Helium Hello

Because it's always funny when someone sucks on some helium and says "Hello"

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

crushed

Today, was not the best day. Jeff was off, but came in during my lunch break.

To clean out his office.

It seems our regional director wants to prove a point. The corporate auditors were out last week, 8 out 10 stores failed. It sounds bad, but it is not very hard to fail an audit. A couple of missing phones, a few forgotten signatures. That's all it takes.

They didn't come to our store. But still, stores have to improve. So, they are taking good, proven managers and put them in struggling stores. Jeff was one that went.

I couldn't believe it. My heart was breaking as I watched him clean out his desk. I had to walk away when I saw the tears in his eyes, and never imagined I would be the one who was signing his keys back in.

It was all very quick and mysterious. We went through four o' clock before we knew who our manager would be. Our regional is calling the shots. Jeff had no say in it. He did tell him I could run the store just as well as it has been the past three years. It is not to be.

I have talked with several people today and this evening. I have gotten some really great advice and encouragement.

Still, I will go in tomorrow with a new manager waiting for me.

This really sucks. I never, ever imagined I would be working without him at his store. The moves are not temporary. He has been my mentor, he pushes when I need to be, tells me when I am wrong, and rewards me when I am right. I am going to miss him.

I picked the wrong day to try and quit smoking.

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Sunday, January 29, 2006

i now return you to your regularly scheduled program

OK, so I've been mia a while. I needed some time, to clear my head, to cry, to work, etc. I spoke with my doctor, he said he really didn't see a need to drain the cyst, or to biopsy the "cluster". Sadly, I do not agree.

I will be calling the doctor Destiny recommended tomorrow. I just want some closure, you know?

Last night, Corie & I went to see Memoirs of a Geisha. It was shot beautifully, wonderful score, costumes, etc. But, it was a long way to go for the ending. The book, was much, much better.

Today, Corie called me, from the hospital. Seems after the movie, she started having contractions. This happened to her last time as well. She is 32 weeks. Too soon. Now she will have bed rest for the remainder of the time. I feel so bad for her, we were all hoping this wouldn't happen again.

There is a new RENT tour starting Feb. 4th. Not coming anywhere close to Texas. I wonder why? It's been years since a tour, and I really hope they add some more dates.

There is a lot of other boring stuff going on, but I won't bore you now, but I will keep you posted :)

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since ive never played

I am posting a triple for photo Sunday. You will have to bear with me, as I have no pictures here, and no scanner. I had to take these with my phone in some crappy light.

This is Ashley, this series remind me of the pictures in Life magazine. Larrys cousin Kathy had moved from California with her two girls. During one of the birthday parties at the pool, Larry dad took these shots of Ashley in the fountain. I love them, I absolutely love them.

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both

Larry's Grandma June had Alzhiemers. She was staying at a very nice place in the woodlands. We took the girls out there to visit her one sunny afternoon. In the gazebo, I snapped this picture, it is, to this day, my favorite picture of both of them together.

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my absolute favorite picture of hannah

Larry & I had gone out on one of those "gambling cruises" out of Galveston. Larry's parents were watching the girls. They took them to the park, along with a roll of black & white film. They got some great shots, but this one, is my all time favorite Hannah picture.

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Wednesday, January 25, 2006

you take the good, you take the bad

You take them both and there you have ... the facts of life.

There is some good news and different news. When I showed up for the ultrasound, the technician informed me they had seen something in the mammogram.

On the left side.

This is not the side I felt the lump. I was a little shocked, and it caught me off guard. So, the first part of the ultrasound by the technician was on the left. On the good end, she said it was only 2 mm, not cm, she was going to have to really look for it. Then she probed the right, found the little pea sized round lump.

Then in came the doctor. He looked at the left first. Quite honestly, I didn't feel like he was in the same spot she was. She showed him the captured image of the "cluster". This scared me, because in all my online reading, cluster is a word I have seen very often.

The good news is the mass in my right side is fluid filled. He said they want to watch the left, and I should come back in six months. He will write up the report and send the images to my OB. Hopefully I will hear from him tomorrow. If I haven't heard from him by 11:00 on Friday, I will call him.

I am curious as to what he will say. I want the cyst drained and tested. I also want the left tested. A "cluster" to "watch" and come back in six months is not quite enough closure for me. If my doctor does not suggest it first, and doesn't agree or appease me, I already have the number of a different doctor.

I called Destiny, my sister's friend who is 31 and just diagnosed. She said, "Absolutely not, you MUST have a biopsy". I have always liked Destiny, she is very loud, brutally honest, and gives a new meaning to loyalty. Autumn and she have known each other since high school, and she was wonderful to us when our mom died.

So, I left, feeling not a lot better than I did arriving. I can not go six months, I simply can't. I have been doubling up on the sleeping pills since Saturday. There is no harm in a second opinion. At best, what can hurt?

I am really hoping my doc will say it first. I have always trusted his opinion, he has been very good the entire time I have been seeing him. Not giving you or doing something you don't need, then making sure you are taken care of when you do need it.

So, no closure, yet. But, a little bit better than yesterday.

