A Lot of Random Stuff

**This is a somewhat random and strange post.

After Jon left for NC yesterday, I decided to be productive and stop watching Dracula (such a sexy film) and mow the lawn. When mowing the lawn, I make a large circuit by starting in the front yard circling to the back and around to the front again. My weird neighbor, Arlo, was in his front yard staring. This is nothing strange as Arlo always stares and doesn’t even try to hide the fact that he’s staring. I waved, and he waved back. I came back to the front and he was still there staring. The next thing I knew, he was in his backyard staring at me again. This time I gave him a mean look and the next time I came around he was gone. Freak. He better watch out cause I will take the razor blade out from under my tongue and cut him. I am getting an alarm system this Saturday. This decision was not prompted by Arlo—as I’ve had the installation appointment set up for a week now—but his little staring contest makes me all the more happy that I’ll have some protection from all the people plotting to steal me while my husband is away.

Another thing that happened as I was cutting grass was the sighting of a southern black racer snake. I passed him a few times, but I was not afraid of him. He was at the back of my yard near the woods, so I was invading his territory. I must say, since watching Grizzly Man, I feel I am one with nature (not bears though). I was not afraid of the snake and did not wish it any ill will. (Perhaps it was because I was on a riding mower and I knew if it tried anything I would make mincemeat of it.)

Also, this week is Shark Week on the Discovery channel. Though I’m most interested in alligators, sharks run a close second. I can now tell all of you many interesting facts about the 10 deadliest sharks. If you ever have any shark related questions, please feel free to ask me.

Another Shout Out

Jonathan now has a blog. For a while, he will probably only be posting on weekends as he is not near a computer for the majority of the week. Check him out:

http://www.memoirsofajovialcaucasianmale.blogspot.com/

Have a Great Weekend!

Not Again

I got a call from the vet yesterday evening. This past Saturday Audrey had some blood work done to see if the other half of her thyroid was giving her problems (we had half of it removed about a month ago). It is. Because she’s stopped responding to medication, we’ll have to have the other half removed. The vet didn’t remove it entirely last month because that was too risky. Now she will have to undergo risky surgery again. Boo.

Shout Out

I would like to give a shout out to my coworker JenniferJ, who is now blogging. Check her out:

http://shinyobjectsandotherrandommusings.blogspot.com/

Grizzly Man

Last night, with my husband gone and left to my own devices, I watched Grizzly Man. This is the documentary about Timothy Treadwell, who lived with the bears for 13 summers and in 2003 (along with his girlfriend) was killed by a bear.

I can’t stop thinking about this movie. Not because it had a profound message about saving wildlife, but because Timothy Treadwell is a complete nut. There is no way this man was sane. Imagine Richard Simmons dressed in all black with a Prince Valiant haircut while talking to bears and you’ve just pictured Timothy Treadwell.

Yes, it’s awful that he died, but come on. Didn’t anyone see it coming? The man thought he was a bear. I don’t mean to make a mockery of the dead, but if you ever catch this movie on tv (or even rent it, cause it’s worth the rental fee), you MUST watch it. It’s a bigger train wreck than the Britney Spears interview. You cannot turn away.

If you’d like to see the trailer for the film, here’s the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKfWippJeHM

Squalor!

I've said I live in squalor for quite some time now. Today, my opinion was validated.

We invested in a Dyson. Our old vac stopped sucking and because the Dyson was known for its suction, I thought it best to invest in one of those. With our girls and their shedding problems, it just made sense.

We just vacuumed our house and were amazed and appaled by the things the cleaner picked up. We once lived in squalor, but our floors are clean now. You could probably eat off them if you wanted to.

Seriously, it's a pricey vac, but it is well worth the money, especially if you have animals.

Good Times Are...

(This will from hence forth be my version of Brandi’s “Happiness is…”)

1. Eating lunch at B Matthew’s with friends and family. Good times also include black eyed pea sandwiches and divine carrot cake.

2. Having my husband home for the weekend.

3. Having bought a fabulous new vacuum cleaner that I can’t wait to try out when I get home from work. (I know this sounds a little sad, but it’s a Dyson! I know you would be excited too!)

4. Knowing that my parents are fixing up the house in Ludowici and that we will soon be having family time on Sundays once again.

Children

I have no desire to have children. I never really have. A lot of people tell me that I’ll change my mind, but I really don’t think I will. I’ve been married for five years and we still don’t have nor do we want any kids. This is not to say that we hate children. I love and adore my nephews as well as my honorary nieces and nephews. I just think children are scary.

I feel like I’m under tremendous pressure from society to have children. I think people think we’re weird for not having children already and even weirder when we express our desire to never reproduce. Since everyone tells me I’ll change my mind, they must be right. For this reason, I keep telling myself that I will get a child when I’m 30. I say “get” a child because I refuse to have one naturally. Not because I’m afraid of ruining my girlish figure (please), but because the thought of another human inside me and eventually making its way out of my cuckoo is terrifying.

I realize I am being blasé about getting a child at the age of 30. Of course, I would not do that if I wasn’t ready. I just feel like something’s wrong with me for not being ready.

I do get worried sometimes that if I don’t have a child, who will take care of us and who will be spend time with on Holidays and through life when everyone else is with their own families. I would never have a child just so we won’t be alone when we get old, but it is a scary thought, which I’m sure will only get scarier as I age.

All in all, this is just something that’s been bothering me lately. I know good and well that nothing’s wrong with me for not wanting children, but I hate second guessing my decision based on other people’s perceptions of what constitutes as a fulfilling and well-rounded life.

Pity Party

It’s my late night at work. It feels like the evil time of the year (which is defined by Bob Lacey as the first few months at the beginning of the year when things are cold and miserable). Although it is a million degrees outside, it is freezing in my office. I’m wearing a light wrap, but I’m still cold. I know it is sunny outside, but there are no windows in my office, so it seems like the world is dark.

