Haaaaapyyyyy Toooooooo Momma!

My birthday was fantabulous! It's one of the better ones I've had, I'd say.

I woke up feeling refreshed from my slumber -- a rarity for sure.

At church, of the eight or so songs that are my absolute favorites, four were sung! How cool is that!? Two of the songs in particular were "The Summons", and we recessed with "I Am Singing (for the Lord is My Light)". It's not very often one sees a Catholic parish clapping their hands to a song, but that "I Am Singing" song -- yeah, verrrry clap-worthy!

Stopped by the store and bought my mom some white tulips. After all, it's not just *MY* birthday. It's her Birth Day, too. Right? So, in order to commemorate her day, I bought her flowers. Then I went to her apartment, we watched "Knocked Up" and ate pizza.

After that, I went home and gathered my teaching material for my Confirmation class, headed back to church to teach. I walked in with a bag full of candy bars to hand out to them as birthday presents. They lurve candy. :) I made them sing Happy Birthday to me. The icing on the cake -- pun intended -- was that none of them believed I was even in my 30's let alone 37! I got anywhere from 23 to 28. Needless to say, I floated home on Cloud Nine.

Hopping off my cloud, My Eldest greeted me at the door, "Mommy! Mommy! You're home!! We have a surprise for you!! We bought you cake and ice cream for your birthday!" This was indeed a big surprise because they had already given me all my gifts about two weeks ago and I wasn't expecting anything more from my family. The Girls helped me blow out the candles as they finished singing the birthday song. My Little One is so cute because she leaves the word "birthday" out of the song: Haaaaaaapyyyyy toooo momma. hahahahaha. We all had chocolate cake with chocolate icing with two scoops of ice cream.

All in all a damn fine day.

Then all hell has broken loose since. But I'm just not going to talk about that....yet.

Whoosh!

Hellllooooo Thirty-Seven

Alaska to Texas

Blonde to Brunette (naturally!)

Eternally a Brown-Eyed Girl



Refined, defined, blind

Crazy, silly, serious, fun

Pensive, deep, introspective

Outgoing, loyal and broken



Child of God

Woman empowered

Lover of life

Wife

Mother

A wonder



Never had chicken pox

Flown in a helicopter

Saw Troy Aikman in the gym



Forget-Me-Nots

Bells of Ireland

Roses a plenty



Boy crazy and flirty

Avid reader

Writer, momma, sister

Teacher?



Hawaii, big wheel is the prize

Multi-colored Liberty Bell

Pig tails

Tears in my eyes



Hollywood Gin

Old Grand Dad and Coke

Cribbage

Bee-hive hair do



Mowing lawns

Doing dishes

Cleaning bathrooms

All for allowance



Army brat

Spoiled brat

Well...not *that* spoiled....



Some memories of me

and my family

in my seventh year

into my thirties.



Happy Birthday to me!

Music Minute: Stronger

I hate to admit it but I kinda like some of Kanye West's music. Even though I disagree with Kanye's ridiculous statement about George Bush not liking black people, I try to separate my music and my politics (and my music from ignorance).

I just like the beat of this song....makes me dance. Makes me bang my hands on the steering wheel as I'm driving. I chuckle every time I hear "...since Prince had Apollonia" (which comes out sounding a little like "....since Prince had apple on ya).

Sexy with some attitude. Yeah. Me likey.

Peace!

My Little One

I recently took this photo of My Little One. It makes me happy. It captures how she is every day of her life. I pray that she is this way at the very core of her soul each and every day -- even on the black and white days.

The Rumors Are True and Another Music Minute

I'm starting a new job on the 21st!

I've been with my company for six and a half years. It's a good company with a great culture. Considering I don't have a college degree, it's been extremely rewarding. I feel like they are loyal to me, which I understand is a rare sentiment in most workplaces anymore.

I have been in my current role (Supervisor) for over three years now. I can't move to manager because I don't have my degree. I won't be getting it in accounting anyway. I've been a little bored over the last year or so.

Back in November, I initated some discussion to see if I had opportunity in our land department. As I found out much later, there was a buzz about my interest and those Powers That Be liked the idea of me moving from accounting to operations.

Then...last week...I get a phone call!

