2008 in Review December 31, 2008

(I don’t know why it staggers the pictures I post like it does! I’ve tried to fix it, and it just doesn’t change! I apologize, it drives me crazy!)

2008 was a tumultuous year for me. It had very high ups and very low downs. Overall, I am glad to see it go!

I started 2008 as the maid of honor in one of my best friends NYE wedding.

 

 

 

 

January was also the month that I turned 28. My friend Liz and I celebrated our birthday’s together, as they are just 10 days apart. (I’m still not quite sure why Leann thought Bunny Ears were a necessity, but they were fun!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

I then, got to celebrate my birthday again with my Girls Night Girls, because 3 of us have birthdays within 2 weeks of one another! My beautiful friends, and fellow Aquarians, Jamie and Jeanette!

 

 

 

 

I decided at 28 I needed to really get serious about taking care of myself. The day after turning 28 I quit drinking and smoking and started running. That lasted for about 2 weeks until my “heart thing” started. Apparently when your heart stops beating every 3-6 beats that can make you black out and requires 2 months of appointments with specialists and tests. Turns out I’m okay, just a slight ventricle problem. All is A-OK now, as long as I don’t drink too much caffeine.

February brought the birth of my gorgeous niece Julia Gulia. I was fortunate enough to be there again when my sister delivered. She is one tough bitch, that sister of mine. I am so incredibly proud of her!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Spring wasn’t incredibly eventful. I started this blog, which I love having. I had started dating B, and was enjoying being healthy. I started drinking little by little again, which lead to smoking again. Bad Brooke. Also, I broke my digital camera sometime in the Spring and there are not a ton of pictures from that time period!

Sadly in April, my dear friend Terri died in a tragic motorcycle accident. I’d never lost anyone unexpectedly and the sadness was intensified by deep guilt as we hadn’t seen one another in almost a year. Terri changed my life in many ways, and she will never be forgotten by any of the lives that she touched.  

 

 

 

 

 

Also in April, one of my best friends Leann gave birth to her second baby girl, and I got to be there when beautiful baby Alyssa made her entrance into this world. Leann was a champ, and both mama and baby were happy and healthy!

In June my beautiful baby boy turned 8 years old. We had a super fun birthday party for him at a pizza parlor with a great play room, including a miniature Ferris Wheel. I unfortunately can’t seem to find pictures of his party. Bad, bad, mom.

The end of June was time for me and a few of my girls to unwind…which meant a nice long weekend in Las Vegas. We relaxed, we partied, we gambled, and we had a great time. We stayed at the beautiful Planet Hollywood Hotel and Resort, and loved every minute of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The summer of 2008 also brought Christian’s first white water rafting trip. We took a 4 day excursion on the Rogue River with about 20 of our closest friends. C had fun while we were there, but has told me adamantly that he WILL NOT be going next year, because it was too scary. (He didn’t fall out once, and we didn’t go down any rapids that were too treacherous.) I bet once we get some swimming lessons under his belt he’ll be game for it again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In September it was back to school. My little man changed schools this year, and has adjusted so well to his new school. It is quite a small school, and the community there is so great. He is really flourishing and has made a ton of great new friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September was a hard month for me emotionally. There was a lot that went on in my family, and my sister bore the brunt of it. She is so strong and amazing. The love in her heart is so endless. She has her hands full as it is, and I’m not quite sure how she survived September. There are a lot of on going issues with my mother, and unfortunately she is in need of help that neither my sister or I are able to provide to her and she refuses to find herself. September was the crux of the issues. I am so thankful that my sister and I have one another, and our amazing dad, to lean on

October was thankfully a brighter, happier month in my life. C and I enjoyed some Friday night high school football games, watching a friends son play varsity football. I joined a lovely website for single parents to network and support one another, and inadvertently met an amazing man in Sushi Boy. Our first date lasted an entire weekend. After that weekend I knew that someone special had entered my life. Well, two special someones. Not only did I gain an amazing boyfriend, I get an extra cool 9 year old boy to spend time with too!

Less than a week after meeting, Sushi Boy took me to his friend’s Halloween party, and he told me he loved me. I chastised him for telling me that so soon into our relationship, but secretly I was giddy. (This picture would be great, if I didn’t have a beer in my hand!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day as Sushi Boy hauled me to the Emergency Room I told him I loved him too. It was a scary thing to say one week into a relationship, but that was how I felt. I was totally and completely in love with him already.

