Things I Have Time To Do Now That I’m Unemployed February 10, 2009

Things I have time to do while unemployed:

1) Search for a new job

2) Wash, dry, fold and put away laundry

3) Create weekly menu’s of healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner options

4) Actually make those meals

5) Do the dishes daily, and keep up on the house work

6) Keep in better touch with friends and family

7) Create a budget

Organize Casa de Sushi to integrate me and Christian’s stuff

9) Get in at least an hour of exercise a day

10) Finally ready The Classics                   

And what I have actually been doing:

1) Search for a new job

Okay, I have been searching for a new job. Every weekday I faithfully log onto Craigslist and send out my resume for all of the new and relevant postings. I also check out at least one other job hunting venue per day.

2) Wash, dry, fold and put away laundry

I have been washing and most of the time remembering to dry clothes. Sometimes the clothes in the washer sit there for a few days, and then I have to re-wash them once or twice more because they have been sitting wet for so long, and have that nasty ick smell. Once they finally make it out f the dryer, the get added to the already huge pile of clean clothes on the giant table in the washroom. It’s going to be a super fun project for me one day. I think I’m going to wait until a Real Housewives of Orange County marathon comes on.

3) Create weekly menu’s of healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner options

A few weeks ago I found a weekly calendar to do this on in MS Works and printed it out. Actually, that’s a lie. Sushi Boy printed it out.

4) Actually make those meals

I make suggestions as to what we should have for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s usually not healthy, and it’s usually not made by me. Sushi Boy, or the fine folks that operate the restaurants around here are the ones usually making the food.

5) Do the dishes daily, and keep up on the house work

I walk by the dishes daily, and snarl at them. I also curse them and the fact that I told Sushi Boy that he couldn’t use paper plates for every meal once I moved it. That sounds better and better all the time. If only I could get over the whole environmental factor. Oh….and it super sucks because Sushi Boy does not have a dish washer. Freaking old house! (It is a gorgeous old house though)

6) Keep in better touch with friends and family

I have been doing a much better job at stalking friends and family on MySpace and Facebook.

7) Create a budget

Ha! I have memorized my Unemployment Credit Card 16 digit number though, to make it more efficient every time I call to check my balance.

Organize Casa de Sushi to integrate me and Christian’s stuff

I try to move a few boxes around at least once a day so Sushi Boy thinks I’m making some progress. I bitch about him and the boys not picking up after themselves, yet I have boxes upon TV sets upon more boxes taking over half of the front room.

9) Get in at least an hour of exercise a day

I watched Hatha Yoga today on the Fitness Channel while The Real Housewives of Orange County was at commercial. I’m pretty sure that counts for something.

10) Finally ready The Classics

I have been reading History in the Making. Who needs the classics when Perez Hilton gives you hourly updates on the Rihanna/Chris Brown fiasco?!? And I have discovered a website which must be the Dirty Sister of YouTube, YouPorn. It’s not that I am so much watching the porn, as I am typing in all of the random off the wall stuff I can think of. And you know what, people have done it! You want to see a gay midget orgy? YouPorn. A woman having intimate relations with a banana? YouPorn! I’m feeling not so creative anymore, let me tell you!

Everyone Is Gay After Midnight February 8, 2009

I really should be sending out resumes for the 5 gazillionth time in a month, but I don’t have the passion to do that right now. I’m in the kind of mood that would not create cover letters that scream, “I AM THE SHIT! YOU NEED TO HIRE ME!” I should also be trying to find a home for the rest of my crap that is in the living room here at Casa De Sushi. But that wouldn’t work out well either. I’d probably just throw it all upstairs and forget about it. The same for the stacks and towers of laundry that need to folded and put away. That just isn’t going to happen this afternoon.

