I believe you are in there growing things. I know the tests said no, but I don’t believe it. I know you both are there producing toenails maybe. You are smaller than rice at this point I think. I know you guys managed to bury into my lining. I know you have. I have to believe it.
I had a manic insane day and I just know you are there. I know you are waiting for the right time for me to find out about you. Darling twins please be alive. Please be healthy. My beautiful boys I love you. Please pull through for mama.
The decades have not brought me here.
The way was unmarked. No amount of signs
would guide me to this place — well, why not just say it
— to you. I am all in. You are what I’ve come for. Suzanne Finnamore
Update-Airplane was born on June 9 2011 at 4:03 PM Pacific Time he managed to make it. His twin did not implant.
So what I do is I make sure that everything is all in order with work. Then I furiously research my little endeavor. I am pretty excited about this new business. I am ready to get the legal paperwork done so that I can get this business off the ground. I love when I get excited about an idea. I try to draw everyone in and get them to feed on my excitement.
I was running around the house like a Heisman Trophy today. I had so much on my plate, and I had so much to do. This is not the first stressful day now that the fall semester is in the full swing of things, and I am sure it will not be the last.
I am off in a puff of smoke to Hawaii on Saturday. Family time! I get to spend some time with the ‘rents.
I need to take a second to Kvetch a teeny bit about my brother in law. My brother in law was laid off in September, 2009. And by February he had not been able to find a job in Texas. My husband and I believe in doing the right thing. We do the right thing even when we don’t want to do the right thing sometimes. We both operate under the belief that for those God has given much he expects much. And my husband and I are blessed. We have a beautiful marriage, a wonderful life, a healthy (step) daughter, financial stability, fulfilling careers, our own health, a fabulous family, and an amazing home…just to name a few things. Anyway, we asked my brother in law to come live with us until February, 2011 to help him get on his feet.
Now mind you he pays no rent, no bills, and does not buy food. We provide all of that. Generally speaking he helps out around here when we need some help, but not always. NOW comes the whining part my brother in law cannot handle his business. He can’t prioritize. He is unable to accomplish what needs to be done to get ahead. And while this should be none of my business this drives me INSANE! I am not sure where my brother in law will be moving when February 12, 2011 rolls around. But when he does I will be happy to stop worrying about folks that do not take care of business.
I am starting a new business. I am wrapping up all the legal legwork that I need to incorporate. Once all the lawyers say I am good I need to hire an artist. If you or someone you know would be interested in being the artist for my project then I have an ongoing contract for you.
I am looking to build a business relationship for an ongoing project that has major potential to expand nationally. If you are interested please send me your portfolio in addition to your resume for review. If you do not have a portfolio I am going to need to at least see samples of your work. This is a telecommute position. This position will start in early October.
I was out tonight.Bey is out of town.And I am busy running around going out like I am in college.(not really)Example 1.) I left the house at 8 o’clock (at Auburn I never went out before 10:30) .Example 2.)I went to dinner first (at Auburn I could not afford to go out and go to dinner).Example 3.) I am already home (at Auburn it was a bad night if I was home at 12:45 AM.Nevertheless let me live my dream.I decided while I was out it is a strange strange strange world we are living in.
Call me naïve but I have never seen one of those crazy vapor cigarettes before.I was mesmerized and asked a million questions about them.*Additionally I met the band that was playing live out tonight.They played some classic rock that I did.After their set I talked to them.In the past I would have been too busy running my mouth to talk to the band. BUT tonight was surreal.I couldn’t help feeling like it was last summer and Bey was going to be stuck in Mississippi.That is how it felt all last summer.Surreal and frustrating.It shouldn’t feel like that now since my life is perfect.Bey is here, we have a wonderful home, and we are never going to be separated for a long time ever again.So it was crazy I felt like that.Overall the evening was a success.Perfect time for getting together with all of my friends.
*Ridiculous since I don’t even smoke, but I was fascinated by the blue light!
I miss my darling boy.He ran off to the Auburn game without me.In all fairness he asked me to go.I have been too exhausted and have piles of work to do.I am developing some classes which means I have extra piles that I do not generally have.No big deal, but it makes it difficult to travel.
