In Case You Were Wondering...

I am still alive.

It has been a busy month. Sarrie and I just moved into a house at the beginning of the month... Long story. We just got our cable, internet and phone hooked up on Wednesday. It has been a long almost 3 weeks.

Things are moving along in my new life "back home". I am doing ok. Actually, for the most part, I am doing quite well. Just going with the flow.

I don't really have too much to share right now. I would share the nightmare of the move in to the house story, but it's still kind of painful.

I'll be in touch.

Don't ever stay with a man who says he just has a friend

One year ago,
We took a vow.
To spend today like this,
I wanted not how.

"She's just a friend", you say.
"It's not what you think".
To question my intelligence,
Well, you're just a dink.

"They can get through it..."
"...if not then she's dumb."
Well, Critics, this is something
I can't overcome.

You wanted to work
On communication and interaction,
But guess what?
You can't work on you marriage
When you have a distraction.

I love you,
But I love me more.
You effed up,
So I walked out the door.

I thought we would grow old,
Like, into our 80's.
But you decided
To drive off in a Mercedes.


That was just an impromptu poem I decided to write. That's right... Today is my one year anniversary and how am I spending it? Filling out dissolution of marriage papers. And going to the funeral home. The two events are not connected.

I am a statistic. I am on the huge percentages of Americans that gets divorced in the first year of marriage. But as a friend of ~j's told me last night, "I'd rather be that statistic than the statistic of the ones that have no strength or mind of their own and stay with the guy knowing he's doing what he is doing and knowing they're unhappy for the rest of their lives."

There have been good days and there have been bad. But the good days totally outweigh the bad. But I also know that as time goes on, I know it will only get better and the bad days will get less and less. But I also know that the tears that come on those bad days are nothing compared to the tears that would fall if I had stayed.

Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive, and to those of you that don't get it, you can suck it.



ps: If you didn't get the last stanza of the poem... said car also shares a name with said "friend"

Bizarro de Mayo

Remember my post about Sarrie? (insert link here if I knew how to do so)

Sarrie and I have always had the joke that the month of May has always been crazy. Therefore, instead of Cinco de Mayo, we celebrate Bizarro de Mayo. Since 2005, May has always been the month we dreaded. We kept a log one year and read back on it and laugh our tooshes off. That month of May started early... April 28, I believe and ended on the best note, as the 31st of that year, my sweet sweet niece Eliza was born.

Each year since, we have always laughed at the month of May.

Well............................ Let ME tell YOU...

Bizarro de Mayo, as usual, started early this year. Way early. Like... 2 AM on Friday, April 25. I'll spare the details, but that's when it started.

Author's note: This is big reason behind why I haven't posted in a good month or so.

ANYWAY... April 25 was a crazy day. In laws were visiting, I had to go to work... blah blah blah. I came home for dinner and barely ate. The 26 was about the same. I had a protein bar and that was about it. Not much of an appetite. Then I went to a bachelorette party on the beach and stayed in a hotel with a girlfriend. The 27, I talked to Sarrie. She was planning a trip to come and visit on Wednesday, the 30 and we discussed aforementioned visit. Are you getting all this?

Sunday the 27 was also "Confrontation Day". That was the day I explained to New Mr. Tia my loss of appetite and sleeplessness and distance over a few days. I asked him who she was and why he was doing what he was doing. He was at a loss. Didn't know what to say. Did nothing to vindicate himself and instead of trying to explain, he protected her.

Wednesday, the 30 of April, New Mr. Tia left and went to NC for a golf trip. And Sarrie flew in. I picked her up at the airport and we had lunch. And then we went to my "house" and started packing my stuff.

Days went by, I went to my job and gave a very short notice where my boss was very supportive (thanks, Vin). And I said my goodbyes. Sunday, May 5th, Sarrie and I packed up my car and left before New Mr. Tia got back from NC.

He didn't believe it to be true and was sending me text messages telling me he'd see me soon. Little did he know I was almost to the Georgia border.

Cinco de Mayo... I pulled into my hometown. There's a lot to be said about the fact that I only cried when pulling out of my Florida driveway and pulling into the town I'm from.

