random thoughts... all free today

A picture's worth 1,000 words

Saw this on Kristina's blog and had to add it here.  Cuz lately this is exactly how i feel.

Happy Sunday,

~h

We remember you...

I'm not much of a my-spacer but this really hit home for me.  Please share with everyone you know.  We need to remember all these men and women over there fighting for US whether we agree with it or not.  They deserve all we can give and our support means the most of all.

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=9485746

God bless,

~h

eating my slice of humble pie

and lemme tell you.  it's pretty freakin bitter.  i can only liken it to the experience of accidentally getting a taste of any standard stick of antiperspirant.  eeewwwwwwwwwwwwYUCK.  yes, it has happened to me, and no, i have no idea HOW.  but those of you out there that have had the same encounter with your favorite brand of odor/wetness protection, raise your hand if you're sure.  (sorry, i HAD TO)

Main Entry: hu·mil·i·ty

Pronunciation: \hyü-ˈmi-lə-tē, yü-\

Function: noun

Date: 14th century

: the quality or state of being humble

anyway, the subject at hand.  humility. if you are ever feeling pretty darned cocky about your self image, try this exercise and it will be SURE to knock you down about 10 pegs.  post a profile to one of those online dating sites.  i don't even have to be specific about which one, a google search will give you more than you could ever imagine.  but let me tell you, i'm feeling very much humbled and ready to give up on this entire venture.

WARNING:  this is a little background on the whole internet dating so you may want to skip ahead to the real guts of this post

online dating after my first divorce was sooooo easy.  i was 26, what most people would classify as cute and was ready to get myself back out there.  I was very very nervous because I was now a statistic.  Divorced.  With a child.  Who would want a girl with that kinda baggage (and no, i never consider my kids baggage, but you know how SOME people are)  so off i went into internet dating land.  skipping along that yellow brick road of the internet superhighway.  ruby slippers polished and ready to paint the town red.  as a single mom it made sense.  i could peruse all sorts of men from the comfort of my home at 3am in my pjs.  what's not to love?  all i had to do was post my picture and my inbox was flooded with all sorts of interested suitors.  some of them looking for their next good time, some weird and creepy, and still a good majority were normal people, just like me, knowing they wanted something more than bars had to offer and thought this would be a good way to find it.  i had a great run of online dating.  i dated A LOT of men (that doesn't mean SLEEP with them, shit, gimme some freakin credit) and i met a lot of duds and others that were interesting individuals but not for me.  but the entire experience was definitely positive which is why i'm trying it again.

well anyone that knows me well knows that i met mr. norm via an online dating site.  yes, we were living together a short 3 months after meeting and married after 5.  we definitely rushed into things that we shouldn't have.  and yes, we are divorced so not such a happy ending there.  would i do it again?  probably not.  the rushing into it part i mean.  i will never regret it because we have jackson and we love him soooo very much.  the shining spot of our 5 years together most definitely.  and norm's relationship with connor is a good one.  he was the dad that connor didn't have in michael and for those two things alone i am most greatful that i ever met norm and that we did indeed decide to marry and create this little family.  he can be a dumbass sometimes and drive me to the brink of madness but i do owe him for giving me my sweet jackson and for being connor's dad.

so onto the real guts of this post.  internet dating this time around kinda sucks.  i'm 33.  divorced TWICE now and have two kids.  so let me tell you a little bit about what men (aged 27-40) are looking for these days according to the many profiles i have perused in the last week.

1. young (21-29) and built like barbie doll (but THEY can have "a few extra pounds")

2. no kids (but THEY can have kids, that's ok)

3. no previous marriages but serious relationships are OK (but THEY can be divorced or separated)

4. someone that works out every week (hello....i'm lucky if i get to SLEEP regularly in a week)

