Finally.....

OK, here they are. Yes, there are only two of them. But, it's kind of like a before and after kind of thing. Good god......thank you Jen for being my driver or I would have ended up passed out in the parking lot! :)

Too funny for words.........

Birthday dinner #2

Last night was celebration number 2 for the Hellofachick birthday weekend. Went to a phenomenal Japanese restaurant in Tradition. The sushi was great, the duck incredible, and the company - my family - better than any other. So, obviously I had a good time. Thankfully it was not a late night since I was already exhausted.
Then, tonight is the final culmination with dinner at my brother's house. That's him. He took all the other pics since my Dad is the worst photographer! So, after tonight, I can look back and have incredible memories of this weekend. Considering everything else going on in my life, this was a welcome distraction. Definitely puts everything in perspective. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?
Still waiting for Jen to email me the pics from Friday evening when I was WAY over-served. Obviously I am anxious to get them!
One more pic....the one at the top.......this one I personally hate but it is what it is!

Better than it was........

They came this morning to fill in the gaping holes in my yard and now the worst part is over. The next step is having to sod the back now. Great. Add that to the ever-growing expense list!
So, as promised, here is the backyard as it is now. Hard to see the giant mound that is now the drain field but I'm posting them anyway!

The day after...............

It never ceases to amaze me how in a relatively short amount of time, involving cheap booze and a lack of food, you become intoxicated! Of course, I jest.
We started out at the Mojo Room, which is for a little younger crowd. That wasn't the problem. The a/c was cranked to approximately 60 degrees. And that's ok when there are hundreds of sweaty kids dancing around and drinking. However, for the elderly (us, since we are def. not the demographic of this particular club!) we chill a little easier and after a few free drinks, took the show on the road to our old standby and favorite, Harper's.
How to describe Harper's.....think of Cheers, add a blue tint from the smoke, no one in there is nearly as attractive since this is real life and not a television show, but it is the place where you can go, no matter how long it's been, and still know the bartenders, still have decent, salt-of-the-earth people to help you pick out songs on the jukebox. Jennifer and I have spent many a night in many a club, piano bar, tiki bar......you get the picture! But, we always come back to Harpers. I think you could actually show up in your pajamas......like boxers and a t-shirt.....and you would still be viewed as fashion-forward. We love that place!
So, birthday celebration #1 was a success, albeit a tad early when it came time to go home. Blame the old chick who can't drink like I used to. Again, that may be a good thing!
I don't remotely have all the pics since everywhere was as dark as a witch's lair and no amount of photography trickery was going to work. However, the ones Jen took, or rather random people in the bar took of the two of us, should be good. Just waiting for her to email them to me!
Tonight's celebration consists of this incredible Japanese restaurant out in Tradition with my Dad, his friend, my brother and his wife and I am looking forward to it. Tomorrow, the three day festival this has become involves going to my brother's and having dinner with him, Xiu Li, and Mom. Mom has promised me a carrot cake which is my favorite!
So, the pics I will post will be of some of my gifts and as as soon as I receive more, they will be posted as well! There will be pics tonight but perhaps not as entertaining as last night's!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!

Yes, I'm not only back, but tootin' my own horn about my birthday. Going out tonight so I plan on lots of drunken debacherous (is that a word?) photos to post ASAP! :)
Infinite thanks to Shumpy who posted my HNT pic since I was unable to do so. Also, thanks for making my birthday awesome. You are the man and I know, since that's how you roll.
So, need a nap since I never got enough sleep last night and there's nothing worse than celebrating your birthday yawning before you do shots! Esp at my age!

Half Nekkid Thursday

Today's HNT has an island theme in hopes of a Florida Jimmy Buffett show soon.

Internet issues

Hey y'all Shumpy here posting for Hellofachick. She's having internet problems today. So I'll be doing the posting for her for a bit, as needed.

Backhoes and piles of dirt........

Today began the construction on my new drain field. For those of you not living in the sticks like me and who don't know what it's like not to have city water and sewer, it's a huge pain the the ass. not to mention expensive. But, after years of use, things break. The joys of home ownership!

I'm going to post a few pics because the sight of a backhoe in my driveway is actually funny, especially if you had any idea how narrow and weird my driveway is!

Anyway, things are good here. I'm happy in a way I haven't been in........well I can't remember. My birthday is Friday. I have wonderful friends and family. I'm as giddy as a school girl. Lots of reasons that shall remain unmentioned since it's no one's biz but mine. However, a suppose a lot has to do with me figuring out what I want. I suppose that's all a challenge for anyone. Kind of like figuring out what you want to do when you grow up. Easy in theory, but harder once you are thrown into this big, bad world.

