Happy Holidays

I love the holidays. Setting up the Christmas tree. Pulling out the ornaments with the stories that come along. Making cookies for Santa. Shaking the presents that await under the tree. Holiday nog. Oh, the holiday nog. Time with family. Time with friends. The smiles that go along with a present you spent so long picking out.

The holidays that you spend so long preparing for comes and goes in a split second. I was at the mall today and it's crazy how busy it is. People exchanging and returning. Spending their gift cards. It's funny how much of an itch I get to spend on myself....seems to me, lots of people got that itch today.

Merry After Christmas!

M.I.A (not like the band)

I know I've been out of service for a while. I hate letting my blogs get too far and in between. A fatty post is in my future though. Stay calm. Be patient. I'll be back.

Where The WILD things are

It's been quite the whirlwind weekend full of wild nights and wild things.

Last night. It wasn't an "official high school reunion, but a lot of us gathered together at Home to remember the old times and look forward to the new times. People that I haven't physically seen or verbally talked to in years (yes, they are all my Facebook friends though), seriously...haven't changed a bit. We drank, we laughed, we danced....it was a night that I was pleasantly surprised with.

And then today, I saw my favorite childhood book on the big screen. It was very well done. Kudos to Spike Jonze. The company was pretty darn fabulous as well. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.

Get Ready To Run

So I signed myself up for a 5K run. Shocking, yes I know. If you know me well, you're probably wondering if I am sick or delierious. Normally, running for fun is not in my vocabulary. When I was in high school, I attempted Track and Field during the off season of cheerleading. I didn't make it very long....jeezus, that's just A LOT of running. And when you're finished running, you run some more. I hate to say I am a quitter, so let's just say I found something else to occupy my time during the off season.

I'm no Forrest Gump. I really never just feel like running. BUT running for a purpose is different. Normally, if you do find me running, I'm on a mission...I am running because it is the quickest way to drop those unwanted nagging pounds. Or I am playing softball and running from 1st to 2nd base because someone hit a line drive. (How did I get to first? Most likely I walked there.) Other times you find me running? The week after Halloween. Running. The week after Thanksgiving. Running. New Years Resolution. Running. Seriously, the pounds just FALL off.

And how do I feel when I am running? Ok Ok, you got me. The whole time I'm running, I am cursing something. The ground. The huge hill in the distance. My tennis shoes. My headphones that keep popping out of my ears. My iPod batteries that just died. The irritating jiggle that happens in the mid section of my body. What is THAT?

So you might ask, why did I sign up for a 5K? I know, I've asked myself that a couple times myself. (normally after a large hamburger and a ton of french fries.) But the answer is, I am running for me. I am running for Arthritis. I'm running to raise money for the cause. I'm running because really....I've turned over a new leaf. I'm doing things now a days that I have never done before. Enjoying life the way it's supposed to be lived and enjoying it to it's fullest. (granted, running is still kindof a pain and I still curse a lot in my head while doing it) But if it can make me healthy. If it can benefit someone else. And heck, sometimes after I'm done running...I feel really super happy.

So all in all, it's all very much worth it. So here I go. I'm just a running!

I'm Bone Dry

There's one thing to write and blog and whatnot about random occurances that happen in my life. It's random. It's spur of the moment writing. It's quirky and I have no idea if anyone is even reading it. I don't write to entertain, I write just to get it out. Get it out of my brain. But when someone asks you to write on a regular basis because, so far, they like what you have to say....why do I all of a sudden become bone dry and all out of things to write about?

I'm empty.

Bone dry. Just like this bull head in the desert.

I need inspiration to hit me life a bolt of lightening.

Dear Mr. Honky Honkerton

(I was a passenger in the car when the following happened, but it still rings true.)

Dear Impatient Honker,

When you pull out in front me, cut me off and then get into the passing lane....when I remain in my lane but pass your sorry ass because there is a car turning in front of you making you have to stop....DO NOT HONK AT ME. No need to hate because you made a mistake and got in the wrong lane.

Isn't The Motto Protect and SERVE?

So I am running on time (a.k.a. early, because I am 10 min early everywhere I go. I know, annoying) to my doctor appointment UNTIL I run into some traffic. There's one thing to deal with traffic because of the rain. Another to deal with traffic on the highway, but when it's in the rain AND at a stop light intersection....some work needs to be done to correct it. This is where you come in Mr. Police Officer.

And standing in the middle of the road with your thumb up your ass is NOT the kind of work I am talking about.

Seriously, your motto not only says protect, but SERVE. And serving in this case would be telling us to move AROUND the large tow truck pulling the car out of the mud. But no, you are just standing there staring like a child at the zoo watching the bears. COME ON!!! I have a doctor appointment to get to! FUNCTION those glove wearing hands.

So I took it upon myself to do a U-TURN right in front of his standing doing nothing self and found a new way for traffic to go. I was the leader of the pack. Everyone followed me. And THAT Mr. Police Officer is how it's done!

Someone's Special Someone

"Given the Chance, I Want To Be Somebody." - Kings of Leon.

Doesn't everyone crave to be someone's special someone? The someone in someone's life, that they can't live without. The someone in someone's life that brings a smile to their face with just the mere mention of your name. The someone in someone's life that cannot be compared to anyone else. That's really not too much to ask for, now is it?!?

I'll Take The Apple, but Keep The Chunk

I have come to the conclusion that even though my tastes are changing as I get older (cause, ya...mushrooms rock now!) I still do not like chunky applesauce.

The Camera Adds 20 Pounds

When you wake up feeling a little fat, that's one thing. But when you see yourself on a video and say, "Wow, I really look fat." And have the person that is standing next to you agree with you and add, "Ya, the camera adds 20 pounds.".....that makes for a really bad day.

