OK - I am FURIOUS! I just sat here and wrote one of the longest journal entries I have ever written. Guess what? AOL decided to KICK ME OFF in the middle of it, and I lost the WHOLE FREAKING entry. Can you tell I am PISSED?????
So this is the entry you get now!!! More later.........
It is a dreary Wednesday here in Georgia - 53 degrees and raining, and I am itching to be curled up in my bed with a good book. Instead, here I sit at work. I can't believe Christmas has already come and gone. I really enjoyed Christmas this year, getting to spend it in a new home with my new husband - by next year, the new will have probably worn off LOL! I must say my sweet husband (errr, Santa) was very good to me this year - I got lots of presents and loved every one of them.
Well, I guess we are officially old - we have decided we are staying home New Year's Eve!!! I am going to go to the seafood market Friday and get some lobster tails and we are going to bring in the New Year eating lobster on our couch. We will make up for the lack of partying on Monday night, though, when we go to the Sugar Bowl. I really am excited about that - kind of a once in a lifetime thing for UGA to be playing in the Sugar Bowl in Atlanta. We should have lots of fun that night. We are going with another couple and the four of us are staying in a hotel downtown so that we can have as much fun as we want and not worry about driving.
Well, work is calling. More to come....
I can't believe Christmas has almost come and gone another year!! I am about to go make some chili cheese dip and pigs in a blanket (my husband's favorite!) to take to his aunt's house tonight. We will get up early in the morning and open gifts with his family, then go over to my mom's. After having Christmas dinner at her house, we will go spend some time at my dad's. An exhausting day, but I am thankful to have my family to spend Christmas with!!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!
I have been feeling a little bit like I am on the verge of getting sick for the past few days, but, luckily, have avoided it so far. Brent came home with some of those super duper vitamin C packets from GNC, and I think they may be holding it at bay. Nevertheless, when I left work last evening, I felt like I was not going to make it home. I had an overall achy feeling and was just exhausted.Well, I did make it home, got straight in a steaming hot shower, put on my jammies, and headed for the couch with my pillow and blanket. Brent built a fire, and after resting for about a half an hour, I began to feel much better.
We have picked up a new habit - sleeping on the living room floor. I know, sounds strange, but when you are in front of the big tv and a crackling fire, it is hard to tear yourself away and go upstairs. So, once again, last night, I made a pallet in the floor and we slept in front of the fire. It is not as comfy as my bed, but it sure is nice to sleep in front of a fire! Brent grilled pork chops for dinner, and after a good night's sleep, I seem to be better this morning. Although, I must say, I can't wait to go home this evening and get in front of that fire!!!
4 days til Christmas!! Happy Wednesday, everyone!
I am beginning to think that the funnest part of Christmas gift giving is the stocking. When I was little, the stockings were kind of overlooked, mostly just candy and maybe some lipgloss or something. The fun presents were the BIG presents that couldn't fit in a stocking.
The first Christmas Brent and I were dating, he went ALL OUT on my stocking, and still does. I had make-up, Victoria's Secret perfume, candles, goodies from Harry and David and Bath and Body Works, etc., etc.(ok, maybe his sis helped out -hehe). Some of my favorite things were in the stocking!
This year, I have had so much fun buying goodies to fill my husband's stocking. So far, I have gotten Polo Blue cologne, chapstick, a Bass Pro Shops gift card, a GA bulldogs coffeemug and keyring, a little brass pocket compass, mint shampoo (he loves this stuff), jellybeans, and a Sugar Bowl t-shirt. All little things that will make him smile! I can't wait to sit in the living room floor together Christmas night and dump our stockings out and see what little treasures I will have this year !!!
I got this list of questions from Lelly, Sangria Times. Feel free to copy and paste and post the answers in your own journal.
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? When I was a child, he just sat them under the tree, now he wraps them.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? white on everything
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
5. When do you put your decorations up? right after thanksgiving
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I was in the 2nd grade when a girl told me Santa wasn't "real." She was wrong!!
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? No, we spend the night with my husband's family on Christmas Eve, and open presents early Christmas morning, before going to spend the day with my family.
10. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him? Hmmmm ,maybe Oreos this year.11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it, but we never get it.
12. Can you ice skate? I used to could - I haven't tried it as an adult.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? My favorite gift is having all of my family.
16. What is your favorite holiday song? Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
17. What tops your tree? a big bow
18. Which do you prefer Giving or Receiving? Both!!!!!
19. What is your favorite Christmas Carol?
20. Candy Canes? Not really
Well I am FINALLY done with ALL of my Christmas shopping! All of the presents are wrapped and under the tree, and I have ten whole days to just enjoy it. My tree looks so beautiful with all the sparkly white lights and the colorful packages under it. I was sitting in the floor last night wrapping the last gift for my niece, and I was thinking how fortunate I am to be able to have gifts, a tree, and a home to enjoy it all in. So many people are not that blessed this year - Hurricane Katrina victims, those who are sick, those who are out of jobs. The Christmas party we are going to tommorow night says to "bring an unwrapped gift for toys for tots." Saturday, my neighborhood, along with a couple of other big neighborhoods in my area, are bussing residents out to actually hand gifts out to needy children - children who will have no Christmas otherwise. It is so wonderful that people always think about others who have less then them this time of year.
One dark spot in our Christmas is the situation with Brent's dad. I wrote in an earlier entry that Brent's dad hit his mother with divorce papers the day after we got married (they had been married for 34 years!!) Brent has really had no relationship with his father since this happened because he is pretty upset with his dad over the fact that he decided to find a girlfriend BEFORE he got divorced. This has been difficult because Brent and his dad have always been super close and this year will be the first Christmas in his entire life that he doesn't spend it with his dad. Very sad. I hate to see my husband sad, but life just sux sometimes, I guess.
I cannot believe my one year wedding anniversary is 4 months from tomorrow. Hard to believe. We went to St. Lucia on our honeymoon, which was PERFECT. But Brent loves the Cayman Islands and really wants us to go there. If we can discipline ourselves enough to save some money, we are going to try and do that for our one year anniversary.