May 10... I flew out to see ~j. and family. What a great time we had. I love my sister more than I can express. Her support and love is indescribable. That goes for the rest of my family as well.

I have had a pretty decent month if I do say so myself.

I am working to put my life back together right now. For the first time in a while I can say that May has treated me pretty well.

Everyone needs a family like mine and a Sarrie to boot.

Love ya!

Re-group

Hi Everyone,

I know it has been almost a month since my last post. I have good reason. I am not ready to talk about it right now. Other posts would have been made, however, my mind has been basically consumed with one major thing. I will let you all know when I am back in action.

All four of you loyal readers. (*snicker snicker*)

But now, I have to resume my duty of cuddling ~j's kids. The best job ever.

Dear Prudence

When I open up my Internet Explorer, msn.com is my home page. I like it because it has the latest headlines and then some. Sometimes it has Dear Prudie, an advice column of what is and what isn't prudent. I have clicked on the link because sometimes, the column is about things I am experiencing at the time... things like, how to deal with a difficult boss, how to deal with a bridesmaid that just isn't that into her duty as a bridesmaid... etc. However, the articles never really relate to exactly what I am dealing with, but they are entertaining to read. So now, I ask you, my readers, all four of you, for advice on how to deal. Dear Readers, My husband has a friend that has been his friend since he moved here almost 13 years ago. I met friend... (we will call him "Crazy" for anonymity sake) years ago when I was dating my husband. Then, slowly, Crazy went through some issues that kept him highly medicated, hospitalized at one time and and he even went almost 2 and a half years without setting foot in a grocery store or pharmacy. His girlfriend stuck by his side through all of this. Since his girlfriend had the ultimate goal of getting married and having children, when Crazy told her he was never marrying her or fathering her children, rightfully, she left. He has since moved back to our neck of the woods. Now that Crazy is back, he has been stopping by our house. I hadn't seen him since before I had moved here. It was nice to see him and I am all about trying to help people overcome whatever may cause them sadness. Long story short: He has not stopped stopping by. I frequently come home from work and he is here. One time my husband told him it wasn't a good time, that we were about to eat dinner and we didn't have enough for three. Not getting the hint, he offered to sit outside on the porch until we were done. I like the golden rule. I like to treat people the way I want to be treated. HOWEVER... when I am nice to him, he takes it as an open invitation to be at our house whenever he wishes. When I am rude, he only comes over when I am not there and leaves before I get home. I think the one thing that gets me is that when I do come home and he is there, he thinks it's funny to call me pet names. I have walked in the house hoping to see my husband and I hear a whiny voice say, "Hi honey". Not what I wanted to hear. I walked in the house the other day after receiving some upsetting news from my sister and I was crying. He said, "Baby, what's wrong?" This is terribly disturbing. My husband has told him that it is inappropriate that he talks to me that way, but he doesn't seem to get the hint. My husband and I are all about helping others in need and we understand that Crazy just needs friends. But this is too much. I already have planned what I will say the next time he makes me uncomfortable, but I don't like being mean in order to get a point across. What can I do? Sincerely, Throwing up in my Mouth in LA

To All You Diamonds Out There...

I love April. It's a great month. I have always looked forward to April because that meant, the snow would melt after a harsh winter, spring break vacation, new fun clothes, driving with the windows down and the music up... you know what I mean. Now that I live in Florida, I don't have to worry about the snow and all the months run together and I never really know what time of year it is, just the day of the week. The thing I love most about April... The birthdays. Yes, the birthdays. It starts on the 2nd and doesn't stop. And I am not saying, "Boo hoo, I have so many birthdays to remember this month." I remember all of them. Every year, at the end of March, I set out on a big shopping trip. New Mr. Tia laughs because it's like Christmas for us again. We have 10. That's right, ten birthdays to remember in April. And only 2 of those ten are close friends. The rest of those birthdays are family. This, my friends, is the price I pay for having my birthday the same week as Christmas. That has always been my reasoning. That, and if you're into astrology, Aries and Capricorns are very compatible. All but one of my important birthdays to remember are Aries. (Sorry, Tito) What month do you love?

Things that keep me up at night.

