Tag Archives: Halloween

Day 7 ~ 30 Days Of Thankfulness 2012

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I am thankful today for all 5 of my senses…and that mysterious 6th one.

I woke to the sounds of my sister getting ready for work, then my mom, before the sounds of my cat purring reached my ear as she made her way up the bed once she knew I was awake.  Though it isn’t as good as it once was, I can hear!

I could smell fresh coffee brewing in the kitchen, and the last traces of lavender oil on my pillow case.  My nose still works!

I could taste that wonderful cup of coffee, and the toasted cheese sandwich that was my breakfast.  And the Almond Joy mini candy bar that followed. Those taste buds are still working!

I can feel the softness of my cat when I’m petting her, and the blanket on my bed that I made that she has now adopted as her own.  I can feel the cool spray of body balm when the hot flashes are in over drive today.  I can feel the rough carpeting under my feet change to cool hard floor as I leave the steps and head into the kitchen.

I can see, even if with the assistance of glasses or contact lenses, my adorable cat stretched out on the blanket on the bed, the sunshine pouring across the land,  the bowl holding the candy bars, all my favorite things in my room as I’m looking about me.

And that mysterious 6th sense, my gut feeling, intuition, better judgement…whatever you want to call it…that ‘red flag’ that gives me cause to stop and use the other 5 senses I have to investigate and double check my surroundings.

So many come through this life without some of these, or lose them throughout the course of their time here on earth.  That I have all of mine and they are working well this morning, for that I am very thankful.

Monday Quiz About Me

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It’s Monday, time for the Monday Quiz About Me meme/hop.   Been a while since I did this one (was Meet Me On Monday), figured it is a good place to get my Monday morning juices flowing.

It’s the HALLOWEEN WEEK edition!

Here are FOUR QUESTIONS that everyone can answer and then you have the option to add a fifth question of your own for those who are visiting your blog to answer in the comment section, along with commenting on the four standard questions you answered!  Click the icon above to go to Acting Balanced and join up!!

And now for this weeks Questions

1. Do you consider Halloween a holiday for children or adults?
2. At what age should children stop trick or treating?
3. What are your plans for Halloween?
4. What frightens you?

Do you consider Halloween a holiday for children or adults? 

I think it is for both!  Different ages enjoy different aspects.  I still enjoy getting dressed up for a night of fun, but then I am rather in touch with my inner child still.  It keeps me young and keeps the magic in life flowing.

At what age should children stop trick or treating?

I think as long as they are respectful, and their costumes are really good (no smearing dirt on your face and calling that a costume), then I have no problem with them going all the way through high school.  Heck I did it!

What are your plans for Halloween?

Well not entirely certain to be honest.  Our first year in this house we pulled out the fire pit and sat outside like my former neighborhood (that street rocked Halloween) but we only had 14 kids.  And our neighbors over here just aren’t all that friendly.  Last year we went down to my brother’s, sat around the fire pit in the driveway, handed out candy and ate pizza.  It was a blast.  Kinda hoping for an invite back! (HINT)

What frightens  you?  

I am terrified of fire, afraid of the dark, terrified of heights, afraid of bad storms.

~*~

The Elf On The Where?

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I love the holiday season.  For me it starts Monday, October 1st and runs through New Years Day.  Halloween and all things spooky kick it off and it rolls through 3 months, 1 full quarter of the year.  Seems appropriate that deep winter follows, good time to hibernate after all of the activity.  I even coordinate my cell phone wallpaper and texting theme (I use GO SMS Pro) to the various holidays.

As  far as Halloween goes, I’m not into haunted houses unless it is the real deal, like Waverly Hills Sanitorium or some such truly haunted place.  I do not like masks on people, I need to be able to see their eyes to be comfortable. And I am no fan of anything or anyone jumping out at me or touching me.  In other words I am not one that likes being scared by pranks and stage makeup, but I am into paranormal type frights because I’m not scared by that, just fascinated.  I do enjoy the fun side of Halloween, like carving pumpkins and cute witches  and goblins that come ringing my doorbell, fun foods for parties and even a good costume party if folks dress creatively.

Thanksgiving is like intermission with food.  I enjoy food.  REALLY enjoy food, goes with being a Taurus, there is an ongoing love affair with all things delicious and edible, and a bittersweet relationship with the scale as a result.  Thanksgiving day is just for loading up on calories for energy for Black Friday shopping, and a great excuse to bring the family together.  Hopefully you don’t  wait for such occasions to have your family come by for dinner.  Around the Diva Den all it takes is a phone call in the afternoon and some creative combining of resources to produce a family dinner.

My all time favorite holiday is Christmas.  So much so that thanks to living in this very big house, we can have 2 trees, which is my dream.  I love decorating trees, and would have one in every single room!  Even my bedroom has a tree, a Charlie Brown tree :)  because it  is such a great Christmas show.  I love the decorations, smells, sounds…everything about this holiday rocks!  We have a tradition of watching “It’s A  Wonderful Life” on Christmas Eve after all the festivities are done and we’re in our jammies.

