which point I received her house key. We even joked about what would happen if she were to go home (house-key-less) and find that no one was home.



I securely tucked her key in a small, zippered portion of my purse.



On Thursday, the day after Veteran's Day, I received a text from my sis-in-law that stated, "Thanks for feeding cat. Food by back door. If you are somewhere to make copy of key, go ahead. Could you leave key under pumpkin and bring in the mail?"



Ok, at breakfast we had discussed her leaving the key for me under a pumpkin. I didn't like that idea (and really neither did she) because we're both safety precautious and paranoid. The paranoia runs in my family. It's genetic. I think I've mentioned that before. That I'm a "worryer." I also tend to get off track. Doesn't matter if I'm speaking or writing, it happens. One of my friends, Jennifer, told me she thinks it's because the axons in my brain fire so fast, that I can't keep up with them! I like that! Thanks, Jenn!



Anyway! Back to the story. So, after reading Jo's text (my sis-in-law), I thought, "Of course I'll leave the key under the pumpkins, that's where you left it for me and naturally, I'll put it back where I got it. I don't know if I'll make it to a store to make a copy, though. That would have been easier if I had the key."


Yes. Yes, I thought all of that.



Friday, immediately after I got off work, Dave and I drove to our sister's house. By now, it was dark and Dave parked our car so that the headlights would shine on the pumpkins, where the key presumably was.



I lift up the first pumpkin...while a kitty is ferociously invading my personal space trying to get attention and food. There's no key. I lift up the next pumpkin. Still, no key. Uh-oh, I start to think. I lift up the last pumpkin. Nothing. No key!



Hmmm??? Maybe she left it under a pumpkin at the back door, after-all, that's where she said the food was, is what I think. So, kitty, flash light in the form of a cel phone and I go marching to the back door. There's a miniature pumpkin; but, no key. I'm starting to mildly panic now, contemplating if I'm going to have bring this kitten home so it can get some food. So, I start looking for cat food outside by the back door, knowing that they wouldn't leave any outside cause that could attrack unwanted rodents; but, you start to make crazy assumptions when you begin to panick.



Kitten, flashlight in the form of a cel phone, cranky husband and I now go trapsing to the side door.



PHEW! There's another miniature pumpkin by the side door! Oh good, I thought, that has to be the pumpkin with the key! I pick it up and what to my wondering eyes should appear? Nothing.



Now, Dave starts questioning me, which I LOVE (sarcasm) and we all go marching back to the door where we first started. Of course, I had to pick each one of those three pumpkins up one more time just to be sure and now I'm really panicking, thinking that I'm going to have to call my sister-in-law and interrupt her good time. I really didn't want to do that because of something so little as a key.



That's when Dave interrupted my thoughts and said, "Didn't she give you a key at her work?"



That's when the light bulb when off in my head.



That's when I started blushing profusely.



That's when I ran to the car, grabbed my purse and found her key, nice and secure in the small, zippered portion of my purse.



That's when I felt relief!



That's when I realized that I had a good story to tell her when she got home!



Needless to say, the mail got checked and the animals got fed...even though their temporary care-taker is a bonehead!



This is almost as bad as the time I walked back into my sister-in-law's house wearing my sunglasses and not realizing it, asking her and my brother-in-law if they had seen my sunglasses because it was sunny outside and I didn't want to drive home with out them! My brother-in-law kindly asked if I was looking for the sunglasses that I was wearing. Mortification.



I'm gonna go crawl in a hole now! Thanks for reading, though!

INDIANAPOLIS 35 New England 34!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHOO-HOO! The Colts and Peyton Manning did it! They WON!

Just so you know who I'm talking about, here's a pic of Peyton Manning, football's greatest hero!

And, here's one more, in his heroic form! (Oh, I'm having fun w/this, LMAO!)

I must apologize.

I am a bad, bad fan and I was not true to myself, or to the Colts and my Peyton Manning, last night. You see, I am an eternal optimist. I am. Usually if it is the 4th quarter of a game with only 2 minutes left and the score is 35-0 I still hold out hope that the under-dog can win. But, last night, I got a little pessimistic and gave up on Peyton Manning and the Colts! I should be ashamed of myself...very, very ashamed.

