Don’t Even Worry About It! July 10, 2009

I am so happy right now. You couldn’t smack the smile off of me if you tried.

The C-Men and I are in the mini-van, traveling the same long stretch of beautiful highway that we traveled last Friday and Sunday. Last weekend we were minus my son, plus my mom and headed to the teeny tiny town my sis and dad live in for a wedding. But this weekend, this trip, this is fun, exciting, fill my heart with joy travel. We are headed to the beautiful Rogue River in southern Oregon. This is the 4th annual rafting trip I have done with this group of friends. Everyone loves it so much, our group keeps growing. This year I think we have almost 50 people (including kids) camping and rafting.

We are getting a really late start, as Sushi Boy had to work a full day. We’ll arrive around 10:30 tonight and set up camp in the dark. While typically I would be stressed at running so late (even though we have no commitments until our push off time tomorrow afternoon) I am relaxed. The wind is tickling my pink toes as they peek out of the window. I’ve got my new wicker cowboy hat and giant Jackie O. sunglasses on. The boys are in the back discussing Pokemon, which I will never understand. And my wonderful Sushi Boy is rocking out to Pandora on his iPhone while he drives us to paradise.

It usually takes arriving at my vacation destination for me to get in vacation mode. But I am sooo there. As soon as we picked up Sushi Boy from work and I let him slide into the drivers seat, I was in a “Don’t Even Worry About It!” kind of mood.

Two and a half years ago, I went on a girls trip to Puerto Vallarta with my friends Terri, Rachel and Robyn. Not long before the trip we had become really good friends with a girl named Courtney. Courtney was wild and crazy and sooo fun. She would have made a perfect addition to our crazy foursome. But Courtney was also a mom and a wife and couldn’t come with on such short notice. Courtney had some funny things she often said, one of which was “Don’t even worry about it!” After a few drinks, this was pretty much her response to everything. I liked it. She was in the relaxation zone. It was her time to unwind, and not worry about anything.

There was a woman selling her wares in the commons at the resort we were staying at in Puerto Vallarta. She did artistic work on souvenirs. We each picked out a giant martini glass that she had painted and had all of our names painted on them, along with the phrase “Don’t Even Worry About It.” It was an ode to Courtney, but also a reflection of our mind set. We were 4 women who had left all of our responsibility at home for 7 glorious sun and tequila filled days in Mexico. Even though Rachel and I collided on a zipline 1200 feet in the air at 25 miles an hour and she broke her leg in 4 places, we still had an amazing time. She was such a trooper!

And that is the mind set I’m in now. Even though we are staying in state, its only for 2 days, and I’m with the entire fam…I’m not even going to worry about it!

Growth June 30, 2009

I’m sitting in the backyard, contemplating how much my lifestyle has changed in this past year. As I look at my dirty feet in flip flops, I wonder when exactly I traded my stilletos in for these neglected feet in desperate need of a pedicure.

I love this life. Not that I didn’t love life before. This one seems so much more, for lack of a better word, fulfilling. These first few weeks of summer I’ve been watching things grow. Watching our gardens and our chickens grow. Watching our boys grow. Watching relationships and people grow. I’ve never stopped and simply enjoyed the process of growth.

I’ve never had a summer at home with Christian. My “baby” turned 9 two weeks ago, and this is our first summer together. Sure, I’ve had him over the summer but I also had full time jobs that required him to spend most of the sun-filled days of summer at his wonderful babysitters home. It is so nice to not have to wake him up first thing in the morning and rush out the door, kiss him on the cheek and not see him again until 6 p.m. Granted, my pocket book doesn’t think it is so nice, but we’re working on that!