I want  to start a new tradition this year.  I get that in this house everyone is an adult, and while we believe in the spirit of Santa, we’ve gone beyond truly believing in the person.  However, traditions can be fun for adults even if they are mostly for kids.  Last year I stumbled on the whole Elf On The Shelf craze just after the holidays.  I think the entire thing is just adorable and my hat is off to the authors of the book, who have created a very special tradition in so many families around the globe.  Even though we are adults, I want to ‘adopt’ an elf and begin the tradition.  I’m checking out the local adoption centers, you can find your local centers on the website, Elf On The Shelf so you can adopt your own family elf.  For those parents looking for creative ideas for their elf to be found each day, I found this cute blog of 100 Mischievous Elf Ideas, they are great!

It is never too early or too late for that matter, to start thinking of ways to make holidays more fun and enjoyable for children young and old alike!

Wine & Cheese ~ 54th Serving

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Welcome to Wine & Cheese, my weekly, Wednesday whine session.

**SPOILER ALERT** – If you watch Sons Of Anarchy and have not yet seen episode 3 of season 5, don’t read the WINE!

Many weeks on Wednesday I devote a blog to whining. Despite being a really happy, positive person, I do have things that annoy me at times.

I never let anything grate on my nerves for long but thought it would be fun to vent them periodically in my blogs.

I also feel that good things, the cheese in life, should be acknowledged as well.

I’m even going to throw in a bit of dessert, a piece of virtual chocolate, something that made me laugh or smile just a bit more than normal.

If you’d like to read the past editions of Wine & Cheese just click HERE for all of the past postings.

Sit back and join me now for the 54th  serving of some wine and cheese!

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

WINE

:(  People who get to the counter at a fast food place, then decide what they want.  And they take FOREVER to make a choice.  Stop talking while in line and figure it out. OR don’t get in line until you do.  The rest of us have somewhere to be too, and that is why we are opting for the fast food option.  You are making it not so fast.

:(  Bullies, of any type!  Especially those in the high school in West Branch who pulled this very mean prank on one of the girls there.  Bullies and stalker types need to get a life.  I even know of one who ended up in psychiatric care, suicidal, and now bullies others!   With any luck the zombies will get them first!  Bunch of jealous, narcissistic psychos. Embrace your awesome, cool self, Whitney Kropp, being unique is what makes you special!

:(  Shame on you, Sons Of Anarchy and writer/producer Kurt Sutter!  I am still in shock after last night’s episode 3 of season 5.  ARGH!!! No No No! Not Opie!!!  Okay it was a fantastic episode, and to be a really great show you sometimes have to kill off a beloved, main character, but wow.  That on the heels of the 1st episode of the season, just WOW.  RIP Opie.

CHEESE

:)  NCIS is back!!!  Drooling over Gibbs (Mark Harmon) is my favorite Tuesday night activity.  That and drooling over Jax (Charlie Hunnam) on Sons Of Anarchy.  YUM!

:)  Autumn is here and I am loving it.  It will be better when the trees change but they are starting too, and it is getting to be fire place season again.

:)  Which brings me to holiday season!  Monday is October 1st, Halloween is headed our way.  Then Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I love this time of year.

:)  ERMAHGERD!!! – because that ‘word’ makes me laugh.

DESSERT

A double helping today because….well because life is too short not to double up on dessert!

#37 ~ 365 Reasons Being Single Rocks

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Remote Wars

#37

Never having to fight over the TV remote.

No one comes in and says something rude like “OMG you aren’t really watching THIS are you?”

No one picks up the remote during your show, or favorite commercial and changes the channel.

No need to hide the remote or remove the batteries.

It’s all yours!

I could only find the photo, not the place to actually order this adorable, universal remote. But I want one!

#35 ~ 365 Reasons Being Single Rocks

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Scheduling Conflicts

#35

Never having to get back to anyone after you chase down your S/O to find out if you are available for parties, showers, movies, whatever it is that needs to be done.

No one bitches because you have to work late, conveniently, on the night of your mother-in-law’s birthday extravaganza…the one that you’d rather have a root canal without the benefit of numbing medications than attend.

It’s YOUR schedule, you fill it in or leave open space as you see fit.

#34 ~ 365 Reasons Being Single Rocks!

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Song Slaughter

#34

Driving down the road, your favorite song comes on.

The S/O changes the channel.

Or worse…

They purposely start singing and CHANGING the lyrics.

They butcher them, purposely, into something insane or obscene.

It sticks in your brain, and every time you hear the song you hear the ‘new’ words in your head.

And they think they are funny.

NOT FUNNY!

Don’t screw with a girl’s favorites.

No S/O means NO song slaughter!

#25 ~ 365 Reasons Being Single Rocks!

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Tootsies!

#25

Seriously, when was the last time I painted my toes?

Hmmm…..before the camping trip I think, around Halloween.

See, I was dating The Count back then and so I kept the piggies all pretty.

Now that I am single?

Screw it, who cares?  Still a peek of red polish left on a few toes and I just don’t care!