I blame it all on the New England QB, though. It's all his fault. He has that negative, icky effect on people, driving them to do crazy things like poisoning "Jungle Juice" so your sister-in-law gets violently ill, or wasting your precious Benjamin's on 100% cotton crap in the form of a Patriots shirt! HUMPH! See, he'll make ya go crazy, straight crazy!

It was a tough game. It was a battle. There were ups and downs, highs and low. One time, I yelled at the Patriots with so much force...and passion...that I created a ball of phlegm in my throat! Gross, huh?!

Anyway, it's the 4th quarter. The score is New England 31, Indianapolis 21. There are 5 min and 34 sec left in the game when I prolifically announce, "Well, the game's pretty much over isn't it? They're not gonna be able to do it!"

I WILL CLEAN MY MOUTH OUT WITH SOAP FOR UTTERING SUCH PROFANITIES, I SWEAR IT!

Never again will I give up on my eternal optimism! Feeling disappointment is much better than giving up and being negative. Peyton Manning and Colts magic happened! Folks, it was beautiful! What to my wondering eyes should appear in the last 2-3 minutes of the game? A Colts touchdown...and then another! WHOO-HOO! Off to victory they went!



So, now, all is right with the world. Good verses evil and good prevailed. My kinda game!

Luckily, my husband hates the Patriots, too. Which is so surprising because when it comes to football, we're total opposites! I love Brett Favre, he doesn't like him. If I'm rooting for one team, he's usually always rooting for their opponent. It can get ugly, folks! So, when we were leaving our friend's house and walking to our car, he surprised me by proclaiming, "Man, I'm so glad they lost, I hate that team!" I sighed a sigh of utter contentment and happiness!

So, last night I learned to stay true to my nature and keep being an eternal optimist and I also learned that apparently at the age of 28 my stomach cannot handle Capt. Morgan's rum, Wendy's hamburger and French fries and the excitement of a Peyton Manning football game!

Good times, I tell ya, good times...

Oh, and, by the way, my Dolphins won this weekend, too! ;)

A Matter of the Utmost Importance

Something earth shaking and ground breaking is occurring today, Sunday 11/15 at 5:30 PM West Coast time...



MY Peyton Manning (QB) and his Indianapolis Colts are taking-on none other than the New England Patriots. I won't even dignify that team's QB by telling you his name. If you don't know his name, there's no point in learning it now and if you do know his name, you're better off forgetting it! Humph!



I DISDAIN, LOATHE, the New England Patriots' QB. He brings out a rage in me that I didn't even know existed. And, I'm not the only one! My Grandma hates him, too! She's a wise, wise, woman, validating my sentiments.



So, the plan...since this game is the biggest game of the season...it's even bigger than the Super Bowl (at least right now it is) some of my friends and I are getting together at one of my friend's house. Promptly before the game begins I plan on taking a shot of Capt. Morgan's Rum; 1) to calm me down [hopefully, that will quell some of the anger towards the football team that is New England and 2) in honor (sarcasm) of the NFL being upset by the Philadelphia Eagles player for celebrating a touchdown by posing in the Capt. Morgan's stance.



Phew, long winded.



So, please, Please, PUHLEEZE, send us, Mr. Peyton Manning, the Colts and myself positive energy.



Sigh. Hopefully, I'll be able to report with good news that the Colts won and that I didn't have a heart attack (the NE QB tends to raise my BP [blood pressure])!

Hmmmm...

1. How many times can you wear a pair of jeans before they need to be washed? I'm just wondering, and I want to know what you think...




2. What do you think about this: Twelve hour naps pretty much cover all of life's disappointments.




3. My Dad still calls me "Squirt" and "Moosebreath"! (...after a lot of thinking, I've decided that I don't need your opinion on this, lol!)




4. My lil' sis texts me every day (insert big "AWWWWW," here). Sometimes she sends me texts like, "Night night Missy, don't let the bed bugs bite," and I think that is so, so sweet.

5. My favorite holiday food is pumpkin muffins! Mmmm, mmmm, good! What's yours?

6. My favorite holiday drink is egg nog! What's yours?


7. My California family has a Thanksgiving day tradition...we all take a shot of Petron Tequila together. You see, when you're not blessed w/Martha Stewart like qualities the holidays (cooking, cleaning, etc.) can get a little stressful; so, to help those of us who are Martha Stewart challenged, we take a shot. I know, that sounds so bad. But, it's fun. Even the people who are blessed w/Martha Stewart qualities take a shot, too...to make the rest of us not feel so bad!