This little bit with me has nothing on the drama at work, and with Larry. More on that tomorrow. Right now, my second sleeping pill is kicking in.

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Tuesday, January 24, 2006

from full out crazy to nothing at all

That's how my days go. So, tomorrow is the big day. I am planning on going to work afterwards, so I will post after I get home :)

Thanks for all of your support, I really appreciate it.

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Monday, January 23, 2006

are you there god? its me, kimmy

I wished for good New Year, didn’t I?

Friday afternoon, in the shower, I found a lump. I haven’t felt it before, then again, I am ten pounds lighter, and those things are mostly fatty tissue. Of course it was after two, so my OB was closed for the weekend. I called his answering service, hoping he would be on call and just order me a mammogram. No such luck. I then called Dr. Iwontgiveyousleepingpills on the off chance he may actually believe me, and just let me go and get one downstairs. Strike two. I couldn’t even get an appointment to see him, but I would have to first.

I called and switched my schedule on Monday to a closing shift. Then, I decided to google it. BIG MISTAKE. People, let me just tell you, if you are sick, do not research it online. I was ready to call the funeral home. So, I waited, until this morning. I got up, got dressed and started driving towards my OB without an appointment. I called when the office opened, I was 15 minutes away.

I told the receptionist what was going on, she said come on in.

My doctor, who I have seen for more than 20 years and adore, comes in. He asked me which side, I tell him, and he begins to palpitate. “Ah ha, there it is.” OK, he can feel it, I a going straight to the crematory. He sends me downstairs for the mammogram. The radiologist reads it, there is a mass, and you have to get an ultrasound to see if it is solid or not (fluid is good; it would probably be a cyst). But, the ultrasound technician isn’t here; you have to come back Wednesday.

So, I know nothing more than I did on Friday, and have to wait more until Wednesday.

THEN, on the back way to work, I run out of gas, on the exit ramp, in construction. This is the first time I have ran out of gas in over 16 years. I was two hours late for work and rushing to let my other manager go to lunch. If I really don’t have cancer, then I was surely going to die by some car slamming into me even though I had my flashers on.

Some of the construction workers pushed me off to the shoulder. Within minutes, the “Safety Clear” tow is there. He tells me less than a mile is free, which is good because, the doctor I adore stopped taking my insurance last year (seems I was the only one that had it), then I had to pay my 10% of the mammo.

So, there it is. Stranger-than-fiction-you-cant-make-this-shit-up. My appointment is Wednesday at 12:45 central time. Send good wishes, prayers or pixie dust.

At this point I don't care if you worship a hole in the ground. I’ll take what I can get.

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Sunday, January 22, 2006

stranger than fiction

Houston, we have a new coach.

Mr Texansowner didn't waste any time after Denver's loss to announce our new leader. As I watched the game with Marilee (huge Pittsburgh fan) I told her, "seeing the way Jake is playing, the Message Board will be filled with "we shouldn't hire him" and "he hasn't helped Jake" post. Sure enough, there they were.

I don't really root for the Steelers, but today I did, I want our coach, in place, evaluating and hiring his staff. When you hire a playoff coach, most of the other 'good ones' are taken by the time his team is done.

I can make it to April, the draft. Then it is only 3 & 1/2 months till pre-season starts. I am going to have serious withdrawal, I may have to start watching baseball on a regular basis.

You know, there are so many things I do not write here. Why? They are unbelievable. I mean, they are 'you can't make this stuff up' type of post. I have something lurking inside me, I am not going to write about it, yet. I do not want to give it any credit or validate it in any way.

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find the voice and raise it

that young boy without a name
anywhere I'd know his face
in this city the kid's my favorite
I've seen him, seen him, I see him every day

I've seen him run outside
looking for a place to hide from his father
the kid half naked
and said to myself,

"o, what's the matter here?"

I'm tired of the excuses everybody uses
he's their kid I stay out of it,
but who gave you the right to do this?

we live on Morgan Street
just ten feet between
and his mother, I never see her
but her screams and cussing
I hear them every day

threats like, "if you don't mind I will beat on your behind"
"slap you, slap you silly" made me say,
o, what's the matter here?"

I'm tired of the excuses everybody uses, he's your kid
do as you see fit, but get this through that I know what you do
and what you did to your own flesh and blood

"if you don't sit in your chair straight
I'll take this belt from around my waist
and don't think that I won't use it!"

answer me and take your time
what could be the awful crime
he could do at such young an age?

if I'm the only witness to your madness
offer me some words to balance out
what I see and what I hear

all these cold and rude things that you do
I suppose you do because he belongs to you
instead of love and the feel of warmth
you've given him these cuts and sores
that won't heal with time or age

I want to say,
"what's the matter here?"
but I don't dare say.

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Friday, January 20, 2006

yep, it's the yoga

OK, I now know that the soreness in my muscles is from the yoga. After the session this morning (which was cool because there were only three of us) I coughed, and felt them, hard.

You know when you're sick, and cough for days on end, and how your abs start to hurt? Yeah, that's it! The thing is, it works almost every single muscle in your body. I really like it. I may have her help me a bit though. I've got a tightness in the left side of my neck, the kind that you know if you turn it just right, it's gonna cramp.