Enough rambling for now - more later. 35 degrees here and raining. Again, no snow.
We are still not that busy at work - I was so hoping it would pick up, but so far it hasn't. This has been quite a slow year for use, not exactly sure why. The hurricane and the gas prices certainly have not helped. It is looking alot like Christmas outside - cold and dreary and supposed to start raining this afternoon and tonight. Unfortunately, still no snow.
We have another busy weekend planned - I love Christmas, but will be glad for some time to just chill out when it is over. We have a Christmas party Friday night that is themed "country and western." It says "come dressed in your favorite western wear - hats and cowboy boots." Ummm, I don't THINK so. The kicker is they are going to have a MECHANICAL BULL. WTH?? This should be quite an interesting party to say the least! LOL Saturday, we are having a family Christmas get together at our house (note to self - don't party TOO much at the western party, as you will feel like hell on Saturday). Everyone is bringing a dish and we will have a gift exchange. That should be fun, especially since we have three little ones in the family these days. Sunday, we have ANOTHER family get together - it is my grandfather's extended family - kind of like a family reunion, only they do it at Christmas every year. So there goes my weekend!
Brent and I were talking last night about one big difference in the two of us. My husband could CARE LESS what anyone says or thinks about him. He just puts absolutely no stock in other peoples opinion of him. He is of the thought that if people don't like what he does or says, then to heck with them. Recently, I have been made aware of some nasty comments some family members have made about me / him / us. I was telling him last night that it really did hurt my feelings. He can't understand why I let what other people say and think upset me. The more I think about it, the more I tend to think that his reaction is the better one - just let it go. And, like Brent said, every thing someone says about you, you could find something to say about them.
Oh well, what can you do?
OK, my dear cousin attempted to walk me through inserting a picture in my journal sidebar (via IM). Needlesss to say, I am not too computer savvy (and OBVIOUSLY not the quickest learner). Anyway, it is kind of big and warped, but I have work to do now, so I cannot try to correct it at the moment. Will be back later to try and make it look SOMEWHAT more professional. LOL
Happy Tuesday!
OK. I am getting very confused. I just heard that Lowe's decided to start calling their Christmas trees "holiday" trees. Other companies have ordered employees to greet customers with "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas." I was looking for a hand towel for my bathroom recently and could not find ONE SINGLE towel that said "Merry Christmas." ALL of them said "Happy Holidays." Well, guess what? I celebrate Christmas. Just because someone else doesn't, does that mean I have to be denied a "Christmas" tree and things that say "Merry Christmas?" 85% of this country celebrates Christmas, but it is no longer PC to use the word "Christmas" due to the fact that we may "offend" someone? This country was founded on Christianity, but we can no longer celebrate "Christmas" as we know it for fear of "offending" someone? What is wrong with this picture?? At my house we have a Christmas tree. And even though I can't find hand towels that say it, I still say............................................
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As I drove in to work this morning, I could not help but think about how blessed I really am this season. Is my life perfect? Not by any means. Do I have everything I "want?" No, but I have everything I need. I have a family, my health, a roof over my head, a loving husband, a job. This year, more than ever, I have really experienced enjoying the Christmas season while keeping in mind what it is really all about; really focusing on how grateful I need to be. In the past, I have spent alot of time running around stressing out trying to get everything done. For one, I started alot earlier this year, so I have had more time to enjoy things (my house being decorated, shopping, even baked some Christmas cookies). I am trying to constantly keep myself reminded that there are SOOO very many people who are hurt, suffering, and just doing without; and that part of the true meaning of this time of year is helping others.
I got an IM yesterday that REALLY caused me to put all of this in perspective. A very close friend of my cousins had a tragedy. Her brother-in-law was shot and killed on a jobsite Tuesday. He had a wife and three children. All I can say about this is to please keep this family in your prayers, because God is the ONLY thing that will get them through this horrible tragedy.
It is supposed to be in the 30's by this afternoon and raining all day here. Lovely. I have been getting home pretty late from work the past few days, so Brent has taken over cooking dinner. How nice it will be to come home tonight to a fresh pot of homemade chili!
Our business is EXTREMELY slow this year, as are many other businesses. This has me somewhat stressed out, but I am trying not to worry too much and keep holding out that things will pick up.Oh well, enough rambling for now. Take care everyone!!!
This was actually posted by my cousin, Staci, who saw it in another blog and decided to post it in hers. It really is an awesome post!
A lot has been said about how to prevent rape.
Women should
learn self-defense. Women should lock themselves in their houses after
dark. Women shouldn't have long hair and women shouldn't wear short
skirts. Women shouldn't leave drinks unattended. F***, they shouldn't
dare to get drunk at all.
instead of that bulls***, how about:
if a woman is drunk, don't rape her.
if a woman is walking alone at night, don't rape her.
if a women is drugged and unconscious, don't rape her.
if a woman is wearing a short skirt, don't rape her.
if a woman is jogging in a park at 5 am, don't rape her.
if a woman looks like your ex-girlfriend you're still hung up on, don't rape her.
if a woman is asleep in her bed, don't rape her.
if a woman is asleep in your bed, don't rape her.
if a woman is doing her laundry, don't rape her.
if a woman is in a coma, don't rape her.
if a woman changes her mind in the middle of or about a particular activity, don't rape her.
if a woman has repeatedly refused a certain activity, don't rape her.
if a woman is not yet a woman, but a child, don't rape her.
if your girlfriend or wife is not in the mood, don't rape her.
if your step-daughter is watching tv, don't rape her.
if you break into a house and find a woman there, don't rape her.
if your friend thinks it's okay to rape someone, tell him it's not, and that he's not your friend.
if your "friend" tells you he raped someone, report him to the police.
if
your frat-brother or another guy at the party tells you there's an
unconscious woman upstairs and it's your turn, don't rape her, call the
police and tell the guy he's a rapist.
tell your sons, god-sons, nephews, grandsons, sons of friends it's not okay to rape someone.
don't tell your women friends how to be safe and avoid rape.
don't imply that she could have avoided it if she'd only done/not done x.
don't imply that it's in any way her fault.
don't let silence imply agreement when someone tells you he "got some" with the drunk girl.
don't
perpetuate a culture that tells you that you have no control over or
responsibility for your actions. You can, too, helpyourself.