One of my BFF’s called off her wedding last week.She and I have not had the opportunity to really dig in to what is going on with that although to be fair I should have seen it coming.My other BFF is getting married October 16.I just got her invitation my dress should be done being altered on Monday.
I hate Bey being gone.I miss him and it feels like last year when he was stuck in Mississippi and I was stuck here.He will be here on Sunday, and it can not come soon enough.
The refi is almost done. I got our appraisal back, and who hoo! I believe we will close at the end of the month. Here is the deal. Last year we got a 30 year mortgage with a 5 percent interest rate. It was a great rate at the time, and I was pretty happy. However I stay on rate alert, and last week 15 year mortgages came at 3.65 percent. So I said to Bey…let’s refinance. A 15 year mortgage at 3.65 percent is way better than a 30 year at 5 percent. We decided to go ahead and put another chunk of money down on the house and ta da the payment is almost the same!
I did the math ( right now Bey and I are on target to pay off our home September 2013). Based on that target we will save 16,000 dollars by doing this refinance. If we were to wait and pay the house off in 15 years we would save over 169,000 dollars in interest over the 30 year loan.
Other than boring finances Bey leaves tomorrow to go to Mississippi. I am buried and leaving for Hawaii soon so no Auburn football for me.
Two exciting pieces of information one I believe I mentioned that we fought Maricopa County in court and won on our Tax valuation. It helps to have a lawyer for a daddy. The second important piece of information is that the news is going to come out and interview me at my lovely home because of my accomplishment. It was very easy. Fighting and winning against the big bad county, but several people have tried and not everyone wins. I will be on the Thursday night news being interviewed and asked to explain my process. I am pretty excited. This is the second time I have been on the news since being in Phoenix. The first time I was on Fox news at 4, 5,6 by myself and 9 and 10 with the lovely Bey. We were on the news because we are Saints fans living in Cardinal country.
Of course as soon as I found out that I was going to be interviewed I called my daddy and thanked him again for his help in all things legal in my life. : )
This week has been an improvement to last week. I have spent the entire week kicking it via the phone to my BFF. I wish we lived closer. However it is great to catch up. Our roommate from college had a baby this week. Of course we talked about all those "glory days" when we were at Auburn. While I have to say that I am pretty high up on the happiness Richter scale these days nothing compares to those carefree days at Auburn. Best times of my life.
Speaking of good times at some point is all of our adult lives we have to start growing up. Unfortunately that time is getting close for me awfully soon. I have enjoyed all this Peter Pan time....now it is time to grow.
This is why it is fantastic to be a stepmom. You listen to teenage girl angst. You pay very close attention. You nod your head solemnly and you smile like an ancient wise soul. You place your hand under your chin as you ponder strife you could not imagine could occur to an upper middle class teenage girl. Then you sigh and say with authority. Go Ask Your Father. It is a fabulous power really. I wish I could exercise it in all aspects of my life.
SD had her first boyfriend last year. Or perhaps crush is the better word. It was obvious to me. Here this little girl who I could barely get to take a bath with tears, threats, gnashing of teeth suddenly became exceedingly interested in her appearance. It was a crush! Of course the only thing that could change behavior like that would be a BOY. Unfortunately this boy is unfantastic. And I am so glad her interest in him has disseminated.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…no not Christmas. The time when the munchkin goes back to school. I love having her here, but I have to transition to my fall busy schedule. No more of my summer lazy schedule.
My bridesmaid dress came this weekend for my BFF Sally’s wedding. Sally and I have been BFFs since 1995. Fifteen years. Oh my. We met at Auburn when we were just munchkins ourselves. After complaining to her that I am not feeling great lately, that I am struggling with some of my own personal demons. She suggested that I go back to Auburn. Pretend I am 18, rush my sorority again, and get our buddy Matt to make me a fake idea. See this is why she is my BFF she always has the best ideas. Unfortunately because of some of the events going on I may not be at the wedding. We talked about it this weekend and she was so supportive of where my journey is.
Today I want to talk about Bey. When I met Bey in October 2002 he was dating someone very seriously. I was engaged. We did not see one another again until February 2003. By February 2003 I had called off my engagement and Bey had put his ex on the road. Yet we still did not start dating. In February, I met a fabulous man that was all wrong for me! I had to spend some time pursuing that insanity. Then came the inevitable break up. Finally late May 2003 we went on our first date. We have been together ever since.
