To do(ne) list...

1.) Last week we wrote about what we have never done…this week write a list of 22 things you HAVE done. (inspired by Sellabit Mom)
2.) Write about the last item you looked for. Why did you need it?
3.) Something that scared the Hell out of you when you were a child. (inspired by Mama Sick)
4.) Describe something you did with your spouse when you dated, but that you’re now “over”. (Inspiredby Scary Mommy)
5.) Do you have little ones dressing up for Halloween? It’s time for a costume share! What are they going to be?


I totally was NOT gonna do this list thing, but as I think about it, it's the prompt I'm most excited about this week (true writer's block, ya think?) I think those of you who know me will find some surprises in there :-)
So here goes!


In my 35 years, I have...


1.) Been robbed at gunpoint TWICE when I worked in banking (had to lead with that one-it's a doozy!)
2.) Loved someone for the wrong reasons.
3.) Loved someone I shouldn't have.
4.) Said things I wasn't proud of, especially when I couldn't take them back.
5.) NOT said things I should've...especially when someone's life was about to be changed.
6.) Had 2 unexpectedly difficult births, both C-sections
7.) Stolen someone's boyfriend
8.) Had a friend who was a boy and thus a "boy-friend" but nothing more
9.) Replaced the roof on a house, shingles and all
10.) Owned at least 9 dogs in my lifetime, but 0 cats (because I used to be HIGHLY allergic)
11.) Loved someone so much it actually did/ does hurt
12.) Read a whole book while at an Atlanta Braves baseball game
13.) Been out of the U.S. only twice in my life, once to Jamaica on my honeymoon and second to The Bahamas a few years later
14.) Been to Vegas and stayed in the big pyramid
15.) been a band nerd, only I didn't play an instrument
16.) been to Disney World 4 times in my life, the most recent (with my kids) was also the most meaningful
17.)  started a fire in my Mom's oven (and my own)
18.) started a fire in a microwave because I nuked some metal (by accident)
19.) been humiliated in church
20.) begged for forgiveness 
21.) been forgiven, more times than I deserved
22.) been blessed beyond belief to be surrounded by friends and family who love me in all my craziness!


Now it's your turn! What 22 things make your list?

Foot in mouth...email style!

The Prompts:

1.) Follow the template I copied from The Pioneer Woman without her permission and list 22 things you’ve never done.
2.) Tell about a time you accidentally “replied all” or sent an email to the wrong person by mistake.
3.) Describe a meal your spouse actually cooks better than you.
4.) Share the story behind your current Facebook and/or Twitter profile photo.
5.) Write a Haiku for Fall and pair it with a favorite Fall photo you’ve taken this year.

While I would love to make a list of things I've never done, I fear coming up with 22 would either depress me or be incredibly boring to you, or both! I might have better luck listing 22 things I HAVE done which might shock the pants off some people, but no...

My hubby does cook one thing better than me - pancakes! Not enough for a post...

I do have a twitter account, but don't tweet very often.  Don't have a clue what picture is on that profile or my FB one currently, for that matter :-)

AND, much as I love poetry, I never really understood the Haiku...I guess it could rhyme, but isn't it more about the number of syllables or something?

So anywho...

I do regrettably have one of those unfortunate, accidental email incidents. To this day, I feel terrible every time I think about it! It was so innocent and so unfortunate, and made an already bad situation WORSE.

So anyway, way back, oh about 7 years ago, I did a favor for a friend.  It involved childcare and I was totally willing to do it.  The issue arose when we had different ideas about payment.  At this point, I can't tell you what was said about it.  I honestly cannot remember.

Looking back, it was so unimportant.  I guess at the time, I was new to the stay-at-home Mom thing and my hubby was new to the "sole-provider" thing.  We weren't struggling, per se, but we had given up several "comforts" in order to cut down on monthly expenses.

My friend, on the other hand, had recently moved into a new house.  She commuted at least 30 minutes to work.  She was driving her child to me everyday to take care of .  Did I mention I lived in the opposite direction from her job? Oh, and, she also packed a full diaper bag and lunch for the child everyday.

So why I felt the need for payment, I'm not sure.  

Anyway, at the end of the agreed upon time (which had increased by a day during the week), she let me know she couldn't pay me (possibly just for the extra day not the whole week; like I said - long time ago!).  She did offer me payment in the form of gift cards.

Again, looking back, it was a really nice gesture because she thought I would really love these gift cards.

I don't remember all the details, but somehow things got all blown out of proportion and before I knew it, we were at odds.  Not somewhere I wanted to be with this friend.

I know, I know! The email...

A while later, I sent out a blanket email to invite LOTS of people to an event at my home.  Very shortly after, I got an email reply from her saying you would probably attend.

I was shocked because I thought she was too mad at me to even entertain the idea. So what did I do?

I immediately forwarded her response to my husband, adding something like this to the top...

"What should I make of this? I never expected her to respond, much less come! What should I do?"

Clicked "send" and it was off through cyber-space to hubby at work.

OR SO I THOUGHT...

I'd actually hit "reply" rather than forward! Yikes!

Know how I found out? She replied back...

"Well I thought you invited me because you wanted me to come, but I guess now I know how you really feel!"

It was a terrible feeling! I really tried my best to explain, I apologized, etc.

It turned out she couldn't come to my party anyway because she had a conflict.

I am happy to say, though, that we are friends again!

No thanks to my mouth!  Well, in this case, no thanks to my typing finger.

photo credit

Socks, you say?!

