Somewhere Else

Sorry, I couldn't think of a title and that's the song in my head. It's Toby Keith. It's a great song. :)

Anyway, it's pretty official in my life that I am now "Good Luck Chuck." I found out Friday at Happy Hour, that the guy I dated last year, the guy that was dating me and another girl at the same time and broke up with me, is engaged. To that girl. Granted, I didn't necessarily want to marry him, but still. It's a little dagger. I do want to get married. Just wondering where my Prince Charming is I guess.

All weekend my roommate referred to me as Chuck. We're very nice to each other. I told her yesterday I was thinking that I was going to quit hanging out with her and start hanging out with "ugly" people with no personality so I looked prettier and would stand out. She's pretty and has big boobs, so I think I need to increase my chances of meeting a guy, you know??


But honestly, I don't want to dwell on it. Yes, I'm old, but I want to be happy, too, and not settle. H and I talked about how I could have been married to Boatman if I really wanted to be. And pushed aside my feelings of being happy, really enjoying the other person's company, and not having good conversation. Basically she told me I made a good decision and not pursuing that one. I also brought this up with Robb and Christine on Monday night and Robb said "Oh man, the only thing good about that guy was that he bought us a round of drinks."



Anyway, on to bigger and better things in no particular order! I do use the term "better" very loosely here. . .



I feel that Reese Witherspoon and I would be best friends. I'm totally basing this off of her comment at the MTV Movie Awards which I didn't watch but heard about later. She said exactly what I think about some of the "famous" people nowadays. Plus, we also both apparently find Jake Gyllenhaal attractive.



A few weeks ago, I asked the roommie to mow the lawn when I was back in IL. She did and then one of the neighbors asked me later if I let a kid mow the lawn. I had noticed it was patchy, but sometimes the shade does some weird things. Later that day she made the comment, "Woah, that is a super bad mow job." I guess if I can't get to the lawn, I will pay the neighbor boy $20 to do it. Plus he picks up all the sticks and mulches. What a great kid! I guess he'd be a better kid if he just did it without getting paid, huh?

I hate how at the beginning of May, I thought "Man, my summer is going to be nice and relaxing and I only have one wedding." Yeah, I am trying to find a free weekend now. Booo! I will enjoy every last minute of it though.

I am dying to visit my friend Steph and baby Vinnie, but we kept going back and forth with dates and either I was busy or they were. :( But it made me think. Steph and I have been friends since the age of 3. And Vinnie and Caden are a week apart in age. It's just too funny! That should be my kid not my sister's!

I think it's funny how friendships change over time though. Or how at one time, you were almost inseparable from a person, and now, you don't even know if they still work for the same place or are dating someone but you did a year ago. But I do like how you become expectantly closer to other people, and the highlight of your day is when you hear from them. Like last night when I got a text that said "I hope your popcorn tonight was better than my popcorn at volleyball. It was terrible. . ." An out of the blue and random text yes, but earlier in the day I had told him that I hope he has fun sweating his arse off at volleyball, while I am sitting in the nice luxury of air conditioning and eating popcorn at the bar.

Or how you can be good friends with someone and not talk all that often, but it's like nothing has changed. That's what I love the most about friends. Being good friends and not needing to talk all the time and still knowing you're good. And it's those friends that you always know are there for you and you're never far from their mind. Like when they text you and tell you that they saw someone trip on the street and fall, and it made them think of you.

Happy Hump Day!

With or Without You

That's the song playing on the radio right now.

And you give yourself away, and you give, and you give, and you give yourself away. . .

I think that almost describes me sometimes. Giving myself away. I was always told I was a giver (not that kind dirty, dirty, minded people) but a giver of things in life.

Giver of Hugs, giver of smiles, giver of my time and energy. . .

