Life or something like it

Jason has set me up with a new home.

http://www.fiiirrefly.com/

Come see..it's really pretty.  :o)

I joined the YMCA.  I have been thinking about joining for a while now and since I don't have the kids, I thought I would go for it.  I did the three member orientation/personal training sessions and have a workout regimen I am going by.  I need to eat a lot more protein, so I can build muscle.  I have been going for about two weeks now.  I reallllly like it.  I went today and did the workout all by myself for the first time.  I did my legs.  It was hard doing three sets of twelve on some of the exercises, but I pushed through and felt so good afterwards.  I can tell that I have more energy and am liking my body more.  I know, I am so skinny, but that doesn't mean everything is toned and muscular.  That's my goal.  I have this picture of Cameron Diaz' shoulders and that's what I want to look like.  Anyway.  I am loving the gym.  I am one of those people that has to "go" somewhere to work out because if there was something sitting in my house, that is exactly what it would do...sit there.  I would probably walk by giving it dirty looks everyday or something like that.  I seriously doubt I would use it. 

I go in the mornings and work out with the old people.  The time that I go is not crowded, so it works out well.  I left the Y this morning singing, "...

Cameron-diaz

hurts so good!  Oh baby, make it hurt so good..."

I have been trying to get the kids on a semi-permanent schedule with the kids.  We finally had a conversation a few weeks ago about it.  I say "conversation", but as usual it was far from civilized. The kids are over there during the end of the week or the weekend and Patrick either wants to take them less or more. 

He suggested switching roles for a while with him being the full-time parent or doing an every other week schedule.  A decision was not made that night, but after thinking about what would be the best for the kids along with what our motivations were, we decided that Patrick would take the kids for two months, full-time (with some conditions), and then for the rest of the summer we would alternate weeks. One parent would drop them off Monday morning and the other parent would pick them up that evening for the week. 

At this point, Patrick is a weekend/disneyland daddy, but having them for a full two months will hopefully change his perspective and routines with the kids.  I want the kids to have the time with their dad.  I may be compensating a little too much for my childhood, but as long as Patrick wants them, I will sacrifice my sanity.  This is it though.  If he screws this up, we go back to court and I give up compromising with him.  He can see them or not, either way they will be fine.

Two months without children and the day to day.  I haven't not thought about the kids for the past year and it has been the opposite for Patrick.  I think I may have become a little codependent with my children in the truest sense of the word.  Worrying too much and controling their lives (micromanaging), which I do almost without thinking.  If all goes well, I think it will be good for all of us.  Hopefully we will have the house done and pictures posted over the next few weeks (Sheena).

More to come, right now I am on my way to the Vet.  ;o)

I arrived here yesterday after two flights.  The first was two hours and I slept the whole entire time.  The second was four hours and I barely slept. 

Misty picked me up and we met Chris (her husband) for lunch.  Then we wandered the city. I saw her work, we picked up Briana, we went to this fabulous consignment shop called Rerun.  I loved it!  Picked up a few small items to cram in my bag.  We got some sbux and perused Whole Foods which is a fabulous organic grocery store.  An Expensive  and fabulous grocery store.  I finally got some probiotic juice that Publix has stopped carrying.  *score!*

We picked up William and headed back to Misty's for a moment and she went to school.  I skyped with Jason, which was so weird to be so far away and seeing him on video.  He looked so cute and it made me miss him even more.  When Misty got home we caught up on Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice.  It was a long day and I went to bed.  11pm Orgon time, 2am Florida time. 

Misty's kids are great.  I haven't seen them in two years.  William sortof remembered me and Briana did not, but she was little when they moved to Oregon. 

What strikes me is that there is nothing very familiar in Oregon.  There are so many different shops and cafes.  Publix, Wal-Mart and Target are hiding somewhere.  None of the restaurants are the same.  The clothes that people wear are totally trendy and cultured.  I like it, but I miss home. 

Today we went to the Loyd Center Mall and Trader Joe's after breakfast at Bridge's.  Trader Joe's is a grocery store, not an urban outfitter's. I really liked the store.  It had a lot of organic choices and wasn't too expensive.  I felt very inspired for dinner dishes, but we are going out for dinner the next few nights.  Again, nothing was very familiar.  I had to ask Misty, "are these our bread choices?".  "Are these our cheese and lunchmeat choices?"  Nothing was like it is at home; it al looked like a specialty. 

We have an auction to attend this evening, which should be fun and knitting tomorrow afternoon. We are cramming a lot in, but we both love the hustle and bustle.  One thing is very clear- I have missed my friend.