A few weeks ago Sushi Boy created our gardens. He worked hard in the hot evening sun after long days at the office rotatilling and hoeing (tee hee) so we could plant seeds and grow food. I’ve helped my dear friend Liz in her gardens for the past few years, but never had one of my own. Hell, I’ve never even had a yard of my own! The boys have their own garden, growing radishes and carrots. The big garden is growing a plethora of vegetables that I wasn’t sure would sprout. So far…so amazing! I had little doubt that my sad looking tomato plant would survive, but last night Sushi Boy found two tiny tomatoes on it! I cannot express the happiness that brought me!

Of course there is give and take. I’m starting to get a little cabin fever. Our home is in a tiny town that feels like it is a million miles from nowhere, even though we are actually only about 30 miles from downtown Portland. I haven’t seen too many friends for way too long. (To all of you, I still love you and miss you desperately!) It seems like many of the adult-friend events get scheduled on nights that I have Christian, and giving up one of my nights with him after not seeing him for a whole week is just too hard. Especially once the realization hit that he is now half way to 18! Halfway!?! The first half has gone so fast. I am not okay with the speed at which his little life is progressing.

Last year at this time I had just returned from a girls trip to Vegas. I had no commitments other than to my son and to my employer. The nights I didn’t have my son were mostly spent going out and trying to escape the loneliness of my empty apartment. Trying to figure out what would make me feel like I was here for a reason (other than my son, of course.) Don’t misunderstand, I certainly was not unhappy! I was having a blast, and my relationship with my son was more than enough to bring happiness into my life. But I was craving something a little bit more. I was looking for love and looking for purpose.

And now, well, I’m pretty sure I have both.

Even though I was a wretched, pms induced biatch to Sushi Boy over the weekend, I think he still loves me. He may not like me as much right now, but I’m trying to make that right! Being with him, having our family, our home, our gardens, our dog, our chickens, now our kitten (yes…we now have added a kitten named Moose into the mix) well, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

The organization I’m working for is amazing, making great progress to help single parents succeed and be happy. And grow. And if anyone understands how important it is for single parents to feel successful and to be happy, it’s me.

What more could a girl ask for, really? You know, other than a nice trust fund to live off of, but who doesn’t want that?!?

Exciting Changes! June 13, 2009

First and foremost…my mama. I am so, so beyond proud of her. She graduated rehab on Tuesday, and is now living in her own place in a new town, working a new job. All of those things on their own are something to be proud of, but everything at once is just…well its freakin’ phenomenal. I really hope that this is just the beginning of wonderful things to come her way.

Tonight we are getting the first of five chickens we are adopting! The one we are getting tonight comes from a little boy who hatched three. The first went to a pre-school class, and we were going to adopt the remaining two. Well…something was terribly wrong with the second one and he committed chicken suicide this morning by jumping off of a 3rd story balcony. Hopefully he was just trying to fly and wasn’t so scared of coming to live with us chicken novices that he decided to take his young chicky life. So sad….

Tomorrow we will be adopting four others who all have grown up together. They are slightly older than the chick we are getting tonight, so I hope they welcome this other chicken and don’t single her out as the bottom of the pecking order. I don’t want her to feel left out. You know how cliquey chicks can be! I mean she has already had a traumatic few months!

And…the boys are out of school for the summer! Every summer of Christian’s life he has gone to the sitter Monday through Friday. I’m excited for him to have a nice relaxing, sleep in if he wants to summer. He may end up in day care for part of the time, but at least he will be with me at home this week. And he turns nine on Monday! NINE!!! I know every parent says this, but honestly, where HAS the time gone?!? I’m sure there will be a sobby, emotional post from me on Monday waxing poetic about the surprisingly wonderful aspects of being his mother.

Sushi Boy and I are doing great! Better than great. Better than ever! We’ve spent many evenings in our backyard engaged in wonderful conversation that brings us closer and closer. I never understood before how women could get in relationships and then want to spend all of their time with that one person. I realise now. They found some who they fell so profoundly in love with.

Technical Difficulties June 8, 2009

Last week I tried to post a blog with a bunch of cute pictures. I posted the blog, and it screwed all of my previous posts. Grrr….