I know I must sound like I’m teetering on the edge of depression and insanity, but I’m not. I am insanely happy, and I have had a wonderful weekend. I guess I’m just lacking motivation right now. After a wonderful morning out and about with Sushi Boy, the C-Men and my ex (yes, MY EX, as Jerry Springer as that sounds, it is not) I came home, put on my pj pants and climbed back into bed to watch some mindless television.

After about an hour Sushi Boy decided to geek out and play XBox Live, which got me out of the bedroom quicker than you can say “First Person Shooter” which is a term I’d never heard until just recently. So, here I am. Just wasting away my day on the computer.

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It’s been a great weekend. Friday started off well with Sushi Boy being called back in for a 2nd interview for a really great job. Turns out the interview was a JOB OFFER (!!!!!!!) with a super awesome company doing inside sales. The job has awesome benefits to boot. Assuming he passes the background check, which there is no reason why he shouldn’t, he starts next Monday! I’m so excited for him. This is a great opportunity.

After his “interview” we picked up C from school, and then took him to his dads house, where we hung out and played Rock Band. Sushi Boy and Matt get along really well, which is so awesome. I really can’t explain how cool I think it is that not only is Sushi Boy not freaked out that Matt and I have such a good relationship, but he is forming his own relationship, er…friendship is probably a better term, with Matt. Although nowhere close to being traditional, I think this is such a healthy thing for not only Christian, but all of us. Matt and his fiance Jessica also came to my birthday party a few weeks ago, and we all had a kick ass time together. I think it is so good for Christian to see that even though his mom and dad are not together, they still like and respect one another. Today Matt and Christian came with us to go gokart racing and out to lunch. Super fun times!

I had brought some wine to Matt’s house Friday night, and decided that it was “Celebration Bitches”, and drank a few too many glasses of Reisling as I belted out such sweet tunes as, “Pretty Fly for a White Guy.” After a few hours of pretending I could sing, I decided that it was a great idea for Sushi Boy and I to go to the strip club. Now you have to understand  a few things here. 1) The city of Portland has more strip clubs per capita than any other city in the US. 2) Because of the plethora of strip clubs here, it’s no big deal for us Portlanders to go to a strip club. It’s like going to a McDonalds. Only instead of wearing hairnets, the employees wear 6 inch silver heels, a smile and not much else.

By this point I was pretty tipsy, and pretty adamant that going to the strip club was what we HAD TO DO. I wouldn’t let Sushi Boy tell me no. There is a classy one (yes, I said classy when referring to a strip club. It totally is. Come visit and I’ll take you there!) just a few blocks from Matt’s house. Sushi Boy realized I wasn’t going to let this go. On the walk over, as he is trying to help 6 foot me walk straight, he tells me, “Do not talk to anyone until we get to the table. If you say anything, they are not going to let you in, because you are obviously intoxicated.” Or something along those lines. I don’t remember the conversation verbatim. We miraculously get in, and have a seat. Sushi Boy orders dinner, which I totally should have done, but decided about 500 Cran and Malibu’s would be better for me than food. I am Miss Logic when I drink, let me tell you. After bouncing back and forth between the rack and our table, a cute little dancer comes over and sits down with us, which is totally common place. We’re chatting and she’s a doll, and a little while into our conversation, we ( I say we because I don’t remember if it was my idea or Sushi Boy’s idea) decide to get a private dance. That’s the reason she has sat down with us, because she’s a sales person and she’s trying to sell us the priciest item on the menu. She was a great sales woman!

So we go into the back room and have a seat in chairs against the wall. Our new stripper friend starts dancing and taking off her clothes. While she is provocatively hovering over me, I apparently stick out my tongue and lick her neck! What the hell? I get a warning  for this, because you aren’t supposed to touch the strippers with your hands, let alone your tongue. Then, I try it again! Only it wasn’t her neck I was trying to lick this time, it was her boob! What the hell?!? When did I start liking girls? Um, apparently 2 bottles of wine into the night. Geeze Louise!