I need to find a home for Delilah, my min. potbellied pig. Petunia isn't going anywhere. But I can't deal with this pig in the house biz since she's the equivalent of a two-year-old walking around with a diaper and a bad attitude. I'm constantly cleaning up after her. It's a losing battle. I just want to make sure she has a good home. I tried putting her outside with Petunia but that didn't go over so well. It wasn't Petunia with the problem, it was Delilah who is 60 lbs., not 200! Go figure.

Anyway, I think I'm going to find something to eat. Lunchtime here and I'm starving. Later! :)

Race day!!!

Waiting for this to begin is torture! Go, Jr.!
Gonna be a good race.

Friday night.....

So, I'm sitting here on a Friday night doing nothing except programming my new cell phone. Such excitement.....how I do it I don't know! I am, however, looking forward to next Friday which is my birthday so I'm hoping to get my ass out of the house and have a good time.
Last year's b-day bit the big one. I basically didn't have one....well, I had one, but did nothing for it. That was not my choice!
Not the longest post in history. Still trying to catch up on some sleep. Someone has been keeping me up the past week yakking on the phone! I am NOT complaining one bit. It's a very good thing.
I will write more tomorrow. I am hurt no one said one thing about my HNT pic!
*sniff*

Valentine's Day HNT!

Wow, showing a little more than I bargained for but I'm not even half nekkid! So, enjoy!
Why do this? Why not?

Never cease to be surprised!

So, I'm sitting here and emailing and texting and im'ing like the loser I feel like yesterday. Anyway, finally heard from my friend Shumpy in TX. We chatted online and then talked for three hours on the phone. I felt like I was 15. And my point to all this is that I have missed my friends so much. And having to explain why I basically disappeared and whatever is not an easy thing. Good thing that people are extremely understanding and have been so supportive and wonderful.
I'm sure I sounded like the wicked witch bitching about things but he just listened patiently.
See, we have "known" one another for a while now but have never met in person. Mostly due to the distance between TX and FL. However, he happened to be at the Jimmy Buffett concert in 2006 and we didn't even know. Oh, to go back in time.
Thanks, Shump for taking the time. You're the best!

Who cares what the title is on this???

So, another day and certainly not another dollar. This situation is ridiculous. But at least I get plenty of time to contemplate things and get back to myself which is the basic reason I am not in my marriage anymore. When you lose yourself, you have nothing to offer the other person and if someone knows how to not do that, I would love the input!
I am starting to figure out what I need in order to get back to me. Definitely not something that happens overnight. But I will get there. I always land on my feet.

Life changes too quickly......

So, yes, it's been a long time since I have taken the time to write anything on my blog, and there really is no excuse other than laziness.
Let's see, the last thing was most likely how happily married I was and that I was some warped Cinderella but apparently I forgot all about those damn shoes and I'm now separated from my husband. What happens next, they don't hand out a manual for that kind of thing so I can't begin to say.
I have my two dogs, he took the other dog. I have my house and that's about all. However, I suppose I do have a shred of self-respect although it's lonely but that will pass. Kind of the pull yourself up by the bootstraps thing. You know?
That's the update. I will write more later since I don't sleep too much of late. It's strange sleeping in an empty bed with the exception of my dogs and they tend to hog the covers......hey, it's no different than sleeping with a man! :)
And don't worry, I am not going to turn into some man hater. That's just not me.

Another week

So, C (husband) and I did a thing for the HSTC this weekend for the Girl Scouts and we volunteered to take Petunia, my precious pig, for show and tell. Well, he (C) has been telling everyone that she's about 65 pounds. Well, being that I'm the one that plays with her and feeds her rotundness every day, I knew better. So, we have to get said pig into our Tahoe to get to the event. Iggy and Lola, our iguanas, were already to go, they are a travellin' pair, I tell ya! We take them everywhere and obviously, weight with them is not an issue.

But, I digress! So, Petunia, who HATES anything resembling a harness or leash has to be lifted into the back of our truck. I laugh now but no one was laughing on Saturday morning. There was a lot of squealing however and not in a "Deliverance" kind of way either! We hoisted her into the back and even covering the back in plastic (she tends to poop when she is in the truck) it was not a 1/4 mile before she let loose and so the remaining 30 miles we drove with eau de farm sinking into our clothes.

She did great with the kids (she likes to bite them because she doesn't like them!) and when it was all said and done, we wanted to weigh her because my husband was finally convinced that she's a porker. Keep in mind she is a 9 month old potbellied pig that we adopted from the humane society as Animal Control picked her up as a stray.

We thought we could get her in the wagon behind the golf cart and drive her to the building so we could weigh her. Nope, not happening. Thankfully, with the help of two AC officers, we got her on the scale. (insert drum roll...........) 132 POUNDS! Holy pig, Batman!