So, let’s try just one. My new favorite picture. It encompasses the reason why I love this house, my tiny pool, summer and the boys. They are trying to do silly things with their hairm because it is all wet from the pool. These two make me smile alot!

 

The C-Men enjoying the pool, my son on the right, Sushi Boy's son on the left!

Blessed! June 4, 2009

There are so many wonderful things happening in my life right now. I feel so blessed, so happy.

First and foremost is my relationship with Sushi Boy. I went through a phase of The Crazies and experienced some jealousy that is very new to me. I’ve never realized I was jealous person and it shook me. I have determined that this jealousy comes from fear. I’ve never been in love like this. I’ve never experienced such a uncontrollable, rational love for a man before. I’m afraid of loosing him. But my fear in unfounded. He isn’t going anywhere. I’m not going anywhere. We are in this crazy world together, for each other.

I am starting to reign in The Crazies. Ah….such a better feeling.

My mom is 5 days from graduating her rehabilitation program. I am so excited to have a fresh start to our relationship. To have my mom back in my life. It scares me, but at the same time I know I have to look past the fear, look beyond the past and focus on the future. I am so proud of her, in such a maternal way.

I am a part of an amazing team of single parents. A team that is giving single parents hope, inspiration and community. Something this single parent world has needed for a long time! We are taking the world by storm, one single parent at a time.

And the boys. Its not fair to just brag about my son now, as I have TWO amazing boys in my home. Both my son and Sushi Boy’s son are incredible, and kind and so much fun. They both bring so many smiles into my world.

The blessings, and the love and support of my family and friends are earth shaking. Simply amazing.

Ah…This Is It May 28, 2009

I am home.

I haven’t been on vacation, or anywhere foreign or fabulous. Just in transition. Which as it turns out, I kind of really enjoyed.

But now, now I am home. Today the Comcast Guy came and hooked up my cable and Internet. I am working from my new “office” which is really just a little nook off of the kitchen. But I like it, a lot. I have big plans for this office. Big things are going to happen here. Lots of awesomeness is going to radiate from this little nook.

As I sit here, I feel at home. I can hear Sushi Boy watching Prison Break in the living room. Sunny is crashed at my feet, stretched out along the cold kitchen floor exhausted from his evening walk with us through our new neighborhood. I still have a garage full of boxes, but the bedrooms are all functional as well as every other room in our home. Christian comes home tomorrow, and I am so excited. The house has really come together since he left for his dad’s last Friday.

I am very eager to get my hands in the dirt out back and start growing things! We have lovely purple and white Iris’ growing out front by our mailbox. They are very pretty. Sushi Boy and I have drawn up our plans for our chicken coop. Our chickens are going to be living the high life!

Good things are going to happen here. I am so excited about the possibilities, and the inspiration that is so abundant here.

This is home.

8 Days, Huh? May 21, 2009

I do not have my son for 8 days. I’m used to the typical 7 days that I have to make it through while he is with his dad. But 8 days just may be pushing it.

So, I have 8 days which include a holiday weekend. On my To Do list:

• Get boxes unpacked, or at least stored in the garage if they are marked “Boys Toys”
• Organize my closet. This actually makes me giddy with excitement
• Plant tomatoes in my yard!!!
• Work, work, work my butt off
• Enjoy at least 4 whole hours at a time that include no work, a beer or six, and me trying to get my legs as tan as my arms are
• Finish reading “A Million Little Pieces” by James Frey which I just uncovered in a box.

Wish me luck, my loves! I will document my endeavors and share!

If You Were To Ask Me 10 Years Ago… May 19, 2009

I would have never guessed that at 29 I would be a work at home domestic goddess in the making. But that is the direction I am heading, and oddly enough I’m thrilled with it!

Last night as Sushi Boy and I fell into bed at midnight, I set my alarm for 6am. We cuddled up, and started getting lovey dovey. Then we both decided, “Forget this! We are tired!” We said I love you, rolled over to opposite sides of the bed, and let the sandman creep in.

