Christmas Eve Eve

Two days from Christmas and the sky is as blue as it can get and the ground is as dry as ever. I don't think we'll have a white Christmas here, but no matter what, Christmas will be here soon. Right now there's only a crock pot under the Christmas tree and its cooking a pork shoulder. 

I had to plug it into the transformer so it can get full power and cook it properly; the Japanese outlets don't give enough watts to get the job done. But there aren't any presents sitting wrapped under the tree and I'm not even sure there will be. I have one sweater to give to G-man but no wrapping paper. To be truthful, he's already seen it, so I debate even wrapping it. Should I bother?

Yesterday, I went to what was said to be the #1 thing to do in Yokosuka per trip advisor, and that was the Yokosuka Art Museum. I went and I thought to myself, how in the world is this the #1 thing to do? Its an art gallery, so I knew that going in, but I think I expected so much more...not creepy dolls that flip over when you crank the handle. Or paintings that all look the same. Or an entire wall covered in bunny and cat faces made out of wire? (they really love their cats here).

The only fun thing about the place was a Japanese couple calling me over to look at the creepy doll and then laugh with me when it flipped over. Then calling me over again to show me something else, and then again to show me something else.

I hate not speaking their language, but love when they actually acknowledge I'm there. 

I can't say I would recommend this museum to the average person but maybe an art enthusiast who actually speaks Japanese so they can read all the captions. I would actually recommend what I think is my favorite place to eat lunch, and that's Kawara Cafe. No matter how much I walk around to find a different place to eat, I always come back to Kawara. One for their free wifi (that helps), but also for their friendly staff and yummy food.

And if you notice, they play old Mickey Mouse cartoons on the big screen, which is a fun silly little extra. 

Japan ca

If I don't get the chance, I wish everyone a wonderfully Merry Christmas. 




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Our independence

From a time that seems so long ago.

My first 4th of July in Hawaii. It was magical.

This 4th, I’ll be taking one of those risks I mentioned I don’t normally do, and am going to Pismo Beach where I’ll be spending the day with complete strangers…and all because they asked me to join them.

How’s that for risk?

You ask me through Instagram to join you for a BBQ and fireworks and I can’t find a reason to turn you down…albeit I’ve never met you in real life and we’ve only messaged on the rare occasion back and forth through IG but sure, I have all the confidence in the world that you are normal..your family is normal..and that we will get along beautifully for the entire afternoon and evening, and have an incredible blast the entire time.

And I actually believe it.

So here’s to risks and taking chances so that I don’t have to sit at home wallowing in my aloneness on this festive holiday.

Happy Independence Day, my fellow Americans!

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Happy sugar coma

Hi friends, I figured with the overload of candy from yesterday, we’re all barely able to make it through today. I only slightly acknowledge what the real “holiday” is today, but I’m not a fan of ‘fools’ so I choose the sugar coma instead. I have to say, I’m thankful my mom gave me only a handful of the jelly belly jelly beans, because oh boy, I couldn’t stop eating them on the way home yesterday. My teeth were hurting from all that sugar, if that says anything.

Tell me your parents still give you Easter baskets too?!

I actually hit the mother load this weekend. Not only did I get some yummy treats surrounded by grass, I also got a Cuisinart food processor! Excitement abounding over here!! Plus my lovely mom made me a rice heating pad. You know, a towel stuffed with rice, sewn into 3 rectangles.. best thing in the world. Both with follow me to the ends of the earth. Best. gifts. ever.


Saturday, I understood all new moms with their phones. I couldn’t stop taking photos of my newest niece. I would say I took close to 50 photos of her (where 95% were of her sleeping) and 2 videos, all in a span of 4 hours. It only showed me that I will fully be ‘one of those’ moms you’ll see on Instagram. Just warning you now if you’re still around when that day comes.
Another thing I noticed was I didn’t want to give her up. She stayed on my lap, as the pictures show for 3 hours straight. She slept happily on my lap before dinner, through dinner and after dinner. It was bliss! I think I’ll be producing some ultra clingy kids in the future, if I can’t even put my niece down for her nap, I don’t even want to think about how I’ll be with my own kids.

