Who's a happy kitty? That's right, I am!

Oh for sad! I haven't blogged in over two weeks!!! I feel sooooooo bad :(

I could sit here and give you all a long list of excuses, but that wouldn't be very nice when instead I can give an update of all that's transpired in the last two weeks. They've been busy ones, I assure you.

So Valentine's day was simply sweet. The boyfriend and I actually exchanged gifts early. And by "exchanged gifts" I mean I bought him his gift and then I couldn't wait to give it to him so he got it the same day. And then he surprised me by taking me shoe shopping and getting me some STELLAR cute heels.

** Can I just point out that I have THE WORLD'S BEST BOYFRIEND? He buys me earrings, shoes and brings me flowers. Eat your hearts out, ladies.

The days after Valentine's Day weren't so sweet. The boyfriend came down with a cold...and I promptly caught it from him. Yay for sharing germs... A little shameless plugging here, but Nyquil really is amazing. Also, it REALLY is the "best sleep I ever got with a cold medicine". That stuff knocked the boyfriend and I out like Tyson. (The boxer, not the chicken...) Good news is that the sickness only lasted for about a week so we're mostly all better (minus the occasional cough or sniffle). Monday, while at the daily grind, Miss B sent me a text that changed my whole day around. Seems her office needed a temp to help out with some office type stuffs and she was wondering if I was interested. Uh...let me think about this...I can quit my P.O.S. job, make $10 an hour to sit on my butt and make some valuable contacts for my continuing job search. Yeah, where do I sign?

So the remainder of this last week was spent at my new job, earning some monies and loving life. The only downside is that this is a day job, so my writing will be put on hold slightly as there are only so many hours in the day...and this girl still needs some sleep, folks.

And now that we're all caught up, here's what's on my plate this week:

The boyfriend and band play tonight after having the last few weekends off...which means I get to go out and have a drink or five to celebrate my awesome week. Tomorrow is Sunday, which is Game Night with Miss J and company. Which means there will be more celebrating :) Wine, anyone?

Monday is back to my new job and more than likely, the receipt of my first week's pay. Are you reading my mind? SHOPPING!!! No, really, I must behave myself. Instead, I'm trying to convince the boyfriend to let me kidnap him and whisk us away next weekend for some much needed R and R...and more importantly...alone time :)

** Hint** This is where, if you have any heart at all, you all chime in and say, "Come on, boyfriend, let her kidnap you!!"

And with all of that goodness, it's really hard to be in anything but a fantastic mood. Which is why there's no ranting or complaining or whining today. I know, you're all heartbroken, aren't you?

On that sappy sweet note, I'm out to work on some side projects before I have to start the beautifying process for tonight. I hope you all have a great weekend :)

Toodles, my loves!

Love is in the air!

"...I need you like a heart needs a beat..."





I have decided that I love, love, LOVE when the boyfriend has his 2-day weekend in the middle of the week. What started as a potentially shitty Thursday with a plumbing snafu (Pun intended!) turned surprisingly sweet with a peaceful drive and dinner at one of my favorite places EVER. Yesterday was more of the same with me baking and decorating cookies for the upcoming holiday and spoiling the boyfriend with one of his favorite meals. (It helped that it's one of my favorites too...)

And with all this love and smooshiness in the air, you all can probably guess what this weekend's list will be. Or maybe not. See, I could get super sickly sweet on you and name the Top 9 reasons I'm truly, madly, deeply in love with the boyfriend. But I'm trying to keep readers, not scare them away. So I'll restrain myself. But only slightly.

Instead I shall share with you my favorite peoples. The wonderful loves that I could not live my life without. Each person has such a vital place in my heart and my life that I would be cold, lonely and lost if even one of them were missing. And because my loves each hold their own place, I cannot list them in any order of importance. All of them together make up the pieces of the puzzle that is my heart.


My 9 Loves

The Boyfriend aka My Lucky Charms



You guys get to read about the boyfriend more often than not. So you already know that he's a kick-butt guitar player and that he spoils me rotten. What you maybe don't know is that the boyfriend and his love gave me the strength to move on with my life and make it into something of which I can be proud. His support and encouragement helped me to realize my dream of writing and gave birth to this blog. His overflowing heart reminds me everyday how very lucky I am...and continue to be. "Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." -Emily Brontë

Nubs



If you've been following along, you may have already guessed that the grotesque picture is THE Elephino. Personally, I think I'm better looking... I could go into some spiel about how I've always been able to make better friends with men than women, but really, it's irrelevant. I would be drawn to Nubs even if I didn't believe that men and women can be strictly platonic friends. I could swear that we are twins that were separated at birth except for two glaring facts: 1) He's a few years younger than I am. 2) He's the much better looking one. (Of course, I could be biased...but I'm probably not.) Nubs gets me. Probably more than most people will ever be able to imagine. He is the brother of my heart and I would fight to the death to protect him...if he would only let me. "Love is much like a wild rose, beautiful and calm, but willing to draw blood in its defense." -Mark Overby

