Catching Up...

With some old friends from high school can be quite illuminating.  Brilliantly so.

Last night, I had the benefit of comparing the attention-seeking behavior of a certain person with someone I hadn't talked to since graduation.  We ended up in a discussion because of some rumors  that were told about me way back in the day.  Not really surprised... not after the crap I've put up with.  And the moodiness, and the excuses I told myself time and time again when I felt like I was being shit on and my feelings were being played like a goddamned instrument.

And I'm very happy to say, I wasn't wrong with my assessment of this particular person.  As-a-matter-of-fact, their personality hasn't changed since junior high... now, there is just a thin veneer of humility that they've slapped on.  When that rubs off... just say "hello" to the asshole.  I don't feel bad about giving someone another chance... what I feel horrible about is the fact that my gut instinct told me that there was NO WAY that someone could change THAT MUCH.  And for fuck's sake... was I right.

I finally get free of this toxic shit and guess what???  This person keeps popping up in small corners of my life.  The rants about not having relationships and whatever??  The inappropriate behavior and temper tantrums??  Keeping up the emotional merry-go-round and drama around every turn??  The inability to act like an adult and fuck off properly??

Sigh.  I can't see it happening.  Obsessive-compulsive people never. ever. stop.

No More...

House-hunting.  After 10 weeks (give or take) of looking a houses, I'm very pleased to announce that we have finally found a fucking house!!!  And... we're officially under contract with a closing date on Monday, October 19th.  A lot quicker than what we had anticipated (November 11th) and I'm really happy that we didn't have to wait any longer.

So... let's get down to the nitty-gritty.  Some stats:

1.  Two car garage with an extra utility closet.
2.  Full laundry room with plenty of shelving, extra dowel rod to hang up clothing (as I hang most of my tee shirts to dry) with plenty of room for a couple of laundry baskets.  Very nice because it's not at the other end of the house.
3.  Four bedrooms (master bedroom for both of us, an office for me, an office for the hubs, and a spare room dedicated to guests).
4.  Two-and-a-half baths.  Master suite and full guest bath downstairs, and a half bath upstairs.
5.  Very large galley kitchen with a good-sized breakfast nook.
6.  Skylights!!  (No more to be said)
7.  Trey ceiling in the dining room.
8.  Vaulted ceilings in all rooms except for the master suite and the guest bedroom.
9.  Privacy fenced back yard with a HUGE deck for entertaining!!!  :D  I was seriously considering how I could rig up some carnie lights in the back... suggestions would be appreciated!!
10.  And... a Vivint security system - installed brand-new.  (After living in NOLA, that seems a bit preposterous, doesn't it??)
11.  Blocks away from the back bay and ocean access.  Not on the water... but I can smell it from the front yard!!!  YES!!

And it's picture time, everyone!!

From the living room... the area to the right goes to the dining room... and to the left, there are two bedrooms and a full guest bath.  This area will change after we get in.  We're looking at hardwoods for both the living room and the dining room and (of course) a fresh paint job.  

The dining room!!  The fixture will have to go (along with the paint and carpet), but I have faith that my hubs will be able to do it.  ;0))  If not, I can.  How zap-tacious could it be???  Last words.

Kitchen with a ton of room and vaulted ceilings.  All these appliances will be going and new floors will be installed.  I'm hoping for room in the budget to replace the counter tops, also.  Fingers crossed.

Master bedroom.  The walk-in-closet is off of the master bath.  

Master bath.  Deep garden tub with jets.  The window AC unit was left by the previous owners.  It's gone already, too.  Had them snatch it out because it's not necessary with central AC.  

The fireplace in the great room.  That wall has got to go into another color.  I don't like it all that much.  So, I'll take care of that little problem before we move in.

My office!!!  The window makes me so happy!!!  

Skylight over the tub??  Check!!  

Guest bedroom.  Very nice size, too.  :)

Husby's office (some might refer to it as a "man cave") - it's the bonus room above the garage (note:  The window unit and curtains were left by the seller - they have been removed already).  AND the upstairs troll-hole also comes with it's own...

Throne Room!!!  

The deck and yard.  

There are two things missing that were on my original "want" list... an in-ground swimming pool (I keep telling myself that it would be a fucking pain in my ass and that I will be missing nothing - lies!!) and a woodworking shed for the hubs.  Other than that, we ended up with a 2500SQF house (not including the double-car garage), vaulted ceilings, huge kitchen, and a soaking tub.  

I'll be moving before November 1st, methinks.  

Six Weeks of Bullshit. House Madness.

Well, I'm six weeks (plus) into the house hunt.  We've bid on two houses - the first house had too many problems (found during inspection), so we withdrew our bid.  Second house we bid on, the owner was an outright asshole and refused any concessions, so we basically told him to go fuck himself, and pulled the bid.

Back to square one.

Quite frankly, I'm tired.  The weather has been miserable and some of the houses that I'm looking at don't even have their air conditioning on (or any electricity for that matter... makes it really hard to figure out if I even want a house when I can't see it).  I'd like to have an in-ground pool, but those are few and far between - I don't want to deal with an above-ground pool as those are far more of a PITA (my opinion, of course).  Don't know why I'm even bothering to bitch about it, considering these are all first-world problems.

The house I'm living in is still a hot mess, considering I can't unpack everything (had to rifle through the garage to find some paperwork the other day) and I find that I just don't give a shit about much.  Don't get me wrong, I knew what I was signing on for when I agreed to this move... however, I just didn't realize that it would take SO LONG to find a house.  Also, I mistakenly thought that I would meet people and have friends to hang out with again (like I did in NOLA).

Speaking of NOLA, I think it's time to catch up with some people and make some plans.

In the middle of house-hunting, of course.

Let's Talk "Adventure"...

Shall we???

Someone once told me that I shouldn't feel upset about leaving a place that I loved... that I should look at moving to a new place as an "adventure".  Having moved around the world (literally) and knowing that when I move it's always a *new start*, I don't really look forward to moving.  Just the logistics are a pain-in-the-ass... not to mention a lack of friends and having absolutely no support system.

Let me tell you about my little "adventure" that started yesterday morning.  I took the hubs to the airport because he's going to be gone for a good part of this month (August).  On my way home, I decided to stop at the brand new Subway and pick up a turkey sub (added bacon, no lettuce, no mayo, just a lot of veg and light on the oil and vinegar).  I took the foot-long home and ate half, wrapping the other half up for later that evening.

About two hours later (around 3:00 PM or so), my stomach starts to feel crampy.  I bolt for the bathroom and blow chunks - all of the sandwich that I just ate.  ZOMG.  It's wretched.  And I keep vomiting.  I throw up until there's nothing left but bile.  And I keep throwing up.  I can't drive to the ER because I'm running a fever and can't stop dry-heaving and shaking.  My husband is not here and I realize that I don't know a fucking soul except for my real estate agent.  She's got three kids - I can't call her to drive me to the ER.  There's no cabs that run this late.  If I want to go to the ER, well... I'm going to have to call an ambulance.

