Crisis of Mid-Life Proportions - A Post of Many Parts

Happy Blogoversary to me! Wow, has it really been three years? No, not really - more like two, but still, that's pretty good right. Apparently I really do have that much random crap to discuss with myself.

I did have an ok birthday. I tried hard not to be too sad or mopey. I did things that I wanted to do - did my nails and toes, cleaned up some of my scrapbooking stuff, took the dog for a drive, hung out with Scott and generally had an ok day. Of course my brain never really stops, so there was bound to be some sadness.

One of the many things that my never-stopping brain decided to roll around was my looming mid-life crisis. Not that I have to have one mind you, just that I think I am. The last couple of months have had me examining my life, where I've been and where it could be headed. I'm not certain that it's truly a mid-life crisis and if it is I don't know if it could be attributed to to my dad's death, my age, the economy or anything else. One thing I am certain of I am both profoundly unhappy and dissatisfied with my life.

So this posts is a kick-off for a series posts on the different parts of my mid-life crisis. I'll try not to bore you with all of them all at once, or maybe I will - get it all off my chest and see if that helps at all. If this doesn't work I'm going to have to start saving up for my little red sports car and the hot blond to go with it.

Current Music: World Waits for You - Son Volt

p.s. Don't you just love the little things I found at Disney Land - I tried to buy the little sign, but the clerk said it was a display item only. I would have tried to take it, but you know, it's Disney and that's just not right.

Another Year Older and Deeper in Debt

Yep, it's that time of year again, well almost - my birthday is tomorrow.

Remember when birthdays were a magical day? There were presents, balloons, a cake with candles (maybe a pony if you were lucky). What happened to that, why do adult birthdays have to be just like any other day? It seems like once you get past those milestone birthdays of 16, 18 and 21 adult birthdays are pretty much just another reminder that you are getting older.

And this one is going to be particularly tough - this will be my very first birthday with out my Dad. I'd never really thought about it but there are only two people (well, one now) that have been part of my life for every one of my birthdays. Sure I have aunts and uncles, and my sister has been around just two years less - but it's just not the same.

Right now the thought of having a birthday tomorrow makes me want to crawl into bed and cry for days on end. All my friends have been super nice, calls and cards and birthday wishes - but the thought of tomorrow coming is absolutely devastating. I know Scott is worried, but I haven't told him what's going on in my head - I don't want to get into that with him right now.

I've decided to take tomorrow off - the day is already going to be miserable enough, I don't need to make it worse by going to work. But I really don't know what to do with myself. Should I go do something interesting, go to a museum an art gallery (do they even have those here?) or maybe I go to a mall and spend sometime window shopping (because even though I am about to be a year older I'm really doing my best to stay out of debt). Perhaps I'll go get a mani-pedi and get my hair done.

One way or the other, I think that I'll be spending it quietly. And part of the time will be alone, and that's ok.

Current Music: February Air - Lights

Happy Birthday Pop!

Today is my Dad's 67th birthday - and I wish I could be celebrating it with him. Ever since his heart transplant I've felt like each Birthday, Christmas, or vacation is a blessing - but I worry that if I'm not there for this one, will there be another?

I know it's morbid, but due to the transplant and the rejection issues his days are numbered, we just don't know what the number is. I wonder if it's easier to know a more exact time frame or not.

Anyway - enough of all that... Today he is celebrating a birthday and that is a wonderful thing.

So happy birthday Pop, my world is a better place because of you.

Current Music: Beautiful Day - Bedouin SoundClash

Blog Neglect

Can I be arrested for blog neglect? Is there a Blog Protective Services, could there be fines involved for the fact that I've been a crap blogger? I hope not, cause I have in deed been a crap blogger!

But, since I'm sure you're all dying to know what's new with me, here's Mandy Lou in bullets:

• The sewage pump is f'd up again, nothing major but if I see those stupid plumbers again... well just keep an eye on the news "Suburban lady opens a can of whoop ass on two under age plumbers".
  