So when the alarm went off at 6, Sushi Boy reminded me that it was my alarm and I hopped out of bed to start my quest to be a good mom and girlfriend. I threw on some kid appropriate pj’s and stumbled my way to the kitchen. I warmed up some of yesterdays coffee, and proceeded to gather all of the makings for a filling pancake and bacon breakfast for my boys. Sushi Boy’s son came wondering into the kitchen a few minutes later and kept me company as I made breakfast. When breakfast was ready, I woke up Christian and the three of us sat down to enjoy a nice leisurely breakfast together. After we were done, I loaded the dishwasher, instructed the boys to change their clothes and brush their teeth and went in to snuggle Sushi Boy awake.

Sushi Boy took off with both breakfast and lunch in hand, and Christian in tow. I loaded up his son and took him to school. Now I am back home, drinking my 2nd cup of coffee and creating a game plan for my day which encompasses: unpacking, organizing, working, finding a recipe for dinner, walking the dog, picking up Sushi Boy’s son from school, sitting through an hour of swimming lessons, making dinner, and afterwards, collapsing with an ice cold beer. Oh, and somewhere along the way…a shower. Maybe even dust off my makeup if I have an extra minute.

This domestic crap is exhausting!

It is unexpectedly rewarding though. I have a friend who is a stay at home mom to 2 adorable little girls. Between all of her playgroups, moms groups, carpools and her social life she is one of the busiest women I know! On our trip to Vegas last year, we were talking about a book she was reading, I think it was called, “The Happy Housewife,” or something along those lines. From my perspective then, it sounded like a bunch of 50’s style male dominated crap. I was a single woman and mom who worked full-time, and “domestic” was the last word used to describe me. The thought of doing something like getting up an hour before my partner to make breakfast and clean the kitchen sounded absurd! Why the hell would I do that?!? “He can make his own damn breakfast,” is what I likely thought.

I am beyond shocked at how much pleasure I got out of having a hot breakfast on the table for my house of boys this morning. Instead of scrambling out the door at the last minute, throwing a granola bar and juice box into the hands of the boys to consume in the car, they actually had time this morning to read before school!

For the first time in a long time, I finally feel like I have direction. It is certainly not the direction I thought I would be going, but I couldn’t be happier with it. It is so amazingly fulfilling.

Now to work! And maybe to amazon.com to see if I can find that book! Who the hell am I?!?

Friday Randomness (For Lack of a Better Title) May 15, 2009

There have been a bunch of little things going on in my head and life that I’ve wanted to blog about, but none seem to be whole post worthy. So…snippets from the Land of Sushi:

Tomorrow night I get to go to PROM! Single Parent Night Out is starting a monthly night out in downtown Portland. With our first in an ongoing series of fun parties, we are having a Single Parent Flashback Prom tomorrow evening! Its a Glam It Up or Ham It Up kind of thing, and I think I will be going Glam. I mean, how often as adults in a casual city like Portland do we get to get all dressed up and fancy?!? Not often enough, in my opinion!

(For more info on Prom, you can contact me, or go to www.iheartsingleparents.com)

I am so in love with our new home, and can’t wait to get my hands in the dirt! We are going to have a beautiful garden. I just hope I can actually grow something!

My grandma had a minor stroke Wednesday morning. She seems to be doing okay, but is still in the hospital for some tests and observation. If you all could spare, sending some healthy vibes her way would be appreciated!

Anyone watch Prison Break? Sushi Boy and I are on Season 3. I can’t believe I didn’t follow my friend Jeanette’s advice and start watching it sooner! I’m on the 4th episode of Season 3 and have yet to see Scofields tattoos! I hope they make an appearance soon, they are awesome!

I get my little man back today, and I cannot wait to see him and bring him home to our new house!

