Archive for January, 2007

Thoughts of things to come - January 30, 2007 -

Bill’s last official day at his old job is slated for February 23rd. Just a bit more than 3 weeks away! 

That date holds so much promise for me.  Promise of more time together.  The ability to chase the sun along the coast.  Lazy days in the trailer.  Surfing, surfing and more surfing.  Walking down the beach and collecting sand dollars. A break from the monotony of daily life. 

We have been cooped up in the house on and off for weeks now.  I have been sick, non-stop since Christmas.  I just want to feel better and not be so run down and pasty white.   I need the sun and warmth so bad right now it is unreal. 

I am counting down the days until February 23rd.  In the meantime, here are some pics to warm up my whimpy Texas self and all those up North who are ready to see temps above freezing:

 

 

 

 

 

Come on beach time.  I am anxious and ready!

109!! - January 29, 2007 -

In a world full of people placing importance on some of the most ridiculous things, I find is so heartening and such a blessing to see how many people came and left a post for a worthy cause.  I sat here this evening and watched the comments reach 109.  I am floored. 

I have to thank Mary from Owlhaven and Chris from Notes From the Trenches for sending over their amazing readers. Not to mention all the other readers who posted the video today and linked here.  My computer was all, “Ohmanwhereareallthesepeoplecomingfrom?” and I simply got nothing accomplished in my house today as I read comment after comment.

My goal was to donate $300 to the Foundation. I could have just written a check and mailed it, nuff said.  But I also wanted people to come and see the video and learn from it.  So, that is why I pledged per comment.  The video speaks for itself.  If you click on it and watch it, you cannot help but be moved by it and want to:

A) Get your kids in a safe carseat

B) Do something to spread the word

So, I tried to do both.  I am sure I accomplished A), and I think B) took on a life of its own.

I figured when I started this that I would generate around 30 comments.  Financially, I figured we could afford 100 comments.  Right now, at 10pm there are 109, so tomorrow when I write my bills, I will also be writing a check to the Kyle David Miller Foundation for $327. I worked Christmas Day night, and this is where I chose to spend that money I earned.

So, thanks to everyone!  You are now armed with carseat knowledge!

Thank you to the Millers for sharing their precious son with us.

**Through the night the comments continued!  There are 180 as of this morning!  So, in honor of those comments still coming in, next month I will match the check I am sending today! 

Countdown to 100 - January 29, 2007 -

So, we are up to 27 awesome comments!  You guys are wonderful.  But you know me.  So hard to satisfy.  Would you like to help me reach my private goal?  I would like to see 100 comments. Because, you know, that would be 300 smackeroos that will go to the foundation, not to mention all the great awareness that is spreading far and wide.  I am already so jazzed to see people so touched by the video that they are rushing out to get their kids into safe carseats and in turn posting the video on their blogs. Did you know that the video has been viewed over 1.6 million times?  That can probably be interpreted into thousands of kids that are back into the safety of a 5-point harness seat. That is some serious testimony going out!!  When I went to buy Cody his Regent it took me 2 weeks of online searching to find an obscure website that had a few left.  The entire internet was sold out. 

Now, go peek at the video, leave a comment, and lets get another child into a safe seat. Lets hit 100 folks. 

**update 7:23pm… Whoo hoo!  60!!  Now, that means 60 people who might not have seen the video before, who now have the knowledge to protect their children over 40lbs.  Once we reach 100, don’t let it stop there.  Go to the Kyle David Miller Foundation webpage and make a donation yourself.  Please.  And be sure to blog about the video to help spread the word. 

Go to the light - January 28, 2007 -

That is where I wanted to go on Thursday when I found myself smack dab in the middle of the influenza virus.  The real McCoy, and I ought to know, as I am a real McCoy via my grandmother.

Mia was at her Nannies, Bill was at work and the boys were at school.  At one point in the morning I cried out to no one in particular things like “Please help me.”  ”Mommy, get me some morphine pleeeease!” and “I need an IV stat!…or damn near stat please” 

The vomiting was every 5-10 minutes for about 8 hours.  I gave myself 25mg of phenergan, and it didn’t even put a dent in the barf fest, but was worth it for all the really cool hallucinations it induced.  I was not able to hold down anything, and got quite dehydrated.  Everything ached like I had been thrown off a very tall building and landed on a grouping of boulders.  My lungs filled with fluid and between barfs I was hacking my brains out.

