2007 Rundown

January: Cruising on Ice
So with the first Ice Storm of 2007 not too far away, I start the year with a nice Caribbean cruise.

First stop: Key West, where the happy couple, Lindi and Steve, state their lovely vows to one another in the presence of family, a few friends, and a bum sleeping in the sand. I think we may have invaded his home.


Then on to Costa Maya and Georgetown where there was snorkeling, bird holding, mayan ruining ( with disrespectful Americans smoking and throwing their butts on living history), and the reality of poverty in Mexico while riding on the nice tourist bus drive to see where the Mayans once stood. Good times.

Second stop: tarmac. flight delay after flight delay and we were lucky to get all five of us on the only flight from Dallas to okc that had and would depart in two days. Once on the plane, we sit, or actually I sleep for two hours cramped on a full flight. Two hours of a tarmac sitting/sleeping experience and we finally fly for about a total of 20 minutes and land on an icy OKC runway. Obviously, there is no luggage. Wait. I take that back. There is tons and tons of luggage...just not anybody's that was standing there tapping there foot waiting for their luggage. About 2 days later and new hairdryer and a new toothbrush, I have my luggage delivered and the souvenir giving can commence.

Also, I came home to a new love interest that I left behind for this wonderful cruise. Due to love interest and first ice storm 2007, I fall (hard) down love interest's driveway and hurt my right wrist.

February: Cruising down the Road
So, my 2001 Ford Explorer Sport (meaning only two doors), is doing things that I wish it would not do. I have had this car since 2002 and I think Ford truly has a five year warranty and not anything beyond. My car will start...only if I have my foot on the gas and it will only stay on...if i have my foot on the gas. So, as I start it, get in gear (all with my foot on the gas...even when I have my foot on the break)I can begin my venture down the road...but no cruising. The car will be going forty down a hill and I am still not allowed to take my foot of the gas, as it (the entire car) will completely shut down/turn off completely on it's own...weird?? Not just weird...picky. It (the car) plays this trick on my when it feels so inclined...in particular when it is 40 degrees or below. So, two mechanics and I mechanics bill we won't bring up, I give in. I deserve and new vehicle. Woke up one Saturday morning, drove the POS into a car dealer and bought myself a new Jeep Commander (with four doors).

My wrist still hurts. I never had it checked out.

March: Bye Bye PT
So, for the previous Christmas, I decided to give myself a Personal Trainer and join a gym. I have been training with PT since the week before Christmas 06, and I would definitely admit that buns, thighs, arms, back, tum tum, and even my gargantuan calves are looking pretty nice...and tone. I have not been in this good of shape for a while. But, training comes to end and so does the tone buns, thighs, arms, back, tum tum, and especially the gargantuan calves.

April: Hello Home ownership
I have a house. A cute little 2bed 1bath little house. It's old just like I like them with hard wood floors and many household repairs to come. It is all my own. Single, 24 years old, little dog, and little doggie door. I think I am set.




May: No Washy Washy
So, new old house in April and a new washer and dryer I bought to go along with new old house...but no proper or legal plumbing where washer and dryer are meant to be placed. I think the inspector missed out on an INTEGRAL part of his inspection. So, washing clothes at love interest's home (with his two roommates) for a month while waiting on plumbers to come to INSTALL new proper and legal plumbing in wash room area, and then a not so pretty plumbing invoice later...I can finally wash and dry clothes at my new old house.

June: Meet the Fam and then some.
Texas is where love interest calls home. So, trip to Texas it is. We meet all the extended family, which is Friends that have been around since before love interest was barfing on their shoulders. A whole weekend in a 6 bedroom compound like retreat. It was actually very nice...real Mexican food and 6.0 beer.


Then we drive to meet the Father in San Antonio, where love interest grew up and went to high school. After love interest that was raised in San Antonio get us lost in San Antonio, we arrive at Father's home to meet two lovely, sweet, and beautiful younger step sisters and LI's (love interest) step mother. They are of course all wonderful...and everywhere we went there was a pool and free food (already cooked of course). Can't go wrong with that.