Matt and his fiance have decided to get married THIS summer! July 3rd! I think they are both totally crazy for planning it so soon, but am very happy for them both. They have been engaged for a long time, and finally just decided to do it!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend! It is supposed to be in the mid-80s all weekend here, I am so stoked! Christian has basketball tomorrow day, then Prom Saturday night. And on Sunday is my friend Abby’s baby shower! Good, good times. And of course, getting settled into our new house!

Celebrate Good Times, C’mon! May 14, 2009

We found the perfect house! As I write this, I am sitting in my very own backyard! We got the keys last night, and Sushi Boy and I slept on the floor, cuddled together sleeping bags. I am such a happy girl right now!

Even though we have been living together for months, this feels so new and exciting. This is OUR house, where WE will make memories together.

The house is great! The boys will each have their own room, and I get my own bathroom! Well, technically I will share it with Sushi Boy, but it is better than sharing it with 3 males!

We have a great fenced in back yard, with an area for a garden, a large shop and an area and coop for chickens! Yay for chickens and fresh eggs! Sunny, our dog, is such a happy camper being able to run in and out of the house into the backyard whenever he wants! Right now he is staring at the tiny neighbor dog through the fence who is barking his head off, like “What IS your problem?!?” He is such a good dog, our Sunny Bunny.

We are in a great little neighborhood, where the boys can ride their bicycles up and down the street without having to worry about traffic. We are also only about 4 blocks and a giant field away from Sushi Boys parents place!

Neither of the boys have seen it yet, and I can’t wait until I get Christian back tomorrow to show him our new home. Its nothing outrageously spectacular, but it is ours and it is perfect! Sushi Boy and I are so on the same wave length when it comes to what we want to do with the place. I can’t wait to get our stuff in here and start decorating our home.

Pictures to come soon!

What A Good Day! May 11, 2009

This last week has been even more insane than usual. We moved everything out of Sushi Boys house to move into somewhere more affordable. That was taken care of Thursday, Friday, Saturday and first thing Sunday morning. Sunday morning we moved the last load, cleaned up th house and then I took of to Eugene.

I went to Eugene to see my mom for Mothers Day. In a complete stroke of luck, Matt actually had Christian in Eugene with him this weekend, so my sister picked up my son and met me at Mom’s with him. It was soooo nice. Mom, me and Brandi, my two nieces Riley and Julia and my son Christian. We sat in the grass picnic style and opened gifts, shared stories and generally just enjoyed eachothers company.

I am really looking forward to healing my relationship with my mom. I feel like we have the opportunity to start fresh, and put the past behind us. Apparently there hasn’t really been much of my life that she has been sober. I’m excited to know who she is clean.

Mom has put some weight back on her tiny little skeleton and is looking really good. She has taken on some leadership roles, and is a “big sister” for new entrants into the program. She designed and made a big Mothers Day display and hand made cards for all of the mothers in the program. It really, really warms my heart to see this version of Mom come back to life. It is honestly like seeing someone who has risen from the dead. This version of Mom has been gone for a long, long time. I kinda forgot about her.

Against my better judgement I am getting my hopes up. I know that odds are stacked against her, that she will continue to be drug free. But I love this version of Mom so much. I have missed this version of her so intensely, I have made myself forget about her.

I don’t want to have to forget about her again. I want her to continue to be this Mom. This happy, loving, giving, artistic Mom.

Yes! May 6, 2009

I’m sitting here at the kitchen table, helping my son write a outline for a speech he has to give in 2 weeks. He had to choose someone to write a biography on, and he we will make a 2 to 3 minute speech acting as his choosen person. He chose Tony Hawk, which is no surprise to me.

I am in shock and awe at the maturity level of this project. It coincides with everything they are doing and learning in the class room, but I guess I’m still in denial that my little man has grown up so much!

I don’t know why I’m in such a nostolgic spot right now, but boy oh boy! My boy is growing up way too quickly! He’s so fun right now though. I love having intelligent conversations with him, and having him point out things I hadn’t thought about yet.

