Day Four: Our Fancy Day!

Today's prompt is "Your favorite picture of your best friend."  

Here's a little background on us.  Ricky & I met in high school & have been "in love" ever since.  He has this picture on Facebook with a caption that reads:  The wife & I after seeing Chicago.  After high school Ricky went into the military, so we've spent more time apart than together, but we've always stayed in touch & when he came home it was like he never left..

Ricky did a tour of duty in Iraq.  When he came home we planned a "fancy day" to celebrate.  As you all know, I love trashy TV.  At the time the fancy day was being planned, Ricky found out that Jerry Springer was performing in the musical Chicago, & the show was coming Philly!

We got all dressed up & left in the late morning to head for the city.  On the way we had a sing along that included everything from Josh Groban to Korean pop hits (he spent most of his time in the service in Korea).  We got there early enough to grab cheese steaks from the Reading Terminal Market & have a park bench picnic.

We saw the matinee showing of Chicago, which was full of old ladies who loved the theater & frat guys who love Jerry Springer.  The show was fantastic!  Jerry Springer is not a good singer, but he's definitely a great performer.

After the show we walked around the city a little bit, & then had dinner & drinks at Hard Rock before heading home for the evening.

When we go out together, we sometimes wonder what impression others get when they see us.  Do they realize we're friends?  Do they think we're married?  Or do they just think we're crazy people calling each other "wifey" & "hubby?"

It's probably the latter, right?  Yeah, I thought so.  Oh well, at least we have a good time!

Day 3 - We're a little unorthodox

Today is supposed to be about my idea of a perfect first date.  The truth is, I don't have an answer to that question.  I never thought about it, & I don't intend to.  Sorry.

Instead, I'm going to make this post about my first "date" with DJ.

You may or may not know that DJ & I were introduced by his sister, Jenn @ South of Sheridan.  And by introduced, I don't mean in a "I'd like you to meet my brother because I think you have a lot in common way."  It was more like, "You're at my house.  He's at my house.  Now you've met."

For a while, I only ever saw DJ when I was with Jenn & her hubby Ben.  But after a while we started emailing each other, which lead to phone calls.  Then one day I invited myself over to his place for dinner, which I agreed to pick up since it was rude of me to invite myself over.

We had DiGiorno pizza & watched Gray's Anatomy.  Then, Jenn came over.  Turns out, a family friend was in the hospital.  Their mom had gone to visit, & ended up on the way to Delaware.  So, Jenn & Ben had to go on a search & rescue mission - & DJ needed to keep his little sister Michelle.

So little Michelle crashed the date, but I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Day 2 - Dinner at lunch time.

I work 2nd shift, so I (intend to) cook our main meal before I go to work everyday.  I'll be honest, that sometimes doesn't happen.  Because the longer I work 2nd shift, the later & stay up at night.  And the later I stay up, the later I sleep in.

(eg, I work 3-11 pm & sleep 3-11 am)

That would be fine, except I do love to lounge on the sofa & watch Mary Povich in the morning, so that really gets in the way of me cooking before work.

Today wasn't one of those days.  I had things to do.  We need to buy a dryer.  We didn't have room for a dryer in our old house, & we just haven't bought one since we moved into the bigger house.  It's no problem when the weather is nice because I hang it outside to dry.  But yesterday it rained all day, so it was off to the laundromat this morning.

While the clothes were drying, I went to the grocery store.  Along with the regular groceries we needed, I picked up something quick & easy for dinner:  "Swedish meatballs."



Image from Google...because Blogger is being an A-Hole.

I admit I totally cheated with this one.  I used pre-made meatballs, egg noodles & cream of mushroom soup.  But who cares?  It was yummy!

Day 1 - And we're off!

Day 1 of the 30 day MEme.  The first topic is a photo of me & description of my day - & there is a lot to say about today!  Here goes...

I'll be honest with you, since it's just us girls:  lately, I am in no state to be photographed.  I am lookin' all kinds of rough.  I have been dying my hair dark for a while, but I decided it was time for a change.  In the interest of preventing my hair from turning to complete straw, I decided to go back to my natural color.  That's all well & good, but my natural color is much lighter - and I'm too busy lazy to schedule regular haircuts.  So right now, I'm frizzy & two-tone & I wouldn't do that to you lovelies.

