A Rant and the Thanksgiving Report

First.... if you are reading this blog you are not included in the group below who I refer to as losers. You have redeemed yourself/ves from that category because you seek me out to read whatever I have to say on my page. I greatly appreciate your patronage!

So.... my birthday was 11/21 (saturday before last). It was the WORST birthday in recent history. Back several years ago I had several years of stinky birthdays. This one, though, was worse than those. One part of it's stinkyness was my own fault. I picked out and bought my own present from Hubby Guy. It was something that I really wanted and now love, but it meant I didn't get anything on my birthday. (Lesson #1: If you really want something near your birthday don't offer to let it be from someone else. Just buy it because you deserve it and leave it at that.) The next stinky thing was that my children were gonna make me a card but got in a fight and never finished. My youngest brought out 3 of her dollars to give me for my birthday. It was a truly sweet gesture but I couldn't accept. We were leaving the following day for vacation and that was gift shop money. I couldn't bear to take it from her. Instead, I asked her to be good all day and be sweet to her sister for my birthday. She didn't bother. She was a skunk all day and ended up getting sent to bed early. Next, MY OWN MOTHER didn't even call me. Only two of the people who are really close to me and should have called actually did. I only give the first call full credit because she actually remembered and called. I told her how unloved I felt and how no one but her had called. Shortly after I got off the phone, her youngest daughter called. I didn't pick up the phone because I was mad and irritated at all the losers in my life. I don't know if she was prompted or not. She does get at least 1/2 credit for actually calling even if she was prompted... but still. It was a horrible birthday. My mother ended up sending me a message on Facebook the next day. (OPINION: If you are an old acquaintance from high school or someone who doesn't know a person extremely well it's appropriate to leave a birthday message on Facebook. However, if you know a person well enough to say you love them and you think of them often..... you'd better call.) And.... I didn't even get a birthday dinner with my Hubby Guy. He had to work that night and we left for vacation at 2:30 the following a.m. to go to the airport. (Lesson #2: DO NOT schedule to leave for vacation the day after your birthday unless you have appropriate time to celebrate before you leave or unless said vacation is without children.)

On to another topic.... Thanksgiving....

My husband has an odd sense of humor. Most people think he's funny. I don't. BUT.... I learned this: Other people in his family ARE funny. The whole family met at his sister's house for Thanksgiving. It was really fun and the food was yummy. That was the first time since I've been part of the family that we were all in one place and nothing big like a wedding was happening. It was relaxed and good. It was nice to goof off with that side of the family. There were lots of "you just had to be there" kinds of funny stuff that happened. It wouldn't do to explain. Hubby Guy's family is lots more fun than my own family. They are quick to laugh and cut up at the kinds of dumb stuff that I appreciate. At the end of the evening we watched UP. I got the biggest kick out of Hubby Guy's mom "Grammy" laughing at the movie. She got so tickled once that she had to get up and leave the room to regain her composure. No one else was laughing but we started laughing at Grammy because she was practically doubled over. It turns out she was laughing at a funny part that we didn't laugh at because most of the rest of us had seen the movie before. The first time I saw that part I thought it was funny too.

The last day we were with "the fam" we had pictures taken. Grammy had arranged for a photographer to take bunches of pictures. He took pictures of the whole family as well as each family by ourselves. It was a pretty cool thing. He is gonna burn all the pictures on a disc and send it to us. We can then print whatever pictures we want. I can't wait to get my CD.

Kitty Kat Heaven ROCKS!!!

What Up World?! I'm Cairo... you can call me Pot-Pot. That's what my people called me.

I've been getting sicker and sicker for a while now. It was getting really hard for me to get around. My people were feeling really bad because they knew I wasn't feeling good and was in pain. I was having a hard time leaving my people because they are awesome and loved me very much. They kept telling me it was ok to go to sleep and not wake up. I just couldn't do it.

Because my people are awesome they took me to the vet lady this afternoon to help me go to sleep. Sometimes it really helps for wiser people to help you make decisions. I am SO GRATEFUL that my people loved me enough to help me get here. On the way up the angels tried to tell me how cool it was but it's far better than they said.

Let me tell ya where I am. It's called Kitty Kat heaven. It's very beautiful. It's a giant house and a giant yard. There aren't any yucky dogs here. There's nothing here that's allergic to me. There's tons of places to go and things to play with. What's really cool is that I have lots of energy and I don't hurt anymore. There's a river that runs through the house and the yard that has really yummy cold water... all I can drink! There are also lots of really great napping spots in the sunshine. When I'm in the mood for a good hunt there are lots of yummy birds and mice begging to be chased. The food is top notch!

The very best part of Kitty Kat heaven so far is that all us Kats get along great. I'm finally rid of that punk white Kat at my people's house that was always chasing me and biting my tail. I definitely got the better end of this deal. If I had known that this is what was waiting for me I definitely would have gone to sleep and not woke up like was suggested to me by my awesome people.

Jut wanted to let everyone know how awesome it is here. My people are sad but I knew they would be glad to hear how happy I am. This will be my only post. There's so much fun stuff and good food here that I'm certain I won't have time to write again.

Peace out, World! It was fun.
xoxo, Pot-Pot

The Fall.....

Right after the leaves turn every year something strange happens in my life....

I think I FALL into a parallel universe. It's the universe in which the "really busy" me lives. Just prior to the leaves changing and during said event I feel really creative. I have lots to say, feel really relaxed, and am generally unharrassed. BUT, all of the sudden one day I wake up with a giant THUD and I have to pop up and take off running. I think I started FALLing last week. Yesterday I experienced the THUD. Today I'm kinda disoriented and trying to determine a direction to run.