So... I call the RN-Emergency nurse that comes with my health care provider.  She and I go through everything (with my dry-heaving every two minutes or so - really pleasant conversation!!) that I ate and what kind of food poisoning that I might have... and she introduced me to staphylococcus aureus.  Meat that is not left cold enough, or cross-contaminated with eggs or bad mayo.  Vomiting and symptoms last for 24 - 72 hours.  Yeah, it's a winner.  Luckily, after throwing up for well over 20 hours, I'm able to keep water and popsicles down - without throwing up (right now).  And I'm not done with it yet - I may have to still go to the hospital.  Luckily, my realtor is willing to take me late this afternoon if I keep barfing.

I want to say "thank you" to my friends who kept checking on me (the husband is working in a white noise environment and has had his cell phone locked up, so no calling him) and making sure that I was okay, even if they were hundreds of miles away.  Thanks to the nurse that I spoke with and the kind people at the Health Department.  Luckily, I'm in good health so I probably won't have to deal with this much longer - and fingers crossed that I won't have to go to the ER.

I also want to say a bright and lively "FUCK YOU" to the asshole* who wouldn't listen to me when I was trying to explain about having a SUPPORT SYSTEM after I moved.  That this is not so much an "adventure" as a lifestyle change and that I would be on my own (literally and figuratively).  If I had ended up with a different form of food poisoning, it could've been much, much worse.  And what makes me want to throw up (just on principle) is that there is not one person that I could've called to take care of my dog.  Take your "adventure" and shove it straight up your smug ass - because if you think this shit is fun, you're fucking delusional.

*Why don't I have any friends??  Why can't I keep them??  

How about shit like this???  And, no, I'm not going to apologize.

You know who you are.

All. About. Moi. Updated "Bucket List".

Tomorrow, I turn 40.  At the end of last year and at the beginning of this one, I thought that things would be very different (as far as plans were concerned).  Some of my closest friends were going to come in and entertain me for my 40th.  One of those friends is seriously busy with her children's summer schedule - and the other person is a friend no more.  It's all right, though.  Husby has scheduled a bunch of things... so this has turned into "Juggsy Week".

On Sunday, we went and met with sea lions and swam with dolphins.  Best Backstage package EVER.  Worth ALL the money (with all photos - almost $600) and then some!!  A glimpse:

The boys were putting on a show for us!!  Hubs and I are on the back wall with all the trainers.  

After the whole day excursion, we were exhausted.  No cooking for us!!  As a treat, we stopped at Whataburger  on the way home.  I absolutely adore their patty melts (to die for) and the spicy ketchup is a must-try.  Afterwards, we came home, showered all the salt off, and then took a lazy nap together.  I would absolutely do this again.  There are some really cool things to see and do around here... I've just got to put them all together in one place.  After that, we can pick different things to do over the weekends.  

I know it's not NOLA.  But, with a few mental adjustments (and knowing that I can visit NOLA any time I want to), life here is pretty great.  It's laid back and comfortable here.  So, on the cusp of turning 40 in about an hour and a half, I crossed most stuff off that I had been wanting to do.  And... I updated my Bucket List quite a bit.  Now, it seems far more exotic, and a lot more expensive for me to do... so here goes:

Lieux à visiter avante de moirer

• Urban exploration (otherwise known as UrbEx).  I'd love to see some of the creepier abandoned sanitariums and hospitals...  I read this site quite a bit and absorb the material like a sponge.  I absolutely love that they give you the history of the building(s) and have approximate dates as to when they were built all the way up to present day.
• Nuclear tour of Chernobyl and the abandoned working town, Pripyat.  I can remember this happening when I was younger and simply could NOT understand the ramifications of nuclear power.  Therefore, when I read that the Ukrainians had opened the area up for assisted tours, I simply had to put this tour on my list.  Sure, Eastern European food isn't the best... but I'll live. Oh, the irony.
• Taking a month to leisurely sail up the river all throughout France... in an all inclusive luxury small passenger liner... stopping in whatever village or town that looks interesting.  I think I would do it every summer until I had completed the entire Avalon experience.  They offer so many cruises, it would be really damned difficult to try and figure out what the first one would be...
• Attend a friend's wedding in the spring.  I'd like to drive up and stop at weird attractions and stay in funky (not funky BAD, but funky GOOD) and fun places to stay.  Something like this or this or this (although I know that B. wouldn't even consider staying in an "ice hotel" - I'd like to do it at least once!!!  I'm still looking for fun, boutique hotels in each state, so I'd like to visit and travel around the US more often.  Maybe I'll get my "Geaux 'Merrica!!" patriotism back.  Somehow, I doubt this... but there's always room for improvement, right??

That's all for tonight.  I'm saying goodbye to my 30's and entering my 40's in about 8 minutes.  If my 40's are as good as my 30's were... I'm in for one wild fuck of a ride!!  x0x0

Haus Ein. Good Vibes Requested. :D

This house had made it to the top of the list.  Definitely there was some compromise between us (hubs thinks the yard is too small - then I remind him of New Orleans, you know the huge barn with the postage-stamp size lot??), but this house is on a just over a quarter acre with plenty of room.  This has a loft (yesssssss!!) which would be MY office area, master with vaulted ceilings and huge jacuzzi bath (contemporary design - loft and master suite are the only things upstairs), two full bedrooms with a guest bath, fireplace, dining room, large kitchen, HUGE laundry room and mud-room, two car garage with extra storage and workbench... plus, it's all landscaped and has an in-ground POOL.  ZOMG.

Take a peek!!

Très contemporary!!

A great room with a wood-burning fireplace and wet bar...

Front entry... to the right, 2 bedrooms and full bath.

To the left, the dining room, kitchen, mud room, and garage entry.

Stairs with master suite to the left, and the loft is overlooking the great room.

Kitchen with built-in wine fridge and breakfast bar...

So glad the fridge is going.  We have a black fridge that will match everything else.

Master bedroom with wood-burning fireplace and balcony overlooking the pool.

The pool!!  Has a bench that's jetted (also helps circulate the water).
I think it's the bees knees.  :0))

If we decide to go with this house, we'll paint, update (carpets coming out, hardwoods going in), and have everything deep-cleaned before we move in (probably a 30-day process).  The landscaping is excellent, we won't have to do much (there's also a screened-in porch overlooking the swimming pool, which has sliders that open all the way - sorry, not pictured).  Out of the 18+ houses I've personally looked at, this is the favorite.  

It would make one excellent 40th birthday gift... I can say this for certain.  x0x0

Time. Hunting Down The Perfect...

House.

I'm back to looking at houses.  Which means, yes, we'll be buying our THIRD fucking house.  And the budget I have (compared to the other two combined) is ginormous.  Seriously.  And I have time - which is a rich thing to have as a buyer.  I will have the ability to put in multiple bids AND eventually decide on what I would like.  The husband travels so much that this house will be mine, for the most part... so I've got to be comfortable in it while he's gone.  Choggie has aged and sometimes doesn't hear the knock on the door or the ringing of the bell.  :0((

Simple list....

