As I said in previous posts, I left for my sis’s house in Arkansas after work on Friday. Got off a bit early, went home, unloaded the dirty crock pot from the days potluck, fed the cats, accidentally let some cats out, retrieved the cats, packed some clothes and birthday presents and got in the car. I had quite a bit of gas, so I figured on stopping in Tulsa and filling up.

I hit the road.

The first thing I forgot was my phone charger. I knew I didn’t have a car charger, but usually take the home/wall one with me. Flop. But oh well, had not used the phone during the day very much, so whatever. I’ll buy one when I get there.

I get on the turnpike, and call up my best good fried Reno and we commence to chat. And chat we did. My ear started hurting from the earpiece we talked so much. We covered family, and food, and relationships, and past travels and everything in between. It was delicious to have that time together. Rare stuff. But in the middle of our conversation, I hit traffic. Bumper to freakin ass bumper. For a long time. That’s ok. I liked the break for awhile…

In the middle of our conversation I say…”uhhh, Reno…I think smoke is coming up out of the hood of my car…”
Then my water/coolant light comes on. FUCK.
By this time, almost 30 minutes or more of the bumper to bumper, we get out of it. I speed up a bit, and my thermometer skyrockets to red and the ding ding ding starts. I pull over and sign off with Reno. I call Phil and freak out just as I’m about to finish, my phone ding ding dings to me that MY BATTERY IS OUT.

I’m on the phone with triple a. Give them all my info, sans any kind of mile marker. I know I was just a mile or two outside of Tulsa and as soon as you get into Tulsa there is a QT, and many truck stops and civilization. So. I just need a tow into there. Well, she takes my info and then says to me, you expired October of 07. FUCK. SWITCH ME OVER!! HERE’S MY CREDIT CARD NUMBER RIGHT NOW AND BY THE WAY MY PHONE IS DYING!!! I go to HOLD for thirty hours and then another voice comes on and takes my c/c info and we’re good. But she can’t take my info and cannot transfer me. I have to CALL BACK. So. FUCK. I call back. She’s freaking out, I’m freaking out…but she says she’s sending someone.

Meanwhile…the traffic is Nil. I think, I’m going to try this. I start the car and have on my hazards and drive on the shoulder into Tulsa right into the QT where I proceed to almost freak out of my mind.

I am shaking. Actually physically shaking. I go inside, pee, buy antifreeze/coolant and go out to my car and pop the hood. A truck with two twentysomething guys pull up and the driver says “do you have any idea what you’re doing?” I had no strength to argue his sexist remark, because in fact at that moment, it was debatable if I did or not. So he helps me, removes the cap with a tee shirt from his truck and I pour the coolant in. He checks under my car to see if it’s pouring out, it’s not. I poured an entire thing of antifreeze and half a thing of water into the reservoir. BONE DRY. FUCK. So I’m in my car and start it to check it and another guy with nice chocolate skin taps the glass and asks if I got it ok. I get out, and ask if he knows where they sell car chargers. Did I check inside? hell no. So we went inside and he helped me pilfer thru the packages and read the minuscule writing on the back and figure out what kind of phone I had and VOILA! I have a charger for the phone. Thank you so much. I pay for it and go out and plug in my phone and call Phil…but wait…there’s a note on my windshield…

“you sure are cute if you’re not taken. 555-5555”

nice.

I pull over to fill up with gas, go in to prepay, hand the girl 25 bucks and get back to my car and he’s on the other side. Yes, I am taken, and thank you for being so kind. My husband would appreciate it. He smiles and bids me adieu. Thank goodness. SO, I fill up, drive back over to go get the 7 bucks I overpaid, the phone rings and its my bonus mom who’s waiting on me in the hotel in Arkansas. I fill her in, click over to the other line and chat with Phil and decide to just take a room in Tulsa for the night and start fresh in the a.m. Fill BonusMom in on the details and sign off. I proceed BACK inside the QT and buy a six pack of Coors Light Tallboys and pay for it and leave. WITHOUT getting my money that I overpaid for the gas. good honk.