Not long after that our dance was over, and so was my trip to the strip club. Sushi Boy took me back to the car, and back home. Sushi Boy so kindly filled in the blurry parts of the evening for me yesterday morning. I was/am so embarrassed. Our stripper friend was so sweet, she didn’t deserve to have some wine drunk hetro trying to lick her all night. Hopefully her night improved after that!

Boy was I paying for it yesterday morning. I had the hangover from hell. My head pounded, my stomach turned. I had plans to have lunch with my BFF Quinn, and was tempted to cancel, but I hadn’t seen her in a long time so I decided to man up. Sushi Boy needed new tires on his Soccer Mom van, so we dropped the van off before catching a cab downtown. Just a heads up for all of you out there… if you have a killer hangover from drinking like a fish, after not drinking for a long time, don’t go to a tire shop. The smell of tires on a hangover is not a pleasant one. It made my stomach flip and turn and do somersaults. I had to go outside and wait for our cab, as to not puke all over the lobby of the tire store. The cab ride downtown was not a fun one either. Thankfully, about halfway through lunch I started feeling better. Good enough to spill the details of my embarrassing adventures at the strip club to Quinn. She shrugged her shoulders and said, “Hey, everyone is gay after midnight!” Apparently that’s true for me!

So, that was my excitement. Anyone else lick a stripper this weekend? lol

It’s So Hard To Let Go… February 3, 2009

So…I have too many clothes. Well, let me clarify. I don’t think I have too many clothes, I don’t think anyone can ever have too many clothes. But I have too many clothes for Sushi Boy’s house. It was built in the early 1900’s, and apparently the term “clothes horse” hadn’t been, or needed to be, invented yet. Our bedroom closet is tiny. Like the size of a coat closet. It does have a second rod halfway up, but it still has a very small capacity.

I have taken over the closet in the office/nursery. And the bottom rod in Sushi Boy’s closet. And the closet in the play room upstairs.

My sister suggested that I go through and get rid of some of my clothes. Like the ones I’ve had since 8th grade. That’s a bit of an exaggeration though, I think my clothes only date back to high school. I can’t do it though!

When I was a Freshman, many of the styles I was wearing were styles my mom wore in the 70’s, and I hated that she hadn’t saved any of her clothes. I’ve often donated clothing, and then two seasons later seen the same styles on the runways and in magazines.

I’ve decided to start slow. Just get rid of things that I are really worn and even if they do come back in style, I would need to replace. So far I’ve collected 3 items to take to Goodwill. Hey! It’s a start!

What is hard for you to part with?

Now I’m Scared January 12, 2009

I’ve sent out my resume to 20-30 companies who are hiring for positions I am qualified, if not over qualified for, and I haven’t even gotten a single call back. There job market is so saturated right now with people looking for jobs.

Thanks for the well wishes and keep your fingers corssed for me!

Completely Unexpected January 7, 2009

I got laid off on Monday. I was not expecting that at all. As a matter of fact, for the first five minutes of the conversation with my boss, I thought he was joking! This economy is really putting a strain on our industry, but I had no idea my job was in jeopardy.

So, I am on Day 2 of being unemployed. It is very bizarre. I have never not had a job. Not for 1 day since I started working. I mean, I already had a job in Portland before I even moved here.

Wish my luck, my loves! I’ll need it in this market!

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!

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!

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!

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.

Making the Hard Decisions November 25, 2008

Sometimes I really don’t like being a grown up.

Friday I had to make the decision to NOT go to San Francisco. I had to disappoint my son and my sister. I really dislike disappointing people. Of course I was disappointed as well. I had (obviously) been very excited for this trip, for the time with my sister, and for the experiences with my son.

Buuuut…I had to make the decision not to go. It was the financially responsible decision to make. I hate making decisions based on finances, but sometimes you just have to do that. And I guess that is the part of being a grown up that I don’t like. I’d like to be able to make it just on Do I Want To? If I do want to, then I do. But that is not the way the world works, is it folks?