After class I went to a couple of stores. I'm down to 141, yes, that's 8 pounds, two sizes! My pants are falling off of me at work, and I really needed a new pair. I went to Penny's and found a pair of size NINE (woo hoo) khakis, a really cute white peasant shirt and a pink camisole. All for 30 bucks. You gotta love that! for those of you playing along, i paid cash ;)

Not only is the eating better/exercising/yoga making me feel better, buying something that shows your efforts makes you want to keep going. So, I think this will be my schedule. Since I open almost every Monday, I will work out with the machines after work. Tuesday, treadmill (I can do that at the workout room here at my complex) Wednesday, 9:45 yoga. Thursday, treadmill. Since I close almost every Friday, 8:30 yoga. Saturday & Sunday, rest! If I can't make it to the a.m. yoga classes, I will probably go and do machines after work.

I'm feeling good, I'm looking good. I need to really start cracking down. My "quit" date is Feb. 1st. I'm already getting better at it, I can go for at least four hours without one, and am looking forward to twenty four!

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Thursday, January 19, 2006

three wise cracks

So, I'm reading espn via close caption and I see that Dom Capers will be interviewing for the head coach of the Buffalo Bills. yeah, that will help them However, it did give me an opportunity to tell the three jokes I can remember.

Do you know what the BILLS stands for?
Boy I Love Losing Superbowls!


How many BILLS does it take to change a flat tire?
One, unless it's a blowout then the whole team shows up.

What do Hillary Clinton and the Dallas Cowboys have in common?
They both have their BILLS to kick around.

I always chuckle at the first one, when I heard it, I laughed for about a week. To truly appreciate the joke, you must remember how many times they went to the big game and lost. I'm gonna have to think of one for the Colts, for not ever making it passed the Division Championship. If you think of a good one, leave it in the comments.

Yoga was great! I really, really liked it. I am going tomorrow to the 8:30 class. I worked out for about an hour after the class and am really sore. I can't tell if it's from the yoga or the workout. I am not going to work out tomorrow and see how I feel Saturday.

Since I can't take Hannah to NY for spring break, I was trying to come up with some alternative options. I briefly thought about Panama City Beach, then the infomercial of 'girls gone wild' flashed before my eyes and thought, no.

Then, I find out today via text message that Ashley has changed jobs. She has switched from ITS to Air Traffic Controller. With this means transferring from Chicago to Pensacola. i think the cold weather is getting to her

This was the first time I have heard from her since she text messaged me telling me she got a tattoo. I was not thrilled, as I could only imagine where she put it or what it was. I can't judge, because I have one. A small nickel size Yen Yang on my right ankle. I did see a picture of it the other night. A heart with wings and initials. I told her, don't get initials, things may change. she didn't listen

So, with the news of her transfer, and our lack of plans for spring break, I started looking for rentals in Pensacola. We can drive, and the condo is only 750.00 for the week, which I am hoping Larry with split with me. he was going to pay Hannah's way & hotel to NY

I told him he would make out a lot better with Florida rather than NY. I haven't heard back from him yet. It has a full kitchen, right near the beach, and we may be able to spend some time with Ash. I called Hannah first and asked her if she wanted to go, she said yeah, but she wishes she had someone to take. she didn't ask if Stephanie could go

We will see how it all shakes out.

Don't forget to think of something for the C-O-L-T-S :)

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Wednesday, January 18, 2006

my zen is frustrated

I had my mental clock set last night. 8:30 yoga class, 8:30 yoga class, 8:30 yoga class. I am usually up by 7 every morning, 7:45 at the latest. Last night, I was speaking with Deanna and then watched my tape of American Idol, so I was up very, very late.

My mental clock went of at 5:50. No, too early. I hit the snooze button on myself and went back to sleep. My head started ringing again at EIGHT O" CLOCK! I flew out of bed, washed my face, brushed my teeth, pulled my hair in a pony tail covered by a hat and took off.

The gym is only 10 mins away and I got there with about 8 minutes to spare. I walk in, to the back where the class is and no one is there? Since this is my first yoga class ever, I wasn't sure how it would go. I haven't "really" worked out there since I joined. Coming off six days in a row, there wasn't a lot of time.

I did meet with a "trainer" who took me through some lunges and a couple of other leg movements. Let me just say, My thighs were killing me for two days after that. The "trainer" was a joke. They work you hard, then try to get you to pay for a personal trainer. Unless you are going to physically come to my house and get me, to make me go, I'm not payin'.

OK, back to my zen. Still no one there, so I walk back up to the front and inquire about the class. She looks, yes, there is a class today.

at 9:45.

The 8:30 class in on Fridays. OK, good tip. I come on back home and now have about 30 minutes before I try to get my zen back :)

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Tuesday, January 17, 2006

little steps & one is all it takes

Last night, I went to pick Hannah up for dinner. I have been being so good as far as the diet goes (not really a diet, just easting better), and had a bad craving for sour cream enchiladas. Not with chicken, with cheese and not with white sauce, but red. I knew just where to go.

PANCHO'S MEXICAN BUFFET!