A friend picked up some relief meds that the doc had called in for me..Tamaflu, the phenergan suppositories and tylenol suppositories.  And sprite.  Drinking the sprite became my refuge from the dry heaves.  If I felt the nausea coming on hard, I would take a few sips of some sprite so there would be something to bring up instead of just my small intestine and the gum I swallowed a few years ago that is taking 7 years to digest.

It started on Wednesday afternoon, and today I am still sick.  Not like Wed afternoon through Friday morning sick, but still just not right.  I can’t eat.  I am drinking now to the relief of my husband, as I was so dehydrated my skin was tenting.  Since Wednesday I have had 14oz of sprite, 12 oz of water, a coke and a can of seltzer water. 

To add to the problem, Cody came down with it on Friday and yesterday Mia got a somewhat mild version of it. Thank goodness Bill got off at noon on Friday. 

Thoughts that crossed my mind during the peak of the agony were “Is there any place left on earth that is so isolated that virus’ are not present.  Because, I don’t care if I have to sleep in a mud hut and cook over a fire made of monkey dung, I AM TAKING MY FAMILY THERE AS SOON AS I AM OVER THIS!” and the phenergan induced hallucination that I should paint everything in my house white, get a self contained filtered air system, nail all the doors and windows shut and strip naked and watch Bewitched reruns for the rest of my life, all to avoid the influenza virus ever entering my body again. 

To add insult to injury, my birthday was Friday.  We put off celebrating it until yesterday. I picked at a piece of my favorite cake and ate a california roll…the only food that has entered my body since Wednesday. It was a rocking party.

People, if you were able to avoid catching it this year without a flu shot, well, lucky dog!  But please do not take the chance again next year.  I know I won’t.  I will be grabbing my tent, a survival cooler and hanging out at the clinic to be first in line for the damn thing, because I do not EVER want to go through that again. I can seriously see why even healthy people die from it. 

**If you have not commented on my post below, please take a second to say “Hey”. I am hoping to send in enough cash for the foundation to purchase one seat for a needy family!  So, don’t be shy. It is for a good cause.  I am jazzed to read in the comments how many people are going back to the 5 point restraint for their kiddos because of viewing Kyles video.  Awesome!

******UPDATE******So, we are up to 27 awesome comments!  You guys are wonderful. But you know me.  So hard to satisfy.  Would you like to help me reach my private goal?  I would like to see 100 comments. Because, you know, that would be 300 smackeroos that will go to the foundation, not to mention all the great awareness that is spreading far and wide.  I am already so jazzed to see people so touched by the video that they are rushing out to get their kids into safe carseats and in turn posting the video on their blogs.  Did you know that the video has been viewed over 1.6 million times?  That can probably be interpreted into thousands of kids that are back into the safety of a 5-point harness seat.  That is some serious testimony going out!!  When I went to buy Cody his Regent it took me 2 weeks of online searching to find an obscure website that had a few left. The entire internet was sold out. 

Now, go peek at the video, leave a comment, and lets get another child into a safe seat. Lets hit 100 folks.

- January 26, 2007 -

Importance of a 5-Point Harness Carseat

I have posted about Kyle before, and Chris has as well. I just can’t tell you how much his story has touched me.

Since I last posted his video, the Miller family has started a non-profit foundation in honor and memory of Kyle. The webpage is: http://www.kyledavidmiller.org

Their mission is to keep children in a 5pt safety harness up to 80lbs. They are accepting applications from families who cannot afford to purchase these seats and are supplying those seats through our tax-free donations.

Today, for every comment you leave to this post, up I will donate $3 to the foundation. let’s get enough comments for the foundation to be able to purchase one car seat or more!

Are all of your 80lb and under children in a 5 point restraint? I can say that all of mine are now. Cody’s Britax Regent arrived in the mail a few weeks ago and now everyone is safe for our travels with the trailer. It was $ well spent.

