Greetings from the Virgin Islands..

It is awesome here!
There are huge iguanas everywhere though.. have to be careful not to freak out and not to step on one!
We are having a great time and I will DEFINITELy be posting pictures as soon as I get back!

Accelerator Seems to Be Stuck...

I am very tired of going 900 mph. I have been doing it for several days now.
I keep meaning to update the blog and every time there is a few minutes to do it, I am too tired to log on. I have gone riding with AC, gone to a Clemson game and sat in the box, spent a joyous homecoming with L, worked my behind off, ...and now I am getting ready to go to an HOA board meeting, then to dinner, then back home where I have to pack for my early morning flight out to the USVI.

Maybe there I will actually get some rest. Although last night I was not interested in sleeping. ;-)

Life is busy, but very good.

Later: Maybe some pictures?

Never a Dull Moment..

This morning as I was getting ready to leave for work, a crazy thing happened.

Duckie and Monster were still in a state of profound agitation when I left the house, their fur standing on end, tails slashing the air, eyes huge, fangs showing. House cats can be terrifying creatures indeed.

I had gone out into the garage to put some boxes in the car. I went back inside to get my coffee, then went into the bedroom to get something else. When I opened the bedroom door, there was a SNAKE...

...coiled up and ready for action right in front of the bedroom door, striking at the cats, who were in full-on predator mode! It was only about a foot long, if that. It wasn't a huge snake or anything.. but it had a pattern on its back, and in my adrenaline charged state, I wasn't too concerned with making sure of what kind it was!

After a moment of four-letter words coming out of my mouth at top volume, I had to figure out what to do about it.. I couldn't get out of the bedroom without moving it or stepping over it, and it was evidently feeling aggressive, because it was striking at Duckie. That pretty much did it for me though.

I got one of L's hiking boots out of his closet and flattened that sucker's head!

Yep. I killed a snake with a shoe inside my house this morning. What's your day like so far?? LOL

"Hey.. You're Kinda Cute.."

Meowwr?

My cats are insane.

They kept me up half the night last night, chasing each other and knocking things off the counters, racing around the house, pouncing on my feet until I threw them out of the bedroom. Then they sat at the door and yowled and scratched to get back in for hours, until I banished them to the garage.

You'd think they'd appreciate being able to stay in the house at night, now that the dogs are gone for the week, but no. Nothing would satisfy them except free range of the entire house, plus the privilege of wallowing on my pillow and attacking any part of me that moved.

They seemed only mildly put out when I let them back in this morning. Monster's tail was fluffed out like a bottle brush.

Excellent Weekend

*sigh*
Well, the weekend is over. It was a good one, but I am sorry to see it go.

On Saturday, our counseling session got interesting for a minute when we started discussing finances. L picked a bad example to illustrate a point; Trigger is someone I love, not an object! Needless to say I got a little heated (but only a little.. from the reaction, you'd think I had blown a gasket. I don't get it, really.. but that's another post entirely). Anyway all's well that ends well, so it was okay.

Our invitation shopping went very well. We were in and out in 20 minutes, and the personal service was well worth paying for! The invites we got are cream colored card stock by Rita Renning, with burgundy envelope liners and thermography. They have pearl accents that will match the cake exactly.

Our discussion with the Hyatt about the rehearsal dinner was easy as well, and we were done for the day before we thought we would be. We ended up skipping the FSU club and going home. I worked on ebay (which is doing really well right now!).

Yesterday I cleaned the entire house. It looks fantastic in here! Then we ordered pizza and watched Zodiac, which was entirely too long. Then we went to bed. Without providing TMI, I will just say that if I could be like the guy in Groundhog Day and relive any portion of time over and over again, it would be last night, after the movie. ;-) Ah, life is good.

And today, L leaves for Tally for a week at the office. Neither of us are particularly excited about him going, but oh well, what can we do? I'm off to work now...

Later: Who knows? Probably chillin with AC..

