There's nothing better..

Well, very few things are better than hearing your mortgage pre-approval person say,

"Honey, y'all can pretty much buy whatever you want. Your credit scores put y'all in the top 5% in the nation. For your ages, y'all should be very, very proud."

*big, huge sigh* That was out last hurdle... you just never know for sure until you hear it from a professional.

For lack of a better word...

For the first time in my adult life, I actually give a shit about what interest rates are. I care about the Fed meeting in hopes they're going to cut them. Unfortunately, they're not meeting and rates aren't going down. Can you tell I'm in home-buying mode? The only trouble is that I'm ready to sign my life away, but my better half is having a hard time taking the leap to being a grown up and spending the money to actually have a house of our own. I'm being patient, dammit.

It is a huge responsibility- I get it. So is the rest of my life. It's daily and you get used to it and I bet I'll only get nauseaus once a month when I have to pay the bank that ENORMOUS sum of money. If'n.

Last night, I spent the better part of an hour with the Rangers game on mute (since we LOST) buying songs off iTunes. Here's what I bought. It's ok to admit you dig my tunes. I'm also looking for more suggestions- please and thank you.

• Sail On - The Commodores
• Drinkin' My Baby (Off My Mind) - Eddie Rabbitt (off the album "Great Divorce Songs for Men)
• Kentucky Rain - The King
• Something in the Way She Moves - James Taylor (not the Beatles song)
• Country Road - James Taylor
• And So it Goes - Billy Joel
• She's Got a Way - Billy Joel
• Oh Girl - The Chi-Lites
• Operator (That's Not the Way it Feels) - Jim Croce
• With a Little Help From My Friends - Joe Cocker

Today I'm wearing a "maxi dress", which to me is pretty damn close to a mumu, but it's considered fashionable. I've gotten several compliments already, but it's probably just because they're glad I'm finally wearing something different.

For the third time this week, I've brought my lunch. Twice it's been in a cooler packed with a pb&j sandwich, carrot sticks (with ranch), apple slices and cheese cubes. It's better than fast food, which I'm very tired of. Go me!

I have a doctor's appointment in the morning, so chances are I'll only have to work half a day. Woo-woo! It's practically Friday, bitches. (And Kathy Griffin is on tonight! Speaking of, I made C watch Tori and Dean with me and I'm convinced he's hooked. I had to fill him on the backstory for everything. Next thing you know, he's going to be watching it at his house by himself. ha!)

She's got a way about her
I don't know what it is
But I know that I can't live without her
She's got a way of pleasin'
I don't know why it is
But there doesn't have to be a reason anyway

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........

If I was more Heather and less Sara, I would totally make the run to Dallas for Bingham tonight.

Who am I kidding though? I'll be asleep by 9:30.

So...

I'm still here. There's so much going on, but really nothing to talk about for fear of jinxing things.

• Galveston was great and I have pictures which I'll upload just as soon as I'm home long enough.
• I love short weeks, but damn if they don't end up feeling longer than a regular one.
• Thanks to those of you who sent me birthday wishes. It didn't feel any different than a normal day, especially since I drove over four hours home. But, I'm 28 now and all grown up.... if you only knew.
• I'm considering taking some classes at a local junior college. Maybe they'll get me closer to living my dream.
• Brandon Rhyder had a baby girl yesterday... I can't wait to meet her. Hell, at this point, I'd just love to go to any show. For you DFW people this weekend, Radney Foster is at the Horseman Friday night. Color me JEALOUS.
• My life is a snore. Which now that I mention it, a nap doesn't sound to bad right now.

I am very much looking forward to:




It premiers tonight at 8pm on Bravo. Yippee!!!

Yes, I'm a tv dork.