But that is not what I wanted you to know about Bey. When I met Bey he was a lot of fun. I was not ready to get married. But he will tell you. He knew I was it for him. He pursued me with a dogged determination. He came by my house and spoke of how he saw his future. He urged me to talk about my future. Eventually we started talking about our future.
Then we got married. Marriage is a funny thing sometimes. It takes two people that know each other pretty well (we had been dating a year and a half after all), and turns them into two strangers that now live in the same house. I started my doctorate 10 short days after our wedding. I like stress. Kidding. Although you would believe that is true if you watched a movie of my life Drew Barrymore should play me I think. We had a miscarriage early in our marriage. We had regular stress of bills, and adjusting to life in Mississippi. Then I got sick. We had to face down chemo and radiation.
We moved to Arizona and we were separated for 5 months. During all of this time, I may have been the rock in our relationship, but Bey has always been the foundation. He loves me. He loves me so much I can relax. I can take deep healing breaths around him.
Lately with some of the things that have gone on not only have I needed my foundation I have needed a rock. He has been all that and more. I have to say that I appreciate him. This blogs for you darling.
Is this always the best path? Is this always the way to go. I have never not once in my entire life ever given up on anything that I wanted. Once I decide I want something it is as good as mine. I stalked the neighborhood I wanted to live in ran spreadsheets and data until I found the perfect house that we could afford. Then at the perfect time I pounced like a cat on my goal and I had the house.
Point 2 I fought Maricopa County. I sued them and won. I had the guy by the tail. Hours of phone calls and faxing, and I won. We settled out of court and they had to cover my fees.
Point 3 when I was coming home daily crying about my Ph. D. crying because my professor or even some of the other students were horrible male chauvinist pigs; I did not once falter. I did not once stammer. I kept going.
I fight till the death to get my way. But today I am faced with a crossroads. Actually I won’t be faced with this crossroad until Wednesday so I am sort of borrowing a bit from Wednesday’s crossroads, but I digress. Do I need to keep persisting and persevering? Or is it time to lay this burden down? When is enough… enough? And why oh why do I have to put my Faith on the line about something I have no control over.
Persistence Perseverance my two best friends are you the ones I should be listening to? Bey and I have been married over 5 years. On our fifth wedding anniversary I asked him to tell me five things about me that he cannot live without. The second thing he listed was my dogmatic pursuit of my goal.
So as I sit, looking around my beautiful home filled with beautiful things, and as I wonder and cry. Do I fight or sit this one out?
I miss my ‘rents. I live too far away from them. It is hard sometimes not to resent Bey for moving me all the way over here to this city so far away from people that love me. Of course Bey loves me, but I still miss the ‘rents. Daddy just bought a new boat, and we had a fun taking the boat out on Lake Lanier. My entire family likes to be connected to the water.
Since my parents have retired I have gotten to spend lots of quality time with them. It is so great to see them so relaxed. I am so grateful that my parents were young enough to retire at 57. It has allowed them to enjoy their retirement. My mom and dad both are in good health and just are really enjoying their lifestyle.
And then there is SD. I took SD with me to Atlanta this week. I came upon SD whispering conspiratorially with my mom. SD was trying to convince my mom to let her stay in Atlanta until school starts. I guess so. If I was spoiled like SD over there I would want to stay too! :)
We had an outstanding weekend at Casa de IPG. Friday was Bey’s work from home day. So we all spent some time hanging out and being a family. Saturday was spent working, riding bikes, and swimming in the pool. We went tubing down the Salt River a few weeks ago, and I believe we want to do that again pretty soon. I have luckily had several classes end so it is kind of a slow week so I feel like I am a free bird. : )
I have been trying to get Stephanie Meyer’s book about Bree Tanner read via the Internet. I might have to break down and purchase it on my Kindle though.
SD is at her grandmother’s this week so the house is quiet. I have suddenly become sick of soccer now that the US is out. Guess that is all in news…
Happy Birthday to the most wonderful man I have ever known. To my husband, my best friend, my partner in crime, my confidant, my shoulder to cry on, my warrior of spiders, my biggest fan, my bed buddy, my caretaker when I am sick, the reason I walk around smiling the world would not be wonderful without you in it. Have a wonderful birthday.
