These Make Me Happy Too....

Hot chocolate with marshmallows....after playing in the snow.

When I go to the circus, the elephants are my favorite thing. They're so big that it kind of freaks me out....in a fun way. Plus, I got to ride one at the Renaissance Festival with Sarah. Super cool.
Pretty new spiral notebooks....(1) Because I like to write and (2) because they're pretty. It's no secret that if they're pink, they're even better.
I had a teakettle like this. I'm not sure where it is....I'm hoping that it's at my mom's in storage. My mom always made tea by brewing it so first she would boil water in a teakettle. This is one of the first things I bought for myself when I finally had my own apartment. I absolutely loved the blue and white tin pattern. Plus it just gives you a comfy feeling to have it sitting on the stove.
My babies' first tooth.....I remember when Max got his first tooth. We were driving to Dallas, he was about 6 months old and I sat in back with him because he was fussy. I felt in his mouth and sure enough....he had cut a tooth on the drive down! I got out a flashlight to look at while we were driving. :)
My ballerina jewelry box. I loved it. Of course it was pink (duh!) and it played music when it opened and the ballerina popped up. When Charlie was little and fussy, I would bring out the jewelry box and play the music for him. I was so sad when the little ballerina broke off.

Things That Make Me Happy

Holding your head sideways to eat a taco.....I love Taco Tuesdays with my man. (Also In-A-Tub, which would be the number one thing I would miss about Kansas City - other than the Plaza - if we move)

Sunlight reflected off a lake.....always reminds me of mornings at Lake Viking.
Sweet fresh corn-on-the-cob....slathered in butter and seasoned with salt and pepper.
The feel of a plushy rug under my bare feet....
Seeing the moon rise....

The Lost Post

Today is Fat Tuesday....tomorrow is Lent. For the last couple of years, I've simply blown off this particular season. Partially because I didn't want to deal with Rich's scorn and partially because I was just too slovenly to give anything up.

But now that I've gone to a real church....Village Presbyterian...a couple of times and I have such a contented feeling afterwards, I think it's time to get back to some spiritual practices. Lent. And the giving up of something. I reached into the pocket of my sweater this morning and there was a Butterfinger. I considered it a sign. Soooooo.....I enjoyed it and tomorrow - NO MORE CANDY. At least until Easter.

In addition, the minister mentioned that during Lent you don't have to give something up. You can add something of value instead. So, in the spirit of making up for lost time, I will do both. Give up and add. Give up candy. Add working out daily. This will be tough but I know I can do it. With the help of my Friend, I'll get there. Sorry for all the lost time, my Friend. I'm back in your court.

FUNNY dream!

Had to write this one down.....Rich wants to analyze it. hahahaha

I dreamed I was living in a house with big picture windows. Max was getting ready for his 17th birthday party and evidently we had turned into money bags because Rich told me money was no object. Jim Gamble was in the party planning business and we decided to take 17 kids and Max to Phuket for his birthday. Dave Harris was going to provide the entertainment at the party and I was really worried about being on a tropical island with him.

After we had clarified the details of the party and Jim had left, I was trying to get ready to take a shower. Jim knocked on the door and I had to grab a big white sheet to put around me so he wouldn't see me naked. He said I needed to put an $800 deposit down for Dave. I was worried about the money and told him I needed to check with Rich to see which account I should write the check out of.

I went upstairs and it was a huge dress shop with lots of ethnic women shopping: Asians and black women. Rich (who bore no resemblance to my Rich) was in the back on stilts as a publicity stunt for the store. I told him to come down off the stilts so I could talk to him and he had to undo some duct tape which was holding him on the stilts. He reiterated that money was no issue and to cut the check to Jim.

(I then briefly woke up when Rich left for work so I deliberately tried to hold on to the dream. That normally doesn't work but this time it did!)

Then Debbie showed up in a Lincoln Navigator (or some big SUV like that) to pick Rich and I up. Ted was in the very back and Marsha Frear was in the middle. Rich climbed in next to Marsha and I sat in the passenger seat next to Debbie. Debbie was REALLY mad at Ted and every time he said something, she said "Shut Up! I HATE YOU!" It was hilarious. She then went on to say she had been throwing up all night long, she was really dehydrated and she didn't have any water. Then she stopped at a Dairy Queen to get herself a blizzard. She was eating the ice cream so fast that ice cream was flying off the spoon and onto the windshield where it made a big, blurry mess. Also there were tons of people in the street (like a street carnival or something) and Debbie hit some lady....not hard but the lady was like "WTF?" Marsha kept laughing and Rich was asleep. I kept trying to hit Rich's leg but I couldn't reach it. I wanted him to wake up so he could hear how badly she was treating Ted. Debbie then told me that she kept passing out every 8 seconds. I was so concerned about her driving that I offered to drive and she wouldn't let me. Marsha then remembered that Debbie had said that she didn't have any water and that REALLY cracked her up. The fact that Marsha was laughing at her pissed Debbie off even further and she made a sharp 90 degree turn into a gas station to pick up water.

It was such a funny dream that I'm surprised I didn't laugh out loud!

I'm A Player

When it comes to churches, I am the runaway bride. I'm not committing. That's why I'm so pleased with my plan for 2011. Five different options......nothing becomes too heavy. Rime Temple, Mercy Church, North Heartland, Village Presbyterian and the movies. (yes, the movies)

Every time you commit to a church, it gets to be too much. People breathing down your throat to join small groups or volunteer your time or give more money. It becomes something other than just my faith in God. It becomes a pain in the ass. I don't want someone holding me accountable for my faith. That's between me and God. Plus, I'm not evangelical....that's for sure. I could care less if people go to church. I only care about what I do.

I do think people are important. I just want the option of spending time with people IF I WANT TO. Not because I'm supposed to.

So far my little rotation of churches (and movies) is working just fine. And that's what's important.

"An abrasive person can come at you in the worst possible way with a valid point. Accept that you don’t deserve the excessive emotions in someone’s tone, but weigh their ideas with a willingness to learn. Some of the most useful lessons I’ve learned came from people I wished weren’t right. "

I don't deserve to be called a dumb shit...I don't. I'm one of the smartest chicks around. BUT, perhaps Rich has a point, even if he went about saying it the wrong way. If people don't understand my humor, I run the risk of ostracizing them. I always give the kids the same words of wisdom...."don't post anything on Facebook that you wouldn't stand up and say on a stage in front of all your FB friends". I personally don't think anyone should be offended that I joke about Texas but if they are, I always feel bad when I've hurt someone's feelings. I went back in to FB and added a subtitle so as not to offend. I also untagged Rich in all the photos.

I still have to process why Rich is getting so mad about stuff. Perhaps he is stressed about not getting enough business. Or perhaps he just hates me. That's what I mean when I say I need to process.

I hate feeling like crap. I hate being called names. My humor is NOT at the expense of others; I'm funny - period. Amen. Rich pokes fun at people who love Jesus, he uses the word "nigger".....WTF. When he reads this, I'm afraid he'll just get mad again but I need a place to type it out so I can understand my feelings. I think I'll quit joking with him for awhile. He doesn't like to be teased; he doesn't appreciate my tongue-in-cheek witticisms.

Having a yelling contest with your spouse is a sucky way to start the new year so I'm not going to think about it anymore. I'm going to concentrate on just me....and how I'm going to make 2011 one of my best years EVER. I would love to have Rich beside me for this ride but only Rich can decide to enjoy it with me. I can't make him do anything.