Cataloochee

Trigger and I went riding with our friend MMw and a group of his friends yesterday. We left the barn at 5:30 am and hit the road for Cataloochee, NC. These are the woods right before we rode into them...
Here we are after a few hours of riding... Trigger was SO GOOD all day! I was very proud of him. He climbed hills, crossed rivers, walked on rocks, and exhibited remarkable courage and composure when faced with the elk! There were elk everywhere, and they were in rut, which makes them dangerous.. but we made it (despite one semi-close call) and it was an amazing day!!
Here's "the posse".. Don't they look like something out of a western movie? What a great bunch of guys!
THIS is how close we were to the elk! This one is marking his territory by tearing up the ground. We also saw some females running away from the males. They had a baby elk with them that was adorable! But I couldn't get a picture of them.. we were busy retreating from the bellowing male that was chasing them! These animals are almost as big as Trigger... and that's not counting their antlers! I would NOT want to attract one's attention!

When they are in season (like yesterday) the males make a bugling sound that really sounds like a woman screaming or maybe like a 2-year-old throwing a massive, screeching fit. (To quote Bobby, "I b'lieve that'un has done got in touch with his feminine side!")
After the ride, we all stopped for a delicious steak dinner at Binion's in Hendersonville. Our waitress asked how it was that I was the only lady with the group of guys. I said "Just lucky I guess!" They seemed to like that okay.. I got invited back next time at least. :-)

Today: Counseling appointment #2, Buying invitations - Round 2, and Planning the Rehearsal Dinner at the Hyatt.. followed by an FSU game watching party (mmm, chicken wings..!)

Gone and Done It

Today I went to the estate buying event at Haywood Mall and waited in line for hours. Actually they gave me a number and said to go shop while I waited, so I did. I bought a dress, two shirts, and a belt at Express because I had gift certificates to spend, and then I went to buy a birthday gift for my sister.

They finally got to my number at about 1:30 this afternoon, and I sold my wedding rings from J (and the last Valentines gift from him) for $625. I paid $3200 for the ring. It's a shame, but after shopping it around for the last 4 years or so, I have finally accepted the fact that I got ripped off in the first place. I was also frankly sick of looking at the ring.

But I had me a moment after it left my hands for the last time.

It's kind of like when you pull a plant out of the ground by the roots.. you expect there to be a hole there in the earth where it used to live. Imagine the surprise if you didn't see one. That's how it felt. I honestly didn't know that there was still any part of him still left in my heart. Turns out there was.. it was a tiny little thing like a splinter, and when it got pulled out today, it didn't leave an impression at all.

It's gone. There's nothing left except a dress (which is selling on ebay), some memories, and a box of photographs in the top shelf of the extra closet. The pictures only remain so that my sister and I can laugh at them in 20 years. We like to do that sort of thing. The idea that my life is moving onward and upward has taken hold and gotten comfortable.

This is a good place to be.

Debut #426

I'm singing at the Seasons Thursday night. Yes, that's tomorrow. Yes, I am only singing two songs, and I only have two rehearsals under my belt. I'm doing it anyway.

An Ode to L..

In the past few weeks, the following things have gone haywire:
1) My sister
2) A situation at work
3) Wedding planning is always haywire
4) The band (wtf is going on there.. anybody know???)

I was driving home from work (by way of A-Town) today feeling very low and depressed. I thought to myself, why can't something be NORMAL.. just one thing in my life!!! Why does everything have to be so hard and emotionally draining and f***ing difficult? Why do crazy people follow me everywhere I go? Why am I constantly dogged by drama that I can't ever ever ever get away from?

Don't tell me the Lord doesn't have a sense of humor. Don't even try.

Because just about then L called. He was wondering when to expect me home, and wanted to tell me that he had steaks marinating in the fridge and needed to know what we should eat with them (long grain and wild rice, with salad, I said. And lo! It was good.)

Right this minute, I am going to be very very serious:

Thank God for that man. He is the best thing that ever happened to me. He's my best friend and my favorite pastime. He makes me happy when skies are gray, etc etc.

So I sat down on the patio in our backyard with a glass of wine and the new Oprah magazine, while the steaks sizzled on the grill.. and read an article that made me sit there with my mouth hanging open for a full minute..