But, I'll play fair.  Here's a fun picture of (one of) my MEme buddy/cousin/partner in crime Jill from Hey Barbie & I from back when I wasn't so...how can I put this?  Tore up from the floor up?

Which brings me to my day.  Jill, Jenn of South of Sheridan & I went out to do some errands  First was the dollar store for Halloween party supplies for my PopPop's birthday shindig being held at my house in a few weeks.  After that, Walmart for some miscellaneous things.  A new TV was at the top of the list, because ours is taking a shit.

Nothing major, right?  Except for the downpour that occurred when we were trying to unload the electric wheelchair & the ratchet straps that got tangled around themselves.  We were soaked when we finally got inside.  But it made for a great story!

Oh!  I did not accomplish the TV part.  I found one I like, but it wasn't in stock.  When I asked about ordering one, the friendly helpful loser salesperson said, "You can go online at home & do that."

Thanks.

Now thats an award

Lovely Lisa, the Sarcastic Lab Rat herself, gave me this awesome blog award.




LOVE IT!

And since it's my duty to pass it on, I'm giving it to my smart/funny/all around awesome friend Steph, who recently decided to come back to Bloggyland to play with us.

You're going to love her blog - so please stop by & become a follower!

The not so happy hostess!

DJ has a houseful of stinky boys over to play a Warhammer, a table top strategy game they all love.  While I'm not exactly thrilled about them having their play date on a weekend that I have to work, such is life.  As long as they don't let one of the pets out, I'm ok.

However, one of the stinky boys brought his girlfriend over - & this is creating some issues.

As I'm sure most of you know, I'm an animal love.  My own pets are my babies, & I am as protective as a mama should be.  So imagine my surprise when this woman that I've never met before walks into my house, looks at my dog - the dog who sleeps with me & who I literally have to hold when I come home from anywhere - & says, "There's my girl."

Now, I know better than anyone that I have a tendency to overreact to, well, everything.  So even though the words made my skin crawl, I bit my tongue & decided to be polite.  But it doesn't stop there...

She went on to tell me that when her boyfriend first brought her to the house, he informed her that the dog would just bark all night long.  But she declared in the car that the dog wouldn't bark at here - & then she worked her dog whisperer magic on Ripley that evening.  And guess what?  No barking!

After that Ceasar Milan got more of a run for his money because she starting explaining all kinds of dog behaviors & what great personality traits she has.  And (here's the best part) even started to tell me what my dog is thinking.

It's been a long time since I've been this angry.  I know that most of you will think that this is totally ridiculous, & maybe it is.  But this is my house, these are my pets & I don't need some crazy hippy that I don't even know spouting her wisdom.  

So now I have two choices:  leave an hour early for work & find something to do, or flip the fuck out.

I would love nothing more than to go off the deep end, but I know how hard DJ worked to coordinate this get together with my friends.  And I know that he doesn't get to go out & spend time with them very often because of all the physical help he needs.  So, I'm going to be the nice girlfriend & keep my feelings to myself.

I'm on my way to work.

Happy Friday lovers!

Even though I have to work this weekend, I'm in an unusually good mood today!  Here are a few reasons why:

• DJ & I are going on a weekend away at the beginning of November.  I know it's a long way off, but I'm still excited!  It'll be nice to get away, even just for a few days.
• My cousin is going to do the 30 day blog Meme with me!  Yay!  We start Monday.
• I'm actually going to have something to blog about.  I'm really excited to get back into the swing of things.
• The calendar says it's Fall - even though it's close to 90 today - & I love Fall!!  It's the best season.
• I'm taking the day off from cooking, so I'm going to the store in a few minutes to pick something up for dinner.
• I found some great new blogs this week.  Thanks for the tip, Brittany!

Have a great weekend everyone!

A little more me.

One of my faves, Nicole of Casa de Nicole found a 30 day blog Meme that is more my speed.  It incorporates lots of pictures, which I love!  And to be honest, with my crazy schedule, I don't always have time to devote to intense blogging.

What I am going to do is save the other 30 day list because I really like some of the topics - especially the letter to yourself (I think everyone needs a reminder sometimes).  I think I'll be using some of those for inspiration.

So, this is the winner, & it starts on Monday.  I'm so excited!

 30 Days

Day 1 - A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was.

Day 2 - A photo of something you ate today.

Day 3 - Your idea of the perfect first date.

Day 4 - Your favorite photograph of your best friend.