I need to commit to writing here more often. Life love and appreciation just flow at my house. Why isn’t that easy to write about? I just forget, and I am busy. I guess those are crappy excuses but it is what it is.
We sold our boat, our refrigerator, our grill, and some sinks from our house. This is because we are buying a new boat, we bought a new French door stainless steel fridge (my new baby), we had an outdoor kitchen installed at our home and our grill connects directly to the gas line, and we put granite in all our bathrooms so we had some leftover sinks. We sold everything on craigslist in 2 days. The wonders of modern technology…we sold our boat in 45 minutes leading me to wonder if we had it priced too low. :)
Now if anyone has a jet boat that seats 8 in good condition from 2005 or beyond I would appreciate a phone call. :) Since I am buying. We are boatless, and I don’t like it. AND as annoying as this is to believe every boat I keep finding is out of state. Poor Bey looks like I am going to drag him away this weekend after all.
SD finished out the year with straight A’s so no homework for her this summer. I am however having her participate in the summer reading program so that we can all go to a Diamondback game again this year. We did it last year, and it was a lot of fun. SD and I were also planning on going to see the release of the new Twilight movie Eclipse, but she will be visiting her grandma at that time.
Today is movie day at our house. This involves watching Gone With the Wind, and Auntie Mame. Those were the movies selected for this year’s annual movie day. We will also be having Thanksgiving in June tomorrow on Bey’s birthday. Finally we decided to add something new to our list of fun stuff we like to do in the summer. We will be hostessing our first annual High Tea at the Case de IPG. Everyone is going to wear hats, and drink tea and eat scones and maybe talk with British accents (this has not been decided on yet. SD votes yes, and I vote no).
Finally I am busy busy planning SD’s fabulous birthday extravaganza. I came up with the idea in FEBRUARY. And I have managed to keep it a secret all this time. It is a major accomplishment for me. Since usually I just spill the beans everywhere. :) It is a big huge deal and she is going to DIE when she figures out what it is. I am really very excited about it! Thankfully I don’t have to keep it a secret much longer.
This is dedicated to the 2 best dad’s in the entire world: my dad, and my husband.
My dad says I love you many different ways, but growing up I did not get to see him as much as I would like. However even though he worked, and worked hard for our family I learned my values from him. I learned to see that he was the kind of man that works hard for his family, and loves us all very much.
I married a man very much like my own sweet daddy. He is a wonderful man that loves me and his daughter very much. His heart is as open and as kind as anyone’s I have ever met. His little girl loves him with all her heart, and I do too.
To daddy, and Bey I love you. Thanks for being the fathers that matter so much to me and SD.
Hosted my very first stepmom group dinner party at my house on Friday. I have been getting together with these ladies since November for a little dinner, and a little discussing life in a blended family and all that it entails: the skids, the husband, the bio mom etc.
Sometimes in recent months it has become my life raft. It is so good to hear that even when things are not perfect at my house that they are not perfect at anyone else’s house either.
On Friday I kicked my family out so that I could play hostess. My family went to the movies while I dished with my girls about the life and times of this not so wicked stepmom. Usually our meetings only last an hour or two, but Friday stretched all the way until 11. In fact my family had already returned home by the time the last stepmom left.
The evening was a roaring success. I am pretty excited to be hostessing July’s meeting as well.
Summer is here. The pool is warm. We are selling the boat. Bey is working from home one day a week. My paper is almost done, and life is good. I have some adorable pics that I need to get posted.
Work is still busy. I hate doing these drive by posts, but wanted to get something in...:)
I should not blog and say "Nothing new to report."
Actually that is totally unfactual. I have a myriad of new things to report the gravamen of the issue however is that the new material I have to report is dreary. Chapter 1 is done, Chapter 3 except for 2 problematic paragraphs are done, Chapter 4 needs work, Chapter 5 needs a bit more work. None of it is properly formatted. However I feel real progress in my bones. I feel dare I say accomplished?
So last night SD was at our place, but I am not there. :( SO Bey had made her a delicious dinner of Lobster and King crab (Fry’s had them onsale last week so I bought a bunch.