Because everything that has been frustrating the heck out of me for the last 2 months was right there on the page, along with a handy synopsis of what I need to be doing about it instead of complaining. Just goes to show that even if you don't read the Bible much, God will still find a way to tell you what He thinks you should know (no matter what the Jehovah's Witnesses say!) It might be Oprah, it might be a bald man with a steak, or it might be a particularly stubborn young palomino horse.

He'll tell you, and keep telling you until you shut up and listen.

It's Sunday Already?

It's been a strange couple of weeks..

We've had wedding issues, we've tried to deal with the invitations issue.. We sent them back, just waiting for our refund now. L is trying to rein in the wild fantasies of some of his family members about what the wedding is going to be like.. and bring the focus back to the we are getting married part. It has turned into a chance for certain people to live vicariously, and/or a chance for an elaborate family reunion.

I've been boiling about a situation at work, and actually explained my theory to AC last night. I probably should have kept my mouth shut, but I have been thinking it for a long time. I don't think she would make an issue of it at work.. and if it came down to it, I don't think I would be afraid to say everything I said last night directly to the person in question. I just think that working with that person may be difficult after such a revelation. Then again, it may improve things.. they couldn't get a whole lot worse, after all...

L and I went to our first premarital counseling appointment yesterday as well. It was actually pretty nice. Our counselor is an African-American preacher from Gray Court who is very laid back, very funny, and very reasonably priced. He gave us homework.. I get to ask L any three questions and he has to answer them.. or at least explain his reasons for not answering, and he gets to make me slow down and/or come home instead of doing some activity. We also have to rent King Kong and watch it together. Then we have to write a page each about what we think the movie is about. We can't compare notes though.. we just have to bring them with us next Saturday.

Later: Trigger!

My Skull Hurts.

The Promised Public Service Announcement

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:
This PSA comes about as a result of the things I have seen and heard this week.. at work and out in public.

You.
Yeah, you, who won't ever admit to reading my blog because I'm nowhere near as important as you.. You know who you are. There's something I need to say to you, so listen up.

I like lists, so you're getting one. Starting now:

1) You are not better than anyone else just because you can afford cosmetic surgery, or because you have PhD (or any other combination of letters) after your name, or because you're from another country or because of whatever parts might reside in your nether regions. I don't care where you come from. This is America, and here we believe that all people are created equal. Lose the attitude and deal with it. You're getting on my last nerve.

2) No one else is inferior to you just because they don't have a lot of money (even if said lack of funds is due to their own bad decisions in life.. nobody died and made you the judge), or because they didn't go to college, or because you're cuter than they are. I don't care if your reasons for thinking so are religious, cultural, or just your almighty opinion... you're wrong. Stop acting like an a$$hole and maybe you'd have some friends to spend time with; maybe then you wouldn't have time to think up new and interesting "comebacks" to perceived (though nonexistent) slights.

3) Unless you have walked in someone else's shoes for at least a day, or sat at their desk and taken the same BS they have to put up with, you shouldn't presume to tell someone to "do their job." Or lecture on how to do a job you have never done, aren't trained to do, and haven't been asked to comment on... (atrocious grammar, I know, but please bear with me).

4) I don't know who told you that being rude, nasty, and arrogant to anyone would get any kind of results. It doesn't. I don't care if the cashier or waiter in front of you has an IQ of 19 and is ugly as sin, you're not going to get what you want out of him/her by screaming and calling them names. Nor yet by demanding to speak to the manager and then screaming and calling him names. It doesn't work. Stop doing it. You are making everyone around you miserable and uncomfortable, and you still aren't going to get what you want.

5) It isn't really that hard to be nice. If someone holds the door for you, the correct response is "Thank you." If someone honks the horn at you because you are sitting at a dead stop at a green light, the correct response is to press your foot on the skinny pedal on the right side of your floorboard,, not to flip the bird at the person who honked. If you left your purse on the back of your car and then sped off, and someone saved your purse for you and called you to return it, with contents intact, the correct response is "Thank you SO MUCH!!"


I realize that it is hard to be nice all the time. I try really hard, but sometimes my true nature wins out and I just have to express my outrage.. but I try to keep it a rare occurrence. Like yesterday.. But that's another post. The point is, you would get a lot further in life if you treated people like.. people and not obstacles to your perfect little life. Just saying.

