New friends

Have you ever wondered if the friends that you have were supposed to be in your life for one reason or another and at a certain time? Really...think about it. Sometimes you can be in the same place for years and never meet, but then one day in a totally different place, you meet and become friends.

For instance--my friend and co-worker Stacy: we both went to the Art Institute of Dallas at the same time, different majors. We never met. Years later, dreams of photography and music production tossed aside, we meet while working at a veterinary hospital. My friend Cherri and I both lived in the Dallas area at the same time. Never met. Years later, we meet working at said vet hospital. Are there certain times that you're supposed to come into someone's life or they into yours? Years ago in Dallas, I could have met the man that I have recently been wildly in love with, but I met him here, years and two kids (for him) later and a relationship that he can't see himself getting out of because of those two kids (despite the fact that they've left each other twice, but gone back). Why didn't we meet in Dallas before his miserable relationship and two kids? Is it because I had to meet someone else first, lose him when he died, and go through that horrible grieving process. For what?

I've recently met someone that I did some pet-sitting for. In our preliminary meeting, she mentioned that her boyfriend had passed away not quite a year ago. I recognized the look in her eye and knew exactly where she was in that grieving process. Man, it sucks! I didn't say anything at the time. She went out of town and I checked in on her cats. I looked at all the pictures of "J" she has all over the place. He was incredibly similar to my Marshawn--tall, broad athletic chest, dark complexion and hair, and the same spirit shining from within. It made it seem like almost yesterday. She's a petite girl and I could see her big bed in her room and know how absolutely empty it feels right now and know that all those pillows that are on the bed do nothing to allay that feeling.

When she came back, I took her key back to her. Usually, if I'm not keeping the key for frequent jobs, I have people come and pick them up. I wanted to tell her, though, that if she ever wants to talk to someone that had been where she's at and understands where she's coming from, that she can give me a call; that I understand because I had been exactly where she is eleven years ago. Sure enough, the first question out of her mouth was, "Have you been able to love anyone else since then?" Hope springs eternal even in our darkest hour. I was able to tell her yes, and even though it seems it's not going to work out for me, I have the strength to go on and try again. We ended up talking for four hours. It won't be the last time either.

Ironically, her relationship with "J" started out much the same way that my relationship with "G" started.

So, the question is this: why do we have to go through such convoluted circles to meet each other at precise moments in our time? Are things pre-ordained, or is it all just chance? Do things always happen for a reason, or do they just happen? (I guess that would be "questions") Do you come into someone's life precisely when they need you to?

I'll let you ponder your deep thoughts now.

Patriots upset AGAIN!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love it when the Patriots get upset in the Super Bowl! So goes their undefeated season. What a time to lose, huh Tom? Beaten by another Manning!!!! Can't imagine being their mom. 2 boys, 2 years in a row.

Too bad it was one of the most boring games in Super Bowl history until the end of the 4th quarter. The commercials weren't even that good this year; although, the baby buying stocks on the computer wasn't too bad.

Dieter's Dream

I have joined the ranks of January Dieting People. I am very diligently counting every calorie and trying not to go over my allotment for the day. I've added in some exercising, but I still haven't gotten up to every day. I am starting to ever so slowly lose weight. If I exercised more, I'm sure it would be more noticeable.

If I had any doubt that I was on a diet--IE convincing myself that I'm just eating healthier--the dream I had last night reminded me that I was in fact, for the first time in my life, on a DIET:

In my dream, a co-worker (who has joined my calorie-counting process) and I were roommates. Between our apartment and work, the ubiquitous "they" were building 20 different donut shops. Every donut store you can think of: Dunkin Donuts, Krispy Kreme, Shipley, Mom-and-Pop donut stores. Probably every donut shop I have ever seen in my life was lining the streets from our apartment to work.

The weird thing is that before I started my diet, I was not a huge donut eater. I could go to Exxon and look at the Krispy Kremes and pass them up easily. I think it's because someone brought donuts to work last week and I really wanted the donut with the red jelly oozing out of it.

