Jameson and David - A rekindered love

dddddiiiiiiinnnnnnnngggggggggggg...

The class bell rang.  Jameson entered the hallway looking for her beloved.  David had to be there somewhere.  She had been looking for him for the past few days.  There were only 500 people in the high school.  Surely she would see him at some point.  Maybe she would need to go out of her way to find him.

Desperate to catch a glimpse of the guy she loved for the past five years, Jameson looked up and down the halls; searched to no avail.  David was avoiding her.  She knew it.  She had done something wrong three years ago and had been paying for it ever since.

David had started seeing someone new.  A girl named Samantha.  Perhaps, Jameson could track down Samantha and find David that way.  Then he would have to see her - talk to her.  Now, where was this Samantha?  Maybe she had the same hobbies he did, maybe she was in Weld Shop.

Jameson walked down the hall and made it to the Weld Shop just before the second bell rang.  In the back was a girl she didn't recognize.  She had long, loose brown curls, and a nicely curved body.  Enough weight not to be skinny or fat.  She was a little short, but David always liked shorter girls.  Something about being able to protect them.

Jameson took the open seat next to the mystery girl.  "Hi, are you Samantha?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?  Do I know you?"

"No, I know David.  We were friends once."

"Oh, well.  He's going to pick me up from class, maybe we could all chat."  Samantha said with some concern in her voice.  She had picked up on Jameson's use of the word friend and was suspicious and worried.

The bell rang, Samantha rose to leave and motioned for Jameson to join her.  Jameson's heart started thumping.  She would finally see David again.  It had been so long since the last time.  They left the Weld Shop, but no David in sight.

They walked down a long corridor, which had a sharp turn at the end.  Would he be around the corner?  As they approached the corner, Jameson held her breath.  She had been waiting for too long.  They turned the corner together, and Jameson stopped.  There he was, with his friends.  The same friends he had always had.  The ones who played football with him and had inside jokes she would never understand.  He didn't even see her yet.

Samantha had disappeared.  She no longer mattered, therefore she was no longer there.  David's friends disappeared too.  David was now looking at her.  He smiled.  It was the same smile he had smiled five years ago.  It crushed Jameson's heart.  She could no longer help herself.  She rushed into his open arms.  David lifted her up so she was in a reversed piggy back ride.  That had always been her favorite way to hug David.

David spun them around, hugging Jameson at the same time.  Jameson stared into his eyes and knew nothing else mattered.  Their lives would forever be intertwined and their love would be there forever now that they were together again. 

David's mouth came crushing down on hers.  It felt as if the world exploded and endless possibilities came to life in the aftermath.  As their lips separated they both whispered so quietly only each other could hear. "I love you."

The End

Jameson Versus the Mighty Richard

17 year old Jameson Cartwright was not afraid of keeping her secret.  She was concerned for her best friend, Kristina.  Kristina and Jameson had been best friends since they were 6.  Kristina had been there when Jameson had discovered she had certain gifts - abilities.  Kristina helped Jameson overcome her fear of these gifts and abilities and helped her learn how to use them.

Now, Kristina needed Jameson's help.  Kristina's father, Richard, had been abusing her for eleven years.  For eleven years, Jameson had wanted to help, but wasn't strong enough.  For eleven years, Jameson watched her best friend suffer.  The pain and suffering would end tonight. 

"Are you ready?"  Jameson looked at Kristina to see her reaction.  She was ready.  Kristina had her own strength.  It wasn't magical like Jameson's, but it was magical in it's own way.  "Alright, you stay in the car.  He's going to meet me outside."

Kristina was suppose to be home at 11 pm.  It was now 2 am.  Richard would definitely be outside waiting Kristina's return.

Kristina lived at the bottom of a hill.  It was a standard two story 1980's house.  As they approached, Jameson noticed that no lights inside the house were on.  The porch light in the front was on, but that didn't mean anything.  The moon was full, extra light was not needed tonight.

"He will never bother you again.  Just have trust and faith in me.  We talked to my parents.  You will be able to stay with me after we do this.  You're 18, he has no more power over you."

Stopping in front of the house, Jameson stepped out of the car and blew out the porch light.  "Richard, come out here.  I need to speak with you."

Jameson didn't have to speak loud.  Richard appeared from the side of the house.  He had been on the side porch waiting to ambush Kristina as she walked into the house.  Jameson knew he would have pounced on accidently if she hadn't spoken.

"What do you want?"  Richard nearly hissed through his lips.  His scare tacticts worked with Kristina, but they wouldn't work with Jameson.  Not anymore.  He was so enraged he didn't even notice the light was out.  Of course, the full moon was providing plenty of light.

