bullet point quickie

Adventure Weekend Summary in no particular order.....

• Laughed a wicked lot, when I met up with some local bloggers. Of course, Coco and I first knew each other in reality. However, Thursday night, I met Tied Up With A Black Velvet Band and I Pick Pretty. Enjoyed many a cocktail and am looking forward to our next adventure.
• Met a fairly good looking man at a big wine tasting. However, the planets did not align completely because he does not have my phone number.
• Lawn mowing in Texas sucks the big one. However, I am thinking that a Patsy-propelled mower combined with intense heat and humidity will ensure a wee bit of weight loss.
• Made reservations for a week holiday in Mexico. Bring on the swine flu because I would love the express train to weight loss.
• Can you tell I am very eager for this last 7 pounds to be gone?!
• The Southern Gentleman called on Saturday. Said phone was timed at 1 hour, 17 minutes. This marathon call from a man who claims to hate speaking on the phone. Keep in mind he was the primary talker in the conversation.
• The Southern Gentleman stated that he has "neglected several important things in his life as of late in trying to the business started." I think that was his attempt at an apology as he also stated that in a email. Old Patsy would have been happy with this. However, New World Order Patsy feels the old adage "too little, too late" applies perfectly.
• Had the girls over to Stepford for the first time. There is nothing more that I love than a house full of friends and laughter. It truly makes my heart sing!
• Montana Man asked me to do some editing for him on Friday. I didn't even look at until Sunday night. Furthermore, did not pour too much energy into it when I did correct it. I am done with it all.
• Ready for a cleaner slate and fresh start.
• Capped off the weekend perfectly with some champagne on Sunday evening. Everything is better with bubbles!

Have a sparkling week, my darlings!

may-be-gone

Recently I have been feeling alone. The alone-ness that complements feeling helpless. It is especially troubling to me because I never have felt this way before. I am an overly independent woman who can do anything.

But lately I have been feeling my limitations. Reaching the realizations. It started with moving house coupled with Lulu's adventures in snake charming gone bad. Then trying to wrangle up furniture via craigslist. Toss in Lulu having simultaneous puke and diarrhea fest. Clearly, May was a roller coaster ride in my small corner of the universe.

I learned I don't ask for help and furthermore it is very difficult for me to ask. I have been spoiled to the n-th degree having my father just quick car ride away. He always solves my problems, always helps. He is my rock; the one person I can count on no matter what.

In my many May hours of need, sure, my father was only a phone call away, but he couldn't swoop in and solve the problem because he is 1,000 miles away. That is when the feeling of being utterly alone overcame me.

I realize though that I did live through the roller coaster ride, but it wasn't as easy as I have grown accustom to. There aren't any givens. Particularly when Lulu was spewing out both end, I made too many phone calls to my girls down here trying to find someone who would simply run to the CVS to pick up Imodium for me because even a short car ride was out of the question. No one would do it. At my wits end, I called yet another girlfriend expecting a similar response as the others, but immediately she said yes. I was beyond thankful that someone answered my distressed cries, but at the same time, disappointed in others.

May's lessons were humbling. I have to get better at asking because I cannot do everything by myself. This is uncharted territory.

where is he?

I don’t know who you are. I don’t know your name, where you live, what you do for a living, how you take your coffee, or what makes you laugh.

Clearly, I know very little about you; however, I do believe I will have some level of inkling when our paths finally cross. Maybe.

But there are a few things I do know about you for sure – you really are out there somewhere (preferably Austin) hunting high and low for me, you accept and appreciate me for who I am – quirks and all, there are no games or ambiguity, and even though happily ever after is only in the movies, we’ll have our own reality-based version of what that is for us.

I have waited patiently for you; I have had a lot of fun along the way. Experiences I wouldn’t give away because each has been instrumental in creating the tapestry that is my life, me.
But even in all the happiness and love that surrounds me now, there is a small piece missing. And that is you. Please hurry.

anything but a stepford wife

Settling in to the new digs is finally occurring. Life is calming down as Lulu is virtually healed and the move drama is over complete with new furniture. Two weeks of dwelling on the cement floor, even though it is a pretty stained concrete floor, was very draining after a long day at the office. I am finally relaxing as life in Stepford is taking shape.

Yes, the pristinely manicured lawns and families with 2.5 children are indeed reminiscent of The Stepford Wives; hence, the name. But I am blissfully happy in Stepford. I forgot what a wonderful feeling it is to want to go home.

With my home life wrapped up with a pretty bow, time to focus my energy losing the last 10 pounds! I like the feeling that everything is falling into place.

an anniversary of sorts

May 8, 2000.

It was nine years ago today that we first met, The Southern Gentleman and I.

Nine years ago today that we were partnered up in a conference room in the Carolinas.

The attraction was instant and has continued to remain smoldering just under the surface.

Star-crossed lovers.

Fast forward to May 8, 2009.

Nine years and nothing has changed.

I take that back, what has changed is me.

