Friday, November 30, 2007

Love Story - Installment #2

So, after the nine year relationship ended I felt so completely free. I was free as a bird and ready to regain a bit of myself. I was having fun living in my little apartment with occassional dates here and there. I hadn't found anyone special, but I was really happy. I loved the freedom my life offered me. I could come and go as I pleased and I was making good decisions for me without thinking about someone else's plans. It was so liberating.

(A funny little aside here: about a month after breaking up with nine year guy, he called and offered to mail me a ring to marry him. This was his idea of a romantic proposal, I guess. Needless to say, I declined his generous offer!)

About this time, I was team teaching 5th grade with a friend. We had great times together. We'd take our 50 5th graders out for recess and discuss our lives while they ran around us screaming wildly. I would let her in on my dreams of meeting a guy with strong arms who would keep me safe and secure. We would laugh about my description, but deep inside I really was dreaming of this guy. I also had been praying/talking to God about this guy. I just wanted a good guy who lived in the same city and was fun.

My friend's husband was a policeman and he was on a mission to find a perfect match for me. He set me up on several dates that were flops. These guys just weren't what I was looking for. And, I felt like I really knew what I was looking for by now. My friend called on a Sunday to tell me about another potential suitor. All she knew about this one was that he was a policeman. So, I agreed to meet him for a blind date and my friend and her husband would be there, too. Our date was arranged for Thursday night. On Wednesday my friend called to say that she had met "the guy". He was working at a baseball game and she had a description for me: tall, motorcycle policeman, tan, tall black boots, cool sunglasses...and strong arms! I was intrigued.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Hannah and ONJ

On Sunday night, Lily had the opportunity to go to the Hannah Montana concert with our neighbor and her two daughters. They had such a great time. Lily came up with her own original outfit to wear to the show. I loved her funky and fresh approach to her style. Here she is before the show:
After the concert I met them for dinner. It was fun to see them excited about the whole experience. I told Lily this was the kickoff of her concert career. Mine started in 4th grade with Olivia Newton John singing this hit:



Can I just add that in the 4th grade I was sure I would grow up to be JUST like ONJ!!! I loved her.


We have been decorating the house a little here and there. This is one of my new favorite items...liking it so much that it just might stay there permanently:


Here are a few others:


And, Shelly has been spending lots of time looking through my little flip albums of photos. These are all the extra shots that don't get scrapbooked.

Monday, November 26, 2007

The Table


We had a great visit in Virginia Beach for Thanksgiving. Lots of food and fun. There were some really yummy recipes floating around this year. Can't wait to try some of them, again. We had a little photo session with my niece and nephew for potential Christmas card shots. Here are some of the results...oh so fun being around teenagers...they crack me up!!!


On our adventure home, we took a 7.5 foot table and 7 seven kitchen chairs with us. Four of the chairs were in the car and the table and other three chairs were strapped onto a boat trailer! Craziness. I can only imagine what people were saying as they drove by us on the 5 hour trip home. Fun times...as always. The table has always been one of my favorites. It belonged to my SIL and she couldn't use it so she gave it to us and for that I am eternally grateful. I would consider this item one of the few things I have ever truly coveted. It is just perfect. I even got up at about 1:30 a.m. on Sunday to go downstairs and admire it. I think I need to get out more...huh?



And here are some cute photos from our visit with Pratty, Mary Katherine, and Kaden in Durham for the soccer tournament. He is such a cutie and the girls love him to pieces.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

11.22.07

Happy Thanksgiving to all. We are enjoying some time with our family. So nice and so needed. I just fixed the yummy mac and cheese dish and a delicious looking pumpkin pie cake. Hope it is all delish. Looking forward to taking some photos today.

Thankful for:


  • family
  • brie cheese
  • my little girls
  • Christmas shopping online
  • many wrapped gifts
  • shopping with my sister
  • happiness
  • scrapbooking
  • pink & brown together


Will be back soon with more of the Love Story.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Good News

Some may remember that I posted about this tragic event earlier in the year. Here is some really wonderful news for this family.

A Love Story

Recently, I have become super consumed, obsessed, inspired, etc. by this blog. From reading her many entries I realized I needed (for myself mostly) to document my love story. Well, mine and Peaches (dh). This story may take awhile and so I will tell the tale in nice little chunks here and there (similar to my current blog idol).