I am so happy I just said yes! I was very on the fence about having a child. I was only 19 when I realized I may be pregnant. Matt and I had only been dating for 2 and a 1/2 months, and had just moved to Portland 6 days prior. I was scared and unsure, but I chose yes. Yes to a baby, yes to being a mother, yes to the unknown.

It was a great, amazing thing to say yes to!

Oink Oink May 5, 2009

A case of the Swine Flu has been reported in Sushi Boy’s sons school district. So we got the call Sunday night that his school is closed Monday and Tuesday. This is my week with Christian, and although his school wasn’t cancelled, I let him stay home yesterday. I sent him to school today though and boy was he mad! Which I can’t say I blame him. If I was in his position I’d be pissed off too!

I worked my butt off all day yesterday around the house. I literally did not sit down once from the time I got out of bed in the morning until I sat down for dinner. Who knew house work could leave you so sore? Aye aye aye!

Okay, off to work! I have a ton of motivation right now and am not going to let it go to waste!

Son Of Ginormica May 2, 2009

I am sitting on a bench outside of an elementary school, watching my son play basketball with 4 of his peers, and his dad – the coach. His team had pictures today, and now we have an hour to kill before his game. (Awesome job on the scheduling whoever planned that one! Thank you!)

I am the unoffical Queen of Inappropriate Dressing. Not like slutty inappropriate, but stilletos in snow, dresses in a windstorm, that sort of thing. So today I have on flipflops a summer skirt and tanktop. Its May, no big deal right? Wrong! I live in Oregon, so that means intermitant rain showers today, and I don’t have a coat with me. So you know what I’m wearing? My 8 year old sons sweatshirt!

It totally fits me, I am beyond shocked! I mean I am 6 feet tall and not built like a supermodel, and Christian is defiitely not a chunky kid by any stretch of the imagination. Of course it is more fitted on me than him. This has forced me to abandon my state of denial I’ve been living in, and realize my little boy is closer to being a young man.

He is definitely one of the taller boys in the 3rd grade. His height was never really a question, unless some sort of genetic mutation happened. I’m 6 feet tall and his dad is 6′1. Christian, you can thank us later! He has followed in the giant footsteps of his mama, and always been a head above the rest of the class in height (literally.)

He has his first blackhead on his nose, which he refuses to let me take care of no matter how much he begs me. So he is now using my face wash in the shower. He also is using deodarant.on a daily basis. He will no longer will pee in the bathroom if I’m in there, even with a promise that I will turn the other way. His feet are huge, and his size jeans are too short again.

His face has similar features to mine, but his expressions are all his dad as is his lanky yet muscular body. He has been “blessed” with a lighter colored version of my thick hair. We are in a growing it out phase right now. He wants long, rockstar hair.

Next month he will be nine years old. I hope nine isn’t the age where he becomes too old to sit on my lap and cuddle when he is sad. I hope that I’m still cool when he is nine.

Hi! Welcome! April 30, 2009

There have been quite a few new readers who have commented or emailed me this week. I just wanted to say HI!!! And welcome! And thanks for chiming in. I love making new friends!

A quick recap…Sushi Boy is my wonderful boyfriend who is sexy as hell and has such a big heart. I’m a lucky girl! The C-Men are our sons, we each have one from a previous relationship…my son is Christian. Christian’s father is Matt who I am very blessed to have a great friendship with!

Updates to come tomorrow. I’m walking into my sons school for an art show he just called and told me about! 8 year olds…. ;o)

Reason 8,532.5 Why I Don’t Like Tyra Banks April 28, 2009

So…I am sitting in my office (aka my bed) catching up on some administrative stuff and flipped on the TV just for some background noise. After a commercial, The Tyra Banks Show came on. Uggghhh…

Since I wasn’t planning on watching it, I left it on. After a few minutes my ears perked up when I heard the “Love Expert,” Andrew Trees, that was on the show today explain that it is best to talk about Pop Culture on a first date, as oppossed to Careers or Literature because, as a woman, you don’t want to sound smarter than the man! A man doesn’t want to date a woman who knows more than he does.