There's just some things you should NOT agree with people about.

We're Connected...Therefore, I Will Freak Out

No matter if my son is aware of it or not, we are connected. I carried him inside of my body for 9 months and we were connected by a cord. I was his home for 9 months. Completely connected.

And even after being removed from my body, we have always been and will always be connected. When he was little, if I had a bad day at work, or I was feeling gloomy, or whatever....my little man experienced the same thing. The daycare would tell me, it was a little bit of a rough day for him and he just wanted to be alone. I've always known that a mother and their child have a special bond, that nothing else can come close to being compared with.

So when my son started playing football, I thought...this is going to make me a nervous wreck. I see him come home with bruises all over his body and he reassures me...he's fine. When he is upset because he isn't getting enough playing time, I want to come out of my skin and yell at the coaches. Put my boy IN!

And then there was today. He played ALOT of the game and was absolutely amazing. He played offense. He played defense. I was up and down out of my chair yelling, "That's my boy!" A time out was called and I wasn't paying attention to the field. It was a regular time out, no one was hurt. I glanced down for a second and the mom next to asked me if my son had asthma. I was like, "Ugh, no...wh" And before I could get the "why" out..there he was. On the sidelines with the coaches, telling them he couldn't breathe as tears rolled down his face.

My heart stopped.

And still now, it's 5 hours after the game. He's singing and dancing as he plays NFL football on the Playstation. He's reassured me over and over, "I'm fine mom. Stop asking."

But you know what, I can't help it...because we're connected. And will be forever.

Goosebump Good

I always know that I am going to thoroughly enjoy something when I get goosebumps. And after watching THIS I had full blown goosebumps. I cannot WAIT until November 20th.

Alone isn't Bad

In the past, I have been told that I can't be alone. It was told to me in a way that made me feel like it was a deficit of my personality. But you know what, I don't think it's a bad thing to not want to be alone. I like surrounding myself with people that make me feel good about myself and well, people that are fun.

Well last night, I went to dinner and movies with my dad. (Surrogates, I would really give it 3 stars out of 5....it got that much because Bruce Willis is in it.) After the movie, he dropped me back off at my home and left. I was alone. I really wanted to go out. Even got freshed up. But in the end, couldn't find anyone to go out with. After feeling like a loser for about 5 minutes, I realized that it was a blessing in disguise. I de-make-uped, hung out with my puppy and curled up in my down comforter and fell asleep.

Today I feel refreshed, Excited. Energized. Loved.....being alone for an evening ain't all that bad!

Picking Up Right Where We Left Off

You know you have good friends, when you have been gone for a little bit and you can hang out with them again and it's like you never left. I am blessed for sure to have an amazing support system. I am an only child, but I have some amazing sisters.

Rainy Sunday Morning

I love a rainy Sunday morning. Sleeping in. Waking up to my dog curled up at my feet. Parked in front of the TV with a big bowl of cereal and watching Jerry McGuire. There's only one more thing that would make this morning perfect.....

Balloons, Beer and a Bad Dog

Last night was quite the night. I started out my evening with a group of friends and we headed to the annual St. Louis Balloon Glow. It's such a neat event when all the balloons that are a part of the balloon race, gather together for an evening of socialness and glowtime. There's funnel cake, there's crazy people who bring their candles and tables and camp out...and I think I even heard an auctioneer. Then, a loud alarm goes off, and all the balloons fire it up and they glow. That alarm happens about every 10 minutes I think. It's amazing. Everyone should experience it, at least once in their lifetime.

After commensing the socialness at a local bar after the glow, it was time to call it an evening and I headed home. Much to my surprise when I walked in the door...I found that Cooper, while in his new kennel, pushed out the plastic black part that he sits on...and attempted to dig me a basement. That's right. I have a 5"x5" HOLE in my carpeting now where his anxiety got the best of him.

So today, I had to walk down to the office and let them know that I have a dog. Pay the deposit that I will never see again, and scheduled an appointment for maintenance to come out and fix it. I'm hoping and praying it's not an additional cost.

Also today, I bought medicine for Cooper so he doesn't have anxiety when I leave. Cross your finger, I really do not want to be confined to my home.

And His Name Will Be Cooper...Cause he's SUPER!

I honestly don't think I could have chosen a better dog. I went to the Humane Society last Saturday and walked away with an angel. I named him Cooper and he is a 1 year old Austrailian Cattle Dog/Lab Mix. (really, how the hell do you spell Austrailian?) He loves long walks around the neighborhood, napping on the floor right NEXT to the $25 pillow I bought him, listening to soundscapes on the music channel, chewing on shoes (we've lost a couple shoe laces because of him), and chasing after Hannah. (I know I know...I hear the unified 'Poor Hannah').

Everyone deserves a companion like this one. He has molded and snuggled himself into the family quite nicely. Welcome Home Cooper! Cheers to a good life!

Are you kidding me?

It's 10:16PM and my CAT is not happy with me. Why...could be:

1.) She knows it's just a matter of time before we have a dog invading her space.

2.) She can't find the cricket that is chirping in the house.

3.) She's thirsty.

4.) She's cranky.

5.) She's constipated.

6.) The litter door is closed.

All I know, is that...

1.) This must stop now.

2.) I'm 2 seconds away from slipping her a Tylonol PM.

3.) Craigslist doesn't work.

Because I Forgot

So apparently I have forgotten my brain somewhere, and am unable to locate it. I now have a new BLOG address. Why you might ask?!?!

1.) Because I am blonde.

2.) Because I have no idea why creating a new gmail account enabled a LOCK DOWN on the old blog, thus needing to create a new blog....because I couldn't write in the old one anymore.

3.) Yes, I apparently don't have the "remember password" feature enabled.

Whatever. It was time for a fresh BLOG.