• House has to be over 1800 SQF.
• House has to have a garage (single is good, double is better).
• House has to have a minimum of three bedrooms, three + den, or three + family room.  Husby and I want our separate offices AND a guest room always prepared for people.  Yeah, Tito.  I know.  I'm fucking crazy and you'd "never risk it".  STFU.  And, yes.  I was "talking to you."  Want to prove something???  Send her down.  Go build something or take your own vacation.
• House has to have a good kitchen - no exceptions.  Exceptions will be made if the house is below budget; therefore, making the renovations happen within the budget.
• Skylights.  They are big-huge-awesome here.  I'd love to have more than the two in each bath.
• Screened-in porch.  Useless in June, July, and August... yet worth their weight in gold during the other not-so-hot months.  I'm already planning on sleepy furniture!!
• I'm good with late '70s to early '80s retro.
• Would love an in-ground pool.  This is probably not ever happening because the husband doesn't like them.  A bitch can hope, right???  :P

If the flooring sucks -

We'll replace it (hardwoods, tile, whatever)

If the wall color blows -

We'll repaint it.  All in one long weekend, hopefully.

Landscaping - plenty o' companies.

Appliances I hate - changed out.  I'm missing having a Jenn-Aire stove.  NEEDED.

That's it for now.  My list probably looks like it belongs to a spoiled child, but I don't care.  I want this house to be "it" for us (at least 5 years).  

Under Pressure.

Life. Good Stuff.

The journey to Baltimore-DC area was a crazy one.  My niece's wedding was really great, intimate, well-thought-out, and everything from the dress to the flowers, and all the food was fabulous.  The "destination resort" we stayed at was not disappointing at all.  The hot tub in the room was huge and could've fit four people - the bathroom was very spa-like.  All glass shower, beautiful tiles, and everything well thought out.  Huge king-sized bed, awesome pillows, light down comforter, excellent views, and it was also very "please don't bring your child(ren) here" discouraging.  Not cots, no cribs, no family rooms.  Only adults in the pool.  For my child-free ass, that was a HAPPY PLACE.

Unfortunately, the rental car sucked.  We were assigned a 2015 Jeep Compass... wow.  The dead have more options and move faster..  The engine was too small and the body was too heavy.  It couldn't get out of it's own way.  Trying to get on to | 495 and it was just pathetic.  It could also be that I really don't care for an SUV (it's like a cheesy station-wagon on steroids) and find that most people who drive them, can't.  Let's not even discuss parking.

And... I also scored my first speeding ticket in over 7 years.  Fucker clocked me at 41 MPH in a 35 MPH zone.  Ticket cost??  $130.  NO SHIT.  The Super Trooper managed to tell me that the "State of Florida won't be informing your insurance company as long as you pay the court your ticket."  What a fucking racket!!  My husband keeps picking on my not being able to drive 41 MPH.  This is such a non-win, it wasn't even funny.

For the good news...  the house hunt starts tomorrow.  We received all of our paperwork back from USAA and we've been all pre-approved.  I've already been saving interesting houses from realtor[dot]com and my budget is very generous (to say the least).  I also have a budget for immediate renovations before we move in... for instance, hardwood flooring (except for the bedrooms - because I want carpet), tile in the kitchen and baths, new hardware (if I don't like what's in there), countertops, and cabinet resurfacing.  So, I'm not really worried about the cosmetic stuff with the house - I just want to find the best house that fits our lifestyle.  And, yes... having a dedicated guest bedroom and bath is at the top of the list (I'm so dangerous and all... expecting people to come and visit me - hahahahahaaaaaa).  :D  I'd also like a soaking tub in the master bath, but if it doesn't have it (and maybe has a jacuzzi outside or something), I can live.

My biopsy also came back... it's negative!!!

And I have another job interview tomorrow... which may take me a whole lot closer to the Audi TT that I want to get after we buy our house.

Vacances et une Mariage.

We leave tomorrow on the first of several short [vacation] jaunts.  This one happens to be together, as my niece is getting married on Saturday evening.  I finally got my dress in and it looks fantastic.  It's a wrap dress which shows a very good amount of cleavage - hehehe - and it makes me feel wonderful.  The hubs is thrilled with it, too.

I also got a second LBD (Little Black Dress) just for any additional shit that I might get goat-roped into by my mother-in-law.  It's very simple with cap sleeves, but it doesn't wrinkle and that's pretty damned important.  ;0))  I also got some swim shorts and a swim skirt because we have a poolside suite and I intend to do nothing more than soak in the in-room jacuzzi and swim during the day.  Plus, I need some color!!

Although I'm going to have to deal with some in-law crap, I think I'm going to have a great time with both of my favorite nieces... one of which just came out and is bringing her long-term girlfriend with her to the wedding.  I'm really looking forward to meeting her.  If she makes K-dito happy, I'm sure she's a pretty great person.  Also, it should be interesting to see how some family members react... as this will be their first time seeing my niece with her significant other being a woman.

I still haven't heard anything about my biopsy... so I sent a message to my doctor today.  He said that I should hear something tomorrow.  Knowing my luck, it'll be while I'm sitting in fucking Atlanta waiting for a connector.  Isn't that usually how it goes????

"I'm Not Bossy, I'm the Boss"

One of my favorite newest songs by Sinead O'Connor.  You can catch it on YouTube here... but I've supplied the lyrics.  I underlined the ones that resonated most with me.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  <3  <3  <3

8 Good Reasons

Sinead O'Connor

"I'm Not Bossy, I'm the Boss"

Don't know if I should quite sing this song

Don't know if it maybe might be wrong

But then again, it maybe might be right

To tell you about the bullet and the red light...

You know I'm not from this place

I'm from a different time and a different space

And it's real uncomfortable

To be stuck somewhere you don't belong...

I had a dream one night

About a bullet and a red light

You know, it felt all right

It actually felt quite nice

(Whisper)

If I could've gone, without hurting anyone

Like a child, I would have found my mum

Like a bird I would've made and flown

You know, I don't much like life

I don't mind admitting that it ain't right

You know I love to make music

But my head got wrecked by the business

Everybody wants something from me

They rarely ever just want to know me

I became the stranger no one sees

Cut glass, I crawl upon my knees

But, I've got eight good reasons to stick around

Eight good reasons

Well, maybe nine now....

I had a dream one night

About a bullet and a red light

You know, it actually felt quite nice

But, I've got eight good reasons to stick around

Eight good reasons

Well, maybe nine now....

Decisions. Damsel Without A Dress.

This week has been crazy thus far.  Not in a bad way... just full of weird possibilities and interesting things that are currently happening and will be happening.  It's a lot to digest, really.