It is 6:25 AM. And I have been up since 4:15. I can't sleep. You know what woke me up? My hands. They itch. Like a something that rhymes with itch. I have had this condition for a little over 4 months now. It started as something small and has now spread down my wrists. I thought maybe I was allergic to the chemicals they cleaned my wedding ring with since this irritation was only confined to my left ring finger. Then is spread to my left little finger. Then my right middle finger. And down my wrists and to my arms. I have sought treatment at a local clinic and have gotten a steroid. When on the medication, I'm golden. The minute I discontinue it, the itching comes back. Not so good for a Massage Therapist, you know? The thing is, it isn't contagious, so I can continue to work. I have been watching the different products I use at work and have kept an eye on the condition, but I can't pinpoint what it could be. It got to the point that my fingers itched so bad that my ring finger swelled and I had to have my wedding band cut off. I have now been on this medicine twice and was told if it acts up again, I will be referred to a dermatologist. So I have been online shopping for health insurance. That's right. I don't have any and just received word that I don't work enough to get it through my job. The fact that I don't work enough is not by choice. I went to the dentist a few weeks ago and have a $2500 estimate of work that needs to be done. Again, no insurance. Sweet. When I go to work, I sometimes feel as though I am living my own real life version of the movie Mean Girls. I know that ~j. loves that movie, but to live it really hurts at times. ~j. has to take Bubbity Boo Bah to Salt Lake today. I really hope that things go well. It seems like forever ago she told me they were going for the test and now the time is here. I'll be impatiently waiting to hear how that goes. Why does NMT have to snore like that all the time and why is it that when I get out of bed because I can't sleep from his snoring, he decides that's a good time to stop the snoring? And why am I noticing that that was a total run on sentence and I'm not going to do anything about it? Early morning, April 4 Shot rings out in the Memphis sky Free at last, they took your life They could not take your pride Did you know that that part of the U2 song is about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? Friday marks the 40th anniversary of his death. Just a little random trivia for you. My inlaws are coming. In two weeks. I have to get the house together. I don't want to rush around at the last minute trying to get everything together. Lists upon lists upon lists. Sarrie comes right after that. I wish that I could take more time off of work to spend with her, but I can't and she is cool with that. I am so glad that I don't have to work today so I can take a nap later. I know I'll be tired later on. And there you have it folks, the things that run through my head when I can't sleep.

Haven't you always wanted a monkey?

*All apologies, this spacing thing is driving me crazy. Also, the paragraphs were spaced and when I tried re-spacing them, Blogger didn't cooperate.

It's an age old question: WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY? It's always a good question to ask, I guess if you run out of stuff to talk about. I always think about it when I pass billboards or see the new Florida Lottery commercials where they tell you that if you play an extra dollar, you can add 10 million dollars to the jackpot. If you play 2 extra dollars, you can add 25 million to the jackpot. Of course, adding that money would not increase your chances at winning. You see shows about the "Curse of the Lottery", talking of people that win and lose the money within years of winning. You hear great stories of people winning with the last dollar they had to their name. I'm a normal hard working person and I wanna win. If I won the lottery... just for numbers sake, we'll say 58 million dollars. The first thing I would do is quit my job. Not because I don't like working, but because I would like to open up my own place, use my own ideas and make my own rules. Next, I would pay off my brother's mortgage, and my sister's mortgage as well as provide adequate vehicles for both them and their spouses. I would purchase a home on the lake in Southwestern New York where I can go when I go back to visit and my family can stay there whenever they go too. I would tell my parents to go anywhere... anywhere in the country and find exactly where they want to live. I would buy a lot and build them a house; one that has floors and a foundation that stands firm. All of my nieces and nephews would want for nothing. They would not be spoiled by any means. However, I would be sure that they received the best education possible. This doesn't mean they will not understand the meaning of a dollar. I will pay for their education, but will ask for grades every semester. If they are not passing or if grades are slipping, they will be cut off. If I had the money, I would also book flights whenever I wanted to go see my seester and brother as much as possible. I miss them like crazy. I would fly to see ~j. when things happen like Bubby breaking out into hives/rashes/delirium just to take the girls on a special date so she can have some respite. I would buy my grandfather a driver to take him to and from anywhere he needs to go. I would also purchase said driver a home near Gramps so he is at his dispose whenever he needs. I'd be sure my friends were taken care of.