• Scott cleaned both bathrooms this week, no really both bath rooms (and yes, there was much fanfare)
• I am only just now dropping my sister's birthday card in the mail - can it make it to Cali by Saturday?
• I've been working 9+ hours a day, that bites
• I've had PMS for like a week now, that really bites
• I walked over 15,000 steps on Saturday (I had to work at the restaurant)
• May bangs are growing out, again - yeah, I cut them, again. So what's your point?
• I am a week and a half away from becoming the mother of a tween girl and a crazy hockey playing boy - the good news is that it's only a week, but more on all that later
• Even without all the restaurant steps, I'm pretty much making my goal of 7,000 steps a day - gotta love those long walks through the mall!
• Work is sucking - most of the time I dream of using the stapler on my boss' forhead
• Scott spent "all day" cleaning 4 windows - no really, it's hard work being him.
• I'm scheduled to work both Friday and Saturday night working at the restaurant, it's going to be a long weekend, and not in a good way!
  

Well, that's about it for now. I would promise to be a better blogger, but I'd probably let y'all down. So I'll just say I just say see you soon (ish).

Current Music: Ain't Nothing Wrong With That - Robert Randal & The Family Band

The Saga Continues

So much for "fixed by the end of the day". So much for $1200 for everything. So we're still in deep shit - and I'm not really speaking metaphorically.

By the time I got home last night (around 9:30 pm) the plumbers were still at it. Apparently once they replaced the pump - and added a few expensive do-hickies to it - they found that the water wasn't making it up to the street (which is the point of the pump). We went to bed with the tank empty, but without the pump working - so limited flushes, short showers, etc. - till they could return in the morning to continue everything. We also went to bed thinking that at best everything would be resolved with a little roto-router action, at worst we'd be looking at ripping up 300 feet of pipe to replace it. Needless to say neither of us got much sleep.

There is a bright-ish side to this... this morning the plumber called and said that he realized that the new pump didn't have the right pressure to get everything up to the street. So no roto-router, no new pipes but another new pump.

The less than bright side of things is that the next new pump won't be here till at least Tuesday. So we're back to limited flushes, short showers, no laundry, no dishes till Wednesday or later!!! And worse yet the tank can only hold so much so we're pumping everything into a small (but ultimately well fertilized) part of the yard - gross (as my friend suggested, we're doing a "cousin Eddie" - free pair of spiffy socks to the person that can name that movie :-)!

In other, less crappy news, my other nieces birthday and birthday party was today - she turned the big 2 today. Why two birthday parties in two days? Because my sister is dumb, that's why. But I'd probably do it for these cuties too!



Current Music: Here It Goes Again - Ok Go.

Let's Call it Even

Not the best day, but not the worst day today. On the down-side I didn't win the lotto allowing me to leave my life. On the up-side no one pissed me off enough for me to want to beat them with a stick (or make me cry). So we'll call it even.

Now, I didn't do a list yesterday (please don't tell the NaBlPoMo police), but today I think I will. So here's a little list of randomness!

1. Today is my mom's birthday - happy birthday Mom! I won't disclose her age, since I'm a good daughter, and I'm still just a little bit afraid of her (she may only be 5'-3", but she's a dynamo!).

2. My dad is having another biopsy today, he's been feeling poorly, so he decided to bit proactive on the whole rejection thing - we'll know more tomorrow.

3. I am seriously tired of winter, we're due for 3 to 8 more inches of snow tonight.

4. I am getting very good at Wii bowling, I'm only a couple of games away from becoming a "Pro". And my shoulders are killing me from boxing so much!

5. I am tired of my job, I need a vacation that is more than going home for the holidays or sitting home on a couch for an extra day or two.

6. The writer's strike nearly killed me - I've missed TV. When do I get to stop watching re-runs?
That should do it for now, I'll try to be more inspired tomorrow.

Current Music: When You Were Young - The Killers

Happy Blogaversary to Me

Technically I've been blogging for two years now, in reality it's been less than a year. I started the blog way back in 2006, but never really did anything with it until I picked it back up last May. In any case, my little blogaversary widget says today's the day - so let's par-tay! Well, actually I'd rather not, it's kind of nice to just sit here and catch up on the tivo and blogging (which seems oddly appropriate).