"I want you to listen and listen well.  You will never lay another hand on Kristina.  Kristina will never live in the same house as you again.  I will accompany Kristina tomorrow and we will gather her things and she will move in with me and my family."

"What makes you think that?  She is my daughter and she will live where I say she lives.  You are some punk 17 year old child who makes all of my daughter's decisions.  That's what will end tonight.  She will never spend time with you again."

Jameson centered all her energy above her.  She felt the magnetic pull from her body into the sky.  She felt the ground disappear beneath her feet.  She had practiced this millions of time, it hardly took any concentration.  So, Jameson had the pleasure of watching Richard's face contort into a cross between shock and astonishment, but Jameson wasn't done.  "Maybe I didn't make myself clear.  You will NOT be making decisions for her ever again.  She is an adult and she is leaving you.  She has decided to move in with me and my family.  Any other questions?"  To prove her point, Jameson lifted her arms and increased the power of the wind.

"What does this prove?  That you know how to do movie tricks?"  Richard managed to spit out between his clenched jaw.  He wouldn't back down easily.

Jameson was prepared for this.  She cupped her hands one on top of the other like an invisble sun was inside them.  "From night to day, bring sunshine into this bray."  The circular space between Jameson's hands filled with light.  "As sunshine is light as air, so shall Richard be lighter than air.  Bring him up, though his heart be down."

Jameson flattened her hands and pushed them out towards Richard.  The light spread from her hands to cover Richard's body, lifting him six feet off the ground and twisting him upside down.  Richard's face could no longer hide the fear he felt.  He finally believed Jameson was his worst nightmare.  Jameson could hurt him.  No one had ever been able to hurt him before.

"Ppppuuuuutttttt mmmmmeeeee ddddoooowwwnnnn" he managed to stammer.

"Promise that you will not be here when we come tomorrow to clear out Kristina's room.  Promise you will never try to contact her again.  If she decides to contact you, it will be on her terms."

"IIIIIII  promise."

Jameson turned the defeated man rightside up and placed him back on the ground.  His confidence clearly shaken, he turned and walked slowly into the house.  He never glanced back, he wasn't at the house the next day, and Kristina never heard from him again.

Creepy Crawlies and other things scary

"S%$t!" Hubby shouted.

As if I needed the expletive to notice the power in the entire house had gone out at the same time an extremely loud crack of thunder shook the house. 

Hubby immediately went into freakout crisis mode.  Worrying about the sump pump, house flooding, and any other major catastrophe that could happen while the electricity was out.  I sat on the couch and debated how much life the main laptop and backup laptop batteries had.  Surely between the two laptops, there should be enough power to watch a movie until the power turned back on.

Of course, Hubby won't let me just lay around.  I need to help check the sump pumps.  Ugh!  Gross!  They're in the crawl space.  I always imagine the worst creepy crawlies down there.  The cobwebs and nests make me shudder just thinking about them.  But the absolute worst part of it is the darkness.  Especially with no power, I can only see where my flashlight goes.

Unfortunately (for me) I fit better in the crawl space.  My measly little 5'3" body can almost stand in the crawl space.  My 6'3" hubby has to literally crawl.  So, Hubby sent me down there to meet my doom and the creatures who go bump in the night.

After a few minutes of shuddering preparing myself, I was able to check the sump pump.  Of course, it was full.  What does that mean exactly?  It means, hubby and I grabbed cups and buckets and bucketed out water.  After about an hour, Hubby had the surprise of his life when the sump pump kicked in as he was filling the cup with more water.  What had taken us one hour not to complete, the sump pump did in less than 30 seconds.

It was at this point I realized two things.  1. I love electricity.  2.  I am getting a battery powered sump pump for the next time this happens.

I never got to watch my movie on the laptop, but I did feel satisfaction from a job well done by bailing out the crawl space.

How do you want to go?

An interesting topic was accidentally brought up at work today by my co-worker Hannah.  We were talking about our aging grandparents and how eventually they will no longer be able to live on their own.  They will need either family or other assistance to perform their daily activities.

The conversation was fairly innocent, but it got me thinking about a topic I've thought about from time to time.  I know it seems morbid, but I hope they legalize assisted suicides in the future.  I know some of you are thinking what's wrong with you??  But I really think it should be legalized.

Think about people who are dying from cancer.  Have you ever watched someone die from cancer?  It can be an extremely slow and painful way to go.  What if the person dying didn't want to live through that?  Why should we dictate they have to?  Why should we make them suffer?

People in their 80's and 90's won't live much longer.  If the oldest living person lived until 115 years old, why should someone in their 90's not be able to chose how they die?  Of course, it should be their choice.  If they want to live to be 115, so be it.

