Little Girls

There’s just SOMETHING about little girls, that makes me uncomfortable.

Back in 1999, when I found out I was going to have a baby, I prayed for many, many hours that it would be a girl. I begged The Ex to find tricks that people might have done to force one sex over the other, but he just laughed at my naiveness. Once I got used to the fact that I was having a boy, I was beyond happy that I didn’t have to deal with ponytails and dresses. I wasn’t a ponytail and dress kind of little girl, so I knew I wasn’t about to raise one. I needed someone who would play Army Men with me, and shoot guns, and play with toy cars, and get dirty in the mud. And that’s what I got. A little boy who likes being a boy.

Yesterday, SS and I hit up the local swap meet. Every time we walked past a booth with girlie clothes or fun kid toys, SS’s daughter was first in line to look.

After we left the swap meet, we headed over to the mall to use a few gift certificates she received for Christmas. And do you know which store we spent most of our time? This one….

Have you been in this store? It’s a store I’ve never even HEARD of, let alone been inside. We spent over an hour in there. She went through every single piece of clothing, looked at every single piece of jewelry, and touched every pair of fuzzy socks. She tried on one item after another, all while SS wondered if any other man ever accompanied his daughter to this store. Or was this a Mom thing?

After standing in line for 25 minutes, we finally left, vowing to NEVER go back to that store.

Lesson I learned: if I ever have any more children, they must be boys. girls will be sent back.

Song for Today

I know, I know. If I dislike Zac Brown so much, why am I posting a song of his? Well, it just spoke to me right now. I think this is the only song I can stomach listening to. ;-)

A Christmas road trip…

SS and I took our first road trip. I’m going to admit it now. I had some reservations about it, based purely on WHY we were going there. 

The plan was to pick his daughter up from her moms work, go check into our hotel, and then head over to her grandparents house for Christmas Eve dinner, returning the next night for Christmas Dinner. It’s a bit of a strange situation, since I was sitting among the family of SS’s ex, but to my surprise, they were a group of awesome and welcoming people. I mean, I’m just a few weeks into a relationship with their daughters ex. They didn’t HAVE to be nice. They just were.

Initially, I thought I would spend most of the first night sitting in a corner avoiding any sort of question and answer session, but that’s not quite how the evening went. Margaritas made by the man of the house, brought me out of my shell, and by night #2, I was fairly comfortable. Just takes me a little bit sometimes.

We’re back home now, after a six hour drive home. We saw NO snow. There was just a light dusting on the mountain tops in the distance, but nothing we could actually reach out and touch.

His daughter is a real fun nine year old. Totally different than a boy. I can only hope she likes me as much as I like her.

Here’s to the beginning of something wonderful….

The New Him

It’s time. To introduce the person that takes up all my time. We’re going to call him…..SS. (I started out calling him Mitch, at his request, but ultimately decided I didn’t like that.)

Meet…SS

• He likes me with or without makeup.
• He laughs at my jokes.
• When I tell him to “hurry”, he hurries.
• He tickles me until I beg for him to stop.
• He allows my opinions to matter.
• He enjoys teaching me new things.
• He makes GREAT Margaritas.
• He likes my simple way of life.
• He doesn’t understand my job, but knows that I’m good at it.
• He allows me to be me without trying to change everything.
• Since he’s a mechanic, he can fix anything on my car that breaks. He’ll get tired of doing that. (Hellllooooooo new car!!)
• He doesn’t mind that I always want to drive.
• He doesn’t always let me drive.
• Him and my son get along.
• We laugh together. A lot.
• His family likes me. And they welcomed my son.
• He allows me to have a say in what he wears.
• When he sees me, he smiles real big.
• And the best thing… He’s the newest Kyle Busch fan.

Newest Kyle Busch Fan

I’ve recruited another Kyle Busch fan. And now, it’s official. Here’s the proof on his car…

They’re not as big as mine, but hey, it’s a start.

Christmas Music - Top 5 {Number One}

One of my favorite things about Christmas, is the music. BUT….I don’t want to hear it on every channel, all the time. I like a song here, and a song there. Too much, is too much.

From now until Christmas Day, you can find my top five favorite Christmas songs of all time.

Here is number ONE…..

Christmas Music - Top 5 {Number Two}

One of my favorite things about Christmas, is the music. BUT….I don’t want to hear it on every channel, all the time. I like a song here, and a song there. Too much, is too much.

From now until Christmas Day, you can find my top five favorite Christmas songs of all time.

Here is number TWO…..

Christmas Music - Top 5 {Number Three}

One of my favorite things about Christmas, is the music. BUT….I don’t want to hear it on every channel, all the time. I like a song here, and a song there. Too much, is too much.

From now until Christmas Day, you can find my top five favorite Christmas songs of all time.

Here is number THREE…..

Christmas Music - Top 5 {Number Four}

One of my favorite things about Christmas, is the music. BUT….I don’t want to hear it on every channel, all the time. I like a song here, and a song there. Too much, is too much.

