What do you get when you’ve been consumed by change and grief and stress and transition?

man.

does it seem like the last 6 weeks or so have been rough over here at Brokedown Palace?

It does to me. and I haven’t gone back and read through the posts…but I just offer up an apology now. Why you come here and read, those of you that do…I don’t know. Maybe it’s to just stay in touch with my life. Maybe it’s for the occasional wit that drips forth. Maybe it’s totally by accident and you thought Misti Ridiculous was a porn star…wow. SOOOO sorry bout your luck there. But for whatever reason, or rhyme you came to be here…I know for a fact that the last few weeks have been juuuuuuuust  slightly less fun than a trip to Auschwitz.

sorry.

Happy pants are on. Hormones are in check. (even though the moon is full, the crazy is at half a glass) Life it seems…has air that is easier to breathe. That makes me happy. Other things have been making me happy as well. Wanna list them? Okiedokie!

1.) Ludivine. The new restaurant that my high school friend is a partner in. Seriously. it is all I’ve been thinking about!

2.) my new salon. I worked and sweated and toiled at that place on Sunday, cleaning, moving, cleaning, moving. one of my managers said, “thank you so much for being here and working. you are so cool for doing this.” and immediately my response was…”i live here now. this is MY salon. so this is what we do.” and that was different. and it felt ok.

3.) my roommate. she makes me laugh every day. she understands that this house has only held me and my crazy. and that there is plenty of room for her and hers. and that someday soon…we WILL see the top of the dining room table.

4.) facebook. I sleep with my phone. it is my alarm so it lays in the bed with me, facedown. On the occasional night that I can’t sleep, I roll over and look at my facebook from my phone. This morning, early, when the rains came and cooled everything off…I realized why I love Facebook so much. I’ve always ALWAYS wanted just one big house. Or commune. where everyone I loved could live. and I would have immediate access to all of them whenever I needed or wanted. Facebook is that house. and I unabashedly love it.

5.) My family. By no means are they #5…at all. But I’ve actually got to spend some quality time with them over the past few months and it just makes me all the more grateful to have them. I hate with my whole heart the miles that separate us. But I hate with my whole heart the miles that separate ALL of us. (see #4) it’s just been really lovely to have facetime. I’m going to Arkansas for Thanksgiving this year. I’ll get to cook. and Blitz with my sis! seriously twisted stuff that I’m soooo excited for!

6.) Fire. I’ve sat in front of a fire twice these past few weeks. This weekend, we shall do it again in my back yard. There’s something just delicious about being bundled up and huddled up by a roaring fire. Double extra credit mental health points if you’re surrounded by friends and a smore.

7.) Bruce Springsteen. Did anyone watch the HBO documentary? I have to say, I’ve always always always harbored a crush on this man. I think it was even before Courtney Cox got plucked from the crowd to dance with him…but maybe that was it. We all wanted to be her. anyways…I’ve been downloading his music lately and I have to say…it just makes me happy. . . “tramps like us baby we were born to run”

8.) empathy. I think I have the gift of empathy. I do. there are so many people around me that are hurting and in pain these days. clients. friends. and I feel it so strongly when they are in my chair, or in my company. I know it’s part of my job to listen and to console and sometimes to even counsel. There are days that it wipes me out. drained dry. But I wouldn’t trade this for the world. perhaps it’s what I was put here to do. my own mission work. today a client left my chair feeling better about facing her father in laws funeral…and that makes me happy.

9.) new friends. I’ve made a few at work. there are a few that seem to be walking around me…hedging their bets…and that’s fine. the more I know, the more I think maybe that’s REALLY fine. but there are a few that make me laugh. engage in banter. help when needed. WHEW!

10.) these crazy ass cats that are all curled up in my bed. the wind has shifted. the moon is full. and it looks like a sale at Koslow’s in my room. yeah, that makes me happy too.

I’ve been going since Thursday of last week…had an amazing dinner with Gert and Joe at Ludivine. AMAZING.