So... I want an Audi.  I've wanted one forever, really.  Husby says I can get one... but I've got to get a job and buy it outright.  So, most of the weekend, I spent on the interwebz driving myself fucking cray-cray looking for employment (can anyone tell me why most companies want a comprehensive resumé yet still make you fill out an ENTIRE JOB APPLICATION on line??) - it boggles the mind.  Seriously.  I guess that's neither here nor there, because I managed to get not one, but two interviews for tomorrow.  Hopefully, they'll both go well and fight over my brilliant personality (hardy-har-har-har!!).  Anyhow, for those of you that care, send me good vibes.

For those of you that hate-read, go do something productive.  Like harass someone else or try and make other friends.

Yeah, I just wrote that.

And then the wedding.  I fucking forgot to put my order in online and guess what??  "It's fucked to the moon, Alice!!".  Tomorrow morning I've got to get the two dresses, cool bathing suit, and funky shirt sent out ASAP (to the additional shipping tune of $24.95.  From New Jersey.  Of all places.  Which means... using the telephone.  I'm trying to avoid the phone because I have a feeling that my new job is going to have a LOT to do with telephones.  And people with demands.  Oh, well.  Do I want my Audi??  Yes.

It's too late to be up and the place where I had my biopsy done is itching like mad.  But from the inside, you know??  So it's healing.  I think I'm going to take a pain pill and then play some kind of word game on my iPhone (it always fucks me up, because sometimes I still think in German or French and then get pissed at the AMERICAN game.  SMDH.)

It'll be a make-up day for sure.  Either that or I'll look like Guy Smiley from the Muppet Show freaking out on four days of meth.  Fun!!  x0x0

PCB /to/ NOLA /to/ Biloxi and back /to/ PCB.

An epic amount of travel for three whole days... but I'm not complaining.  Had to get my biopsy done on in NOLA on Wednesday afternoon (1:00 PM - but I left PCB at 6:15 AM that morning), then ran some errands (picked up a couple of cases of Abita Beer, gumbo file, cajun spices, a small bag of red beans, and some petit fours), grabbed a rotisserie chicken and NOLA-style potato salad (for dinner).  I also provided some pre-mixed cocktails, Long Island Iced Tea (Cuervo Skinny) which were not at all disappointing!!  I wish I took a picture of it - because it was delicious and not the shit-tastic mess I was thinking it would be - at all.  Yum!!  L and I had our cocktails and front-porched it (my most favorite evening thing to do in my old 'hood).

(Looking down my street from the awesomeness of the front porch!!)

The Vee-Dubs was glad to be back in her old neighborhood, too.  I still have the NOLA inspection sticker on the front (even though my license plate is from Florida now).  Since N & L rent out my old house, I street-park now... no more fancy for me!!

(There she is... back where she should be... minor dents and all!!)

After all the excitement of Wednesday night, I reluctantly packed the car on Thursday morning - but it wasn't as dreary as I was expecting.  I headed to Mississippi to pick up one of my very good friends and treat her to a night out (did someone just say "Girl's Night"??  Oh, yesssssssss!!!).  We booked a room at the IP Casino in Biloxi, which is a casino, resort, spa, pool on the 11th floor, and excellent room service.  This is our second visit and it was just as fun as the first time around!!  I had brought some "Hurricane" pouch drinks from New Orleans, and we started with those...

(You know, because I just came in from NOLA - we had to toast the city in our own way!!)

Then, we went exploring around the casino, checking out the pool, taking various elevators (all which seemed slightly shaky and a bit dodgy) and came across this gem (can't say that either one of us was really interested in attending this concert - for fuck's sake, I thought she was dead or in a loony bin - but apparently is still doing the B-level casino concert bit)....

(She's had so much plastic surgery, if she sits near a campfire, she'll either go up in flames or simply fucking melt!!)

Yeah, you read that right.  Liza - in the plasti-flesh.  We had such a good giggle over all that - it was hilarious.  I think that a good portion of the Q-tips may have hit up the box office, though.  The elevators going up there were full!!  

We headed back up to our room, to open our big ol' box o' Franzia (Sunset Blush - the boxed-bagged wine that never stops) and proceeded to have a fabulous time watching "National Lampoon's Vacation" and catching up on all the cray-cray shit that's been going on in our lives.  This, of course, is way better than drinking and texting or Skyping... and we took advantage of it - staying up fairly late (well, really late), ordering room service.  In the morning, we ordered room service and got pancakes with a bourbon-apple sauce to spread on them.  It was a great evening!!!

And guess what?????  I didn't get *dangerous*!!  I could have, you know.  I had alcohol, ice, and a cheaply serrated "knife" that I'm pretty sure (had I been sober enough), I could've ground into a shank.  That never happened.  The proof???  Right here...

(It would've taken me half a week in a prison hole in order to make THAT a killing weapon.  Sorry, C.!!  I did my best to appease the peanut gallery, but I guess I failed miserably at that.  Le sigh.)

So, we check out of the casino this morning, and I was back on my way to PCB.  Got home before the husband did, emptied out the car, and then we went out to one of our favorite seafood shacks.  I don't have a lot of pressing stuff to do this weekend, and the boob hurts a bit, but I'm sure I can just hack it off if it becomes a bother.  

And if you're feeling adventurous or need some kind of entertainment....  play THIS.  It's Dangerous!!!

Two Weeks of Travel.

After a very quiet Fourth of July (and it was quiet - living in the 'burbs ensures that), I now have a busy two weeks coming up.  On Wednesday morning, I'll be heading back to New Orleans.  My visit is two-fold... I'll be getting a needle biopsy done and then a new audio system put in my car (part of my 40th birthday gift).  I'm getting a touch-screen system with all the bluetooth stuff for my iPod, iPad, and iPhone that will automatically sync.  That makes me so happy!!  Also, I can watch movies if I want, also (or at least my passengers can).  This almost makes up for the needle biopsy and very short trip to NOLA.

However, on the way home from NOLA, I'll be picking up a very good friend and we're planning on having a Girl's Night Out at the IP Casino in Biloxi!!!  Pool, poolside service, room service, and of course our favorite box o' wine will make this a memorable stay!!  I can't wait to catch up and just hang out with one of my close friends for a night.  No husbands, no kids, no dog, no cats... nothing but some relaxation and fun.  I don't even care if I get a sunburn!!  :0))  I'm hoping my friend can catch some good pics with her camera and that the weather holds so that we can enjoy an excellent sunset.  I'm so fucking EXCITED!!!

Next week, on Friday, husby and I will be flying up to Washington D.C. for a wedding.  One of my very favorite nieces is getting married and we've decided to make a mini-vacation out of it.  We're staying at an upscale hotel (with a double-person jacuzzi in the room), 24-hour room service, fluffy towels, robes, and poolside access.  We only have to be at the wedding on Saturday night (and that is at La Ferme Restaurant - and it looks so delicious!!) and the rest of the time is our own.  I'm looking at other dining options and maybe going to the aquarium in Baltimore.  Hell, we might just be lazy and pampered... either way, it's a getaway.