Everyone makes different choices in this life, why not left them choose how they leave this life too?  What happened to freedom?  Where did it go?

It's illegal to abuse people or animals.  Isn't forcing someone to suffer in life abuse too?  People should have a choice and we should accept each person's choice.

Jameson's Quest Part 3

Cynthia waited quietly, trying to feel the energy inside the room. The benefit of sealing the room, is that Nazaar couldn't sense anything happening inside the room, but they couldn't sense anything outside the room either.

Jameson stood on the sink counter and removed the double spacer.  She drew her wand and put it where the spacer had been.  "What do you think Cyn?"

"We know our wands were Alexandria and Eva's and our family knew the moment we were born that we would get these wands.  Maybe they need to be together; here." She said pointing to where the double spacer had been.

"It doesn't hurt to try."

Both women took their wands and placed them together and pointed them towards the empty space.  Nothing happened.

"Wait, remember that childhood rhyme mom would have us recite?" Jameson remembered.

"Yeah, wasn't it something like...ut supremus sic subter supter (as above so below)..."

"...nostrum prosapia mos perceptum quod prospicio (our family will learn and prosper)."

Jameson's wand shot a blue lightning bolt towards the ceiling, Cynthia's sent an identical yellow bolt.  A green haze clouded the ceiling and an emptiness appeared between the spacers.

"Huh, wasn't expecting that."  Jameson huffed out.  They had both been holding their breath in anticipation.

Jameson stood on the sink and pulled herself into the recently opened space.  She was expecting darkness, but the space was lit.  There was filtered sunlight streaming in through a dust covered window at the end of the room.

"Cynthia, come up here with me.  You won't believe this."

Jameson made room for Cynthia.  They stood together on the ancient wooden floor across from the empty, perfectly made twin beds.

"Alexandria and Eva's?"  Cynthia questioned.

"I think so - I think the spell brought us here.  Wherever here is."

Together, they walked toward the beds.  Unsure what would happen, they kept their wands out and their senses sharp.  The dust was thick.  It looked like no one had been up here for several hundred years.  There was a wooden nightstand between the two beds and a closet off to the side.

As they reached the bed, they saw the reason they had come up there.  Sitting on one bed was a map.  On the other, a ring.  Cynthia reached for the map, while Jameson picked up the ring.  A slight breeze rustled the air.

"Did you feel that?" They said in unison.

Jameson studied the ring that fit perfectly on her right ring finger.  There was a pentacle on the top of the ring and three crystals set inside the bottom.  "This was Eva's.  She knew we would find it one day.  They knew we were the only ones who could find it.  I feel...stronger now...like they're with us."

Watching Jameson with the ring on her finger, Cynthia couldn't help but feel the same way.  The map had made her feel stronger the second she had seen it.  These items had been left in the open to help them.  They would show them where the talisman was hidden.  They would help protect them from Nazaar when they broke the seal on the room downstairs. 

To be continued...

Today was one of those days.  One of the days you wish you could bury yourself in a hole and not come back out until the sun comes out and the storm has passed without any more damage.

Today I learned several important lessons...

1. When the spring on the garage door breaks (which happened this morning with my car stuck in it), both must be replaced.  Apparently this is due to tensioning on the springs.  It makes logical sense when you really think about how a garage door opener works.
2. Some people just do not have a back bone and do not deserve their role in this life.
3. Prioritization and plans do not work for everyone
4. I have grown as a person and have more patience and more diplomacy than I thought.

Live and learn my friends...

Trust if you dare

I sit, listening to the piano playing on my iPod, dreaming dreams that never were; day dreams.  I have day dreams all the time.  So often, it can be hard to tell what's real and what's artificial.  I like it that way.  Although, it makes concentrating a little difficult.

Today I was day dreaming, thinking about Trust. 

What is trust?  To me, it's that feeling in the pit of your stomach or the depths of your heart - the one you believe in no matter what. 

What makes me trust someone?  Experience and gut feeling. 

Is that what makes everyone trust?  I don't know, but I am definitely a little more leery of trust than others. 

Why?  Well, people are selfish in nature and tend to be self gratifying.  Which makes them less trustworthy in my mind.  I will give anyone the benefit of doubt, but I still hold back at least a little (self preservation).

Part of learning to live is learning to trust.  If you can't trust someone, then there's probably a reason.  Look at the real reason and ask yourself if it's worth not trusting them.  Think hard.  Not trusting someone can cost you.  Not trusting yourself can cost you more.

Live to learn my friends.

Jameson's Quest Part 2

Waiting is better.  It wasn't right to risk everyone's lives.

