It is what it is....

My son came home today!  Yay!  He managed to maneuver himself from the gate to baggage claim without me....I hadn't intended it that way, but Brian and I were running behind in getting to the airport, plus the plane landed 20 minutes earlier than the last Orbitz update said it would.

I actually got up and went to the gym today - first time on a Saturday!  I went to the interval class, expecting it to be taught by Rhonda as stated on the schedule, but Priscilla was filling in for her.  (Priscilla is the one that does "total body interval" and almost killed me and Brian when Brian first started going to the gym)  But, she took it easy on us...there were only about 10 of us in class, which was kind of nice to not have a packed room.

Thankfully I've dropped 8lbs in the past 2 weeks - mostly water weight, but hey, I'll take that.  It's given me some motivation, and I managed to make it to the gym 4 times this week (would have been 5, but traffic sucked ass yesterday and I didn't make it there in time to go to the class I wanted to go to).

We went to the firing range today after picking Steven up.  We all shot the 9mm, 45 and the 270rifle.  I hit the rifle target dead on where I was aiming, too!  Twice!  (I only fired it twice, so I was 2 for 2!)  That was exciting for me - it was the first time I've ever fired a rifle!  And I did my usual good shootin' with the 9mm, and did pretty darn good with the 45, too.  Steven shot all 3, and did quite well for his first time with the pistols and rifle. 

Well, my birthday is Monday, and I had wanted to go to Southern Pit BBQ for dinner, but it looks like they are closed on Mondays.  Dammit.  Now I have to think of somewhere else to go for dinner.  Any ideas?

I think I'm gonna do some of the back to school shopping tomorrow - Steven starts back on the 8th, so I guess I should get busy with that.  Seems like there was something else I wanted to do, but I don't remember off the top of my head.  Oh well, I'm sure it will come to me eventually.

I hope y'all have a great Saturday night and rest of the weekend!

Monday......here by popular demand.....

So, the nosy one(s) win and here I am!  I don't want to keep my follower(s) waiting any longer!

Time to do the nails tonight.....Curator's Crimson by Finger Paints.  Love this red!

Last week was somewhat miserable and boring.  I was all alone all week - Steven's in Arkansas with my dad, and Brian was playing army all week in Wisconsin.  I just lazed around the house most of the week and I got a lot of sleep the first couple of nights.  I also managed to lose a few pounds, as I wasn't cooking for 2 or 3 people and just sort of grazed through the evening.  (I had 3 different people insist I look like I've lost a lot of weight in the past few weeks, but seriously, it was only 2-3 lbs!)

Gabriel has grown so much since we got him - he's gained 4.1 lbs in the last 2 weeks and is noticeably bigger.  And a rotten little stinker!  He knows how to give kisses already!  And he knows to sit when he gets a treat.  Now, to get him to leave Dominion's wanker alone!

I think we're going to the firing range this weekend, just have to decide if we're going to go before Steven gets home, or take him with us when he gets back in town.  I suppose that will depend on what time his flight arrives (I don't recall off the top of my head, I'm thinking around 3:30pm but I'll check before then and make sure I'm there on time to pick him up).

Had a good workout tonight at Gold's - Interval class.  I've really got to get back on track with my gym-going.  It honestly makes me feel so much better and I get so much more energy when I work out regularly, not to mention it helps me beat the blues, and I've had a lot of those lately.  Friendship issues, hormones going bonkers, some people trying to control me and/or make demands on me about certain things that just aren't going to happen.....(and no, that last bit does NOT refer to Brian)

All that, and I'm really missing my mom and my 2 closest friends.  Other than my husband, I don't really have anyone to talk to on a daily basis like before.  For those of you that I do consider my friends and feel the same way towards me - please don't take offense at this whole paragraph.  I think you all probably understand that I have (had) just 2 or 3 people that I talk (well, used to talk to) to regularly and confide all my deepest darkest secrets to.