If you agree, repost it. It's that important.
Written by staci6927 . Link to this entry 
Well, it is 39 degrees here and raining. I am praying for snow, but I am sure we will not get any - never do in Georgia. Just went to lunch and filled my car up with gas - gas is 1.98 a gallon -I sure hope it keeps going down. We had a very busy but uneventful weekend. Since my PMS turned me into a raving lunatic last weekend, I was very glad this weekend was so peaceful. Friday night, we went to dinner with my mom, sister, and stepbrother. Saturday morning, my CRAZY husband got up at 4:30 a.m. and went fishing in the cold rain. I cleaned house and went grocery shopping. Saturday night, we spent the night with some friends and grilled and watched the Georgia/LSU game (which Georgia won and now will go to the Sugar Bowl which will be held here in Atlanta since New Orleans is a disaster). Sunday morning we went to breakfast at Cracker Barrel then drove a LOOONG way to pick up a piece of furniture. We did a little Christmas shopping, came home, and met my dad and stepmother for dinner. After dinner, we came home and got in bed at 9:00 and - that was VERY nice. Now it is back for another week at work.
Oh, well, I am sure I am boring everyone by now, so be back later!!
KEITH URBAN LYRICS
"The Hard Way"
You've got your own way of looking at it baby
I guess that proves that I got mine
Seems like our hearts are set on automatic
We say the first thing that comes to mind
It's just who we are baby, we've come too far to start over now
I know what you're thinkin' ; I'm not always easy to be around
[Chorus:]
But I do love you
You keep me believin' that you love me too
And I know it's true
This love drives us crazy but nobody's walkin' away
So, I guess we'll to do it the hard way
If I had a genie in a bottle
Three wishes I could wish for us
I wish we'd live forever and get along together
Turn these tempers into trust
[REPEAT CHORUS]
Do it the hard way
It's just who we are baby, we've come to far to start over now
Believe me tonight love's the one thing in life we can't live without
[REPEAT CHORUS]
Do it the hard way
The hard way
This song sounds alot like my husband and I , and it really hit a nerve when I was listening to it ,especially after my PMS meltdown on poor Brent this weekend! The thing about Brent and I is that we have VERY similar personalities. Although Brent is very, very laid back on the outside, he worries. But he holds all the worry inside- he says "there is no need for both of us to worry." I am a ball of anxiety and a worrywart. We both have very quick tempers and say things out of anger. We both know this is bad and we have made a pact to work on it. Hmmm, love ain't always easy but it sure is grand when it's good!!
Love my Keith Urban!!! Almost as hot as Tim- ALMOST, I said, but not quite!
What can I say, other than "temporary nut case" says it all. I had a MAJOR PMS meltdown this past Sunday. Bad. As bad as it gets. For some reason, my PMS is getting worse and worse the older I get. Poor ol Brent can back me up on that one! I don't know what hit me on Sunday, but I went NUTS. I mean ran Brent right out of the house. Now he does have a tendency to EXAGGERATE things, which he admits, but he probably didn't exaggerate this one by too far. Let's just say it took him until about Wednesday to get over it. The worst part is, he was out shopping for my birthday all day Sunday while I was being a terrorist of a wife. My birthday was Tuesday, and he was still pretty angry with me, but he managed to let it go and let me have a good birthday. I have GOT to see if there is any medication or SOMETHING that can help with this!!!
My whole life, my mom has celebrated my birthday on Thanksgiving Day, just because my birthday is always within a day or two of it and that is the day the whole family is together. Because last Thanksgiving was so sad (my stepfather died), my mom decided to change the tradition (she didn't want me to share my birthday celebration with such a sad memory - that is my momma - always thinking of somebody else!) Because my parents are divorced, my birthday celebration ends up lasting a few days. This year is no exception! Tuesday, my sweetie mom brought a birthday cake to my work, took me out to lunch, and gave me my gifts. Wednesday night, my honey took me out for a lobster dinner at this place called Henry's - a quaint little Cajun restaurant with the BEST lobster tail I have ever eaten!! Tonight, Brent and I are meeting my mom, sister, and stepbrother for dinner. Sunday night, my dad and stepmom are taking Brent and I to Bahama Breeze (which is also where Brent and I had our first date!) for dinner. That will end my weeklong birthday celebration! LOL
Gosh, we have so many things planned between now and Christmas that I have NO idea when I am going to finish my Christmas shopping. We are spending the night with some friends tomorrow night to watch the UGA/LSU game. Sunday, we have to drive about 40 miles to the Ashley Furniture warehouse to pick up a piece of furniture we bought because I was too cheap to pay the 80.00 for delivery (hey- 80.00 will buy a NICE Christmas gift for someone!!)
Last night I cooked tacos for dinner and Brent built a big fire and we lounged on the couch all night admiring our beautiful Christmas tree- SO nice! I have had so much fun decorating the house for Christmas this year. Brent put white icicle lights on the front and back porch and I went a little crazy decoratin inside, but I LOVE it. I am going to be very depressed when Christmas is over and I have to take everything down! After dinner I ran up to the store to get some more of my Starbucks Frappucinos in the bottles that are my newest morning addiction (over crushed ice - YUMMY!). I was listening to my new Keith Urban CD, and came across this song that is SO me and Brent - brought tears to my eyes - took it inside and let Brent listen! Not only is Keith Urban a total HOTTIE, he can SING!!!! Will post the lyrics in my next entry - work to do for now! TGIF!!!!!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
Just wanted to wish everyone a happy turkey day. I have a squash casserole in the oven and Brent is pressure washing the garage. We are going to leave here in about a half an hour and go to his Aunt's house, where will we see his whole family (minus his dad - that's another journal entry for when I have more time). At about 2:00, we are going to go to my mom's for Thanksgiving dinner with all of my family. This is a bittersweet day for my family, because my beloved stepfather died last year on Thanksgiving morning. Although we all have so much to be thankful for, we still will miss his presence greatly.
