I might not wear underwear but I do have some standards…

Hello everyone!

It has been a long January and I am sorry that I have been on a bit of a blog hiatus for a number of reasons and I would like to start by thanking some friends for their amazing and unwavering support. First off, Ann, Bruce, and Alice are friends in deed. They all stepped up to the plate when the chips were down for me, rolled up their sleeves and without their help I would not have made it through the Valley I was in when they came to my rescue!

Next up, I would like to thank some very special friends whom in more than one way have rallied their friendship around me through some challenging days. Knowing that I have such amazing friends truly humbles me and I am honored to count the following people among my friends – TopSurf, Sprezzatura, planetKnit, DevylGyrl, and StevoFC – you all rock and if there is ever a Friendship Hall of Fame – I am nominating each and every one of you. I love you all without measure and I extend to each of you a heartfelt thank you for all your love and support!

Now, that being said – I have some news to share. I had a date on Saturday night.

Yes, I will wait for you all to catch your breath and get yourselves back in your chairs…

I will admit it got off to an auspicious start – I was late, 5 minutes late. I left with what I thought was plenty of time, but snow and hitting every stinking traffic light red did not work in my favor.

Little did I know that the red lights were a warning! As in – STOP, do not pass GO, do not proceed! Well, I will not ignore obvious warnings in the future; trust me!

Anyways, I arrived 5 minutes late – and he was not sitting at the bar as we had prior agreed to do. MOREOVER, he was nothing at all like his photograph. He was bald and seriously older looking that he said he was. The first words out of his mouth were “You always late?” he said this after I had apologized profusely for being late! I let it slide and suggested we move to the bar, sitting alone at a table was not something I really wanted to do.

The next volley was shot about 3 minutes after we had sat down – What did I have against NASCAR…yes, he said it. I laughed, and tried to change the subject to OTHER sporting events, you know football, basketball, etc. No offense to any NASCAR fans, but I am not sure that driving a car around a circle is a sport, just sayin’. Imagine my laughter when he came out with this one, “don’t you know what great shape they are in?” Seriously, I almost fell off the damned bar stool.

Oh… and while we are talking about sitting at the bar – FYI, while I drank Guinness, he drank a Faux Beer – AKA, Miller Lite or some such pseudo beer.

Anyways, back to “The Date” the conversation flowed to golf; which was on the television – The Bob Hope Classic, that is. Here is where I learned that he has a horrible temper – yes, he readily admitted that he hates being a looser and has thrown golf clubs at things. Yeah, I made ANOTHER mental note and moved the conversation on.

This is when the next volley was fired – “I just have to tell you, you are really much better looking than your photograph” I thanked him and replied that was funny because I did not think he looked like his photo either! I swear I had to bite my cheek to keep from laughing hysterically!

Dinner was next on the agenda, and I am happy to report he does not eat vegetables. Great!! A bald cave man! He ordered the side of beef and I had fresh lake perch with ancho chile infused Cole slaw. It was delicious. With dinner, the conversation of wine came up – and he started it, so I felt it was only fair to partake, but I did not go in for the kill. I should have, but I did not. He informed me that he does not drink wine and does not understand people who do. Beer is his drink of choice (or rather Faux Beer – and yes, by this point in time he had been to the bathroom, oh maybe 5 times…) either that or a seven and seven. I now felt like I was in the Twilight Zone, LOL.

From here, the conversation went to foods and yes, he reiterated that he did not eat many of the things I did. On his banned foods list: Veal, Lamb, Oysters, Seafood, Fish, Vegetables, Most Fruits…, and he did not know what Nutella was. Yeah… another mental note and this one moved to the top of the list.

Speaking of things he did not know – he actually asked me what NPR was. Yes, you read that right – he had never heard of National Public Radio – now I am just going to tell you that he lives in Twin Lake, Michigan… home of Blue Lakes Fine Arts Camp – and Blue Lake Public Radio. You guessed it; he was clueless on those as well. But, he shared with me that he had read my profile and seemed to have it memorized – now, one would think that if you spent that much time on something you’d do some research before meeting the person, right?

