D-Land with Mario & Sheila

Who needs work when you can ride the Matterhorn!

Friends Mario and Sheila on the Matterhorn. This is way better than working. It's good to be the boss!

Alive and well at D-land!

Surgery went good and now I'm spending the day at Disneyland with my friend Mario. This is great, it is hot and the park is empty!  Woohoo!  Pics later.  On my way to Tower of Terror.

Surgery!

I am having my surgery tomorrow, and I'm off work until next Wednesday.

Cali in Winter

I love that it is 85 degrees in JANUARY. My friends back home hate me.  The dogs are loving it too. I went to a karaoke bar last night with my two moms to hear our friend Al sing. I haven't been to a bar in years, and I don't think I've EVER been in one with my mom. LOL. He was amazing, he drew quite a crowd. Going to enjoy the sun today.

Dinner, Coffee and Roots

Me and my dark roots made baked chicken parmesan for din-din and now I'm kicking back drinking a cup of coffee out of my new Keurig coffee maker that I scored at Christmas. Actually, it's a Cuisinart which is better than the Keurig. Nothing real exciting going on.

Remodeling, Master Bath

The new walls look pink in the pictures, but really they are a beige-y peach. It has been fun getting rid of all the wallpaper and popcorn ceilings everywhere.

Remodeling, Guest Bath

Will still be putting tile flooring down and getting a new toilet, so still a work in progress.

Remodeling, Master Bedroom & Guest Bedroom

Remodeling, My Bedroom

Over the last 6 months we have been slowly remodeling the house. We aren't even CLOSE to finishing, but I wanted to post some before and after progress. My bedroom was first, then the guest bedroom, office, master bedroom and bath, and my bathroom. We are still going to tile my bathroom and get a new toilet, but haven't gotten to it quite yet, and the office is still too messy to show. The entire house has electrical and plumbing issues, so it has been real fun. We have also done the garage and a few things downstairs, but I want to wait to take pics until it has progressed a little further. My grandparents had not done any redecorating since the 70's, so the changes are pretty drastic. LOL! I can't WAIT until we get to the kitchen and back yard! I love my red wall, and just so you know, it is NOT an 'angry' wall, it is the 'blood of Jesus' wall, K?

My Mother

When she isn't making me nuts, my mother is quite entertaining. We went to dinner tonight, and we split the bill. We were both paying cash, but I needed change so I asked her if she could break a 20. She replied "No, I just have a bunch of tens." I don't know if it was the look on my face or me saying, "OK, well how about I trade you this 20 for two of your 10's then?" that made her bust up into laughter and realize what she said. It has been an hour and she is still laughing. Crazy woman. LOL!

Back to Work

So I've thrust myself back into work after 11 days off. I like the structure believe it or not. BUT come January 20th, we are doing a software migration for two weeks and I won't have a thing to do. My boss suggested taking some of my vacation time since I've maxed out my vacation accrual. Frick. We don't get our bonuses until Jan 31st of course, so doing anything interesting is out. It is a shame because my bonus is quite substantial this year. A few things I'm doing is getting a pool heater and a Tempur-Pedic mattress.  Tired of my back hurting. The rest is going in the bank. I won't know how to act with a savings account.  If I ever sell my house, I might be able to salvage retirement before I'm 100.

The one thing you can count on is change.

Last year was the hardest year of my life. Everything I knew, changed. I'm still trying to get used to all things new. Some days I'm good and some days I'm not. It can be very overwhelming at times. I feel like I am a completely different person now. I wonder what this year will bring.

They've grown to love each other.

Happy New Year Everybody

Went after Christmas shopping at Macy's and got some stripper pumps I'm going to kill myself in, and some fun jewelry. Went out for filet mignon on NY Eve, then just watched movies. Gotta get some cleaning done before I go back to work. I have nothing profound to say for the new year.

Leopard Coat

I'm bored, can you tell? Going out to eat in my new leopard coat.

Sometimes I Sing

Me singing. LOL. What a dork.

Sometimes I Dance

Today all I have on is a V-neck white T-shirt and black underwear. My hair is straightened, but not combed. My black eyeliner is still on from yesterday. My toenails are painted pink.