Cynthia, I need you here tonight.  I don't want the family to know what we're doing.  Come after everyone has gone home.  I'll ask Sandra to take Connie to our place.

Why?

I have the ring, map, and Aunt Josie's hiding place.  We need to move fast.  He'll know I have everything we need to banish him before he decides to come after us.

I'll be there.

Returning to the women, Jameson could see she hadn't missed much.  A few more self assurances for Sandra and drinks all around.  Everything was winding down for the evening.  Several people got up to leave.

In a hushed whisper, Jameson told Sandra she had better stay at her and Cynthia's place for the evening.  With sad eyes, Sandra nodded.  She didn't want to see another family member die from him, but she couldn't get involved either.

After everyone left, Cynthia appeared at the front door.

Jameson was relieved to see her twin.  "Thank you for coming, we need to get the other part of the map tonight.  He's too close."

"Sis, you know you only need to ask and I'll be with you."

Even though they were identical, Cynthia and Jameson were still fairly different.  Jameson was sporty, but Cynthia had a ballerina's grace.  Cynthia enjoyed meditation while Jameson enjoyed kickboxing. Cynthia enjoyed reading books, and Jameson enjoyed watching movies.  Cynthia could see any future that wasn't her's or Jameson's.  Jameson could levitate objects.

Both could push thoughts into people's heads, which was why they were able to talk without speaking.  Together they were strongest.  Together, they had the best chance at defeating Nazar.

Nazar had been born many centuries ago.  Back when magic wasn't a superstition, it was a part of life.  Nazar had killed many people and recked havoc on many villages across the globe.  Then he met Alexandria and Eva, the last set of Cartwright twins born nearly 500 years ago.   Together the twins took Nazar's talisman and banished him to the netherworld.  But were unable to destroy the talisman.

Nazar waited for his chance to return to Earth.  He knew that while there were no Cartwright twins on Earth, he wouldn't be able to find the talisman.  Alexandria and Eva had made sure of that.  So he waited, patiently.  Waited until he saw Cynthia and Jameson looking for the talisman. 

Jameson and Cynthia walked expectantly toward their childhood bedroom.  Both waiting to feel the energy that would shift before Nazar appeared.  Both knew he wouldn't arrive until after they had located the talisman.  Inside the bedroom, Jameson showed Cynthia the double spacer.

"Why didn't we see this before?  We lived in here.  We searched this whole room."

"Sandra said we weren't meant to until we were ready.  There was a cloak put on it many years ago.  They foresaw Nazar coming back for his talisman.  They had to protect it's location."

"We better seal the room, before we go up there."

Both women drew their wands.  They made a line around the doorway and whispered the sealing enchantment.  They weren't worried about Nazar tonight.  The map wasn't what he was after, but it never hurt to be careful.

With a quick glance and simultaneous nod of the head.  Jameson and Cynthia joined hands and spoke the words they knew would be the beginning of an adventure they weren't sure they would come away from alive. 

"Aperi letho jani"

The beginning of Jameson's Quest

Part 1

Walking down the darkened neighborhood street in the moonless night, it was easy to see how someone could be afraid of this time of night.  Even with the street lights lit, there was something erie about a street that was built during the early 1920's. 

Jameson  Cartwright was not scared.  She knew she could protect herself in a way other people would find frightening.  Magic was within her; her wand was conveniently strapped to her back and Cynthia (her twin) was a 'call' away if needed.

Stopping at the familiar blue with white trim cape cod style house, an unknowing person would picture this house as the perfect family style house.  However, Jameson could see the inside was not what a normal person would call ideal. 

Looking through the large picture window in the front, Jameson noted there was a familial argument brewing.  Jameson couldn't help but wonder if she should really stop?  It is mother's day, but her mother wasn't inside.  Her mother was far far away.

Jameson paused at the red door, listening for clues to her future if she were to go inside.  Sandra was inside, crying about her recent divorce.  Sandra's ex-husband, Randy, was the normal type of cheating bastard.  It was only made complicated by the recent delivery of their child, Connie.  Sandra wanted Connie to grow up in a happy family.  Who wouldn't?

All the other family members were trying to console Sandra.  Nope, this was very normal for Jameson's family.  Tonight would be like any other night in the Cartwright household.

Not bothering to knock, Jameson walked inside the front door, removed her jacket, and suppressing a shiver, joined the rest of the family.  Happy Mother's Day wishes were exchanged all around.  Jameson thought this was a silly custom, but didn't feel the need to cause any extra stress by stating so today.