Ok, I think I've divulged enough family secrets for today!


Happy Holidays, folks!

Nostalgia

I wanted to take this time to introduce you to some people. These people are my friends, who I've "blogged" about before on my Missyisms. Eventually, I'll introduce you to all of my friends; so, if you're not on here today, please don't fret or be offended!


Awwww, aren't we a happy group?! So, in the above picture, from left to right we have Ben, Paula, Missy and her arm is around Michelle, behind them is Dave and then there is Robin, Josh and Jennifer.

This picture is missing some important people. We clean up nicely, too, notice below:

The lady in the black dress is Melissa, the bald dude (haha, lol) behind her is Joe, the gentleman in the hat is Jason, next to him is Andy and the man in the very back, that's Adrian.

There, now we have everyone. And, because I'm feeling funny today, I have to include this picture, my favorite picture of Joe.

Isn't he cute! Lol!

Some of my friends and I surmise that "friends" does not justly describe our relationships. Family is a much more accurate description. We're a very, very close group who I love deeply. My life would have a void bigger than a black hole if they were not in it. Some of us see each other on a weekly basis (for lunch, dinner, or just to hang out with each other... and maybe drink...drink beverages of the alcoholic kind...OH! For Shame!) Some of us see each other on a monthly basis and because some of us (not me) decided that they needed to RELOCATE (GRRR!), we see each other on, hopefully, at least, a yearly basis!

We have traditions, just like families. We have an annual Superbowl and Halloween party and we have B-day celebrations. We have a "Group Christmas Dinner" every year where we temporarily act like adults and have a nice dinner (complete with a turkey, mashed potatoes [courtesy of Missy], and other good food) around a nicely set table. We draw each other's names and do a gift exchange. We take lil' vacations together. We're all hams and take lots of pictures of our good times and no one ever gets grumpy about stopping for a picture, lol!

It's cool how this group of non-blood relatives makes it a point each and every year to carry out these traditions!

I'm a lucky, lucky gal! I think people are blessed if they have the type of family where they can be themselves. I have that. I have a wonderful family. I also have a wonderful group of friends, who knows me better than I know myself sometimes, who I can always be myself around and never feel badly for (if you haven't picked up on this by now, I can be sensitive...and quirky) because I, and all of us, are accepted. Accepted for who we are. Simple as that. End of story.

Wouldn't it be great if every body (well, except for evil-doers) could simply be accepted for who they are?

Happy Belated Birthday, Thomas!

This "little guy" turned 17 yesterday! He is my cousin, Thomas. When I think of Thomas and the young man he has become, my heart literally swells with pride.

Thomas has a keen sense of humor and his mind is quip as a whip...almost like his father! This 17 year old can have me doubled over in laughter, my stomach cramping from laughing so hard...and he's only 17!

My nickname for him is, "Mouth," because he has an answer for everything, which he will explain to you in great detail (even if it's wrong...but don't tell him that!). Sometimes I swear he makes stuff up! (Thomas, if you're reading this, don't end sentences in prepositions like I just did!)

Thomas brings a lot of joy, laughter, love and compassion to our family. He is a bright, talented, sharp, loyal and multi-faceted "kid" and I can't wait to see where life takes him. I am very proud of you, Thomas.

Happy Birthday (belated), Thomas! I love ya!

Just Thoughts

I've become a bit of a book worm lately!

I look forward to locking myself away from the rest of the world and curling up all by myself and getting lost, utterly lost, in the worlds where my books take me.

Usually I am quite, quite social. Which is evident in times such as these when I look at my calendar and realize that between now and Christmas I have something occurring every weekend!

See, I am an Air Force Brat and proud of it! I had a great upbringing on military bases. When I was growing up something was going on every Friday and Saturday night. I either had a babysitter or we were off to some one's house for a party or dinner. I thought it was great.

I have totally carried that busy, social lifestyle with me. As soon as I was old enough to have my own life and make my own plans, I ensured that I always had something fun to do on a weekend.