She is now on a diet!

My loving husband installed a fabulous faucet in the kitchen yesterday since the previous one which was 20 years old was completely shot due to the great well water we have. I've never been so happy in my life. Doesn't take much these days! Thank you, honey! You are the best!

I posted some pics from Saturday and yesterday taken with my BlackBerry. Should have all the kids including the iguanas on the porch taking a dip in the hot tub that is not hot due to a shot heater, but most loved it, only Sam who is blind in one eye didn't like it a bit. Lola also was not into swimming and sunk like a rock when I put her in. We are hoping that she's preggers and will soon have lots of eggs!!!

So, that's it for now. Gotta get a new dryer. The motor in this one causes it to sound like a jackhammer so I have to get all the drying done before Chris gets home since it drives him up a wall and I don't blame him.

Enjoy the pictures!

Virginia Tech Tragedy

I don't have much to say about what happened this morning at Virginia Tech that has not already been said by the press however, the only thing that comes to my mind is that my heart goes out to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives as well as those who have been injured. It is a sad societal marker when something like this happens on what feels like a regular basis.

Monday, monday......

So, I don't know what the heck is going on with the weather, but it's freezing here! We finally had some rain yesterday but not nearly enough and then it got VERY cold last night. It's April, for pete's sake! Last week it was 90 degrees and now if it's past 55 degrees it's time to turn the a/c back on again! The poor iguanas are freezing again. No wonder they are in a foul mood. At least the pig is a lot tougher when it comes to temperature changes.
Taxes are due tomorrow. Good thing ours were done months ago. So, today I am in the process of finishing up the thank you notes and cleaning the house.
Oh, and we now need a new dryer. The motor on this one is on it's last leg. Add that to the ever-growing list of things we need and can't afford.
"Meet Joe Black" is on tv so I'm going to take a break and watch it while I eat my lunch. That reminds me that I need to go on a diet. I am determined to lose 20 pounds since I am fat. I took one look at our wedding pics and decided that I am too plump for my taste so it's time for slimmin' down. Oh joy. I can hardly wait.
Tomorrow is Amie's birthday (sister in law) so we will be going out to karaoke to celebrate with her and get her drunk! :) Isn't that what family's for?

Easter already!!

Hard to believe that it is already Easter weekend! Yes, since the holidays I have been buried up to my neck in wedding planning, but goodness, this year is flying by!

I am currently still up to my neck in writing our thank you notes to all our friends and family who were so thoughtful and generous to us on our wedding.

We finally got rain last night. I can't tell you the last time when I was able to fall asleep to the wonderful sound of raindrops on the skylight in our bathroom. It was heavenly although apparently we were sleeping so soundly that when Chris' on call phone went off due to an emergency (twice!) neither one of us heard a thing until this morning. Not a good thing!

Now it is a rarity for the phone to go off during the middle of the night but when it does, it's an emergency that requires Chris' immediate attention and usually a trip to HSTC in the middle of the night. Hey, it goes with the job! Anyway, he took care of what he could when he got to work this morning.

So, I have been seriously thinking of going back to school to do something different. At the moment, I am enjoying the fact that I don't have to work thanks to Chris but at some point, I will have to re-enter the work force. When this happens, it would be nice to have a career that I am excited about, hence the going back to school idea. I need to do a little more research and see what interests me.

We have a new iguana, Worf, that we brought home last week. He's pretty beaten up from the females that were sharing the cage with him at his previous home so he's got his own area with Sam, our other female, on the porch and he seems to like it. That is as much as a 6' injured iguana with a really bad attitude can like anything. He's never been very domesticated so Chris is working with him a little at a time so I can eventually get closer to him since he scares the crap out of me. He gets Chris with his tail on a regular basis and leaves quite a welt when he tries to defend himself. He has a really badly injured toe that we are hoping won't fall off. I taped it the other day and he seems to be doing ok with it, however, I don't know if I got the tape on it in time. I will take some pics of him and post them on here. Will do them with Sam in the picture so you can see the disparity in size between the two of them.

OK, back to writing my thank you notes. My hands are cramping which is why I take breaks to type and do something else with my hands other than hold a pen and write thank you notes which, to me, are all starting to sound the same! Aaarrrrggghhh.......hard to make them sound original. Any ideas would be helpful!

Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here we are! Finally married and all the stress and planning was well worth it. The ceremony by the river was perfect. Florida weather actually cooperated! The ceremony went by too quickly but everything was exactly as it should have been.
This is Chris and I right after we were married and before we started drinking! You should see the pictures of the cake cutting!
Anyway, I have hundreds of thank you notes to get out and a house to clean so I'm gonna get right back to it but I thought I better post this ASAP! Email me if you want the link to the others.