Jameson strategically took a seat at the end of the table, all the while thinking about how she could get Sandra alone for a few minutes.  Jameson was here for a specific reason, and she needed answers.  Answers that Sandra would be the most likely to provide.  The others would worry too much about the why's behind the questions.

Placing her hand on Sandra's, Jameson put forth the necessary energy and requested to speak with Sandra in private.  Sandra looked shocked, she could feel the energy and knew what this was about.  She had been expecting Jameson to bring it up sooner or later, but she didn't think tonight was a good night with all the other family members around.

Silently, Jameson and Sandra rose from the table and walked down to Sandra and Connie's temporary bedroom.  The same bedroom Jameson had once shared with Cynthia.

"I need the ring and the map." Jameson stated point blank.

"You know, it won't do you any good to be looking for that treasure.  We searched this house when we were kids.  We never found anything.  Why do you want it now?  Is it because of the dreams?  Is it because of him?  He can't hurt you if you don't have the treasure."

Jameson had gone through this argument many times before she came tonight, and she knew tonight she would win.  She would get what she needed.  "The dreams showed me where we went wrong.  The bathroom was the right place to start, we just looked at it all wrong.  The bathroom was remodeled, so the map needs to be looked at differently.  Plus, your mom's secret hideout is more important than I ever thought.  There's more to the map there.  I don't want you to get involved.  You have a child now.  He won't come after you if I get the talisman.  I'm the only one who can stop him.  You know the stories say so."

"Fine, you can have the ring and the map, but that's all.  You're right, I can't be involved.  Not with Connie so young.  I won't leave her without a mother and a father."  The tears escaped her already red-rimmed eyes and flowed silently down her cheeks.

"Connie will be fine Sandra.  You know there's no reason to worry.  Cynthia has seen your child's future and it is good.  Find solace in that.  I also need one other thing, before you return to our family.  I need to know where your mom's secret hiding place was."

Sandra looked up at the ceiling.  Jameson's eyes followed.  On the ceiling, Jameson noticed something she had been too young to notice before.  There were two spacers between one tile.  Why hadn't she ever noticed that.  "Why am I seeing this now?  Why did you have it cloaked?"

"You weren't ready before.  You can't see it until you are ready.  I didn't cloak it.  Our great grandmother did.  I need to get back to the family.  Take as much time as you need, but be careful.  You could summon him here just by looking for the talisman."

How long had Sandra known and hadn't said anything?  Why did she hold these secrets?  Jameson and Cynthia were foretold to have more strength together than any of their foremothers.  Hadn't they already proved they were strong?  Could they not talk to each other telepathically?  Were they not moving objects and casting spells since they were 5?

Jameson sat and pondered the double spacer and what lies above.  Should she go up there now?  She really should have Cynthia with her.

End of Part 1

Dream Additions

I've been told that my dreams can be rather interesting at times and I should write them down.  Well, I do write them down in a dream journal, but I've been thinking about adding some of the more interesting ones here.

From now on, you will see an occasional dream.  I will distinguish the dreams by calling my dream self 'Jameson'.  Note: any real people will be given new names in my dreams in order to protect their and my privacy.

Closet Doors...then next great adventure!

Have you ever hung new closet doors?  It sounds simple, doesn't it? Well, I'll share with you some words of wisdom for those of you who are brave enough to try and hang new closet doors.
Wisdomism #1
~Measure the width AND the height of the door (this seems rather obvious, doesn't it? It's amazing what you can miss!)

Wisdomism #2
~Put the door knobs in the same place as the old knobs (there was a reason they were there to begin with!)

Wisdomism #3
~This is a two person job. One person to perform the manual labor. The other to try and read the instructions that leave a lot to the imagination (were they written by a blind person?)

Wisdomism #4
~When in doubt...google "how to hang closet doors"

Wisdomism #5
~Folding closet doors come separately, eventhough you need two of them to have a functioning closet.  Make sure you purchase two (again this seems obvious, but it's easy to overlook)

So, how did our closet door hanging go?  Well, we didn't have anyone giving us these words of wisdom, so we learned a lot about hanging closet doors.  Yes, we even purchased one closet door, thinking it was all we needed.  We felt rather silly throughout the process, but it was a great learning experience!

Holidays

I need to apologize for not writing sooner, but it's been a busy few months.  Now that things have settled a little, I thought I would add my two cents about holidays.

Have I mentioned I'm not a holiday person?  Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person who recognizes that not all people celebrate the same holidays.  Easter really reminded me of this.  At least Christmas is near other religions holidays.  Easter isn't so much.  Work gives us a holiday on Easter, which is great (when isn't a day off great?), but I can't help that I feel a little miffed that they don't recognize other religious holy days? 

