Snow Snow Go Away


A post about not much

I love the snow.  Correction.  I USED to love the snow.  Right now snow and I, we have a kinda love hate relationship.

We’ve had 3 storms in 2 weeks, and tonight is our 4th.  6inches, 6 inches, 29 flippin inches, and now somewhere between 10-20 inches.  The snowflakes are huge and falling, but they are not pretty to me.  Instead, every one is currently another one that we will have to shovel.  It may in fact be the on that pushes the tree over, or collapses the roof.  Stupid flakes. 

It’s a rather morbid Debbie Downer though process, I realize.  And that’s when it occured to me.  Let Go and Let God.  Seriously.  I mean, sure we’ll shovel the deck and the sidewalk and drip the water and do what we can, but at the end of the day if the trees’a comin down, it’s coming down.  You’re certainly not going to see my fool butt up in that tree shaking it off (though I totally took a broom to it -bwahaha)  At the end of the day, it will all work out one way or another. 

And so with that, I’ll just enjoy power while we have it.  I can’t say that my relationship with Mother Nature isn’t brusied at the moment, but for now I’ll do my best to enjoy the snow…you know, the ones that are going to accumulate and cause me to shovel another 3 hours…..oops.  Well, baby steps.



The Randomness of Me


Certainly I’m accused of being random…sometimes rather frequently.  And you know what, I”m good with that.  I keep it a little quirky.  But that’s not what this post is about.  Some time ago I started thinking about the things that no one really knows about me–things I don’t even know if the boy knows some of it. 

Nothing earthshattering mind you; no felony records or hidden children.  But still, random interesting little tid bits about yours truely.  Today I thought I’d share a few here, just for.

I’m obssesed with ballet…or should I say ballet toe shoes.  Oh yes, the en pointe jobbies.  Just look at my outfit today.  I have on a ballet inspired top in a power pink (ballet shoe color) and a pair of brown ballet flats, complete with squared off toe to even more resemble a real-life ballet shoe.  Oh I never thought I could actually BE a ballerina…I’m not that naive. I’m about as graceful as a baby girraffe…and trust me when I say they aren’t.  But oh how I love the way a point shoe looks, or the like pink of the satin, or the delicacy of the tulle tu-tu.  In fact, I prefer the short little tu tu’s typically worn by the “lesser” parts to the long flowy dresses of the prima ballerinas.    One time, my neighbor let me try on her pointe shoes.  Aside from the fact that, oh, I’m not a ballerina, they were a solid 2-3 sizes too small.  But I didn’t care.  And I get up en pointe for about 2.7 seconds, which was followed by the world’s worst charlie horse. 

But I would do it again.

You should also know that my worst fear is drowning.  Oh sure the whole ‘no oxegyn’ part is bad, but I’m more concerend with the FISH.  What if I swallow one or something starts nibbling at my toes while I’m busy dying? 

Recently I was chatting with a dear friend of mine about the first night we met.  She told me that when I walked into the room she remembers thinking how confident and self-assured I looked.  I remember that night too…I remember not knowing anyone save the friend who invited me but trying to branch out.  I remember “faking it” till I “made it”.  And ironically I remember thinking how stunning she was.  Funny how that works. 

And you know what else, it was the Best compliment EVER.

I tend to take on the accents, mannerisms and ‘ticks’ of people I’m talking too.  According to Oprah it’s b/c I’m good at relating to people.  According to me though, I spoke wiht a Southern accent, then a Midwestern, then South Centeral and I’m pretty sure there was an Irish Brouge thrown in there all just between 2 and 4pm.

My memory is heavily connected with my sense of taste/smell.  Sometimes Stargazer lillies stop me in my tracks.  They used to be my favorite, but since I sat next to a bouqet at my uncle’s funeral years ago, it’s hit or miss these days.  I kissed a boy in college whose scent was a mix of rum and Pepsi (Pepsi not Coke), skoal and CK1.  I dated another boy who wore Versace’s Blue Jeans cologne.  After we broke up I made the boy in front of me in math class move when he came in wearing it one day. (why I didn’t move I’ll never know).  The boy however, has several scents.  He is “the boy” afterall, so he gets multiples like that.  Like the Burt’s Bee Balm, or the smell of his skin like soap, or Bourbon…though that last one usually doesn’t qualify as a “good” smell. 