Lil Sis aka Mick



If I were just a little more tan, people would probably believe that Mick and I are actually sisters. Cursed with the same curly mass of craziness that some call hair and both of us a tad on the fluffy side of things, we could pull it off visually. Listen to us talk or read some of our text convos and there is no doubt. Mick and I both suffered similar personal tragedies mere months apart. At nearly a decade younger than me, her strength fueled mine and her love helped me to survive the loss of my sweet baby girl. Even if I had never met Mick in person, I would know her in any crowded room. "We picture love as heart-shaped because we do not know the shape of the soul." -Robert Brault

Lovely Yellow Sunshine



It's an interesting twist of our equally confusing minds to explain our nicknames for each other. Suffice it to say the picture is an adequate explanation to us. Lovely is exactly that...lovely. She has a heart of gold that always sees the good in people, even when I'm sure there's none to be found. And once she has you confirmed in her heart, her impression of you is nearly set in stone. As I've said before, she's the only person alive who's met me and still considers me a lady. Our friendship is confined to chatting online, texting or crazed phone calls while one or both of us is toiling over a stove because, sadly, she insists on living hours away from me. But I am a stubborn lady, and I will get her to move closer, I will. Until then, we shall share our recipes online and inspire each other to follow our dreams. "Who, being loved, is poor?" -Oscar Wilde

Miss J



Oh lord, where would I be without this woman? Having her in my life is often times crazy, harried and borderline insane. I also know, without a doubt, that not having her in my life, I would be crazy, harried and definitely insane. She and Miss B are probably the only people I know who know exactly how I feel each night the boyfriend heads off to practice or another gig. Although the band is how we met and what forged our first bond, I know that I would still have Miss J if (GOD FORBID!) the band were to disband (so to speak). Our Sunday night Game Nights are something to look forward to all week and I'll never say no to a cup of coffee and a day of yard-saling with her. "Loving is never a waste of time." -Astrid Alauda

Tom-Tom



Ah :) My own personal GPS system. If only, right? But it's true. Tom-Tom has been the little voice guiding me for years...ever since I was a floundering college student fresh from a divorce. He was the one who kept me company watching Food Network in the wee hours of the morning when my anxiety caused horrible bouts of insomnia. And he was there when I was diagnosed with Diabetes and quit soda cold turkey to make me green tea and listen to my rambling. He taught me how to be a true friend, never judging, always supportive...simply by being that way himself. He's the guidance I may not always need, but is only a phone call or text away. He has a way of showing you the decisions that need to be made without making them for you. "Love is not singular except in syllable." -Marvin Taylor

Goober aka Bubba



There was a point in time that I used this friendly nickname for any number of people I cared about. That was until it became Bubba's nickname. When you break it down, it's really pretty accurate. A complete nut wrapped in a sweet outer coating. Goober is as crazy as I am, which is saying quite a lot when you think about it. But without having known him, I would be so much crazier. His sarcastic sense of humor matches mine in a way that I know that there will always be at least one person who gets my jokes. He's also a giant teddy bear, always there for a hug when you've had your heart broken or a hand up when you've fallen on your ass yet one more time. He's my football buddy, his team the arch nemesis of mine, which always keeps things interesting. But most of all, he's my friend. And at the end of the day, that's all that matters. "Love is being stupid together." -Paul Valery

D and Ames



These girls share this spot in my heart for one major reason. There is nary a memory from my pre-teen and teen years that does not include one of them. My girls shared my early heart breaks, crushes and social awkwardness. We grew up together, shaping the women we wanted to be together, planning our lives together. And while things may have not turned out like we planned (When does life ever?) and we might not be the models, actresses or all-star musicians we dreamed about, we will always have those memories. I had my first cigarette with Ames, shared my first true loss with D. We may not be as close today as we were when we were 15, but I would not be who I am today without having known these lovely ladies. And for that, they will always hold a place in my heart. "Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives." -C. S. Lewis

My Lil Man (Last, but most definitely not least!)



Oh he that is the light of my life! I never dreamed or planned to be a mother at 18 but I wouldn't change my son for all of King Midas's gold. His unconditional love keeps me going when I would otherwise give up. He started life as this little bundle of blue that I was so unsure of. So I held him and rocked him. And now, at 10, he's growing into such an intelligent, handsome young man that I am once again terrified of the future. His smile is infectious, his laughter is music to my ears. And his love is a sign that maybe, just maybe...I've done something right. "Love me and the world is mine." -David Reed


Oh now I feel all verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic: A pineapple is neither a pine nor an apple. Discuss.