It is a bit of a blessing in disguise that we didn’t go though, because Sunday afternoon my munchkin started getting sick. Fever, sore throat, general ickiness. He had what I call, “Sick Eyes.” You can fake a lot of ailments as a child, but you can’t fake Sick Eyes. He had those glassy, trying really hard to keep his eyes opened eyes. Actually, he kind of looked like he had been taking the pot (as my favorite aunt calls it) minus the red.

He stayed home from school yesterday and I stayed home from work. Typically I hate staying home from work, even if it is for a legitimate reason. But, since most of the people at the office hadn’t really planned on me being in anyway, it wasn’t a big deal.

We were at Sushi Boy’s place on Sunday, so munchkin and I spent our sick day there yesterday. We vegged and watched movies. I cleaned Sushi Boy’s kitchen…whew…that was an event. I should have taken before and after pictures! Sushi Boy did not ask me to do clean his kitchen, but I wanted to be able to have a home cooked meal in it. It looks phenomenal now, and Sushi Boy made a yummy yummy spaghetti dinner last night.

So even though I had to make the hard decision to not go to the Bay Area for T-Day, I think it is for the best. Well, I know it is for the best. Sushi Boy’s parents invited C and I to spend Thanksgiving with them and their extended family. I’m excited about that. I did offer to bring a dish though, so let’s hope that pans out well! lol Wish me luck!

Today is the Day!!! November 21, 2008

Not that I am leaving for San Fran (I’m actually leaving tomorrow now) but the day that Twilight hits theaters!!!

Leann and I contemplated going to the 12:01 showing of it this morning, but decided instead to take a nice, long Friday lunch break and go see it in the middle of the day. So, in just a mere 2 hours and 19 minutes we will be watching the opening credits!

I am SO!FREAKING!EXCITED! (And I know this makes me a complete and total dork. I’m okay with that!)

1,2,3,4 Get Your Booty On The Dance Floor November 13, 2008

“Work it out! Shake it ‘lil mama, let me see you do the Jane Fonda!”

If you know what song that’s from I love you! If you don’t, it’s a song called “Jane Fonda,” by Mickey Avalon. Sushi Boy and I are going to see him in concert tomorrow night with my favorite cousin Jake and a few of his friends who are coming up from Hicksville. I am sooo looking forward to this. I haven’t been to a show since RockFest in September, and well…there are parts of that I don’t remember so well. But anyway, I’m super stoked to see Mickey Avalon in concert and that Sushi Boy is coming with me. He’ only ever been to 3 concerts, in his entire life!

And if that isn’t fun enough, Sushi Boy and I are going to go Salsa dancing on Saturday if Sushi Boy can get a sitter for his Little C-Man. Of all of the dancing I’ve done, I’ve never done the Salsa. I think they have lessons, so that will be fun. Sushi Boy told me when we first met, “I don’t dance!” Within a few hours of that he changed his mind and told me he may give it a try for me! If that ain’t love…

It’s Official! November 12, 2008

Sushi Boy and I totally kick ass at Pictionary!

We had dinner at one of my friends houses last night, and then we all played Pictionary. To be fair, it was a really close game. My friend and her husband are both great artists, so I kinda thought we’d be screwed. After a really, really, really crappy first turn (I tried to draw a panther, and it looked nothing like a panther!) I thought we were done for. But we came back and won!

It was a relief to know that it wasn’t just that first game we played. We officially rock as Pictionary partners!

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice November 11, 2008

There is going to be a precious bundle of little girl coming into my life in February. No, I’m not pregnant. That would be the quickest pregnancy ever!

Sushi Boy’s ex-girlfriend is pregnant. I knew about this before we even met in person. He was been completely open about the baby and the baby’s mother (from here on out known as Baby Mama) from the beginning. Of course a paternity test will be done, and Sushi Boy plans on being in the babies life as much as possible. By as much as possible I don’t mean every other weekend. I mean at least 50% of the time.