That afternoon I had a couple of interviews. Was actually offered two different jobs, and I got to pick which I thought I might like best (the other was Regulatory). Honestly, I feel confident I can do both, but I chose the Land job because my accounting experience here will blend a little more nicely, plus it has more career potential I'm told.

The higher-up bosses had some conversations, and it was all approved. I now start at the bottom, which is perfectly fine for me. I'm moving to a different floor into a smaller cube, which is just fine by me. I won't have to write performance reviews anymore (yay!), or track vacation time (wahoo!). I'll get a whole new set of skills (zoiks!). It's more money (I'll drink to that!). And, the best part is, I can stay at this company.

So, things might be turning around a little. At least for these few weeks, I'll be uplifted by this change. As a result, a good tune by Duran Duran..."Skin Divers". It features Timbaland.

Coming up for air.....

And Then....

.....the season ended.

Now, I'm rooting for The Packers. Nothing would please me more to see Brett defeat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Giants v. Cowboys

So guess what?

I might be able to go to the NFC Championship game!

*IF* the Cowboys win tomorrow. So, let's all hold hands and say a lil prayer to the football gods that the Cowboys win tomorrow.

GO COWBOYS!

Choices

You know....I've been doing some thinking.

The smoke is thick and billowy. Grey and furious. Still I am on fire....

I blogged a few weeks ago about convictions. Then, a couple of weeks ago, I was challenged to list, literally list, 10-15 needs and 10-15 wants that I require/desire in a relationship. So, I've been trying to do that. I've been trying to further define myself. I don't want the definition to confine me, or mold me, but I admit I need the structure.

I've prided myself on being "laid back" or "flying by the seat of my pants" or "being fluid". And those are all admirable qualities to have. Like anything, however, I am realizing even these things are dangerous in extremes. I have been extremely laid back, extremely in flight, extremely fluid. Not good. Might even be considered doormat-ish? Maybe?

In watching "Grey's Anatomy" tonight (has there EVER been BETTER television?! lol), I was inspired to blog. I was struck with the realization that I've preached a conviction I have for several years to my social circle. Didn't ever really label it one. Tonight, thanks to Bailey and Tucker (kind of gay, I know! Shush!), I have identified and labelled a conviction -- a NEED --specific to moi!

Why do men and women constantly find ways to push their couplehood, their relationship, their marriages behind everything else?? After all, your spouse/s.o. is your partner for life. Kids will be out of the house in less that half the time you are married theoretically.

My conviction...my requirement....my desire in a partner: someone who recognizes that God is first, couplehood is second, parent is third, and the rest is just the rest.

It's sad to me that even in my own marriage, my couplehood is last, if it's even on the list. We have many complications going on in our lives, yet, we are failing at staying connected in an intimate way. We are merely surviving. And I am grieving over that. We are both aware of this pattern, yet we are still making choices that defy my conviction.

And honestly, speaking for myself, I don't even put my God first anymore. I feel more distance these days from Him than I have even in my non-believer days.

I remain an optimist. I confess that I'm weak; I'm broken. I surrender and don't want to fight. Yet, I hold on to hope. Like a silly girl, I hold on to hope. For what am I hoping? I don't know.

Perhaps another conviction or two to reveal themselves to me.

I better get back to working on that list of Needs and Wants....my homework is due on Monday!

Music Minute #8 - Fugue in G Minor (JS Bach)

I actually received a REQUEST to blog! As in...someone *missed* 'me'.

Now, imagine the big-voiced announcer from all those Budweiser commercials. Hear him in your head? You need medicine. Kidding. Hear him say: Big Dave, my friend that I have yet to meet, THIS BLOG'S FOR YOU!

I have a good friend who lives in El Paso. We've shared some pretty wild times, some pretty quiet times, a lot of secrets and some very female moments. We also have an equal avid passion for Dallas Stars Hockey (Mmmmmodano!) and Dallas Cowboys Football (TROY!). She and I worked together in the front office of the best doctor I have ever known and will ever know.

She and My Husband have similar backgrounds in that they are both ER RNs. My Husband no longer practices, yet, she has moved back to that dusty border town to care for those less fortunate and in need of urgent care. On her off days, she works the CareFlite delivering seriously injured to trauma care hospitals via helicopter. Amazing woman she is. I admire and love her. Aside from her amazing intelligence and captivating, quiet charm, she is a stunning brown-skinnned woman with long, black, thick hair, sexy legs and a rack that makes your eyes pop outta your head. (Love you, Dee. haha)

Dee has a myspace, as do I. She, of course, is a friend on mine. I like to troll through my friend's friends, and did so with Dee's page. She has a friend named, Big Dave. I think besides me, he leaves the most comments.