When I’m alone in the car, I like to turn on Broadway showtunes (my current fav is Wicked) and imagine I’m on the stage somewhere and belt it out.   Usually it’s pretty detailed (and random).  Like once recently on a particularly bad traffic day I imagined that the Ole Miss Marching Band was playing “Defying Gravity” and they had two women singing the appropriate parts, but then the one playing Elphaba got sick and they needed a stand in at the last min.  Since my She She works for the Alumni Association she told them they should have me do it, and of course I had to fill in and save the day!  So I get up on the riser and belt my heart out! 

Yea, I’m a dork.  I know.

So there you have it…you know me a little better know.  Aren’tcha glad? :)



A Letter to JJill


Disclaimer:  I’m typing this on my Netbook for the first time.  The keyboard, I’m fairly certain, was originally made for little people.  As a former pianist who has more than a full octave reach this learning curve may prove challenging.  In other words, I”m blaming my typos on the keyboard.

Dear JJill,

Over the past year plus, I’ve taken a special focus on trying to find “my style”.  I’m still working on it, but from what I can gather I lean towards clean, flowing lines.  You can imagine then my joy when I discovered you in all your clean flowing line goodness.  YOu can imagine my extreme happiness when I found that you carry talls. And now that I’ve hit 32, (God that sounds old to write) I feel that I’m at the beginning stages of being able to wear your sundries…or at least I”m not waiting any longer and will just resign myself to dressing over my age.  Ehh, why stop now right?

Ahem, I digress.

As you know by now, my sweet She She gifted to me a lovely gift card to your fine establishment for Christmas.  Finally those beautiful dark indigo trouser jeans would be mine, all mine!  But your sizing is….odd, and I found that according to you your straight size tall jeans would not fit, and therefore I would have to settle for women’s.  Odd I tell you, not that Christmas has caused me to eat like a heifer or anything.  But whatevs.  Because you are the amazing store that you are, even your regular length pants will work.  Be still my heart!  So I placed my order, and I waited.

And waited.

And Waited.

At long last they arrived!  And as I tried them on I discovered something so horrific, so tragic, so utterly unspeakable…..

There was elastic in the waist.

So maybe I’m not ready to be THAT old just yet.

Sincerely,

Me

PS-your pants were too big anyway, so neah!



Happy New Year!


Considering I just asked the boy if today is the 2nd or the 3rd, I would say it’s been a pretty great vacation (even considering our Christmas adventure!) as evidenced by my non-knowledge of the day of the week.  This is particularly poignant since we’re only 3 days in. HA! 

Most people wrote these guys of posts two days ago, but let’s face it I’m not most people.  Still, I wanted to share my favorite memories of 2009 month-by-month. 

January brought me to a “little known show” that is the biggest consumer technology tradeshow *ahem*.  Normally I go onsite as a second, but given the birth of my counterpart’s son, I was left in charge.  It was a doozy, I learned a lot, was overly hard on myself and my skills, and will forever hold it as a mark of pride that I was able to pull it off (with a LOT of help from friends!)

February was the month of love.  Honestly there was nothing overly remarkable, but on Valentine’s night the boy made dinner for us.  It was sweet and nice.  Our (young) neighbors that are on the other side of our duplex however had a party complete with beer keg and loud music.  I felt old, and I was fine with it.

March we finally got our living room painted, and the house started to become a home.  It was also the month of our company meeting and one of THE worst hangovers known to man.

April was the month that the boy’s Mamaw passed.  It was the first death that we experienced as a couple, and odd as it may sound it’s an extremely touching memory for me.  One in which my new family fully embraced me as one of their own, and I was able to be the strong one.  It also meant that while I had to miss J’s surprise party, we were able to celebrate the twin’s 2nd birthday in person.  I love those babies I do.

May  was a busy month but oh what a fun one!  My sister and brother-in-law came to visit.  It was the week in which we became known as the neighbors that sit on their front porch until all hours drinking beer and having long chats about nothing and everything.

June took me away from the boy for 10 days, the longest we’ve been apart since we first started dating and I had to be in San Diego for a month.  June took me to Florida, the most humid state on the planet forcing me to pour pounds of hairspray into my head in a futile attempt to keep it in check while I worked one of the most unique show’s I’ve had the privelage of working with.  Wrangling lost children, vomit calls, protestors and dancing in the asiles during GS load in. 