Day 5 - A photo of yourself two years ago.

Day 6 - A photo of an animal you'd love to keep as a pet.

Day 7 - Your dream wedding.

Day 8 - A song to match your mood.

Day 9 - A photo of the item you last purchased.

Day 10 - A photo of your favorite place to eat.

Day 11 - What's in your makeup bag.

Day 12 - A photograph of the town you live in.

Day 13 - Your favorite musician and why?

Day 14 - A TV show you're currently addicted to.

Day 15 - Something you don't leave the house without.

Day 16 - Your celebrity crush.

Day 17 - A photo of you and your family.

Day 18 - Something you crave a lot.

Day 19 - Another picture of yourself.

Day 20 - The meaning behind your blog name.

Day 21 - A photo of something that makes you happy.

Day 22 - A letter to someone who has hurt you recently.

Day 23 - 15 facts about you.

Day 24 - A photo of something that means a lot to you.

Day 25 - What's in your purse?

Day 26 - A photo of somewhere you've been to.

Day 27 - A picture of you last year and now and how you changed since then?

Day 28 - Your favorite movie.

Day 29 - Something you could never get tired of doing.

Day 30 - A photograph of yourself today + three good things that have happened in the past 30 days.

Wordless Wednesday

Care to join me?

As I'm sure most of you know, I'm been suffering from a bad case of "blogger's block" lately.  It's not that I don't want to blog (& read all of yours too!), but I'm just in a slump.  I think I found the solution!

A few of the lovely ladies I read are doing the 30 Days of Truth.  I've got the complete list, & I'm going to take the journey for myself.  I'm hoping some of you will come with me.  Here's the list of topics:

Day 01 → Something you hate about yourself.
Day 02 → Something you love about yourself.
Day 03 → Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 04 → Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 05 → Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Day 14 → A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15 → Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Day 16 → Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself

What I'd like to do is take a little time to map out what I think I'd like to write about, even though I'm sure it will change along the way.  I was thinking of starting at the beginning of October.  

Would anyone like to join me???

Since its been a while, and you probably forgot about me.

Meet me on Monday is hosted by Java at Never Growing Old.  It's a blog hop/survey/fun way to meet fellow bloggers.


1. What is your favorite all time movie?

The American President with Michael Douglas & Annette Benning.  That is my "drop everything for the next 2 hours" movie.  I can't help but watch it when it's on.



Image from Swagbucks.com




2. How often do you go over the speed limit?

I take a back country road to work, so everyday.  It's terrible, I know.



3. What really gives you the creeps?

I'm a city mouse, who now lives in the country.  It gets so dark at night, & I get really creeped out by that.  If someone was right outside in my yard, I wouldn't be able to see them.  Spooky...





4. What is your favorite snack?





That kind of depends on my mood, but I'm generally a salty snack person.


5. Would you rather be a dog named Killer or a cat named Fluffy?

Fluffy probably has a pretty cushy life, so I'll go with that.

Stick a fork in me, cause Im Sookie Stackhouse

What I mean is, I'm done.  Fed up.  Finished.  Just like Sookie Stackhouse, who I love & felt compelled to give a shout out to.  But enough of my true love of True Blood...

My oldest "friend" was supposed to come over today for dinner. 

You know, the friend who needed me to sit in the ER with her at midnight a few months about because she had an oozing, blistered thing (turned out to be poison) on her foot ?

You know, the friend who's a vegetarian - so special meal planning was required.

Yeah, that friend.  The one who rarely hangs out with me anymore because her new friends are way better.  The one who stopped talking to me regularly because she disapproves of my relationship.  And not for any particular reason, just because she thinks she's better than everyone else.

Sounds like some friend huh?  I know.  But, we've been friends since we were 12; the inseparable kind for the better part of the last 14 years.  So, I've tried to make it work - over & over & over - even though I should have thrown in the towel.

Well, that day has come.

She was supposed to come over for dinner tonight.  I planned & shopped for a totally vegetarian meal.  When I talked to her this morning, we were still on for tonight.  She expected to be here around 6.

Then, shortly after 5, she sent me a text to let me know she would "try" to make it, but was running "way behind" & thought it would be too late after she was finished getting her tattoo.