Pardon me, but F that S!!!

There are many things that I know a lot about, but there are way more that I know I don’t know about. I am not going to talk about what Britney wore on the red carpet last week (even though I love celeb smut) with a man on a first date just to act dumb about something I know!

According to him, this is scientific fact. More scientific “facts:”

The best way to end a date is with a hug. A 20 second hug. Try that out on someone….20 seconds is a looooong hug. Talk about coming across needy and clingy on a first date! Psh!

Men are more attracted to a woman’s body than her face. Sorry pretty girls, apparently that just isn’t enough anymore. Spend all of your freetime at a gym and a plastic surgeons office. Then you will meet someone shallow and superficial to date!

And, the only thing I could get behind that Mr. Trees said, was that a man should pay for a first date. That is a scientific fact, after all. Feel free to spread the word in the name of science!

Sorry! April 21, 2009

It was brought to my attention today that I haven’t blogged in a while. I’m sorry!

I have been busy…this weekend was my sons first basketball game. That was the cutest thing ever! Then we went to see my mom in rehab. Which was hard, but she is doing so well. I am very glad we went.

We’ve been searching for a house, we didn’t get our dream home beyond Cooterville. I miss the chickens that were never ours.

And to top it all off…I’m sick. Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, its awesome. I’ll write more tomorrow. I’m determined to feel better tomorrow!

I Refuse To Be Old And Alone April 16, 2009

Today Sushi Boy and I were walking Sunny, his Golden Lab that has softened my heart to all 4 legged beasts, when an elderly woman walked by in swooshy pants, a turtleneck, cardigan and a visor to top it all off. Being the judgemental wretch I am, I turned to Sushi Boy and asked, “Will you still love me when I wear turtlenecks and visors?”

“Of course,” he said. “But we won’t be together when we are that old. I will die long before that.”

I know that gambling on death is probably not looked upon highly, but if I was a bettin’ gal I’d put money on the fact that Sushi Boy will make it to the Pearly Gates before I do. He’s a risk taker. He races cars. He once jumped out of a 100 foot tree (if not taller) because he wanted to beat his friend to the ground. The boy has got balls.

Just a minute ago I got a picture message from a good friend who is apparently shopping with my sister right now. Its a photo of my sister with an old lady-esque straw hat on, with the string pulled up around her chin. I responded to the picture with, “Tell Brandi those are the hats we are going to wear when we are 80, our husbands have died, and we drink rum for breakfast.”

And that is what we are going to do. I have every intention of spending the last years if my life the way I did the first; with my sister. If her husband is still alive I will move in with the both of them, and if my husband is still alive when hers dies, she will move in with us. Who knows, maybe neither of us will ever get married and move in together upon retirement.

I don’t know why more women don’t do this. Or even men for that matter. I’d much rather live in a nice home with my sister and a few other friends than a “retirement community” where the residents tend to be a lot of depressed people waiting for death to knock on their door.

A wonderful, kind, hippie-at-heart friend of my moms used to say, “When I’m old, I want to live in a home where I can take acid and garden all day.”

I’m not so sure about the acid part, but throw in champagne and you’ve got me signed up! I want to laugh, and garden, and travel and enjoy what I have worked so long for. And I think my sister should be along for the ride.

That crazy girl is the funnest person I know, and I don’t want to grow old and leave laughter behind.

You Pass The Corn Maze, And Continue Through Cooterville April 14, 2009

I hope this doesn’t jinx us!

Yesterday Sushi Boy and I looked at a house that we fell in love with. Its a dome house, which I have always been fascinated with, and:

It is on two acres!

It has a chicken coop, complete with chickens and roosters!