I am dancing around upstairs on the terrace of the stairs singing my new theme song. "Pocket Full of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield. I call the song "Take Me Away". I don't usually like this type of music, but it is catchy, and I like the words.

Dream

I just woke from a dream about a caveman. Right out of the blue. How interesting.

Old Flame

I've been inspired to write something.

A little while ago, an old boyfriend contacted me through Facebook. It happened to be the guy that I broke it off with to be with my now ex husband. I didn't know it at the time I broke up with him, but he had bought me an engagement ring and was going to propose to me on my birthday of that year. He got really pissed when I got engaged to my ex and threatened to crash our wedding. Funny stuff. That seems so long ago. He obviously didn't hold a grudge because he sent me a really nice email. Apparently, he is getting married for like, the fourth time, but this time to his best friend, a girl I know. They were friends when even we were dating; we all hung out together. They are so absolutely perfect for each other, and I am genuinely happy for them. Best friends for 20+ years finally getting married, that is beautiful. It makes me believe that great things can still happen, even late in the game.

Life is still taking very strange turns for me. I've received emails asking what happened with Paul; with David; with all of them. They just weren't the right ones. I'm listening to my gut these days instead of ignoring it. If you listen, it's not that hard to hear. What is your gut telling you about YOUR life?

Funk

I am trying to shake this funk. After Christmas blues? PMS? I hate being this way. A new year is coming and I need to just figure my shit out. I've been asleep for 2 days, no exaggeration. I finally got outside today to do errands. It is time to get back on the healthy eating wagon too, been a bit off in the ditch lately on that one. I don't know what to do with myself when I'm not working. I bitch when I'm working too much, then I get time off and have NO IDEA how to relax. This is where some great, sexy guy needs to invite me to the Bahamas. ;-) Uh, HELLO? You out there? I have the rest of the week off.

I think I have a better chance of sprouting wings and flying. My friend Jenny told me to go buy a good horror movie to cheer myself up.

I want to go swimming, but the pool isn't heated. I need a pool heater. That is next on the list. The pool boys came today and made it blue again, but it is ice water. Bah. I'm grumpy, somebody cheer me up.

Toys for the Furbabies

Hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas. Mine has been pretty great. Here are pics of Mags and Lou enjoying their toys.

I'm Going to Live

I received the results to my biopsy today and here's what the doctor said, "I have good news for you, it isn't as bad as we thought, you're going to be just fine. Merry Christmas."

I'm going to be just fine.

Swamp Pool & Periods

Here is the pool that matches the grass...and the dogs in their new duds. Maggie is sporting her blue diaper and Lou in his 'Tinkle Belt' with added Kotex. ("Always" Pads, with wings!) This is what my life has turned into. (I'm sure that's what they are thinking too.)

I'm supposed to be off for the next 10 days on holiday...but...yeah...right. My boss laughed at that one. Sometimes it really sucks to be the "go to" person. I'm celebrating my second Christmas tomorrow (first one was with the kid) with my Godmother and fam. I have done no wrapping. Gift bags it is!

California is flooding. It took me two hours to get home tonight. WTF? This is CALIFORNIA, it is NOT supposed to do this here!

I seem to be loving the periods today.....................................................................................................

Tinkle Belt

Yes, my last post was gloomy. Sorry. It is therapeutic to write what I feel, so that happens.

The pool water is green now. Bright green. We got it drained, but it continues to pour rain, so it looks BAD.

I got the pups doggy diapers. It is quite entertaining to watch them navigate with them on. LOL. I will take pics. Lou's is called a "Tinkle belt", and it recommends putting a Kotex in it to help. So yes, my male dog wears a Kotex pad. Hey, it will be a lot less messy around here!

I can't take it anymore.