My parents taught me very strong values that when I look back, I didn't realize they were inadvertently teaching me that in my adult life and in my personality. My Dad can be slightly selfish (Sorry Dad, you know it's true) but at the same time, he's one of the most giving and caring people I know. If you are a good friend of one of his good friends or a family member, he would do anything for you. He'd drive to Ohio (2 States over) and pick up my Mom's best friend's Son whose car broke down on a road trip and tow it back. Even if you're a good friend of mine and need something and my Dad has never met you, he'd do that. That's just how he is.

Sometimes I wish he hadn't have taught me that, you know?? I really want to be that mean, cranky person who people don't expect stuff from. Just once I'd like to say "Nope, sorry" and be done with it. But alas, that's not who I am, and I'll never be that overly selfish person.

Man, that wasn't even the topic I was going to write about. . . .stupid, stupid song. . .

Shake it like a Polaroid Picture

My sister is awesome in the fact that since I have yet to be able to go home and meet my new nephew she will text me a picture every day. Sometimes I will get 3. I look forward to the picture of the day of Caden in all his adorableness.

At Christmas and in March when my nephew, Caleb, came to visit, he told me that I could just save all my hugs and kisses for the new baby as he didn't need them anymore once the baby came. Well now, he says that I can still hug and kiss him but to make sure that I still hug and kiss Caden too so he doesn't feel left out. I FINALLY am going home tomorrow after work to meet the little guy. I can't wait. I do feel bad though because my Dad took off Thursday and Friday in hopes of spending time with me, only to find out last night that I am staying with my sister tomorrow night and Thursday! Ooops!

My friend Darren gets married on Saturday. I'm super excited for him but I am not excited to be there without my buffer Steph. Steph can attest to the amount that she and I get picked on average by our guy friends from high school. However, without her there, I will get the brunt of everything. Maybe they will just start picking on their wives?!?

I survived Erin's Bachelorette Party last weekend in Kansas City. She made us these awesome shirts for the Royals/Cardinals game that said Team Erin on the front and the Erin's Final Fling in a baseball on the back. Somehow on the way there, we got separated from Erin's car, so everyone was asking us who Erin was. Then apparently when Erin was walking into the game, with the remaining 3 of the party, people were telling her that we already walked in! haha!

We could not have asked for a better day for a baseball game. It was gorgeous! And the Cardinals won, so that's really what is important. I have no idea why I didn't get up and walk around the stadium either as it was my first time there. I guess I just need to go back there and do that.

I knew half of the party people this weekend, which was nice. It sucks to only know the bride going into these things and maybe one person. Erin's coworker was that person, and she said if we didn't like her, she was just going to drink more and make us like her! haha! Most of Erin's friends I had heard stories about at some point, so I felt like I knew them. It was nice to meet them in person though and put a face with a name.

I did feel bad for Erin as she wasn't near as drunk as I think she should have been. She agreed with that earlier in the night so she started doing shots. . . I'm not sure if she got more drunk or not! The weird thing about Erin is that she is marrying one of my guy friends. And Erin and I have talked about how I just assume they don't do anything sexual as that's what I like to think since it's 2 of my friends. She was really surprised when I bought her 2 nighties and some sexy underwear. It's funny when 2 friends get together because you know separately they did stuff with other people, it just becomes awkward I guess when you think about them together doing stuff. . . Anyone else feel this way??

It's like my Grandpa saying today that the reason for my Dad's Doctor Appointment was to refill his Viagra prescription. Thanks Gramps!

I also couldn't believe how many hot, tall guys are in Kansas City. I don't know if they were just in town for the game or not, but DAMN! There were some hotties for sure! I also met a guy from Humoldt who knew my cousins. He graduated in 2001. I should have written his name down as 1) He was cute and 2) I can't even remember to tell my cousins the guy's name. I did ask if he lived here now in hopes I might run into him again out, but alas, he lives in CR. I am sure with enough Facebook stalking I could find him. . .but I only save that for special people.

Speaking of Facebook Stalking, I was goofing off on there and this girl came up on the side as someone I might know. I clicked on her and was like "I don't know her, but the name sounded familiar." Come to find out she's one of my guy friends exes. That's why her name sounded familiar. I also realize there is no way I could ever date this guy friend as I have met several of the girl's he dates, and they apparently all have the prerequisite of being gorgeous.