I find a RedRoofInn and settle in for a cold beer and some sleep.

hang with me people…it’s a long one but well worth the surprise ending…

So, this morning I get up at 5am, fill more water into the car, drive around Tulsa for about 20 minutes and nothing seems wrong with the car. I stop again for gas, coffee and extra coolant/water and hit the road. IMMEDIATELY, I’m driving in fog so think it’s pea soup. No visibility. flop. BUT, I make it to the hotel, get showered and we hit the Wonderboy’s birthday. PumpItUp was hysterical fun. I bounced so much on the giant moonwalk that I bounced a little pee right out…

My family is crazy with worry about this car. My dad makes some really great offers regarding the rest of my student loan that I will get paid off in November, and after about an hours worth of talk, an hours worth of online shopping, several phone calls, a drive to Fayetteville, two or more hours there…I drove home in this:
Only mine is red.
It’s brand new. A 2007 Toyota Highlander. I’ve never had a brand new car before. I’ll post pics of my actual car when I get home sometime tomorrow. . .

Holy crap people.

So much stress and excitement, it will be a MIRACLE if I don’t look like a leaper from the fever blisters. Am taking preemptive meds but one never knows!

I’m exhausted, and you probably are too after reading all of this…I’ll be back tomorrow or Monday sometime.

Huzzah to you!

This is my sister’s new car. Toyota FJ, in silver. They get it tomorrow and am DYING to see it. I love these things. I think they look like MiniCooper’s on steroids. Glad for them…something fun to focus on.

Not like we’re lacking for any of that this weekend.
Wonderboy turns 5, as I mentioned earlier in the week. All are gathering in Arkansas for the festival. It’s an Army Birthday, complete with battlefield cake, camo cups and who knows what kind of party favors??? He loves his army. I got him some cute t-shirts that are camo and say Army. One is camo with the Superman sign on it. He’s way into Superman, and Star Wars.

Maybe he IS my kid.

Think not? Listen to this…Mom takes him to get his shots for Kindergarten. This was yesterday. Apparently they’ve been working on this for a month or so, prepping him as best as can be done. “THEY” give him the shots in his leg (FREAKING OUCH!) and he melts down.

“MY LEGS ARE BROOOOOOOOKEN. I NEED A WHEEEEEEEEL CHAIR. I SHALL NEVER WALK AGAINNNNNN”

Mom says, you only have to do this now, and then you won’t have to do it again till you’re 12. (smoothe move exlax…at this point i’d just be a big fat liar)

To which he replys “I’LL JUST DIE WHEN I’M 12. AND 12 COMES SO FAST, SEE??? 123456789101112. 12!!!! I’LL DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE”

had to have his bath standing up because it hurts to bend the leg, and is gimping around the house…when he remembers it!

BWA HA HA HA HA.

Plus I have a hotel room this time, so that will be much better on my psyche.

on to other news.

Just had to practically climb the big elm tree in my back yard…..Charlotte decided to climb a bit tonight. The getting down is rough…oy vey. These cats.

The NYC trip is still in infant stages. I’m getting wierd vibes from one girl who is just so freakin needy she wears on me. But I’m sorry. I”m not taking 3 plus me and saying to Reno or Kizz, “here we are!!!” too many people. I told one girl and that’s the cut off. If only one other girl goes, then fine. But two more and they can share a room somewhere. Annoyed. I looked at flights today, they’re all about the same.

Both OU and OSU won games in the Big Twelve today. GO GO GO.

We Spring Forward this weekend. I LOVE the long days…having some light into the evening…lovelovelove it.

I can’t think of much more…thanks for the NYC must see’s. I think I did an ok time this last time I was “hosting” it was the time before that I peed on the party. flop.

I want a car ipod listener thingy for my 4 hour road trip tomorrow….hmmmm. may have to check into that. I had one at one time, borrowed from Joe Banks, and it just fell apart. which sucks because I need to replace his, not buy myself one…guilt.

Got some cute stuff at the Target tonight…loving the shoes.

Bits and Piece out.
Huzzah to you.

I know. I know. Totally cheesy title, but I’m in the fever. Planning my yearly trip to NYC…only this time the focus is around continuing education for my career, not continuing feeding of my soul. I usually spend a week in the center of the universe on a theatre trip sponsored by my university. It’s an amazing trip. If you’ve never been, or just want to go again, I highly recommend you doing it this way. It’s an expensive week, but it’s SOOOOO worth it.

I’m heartsick that I can’t go this year. The timing just isn’t right. Family obligations and such. But that’s ok. I’ll be there later in the year. I’ll be taking a color class at the Loreal Professional SoHo Academy…on Mercer St. . . where I walked bloody blisters on my feet trying to locate the space last May That would be me applying band aids to my heels on a very creative stoop…step…front of a place.

SO…I digress.

I’m probably going to have at least 2 to 3 girls with me from my salon. First timer’s to the city. What I want from all of you are your must see’s. I was a shitty shitty tour guide with little to no tact or patience the last time I did this. Thank GOD for Kizz and Reno. But I don’t want to make the same mistakes this time.

