Here it is! The new and improved Real World Mom! Purple is my favorite color, can ya tell? 
Special thanks to my talented guy, Tim, for all the work he put into making this theme exactly what I wanted it to be! If you ever have a WordPress dilemma, he’s your man!
Tim: It’s perfect and I love you!
Happy 4th of July!
Send me a cup of java!And it feels so good! 
Ok, minds out of the gutters! What I mean is, at this time yesterday (11 a.m.), I had already been at work for five hours. Today, I’m off, and I’m sitting here in sweat pants and one of Tim’s t-shirts. Ahh!
My first week at the new job has been good overall. It’s nice to be out in the world again and–best of all–making a little money!! Though being on my feet so much and the odd hours are a little more difficult getting used to than I thought they would be. Guess turning 40 does, in fact, have some impact on my body, if not my mind!
There is one woman at work who I have some issues with. For her sake, I’ll refer to her as “Gnatalie“. (As her new name implies, she is an annoyance, but a rather small one in the scheme of life.)
Gnatalie has recently been promoted to a level slightly above minion, and I’m afraid it’s totally gone to her head. Since I’ve seen this same thing happen to really nice people, I’m trying to give her some time to deflate on her own before I get my pin out and help her with it.
She’s having a grand old time giving orders and kissing the manager’s asses. (Hello? Stupid? You’ve already got the promotion. Knock it off already!) So, when she gets too close to me, I use my fly swatter and gently swat her away. For now.
Today, I’m catching up on the things I haven’t had the energy to do all week. My Google reader is empty, I’m actually writing a post, and I’m on load #2 of laundry! Think I’ll even clean something! Later, I’m planning to take Madison and my new book out on the patio and just chill in the sun!
Tim has been a total sweetheart and 100% supportive. He’s been dealing with the daily stuff around the house, pampering me with dinner and chocolate milk, and not letting me do anything I don’t absolutely have to in my free time. I’ve been reminded everyday just how lucky–and loved–I am! I love you, Ubu! ♥
Send me a cup of java!
An excerpt:
“Why You Mean So Much to Me”
I love you because, where I am dark, you are light. I love you because you shine that light into my darkness every day of our life together.
You make me laugh when I’d rather cry. You make me smile in spite of myself.
You give me all of you, freely, with kindness, sincerity and love, every waking moment.”
How could I not be completely and madly in love with a man who can tell me these things?!
It’s not the paper or the ink that make it mean so much. It’s not even the words really. It’s the feelings that are conveyed–straight from his heart. Along with the realization of how very fortunate I am to be loved in a way I never dreamed possible.
Ok! Enough of the sappy stuff!
Scrolling Saturday was created by Melissa at Such Simple Pleasures (my newest “stalker”!) and Coleen from Manners and Moxie. Go show these talented ladies some love, and let ‘em know I sent ya!
Send me a cup of java!I’m feeling loved this week! I’ve been tagged again–and again! First by Colin at Life for the “Knowing Me, Knowing You” meme–go say hi to this great guy! And then by Ash at Paisley Goddess for the “Refrigerator” dare meme–take a minute to visit her and let her know I sent ya!
KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU
Copy this entire list of questions and change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then tag and pass it along to other blogging friends. Let’s see how well we can get to know one another!
1. What is your occupation? At the moment, I refer to myself as a “Domestic Goddess”.
2. What color are your socks right now? White (and I’m only wearing them because it’s Winter and I’m freezing!).
3. What are you listening to right now? My computer (it’s loud) and the washing machine (refer to #1).
4. What was the last thing that you ate? If I could remember, I’d tell ya.
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes. (You didn’t ask if I can do it well though.)
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? That’s easy, purple.
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My friend/sister, Vicki.
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? He’s freaking AWESOME!
9. Favorite drink? #1: Coffee; #2: Diet Pepsi.
10. What is your favorite sport to watch? Naked male mud wrestling (this should produce some interesting Google searches, eh?). That is a sport, right?
11. Have you ever dyed your hair? A time or two…
12. Pets? Yes. Oh, did you want to know what? Well, I think you all know Madison!
13. Favorite food? Pasta, I could eat it every damn day.
14. Last movie you watched? “Maid in Manhattan”.
15. Favorite Day of the year? Any day that doesn’t involve a crapload of stress or bull$hit!
16. What do you do to vent anger? Write. Cry. Or both.
17. What was your favorite toy as a child? See #4.
18. What is your favorite, fall or spring? Spring. New life, Spring Cleaning… @@
19. Hugs or kisses? Depends who they’re from!
20. What kind of pie? Don’t really like pie. But I can make ‘em pretty good!
21. Do you want your friends to email you back? No. I so thoroughly enjoy writing emails so they can be ignored. Don’t you?
22. Who is most likely to respond? Me, myself or I.
23. Who is least likely to respond? Jimmy Hoffa.
24. Living arrangements? My guess is that my living was arranged by my parents? Am I close?
25. When was the last time you cried? Last night when T told me I had to finish my dinner in order to get dessert. I’ll have the same tantrum again tonight.
26. What is on the floor of your closet? How long have you got?
27. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? Haven’t decided who I’m going to torture tag just yet.