As I've aged *cringe* I have found myself home on the occasional Friday or Saturday evening. Now, I'm not gonna lie, this change in my social lifestyle was a bit disconcerting at first and had I not had a degree in Psychology, I would have had to go to counseling to deal with this social decline! I began to find myself at home, with out plans, just occasionally, and I would think to myself that this isn't supposed to be happening, that I should be out doing something. I would fret that we (my social circle) were turning into a bunch of old fuddy-duddies who sat at home on Friday and Saturday night and that pretty soon, I would find myself with nothing to do on all the weekends for the rest of my life! (I'm not over-dramatic or anything.) By the next weekend, I made up for the lack of plans that I suffered from the previous weekend. Everyone can heave a sigh of relief, now!

Now, though...as I've aged *CRINGE* (that's twice now that I've said that...UGH) I find myself desiring to curl up on my couch in our living room and read a book or watch a chick flick while sipping hot cocoa curled up in a blanket. I find that I'm desiring to do this on a Friday or Saturday night! OH! What is happening to me???

Maybe I've just become a more secure individual. Yea, that's it. I am a psychologically sound and secure individual and I don't need plans on a weekend to validate me. It's NOT that I'm getting older, has nothing to do with that at all, not one bit, not one iota.

(Me thinks thou dost protest too much????)

Did I tell you that my sister-in-law found my first gray hair this weekend? Yea, I partied good that night! Lol!

Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup

When I was younger, I could remember everything! I could remember word-for-word conversations that I had with people, I could even remember what the people were wearing and what I, myself, was wearing!

Something has happened as I've progressed into my late twenties, though. Something sad and something that needs to be mourned. My poor brain cells! Where have they gone? Please, let's take a moment!

I had a good story to blog for you today. Something funny happened. The thing is, I can't remember what it is! The even sadder thing is that I turned to my friend after said event and mentioned that now I had something good to blog about!

Before we go on, let me just apologize for ending that last sentence in a preposition. I hate doing that. But, every body's doing it!!!!!! I'm choosing to let it go because I didn't like my alternative sentence, which did not end in a preposition!

Oh, this is so frustrating, between my memory going and now ending sentences in prepositions! What's happening to me? It's a dark road I'm traveling down, I tell ya!

Back to my story. Thankfully that between my friend's memory and my memory and the lovely entity that is technology we were able to, through text conversation, remember my Missyism!

Last Sunday I experienced a terrible, horrible, no good, rotten headache. I could feel the evil little elves inside my head banging on my lobes with hammers and cackling evil cackles. Stupid evil elves, I thought!

After some rest and tons of Advil, the headache had slightly subsided and hunger started to set in. (See, there's that damn preposition again, ruining my perfect grammar!)

All that I wanted to eat was some good ol' fashioned Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup. We actually had some in the pantry, too! Perfect!

I got the soup from the pantry, opened it with a hand held can-opener, which I resent by the way, because I want a plug-in, electric, one, I've discovered! Anyways, I opened this delicious goodness, poured it into a pot and started to heat it up. As I waited patiently for the warm nutrition to be ready, I fantasized about this Chicken Noodle Soup and how good it was going to taste and reminisced about how long it had been since I had some!

Before I knew it, (because we have a gas stove now!) the Chicken Noodle Soup was ready! I spooned a bunch in a bowl (because we don't have a ladle, we're pitiful, I know), making a big soupy mess in the process. Later, Dave would question, "How did you get soup everywhere?" (Everywhere referring to under the burner, on the counter, in the sink...I've got talent, I tell ya!).

I took my bowl and settled in comfortably on the couch, scooped the perfect bite of soup on the spoon (it had just the right amount of noodles, chicken and broth) and slowly and cherishing, took my first bite...

Hmmm...this soup doesn't taste at all like I remember when I was a kid, I thought disappointed. It tasted so, so, soooooooooo salty! Have my taste buds changed? Did I not notice this salty taste when I was a kid? What was going on? (Preposition again, I know, I apologize).

I took another bite, thinking it was just me, that somehow, this second bite would taste differently, taste normal.

Nope! Still salty.

Then, it dawned on me. Realization slowly came around and my little brain wondered, "Was I supposed to put water in the soup before I heated it up and ate it?"

Apparently, folks, when you buy Condensed Chicken Noodle Soup you're supposed to add water to it, and then it will taste just like it did when you were growing up.

It seemed only fitting that I end that last sentence in a preposition.

