Sunday, June 24, 2007

This time next week...

I will be kidless for two weeks - two weeks - I will enjoy it for about 3 days then go nuts the rest of the time. (They're going to visit with their dad-same state - just the other end)
A Quote From My Son...And It Will Make You Melt....

"Famous women on television, they may be moms, but I am glad you are my mom. They don't work as much as you do. I bet they don't remember chocolate ice cream and play games. They're not all that."

I don't know about all that, but I'll take it.
Why it is good to know you are capable of love..


Because it means you are not too terribly hard hearted. And if you are capable of being in love with someone, someday, another someone will be in love with you.

(Now if all this loving would line up at the same time..that would be ever so grand)
A Funny Story From A Year Ago...

My sister has an English Springer Spaniel...Lady is her name. She is on up in years - but she has always been real sweet and loving.

Last year, she was outside, my sister looked over in the yard and saw Lady rolling in the grass, like a puppy. It was a regular Kodak moment....awwww..

Lady just rolled and rolled - enjoying the sun and the grass.

She got up, walked over to my sister, and my sister noticed that not only was Lady rolling in the sun and enjoying the grass, she had rolled all in her own "Poo"... (see a few posts down to understand my aversion to poo).

My sister is a lot like me.

Lady is an inside dog.

She couldn't go in with all that on her...

So my sister gave Lady a bath in her yard using Suave Shampoo and a toilet bowl brush (you can stay a healthy distance away with a toilet bowl brush) - Lady being the good dog she is, just stood there, not caring about her dignity, just being washed with a water hose and toilet bowl brush.

How funny.
Doesn't he know what causes that????


My ex husband told me this week - he and his 3rd wife are expecting a baby - this will be their 2nd - his 5th. This was an "unplanned" pregnancy.

5 children - 3 different women. We were married for 11 years. My daughter is not in the least bit excited, my son, well, he doesn't care either way.

I don't understand it, I really don't. I could say so much, but in my quest to let go of bitterness and anger, I will not. We were divorced - partly because "responsibility" was weighing him down - well heck fire, right now he must feel like he has concrete shoes, and is at the bottom of the ocean.

Good grief. Maybe as he is getting older - he gets better at the parenting thing.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Don't step in the pet poo!

Two days in a row now, I have stepped in Pet Poo. UGHHHHHHHH. Gross gross.

First time - yesterday - picking up my son at the baby sitter's house -she has a puppy of sorts - he is not completely house broken. UGGH

Second time - today - we have a stray kitten - who went potty right by car door- did not notice - until I was down the road - then it was on my brake pedal, gas, etc. UGGHHHHHHHH

I am slightly germ-a-phobic. I shudder at all the germs around us - it doesn't consume me - but I do try to avoid them if at all possible. Imagining all the germs in my car and on my shoe, I can' t think, so I make a stop at the dollar store. I buy bleach wipes, hand sanitizer, Lysol and paper towels. I am sure I looked like an idiot in the parking lot cleaning everything up. I run back into the store - wash my hands in their restroom with very hot water, followed by my hand sanitizer. The whole time, I want to run back home and take a bath.

I get to work, I wash my hands again.

I still want a bath.

What did I learn? Poo me once, poo we twice, but poo me thrice? I don't think so.
(well, I hope not)

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Remembering my dad...

Before I start, Happy Father's Day to all of you guys out there. Even if you are not a dad - you mean something to someone - and that my dear friends is a valuable gift.

He wasn't perfect, but he didn't act like it.

My dad was one of the funniest men you would ever talk too. He had a wicked sense of humor, loved a good joke, especially if he were the one telling it - however he got a kick out of being "pranked."

My dad was a protector. He protected his girls and grandchildren - you just didn't mess with anyone he loved.

He used to totally embarrass me, a boy would knock on the door, "Is Becky Home?" the boy would ask. "Yep" my dad would answer. "May I see her?" the boy would ask. "Nope" my dad would say, followed by the slam of the door. What was wrong the different boys? Long hair (a major no no in my dad's eyes), a pierced ear, a car that looked all wrong, it didn't take much for my dad to rule out a guy. He would literally clean his hunting rifles on the front porch all the time. It was horrible! Now that I am the mother of a teenage girl - I appreciate his tactics.

He would take me to the movies every Friday night. Sitting through War Games, Footloose, Breakfast Club, etc. He would give me advice all the time, "Your date will never let you walk to the snack bar alone." Or "Your date will always walk you to the door."

He never graduated high school, but was one of the smartest men you would meet. He read all the time, he is the one who gave me my love of reading. I have the copy of Charlotte's Web he bought me at the mall bookstore. He would take me to the Library every Saturday - where I would check out books for both of us. I bet I was the only 13 year old reading Louis Lamour books.