My friend Meghan finally had her baby! I have yet to see a picture, but I can only imagine how adorable he is!

I am not sure if you're keeping track, but my rambling almost goes in a circle. Much like the stories I tell in person on a regular basis. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby and the baby carriage!

And then the house. . . A year ago, I closed on my house! I can't believe it's been a year. I finally got my plants planted. I had to buy dirt (seriously, I paid money for DIRT!) and some stuff that supposedly keeps ground squirrels away. It better. I hate those things, and they ate my tomato plants last year! Bastards!

I know have a bunch more landscaping stuff to do, but I need help doing it. I'm glad I live 6 blocks from my friend Jeff. He likes to help a damsel in distress, and I really don't mind him wanting to help. I'm sure somewhere there's a trade off, but last time he snaked my drain, I bought him beer and gave him banana bread, and he ended up forgetting it at my house. Sucks for him! :)

Have a great week!

Dreams, schemes, and other things

I don't know why, but lately, I have had some weird dreams. And most of them have all involved me getting married or in love. Which is something that is far from my real life. I do have a lot of friends getting married in the upcoming months, so maybe that's why.

I know that I want to be married someday and really thought it would be before now, but life takes these unexpected turns. Sometimes you have to follow the road you're headed down and when something else comes down it, I guess that's when you take another turn.

The latest dream had me trying to find my soon to be husband the day of our wedding. And do you know where he was at?? Playing basketball with the NBA team he is on, and they were practicing in my high school gym. He said "Wait isn't it bad luck for me to see you before the wedding?" And I said "Isn't it bad luck to be late for your wedding??" I wasn't in my wedding dress yet, so I guess that's good. We leave the gym and are now in a super big hurry trying to make it to the church. But apparently school is still in session because the bell rings and all of these kids are in the hallway. Apparently the hallways in my high school were like 2 miles long too. I'm throwing elbows shouting "Let me through!" as we're trying to walk the opposite direction they seem to be going. It was tough. Finally we get out of the high school.

That's all I remember now. I remembered a lot more when I woke up but now that's all I can tell you about it. Sorry. I know you're really disappointed.

Now the creepy part about my next dream was that the one guy that was in it is good friends with my friend Jamie. He and I are not friends. In my dream on Thursday, Dustin was trying to hit on me in my dream and Jamie was telling me to stay far away from him. That was the gist of the dream.

Now in REAL life on Saturday I was helping my Aunt at an art show at a huge Garden and Landscape Center. I keep looking at the guy and I'm like that's weird. . . that guy looks just like Dustin. I mean, almost identical. It's bugging me soo much and he keeps looking at me like he should know me too. So after about 2 hours, I finally go up to him and say "Dustin??" It was him. The weirder part is that later Rach (my roommie) comes there with her Mom and she says "My friend Dustin works here. I just talked to him!" And I said "I KNOW Dustin too!" How weird is that though that he was in my dream Thursday night, and I run into him on Saturday?!?

Now the funny part is that Dustin and Rachel knew each other in college and Dustin and Jamie have known each other for maybe 4 years which would coincide with Rachel knowing him. How Jamie and Rachel have never met through him is beyond me. The funny part is that Rachel talks about her friend Dustin, and they played volleyball on Thursdays together this winter. The sad part is that this is the 4th person that Rachel and I both know but never knew we both knew that person until we've either ran into them or like they met one of us out. It's weird really. But Rachel and I have known each other for 6 years so it's bound to happen I guess, even if she IS 6 years younger than myself.

My latest scheme really isn't so much a "scheme" as it is, let's slightly stalk a hot guy. And I'm not really stalking him but he happens to bartend on Saturdays at my and my roommie's favorite bars which is also really close to our house. And it's also not my fault that he told me that he works every Saturday and told me his schedule. It is my fault that my roommie and I make sure to go up on Saturdays during his work hours though to grab a drink. I mean, we would anyway, but sometimes we go earlier or later than we normally would just to see him.