Happy early Valentine's Day, loves. I hope you all have a great weekend. I'm going to enjoy a rare Saturday night off with the boyfriend by having dinner and a movie in. Snuggles and cookies for dessert... It's gonna be a good night, tater!

Toodle, my dears! And tell the people in your life how much they mean to you :)

Coming Soon!! 1-800-KALL-DRK

I've often joked with the boyfriend that I should change my name to some equivalent of Dr. Ruth. Invariably I am the one my friends turn to with relationship issues. And most of the time, I really don't mind. If I can help, I will.

Sadly, sometimes I can't help. It might come as a shock to you, but I don't actually have all the answers. Of course, if you ever repeat that, I will deny it. I do have a rep to protect.

Anywho, with Valentine's Day right around the corner it seems nearly every one's mind is zeroing in on relationships...or lack there of, for some.

Take The Today Show for instance. They had a segment this morning about online dating sites. They were showcasing 'niche' sites and the variety available. The problem with this was that not once did they touch on the cons of Internet dating. Yes, isn't it wonderful that there are now sites that cater to single parents? But doesn't that also make it easier for pedophiles and other dangerous persons to seek out what they prey upon? Also, with each new dating site you join, there's more of your personal information that is being shared. Where do you think spammers and telemarketers get their contact lists?

But, alas, we don't think of these things. Instead we marvel at the convenience of having a dating site tailor made for our needs/wants.

On a slightly different take...does one ever stop to wonder why these guys/girls are resorting to online dating? Sure, sure, you're a busy working girl/guy with a hectic schedule and you're really just not into the bar scene anymore so {insert popular online dating site of your choice} seems like a brilliant compromise for your crazy life. But when the Brad Pitt/Kim Kardashian look-alike that is everything you've ever wanted in a man/woman comes along, do you stop to ask yourself why? I mean, if he/she is as good looking as their photo would have you believe, shouldn't they have more numbers than Barney Stinson? So WHY?

My point is simply this:

We only show people what we WANT them to see. You don't introduce yourself to your new boss by telling them you bite your nails or that you went through a freakish goth phase in the late 90's. No, you play up your assets and pray that those pesky little quirks stay hidden in the back of the closet. So yes, he may look like Colin Farrell and seem to be a viable candidate for sainthood...but maybe, just maybe you should keep in mind the quirks you keep hidden...and wonder what's in his closet.

Of course, you could just go all in and then email me when it all goes south and you can't figure out why. I'll let you know when I've got a fee schedule worked out ;)

Happy Tuesday, y'all. Toodles!

"For most people, Friday's just the day before the weekend."

Woohoo it's Friday!!



Was that sufficient excitement for you? Because, truth is, the fact that it's Friday really isn't such a big deal for me. Sure, it means I get to go out with the band tonight and that the boyfriend and I get to sleep in tomorrow morning...but other than that, it's nearly the same as any other day where I'm home and the boyfriend is at work and I have writer's block. Yeah, it's like that.

In fun news, I am now sporting rock star quality nails thanks to Miss J AND the ladies and I enjoyed a fabulous Girl's Night last night courtesy of Miss B. I'm thinking I need a nickname for the lead singer's new girlfriend. I can't do the initial thing since we already have a Miss T...so maybe she'll just be christened LSG. (for Lead-Singer's Girlfriend...genius, I know) Also, the boyfriend's daily schedule got a little tweak so now he has every other Saturday off, starting tomorrow. Yes, yes, YES we're pretty excited about having a few weekends off together.

And I suppose, since it is in fact Friday...I could do the responsible thing and get this blog back on some sort of regularity...and post a Top 9 list for you to enjoy this weekend. (While I'm hopefully enjoying the coast...keep your fingers crossed for me, y'all!)


Top 9 Favorite Movie Quotes
(Once again, these are in no specific order...they are all equally awesome!)




"Samsonite! I was way off!" -Dumb & Dumber




"You're killin' me Smalls!" -The Sandlot

EMBEDDING WAS DISABLED (silly, I know)

"Thanks a lot, Bin Laden!" -The Hangover




"Show me the money!" -Jerry Maguire




"Houston, we have a problem." -Apollo 13




"I am serious. And don't call me Shirley." -Airplane




"Who needs a time machine?" -Knocked Up


EMBEDDING WAS DISABLED

"How many Assholes we got on this ship anyhow?" -Spaceballs




"Holy Schnikes!!" -Tommy Boy


The great part about most of these clips is that they usually have more than just the one memorable quote. The other great thing is that most of these lines can be worked into daily conversation. Just go ahead and ask the boyfriend how many times one of us has said, "Thanks a lot, Bin Laden." Also, I say, "You're killin' me Smalls!" a lot. Like, probably daily. It's not all my fault though, people just have that effect on me.

Anywho...there's your list for this weekend. I'm off to finish laundry and make sure that the boyfriend and I have clean clothes for tonight and this weekend. Also...it might be nice to actually make the bed so that I can crawl into it in the wee hours of the morning when we finally make it home. Ugh.