November and December have been amazing times with Sushi Boy and the C-Men. We all got to spend Thanksgiving together with Sushi Boy’s family. Sushi Boy took us all fishing (we didn’t catch anything.) Sushi Boy, Christian and I travelled to my hometown together to celebrate my favorite aunt’s 50th Birthday, and we were all snowed in together for the better part of 2 weeks. We had a lovely White Christmas together.

These last 2 months have been pure heaven. Thank you so much, Sushi Boy, for an incredibly holiday season. Being with you and the boys is the best gift a woman could ask for. I’m so excited to see what 2009 has in store for us and the boys!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year, friends! I am so grateful for all you wonderful people that I have had the opportunity to meet through this blog, and all of my beautiful friends I have in my life. It amazes me that you read my blabber, but I don’t think any less of you for it! I hope you all have a lovely New Years Eve, and stay safe! I’ll see you on the flip side!

Thinking About Resolutions December 30, 2008

It’s that time of year when people tend to reflect on the year that they have had, and make goals for the future. 2008 was a year of growth for me. I learned a lot about myself as a person, and learned some lessons that were very painful but have taught me great things.

As I’ve mentioned, I lost one of my best friends in April of this year. Terri was hands down the most inspirational, dynamic person I have ever known. She had a magnetism to her that drew everyone in. At her memorial, her boss got up and spoke. He said that one of the things he will always remember is that Terri had a Post-It Note on her computer monitor that said, “Be Kinder Than Necessary.” Those four little words epitomized Terri. She gave more than was warranted, she trusted more than she should have, and she loved more than most believe is possible.

I have other resolutions for 2009, but over all I resolve to Be Kinder Than Necessary. If everyone in the world would try living by that motto for just a day even, amazing changes would happen in our world.

Edited because I am dying to know, what are your resolutions?

Snow Pictures December 29, 2008

Here is Christian and I last Saturday, playing in the snow in Sushi Boy’s back yard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The back of C and the front of Sushi Boy’s house. At this time, we probably had 8 inches or so. It snowed all day Saturday, Sunday, Monday, part of Tuesday, Wednesday, Christmas morning and Friday morning. And that doesn’t even account for the snow we got the week before Christmas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sushi Boy and I on our walk back in the snow from having a drink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A frozen tree in Sushi Boy’s front yard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A view down the street

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was so, so, pretty. But like I said, I’m glad it’s over!

It’s Melting! It’s Melting! December 29, 2008

As excited as I was to get our snow storm, I am just as excited to see it go away. I was essentially snowed in at Sushi Boy’s house for a week and a half. It was insane. All in all we had about 2 feet of snow piled up around his house. AND for the first time in my entire life I got a White Christmas. It was beautiful. None of the CMen had ever had a white Christmas either, so it was pretty freaking cool.

I would like to commend both Sushi  Boy and myself for not killing one another, or either of our boys. A week and a half in one house with one of the boys or both the majority of the time is a lot for a “new” couple to handle. Not only were there no homicides, there were few arguements and we actually had a pretty damn good time.  Sushi Boy made the boys a sled, that handy man that he is. We played a lot of Rock Band 2 (an early Christmas present to the boys) and Family Feud.

I have a ton of pictures to post, they’ll be up later. I hope you all had lovely holidays and have stayed warm and toasty!

Still Alive December 17, 2008

Going to be snowed in for a while I think. Think warm thoughts!

We Got It! December 16, 2008

Snow and ice! And very, very cold temperatures. This morning was 14 degrees when I woke up. That doesn’t happen very often around here.

The snow was expected to start falling between 10-11pm Saturday night. I started falling asleep on the sofa around9:30pm (I’m super awesome these days) and went to bed expecting to wake up to snow the next morning. I told Sushi Boy as we were going to bed, “If I don’t wake up to white stuff on the ground, I’m going to be pissed!” It’s not uncommon for the meterologists around here to get us all excited for snow, and then nothing happens.

I had multiple dreams Saturday night that I woke up to green grass, not snow covered grass. Low and behold, Saturday morning I woke up to green grass. Instead of letting it get me down, I made cofee and turned on the news. It was coming, they told me. Just be patient.

I went into the kitchen to start breakfast, and it happened! Beautiful, lovely flakes of snow began falling from the sky. It slowly began to accumulate as I made french toast. After breakfast Sushi Boy’s CMan and I took their dog for a nice (freezing) walk in the snow. Here are a few pictures I snapped.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was as the snow was first starting to accumulate…but traffic was already getting messed up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is an old school in the town Sushi Boy lives in. Doesn’t it look so Normal Rockwell? I love it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

How cool is this?!? I found this while on our walk. I was awed.