The last 3 Saturdays that I've been up there during his shift, I drink for free. Me and whatever girl is with me. He charged my guy friend that was with us but it was like $5, and Neil had like 3 beers, and I don't know how many shots. Now I'm not talking a drink here or there. I'm talking like 3 hours+ of drinking for free. Last Saturday it was just a Bloody Mary and a beer back. But the other 2 was all night. One Saturday, I couldn't even tell you what I drank but I'm pretty sure it was a ton based on how I felt Sunday morning. I did at least 4 shots. And I know for a fact I drank a Bloody Mary and beer back, 2 Captain and Diets, and not sure how many beers. Wait, now what I type what I drank on that drinking binge, it could have easily been what I drank.

But not the point I'm making. . . I keep drinking for free lately. So. . . thinking this might be a good sign, and the fact I do have his number, I texted him on Sunday to tell him that I was making banana bread and to let me know if he wanted some. He always tells me to stop by his house (he lives close to me and he told me where he lived), and so I thought this would be a good step. I didn't want to just stop by. I want to stop by with a purpose. But alas, he never responded. While I am super disappointed, I am really impressed with myself to do that! Especially to a guy I am not friends with but for someone who I know a lot about since he tells me a lot about himself.

My friend Steph had her baby. He is adorable. I can't believe I might not see him though until July. I don't know if I can wait that long. That's the sucky part about living soo far away.

Meghan still hasn't had Gavin. So we wait. . .

But this guy decided he would come into this world on Friday the 13th. :) Well he didn't decide, but my sister's doctor decided she would need to be induced on Friday if she didn't have him before then. He was 8lbs, 4oz and 19 inches long. And it was torture for me because he didn't have a name for over 24hours! If you knew my sister, you would understand why this is weird. They couldn't decide on names so they waited until he was born. Caden James--your aunt cannot wait to squeeze you!

Again, it sucks because I couldn't be there to see him come into this world. But my Mom sent me a picture which I'm pretty sure was right after my sister gave birth so it was like I was there. Thanks Mom. I'll get to meet him in 8 days. I'm not counting or anything. He definitely looks just like his big brother did when he was a baby. So at least he's predestined for cuteness!

Have a great week everyone!

Back into the Swing of things. . .literally. . .

Well. . . I was able to pick my arm up enough to bat. . . so that was good. . . whether I batted well or not is a different story. But according to my favorite Umpire Duane. . . it was a PRACTICE game. ;)

I didn't realize how much I love softball until last night. And maybe it's not necessarily softball but the routine that softball has for us.

It was going to Pal Joey's before the game and the owner saying "HEY! It's soo good to see you again! Bud Light??" And then when we left I waved goodbye and he came out and hugged me and said not to be a stranger. I got a hug. A HUG. haha! We've been going there before and sometimes after games for the last 4 years, so he should remember us. My Father reading this is going to ask if I drop some serious cash there during the summer, but he's been with us there, so I guess he should know the answer to that question. And in case you other folks are wondering, I never drink more than 1 or 2 beers before softball because it's softball and I really need as quick of reflexes as possible as to not get jacked in the face!

Then we get to the field and our favorite Ump Duane gave me a high five and side hug. Then we talked about how awesome my friend Erin who works with him is. . . :) And Erin--he told me what a great time it was travelling with you to San Antonio. I didn't tell him how you told me he was all spiffed up for travel and you were travelling basically in your PJs for your 6am flight.

I think it's the comradery that softball brings too. Most of the teams have been playing out there as long as we have. And other friends play out there at the same time, too, so you just see so many friends and acquaintances. It's just nice. It just feels like home.

Also, Happy Mother's Day to all those Mother's out there! My sister is 50% effaced and 3cm dilated at the moment. She wants to hold off until after Mother's Day and would like him on the 10th-my Grandma Mona's birthday.