Sometimes I struggle with the will to live. It seems like the bad outweighs the good so often that it is hard to keep a positive attitude. I know this is depressing and not what anyone ever wants to hear or read. Life is truly disappointing to me. I've worked so hard to do what I'm supposed to do; to try and the see the good in everything and everyone; to do the right things; to keep going no matter what; to fight for what I believe in. I always get beat down. How many times do you keep getting up? Is it worth it? I keep thinking about the scene in "The Pursuit of Happyness" where Will Smith's character is sitting in the subway bathroom with his son, crying. I feel like that most of the time. It isn't God's fault, it isn't bad luck, it isn't that I have been lazy or unkind. It is just life. That movie, which was based on a true story, has a happy ending. Do I have a happy ending? I keep thinking to myself; what if surgery doesn't get rid of my cancer? How will I live out my days? What will I be able to say about my life? That I failed miserably at everything? And then I think, what if surgery does get rid of the cancer like it is supposed to? How will I live out my days? How will I change my life to be more appreciative of it? I know you are supposed to press on; to keep moving forward. But I have to tell you, that is very, very hard sometimes.

Too Much Rain

The pool is overflowing. NEAT. It wont stop raining.

Party Girl?

I'm so not 25 anymore. The party is just getting going and I'm ready for freaking bed. Sad. I looked pretty good at the beginning now I'm wet from the rain with mascara running down my face and some chick just grabbed my ass. Yup. God help me.

Another one bites the dust.

Well, his true colors came out and I am done. So disappointing but it is what it is. My friend Mario invited me to a party tonight and I'm going to get my mind off of things. I could use a few drinks.

Searching

Guess who cranked out Christmas shopping in 2 days? YEAH, ME. HA! Everything else? Don't know what I'm doing, where I'm going, or what to do when I get there. My mom said something rather profound the other day. She said I was "searching" and she patted her heart. I asked her what she meant. She said I have been "searching" for a long, long time and haven't found what I'm looking for yet. I asked her to clue me in to what I am looking for since I don't have the foggiest. She doesn't know, but she doesn't think it has anything to do with a man. She thinks I am searching for what I was meant for in this life. Apparently, I am restless and unsatisfied. She is right. I am very restless, and thing are never quite right.

Crazydogmama no like drama!

I am confused, upset and extremely stressed out. I'm working nights right now at work because there is so much to do and I can't even concentrate. I don't know what's going on with Paul and I, he is upset, he upset me, and I have no idea what to do. I can't take the drama right now. Christmas is even stressing me out. I have not decorated, shopped or anything. FUCK.

Boys are stupid.

I always thought girls were the ones who went too fast with their emotions. My first thought was that I have somehow fucked up a fairytale, but I have cleared my head, remained calm, and I am not sure it is me. Maybe someone out there can shed some light. I really need some help. Some unbiased advice.

Everything was going great. Perfect. Better than perfect. I was enjoying every minute. We had an absolute amazing day yesterday. Then, all in the course of a few minutes, he cranked up the volume and I am still not quite sure what happened or how it started. To make a long story short, he is ready for this mega serious relationship and I'm like "huh?". Call me crazy, but dating for a month does not a stable relationship make. I want commitment, I want to fall in love, I want a serious relationship, but I need some time to make the assessment that I've found the right person first. He is correct in that we aren't getting any younger, but Holy God gimme a break. I really, really like him. I probably just lost him because he got seriously emotional, and I was as cold as a stone. What does that mean?

I went from crawling guy to sprinting guy. WTF? Where is the happy medium? I really like this guy and I don't know what to do. I am just not willing to rush into anything, and the one thing I know about myself is NO ONE can force me into anything anymore. Am I being too fearful because of my past, or am I being sensible? Is it reasonable to think that if he really cares for me that he will understand and chill out, or am I making the mistake of a lifetime in saying I need more time and need to take it a little slow (but not too slow)?

To Blog or Not to Blog

I have been going back and forth with myself about blogging. Some days I just want to disappear and never come back, but then something brings me back. My life seems more private to me now on some level and I just don't want certain things public, but yet I have the need to write. I can't believe some of you who have been coming here for years, it is such a compliment that I don't want to let you down even though I have a hard time believing any of this shit is interesting to you.

I had my biopsy. OUCH. Won't know results for a couple weeks. Seeing Paul tomorrow. Yay! I told him to run away far from the likes of me, but he won't listen. He took me to a fancy Japanese place for dinner and as I was eating my sushi appetizer, I was talking, and I thought I was preparing a bite of salad to put in my mouth but instead I shoveled in a huge glob of WASABI. I choked until tears were running down my cheeks. He can't say he wasn't warned. LOL!

