Planning My Life

I have had a good couple of days and have actually started planning my life! I'm excited about some of the decisions I've made to go forward. So excited that I forgot to blog! I'm not going to go into details too early because I think it will be more fun to write about it as it unfolds. The first decision on my path is that I am putting my house on the market in January. That is step one. I'm going to do things MY way for once, and it feels great! More tomorrow when my eyeballs can focus again.

Zero Plans

This time next week I will be on vacation until after the first of the year. I have ZERO plans. I am having a very low-key Christmas with just my mom, but other than that I don't know what to do with myself. My company shuts down so it is all holiday pay (yay!), although I will be on-call. I don't know when I will find out about the supervisor position. It's a crapshoot at this point. I guess if it is meant to be it will be. Or not. So, what should I do with my time off?

The "I wonder where I will be a year from now" game.

Well, I'm lying in bed with my mind racing and can't sleep. This time last year I had just been laid off from my job and had started a temporary contract job. I remember wondering where I would be in a year. I was WAY OFF. I always am. That is part of the allure behind blogging and journaling, to see how things change and how things happen beyond your imagination. Someone said to me around that time that they predicted I would be in the same situation a year from the time they told me, and that they probably would be in their same situation too. They said, "We never really change much do we?". I never met that person, but I would say they were a bit wrong. I wonder if things turned out different than they expected too.

I'm going to make this a new thing I do at the same time every year. Let's call it, "I wonder where I will be a year from now?"

Lou & the Whipped Cream, New Earrings, and A Pity Pot

He pees on the floor, barks at everything and gets into all kinds of trouble, but every now and then his antics just crack me up and I was laughing too hard to yell at him.

I stopped at an espresso drive-thru and got an iced mocha with whipped cream once, and Louie was riding shotgun curled up in a ball with the butt warmer on. I got distracted with a call and the next minute I looked down; I was greeted by a grinning whipped cream-faced dog with a straw in his mouth. It was classic.

I've been on the pity pot lately. (If you haven't noticed.) Not a fun place to be. I know it's stupid, but sometimes you just can't help it. Today I was a tad grumpy. I was yelling at stupid drivers and wanted to tip over a holiday display. Bah, Humbug! Hehe. I usually adore Christmas, but with everything I've dealt with this year I guess I'm a little cynical and pissed off. I'm with Chele, what the hell happened to "gentlemen"? I can't remember the last time a man opened a door for me. In fact, I had a door swing into my face tonight. Thanks dude. I'm thinking my choices are somewhat nil in this day and age. I'm too old fashioned, I guess. I believe I have much to give, but I don't want to cast my pearls before swine, you know? I want to be taken care of this time and be the adoring, loyal wife. I make good money, I'm educated, I love to cook, and I love sex, but I'm not putting up with any shit. I'm done with that. Tiger Woods? What an idiot! Cheat on Elin Nordegren? FOOL.

OK I'm done ranting on my blog here into cyber space. Everything is wonderful and normal. I did buy myself some new earrings from Macy's. A little Christmas gift to myself. ;-)

The good, the bad and the goofy.

The bad: Took Lou to the vet today. The prognosis is not good. I just have to love him and enjoy him while I can. I feel like I'm slowly losing everything and everyone.

The good: My mom, her best friend Cathy and I are going to take a trip to New Orleans in the new year. Woohoo! I'm worried about what to do with Lou though, he couldn't handle boarding.

The goofy: I made cookies and they all melted together into one big cookie. LOL!

Shit List

Are you on it? My shit list is growing. ;-). Ever had one of those days (lives?) where nothing goes right, and everyone irritates you? Gah.

Got this funny gag gift at the company Christmas party. Somebody knows me all too well, I think!

Heat is not overrated.

I have HEAT! Yay! Only cost $200 for my neighbor to fix it. Thank you, GOD and Denin. What a week. I've had better. I'm really worried about Lou-dog, he is going downhill and I'm so afraid. I can't lose him, I CAN'T. Not now. That would send me right over the edge. I need him well. Right NOW.

Don't fall asleep reading this post.

Long day. Worked for a bit, had a departmental holiday party that I zoned out at and didn't really participate in (had a Pepsi and played one game of pool, whoop-de-doo!), got an oil & lube and car wash, went to dinner with mom, had neighbor install new heater pump but haven't heard back to see if it worked, printed out my credit reports, signed lawyer paperwork and now it's time for bed. Exciting shit, no? Haven't been sleeping well and I'm very, very tired. I need to iron about 50 shirts/pants and don't have the energy. Gotta train two new people tomorrow at work. Blah!

Did you fall asleep reading this post? I did.

It's good to pay it forward.

Unthawed. My mother is being a gracious hostess and dogsitter. My neighbor is trying to get me a new pump for my heater at wholesale and offered to install it for me. Such a nice guy. His truck broke down and I gave him my old truck, no strings attached. That is what it is all about, this life, helping each other out.

Had my internal interview at work yesterday for the supervisor position. Keep fingers and toes crossed, a good promotion would be GREAT right now! If not, I guess it wasn't meant to be. Things could get interesting.

Frozen

I'm going to freeze to death. My heater pump went out. I have no fireplace except my fake one, and neither it nor my space heater can get the air temp above about 50 degrees, and that is only within a small area. I have 2 layers of clothes on under the covers here in my bed. The dogs are shaking. It is supposed to snow on Wednesday. Unfortunately, Jim didn't leave me in the greatest financial position (I kind of got left holding the bag with 2 mortgages and lots of bills) so I'm going to have stay at my mom's or something until I can get it fixed, or the dogs and I will turn into popsicles.