I'm still undecided as to whether or not I'll be going to St Louis in August.  Husby is going to be there for over two weeks, and I could fly in and crash at his hotel with him, easy peasy.  Just don't know if I want to deal with traveling that soon again or not.  Next summer, we have a month long trip to Germany (going to both Ramstein and Landstuhl) and there's also a trip to Japan coming up in the early spring.  I look forward to going back to Germany (although I'm pretty sure I'll be spending most weekends in France) and I've never been to Japan, so that should be interesting.

And in between all those things??  House buying, painting, flooring, and moving.  Let's not bring all that up right now.  I want to ride on this good mood for a while!!

Lumps and Bumps.

Well, I'm back off to NOLA next week.  My mammogram didn't come out so hot, so I need to go in for a needle biopsy.  I don't think that I'm really freaked out... after having cancer previously, I tend to take the "chill out and wait" position.  If it is, I'll make decisions when the results come in.  If it isn't, I'll drink a bottle of wine and celebrate.

After how this year has been, with some of the shit I've put up with, a little tiny cyst isn't really going to ruin my tea party, if you know what I mean.  Four (or maybe five?) years ago, I had a mammogram come back with a bunch of little tiny bumps.  At the time, I was a huge coffee addict... and come to find out, caffeine can cause lumps in breast tissue.  So I dropped all the caffeine and had a clean mammogram nine months later.

Looking at my recent lifestyle... uh, caffeine consumption has gone up-uP-UP.  So I quit all caffeine on Monday (and I'm trying to stay off the web, work on my music collection, and not interact very much with people until I'm off the smack) and started eating cleaner.  Maybe it's too little too late - or maybe it'll work.  Dunno.  C'est la vie.

I can't help but think of how ironic this all is.  After all, I'll be turning 40 this month.  Might end up with a set of new tits, too.  And to think of how many women would just love to skip the cancer and get a new set of boobs.  Thank the FSM for my sense of humor.

Friends-Drinking-Franzia-Saturday.

This might sound weird.  And maybe it is... but for some of you who don't have friends close by, it'll make sense and it may appeal to you.  Who knows?  For me??  It's better than wine-ing it up on your own, only to drunk dial someone who may not appreciate your consideration post-midnight.

I drink and message with one of my good friends.  It's a planned event.  Really.  Repeat after me:  "This is a planned event".  There's only a couple of steps involved and then, voila!!  Are you interested??  Follow these directions:

1. Find one of your good friends who may be in the same predicament as you.  They could be in a new area (with no friends to hang out with), in an area where drinking is frowned upon (the debbil you say!!), friends that don't drink (my idea of horror), or maybe they are home with the kids or family or in-laws and such (and therefore; they NEED to drink).  Make contact.  Set a date and time.
2. Determine what you're going to drink.  Tonight, I enjoyed a cool 3-litre box of Franzia's Famous "Sunset Blush" - on sale for $8.00 at my local Winn-Dick-Me (AKA "Winn Dixie").  My drinking buddy's husby picked her up the same thing.  
3. At set time, start messaging, texting, Skyping, or whatever.  Get silly and funny and take pictures and laugh.  Get snockered.  Enjoy each other's company.  Do the Girl's Night thing from miles and miles away.  Best of all... hang out with someone you adore and don't be lonely.  

Start the fun with this:

You're merely $8.00 to fun with one of your besties online!!!

Then, just start sending pics to each other.  I took a pic of my favorite wine slurping cup... a Dr Seuss holographic tumbler, along with my favorite movie character, The Dude (from 'The Big Lebowski') and a finger puppet of Dali.  This is what I sent (because my Sunset Blush Buddy gave me The Dude early for my birthday):

So, it's a little dark... but can you FEEL the happy????  I can!!!

I'm not going to bore you with the rest of our conversation, but I enjoyed my time with her immensely.  Of course, it's not going to be as awesome as hanging out in person with someone... but if you're wanting company and you're on your own, this is a pretty good solution.  It's been a great night!!

Road Tripping. New Orleans. Popping In.

***Sorry about picture sizes... they are a bit blurry***

I left on Saturday to head back to New Orleans.  Sadly, I don't think that I expected the reaction I had... once I drove into the city proper, I cried.  The Super Dome, the Smoothie Center, the Crescent City Connection, the mighty Mississippi River, and of course, my old "barn" of a house (L & N live there now, so it's like having family living in a multiple-generation home).  

***The sign on |10 directing me to the Westbank (AKA "The Bestbank")

Of course, we front-porched it.  That was after going to eat at this excellent hibachi and sushi restaurant in Metairie...  Shogun.  My host and hostess (S & L) have been going there for 17 years, and let me tell you, that restaurant did NOT disappoint.  A large hot sake, soup, salad (ginger dressing to die for), special hibachi rice, spicy noodles, and I had the seafood combination (lobster, sea scallops, and shrimp).  Veggies included zucchini, onions, mushrooms, and sprouts... the mushrooms were my favorite (they just absorbed all the sauces and spices).  Nothing was bad.  Highly recommend and I'll do a Yelp review tomorrow.  

Grabbed lunch with L on the go... she had a ton of errands to run, and guess what??  I did, too!!  Husby is in St Louis for the rest of the week, and I kept getting texts.  So... Abita Beer party pack, Cafe du Monde chicory coffee, sweet and salty honeyed cashews, Richard's fresh green pepper (read "spicy") smoked sausage, NOLA potato salad, and comic book store items.  And... delicious soaps from a soap maker that's local.  They smell almost like a fresh French milled soap, but the price was right and I picked myself up some and picked out two additional for a VERY good friend of mine.  I didn't find a tee-shirt that struck my fancy at the comic place, so I ended up getting the new "Fight Club 2" comic.  Honestly, I could go wild in Crescent City Comics... they had some of the best graphic novels ever and I could've blown a whole lot of money in there.

For dinner on Sunday, S made homemade ricotta and Italian sausage raviolis with a sauce to DIE FOR.  Deliciously excellent.  :0))  I need to pick up on some of his tips and tricks and start using my Kitchen Aid professional mixer far more often.  Seriously!!  Plus, it's relatively easy but looks FABULOUS when finished.  

**Disclaimer:  I did not take food porn pics.  Apologies.** 

Monday was nothing but appointments.  I've been deemed healthy by my internist.  YAY!!!  Met a friend for lunch (between appointments) and went to Manhattan Jack - she was craving bagels with lox.  I pouted, because I was too late for an everything bagel that I wanted (sold out) and they stopped making their Monte Cristo sandwiches (one of my utter and absolutely favorite nom-nom-nom foods).  Haven't found a replacement since they took theirs off the menu.  Definitely can't find them here in Florida, so....  boo!!

Spent an uneventful night because I was planning on stopping at Rouses AGAIN and I was wiped out by all the go-go-geaux!!!  pace that we went with all weekend.  So, I ended up leaving NOLA around noon-ish on Tuesday, but there was a great reason.... I could spend some down time with Cat!!!!!

I was, indeed, able to stop in her area on the way home... bearing gifts of candy cashews AND peanut-brittle type peanuts.  She shocked me by giving me my birthday gift early...  it is THE DUDE from the 'Big Lebowski'.  Check it out!!