Holidays also remind me that I don't get to spend time with my family on the holidays.  Every member of my family is at least 1 state away.  Sad, but true.  I handle this fine most times, but it gets to be a little much around the holidays.  Of course, I also appreciate every moment I spend with them a little more than most people.  I recognize that I never know when I'm going to see them again and anything can happen.

What about hubby's family?  Yes, I do spend time with them, but it's not the same.  They are wonderful people and make me feel very welcomed.  It's just not the same.  I know I already said it once.

Well, that's my little rant about holidays.  Always remember that just because you celebrate a holiday, it doesn't mean everyone else does.  Walking around wishing people a happy holiday doesn't make some people happy; it actually upsets some people.

Recognize the Deserving

Today, like any normal Saturday, I was cleaning the dishes and had one of those random thoughts I just couldn't shake; I love my hubby.  I think that's rather obvious, or I wouldn't have married him, but let me explain a little of this random thought.

This morning Hubby vacuumed the living room, took the dirty laundry downstairs, cleaned some of the dishes in the sink, and filled the dishwasher - without being asked.  Of course, I had to go back and rearrange the dishes so they fit better, but he did a wonderful job.  He always does. 

Lately, I've been a bit under the weather and my hubby (who can't boil water) has managed to cook me an excellent dinner, brought me medicine, and basically catered to my every whim.  Today, while I was finishing up the dishes he didn't get to, I realized how much I really appreciate his generosity and willingness to make me happy.  Not every guy is like him.

Hold on, my dog needs something and I must cater to her every whim.  Ok not to worry, hubby came down and took care of her when he heard me get up.  Isn't he great?

I think it's important to recognize people when they do good things.  So here's to my hubby who is: a great guy, always trying to make people happy, and always doing the right thing.

Secrets Secrets Are No Fun?

Remember that song from The Little Rascals "We've Got a Dollar"?


Instead of we've got a dollar; I've got a secret hey hey, hey hey, which started me thinking about secrets.  To put it mildly, don't they suck?

Secrets are truly a double edged sword.  You feel an immense release of pressure when you finally tell the secret, but then guilty for telling.  Unfair!  I know, I know...life isn't always fair.  Then, why do people tell secrets?  Because we are inately selfish creatures.  Duh! We want to feel the release of pressure.  So we tell our secrets, and our secrets are retold (by other pressure releasing selfish creatures), and so on and so forth...

Before you know it, your secret is no longer a secret!  Can you believe it?  Your precious (my precious) secret that you wanted to keep is no longer only yours.  Outrageous!

What should you do with your secrets?  Keep them!  Find a safe place out of reach of inately selfish creatures where you can store your precious secrets. 

Where does that leave me and my secret?  Safe...in a book ;-)

You know your dining set is old when...

Oh the thrills of buying something new for your house!  It's like a double edged sword.  You're excited, because you've wanted to buy it for so long.  Yet you're sad, because you spend a lot of money on something and you're not sure it will live up to your expectations.

Ever since Hubby and I moved into our house, we knew we'd need a new dining room set.  We put it off and put it off, because we had better things to spend money on.  Well, the other day we were entertaining people and Hubby fell through his chair.  Yup, through the chair!  His face was precious.  It's the same face someone makes when they're leaning back in a chair and they pushed it just a little too far...bam!  Down they go.  It's one of the best shocked expressions someone has.  They know they won't get hurt, so it's a perfect combination of thrilling with a touch of scariness.

After Hubby fell through the chair, we deemed it unsafe for usage (for obvious reasons), and began the search for the new  set.  We had many conversations about what type of set we would get.  Afterall, you keep a dining room set for many years, and they're usually fairly expensive (I guess we won't be getting that new LED tv anytime soon).  We talked about wooden tables, metal tables, and combination wood/metal tables.

Now, I've told you before that we have 2 dogs.  Did I mention one of them eats wood?  Yes, he's very annoying special.  He ate part of our old set, our cabinets, and several other wooden things around the house.  Luckily, we have metal living room tables, with tiled tops.  Otherwise, I'm sure he would have eaten those to!

Taking the dog's eating habits into consideration (afterall we won't get rid of our dog), we decided on a metal table.  We exhaustingly happily searched through countless adds looking for metal table sets.  There's very few companies that build and sell these.  Apparently they aren't very popular for people who don't have wood eating dogs.

Finally, we found one we (oh yes it really is we) like at Ashley Furniture.  It has a black frame with tile layed under the glass top.  How perfect?!?  It even matches with our living room furniture, which is important, because the living room and kitchen are open to each other.