I broke down and cried earlier. Have you ever cried while your teeth were chattering? It's a little frightening. It'll get better, right?

Holiday Party Update

Well dinner was good, the "Kings of Swing" were fun, and a coworker friend of mine proposed to his girlfriend (also a coworker) in front of everyone. It was so sweet. It brought me to tears of course. Right now, I'm standing outside alone getting some fresh air. (Am I pathetic or what?). I can't feel my toes. More later.

Hot-Ass Prawns

Went to dinner and shopping with mama. I had "Camarones del Diablo" which is Spanish for hot-ass prawns. YUM. I will regret it tomorrow, but it was worth it. ;-)

My coworkers are making me go to the company Christmas party tomorrow. Swing dancing with no one to dance with, not that I would have danced anyway. Neat. I did buy a nice outfit, though. I figure if I'm not having a good time I'll just leave.

Out of My Comfort Zone

I like how Kim put it: I am going through some deep shit.

That's for sure! On several levels. My ENTIRE life has and continues to change. I am so far out of my comfort zone I don't even know what a comfort zone is anymore. The only family I have left is my mom, my stepson and the dogs, due to 4 deaths and a husband who bailed (which pretty much eliminated 2 other family members). I'm having to learn to be alone, and how to control my emotions and maintain composure. I want to learn what love and happiness is/means. I am still relatively new at my job, and it is morphing as we speak. I'm having to trust in God to protect me and help me through hard things. I'm going to have to move soon. I've learned who my true friends are.

I'm doing pretty good I think, considering the circumstances. Some awful crap has happened, and of course I'm not posting that on the internet, but life can suck. I know, I'm an expert. But it is up to me. It is my choice to move ahead. It is up to me to make good, healthy choices. I'm in charge of my own happiness (that is also a choice, sometimes hard, but still a choice). As far as love goes, well, I'm a little old fashioned there wanting the man to be the pursuer, but who knows. I have no idea what will happen to me. I've definitely learned that life is full of surprises and that anger, bitterness and vindictiveness is a total waste of time.

Prayer Works

I AM HAVING A GOOD DAY. That may seem trivial to you, but if you knew the hell I've been through lately you would fall right over. I laughed today. I only teared up once; briefly. I am feeling hopeful about the future for the first time in a while, and I was so far from feeling that yesterday it isn't even funny. I want to go back to NY (Annie you are coming next time; can you imagine the damage we could do together?) which means I am thinking about fun things instead of not fun things. I enjoyed my tuna melt for lunch, and I got winked at on the elevator at my lawyer's office.

To have a change in spirit THAT quickly either means I'm Bipolar, or the prayers are working. Now, I've been to therapy, and they said the only problem I have is anxiety, YUP. God. Do NOT argue with me.

I may be grumpy and sad again tomorrow, but I had a good day TODAY.

One Too Many Blows

I'm not doing well. Not at all. I am starting not to care about anything. I've taken one too many blows and just don't have the strength to get up anymore.

Good Days and Bad Days

I have good days and I have bad days. Everyone does, but when the bad hits, it really hits. The last few years have just torn my soul apart. Deaths, separation/divorce, and many other things, and I was already stressed, struggling and unhappy when the storm came and slammed my ass. One thing after the other. BOOM, BOOM, BOOM! I was doing pretty well there for a while keeping myself together, but some 'challenges' have presented themselves of late and the few glimpses of hope for a couple of things I had, have died.

I walked through Costco today among the decorations, families and busy shoppers. I felt dizzy. I suddenly felt incredibly alone with 100's of people around. I felt small and invisible. I just told myself to breathe. This too shall pass.

I'm just having faith that everything will be OK. You have to be happy with yourself before your life will start to take a good shape. I like myself, even when I'm a dumbass idiot fool, but sometimes life can beat you down a bit.

Thanksgiving with Mom 2009

Here is our sad little turkey with a little turkey boner! Haha, that's what I call it. The dogs are just waiting for ANYTHING to drop. It's not the happiest Thanksgiving I've ever had, but I feel loved and warm. Got my fuzzy house slippers on. I didn't cook this year for the first time in a LONG time. Actually, I haven't cooked much at all for a while now, but I will again, I'm sure, if you know what I mean.

Happy Turkey Day to all who celebrate! WOOF! From Louie and Maggie.

CrazyDogMama Wisdom

One of life's greatest accomplishments is being true to yourself. Others can let you down or betray you, but you can still walk with your head held high and a clear conscience. When you betray yourself, it is a prison. It is a deep emotional wound more so than when you are hurt by others or by circumstances.

Sad Thanksgiving

Well, I don't get to California to be with friends for Thanksgiving because I don't have enough money for the last-minute plane ticket and dog boarding. Just going to be me and mom. Don't even feel much like eating. WOW I've never said THAT before. Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving.

Thankfulness

I got a request for a list. I'll warn you though, I'm not feeling funny. The reality of my life has hit me recently, and the holidays are coming up. I will be spending them alone (unmarried) for the first time in 16 years.

Things I'm thankful for:
1. My mom who is always there for me.
2. All my friends who are always there for me.
3. My job.
4. My retarded dogs who keep me company.
5. God who keeps me going when I don't think I can.
6. Hope. You have to have it.

Things I am not thankful for:
1. The single life. It sucks. There is no 'honey', just friends.
2. Wasting half of my life and giving my all for nothing.
3. I'm going to have to sell my house. Gotta start a new life and I can't do that there.
4. Wearing my heart on my sleeve and always making myself vulnerable.

Well, at least my thankful list is longer than my pathetic list. :-)