It was so nice getting to see my family again. Spending time with them and eating great food. Going to church with my parents, and making a delicious Easter meal together. It was a great weekend where it was more of a mental memory than a photographic one. Despite my constant niece photos, I left my actual camera alone and enjoyed everyone around me.

How did your Easter weekend turn out?

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Remember when it was Christmas

In case you forgot, I thought I would remind you with mine. I spent it in Hawaii and I am so glad I got to spend this past Christmas there. It was a very memorable one for me.

When I walked into the apartment I was greeted by a beautiful 4ft tree, G-man bought. I didn’t know it until that moment, that he was really in the Christmas spirit this time around. Buying snowflake confetti and Christmas lights. Getting the tree and waiting for me to arrive to decorate it together, stocking hangers, hot cocoa, apple cider and ingredients to make homemade eggnog..just to name a few.

Even going so far as to turn the a/c on high so we could get under the blanket, while drinking hot apple cider. It was great.



We moved the tree around the room, placed it on the side table and used my red sarong as a ‘tree skirt’ and began decorating it. It was beautiful. We would just sit and stare at it each night watching it glow in the dark room.

I hadn’t expected him to get me any gifts. He got me Montague already as an early Christmas present so when I saw gifts under the tree, I was shocked…and then panicked since I didn’t get him many things.

Christmas Eve, while he ran to the mall to get me even more things, I ran a couple blocks down the road to Long’s Drugs (how bad am I!?) and loaded up on all his stocking stuffers and some extra little gifts for him. That night, I crafted. Which is rare for me, but I really wanted to make something special for him, so I used the mug idea I’m sure you’ve seen going around the internet.

I confess, still to this day, I feel guilty I drew California and not my home state of Nevada. I feel like I betrayed it in some way and vow to make 2 more mugs to add to these. A Hawaii mug and a Nevada mug, so NV and MS can be connected (as those are our home states) and CA and HI will connect given his whole time there I’ve been in CA. It only seems fitting I correct it.

When I opened my gift of the {obvious} wine bottle, I was so surprised it was a French wine to remember our time we were in Paris over Christmas and New Year 2 years ago.
The thoughtfulness of that gift meant so much to me. That meant more than the gift cards and even Monty. He’s pretty special this one of mine. I think I’ll hold onto him for a little bit.

We made a traditional Southern Christmas dinner with all things “Thanksgiving”. G-man grew up eating Thanksgiving dinner for both holidays and I got to experience that with him this Christmas. It was delicious and filling and fun cooking alongside him as he worked so hard on all his dishes and pies, while I stood back fighting the urge to make helpful suggestions on how to stir without splashing and keeping from having him do things my “easier” way. It was difficult since I’m more comfortable in the kitchen, but I wouldn’t trade him being there eager to cook for anything.

I now have a glimpse of what future Christmases will be like making these dishes side by side, and I think I like it very much.

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In reverse order

I’m going to go backwards here. New Year’s first and then Christmas, cause that’s how I roll. My own timeline on my own time. This whole, talking about Christmas first immediately after Christmas followed by New Year’s is for the birds, is what I say.

On Monday, I got a call from my Mom asking if I wanted to come up for New Year’s for a big family day and I quickly agreed. I rarely get to see my brother and his family (not to mention I don’t really get to see my other siblings) so I was excited.

I actually got a decent start in the morning. Rarely do I say I’m leaving no later than 9 and I actually leave at 9, but darn if I didn’t do it! I felt so accomplished!

Being that I got such an early start, I was early getting there, so what better way to burn time than to go to Target when everyone else in the world was nursing a hangover? I’ve never enjoyed my time at Target more. It was quiet and peaceful and if it wasn’t for me not grabbing a cart and having to load everything in my arms, it would have been the best time I’d ever had.