So not to overlook what the day really is about, here are a few things I am thankful for:
My husband, my family, my health, my home, my job, my friends, my adorable niece, all of my family being close and the opportunity to all be together, the wonderful food we will eat today, Jesus Christ, that I get to go shopping tomorrow! :)
Things I am NOT thankful for: The AOL banner ads plastered on my journal - they STILL suck! :(
So, so much to be thankful for! Hope everyone has a wonderful turkey day! Gobble Gobble
I have been SO busy, as I guess everyone is this time of year. Brent just returned last night from a five day hunting trip to northern Illinois. Let me tell you, I used that opportunity to get my house SUPER organized (my husband is a bit of a slob, so it is not easy to do when he is around ). I cleaned the house from top to bottom and got caught up on ALL the laundry. My biggest feat, however, was FINALLY getting all of my Christmas stuff organized. I had stuff scattered all over the basement - didn't know what I had, didn't have, needed, etc. I spent Sunday afternoon organizing everything , labeling those big storage containers, and assesssing what I had and what I needed. It is our first Christmas in a new house, and I plan on going crazy with the Chrismas decorating. We have a shop here called Old Tim Pottery, which is bascially a big floral and home decorating warehouse - and quickly becoming my new favorite store. Luckily, it is about a five minute drive from my office, so I have been spending quite a few lunch hours there. Today, I bought a 7.5 foot prelit pencil tree and enough white lights to string all over our front porch. I plan to spend Thanksgiving night putting the tree up and decorating the house. I am taking the day off Friday to do the marathon shopping (beginning at 5:00 am - this is my first year to do this, and may end up being my last - will update on that later LOL).
Oh well, more later....
P.S. Those damn ads are SO annoying!!!!
Brent and I were watching the country music awards the other night, and all I could think was "Faith Hill is one LUCKY woman!!"
But, hey, so am I. This is the Tim McGraw song Brent picked out for our first dance as husband and wife at our wedding - reading the lyrics still gives me butterflies!!
"All We Ever Find"
Say exactly how you feel
Right now you're free to say it all
There is no one here to judge you
I only love you
You're free to close your eyes and fall
You can trust me, this is real
Say exactly how you feel
Tell me all your dreams
And what you think love means
We'll lock the world outside
Embrace the gift of time
Promising forever
Knowing that this moment
Might be all we ever find
Every breath of who you are
Tells a story that I love
I have finally found the truth
In what I see in you
And what I feel with every touch
The simple beauty of your heart
In every breath of who you are
Tell me all your dreams
And what you think love means
We'll lock the world outside
Embrace the gift of time
Promising forever
Knowing that this moment
Might be all we ever find
Tell me all your dreams
And what you think love means
We'll lock the world outside
Embrace the gift of time
Promising forever
Knowing that this moment
Might be all we ever find
Promising forever
Knowing that this moment
Might be all we ever find
Stop the banner ads from appearing in paying customers journals. Go to the link below and sign the petition:
Online Petition - Stop AOL from displaying banner ads on Paying Members Journals
Unfortunately I am in agreement with most of the other AOL members who are pissed about the way AOL has opened up our journals to advertisers. I have been a loyal member of AOL for almost ten years now, and I think it is horrible that they are treating their loyal paying members that way. On top of that, my journal is now carrying an ad for Bank of America, which is a company I am not terribly fond of. What's up with that AOL???
For some reason, I am SOOO ready for the weekend! I think it is this beautiful fall weather (OK, it is 65 degrees here, but compared to the usual 80 degrees, it feels like fall). The wind is blowing, the leaves are beautiful, and it feels like perfect college football weather. Brent is going to get up early in the morning and go deer hunting, and we will probably rent movies and lounge around tomorrow night. Saturday, I have GOT to get caught up on laundry.How can two people generate so much laundry? I have no idea, but we manage to do it. Saturday is a big game for Bulldog fans -the Georgia/Auburn game. Once again, mind you, I am not a fan of the game of football, but I love game days and getting together with friends and seeing Brent at his happiest. Saturday will be no exception. We are having some friends over and I think I am going to keep it easy and make a big pot of chili (or maybe try a new recipe I found for Santa Fe Soup-sounds yummy) - something else to make it feel like fall. I am prepared for my two scenarios at bedtime Saturday night; Scenario one, Georgia wins the game - Brent will pick me up, throw me over his shoulders, and carry me upstairs, hooting and hollering all the way, give me lots of kisses and tell me how much he loves me. Scenario two, Auburn wins the game -Brent kisses the top of my head as I sit on the couch, and trudges upstairs not to be heard from again until he wakes in the morning. At this point, he will begin an endless stream of phone calls to his football buddies trying to figure out "what the hell went wrong." *insert big sigh* I know my husband so well. HeeHee
There is a place that recently opened in Atlanta called Ikea (sp?). I don't know exactly what it is but they have everything in the world household related at supposedly really good prices.We plan to go downtown and have lunch and check this place out on Sunday. Some friends of our bought some of those shelves you put together yourself for their garage and Brent has decided we HAVE to HAVE these to hold all of his fishing, hunting, work toys that are littering our garage. I, on the other hand, am in the market for a Christmas tree. Being our first Christmas in our new house, Brent is really pushing me to go for a real tree this year. Mmmm, the smell of pine needles sounds good, but the sound of them clogging up my vacuum cleaner doesn't! We'll have to wait and see what wins out - my sense of Christmas spirit and tradition or my neat and practical side that tells me fake is better!!
I was just reading the latest entry from Kimberleigh, I shaved my legs for this?, and she made a comment that really hit home with me. While describing her fifteen year marriage to her husband, she commented, "That's how you know if it's forever love...when you keep falling in love with the same person over and over again, that is what keeps old love new."
WOW!