One, I've blogged about our falling out and I just don't see that resolving itself anytime soon.  I suppose some of you would suggest that I make the first move to try to heal that rift, but I just can't bring myself to do it.  It's all principles to me.  I can't in good conscience bring myself to go back to that, not without knowing that some sincere apologies will be offered to me.  If I'm wrong for feeling like that, then so be it, but that's where I stand with it.

The other good friend is going through some really tough times right now, and while I really do want to be there for her, I think she's in a place where I really can't be.  And that's not out of meanness or lack or caring for her - she's trying to deal with some heavy things and really has to do some deep soul searching on where she's at, where she's going, and how she's going to get there.  She has a lot of healing to do, too, and sometimes these things need to be left to the professionals and on your own to figure out.  Not that I'm not there for her - if she called me and said she needed me to come get her, I would do my best to help her out and be there.  (so if you're reading this girlie - I love you and please get in touch with me when you can!)

And of course there's Mom - she's in England and I don't even know when she'll be back in the USA.  Sure, we email every week, but it's just not the same as seeing her every week and talking to her almost every day.  I totally understand why she's there and am very happy for her, but it's gonna hurt not having her here when Brian deploys later this year. :-(

Okay, I've said this man times before, but apparently it's worth repeating - if you don't like what I post on any of my profiles or in my blog, there is a very simple solution to the problem - stop visiting the profiles and blog!  (And no, I'm not referring to a recent posting I made on Facebook that had vulgar language in it - that was inappropriate and I didn't realize til after it was posted that the foul language showed up on the Facebook posting I made, although if you'd read the original blog that posting was from, and then the follow-up that had the foul language title - it was really quite funny and didn't have that much language in the body of that particular lady's blog.)

But I'm just referring to things I post such as pictures and comments and blogs - I only post pictures that I've taken, or that physically belong to me (which means they are mine to do with as I please), or that are out there to be shared from comical sources, and any comments that I make on any photos posted anywhere that I have the ability to comment, or on my profile or in my blog or on any other website or profile of mine, are my personal thoughts and/or beliefs, and are therefore mine to share with whomever I wish to share them with. 

I can understand some people having a problem if I was posting something ugly or inappropriate (and let's face it, I've been known to do that on occasion), but what I'm referring to wasn't ugly, or inappropriate - in fact, the things I've said that are relevant to this topic of conversation were some very nice things.  So - I don't quite understand the problem, but as I said in a previous blog - If I post something you don't like, be it here, on Facebook or any other website, then perhaps you should stop looking at my stuff online. 

Oh....one more thing from that particular blog - get over yourself and get a clue.

Tuesday.....blah....

Well, it's almost Wednesday.  I'm home alone til Saturday.  Makes for great sleeping time since the only ones here needing me are the pups, and they don't need a whole lot.  Other than Gabriel wanting to play last night when I was grouchy and ready to go back to sleep.  I'm afraid he'll be like that again tonight....might get his furry little butt crated if he keeps that up!

I made an observation about other drivers on the trip to Missouri, and see that this occurs quite frequently at home, too - it seems that 95% of the asshats on the road have their cell phones plastered to their heads and are chatting away, oblivious to the world around them.  We had a few near misses and several extremely inconsiderate drivers that pulled out in front of us or changed lanes suddenly with no blinker, and all but ONE of them had a cell phone glued to their head and were quite nonchalant about their poor driving skills.  The one person that wasn't on the phone damn near changed lanes on top of me and when I laid on the horn and she realized it, she whipped back into her lane and actually make her best efforts to apologize for her mistake as we passed her.

I don't know why in the world people don't use bluetooths for their cell phones while they are driving.  Yes, you're still somewhat distracted by talking on the phone, but at least both of your hands are free to use for driving.

I have an unspoken prayer request for one of my friends.  I know it stinks that I'm not giving details, but I really can't at this point.  Not my place to do so, but she needs prayers.