I wanted to enjoy my time with my family, so I didn’t hold onto my camera too much of the time, and it was nice. While all of us adults were eating at the table, one of my nieces climbed under to play with a toy. She loved being under the table, and I wanted to get her without her knowing, so while I sat in my chair, I rested my camera against my seat and snapped without looking. Risky but I absolutely love how I got her.

In her element, completely content playing alone.

It was loud almost the whole night, but it was wonderful. It happens just as it always does, the men sit in the living room while the women gather in the kitchen to chat, while the kids ran in and out, up and down. Is it like that at your house? I got to enjoy holding this sweet one for a long time. I love a cuddler.

We played a board game while the kids hung out together and everything was perfect. The jokes, the teasing, the laughter. It happens so rarely. It had been 368 days since I last saw my brother’s kids. Not since last New Years and its been way to long. I love his kids. I get to see them at all different ages and it gets me excited for my future. To be around a cuddly 1 1/2 year old, a quiet and sweet 3 year old, a boy’s boy 9 year old, and a silly, beautiful and growing 11 year old where when she hugs me, her head rests on my shoulder. All different stages and so fun at each.

I’m so glad I went. Everything about that trip was perfect. My sister’s kids. My brother’s kids. Oma, Papa and Auntie Em. I hope its not another year before we get together again.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

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The start of new things

Happy New Year to you!


Like many others, I thought it would be quite fun to look back over my year with the highlights highlighted, naturally. As I started with January, I started tearing up. Though the beginning was off to a good start with confessing my past addiction, the end of January was incredibly difficult with my Dad, but I’m thankful he's better now.

In February, we took a whale watching cruise and it was beautiful and serene and still one of my more popular posts to this day.

Come March, a lot happened. I started working again after being out on disability for almost 2 years, and it was incredibly difficult to start that new chapter in my life, not to mention humbling with how different the work was compared to my previous career.

There were struggles inward and outward, and if there’s one thing I can count on, it’s you with your amazing responses and comments when I’m down.

I did my first ever (and only) vlog too and loved it. Hopefully some time soon, I’ll do another.

In June, I shared a post about the seriousness of false sexual harassment, that needed to be shared. One that, I will never take lightly as it can so quickly ruin a man.

And then I had to talk about another topic, in July that is very close to me, since I was around “them” and saw, not to mention heard how they worked. Family decal stickers on your cars are a danger, and they need to be seen as danger!

Getting botox was one of the best things I could have ever done for myself, and you might be surprised to learn where I got it. It allowed me to have the confidence to participate in a flash mob on the busy streets of Milwaukee… probably the only flash mob I’ll ever be in.

Given my new found confidence, its only fitting I admit my egomaniac ways, forcing people to compliment me in order to feel better about myself. Believe it or not, it works…works very well.

Being told marriage is horrible before even getting married, is enough to want to have the best godly marriage possible.

It took awhile, but August is when I finally realized the importance of putting my phone down while driving, for good. I’m happy to say I haven’t done it since. The risks that we take texting and driving are unbelievable. I’m not sure I’d ever be able to forgive myself if I got into an accident while texting.

Its no surprise that I love Hawaii sunsets and this one just might be my all time favorite sunset. Taken with my “Monty” who performed like a dream with the absolute most beautiful sunset I’d ever witnessed.

I don’t think I’ll ever not have a PSA for you from time to time, so hopefully it didn’t come as too much of a surprise for me to have yet another one for you recently. But this was completely at my expense.  Sacrificing myself for your greater good. That’s what I’m all about here…you’re more than welcome.

This new year, I’m wishing you all the best. Not necessarily what you think is the best, but what God knows is best. I’m so thankful for all of you being here with me. I can’t wait for this year to be underway. I’m excited for it. More than excited, I’m flat out tickled and I hope you are too.

