John’s best friend, Jeff, has a tag line that we find ourselves repeating every now and again: “Strikes and gutters.” I always laugh when he says this because it is normally associated with a shoulder shrug and a raised beer pint. As I reflect on our past year, I can’t help but have the same notions.
Strikes: landed a great job at a fabulous company, great trips to Hawaii, North Carolina, Chicagox2, Lexington, Louisville, Nashville, Paducah, New York Cityx2, bought a new car, finished off furnishings to our now 2 year old home, wonderful neighbors and friends, Michelle (my sister in law) college graduation, Bob (my brother-in-law) wedding, sucessful surgeries, our sweet Stella growing up and learning new tricks every day, the engagement of our closest friends, many new additions to our closest friends and the general happiness of all those who mean the most to us.
Gutters: my father’s affair, subsequent move in with his mistress and now divorce of my parents, illnesses of our family members, my dearest, best friend’s alcoholism that has lead to the dissolution of our friendship and the strain on others.
Gutter: 2010
Strike: 2011!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Stella is one!
We can't believe that a whole year has flown by with Stella in our lives! We celebrated with peanut butter puppy ice cream for her and a round of Stella's (beer) for us. Here are some of the highlights in pictures:
Seriously, you put me in a hat!?
Yum! Puppy peanut butter ice cream!
It was a "ruff" party!
Seriously, you put me in a hat!?
Yum! Puppy peanut butter ice cream!
It was a "ruff" party!
Monday, August 16, 2010
The other woman...
After 39 years of marriage, my father stepped outside of his marriage and the vows he promised to my mom and God. He moved out and in with her the day before we were told. She, a divorcee of 3 years, is 68 (who looks well into her 70's in my opinion) and lives in Austin. They met at a UT class. She needed someone to talk to about her daughter’s melanoma scare. Funny, he didn’t attend ONE of my doctor’s appointments when I had melanoma tumors removed from my back as a little girl – digressing again. My mom is one year into her retirement after 40 years of a dedicated career to the school system and saving all of her life for what were to be the “glory years”.
Three weeks ago my mom got a strange feeling – why is he drying his hair at 5AM to take myself and John to the airport? 6 months of phone records revealed her worst fear. She pursued him in the beginning and it took off from there. The records showed their contrived phone calls early in the morning and clearly when their rendezvous would take place - mid-afternoon - and then he would come home to my mom – kiss, hug her and pretend that nothing was going on. His own sick fantasy. How long would it have gone on before he would fess up we wonder? My mom called her from his phone and she emphatically said, “Hi!” To which my mother responded, “Hi! You have been calling my husband. What is the nature of your relationship with him?” Cowardly, she responded, “Sorry you have the wrong number.” A returned phone call went straight to voicemail. This person knows what she has done is wrong and won’t even give my mom the respect of admitting wrong, but then again she clearly has no respect for herself, marriage or the implications of her actions.
One of the calls was on the morning of our anniversary. We met my parents at church and then went to brunch where he pontificated on the years of marriage and what we should learn from them. How can someone do that when just 4 hours earlier you are talking to your mistress?
So we will rebuild and move on – without him. So many questions that will never be answered, so much pain to deal with, so much hate to battle, so much he will miss out on. May God have mercy on both of their souls. Let evil find each other and stay out of our lives!
Three weeks ago my mom got a strange feeling – why is he drying his hair at 5AM to take myself and John to the airport? 6 months of phone records revealed her worst fear. She pursued him in the beginning and it took off from there. The records showed their contrived phone calls early in the morning and clearly when their rendezvous would take place - mid-afternoon - and then he would come home to my mom – kiss, hug her and pretend that nothing was going on. His own sick fantasy. How long would it have gone on before he would fess up we wonder? My mom called her from his phone and she emphatically said, “Hi!” To which my mother responded, “Hi! You have been calling my husband. What is the nature of your relationship with him?” Cowardly, she responded, “Sorry you have the wrong number.” A returned phone call went straight to voicemail. This person knows what she has done is wrong and won’t even give my mom the respect of admitting wrong, but then again she clearly has no respect for herself, marriage or the implications of her actions.