A totally trashy, borderline ghetto place, but good! I must say, they have, by far, the best sopapallias (sp?) ever! I only had one. I could only eat 1 & 1/2 enchiladas and 1 & 1/2 taquitos. We had a good dinner, I told her not to ever hang up on me again, she said OK, almost like she had been laid into.

When I dropped her off, I went in to ask Larry if he would put my registration sticker on. (My pink tool box does not have a scraper!) I think this may have shocked him, that I actually went to get it. While he was scraping, I asked what is involved with just a title transfer. I want to transfer the Tahoe into my name.

As it stands, he could easily come and take it from me, however I don't think he would ever do that. But all the same. I also asked him to help me with my ticket. Now, fasten your seatbelts folks, because what I am about to tell you is absolutely true.

I am 37. I have been driving for 22 years. I have only had one ticket. one is all it takes. I have only been pulled over three times (including the ticket). The one ticket I got was right outside of Fredericksburg coming home from my Dad's. I gave it to Larry and forgot about it. Forgot about it until he said they added another 200.00 for "failure to appear". Forgot about that too until I could not renew my license.

He told me to get the information together and he would take care of it. He then asked me if I said anything to Hannah about the pictures. There are some pictures I would rather not see on her my space. I sent them to Larry, reminding him to keep an eye on the website. They aren't really bad, per se, but suggestive all the same. I told him no, I did not speak to her about it. I reminded him what I had said, I was done making the rules for her. He asked who the boy was, I said I don't know, he didn't like a picture of her kissing a boy in front of him. I told him, as nicely as I could that by the time he finds/found something out, it is going to be bad.

Moms have a way of finding shit out without making it obvious. He did not argue, nor did he reply. He knows I am right. I wasn't about to talk to her about it. It is time for him to step up to the plate and confront her, all by himself. And not just about "her homework".

And then I left.

He asked for all the info on the ticket & transfer. I found the title info last night and got my ticket info this morning. I sent him the pdf files for transferring the title and the information on the ticket. He agreed to transfer the title to me. little step.

In the process, he asked me why I wanted it. He stated that you couldn't get a cheaper car payment than paid off and insurance paid as well. I agreed, but it has not been maintained the way it should have been (do you see a pattern yet?), it knocks, it grinds, it makes a weird noise when I turn a corner), so I told him if it needs a lot of work, I would rather trade it in and get something much smaller and lighter. I also added that with it in his name, he could come and take it at will.

He asked what had he done to make me think he would take it. He stated he has actually done the opposite. Signing my lease, buying my mattress, my brakes, and now my ticket. and "now my ticket".

I replied quite calmly with a very simple statement.

The reason you have had to do these things for me is the very thing I have been banging my head about. My credit has not been addressed, (his is perfect), nothing is in my name, and I do not and have not made the money for all of those things. I told him I knew it would be hard on me when I left, and that should have proved I wasn't just there for the money. I asked, can we just do this one thing without arguing or justifying? Are we arguing to make a difference, or just to argue? I think he finally got it.

He replied just as simply.

I will transfer the truck, it' no big deal.
I'm not trying to make anything difficult.
I don't think you stayed for the money.
We are arguing because we are both trying to get the other to acknowledge our feelings and view of the situation.
I did not get the money order at lunch but will defiantly get it before I get home.

The ticket must be paid in a money order. Five lines, simple. I would like to think he gets it. I would like to think everything would be and will be OK. I would like to think none of this ever happened.

Let me thank all of you who have called, emailed and commented. I just have to put it out there, not only to get it out of me, but to have an actual record of the events. In the high drama, things get fuzzy. I write to remember, to document, and to release. I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

I do.

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Monday, January 16, 2006

how to be

Please don't go crazy
if I tell you the truth
No you don't know what happened
And you never will if
You don't listen to me while I talk to the wall
This blanket is freezing
it's been out in the hall
Where you've had me for hours
Till I'm sure what I want
But darling I want the same thing that I wanted before
So sweetheart tell me what's up I won't stop no way

Please keep your hands down
And stop raising your voice
It's hardly what I'd be doing if you gave me a choice
It's a simple suggestion can you give me sometime
So just say yes or no
Why can't you shoulder the blame
Coz both my shoulders are heavy
From the weight of us both
You're a big boy now so let's not talk about growth
You've not heard a single word I have said...
Oh, my God

Please take it easy it can't all be my fault
I haven't made half the mistakes
That you've listed so far
Oh baby let me explain something
It's all down to drugs
At least I remember taking the and not a lot else
It seems I've stepped over lines
You've drawn again and again
But if the ecstacy's in the wit is definitely out
Dr. Jekyll is wrestling Hyde for my pride

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Saturday, January 14, 2006

oh how the mighty have fallen

Well, STB. There is my bright spot for the weekend (so far). The New England Patriots are OUT! So much for a third straight superbowl. That's what they get for being so stingy! (Sorry Jaded! and Mr. Jaded LOL).

There were two reasons for rooting for Denver. The first is obvious, they were playing the Patriots. The second is their offensive coordinator is widely rumored to be our new head coach. Now, I don't know about you, but if an offensive coordinator can coach a quarterback into beating the Patriots and getting to the playoffs for the first time since 1983 (John Elways last superbowl win), I'll take him!