Now, can you believe that Ashley Furniture just happened to have a 50% off sale?  Really, how lucky can we get here?  So, we went in and purchased our set with 0 hesitation.  They told us 2 - 4 weeks until it would be ready to pick-up.  Annoyed at the prospect of waiting (don't we live in a NOW society?), but understanding that we wouldn't get it any faster; we twiddled our thumbs for 2 weeks.  Thankfully, they called just before the 2 week mark and told us it was in.  Thank you heaven!

This weekend we picked up our long awaited and highly anticipated dining room set.  The fun begins.  We are cheap conscientious with money, so we decided to not pay for them to deliver and set it up.  How hard can it really be to put together a table and chairs?  In a thruth - it wasn't hard.  It just took forever!  It took us 5 hours to put together 4 chairs and 1 table.  Ouch.  That hurt our confidence just a little.

You might be asking yourself, "Who buys just 4 chairs?"  You've got me.  I don't know.  Not us.  We bought 6.  So why pretell, did we only build 4?  Because 2 were missing hardware.  Seriously?  Out of 6 chairs - 2 were missing hardware?  I could go on and on about manufacturing processes that can be put in place to prevent something like this.  But I'm honestly glad 2 were missing hardware.  Why?  Because I don't think we could have put together 2 more chairs yesterday.  I think we would have had to admit defeat to our new dining room set.  It would have beaten us.  This way, we can say we beat it.  We put together everything we could and we beat it.  Yay to us!

We are extremely happy we purchased the new set, despite the manufacturing error.  It's important to look on the bright side of things.  The missing hardware allowed us to take time away from building more chairs so we wouldn't kill ourselves trying.  Plus, we picked all the pieces that weren't "perfect" and threw them in the reject chair box.  Ashley will be switching those chairs for new ones.

As for our old set?  Goodwill didn't want it - too many dog chew marks ;-)  That's ok.  We put it on the curb and it was gone in 2 hours.  Good bye old set, hello new set!  Hello new year.

To Love and Lose

ABC family.  What a great name for a television channel.  The name just invokes feelings of trust and warmth.  Feelings that are lies!  Don't get me wrong; I love ABC family, but I have a huge beef with them.  I find a great tv series on their channel; one with great characters and plot lines, and I get hooked.  Then, they cancel my tv series!  What the fudge??

First, I found Wildfire.  It was a show about a female convict who 'clicked' with a racing horse and they became great friends.  Convict woman and horses, what more could I ask for?  My hubby even got hooked.  Although I think he had a secret crush on the convict.  She was hot if I do say so myself.  Then after 3 measly short seasons, they cancelled our wonderful horse drama.  *tear*

While morning the lose of Wildfire, I found a new show...Kyle XY.  Kyle XY was a teenager who was created in a lab and was smarter than the rest of humanity.  The hubby didn't get hooked on this one - no hot women on this show.  So, I religiously watched Kyle XY (by myself) for a few short seasons and wham!  They kill it.  Now I'm really upset.

ABC family has hurt me twice and yet I still get hooked on their dramas!  Why do I torture myself?  Now I'm hooked on The Secret Life of the American Teenager (Hubby is hooked on this show) and Make it or Break it (I watch by myself for now but Hubby has shown some interest).  I'm hoping both of these shows go longer than 3 seasons.  If they don't, I might just swear off ABC family.  I can't take much more heartache.  I'm dying here!  Woe is me...

The Football Faux Pas

Football Sunday.  In the midwest (and I'm sure elsewhere), it's a big deal.  There's football parties, socials, and any other name you use to describe a get together where people drink and eat profusely.  I try to avoid this ritual at all costs.

One of the reasons football Sunday bothers me is because apparently you have to cheer for your home team and boo all others.  That doesn't sound like fun to me...I like to root for the underdog, but I'm an equal opportunity rooter.  If our team does something good - I'll cheer for them.  If the other team makes an amazing play - I'll cheer for them.  I like to show appreciation to each team when they play well...and boo them equally when they don't play to their potential.

At first, I thought I was the only person who does this.  Afterall, doesn't everyone like to think they're unique?  But recently I spent a football Sunday with my brother.  Why hadn't I thought this might be a genetic/family trait thing?  Because that was too obvious.

On this particularly cold midwestern day a lot of people are wearing blue and orange to support their home team.  We are playing the rival green and gold team.  Ok, if you haven't guessed the Green Bay Packers verses the Chicago Bears, then you're special.  And if you don't know these two teams have a lot of bad blood, then you must live under a rock.

Either way, there's a large group of us all watching the hyped-up football game.  Around halftime, I noticed my brother and I were both booing and rooting at the same times.  I guess I was slow on the uptake.  I only noticed when other people started getting upset.  You see, they had clearly identified with the home team and my brother and I started rooting and booing for both.