One of the calls was on the morning of our anniversary. We met my parents at church and then went to brunch where he pontificated on the years of marriage and what we should learn from them. How can someone do that when just 4 hours earlier you are talking to your mistress?
So we will rebuild and move on – without him. So many questions that will never be answered, so much pain to deal with, so much hate to battle, so much he will miss out on. May God have mercy on both of their souls. Let evil find each other and stay out of our lives!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Maui was Wow-ie!
John and I recently returned from what we are dubbing our "second" honeymoon, a week in Maui. This past spring, while doing some daunting yard work, I asked John, "If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?" He responded, "Maui". I, subsequently responded, "Bora, Bora." Randomly the following week one of our preferred hotel's emailed out a special on room nights in Maui, so I started checking into it. Side note - John's USA Today newspaper at the hotel he was staying at for work was highlighting Bora Bora. A sign? I think so!
A great deal, coupled with my 30th birthday, we decided Maui it was! We spent a week on the island hiking to waterfalls, snorkeling, snuba-ing, shopping, walking the beaches and of course drinking one or two of those yummy tropical drinks with cute umbrellas in them.
Here's my top 10 list of the trip:
10.85 degree weather - we went there to cool off from the Texas heat!
9.Edamame puree dip - try it, you'll love it!
8.Not getting sunburned!
7. Polynesian Luau at The Grand hotel
6. Fresh warm banana bread from a hut on the road to Hana
5.The colorful flowers everywhere that smelled fantastic
4.Sunsets every night from our fabulous balcony
3.Being upgraded to a deluxe suite 25 feet from the ocean upon check-in.
2. A floating cabana over the infinity edge pool that looks at the Pacific Ocean all day the day of my birthday
1. No ESPN Sports Center on the TV!
A great deal, coupled with my 30th birthday, we decided Maui it was! We spent a week on the island hiking to waterfalls, snorkeling, snuba-ing, shopping, walking the beaches and of course drinking one or two of those yummy tropical drinks with cute umbrellas in them.
Here's my top 10 list of the trip:
10.85 degree weather - we went there to cool off from the Texas heat!
9.Edamame puree dip - try it, you'll love it!
8.Not getting sunburned!
7. Polynesian Luau at The Grand hotel
6. Fresh warm banana bread from a hut on the road to Hana
5.The colorful flowers everywhere that smelled fantastic
4.Sunsets every night from our fabulous balcony
3.Being upgraded to a deluxe suite 25 feet from the ocean upon check-in.
2. A floating cabana over the infinity edge pool that looks at the Pacific Ocean all day the day of my birthday
1. No ESPN Sports Center on the TV!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Stella - OCD?
As many of you know, I am a self diagnosed OCD'er. I can not move past picture frames (hung or displayed) crookedly, same goes for unfolded blankets, potted plants etc. The biggest obstacle for me is pillows. Something about pillows being "out of order" drives me nuts!
Ever since Stella was a tiny pup, she has navigated away from messing with the pillows on the couch as well as our bed. Last night I found her here:
Notice that not one of the pillows on our bed is out of place (well maybe the one in the back, but whatevs)! Way to go Stella - you're a mommies girl - I knew it!
Ever since Stella was a tiny pup, she has navigated away from messing with the pillows on the couch as well as our bed. Last night I found her here:
Notice that not one of the pillows on our bed is out of place (well maybe the one in the back, but whatevs)! Way to go Stella - you're a mommies girl - I knew it!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
We made it!
As we celebrate our first anniversary of marriage this weekend, I reflect on the past year. Not unlike anyone else, we saw a lot of ups and downs, times of uncertainty and times of celebration over the past year. We are stronger for all experiences we have had so far and are loving the path we are on. We made it!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Loving my job!
I am one of those rare people in life who has always known what they wanted to do in life - event planning - and I am still doing it and loving it! I work for an amazing company that is thriving in this downturn - which makes things super fun! They have restored my belief in the workplace, in people and that you should do what you love and love what you do - no exceptions. What a difference 6 months makes! Here is video highlight of our latest project:
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