New year, new look

• There's nothing better than a little change. Don't you agree?
• This evening, C and I are driving to Galveston for the weekend. It's not as good as Mexico, but it's as close as we're going to get this weekend. I know it's a dirty beach, but the hotel has a great pool.
• I feel sorry for the people who will have to see me in a swim suit this weekend. I apologizein advance.
• I received my first gift this morning from a co-worker. Lunch is at noon. Yay!
• My drivers license expires Sunday. I could renew online, but Lord I need a new picture. Does anyone remember me having long hair? Yeah, it was awful.
• Did I tell you I made C a ringtone of a donkey braying ? He thinks that's the best sound in the world - well, maybe not the best, but it makes me laugh everytime he hears one. I have it set as his ringer when he calls me, which prompts me to answer the phone "Hello, Don-key!"
• We're looking at two houses on Monday- with an actual realtor. Yippee!!!!
• Oh, and I'm taking Monday off. I don't have any reason why, pretty much just because I can.
• Happy Graduation, Little Sarah. I promise I'm going to get something wonderful in the mail to you. Or maybe money, which is also wonderful.
• TGIF, internet.
  

Food for thought.

I was listening to an interview this morning with this guy and the interviewer asked him about "chocolate cake and four letter words". This is what he said- as repeated by me.

Think about a Ho-Ho and a piece of chocolate cake. They're both chocolate, but the Ho-Ho is light and fluffy but lacking much substance. It's filled with artificial things that offer no nutritional value.

Now think about a piece of chocolate cake.

It's rich and thick and full of goodness. It's got real ingredients- things with substance.

I think that's how a person's life should be- like chocolate cake. Sure, Ho-Ho's are a great snack, but if you really want something to remember- it's always the cake. Thick and rich and wonderful.

Chew on that. I did... and it was good.

Four more days, people.

We each have a birthday, one time every year
Sometimes they are happy, and sometimes there are tears

But the best I can remember, the best of them I know
Tre the ones that I remember, full of cake, love and bows

-Donna Childree Gotlib

Mere days til I'm 28. Time is flying. Things are changing. I want to put on the brakes yet speed up all at the same time. I could say that it's no big deal- it's just a day like all the rest- but that would be a lie. I love my birthday. I love being celebrated for one single day every year. And this 28th year of my life promises to be the best yet... let's hope the follow through does not disappoint.


Note: Click on the image for a link to where I stole it.

My funny Gemini...

I think today's horoscope applies to everyday for every person.

Gemini (5/21-6/21)
Focusing on what is holding you back or what is missing is not going to get you anywhere! Right now, you need to forget about the things you don't like about your life -- because the more you think about them, the more power you are giving them. So today, put a smile on your face and be confident. And if you can't feel confident, then fake it until you do! If you can convince yourself of your value, then other people will be convinced of it, too -- and things will start changing.

Another notch

Can I just say that the end of the Grey's Anatomy season finale was freakin' perfect? Yes, I cried. McDreamy damn well better come back to her.

Discuss.

I hope it's not genetic.

So, I've been very open about how wonderful my mother is and how much I love her. She truly is an amazing woman and the best mother I could have ever asked for.

That being said- the woman is driving me insane.

Let me explain. I've been on her car insurance since I got my first car. And she's paid it. Yeah, yeah, I know I'm spoiled. Whatever. When I bought my new car, I told her I was going to get my own insurance. That was when- in February? So, she kindly paid the interim fee to extend my coverage to the end of her policy, which is May 26. Since then, every couple of weeks, I've been asked, "Are you thinking about insurance?" "Have you looked into insurance yet?" I blew it off by saying that I was getting estimates and that I would take care of it before the end of the policy. The past month, the nagging has really increased- to every phone call. I've told her repeatedly and very calmly that I'm going to take care of it. Last night, I had all I could take.

Yesterday, was our annual physical inventory at work. It's no secret that our monthly inventory is my most stressful day of the month- and only 1/3 of the part numbers are counted. For the annual inventory, every single part in the plant is counted. Production was shut down, lunch was brought in- it was a big damn deal. I left my house about 7:20 yesterday morning and got home about 7:50 last night. From 1:30pm on, it was hell. I literally had the weight of the plant on my shoulders because everyone was waiting on ME to finish. No one could leave. There was a lot of pacing and sweat. My face got very red and my blood pressure was very high, I'm sure. Regardless, I was tired to say the least.