**Trip provided by new vehicle purchase made in February.

July: I'm 25
Ok, so of course there is Independence Day and that is great and all, but seriously, and more importantly, July is the best month of the year for many great reasons. As I mentioned before, there is 4th of July. There is also that fact that is is summer, there are pool side beer fests with the occasional pina colada, for lake-goers there is obviously the lake and boats you can afford that I cannot, but the most wonderful and best reason why July is the best month ever......drum roll..... it's my birthday month.

Yes, you heard right. It is my birthday month. Not just a day...but an entire month to celebrate my birth and my existence ever since. Love interest doesn't understand the celebration concept but put up with anyway. Did I mention his name is Clint? He gets a name now. If he can put up with my birthday month, he at least deserves a name.

But, even though I express the importance of my month, I am not that much of a pain. All I ask is for Asians and all my friends. My favorite restaurant is Musashi's which takes care of the Asians and even my BF Jenny showed up to dinner. Take a gander at my pick in the left hand column with all the hot chicks....this is at my birthday dinner.

August: Time to hit the books
For a bit of background, I graduated in 2006 with a BA. Ever since that summer, I have been a bit lost and bored...so what do I do? I decide to try to get my masters. So back to school here I come...but only one class. Baby steps, people, baby steps. I enjoy coming home after work and watching Oprah. I can't take away from that.

Plus, my wrist still hurts every so often. Especially when I type long blogs like this.

Weight gain to date since bye bye to PT: 10 lbs. ouch


September: Road Warrior
Clint's birthday is the beginning of September. On the morning of Clint's birthday, and I mean morning like 2am and haven't even had the chance to say "happy birthday" to the birthday boy, I receive a phone call from my parentals informing me that they think my brother is in jail.

Here goes. Bro in city jail for DUI. BUT in his lovely drunkenness, he decides that driving at height speeds through the city while pretty light flash at him, is a fun idea. County jail here he comes and the new deck I have been saving up for will have to wait. You see, little Bablou has never had to deal with bailing anyone out of jail. Never really had to deal with breaking law and the consequences. The purposes of a bail bondsman should be taught in school. You would think that with an ex-cop dad, an LI with a DUI in the past, and friend and co-worker applying for the police academy, someone would have informed me to use a bail bondsman and not my new deck money. Oh well, coulda woulda shoulda.

bro is out of jail. i got out of work to get bro out of jail. police chase was on the news with bro's face peaking out of backseat window of cop car, and i got to take Clint to dinner.

October: court day Costumes
Brother's birthday and his court day. Half way to the court house and bro finds out that the case is not even on the docket. Court date postponed along with return of bail/new deck money.

A small road trip with two girlfriends wouldn't hurt. To Ft. Collins we went for the weekend and back. It was quick, beautiful and fun. Except for Jeri's driving. Don't ride with Jeri if you plan on enjoying the Colorado scenery. You will totally miss it.



Halloween is near and it's Clint and mines first Halloween together...woo hoo, right? One would think, "Oh, how cute it would be to do a couple costume???" neh, how about, "I want to go as a gay cop." Seriously? Fine. Whatever. So, he is Lt. Dangle from Reno 911 and I go as Carmen Miranda...fruit on head and all.

November: Hospitals and moving
Without going into great detail, I had to take my bro to the hospital and then after that ordeal we had to send him to a psych hospital for a week or so. Before he got out, Clint moved all of bro's stuff back to the parentals. This is where bro will be for awhile. The docs say he has Borderline Personality Disorder and the beginning signs of Schizophrenia. He is not allowed to work by orders of his state paid doc and we are hoping to get the dui and eluding police charges removed due to his mental capacity.

and.....and Clint moves in with me. ta dah.

Thanksgiving was good and a little bittersweet. The rest of the fam doesn't know about the bro's situation and kept probing why he had his forearms and wrists covered. He doesn't want anyone to know, so we will protect his wounds.


December: I've lost my Wisdom
The month begins with some achy teeth. I have had issues with the wisdom teeth and have delayed the removal process for some time. No more delay. Get them out! My two wisdom teeth on the right side of my mouth are the ones that hurt and luckily they are already exposed. It was a small procedure with a lot of numbing and I was still wide a wake. Not too bad. I got a day off...woo hoo.