Far Away by Nickelback

This time, This place
Misused, Mistakes
Too long, Too late
Who was I to make you wait
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there’s just one left
‘Cause you know,
you know, you know

That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you’ll be with me
and you’ll never go
Stop breathing if
I don’t see you anymore

On my knees, I’ll ask
Last chance for one last dance
‘Cause with you, I’d withstand
All of hell to hold your hand
I’d give it all
I’d give for us
Give anything but I won’t give up
‘Cause you know,
you know, you know

That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you’ll be with me
and you’ll never go
Stop breathing if
I don’t see you anymore

So far away
Been far away for far too long
So far away
Been far away for far too long
But you know, you know, you know

I wanted
I wanted you to stay
‘Cause I needed
I need to hear you say
That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I forgive you
For being away for far too long
So keep breathing
‘Cause I’m not leaving u anymore
Believe me
Hold on to me and
never let me go

Cabin fever - January 24, 2007 -

My newest post is up over at Larger Families.  The topic is “cabin fever”, and boy did we have it bad last week. 

So, if you have a sec, go read, leave a comment and tell us about how you deal with cabin fever….or how you don’t deal with it. 

And watch for flying tricycles. :*() 

Going against the grain a bit - January 23, 2007 -

When Bill had his stroke, our life was turned upside down for a bit.  Illness does that, and it just can’t be helped. 

It changed how we look at things…things such as time, quality of that time, and family.  Our focus on God remained strong..we realize that we could take the situation and make it a positive, thanking God for our many blessings and how He chose to work on us through Bill’s illness. 

Sure, I wallowed.  I wailed.  I cried and spent many nights awake staring at the ceiling, worrying myself into a frenzy.  In  the end I pulled myself up by my boot straps and carried on as one must do to live this life in a positive, happy way.

Some of our dreams were crushed.  We moved on.  We made some changes that worked, and some that didn’t.  Bill switched jobs in an effort to secure medical benefits and life insurance for his family.  The job is fine.  The people he works with are super nice. 

It’s just……we feel like we are doing time.  We work to pay the bill’s, and our family time seems to be at the bottom of the “to-do” list.  Bill is gone all day, and comes home to see the kids for a couple of hours, then it all starts over again the next day.  Weekends breeze by. It is too hard to load up the trailer at 5:30 at night, haul it to the beach, spend a day, then pack it back up in less than 48 hours.

So where am I going with this?  Ugh, it is so hard to put into words.  Lets see…Mia is going to be 3 in March.  If something happened to Bill, she would hardly remember him.  I want my kids to spend as much time as possible with their father.  I want them to remember him.   I want to be with him as much as possible.  I NEED to be with him as much as possible.

Recently an opportunity came along that was simply fantastic.  It will give us the best of both worlds.  Time together as a family, time for traveling, and the ability to continue to bring in $$ to do this, and have medical benefits and such.

Bill was offered a job.  A job in an ER that will have him work 3 days on, then be off for 6.  A job that pays really, really well (insane).  A job that he took.  

I can’t be anymore specific.  This sounds weird given how candid I am on my blog, but our privacy is very important to me.  We won’t be moving to this new town.  Bill will commute.  If we move, it will be to our dream town, which will be the same commute from there to new job as it is from here to new job. 

If we decide to homeschool…..which I am not saying we will, just IF…..well, lets just say that the trailer would get much more use than it is getting now. 

We are so dang excited.  It is, like I said, the best of both worlds!!  When he takes vacation, he will have 15 days off in a row, so that means we can travel to Mexico! I laugh when I say vacation, because he will basically be on a perpetual vacation…3 days on, 6 days off, 3 days on, 6 days off…….

And, come on!!!  6 days off!!!! Is that not sick!! 

Did you hear that??  Listen closely.  That was me screaming “Whoooohoooo!!!”!

 

 

Blogging about blogging - January 22, 2007 -

Ann at It’s Always a Production tagged me, and I liked the questions, so here goes:

1. Do you like the look and the contents of your blog? 

Depends on what day you ask me.  I like to change my template alot, but overall still have yet to find a perfect fit. 

2. Does your family know about your blog?

Oh yes.  Some read it, some don’t. Everyone is welcome…..well almost everyone.  I had to block one “family member” (not blood related and living in north Texas) that has caused quite a bit of division in my family, and I believe that makes her unqualified to read about my family.  Buh, bye!

3. Can you tell your friends about your blog? 

They know, and a few read it (Hi Leah, Donna and Trish!)  I don’t like it when they read it while I am in the room.  How embarrassing!

4. Do you just read the blogs of those who comment on your blog? 

No.  I read a ton…..some are on bloglines, and many are bookmarked(too lazy to update my Bloglines blogroll), and I alternate reading them each week.  I have my daily, must reads, and some that I check in on every Monday.  Reading them all everyday would take up my whole day, and I can’t afford to lose that kind of time to blogging. 