So, no work yesterday. Today I made it into the office. It’s very, very cold and icey. Snow is still around and we are supposed to get more tomorrow, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday! I just may experience my first EVER white Christmas this year!

FYI…I love how the news stations name weather events like this one. The news is calling this an “Arctic Storm!” lol I’m pretty sure they are a lot worse in actual Arctic Regions! lol

Be safe everyone! I know the East Coast is dealing with some nastiness right now too!

Hello, Winter! Welcome Back! December 12, 2008

This time of year always gets me excited! It makes me want to stock up the house and prepare to be snowed in. Us Oregonians aren’t used to snow, so when we see this:

there is near panic in the streets. When we get a little bit of snow or ice, business close down as do schools. I am so not kidding. It’s one of the bonuses to living in an area that doesn’t see a lot of snow. When we do get snow, we get to enjoy it. We get to be kids, and be with our kids.

I’m envisioning a weekend of snow and a few snow days off of work. My morning coffee with a shot of Baily’s in it, to warm me up. Running around all day being a kid outside. Having snow ball fights and making snow men. Evenings around the fire, eating a bowl of warm soup or chili for dinner, followed by a round or two of Jack Daniels and Hot Apple Cider.

Of course, it will probably not accumulate enough for my Winter Wonderland dreams, but here’s hoping!

Stuff On My Mind December 11, 2008

There is a lot on my mind today. I feel all discombobulated. Like my parts have been spread all over the place and put back together in the wrong order.

Smoking. I think I may feel crappy because I haven’t smoked in 5 days. I wasn’t planning on quitting, and can’t guarantee I will not smoke again. But for the time being, I have quit. I was hungover on Sunday, and then just haven’t felt like smoking. I don’t know if I don’t want to smoke because I feel like shit, or I feel like shit because I’m not smoking. Either way, the last thing I want to do right now is smoke. It’s not like I’m a chimney. I smoke too much when I drink, and will smoke a few cigarettes a day outside of that. I smoke little enough that my doctor herself has told me, “it’s nothing to worry about,” which is not something for any doctor to say, I don’t think. I’m playing a game with myself now. It’s called, “Let’s see how long I can make it without smoking!”

Weddings.My sister and I desperately need to get our asses in gear and start planning her wedding. She is getting married September 19th and we have so much to do still. My Almost Sister is getting married in June. One of my most lovely friends Jamie just got engaged. There needs to be a lot of wedding planning going on! I have somehow have become a bit of an event/wedding planner and love helping my friends plan these events.  I can’t lie…I’ve also been daydreaming of the eventual wedding of Sushi Boy and I someday.

Food. For the past few weeks,  Sushi Boy has had dinner ready by the time I get home at night. I can’t explain how nice it is to have someone cooking for me. No matter what he makes, it tastes delicious because I didn’t cook it. Because it was warm and ready when I got home. I am totally getting spoiled. Being a single mom for the past 6 years and being the one that HAS to cook at night, this is the ultimate in luxury treatment. For the record, Sushi Boy is a really good cook!

Christmas! I have had a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit this year. I’m not sure why. Maybe because money is kind of tight and my Christmas shopping will be done after the 20thof the month. Yesterday Sushi Boy went Christmas shopping with his mom. When C and I got home last night, Sushi Boy had the tree up and wrapped presents under the tree! (And, dinner hot on the stove!) The tree may be 3 feet tall, and actually ON the kitchen table with fake pine cones and fiber opticlights, but by goodness it is a tree! With PRESENTS! I am feeling the Christmas spirit now. I’ve even been listening to Christmas music all morning.

*Yes, I am referring to Sushi Boy’s house as home. No, we haven’t moved in. But no, we haven’t been to my home in a long time either.

My Funny Girl December 10, 2008

This is my niece, Riley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my niece, Julia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both Riley and Julia are the daughters of my sister, Brandi. They have different fathers.

On Saturday, I was walking around the kitchen holding Riley. We were looking at pictures on the fridge and Riley tells me, “Auntie, I have a secret to tell you!” “Oh…I love secrets,” I tell her. She then points the picture of the 3-D Ultrasound Brandi had when she was pregnant with Julia, and says, “I wanted Julia to look like that. But she came out Mexican, instead!”

I laughed so hard, and then she told me I couldn’t tell anyone. How funny is that! In the 3-D u/s picture Julia did look white, because it was just a sepia colored photo.

Eventually Riley told my sister what she had said. The glorious things that kids say…

(And yes, my 9 month old niece is totally walking already! How awesome is that?!?)

