Have you ever tried to blame your blondish hair on a legit personality quirk?
Have you ever smeared turmeric all over your face and then posted photos to your blog, just to later find out how much people Google "turmeric facials"??
Have you ever had a BFF just not get your kind of humor??
Have you ever questioned why your favorite Masshole keeps calling you a "Utahhhd" when it's clearly, UtaRd??
Have you ever been accused of being a little too much like a certain drag queen??
Have you ever thought you were in the wrong month? Like got MLK day mixed up with President's day? And then didn't send your kid to school for a few extra days?
I'm still alive! Shocker, huh?? I bet you thought I'd never post again, didn't you??!
Let's play catchup! And maybe I'll post in more detail later. (No promises! :))
In September Jocee started preschool! + She loves it, and has made a lot of friends. Everyday she begs me to practice writing with her, and can sound words out like a pro. At parent-teacher conference her teacher complimented me on working with her. But I really can't take the credit. She is so eager to learn.
October was fun. Clearly I've been rockin' at this single mom business.
I jumped out of a Twin Otter with Hawt Guy again. It was so much more fun the second time!! Everyone needs to do it...twice! And I've decided I need to get certified. Need. Soon.
On the 21st I flew away to Loma Linda (and San Diego). I just fit there. And vegan cousins and funny aunts make for good distractions. Side Note: If you're in an airport (like T.F. Green on October 21st) and you go to Starbucks...and order a soy chai latte and a fruit cup..it just might cost you... LOVE :)
November was kind of unbloggable. Buggy turned 3!! (I.O.U: 1 blog post!) But I spent a lot of that time proactively worrying about her. It's all good now though! So, yay!!
I learned more uses for turmeric. Seriously, try this! It's ahhmazing!
After being Supermom I went to my 10 year high school reunion. Not my most photogenic night, but such a good one! After 10 years, 2 kids, and bucket loads of crapola, everyone thought I looked the same! Woot!
Oh...and the biggest reason why I haven't blogged... I went back to school! Started in August. 12 credits: DONE! And I'm scheduled to graduate in less that two years. (Thennn I need a Master's.) So excited!
Ok, ok... So that and I've been pinning. Best vision board ever!
So that's what I've been up to. 2011 really has been a good year. I'll post more later.
So, I posted the other masterpiece before this one. Then I checked FB real quick. Lizzie B's status made me "lol" for real.
"Spilled beef stew ALL OVER the kitchen floor... the dogs are very happy!!"
Then I went and took a shower; and ended up laughing the whole time. It reminded me of when I was all prego, and got to be clumsy with legit reason too. And so I'm back!
Story time!!
December 2006 I was six months along with Jocee, and working 50 hours a week. Awesome. Ben only cooked on special occasions, so we ending up getting takeout a lot.
One night we went to Jason's Deli, because all I wanted was their tomato-basil soup. We had rented a movie, and were going to have dinner on the couch. For no real reason, that cup of soup slipped through my hands and sloshed all over the classy turquoise carpeting (turquoise) and down the side of the couch.
I felt lame, and mostly annoyed that I couldn't eat the soup anymore. I remember saying. "Oh my gosh! I am so sorry! I didn't mean to do that at all! WTF??"(Yes, I really said just the letters, "WTF" and not the whole thing.)
Ben: "It's cool, babe. This is totally normal. You're supposed to drop things." Ginny: "Wait. What??" Ben: "Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's in that What to Expect book." Ginny: "How did you know this, and not me??" Ben: "I don't know. You've been dropping stuff a lot."
Soo...I cleaned the mess while he got me more soup...
THEN...
August 2008 I was five months along with Sophie. Jocee was 15 months old, and always underfoot. I was cleaning the bathroom one morning, while she "helped." I went to screw the cap on the glass bottle of olive oil tighter, when it slipped out of my hands and shattered on the floor.
For maybe three seconds I panicked. Jocee was right next to me with little bare feet, and there was oil and glass all around us. Reflexively I balled my fists and let out a, "Ffffffffuuuu!!!!... Uhhh, hi!"
I had looked down mid F-bomb, and saw her big brown eyes looking up at me. She never heard the word. ;)
For weeks thereafter, Jocee would walk around shaking her fists and say, "Fffffff!!" It really stuck with her...
Now I don't really have an excuse when I drop things. But for 18 months of my life..I did!
:)
(Note: I had olive oil in the bathroom because I would use anything and everything to prevent stretch marks; IE: cocoa butter, vitamin E oil, Palmers, Shea butter...anything! I'd just use it all, and baste myself like a turkey twice a day. Maybe that's TMI, but whatev! :))
Remember how I said this girl needs her own post?? Well, here are just a few of the reasons why she's one of my besties...
I've mentioned it before, but... We went to high school together, had a lot of the same classes and some of the same friends. But oddly enough, we never ever spoke to each other back then. Anyway, when she heard about the crash, we started emailing and both realized just how like-minded we are.
I call her my "psychic twin." We're almost always on the same wavelength. Love it!
She is always the first to be there for her friends. Always. If needed, she'll drop whatever she's doing to help someone.