He would wake me up every morning, and would have me a cup of tea and two pieces of toast, lightly toasted and buttered ready. We would read the newspaper together.

He would pick me up from whatever school function, eyeing every boy there, making sure that no one bothered me - but then he would actually care about my day and what happened.

He hated that his daughters had a monthly cycle - he couldn't stand the thought.

He liked long hair, hated short on women. Especially me, my hair has always been short.

He liked to garden.

He was a 49'er fan - he used to say Joe Montanna was talking to him on the phone at every game. He would love the hail mary passes from Montanna to Rice, he was living it right along with them.

He was a fisherman and a hunter.

He was in Isaiah devotionally when he could no longer read - Alzheimer's and Parkinson's took their toll.

I miss my dad.

But I know he is in a better place....

Happy Father's Day Daddy.

Thursday, June 14, 2007




Buy one get one free....



Yeah, buddy, I like those words.


Especially when they are seen at Wal-Greens....

taped to the freezer door underneath my favorite ice cream. Marmie, talk about addictions....






Tuesday, June 12, 2007

I may be in my hotel room, eating bologna that does not have a last name...but I am in Florida having a grand ole time..


The above was said by my sister's best friend. It has to be one of the funniest things I have heard.

Sunday, June 10, 2007

When you can't sleep...

You either read all night or you blog as you download music and read useless information that will get you nowhere in life, except maybe to the final round on some type of game show.

And to top it off....I am so in the mood to watch Bull Durham.
(I think I need therapy..but Kevin Costner...at midnight?..could be worse!)
A dangerous mood....

That is what I am in. I read this in a book "be careful my friend, she is in a dangerous mood..."
Hmmmm..

I guess that is what kind of mood I am in.

I was "somewhat" told today by a friend,(and I am leaving out a whole lot of conversation...because it would probably bore you) who shall remain nameless, "......that Becky you are intelligent, and it is possible you intimidate men...that is why they don't ask you out...blah, blah, blah."

Next my friend tried to soften it up.. "They may be afraid of rejection...blah, blah"

Okay, I am much too old to playing games, this is not study hall and we are not passing notes back and forth. But I am also too old fashioned to ask a guy out, I am not programmed that way.

So let's just quit the dancing....and the note passing.

I am in a mood....
Nothing like the relationship between mother and daughter....

I live with both my mother and daughter. (You have to feel for my son, he lives with three women - 77, 37, and 14-he doesn't stand a chance and he will be ruined for his future wife....ahem D.C.....) It is an arrangement that will either kill you or bless you depending on what day of the week it is. And today falls under the former.

My mother and I have always had a strange relationship......we hate to love each other, if that even makes sense. (Yes, I know, it doesn't make sense. I need hours of therapy to even try to explain it or even understand it myself-and I've cried many a tear, but I am through crying-but that's another story in itself.)

Right now my daughter and I are butting heads at every turn. I am a wreck.

Today we went to the mall with the intent of buying her a pair of shorts (decent length and fit was my goal) and a shirt. We knew what stores to go into. Simple? In and out? Easy? Right?

Well, heck no. Obviously, you have not been shopping with a 14 year old girl lately.

We find the shorts and shirt - on sale I might add - she tries them on, I tell her, I have to see them on her before I buy them (I get an eye roll on this), she takes forever to open dressing room door - I take one look and pronounce them too tight. Way too tight - no room - we would never be able to wash them. I suggest another size, she starts arguing with me, I hold firm, I did not lose my temper, I told her they were too tight, she then SLAMS the dressing room door in my face. Hold me back..I am picturing justifiable jerking of the blond ponytail....then I would be on the 10:00 news, because of cameras, but mothers of teenage daughters would come to my defense, because they know how it is.


(Side note: I am pretty flexible on clothes-and not prudish - just because I wouldn't wear it-doesn't mean I will keep her from wearing it - she is 14 - I am 37-you pick your battles, but trust me when I say too tight - they did not flatter her at all)


But no, I remain calm, I tell her I am leaving the store, so I leave the store. She is soon to follow, oh, and I can see it on her face, she thinks I will give in, but nope I don't. I will not be treated that way. (This is going to be my new way of combating the shopping arguments - there won't be an argument-I will just leave)

My punishment? I buy myself an outfit instead. And it looks cute if I do say so myself.

Hmmmph.


I love my daughter - but we are clashing at every turn - geesh - I know it will get better. When? Because if the relationship between me and my mother is anything to go by - it just won't happen. I am telling you, I have this image, my daughter on some talk show, saying, "Well, it started with my mother...."