The downside, we can't "officially" hire him until they are done, which could be Feb. 6th, the day after the Superbowl. Which means the message boards will continue the debate, Young or Bush. Texas or Cali. Ahhhh, the playoffs. Can it be any more fun?

**Side note -- be prepared to catch me as I fall into a post season withdrawal :(

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Friday, January 13, 2006

you think i could learn

how to tell you goodbye ..... you don't bring me flowers, you don't sing me love songs, any ..... more

I heard this song on my way home tonight. I was listening to the 70's station on XM.

Yesterday, I spoke with the mediator and learned a whole lot more. It's not quite as simple as I thought. Instead of the easy $400.00 we thought it would be, it is now $1200.00. And yes, it will probably cost the entire amount. I called Larry to go over some of the details, to which he asked how much I would be paying for.

Well, let's see. Ummm, I'm thinking none. Not to be hateful, I simply do not have it. My base salary is less than 30K, yes, less than. My "at risk" is just that, at risk. I work on commission, and this December's commission check was 1/2 what it was last year. Why? Because I am no longer in sales. If you are a faithful reader, you will remember in August when I got promoted I stated, "I am taking the money out of my hands, and putting in theirs". We got jacked on Decembers quota (it was about 100 more than it should have been) so instead of making money in December, which everyone else did, we didn't.

Now, take my less than 30K and not fulfilling "at risk" compared to his six figure salary. I think you can pay for it. He said he couldn't talk to me about it because he was at the mall. At the MALL? The root of all evil for him? Again? I asked why, because I was so shocked, he said he was getting something for Hannah. Naturally.

Now, here comes the bummer news. Since Decembers final numbers were so bad, it has put a crimp in my New York plans. Decembers commission check will be paid at the end of January, that's what I planned on using for the trip. Not so much now. I came home, wrote Larry a final email, trying once again to try to explain how and what I was feeling, and to give him the number of the mediator, so he could hear for himself how and what is needed.

After that, I called Hannah. They were just walking in from Olive Garden. Let me just say here that Larry hates the Olive Garden. Are you seeing the pattern here? I was going to gingerly break the news to her about NY. It was no big deal for her, she stated she would just go to Colorado with Stephanie. Hmmm, last I checked, you were not to be going anywhere with Stephanie outside of school. Again, faithful readers will remember after the last episode (before the stealing) they were both told, specifically, one more mistake, and no more. This upset her more than the trip, and since she felt I was attacking her, she decided to hang up on me.

I called her back, no answer. So then I called Larry. I proceeded to tell him how Hannah had hung up, he asked why, I told him, and he decided to lay into me about not keeping them apart, they are best friends, yadda, yadda, yadda. I am floored. This is exactly why I left the first time, him not backing me up with Ashley. This conversation about Hannah turned into a "how dare you send me an email telling me (and I honestly can't remember the verbiage)". Which turned into this is this, and that is that. Then came back around to Hannah, and Ashley.

For the first time through out all of this, I started crying in our conversations. Am I on glue, or did he not remember the conversation we had with Stephanies parents that night after the smoking, purse, cutting issue came out? Did we not all agree they were on a short, supervised leash. Then came the pictures online, then came the other things, then came the final straw, the stealing. I had thought we made it quite clear that Stephanie was off limits. Apparently, it was the last straw for me, but not for him. He'll give her one more chance. She was grounded for three months, she has learned her lesson.

No, what she has learned, from you, is that if no one notices they haven't sent her a court date, that everyone will forget about it. When she first got caught, the officer told Larry we would receive something in two weeks about her court date. It still hasn't come. And he hasn't called. "No time" was his answer. Yet he was at the mall at five o'clock shopping.

I literally broke down. It still astounds me how one sided it is. It hurt me with every word. I finally relented. You are right Larry. You raise her however you want. You make the calls, since all of mine are out of line. Once more faithful readers, you know how much crap I have put up in the past year alone, not counting the two before that.

I was in hysterics by this point. Having someone invalidate everything you have done has a way of doing that to a person. During one of the rounds he said he would ask her (Hannah) if I said that (no contact with Stephanie, that they had three chances left), I told him to at least have the decency to call me and let me know I was right. I retracted that, don't ask her, don't tell her anything, just keep on being very happy together, because God knows, I am a lunatic. Anything he even tries to do now will be seen as "Mom told you that" and a wedge is starting to be driven through that relationship now as well.

He said, "Well, I guess I will talk to you later", like, OK, we're done, see ya. My tears were not stopping, I replied, choking through my tears, "No, you won't, I'm done" and hung up. An hour and a half later after the call began. I will admit to you now, I seriously thought about just going away. I feel worthless, I feel like everything I have ever worked for is gone. I feel like I have become the fall guy. How did it become my fault? How did I become the monster? I told Larry, do me a favor, on Saturday or Sunday, casually ask Hannah, "I'm thinking of having your Mom come home", see what she says. I know what she would say. The reason is she has it made with daddy wrapped around her little finger, who doesn't hold her accountable and it's all fun and shopping.