She's one of the most optimistic people I've ever met; especially when things go crappy.
This girl can have a serious potty mouth. She's this delicate looking, classy girl, and yet F-bombs can come flying out of her mouth with a vengeance. I can't help but laugh when her Bostonian road rage surfaces. Oh, and she's the absolute only person I know who can use sometimes derogatory terms as endearment, and actually pull it off.
She is the best at blowing off skeezy guys! Love her!
She appreciates my Utard-ness, and tells me not to change.
I admire her independence. Her hubby is a firefighter, so she's used to doing things without him. Whether she knows it or not, she has been a positive example of a strong woman to me.
I'm not sure how she does it, but she gets kick-A tickets where ever we go. She is the funnest person to go to concerts with. It was also 100% her idea to take Jocee and her niece to see Princesses on Ice. Priceless!
She has the most eclectic taste in music ever.
I'm a big fan of her fashion sense (because it's so similar to mine!). I'm currently holding a dress of her's hostage... :)
There are other things I could add to the list, but I'll stop here. I'm so lucky to be able to call her a friend. I've said it before and I'll say it again! Everybody needs a Lizzie B!
I've been super all-over-the-place lately. Is it obvious?? Soo this will be extra random.
It's so crazy that tomorrow is New Year's Eve already...
I am so so sick of snow. What can be good about anything cold and wet?? Someday I'll move somewhere where it never ever snows, and I'll never ever miss it. I just wasn't meant to live in a cold climate.
Jocee and Sophie have LOVED it this year though. I need to post about that. They are the cutest. Sometimes I wish they'd never grow up. I'm so lucky to be their mom. :) In my limited mommy experience, I've decided that 3 1/2 is my favorite age.
An old friend from high school emailed me today and took credit for that drawing I posted earlier! We still don't remember who The Kid was. But we decided that she drew it during 10th grade English class. I had braces then... Oh, and he had to be in a different grade too. But that's all we got!
I think it's funny how one of my best friends and I weren't even friends in high school. We had a lot of the same classes, and some of the same friends. But coincidentally we probably never said two words to each other. I have this one memory of her telling our 10th grade Biology teacher that her then boyfriend was going to make a six-figure salary once he got his Bachelor's. I thought to myself, "That girl is so not going to be with that guy by then. And he could totally change his major and do something else..." Ha! I have no idea what he does now, but I'm pretty sure I was right. Love her! She deserves her own post!
I watched "Maid in Manhattan" tonight and cringed the whole time! I still can't believe Ben sat through that. I can't believe I sat through that, or even invited him to watch it with us. I must have looked really cute that night, or something... It makes me happy that, the post gets the most hits. It was the start of a lot of good things. :)
Oh, Christmas wasn't as awful as I thought it would be... I think of how and where I was this time last year, and I shutter. I'm grateful to be one year removed from it.
And really... I know I post about this a lot, but Ben is still the sweetest. I don't care how skeptical most people can be. Those little reminders I always get made December better.
With all the craziness of October going on, Lizzie B & I decided that a Rock Star Week was in order. Actually...since she is the best at getting concert tickets, she found out that two of our favorites would be in the area during the same week... Love her!!
On October 16th we saw... He was even better in person! The venue was really small and intimate. He needs to be playing bigger shows. I don't understand how he isn't more well known. Loved it. And I found a new favorite song...
Sweet moments :)
On Saturday, the 16th we saw... They've been my favorite since I was 17, but I hadn't seen them live yet. It was definitely one of the best concerts I've ever been to. They played almost all of my favorites. We both developed a renewed appreciation for Jason Wade. His jeans fit well, and he didn't dance around the stage weird. We're not picky! ;) Oh, and shortly after this vanity shot was taken, some classy broad spilled her beer all over my jacket. We had to laugh at the irony! Still one of the best concerts ever.
And a really good week, with a very sweet friend. :)
I don't know how to express the gratitude I feel. Tears well each time I have thought of this. For this situation, words are inadequate.
Thank you for loving Ben. Thank you for being such a good friend to Ben when he was here. Thank you for continuing to be that same friend.
Thank you for loving me, and our little family. Thank you for sparing me the expense. Thank you for affording me the time to get this done, when I could be clear-headed and emotionally ready.
Although my attempt is feeble, please know your generosity will not be forgotten. With all my heart, thank you.
Love, Ginny
The back story: In November I started feeling pressure (from Ben's side) to have a marker completed. I found this more than distressing. Denial was serving me well. The mere thought of seeing Ben's name in the ground was enough to elicit a panic attack.
How do you convey someone's life and love on a slab of granite?? How do you represent what they meant to those who love them? Or the impact they left on everyone they knew?
A family friend who wishes to stay anonymous (to me especially), donated the money to have Ben's grave marker completed. They left it for me to do when I was ready.
In July, I was ready. Remember that Girls' Weekend with T. Thorpe? The marker was finally set over his grave last week.
More thank yous'... Thank you to T. Thorpe, for the moral support while I made the last decisions & the photos sent! Thank you to Lizzie B, for more moral support & the leg work it took to have everything finalized.
