Black Friday Thankfulness

I am not going to do the usual Black Friday Maddness hitting the malls and stores for the good deals this year. Actually, I haven't done that in a few years instead choosing to go to the cabin. This year we are still in town and plan on staying here mainly because we are still grand dog sitting.
MONDO LUIS SHEPLEY

I'm also sick with a stupid head cold and it is confined in my HEAD! I really don't feel bad but just sleepy. Last night Mondo got me up twice and The Hubby once to go outside, so sleep is something I will catch up on today along with my mountains of my laundry that have accumulated. The Hubby does his own so it is MY laundry. Tomorrow I have to go to a bridal shower too that I really don't want to go too, but I MUST.

Okay, now back to the thankfulness of the day:

1. I am thankful for my life in general
2. I am thankful for The Hubby: he does his own laundry, his own ironing, cleans up after dinner, makes me laugh, loves me
3. I am thankful for my two beautiful girls that give me joy to no end
4. I am thankful for my Daddy, Bro and Sis (even though she can royally piss me off)
5. I am thankful for my friends
6. I am thankful for my in-law family; I couldn't have paid for a better Mom-in-Law or Bro's in law
7. I am thankful that the path in life I have chosen to walk down was the right one for me, that it has given me such an abundance of love
8. I am thankful for the beauty of a spring morning (which I can't to see again)
9. I am thankful for the influences in my life that supported me in everything I have accomplished in my little life
10. I am thankful!
    

Saturday in town

We didn't go to the cabin this weekend as The Hubby wanted to attend the Swing Fling (or something like that). I was in attendance under protest. I was terrified that I would have to dance and my East Coast Swing is very novice, even more so for The Hubby. I went because he wants to learn more so bad. We did attend one of the events which was a dance but we ONLY watched, thank goodness. Actually, there were some who were not that good and some that were pretty awesome. My observation was that it was a little like a (AND DON'T GET ANGRY AT WHAT I'M ABOUT TO WRITE) nerd convention. There were guys and girls that even though they might be couples they asked anybody to dance, it's all about getting experience and practice. There were also singles that attended and I observed that a few guys were actually trolling, like in a dance club (this was at a hotel ballroom). I know it was for practice but I did see the trolling taking place. In truth, everyone seemed to be having a great time and enjoyed an opportunity to use the skills they have obviously learned. My problem was that EVERYONE in the room is doing the West Coast Swing and I only know a smidgen of the East Coast Swing. I know, I know, what's the difference. Well, I'm still a little confused by it all too. ECS is explained here East Coast Swing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and West Coast Swing here West Coast Swing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Basically the ECS is a very basic side, side, back and the WCS is a TON of improvisational stuff that I can't seem to follow. I'm really good at watching someone do the steps and copy them but this stuff I was not able to make out the steps at all and it seemed the man really dictated how you move around. I guess I'm destined to learn how to dance this stuff with The Hubby. I'm sure it is fun but I'm just not confident in myself to do it in front of people without being pretty intoxicated. There was one woman who brought her little girl, about 10 or 11 and they got out on the dance floor together and when the mother was dancing with others some would ask the little girl to dance and would be very patient to teach and lead. It was very cute. I must say there were a few hotties, guy and girl, young and old. I even encountered a girl I went to high school with. I knew she would be there as her name was in the paper in the article about the whole event. She is a really nice girl but the old high school jitters seemed to kick in, heck she was football queen.