She knows me and put a lot of thought into it.  :D

Her husband, M, found me two of my obsoleted favorite cartoon shows... 'The Oblongs' and 'Moral Orel' and burned them to disk for me.  HAPPINESS!!  So, with that awesomeness, I'm going to sign off for now.  Thank you so much, Cat!!!  Treasured forever!!!  x0x0

Shrinkage.

Interesting reading.  Flipping through some of my psychology and sociology textbooks in order to decide what I'm going to keep and what I'm going to get rid of.  This was a chapter that grabbed my attention - in regards to the "type" of men in Western society.  Reading this certainly made me far less depressed about a situation in which I had to make an ugly decision.  Sadly, I'm still dealing with residual guilt, even though I knew that severing ties with this person was the healthiest thing for me at the time.

“The introspective, the unusual, the unattractive, and all too often the bitter. Gammas are often intelligent, usually unsuccessful with women, and not uncommonly all but invisible to them, the gamma alternates between placing women on pedestals and hating the entire sex. This mostly depends upon whether an attractive woman happened to notice his existence or not that day. Too introspective for their own good, gammas are the men who obsess over individual women for extended periods of time and supply the ranks of stalkers, psycho-jealous ex-boyfriends, and the authors of excruciatingly romantic rhyming doggerel. In the unlikely event they are at the party, they are probably in the corner muttering darkly about the behavior of everyone else there… sometimes to themselves. Gammas tend to have have a worship/hate relationship with women, the current direction of which is directly tied to their present situation. However, they are sexual rejects, not social rejects.  They identify with women as being friends, but usually jealousy, manipulation, and outright 'twisting of words' will force those friendships to come to an unpleasant end.  The Gamma wants attention and when he finds people that do provide for his needs, he will eventually emotionally strangle them.  He is needy and can be very unpleasant when certain expectations set by him are not met by others.  They are also known to compartmentalize certain aspects of their life by avoiding overlap completely.  This makes it nearly impossible to maintain a friendship status with a Gamma male, as he will only be as honest as necessary.  The Gamma cannot be expected to be relied on for much if it isn't in his interest or if it will not further his agenda as these males are as selfish as those around them allow them to be.” - Donall & Stephens, 2008 (textbook edit/Modern Psychology)

Any spelling errors are mine and mine alone.  

Oh, and I think I'm going to keep this textbook.

Visitors. Happy Time!!

Yesterday, I had some old friends pop into town.  It was crazy because they've been doing shows all across the US and had some gigs lined up in Pensacola and in another nearby area. I was thrilled because I hadn't seen Nikki or Jason for almost a year.  The last time they visited was when we were living in NOLA last summer.  Naturally, I invited them over to hang out and stay overnight if they wanted and we had a blast!!  They also have the distinction of being my very first company from out-of-state.  My apologies if my phone went unanswered and messages were left unread.  I'll catch up with you today.  :0))

Ordered out Chinese delivery, got into some wine, caught up on our families, mutual friends, and some interesting stories.  The dog was even over the moon to have them here!!  :0))  We figured out that we've been friends for 10+ years... and I love them because no matter how long it's been between visits, it's like no time has passed when we're finally together.

Nikki also gave me a copy of her newest album (I have them all, now!!) and I'm probably going to see them next week after I get back from New Orleans (I'm heading there on Saturday morning).  This week has been far better than I ever expected and I must've had some weird premonition, because I cleaned my house (seriously deep-cleaned to get rid of the shitty germs from the crap-tastic cold that I had for almost 10 days) and things were back to (what my version of) normal (is).

So... I had great friends come to visit and on Saturday I'm headed out to visit some of my favorite people and be the guest instead of the hostess.  It's like the best karma trip ever.

You can find this by contacting Nikki directly through her website...

If you mention Juggsy or JuggsBunny, she'll autograph it for you.  :0))

I'll be taking some pics of my meanderings through Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, and I'm going to try and blog while in NOLA.

It's amazing how a surprise visit can really lift your spirits.  x0x0

Dragging.

I have got to get over this hot chest mess.  Everything in my house is cray-cray and cluttered.  I'm expecting guests on the 14th, 15th, and 16th, husby comes home on the 19th, I leave for NOLA on the 20th... oh, and husby leaves again on the 21st.  June is spoken for.  And I'm sick - yet don't really have any time to be sick.  GAH.

The scripts that I'm on are really kicking my ass.  I don't do well with codeine - but liquid cough-syrup codeine???  Gross.  And I have to eat something before I take it, or I'll be talking with Ralph on the big white porcelain phone.  And sleeping... I feel like a narcoleptic of sorts.  Gabbing on the phone with a sudden "I'll call you back... in a few hours."

I kind of feel like that right now, actually.  So much for blogging.

Sick.

On Wednesday night the hubs came home sick.  How do I know this?  He stopped at the store on the way home and picked up NyQuil and DayQuil - along with cough drops - for himself.  One of his funny quirks is how he'll pick this stuff up and never give me a hint of a warning.  On Thursday, he worked half a day, and on Friday, was feeling back up to snuff.  Yeah.  My immune system used to be like that when I interacted with other humans on a regular basis.  Hahaha.

Friday night, I started feeling off.  Saturday, it was like my throat was lined with needles.  I *knew* the love of my life was feeling guilty when he offered to take me out to lunch and then I slept for 14 hours straight.  Sunday, the husband left to go New Mexico on a two week business trip.  Trust me, the dog cannot read and is not good with fetching meds.  I dragged myself out early on Sunday morning and picked up all the get-well crap I'd need.  Nothing like blowing a shit-ton of money you don't want to over at your local CVS!!! 

Slept on and off all day Sunday.  All the OTC stuff I picked up didn't work.  Today is Monday and I *knew* I had to get in to see a doc in a box (Urgent Care) - but good luck with that if you're too fucked up sick (fever of 102+) to drive.  No taxi service to be found.  Shuttle service to the aiport would've taken me the 8 miles to the doctor - for the kindly fee of $83.  Fuck.  That.  I finally had an epiphany... call my doctor/pharmacy in NOLA and get a script.  They managed (from their end) to call it in to some local pharmacy that delivers (for $10 extra).  Antibiotics.  Cough syrup with codeine - which made me have to eat something or I would've been praying to the toilet god.  I took the doses that a good girl should, and slept for another 4 hours.  However, I don't feel like a gorilla is sitting on my chest and the crap that I'm hacking up is not tinged with blood.  Winning!!

The worst feeling in the world???  Knowing that there's not one person in less than 250 miles of you that can actually help.  Fuck YOLO in my life... there's only YOYO - You're On Your Own. 

This is not an adventure.  This is my life.  Let's give a big ol' Kermit Wave that I'm surviving!!  Better yet, wonder if Life Alert is available at any age...

Not Giving A Fuck. And... Giving A Fuck.