And regarding a situation with a former friend - as if you are the only one that is hurt by all that has transpired.  My grandmother actually told me that I should apologize AGAIN.  Gee, I don't do duplicate apologies - if once ain't good enough, two or more sure won't do it, either.  Well, she actually said that he and I should sit down and talk about our problems and BOTH apologize for our parts in the tiff.  I tried explaining to her that I had already apologized, and I'd be damned if I was going to do it again.  She didn't seem to understand that point until I explained to her that I absolutely, positively would NOT apologize repeatedly for something that I had already apologized for.

I have sent an email to him, explaining how the whole week of arguing made me feel, and only got back a brief response full of reasons why he was in a bad mood that week.  As if any of those are excuses for behaving poorly and talking so horribly to someone that was supposed to be your best friend.  I mean, I understand why he was out of sorts, but it still doesn't make it okay that he talked to me the way he did and threatened to have us arrested, especially since he hasn't even apologized for it. 

Anyways, gotta walk the pups and go back to bed.  Here's to a happy hump day tomorrow!

Where do I even begin.....

So much has been going on lately, I don't even know where to begin, but here goes (in no particular order).

My mother-in-law had surgery Tuesday.  I'm not going to go into details, those that need to know, have been told what the deal is.  I just want to ask everyone to please pray for her.  She has a potentially long road to recovery ahead, so please pray that the recovery will go smoothly and that she will be healed.

Brian left for Ft McCoy Thursday and will return on the 23rd.  He will be jumping out of airplanes every day, starting Monday.  Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers that he will stay safe!

I went to the farmers market today to buy some fresh veggies for me and 2 of Brian's sisters.  For us, I got some green beans, purple hull peas, corn on the cob, and some beans that looked kinda like fat butter beans in the shell, but when shelled, look like either english peas or green crowder peas.  So I'm sitting on my bed, shelling the purple hulls, and feel something on my leg.  I see something green and feel what I swear felt like it pinching me, and I jumped up and started screaming like a little girl!  Stupid green caterpillar/worm thingy.  Ewwwww!!!!!  Those things gross me the hell out!  I didn't kill it, but I did put it in the trash can with the empty shells.

I'm only halfway finished shelling the purple hulls and already have a HUGE bowl of peas.  I would imagine I probably have 4-5 quart bags full so far, so I am pleased with the turn out on those.  The mystery beans/peas, I think I will have just 2 quart bags of those, and will probably make 4-5 quart bags out of the green beans.  I'm thinking tomorrow I'm going to make some home made creamstyle corn with some of what I got today, and I will prep and freeze the rest of it.  I am so glad I've learned how to prepare and freeze veggies - nothing is better food-wise than fresh veggies!

Our new puppy, Gabriel, is really testing Dominion's patience.  He just wants to play, but he's barking and being aggressive, and Dominion isn't used to that.  Dominion stays under me at the desk or next to me on the bed with Brian not here, expecting me to protect him from Gabriel.  Poor thing got tangled up in my keyboard cord tonight and pulled it out of the computer and I thought was going to rip the keyboard tray off the desk, trying to get away from being tangled in the cord. 

I took them for a walk together this afternoon - that is a LOT easier said than done.   The puppy forgets the purpose of the walk is to go potty, and just wants to jump on his daddy and bite at him.  He was funny today with that - he finally gave up attacking his dad and went #1, them immediately into #2. 

When I got home from delivering the veggies I got for Brian's sisters, I decided to take the pups to the dog park.  We were the only ones there, which was kind of nice.  Gabriel stuck his face where it doesn't belong and he got peed on.  LOL  He came to me and just looked at me with this pitiful look in his eyes, like "Daddy peed on me....please clean me....."

Then while I was sitting on the bed shelling peas, the dogs took a nap.  When Gabriel woke up, he was whining and trying to get my attention, and before I realized it, he tinkled on the bed.  So, he knows to alert us to go outside at least.  But he loves to chase frogs.  I don't like that - I don't want him licking frogs or chewing on them or eating them.  I can't stand frogs (hate them almost as much as green caterpillar/worm thingys crawling on my leg)!