Friday was Fall Fest and the fam was in from Arkansas…lovely sitting by the campfire surrounded by friends and just enjoying the night.

Saturday was a FULL day that also included turning a clients ends pink then having to correct said color and still get out in time to head back to the Frontier for family pictures. Thank the LORD my mom and sis shopped for me because I had nothing to wear in the color scheme. The photos are going to be stunning. I’ll post when I can. After pictures, we took everyone to eat dinner then swimming at mom’s hotel. I had Karly, Delbert’s kiddo. Then my niece Ashlyn was with us, as we were filing out into the hall to head to the pool my sis said, “I feel like Michelle Dugger”

yup.

Sunday was as follows: get up and get ready…really ready not normal Sunday “ready” then take shop vac to my new salon because they’re deep cleaning. Drive to El Reno to get cupcakes from Gert’s house. Back to the city and stop and buy a few products to use as baby shower game prizes since I forgot to go to the supply house when it was open during the week. drive another 3o minutes to Darci’s house and help host Baby A’s shower. Finish up shower then drive back to OKC and head to the salon. Stay and help deep clean for about 3 hours. Meet MGirl and watch some of the Colts game then peace out early due to exhaustion.

Today I went to a color class on the color line that my salon uses. It’s not what I know, so I’m starting from scratch. Brain tired. Make weekly deposit in bank, then home to work on laundry and other household chores…instead I laid down for a teensy tiny little nap and then FLOP. three hours later, I’m up! Mandrea and I headed to a going away dinner for another girl …now…

NOW I’m home. Mandrea and WayneBryan are here. WB brought wine. This is why I love having a roommate.

My entire month of October looks like this. I don’t know how often I’m going to be here. I know..I do it to myself. This is the way I live. I love it. I’m ok with it. I just wanted to stop by and tell you that I feel comfortable about my work. I’m excited for my new week. I’m working on getting organized and financial software bla bla bla. Bits and Pieces. it’s coming together.

That’s it for me kiddos. I’m going to make sure I have something clean to wear then I’ma peace out. Hope your week is fun and happy.

It’s those magical few weeks of the year when my best friend and I are the same age…Gert turns 39 today! Happy Birthday! We’ve said it over and over but it’s the longest, most successful relationship of our lives. I am humbled by her grace every day and think how LUCKY I am to have had a co-pilot, co-conspirator, a witness to my life…

We dined at the new fabulous place in OKC called LUDIVINE last night. Our friend from high school is one of the owners and man oh man are they doing things right down there. It was an amazing meal. Amazing service. Down to the glassware, which just knocked my socks off. If you’re local? GO. If you’re coming to visit? GO.

also? Go over and send some birthday lovin‘ to our girl. It is, after all, her day!

Huzzuah and Halakaleem! Happy Friday!

Just one morning I would like to wake up and not immediatly start to worry.

I hope my clients show up. I didn’t call and I doubt the manager talked to the receptionist about calling to confirm.

I need to call the plumber about my leaking toilet.

Bla Bla bla

It makes no sense because we had a great evening last night. Mandrea and WayneBryan were here, dinner, glass of wine, watching tv and baseball…it was just relaxing and pleasant. Mandrea and I got up and went to yoga and got Jamba Juice’s oatmeal which is her favorite. I have to admit, it’s pretty dang good. So the evening was great and the morning was pleasant and yet…the crazy worry voice is working overtime.

So. I look forward to the morning when I awake sans worry.

It’s humpday, people! Let’s get to humpin out there! happy happy and Halakaleem.

I think today FINALLY cleared the funk from my brain.

The second week at the salon, and it got painted this weekend, cabinets were installed. Less chaos. Less. = Happy Misti Ridiculous.

I got a lot accomplished with the house. I need to clean the carpets, deep clean the carpets,  and then perhaps I can rest a bit. or at least my mind will ease up.

I’m really getting excited about the upcoming social events…just kind of let go of the crazy and started to wrap my head around everything.

one of my regular clients found me today…which just shows how great my former salon and the employees are for telling her. that was a nice thing to end the day on.