That simple statement had so much meaning for me. I was lying in bed last night watching Brent sleep, and couldn't help but thinking how much I loved this man, and how many times I've fallen in love with home over and over again in the short time we've been married. No, it hasn't been the easiest ride. We have experienced death, divorce, family drama and trauma, financial worries, trying to adjust to living in a new place, trying to adjust to living together. But we have also accomplished so much together; the fairy tale wedding of my dreams, a perfect honeymoon, building a house together, building a home together, combining our friends, family, and lives, creating a life together. As I watched him sleeping peacefully, I thought what he meant to me. He is my best friend, my confidante, my biggest supporter, my lover, the person I am going to grow old with, the person I am going to share the most heartache and the most joy with for the remainder of my life, and, if God blesses us, the father of my children.
I was married for a very brief time several years ago. It never felt like this. Probably because I married the wrong person for the wrong reason.
I know we are newlyweds so we are still "on our honeymoon," but I believe in my heart that a love that is strong and true can build a marriage that is strong and true, and, if both people work hard enough, will grow stronger and more fullfilling. In this day where divorce is the easy way out, that is my wish for my life with my husband - that we will always remember where we started, fall in love over and over again, and, as Kimberleigh put it so well, "keep old love new."
I know I need to post an entry explaining my "family drama" I mentioned earlier, and I will; just not ready to yet.
I just got off the phone with my dad, and was sitting in my rocking chair on the front porch pondering both of my parents. I was thinking about how I have so many qualities, good and bad, of both of my parents. And, in alot of ways, my mom and dad share some very similar traits.
Things I inherited from my dad: Anxiety (thanks dad), my height, my metabolism, being meticulous, being a good speller, my good grammar skills, my quick temper, my curly hair, my forehead, my appreciation for my family, my taste for pickles, olives, and tabasco sauce, my skinny legs, my sense of loyalty, wanting to be right all of the time, wanting to fix things for other people, my attitude (and I don't mean my GOOD attitude - haha), loving Willie Nelson, peanuts in Dr. Pepper (Brent thinks that is SO strange, but try it, it's good!), my love of good music (everything from the Allman Brothers to Elvis to Willie Nelson to Aerosmith to The Doors)!
Things I inherited from my mom: OCD about my house being clean, my love of cooking and trying new recipes, my bad night vision, corns on my little toes (ok, gross, but true-hehe), my eyes, my hands and feet, my love of laying out in the sun, my decorating sense, my appreciation for nice things, liking the BeeGees, not loving breakfast foods or fruit, being a caretaker, being bossy, being indecisive, my sweet side (which Brent says needs to come out more often - haha!), wanting to fix things for other people, loving Willie Nelson, my appreciation for my family, my taste for cheese, potato chips, and bread, being meticulous.
I have been dealing with some pretty serious family drama - will be back when I have time to sit down and write about it. Take care, all.
P.S. Brent and I are okay - this one is concerning my sister.
Well it looks like fall is finally here. It is 50 degrees with a brisk wind and the leaves are turning and falling. After the stifling heat and humidity of a Georgia summer, it is a much welcomed change. I love fall, because it reminds me that Christmas is coming soon, and Christmas is my favorite time of year! But,oh, once again, how I hated to get out of bed this morning. Brent got up at about 5 a.m. and turned the heat on, and we were snuggled under a chenille blanket when the alarm went of at 7:30 - UGH!!!!!!!
Brent went hunting this weekend, which gave me the opportunity to get my house immaculate and catch up on laundry - it was nice to have a weekend to myself, but I found myself missing him more than I ever did when we were dating. It is funny, I lived alone for several years and have only lived with Brent since April, but now I miss him SO when he is gone! He is leaving Tuesday night for the Soil Science Convention at NC State University in Raleigh. He'll be back home about midnight Thursday night. I'm not ready for him to leave again so soon!
Last night, we went to see a couple of friends that just had a new baby - precious baby Caroline. I can honestly say that was the most beautiful baby I have EVER seen - perfectly round head, clear pink skin, big baby blue eyes, and a full head of blonde hair. She was all wrapped in pink and had a Georgia Bulldogs passy. It seems like new babies are all around us lately, and it is REALLY giving me baby fever!
Needless to say, with Brent and I having some issues lately, it has not really been the most ideal time for me to get pregnant. But with the counseling and my Paxil and his Wellbutrin, things are finally starting to calm down and look up around our house. This makes me very happy! I think we are starting to get to a point where we are feeling more and more ready to start our own family. Oh how happy that would make me!
The neighborhood we live in is about 90% couples our age with small children. I am SO looking forward to seeing all of the little trick-or-treaters this year. We went to Kroger and spent about $60.00 on Halloween candy and a nice big pumpkin. Tonight we plan to build the first fire of the season and carve our pumpkin to put on the front porch.
Well, back to work for now. Take care everybody!
My friend/cousin Jennifer and I have always shared a bit of obsession with Hollywood,celebrity gossip, etc. We were talking the other day about how (maybe because we are older and wiser - hehe) lately we have gotten a bit jaded by the whole Hollywood scene - mostly because they seem to make a BIG joke out of marriage. I mean, get married one day, get a divorce two weeks later. To me they have (as a whole) given no respect to the institution of marriage. And to someone who has a great respect for marriage (and knows how tough it is to stick it out and make it work because you love the person and that is what you vowed to do) it REALLY pisses me off! I mean, why do these people have to get married? Why don't they just have their little flings and when they are done they are done? Why do they have to make a joke out of the sanctity of marriage that so many other people are working so hard to preserve (like ME)? I mean, look at the list of people who have gotten married only to be annulled, divorced, estranged days, weeks, and months later: Britney Spears and her Vegas wedding, Nikki Hilton and her Vegas wedding, Renee Zellwegger and Kenny Chesney, Jennifer Lopez and her two marriages, and, of course, Liz Taylor and her how many marriages? What really got us talking about this is how RIDICULOUS the whole Tom Cruise -Katie Holmes "relationship" is. I mean, Hollywood has stooped to fabricating relationships in order to further the popularity of the stars? Does anyone REALLY believe that Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are in an honest, genuine, and loving relationship? Does anyone even believe that it is Tom Cruise's baby she is carrying? Which brings me to another topic we LOVE to make fun of ; Scientology. Okay, I am all for people practicing whatever religion they choose for whatever reasons they choose (spirtual fullfillment or whatever). But Scientology? This is like some kind of religion that Hollywood has "made up." What kind of church makes you PAY MONEY to get to the next level? What kind of religion says you cannot "scream or make any other kind of noise during childbirth?" And why is it that the majority of the people who are big in this church are Hollywood celebrities? Is it because they have more money than they have moral backbone, and it is easier to pay to make up your own religion than to make an effort to live a moral and ethical life? This brings me to my point. Jenn was in Target the other day and saw a young girl that was wearing a t-shirt that said "What is Scientology? I Mean, Seriously" Love it!!!! Gotta go to Abercrombie and get me one of those!!