When I’m Deep Inside My Shell

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~*~

Your circumstances don’t DEFINE you, but REFINE you..turning the ashes of your past into the diamonds of your future. ~ The Single Woman

~*~

More than one friend has been a bit concerned about the fact that I’m all closed up inside my protective shell right now after the break-up of my most recent relationship, one in which we were getting pretty serious.  We had been talking about the future, and not all that distant of one either.  His dream businesses, my dream careers (yeah I have two) and how those would work together.  There was talk of my needing to get used to having my picture taken if I was going to be a member of the family, and enjoy camping and caving.  And then suddenly, literally over night, it is all gone.  The dreams of the future have once again been shattered.

I put on my happy, brave mask, and said “It’s all good”.   Reality is it is NOT all good, I’m hurting.  I loved the dreams we shared, our goals and hopes.  I very much loved him, his family, especially the grandsons.  I enjoyed every minute we spent together, even camping which anyone who knows me knows that it took a lot for me to go on that little trip.  I was already counting down the days until next year’s Halloween family camp out, I really enjoyed it.  So yes, I’m hurting inside.

In my typical fashion I am handling this by closing my shell and retreating inside myself.  But this is how I heal, and folks need to not worry about me.  This is not just a time of healing, it is a time of growth and change, inwardly at my core and good always comes from it.

Think of it like an oyster.  An oyster shell  grows right along with the oyster.  In order for the shell to grow, an organ within the shell, the mantel, uses the minerals from the food the oyster consumes to produce the shell.  Pearls come from oysters, and are made when a foreign substance makes its way inside and gets between the oyster’s shell and mantel, not unlike getting a splinter.  The mantel of the oyster shell will cover that irritant in layers of nacre, which is the substance the mantel produces that lines the inside of the shell.  As each layer is applied it slowly becomes a pearl.  The most valuable pearls are those that are nice and round in shape.  This is because most do not turn out perfectly round, instead they are uneven in shape and are called baroque pearls.

My heart is a lot like an oyster.  It has a nice, hard protective shell around it, and on as needed basis I have made the shell thicker, layer by layer.  It is how I protect myself from future pain.  Once in a while I let someone inside that shell, to hold my heart.  But when they hurt me, and shatters my dreams, a sliver of the dream is left piercing my heart.  It is like that foreign substance that invades an oyster, my heart begins to cover that irritant in healing layers.  With each layer that is applied, I learn more about me, and I grow a little more to be a better person.  Pearls take a long time to be produced, and the pearls that make up who I am take time too.  Good always comes from the pain, but not immediately.  I need time to mull it over, work through it, figure out where, if at all, I went wrong, examine myself to see if there is a flaw in my character that needs to be adjusted and letting go of the love and the one who caused the pain.  In the end, when I again allow someone to open my shell, there they find a treasure.  Some of those pearls they find are the baroque gems, things about me that still need improvement, others are perfectly round, smooth stones.  All are beautiful and when strung together make up the person I am. 

Part of that healing is to turn to the bible, God’s word and the food of my soul.  It lifts me up, nourishes me, encourages me, teaches me, and helps to heal my broken heart.  It too surrounds those shards of shattered dreams in layers of Divine healing and wisdom, helping with the process to mold this clay vessel into the work of art I am meant to be.

This time is no different.  Inside me right now, under the cover of my shell, the splintered piece of my love for the Count and the dreams we shared, is being covered in layers as I go through the process of letting go.  The next person that is fortunate enough to open my shell and hold my heart, will find a wealth of pearls made from heartaches, loss, difficult lessons learned through painful times, each one now a valuable gem strung together to make the person I am today.

Hopefully the next person treats my heart like the fragile and priceless treasure it is, and knows what a privilege it is to hold in their hands, and will protect it rather than break it.

~*~

Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go.  ~ Hermann Hesse

~*~

The Dating Diaries ~ The Princess & The Count

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It has been quite a while since I updated the status of my love life.  I’m sure everyone out there is chomping at the bit to know just how things are going between me and the man I met on a dating site.  I’m still kind of in shock at times that I went from happily married, to divorced and shattered on every mental and emotional level, to healing slowly, seeing a married man (in my own defense I had NO idea Mr. Wonderful was married until the end of the relationship), dating a super hero, then going out on over a dozen first dates with men I met online through dating sites.  Some of those first dates made it to a 2nd, and one or two hit a 3rd, but the 13th 1st date was to a man that held the key to my heart’s garden.  You all know him as The Count, the nickname I gave him because of his love of all things Halloween.  On my supporting cast page, he is Steve.

July 22nd of this year I went on my 13th and last first date.  I walked into one of my favorite places to grab  bite to eat and a cold beer, to meet someone I almost turned down.  Not because he wasn’t attractive, he is very good looking.  But mostly because I didn’t think I was what he was looking for based on the profile.  But it kept eating at me so I finally replied to his email and agreed to dinner.  That night I walked in, and looked into the eyes of someone that turned me inside out just looking at me.  I had this happen one other time in my life, and I was married for 22 years as a result.  There is a chemistry there, with a stranger, that when you look into their eyes you see their soul, and they in turn see yours.  I’ve read that we all have a particular scent and ‘sense’ about us, that attracts the partner that is the right mix for us.  Not sure if I believe that, but when I use the term chemistry, well I guess there is something to it?  SOMETHING clicks, like the fit of pieces in a 2 piece puzzle coming together, something is just RIGHT.  That was what I felt, it was like I had known him without ever having met.  If I were one that believed in reincarnation I’d say I found my mate from a previous life, but I don’t so I won’t go there.