We had intended to go tonight but I think not at this point so I'm stuck in town this weekend. My plan is to do laundry, blog, read, nap, run a few errands and possible go to the MIL's if she needs help packing as she is FINALLY moving on June 3. I thought about walking/jogging but I just don't want too. I hate doing it in town. Oh, I forgot, yesterday my sis and her son Hunt and my Daddy came to the office and we all went to eat lunch at Kilkenny's. Sis likes to get Daddy out and about. It breaks up his life in general and wears him out so to speak. We had a wonderful lunch and then decided to go by and see The Hubby's new building (really old one) as the new overhead doors that were being installed. Daddy had not seen the building since The Hubby had first bought it, when all the crap was piled everywhere. It is now completely cleaned out, the floors power-washed and sealed, etc. Looks good for a 50 year old building. While on the "tour" I told Sis I needed to get a new printer to go with the new computer at the office but realized that my little car probably would not hold the box so we left Daddy with The Hubby to hang out and off we went with Hunt in tow. My printer was the last of the dinosaurs as far as printers. It was an old HP laser4 printer that was about 15 years old so there was no kind of hook-up available. I was really yearning for a color laser printer and I was able to find a HP color laser several steps up from my old one and I bought two. I wanted one for my own personal use. I was tired of emailing myself stuff to the office to print so "Happy Birthday" to me.

Yes, the day is fast approaching again. I will turn 52 on Wednesday and I have the whole day planned. I workout at 5:45 am and then home for breakfast then off for a facial and massage for the next 3 hours or so. Then home to shower and ready the house for a birthday party I'm throwing myself with my Jazzercise girls. There should be about 20+ in attendance and they are all bringing the food, my kind of party. I will supply the beverages (champagne for me) and a great house to celebrate. The next weekend my friend Harri is going to throw a big bash for me to celebrate at the lake. She is having a new deck built and hopefully it will be finished to party down. WOO HOO!!!!!

Sunday oh Sunday

I am here sitting in my big comfy chair totally enjoying the quiet of my home. The Hubby has gone to his big toy box (the auto mechanic's garage he bought) to do some more clean up and ready to sell more stuff. We we went to the lake on Friday and had a nice quiet evening in front of the television but quickly hit the pillows about 9 pm. We were beat. About 10:30 I was awakened by tremendous thunder and lightening and lots of blowing rain. The Hubby had opened a window above my head which was fine till the blowing rain came in on my head. I shut it but later reopened it when the clang and clatter had stopped. I did another run/walk Saturday morning and boy was it chilly for a bit. This week I have successfully walked and ran around 5 miles. I'm going to pat myself on my back because for me that is something. Now don't get me wrong I have been doing Jazzercise for over 11 years 5 days a week, but to actually walk and RUN is a biggie.

We had to come back yesterday afternoon to attend an impromptu dinner of burgers at B & B2's. B2's father, brother and sister (her kiddo's and hubby) were all in attendance. We' only met the bro and father once so since the wedding is in two weeks it was time. This wedding is going to be very hard on Richard (B2's father) and all as his wife passed a year ago. They were ALL drinking a lot of beer and so the emotions were on the surface last night. Richard turned to B and told her that this was going to be very hard on him and that he was proud of her and that "Sandra" would be too and really liked B. The tears started welling up in his eyes and I saw B's and B2's and the brother too. Oh No... please no not tears. We had fun last night with a lot of stories and laughs but home we headed about 10pm. We just can't seem to stay up late anymore since we rise at 5 am.

I've been sitting here listening to some World music and it puts me into a thoughtful frame of mind. I want to type or write or something but my thoughts are so scrambled that I have a hard time putting one particular one down because it causes me to go off in a totally different direction. Sometimes I find myself saying out loud the end of a thought in my head to B or The Hubby and the look at me like I'm crazy. I have a whole conversation or thought process going on internally and then finish it verbally. Sometimes I wish I would plug my computer directly into my mind and let my mind type out my thoughts. I think it would be pretty scary what whirls around up there in my noggin. So for those few who do read this blog you will be blessed to read these random thoughts and I hope they can make some sense to someone. Just enjoy and go with the flow!!!!!!

California Here I Come!