Got Some Flowers

He was waiting by the curb when I arrived to escort me inside. This is the bouquet he gave to me. Perhaps I will write about my weekend another time, I am exhausted.

Many Random Things

1. A girl I work with got a boob-job, and she came back to work today. One of our coworkers (another girl thank God) waltzed right up to her remarking about it, and starting FONDLING her new boobs. I'm so not kidding. After I realized that what I was seeing was actually real, I snorted coffee through my nose and busted into laughter for about 30 minutes.

2. Maggie has had diarrhea ALL DAY and my mom has been complaining about the cleanup for an hour now. I guess I don't blame her. GROSS. I just bought a gallon of Nature's Miracle because the dogs are WAY out of control lately. Don't know what to do.

3. I can't keep food down. Don't know WTF that is about.

4. I am NOT looking forward to all my fricking doctor's appointments tomorrow. I'm getting an ultrasound in the morning and a boob-mashing at noon. (Mammogram). Fun. :-/

5. Working 12 hour shifts is killing me and Paul read me the riot act tonight about it. This is actually an interesting story, so that is what I'll focus on. That, and I like to talk about Paul. If you haven't noticed. I'm killing the "DATING BUZZ:" because it's lame and there is only Paul, so it is not necessary. I never claimed to be cool. Oh, I finally got around to breaking it off with David. It was harder than I thought; I'm not good at that sort of thing. I felt bad.

Anyway, Paul said my voice sounded funny tonight. I told him I was just burnt out. Being that he knows quite a bit about me after talking for 1 to 2 hours a night, every night, for over two weeks now, he decided I need to take a leave of absence for medical reasons for about a month so that I can concentrate on sleeping and getting better. He is apparently really concerned about me. This is what he said:

Paul: "I really want you to get well. What about US? If something happens to you, WHAT WOULD I DO? I mean it! I've spent my whole life looking for you. WHAT WOULD I DO?"

WHOA. I did not know how to respond to that.

Me: "Uh, I don't know what to say."

Paul: "Say you will look into a medical leave of absence so I can sleep at night."

Holy crap.

First Turkey Day in Cali

What a weekend! Thanksgiving was nice, lots of food and fun. There was piano playing, singing, laughing, and me sneaking out to talk on the phone (and getting yelled at for it). LOL! No one but the boys would let me post pics. Spoiled sports. Went to D-Land all day on Friday, and I mean ALL DAY. I about DIED. 12 freaking hours. I could not move on Saturday. I was limping. Sunday, I had a migraine. Back to the salt mines today. Getting an ultrasound on Friday, a biopsy the following Thursday and then surgery based on the results.

Dating Update: I think I have finally met a great guy. Things are going REALLY well with Paul. He finishes recording on Friday, so we will be spending the weekend together. I am supposed to go up to his place to help decorate the tree, have dinner and meet his dad. I am terrified. I think I am going to be a bit of a fish out of water up in that area. (Sherman Oaks). Hopefully I won't run into the Olsen twins. HA.

'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving

Just got back from a midnight showing of Paranormal Activity 2. The boys (my step son and his friend) came to spend the holiday weekend with me and they dragged me out past my bedtime. Great flick! Tomorrow we are feasting at my second mom's house and then heading to D-land on Friday. And I refuse to think about the biopsy I have next week.

Dating Update: Paul is so great. We talk EVERY day, sometimes more than once, and every day I like him more. It is frightening how much we have in common, and the circumstances surrounding how we met is equally as eerie. It is seriously like the universe is throwing us together, no joke. We aren't able to see each other right now (which is frustrating to both of us) because he is in the middle of recording an album, then getting surgery, and I have the boys, getting the biopsy and then probably getting surgery myself (which he knows about). He knows about my issues, I know about his, yet neither of us is running; it is bringing us closer together. For the first time in a LONG time, I feel hopeful and happy despite all my crap. I feel like a schoolgirl. My mom and the boys laughed at me tonight when I jumped three feet in the air to the ringing of my phone and ran to answer it. I really hope he doesn't turn out to be a serial killer or something. LOL.

Off to bed. Happy Turkey Day!