Happy New Year!! Here’s to 2013!

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Christmas droppings

I think Hawaii knew it was Christmas earlier this week. Monday and Tuesday had temperatures in the 70's (which is very rare) just so we could have that dreary 'its cold outside' feeling Christmas day. It was perfect.

Before I left, I was bored at work and decided to read the rules for my flight and boy am I glad I did. What is normally 50lbs for a checked bag with any and every other airline, my airline only allows 40lbs! I wasn't bringing much in the first place, so I thought I was safe and come the morning of my flight, I casually got on my scale with my bag, thinking I was safe, when in fact it had me right at 50lbs.

Panic started to set in. Everything in my bag HAD to come. I wasn't bringing a carry on, so there was no other option BUT to begin eliminating things. And let me tell you, it was a very difficult process to decide what could actually stay behind.

In the end: my beloved zoom lens..that weighs 2lbs alone. The rice cooker (yes, I was bringing a rice cooker).. and my laptop. A very very very difficult choice. Since I was sacrificing my laptop, I threw my hairdryer back in and said my airline would have to accept it.

Thankfully they did at 41lbs.

I'm telling you that story to say, I have no pictures. I'm on G-man's laptop and in my sad haste, forgot to grab the usb cord to be able to upload all my pictures into his computer. Not to mention, he has a Mac and my PC ways aren't the most comfortable on it.

I've really been sitting back and enjoying the moments here, so even have very few to share through my iPhone.

G-man greeted me with a Christmas colored lei and it smelled absolutely amazing!

Another thing G-man did was surprise me with a Christmas tree. A cute little 4 footer that we decorated together and used my red sarong as the tree skirt.

He is heavy in the Christmas spirit this year, and got all the ingredients for us to make homemade eggnog. It wasn't too bad for homemade.

I've been having such a great time this week, and I hope you've had such a great time yourself this Christmas season. I have so much more to share (that involves a bottle, a reindeer and the a/c) so gear up for some {belated} Christmas tales, because they'll be coming soon.


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We’re so close!

Friends, we’re mere days away from Christmas! It’s the last working day for some. Others have been off for a few days and some sadly, have to work through it all, but I’m so thankful I get weekends off, and Christmas Eve and Christmas day off to be able to celebrate.

Its going to be a winter “sun”derland this Christmas and I cannot wait!

I get to meet up with my old friend whom I haven’t seen in a whole year! …I wonder if he looks the same or if he’s decided to finally button up his coat.

Yesterday, I got myself all ready for my visit. And by getting ready I mean got a spray tan! Remind me not to buy groupons anymore since I wait for them to almost expire before I rush to use them. Alas, I’m “tan” now and can’t wait to see if a certain person notices the obvious subtle change of my skin tone.

subtle, right? …right?? *crickets*
keep in mind, it had only been an hour since it got sprayed on. I’m more “subtle” now.

As I’m sure many of us will be, I’ll be in and out next week. My attention will be on soaking up the love I have around me, so I hope you have a fabulous wonderful weekend and a very Merry Christmas in case I miss you. I love you all! Its been such a treat getting to know so many of you even more this year. And I hope to make more friends over the new year! Us bloggers really do make great friends, I just have to say it!


Oh! and if you haven’t had a chance yet, head over to Megan’s to enter the giveaway. $440 worth in prizes..including the pair of earrings I’m giving away!

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Friday letters

Believe me when I say I have so much more to show you from the trip. I’ve only touched the surface. Okay, maybe I’m wrist deep, but more is to come because I have so much more to say!

Its been so long since I’ve done Friday letters so I think I’ll take a ‘trip’ break and jump back in next week!