SD said to Bey…”I am going to start calling IPG the not evil stepmom.” Bey said, “Yeah she is pretty good to you.” SD said, “Yeah she is great.”
I turned in the final copy of my Chapter 1 to my advisor today! THIS is the sound of relief!!!
First and foremost I should mention I am once again out of town. Out of the country. Out of my mind. One thing I have just recently realized is I hate being separated from the man. Bey is an outstanding man! I can’t believe how much I miss him.
Let’s see I believe I mentioned I bought a new truck, and the pool was finished. Work has been hectic and fun all at the same time. My parents came for a visit which was nice to see them. I can’t ever spend enough time with them! It is so great that my dad is now retired. I have never seen him so relaxed.
Bey and I have been having a great time. One thing that has been a lot of fun is settling in to our schedule. Having SD every other weekend allows us to have alone time. We are able to spend some quality couple time.
We went to a crawfish festival back in April. It was nice to listen to Zydeco music and eat Jambalaya. It was even nicer to spend the time with our friends and hang out with people from Louisiana that have been transplanted in Phoenix like us!
SD was inducted into the NJHS (National Junior Honor Society). We are so proud of her! She looked so pretty at her induction ceremony. I was so proud seeing her standing there with her candle.
SD has been attending Bible study at church. She is very dedicated and enjoys the study. She has also made quite a few friends at church.
My stepmom group is going well, and I have been enjoying getting to know my fellow Stepmom’s in the valley. On Saturday, we went and painted our own pottery. Not really my thing, but I still had such a blast with the girls.
I’ll have some new school stuff to report directly. Additionally now that all the projects are done around the house Bey and I can just settle in to our little love nest. J
My mother has been visiting and she thankfully has been keeping me sane in a week destined to blow my cool as a cucumber austere. It all began so quietly yesterday.
I received an email that my faculty review was in. Excited was I because I knew that I had hit this one out of the ball park.
So, I hastily opened my form that gives me my news. I just knew I had received the coveted Exceeds all Astronomical Projections and Expectations or (EAPE) for short.
I opened my evaluation and see that I was given a Meets Ridiculous Amounts of Expectations (MRAE). Seriously. I become livid. All the comments point to a EAPE not a MRAE. So I did what any sensible Southern girl would do. I call the nimrod that was evaluating me. BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP.
The moronic man that reviewed me was chauvinistic, ridiculous, and unbelievably misguided, “Do you have any idea how arduous the review process is?” To which I NATURALLY respond, “It would be less arduous if you could actually fill the little letters out correctly.”
I go on to explain why the MRAE is completely, utterly, and insanely unacceptable and the reason why I deserve an EAPE and how ridiculously wrong he was. It was if he was reviewing some other class. I provide graphs, proof, spreadsheets, and tables created from those spreadsheets. It is unbearable, and unbelievable to listen to this buffoon try to tap dance around the fact that he completed the review wrong.
And the verdict? (Mr. I-am-smarter-than-you and a jerk did not ever admit to being wrong). Unfortunately for Mr. IASTY I have the phone numbers for the People that Make Things Happen. I know these people. I know their Banana Republic suits and their ability to send emails that cut right through the egos of these peon Mr. IASTYs…I went over his head.
Anyway, the SECOND person I talked to said:
Person in Charge (PIC): “Ugh yes Mr. IASTY is rather difficult, but I can’t do anything until he changes his score.”
Me: “He won’t, but he won’t admit he is wrong. I have graphs and charts. I can prove with out a shadow of a doubt that he is W-R-O-N-G” (For those of you that have never met me in the flesh I have an uncanny ability to argue. I learned it by growing up a superb lawyer’s daughter. I also am always right. I could explain how to always be right. Here is how it goes. Make sure that you are right before engaging in an argument. Ensure that you have facts and figures to back it up before engagement. This is the best way to always be right. If you are not 100 percent sure you are right then don’t engage. Rinse. Repeat. You get the drill).
Pic: “You made graphs and charts?”
Me: “Yes doesn’t everyone?”
PIC: “No wow I am impressed! I am changing your score in our system post haste.”
Me: “Whoop Whoop!”
And that is how I got an EAPE on my review.
I will be likely moving this blog. To those that are followers I will send out the new URL. :)
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