Wow, what a football faux pas!  We should have been ashamed and embarrassed.  But being who we are, we laughed and started to root and boo louder.  Real mature, right?  Oh well, I guess it goes to show that everyone is slightly different and family may share their own rituals that no one else understands or is happy about.

Who won this game?  Does it really matter?  Well, in case you do care...it was the Packers.  Go Packers! LOL.  You do realize if the Bears had won I would be saying go Bears, right?

The Internet Lied to Me!!

My hubby has decided he's going to buy a new car.  He has a 2006 Toyota Rav4, but wants a new GMC Terrain.  He's still researching this decision, so it could be another 2 years before he actually buys one.  He likes to really think about large purchases - it's one of the reasons I love him.  No need to rush into buying something he'll be paying off for the next 5 - 6 years.

Like almost all research done these days, he starts online to see which dealers had Terrains in stock.  He was really excited to found a dealership within 30 minutes of our house.  I guess these vehicles are hard to find, because everyone wants them.  I really don't understand why cars get so popular that they sell out??  Don't people know what that does to the supply/demand economic issue?  Sorry, back on subject.

Anyhow...he emailed the dealership about his interest in the vehicle, and a nice woman (Jane) replied telling him about some of the vehicles they had in stock.  So, we drove to the dealership to checkout this 'hot' vehicle. 

Like all people who don't want to be bothered by annoying salespeople, we cruise the lot unsuccessfully.  I tell hubby, "Maybe they have them stored in back, because they're apparently a hot vehicle."  Hubby doesn't think that's likely, but he appreciates my sanguinness.  We go inside and meet Bob the salesman.  Bob tells us they have no Terrains, but they've had people coming in from all over looking for them.  He thinks it's rather odd that so many people keep coming in asking for them.  I laugh.

I decide to take pity on Bob.  "Bob, I would venture to guess you have people coming in, because your website says you have 7 in stock."  Bob - looking shocked - asks which website.  Really Bob, you have more than one website?  Ok, I'll play nice...I tell him the dealership website.  Bob thinks I'm wrong.  He checks online.  Seriously, when am I wrong?  Not today.

Bob turns his monitor (I love swivel LCD monitors - they're so convenient), and shows us what I already said.  There are about 7 Terrains listed in stock on their website.  Oh my gosh!  Bob is in shock!  How'd those get there??  LOL.  Bob appologizes for the internet mistake.

My hubby is more upset than me about the whole situation, so he makes Bob's day even better by telling him that he also received an email from Jane about the Terrains the dealership had in stock.  Apparently Jane did the same research as my hubby did online to find the Terrains.  Bob (looking more sorry and slightly paler by the minute) appologizes further and tells us that Jane is part of their e-team and doesn't get out on the lot much.  Like that wasn't already obvious?  Maybe the e-team should be disbanded and everyone should have crossfunctional duties?

We end the encounter with Bob taking down our names and saying he'll personally give us a call when the next Terrain comes in stock.  I'm glad he'll give us a call, because I wouldn't trust Jane or the website.  He's also going to check into the inventory issue online.

We walk out of the dealership and the first thing my hubby says, "The internet lied to me! I can't believe the internet lied!"  We both had a great laugh.  Oh yes, the internet never lies...Abe Vigoda is dead (google it)!  We had a great laugh about the whole thing and made slightly mean comments about Bob and Jane.

Living in the Moment

Ah yes, another new year.  As with each passing year, I get a bit nostalgic.  I look back at where I've been (not too many places) and what I've done (surprisingly a lot considering the previous side note).  I think of how each year I think I am older and more mature, and yet each year I think I'm as mature as I'm going to get.  I guess some things don't change.

I've already told you that I like movies.  I find teen romance movies quiet enduring.  The promise of love and everything it holds and how nothing beats living in the moment, which is true.  Nothing does beat living in the moment.  As we get older, we lose this.  We have too many responsibilities and we lose that hope.  Living in the moment (LITM) is the best part of being young.  Yes, the consequences exist, but they don't matter as much as what I currently feel.

LITM is what older people often discourage.  Jumping off cliffs (New Moon reference) to hear a loved one's voice, drinking poison (Romeo and Juliet) because your loved one is dead, or being with someone even when you can't save them (A Walk to Remember) - these are all things that come from LITM.  These are all things done out of love.

So what does all this mean??

It means that I hope you LITM.  Life is a series of moments strung together by opportunities.  Treat each opportunity like it is something to be treasured, because you never know when you'll have another. 

LITM is freedom.