I can see past the attraction; the things I was enraptured with when I was 25. I see that The Southern Gentleman is not going to put one foot in front of the other. He is only continuing to side step, which does not lead to progress.

It makes me a bit sad because together we did make a good team.

But I am also happy that on today, May 8th, exactly 6 months away from my 35th birthday, I do have the clarity to see The Southern Gentleman and I for precisely what we are and what we'll never be. For that, I am grateful.

hound dog

Lulu is doing much better.

I took her home last Friday. She continues eat copious amounts of antibiotics, but she is healing quite nicely. Of course, Lulu is not fond of her floatation device (in lieu of a traditional cone) but I remain highly amused with it.

Here's a snap so you can join in my amusement!

drama mama

drama.

that best sums up the past few days.

What started off on Friday morning as an innocent weekend adventure to H-town turned into my pup girl Lulu being hospitalized and me being left with zero answers.

I dropped off my Lulu at 7 AM on Friday to stay at the boutique vet/kennel that she has stayed at before. I figured if I get to have a fun weekend away to eat my way thru Houston, then Lulu should also enjoy her stay at the doggie spa.

Friday night around 6, I receive a call from the vet. A simple call informing me that Lulu received her kennel cough shot and trying to up sell me on blood work services for senior dogs. The entire point here is that at 6 PM my dog was still healthy. Cue me being annoyed at vet for calling for nonsensical reasons while I am on holiday.

Saturday morning, another call from the vet. This time I am informed that Lulu has a cut on her leg, is limping and the vet would like my permission to start IV fluids on her. The vet tells me this is free because the injury occurred while she was in their care. I think the vet is being overzealous as the previous evening they were concerned over ear wax, so I give my consent. Continue eating and shopping through Houston.

Sunday morning, I was not fast enough to the phone and missed the Lulu update call. I listen to the voice message and grow alarmed when the vet states "possible snake bite." My alarm grows and festers. I finally break down and call the vet office only to find that the office is closed so I call the emergency number. The woman at the emergency hospital is understanding and tracks down one of the vets for me. It is the primary vet, the owner of the hospital - where the snake bite concerns are dismissed.

I see my girl on Sunday evening. It was terrible. Lulu's leg looked horrendous. Raw ground beef. Her leg swollen hugely. She had a wild look in her eyes, did not recognize me, an IV in her leg. She was on massive, massive quantities of pain killers and antibiotics.

The vets state that they do not know what is wrong or what happened. The only story I get is they saw her limping, found a puncture wound, and then it manifested into what I found. Personally, the vets are covering up the incident. The more I press, the less interaction they have with me. I believe with all my heart, it was a venomous snake bite.

My girl is doing better. I should be able to take her home in the next few days. We spend about an hour together every day. I have documented everything with photos. I have asked vets back home to evaluate what they see in the photos and in her medical records. The problem is in the mile high city, snake bites are rare.

As if that wasn't enough keep-me-up-at-night drama, I have to move tomorrow. In one day. By myself. Be out of the old house complete with cleaning and into the new place. tomorrow.

When it rains, it pours. But at least tomorrow will be over before I know it. On to greener pastures.

movin' on up

i am moving. staying in atx but to a newer home.

give me a BIG AMEN!!

i will be out of the ghetto soon. much sooner than anticipated if i have my ways.

i no longer have to be afraid for my safety with that crappy front door.

the puppies will have a real back yard with real grass... no more big pile of dirt and rocks.

i am over the moon that i will have a professional landlord instead of the dumb bitch who got way too greedy and wanted to gouge me. a word to the wise - never piss off a scorpio.

papers are signed. checks written. i am out of the ghetto.

for the first time, in an extremely long time, i slept like a baby in this dump.

swimsuit season is looming

Since the surprise invasion visit of my parents, I have gained some weight. Not a whole lot but enough to turn fits/smidge loose to smidge tight.

The drinking and eating out are the cause. I know that. Also lack of regular exercise. But I got a full blown shock when I brought the scale home with me. The numbers tell me that the last 5 pounds I was trying to shake have now upped the ante to 15. ugh.

So back on the wagon with this girl. Buckling down on booze and food like the gestapo. Must commence operation awake before dawn to fit in exercise. Some how I must not become sleep deprived.

Must get back to fighting weight. At a minimum, shake off those 10 lovely pounds that jumped on my ass since the invasion.

I know what I need to do. Now I just need to get myself 100% committed to seeing it thru.

whirlwinds

Ugh! It is only Tuesday and I have already put in 20 hours at work. My day is not over yet and my week has only just begun.

But I have a job. So for that I am grateful.

I have neglected this place because I have been so wonderfully busy. ATX weekends are insane. Good insane.

Cherry was in town this weekend. We caught up on life since she left. It made me miss her all the more. Of course, it also made me realize how hard it is going to be when it is my turn to leave this town.

How did I get so lucky to have such a fabulous group of friends down here?!

Snatched up an ACL Festival ticket today. Can't wait for the lineup to be announced. Holding thumbs that it is a great one!