Dear fireplace,
I’m so glad I have you. You’re the most coziest thing and I never ever want to give you up. But I do…for the right price, I’d totally drop you like its hot…
Dear fog, go away. No one likes driving in you…no! no one knows how to drive in you and it drives me crazy. I just want to drive to work without being stuck behind someone who’s scared to go over 45.
Dear all my buddies,
thanks for missing me while I was gone and loving me since I’ve been back. I missed hearing from you guys and I especially loved being told to keep blogging. Warmed my heart big time!
Dear really huge piece of metal, how how HOW did you get all the way inside my tire? I mean, HOW??? Were you placed perfectly in the road to have you go straight into my tire? Were you planted by someone in hopes I’d pull over right then and there to see what happened, in hopes they’d rob me? Or were you a complete fluke? You will forever boggle my mind. Oh and don’t think I can’t tell you’re in the shape of California… #conspiracy
Dear mechanic,
thank you for going into the trashcan to retrieve the piece of metal for me after I declared I wanted it 30 minutes after you showed me. …and thank you for not making me explain WHY I wanted to keep it after you threw it away. {because I hadn’t taken a picture of it yet…} You’re the best!
Dear Hawaii,
I miss you…and by you I mean G-man..quite a bit.
Dear Instagram lovers,
I watched the funniest parody video that I think you’d find hee-larious! I’m linking it instead of posting it because it has…well, 2 “words”…one rhymes with “duck”, so I’ll leave it up to you whether you want to watch it, but I was near tears I was laughing so hard.
Click Here
Dear wittle bitty twee,

I’m glad I decided to put you up…I almost didn’t but I like that you’re my go to for when I need to ponder something, I can just stare at you and get lost in my thoughts.

Until Monday, my friends. If its your birthday this weekend, Happy Birthday!…if it was your birthday this week…or say yesterday… *cough* Mitchee…HAPPY Thirty-niiiinnnnfirst BIRTHDAY!!!

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The controversial scarf

Happy 4th of July everyone!!

Even though its on a Wednesday, I’m thankful I still get the day off. A little reprieve from the work week never hurt anybody. Least of all me.

Yesterday, I stepped way out of my box with my outfit. I’m normally a simple dress pants and top gal when it comes to work, but I couldn’t take wearing pants one more day and was dying to wear a skirt. Since the legs were far from shaved, a long skirt was the only way to go.

I combined my maxi dress with my maxi skirt and added a belt. But then I took it even further with a red scarf…and that’s where the controversy came in.

I put the outfit on Instagram for opinions. Everyone loved the skirt/dress combo but virtually everyone said no to the scarf. I kept the bravado of this bold choice and decided to go to work with it on, even though everyone was giving it a thumbs down.

The moment I walked into work, a co worker said (with just a bit too much surprise in her voice) ‘You look so nice!’ as if I don’t every day..hmmph

Throughout the day, several of my co workers complimented me on the outfit choice. I haven’t had that much attention on an outfit ever since working there! So picture me confused with all blogland ladies saying no way and in real life people saying definitely!

Whether it fully worked or not. Whether the colors and patterns clashed, I felt good. Which doesn’t happen often with me and my clothing. I stepped out of my typical predictable outfits and was different for a day and I’m glad for it.

So, here’s the outfit in all its patterned glory. Enjoy or cringe. I’m ok with either.

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Baby legs and eggs

I shouldn’t be in charge of taking pictures of monumental moments…or just moments for that matter because the turn around on them is longer than anyone would like. Granted, I wasn’t really in charge of taking the Easter egg hunt pictures, I just happened to be the only one doing it, {shame on you, sister} and then was given the ‘can’t wait to see your pictures’ statement, therefore, I unintentionally became the one ‘in charge’.

On the good side, its only been 9 days, which many who’ve waited for my pictures know 9 days is zooming fast. I’ll lie and say I did this on purpose since I knew everyone and their mothers would show their kids hunting eggs all last week and I wanted to make sure you were good and rested before showing them. Its diabolical and brilliant, if you think about it.

