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!