It Sucked, and Then I Cried

Dating.  It is such a horrible game. I would like to personally thank my ex for the roller coaster ride I've been on lately.

I met a guy online in December.  We've chatted online and over the phone and texted too.  I really felt we were connecting.  We laughed together and even teased each other.  We finally met this week and went on TWO dates. Yes, that is correct.   I was so happy to be with him.  We had a great times together-all two of them.  Today he sent me an e-mail saying that there is someone else he feels closer to.  Okay.  Fine.  Whatever.

All I really want is someone to come home to who loves and appreciates me.  This is the time of life where I should be comfortable in my relationship.  Instead I'm on a roller coaster of ups and downs.  My heart has been so full of joy and excitement and then been let down and even irritated.

I have also been chatting with another guy.  He knows that he's not the only one I've been chatting with-he wanted to meet me too.  So I had 3 dates in one week.  Yes, three.  Good thing too because at least he wants to see me again.  Up up and away...

Still Kickin'- Kinda

Hello to my 16 readers.  How are you?  I'm sorry i've been out of blogland for a while. It's been a rough summer.  I had divorce mediation to attend. Having to decide who gets what and how to arrange my new life hasn't been easy.  My divorce was finalized mid August.  2 days before my 14th anniversary.  I made it 13 years 363 days-but the last time I remember us both being happy was probably 2007.

Part of me feels like a complete failure.  I tried everything in my power to keep it together,  i really did.  But ultimately it comes down to the fact that it takes two people wanting to work on a relationship to make it work.  For what ever reasons my ex decided to check out.  So be it.  I want you to know I'm not whining or bitching here-I do wish him well, and I hope he finds whatever it is he is looking for in life.  It's just that I miss how he used to be with me.

I have decided that I deserve a happy life too.  I am finding strength in motherhood.  I love my children so much.  They are my most precious accomplishment and my greatest achievement.  I wish that they didn't have to suffer any pain and frustration and hurt.

Do you ever feel like you have everything and nothing to say at the same time?  Sorry for my ramblings...

All I can tell you is it's been an awful August.  I know of 3 deaths,  my aunt got in a bicycling accident and broke her leg so bad she required an operation, a very good friends' 3 year old girl fell out of a 2 story window and required surgery, another good friend was hit by another car on the the freeway and crashed into the wall totaling her car and getting whiplash.  My divorce was finalized and a friends is just beginning.  Another friends newborn baby was diagnosed with heart problems.  It has been c ra zy.  Earthquakes on the East Coast and now a hurricane. I'm just bracing myself for the next thing.  When did the world get so topsy turvey?

Well, come what may, we need to carry on.  I wish you all well and may your news be good!

I'm Back-Kind Of

Hello beautiful people.

How are you today?  Did you miss me?  I've been missing me too, more especially I miss blogging.  I'm sorry I've been gone so long.  I've been busy with divorce proceedings.  Can you forgive me?  It has been  SO STRESSFUL the past month.  And in that respect I will try and blog more often.  Mostly this is because it is a good tension outlet and is good for my soul.

I make a little disclaimer though- that being said I probably won't be having time to blog hop too much.

How to Almost Get Thrown Out of a U2 Concert

 Oh - My - Gosh!  All I can say is that I laughed, I cried, I almost got thrown out by a security guard....  Details to follow.  But first, kinda hard to see I know but the bottom line of the screen in the first photo reads "Blog posts today 3,421,179"  I thought how apropos!  Sorry the pics are sorta crappy I took them with my piddley blackberry camera.  Then I had to upload them to Facebook before I could get them to iPhoto.  I need to get one of the card adaptors that makes your teeny tiny SD card fit into a regular SD card slot and not get lost.  Oi.  Technology.  

Let me say that the 360 Tour did not disappoint.  The opening act was The Fray. They performed some popular songs like "Never Say Never" , "How to Save a Life" and "Over My Head".  Between The Fray and U2 the screen was rotating with all sorts of information and time from places across the globe.  