My heart went through so much pain I  never imagined feeling love again.  Then to have it broken as it was finally healing, not once but twice after my divorce, well this princess had raised the drawbridge, added extra piranas to her mote and given up hope.  I had given up on love but I also enjoyed the company of a nice man, so, while locking up my heart, I still decided to date so I could at least get out of the house now and then.  One of the men I met, that made it to a second date, nicknamed himself Romeo.  He wrote a very good description of my heart as a garden, that I in turn picked up and ran with, as it was very accurate, The Marvelous Secret Garden and I posted what he had written to me.  Shortly after our first date he wrote more, in Part 2, ever hoping he’d be the one holding the key.  He had read just about every blog post I’ve written here, and possibly the ones from my previous blog site when married.  He definitely knew me rather well but he was not the one that held the key, and would have to forever remain outside of the garden.  My heart is well protected behind very thick walls and a locked gate that only 3 have ever held the key too.  Until now.

I wrote about meeting Steve, and how he looked right into my soul but didn’t push against the barriers, or try to find his way in.  He didn’t have too, because the key to my heart isn’t something one would know they have, or I would know, until they unlocked it.  That was just over 3 months ago, but it feels like we’ve known each other so much longer.

I’ve slowly met his family, and he has slowly been introduced to mine.  Things are progressing forward at a slow, steady pace.  Each time we’re together it is a little harder to be apart until the next time.  My heart very much loves him, but is able to take it’s time, letting this unfold and grow.  I’m learning to trust again, in the area of opening up and allowing someone inside my heart and mind.  I don’t have issues with jealousy this time, I never lack for assurance of his feelings for me.  When I’m with him I feel more safe and secure than I have ever felt in my life, that he would protect me.  My soul feels at peace with him.  I miss him a great deal when we are not together, but not in a clingy way, just a like a part of me is missing, until we’re together again.  I’m happy, very happy, in the sweetest possible way.

He hasn’t once tried to change me, he allows me to be true to myself.  I don’t try or even want to change him.  We balance each other nicely, even in areas where we will agree to disagree in our thoughts or views.  It is a relationship being built on a solid foundation of love and respect (perhaps the biggest missing piece to my failed marriage), one brick at a time. (thanks again, Chuck, that book you recommended, Love And Respect, is a life changer!)

So in case you were wondering, yes, he is still within the walls of my heart, slowly and carefully exploring that garden with me, and sharing more and more of his own heart, a piece at a time.  As each day passes, the other side of the garden that was so severely destroyed and burned, has grown over with vegetation and flowers, and the signs of the destruction are barely visible now.  There is no rush down the path, no need too.  We have all of our lives ahead of us to see where this might lead, and I’m savoring every minute of that journey. It is SO very different from any relationship that I’ve had before.

Love Will Make You Lose Your Mind…

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This week I will return to my childhood roots and do something I have not done since high school.  It is something I swore I would NEVER do again.  But just like when my first marriage ended and I made a personal oath to never iron another man’s shirt as long as I lived, love makes us do strange things.  Actually, it causes us to take complete leave of our senses.

When I was growing up, in fact from what I am told it began shortly after I was born, my parents took us camping.  I have been all over this great country and seen so many very cool things.  Once I was in high school my parents opted to go the route of hotels when we  traveled.  I have many fond memories of camping, but some not so fond.  Sorry but creepy crawly things in the showers is not my idea of excitement or my version of communing with nature.  I  like a warm, comfortable bed, lots of pillows, climate controlled and room service.  Motel 6 is about as close to camping as I ever planned to go again.  That is all about to change.

On Saturday is the annual Stonelick State Park Halloween Campout, “Costume, pumpkin & campsite decorating contests, hayrides, trick or treat & hobo stew” and it is a family tradition in the Count’s family to be there.  In fact Mama Count is already out there, set up with the camper (a rather impressive, comfy one at that), and the Count and I will be going out Thursday through Saturday.  Originally I had said I’d drive out on Saturday for the day.  Then it became I’d stay Friday and Saturday at the local Holiday Inn Express, about 15 minutes away.  Then it was we’d stay in the camper Thursday through Sunday with Mama Count.

Me as Cruella

Now? Well plans have changed and the Count and I are staying in his 2 room tent on the site.  Yes, you read that right, a TENT.  So much for personal vows of celibacy from sleeping under the protection of canvas and a zipper, encased in a sleeping bag. He assures me that my personal comfort is his personal priority.  I’ve lost my ever lovin’ mind, the things we do for love.

I will suck it up, put on my big girl panties and have a blast.  We spent the day there Sunday helping set up camp for Mama Count and it was very nice.

I actually find myself looking forward to waking up to the sounds of nature around me and fresh coffee in the cool morning air.  Maybe not so much walking to the bathroom or showers (to once again be showering in flip flops with daddy long leggers around), but I DO have fond memories from camping as a kid so this should be a good time.  I might even pack my costume and dress up, since I have one for Cruella De Vil and it would be nice to participate.  :)

OH and don’t you know that The Count once again has surprised me with a cute  gift.  I’m going to grow spoiled rotten at this rate.  He bought me to cutest go-cup for coffee, ceramic with a black cat on it.  No reason other than he was thinking of me while out and about.  Guess that black cat is what made him think of me?  It’s funny, the man who dislikes (hates) cats, finding cute things with a black cat on it, just like my beautiful cat, Pixel.  I will be using it here at home, then taking it with me to use at camp.