Near Death Experience

As I was eating my lunch today, I was accosted by evil in its basest form. I did not see this happen, but Jennifer J saw something fly from across the room aiming for my head. Thankfully, it changed its path at the last minute and landed under the table near my foot.

However, seeing the look on JJ’s face, I immediately got up out of my chair and began making my way towards the door. Upon finding out it was a roach, I bolted from the room.

Jennifer P bravely tried to kill it with a large broom, but there was no triumph. Its quickness and cat-like agility allowed it to escape. Needless to say, I will not be eating lunch in the break room for a long time to come.

I cannot express how deeply frightened of roaches I am. Had it been a spider or any other kind of bug, I would not have cared or would have been only mildly alarmed. However, a roach is the most terrifying of all creatures. They have been sent to Earth to torment me.

Thankfully I lived through today’s episode.

Evil Easter Bunny

I know Brandi, two pictures in a row. I couldn't resist though. This is hilarious.

I"m Being a Piss Pant Today

Argh! Jon's gone and I can't get Audrey to take her stupid pills. And I have a lot to do for class. Argh!

News and Musings

It’s been a while since I’ve posted. I really don’t have much news, but I feel like a slacker every time I look at my blog and see the “Help!” post from last week. I thought I would just share a few things I’ve been thinking about lately.

1. My husband and I adore Queen Latifah. Isn’t she just fabulous? We just watched Last Holiday. It’s no cinematic masterpiece, but it’s cute and worth the rental fee. It’s also safe for kids to watch.

2. Angelina Jolie and Gwen Stefani’s babies met for a playdate this weekend. I love both Angie and Gwen and wish I could have been there. I’m sure we’d have had a blast.

3. I’m rereading To the Lighthouse for The Novel. I read it last summer in the Woolf class. It’s even better the second time around.

4. I’m getting bedroom furniture delivered next weekend. I’m so excited. I’ve never had a bedroom suite before. I’ll feel like such a grownup.

5. Jon leaves to go officially work for Petco on Tuesday. I’ll be a lonesome dove for the next few months until they open the Petco in Bluffton (he’ll be traveling around to different stores and helping out until then). However, I’m glad he left his former job since it made him miserable and irritable.

Please feel free to share any thoughts or news going on in your lives.

Help!

I'm desperate. My research paper for the novel is due the week of the 12th (only two weeks away!). I can't come up with a topic to save my life. I know I'd like to do my paper on either Pride and Prejudice, Silas Marner, or To the Lighthouse, but I can't figure out a topic for any of them. Suggestions would be very welcome!

Home

I've always considered home to be the house in Ludowici that I grew up in. This does not mean I don't consider my own house "home," but my home base was always in Ludowici.

However, I've come to realize over the past year or so that a house does not make a home. My family no longer live in the Ludowici house, but my dad has not sold it: he rented it out. The renter moved out but left her boyfriend in the house even though he wasn't on the lease. He was finally made to leave, but now the house is trashed from what my dad and mom tell me. I haven't seen the inside of it in about 8 years, but every once in a while I drive by.

The last time I drove by, I was shocked. The outside, which was always kept so tidy by my father, was a mess. There was a broke down 4-wheeler up against the house. The bushes were giant and the grass looked like the Amazon. The screen door to the porch was no where to be found; there was just a big gap where the door used to be.

I told my parents I would help them repair the home (painting and such). It needs a little updating. I secretly wish that once the "renovations" are complete, my parents will move back into the house.

I know that a house doesn't make a home; it's the family who are there that make a warm, inviting home. That's why I feel as equally at home at my sister Teri's house- because I love my family and our time we spend there. I still think it would be fun to go visit my parents in the Ludowici house though....

Falling in Love

Brandi has forbade me to move on to another topic until I write about “Falling in Love.”

There’s nothing exceptionally romantic about my falling in love story. Jonathan and I had been best friends for about a year and a half. I had other boyfriends and considered Jon “one of the girls.” I often mentioned that he was as good as gay since I never thought of him romantically.

I don’t know what changed or when. I remember realizing I liked Jon in that special way but was too afraid to say anything because I wasn’t sure if he felt the same. I didn’t want to say anything and risk things being weird with us since he was my bff.

Months passed and I became more confident that he liked me back. Such things as a thoughtful birthday present and him brushing my hair and kissing my neck in class gave it away. Subtle, I know.

I remember him saying something that motivated me to confidently say, “How long have you liked me?” The rest is history. I taught Jon the ways of the world. Although it’s not an option for everyone and many relationships are fine without it, I think being best friends first made everything even better.

Wasting Time

Brandi’s topic for the day could not have been more perfect. Wasting time. This is a daily event for me. I have so many productive things I could be doing at work, home, and school. I have plenty of free time. So why don’t I get anything done until the last minute?

Our midterm for The Novel was due today, but Dr. W pushed the due date back to Friday at noon. Am I being a dutiful student and finishing ahead of schedule as was originally planned? Of course not. I could easily finish the paper today since I have the majority of it done anyway, but I’m wasting time and thinking, I’ll finish tomorrow and drop it off after work tomorrow evening. (This is not to mention that I’m at work and should only be doing work related things; once again, wasting time.)

When I go home, I could be productive. I could clean, organize, or do homework, but alas, I sit and eat in front of the tv. I think about how I want to be productive in all aspects of my life and not waste anymore time; however, I guess I’m not that motivated after all since I do nothing to remedy the situation.

Horray!

Horray! Audrey (my cat) just woke up from her surgery! (For those of you who do not follow my kitten saga, she has a hyper thyroid and her meds were no longer working; other than wait for her to die, this was our only option.)

I was just excited and thought I'd share!