28. The friend you have known the shortest amount of time that you are sending this to? That’s easy–Paisley Goddess!
29. Favorite smell? My man, fresh from the shower! Mmm!
30. What inspires you? My insatiable desire to be Root, biotch! (Just for you, T!)
31. What are you afraid of? Bugs. But T found a cool way to help with that, a Bug Sucker! (It’s on my birthday wish list!)
32. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? I love to be cheesy!
33. Favorite car? My Oldsmobile Intrigue. It was black, cool looking and fast!
34. Favorite cat breed? The kind that says, “Meow.”
35. Number of keys on your key ring? 3? 4? 5?
36. How many years at your current job? I’ve been a “Domestic Goddess” since I was 18. Before that, I was in training.
37. Favorite day of the week? Friday. Goes back to the days of school and waiting for the weekend.
38. How many provinces have you lived in? Who me?
39. How many countries have you been to? Does the one I live in count?
I am going to tag:
Judy, Ash, Kelly and Jill.
As always, you do not have to participate, the choice is yours.
Maria at Immoral Matriarch: Catechizer left this meme open for anyone, so I tagged myself!
Here are the instructions and my answers:
A) Each player answers the questions about themselves.
B) At the end of the post, the player then tags 2 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog. (But, like Maria, I’m not going to tag anyone, I’ll just leave it open to do if you want to.)
Ten years ago:
- it was February 1998
- I was selling PartyLite
- I was living on Walnut Street in Pennsylvania
- I was 10 years younger than I am now
- I had no idea what I was in for
Five things that were on my to-do list for today:
- laundry
- dishes
- try to keep up with my ever-expanding Google reader!
- change the sheets
- work on my new site
I enjoy:
- taking photos
- reading
- learning
- gardening
- blogging
What would I do if I suddenly became a millionaire:
- buy a car (don’t have a particular model in mind, just something that runs would work)
- put money away for the kids
- get T some really cool tech-type toys
- pay off the home of a family that’s like my own (I’d have to be real sneaky to get away with it)
- hire the meanest divorce lawyer I could find to kick the stbx’s ass!
Five jobs that I have had:
- jewelry sales
- auto parts delivery driver (high school)
- receptionist at a veterinary hospital
- Yankee Candle store manager
- front desk supervisor at a Gold’s Gym
Five things that people don’t know about me:
- I’m shy
- my favorite color is purple
- I love chocolate
- I am generally an optimistic person
- I believe that coffee is it’s own food group
Tim, the mucho-talented author of The Inflatable Soapbox™ (and my ‘other half’) honored me with the Excellent Blog Award! He said some cool things about me, you can read it all here, “First Blog Award!”
Here are the 10 newest recipients of the Excellent Blog Award:
As my humble way of thanking you for your friendship, your support and the way you always make time to keep in touch–as well as the enjoyment I get from reading your blog everyday–today’s “You Light Up My Life” award goes to Kim at Jogging in Circles. If she’s not already on your daily reading list, please go visit her blog and see why she should be!
Send me a cup of java!
I’m borrowing this idea from Jill at Caffeine Court–how I love that name–and her blog, so please be sure to stop by and say hello! What a great way to get to know a little more about each other!
Jill wrote:
“I’d like to do a little roll call. If you don’t mind would you please state your first name and the state you live in. You can give more information if you want.”
Some info about me:
Seventeen months ago today, T asked me to move in with him. I was already spending every weekend here, and those weekends were getting a little bit longer all the time (but never quite long enough!). I’d leave work early on Friday, take Monday off, or leave from here on Monday morning to go to work, etc. (At the time, I lived two, very long hours away.)
Leaving here to go ‘home’ was always very difficult for me. I didn’t want to be away from T for a few hours, let alone a whole week! I’d cry half the drive back to PA.
Then I’d call T to let him know I’d arrived home safely. Hearing his voice and knowing we were so far away from each other would usually get the tears flowing again. (Bless that man for putting up with my emotional side!)
On Sunday, September 17, I was here for the weekend (as usual), and I had taken the next day off from work so I could have extra time with T.
If I remember correctly, he and I were out on the back patio drinking our coffee (still one of our favorite things to do in nice weather), when he asked me if I’d move in with him.
At first I was afraid I’d heard him wrong! It was just too good to be true! But, I did hear correctly, and I think it may have taken me a whole second (or two) to accept!
God knows we’ve had some major ups and downs in this time, but, we’ve managed to face them–and deal with them–together.
So, today, on our 17-month anniversary, I am feeling quite sentimental. I still think of those long, lonely drives home. When I had to force myself to go in the opposite direction of where I really wanted to be.
I’m so happy to be able to share my life, every day, with this man whom I love with all my heart!
Warning: Author is in the midst of a serious case of PMS. Proceed at your own risk!
On the plus side…
Happy Valentine’s Day!To my kids, D, M, S & B~ You guys have amazed me from the day each of you were born, and you continue to do so to this day. I am very proud of all four of you for being the intelligent, caring individuals that you are. I’m very lucky to be your mom, and I love you very much!
To T~ On our second Valentine’s Day together, I can honestly say that I love you more now than ever before. You’re the best ’significant other’ and tech support a girl could ever hope for, and I am beyond blessed to have you in my life!
To my blogging friends~ Thank you for all the support, kindness and friendship that you’ve shown me. By reading your blogs and exchanging comments and emails, I feel like I’m getting to know a lot of you, and it’s like I’ve got an extended family out there in the blogosphere!