I’ve given myself a hungry headache. Going to defrost some Santa Fe Soup and make some jalapeno cornbread for dinner…do a little laundry perhaps and settle in for some paperwork and tv watching.

but I just wanted you to know…I feel better. I do. I think that Rance dying, and seeing Boyd again would have buckled me without anything else happening. But add the quit smoking and the working on healthy living and getting a roommate and quitting a salon and starting a new one AND turning 40?

it really is a wonder…

i’ve really just got too damn much on my mind. too much to think about to write here daily. work. bookwork. finances. trying to organized the house, which it’s needed organizing, but fitting another person into the equation has forced the hand and trying to get it done is making me nuts. I dont have much space it turns out. October is my busiest month socially, it always is…I’m not getting to do what I normally do because there’s just too much to do. the toilet is leaking. pretty severely leaking. but  I don’t have time to wait around for the plumber to get here.

Some things to look forward to. Fall Fest is this Friday night.  Family is coming in. But I dont have any time to do their hair this trip. and we’re having family pictures on Saturday. and I have nothing to wear so I have to go find something. Darci’s baby shower on Sunday. Gotta make the punch. Next week is the Halloween parade and my annual Smores & Whores party. SO the house has got to get organized and prepped before that. I have a bartending shift the day after that. My birthday party is the next weekend…Halloween weekend. It’s 80’s theme so I have to find something to wear for that.

honestly? if I could chunk it all and just go away? I’d do it.

but all this would still be here when I got back so I might as well deal with it now.

first step? Coffee. and a side of Grateful. That’s what I’ll have for breakfast.

after all, I already survived week one. it didn’t eat me…it tried but it didn’t.

giddyup.

I went to bed late last night. Later than normal. I had the windows up on either side of my bed, and the rains came. Rolling thunder, cool breeze that required snuggling under the covers AND quilt. At one point I had Kikimama at the head of the bed in her spot and the two black men at my feet. If I ever get any more animals, I’m have to get a king size bed.

But it was nice. My mind was racing at all the chores and things I need to do today. So I read until it quit racing. Turns out it takes three quarters of a Nora Roberts book to quell the running list. I remember today that the banks are closed. I’m already going to Sams with Bonusmom. I have tomorrow morning to go to the supply house and get what I need for the week…I just needed to stop the voices long enough to hear the conductor.

Gert is throwing me a birthday party! I’m starting to get excited about it. I have no idea about any of it other than the date. Which is fine by me. It’s later in this month, so my actual birthday is still open. Deciding what to do…Now I’m deciding what to wear for my party! Yay!!! I do have a most excellent personal shopper that I can call on.

My boys in Talequah are doing better. I’ve had contact with both of them this week. Which, in turn, sets my heart at ease. There is still a gripping…a vice around my heart for them. with them. We are just connected that way…and once something has been opened it’s hard to close it. We have ebbed and flowed in and out of each other’s lives over the years…but this time I refuse to leave. So…anyways. They are getting back to some strange form of normalcy. Life does in fact, keep going. Strange as it seems.

Must have more coffee. Meeting Bonusmom today to shop for Fall Fest which is this Friday night! Yay!

Happy Monday, ya’ll. This week is going to kick last week in the hiney.

Kizz told me so.

The Learning Curve of Boothrent.

maybe I should write that book.

everyone has asked me, “did you love it? how was the new place? the first week?”

no. no I did not love it. I didn’t really even like it. at all. every day was stressful. everyone is so into their own stress from working under the construction process that only about two or three even paid any attention to the fact that I was there. the sign got destroyed by the hail storm, and will be replaced soon, but this means I’m chasing my clients down the street. Figuring out how to do all of it is a little crazy. a LOT crazy.

but I survived the first week. and have a nice little deposit for tomorrow. and the next week will be better.

I’m in a funky mood. Not bad. Not great. Perhaps just tired. so I dont really have much to say other than thanks for the good thoughts and the support and the brunch and the lovin.

you make me better.