Ah ha! December 10, 2008

Sushi Boy is much more technologically able than I am. Apparently I have to turn the camera ON before  the pictures will download…psssshh…

Here are a few of the pictures from our trip to the coast this last weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sushi Boy, myself and C at Shore Acres. (Please keep in mind we’d just traveled 220 miles!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

My sister and I (and C’s head in the corner.) Apparently there was a memo to put our hands on our hips awkwardly…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sushi Boy and I at my aunt’s party. We’d obviously been enjoying the hosted bar….

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the first time EVER, my sister is a brunette…turns out it’s actually her natural color now! She said she feels much smarter!

 

 

 

 

 

 

My sister’s fiance to the far left, my sister and the birthday girl, aka The Damn Hottest 50 year old I know!

I have more that I will post later.

Because Its My Blog… December 9, 2008

I’m going to bitch and complain for a minute.

I feel like crap. I’m achy and feverish. My sinuses are burning, as are my eyeballs. In fact, it kind of feels like everything shoulders-up is on fire. It’s SUPER awesome.

People are pissing me off. Matt and his pregnant fiance have royally pissed me off. I bend over backwards to help them out when they need it but apparently they can’t be expected to do the same.

Work had been the high point of my day, until just a few minutes ago when something in the office pissed me off. And now the Internet is moving at a snail’s speed, which is pissing me off too.

I get to go home and be with my all three of my C-Men though, so that will be lovely.

OH! And to top it off, I can’t get the pictures to freaking upload! I’m going to have to put Sushi Boy on figuring out that one.

Haven’t Scared Him Off Yet! December 8, 2008

A conversation with my sister, via text messages this morning.

Me: Sooo….what did you think of Sushi Boy?

Brandi: Hated him.

Me: Really?!?

Brandi: No, silly. He’s cool!

Me: Oh…phew!

Brandi: I think he seems like a good match for you. What did he think of us?

Me: Couldn’t stand you…thought you were trashy. Liked everyone else though.

Brandi: Funny!

Me: He kept telling me how he could see himself living down there. But don’t get your hopes up, if he moves down there, he will be alone. I’m not leaving Portland!

Brandi: LOL Whatever…

And my Dad likes him too!

Me: So, what did you think?

Dad: He’s okay.

Me: Wow, Dad. Don’t be too enthusiastic.

Dad: He’s kinda short and bald. lol

Me: Yes, yes he is. ;0)

(He’s only about an inch shorter than me, which is not really short at all. Dad and I are both just very, very tall.)

Dad: As long as you like him, he’s okay by me!

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Many relatives at my aunts party Saturday night came up to me and told me how much they liked Sushi Boy. He was great. Such a trooper to  meet virtually all of my relatives in one short weekend. I have a ton of great pictures from the weekend, but haven’t been able to upload them yet!

So Impatient December 4, 2008

I  want to go home, and I want to go home NOW!

By home, I mean my hometown. I don’t want to wait until tomorrow. I want to leave at once. I want Sushi Boy to swing by C’s school, pick him up, pick me up from work and get the heck out of here. There is something about the holidays that makes me nostalgic and craving my family.

I can’t wait to hug my sister, and squeeze the crap out of my neices. I want to smell my dad’s woodsy smell and celebrate with my Aunt Tammy with my family.

I can’t wait to see the Big Green Bridge that signals I have made it home. I can’t wait to go to Shore Acres, a gorgeous garden on the cliffs of the ocean that is decorated with millions of holiday lights. I actually am excited to feel the cold and salty ocean wind.

I can’t wait to show off my hometown to Sushi Boy. To show him the town that shaped who I am. Sometimes I’m mean to my hometown, but in reality, there is no where else I would have rather experienced my adolescence.

And of course, I can’t wait for my family to meet Sushi Boy and embrace him into the family.

The Verdict Is In! December 3, 2008

Sushi Boy is meeting my family. In all of their lovely craziness.

I got a call this last weekend from one of my aunts, that my other (most wonderfully favorite) Aunt Tammy is celebrating her 50th Birthday this Saturday night. My Aunt Tammy…well, there are not quite words to describe how amazing she is and how much she means to me. My Aunt Tammy and her first husband (who just divorced a few years ago, therefore he will always be my uncle) never had children. My Aunt Tammy and my mother are biological sisters and were adopted together when they were 5 and 6. Although I have many other wonderfully amazing aunts and uncles, Aunt Tammy was always the favorite. She is a second mother to my sister and I. All of our friends call her Aunt Tammy, and are always envious of having such a great aunt.