I’ll remind you in case you nodded off during last week’s post, that I was with my family for Easter. We had a feast fit for kings and later went outside to watch the kiddies hunt for eggs. My 1 1/2 year old niece was adorable…I’m gonna guess this was her first official egg hunt, since she was a newborn last time, but who knows, maybe she hunted back then; who’s to say.



I think she’s just a little happy over her find.

Her brother and sister are old pros at it, so after getting spun around, they were off!


To say they were all excited by their finds, is an understatement

I think she has more money at 1 1/2 years old than I ever did at that age.

If I remember correctly, we always only got coins in the way of money. My nieces and nephew are living it up with bills!

What did you have in your eggs growing up? Coins? Candy? Bills? or Toys?

And what do you put in your eggs now for your kids..provided you have them?

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A thankful me - 14

Monday is here for all to cheer! I’d like to know how many actually cheer for Mondays. Poor sad Mondays never get the love they deserve. So far, I’m still loving April (in case you’re wondering). Too many good things are going on its ridiculous!

My weekend proved to be a very nice one with my family. Got plenty of time with my mom and dad and sister and her family. Which by the way, my sister pulled me aside to inform me that they don’t put candy in their Easter eggs therefore I won’t get to steal any from the kids. I really should get her to stop reading my blog. I can’t have her knowing all my plans!!

This week I’m thankful for:
- my 6 year old niece giving me a neck, hand and foot massage. There’s no child labor law being broken when they offer to do it, right??

- stepping out of my room to find an Easter basket at the foot of my door from my Dad. You’re never to old to get an Easter basket, in my opinion. ~I love my Dad~

- all the time I got with my parents. Its never enough but I’ll take the time we do get together.
- all the delicious food we made for Easter Sunday. Mom made these Cheesecake stuffed strawberries and they were absolutely delicious. And very addicting!

- God’s amazing blessings. I can’t even begin to describe all that He’s doing for me right now but I’m blown away.
- new beginnings.
- my tax returns. This is the first time since I’ve lived in the state of CA that I get money back from the state. That’s 9 years that I’ve had to pay them. Now they get to pay me. I love it.
- my niece who turned 12 on Easter day. These kids are getting too old too fast.

I sure hope you all had a fabulous Easter weekend.

Remember, you have 2 more days to do your self portraits. Wednesday is almost upon us!
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A dinner and a birthday..or birthday and a dinner…

Today is my sister’s birthday! This lovely lady turns 35 today. Did she want me to tell you her age? Probably not, but let’s face the facts…35 is NOT old. {said by a 30 year old}


My sis and I are night and day. Our personalities are completely different. She is the social butterfly who loves being out and about and on the go. Meeting new people and sharing the love. ..where I?? am not. I’m the stay indoors, not leaving the house after 6pm, introvert who’s content making ‘internet friends’.

{can I get a ‘what what’??}

Any hoo, my sis is my only sis, so that makes her my absolute favorite sister. {naturally} Even though she looks up to me (the whole being taller than her, thing), I look up to her.

She’s funny, crazy and a goof and I love her.
Happy Birthday, Sister!

………………..

Last night G-man and I went on our Valentine’s dinner date. We decided to go the next day, just for kicks, instead of battling with the crowds. This is where we went…

I had gotten him a card and wasn’t sure since we were celebrating it the next day, if I should give it to him on the 14th or 15th. So after he got home from work, I placed it where he’d see it. He comes out, thanks me for the card but declared he wouldn’t open it because it was Valentine’s Eve.

That even though every calendar, phone, tv, radio, person says the 14th is Valentine’s Day, its in fact the 15th and will wait then to open it.

I promptly apologized for the confusion, tucked the card away and promised to have it ready the next day. I’m pretty sure we’ll never celebrate it on the actual day from here on out!

I did however make a tasty little dinner on the 14th that involved these tasty guys.

They didn’t quite want to stay together, I blame the new pan, but still were extra tasty!