There are certain things that I have just quit caring about.  I don't think that I really gave too much of a fuck to begin with (it's in my nature), but some things in life just are not worth worrying about.  At this point, I just don't want to be bothered with:

• How some people feel.  Too bad, so sad.  Go find someone to shrink your head.  I'm not it.
• How some people attempt to make me feel.  Quit.  Go guilt some other person.  Go away.
• Behaving much like an adult.  Being the grown-up in a situation sucks. 
• Having to keep my atomic pie-hole shut.  Because that's what the adults do.  See???
• Being baited.
• Not putting people in the middle of shit.  Leaving things alone.
• Gamma*, don't go away mad.  Gamma*, just go away.

Now, here are the things that I do care very much about.  And some of the things that I care about might be a bit materialistic, but it is what it is.  :0))

• My friends.  J, C, CLV, AS, CS, KLD, JS, JB, LF, and (Mom)RL... thank you all for being there for me continuously.  Even though everyone is weathering their own storms at times, I have never hesitated to pick up the phone and call any of you.  And vice-versa.  Most of you have been there for me since before I graduated high school (some have come along in recent years), but even over a span of time, I can pick up the phone and call... and you're there. 
• My derby family.  From Shreveport, to New Orleans, and now in Florida... all of you are truly amazing and brilliant women.  Polly and Shootzie (Shreveport) - it was so good to see you both and hang out for a couple of nights.  Minute Maid, Holly, Darko, Marie LaFreaux, Strangler, and Amity... you made me part of the NOLA derby scene and I miss you all.  Can't wait to go back and see you bull run!!!
• Awesome friends and neighbors, S&L, who were gracious and wonderful to all the friends I introduced to the NOLA way of life... and who made sure we were there for Christmas Eve, NYE, and all the crawfish boils... working out doggie day care and helping out with letting me crash over there when our AC went out one weekend (and letting me stay while I finished up with our house).  L&N live in our old house and I can't wait to see them, either.  L is one of the sweetest people I've ever met and I'm so proud and happy to be her friend.
• Choggie.  I love her so much and she's the sweetest, most loveable pup-dog ever.  I'm thankful for every day that she's with us (she's 12 and has had some health problems as of late) and I make sure that I do something for her every single day that makes her happy.  Note:  I can't catch a squirrel, so that's out.  But chew-eez and belly rubs and walks are not.  :0))
• My husband.  Everyone who knows who we are understands.  Nothing more to be said - except I love him more than anything.
• The opportunities that will be happening over the next year.  Travel to interesting places across the United States, Europe, and Japan.  Possibly some road trips to see extended family and friends who live nearby and further away.  Looking forward to catching up with Nikki Talley and Jason Sharp... two of my favorite musicians (they're touring now - Google!!).
• Having people come to visit me.  :0))  This makes me really, really dangerously happy.  I enjoy company and introducing them to where I live.  Oh, I get a bit excited, but I don't juggle with butcher knives or anything.  Instead, I use the knives to get appetizers ready, cut veggies, make cheese trays, and sliced fruit prepared.  Wine and beer and sweet malt beverages are chilled, the guest room and bath prepared, and a fun visit is guaranteed. 

I guess that's all for now.  I think I had to vent the bad before I could post the good.  Thanks for reading.  Send comments if you'd like.  x0x0

*Gamma - Google (Urban Dictionary is quite interesting on the subject also).

A List: Stream Of Consciousness.

Just some of my thoughts this morning (I'm not a morning person) - some of these are just utterly random, others more specific, but none are really lingering:

• Why did I opt to take the Vee Dubs in so damned early for her checkup appointment?
• Wait!!  The dude driving the shuttle van looks like Usher!!  Sounds like Usher!! 
• When did Usher go broke??  Should I call TMZ??  Maybe the local news??
• At home without a car.  I don't like this feeling when I live in the 'burbs.
• The Duggar family are a bunch of savages.  Gag-inducing.
• Christians are being persecuted??  So few lions nowadays.
• Come on, Maury.  You have the most ghetto show on TV now.
• Is Maury worse than that teen knocked-up show on MTV?? 
• That would make a good poll.  Really.  Probably better than the presidential race.
• Chog-Dog wants part of my "healthy breakfast" of leftover pizza.  The drool!!
• One of my friends is joking about my being **dangerous** on FB.
• I'm to the point where I just laugh at where this statement originated.  If there's one thing I'll remember, it'll be just how over-the-top drama Gamma boy can be.  No longer my problem!!
• And I picture myself on the Muppet Show. 
• What kind of conversion plugs do they use in Japan??
• Should I do laundry now or later??  The husby leaves on Sunday.  Later, then.
• How long will it take to break in my white Chucks??  Too white!!
• I can't wait for my Mac (iMac Daddy) to be back home.
• Where is my package tracking number?? 
• Wedding in DC.  Dress.  Get jewelry cleaned.
• I HAVE NO SALON HERE.  Fuck.
• Iron Man is my favorite Avenger.  He drives my dream Audi.
• He can keep the suit.  I'll keep the car.
• I can't find my baby potted Groot.  I can't find all the funky stuff that belongs on my desk.
• B picked me up the first Groot comic yesterday.
• Time to step away from this and try and be productive.

...which means, take a nap until the Volkswagen Service Department calls and sends Usher to pick me up.  Which sounds so racy.  But, it really isn't.

ZOMG. Overseas!!!

Short but sweet:

Just found out this afternoon that two (if not more) business trips that my husband will be going on this fall are to bases overseas!!!  :)  Visits to Japan and Germany are in my future.  I'm so excited!!!  It'll be so nice to go back to Europe and to expand my world travels to the Far East.

Lots to look forward to.  I'm spoiled and stupidly excited.

This (almost) makes up for the husband giving me his most recent acquisition - a head cold and sinus infection.  ;)

On My Own.

This is definitely not a *pity party*, so don't mistake it for one.  I was simply looking at my husby's work calendar and it looks like he'll be home for a grand total of 31 days out of the next 90 (and that includes the 4 days that we'll be flying to DC for a wedding in July).  It's not me that I'm worried about - it's him.  Speaking from experience, it utterly sucks to have to live in hotels for 2 - 3 weeks on end, although I will concede that the housekeeping and room services are nice. 

Previous to moving here (and while getting settled in), I was looking forward to inviting friends from different areas of the country to come and spend some time with me while the husband was gone, you know, just to have company and enjoy the beautiful beaches (and delicious seafood, shopping, and amenities).  Now??  Only a handful of people have made the invite list thanks to a "real" eye-opening experience during my move.  There's really only a small handful of friends I want to entertain (CR, JL, LF, S&L, L&N)... and after I make my solid schedules with them, I will be traveling instead of being the hostess. 

In June, I'll be heading back to New Orleans for a long weekend.  I'm so excited to go - I can't wait to see my friends and do the "front porching" thang!!  Since L&N moved into our old house, I can stay there also, if I want to.  There's a list of restaurants that I want to go to and I'm looking forward to seeing some of my favorite co-workers.  I love NOLA!!  :D

Hopefully, on my way home, I can stop and see another bestie - and we can hang out in Gulfport for a night or two.  I'm looking forward to firming plans up and grabbing some Franzia and room service.  Lounging by the pool on the top of the hotel would be cool - seeing the ocean as we swim.  Laughing and having a good time and not having a worry in the world. 