Big Dave - as he's dubbed himself - is sitting proudly atop what I presume is a Harley. He's wearing leather. Has a goatee. His face is sweet like a teddy bear yet the look is completely contradictory to it.

Anyway, Dave left some comment about sex and chocolate being interchangeable. I, as a woman, had to pounce on this with my own response. So I asked where I could find my own Big Dave and inquired if he was really a guy who is more of a girlfriend. I think my comment tickled his manhood because he jokingly lashed out that Dee could attest to his manlihood seeing as she is a board certified member of the medical community and passed all her anatomy classes so she could verify that he indeed was a man. (My thought was, just cuz you got 'junk' don't mean your manly, but hey.....he said he's not a girlfriend. He's in touch with all things female, though. I respect that in a man.)

Big Dave sends me a friend request.

I oblige.

We quip back and forth. Good banter it is. He's good fun. I'm enjoying getting to banter with him.

Big Dave in all his manliness requested I immediately stop what I'm doing and immediately post a blog.

Big Dave, this song and this blog is for you, my dear.

Now where is my chocolate? Godiva, please. Truffles. Raspberry and orange chocolate truffles will do.

Whoosh!

Palm Me!

Momma got a new toy!

Ain't she purty?

I've been twiddlin' with it all afternoon and evening. It's the most sophisticated thing I've ever owned! I don't know how to act with all this technology in the PALM of my hand....

....but I'm having fun trying!

There are all kinds of fancy accessories you can get for it. And software! It's not *just* a phone...it's a PALM! I can organize myself (ack! pressure!) with the calendar (I'll still be late everywhere I go!), make to-do lists (will that even help?!), listen to music, take pictures and videos. The possibilities are endless!

Whoosh!

Music Minute #7 - Paralyzer a.k.a. The Cougar Song

How about something a little less somber? Something new for the new year....at least for today.

Hard.
Rough.
Intense still....yet, not as haunting.

I hold on so nervously

To me and my drink

I wish it was cooling me

But so far, has not been good

It’s been shitty

And I feel awkward, as I should

This club has got to be

The most pretentious thing

Since I thought you and me

Well I am imagining

A dark lit place

Or your place or my place

Well I’m not paralyzed

But, I seem to be struck by you

I want to make you move

Because you’re standing still

If your body matches

What your eyes can do

You’ll probably move right through

Me on my way to you

I hold out for one more drink

Before I think

I’m looking too desperately

But so far has not been fun

I should just stay home

If one thing really means one

This club will hopefully

Be closed in three weeks

That would be cool with me

Well I’m still imagining

A dark lit place

Or your place or my place

Well, I’m not paralyzed

But, I seem to be struck by you

I want to make you move

Because you’re standing still

If your body matches

What your eyes can do

You’ll probably move right through

Me on my way to you

Well, I’m not paralyzed

But, I seem to be struck by you

I want to make you move

Because you’re standing still

If your body matches

What your eyes can do

You’ll probably move right through

Me on my way to you

I’m not paralyzed

But, I seem to be struck by you

I want to make you move

Because you’re standing still

If your body matches

What your eyes can do

You’ll probably move right through

Me on my way to you

You’ll probably move right through

Me on my way to you

You’ll probably move right through

Me on my way to you

I was getting ready for Mass this morning (it's a holy day of obligation) and listening to the radio. "Paralyzer" came on, an it is my favorite song du jour. Finger Eleven is the band. I literally put down my brush and started dancing to this song. Each time the chorus bellowed, I flipped my hair like a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.

And the song portrays a fantasy of mine reminiscient of my 20's....dancing in a club, a guy fixing his gaze on you, determined to get you. Not the pickup per se, but the intensity in which he feels he needs to have you (me)...the fascination...the interest, and yes, even the doubt inspite of it all.

(I wonder if I could still go out dancing have this kind of experience without being considered a 'cougar'?? *reow* I might have to be cage dancing. hahaha!!)

That was good fun.