That crushed me more. I was at the end of my sanity rope. I cried for about an hour after that. The funny thing was, and I am so fucking stupid for thinking this, I really thought he would come over here, to try and talk more rationally. Could he not see how distraught I was? Could he not hear my heart breaking with every tear? Could it be that my worst fears have been confirmed, that it has nothing to do with all the "extra data", it only has to do with me. We hung up at 8:00, and nothing. No phone call back. No email, no text message, just, nothing.

My eyes were red, my skin thin from the tears, and my eyes, crystal blue. The only good thing about crying is my eyes turn bluer that the pacific. Although I do not recommend the way they get there. I sat, in silence for two hours. No TV, no lights, just the shallow breathing that hysterics finally relents to.

I finally crawled into bed, my body exhausted, and fell sleep. Today it still hurts. The very reason I had left in the first place, was coming right back at me, full speed, and he simply could not see it.

I learned how to love and I learned how to lie, you think I could learn how to tell you goodbye ...... you don't bring me flowers .... any .... more

** edited to include, I AM ok. I am. I am just hurt and sad. Don't worry about me, just let me vent and let me cry.

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i am calling you out

So I read it is "delurking week". I am calling all out who visit and don't comment. Regardless of what you think or read, I don't bite, I promise.

DeLurk! Leave a comment :)

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Wednesday, January 11, 2006

and introducing .....

Alyssa.



It doesn't get much better than this folks.

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Tuesday, January 10, 2006

if she knew what she wants ...

Tomorrow, I will become an un-official Grandma. Kristin is having her baby tomorrow morning. Luckily, I am off. She is scared, it's all of the sudden hitting her. Holy crap, I'm having a baby! She will do great, she is awesome and is the most mature 26 year old I know. I can't wait. She lives right across the street from me, so guess where I will be on my days off?

Yesterday, I did the un-thinkable. I joined a fitness club. I know, I know, but I am bound and determined to get into better shape. I'm now down to 143, six pounds baby! I figure there may be something to that diet and exercise. The club has belly dancing classes, yoga classes, etc. I really want to try yoga, I think it will be good for me.

Larry was supposed to stop by my store and pick up a new charger for Hannah, but didn't make it. Since her phone is completely dead, I took it over there tonight. Larry could tell I had lost weight, he just didn't say anything.

If she knew what she wants
(He'd be giving it to her)
If she knew what she needs
(He could give her that too)
If she knew what she wants
(But he can't see through her)
If she knew what she wants
He'd be giving it to her
Giving it to her.

But she wants everything
(He can pretend to give her everything)
Or there's nothing she wants
(She don't want to sort it out)
He's crazy for this girl
(But she don't know what she's looking for)
If she knew what she wants
He'd be giving it to her
Giving it to her.

I'd say her values are corrupted
But she's open to change
Then one day she's satisfied
And the next I'll find her crying
And it's nothing she can explain.

If she knew what she wants
(He'd be giving it to her)
If she knew what she needs
(He could give her that too)
If she knew what she wants
(But he can't see through her)
If she knew what she wants
He'd be giving it to her
Giving it to her (giving it to her).

Some have a style
That they work hard to refine
So they walk a crooked line
But she won't understand
Why anyone would have to try
To walk a line when they could fly.

No sense thinking I could rehabilitate her
When she's fine, fine, fine
She's got so many ideas traveling around in her head
She doesn't need nothing from mine.

If she knew what she wants
(He'd be giving it to her)
If she knew what she needs
(He could give her that too)
If she knew what she wants
(But he can't see through her)
If she knew what she wants
He'd be giving it to her
Giving it to her.

But she wants everything
(He can pretend to give her everything)
Or there's nothing she wants
(She don't want to sort it out)
He's crazy for this girl
(But she don't know what she's looking for)
If she knew what she wants
He'd be giving it to her
Giving it to her.

(He'd be giving it to her)
(He could give her that too)
(But he can't see through her)
Ooooooh
Giving it to her
Giving it to her now.

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Monday, January 09, 2006

the story of donna and joe

A long time ago, when Larry & I were living in our first house that we owned, we had some, how should you say, interesting neighbors.

Directly across the street lived Donna and Aaron. Next to them, Joe and Chris. Joe was a blast, always throwing Rockets parties, playing pool in out garage (we were storing a table for a friend), etc. If we opened the garage door, it turned into a mini block party.

Joe & Chris were so not suited for each other. They did not have a "wedding", choosing to get married in the Bahamas, then have a reception. No big deal, right? She didn't want a big wedding because she didn't want people staring at her while she walked down the aisle. She was very weird. Joe would do anything for her though. He had a nose job so he would stop snoring. (I think they were living in separate beds), he quit smoking so she would have another baby. She never did.

They decided to divorce. Joe, rented Donna & Aarons rent house.

Donna and Aaron a complete mismatch as well. Aaron you never saw. He degraded Donna and bewildered her constantly. One day, she and her daughter were going to take pictures, and I was doing her hair. I told her on her way out, "Do not listen to anything he says when you walk in". We had put some baby's breath in it, and she looked gorgeous. He did not go to take the picture with her.

Along that same time, (see why I can't watch basketball) Larry & I were having issues as well. One thing led to another and Larry moved in with Joe, in Donna and Aarons rent house.