I had this Stranger than Fiction moment a few months ago and this is what has become of it:

My birthday is on Sunday.  I will be 28 years old.  The following Thursday I will be traveling to Portland, OR to visit my friend Misty.  I haven't seen her in over a year.  It has been hard to have my best friend move away.  We had lived next door to each other and often hung out and ran errands together.  It is difficult, especially when you are older, to fill that void and start new friendships.  It takes time and effort to build authentic new relationships.  I have been going to my church for almost a year and have just now begun to talk with the ladies there.  I drive a lot, school and work are in Ybor, Plant City and Auburndale and I now live on the south side of Lakeland...in the boonies. 

The drive home has become a pleasant one, since I know it will take 20-30 minutes, I mellow out and enjoy the scenery.  No need to rush.  In about a month I will put the kids in daycare part-time, continuing to work my same hours unless I am working a bit from home, or dragging the kids into the office.  I have had to get a Sunpass in order to make this transition a bit easier.  I look forward to spending a little extra time with the kids until school starts in the fall and Noah starts Kindergarten.  I am seeing that they grow up fast.  I will probably be one of those moms bawling her eyes out in the car after dropping her kid off at kindergarten that first day.  The kids will then be going to separate schools.  I don't think Nora likes having her own room.  She loves her big brother and it is taking some getting used to having her own space. 

I had lived with patrick since I was 16 years old.  Before that of course, I lived with my mom.  This past year I lived alone.  I don't think kids really count, it's like having a pet in the house.  I learned my style, my cleaning abilities and the fact that I would rather not have a television.  I can always catch up with my favorite shows online.  I do weird things like cover frames in fabrics and love black!  I rearrange often and love dark colors, except in the bathroom, that is a nice shade of lavender or bright yellow.  Hmm.  This has spilled over into Jason's house.  Dark colors have spilled over into Jason's house.  Every change we make he loves, which I am glad.  The most recent is the Kitchen floor.  We put down wood type flooring and it really makes a difference.  We have a lot more painting to do.  Cabinets.  Geez.  Cabinets are no fun.  Supposedly we can spray them with paint, not spray paint that would be gross, but with a sprayer.  That will make things easier.  Slowly but surely, the house is becoming a home.  The kids play well together and enjoy helping clean up the yard with Jason.  A lot of things in the house get designated to "the shop".  I don't think we will be able to walk in there, it will be storage for so much stuff. 

Anyway.  If you ask, everything is fine.  Nothing to complain about, at least this week.  We are hiring in the friend department, though.  All applications accepted.  Must love Starbucks.  :o)      

I am down to three cake classes and will be moving in with Jason this weekend.  His Dad has been working very hard to get the house in shape before he leaves for Bike Week on Friday.  I am so very grateful that he came down and got so much done.  He is very wise when it comes to women and construction.  :o) 

Jason and I have painted one of the living room walls orange.  A beautiful orange that brings warmth to the room named "Bronze Beauty".  I have taken down so many wallpaper borders I am a flippin' professional by now.  Taking down the three layers in the kitchen made Jason very happy which I love to accomplish whenever possible.  We are not quite done, but are done enough.  The last project was tearing up and repairing the kitchen floor.  Tonight we hammered an entire box of nails in all along the boards.  I say we, but since it takes me ten swings and Jason three you can tell the ratio of his nails to mine.  I really love renovating the house.  We have plans to build a house, hopefully on the lot next door and this has given me a taste of what that may be like.  It will be fun, stressful, hardwork, and cute.  :o)  I can't wait.  I am not sure if the entire house now, including the yard, will be cleaned up this year, but I know we will keep working at it.  By then it will be time to start a new project.

There is something about the way Jason swings an axe or hammers a nail.  It is such a simple task, but you can see in his movements the experience and confidence of a man who knows exactly who he is and what he is doing.  Totally Hot.

The first day

1 comment

Sigh...Accounting.  Should have taken Basic accounting instead of financial accounting.  Although they are on the same plane, they are very different.  I made a 35 on my first quiz, got some helps from the teacher and made a 55 on my second quiz.  I attend each class, do the homework and study. I took the first exam last Wednesday and decided to wait until today (to get my results) before I made any decisions.  I made a 40% on my exam.  I would equate the scenario like this; taking financial accounting before Basic is like taking Calculus before Pre-Algebra.  Yes you can add, but can you add letters?

Needless to say, I will be withdrawing from Financial Accounting or failing it whichever will let me keep my financial aid for next semester.   :oP 

I didn't like the teacha anyways, yo!  

Jason's Dad is down from NC and Noah has really been wanting a ride on the bike.  Charley took him out for a spin on Sat.  At first they went slowly down to the cul-de-sac and turned around, but when they got back to Jason's driveway Charley decided to let her rip and take Noah around the block.  It was so fast!  It was so loud!  He has a Harley and it SOUNDS like a HOG (insert manly grunt here)!  Noah loved it and Nora kept asking if it was her turn.  :o)