Gabriel does not like being crated, not at all.  Today was his first experience in it, and he seems to not mind being able to go in and exit it at his will, but once you close him up in it, he freaks out and starts this horrific screaming yelp like something is killing him.  Pitiful I tell you.  But necessary while I work this week.  I just don't want to take any chances of Dominion accidentally hurting Gabriel if Gabriel gets on his nerves too much.  That, and Steven isn't here to walk him during the day, and I know he'll have accidents in the house if he isn't walked frequently. 

Well I suppose I should go to bed....I know Gabriel will have me up at like 4am to go potty.  Almost like having a human baby.....

Change.....

No one can change a person, but someone can be a person's reason to change.

That statement is so true.  No matter how badly you want someone to change their ways, you can't force them to change.  They have to want to change.  And sometimes you become their reason for changing.

When I first saw this phrase, I immediately thought of "players".  An individual that is dating a player cannot make the player stop playing the game, the player has to find the person that is worth quitting the game for.  Many times the player isn't looking for that person, and they may adamantly deny that they are looking, but they stumble upon them totally by accident.

I've seen too many people in my life try to change a player, and try to be "the one" to make the player settle down.  All too often those situations end in heartbreak for the person who thought they could bring about change in the player's life.  I've seen people do crazy things to try to make a player change, to try to force them to settle down, and it just doesn't work.  Even if the player gives the relationship an honest attempt, if it's with the wrong person, it won't last unless the player is willing to live a miserable life to make someone else happy.  I don't see that as being fair to the player, and truthfully it isn't fair to the person that is trying to make the player change.

I've been on both sides of the fence for this.  I don't know that I'd actually have been classified as a player, but there were men that wanted to settle down with me through different periods of my life, and I just wasn't ready to settle down, at least not with them.  Most of them were good men, but they just didn't have what I needed, to see that I needed to change.   And I've dated players before, even wanted one of them to change his ways, but I knew I'd never get him to, always heard him say he wasn't interested in or looking for a serious or long-term relationship.  Or was he......

Sunday blahs.....

Another weekend has flown by, and Monday morning is looming just a few hours from now.  I'm not really in the mood to write, but in a way I am.  I'm just so scatterbrained tonight, I don't know that I can concentrate enough to make much sense, but here goes.

We went to Tanner Beach yesterday with one of Brian's sisters and her son.  Well, Steven and I went with her - Brian stayed at her place and napped with the dogs.  Sheree and I stayed in the water up to our shoulders, so of course I am now sunburned from the shoulders up, including my scalp.  (forgot my damn hat!)

This morning we got up and took the pups to the dog park, then came home and got in cleaning mode.  I rearranged the Tupperware cabinet, as well as the cookware cabinet and the cabinet where we keep all the travel mugs and plastic cups.  Oh, and I also worked in the cabinets above the microwave to get them organized.  I wonder how long things will stay the way I fixed them today?  Probably not very long unfortunately.

This afternoon we rode over to my mother-in-law's for dinner, and it was wonderful (thanks for the invite Janice!).  It was great to spend time with her, and Brian's sister Janice and her husband Ricky, as well as Ricky's nephew.  We took Gabriel (the new puppy, for those of you that haven't seen the pictures posted of him), and while he wanted to play with Zoe and Sophia (their chihuahuas), they didn't much appreciate or like him.  LOL

Our trip last weekend to Missouri was wonderful - Brian's daughter is just absolutely beautiful, and her mother's family was quite nice.  We had a good time at the park by the Gateway Arch on Saturday, and a wonderful time at the zoo on Sunday.  We had planned to go to Florida this weekend to visit Brian's brother Ricky Wayne, but it didn't work out for us.  We are hoping to go some time in August to visit him.  I gotta get my son to the beach soon!

Steven is heading to Arkansas this coming weekend for a 2 week stay with my dad.  He is really looking forward to going, and I know my dad is looking forward to having him visit.  I'll be busy after taking Steven to the airport Saturday freezing fresh veggies after a run to the farmer's market on Friday afternoon.