These are a few things I would do. Of course, I would have to pay the taxes on the winnings, leaving me with probably only half of what the jackpot is, but still, I think I'll still have enough to do that.

I won't need to pay for a lawyer because his retainer will be taken care of when I pay off his mortgage.

I guess if I want to win, I better start playing.

What would you do?

Slow Week.

Not much has been going on here lately. I have been busy with work and NMT and I have been picking out colors to paint our kitchen and to throw in a few accent walls. I "guest bartended" at a St. Patrick's Day slash charity event at the bar I used to work at. It was a true testament as to why I don't work there anymore. Don't get me wrong, it was fun for a night. However, I can't decide which was more fun: seeing old faces or saying to certain people "Oh you don't like my attitude? You can complain, but it won't do anything. I'm only here for the night. I don't really work here." We had a man come the other day to do some work on our floors the other day. He brought his lovely wife. So sweet. She was helping him with this and that, looked around our home and told me how nice it was. That was nice to hear because NMT and I aren't would like to get out of it. She was looking at pictures we have all over the house... our nieces and nephews, wedding pictures, my friends... and she turns and says to me, "You know, you're really cute. I don't know if anyone has ever told you that. But you are just adorable." I replied with a thank you and no, I have never, in my 28 years on this Earth been told that I was cute. I made myself disappear for a few hours, running to town looking for things to do. I went to a store to look for a new purse, you know, because that's exactly what I need. Upon my return, man and lovely wife were still working away at our floors. Our house isn't very big so I didn't have anywhere to hide. Lovely turned and looked at me and out of nowhere says, "Yeah, I had therapy done on my finger... this one... " Ah. NMT must have told her what I do for a living. For those of you that are not aware... Massage Therapy is NOT... I repeat... NOT the same as physical therapy. Just a little FYI. That's about it. I just wanted all to know that I am still alive and delaying all my day off responsibilities. Hey, I may post later depending on what I see today. Have a great day!

Sorry, I'm Taken

I like to shop. I love love love shopping for t-shirts. Anyone will tell you... t-shirts were actually the favor and centerpiece at my wedding. ANYWAY... When I shop for t-shirts, I like to find the vintage ones; like my NBC peacock shirt, my Sugar Daddy shirt, Babelicious tee that is in the Bubbilicious logo and of course, Vote For Pedro. What I don't like... Those stupid t shirts that are supposed to be worn by grown women that read things like, "I taught your boyfriend that thing you like" (I actually saw a young married mother wearing that shirt). One of my biggest annoyances is the t-shirts with matching jewelry that say just one word: TAKEN. PUH-LEASE. To let someone know that you are taken, don't waste your money on t-shirts and jewelry. Do what I do... I was at the beach with some girlfriends last week. We parked ourselves in front of this popular hang out spot for spring breakers. My friends tease me for being the only married one. Yeah, I know it's funny. Since Spring Break runs for MONTHS here, there is no escaping the morons you run into. It was rather hot that day so we decided to take a walk into the lukewarm Gulf to converse on a sandbar. A few yards away, there were some younger guys tossing the football around. The ball came near where I was standing and one of the young men dove for it, using the close proximity as an excuse to talk to me. Not noticing the ring on my left hand, the boy says, "Hey." I reply with an annoyed "Hi." He asks, "What are yoouuu doin?" I looked at him and said, "Peeing." He asked me to repeat myself and again, "I'm peeing." Then he asked if I was serious. I told him if he wanted to come a little closer, the water is rather warm in my area. I guess he wasn't impressed as he made his way to another cluster of young girls.