My friend Steph is having a C-Section today for her little boy too. She was hoping to go natural, but the baby's shoulders are too big. :(

Meghan is also due any day. I picked today for her in the pool. . . let's hope! :)

My funny Mom story is the call I got on Wednesday morning. I left a message on Tues night asking if we should send my sister a big bouquet of flowers for not only Mother's Day but for Teacher Appreciation week as well. She agreed and then said she had a dilemma and didn't know how to bring it up to me. I asked what it was and well. . . she wants me to quit sending her cards. She can't get herself to throw them away since they are usually sweet or if they are funny, I write something sweet in them, and she just has too many now and just doesn't know where to put them.

Ooh Mommy, I LOVE YOU! :)

Happy Friday and have a glorious weekend!

You know you're old when. . .

Well. . . it happened.

I think I've officially become old. And so have my friends. I don't know when it happened. It just did. Apparently as you age, you don't spring back like you used to.

Case in point:

Tuesday night when my friend and I were playing in the monthly euchre tournament. He looks at me at one point, points to his watch and says "It's your bedtime." I laughed, and then realized, Holy Cow, I AM always in bed by 10pm! I may not be asleep yet, but I am in bed. We were one game away from being crowned Champions and were ousted at 11pm. The tournament has never really ever lasted past 10:30, let alone still one more game to play at 11pm! I think there were just some super slow players. I tried to make him feel better by texting him afterwards and telling him how I had to stop and get gas on the way home, and his text reply was "Nice try. I'm still way past my bedtime but I had fun with you!" Then I felt even worse as last night a group of us were getting together to play sand volleyball at 6:30pm, and he texted me at 9pm to tell me he just woke up from his cat nap he took after work. Ooops!!!

So then last night happens. I had to teach Pilates at 5, then was playing sand volleyball at 6:30pm, and then a random girl's night at 7:30pm. Harmless right??

Well Kathy decided since it was nice out we should walk instead of me making her do Pilates. I agreed. Then I went early to volleyball and did a pick up game with some people at 6. Then my friends get there, who I was meeting, and all decide that we should play 3s and 4s instead of 6s. I'm not sure if anyone realizes how much more energy it takes to play 4s. And for some reason I decided to try serving overhand to see if I could. And I was doing pretty good. I was impressed since I haven't played volleyball since October. I also did a "burpie" in the sand. A "burpie" or whatever else it may be called is when you jump straight up in the air, squat, then do a push up. In case you missed it. . . I did it in the SAND. Not what you would call a very secure place to fall down and not move on you. I apparently have also become more stupid in my old age. :)

Fast forward to the pub right after volleyball, where after sitting for an hour, I get up to use the loo and BAM. My quads feel like lead. So I do what any other normal person would do and take long steps with pauses to stretch them out. Completely normal and unattention getting. Also, at the current moment, I'm a little unsure if I'll be able to raise my arm to bat or catch anything at my softball game at 9 tonight.

At the pub (I use pub since it's a bar that serves really awesome English fare food), we for some reason were pretty quiet and tame for a Girl's night. We knew things were going downhill when we started talking Politics. GASP! Politics?? At Girl's Night? I mean, there really is something wrong. We were all pretty tired too but just didn't know why. Then it dawned on us: All other Girl's Nights are on Thursdays. We apparently are too tired on Wednesdays to be peppy and fun! I kept trying to dance to whatever music was on while I was in my chair to no avail.

What made it even more funny was that when Jarrod and Britt got there, Jarrod turned to Britt and said "Ummm. . . I'm not sure what happened, but they are usually a lot more entertaining than this!" haha! I think Britt was pretty bummed. I also find it cute that Britt and Jarrod had a bro-date because their ladies were out. However, Britt went to one theater while Jarrod was waiting for him at the other. Now, keep in mind, they discussed in email which one they were going to. . . and Britt went to the wrong one. We were laughing. Then we asked if they sat by each other because a lot of guys when going to a movie never sit by each other. . . and well. . . they didn't. There was totally a seat in between them.