My plan is to get there on a Saturday, do class Sunday and Monday. Tuesday is actually September 11th. Everybody think what they want, “don’t fly on that day” “don’t stay in the City that day” whatever. I actually want to be in the City that day. If for nothing else but to say to my friends…I’m sorry your home got hurt. Here’s my respect and love.

THEN, do more seeing on wed and have the girls fly out then or on Thurs. I would like to stay on a few more days, get some GOOD time in with MY girls and come home the weekend.

It may prove to be too long gone from work, though September is the crappiest month of the year…will just have to see how that pans out.

SO..your assignment, should you choose to take it, is send me a list of Must See’s. I’d like to plan a little (ok. a lot.) and think some things through before it gets here. Plenty of time you say? HA I say. It’s an ever changing city. Up and coming everythings there. and you now as well as I do how fast time goes….I was humming a Guns and Roses song the other day like it was 1989….

huzzah to you all.

This one’s for my own self.
Slurp.

Watched a little Creek this morning…Kizz this one is for you!

Why is it, when we need words the most, they fail us?
Why is it, when we need to be our most fierce, all we do is cry?
Why is it, when we need to send strength cross country, all we send is ARRGGGGGGHHHH?

I know we handle and process differently. But for once, I’d like to be able to have the magic words. The magic solution. To be able to say, “Ok. Here’s what you do…” and POOF magic.

Obviously I know that’s not the case. Many times there are no words, least of all magic ones. And I know that sometimes just being a sounding board is what is needed. I got it. Sometimes, though, I think my rush to judgement, or rush to emotion come off as condecending or holier-than-thou…and it’s not meant to be.

There have been many times this year that I feel I’ve done that. Not purposly, but have come across that way. Maybe it’s because I’m away from the situation at hand and can see it at a different angle. Maybe it’s because I am removed and not RIGHT THERE. Most of the time, I think it’s because I really have no idea. Truly.

I think back to when my divorce was fresh. I was touring, based in Indiana at the time. Removed from all that was known. All that was “safe”. Wishing against wishes to be in a backyard with little league and cupcakes. My tour partner and I talked and talked and talked. I remember re-hashing many bits and pieces. And at the end of that year, I felt ok. Ok enough to go back home and actually file the papers and get it over with. Who knew that peace could be found within the walls of a Red Roof Inn in Anderson, Indiana?

Different process. Different puzzle.

I don’t know what has me pondering this…it’s been on my mind for about a month now and today I just thought I’d purge.

It’s only my second 10 Things list and Damn Gina!!, it’s hard to come up with a topic! I’m going to pause and get a steaming hot cup of coffee to kick start the creative brain….be right back.

Ok. Mmmmmmmm coffee. Totally love the stuff. Maybe that’s a starting point. 10 Things I love. Not necessarily in the order of importance.

1) Coffee. I remember my first cup. It was at a voice lesson and when my teacher offered it to me, I felt so grown up and adult-like. I think I was in the 9th grade. I accepted and choked the vile, hot stuff down. I’ve gone through the cream phase, the cream and sugar phase, the flavored coffee phase, the flavored cream phase, the splenda or sweet and low phase, and I have to say…I’m a purist. Hot. Steaming. Straight Up. I could literally drink it all day long, but am finding the older I get the more the caffene affects my sleep.

2) I love the sound a basketball makes as it swooshes through the net. The Big Twelve Tournament is here this week. The t.v. and radio are all basketball right now. My friends in high school played. I dated a boy who played, my sophomore year. He could dunk, disproving the theory that white boys can’t jump. He could, and did. Lobster however, was king of the nasty joke and the three point shot. I miss him. He’s somewhere in Kansas with 3 or 4 kids living the life. Hopefully at the 20 year reunion he’ll show himself…and maybe shoot a basket or two. Swoosh.

3) I love a new year. I love the look of a calendar that has nothing on it. No boundaries, no expectations, no obligations. Just freedom. It’s so hopeful. This is the year that I will really…fill in the blank…I love a do over and January is the perfect do over.

4) I love the feeling of a pantry that is stocked. A fridge and freezer that is bursting forth with freshness and goodies. I am not a child of the depression. Nor was I deprived of food growing up. I have no family of my own. But having a kitchen full of food…makes me feel safe and sound.

5) I love clean sheet day. I wish I could say it was every single Sunday, but it’s not. I’m not that organized. Sometimes it’s every other week, but more often than not it’s a weekly event…

6)I love the feeling of a good pedicure, especially when you have an ingrown big toenail and they fix it for you. I could have kissed the little Asian woman smack on the mouth for giving me such relief yesterday!