5. Did your blog positively affect your mind? 

Depends what I am writing about.  Most of the time, my mood affects my blog.

6. What does the number of visitors to your blog mean? 

hmm.  I used to pay attention to this, but not so much anymore.  I just don’t have the time in a day to worry about it anymore.  I probably check my stats weekly now, vs daily when I first started blogging.  Although when Chris linked to me the other day, I was glued to my screen watching the hords clicking over.  It was mesmerizing! 

7. Do you imagine what other bloggers look like? 

Not really.  I am not one to really care about looks. 

8. Do you think blogging has any real benefit?

Oh, certainly.  I love my online friends.  I have been so blessed to have met some amazing people through my blogging. 

9. Do you think that the blogosphere is a stand alone community separated from the real world? 

No. That would be like comparing it to the community in Horton Hears a Who, but only it is not a dust speck they live in, but a computer monitor.

10. Do some political blogs scare you? Do you avoid them?

For the most part, I avoid them.  I just don’t have the emotional energy to get my dander up and become involved in debates online anymore.  I also try to avoid blogs that stir the pot of controversy to drum up readers.

11. Do you think that criticizing your blog is useful? 

If someone doesn’t like what they read, they should be reminded to click the little red X at the top of the screen. Or read it and agree to disagree.

12. Have you ever thought about what would happen to your blog in case you died? 

LOL!  Actually, my husband has instructions on how to log in and send out a mass e-mail.  I have a feeling that it won’t be his first priority though.  He might want to bury me first.

13. Which blogger had the greatest impression on you? 

Without a doubt it has been Kathy at Travelogue.  She inspires me to: 

A.  not be afraid to go against the grain to attain what is good for my family,

B.  to be a more patient, relaxed mother

C.  go out and attain your dreams. Living them is so much more fun than thinking about them.

D.  buy Ameri-camp…because they really are the best!!!

14. Which blogger do you think is the most similar to you? 

I would have to say Amy’s dog Ceiba, because I, too, am wondering why nobody has ever told me how weird I am.

15. Name a song you want to listen to?

California Dreamin’ by The Mama’s and The Papa’s

Evidence against Global Warming - January 22, 2007 -

Yes, here is proof that Hell froze over this weekend.

For someone who hates the computer with the zeal of a Viking, it sure came in handy while looking for sailboats. Yes, you heard me. A sailboat. He now wants a sailboat.

Not long after I had Mia, I had a dream that all 6 of us were on a sailboat. The weather turned stormy and the boat started to sink. As it filled with water, I was frantically rounding up the kids and trying desperately to figure out in my mind how I was going to keep all 4 of them from drowning. A wave washed us off the sinking boat, and with clarity I recall watching as it ripped my son from my arms and away from me, him screaming “Mommy!!!” as he disappeared from sight. Bill and I frantically tried to hold on to the other 3, fighting the waves and trying to keep ourselves afloat. I awoke washed in tears, sobbing and thinking, “Dang, I am glad we don’t have a sailboat anymore!”

Now, please join me as my husband moves on to his next obsessive hobby. One that will have the movie “Captain Ron” come to life for our family.

Memorable quote from Captain Ron:

(as Ben moves Captain Ron’s beer)
Captain Ron: Hey. Get your hands off that!

Ben Harvey: I was just moving it. I wasn’t gonna drink it.

Captain Ron: You bet your little booty, you wasn’t. You want a beer, you get your own beer.

The Queen got new clothes - January 18, 2007 -

I personally don’t like to wear dresses that often.  I am most comfortable in shorts or pants. 

My daughter prefers dresses and skirts, and would rather stick needles in her eyes than put on a pair of pants.

 

To each his own.  I certainly would be fairly ticked if someone tried to shove me into a dress every morning.  Likewise her with pants.

So, I cleaned out her closet and removed most of the offending articles of clothing (it was way past time, as most of the stuff bordered on being way too small, or out of season…..I still had some 12-18 mo stuff hanging in there), and went with my friend on a shopping trip to the Outlet stores!  All hail The Children’s Place and Gymboree Outlets.  It was a girlie girls dream land.  Dresses of every color, most as cheap as $6, and tights/leggings so adorable I wish I could squeeze into a 3T myself. 

Everything mixes and matches very nicely, and Mama Mia will have free reign over her dreaded closet.