Thanks for the wonderful Birthday wishes, it started off a bit rough but ended up a good day in the end.

I only say that it started off a bit rough, because I was still working at the restaurant at 2am Friday night/Saturday morning. It had been my birthday for 2 hours and I there I was cleaning up after a big 21st birthday celebration (I can guarantee that the birthday girl is probably still in a bad way!). Usually Friday nights at the restaurant are fairly quiet and I'm home by 11, this Friday not so much. The good news is that the parents of the 21 year old realized that they had asked a lot and tipped me a hundred bucks, so that takes the sting out a bit :-)!

For the actual day, Scott planned a big birthday adventure day with J & M (almost all by himself). So we started off by going to the Detroit Institute of Arts, then headed out for a fun dinner in Rochester, and finished off the evening by going to see the Blue Man Group (not the greatest seats, but it was still fun!). It was a really great day -doing my favorite things with our friends - out on a glorious sunny winter day. And on the gift front, I did pretty well, Scott gave me a speaker thing-y for my i-pod and a great day out, J&M bought me a great dinner and my Mom and Dad sent me a Wii (that's the best one :-).

So that's the report back on the actual birthday - as for being 36, we'll see how the rest of the year plays out shall we?

I may not post much till the first of March, I'm a bit busy at work and I need to preserve my "creative abilities" for NaBloPoMo. Apparently there is a theme and it will be "lists", haven't decided if I'll go along with that or not just yet. And Lori, it's a fine question - just one that I've avoided talking about here, but I promise to tackle your question on my first NaBloPoMo post.

Current Music: watching 30 Minute Meals, but if I hear her say "delish" one more time I'm turning it off!

Yes, and your point would be...

Right, so I signed up for the March NaBloPoMo, because I'm a joiner and I lack the ability to maintain a blog on my own without some faux-authority overseeing me. As noble a cause as it may be, apparently I can not handle the freedom of "Blogging Without Obligation" (do you think they'll make me take my cool little badge off?).

Ok, so that's not the real reason, but I haven't been doing much blogging lately and I'm bummed about that, so maybe March NaBloPoMo will give me the kick in the a** that I need - we'll see...

In other news:

It's my sweet, fuzzy, little one's birthday today - and being a "sad, overly excited, has no kids" kind of gal that I am - I am indeed overly excited! I got him a new cat nip mat and some fresh cat grass (cause who doesn't need a little fix from time to time!?). So happy birthday Bert (he's a handsome little devil isn't he?)!

Also in the news of cat parenting, we managed to lock Jake out side all last night. On the upside he seemed fine (and highly pissed off), on the down side I'm not really sure how to identify kitty frostbite - so we'll see how things go.

Oh yeah, in not cat news, I turn 36 tomorrow. I haven't decided how I feel about that yet, but I'll let you know.

Current Music: Same Mistake - James Blunt

Happy Birthday Pearl!

Happy Birthday Sweet One! It's hard to believe that you are two years old - you're still such a tiny thing, and so crazy and playful!


Not that we actually know Pearl's actual birthday, but since Purdy was put down on the first of September in 2005, and the vet estimated that Pearl was born somewhere around there, we decided to make her birthday on the same day. Bitter-sweet I know, but we figuring we're just balancing out the universe.


Pearl spent her birthday playing in the yard, bouncing around and chasing after bugs, birds and squirrels. A perfect kitten day. Later we gave her some new toys, which she promptly ignored in favor of going back outside! In any event, I think it's safe to say that she had a good day!


Current Music: In My Place - Cold Play

Happy Birthday to Georgie!

Today is my dog's second birthday. Now to most people that isn't a big deal, but for us it's a HUGE deal for two reasons:

1. we don't have kids, so that means that we are those crazy people that are overly into our pets

2. she is an Airedale terrier, so it's been a long two years!