 The show was spectacular.  AMAZING 

 and

LOUD

 "The Claw" is a jaw-dropping feat of physics in action.  What didn't this stage have?

 The screen was spectacular.  It expanded and contracted and images rotated.  I have more pictures of this but can't get them to upload right now. grrr.

The performance was out of this world.  There were some lesser "radio" played songs that true U2 aficionados would know and appreciate.  At times it was a flashback to the 80's but kept true to the music of today as well.

Highlights of the show:

*Bono acknowledges the one year wait we had to endure due to his emergency spinal surgery.  Acknowledges and THANKS us for hanging in there and supporting him TONIGHT (at the show)

*Pulls 3 sisters on stage and has them read a poem he wrote about Utah.  I Love that they do a local flare everywhere they play.

*Tells the story of how The Edge had problems with the hot water in his hotel room shower.  And how he bought a teakettle to make hot water and then other items to fix the shower with.  He didn't have a hissy fit and charge out of the hotel or rant and rave at the manager-he just found a quiet solution to the problem.  KUDOS to The Edge!!! 

(puts these diva rock stars nowadays to SHAME)

*When the 500,000 led panel screen expanded for the first time

* Vintage video of U2 during their "Joshua Tree" days playing on the screen during one song.

*How Bono and U2 have a knack of making you think globally and of more than just yourself.  It puts your "problems" into perspective for sure.

*Bono coming swinging down from the middle "rocket ship" out over the crowd on that blue microphone contraption.

*And seeing for myself that they do get better with age-be still my heart!

Now for the almost getting thrown out part:

My sister was going to the concert too.  Well, she managed to procure some back stage passes (through her work).  I told her to just take her friend who was with her- really  it was OKAY.  So, along with the passes came better tickets.

She sent me an IM to tell me where her new seats were.  I was only in the third row back in the stadium,  NOT on the floor.  She was on the floor, but in the platform so she was a little closer than me but not pressed with the general admission peeps.  I IM'd her back and told her I was super close.  So she comes walking over and I go down to meet her at the railing.  I'm asking her how the backstage thing was (she said she didn't get to meet the band, and I thought that was the POINT of a backstage pass).  And I'm crouching down and she is by the barricade on the floor.  There is at least 12 feet between us. I asked her if she wanted me to take her picture with the stage in the background and she said yes.  I take her camera and snap a picture.  

Next thing I know the security guard from the floor is screaming "Give me your ticket".  I kinda panic because I'm thinking maybe it's not okay to take a picture.  I reply "What ticket?"  He just yells again and I tell him I don't have any ticket except the one in my purse.  I told him I was just taking a picture.  He said something about "I'll THROW YOU OUT" and I was like "For taking a picture?"  He left me alone after that.  

As I was heading to my seat it occurred to me he might have thought that my sister was passing me a ticket to try and get both of us down on the platform or that I was trying to sneak down, which I WASN'T!!!!  Stupid guy was on a power trip I think.  

There was a group of people on the row in front of me and they asked what happened.  I told them the guard thought that I was trying to sneak down or something.  They were really cute and when the guard made his way back up by our area they heckled him.  I got support from complete strangers! So thank you to the guys from row two right in front of me!!!

BEST NIGHT IN A LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG TIME!!!!!

The Thing I Miss About Winter

It's finally May, and for the most part the weather has been lovely.  People have been mowing their lawns, digging the weeds and planting gardens.  The leaves are on the trees, gentle breezes wisp through the yard.  Ahhhh.

But why is it that when the temperature rises so does the noise?  I'm not saying the kids riding bikes or playing in their backyards.  That's all fine and good.  I am saying that I've noticed that when the temperature goes up so do peoples' sound systems.  It is aggravating to the nth degree.  I seriously do not want to hear your "music". Put your dang earphones in and jam on your own time.  Especially on a school night.  Jerks.

What do YOU miss about winter?