Yes! Socks!
I was playing around on Mama Kat's blog this morning and I looked at her writing inspiration prompts.
When I clicked on "Get your INSPIRATION on" and here's what came up...
"write a funny story about socks."
So you might be thinking, "how funny can socks be?"

Super funny, I tell ya! And I'm gettin' ready to (tell ya, that is)...

Way back in the dinosaur days my junior year of college, I was taking this crazy class for my major (required, no less!) called "Soil Science." I know, I know, 'nuff said, right? But I didn't get to the socks yet, so hang on!

Anyway, I had to take this stupid class and the only other person out of 200 or so that I "knew" was no more than an acquaintance.  As it turns out, I knew him because he dated my roommate Freshman year.  To make a long story short, we got assigned (randomly, by the teacher) to the same study group of 3.  As it happens, our "third" wasn't even interested in coming to class, much less an outside class study group.
So, my one partner and I got together to study and work on our first homework assignment on a Thursday night.  I thought it was BYOB for some reason (like when we were done with the work).

A few drinks in, I was a little giggly and he was laughing too (although I think laughing AT me and not with me).  At some point, I made a wager I definitely couldn't back up...

I said, "I bet I can take my socks off faster than you!" "No hands!"

Turns out, he already had such a routine down to a science and beat me by a landslide. I don't remember the wager, but most likely an additional drink followed my miserable finish in the contest.

I think it was actually his roommate who thought it the funniest...he was trying to sleep in the top bunk, but perked up to watch when I opened my big mouth with the challenge! He has reminded us about that a few times through the years...

AND, if you didn't already know, the study partner and co-sock conspirator is now my husband! That night was our first kiss, first time we held-hands, first time he drove me home (because I couldn't drive, but also couldn't leave my car on campus overnight unless I wanted a ticket!) , first time we spent the night together (although not even hand-holding or kissing was involved; simply sleeping)...good times!

All because of socks...or was it the drinks before the socks?

Falling into a new day...

This morning I awoke to an almost unwelcome chill in the air.  After all, it can be a little disorienting to wake up cold when just yesterday the high temperature was a sweltering 85 degrees!

As I continued my journey toward full awareness, my groggy mind realized how excited I was to be a little cold.

FALL WAS HERE! 

My most favorite time of the year, Fall was such a welcome change! Since I was a child it had been a season of revitalization and anticipation for me. 

A new season! Leaving behind that retched one I’d just been through.  The insane heat of summer, which, in my case, was both physical and psychological.  The agony of a heat that seemed never-ending and the emotional toll of a near-hell on earth.  

Yes! It was time.  Time for a new beginning; a new chapter in my life.

Today was a new day!

Quickly, I forced myself out of bed and into warmer clothes.  I hurried to make the kids breakfast with a side of hot coffee for me. 

I could not wait to take them outside and enjoy the nice, cooler weather of Fall.  I couldn’t wait to show them all the joys of changing colors, falling leaves, and new smells of a new season.

And I, too, was ready now to begin anew.

Today would be my first day…of a new season...a new life... a new ME.  Today I would enter the world of other single parents and widows, but I entered with hope.

Hope for healing, hope for new beginnings, and hope for new joys that my favorite season would bring!

*This post was for a RemembeRED prompt from Write On Edge.  In my case, it is a memoir from the point of view of a yet to be written character.  

Put on a Happy Face...

1.) Share a disagreement you’re having with someone and let your readers be the judge!
2.) Tell us about your song.
3.) Share a Halloween craft.
4.) Slow dancing with boys…talk about one of your first school dance experiences.
5.) I have no idea where the following message originated from, but it’s been floating around Facebook for the past week…who does it make you think about?:


Sooooo...I know I haven't written in forever...where does the time go?
I blog in my head ALL. THE. TIME.  It's just that the words in my head never make it to the page screen. I'm trying to do better; I promise! 
This week, I am making myself do a writing prompt, even though I should be sleeping :-) 
I really do feel that writing, and writing for this blog, is therapeutic for me and I enjoy it when I can find the time.
This week, it's almost ironic that that the first prompt is a writing option!
I have a "disagreement" of sorts to run by you...


My whole life, I've had to hear things like, "you're so much prettier when you smile;" or "why do you look so serious all the time?"
I've heard it from strangers, I've heard it from people like my grandmother...
Think about how that makes a child feel.
I mean- REALLY THINK ABOUT IT! How do you think a 6 or 7 year old girl feels when her grandmother says that to her CONSTANTLY?
So anyway, needless to say, I am a very analytical person, always have been, but that does not equate to unhappy.


Recently, I've had some bouts with depression, not feeling good enough, and, in general, not feeling "OK."
BUT the older I get, the more I am able to conceal some things and "put on a happy face."
I mean, really, not every John Doe on the street needs to know my business!  I'm not being fake; I'm just trying to be positive and cheerful in public.
Nobody likes a Debbie Downer, right?


So that's why I got really defensive today when someone insinuated that "putting on a happy face" is being fake.  This same person, is of a collective group who never fails to voice their "be happy" mantra.


So it seems, this person cannot be pleased.  She doesn't want to be around people who aren't high energy, bubbly, and "up" all the time, yet putting on a cheerful demeanor and smiling to mask the pain,  that's fake!


So what do you think?  Is it a crime to "pretend" to be happy or should we all air our discontent with anyone who asks?


Food for thought...