To my defense, though, I checked every other "modern" chicken noodle soup in our pantry and you don't have to add water to any of those! In fact, the label clearly states, "Do not add water." Granted, they're not "condensed," but, who's really checking, anyways?

This Isn't Gonna Be Pretty

I'm doing this Blog for me. I've discovered that I enjoy to write. I'm going to write about whatever I see fit.

Right now, I'm going to use my blog to vent.

I've ready many a blog in my day (sarcasm) and some people it seems only blog about the happy stuff. Well, I'm not happy right now. Sorry reader. You may not want to continue.

Being happy all the time, having a perfect life, it isn't real. Right?

I hate it when you are talking to someone...sharing an opinion or thought...and they gave you an incredulous look in response to what you are saying. The look says, "Oh my gosh, you idiot." This happened to me. What is even more frustrating is that this isn't the first time this person has looked at me this incredulously!

You know what I just thought of? That person is the idiot! That person is the idiot for only being able to respond with an incredulous look as opposed to voicing a differing opinion and attempting to hold an intelligent conversation.

Can ya tell I'm a wee bit frustrated?

I'm also, while I'm at it, gonna open myself up for some criticism; but, I privately vowed in my head that if and when I started blogging, I really was going to "keep it real." The good, the bad and the ugly.

Sorry reader.

But, I think knowing that someone else out there goes through similar stuff, that you're not the only one whose life isn't all wine and roses, helps. And, if just one person reads this, who also lives in reality and feels like their life isn't all wine and roses and they can relate to me, well, hopefully I've made them feel a little bit better. It's always nice to know you're not alone and there's someone else out there going through stuff.

Now I'm chickening out.

Dave and I got in a fight and he went to bed mad at me.

Fights suck.

I think sometimes marriage sucks...and I think everyone who is married or in a long term relationship, knows that it sucks sometimes. Just a small percentage of the time. A minute percentage of the time. People don't need to go freaking out that I'm saying this. I'm just being realistic.

Will everything get worked out? Of course! *sigh* Sometimes it's just the getting there that sucks, too.

It really, really, sucks that emotions get the best of people some times, too.

So, between being looked at like I was an idiot and the marital bliss this evening (sarcasm again) I'm wide awake and bitter at 10:20 P.M. when I should be in bed.

I just wish that I was perfect and didn't let emotions get the best of me...like the person who gave me the incredulous look.

Humph!

Did you know...

...that's it's officially Christmas season!

Why?

Cause Starbucks says so! They have their holiday cups and flavors available! Ooo-la-la!

Do you know when you're putting up your Christmas tree? We do!

Last year, I flexed time off of work on one of Dave's days off and we decorated the tree and house together. It was so much fun! We had doughnuts and sparkling cider. We cranked up the Christmas music, kept our PJ's on and went to town decorating; picking up each little ornament and reminiscing it's past, yelling at the cats to stop climbing the Christmas tree, trying to make a fake Christmas tree look real by separating each and every lovely, blasted, branch...ahhh, good times!

This year, we plan to do the same. This year, though, it will probably take all day! Whoo-hoo! Why will it take all day? Because this year, in the new house, we get to put 2, yes that's right 2 Christmas trees in the house! Oh the joy! "Joy to the world..."

So, on November 19th we're going to see the hottest band in the world, KISS! We wanted the best and we're gonna get the best! We're gonna rock and roll all night and decorate all the next day! We're gonna sure know something about a deuce and...ok, that's enough. I'm dropping KISS song lines, song titles and concert banter for those of you unfortunate enough to not know what I'm talking about!

We took the day after the concert off from work and we plan to decorate that day! I can't wait to show pics!

In honor of November being Thanksgiving month, I'm going to post something I'm thankful for...

I am so thankful that Dave and I successfully made it through our first month of a new house payment and new bills! We did it! I was a little worried...because that's what I do...it runs in the family...if I didn't worry, then I'd worry that I was adopted...but then, that would be worrying again...so I would know I wasn't adopted!

Sharing 10 Things

1. I am SO in the Christmas mood! I get an excited, butterfly filled tummy at the mere thought of decorating our house and putting up 2, yes that's right, 2 Christmas trees in the new house! I'm ready to listen to Christmas Carols and wrap presents and bake goodies. 'Tis the season, folks!