Toodles, y'all!

80's Rock and Disgust...Breakfast of Champions!

"It's the end of the world as we know it..."


Okay, maybe that's a bit dramatic. Or maybe not. Is it just me, or has everything gone to pot lately? Since when did it become socially acceptable to over-share?


When one logs onto Facebook or Myspace or Twitter or even their friendly, neighborhood chat room, do they really want to read what sexual position you and the boyfriend tried out last night? Or that you wound up in the E.R. because of an untreated hygienic problem?

My resounding answer is not just "No," but "HELL NO!" complete with shuddering.

Unfortunately, this seems to be where I found myself this morning. Rocking out to my "Best of the 80's" playlist and staring in shock at my computer screen.

Have the boundaries of what is and what is not socially acceptable been broken down to near non-existence? Or have I become the crotchety old woman gasping at the slightest faux pas? I so hope it's not the latter, I would like to think that 28 isn't that ancient.

And so I ask all of you...

Where do you draw the line? How much is over-sharing? Can I tell you about what I ate for lunch but NOT about how well it was digested? Or would you not mind hearing about all of that but would prefer I keep stories about bedroom Olympics to myself? (Not that I would share those stories...or even use that term. *shudder* Just trying to make a point here.)

And now that I've shared all that wonderful food for thought, I'm gonna bail on ya. I've got buckets of laundry to get caught up on and whatnot. Toodles, my dears!

Who wants to be in love anyhow?

Oh, it's a sad day for the single ladies around here. The last available man of the band has been snatched up. And it's about time too.

After nearly a year with these guys in my life, I've started thinking of them like a group of big brothers. I love them all even though there are times that I want to strangle them or shake them until good sense returns. But I am sad when they are stuggling and estatic when they are happy. Today is an estatic day.

When the boyfriend joined the band, he (i.e. a man in a committed relationship) was part of the minority, holding down the fort with the married drummer. Then Miss J snagged the other guitarist. And Miss B grabbed onto the bass player and neither of them are letting go. We were left with a single lead singer. But now, no longer...he has found himself a lovely lady and though we've only hung out a few times, I think she's gonna be around for awhile :)

And in light of all of this happy, lovey-dovey nonsense, I've composed a special Top 9 list for you. Since it's been forever and whatnot. I know, I know, I've really been off my game lately. I'll apologize profusely later. Until then, enjoy!


Top 9 Signs Your Girlfriend Might Be Getting Sick of You




* She lovingly suggests a "Boys Night Out."



* She's not answering your calls or texts any longer.



* Your dinner has an arsenic aftertaste.



* She repeatedly calls you "Tom" during sex...and your name is Bill.



* She takes notes while watching Snapped.



* Your "new" bed oddly resembles the old couch.



* You have a new roommate...who's name is Tom.



* You come home to find your clothes decorating the front lawn.



* She's suddenly stopped planning your wedding.


And if you can't get the point from all of these helpful tips...then maybe you should run along and help her get that wood chipper unjammed. Just be careful not to fall in, mmmkay?


I hope you enjoyed today's list :) Have a great week, y'all!

Toodles!

Pillow Talk...in an SUV.

Does it count as pillow talk if it doesn't happen in bed? I think it should, especially since it was nearing 2am and the boyfriend and I were oh-so-tired.


As you may or may not know, the boyfriend wears glasses/contacts. That is to say, he usually wears contacts, but also has glasses for when he's not wearing contacts. If he doesn't have one or the other, apparently things become all sorts of fuzzy. Not so good if you're trying to play guitar or subsequently drive your tipsy girlfriend home in the wee hours of the morning.

So we arrive home, but are both so tired that we are just kind of sitting there in the car. Earlier in the evening, the boyfriend had asked me to keep his glasses in my purse in case he needed them. (He's been having some issues with his contacts the last few days, so he was taking precautions.) Fast forward to us in the car, chatting.

Me: "We should probably head inside and get to bed."

Him: "I need to take my eyes out and put my glasses on."

Me: "Oh, let me give them to you now, that way I don't forget. You know how I am. I'll get inside and forget that I have them in my purse and then I'll set it down somewhere and then we won't be able to find your eyes." (May I remind you that I was a little tipsy?)

Him (mockingly): "Where are my eyes? The one-eyed-man took them. You'd think he could have at least left half of them."

Me: "He's a greedy sonovabitch."

And we explode into giggles. Yeah, I'm just that good.

I should probably explain that the one-eyed-man is a recurring villain at our house. It's my little rejoinder every time the boyfriend says, "Oh no" or "Oh shit" or "Where is such-and-such item?"

Me: "I didn't do it, it was the one-eyed-man!"

I'm real mature like that.

Well, about as mature as you can be while having pillow talk in your car.