When I was a kid, on Sundays, my dad would go to the corner store and buy Bear Claws and Cinnamon Twists and whole milk. Thanks, Dad.

Traditions

Everyone has been talking about Christmas traditions--I feel a little lost. I don't have any anymore...except, maybe taking care of other people's pets on Christmas.

I'm a child of divorce. Not only that, I live at least 800 miles away from any family members. When I was a kid, though, I was always allowed to open one gift on Christmas Eve. That was great. We also had a little "candy count-down" that we hung next to the front door. There were 24 slots in it where a piece of candy went. Every night before I went to bed, I got to eat one, thus counting down the nights until Christmas Eve. Believe me--it was the only time of year I got candy anywhere near bedtime! Christmas was usually spent with my Dad's family after the divorce--Thanksgiving went to my Mom's. I don't know how it ended up that way, but these holidays just seemed to fit these families. Grandma Shaffer always made Ambrosia and Coconut Cake for Christmas dinner. Her Coconut Cake was to die for!!!!! Of course, it was not a recipe that she ever wrote down, even when I asked for it when I was 19 ("I don't know how I make it, I just do," she said). No one has been able to duplicate, although many in my family have tried. Sigh.....

Well, now, I do absolutely have to watch It's A Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve and A Christmas Story on Christmas day.

New Years Day is kind of my tradition now, I guess. I watch I-don't-know-how-many-hours of football, I make a pot of Black-Eyed Peas (Texas tradition), and I put Spare Ribs and Sauerkraut in the crock pot for later (German--and Irish, if you count the cabbage). The Sauerkraut has to go over mashed potatoes. It's a very bland-colored meal, but it's good!

My Black-Eyed peas were excellent this year! I put some kind of chili pepper in it; I don't know what kind because the grocery store doesn't really keep there pepper signs straight, but it looks like an anaheim. I threw in some onions, salt, pepper, thyme and a bay leaf, and cooked it in chicken broth slowly for about 6 hours. Add some corn bread and there's lunch!

Good thing I don't eat like that every day of the year!

OH...if someone could please tell me what the last comment on my previous post says, I'm curious to know.

Everyone needs one!

Today I indulged myself. For my eight years at BAH, I got a gift certificate to a spa. Today, I finally used it. Leah and I both got one and we decided to pay a little extra for a package. For me, it started out with a facial. I'd never had one before and it was w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l. She told me when she was finished that I had excellent skin and to keep doing what I was doing (I make my own products). Yay-me!

After the facial, I had a glass of champagne. Then, I went in for my mud cocoon. What??? Well, they sisal-brush you off, put on a layer of mud with lavender in it, then set a canopy over you and steam you while they massage your head. I can't even begin to tell you how good this felt. Leah said I crawled out of the room.

We then went to Magnolia Cafe for lunch and I "crawled" home and took a nap. It was a good day.

What's Gotten Into Me?

I don't know what's gotten into me! I've had some kind of strange insurgence of domesticity.

After work I went shoe shopping. I came home and made cookies! (I had some overly ripe bananas and a recipe for banana-nut cookies and all the ingredients needed.) After that, I made a big pot of sausage & lentil soup. Then I did a butt-load of dishes. I did a load of laundry. Today at work, I was even mothering a pregnant doctor!

I think the moon needs to get out of what-ever quadrant it's in!

The End

It's over! NaBloPoMo is over! Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really, it's been an adventure in discipline, but, I'm glad it's over. I don't have to post tomorrow! You don't know how good that feels. You may not hear from me for weeks!

I'm also excited because Leah and I have finally decided on a date to do our Spa day, and boy--do we have a package planned. Both of us had toyed with the idea of handing our extra gift certificates to this particular spa over to someone else, but in the end, we decided--nah. We'll get a deluxe day of treatment with minimum cost to us. It's going to be soooooooo nice. A whole day of pampering. Just what the doctor ordered.

So, here's to you: NaBloPoMoers! Lift your favorite drink and give yourself a toast! Drain it with gusto! We deserve it!