7)I love fresh hair. Be it a new haircut, or fresh color. It can be the same style, same thing you’ve done for a year but when it’s new it just feels sooooo good.

8)I love sitting on a porch. I love the evenings on a porch, watching the birds, or watching the cats watch the birds. Enjoying a chiminea fire, or grilling steaks. If I’m surrounded by good friends, it doesn’t get any better than that.

9)I love TiGi eyeliner. It’s the softest, smoothest stuff I’ve ever used. And it stays on!

10)I love Bearnaise sauce. I cooked steak and grilled veggies last night with Bearnaise. I could just eat that sauce by itself, sop it up with some bread. But…moderation, right? So I moderated.

That wasn’t as difficult as I thought it’d be! I’m off to work today, starting my short week. I’m going to Arkansas for the Wonderboy’s 5th birthday. Leaving after work Friday night. I hope you’re week is going well,and that you have ten things that you can IMMEDIATELY think of that you love.

I’d like to talk a little bit about Kizz’s recent post. I’ve actually read several articles about this recently. About women and money and their lack of initiative, or responsibility, or follow through. Another talked about this very thing, about if we shared our thoughts and ideas and support, we’d all be much better at money handling.

I am in constant struggle with the idea of responsible money.

There was a time in my life, I charged up credit cards without care. I let the bills pile up without a shrug. I let the student loan payments default for what seemed like eons without the slightest nod, or call, or smoke signal. I would sleep and wake everyday with this amazing load of guilt and weight and horror on my shoulders.

I have to say, those days are gone. I pay my bills. I’m not saying I’m never late, sometimes life happens, sometimes work is light and paychecks are lighter, sometimes I just forget. But nine times out of ten, it’s in the mail. Or paid online. Or taken to the store and paid there. Done. Finito.

I’ve paid down several cards, and have taken a noted interest in my credit lately. I want to buy a house. Soon. I’ve gotten rid of extracurricular cards and credit accounts. I’ve paid off more than one debt. I’m closing in on the major loan payment for school. I think I’m actually getting money back on my taxes this year.

But I have no savings.

I want to. I feel the need and urge to have something. I believe I even put it on my NY Resolution list. Time to get control over this. Too long gone, with it controlling me. That is stupid and ridiculous.

Kizz said she is sometimes judgemental about people and money, directly in response to how they look at her life and spending habits. I think this is universal. I don’t think it’s a man/woman thing. I just think it’s a human thing. We judge. We don’t judge.

I am amazed that I have lived to be the age that I am without a plan, a savings account. But…before the tsk tsk tsk-ing comes along, before the judge flings the gavel down…it’s not too late. Tomorrow is another day.

I think there are more of us out there with weirdness about money than there isn’t. And I think we could all learn amazing amounts about dealing with it if it were a topic open for free discussion. But it’s not. We’re all weird about it for some reason…Maybe we’re completely anal and to the penny because we hid the Dillard’s bill from our Dad (check) or maybe we just listened to one too many fights about money and how we never had any and how could we ever spend that much money on FUCKING CLOTHES (check) or maybe we’re just scared of numbers because our 4th grade teacher Mr. Webster made actual fun of us in front of the whole class for not understanding the times tables. (checkcheckfuckingcheck) Whatever the reason, money is a hot topic. Hot enough for Rosie et.al. to have touched on it last week. Hot enough for Kizz to talk about it this week. Hot enough.

I don’t have an actual plan per se, but I know where I’ve been. I’m not there anymore. I can see what I want. And that’s a good start for me.

Have you seen that website? Seen those quiz boxes in the corner of the screen? Well I was surfing my WW site for recipes last night and decided, “what the hell” I’ll take it. I never do that, for all the spam I’ll get telling me I suck and can not suck if only I buy this…whatever.
Here are my findings:

Calendar Age 36.3
Difference +4.2
My RealAge 40.5

Ok. That isn’t as bad as it could be, and some factors weren’t available. I have no idea what my blood pressure is. I have no clue as to what my good and bad cholesterol is. I didn’t get up and get my vitamins to see the percentage of what I’m taking.

I need to exercise more. See this post

I need to cut that list waaaaaay out.

So I’m going to ponder this awhile. I’m really a 40 year old walking around. Some days I feel it, and then some days…right back to that senior year, but smarter! HA! Maybe I’ll go thru the next month or so, and retake it. I’m heading to weigh in, and will be motivated to move my body…we’ll see.

What’s you’re age?