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Mushy day o’ love

I almost forgot what today is and almost didn’t even write about it. It might have been a nice reprieve for everyone seeing how everyone and their mother is probably writing about Valentine’s Day but alas, I’ve fallen victim to it as well.

Over the past Valentine’s Days, G-man would always get me flowers and chocolate. Mainly because we weren’t in the same state and it was the surefire way to celebrate the day. I’m always up for chocolate and flowers, so this girl hasn’t minded one bit.

In the start of our relationship, G-man bought me flowers just because and since I was traveling for my work at the time, I left them in his spare bedroom in the back of his house, where they wilted and died. And where he saw an uncaring soul… *cough*

It took years to change his belief that I hated getting flowers. Seriously…years! He thought since obviously I was so negligent with the first ones, I had no desire to ever get anymore. No matter how many times I would explain that there was no way for me to take those first flowers (since I was traveling for work) he kept on believing this fallacy, with that image of dead flowers permanently burned in his brain.

::hand to forehead::

Thankfully all that has changed. He now knows I love getting them..though oddly, he doesn’t capitalize on that knowledge very often…hhmmm maybe I should have another ‘talk’ with him about this…

Of course, I need to remember that instead of bouquets of flowers, he takes me on vacations and randomly declares he wants to buy me a new bathing suit or sweater or shoes/hat/bag..you name it…and not because it’s a forced holiday…but because he loves me and wants to.

I said it yesterday and I’ll say it today; I’m blessed. I don’t deserve it, God knows, but I’m blessed more than I ever thought possible with this man that I love so deeply. Each year, each month, each day, more and more.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine’s Day, whether its with your close friends, an intimate evening with the one you love or your family…or just you (as I’ve spent many a V-day alone). Enjoy those sappy movies, eat lots of chocolate and know that you’re loved.


Share your plans (PG, of course) with me… doing anything special today?
Or waiting to celebrate on another day? ..which G-man and I just might do.

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New year of thanks

Happy 2012 to everyone. I’m wondering if me writing 2012 will come easier than 2011. I caught myself still writing 2010 in October. I apparently hadn’t come to terms with it yet. Anyone else have that problem?

I did the coolest thing Saturday night right before the clock struck 12. We didn’t have the tv on any countdown shows but instead watched the clock on my phone at 11:59, and after awhile of watching it, I started counting down from 10 and right after I said 1, it changed to 12!

We were so excited. I realize that might be a boring story but we thought it was the coolest that I was spot on.

We spent the first day of the year watching football. All. Day. Long. Were you aware it was on all day long??? It was… I’m just happy the Raiders lost.

That is all.

This new year, new week, I’m thankful for:

- all this time with my love. I can’t get enough of this guy. Its been so so so nice having his company this past week. I’m loving every minute of him being here.
- a wonderful Christmas and New Year season.
- time with almost all my family. We had everyone but my other brother together. I finally got to see my new niece who’s 6 months old and she is so precious. So so precious.
just woke up from a nap on Oma


- my other niece who I haven’t seen in a long long time being excited to see me. There’s nothing like being nervous they’ll forget their Auntie. When I walked in the room, her face lit up and she ran over to hug me. That seriously made me so happy.


- a Terminator-athon with G-man. Every night for the past 4 nights, we’ve watched a Terminator movie. I highly recommend doing this. Everything all makes sense when you watch them in a row. It answered so many questions we had about them.

- knowing I have 1 more week with G-man.

- seeing a crazy dangerous teenage driver speeding and weaving in and out of traffic on the freeway. Then seeing him 1 1/2 hours later pulled over by a cop in town. Seriously, what are the odds of seeing him again in town…and pulled over??! We were happy to see him pulled over.

I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful weekend. We went out to eat super early to avoid all the crazies and couldn’t believe how erratic everyone was driving on our way home, at 6:30. I was so relieved when we got home without issues. What is it with New Years Eve that makes people think they can drive like maniacs? Don’t they know cops are all over the place??

I digress.

Happy start to the New Year to you!

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