Valentine's Day The Hubby and I boarded a plane and headed to the supposed to be warm sunny state of California. My greatest fear in traveling, in particular flying, came upon arrival to the security gates at the Tulsa International Airport. I breezed through the scanner thingy and the alarm went off. I was so flustered I could hardly make words come out of my mouth and make sense. I have long feared this day. I stepped back and the tough looking security lady with her very tight bun told me to step back and to make sure my pockets were empty and that it would be my "last pass". What did that mean, "last pass". I reached in my pocket and there was my stupid cell phone. I forgot I put it in my pocket. So out it went and I stood looking at her afraid to proceed through the gate thingy again. I stepped forward and WHEW, breezed through without an alarm going off. The next step is that I forgot to put my toothpaste in my checked luggage and in the trash it went. No problem. I asked the friendlier and nicer looking security lady what "last pass" meant and she didn't know but guessed it meant that if I beeped again then I would have gone to the area to be wanded! No problem, I would have stripped naked if they wanted me too. Now I have lived one of my greatest fears.

We arrived in Ontario, CA at about dinner time and sweet A met us at the airport before she had to go to a choir practice for their performance on Sunday. She was glad to see us but dreading the one-on-one she was going to have with her Dad later. Dinner was at the hotel as it was late and I didn't want to try to navigate California on a Thursday night in a rental car with The Hubby at the wheel. It was quite yummy and expensive, Valentine's Day and all.

The next morning A met us at the hotel to be our driver for the day. She wanted to drive the rental which was quite alright with me as she has been living there for over a year now and knows the way of California driving. I was quite comfortable with her jetting around on the freeways but The Hubby was about to have a stroke in the front seat. It was funny seeing him very agitated. I thought A did a superb job of driving us around and was very proud of her. We went to Long Beach where she interned at a recording studio last year then we went to Huntington Beach where a friend of mine and her husband moved to a year ago. We spent a good part of the day walking along the pier, eating and shopping. It was a beautiful but quite chilly day. Then we drove to Tustin to have dinner with friends of The Hubby. It was a very long day but a good way to see part of California.

The next day, Saturday, were to go to A's boyfriends father and step-mother for dinner and meet his siblings. They were the nicest people and had a gorgeous home. Dinner was delicious and the conversation was very nice. It is nice to see how much her boyfriends family supports and loves A. It is a comfort. The next day was A's performance with the Pasadena Pro Muscia Choir after going to church with her at a Unitarian church in Pasadena. I asked her how she found the church as it was 45 minutes away and she said the Internet. I asked her again how she literally found the church, did she drive there by herself and she said yes. She totally amazes me by her courage and bravery to travel the areas she lives in and finds her way. She just strikes out and does it. I would never, could never now be that kind of adventurous person. She is my idol in that respect.

Before the concert we had lunch in Pasadena and before the meal arrived The Hubby had launch into her not going to college, what is she doing with her life, he's afraid that she has no health coverage, no retirement, no this, no that. I wanted to kick him under the table. I don't know why he can't get off the college thing with her. She is just not college material and may never be. She is almost 23 years old, he needs to let it go. The college thing is his own inadequacies that he doesn't have a college education. He/we took the hard road to be successful and he just doesn't want that for her but it may just have to be. He can't push her down a road that she doesn't want to take. She is finding her own way, which is what we did. I think in the end he feels better about her situation but not great. He just has to quit harping on her. It's not helping her at all. Cut the apron string for God sake!

A Whole New Can of Worms-"Relative" Size

Yesterday The Hubby's sister-in-law (mine too) emailed a huge thing about "The Mark of the Beast" and I guess The Hubby had enough. The SIL is a huge religious person and The Hubby's brother has fallen in line with it even though in 32 years that I have been in the family he has only been to church the past 4 or 5 years. The Hubby email back to ALL that he didn't believe in it, that it already happened and that was his story and he was sticking to it! Now the rebuttal emails are coming in. He has opened a huge "relative" size can of worms.

My story:

When I was about 10 years old, my brother 8, we were at a girls house that was in my class just playing. She started in on us that we were going to hell because we didn't go to her church and we weren't baptized yet. Then the mother started in on us and the mark of the beast stuff. We started crying and ran home and then my mother got in on the act. She went off on that lady big time and then started damage control with us. We were terrified and I had nightmares for awhile about it. It definitely affected me most of my life.

I guess we will wait for all of the fallout from The Hubby's email. You never know. The BIL may start preaching at us and I will have to come down on him. This is why I keep my own personal beliefs mostly to myself as I believe or don't believe.