It is a dreary, rainy Monday here. Brent was at home working on the computer and drinking coffee when I left, and, as usual, I SO wanted to stay home and curl up on the couch in front of a Lifetime movie - but, instead, here I sit at work - YUCK!!
We had about fifteen people over for the Georgia-Tennessee game, and thankfully, Georgia won (hence the good mood Brent was in all day Sunday). Although I am not big on the game of football, I do enjoy college football season and having these get togethers and seeing my husband get SO excited - he is like a kid at Christmas! He and a friend of his went to Costco Friday afternoon and bought beer, coke, an 8 pound filet mignon tenderloin, and (being thoughtful of me not having to wash TOO many dishes) paper plates and cups. They grilled the tenderloin, my sister in law made a HUGE Caesar salad, I made roasted potaotes, another friend brought a pizza dip, another friend made homemade salsa, and we had PLENTY of beer and wine. It was great food and great company. The game started at 3:30, everyone came over around 2:00, so by about 10:00 p.m., everyone was partied out and Brent and I crawled into bed and watched TV. My sister in law called Sunday morning and said she had gotten some free Falcons tickets for the 1:00 game (she works for Coca Cola). I turned it down, but happily sent Brent and enjoyed the opportunity to have some time alone to clean house, watch Lifetime, and catch up on laundry. I cooked tacos for dinner last night, and we were in bed again at 10:00 - ahhhh, my exciting married life - but I love it!!
It has been raining all day long here. I shouldn't complain, because I know we need it, but it is just so dreary. Plus, I know the traffic will be horrible. It cost me $65.00 to fill my 4runner up with gas today, $3.13 a gallon here. That is SO ridiculous!
My mother and grandmother left today for Austin, Texas, where my grandmother is originally from. Her sister is coming down with alzheimer's, and they are going out there to try and figure out how they are going to handle it. I really wanted to go, but just didn't need to take the time off work. We used to go quite a bit when I was growing up, and I LOVE Texas. The little town my grandmother is from (and where we still have family) is literally like Mayberry. It is like stepping back in time. It is just so slow-paced and everyone is so friendly (and everyone knows everyone AND their business LOL). It has a main street where all of the high-school kids "cruise" on Friday night, and a little old-fashioned square that still has a drugstore with a soda fountain in it.
Well, I am going to go home and cook spaghetti and meatballs tonight, Brent's favorite. We are trying very hard to work on our marriage. Although I don't think it is generally good to "leave" when things are bad, it did help us both to see how unhappy we were without each other (which made us both see we need to work hard on this marriage). We love each other too much to be apart, although at times we can get quite nasty with each other- GOTTA stop that!
Nothing big planned for this weekend. The usual grocery shopping and laundry and housecleaning. The UGA- Tennessee game is on Saturday, and we may have some people over for that. Ahhh, our exciting lives being married -hahaha.
Brent and I have a baby. She is 110 pounds with black hair, and the sweetest, smartest Labrador you will ever find. Brent has had her since she was six weeks old, and she is going on nine years.She is our great protector, letting nobody near the house unless she knows them, greeting me at my door as soon as my 4Runner pulls in the driveway (she escorts me to the door), and keeping guard in the back of Brent's truck. She loves children and loves to play.
Brent is a soil scientist (I know, nobody has ever hear of such a profession). Basically, he collects soil samples on land that is being developed and tests them to see what type of septic system, drainage system, etc. is needed. His job entails that he spends alot of time on large tracts of land in the woods. Most of the time, he takes Raven with him because he encounters quite a few snakes and she will warn him and chase them off. This morning, he had a machete with him (he has to use this to cut through thick brush and briars in order to collect the soil samples). At about 9:00 this morning, he called me sounding more frantic than I have heard him in a long time. He said Raven was behind him and he reached up to machete through some brush. As he did, she ran right up under him and the machete hit her right on top of the head. He said she never whimpered, never howled, but was bleeding profusely. He carried her all the way back to the truck, wrapped a towel around her head, and raced to the vet's office (he was working in a town nearby ours, and had to call 411 to even FIND a vet). They rushed her into surgery, not knowing if it damaged her skull. He called me back a little while later, and said the vet said she was okay, just needed stitches.Poor, poor Raven. Can ANYTHING else bad happen to us???????
Recently, people have been "tagged" to add entries in their journals telling various things about themselves (7 things you are good at, 7 things you can't do, 7 things you want to do before you die, etc.) Between this and the recent struggles I am having in my marriage, I have taken some time to "evaluate" myself. I have put some serious thought into recognizing some things that I need to work on/change about myself. To balance this out (and to keep myself from being suicidal after realizing all of my bad traits LOL), I also tried to recognize some of the good qualities I possess. After much soul-searching, I realized that many parts of my personality are very contradictory.
For instance, I am very conscientious - I always take care of my neccesary obligations at home, at work, with family, etc. However, at the same time, I can be the world's worst procrastinator when it comes to doing something I don't want to do. I also try to always see the good in other people - when I hear something negative about someone, I try to see the positive. However, when I can REALLY find no positive in someone, ALL I can do is see the worst in them. Does that make any sense? In one sense, I am very open and outgoing - I LOVE to talk. However, at other times, I am a very private person, choosing not to share everything with others, but to hold it all inside. For the most part, I am a very forgiving person -I get over things easy and forget about them, especially when it is something little. However at some times (usually over the bigger issues), I hold onto things for a long time and have a very difficult time forgiving someone who has wronged me.