At some point in time, the topic of music came up and from here, the train derailed and there was no getting it back on track again. He only likes; and yes, you guessed it Country. And, here is where he hung himself – he asked me if I liked Kid Rock, I said, no, I did not to which he told me that “Equal time was fine, on his time, his music” I thought he was kidding, so I laughed – expecting him to join in. I was the only one laughing. He then reminded me that I said I was “open-minded.” I tried to insert that being “open-minded” was, in my not so humble opinion, a two-way street. That was as well received as my laughter at his outlandish statement. Yeah, ‘nuf said.

Suffice it to say that NASCAR watching, Harley Riding, Country Music Listening, Non-Reading men are definitely off my list.

I am back to the drawing board…and it looks to be a wild ride!

One in which I will not ignore the red lights!

New Year, New Me?

New Year, New Me?

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The year has ended and a New Year holds open the door of opportunity.

The possibilities lay before me, beckoning me like a clean sheet of paper wanting to be filled with words, thoughts, and ideas.

The year does not begin without some trepidation, there are changes happening at work that will have an effect on me but I had a very frank conversation with a friend in which I wallowed a bit in self-pity and he said “will you stop talking your self down – grrr. Kathy – do what you do best… and that will win through,” I am going to take his advice and not let what is coming affect me.

So as I begin my journey into 2009 I invite you to come along with me…there are certain to be changes, there are guaranteed to be laughs and some new faces, but above all there will be joy in the journey.

The Random, the Weird, and me…

I was tagged yesterday at a friends blog and  because I like her tremendously, I am  going to play!!

First, The Rules:

• Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules in your post. (check)

• Share seven random/weird facts about yourself. (see below)

• Tag seven random people and link to their blogs. (okay, I am not going to follow the rules that closely)

• Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment in their blog. (see the prior rule)

It seems I have to tell you all seven, count ‘em, seven random and/or weird facts about me. This concerns me, I think I have shared with you all dozens of random and/or weird facts, but I shall tip myself over, give me a good shake and see what falls out – let’s get started then, shall we?

Random item number one: I used to have long nails that got the axe with my job in health care. I miss my nails more than I can tell you – and I have serious nail envy when I see nicely manicured nails on others. To compensate, I try to get a pedicure frequently – however, having nice toes is not the same in my humble opinion, just sayin’.

Random weirdness two: I have some very peculiar eating habits – I have a couple of coffee cups that are my favorite – my day just goes better when I sip from them. They are not “muggy-ish” and are more “tea-cup-ish” in style. I also prefer to eat with a salad fork – yes, I know, how uncouth! I am not sure why this is, some character flaw I am sure. I have not determined this to be so detrimental that I have sought counseling over it. However, I avoid the Etiquette Police with a fervor.

Weirdly random item three: Okay, this I am sure you will all tell me classifies for the TMI category – but I am an open book about life, as it were, so I will just share it with you – I do not like to wear underwear. This includes underwear for the top half and for the bottom half equally and therefore, for the most part I do not. That is right, most days you will find me sans any underclothing – unless I am working. Then, I do wear something on the top and the bottom – but that is the only time I do, however that being said – I do not, and I repeat do not, wear a bra even then. If that was too much information for you, I am sorry – sort of.

Randomosity number four: I suffer from Ophidiophobia and Arachnephobia, yes, I absolutely abhor things that creep, crawl, or slither. If I see a spider – I will have issues sleeping for fear that its eleventy-million siblings are laying in wait for lights out time. To say I hate spiders is a gross understatement. Likewise, I am I am incredibly thankful that Michigan does not have a plethora of snakes lurking in the great out-of-doors as well. While I love visiting zoo’s you will never find me in the Reptile House! Now, just imagine for a moment me as the darling Eve in the Garden of Eden – there would have been a seriously different outcome, there would have been no way in hell that I’d have even spent a millisecond talking to the serpent – we’d still all be naked and in that Garden if it had been me!