This also reminds me of a hilarious story that my friend Larry tells about a co-worker. Larry is openly gay. Well, he and this co-worker make plans to go to dinner after work and then to see a movie. The co-worker, another male, says that he'll just meet Larry at the movie after they finish dinner. Well, when Larry gets there, he can't find his co-worker. He calls him and he says "Oh, yeah, I just went ahead and got my ticket. I'm in the theater." So Larry goes into the theater, grabs some popcorn, and finds his co-worker. Well half way through the movie, the co-worker says he has to use the restroom. Larry waits and waits and the co-worker never comes back. Then when the movie is over, Larry sees the co-worker like 3 rows ahead! He didn't even talk to him on the way out or apologize or anything. Hilarious. Maybe you have to have Larry retell the story, but trust me, it was funny! And having met the co-worker. . . even more hilarious.

Okay, back to me being old. Well when 10pm hits and I'm massively yawning, we disbanded. On Girl's Night! Usually with girl's night we say things like "We're going to take it easy tonight" or "Let's just have a few drinks" and the next thing you know it's 12am and you've done like 3 shots and really DO need to go home. We determined that we can't do Girl's Night on Wednesdays anymore since apparently "Hump Day" to us means we need to be in bed early and clearly no alcohol induced humping will be going on because of the crazy shenanigans we have gotten ourselves into.

Happy soon to be the Weekend! :)

Sooo. .. yeah. . .

I'm just going to say it. . . and well. . . I'm not going to apologize. . .

Donald Trump would make a HORRIBLE President.

Okay, glad we got that out of the way. I'm sorry for who I offended.

Let's get back to more important issues such as things that I've been thinking about and my new random dream.

First of all, I got to thinking about this after a few conversations with some friends and family. I also wanted to state for the record how awesome my friends and family are. I really couldn't ask for better people in my life. Well some of them have been sucky lately, but they don't read this blog and really I am not sure if they are even friends.

But this is the funny situation that came up this weekend that got me thinking:

What happens when your friend(s) keep talking up how awesome someone is and then you meet them and all you're thinking about is "well they seem nice, but not near as cool or awesome as you keep saying they are."

One of my friends had a friend in town this weekend, and I told her awesome he was. And she said "Right?? Whew! Glad you liked him!" She was actually worried I might not. And as my friend Emily said "For an engineer you have an awesome personality. I say this because my brother is one and well. . .it's lacking." haha!

But it's funny when you meet your friends' friends or are introduced in group settings and whatnot. I actually have a "friend" who I think is just one of the most awkward people to talk to, and I can't figure out if I'm the only person they are awkward around. But the thing is, no one and I mean NO ONE has ever said anything to me about it. I've introduced the person to other people too, and I'm not sure if no one else has noticed it or just afraid to say anything. I mean, it's to the point where it's just been soo awkward to talk to this person, that I never really ask this person to hang out one on one for this reason. The person is nice and seems cool, just it's hard to carry on a conversation. And I can talk to anyone. ANYONE. I'm curious to the emails now I might get about this!

As for my dream. . . Again "I COPYRIGHT THIS!" I seriously need to figure out how to do that! haha!

Well my dreamed started off in the land of bliss. I was dating this great guy who looked a lot like Josh Radnor (Ted on HIMYM) and in the dream I seemed madly in love. But then somewhere (and where I am not sure) I was all of a sudden betrothed to Topher Grace (Eric from That 70s Show). I don't know if it was a green card thing or a set-up thing but all of a sudden I was planning my wedding to this guy that I did not love. And Josh kept telling me how much he loved me and wished things could be different but there wasn't anything I could do to not marry Topher. The wedding happens which reminded me much like Muriel's Wedding but neither the groom nor I were happy to be getting married. We fake our way through the wedding reception and try very hard to act in love. Then by the time I wake up we end up in love. Not sure the time span that passed or not. . . but WEIRD.

I had some other random stuff, but it has left me now.

Happy Tuesday!