I’ll be sure to write about my adventure, maybe even blog right there from the tent.

NOT Sending In The Clown!

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My Avon business is finally starting to take off, which is a very good thing.  I know that I won’t be babysitting kids forever,  in fact I am going to be losing the 3 siblings sooner or later and will be picking up a few more when they go.  I love kids, I really do.  This is the next best thing to being a grandparent, no doubt about it.  I get to giggle, dance, watch The Backyardigans, sing and play with toys…and change diapers, feed, nap and drive car pool, but gotta take the good with the inconvenient.  But this is not what I want to be doing for a living forever.  I want my Avon business to flourish and totally rock me into a big annual income.  I know it can be done, I’m friends on Facebook with my Avon idol, Lisa Wilber, who makes in excess of $300k a year as her own boss,  with her own business of Avon.  She is #4 in the country in sales with Avon, but she best be watching over her shoulder, the Marvelous one plans to knock her back a spot or two in the next few years! :)   It is a goal I know she would applaud, she is totally awesome and supportive of others like that.

Last evening I had a new recruit to sign up and begin training in having her own Avon business.  My sister was meeting one as well so we set the appointments at the same time, same place with the intent to work together.  But first, we needed dinner.  We opted for Chipotle, next to the meeting location, got our food and sat down at the bar at the window to do some people watching while we ate and brain stormed our future.  Out by the curb, on the sidewalk was someone dressed up as a clown, waving at cars, dancing, and holding up a sign advertising the Halloween store in the little strip mall we were located in.  We were enjoying watching his antics as we ate…and then sis said something that struck a nerve with me.  “If I don’t make it selling Avon, that will be me out there.”  Stop the truck, Chuck!!  NO kidding little sister, no kidding.  I know what she means, only I’d be doing the later  afternoon/early evening shift.  I tried to imagine being  dressed up as some odd ball creature, holding a sign and waving to passing cars in front of an auto dealer or oil change franchise.  Thankfully, that vision would NOT come clear in my head.  In denial I refused to visualize that at all.  No, I am NOT going to settle for being a minimum wage, live action ad.  Not that there is anything wrong with it, if that is what you have to do to pay the bills, you put on the clown suit and go make a spectacle of yourself.  I refuse to get to that point is all.  Heck, where is my brain, I should have walked out and recruited to poor soul while they may still have some dignity left.

So, watch for me, I will be at the top of the lipstick one day in the not  too distant future.  Count on it.

Don’t Make Me Give Him To My Ex!!!

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Oh readers, you know that I no longer harbor ill will or feelings toward the ex-hubby, never really did, just loads of pain that is now water that  flowed under the bridge.  But really, don’t make me do this.

On my Avon blog page, I’m hosting a give away, something I have done a few times in the past between this blog and that one, with much success.  But now, I’ve had a give away up for a week and not one. single. entry.  SAY IT ISN’T SO!!!!!  This  little guy, We Got The Treats Pete, is adorable!  YES his song COULD become annoying if the kids push his little button too many times, but just put him up high so they cannot reach him.  He wants a good home, and while it is only August 21st,  come on, Halloween is only 71 days away.  It will be here before you know and it and then you will be kicking yourself thinking “OMG, why didn’t I enter? Pete would be the ultimate addition to our holiday decor”, and oh how you will weep with regret.

SO, anyone and everyone is eligible, just get over there and enter.  Or I may have to hand him off to my daughter, who lives with the ex-hubster, also a Pete, and well…yeah you get the idea! We’re on better terms but let’s not have me contributing to the decorating of his home.

Click the cute photo and get over there and enter!!!

Special Treat For My Readers

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I LOVE this business of giving things away, and I am giving away something just adorable this time around.  We Got  The  Treats Pete – the  new, Avon Exclusive treat seeker (hey it is NOT too early to be thinking about Halloween), is my latest give away.  You can check him out in the video below, then head over to my Avon blog to find out how to enter (no purchase necessary)

Random Tuesday Thoughts 10/26/10

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randomtuesday

Hosted by: The UnMom

Put your random thoughts in a blog post, click the above box and link up with the rest of the random thinkers today.

 

How many times is enough to reheat the coffee in the microwave before just giving up and going and getting a fresh cup?  And really, how is it I can get so damn busy I forget to actually drink it?  I swear if I drank all that I actually pour in the cup I could crawl across the ceiling.

Would love to know who the sweetheart is that put candy corn and pumpkins in the big candy dish in the coffee lounge. Probably one of those that is all fit and trim and trying to keep the law of redistribution of body fat from hitting them by keeping all of us packing it on.  Thanks bitch, but NO thanks, I will exercise self control and just have coffee. Besides the plain aren’t as good as the chocolate and caramel ones I have in a baggie in my desk drawer!