During this time, Larry & I reconciled, Joe & Chris divorced. Joe went wild. There were many nights he would call at 2am, drunk, not being able to drive. One of us would always go get him. I'm not exactly sure, but something was said, misunderstood and Donna & I stopped talking. Not really a fight, just not talking.

Joe was OBSESSED with his ex. She started dating and Joe lost his mind. It was very hard to be friends with him. He was/is extremely high maintenance. As things went, Donna finally divorced Aaron. She and Joe were spending a lot of time together with their kids. She had a girl, he had a son, same ages.

One thing led to another, and they ended up getting married to each other. Somewhere along the way, Joe, Donna, Larry & I were all hanging out again. Whenever we would be in each others company, Joe would say something, I would call him on it, and a debate would ensue. All in good fun, or one would think.

We decided we would all take a trip to Florida. Joe, Donna, their kids, us, our kids, Marilee and then boyfriend John and her daughter. Just for fun we also brought Ashley's best friend and Joe's mom.

We were all caravaning east, and Joe just took off. I had just gotten the Tahoe, we were pulling our jet skii's and got into a fender bender with a trash truck. My Tahoe was quite a bit longer than my previous suv, in true Houston construction form, a lane ended with no warning. Joe & his crew turned around, then left again.

Our house was gorgeous. Donna & Joe arrived first, of course. I called Donna & inquired how it was. I could hear the tension in her voice. Joe had started in on them for something. When we all got there, we made a list of little chores for the kids. Sweeping sand, hanging towels, little stuff. No where did his son have a chore. This was always an issue with them, the kids.

We had decided as a group (and for fun) that anytime Joe mentioned Chris, we would all get up and have to "do something". He caught on to that and didn't take it in the spirit it was intended. Another discussion, led into a fight, which somehow became my fault because he heard me say "leave him" (something I had never said to her before) and he went into a manic rage.

He took his son and Mom and left. Two days after we got there, he left Donna & her daughter in Florida with us.

Then called all the time. One night I went to bed, she was on with him, I woke up, she was on with him.

We went on with our vacation, and ended up having a great time. We crammed Donna & her daughter into our car and drove home. I gave her a hug and told her to call if she needed me. She never did.

Since Joe was convinced I was sabotaging them (he had a huge ego combined with extremely low self esteem, a lethal combination), he forbid Donna to talk to me. She came into the mall years later while I was working a Kirklands, we exchanged pleasant hello's, how are yous, etc.

Easter of that same year, she came back in. She was leaving him. Things had gotten worse for them. The raging, the drinking, the kids, everything. She kicked out his windowshield, he broke doors, it was horrible. Larry & I offered her to stay the night, but she went back to him. I never really heard from her again.

Until she called Larry the other night. It seems she is really leaving him this time (or maybe not), she wanted to call and tell me "It wasn't my fault, he was crazy". Larry told her we kind of knew that.

Every time we came across each others paths, I was always there, to listen, to hug. It was she who always chose her men over her friends, and I have never held that against her.

However, when Larry's Mom died, she never called, didn't send a note or anything. I know she knew, we still had the same friends, and I am sorry, that is just wrong.

I'm not the kind of person that holds grudges, I wish her all the best. But when someone calls and tells you "it's not your fault" after ten years, it's kind of hard to forget.

It must have been odd for Larry to tell her we are divorcing as well. I wonder if he listened when she told him it wasn't my fault.

1 Comments:

Oy! I'm thinking of you tonight. Peace.

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:49 PM  

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Sunday, January 08, 2006

and breathe

It's 3:56, and I am in my pajamas. Clean ones at that.

I woke this morning at 6:45am. That really sucks when I was wanting to sleep in. At least I slept all night, so it's all good.

I was bound and determined not to let this day slip away. Last Sunday, I was wallowing in self pity and depression. The cool thing about the Zyban (to help with the no smoking), it is also an antidepressant. Right now, I need all the help I can get!

So, up I went. Dragged all of the boxes out of my closet and placed them next to their respective contents. I must say, de-christmasing the apartment takes far less time than the house did!

After that, I cleaned the kitchen, after that, I cleaned the bathroom. After that, I took out all the trash, changed the litter box, vacuumed the apartment and stripped the bed. Alternating loads of laundry the whole time.

I called up Hannah and asked if she wanted to ride with me to the mall (actually let her drive to the mall). She agreed, so I drove over to the house and picked her up. I wanted to see her, I needed some clinique, but wasn't willing to drive to the house, then back out here to the mall she can go to. So, she drove me to the "banned mall", I went in, she stayed in the car.

On the way home she asked me if Donna called. I said no, but hesitated, Donna? Yes, THAT Donna. The story of Joe & Donna. Wow. Too much for this post, but it's coming.

I dropped her off at the house, stopped by the grocery store to refresh my bananas, chicken and veggies. Came home, walk into a very clean apartment that smells like pomegranate from my diffuser. Mmmmmmmm ......

The game I want to see is on, everything is done, so I thought I would change into my pj's and relax the rest of the day.

Hope your Sunday is going well.