For the love

Have I ever told you about my bestie? I call her Sarrie and she calls me BF. I know what you're thinking... aw, BF. How sweet. BF stands for Best Friend. Kinda. Yes, we are BFFs. However, BF actually stands for Bran Flake. In high school, I had a friend and her mom called me Bran Flake. Sarrie calls me Bran Flake because I am wholesome yet, I have a tendency to be a little air headed at times. One things she likes to pick on me about is my insistence on proper grammar. Quite the oxymoron since New Mr. Tia sometimes lacks in the grammar department. My brother and sister and I have always been sticklers for the subject. One day, Sarrie and I were on our way to dinner with a friend and we passed a restaurant that had a sign reading "BE ARE VALENTINE". You can imagine my distress over this sign. Sarrie talked me out of calling the restaurant to alert them to the error. On our way back, the sign was changed and I was able to rest easy. I was on my way home from visiting a friend the other day when I was at a stoplight only to fixate on the sign at Arby's reading "TRY AR FISH". I tried to take a picture with my camera phone but it didn't turn out. I then went home to retrieve my camera so I could capture this atrocity. Much to my dismay, the lighting was awful and I couldn't get the picture right. When I called Sarrie to express my disgust, she tried to give Arby's the benefit of the doubt. She tried to explain maybe they were trying to be pirates and say, "Try AR Fish". No bueno. A) Arby's has a cowboy hat for a logo. B) Even pirates know that you spell it AARRRRGGGHHHH. C) That idea could only work for Long John Silver's. New Mr. Tia got a kick out of the sign the next day as he was heading to work. I didn't have time to stop to take the picture before work therefore, leaving me another day without the picture. Today, as I left the house, I specifically went OUT OF MY WAY to pass this Arby's to take the picture I longed for... It was a cloudy day so I didn't have to worry about the sun's position. What do you know? The sign read "TRY OUR FISH". I wonder who called them.

Blah

I'm feeling very blue right now. Trying to put together a good post. I'll let you know when I snap out of it.

Help

I bought a few new shirts. And I didn't read the care tags prior to the purchase. They are handwash only. No washing machine. But I have a handwash setting on my washer. I have delicate and handwash. Should I chance it or just handwash?

Some Hump Day Humor

*Author's note, there is a bad word in this post. I have had some funny things happen to me over the past couple of days. I always think that I should share them on my blog and after calling ~j to report funny situations, the idea is right. Post it. I fell in love with Costco while visiting ~j. Thing is: Costco there is nice. It is flooded with young mothers, cute children, happy staff. Last year, New Mr. Tia and I got a membership when he was Soon To Be New Mr. Tia. I love the deals there. I love the fact that I can buy 50 one hundred calorie Kudos for less than ten bucks. I love that they send me coupons that I use. My friend told me about another new warehouse to go to... No, not Sam's Club. I will actually be going as her guest tomorrow to check it out. She made the point that this place has benefits, like, self checkout which means open lines which, in turn, means no more lines of 20 people deep at the TWO cash registers that are open. So yesterday, needing oxi clean and bottled water, I head to Costco. The thing about Costco here is that you can't just go there for one thing unless that one thing is so important you will spend more time waiting in line to pay for said thing for almost as long as it took you to get there. I got my stuff, plus a way cute shirt to add to my "trying to be transformed wardrobe". I head to the line and wait. And wait. I am almost to the front of the line and my cart is pulled by a nice man with a nice smile and a name tag... "Follow me...", he says. So I follow, and he gets all my items turned so he can scan the barcodes and send me on my way. While turning my items, an older gentleman jumps in the line... OG: "I have been waiting for chicken for an hour." (right now, I am wishing I could mock the voice he spoke in) Cashier: "Oh yeah?" OG: "A whole hour. How come she can go ahead of me?" Cashier: "She was waiting in line sir. Longer than you. You just can't jump in front of her in line." OG: "But I have been waiting. An hour. For that chicken." Cashier: "I understand sir, but rules are rules. It's called courtesy." OG: "I bet if I had tits and a nice face, I would get special treatment too." At this point, I have cashed out and gotten everything in my cart and I turn and say... (with a sympathetic look on my face) "Oh... But I like your face." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lap dog buckled into a cart at Target. Nuff said... yet brings me to another story.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Driving to work one morning and see a vehicle in front of me with a plastic bag hanging out of the passenger side door. Just waving in the wind. I pull up to the car to alert the driver only to see her. Sitting there. Smoking a cigarette. And petting her cat. That is sitting on her lap as she is driving. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Not all of us here in Southwest Florida have the luxury that New Mr. Tia has. He works two blocks from our house. Frequently, he will come home unannounced for this, that and the other. The door to our home is a large one that is heavy and you have to push hard to shut. This morning, while showering, I heard the door slam. I said, "Honey?" No answer. "Babe?" Nothing. Remembering that it is Wednesday and Wednesday is the day we call each other Sugar Bear... ok not really... I called his name once more and no answer. Did I mention I watch way too many crime shows? Thinking the worst, I hurry to get out of the shower and try to figure out what I have in the bathroom to defend myself against who might be stealing my tv. Oh wait, the tv is still on. And I live in Florida. And they are covering the landing of space shuttle Atlantis right now. And the "door slamming" I heard was actually what we call down here a sonic boom. Phew.