At my sister’s office they are all decorating their cubes today for Halloween and dressing up.  She has a pricey, but very cool Wicked Witch/Elphaba costume and will be painted green before putting on the attire. It is one ‘wicked’ costume, no pun intended.  On this severe storm day she may learn to fly too.  Bet that sight driving down the road on her way home this afternoon will raise a few eyebrows with the storms blowing through, LOL.

Debating leaving the phone plugged in so that it is fully charged when/if we lose power today.  I fear suffering cyber crack withdraw if I cannot access my favorite stuff at least through my phone.  I know, I’m pathetic.

“I feel the need to reach out and touch someone today…a 2×4 should do the trick” – just saw that on my former sister-in-law’s Facebook status, I SO know the feeling, Mel, I’ve a few folks in mind for that touch!(NO your big brother is NOT one of the choices for that touch, I’m over that)

Wondering if all this weather hype today is going to result in NOTHING.  Every time they get all worked up about some big ass snow storm coming our way we see very little materialize.  Same seems to happen when they call for severe thunderstorms, so my guess is it is a bunch of hooey and other than some rain and wind we won’t see anything to be concerned about.

Wondering…does anyone use Myspace anymore?  I think I check mine once a week now, but I live on Facebook.  I think Myspace is slowly fading into history.  Considering just deleting mine, all I ever get on there is a bunch of friend requests from ass pirates that I have NO desire to meet.

Who would have imagined the quickest way to bust this cold/flu up was  to flush my sinuses with salt water, pouring it up my nose with a plastic tea pot?  I swear I was skeptical but honestly, the neti pot is amazing.  It is fun too, when my niece walks in and finds me over the bathroom sink irrigating the nasal passages, she is kinda creeped out by the whole thing.  I swear it is a god send, have noticed a relief from my cat allergies too.  Strange but I’ll take it!

Wondering if I can get to Chipotle at 11am before the storms hit? I really need a steak bowl and chips (Hey, I had chicken yesterday, gotta have something different right?).  Comfort food again, for riding out the non-storm that won’t be a big deal.  Got a lot on the brain and heart to work through today too.  Yep comfort food.  It was that or bring teddy bear to work and I’m thinking the sight of a 47yo woman walking around hugging a teddy bear would be moderately disturbing to folks.  So, Chipotle it is!

 

 

Five Questions

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1. Who is the better cook, you or your spouse?

2. How often do you talk to your mom?

3. Are you adventurous in the kitchen or stick to the recipe?

4. Is your second toe longer than your big toe?

5. Do you dress up for Halloween? (Bonus question: What will you be this year?)

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1. Who is the better cook, you or your spouse? Well when I was married, hubby was the better cook.  I HATE cooking, just not my thing.  I am most familiar with the fridge (where the beer is kept cold) and the coffee maker (where the coffee is hot).  Never have been one that liked cooking.  YES I can cook, I can follow a recipe and will even get brave now and then and screw it up change things but I still hate it.  He on the other hand is an awesome cook.  That reminds me, need to email old Lord Voldemort ex-hubster and see what he’ll charge us to make us Diva’s a big tray of his incredible stuffed shells.

2. How often do you talk to your mom?
Daily.  It is kinda hard to avoid, we live together.  Though it was at least every other day if not every day when I was married too.  I am close to my mom which is a good thing.  If not verbally in person or via the phone, it was on email and texts.  Mom is in her mid  60′s but she is tech savvy and can BBM, IM, text, Twitter, Facebook and email etc.

3. Are you adventurous in the kitchen or stick to the recipe?

Simply entering the kitchen is rather adventurous for me!  To actually approach the stove and make food is a big hairy deal really.  As far as recipes, yes I will deviate if I think I can do something better.  As stated in a blog yesterday, when entering the kitchen I tend to Tweet and Facebook to the local fire boys to be on standby just in case, one never knows with me.

4. Is your second toe longer than your big toe?

Nope mine have a nice, slant from the big one down to the small one.

5. Do you dress up for Halloween? (Bonus question: What will you be this year?)

Most years of late I do dress up, however this year I am not certain.  I like to dress up as Cruela DeVil but I may be loaning the costume out to a friend.

Pouring My Heart Out

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This was ready a day early, but I published it early because it was ready and I’m lucky if I know when I’m coming and going anymore!

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I think I finally have my footing in the world again.  The dust settled, my heart discovered that it was going to survive and checked out of ICU and into protective custody.  I’m adjusting to working and paying my own bills, and I have established a routine for the weekdays.  Weekends have no definite routine other than Saturday night wine with the Divas.

The boss resigned and I’ve been juggling 2 territories and that is finally settling down.  There are some loose ends still but I finally feel confident that I can handle this much responsibility, which I had serious doubts for a while.  See, I do not like going places that are unfamiliar (probably some big medical label for that) but now that I have been to the Dayton office and found it (gotta love GPS on the smart phone), got inside and saw what needed to be done,  I feel much better about that.  Still scrambling in some ways but I’m getting there and I KNOW I can handle it.

I love the holidays and this is the first Christmas in 23 years that I won’t have to deal with Ebenezer Scrooge.  I had no issues with us not buying for each other, we both always got whatever we needed throughout the year.  And material things mean nothing to me, actions that back up the words “I love you” mean far more to me.  I’d rather have your heart, your love, that is all the gift I need.