Demotivation

Sometimes it is really hard to get motivated to write.

Sometimes I can post every day and not feel like I am just blathering.. but not lately. I guess part of it could be because I am so busy .. and because sometimes dealing with the massive stupidity I find at every turn keeps me so demoralized that it's hard to string a sentence together some days.

Like today.
Just saying.

Later:
Clearing up some common myths (A Public Service Announcement for People Whose Posterior and Cranium have Somehow Switched Positions...)

This is so good, I have to post it again..

Go to the wedding blog to see 'em all...

Drive By Blog Update

Once again, I have so much going on that it's not even funny to try to list all of it. Of course I'm going to give it a try:

1) Check the wedding blog for our latest wedding invitation fiasco, and our hotel visits.. and our unfortunate attempt at a photo shoot yesterday..

2) Trigger needs riding..

3) L and I are both still feeling icky. This is some tenacious virus.. but it isn't going to slow me down. I am too busy.

4) The house really needs cleaning..

5) We have no groceries

6) The weather is awesome, though, isn't it?

Pics from last Weekend...

L at Friday Nite Jazz..
Log and Cb at Roper Mtn..
J, Lise, Log and Cb at Isaqueena Falls..
Me and L at the falls..

A Quote

"I'm not a nice person.. I am pushing myself."
--Fran

Amen, sister! I feel the same way 99% of the time. ;-) I'm not really very nice either.. though I would like to be.

How Much Longer???

I'm so tired.

I feel like going back to bed and staying there for the rest of the day, Adderall notwithstanding. But that's not gonna happen because I have too much to do at work. Yesterday was another one of those days where everything went wrong and annoying, and I couldn't get out of the office until after 6.

It's not happening today, that's for sure.

So.. it's time to get going, but just so we don't feel like our day is going badly, here's a little something to make you realize that your day isn't bad at all:
My Sister's Car

Newscast from the Doldrums

Jazz class last night was great. I didn't get to do much except look through music and listen, but it was great just the same. There are some incredibly skilled musicians in that class! I have a feeling I will learn a lot there.

In other news, my sister's car burned up yesterday. She finally goes and gets the **** thing fixed, and it bursts into flame on the way home from the shop. And when I say "burst into flame" I mean just that. Apparently my family has a startling propensity toward automobiles that spontaneously combust. And with the way things are going lately, I am wondering what will burn down next. This is awful!

On other fronts.. I got a call yesterday from another friend of A. During that conversation, I got the feeling that there has been some spin put on the situation between me and A. As if I am such a b**** and A bears no blame for what happened. And as if I am harboring some kind of grudge.

Y'all I'm not MAD, I'm HURT!!! All it would have taken was a phone call!!!! The only reason I'm not over it is a) I care about A and I would love to be her friend again but b) I have yet to get a straight answer about why she never showed up in Vegas.. just several different stories that don't quite jive, and c) other people keep telling me that I am in the wrong here, and I'm NOT. I'm sorry, if A cared at all about me or my friendship, she would have called me at some point in the last 8 months.

But she doesn't.

So what the **** am I supposed to do? I called them and offered anything I can do to help them in their horrible situation. And make no mistake, I would do it. I will be there for them in any way I can. When they set up a fund for the family, I will donate to it. I would be there helping them sift through the rubble if I felt like they wanted me to. I called other friends who have gone to help.

I see it just like I see my JW family at this point.. my door is open. I love her and would be willing to help her if she wanted or needed my help. But if she wanted my friendship, she would call me. Period. I'm not going to throw myself at someone and beg them to be my friend, when they have continually hurt my feelings in the past. Not when I have made an entire career out of being screwed over by other people. Not when I actually do have friends who actually will show up when they make plans with me, and who call when they can't make it, and who actually care when something is going on in my life. There is no excuse for that kind of rudeness.

Of course, of course, of course I still care about A. Of course I would still be there for her if she wanted me to. But she doesn't. Why is everybody acting like I'm being unreasonable?

And finally, our biggest story this morning.. It's September 11 again. Don't forget. Don't ever forget or get complacent. Support the troops even if you don't agree with the war they're fighting.. they didn't pick the fight. And finally, God Bless America.. we need it.