High Heels

Okay peeps,
I just gotta put this out there to all of you.  WHY do people wear high heels in impracticable places?  Maybe it's just me, but why would you want to torture yourself at the amusement park, or walking the sprawling gardens stretched out over endless acres, especially when the path is cobblestone or gravel?  The home improvement show at the Expo Center with concrete floors, heck, ANYWHERE with concrete floors.  I just don't get it.  I don't.  My feet and lower legs ACHE after wearing heels for more than an hour.  I'm feeling it for days afterward.

For me, heels are worn to special occasions.  A wedding (not the whole time though), for taking pictures, and sometimes to church.  I am just on my feet so much that wearing heels is an affront to my health.  How about you?  I'm curious to know, so comment below!

What's the Point?

So today I went to lunch with a friend.  We went to Cafe Rio.  A semi-casual dining establishment.  The kinds where you stand in a line, get to the counter and order your food.  Drinks are from a cardboard cup filled at the drink station.
My friend and I both just wanted water.  The drink station was swarming with people, due to the fact that it was lunch hour for the business park near by.  The water button is the kind you push down with your finger right in front of the lemonade.  We both filled up and ate lunch.   On the way out we both wanted a refill.  Once again it was swamped by people.  I filled up my cup and noticed my friend filling hers up too.  I looked closer at the button she was pushing.  It was marked soda.  I asked my friend if she knew she was getting plain soda water, she hadn't noticed.

Then it hit me,  I have NEVER seen anyone fill up with just plain soda water.  Seriously, what's the point?  Can you imagine "Yes dear, I'd love a refill, just plain soda water".  I don't get it.

Simply Disgusting

I have been meaning to post about this nasty subject for quite a while.  And it was confirmed to me that I should after twice in one week experiencing the phenomenon of being in a public restroom and having someone walk out without washing their hands.

Shame on you people for spreading your germs and yuck around.  You are revolting.  Do you somehow think that after doing your business and wiping you are magically germ-free? Or after changing a diaper you are squeaky clean?

I remember reading an article a few years back about how there are less germs on the OUTSIDE of a bathroom door, than on the inside.  Ya'll KNOW what's on those knobs and door pulls don't you?

Which brings me to mention that I NEVER open a public restroom door with my bare hand. NEVER.  I'll use a paper towel or if none are available (due to there only being hand dryers)  I'll use the inside of my jacket.  It's just too risky not to.

Speaking of restrooms,  what's with hanging the toilet paper dispenser so low to the ground?
I constantly bump my knee or thigh on it, and then I have to crouch down so low to finagle my hand up into the dispenser to find the roll of paper.  Then, when said paper is found it's as thin as tissue paper.  Is this someones sick joke?  Why would I want to wipe my butt with something I can see through?  So I have to pull out like 20 feet of tissue paper to layer it into 2-ply at least.  I think I need to pack a roll of TP in my purse.

Oh, how about those faucets with no handles?  I can see the premise here-when you come out of the potty you spread your germs to the faucet, then wash and re-germ your hand when you go to shut off the faucet.  But really, those "magic" faucets never seem to work for me.  I go down the line from sink to sink then back and maybe get 10 seconds water time...it's so frustrating that maybe I won't wash MY hands next time....

EW.  Just kidding.  And as a back up I have hand sanitizer :)

Have a happy day peeps.  Be careful out there in those restrooms :D

Small Enough

It's been a hectic week.  Had two sick kids, still filing my divorce papers, started a new job and have lots of thing to do for church.  I was feeling a little overwhelmed.  But then I cam across this.

Have a peaceful Sunday.  I know I will.

Instinct

So lately I've been second guessing my instinct. And guess where it's gotten me? WRONG-every time.

For example today at IKEA I passed what was left of the Christmas clearance items. Stcked neatly on the shelf were boxes of red and white tapers. I thought 70 percent was was great, but then my instinct set in and said "Debbie, those probably won't be on clearance because they are candles, an ALL season item". Then I thought I shouldn't buy them because I am good in the candle dept.

