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