I'm sure there are more but those are the ones that stick out the worst for me.  And the ones that don't care about your age and waist size, whether you have kids or have ever been married and really don't care how many times a week you work out or not are NOT the kind of men that i'm attracted to.  I realize that sounds incredibly shallow of me, i truly do.  But i believe you have to have SOME kind of physical attraction to the person you are with.  everyone has a different idea of what is attractive and I GET THAT.  But holy smokin' aces people, cut me some slack.  I'm not out there winning any beauty pageants but I think i do alright.  Well, I DID until the past week.  Now i feel like i could really use a glycolic peel, liposuction, maybe some breast augmentation while i'm at it.  Maybe THEN i would be considered suitable for this dating crap again.  Oh wait.  probably not.  cuz i suppose i would have to disown my kids and claim amnesia when it comes to the exes.  Not a chance in hell of that happening so here i am.  eating my humble pie.  I bet with enough ice cream piled on top, it might not be bad at all...hahahahaaaaa.  it's just quite a blow to the ego and it sucks.

just so you know, i signed up a little less than 2 weeks ago.  i have as of this writing received 6 responses.  SIX.  And for reasons that i don't care to go into, i haven't taken any of them up on their offer to converse.  am i being too picky?  probably but i refuse to settle.  some of them i don't think even READ my profile before they shoot off an email.  but whatever.  dating sucks.  i'm ready to pack it all in again cuz this shit's depressing.  and i'm not even technically dating, ya know?  when the hell did i get so old and unattractive?  feelin my age and my situation this evening people.  MOST DEFINITELY.

off to find me some fixadent and bengay,

~h

new puppy pics

None of these are quite as tack sharp as I would like them to be.  Shooting in early morning light and of course had quite the wiggly subject.  :(  Enjoy anyway!

Connor telling Jet one of the commands he has learned.  The good ole stand-by "sit".

Look at that face, ain't he SWEET?  (except when he's chewing my coffee table, eating my plants or digging up my yard. grrrrrrrr)

As you can see, the boys love Jet.  But Jet loves Jack with a kinda "i love you to death" exuberance.  He's always licking, jumping, biting or scratching him.  And yes, BOTH my boys have some serious bed-head going on.  :D

SUCH a sweet face.  This is one of my faves.

Jet showing his understanding of another command.  "wait".  He is not allowed to eat his treat or his food until I release him to do so.  And that would be one of his favorite commands. "that's a gooood boy."  :D

Again with the "wait" command.  He's really good at it but sometimes he has to try to sneak a little bit.  He's at the point now where I don't have to tap his nose and give him the command, i just have to say it and he'll back off.  Smart little guy this one.

You can almost see the look on his face.  "my GOD when will she just let me have my damn treat?"  I made him wait longer than usual this time because I was laying on the ground trying to get good pics.  He was such a good boy and very patient.  :D

Just another shot of his cutie face.  It helps A LOT when he's been very naughty and I am very angry with him.  We'll get there.  I just don't know if i'll have any furniture or a yard left when we do.  :(

Enjoy the pics, happy ALMOST friday!

~h

sad news

Found out last night that my Uncle Joel had passed away yesterday.  My Aunt came home from work and found him.  He was quite a bit older than my aunt but I had no idea that he was that sick.  I know he had been struggling with miscellaneous health issues but all related to just getting older.  I have very little news as of right now.  Not sure exactly what he died of or when.  When my mom called me last night, the police were still at the house investigating and my aunt and cousin ian were with my mom and dad.  Annie was on her way into town last i heard as well.

This is such a shock to me.  I didn't know my Uncle Joel very well but it still hurts to know that he is gone.  My Aunt Kathy and Cousins Annie and Ian are in my thoughts and prayers today as what is to come will be so hard for them to endure.  Especially after the death of Annie's Little Will not even 2 years ago, this is a blow to this family that will be even harder to take.  Keep them in your thoughts and/or prayers as they will surely need all the help they can get.

I'll update as i can, there is just such little information right now.  Go hug the ones you love best, you never know when that one hug will be your last.  God bless...

~h

Boys live here

How you can tell boys live in your home:

Yes.  That's Darth Vader taking a ride on my fruit bowl.  Boys definitely live here.  :D

Happy Tuesday,

~h

Mom's Overture

OMG I was CRYING i was laughing so hard!  :D  Make sure you have your sound turned up!

Enjoy!

Mom's Overture