I have no doubt in my mind that Sushi Boy and I will still be together when the baby is born.

I know that this baby is not my baby. But this baby is going to be more present in my life than any baby other than my own has ever been. And its a girl!!! I am so excited. I am having a hard time refraining from buying every cute pink and brown outfit I see in stores.

I’ve always been on the fence about wanting another kid. I’m getting older by the day, and so is Christian. I wasn’t so sure I’d want to start over again when C is in middle school (or later!) if I ever met that special man. So this is kind of nice. I didn’t have to make any decisions. This baby is not mine. But I get to experience the joy of having her in my life. I get to spoil her and teach her. I get to dress her in pink and put bows in her hair. I get to listen to coo’s and baby giggles. I get to have a baby in my life again!

Now, I’m sure some of you are still freaking out about the sentence a few paragraphs back about being positive Sushi Boy will still be in my life 4 months from now. I’m so serious. I’ve never been more positive of anything else in my life. He’s it. He’s the man I didn’t think existed. The one who is perfect for me. Not perfect…I’m smart enough to know there is no such thing. I’m not perfect, I would never expect my partner to be. I want to wake up to this man every morning for the rest of my life and fall asleep in his arms every night. 

So this precious bundle of pink…she doesn’t know what she’s in for. I have nieces who are my perfect princesses, but they live far away. I have girlfriends with little girls, and I love the crap out of them too. But this baby, this baby is in for it. In my world, everything will be pink and shiny and sparkly and frilly. She’s going to OD on pink by the time she’s 9 months old, the same age at which I’m sure her dad will be trying to teach her to drive a race car.

P.S. I know all of this makes me sound like some crazy lunatic of a lady. But I’m okay with that!

Hell to the Ya! November 5, 2008

There are not adequate words to explain the sense of relief and happiness I have felt since last night when Barack Obama was declared our 44thPresident of the United States of America. I kept looking at Sushi Boy as we were watching Obamas speech, repeating, “I am SO happy!”

This was one of those mornings that just felt like all was right with the world (even though I know that’s not the case, it felt like it.) We have a dynamic man stepping up to run our country and I have a dynamic man stepping into my life making my world an amazing place.

I am ridiculously optimistic on both fronts.

Am I the only one who thinks Mr. Obama is definitely the hottest Pres we’ve had since JFK? Handsome men tend to be more successful men. I am a little concerned about what Michelle Obama was wearing last night though. It was very cute, don’t get me wrong, but only appropriate if her and Mr. President were going to a hip restaurant for dinner and cocktails. Not appropriate for the biggest night of her life. I would have like to have seen her in something similar to what Palin was rocking.

But I disgres. Thank you to everyone out there who did their part and voted! And encouraged others to vote. You are all responsible for this smile on my face today!

A Vote Against Being Easy! November 4, 2008

Last night I was watching Boston Legal, and in the beginning of the episode the character of Denny Crane (played by William Shatner) was justifying his vote for McCain. One of the reasons he gave was that women are easier under a Republican President. He said that under a Democratic President women volunteer more, and have a feminist attitude. Under a Republican President women are apt to be house wives and get depressed, therefore loosing self worth and sleeping around.

I voted. I voted to not be easy!

Meeting the Friends October 31, 2008

Tonight I am going to my new man’s friend’s Halloween party. And I’m nervous. I don’t get nervous a lot, but I’m pretty freaked out by this. It’s one thing to meet one friend at a time, or even a couple at a time. But I think they will all be at this party. Not only is it a Halloween party, it’s also an early birthday party for my man friend.

First impressions are important. I really want his friends to like me. They are so important to him, which I love. He speaks so highly of them, you can tell they are a part of his family.