 

Some may find this indulgent.  I call it picking my battles, and I chose for this to not be one of them.  As my friend Kathy says, “There are much better battles ahead”, and I agree 100%. 

 

For now, my mornings will be screamless and I may have my coffee in peace.   

 

And even with ketchup on her face, she can wear her dresses and be a ”perfect lady”, just like the sweet doggie in Lady and the Tramp.

Things to ponder as Texas shuts down - January 15, 2007 -

It is cold here.  The temperature gauge outside my window is hovering at around 35 degrees.  Tonight will be a hard freeze, which means I will probably sleep in the trailer so that the heat can run all night and protect the pipes etc.. This is not a problem for me, for, as those who know me are aware, I would rather live in it anyway.

When the weather turns like this, Texas breaks.  The entire state freezes, snaps off the map and shatters on the ground.  That is why, if you open your maps today, Texas will not be there. 

“AHHHH there is a 4×4 patch of ice on the bridge.  Everyone go home early from work or we will all die!” 

“No school (even though we live 2 blocks from it, as does most of the town)!”

Dingo’s long for the warmth of the house, since Australia is too much to ask for.*

 

Children dig in their drawers for hats and gloves, many times coming up empty handed and substituting socks for mittens, because, well, their mother is very unprepared for life.

Husbands call from work and carry on conversations with their wives that go something like this:

“Hi, what are you doing?”

“Nothing.  We are trapped inside, the kids have a friend over and are playing nerf dart tag, and I am reconsidering my choice in house size.”

“Are you keeping warm?”

“Yes.  We killed Honey and are taking turns crawling in her still warm hide.”

“Great.  Hey, I will be home early today.  The clinic is closing so that we can come home in case of ice.”

“Is it, like, still raining?”

“No”

“Are the roads wet?”

“No.”

“Hmm.  So, the roads are clear and the temperature is above freezing?”

“Yes.”

“Well alrighty then, be careful driving home on the roads that just might get icy sometime in the future.”

Jack freeze found Texas, so if you are driving through our little state, be prepared for all hell to be breaking loose on the highways. We drive like drunks with any kind of ice.   Many have never even seen ice before.  

You can follow this natural disaster as it unfolds here and here. 

All you northern folks, laughing is allowed.

*yes, she came in.  She is a major lap dog and spends 99% of her time indoors.  And yes, my window is filthy, so there.

The phone, the phone is riiiinging - January 12, 2007 -

I had the most surreal moment.  I was sitting at the computer, IM’ing with a friend when I hear a song drifting out of the den where my daughter was watching TV.   It was the Wonder Pets singing a song about a puppy that was trapped indoors and needed to get outside to pee.  The lyric, in opera, went something like: 

“He has to peeeee peeeeee,

and maybe poo poo too,

We’re Wonder Pets, Wonder Pets 

and we’ll help you,

Get out the door and go relieve 

your…bowels…too!”

They get the dog outside and it pees, then one of them says something like “Celery is great after a good pee!!”.

I am so completely weirded out. 

 

It’s a girl thang - January 10, 2007 -

When my daughter was much younger, I loved dressing her.  Girl clothes are just adorable and I was satisfying years of pent-up “pink lacy, twirly things” yearning.  To put it bluntly, I bought up the entire internet of girlie stuff, and pretty much cleaned out the Quicksilver outlet of all things Teenie Wahine.  I single handedly caused inflation.

(interrupted by my son who asked me how to make a capital, cursive letter “Y”……and I couldn’t do it. WTF?  I guess our writing becomes quite slang over the years, and, well, whatevah!!  He said, hey!  Lets look it up on the internet. And we did. And it was there.  Is that not flippin’ weird? Ahem..)

Fast forward to today.  She has a closet full of adorable clothes…..But, every! flippin’! morning! there is wailing and screaming.  I dread the time after breakfast when I must take her to her room to get dressed.  I stare at the closet door because I know that there are, out of a sea of clothing, 2 or 3 dresses that she will wear.  Cinderellas wedding dress, a Snow White dress, and a ballet skirt with a tank top.  Shoes have been reduced to a pair of black velvet dress ups, and her Ugg boots, and I am telling you, she is stylin’ when she wears her Snow white get up with her Uggs.

Getting her dressed into anything else sounds like I am pulling her fingers off one by one and dipping them in alcohol….toes too.

Her closet has become a war zone. 

If I put pants on her, she screams, then rolls the legs up so that it looks like a skirt.