I am choosing to rise above & just move on...as far as she's concerned.  But that's not going to stop me from venting in Bloggyland.  So here's kiss off to my shitty friend:

Dear M,

Really?  You make plans with me on a day your planning to get a tattoo?  Could you not have just told me that when I asked you to come over?   No.  You couldn't have.  You're incapable of it, because you can't handle confrontation

Why are you getting a tattoo anyway?  You can barely afford to pay your bills because you have a crappy job & you drink too much.  That's your life, & yet you have the audacity to look down your nose at mine? 

I fail to see what you makes you so great.  The fact is, when you get too old for binge drinking & dancing every single weekend to be cool anymore, you'll just be the sad, lonely girl sitting around judging everyone else for their happiness.

Next time you need something, don't count on me.

Goodbye.

Not at all in the mood.

It is a perfectly rainy, gray Sunday here in Pennsylvania.

Football starts today, & this season of True Blood ends tonight.

I have tomorrow off, so naturally it feels like it will never get here.

Oh, yeah - & I work with a bunch of a-holes.

I am not in the mood to go to work today.

Grrr...

Google game

My SIL Jenn played this Google game for PINT recently.  It was too cute, so I decided to give it a try.

If anyone else tries it, I'd love to see what you get!

Type the following in Google Search:
1.  "[name] needs"                            6.  "[ name] eats"                     11.  "[name] does" 
2.  "[name] looks like"                      7.  "[name] has"                       12.  "[name] will" 
3.  "[name] hates"                            8.  "[name] works"                    13.  "[name] is" 
4.  "[name] goes OR has gone"          9.  "[ name] lives"                     14.  "[name] wears"
5.  "[name] loves"                            10.  "[name] died"                     15.  "[name] hears"

1. Renee needs to gain weight. 

2. Renee looks like a crazy person. 

3.  Renee hates coke.

4.  Renee goes rogue.

5.  Renee loves Space Boy Billy Corgan.

6. Renee eats this soup everyday & when she gets hungry.

7.  Renee has inked Las Vegas shopping guides, artist profiles & feature stories for Las Vegas Life & Home Design.

8.  Renee works with the premise that as we ground and center ourselves, our perceptions shift and we see more clearly and sharply

9.  Renee lives with family in Charlotte, NC.

10.  Renee died days after the surgery.

11.  Renee does a better version of the Geico pothole commercial.

12.  Renee will be performing in LA & San Fransisco in early/mid July.

13.  Renee is in love with Go Go Diego Go.

14.  Renee wears the same workout cloths all the time.

15.  Renee hears both what you are saying & what you aren't saying.

I'm not really sure what to say at this point.

There's nothing wrong.

Other than the normal, every day bumps in the road nothing major is bringing me down.  In fact, I'm not even down.

But...I just have nothing to say lately.  Nothing is inspiring me to write.

So in short, I have not abandoned my blog.  And I miss you, my darlings.  Just wanted you to know!

Meet me on Monday

Meet me on Monday is hosted by Java at Never Growing Old.  It's a blog hop/survey/fun way to meet fellow bloggers.

1. Do you wear socks to bed?

Never!!  I don't know why, but I cannot sleep with socks.  Then again, if you remember my post from a few weeks ago, I have an aversion to PJs in general.


2. Do you have any pets?

Funny you should ask.  Showing off my babies is one of my favorite things to do.

3. What topping(s) do you like on your pizza?

I love to try new things as far as pizza goes, but my favorite toppings are none at all.  I love white pizza or plain pizza.  Mmm...


4. What time do you go to bed?

I work second shift & can never sleep as soon as I get home, so I don't normally go to bed until 2-2:30 in the morning.


5. Would you rather get free chocolate for one year or free potatoes forever?

Potatoes.  Hands down.  Think of all the things you can make with potatoes...

Meet Kiki

Shannon at Augmented Gem asked to see pictures of my new baby, & I'm not one to disappoint.

Here she is...

Feeling Flustered

I'll admit, I've only been skimming your posts lately & my comments have been scarce.

Sorry.  I'm just feeling out of sorts lately.

Nothing is wrong, but I just feel like I can't keep my head above water.

I really need to clean (like, really, really clean; not just tidy up), do some laundry & go to the grocery store - but I'm not motivated to do it before or after work.

I have off this weekend, so I'm planning to get back on track.

I'm also planning to go to this really cool hobby/craft store that just opened up in our mall to buy an overabundance of Halloween decorations.  Yay!

Fall is approaching, which makes this girl very, very happy.