There is a pin & stalls for goats, pigs or a horse!

I could have a huge garden!

There is a creek running through the yard!

Across the road is the Nehalem River!
The master bedroom is huge!

There is a play structure in the yard for the boys, and a giant fire pit!

The downfalls:

It is another 20 minutes further from town than we already are.

No cell phone coverage with our current providers! Ack! This is a big one to me…and we just signed a two year contract.

But you know what, I still want it! I’m at a point in my life where I want a slower pace. I want to know my neighbors. I want the C-Men to play outside and make tree forts and chase frogs and get dirty. I want to get dirty.

The towns population is 131! 131 people, not 131,000, but just 131! Apparently there are about 60 homes. There is a post office, and the volunteer fire station which borders the property to the south.

The unofficial mayor of the town lives across the street from the house we are looking at. Every Saturday morning he and his wife cook french toast on their outdoor stove for all of the kids in town. In the summer he starts up the bonfire in the morning and all of the townsfolk come over for coffee, and some stay until the evening and then switch to beer!

In the winter we would get one to two feet of snow. She said you only get snowed in for a few days though.

Sushi Boy and I are already planning BBQ’s and camp outs at our place. we are dreaming of teaching the boys to drive on country roads, and raising pigs named Bacon and Dinner.

Keep your fingers crossed! I really want this place! Oh, and the title of this post…those are really the directions!!!! I hope this doesn’t jinx us!

When Zombies Attack: An Easter Conversation April 13, 2009

As I mentioned last week, Baby Mama and Baby Ellie joined us for Easter. It went okay. It was very awkward when one of Sushi Boy’s sisters’ said to me while Baby Mama is standing there, “Brooke, you must be just thrilled to have a baby in the house again!” instead of saying what I was thinking, which wasn’t very nice, I held my tongue. I managed to get out, “Oh, well I don’t get to see her very often.” That was as nice as I could muster, which I realize wasn’t exactly what you’d call nice, but it wasn’t rude. It was the truth.

Anyhow…a group of us are sitting in the living room, making uncomfortable small talk because someone was being kind of snarky (she shall remain nameless…) Sushi Boy says something about local research monkeys escaping, and how Baby Mama was excited about it, because she thought that brings us closer to a Zombie Attack. I started to laugh, and then remembered I had heard this before, and Baby Mama does really believe that a Zombie Attack is in our future. I bit my tongue when I saw her eyes light up. Then someone said something about a book relating to Zombie Attacks, and fueled the fire. Baby Mama is stoked! We are finally talking about something she is genuinely interested in, so she doesn’t have to poorly fake it anymore.

As Baby Mama was excitedly rattling on and on about how the attack is going to go down, I am DYING inside! I am trying soooo hard to not laugh hysterically. I am amazed that no one else seems to be having a hard time holding their laughter in. Until I look over at Sushi Boy’s dad (whom I love) and can see the added sparkle in his eyes. He pipes up, and asks, “So how do you prepare for a Zombie Attack?”

“Well, I have on hand water, blunt objects and a wiffle ball bat.”

Sushi Boy pipes up with, “A wiffle ball bat?!?”

At this point I loose it. I snort, then close my mouth, hold my breath, and run to the bathroom where I lock myself in and laugh my ass off. My weekend had sucked balls, but that one sentence out of her mouth made my weekend awesome!

Of course I immediately text messaged my sister that important information, so she can prepare her house for a zombie attack. Word has spread, and I got a call from my dad tonight.

“So, I’m just putting together my zombie preparedness kit and I think I’m forgetting something. What is it I need again?!?”

Gawd that man cracks me up!

So my internet lovelies, I am sharing my wisdom with you. I don’t want a zombie attack to take you by surprise, and you not have a wiffle ball bat on hand! Apparently they are essential in fighting off the undead!

Silly me thought maybe a sawed off shotgun or some holy water. Man…what a moron I am! I would never have guessed a wiffle bat!