'Thank you' really isn't enough. I'm a lucky girl.
Last week this cute girl and I went to a concert. It was supposed to be Owl City and Maroon 5. It was the first time I went to a concert more excited to see the openers.
And we had really good seats. Have I mentioned how much I love them?? Well, I do. Post October 21 I've spent many sleepless nights with my new bff, Adam Young. Something about their music has been so soothing to me. It even took me wayyyy longer than normal to get sick of Fireflies. So they were interesting. Not quite what I had expected, but still good. I discovered a new favorite song...
THEN...out of nowhere....this crazy lady came on the stage! She wasn't even announced. We couldn't tell what she was going for. Rap? Folk? Circus act? Dying cat?
We spent that half hour a little perplexed, and really scared. It looks like that girl behind us probably felt the same way.
After that hot mess, we decided food would be better. We left and found this cute little restaurant where we ate too much.
But on the walk back to the car, we heard Maroon 5 playing a Benny favorite. He used to sing, "She Will Be Loved" to me. Because he drove for miles and miles... Yeah. Cheesy, but that's how he rolled.
So even though the night didn't go as planned, it was still super fun. Everyone needs a Lizzie B!
There has been so much on my mind as of late. I'm definitely due for another Stream of Consciousness post.
I've found myself looking up at the sky a lot. Whether it be a hawk circling near by, or every plane that flies overhead, I think about Ben each time. I miss him terribly, but that's nothing new. It's just always there (and it always will be). I miss Utah skies too. How many evenings did I look out my window, and take that sight for granted??
Jocee and I went to Utah for a much needed girls' weekend with one of my favorite people (and her cute kids). It was such a fun trip, and I definitely need to plan another one at some point. Jocee keeps telling me that Sophie will come next time, and I agree. We both missed Buggy!
The experience was surprisingly bittersweet. If it is still on my mind in the near future, I'll write a separate post... I can't thank T. Thorpe enough for the moral support while I made difficult decisions, and Lizzie B. for helping me finalize them. I hope those girls know how much I love and appreciate them.
Oh, and I'm still looking forward to that concert! Just a little more than a week now! I have my outfit all picked out. Actually, I've had it planned for almost a month. Such a nerd, I know! But isn't half the fun of an anticipated event, an equally fun outfit?
It has been really important for me to surround myself with similarly optimistic people. T. Thorpe keeps reminding me that, "Birds of a feather flock together." And now I think about that phrase, too. I'm so lucky to have the people in my life that I do.
I've felt quiet lately, and it's been a good thing. I'm learning that stillness and solitude are invaluable. I need to always keep my heart, and mind open. I'm certain this mindset has helped me have more intuitive experiences. But those are too personal to ever publish...or even share with more than a select few.
Oh, and my sister told me that I've been slacking on the blog... But as my cute friend Siovhan has so eloquently stated on hers, "Real life trumps blog!"
Sometimes I laugh at how ADD my thoughts can be. My mind is nearly never quiet. Perhaps that's why blogging is so easy, and meditation is such a challenge. I haven't really meditated since March. I'm overdue! But I digress...
I thought it might be interesting to see where my mind wanders in a short amount of time.
Starting... NOW!
~ I'm so happy that I ate healthy today! I don't feel sick at all.
A steakhouse is no place for a vegan. Seriously. I went to Longhorn Steakhouse and the menu was gross. Who eats beanless chili?? None of it looked remotely healthy. We're in the middle of a massive recession, and they're still in business??
Oh, and I totally couldn't tell if that manager was boy or a girl. I concluded that she was mostly girl. Maybe.
I'll never cut my hair that short. I think it's at it's shortest now. I like wearing it curly again. I should take pictures with that new camera once I figure it out... But anyway, it probably won't get any shorter; unless I get super old. Oh...growing old now implies a long, long time without Ben... Ugh. New topic!!
That astrology website T. Thorpe showed me is super interesting. Ben was...no..IS such a Leo. He's so cute. I only love him more now.
I love my friends. In Ben's absence, I have been blessed with such amazing people in my life. I'm so looking forward to seeing two of these cute girls on Saturday. And even more excited for the girls' weekend in July with T. Thorpe! Hot rocks, facials, manis, pedis, PJs, Edwardo Cullen, laughing 'till we cry! Cannot wait! (16 DAYS!!) Oh, and that concert in August with Lizzie B! I just love them all!
A cute friend posted a youtube link on her FB. It was her aunt's gluten-free turkey meatball recipe. She said that they are to live for. I really like that. I'll start using it (and credit her for it, if asked).
Ever since October 21st, it has bothered me when people use death as an emphasis. I fight back cringing whenever I hear that someone is "dead serious" or something is "to die for" or if someone would "die for" someone else (IE children). While I appreciate the sentiment, my girls need me to live for them. Choosing to live is (more often than not) the more courageous choice.
Jocee is now singing along to a Tinkerbell song. I adore that sweet little voice. She has most of the words right. Something about "when you open your heart"...
Hmm...is my heart open?? This requires deeper, unblogged introspection... ~ So, there it is! A few minutes in my head. Maybe I'll do this monthly...