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Saturday, January 07, 2006

on the road

I am on the right road. I have lost 4 pounds (can I get a hollah) and today, around 12:30pm, I realized I had not had a cigarette since I had gotten to work about 8:45am.

And

I had not cussed any customers.

Not too shabby :)

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Friday, January 06, 2006

i really don't know what to say

My two days off were good, and needed. We had our district manager's meeting at Dave & Buster's (a place like chuck e cheese for grown ups). We ate, had our meeting, then went and played games. It was a lot of fun.

After the meeting, I went over to the house to see Hannah and wait for Larry to get home. We have decided to go the mediation route instead of full on lawyers, etc. It is a lot less expensive, and since we can pretty much figure everything out, that is the route we are taking. So, I thought it may be a good idea for us to get together to get some of the basics worked out.

It started out good, simple. The house, the car, Hannah, etc.

Then somehow, it changed. He decided to take out a loan on his 401K and pay off all his credit card bills and my Tahoe (which was no big deal because it was almost paid for). His new payment towards the loan equals the total payment of my Tahoe.

So the spreadsheet that he gave me, listing all the debts was just reduced by about 1500g a month. After his loan payment, he just gave himself about a 1000 a month raise. He doesn't see it that way. He also did this (I believe) to get everything paid off and set himself up, while shorting the available balance of his 401k pre divorce.

Then he proceeded to tell me during the course of conversations, he wouldn't let me have access to the finances because I would "go through them". I think he thinks we would have been living in a box somewhere had I been in control. When I told him, "We have done really well", he replies, we've done OK. I just have to shake my head. I told him stop acting like your living in some oppressed time when you aren't allowed to be happy that you HAVE something. Chicken little, sky is falling. Worse case scenario.

I called him on Christmas. How much did you spend? WILLINGLY I might add. I never got the full answer. What I did get was it was ok for him to do it, because he knew exactly how much was going where. I actually can not get over it. Even as I type, two days later, I don't believe it.

His statement, I got everything I wanted, went wherever I wanted, worked if I wanted too, etc. I told him, I must really be stupid to have left then. I mean, why would I leave such lap of luxury? Why if I could go and do as I pleased, had all of these things, and didn't have to do anything for them? I must be an idiot!

I still love him, I always will. But his warped way of thinking just bewilders me. His complete lack of trust of me (with no reason) hurts to no end. Leaving him for good will be one of the hardest things I have done.

I spoke with Corie yesterday, and in telling her, I just couldn't hold back the tears anymore. Corie has seen this first hand for about five years now. She knows. She told me I was too good of a person to be treated like that. I know, I know she is right. I cried for about an hour after that.

I told Larry (via email at this point) there were only two things I really ever asked him for. One, to back me up, which started about twenty years ago with his parents (you would not believe some of the things they said to me, and he allowed). And to not speak to me like I am an idiot. I have to say, I really don't think I have gotten either of those as of late.

He conceded I am a much more considerate person than he is. He recounted a lot more of the things I have done for him than I thought he would remember. This after he told me a few weeks back that everything I did was for me and the girls, not him.

Yet he cannot bring himself to show me just a little bit of that. He never has, but I accepted that, it was OK. I accepted loving more than I was loved. I didn't resent doing any of the things I did for him. I enjoyed them, they made me happy. That is the biggest difference between us. I enjoy loving and giving. He resents it.

I am not perfect, by any means. I have my faults, as we all do. I'm not living in a glass house, or in a dream world. Distance brings clarity, clarity brings truth, and truth hurts.

2 Comments:

Steps.

Watch where you put your foot.

STB

Positive thoughts for all of you!

By Blogger sttropezbutler, at 10:08 AM  

hugs sweet lady.
Im so sorry for the hurt

By Blogger author, at 5:13 AM  

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Wednesday, January 04, 2006

stop and smell the roses

Tonight, I among many others will be watching the Rose Bowl. Now, you know I really don't follow college ball, however, tonight will be a shining preview of the #1 draft pick (that oh by the way the Texans have) Reggie Bush.

He is widely reported to be the next big thing in football. And he will most likely be a Texan. It's also exciting because Reggie will be playing against Vince Young and the Longhorns (hook 'em), who will go #2.

It's gonna be a good game, and a nice fix for those who felt the loss of Monday Night Football a few days ago.

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Tuesday, January 03, 2006

is it over yet?

I'm here. I've started several post then just clicked away. I am in a mix of depression and exhaustion (gee, they go together, yeah?).

I was sad on New Year's, but glad to get the holidays behind me. I go through times of being so angry and then so sad. Marilee says it's normal. I hate it. I am a happy person.

Jeff has been gone since New Years Eve. How does he always manage to leave me with some of the biggest times? New year, new policies. It's either trust or testing. Maybe a little of both.

I have had two employees in meltdown mode, one I sent home on NYE. We are having a managers meeting (the four of us) on Thursday night, then a big meeting (the one we wanted to have last month) on Saturday. Two hours worth.

So, I'm off tomorrow. We are having a district meeting at Dave & Busters. Off Thursday, with the managers meeting at 9:00 pm. So much for the two days off in a row.

So, not feeling very cheery, I decided to lay low.

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