There are alot of things about myself that I have realized I need to work on, and I guess this is a lifelong process. I can be angered easily and say things I don't mean and later regret (quick temepered).I have a very hard time trusting people, and can be very suspicious of people and their motives (some baggage from my parents' divorce that I am still trying to overcome). I can be moody and bitchy. I wear my heart on my sleeve. My mother has always told me this - when I am upset, angry, etc., EVERYONE around me knows it. I am very impatient and high-strung. I cannot sit still, and I know this annoys other people at times. I am not very disciplined when it comes to doing things I do not want to do (i.e exercise). Many times I interrupt other people when they are talking (to say what I want to say), even though I know this is rude. I am also EXTREMELY stubborn.
However, amongst all of these bad traits, I have a few things about my personality that I am proud of. I am very compassionate and I care deeply for other people (the hurt, the sick, the underpriveleged, children, animals). I am very loving and affectionate, as my parents always have been to me. My family is very important to me and I would do anything for them, as I am fiercely loyal. I am very independent. I have always been told I have a good sense of humor and make other people laugh easily. I am very organized; in my home, my job, and my life in general.
I have made mistakes in my past and done MANY things that I am not proud of. However, rather than struggle with the guilt of that, I try to know that all is forgiven and remind myself that my past mistakes have made me the person I am today, and try not to make the same mistakes twice. I strive to continually keep check of myself and what I need to work on - if I do that, I can live each day knowing I am doing the best I can.
Over the weekend, some idiots have been trying to spam my journal. After reading some other people's comments, it is going on quite a bit OH HELL NO! from Our Silly little lives is in agreement with me - if I wanted my journal to be a sex advertisement, I would advertise it myself. I mean, seriously, these people need to GET A FREAKING LIFE. Oh, and please know, I have reported it to AOL. A couple of the lowlifes that are CONSTANTLY adding sex websites into my comment section are "Shadowhawk3680 and "Txrebalgirl26," among others. I mean, are you really SO desperate to advertise your ridiculous sites (i.e. "find a local sex buddy") that you go into people's journals??? What LOSERS! (I'm a little pissed, can ya tell?)
Well, I guess we are getting the remnants of Hurricane Rita here in Georgia this Monday. It is dreary, cool, windy, and rainy, with no hopes of tomorrow looking any better. Brent was up very early this morning to finish drawing a map for a client (he is a soil scientist). Just about the time I was waking up, he climbed back into the bed and went sound asleep. You don't even know how bad I wanted to call in sick to work and spend the day curled up in bed with a good book! Nothing like a rainy day in bed! But my logic won out, I reminded myself that the bills must be paid, and off to work I went.
I have a really bad habit of stopping at the grocery store every day. I usually try to go every Saturday, and buy what we need for the week. By Tuesday or Wednesday, however, I find myself changing my mind about what I want to cook for dinner, and going to the grocery to pick up an item or two. The disadvantage to this is I end up spending thirty or forty dollas every time I go in - which adds up to ALOT of money by the end of the month. Sooo, my goal for this week is to cook (this week) only what I bought Saturday, and not go back to the store until next weekend. My menu for the week is as follows:
Monday - (Tennessee-LSU game on tonight) Bought some Boars' Head corned beef and saurkraut for homemade Ruben sandwiches - easy and yummy!
Tuesday - going to a friend's to watch NipTuck
Wednesday - Grilled pork tenderloin, wild rice, lima beans, salad
Thursday-Meatloaf with mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes, peas
Friday-Baked ziti, garlic toast, caesar salad
As you may can tell, I LOVE to cook (and LOVE to eat). However, working full time, I normally do not have the time to cook the food I LOVE the most - that is good old-fashioned Southern cooking. I come from a long line of Southern cooks -mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and many great aunts. Nelishisa, from WISHING AND HOPING, has an entry in her journal about the Southern foods she misses and craves being a Southern girl transplanted to Colorado (I believe it is the very first entry in her journal.) More about that later.......
Has anyone ever heard that song"Alcohol" by Brad Paisley? I was returning from the bank a little while ago, and just heard that song. "I got you in trouble in high school. College that was a blast." Listening to those words reminded me of a funny story about Brent (though it is not one he is all too proud of now - hehe).
Flashback somewhere around 1993. Brent is living in the fraternity house in Athens, University of Georgia. One typical Friday night, he and all of his hoodlum friends are partying at another fraternity house. I am sure there was lots of Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Crown Royal, you name it. After a long night of partying, Brent somehow makes his way back to his frat house and crashes in bed. The next morning, with a hangover from hell, he gets up craving some Waffle House. The only thing holding him up from a healthy breakfast (haha) of hashbrowns smothered and covered, fried eggs, and bacon is the fact that he can't find his car keys. After searching his pockets, his bed, the floor, and every other possible place the keys may have ended up (after coming home in a drunken stupor) , he gives up and heads outside, thinking he probably left them in the car. Uh-oh. Something is terribly wrong. The car is nowhere to be seen. He heads back inside and tells his buddies what is going on, and they decide the car must have been stolen. Phone call number one goes to his father. Phone call number two goes to the Clark County police, who promptly come out to make a report. Monday morning, his father makes the six hour trip up from Jacksonville, Florida. They spend the day looking at cars and dealing with the insurance company, deciding to wait until they receive the check for the stolen car before purchasing another one. A couple of weeks go by, and his dad calls that the check has arrived from the insurance company. They make plans for his dad to come back up the following weekend. A day or so later, Brent is in his room studying and someone calls him to the phone. Here is how that phone call goes:
"Hello?"
"Dude, I was just wondering if you wereever gonna come get your car?"
"My car?"
"Yeah, it's been sitting in my driveway."
"Huh?"