The rest of the month up until Christmas can be easily put: Shopping. An attempt to go back to the gym, fudge, cookies, a generous Christmas bonus, and more shopping.

But, I got a Wii! woo hoo. I got lucky on that one. And a crock pot. I think people are trying to change me.

Bro is doing great. As long as he is on his meds, he is pretty normal.

If you read the previous blog, you know that I gained a sister for Christmas.

Happy one year Anniversary to Clint and me....And my wrist still hurts.

So, the year so far is ending on a good note. Just 11 more hours of this 2007 year. Enjoy, be safe, take time to remember, take time to reflect, and take time to do things that make you happy.

A Wonderful Christmas

2 days after Christmas day and I am still exhausted. Work is slow, so in my boredom I began to think of why this Christmas was just so wonderful. I mean, it had to be wonderful if I am still feeling so worn from it's greatness. 3 main things:

My brother
Long story short. My family has had a hard time in the later part of this year. We are lucky to have my brother this Christmas and we are lucky that he is doing well. One of the things that made my Christmas day was to see him happy, smiling, excited, and functioning like normal. There is no telling how the rest of his life is going to be since he was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and Schizophrenia in late October, but we are hopeful we will work together as a family to what is best for him. Also, after I opened my gift from him, I realized that he was able to get out in some stores and do a little Christmas shopping and pick out things himself. He has such a big heart and wants so badly for all of us to be happy. I love you, bubba.

My sister
I have never met my half sister. She is 11 years older than I am and until last Saturday, I had never spoken to her. She contacted our Father and then asked for me to call her. We had our first conversation on Christmas Eve. Amazing. I am looking forward to meeting with her and building a relationship with her that we have both missed out on. She seems just as excited as I which makes the whole situation even better.

My Clint
This was our first Christmas together and it was exciting and wonderful. We met a few days after Christmas last year, so we just missed the Christmas boat. So one year later, we are happy, we are young, and we are in love. He has been there for me through tough family times and I hope I have supported him whenever he needed it. His family is wonderful and I love my new life.

Emotions are high and there is still so much to come this following year. I hope everyone's Christmas was as amazing as mine and have a wonderful and safe New Year.

I love my real life.

Update to running a marathon. I didn't train and I am not running in the marathon. I am known to be a very realistic person and after serious contemplation, I realized that my inability to jog a mile was not going to turn into the ability to jog 13 miles in a matter of 4 weeks. It may seem weak, but that's too much pressure to put on oneself especially during the holidays. I am going to set a more realistic goal...like be able to jog a mile period.

I have a lot of faith in myself and my capabilities, but I have a very realistic idea of my capabilities at the same time. I believe in pushing myself emotionally, physically, intellectually, and creatively and any other descriptive word ending in -ly, but come on. If I have a bad knee and my lungs can't handle a quarter of a mile, then why take the chance of injury to myself physically and emotionally. I want to be able to run a mile. I'll work on that and then I will work on the next mile. However long it takes, I will do it and I will do it carefully and smart.

My boyfriend thinks I am a worrier and that I am too cautious. But that is who I am and I love that I am the careful one. Just because I worry and I am careful does not mean that I am not adventurous. I have been skydiving, I hike, and I rock climb. I definitely don't live like a hermit. I just have a good sense of reality, a good sense of my surroundings, and a great sense of outcome and expectations. I can and I love to dream, but I live a real life too. I love my real life more than any unrealistic figment of my imagination.

MEMO:

I think my addiction to coffee is causing my excrutiating headaches. This may be in combination with my financially inept boyfriend who wants help but doesn't really want help when it comes down to the reality of it. I guess taking out a loan to pay your cell phone bill is a much better idea then what I could ever come up with....whatever.

I am going to get another cup of coffee.

Just started reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. So far, I can tell that I will enjoy it although I am only still in "Italy." I have not made it to India or Indonesia yet but I will get there shortly. Gilbert is very clever and showing a great sense of humor when looking back on herself.