Well it's getting to be close to bedtime, I hope everyone had a great weekend and has a great Monday tomorrow!

Just a hodge podge of randomness.....

Hmmm....where do I begin.....I've been in a funk for the last month, for several different reasons. The main reason has been discussed here before, so it doesn't bear repeating, and I don't wish to go into detail on the other reasons.  But suffice it to say, my funk has absolutely nothing to do with my husband, my son, or our families.  Enough said.

I will say this - if you're going to talk shit about me in your Facebook status, might as well grow some balls and tag me in it.  (and if you're not friends with me on there, you should be, just so you can tag me in your status updates)  If you're brave enough to talk behind my back you are in the perfect position to kiss my ass.  Oh, and just so you know - the guilty ones always think you're talking about them.  Yeah....I bet you think this blog is about you....you're so vain.....and likely guilty.

As my Facebook status says....some people need to get over themselves....and get a clue.  That status just fits things perfectly for a couple of situations I'm in the middle of.   I'm so tired of people that only think of themselves, and only their side of things and point of view on things.  These situations I'm in the middle of, involve individuals that are only thinking of themselves, and have absolutely no regard, concern, or care for my side or my feelings about things.  They act as if my feelings and thoughts don't matter at all.  Well, if I'm involved in the situation, then hell yes, my feelings count.

I went to bed upset last night because I let these things and people bother me.  I was in an ill mood, and that mood didn't just affect me, it affected those in my household.  I don't like being in an ill mood, nor does my family like me being in an ill mood.  Sooo, I am taking the power back from these individuals that are so self-centered that they refuse to see the other side of things.  No longer will you have the power to upset me.  No longer will I allow you to put me in an ill mood.

I cannot control anyone else's actions, reactions, or words, only my own, so I choose to change how I react to people that insist on only seeing their point of view, regardless of how narrow minded it might be.  I will no longer let you have the power to upset me, or to make me angry to the point of being in an ill mood for hours at a time.  Sure, I will get angry over things, but I will no longer allow myself to dwell on them. 

I would advise those of you that I piss off or disappoint on occasion, to follow the same advice.  Don't let me get under your skin.  If I post something you don't like, be it here, on Facebook or any other website, then perhaps you should stop looking at my stuff online.  That's what I've had to do with at least one person - stop going to their Facebook page so I don't get angry over their one-sided, self-centered posts.  It's a great way to avoid getting angry over things that you have absolutely no control over.  And that's precisely the point - you don't control me, and I can't control you. 

So get over yourself, and get a clue.

Having fun.....

We are in Missouri, visiting Brian's daughter, Madison.  She is so cute!  I will post a full blog with some photos shortly after we return to Georgia.  Y'all have a great weekend, and Happy Independence Day!!!

Yay it's Friday!!!!

And yes, my ass shoulda been in bed about 2-3 hours ago, especially after the week I've had!  But it's too late for that now, ain't it?  LOL

Gonna work a half day today, and then we're heading to Missouri for the weekend.  We'll be sure to post pictures when we get back.

Well, I did something I was damned determined not to do.....I contacted him first.  Not to make peace, but to explain some things that occurred this week that he's been asking about.  I also took the opportunity to explain to him how our whole blow up 3 weeks ago made me feel.  I sent him an email, because I don't trust myself to be able to express myself as well verbally as I do when I write, nor do I trust myself not to get a smart ass attitude during the conversation.  I'm still so upset by it all that I knew I couldn't have thorough phone conversation, and it was just too much to text to him.  I'm still not apologizing, and I explained to him why (because I already did), and I let him know why I said the things I said. 

Anyways, we'll see what kind of response I get from him - I told Mom I was probably going to email him, and I promised her that I would be nice, and I think I was.  I explained my feelings without being mean or sounding like a smart ass, and just let him know why what he said and why the whole situation bothered me.  Maybe he will finally see my side of things, who knows.....

Well I better be getting my butt in bed...6am comes early!  Y'all have a great weekend, and a Happy Fourth of July!!!