2. I still have a lot of boxes to unpack.

3. I am going to paint one wall of my office (the "office" at home) a great, wonderful color that I'm so excited about! It's a little dark but it's also bright. It's a unique color, a unique color that I got so excited about, who knew I would love, Love, LOVE "classic teal"??? I painted one section of the wall that color just to make sure I liked it and sure enough, I did! (I'll post a picture of it later.)

4. I miss my friends who moved.

5. I made my little brother laugh (he's 13 and it's hard to make 13 year old boys laugh) when I told him that our Dad suggested that I buy him a Tom Brady jersey for his B-day. I told my little brother that I told my dad there is no way in hell I'm letting my little brother wear a Tom Brady jersey! He agreed! He got an Eli Manning jersey. He loved it.

6. I miss my brother and sister.

7. We thought we had a problem with our heating and cooling unit. We thought that the "blower" was coming on too much. Turns out, we have an upgrade that is supposed to be energy efficient and that is why the "blower" comes on and off even though the unit is switched to off. I love that house!

8. I don't like cooking. I think I need to take a cooking class. The new, big kitchen hasn't helped. Surprise, surprise!

9. I'm long winded!

10. Dave and I are in decorating pandemonium, trying to figure out, vertical blinds or curtains? Dark brown, light brown, or red? Oh, the possibilities!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, Folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Dream Come True! (part two)

My Grandparents should have been detectives! They are great information getters! My Grandma and I took a stroll through the casino gift shop, my Grandpa, unbeknown to us, made small talk with the hotel concierge at that time. He found out that Frank Sinatra Jr. was indeed checked in to the hotel and that he and his band were currently at the golf course! Who is able to get that kind of information?! Apparently, my Grandpa! Through the course of the day, he also got the security code to the back entrance of the casino that the band used! I couldn't believe it. They're good, they're very, very good!

So, our big plan was to return to the showroom around 2 and casually walk into the showroom. We were all coached. We all knew our role. My Grandpa was to have his listening ears turned on! When sneaking into the showroom and when being in the showroom he wasn't allowed to be hard of hearing or to assume that he knew what my Grandma or I were going to instruct him if we had to talk! We were also coached that we were to walk briskly, but not too briskly, straight past the box office (which you had to do in order to get in the showroom) with out looking in their direction and if they tried to talk to us that we were to ignore them and just keep walking, straight into the showroom.

OK, game on, I thought!

We headed down the corridor towards the showroom.

Something was different, though.

Shoot! There was a beautiful maroon velvet curtain hanging up in front of the showroom door. My Grandma just kept walking. We were nearing the box office window. We walked passed it. No one yelled at us. BIG PHEW! My butterflies slightly subsided. We walked around the curtain, pulled on the showroom door and nothing happened.

My Grandma kept pulling and pulling, then she started pushing the door and pushing! Still nothing happened! I told my Grandma the door was locked. "Let's go," I said. But, then my grandma noticed an open door to the right of us. An open door that led to the inside of the box office where there was another door that presumably led to the showroom. Did I mention that the open door had a sign on it that read, "No Admittance, Employees Only." So, what do you think my Grandma did? Obey the sign? Nope, not a chance! (The butterflies were now back, by the way.) Just as my Grandma was walking towards the door and I'm vehemently whispering at her to stop, the lady who gave us our tickets the day before emerged and asked if she could help us.

My Grandma told her a similar story to what she told Joe just a few hours before. The nice lady who gave us our tickets yesterday wasn't so nice today and she curtly informed us that the showroom door would remain locked until 6:30pm when it would be opened for the show and that the door is always locked. To which my Grandma casually and coolly replied that the door has been unlocked up until now and that we had made several trips in and out of the showroom since arriving at the hotel, with out anyone stopping us. Humph!

A little bit defeated, we walked to the end of the showroom corridor and hung out there for awhile. We noticed a girl trying to get into the showroom and then talking to the rude box office lady. "Watch her, watch her," my Grandma said.

"She's a band member," I said.

"How do you know", my Grandma asked.

"I see the instrument on her back", I replied.

The band member started walking towards us.

"Excuse me, excuse me," my Grandma said.