July brought me home to my sweet husband and straight into the 4th of July festivities, including tubin’ which I once again survived.  Those that know me know I have an unrational fear of fish.  I choose to believe that the Shennandoah has none (though next year I may wear a helmet in case I can’t avoid the rapids again).  More importantly, July brought us our pupper Archie.  I love him to bits, kibbles and bits.  It was also very quickly that we found out how scary “parenthood” can be as his kennel cough escalated at rapid pace to pnemonia.  Scared the bejesus outta me.  The stress, however, did make me loose 7 lbs (which I promptly gained back) so you gotta take the good with the bad I say :)

August brought our one year anniversary, which we celebrated in Boston.  It was hottern’ blazes, but we had a good time.  I, ever able to injure myself in unique ways, arrived home with an ankle sprain due to walking too many miles in my beloved flops.

September will forever be the month of the PJ fiasco.  I honestly don’t remember the last time I laughed that hard (especially on someone’s kitchen floor) and will remain true to the argument that “simplicity” patterns aren’t so simple.

October we would rather forget….so we will.  HA!  October was crazy busy with work, and though in the first part I stuck to my “8 hours a day” schedule, that quickly went by the wayside.  As it did, the boy helped me see even more just how important it is to take some time to yourself.

November gave me my final show of the year, with a wonderful client.  And Thank God too b/c I was t-i-r-e-d!  I also was able to visit with my aunt and uncle while out there, which was really a treat.  November also took us to Georgia for Thanksgiving, and the puppers first long car ride with us.  Little did we know how important this preparation would be.  I got to shop on Black Friday with my mom and had so much fun with her that I was sad it had to end.

December will forever go down in history as the trip from hell :)   Those that read my Facebook page already know about our adventure on 81 South complete with National Guard rescue, flat tire, tornado and a wirlwind of fun and love with family and friends (for the record I will forever be indebted to Comfort Inns).  One day I’ll write about it all and post it here….but for now it’s just one of those memories that you kinda have to laugh at.  It also is (technically still is) the longest vacation I’ve ever been able to take.  16 whole days!  There were bets about how long it would take until I got bored.  Guess what people?  Didn’t happen.

New Year’s was spent with friends in a low-key perfect sorta way.  We said goodbye to 2009, and though I know that for others it was a much worse year, I cannot lie.  I’m not exactly sad to see it go.  It was a long tough year in many ways.  But, I’m thankful for what it was, and hopeful for 2010. 

Here’s to a fresh start.



Thankful Thursdays and General Updates


Yea, I’m been MIA.   And I know my whole 3 readers have been wondering where I’ve been. HA!

So a little bit of this, a little bit of that.

It’s been a crazy week…eer, couple weeks.  I leave for my solar client’s show in less than 1 week from today.  So yea, bananas.

But I’m thankful.  Ohhh am I thankful.

I’m thankful that I got to spend time with family last weekend.  Oh my sweet niece and nephew, they are such joy.  I love love love spending time with my family.  It is like food for my soul…and I was starved.

I’m grateful for the challenges of the past few weeks.  I realize that may sound odd, but these past few weeks may have pushed me hard, but with the support of my friends and family I haven’t let it shrink me, but expand.

I’m thankful for self evaluation and patience.  I pretty well stink at the ‘patience’ part, but the self evaluation has been helping me (slowly) realize when I loose my patience so that I can correct myself sooner rather than later.

I’m also thankful for humility.  I have even LESS of that in some respects, but with that whole self evaluation and practicing humility I’m able to be a better person/wife/friend/daughter.

I’m thankful that it’s just me and my cat tonight…it’s a nice chnage to just be able to relax quietly.

Meanwhile, I leave in less than a week.  Did I already mention that?  I’ve been working hard, but the boy has been wonderfully supportive.  I was afraid that he’d be angry with me for working so late, but his response was blessedly more concerned about my wellbeing.

I’ve been pushed and challenged, but it’s been good.  Dare I say I’m even enjoying myself?  Not that I’d want it to be perminently this crazy, but I suppose one of the things I’ve missed is a “busy time” that’s once a year, a cycle.  Mine is never ending, and so sometimes it’s a consistent stress level of 8 with no (or few) brakes.

But, I’ve been practicing some work life balance…so we’ll see.  And though I miss my friends and hanging out, I know that this is only temporary.

And now, it’s bedtime….sleepy sleepy girlie I am.  Sweet dreams everyone