For those of you that have had a puppy, you realize just how trying those first two years can be. If you've never had the "joy" of a new puppy, here's how it goes: You bring home your sweet little ball of fluff and for the first few days you're taking it for walks, brushing, washing and taking out to go potty - loving it at every turn. Then you come home to find your favorite book (shoes, sofa, rug, wall, etc.) chewed to bits - that sweet little pup is now an evil spawn and you're wondering what you were thinking. You sign up for obedience, only to find that your puppy has selective hearing (much like your husband) and only chooses to sit, stay and come only when she feels like it. On this goes, the destruction and mayhem and you're just about to kill the dog, when that magical day comes - the puppy turns two and all of a sudden you have a normal dog, just the way you always expected it to be.

So that's how it goes if you DON'T have a terrier. By definition, terriers (any breed) are "feisty and energetic dogs, typically have little tolerance for other animals, are always eager for a spirited argument, and in general, they make engaging pets, but require owners with the determination to match their dogs' lively characters." So what that means is that it's been a LONG two years, and there are more to go. I say more, because many Airedales don't mature till they are 3 to 4 years old!

So now we're on the downhill side of puppy-hood and looking forward to many years of normal adult dog (here's the part when you knock on wood!).

Here's a poem that I thought was so cute - until I actually got a puppy!

The Life of a Puppy

This morning, I woke up & kissed my dad's head.
I peed on the carpet, then went back to bed.
"The life of a puppy, oh my, this is great."
Then I thought about breakfast, "I hope it's not late."

Mom took me outside, we walked for a while.
This never fails to make Mama smile.
I sniffed of everything, that we did pass,
I ate something weird - it gave me gas.

I'm sure God loves me, I know that is true.
He gave me so many great things to chew.
Rugs, plants or rocks, I really don't care.
What I truly like best, is Dad's underwear.

That obedience book, was sort of yummy.
Though it didn't sit well on my poor puppy tummy.
I threw up a bit, but that was all right,
When Mom found it later, I was well out of sight.

I made streamers of T. P., while running at full speed.
Mom is pretty quick -- but I was still in the lead.
I flew under the bed, and Mom flew past,
She stopped-shook her head, and breathed,
"You're too fast."

Mama later phoned Daddy, and said, "It was frightening!"
That afternoon, she was sure I'd pooped lightning.
She'd sat at the computer, while I chewed the cord,
She thought I was mad, but I was just bored.

When Mama had enough, couldn't take anymore,
That's when my tushy got shoved out the door.
I love it inside, but outside is best.
Lay in the cool grass, and had a good rest.

That didn't last long, there was too much to do--
Can't quite remember where I hid Daddy's shoe.
I found an old bone, and scratched at a flea,
I watched the dumb squirrels as they jumped in a tree.

I barked at the kids, when they got off the bus.
I can't figure out why this makes Mama fuss.
I barked at the neighbor, I barked at the wind.
I barked and barked, till Mom yelled, "COME IN."

The sun dipped in the west-soon Daddy would come!
I sure love my daddy: we always have fun.
I barked at my daddy, then turned on my charms,
I woo-wooed, "Hello," then jumped in his arms.

Sitting under the table -- it's sooo hard to wait.
Daddy slipped me a goodie right off his plate.
I raced through the house, and scattered my toys,
Ricocheted off the furniture, and made lots of noise.

Mom found her purse - the one I abused.
Daddy let loose a chuckle. Mom asked "Amused??"
I cowered down low, I must be in trouble.
Dad said, "Wasn't MY boy, it must be his double!"

Mom turned off the TV, and said,"Time for bed."
Dad said "Let's go boy," and patted my head.
I got in my spot, between Mom and Dad,
I thought 'bout my day and what fun I had.

Mama kicked out my bone from the covers below,
Then let loose a sigh -- a sigh deep and low.
She gave me a kiss, and snuggled me tight,
And whispered so softly, "My darling goodnight".

--Unknown

Current Music: Ohio (Come back to Texas) - Bowling for Soup