In July, we'll be attending my niece's wedding in DC.  She's actually getting married in Chevy Chase, MD (which makes me laugh - considering how much I love the "National Lampoon's Vacation" movies.  It's going to be a quick jaunt, but we should be able to throw in a little sightseeing.  I'd like to go to the Smithsonian - but with the time constraints??  I should probably lower my expectations.

Since husby is gone for most of the month of August, I may go to New England.  I'll probably skip most of Massachusetts (except to stop and see JL and two of my favorite cousins) and then head straight to Maine.  I don't want to run into anyone - considering how dangerous I can be!!!  ;)

Those are my plans for now... of course, things are subject to change.  I'm On My Own for a little while, but I'm going to take advantage of that and check off a bunch of stuff on my list.  Arizona and California are on the short list also... just depends on how much time I do have and what the flight prices look like. 

Compared to what March, April, and May looked like... summer is gleaming like a gem!! 

Adjustments and Adulting

Things are finally pretty calm here after the horrible move and all the drama that ensued during it.  Our temporary house is as furnished and put together as well as can be expected.  Our physical space has been  downsized quite a bit and we're still finding this home quite a bit smaller than what we'd like.  Don't get me wrong, I love the cathedral ceilings and sunken living room, but the kitchen is a lot smaller than I'm used to and the husby feels a tad bit claustrophobic in his office.  So, after a productive conversation this evening, we've made a new list of needs for the (new) semi-permanent house that we will soon start actively looking for.  And our dream list??  Here:

• Three bedrooms (four if we don't have a separate family room (we want a dedicated guest bedroom).
• Two baths (an additional half-bath would be desirable, but not necessary).
• Larger kitchen (I'd like to have an island or a bar for guests to sit at).
• Hardwoods or laminate throughout (we're willing to rip out carpets and install new flooring).
• New tile for the bathroom (I'm eyeing some slate...  delicious!!).
• Soaking tub/garden tub for moi.
• Full paint job - using some of the colors I love (husby agreed).
• Garage.
• Screened in attached porch (AKA "Florida Room").
• Living closer to the beach.

I think I found an excellent realtor and our budget is pretty large (I'm still pushing for the in-ground pool, though - just because I'd love to have one) - so I'm sure we'll have a lot to choose from.  Besides, compared to New Orleans, property here is seriously cheap.  

Husby's schedule is crazy...  he's gone for two weeks in June, comes home for two days, then does his week-long reserve duty in Missouri.  He'll have two weeks home and then we fly up to DC for a four day weekend (one of my favorite nieces is getting married.... squeeeeeeee!!).  After that, two weeks at home and then B heads out again for another three weeks.  Anyone have any non-crafty hobby suggestions???  Derby season will be pretty much wrapping up after that, so I need to find something to occupy some of my free time!!!

I am planning on having company come in from Massachusetts, California, and Louisiana while B is away (importing friends again... 10 shades of North Carolina - ugh) - but if you want to visit, shoot me a PM if we're friends on FB or email me at findingjuggsy[at]gmail.com.  I love to entertain!!!  :0))  I promise I'm not "dangerous" or anything... hahahahaha!!

Sleepy. Decisions.

I'm tired.  As in sleepy.  :D  This is a good thing.  I think I'll take a hint from the dog and just go back to bed.  I've had too much on my mind this morning.  Nothing major... I just feel like I'm being cluttered by words.  And I have no desire to listen to any more words.  Silence for a little while is perfectly fine.  As am I.

Sometimes words are not the answer.  Behavior can be more indicative.  Chog can't speak, but I certainly understand her. 

When I get up from my nap, I'm going to make a list of pros and cons.  Once I see what I've written [decluttered], I'll make my decision.  Calmly and decisively.  I'm in a good place right now to do what may need to be done. 

Now... off to nap.

Gaps. Reset.

I'm back.  I've re-opened my blog to the (probably very, very, very small) public who may read this... and if you were a regular reader, you'll probably notice some very big gaps between dates.

Those posts have been reverted back to drafts.  I'm keeping them (for my own personal journal) and to remind me of certain things.  So, apologies if you're missing those entries.  They simply evoked very negative feelings and that's not what I want to look at.  This is supposed to be about me - nothing more and nothing less.

So, I'm going to reset myself.  Oh, yes, I am.  And guess what??  It started this very morning.  There was a jabby little post (which could've made me feel downright stabbity) and I just looked at it, did a mental shrug, and didn't even bother.  Then, I talked to a friend, packed up my gear, went to the gym, and then over to the beach.  While there, the dark storm clouds moved in and I simply got up and went to the car.  Finished my errands (post office, bank, store, get the Vee-Dubs some gas) and now I'm home. 

From now on, I'm staying away from the storms.  I'll watch them from a distance, but that will be it. 

Not to say that there won't be some sort of rant from time to time.  But I've got a ton of stuff on my list that I'd like to do - and being in abject misery isn't going to make any of that happen.  So piss off, negativity. 

Mellowing In Progress.

I'm quite sure that I'm moving towards a far happier existence.  Today is the day that all of the boxes have been EMPTIED!!!!  Art once again decorates the walls.  I can see the top of my desk!!!  Went and spent some money on some little things for the house.  New lamps, some comfy throws, and pillows.  I'm hoping to have everything done (house-wise) and have my initial insurance claim paperwork filled out before I leave tomorrow.

Unfortunately, the road trip I'm taking tomorrow isn't for pleasure.  It's to deal with a tenant, find a decent property management company, and deal with contractors (in order to fix any issues the tenants may have left).  I'm quite sure that I'm going to have to replace carpet in three bedrooms, get a commercial cleaning crew in there, and paint some (if not all) of the rooms.  Luckily, the property management companies that I'm looking at all have realtors - so if a tenant wants to buy the house after living in it, we will apply some of the rent toward the down payment.  I'm just not really wanting to do this - but it's better to get it over with and move along.

There are still some unresolved issues that have been circling around in this putrid little brain of mine.  I can't leave it hanging forever - even though part of me is still uneasy with certain aspects of behavior exhibited.  Some of it I believe is par for the course and that I should accept it for what it is - the other more cynical part believes that I could get burned.  Maybe 10 hours on the road will help me come to a decision.  For a good portion of this year, I didn't even feel like I was dealing with the same person.

As for me??  I'm getting back to myself.  Then again, as I told everyone who would pay attention and listen... moving makes me fucking crazy.  I was sure to warn people when I was in a bad mood and the only time I think that writing context can be misconstrued is when the person writing the note, message, email, PM, or IM deliberately makes it so.  This, I've learned first hand. 

Now, it's neither here nor there.  I'm not stressing out about anything this afternoon - I have a ton of errands to run and then I'm going to figure out dinner.  Rotisserie chicken and salad will probably be on the menu.  As long as I get all the chicken skin, I'm good.