Item number five of random oddness is that I got a tattoo when I was 42 years young and I am seriously thinking about giving that poor single child a sibling to keep it company. Who was it who said being inked was addicting????

Weirdness Number Six about the Utterly and Totally Weird Place I live – until 30 days ago, I lived in a county that entirely banned the sale of Beer and Wine on Sunday, which may be the very reason I went to a church that served wine for communion, but that is fodder for another topic. Anyways, The Good City of Holland has had a law on the books for longer than I can remember banning the sale of Beer and Wine in any capacity. Some years back, someone figured out that did not include liquor by the glass sales and so on Sundays you could have a martini with your lunch but you would surely burn in Hell’s Hottest Fire if you had a damned glass of wine. Consider, if you will, how much fun that will make New Years Eve when that had the misfortune to fall on a Sunday in Ottawa County – you got it, Tequila Shooter’s anyone? Finally, the 12 liberal minded drunks who live in this Bastion of Conservativeness managed to get this passed – I think it was all that Obama Love just flowing at the Precincts last November!

Finally – the seventh randomly and beyond Weird tidbit about me is that if you dare me to do something, I more than likely will – unless it involves roller coasters, spiders, or snakes.

There you have it, seven items of BS that your lives would have been bereft had you not known them… now I believe that I have to tag some poor unsuspecting saps bloggers to pick up the baton and spill their guts – how about if I give all my readers the opportunity if they would like to participate –

Tag, YOU are IT!

Have a great Christmas and go stop by NAMG’s site and show her some love – she is so worthy!

The door is always open…

I have always had a policy with my kids that they could tell me anything and without fear of repercussions. A safe place to share thoughts, ideas, things they had done, had not done, or had done horribly wrong. I have never had my kids tell me anything that truly ever upset me, and the conversations that have sprung from them sharing with me have been invaluable to me as a parent. They teach me volumes on so many levels, I have enjoyed tremendously watching them gain critical thinking skills, and in watching them as they are learning to think through whatever the issue, question, or concern is.

I grew up in a house in which I could share nothing with my parents, and I wanted it to be different for my children – they do not share with their dad the things they share with me – so I hope I have achieved my goal.

However, a couple of weekends ago my son shared with me something that disturbed me greatly. It took all my skills to bite my tongue and not “be the parent” and come down on him for what he shared with me. He shared with me that he was using chewing tobacco at school, evidently, his roommate has this lovely habit, and my son was participating in this vile habit – and has been for some time. My instinct was to immediately tell him how vile I thought it was, how foolish I felt he was in making this choice, and then to share with him all the horrors of mouth/throat cancer! Yes, my reaction was the antithesis of what the purpose of the “open door policy” was all about.

There was some conversation and somehow I managed to strangle the “Crazy Woman” that was simmering beneath the surface and simply shared with him that I was disappointed in his choice, and I asked him if Bria knew what he was doing. That stopped him in his tracks – he had not told her. This spurred further conversation on why he had not told her and what that meant. It was truly an eye opening experience for me – I have no clue why I asked about Bria, but I am thankful that I did not quell the question. Our conversation ended with me telling him how much I loved him.

Therefore, scroll forward to this weekend – Sam was home again and on Friday night after he had come home from taking the Darling Bria out to a movie. I have a rule that the kids have to wake me up when they get home – and so Sam woke me and the conversation that unfolded was truly amazing. I was paid tenfold for biting my tongue and just listening to the earlier conversation. We lay in bed together and what he shared with me brought great joy to this mother’s heart! Evidently, Darling Bria has strong feelings about tobacco use! Can I tell you how much I love this girl? Well, after this weekend, I love her even more! I am so happy that I did not open my mouth with my “parental advice” because the voice of young love is was just what Sam needed to hear! As he shared with me he was not using “chew” any longer because Bria would not kiss him if he did! A lovely conversation ensued and Sam shared with me that he is trying to help his roommate quit “chew.”

Some days it really pays to keep your mouth shut when the door is open…

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