From now until Christmas Day, you can find my top five favorite Christmas songs of all time.

Here is number FOUR…..

Christmas Music–Top 5 {Number Five}

One of my favorite things about Christmas, is the music. BUT….I don’t want to hear it on every channel, all the time. I like a song here, and a song there. Too much, is too much.

From now until Christmas Day, you can find my top five favorite Christmas songs of all time.

Here is number FIVE…..

Nine day till Christmas. Are you ready?

With only nine days left until Christmas, I’m finding it real difficult to stay in the Christmas spirit. When I walk through the stores and see all the Christmas decorations and holiday cheer being spread, I can’t help but smile. It makes me happy, and giddy, and I dance around in circles thinking about how much I’d love to be building snowmen and throwing snowballs at other people. Then suddenly, I’m snapped back into reality, and there’s no snow. Darn.

This Christmas, I’ll be in Phoenix, and I promise you, if I see any snow between here and there (on the way there OR the way back), I’m stopping to play in it.

It’s settled. I’m going to find snow for Christmas.

Moving forward

Remember a few months ago when I mentioned I was going to step outside my category box? It was this post. Well, I finally did it. I took the leap and landed on my feet.
It’s been nine months, and I think I’m finally ready to move on. I’m done holding onto a memory that doesn’t want me anymore. And I’m done pretending to be someone’s little secret.
He’s been patient. He’s been understanding. He’s allowed me to come around at my own pace. He doesn’t ask questions for which he knows he doesn’t want the answer. And he doesn’t go through my stuff.
I’ve been skeptical to talk about him because I didn’t know exactly how I felt. I needed to test the waters, spend some time with him first, learn more about who he was. It’s been two months, and although I don’t know everything about him, I know enough to want to move forward.
So, join me as I take on this new chapter in life. I’ll learn new things. I’ll make mistakes. I’ll piss him off. Just watch.
Until next time…..

Forever Fast

Paul Walker.

I remember the first time I ever saw him. I must have stared at that television for HOURS, just waiting for the next time they’d show him. I can still hear The Ex in the background saying, “How many times are you going to watch that movie?” That was 2001.

Fast forward to this past Saturday, November 30th. I’m sitting on my bed, and my phone gives off that ever so lovely ‘breaking news’ sound. I grab my phone to see what speech the president was giving this time, and I almost dropped my phone.

“Paul Walker dead at 40 in fiery car wreck.”

My first feeling was shock. It kind of made me feel sick to my stomach. I couldn’t believe it. Was it real? Was it an early April Fool’s joke? I immediately sent a text to Jeffy, because, you know, that’s what I do when I hear bad news about car people. Did the same thing when Carol Shelby died. Sad, sad times. :-(

Since the crash site isn’t too far from The Ranch, I decided I’d take a drive past it. Here’s what it looked like….

My favorite quote of his…. “I want to get married. I think about it a lot. But I also think about my cars, so maybe my priorities aren't exactly in line just yet.”

RIP Paul Walker. Your fans will never forget you.

Song for Today

Somebody's knockin'. Should I let him in? Lord it's the devil, would you look at him. I've heard about him but I never dreamed, he'd have blue eyes and blue jeans.

Well somebodys talkin, he's whispering to me, "your place or my place", well, which will it be? I'm gettin' weaker and he's comin on strong, but I don't wanna go wrong.

He must have tapped my telephone line. He must have known I'm spendin' my time alone. He says we'll have one heavenly night. My fevers burnin', so he ought to be right at home.

Somebody's knockin' should I let him in? Lord it's the devil, would you look at him. I've heard about him but I never dreamed, he'd have blue eyes and blue jeans.

He must have tapped my telephone line. He must have known I'm spendin' my time alone. He says we'll have one heavenly night. My fevers burnin', so he ought to be right at home.

Somebody's knockin', 
Somebody's knockin', 
Oh Somebody's knockin'.

Change

The progression from baby to young child, doesn’t happen overnight. But when you don’t see them every day, it’s kind of like it DOES happens overnight.

It’s been over two years since I’ve been to see my Mom’s side of the family, and so much has changed.

I used to watch this little guy run around the seven acres up there without even realizing he’s running on ROCKS or SHARP TREE BRANCHES. Ouch! Stopped me in my tracks when I heard him say, “I can’t run that fast. The rocks hurt my feet.” I immediately flashed back to a time when it didn’t matter to him as he sat down to put on socks and shoes.

It used to be a house where Tequila flew like water. When I got here, there was none. My first birthday drink consisted of Vodka and Sweet & Sour. (For the record, it wasn’t good. Don’t try it.)  :-/

It used to be a house that was almost busting at the seams with teenage kids, for as far back as I can remember. This trip, not one teenager was in sight. In fact, their rooms had been converted to spare bedrooms. With fresh flowers and mints on the pillows. And in my room, there was an electric heater and an extra blanket. Yay for being a guest in someone else’s house. :-)

Change. It’s pretty awesome sometimes.