Oh, and there must be tulle attached to anything below the waist.

Pink tulle.

With sparkles.

I did this. I take most of the blame.  Her love of pink satin came from my love of seeing her in it.  She wears nightgowns because I have had her in them since she was was a baby. 

I could have put potatoe sacks on my boys and they would have cared the less. 

A few weeks ago, I decided to pick my battles, and let her wear whatever.  The result was her wearing a Snow White costume to my doctors appointment.  I got a few stares, and many “Oh, how adorable!” comments.  It was painless, but I somehow feel that I have turned control over to her.  Sort of like she won.  I know this sounds ridiculous, but I am treading over unknown territory.  The land of estrogen and its many land mines (peek over to the right and see the relief fund set up for my injuries.  Go check out Baby Dagny….the stuff is adorable.  Check out the Shakespeare Pantlets!)

So, you guys with girls.  Is this just a girl thing?  Or have I created a tulle freak?  Or just a child with no sense of style?

  

***Oh, hey!  Did you know that it is de-lurking week?  It appears that I am a bit late to the party! Again. I am loving all the de-lurkers who have posted already!  So, de-lurk the rest of you!! 

Dingo’s love lounging in the sun - January 9, 2007 -

She’s out of jail and loving it.

If you like my camera, well, it can be yours - January 9, 2007 -

I just got on e-bay and am planning on listing my camera so that I can step up in my photography.  I want and am ready for an SLR. 

For sale is a Olympus C-8080 with all components, lens, etc etc  I have everything pictured here (this is not my auction), plus I have 3 filters and a 512mb compact flash card.  It is in great shape, no lens scratches and you have seen the pictures it takes.

I am selling it for $400, plus free shipping.

I will be listing it on e-bay in the coming days, so if you want it, let me know.  I payed around $700 for it.

 

 

OhmyGodwearesuchweirdos - January 5, 2007 -

Last night we watched the movie “How To Eat Fried Worms”.  Great movie, by the way. 

Having a husband who is fun can be dangerous to your health.  After the movie, Quinn said “What’s the big deal, worms are not so bad.  I would eat one!”

Remember, we have many pet amphibians in our house…..who eat earthworms.  So, Bill is like “Oh yeah?  Weeeeelllll, let’s see you!”

If you are squimish or have a PETA love for earthworms, please move on to your next blog read. 

Yup!  Bill got the box of earthworms out and cleaned a nice juicy one off for Quinn and dangled it above him.  Quinn was laughing hysterically and I was scrambling for my camera saying calmly, ”No, Billy. Stop it right now”. 

That worm curled around Bill’s finger, then uncoiled into a writhing worm dance above my sons face.

Quinn just could….not….do…..it.  He could not bring himself to eat the worm.  So, Bill starts to turn to put it back in the box and quick as lightening Cory says “Oh, come on Quinn.  You are such a barbie”, grabs the worm and plops it in his mouth and EATS THE FREAKING EARTHWORM.  That’s right folks, my son ate the salamanders dinner.  Chewed it up and swallowed it.

What kind of freaks am I raising?

It happened so fast, there are no pictures, I am sorry to say.  My entire family disintergrated into laughter and dry heaves.

So, which post shocks you more?  December, or this one?

In other news, I am going to Blogher this year.  I will understand if all of you walk a very wide circle around me. 

 

December - January 4, 2007 -

In early December of 1987 I went out on a date with this really sweet, surfer guy.  He had blond hair, amazing blue eyes, and after dating for only one week, he bought me a gorgeous outfit from The Limited.  And it fit.  And it was cute. Holy cow, a man with good taste!

He phoned me several times each day after our first date, and invited me to come to his house to decorate his Christmas tree, which I did. 

For the next 3 months, he wanted to be with me constantly, and I loved every minute of it.  He would show up at my apartment after a winter surfing session, and warm up while snuggling with me.

We did everything together and I knew from the start that he was “the one”.

Then one week, the phone calls were strained, and by Friday, he made it known that he wanted to see other people. 

I was hurt, but I did not react strongly.  I hugged him and wished him the best.  He left on a 2 week business trip and I thought, “that’s that”.

The phone calls continued.  Daily. 

On his return, he called and wanted to see me.  I agreed and he came over. 

He explained that he was terrified.  Commitment was looming.  I had been looking for another apartment, and he said “I wanted to ask you to move in with me, and I scared myself”.   