Join me why don't you?
I really do need this right now.
(Marmie are you with me?)
Rough day, rough week. I am drained emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. I absolutely feel broken. It hurts.
But it will get better.
I think I have a plan.
It's okay to want to feel like a girl.....

I am in one of those moods this week. The mood where I want to feel like a girl.

Now I know, in my son's eyes, I am a mom and not a girl. (his words)

Is this normal? I have spent money I probably shouldn't have...all on me, nail polish, an outfit, other stuff, make-up, taken several long soaks. I don't know.

Shhh...don't tell my son....but I am a girl.

Saturday, June 09, 2007

How convenient.....


I went into a convenience store last night to buy a Dr. Pepper. I was looking around.....
You can buy gas, drinks, candy bars, and slide a box of or packet of condoms in the midst.

I cannot imagine buying such a personal item in a convenience store.....I just thought it was funny. I am trying to picture the situation...a person is thirsty, needs gas for the car, and might have a romantic moment later in the evening. (if you want to call it romantic)

And $2.39 for ONE of them seems awfully expensive.

How funny.

Thursday, June 07, 2007

The different degrees of friendship....

I have written about my different friends - guys and gals....

I have two guy friends - I am close to both, the friendships are different. They are different. They don't even know each other.

I have gone to a movie with each of them at different times. We always pay our own way. But here is my thought.

Of the two....one I could share the same coke with - we've known each other that long. The other wouldn't even dream of it and I don't think I could do it. (weird I know)

Of the two...one likes to to see movies like Rent, Chicago, and Dreamgirls and understand why I cry. The other would not understand why I even like those movies but likes the same baseball and sports movies that I do.

Of the two....one insists on scary movies...and doesn't understand completely why I don't like them. The other would not watch one with me in the same room-because he knows how I am - and will tell me "Beck, you won't like it".


This is probably not very interesting to you...but it is going through my mind today.
"But we're okay....."


Now that statement will bless a parent. Allow me to start at the beginning.

My daughter spent the night with a friend on Sunday night.

Here is the conversation on Monday afternoon, when she calls me at work.

Her: Hey mom, you know I am at my friends.

Me: Yes, I do

Her: You know that three wheeler she has.

Me: (my heart is sinking at this point), I answer, yes I do.

Her: But, we're okay, we had an accident. You see we were riding the three wheeler together, we hit a pothole, and we fell off. I don't know how we got the thing off the top of us.

Me: Please tell me you were wearing a helmet.

Her: Um, no, we didn't hurt our heads or anything.

Me: I am glad you are okay.

We hang up -my heart pounding and I am sure my blood pressure is above all safe levels.
...............................................................................................................................
I have about 4 hours to stew on this and think about it until I pick her up.

(Her friend is not supposed to get the 3 wheelers out unless her parents are home and they were not home- they farm so they use them to get around their land and such - they've had them a long time. Friend's mom calls me apologizing, I tell her, she has nothing to apologize for, the girls are almost 15 years old-they know better)

.................................................................................................................................

I arrive at the friends house. Both girls are sore. (and me and the other mom are not sympathetic) Oh, and then I find out they were wearing their bathing suits when riding - they had been laying out. I guess it is perfectly okay to wear no helmet, but my golly we will be tan at the end of the day.

I tear in to both of them - and the friends mother lets me.

Me: Do you realize what could have happened? How badly you could have been hurt? In your bathing suits? (both of them cuts and scrapes on their backsides) Did you not think? Did you lose your mind?

Friend: Sorry

Daughter: Geesh mom, nothing would have happened.

Me: Hot oil could have spilled out on your skin when it was on top of you, you could have hit a tree, fence, ditch, building. You could have broke your neck.

Daughter: I don't know why you are upset mom, whatever! Stop making a big deal.

Me: (by this point I am sure smoke is coming out my ears and foam from the corner of my mouth). Just get in the car. (I am so upset and shaken, I drop her off at home-I don't even get out of the car, and just stay gone for about 2 hours.)

I am so grateful they are okay, but all these images were going through my head of what could have happened - all the what ifs swimming in my head. Teens think they are invincible - is this just a sample of what is to come?

And now every now and then, my daughter will give me snippets of what happened. "I don't know how we got the thing off of us. Or, it was by the TREE at the end of the drive. I was dazed" I just tell her she doesn't need to say anymore.

I don't mind my kids trying anything new, as long as they do with the proper safety precautions, and following rules - that is how they grow, how they learn. I love them so much-and they are not parents - so they don't realize the feelings I have.

I just know - you have to be wary of the statement "But we are okay....."





-

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

My Dad
Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 6 at 7:42 a.m., my dad will have been gone for 5 years.
I miss him terribly. I loved him much. He loved me. Loved all of us.
I was so blessed to call him daddy.
I love you dad.
Recipe for Pity Party Therapy

One hot bath
New bottle of nail polish
Cup of tea
Box of Kleenex

Use all of the above and hopefully tomorrow the party will be over.