I take it back.

Man. Did you read my previous post? Yeah? Well, I rescind my apology.

I still like the Wal*Mart up north by my parents' house. BUT... Read on.

Our friends at Wal*Mart had a deal going that if you purchased more than a certain amount, upon approval, you could get 0% financing for so many months. New Mr. Tia likes to do that. He opens a finance account, and pays it off before the certain months are up.

So we get the tv home. New Mr. Tia starts measuring and figuring and leveling to get the tv just right on the wall.

Did you know that when you buy a flat panel tv, you also have to spend almost another hundred dollars on the wall mount? And lo and behold, we bought the ONLY tv that required a ridiculous size wall mount. The holes on a standard flat panel are so many inches apart, but we bought the tv that requires a wall mount for holes that are many more inches apart. So we go back to Wal*Mart.

Ugh.

Of course when you have a return they have that nice person at the door that greets you and gives you a pink sticker to indicate that it is a return. We of course cannot go to electronics to return said wall mount, but we have to go to the conventional return line that was seriously stretched to the other entrance of the store. I waited in line while New Mr. Tia went to electronics to see if they even had the wall mount we needed. When he came back, I still hadn't moved in line. There was only one cashier at the returns desk. We saw a faint glimmer of hope when another cashier came to her aid only to help about two, maybe three people and then return to her post of doing nothing but swinging keys and looking official.

We finally get to the sweet little lady that was so beaten down by the overwhelming amount of returns. She asks if we would just like a credit back to the account in which we used to purchase the item. We say sure. I love that now when you return something you don't have to pull out your credit card, they have it on record.

We go back to electronics. They don't have it. So we leave and New Mr. Tia says he is going to Home Depot to look for one. Nothing. Lowe's. Nothing. I get on Target.com and that's right. Nothing.

So we decide to give up for the night and assemble the tv on the stand and set it on the new chest we got.

Then we turned on the tv.

And we see a tiny green dot smack dab in the middle of the screen.

Next morning New Mr. Tia calls the company and they say a pixel is out and it is not covered under warranty unless a certain percentage of pixels are out. So guess what we did?

Head back to Wal*Mart. I decided to get a pedicure. Yes, Wal*Mart has pedicure people. Again, another dumb idea. I still have a nice scab from where my cuticle was yanked from my toe.

New Mr. Tia returned the tv and asked if he could just exchange it for a different tv. They told him it would be better to just return the tv and go back to electronics to get the new tv and do seperate transactions. Again, they just credited the account back.

We decided on a different tv with the standard wall mount measurements and the cost of the tv was cheaper and the quality of the product was better.

I was walking around looking at the new gps systems and accessories when I hear New Mr. Tia's voice. He doesn't deal well with bad situatins and poor customer service.

Upon approaching the cash register the girl says his account is not valid. You know when you apply for a store charge account, they give you a receipt with your account information for you to use until your physical card comes in the mail? And you can use that receipt over and over and if it expires before you get your card in the mail, you can give them some information, they can pull it up?

Not at Wal*Mart.

Supposedly, your receipt is only valid for 24 hours and we were passed the 24 hour period. They could not pull up the account information and said we had to wait until the card came in the mail. EVEN MANAGEMENT told us that.

As New Mr. Tia's face got more and more red, I asked the lady, "you have a $... sale in front of you and you're telling us that we can't get it on the deal you are offering us and we have to wait? That is ridiculous. I have never heard of a store doing such a thing."