My Grandma preceded to have a similar conversation with the band member as she did with Joe and with the rude box office employee. The band member was very helpful. She's the reason we ended up in the back parking lot of the hotel trying to get in to the showroom! The back parking lot that had a lot security cameras on top of every lamp post!

She told us that the band members were entering through the back and advised, yes, she ADVISED us, that we try to get in there. She said that it was a public parking lot and that the back entrance that the band members were using was out in the open.

Oh my gosh, I thought.

So, the three of us went traipsing to the back parking lot. We watched a few band members enter the hotel through their special door. My Grandpa walked up to the door and hung out there, taking up conversation with the next set of band members to arrive. (At this point, I'm wandering around the parking lot pretending to admire the pretty fall leaves on the trees so security doesn't think I'm loitering and come out to get us and remove us from the premises!)

No one was letting my Grandpa, or any of us for that matter, into the showroom through the back entrance; so, my Grandma and I decided to camp out in front of the showroom, where Frank Sinatra Jr. would likely make his entrance. We reasoned that since he was staying at the hotel, it was unlikely that he would use the back entrance as opposed to simply taking an elevator and walking through the casino to get to the showroom.

So, there we were. I perched my arms up on a ledge and started texting Dave. My Grandma, on the other hand, was pacing in little circles, moving her head constantly tyring to look in all directions. I focused my attention straight ahead, he'd have to walk through my field of vision to get into that showroom, I thought.

And then, there he was.

There was Mr. Frank Sinatra Jr. himself!

Walking straight for the showroom, carrying a white binder with papers on it and wearing a white with blue pin stripes, long-sleeved shirt.

Folks, I recognized him INSTANTANEOUSLY! It didn't take one second, it didn't even take a split second...the recognition was INSTANTANEOUS! And, I saw him before my Grandma! Oh for shame! Lol

"Grandma that's him, THAT'S HIM!!!!!!!!!!!

Then, he turned and started walking away from the showroom.

And with that, my Grandma took off running, yes RUNNING after Mr. Sinatra Jr. She had a black velour lounge suit on, her arms were raised to her sides, like runners do, and she was running after Mr. Sinatra Jr in the casino yelling, "Mr. Sinatra, Mr. Sinatra."

This made me laugh! Did I run after them, too? NO! I hung back. I was shaking! Shaking with excitement and nervousness because I knew a dream had just come true for me and for my Grandma.

Mr. Sinatra Jr. stopped at an ATM machine and it seemed like he was at the machine for FOREVER! Lol

When he completed his transaction, my Grandma approached him and I joined them. This part is really a blur. But, what is crystal clear was Frank Sinatra Jr's face. We made eye contact. He has crystal blue eyes. In my head, I had the most beautiful, perfectly poised and elegant statement to say to him...but, all I could do was smile! The sentence was running through my head as if I should be saying it aloud, I wanted to say it aloud...but, all I could do was smile. I just kept thinking, when we made eye contact, "Smile, Missy, smile." Thank God my Grandma was there to talk to him. She didn't seem nervous at all, the ol' pro!

Frank Jr. was very gracious. He told us to wait outside the showroom and he would come and get us. (At first, I thought he was blowing us off). By this time, I was shaking bad! I was so excited and so nervous and in such disbelief that I met this untouchable individual whose music has been a humongous part of my life.

A lady came out and got us, walked us into the showroom and seated us. Before the rehearsal began, Frank Jr. looked over at us and asked us if we got in OK and if we were OK. Can you believe that? He checked on us himself! One other time during the rehearsal, he walked over to where we were sitting and asked how we were doing, too.

He is a gracious, polite and kind, kind man.

Seeing the rehearsal was awesome. I don't think there are words to describe it. Seeing the rehearsal, watching the rehearsal, was like getting to know Frank Jr. The man is so passionate about these songs and about music. His knowledge on music, arrangement, notes, tempo, beat, etc is amazing, simply amazing, folks and I'm not exaggerating or telling tales.

After the rehearsal, my Grandma and I went to thank Mr. Sinatra. He asked us a few times what we thought, if we enjoyed it. I was finally able to speak this time! We had a nice, but short conversation with him.

It was a dream come true.

Here are some pictures of the rehearsal:

Frank Sinatra Jr. is the man leaning against the piano, wearing the white shirt...I think he was wearing Uggs (the boots), folks!

In this blurry photo, he's the man walking across the stage.