With that said, I am NOT a high stress person. I get done what I can get done and the rest falls by the wayside. I AM however a driven person who really likes to get everything done and get it done well. This inner struggle certainly makes life interesting. More often than not my inner intention doesn't match at all with my actual actions or results thereof.

For those of you that don't know, I coach high school gymnastics. The season started on monday. I LOVE gymnastics. Being in the gym makes me happy. BUT, there are lots of details to iron out at the beginning of the season. It requires MUCH brain space. My brain is really sore.

Saturday is my birthday. I like to celebrate and be celebrated on my birthday.

Sunday we leave for Arizona to visit Hubby Guy's family. I LOVE to travel. BUT.... Now I have to pack for myself AND my children. Those with children can understand how this activity can shall-we-say "steal one's joy". AND.... the chicas have never flown before. This adds another dynamic.

ALSO.... our oldest cat has an appointment to go to "Kitty Heaven" today. This makes me sad. She's a sweet kitty. She's just in really sad shape. With us leaving for a week we didn't feel like leaving her for the pet sitter to content with. How awful would that be for a pet sitter - To find a dead cat and have to deal with it. NOT GOOD. The cat could hang on for a while longer but we have no way of knowing that. She's in pain. We need to let her go. I feel energy draining from my person just thinking about all that coming to fruition.

I guess my bottom line in telling you all this is to say: I feel ill prepared for life at this point. Gratefully, God is good. I don't feel undue pressure to achieve miracles or be overwhelmingly perfect. I just feel like I have lots on my plate. Unfortunately the BOUNTY of the holidays/this part of my year includes a lot of irons in the fire.

On New Friends

I have a budding friendship that I'm so happy about.

I've always been the person has just a few close friends and didn't bother much with anyone else. I love that my community of friends is growing.

Are you familiar with that new friend "rush"? I totally have that. God is good!

When I'm purposeful about thinking through the role that different relationships play in my life I'm blown away at the awesomeness of God's plan. This particular friendship is with a person that will challenge and stretch me. Goody!

So I Have This Ism...

I have an "ism". It makes me NEED to rearrange furniture.

Last night I flipped our bedroom. It's almost identical to itself. I switched the things on the right with the things on the left. It's almost like I just turned it over. I like it. It's different.

I first started practicing this particular ism when I was a kid. When I clean I find that I like to completely clean. That requires moving furniture so I can clean under it. I figured since I was moving the furniture anyway I may as well rearrange it. An "ism" was born.

I was thinking last night whilst moving stuff around about being content. I don't think I've ever blogged about it before but I'm DESPERATE to move to another house. I LOVE where my house is but it's just inadequate for our needs. It's too small. I seriously considered my gripes about where I live and decided I'm not being foolish. The house really is too small. I'm trying really hard to be content but no amount of furniture moving ever makes it any better. It's causing me stress.

About Me

All the time I'm amazed by the bigness of the world and all the opportunity therein. One side of me is free spirited and wants to travel constantly and see everything. The other side of me wants to be cozy and known and stable in one place.

I think I've decided I'm too hard on myself.

I think I'm guilty of giving a rats patoot what others think of me. I get all wound up when I don't meet the expectations of others. If others don't share their expectations I make some up for them. I realize that's unfair.

Sometimes I feel like I think I'm normal and everyone else sees me as basically insane.

I really do wish that people could know the ME that lives in my head.

On Christmas

I had a deep realization yesterday regarding Christmas.

Since I've been married I haven't done Christmas the same as I did in the years prior to being married. I feel like I haven't celebrated it at all.

For the last several years I have used the excuse that Christmas is about Christ and not about all the other stuff to avoid celebrating or being festive and enjoying the holiday. The truth is that Christmas is a secular holiday that Christians hijacked and made about Christ. Read the history before you go getting all mad at me for saying that.

I AM a Christian and I think hijacking it was a good idea. HOWEVER, as a child Christmas was the ONE time of year when I felt connected to my family and actually enjoyed being a part of it. Our family CELEBRATED Christmas. We celebrated all aspects of it. We decorated, we baked all manner of yummy candy and cookies, we bought each other presents, and we believed in Santa. I miss that and I want it back!

This year, again, we have a really good reason to pass it by without any hoopla. We are actually ditching our children on Christmas day and we'll be traveling. The trip was planned 3 years ago before we had children. I'm excited about it. I want to go. But, I feel bad now that it falls when it does. Another year essentially missed. ARG!

I'm gonna fix the problem. I'm not sure how just yet, but I'm gonna.

I NEED...

I NEED to get back on a roll with blogging. It really brings me lots of joy.

I haven't felt inspired to write about anything good lately.

So I ask.... what would you like to know about me? I have lots of stories about stuff.

Mean People Create Negative Pressure!

I'm really hurt right now. I need to rant just a little bit.

I have an awesome job. BUT, there ARE people at work who don't like me.

The favorite pastime of the people who don't like me is to exclude me. Today is one of those days. They decided yesterday that today was to be "purple day" and didn't tell me. So, I stick out like a sore thumb. I know. It's silly. It's just a stupid color.

I'm hurt, though. I'm angry too.

Why is it that some people never recover from childhood meanness? Why do some people just have to step on others to make themselves feel good? It makes me irate!

An Apology

Sorry I haven't had anything to say lately. I've been completely without inspiration.

My schedule has allowed very little extra.

I think too that I'm in a period of post adoption papers brain rest. Again, there's no way to describe the pressure we've been under until now.

Hopefully I'll be back in the swing soon.