Well, I reasoned with myself that I was going to host more parties and would therefore need the candles. Guess what happened at the check out?

Yup. NOT on sale. I bought them anyway because there were people in line inching closer by the minute and I didn't really want to have to call someone over.

I'll probably end up returning them next week when I'm back in the area. WHY didn't I listen?

Esmeralda's Prophecies

On Main Street in Disneyland I received this prophecy from Esmeralda...she is front and center in the arcade, and she has never once been off.  Seriously.  NEVER. So without further ado:

You have had a lot of trouble, for which others are largely responsible (DH), but you are now reaching a point when you will be able, by your own efforts, to control your own affairs (separation).  You are not easily understood, as you keep much to yourself. (Well, my bloggy readers know some).  You are fond of fine arts (this is true, but I never get around to going to the symphony or even those lovely Christmas concerts, or out to the museums to see the latests exhibits...oh man, do I have some resolutions) and like to be alone a great deal (this is true, alone time gives me time to recharge, put me with people too long and I get irritated-I need a little "me" space to unwind, or focus on a task without distractions).  You sometimes have a desire to destroy things, especially in your young days (I'll admit I've made more than 1 hole in a wall....long time ago, k?), for which you are sorry afterward (yeah, sorry I had to fix it, hehehehe).  Be careful when the figure 7 appears on any money transaction, and keep your eyes open to some of your "would be" friends. (okay, ya'all better not cross me, GOT IT!)

All this for 25 cents.  What a bargain.  Happy day peeps, and be careful with those 7's ;)

Happy Shopping/Friday Confessional

Friday Confessional is hosted by the lovely Glamazon.  Please link on up at her beautiful blog :)

I confess:

The thing I hate about shopping is waiting.  No matter what line I pick, someone in front of me has a problem where the manager needs to come and give assistance.  Happened Monday at Costco.  Two lanes open at the food court.  I chose the line with two people in it instead of three.  Person at the front got charged for something he didn't order and wanted his money back...meanwhile 8, yes EIGHT people have passed through the other line.  How long does it take to pop open the till and refund the money people?!

Kmart. (really, though, are there ANY Kmarts left?)  I used to work at Kmart when I was 18.  THERE is a store where you should bring someone with you.  Here's the "quick" plan.
1. Two of you enter store.
2. One stands in the single check-out lane and waits for turn at check out.
3. Other one shops for items needed, tries on clothes, stops by the cafe for a pretzel and and ICEE, uses the bathroom, takes a nap and proceeds to the check out where person #1 is waiting in line with 3 people in front still...

Walmart.  Oh two years ago my New Years Resolution was to only shop at Walmart once a month. (unless something came up like needing to get a birthday present 'cause my kid got invited to a party).  I think I only shopped there 16 times that year.  It was FANTASTIC.
Things I dislike about Walmart

1. Waiting.  Tell me Walmart people, what is the point of having 32 check stands if you only open 4 of them?  I find this to be an evil ploy.  If you only use all check stands on Black Friday you are wasting precious store space which could be filled with cheap Chinese-made junk we could spend money for but don't actually need.

2.  I hate to say this but Walmart shopping carts give me the heebie jeebies.  The year before I made my resolution I got sick 3 times after visiting Walmart....need I say more? This has improved over the years due to the sanitary wipe wash-down, but I still need to wash my hands with soap and water immediately after coming home.

3.  Crowded space.  I think recently Walmart has been working on this one.  In my opinion all aisles should be three shopping cart-width's wide.  You know SOMEONE is going to just park the cart and hog the aisle comparing nutrition facts or something and frankly I'd just like a way to get around them.

4.  Some of the patrons.  I once saw a lady in her underpants and a shirt.  Really, they were undies, not a swim bottom...ewwwww.  You all know about peopleofwalmart.com, right?  Unfortunately the pics are REAL .

Malls.  Malls are sometimes good, sometimes bad...I'll leave it at that for now.

HAPPY SHOPPING  :)