The ex hated the holidays with good reason, but never could let his past go.  His childhood sucked balls, no nice way to put it, and the holidays were just a more focused time to be tortured mentally by his parents.  But seriously, at some point you need to let it GO and embrace the happiness and spirit of the season.  Connect with your inner child and learn to laugh and play again.  Get some therapy, but get over it and let the crutch go!

I cannot wait for the holidays to arrive, my sister is a Christmas freak like me, though her favorite holiday is Halloween.  Like me, she cannot get the tree up fast enough (my poor mom, we will likely have both trees up the weekend after Halloween!).  The Divas love the music, decorations, smells, lights…and the childlike joy that goes with it.  It will be so nice to not have that dark cloud hanging over things that was a part of being married to my ex.  I tolerated it as one of the many ‘worst’ things about him, but it is without a doubt a major relief to no longer have too.

I’m totally enjoying my relationship with Mr. TSASA (twisted steel and sex appeal).  I’ve never been in this sort of relationship with someone before, so it is rather new and there really are no rules/guidelines outside of the boundaries we chose to set.  I’ve never known a man that would drive 40 minutes just to take me out for a ride so he could hold my hand, see me, kiss me and hug me…and that is all.  Seriously, that is new  territory.  The physical/sexual attraction is very much there, has been since the first time we met.  But really, he drove that far because he had this little block of time in his schedule and he wanted to just be with me.  It restores my faith that maybe all men are NOT pigs, just 99.9% of them.

The ‘friendship’ part is very important to me, and also admittedly a bit scary.  Friends aren’t truly friends if they don’t care about each other.  To allow a friendship to grow means that those feelings could develop and over time become something far more serious.  That is the part that concerns me.  I don’t think my heart can handle being shattered again and I have no desire to risk that happening.  But it is not realistic to think I can keep it from feeling.  I’m not going to cover it up, I smile when my phone rings and it is him calling, or when I get an email.  He makes me feel very special when we are together and apart.  But I refuse to rush this, place hope on it, etc.  Neither of us want to push things into something they are not, but we also don’t want to run from something that could be sweet and wonderful. What a hot mess!   We both are gun shy, we both have had someone we loved so much shred our hearts and drop the remaining pieces at our feet, so our hearts are locked up pretty securely.  So we will error on the side of caution and go forward exceedingly slow and see what happens. For now, we have a great friendship with a superb benefit package.

One thing the past 23 years taught me is that you can put too much pressure on a person by making them the center of your world.  Sooner or later they will let you down, they are after all human.  When everything you do, think and say revolves around a particular individual, your world will crash and burn if that person walks out of your life.  Maybe it was more than the ex could handle?  I don’t know as I was not the center of his world so I don’t know what that kind of expectation must feel like, but I’m positive I do NOT want that.  I want to be one of the treasures/blessings in life to someone, but not their sole wealth and focus.  And I never want anyone to be what my world revolves around again, my world should revolve around me.  No person should ever be my sole enjoyment, but be one of many parts that I enjoy of my life.  Certainly people and things in life must be prioritized, and I could be and could make someone a priority, but not the number one. I am number one in my life, and everyone should consider themselves number one in theirs.  When all those other things fail, you are all you have left and you better have nurtured and taken care of yourself mentally and emotionally so you can withstand when the rest is gone.

As they said in the movie, White Christmas, it is dangerous to put knights on those white horses, they can fall off.  Sooner or later every knight gets tossed off his horse, and every princess falls off her throne.   But can we forgive each others imperfections, and help them climb back up, or do we raise the drawbridge and fill the moat with piranhas?

Life In The Fruit Loop Garden….

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Welcome to my brain.  It is a scary place, nothing normal goes on here, I grow some strange thoughts and often the only similarities or commonality is….well that they are mine.  :)    My gray matter is like a bowl of fruit loops, random flavors and colors, and nothing I am about to share is connected short of it passed through my thinking today.  You’ve been warned.

I worked today, okay WE worked today.  My sister helped me and thankfully so.  I had to go to the Dayton office and get it in order.  5 trips to the dumpster and we just scratched the surface.  I have a cool toy there, a paper shredder.  Hey, don’t judge, I found it endlessly entertaining to feed it full of papers that require shredding to protect folks personal information.  I packed up the computer, cleaned and got things in order.  It is a long way from perfect but we were there damn near forever (6 hours of my day is a fucking very long time, especially when I was tired, and wanted to sleep in rather than get up).  Sleep deprivation sucks.  See why the paper shredder was so entertaining, I was not operating on a full tank.

Shopping at Target afterward was probably NOT a great idea.  I always spend money when I do that.  Not bad enough that I truly HATE to shop (I know how totally UN-Diva of me), but then I spend money!  ARGH!  But they had a good deal going on Halloween candy and candy corn.  We needed to start stocking up for the little Trick-or-Treaters that will be descending before we know it.  Seriously, the time is flying by and next thing you know it will be Christmas!

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: We interrupt this blog to alert you to the following information:

There are only 83 shopping day until Christmas!!!!!!

