I lost a friend today

A dear, dear friend.  It is surreal.  One month ago she and I were playing Bunco with our friends eating and drinking and being our merry selves.  I could tell she was slipping mentally.  She had been for a while.  She and I worked together for over 7 years and it was just an unwritten job description that fellow employees covered for her.  We carried her for a long time so that she could keep her job.  The task was daunting at times, and was worth it. 

Yet, while we were playing Bunco, I knew that she was declining.  She was walking and talking and joking around.  And asking my about Jake, as she always did, and always enjoyed my Jake stories, which are many and surely annoy most people.  Being a mother to 4 boys herself, she loved Jake.  Loved hearing about his recent witty comments or antics.  I love her for listening to a proud mother go on and on and on and on.  I try not to be so boastful, yet sometimes I can’t help it.  And if there is anything that pierces me to the core of my soul, it is when someone loves my boy.  Words cannot describe it. 

My dear friend, Jo, cancer came and took you away.  So quickly.  Too quickly.  I thank God that, for you, it was fast and you did not suffer long.  I thank God that your family was with you and able to be with you and say their “see you laters.”  I thank God that my last memories of you are of our happy, sassy Jo.  You are so dear to my heart.  I love you and I will miss you so much.  Thank you for teaching me how precious life is and not to waste a moment.  Until we meet again my beautiful friend….

Family Jewels

Last week Jake and I rode with my friend, Julie and her 3 boys in her minivan to Lawrence.  Four wild boys in a van.  Wild, obnoxious boys.  It was unnerving to say the least.  I peek around my seat to see that one of the boys has a pocket knife.  My anxiety rises sharply.  Then I hear one of the boys threaten to stab my Jake in the penis.  I’m pretty sure that I nearly had a stroke.  Yet quick-witted Jake says, “Don’t do that….I might need it later.”

I then confiscated the knife.  And prayed that I would not have a grandchild until AT LEAST 2025.

Hilarious

Today my youngest sister relays a story to me of an argument that she had with my niece-an almost 3-year-old firecracker little girl.  Both females are bullheaded, to be sure.  The youngest is more so, and had more energy, so she usually wins out on any power struggle that may ensue.

Today they are arguing about nothing in particular and my niece says to her mother, “You can’t come to my party!”  She will be turning 3 in September and she will remind you every chance she gets.

So my sister says, “Well, then, who will bring the cake?”  “I will,” spouts Sassypants.

Then my sister says, “Who will bring the presents?”

My precious niece’s response??

“Tina will.”  Hair flip included.  How I love that sassy munchkin.

The best part about her?  She is not my child.  I can spoil her and I do.  And then I send her home.  Gotta love it!

English as a First Language

Today, Jake and I went to the Natural History Museum located on the KU campus.  While we were standing outside of the museum, I pointed to a building and told Jake that was where I went for my French and English courses.  He gives me a puzzled look and says, “What did you take English for?  You already know that language.”  I love his perspective on things!  He is such a crack up!

Pleased to announce…

That I am down to one job.  It pays well and the benefits are fantastic.  I feel that a huge burden has been lifted.  The outcome is not the one that I would have imagined, yet it is where I need to be for now.  I will be working less and making more.  Oh yeah, and I will be able to walk to work.  It is just win-win all around.  Yipee!!!  Time to celebrate!

Just a thought…

Why is it that every time I click on the “tools” icon on my taskbar, I expect to see a list of ex-boyfriends?

Big News

Yesterday, my youngest sister got a letter from my dad.  He wrote that his case is going to the Supreme Court of the certain state.  Initially, I was very excited.  He has been appealing his case for years and I believe that it is a strong one.  I miss him and think how much fun his grand kids will have getting to know him if he gets out.  I just really miss him. 

Then I worry about him getting back in the bad crowd he was in before.    I know it will be a while before anything is resolved and I am just trying to wrap my head around this whole idea and figure out how I feel about it.

Reward

So, since I have improved my financial standing and am making better choices, I am going to buy myself this.

What do you think?

Totally Dorking Out

That should be no surprise to anyone who knows me.  Or who reads this.  All 1.5 of you.

Anyway, I have been keeping an eye on how much I am spending on stuff.  Not really altering spending behavior, just assessing it.  One obvious money suckage is gas.  I am proud to say that I filled up today and calculated my MPG and the number is 28.74 MPG.  Not too shabby.

Let me further explain the stats of my little car-1998 Ford Contour.  I have owned it for about 4.5 years and it has been paid off for 2.5 years.  I have less than 100,000 miles on it and have only had one major repair, the front end went out costing about $700.  I am just so proud of this investment and how well it has fared for me.  Another bonus is I only fill up with gas twice a month.  I am driving much less this summer and I am hoping to make it on one tank a month.  Awesome!

I paid off my only credit card yesterday and have one outstanding bill that I will have paid off by the end of the summer.  Sweet!

All of this is very good news to someone who has made some very bad choices, financial and otherwise.  I am proud until I think of how old I am and how I should have gotten it together along time ago. 

Regardless….yea me!  Really it is God.  Yea, God!

Side note:The next person round my age up to FORTY will get a boot to the head.  For the love of God and all that is holy, why would one ADD FIVE YEARS to a woman’s age.  EVER and especially when these persons know how old I am.  Please, please, PLEASE let me work through this decade before I start even thinking about the next.

 

WOW. I’ve never had anyone else poop my pants.

Also, I have no memory of ME pooping my pants.  You know…for the record.

On to my story.  Today my sister, my friend and I took all the kids to see Kung Foo Panda.  I held my sweet baby niece most of the time.  She is 7 weeks old and is such a doll.  I am wearing a long, billowy shirt.  I am holding the baby after she eats and I notice a minor explosion in her pants.  Then I do what any good aunt does and I hand her off to her mom.  I am sitting there and start to notice that my pants and shirt feel wet against my skin.  Then…oh lord….I touch my shirt.  Squish.  It was totally gross.  And I notice the front of my pants also are wet and gross.  I then go to the restroom where my sister is changing the baby. 

“Your daughter shit on me.”  And then I show her my shirt.  It is a pattern shirt with a “new” mustard yellow color added for fun.  It didn’t smell too bad, really.  And the baby is so cute that I can’t be mad.

I am making my sister buy me lunch, though.  It is the least she can do.