For about 9 years, I had dated the same person. We met when I was 21 and I was very taken by him. As time went on, I became one of those girls who changes things about themselves to make a boy happy. I began to lose my identity and I was merely this person's girlfriend. It was a long nine years of thinking that I would one day marry this guy. We started dating when we were both living in Virginia Beach. Over time, he moved to South Carolina, Richmond, VA, North Carolina, California, and New Jersey. For 8 years and 9 months, we were always in different cities...long distance romance was difficult and underwhelming. I would never recommend it to anyone for longer than a week. During this time, I had some serious talks/prayers with God. I asked for an answer to my situation and hoped that he would put us in the same place and allow us to marry. Fortunately, my prayers went unanswered and in July of 1996, I broke off our relationship officially over the telephone with my sweet little Himalayan cat, Chardonnay, by my side. This was the final break up of several over that year. One particular break up had occurred when I was visiting him in San Francisco. I got off the plane on a Friday morning and by Saturday afternoon I was back on a plane heading across the country back to my home. Once my decision was official, I cried for about 4 minutes, snuggled with my cat, and turned the light off for one of my best night's sleep. The next morning, I filled my beach bag with my Cosmopolitan magazine, a towel, and sun tan lotion (minus the SPF). On my way to the beach I stopped and got my favorite Hardee's unsweetened iced tea with lemon. Meeting up with two of my girlfriends, I told them the big break up news and they could see the weight being lifted from my shoulders as I spoke. It was a good day.

Now, obviously this is not the love story. But, I promise it is coming and it gets better!

Monday, November 12, 2007

Reflections

Wow, did you see that? I am branching out and decided to give my blog entries a real title as opposed to the lame title...date! So, today I have been having flashbacks of various childhood memories and just wanted to post some of them here.

  1. At the age of 4, I was taken by my mother to a little red school house in Kodiak, Alaska where I was examined for the basics...eyesight, hearing, comprehenshion, etc. I was asked by the kind woman checking my eyes to tell her which direction the large E was facing. At that moment, I asked "where's the E?" Wow, I had/have terrible eyesight and this was the first that my mother was to know of it. She took me for an eye examine and then I was issued a beautiful gleaming pair of blue cat eye glasses. These little gems would help me to see some very large trees on the island as we drove home and I shouted with glee when I saw them. My mom couldn't believe I had never seen them. As a mom, now, I can only imagine what that must have felt like for her.
  2. In Mrs. Coates' 2nd grade class, I would take my pink plastic ruler and squeeze glue down the middle of the little dent. Patiently, I would wait for it to dry. Once it was dry, I would peel it off the ruler and create cool glue nails out of it that I would stick to my own nails. I wonder what Mrs. Coates thought of all of this?
  3. As a 1st grader, I would make my own lunch each night before going to bed. The lunch was the same every day...bologna and cheese sandwich, an apple, milk in my thermos, and a Big Wheel. This is exactly what my lunchbox looked like in 1972.
  4. In third grade, I was obsessed with Olivia Newton John. It was the year that "Have You Never Been Mellow" came out and I knew every word to that song. In an art contest at my school, we were asked to draw a picture of your favorite song and I fashioned a masterpiece that represented this tune. Now, I was by no means an artist and was completely shocked when I received 1st place in the K-3 category for my interpretation of ONJ's song. I wonder now if I was the only entrant.

Ok, that will complete some of my reflections for the day. And, When I head to my parents for Thanksgiving, I am hoping to snagged some photos of my younger days to add to my blog. Should be good for a few good chuckles.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

11.06.07

I am a list maker. Love to make lists. Love to look over my lists. And LOVE to check things off of a list. So, today I thought I'd write my blog entry in list form. So, here goes:

  • had three of my teeth bonded today as a result of the accident.



  • i got two cute costumes at Target on the 75% off sale...a bunny and an angel ($5 each). was thinking Shelly would make a cute angel...we'll see.



  • i went with my friend angie to a cool scrapbook store and found some neat little treasures while I was there. loved having time to do that with a friend who gets it.



  • we saw the Bee Movie this weekend. it was cute, but perhaps a little overhyped.



  • i am thankful for a husband who provides me with help when i need it.



  • we are excited about a friend who expecting her second child...Lily and Shelly were so thrilled to hear her good news.



  • it is windy, sunny, and chilly here...a perfect Fall day.



  • i really should be putting my Christmas cards together. they are in a kit that you assemble!



  • being positive is so crucial to finding your own happiness.



  • i am loving the bachelor this season...he's a doll...hope he picks a good one.


  • nip/tuck is on tonight and i am eager to see how this season unfolds.



  • we watched the amazing race on sunday and i am so glad it's on again.


  • lily spelled precipitation correctly last night...out of the blue!


  • and now for the pictures...here are some from a recent park outing with the girls:

Thursday, November 01, 2007

11.01.07

Lots going on this week. First, Lily was a munchkin in the 2nd grade production of The Wizard of Oz. Then, the girls and daddy did some pumpkin carving on Halloween Eve. And, finally Lily dressed as a MOMMY for Halloween and Shelly was CINDERELLA. I love that Lily did her own thing and came up with her own idea for a costume...my kind of girl! I'm also overwhelmed by the idea that my 7 year-old wanted to be "me"...really neat. Shelly was the perfect little Cinderella and loved every minute of being a princess. So, without any more chit chat, here are all the photos.
The Wizard of Oz (with a little munchkin in the middle)The Pumpkin Carving Event (with a reluctant participant...Shelly)The girls in costume (a Mom...next to her minivan and Cinderella)

The End of the Haunting