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog post already in progress….

Any day after Halloween passes is open season on Christmas decorating around here.  In fact if Diva Mom turns her back on us, me and Diva Boo will have the trees up!  Yes, trees! With a house this big we will have at least 2 trees.  And I am SO proud of myself, I’ve already started shopping for the holidays.  Lord Voldemort hates Christmas, in fact in the near future I will refer to him as Ebenezer Scrooge, who doesn’t hold a candle to old happy britches (NOT) during the holidays. He even  made mention when I asked for some of the Christmas decorations that are sentimental to me, that he isn’t planning to even bother putting up the tree.  Whatever, I will just go over and do it with my daughter when she is ready, after all it is HER home too and if she wants her mama’s help we can do it when Grumpy Dwarf is at work.   DAMN it will be nice to really ENJOY the holidays for a change!

**NOTE TO DAUGHTER AND SON – NOW would be an excellent time to be handing over your wish lists so I can get my shopping done EARLY.  EARLY  = Before Black Friday.**

Hee hee….I had Starbucks.  A pumpkin latte and a huge, thick slice of banana nut bread.  Hey, it was the only thing I had to eat today other than coffee and a few Sun Chips.  I was fucking starving very hungry with all that work we had to accomplish.  I blame Diva Boo, it was all her idea.  I really didn’t think it was a good idea, after all it is not exactly a healthy cup of delight they serve up there.  And I wasn’t implying that we really should actually purchase the banana nut bread to go with it.  I was merely pointing out that it was there and IF we would ever want something like that with our lattes that of course I would just happen to have $5 to spring for them but I was in no way encouraging her to actually go through with that madness.  But then once she did I couldn’t just throw it away! After all, there are starving kids in Africa and so we should not waste our food!

It is grocery shopping day in the Diva Den.  This will be an extra fun trip because we (Diva Mom, Me and Diva  Boo) will be doing it during the dinner hour when we hope the rest of the township is actually HOME, eating dinner, and not crowding the aisles of the grocery store.  Hey, I can hope right?

It is wine night in the Princess Palace (ie: Diva Den), we have 2 different bottles of Middle Sister wine to try. WARNING: there COULD be drunk blogging….definitely there will be drunk tweeting, texting and sexting.

Diva Mom is down the hall at the moment, having a conversation with the linens in the linen closet.  And to think these chicks think I have a screw loose?  HA at least I came by it honestly, and I have never had a conversation with a stack of towels, wash clothes or a box of Always pads!!!    Stop laughing. little brothers, the insanity gene is hereditary and you did NOT by pass that one either.

Crap, there are finger prints on my reading glasses.  This annoys the hell out of me!!  OH lookie there, not finger prints, paw prints! Wonder who did that? Pixel Kitten! You rotten feline!!!!!

Enough fruit loops, off to hell the grocery store. I’ll tweet that adventure, with photos even.  Tune in there! Or don’t…really won’t matter, I’ll do it anyway…

10 Things I Love About Fall

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Mama's Losin' It

I love the Fall for the change in temperatures.  Oh I am a total warm weather fan, but I love being able to wear my warm, soft, fuzzy on the inside sweat shirts.  Especially hoodies, I need that pocket on the front to put my cell phone, keys and other items in when I am out and about.

Having the windows open due to the change in the temperatures is nice too.  Cooler outside and less humidity, even on a day when it is in the mid 70′s like today, the windows are open and the breeze blowing through, and sleeping with the windows open is even better!

Football season is in full swing, and I LOVE football!  Ohio State, UC and of course the Cincinnati Bengals are  my teams, I just love watching them!

Fire pits are another plus.  Sure, there are some cooler evenings in the summer when you can use them, but it is so nice to be able to sit around the fire pit with coffee or a couple of beers, with friends and snacks and just relax on any given weekend.  I love the smell too.

Speaking of smells, there is nothing like the smell of fire places if you are out walking on a cool, Autumn night.  Kinda puts me in a romantic frame of mind.

The return of the holidays is on the horizon, and I LOVE the holiday season.  But for now, the hay rides, cider, and Halloween are all fun and all put a smile on my face.

Time to for hooking again when the Fall weather sets in!  I love to crochet but when it is hot out it is miserable to have a big blanket over my lap.  Fall weather means I can pick up the yarn and my hook and snuggle under my latest project.

While shorter day light time isn’t a real thrill, I tend to get more sleep in the Fall.  My body says it is bedtime once it gets dark so I tend to go to bed much earlier than I do in the summer.  It is like my major recharge time once the days grow shorter.

Food changes with the seasons, the focus moving from cookouts and burgers to chili and stews in the Fall.  I LOVE when it is time to mix up the meals and start changing what we serve.   Last night we dined on strawberry almond salad for the last time, as the strawberries need to be fresh for this to be a great meal.  Chili, soup, stew, all of these will now become part of our menu.

And last but not least…change in the outside world around me.  I LOVE the colors of this time of year!  I am blessed to live in an area of the country where we get to experience all 4 seasons fully.  This makes us appreciate each one all the more.  Fall brings about the leaves on the trees changing color, mums in  bright oranges, amber and gold, even the air takes on a different smell, you can detect the change with your nose!