So now what happened? I applied for the financing so we could get the tv and everyone was happy.

But now, I'm back to boycotting Wal*Mart. Starting tomorrow. I have to get a few things today and don't have time to go back to Target. And Target doesn't carry the things I need.

In other topics...

Anyone watch the Grammys? Or is it Grammies? Anyway, How do you feel about them turning the music on during Kanye West's acceptance speech? And they wouldn't turn it off until he said that it would be in good taste to turn off the music when he started talking about his recently departed mother? How could they think he wasn't going to say something about her?

a time to repent.

Not until I moved down here have I had such a deep loathing for Wal*Mart. Down here, the store is completely different. Matter of fact, every time I go back to my hometown and I visit the Wal*Mart there (because Target is too far away), I notice the difference. Believe it or not, there is a difference. Up north, the cashiers are friendly. They converse with you. The lines are basically bare... EVEN at Christmas time. Down here, not so much. I dread the Wal*Mart down here. The cashiers are rude, the stores are messy and down right dirty. One time, I went to get some things and spent more time waiting in line than I did actually shopping. One of the items I purchased was a 6 pack of beer that I contemplated opening while in line. Apparently, in the town I live in, there is an unwritten rule that if you consume a product while in the store, it is not considered stealing. Sure, I have opened a soda while at the store, but at least I still have the cashier scan the empty bottle. But really, folks, nothing makes me want to throw up more than when I'm looking at accessories for my bathroom and I come across an eaten apple core that is all brown and mushy sitting on the shelf next to the display of bath rugs. Ew. I have made a silent resolution to not shop at Wal* Mart anymore. The kicker is, if I drive on the right road, I can find 3 Wal*Marts within MILES of each other. And they are all the same. I have come to peace with the fact that I am willing to spend the extra dollar and drive the extra miles to go to Target where the store is clean, the quality of the product is better, and well, they have a Starbucks. Sunday, I thought would be a quiet day at home. New Mr. Tia was sick with some bug that he is convinced his mother passed to him via the telephone. I was tidying up the house and putting off vacuuming until he woke up. He asked what we were going to do and I told him I thought he could use the rest so I didn't want to plan anything. He decided to act on my recent nagging of rearranging our bedroom. Yes, I just admitted that I nagged my husband. You see, we have a television in our bedroom. It sits against the side wall on his side of the bed. Since New Mr. Tia usually falls asleep before I do... and he snores, I like to watch tv to fall asleep. However, when he rolls over, I can't see the tv. I can't really bring myself to push him over. Because when he rolls over, he usually stops snoring. Can you feel my double edged sword? I just think we should move the tv to a more neutral place where we can both see it equally. Rearranging the room should be cake right? And cheap, right? Have you ever met New Mr. Tia? We spent our Sunday afternoon driving from store to store to store looking for a lingerie type dresser/chest to match our bedroom furniture since our bedroom furniture is discontinued. We also were out pricing flat panel tvs that we could hang on the wall. All I wanted was to move a few things in the room. Our tv is fine. But now, different plans have been made. After visiting Best Buy, Target, Costco, and a few other stores, we didn't have any luck. Afterall, we were just pricing things. Not buying them. We were pleased that all we spent was money to fill up on gas. Then yesterday, I got the text message... "Wal*Mart has a 26" flat panel with a built in dvd player for $..." So we went. I could feel my shoulders tensing as we walked in the store. As we made our way towards electronics to look at the merchandise, we passed the furniture. And guess what we found? For a good price. And it was good quality. Real wood. Not laminate. We both were in awe that we found what we were looking for and more for a cheaper price and a better financing deal at this place. We wasted our Sunday afternoon looking for something that was right in our backyard the entire time. Sorry, Wal*Mart. (side note: while we were looking at the tvs, I heard the loud speaker... "attention Wal*Mart shoppers, registers 23 and 25 are now open with NO LINES. I couldn't believe it myself)