Friday, June 01, 2007


I am pretty sure this was the snake we found the other day...
In our house....
In our kitchen.
Well, maybe not, maybe it was the size of a worm, but in my mind, a snake is a snake is a snake. And I don't care how much Animal Planet I watch...I don't like snakes. EEEWWW.
We went to the grocery store, we came back with our groceries, and a beautiful watermelon. Yum yum, we couldn't wait to cut it. My daughter carried it in. She was the first to walk in the door, she screamed, I ran in, saw the watermelon on the ground, and saw her pulling out bowls and such. (The bowls she was going to use to catch the snake)She said "snake or lizard thing in the house" Well, my son is excited, I am panicking....all I heard was snake..eeewww.
The snake is in hiding. We try, unsuccessfully, to forget about it.
I am cooking dinner.
He reappears!
I call my daughter. And Jeff Corwin would be proud. One rubbermaid bowl, two lids, a broom, we manage to get the snake, unharmed out the door.
Of course, I needed therapy. And I think I deserve an award for my bravery.
We did not get to eat watermelon, I had to clean up watermelon - it was everywhere! I had just cleaned carpets - it was on the carpet. But hey we caught the snake, I survived to tell the story.
Thank you..Thank you very much.

STOP! PLANT THIEF!
I am keeping an eye on the kids' great grandmother's house while she is in Florida, and while her son and daughter figure out how to handle all the details. Grand has or should I say had...a bunch of plants on her front porch.
Yes, my friends, someone stole plants from a soon-to-be 94 year old.
And I know who. And how do I know. Because they are sitting on a neighbor's front porch. At first when I confronted her, she said, "oh, yes, I took them, but I was watching them for her...blah, blah..." In my best southern accent, I thanked her, but asked that she please return them. She said she would, after her company left.
Only two of the plants made it back. I called her again, and spoke AGAIN in my best southern accent, with a twist of Julia Sugarbaker (Designing Women), and thanked her for returning the plants, and I am sure the others are just terribly heavy, and I would be happy to come inside and get the others. Her reply? "What plants? I returned all the plants."
Well, the gauntlet has been thrown.
I called Grand's son to let him know what was going on-being small town and all - everyone knowing everyone (son lives out of town), he called the police - they came. Talked to her - she was wearing a see-through night shirt. AND NOTHING ELSE. I am sure like the rest of the female population she has heard of support and CROSS YOUR HEART..but she did not follow that piece of fashion advice. EEEWWWW. She told the police officer, "these plants have been in my family for years....."
UGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Nothing the officers can do - it really is a case of he said...she said... or she said..she said...whatever. The suggestion they made? Just wait until she is not home, and go over and get the plants. They believed me... as we were able to describe the plants, pots, spots they were in, etc.. (I do believe this a case for Nancy Grace!)
So, I have gone over there at different times...and she is always home. Early AM, mid-day on Saturday, Late PM. And when I am there, she is in her yard, doing something stupid! First day, she is in her yard in a black and white polka dot house dress, purple flip flops, with a mop! (Okay I admit, I yelled over, don't you need a broom for your occupation?-I couldn't resist!)
She stayed out in her yard, marching in front of the plants on her porch, swinging her mop.
Second day I go over, she is on her front porch, in a recliner (hey this is the deep south), giving someone a perm. At some point she stops, goes to her back yard, brings around all her patio furniture, and what does she put on the table? Yep! The plants. (I really do think she is just plain evil or nuts). At this point I am livid, I want these plants back. Not because I care about them, but I want them back, just based on principal. Hmmph. I give up..go home-but I will return. (I should comment on her wardrobe..she has on these pants..and I am going to quote Suzanne Sugarbaker - Designing Women again, that makes her "butt look like you could serve tea on it!)
A few days later...I drive by, and she is in the middle of her driveway, sorting shoes wearing something purple and green! ARRGHHHHH.
The next night I am checking on the house, and she is not home! I smell and taste victory. At last they will be in my hands....oh, no. Not a single plant, dandelion in sight! She obviously has taken them all inside.
I have a vivid imagination...
I have this image of finally getting the plants in hand, an alarm going off, being shot, but my last words will be, "But I got the missing Easter Lilly Grand, I did this for you." I am sure you will be reading about me in the papers. Be kind when you remember me.
LETTING GO....

Letting go is a hard thing to do.

Especially when it involves matters of the heart. Love is hard to let go. If we were to let go, we may be surprised as to what is around the corner for us.

And yes, I am speaking to the choir and the speaker....ahem....writer.