I’m normally a pretty confident person and can hold my own in a room full of strangers. I know that I’m not going to do anything stupid, like inadvertently insult anyone or ignore all rules of polite society. I’m a friendly person, I know how to ask questions that are leading so we don’t end up in dead end conversations.

I am, however, likely to:

Fall. I am an uber-klutz. Add any amount of alcohol and I am ever klutzier. And I will be wearing flats, which I NEVER wear and kind of forgot how to walk in.

Forget everyone’s names and/or call someone the wrong name.

Talk about something really inappropriate. For some reason after a drink or two, I tend to think that things that are typically not appropriate to talk about are. Or that things are funnier than they really are.

So, wish me luck! I’ll report back, and hopefully my new man friend will still be around!

The Funk September 24, 2008

Now, on any typical day The Funk I am referring to would be actual Funk. Funkadellic. Funky Town. Funk Music. I love me some Funk.

I am on Day 5 without my son, and it sucks ass. I miss him something fierce. I have been very good at distracting myself, which mostly avoids me going home as home reminds me of my little man.

When you are in a funk, what do you do to cheer yourself up? And please, whatever you do, do not tell me Yoga. I am all for Yoga, but not Yoga while I’m sad. I’d probably cry. Yoga makes me emotional.

Cat and Mouse September 23, 2008

Last night B and I went to dinner at Montage. Montage is this fabulous little restaurant that I had  been to once before on a date (with a douche bag who had conveniently forgotten his wallet.) If I had to take someone to a restaurant that personified the personality of Portland, I would take them to Montage.

At Montage you are seated at tables next to people you don’t know. B and I were seated last night next to two young couples about our age that were celebrating one of the couples anniversaries. We sat down, and they look over and one said, “Hi! Welcome to Montage!” and another said, “We hope you enjoy your dinner tonight!” Portland is friendly. The patrons at Montage are friendly.

The food is kind of comfort, southern style food. Lots of macaroni dishes, gumbo, jambalaya, pastas, and of course salads. They have a large wine list, and inventive cocktails. I had the Kick Ass Cosmo, and indeed, it kicked ass. While they have divine wines and cocktails, they haven’t forgotten that they are in Portland, they also have a variety of beers. Good beers, and good cheap beers. B had a Raineer with his dinner.

The decor is eclectic. On the far wall there is a painting of the last supper, but with Mt. Hood in the background. Yes…that is Portland for you.

The waitstaff is amazing. We were seated within a minute of walking through the door. We had glasses of water as soon as we sat down (and they were refilled promptly every time we finished them off.)  As soon as we had water, we had bread. Our order was taken the minute we had decided, it seemed. Our drinks appeared before us magically within a few minutes of ordering them, and we hadn’t even had time to finish our drinks before our delicious meals were set before us. (I had the Tomato Basil Pesto Mac with Chicken. B had the Spicy/Old Style Mac with Andouille Sausage.)

Even though I know it doesn’t sound like this place could get ANY better, it does. They deliver your left overs to you in aluminum foil sculptures! That is by far my favorite part of Montage. As we were dining, we watched people carry out their leftovers in giant swords, roses, rabbits, potted flowers. B and I…we appropriately got a cat and a mouse. Mine was the cat, his was the mouse.

I think this is a perfect metaphor for B and my relationship. I, the cat, want him, the mouse. It doesn’t change. I want the mouse. For the last 7 months, I have wanted that damn mouse. He, the mouse, likes to tease me, the cat. He likes to come out and play with me, letting me think at times that I am going to get him. And then he runs into his hole, because let’s face it, giving that cat what it wants is  a little scary.

I don’t blame the mouse. B was hurt pretty bad by the last cat he played with. But this cat is getting frustrated. Especially after last night when it really felt like I had the mouse. Like I had the mouse under my paw and that’s what he wanted. It felt so natural last night, like that’s the way Mother Nature intended it to be. I guess we’ll all just have to hang tight and see if the mouse gets away again this time, or if the game is over.