We would go through this 2 more times in the coming weeks and in the end, instead of crying to him and calling him when we split, I got fed up and took a job training animals in Florida. 

I remember one conversation in particular during those weeks, while we did this back and forth dance.  I was pissed, and had asked him to stop calling me:

Him:  Well, I want to stay friends

Me:  My friends wouldn’t treat me like this.

Him:  Well, I am sorry I ruined your life.

Me:  (laughing)  Ruined my life?  Don’t flatter yourself.  I’m just a bit sad.

Him: (mumbling) Oh, um, I’m not flattering myself..um.

We stayed in touch while I lived in Florida and he even flew me home once for a visit.  He asked me to move home, because he loved me…..one month later he was cold again and unsure.  Back and forth, back and forth.

I hated Florida (well, not actually Florida itself, but hated Florida without him) and wanting to move back to Texas.  My mother told me if I moved home, I could live with them and they would pay for me to go back to school in Ft. Worth.  I remember telling her “Mom, I can’t get him back living in Ft. Worth”.

Upon my return, we resumed our relationship. 

I am sure you are asking why was this man so terrified of relationships?  Why didn’t you dump him Jody??? 

I just couldn’t.  I mean, he was so damn nice.  So cute.  So normal.  I just loved the hell out of him. 

He had reason to be terrified.  He had been married before to his high school sweetheart. Actually, they had been together since they were 13.   He was married to her for almost 9 years when she killed herself.  Their relationship had been very difficult…..married at 19, immature. They both did things that destroyed the marriage.  When she killed herself, they were in the process of starting a divorce.

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life ~The Fray

It shattered him. It shattered her family.  It shook the whole town…a town full of people that had watched them grow up together. 

I remember that it broke my heart, and I didn’t even know them then.  It was in December of 1986 when I walked into a marine park and applied for a job. A job that unbeknownst to me, she had held for many years prior to her death 3 weeks earlier.  I got the job training birds and dolphins, and became fast friends with the head trainer, who told me all about their story. 

Throughout the year, the trainer and I would go out, and he would tell me about that surfer guy and what a great person he was.  We would often see him out on Friday and Saturday night, and my trainer friend finally introduced us, hoping we would hit it off.  I was reluctant, due to his past.  I mean, come on!! That is some serious stuff there.  My friend would reassure me and tell me, “You will really like him.  He is such a nice guy.” 

It took that surfer guy almost a year to ask me out. He finally did that December of 1987. 

In December of 2006 the surfer guy and I celebrated 19 years of togetherness.  And yes, you were right Doug, he really is a nice guy.

This December also marked the 20 year anniversary of Bill’s first wifes death.  He didn’t talk about it. We have never told the kids about her.  They do not know that when we go to Galveston and visit with Dad’s best friend, that he is actually his ex brother in law.  They love Uncle Bubba and he loves them. 

December comes around every year and we are reminded of what was lost, and what was found.

And I often wonder if the deep rooted desire to work with dolphins, that I have had since I was a small child, was planted there to lead me to that job and to this amazing man.

Because, you know, there are no coincidences.  No random acts or happenings.  Only destiny.

- January 4, 2007 -

Spiders On Drugs

I would be the caffeine spider.

Found via John at www.foryourentertainment.com

2006 - January 2, 2007 -

2006 was a year filled with challenges.  Big ones, small ones, heartbreak, and hearts filled with joy.

I don’t want to re-live 2006 by writing it here.  I have done that already, and you can browse the archives if you would like to. 

What I do want to say is:

-there are things in life that you simply cannot buy.  Health and happiness come to mind. 

-”stuff” and “things” do not matter. Ever.

-when you leave or go to bed, always say “I love you” to those you love, even when you are angry.  You never know what the next hour will bring.

-never give up on people.

-my FIL loves my children more than himself.

-do not anticipate.

-it is not people that fail, but expectations. 

-I am so very lucky to be part of my husbands family. 

I scored big on New Years Eve.  I filmed my FIL jumping on the bed and tickling his 6 grandchildren.  That officially made 2006 the year of miracles.  That film is priceless…but, I only got one photo.  My memory is enough though.

 

So, let your monkeys jump on the bed!

 

 

 

Take the time to be with your family, no matter what.  

 

And….make it a priority to love, laugh and not miss one second of the good times and the tough times. 

Remember, it is all good.

Happy New Year from our family to yours!