This is a tribute of sorts

When I first moved here, I had a really hard time. It's almost been 18 months and I still am having a hard time, but that's a different post for a different time. I was going through a song and dance with the state to get my massage therapy license so in the mean time, I waited tables and bartended at a restaurant. I remember it well, it was my second week of work and my last table of the night. Two girls walked in and sat in my section. They were so sweet. Bright smiles and contagious laughs. After I served their dinners to them I remember saying, "Thanks for being so friendly. You girls have really made my day. As a matter of fact, you are really making me miss my sister." I said this because as I watched their interactions, it reminded me of me and my sister. I told them that my sister was due in a few weeks with a baby and I wanted to be with her badly. It was nice to see them and talk to them because I was still fresh to the area and really, wasn't sure what I was doing here. They made me feel better. Fast forward a year. Again, my second week of work, but at my new salon and spa. When I don't have any clients, I walk around the salon and nail room and talk to clients and offer complimentary neck and shoulder massages while they wait for their colors to process and their nails to dry. That's when I saw her. The girl from the year before that was in my restaurant with her sister. She didn't remember me at first. I approached her and offered her neck and shoulders some lovin'. And again, she had the big smile and the contagious laugh as she talked to her nail tech. Then she started asking me about myself. I told her we'd met before. When I jogged her memory a bit, she remembered. It was a joyous reunion. Since then, this girl has become a regular client of mine. She and I know each other. I know her husband's name. I know about her childhood. I know how much family means to her. She has said on more than one occasion that her family is her rock. I think this is where she and I connect so well. I LOVE my family. I miss my family. I talk to my sister several times a week. She and I have conversations that I guess only sisters can understand. We laugh and we cry together. I'd talk to my brother probably about the same amount of time, but he's very busy and will be for the next two and a half years or so. To have siblings like I have, is the best gift ever. They are my support and my rocks. Their spouses and their children are just as wonderful. I'm such a nerd, I have tears welling up as I type this. My parents are the best. Not only do I have a great mom and a great dad, my mom remarried to a wonderful man who loves me and my siblings as if we were his own. We are so fortunate to have a "bonus dad" like him. I'm grateful for my parents everyday. Words cannot describe the love I have for my family. I miss them all the time and especially as of late. If only every kid could be as lucky as me.

Say You Want a Resolution Well You Know...

Happy New Year, Everyone! How was your holiday season? Good? Good. New Mr. Tia and I went to our hometown in Western New York and spent time with both families. It was joyous. Hardly stressful. We flew out of an airport about 3 hours away from where we live because a) we saved almost $300-$400 by flying out of there b) I have family there so we didn't have to pay for parking or a hotel and c) it was a direct flight. We came home on New Year's Eve and spent the Eve with my aunt, uncle and their two girls. My aunt kept asking what my resolution for 2008 was. I'm not one that is big on resolutions. I used to write pages after pages of things I would do differently for the new year and of course, I never followed through. A lot of times, I never set realistic goals for myself, hence the failed follow through. I have, however thought of some things that I can do this year that I can achieve. Drink more water. Water is so good for me and sometimes I don't feel that I am drinking enough of it. I do notice a difference when I drink more of it. Focus on my new career. I just started a new job and I love it. I get frustrated at times and I have realized that my frustrations don't help matters. My new philosophy is "Tomorrow is a new day". Self Preservation. Early to bed, early to rise. Just returning from a week away, I have gotten into the habit of sleeping in and staying up late. Having healthy sleeping habits can help me to be more alert to get through my work day. Along with the preservation, I am also going to focus on my self confidence. I have been struggling with this since I have moved here. My best friend finally told me that I cannot expect others to perceive me as confident until I am in fact, confident. I have had a hard time at my new job with that. I went in yesterday with a new attitude and I am hoping my project works. One day down and it has. Follow through on things. Everytime I go out of town, I get this bug in my butt to get home and get on the stick. I want to reorganize, clean out the closet, clean clean clean... you get the idea. Thanks to my parents, I got a brand spanking new dated organizer complete with a task master that I can use to help me get this stuff done. Spend more time with my iPod and my digital camera. They deserve more lovin'. And of course... BLOG MORE. I know I have talked about this before, but I really am going to try. We'll see how it goes. I wish you all a wonderful 2008. *side note: See that big space in between the title and the beginning of the post? That happens whenever I start a post and save it to finish later. How can I stop that?