Anyhow…Sushi Boy, Christian and I are headed South Friday after work to participate in the birthday festivities! This means that Sushi Boy will be meeting my entire family. My big scary teddy bear of a dad, my amazing sister and her 29 kids, my aunts, my uncles, my grandma, my cousins. All of them.

I’m so excited. But at the same time a little nervous. (Okay, more than a little) I really love this man, and so desparately hope that my family and him like each other. I really don’t see why they wouldn’t. But I’m still keeping my fingers crossed!

This is my sister, my beautiful Aunt Tammy and I on Christmas Day last year. My sister was very pregnant, and yes, I am totally a giant!

My Secret Plan to Make Everyone Look Like Monks December 3, 2008

Recently Sushi Boy and I have been seeing this commercial on TV for something called a Snuggie. It NEVER fails to make us laugh hysterically. I am both amused and infatuated with it.

In case you haven’t seen the commercial, a Snuggie is a blanket/robe type contraption. Like a blanket with sleeves and a neck hole. I won’t lie, it looks incredibly cozy although incredibly Monk-like.

This is what I think I will buy everyone for Christmas! So, if you think I may be buying you gift for Christmas, let me know if you want your Snuggie in maroon, royal blue, or sage green!

Look at all of the cool, sedentary things you can do while wearing a Snuggie!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And! If you call NOW you can get a second Snuggie for FREE!!!

Moving In December 2, 2008

What is the “appropriate” time to move in with your boyfriend or girlfriend? Of course there are those out there who believe in waiting until marriage. I have a child and have never been married, so obviously I’m not of that mindset!

Now calm down. I am certainly not saying I am going to move in with Sushi Boy next week. I’ve moved in with a boyfriend too soon in the past, and well, obviously that didn’t turn out well. Granted the man was a complete moron. And I was a bit of a moron myself at the time and had gigantic blinders on. When someone has a shrine in the living room up of their deceased spouse, that’s a good sign that they aren’t ready to move on yet.

I’ve never done anything the “traditional” way before. Matt and I moved to Portland together after 2 months of dating, moved in together, and found out we were pregnant less than a week later. C and I lived alone for over 4 years, and then moved in with the moron after only dating for 2 weeks. That lasted a few months, and C and I have been alone since. It’s apparent that I jump the gun. I don’t want to move too soon on this, I want this to work.

I know that waiting until the relationship has been through some trying times is a good idea. That sounds smart. I/we’ve been at his house for ohh…a long time now. Let’s just say I don’t remember exactly the last time was that I spent a night at my house. It feels like I am just paying for a very expensive closet right now. I’m not going to use the financial aspect as a reason to move in soon, although it certainly is something to consider down the road.

Of course we both have boys, so we would need to make sure they were okay with moving in together. I can’t imagine them not being okay with it. Every time one of them is with us and the other is not, it is, “Why isn’t C here? When is he coming back?” Living together full time would be different, I’m sure.

So lovely internets, how long was it before you moved in with your significant other/spouse? Would you have waited longer in retrospect?

Thanksgiving in the Land of Sushi December 1, 2008

I survived it, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanksgiving that is, in the Land of Sushi. There was not actually sushi present at Sushi Boy’s family’s Thanksgiving celebration, but most of his Sushi relatives were.

Sushi Boy’s family was so kind and welcoming. I had met most of his immediate family, but had yet to meet the extended family. I got to meet his uncles, aunts, cousins, second cousins, and most importantly, his grandmother. They were so cute. There were many references from them about how “crazy” their family was. It was so hard to not laugh in their faces. They don’t know crazy! My family epitomizes the word crazy. They were fun and completely lovely.

There were no off the wall Thanksgiving dishes I felt obligated to try. I always hate that, when you are the guest at someones celebration dinner, and someone says, “Oh! You have to try Aunt Lucy’s famous Chocolate Oyster Salad, it’s the best!” You are thinking, “Ughh…no way!” but you have to do it after it has been brought up, otherwise you are deemed rude. There was none of that, thank goodness. All yummy, traditional Thanksgiving yumminess. Christian and I had baked a chocolaty brownie torte for the dinner (with help from Betty Crocker) and even though there were SO MANY desserts, our torte was a hit! Christian was really stoked by that.

So, our Thanksgiving was wonderful. I had multiple inquiries if I’d be back for Christmas, which was so nice to be asked. I’m still not sure what the plan is for Christmas, as my sister and her family will be up here and I invited my dad as well. Sushi Boy said I should bring them to his aunt’s for Christmas. Introduce the families. I guess then they’d get a good idea of what crazy really means!

How was your Thanksgiving? Did you have to try Aunt Lucy’s Chocolate Oyster Salad???