"Yeah, from a couple of weeks ago - that party we were at. I was ready to leave and you said 'Here, take my car.' "
CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE THE LOOK ON HIS FACE?
lol lol lol
Some Things I Like...
soul food (southern cooking), compassion, being snuggled in bed during a thunderstorm, long conversations with my momma, Julian McMahon from NipTuck, swimming, cool, Fall Saturday mornings, schnauzers, Dr. Pepper, the smell of freshly cut grass, sitting on the porch at the lakehouse with a glass of wine and a magazine, gratitude, pedicures, watching my husband sleep, writing, stargazer lilies, cooking, starburst candy, a clean house, chocolate martinis, my chenille blanket on my couch, the Golden Girls, olives
Some Things I Don't Like...
arrogance, humdidity, listening to my husband snore, tomatoes, people that stare, superficiality, itchy sweaters, fruit flavored water, sitting still for long periods of time, debt, mayonnaise, driving in traffic, bad hair days, feeling rushed, divorces, golf, bad manners, cats that make my eyes itch, having an argument with my momma, clocks that tick, licorice flavored anything, getting up early
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Does anyone watch NipTuck? The season premier is tonight at 10:00 (EST). Julian McMahon has got to be the hottest man on Earth (next to my hubby, of course )LOL
Oh, and thanks to everyone for commenting on my newly started journal - I can tell this is going to be a wonderful community to be a part of. I hope everyone enjoys reading mine as much as I have enjoyed reading everyone elses. Have a good day!
Brent and I got engaged in August of 2004. My stepfather, who I loved dearly (and who I credit for saving my mother after going through an extremely painful breakup and divorce from my father when I was sixteen years old) was diagnosed with liver disease several months earlier. Our engagement was quite bittersweet, because it was very difficult to plan a happy occasion knowing that he may not be alive to attend. My mother was wonderful, teaching school full time, taking care of him at home (he was 17 years older than my mom), and still making the time to help me plan my wedding. My thirty-first birthday was coming on November 29 of 2004. Brent planned a trip for us to Lake Tahoe, and I was soooooo excited. Being born and raised in the deep south, any opportunity to actually witness and experience real snow sent me into a childlike tailspin- hehe. One week before we were to leave for Tahoe, my sister called me about 11:00 pm and told me my stepfather had fallen trying to get in bed, and he and my mom were on their way to the hospital in an ambulance. He never came home. Brent cancelled our trip,losing the plane tickets (as we all know, Delta's main priority is NOT compassion for it's passengers). I begged him to go ahead and make the trip with the couple that was going to join us, but he refused to leave my side. My stepfather died 5 days later, on Thanksgiving morning. My wedding was planned for April 16th, and I went on with the planning, though with a sad and heavy heart. Brent and I had started building our own home around the time we got engaged, but something else loomed over our heads. I owned (and lived in) a condominium that I was having absolutaely NO luck selling. What was bad about this? We could not afford the new house AND my condo, and the prospect of trying to pay for both gave us both an ulcer. Poor planning, you say. But, unfortunately, that is us -hehe. About three weeks before we married, I found a buyer -although she put me through TOTAL hell with her list of demands. And being desperate, I had to comply. A month before the wedding, we closed on our new house. Brent moved into the house. I packed up my condo. We got married, honeymooned in St. Lucia for six days, returned home. I closed on my condo two days after we returned from our honeymoon, and spent the entire day moving in the POURING down rain. But finally (sigh)! Things were starting to fall into place. Then we got the call. Brent's parents, married for thirty-five years,were divorcing. Were the stars lined up against us?
I should have known when we first met with the wedding director and she remarked "I don't normally recommend any member of the wedding party being under the age of four." However, as I basked in my wedding-planning-bliss, I let this little comment go right over my head. Fast forward several weeks later, I am in the bridal suite of the beautiful Victorian bed-and breakfast. I had agonized for days, weeks, about the weather. Was mother nature going to cooperate with me and let me play my fairy tale wedding out in the beautiful blooming garden right at dusk like I had painstakingly planned for so many months? Well, it appeared mother nature was bestowing her blessings on me. The weather could not have been more perfect. The winds were calm, the sun was shining, and the humdidity was low (that in itself is something to be thankful for in Atlanta in the springtime LOL). For weeks I had researched the flowers I had in mind of carrying down the aisle. My beautiful bouquets of red roses and orange lilies were in perfect order, freshly out of the the florist's refrigerator, and awaited me downstairs. I had awakened many nights gripped with the fear that the caterer would let me down - would there be enough food? Would it be fit to eat? I could smell the wonderful aroma of the food creeping up the stairs, and I could tell by the continuous stream of workers carrying in tray after tray that it was, indeed, going to be a plentiful and delicious feast. 6:45 p.m. Fifteen minutes to go. My girlfriend clipped in and adjusted my veil atop the hairstyle that I had worried so frantically "just wasn't going to look right." It had turned out beautifully, thanks to the hour the stylist spent combing, teasing, pinning, and spraying. All of a sudden, my father opens the door to see if I am ready. The tuxedo my fiance had so diligently selected for the men to wear? What had gone so terribly wrong? From underneath the crisp black jacket peeked a brightly colored (i.e tacky) Hawaiian shirt. He was also decked out in a tophat and carrying a cane. "Dad," I shrieked. "What, you don't like it?" he replied. A split second before I burst into tears,he said "I'm just kidding - laugha little!" OMG - Is he crazy? As if I weren't nervous enough, he has to choose this moment to be a practical joker? Somebody pass me the valium and champagne!!! I gathered myself together and headed down the stairs, my dad laughing behind me.
Fast forward ten minutes. I stood at the outer edge of the gardens, 120 guests patiently seated before me. The wedding music starts to play. My little two year old cousin is decked out in his adorable little beige Eton suit, ring pillow in hand. All of a sudden, his lip puckers, he lets out a scream, and sits down on the ground. Uh oh - his mind is definitely made up, and there is no changing it. He is NOT going down that aisle. The guests are turning around to see what all of the fuss is. My aunt scoops him up and scurries away with him to the adjoining parking lot behind the gardens. However, that is not QUITE far enough away. As I walk down the aisle, I see my "prince" awaiting me and the little smirk on his face with that look seeming to say to me " I knew something was gonna happen." We said our vows, lit our candles, exchanged our rings, and he kissed the bride, all with the music of little Alex, the uncooperative ring bearer screaming and crying in the background.
The first marriage lesson I learned? Life is what happens while you are busy making plans LOL LOL