Hers was one of the many calls I didn't answer yesterday, so on my drive home, I called her back to see what "things she had to tell me". As soon as the usual niceities were over, here it came. "So, I guess you finalized your insurance the other day?" I just had to be honest and say, "Actually, no, I keep forgetting, but I'm going to take care of it before the 26th. " "SAAAARRRRRRAAAAAAAAA! This is IMPORTANT! THE 26TH IS MONDAY AND IT'S A HOLIDAY! I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS ISN'T DONE YET!"

I responded not so calmy by yelling, "I'M GOING TO TAKE CARE OF IT TONIGHT. AS SOON AS I GET HOME, I'M GOING TO DO IT. PLEASE DO NOT NAG ME ON TODAY OF ALL DAYS!"

That went over like a lead balloon, but I did what I said I was going to do and took care of it last night. C actually added me to his policy, so it's going to cost me half what insurance on my own would cost. Yay!

The icing on the cake came this morning. She calls me at work to inform me that she's going to be paying her insurance bill in full. She didn't want to bother me about it any more, so she's just going to pay it. What? Did I miss something? Did I stutter when I YELLED that I would be handling it last night? So, I calmy told her that I did, in fact, handle it last night. I was insured. She was speechless, I think. Finally.

After another call to make sure I told Toyota Credit about my new insurance and my world is at peace, once again. I may not have peace with my mother, since I'm an ungrately, spoiled, bitch of a daughter - my words, not hers - but at least the insurance topic is OFF the table.

Praise the Lord and pass the gravy. Y'all have a good, long weekend now- ya hear?

It’s Memorial Day in America
Everybody’s on the road
Let’s remember our fallen heroes
Y’all be sure and drive slow

Snack for thought...

Blind spots in your life don't have to be forever. You can break out of the pathological, limiting orbit defined by your past. You just have to turn in the direction of your pain and keep your eyes wide open.

- from Living the Truth

Class of 1998

Word on the street is that one of my high school classmates is considering planning a ten year reunion for our graduating class this fall. My first thought is that I can't believe it's been ten years since high school and my second thought is that I can't believe it's ONLY been ten years.

I've been randomly thinking of people I graduated with- many of which I also started kindergarten with. Things like that happen a lot in small towns, I think. Anyway, I have so much useless knowledge running around in my head that I can remember several birthday- without even thinking twice.

Ben's is May 6th
Amanda's is April 12th
Cristal's is October 12th
Holly's is September 29th
Ashley's is October 28th (so is Tiffany's, who is also Ben's wife)
Taylor's is September 1st
Megan's is September 21st
Traci's is September 10th
Mark and David's are both in June sometime, like mine

I have a hard time remembering new friend's birthdays and I struggle to tell you when babies are born. But these dates are burned into my memory, forever I guess. My mom chides me about keeping up with people I graduated with, and honestly, I've seen everyone I care about seeing. Well, there are a couple I'd like to visit, but one their wife doesn't like me and the other- well, I just haven't made it by the Super Walmart pharmacy counter to visit with her. Although, I would like to see Cristal and her handsome son.

So, I don't know if I'll partake in a ten year reunion or not. I probably will. And everyone will talk about everyone else behind their back. Everyone will talk about how cute each other's children are. Everyone will talk about what they've done in the last ten years- much will consist of getting married and having babies. No one will talk about the bad parts, like divorce or not passing the teaching exit test multiple times. Oh, that's a good one-- I wonder how many of them are teachers now! We'll take a picture and promise not to wait another ten years to get together. But that's a lie and we all know it.

I'm excited just thinking about it. Not.

Food for Thought

Maybe we should be more thankful for our hardships & maybe its good to make things harder on yourself sometimes; it makes things matter more & it feels better once you're finally over whatever obstacle it is that you're facing. Pain is a weird thing. Everyone hates it & complains about it, but could you imagine life without it? Wouldn't it take the meaning out of everything that matters?

Life Lessons

Sweet Heather sent this to me via email, but I think it's too good not to post. Sorry for those of you who also got it via email, I'm just thieving!

This was written By Regina Brett of The Plain Dealer Newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio:

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 70 in August, so here goes:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11 . Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry

13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness, except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29 What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of whom God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative--dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39 Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone Else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.