I have felt that I need to make some changes and delve into my soul a lot more lately. I hate feeling like something major is missing in my life even thought I have so much. I love the people and "things" in my life but feel I do not have something in which I feel entirely passionate. I need to be passionate about something and cannot decide what that is. I have ideas and I need to just make the attempts.

Yesterday was day 1 of marathon training. My friend, Jeri, asked me if I would be interested in running in a half marathon in December. "Why not?," I asked myself. Sounds like something I could be passionate about...or at least occupy my time until I find out my passion. Plus, I will lose weight. Not a bad deal....So, Day 1. Yesterday. The training schedule Jeri created requires 1 mile on Day 1. Piece of cake.

Whatever! Jeri has already ran a full marathon, which is 26 miles! Me? I cannot even lightly jog a mile without having to stop 4 times to walk a little. Plus, I had the worst tension headache right after the jog. Pathetic. I have until December 9 to be able to get through 13 miles. Tomorrow is Day 2 of the "official" training schedule by Jeri and I think it is either 1 1/2 miles or 2 miles. I think I may try the mile again today on my own.

Ann Coulter is a Lunatic!

The following article was was copied from http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/. It's about Ann Coulter opening her big fat mouth again. Do people really support the crap that spills from her face? I am in awe that someone so openly hateful can be a best selling author. Come on people! Who is buying her crap? Is it really worth supporting her psychotic diatribes?

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Conservative commentator and best-selling author Ann Coulter may find herself in the midst of a controversy for comments Monday suggesting America would be better if everyone was Christian.
Asked by CNBC host Donny Deutsch what the U.S. looks like in her dreams, Coulter said it would look like the Republican National Convention in 2004
"People were happy,” she said, according to a transcript provided to CNN by CNBC. “They're Christian. They're tolerant. They defend America." (Video: Watch Coulter's comments on CNBC)
When Deutsch responded, "It would be better if we were all Christian?" Coulter said "Yeah."
Deutsch, himself Jewish, continued to press Coulter on her remarks, asking, "We should just throw Judaism away and we should all be Christians then?"
"Yeah," Coulter responded, adding "Well, it's a lot easier. It's kind of a fast track."
"You can't possibly believe that," Deutsch responded. “You can’t possibly. You’re too educated.”
"Do you know what Christianity is?" Coulter replied. "See, we believe your religion, but you have to obey. We have the fast track program."
Later in the interview Deutsch asked Coulter if she doesn't want any Jews in the world, Coulter responded, "No, we think — we just want Jews to be perfected, as they say."
"Wow, you didn't really say that, did you," Deutsch said.
Read the rest of this entry »

cheddar pepper war

It is Wednesday. The highlight of my day has been picking up lunch for the office and it was a highlight obviously becuase I was able to leave the office. Boredom is the key word for today. Playing on myspace can only be entertaining for so long before I feel like I'm stalking everyone who has better things to do today other than waste company time. The clock for today's countdown is broken...it has to be. This day is inching by. My sanity is inching by. My boredom is consuming my proactiviness today. Proactivity took a day off today without letting me know...jerk.

My cheddar peppers are laughing at me. I ordered them with my grilled chicken sandwich and felt guilty afterward. I still haven't eaten them because of my aweful guilt. Now they sit and laugh. They taunt me. They brought their friend Buttermilk Ranch with them...jerk. Yet I haven't thrown them away yet. The cheddar pepper war will occupy my endless countdown.

Stronger

It's monday. I am listening to Kanye West's song "Stronger." Great song. Respect the talent not necessarily the person. I may not agree with his famous blubbering, "George Bush doesn't like black people," but that is how he felt and the circumstances at the time did seem so. Just because the statement may have been "inappropriate" to some and can be said to be not "politically correct," I can respect that there is someone out there who is willing to speak his mind without fear of ridicule from peers and fans. Didn't the same thing happen to the Dixie Chicks?

People are so eager to jump to point the finger at the person who stands up against the norm and masses. We call them stupid, disrespectful, and probaby many other rude and not politically correct terms, while we are weak because we are following others rather than our own hearts.

We have Freedom of Speech in this country, but when people exercise their right against what is "acceptable" freedom of speech, we persecute. It's obvious that a melting pot country is going to have people with contradicting ideas, hopes, and dreams but doesn't it come down to a matter of respect? If there is no violance, why do so many people jump to say people can't say what's on their minds? Speak your mind. Share you heart. Don't be afraid of what your next door neighbor will say about your words. They are words. Although words can be a very powerful tool, words are only as powerful as you will let them be.

If you don't like what someone is saying. Ignore them. Pretty simple right?

Kanye West has a really good message if you really listen. Think beyond the obvious.

Remember To Take It Step by Step

I find that there are some things I do that are just too literal. I enjoy taking photos of me and my lovies to remember where we have been. But I literally want to remember where my little footsies have traveled. My friend in the second photo with me thinks its a bit strange, but a small little joke has turned into a tradition for me. Where have your feet been?

My first photo with my feet in the sand was Georgetown, Cayman Islands. The middle photo with my not so literal friend was taken on a Mayan Ruin in Costa Maya. The third photo was taken in the Wichita Mountains in Lawton, Oklahoma while waiting patiently for my turn to climb.

I'm excited for my next foot photos!

Your Cheerful Outlook is One of Your Best Assets

Written May 27, 2007 (from another journal of mine).

"your cheerful outlook is one of your best assets."

Well, at least that's what my most recent fortune cookie said. It was not tasty by the way. Probably the worst fortune cookie I've ever had and I really don't even like the cookie of a fortune cookie…just the fortune. I normally keep the good fortunes. Actually, I keep even the not so good fortunes too. I just like them in general. I have a small collection in my desk at work. I never look at them. They just sit in there. Maybe I hope that if I keep the fortune it will actually come true. I wouldn't know if any of them had come true since I don't remember what any of them said. I am hopeful for things and I don't even know what I am hopeful for. So what's the point?

I am fighting a battle and don't even know it sometimes. When I actually take the time to sit and reflect, I always realize it. Sometimes I continue to ignore it and other times I try to help myself. One side of me is fighting to be "cheerful"…it is one of my best assets I have been told. I attempt to present myself as strong, opinionated, optimistic, somewhat intelligent, humorous, fun, someone others can depend on. I attempt to do things on my own and portray myself as independent. I want to listen and give good insight when asked. I want to laugh and smile.

Then there is the "me" that is and has been trying so hard to be a part of my life. This person is so sad and wanting approval from everyone. She feels as if she can make no one happy and all her efforts are worthless, minuscule, insufficient, mediocre. She is dark and a bit twisted and afraid to show it. She can be hateful, rageful, and full of jealousy. Envious. Selfish. Bitter. She is lonely because she feels like no one could really accept or understand her. She is tired. She doesn't want to hear you whine. She is sick of caring. This person can never reveal herself. She is weird. She is wrong. I do not like her. I do not accept her. Sometimes I want to.

I am hopeful to keep myself sane. I am hopeful to keep myself happy. I am hopeful to keep myself motivated. I am hopeful I will figure out my life. I am hoping I won't figure out my life. I am hopeful my headaches will go away. I am hopeful I will be cheerful. I am hopeful for things I do not yet know. I guess that could be a good point. Getting to know my hopes.

I used to have many hopes. They were childish…but real. I gave them up. I visit them sometimes. In the shower I still sing. I thought I was good once. I realize I was just mediocre. I still watch the old singing videos every so often and remember a time that I believed "I could do it." More than anything, I just wanted to play the piano. Still do sometimes. A pianist is an amazing thing to me.

I wanted and sometimes still claim to want to be a writer. I am definitely not good enough. I am unable to delve into my emotions. I can only go so far. I fear the weirdo will emerge. There was a time that I wrote a lot. Poetry. The weirdo was a part of it. The meds sent her away. No one is allowed to read her work. Sometimes I will read the old poems and wish I could be emotional without being sad. Maybe another life.

My new hope. The most important. To be loved. Regardless. To be liked. regardless. To be true to others and me. To enjoy all things good and bad. To learn all things good and bad. To be truly confident and not for show. For balance. A good life and finding out what I good life is according to me.