It's happened again...

This always happens. I get too wrapped up in life and forget to blog. Well, I don't actually forget, but I just don't have time. Forgive me?? I guess I'll just give you guys an update although I really want to talk about a decision I've made. I can't say much yet, but it involves work. You guys who've known me for years and gone through the job stress with me will understand.

Anyway, let's review what's happened since I was here last. My aunt died. She was my mother's sister. We were never really close to her...I'm not sure what happened between those two as kids, but she and my mom didn't get along. I saw her sporadically over the years, and that always upset me because I loved her kids and grandkids. I would really have liked to be close with them. My mom's brother and his family was always very close to my aunt...they hung around together all the time. I hate going to that kind of funeral...where you should be close to the family but aren't and you spend all your time sitting in a corner because no on knows you. Yeah, good times.

One thing I noticed at the funeral was how frail my mother has become. She found out eight years ago that she has Emphysema and it has taken it's toll. She can't walk for long distances...she has trouble breathing...even a trip to the grocery store exhausts her. But seeing her with people her own age was a shock...she was like a ninety year old. Her brother helped her walk at the visitation...she couldn't walk out to the cemetary for the funeral so I stayed inside the church with her. People came up to her as she sat to give their condolences because she didn't have the energy to go to them. Her sister was 77 when she died and Mom is 71. I don't know that my mom will make it to 77 and it's really hit me hard.

Erik and I are doing fine. We have our cruise almost paid for...just waiting for tax refunds to finish it off. We've decided to have a very small, family only wedding to cut down on costs but then we're having a huge reception/party once we come back from the cruise. I'm not a big wedding person...I think a lot of money is wasted on the ceremony, so this seems best for us. Bailey is excited, though he's already starting to dread this summer because of the visits with his dad. I told him he would probably spend that week of our cruise with his dad and he cried. He wants to spend it with my sister and her kids, but this way he's at least getting the first week of his six week visitation with his dad out of the way. What a pain.

Oh, big news and I almost forgot! I'm in the "process" of getting scheduled for Lapband surgery. I say it like that because it's still going to take forever to get to that point. I'm sure it won't take place until after my wedding and cruise, so I'm not even going to worry about that. Would I like to have it sooner and be thinner for my wedding, yes, but that's not going to happen. Right now I'm waiting for the surgeon to schedule my first office appointment...he's so busy with these surgeries that you can't just call and get an appointment. He fits you in somewhere and you just better drop everything and go when he wants you. One thing that concerns me is my insurance will change over to Erik's in May. I hope the switch doesn't delay everything.

I found a quote yesterday that sums up how I feel right now and it's from the book I'm reading, "Broken Open" by Elizabeth Lesser. It's about getting through difficult times and how to handle changes. The quote is from writer Anais Nin:

"And the time came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom"

I'm going to go through a lot of changes this year. Change is always hard for me...I never want to leave my safe little box. The time has come though...it's time for me to blossom. It's time to see what else is out there in the world for me. You'll have to be patient with me while I freak out, because I know I will...lol.

I'll try to get around to everyone and visit. See ya!

My special needs cat...

It's 17 degrees outside. Being the awesome pet parents we are, Erik and I brought two of our three cats into the house until it warms up (Stormy, the rebel, refused to be moved inside). Erik set up two litter boxes, and we hoped and prayed the youngest cat, Shorty, would use one of them...or at least use a spot on the floor that we could easily clean. Back when I did have him inside, his favorite places were beside the end table and behind the recliner.

Do you remember when I mentioned Shorty? We could never litter box train him...he poops on the driveway...he poops on the front porch...he has issues.

We left the house like usual this morning. I went to work and Erik took Bae to school. I got a text message at 8:30 from Erik. He returned to the house...Shorty had pooped on the coffee table.

Then tonight, we come home from getting pizza...Shorty had pooped under the computer table.

Needless to say, Shorty is on his own tonight...outside.

The Love Boat...

soon will be making another run...ahem, sorry.

We booked our cruise!! Seven days on Carnival...Montego, Grand Cayman, Cozumel. Yay! I was a little freaked out about it yesterday (big purchases make me nauseous), but everyone says we got a good deal and it's so much cheaper than any of those couples/honeymoon resorts. I'm excited!

Honeymoon advice needed...

Uh, not THAT kind of advice silly!

Erik and I are trying to decide where to go on our honeymoon and he's really wanting to go on a cruise. I've never been on a cruise, but I thought some of you might have. Can anyone give us advice or tell us how their trip went? Any help is appreciated!

Bleh...

I hate January. It has me in a funk...as usual this time of year. I just get sluggish and moody after Christmas. Even my blog posts aren't coming along as fast as they were. I don't know if things would be different had I not become a teacher, but as soon as Christmas break is over I'm depressed for weeks. There is nothing in the near future to look forward to except really cold, rainy weather and stir crazy preschoolers (as well as teachers).

Work stinks because we're coming down from the holiday high...first, we have Halloween and the parties, costumes and treats that go along with that. Then Thanksgiving, where we get out for three days and we make all kinds of cool art projects. Then December is just fun all around with food and presents and parties. But what the heck do we do with January? We make the requisite snowmen in art...but what's the point of that when it hardly ever snows here? I get tired of reading books about snow when it's 50 degrees outside. And we have no break at school until mid March. Not even a day off unless we get a day out for an ice storm...and we have to make those up in June.

And just the general mood of January is no fun. It's usually cloudy and the sun goes down at 5. I don't like coats or sweaters...and my skin dries up like an itchy prune. I'm not fond of February either, but at least it's short and closer to spring. The sun stays out a little longer. I can survive February...at least there is Valentine's Day to make things fun at school.

I'm literally counting down the days until spring on a calendar on my front door. I really should live in Florida. I'm SO not a winter person...

Okay, I'm done bi*chin' now.

So this is how it happened...

We got the ring back from Zales on Monday. All that was left to do was have our annual New Year's Eve party and wait until Erik proposed. Our party was great...with the exception of having to clean the house for days beforehand. We were playing Trivial Pursuit 80's Edition when the countdown to midnight began. Everyone was counting and Erik took the little box out of his computer desk. Right at midnight he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said yes, and even though it wasn't a surprise, I still cried. It was so sweet. Bailey was jumping up and down and my friends were clapping. It couldn't have been any better.

So now we have the wedding to plan. Some must haves:

1. Bailey has to be there. His father secretly married 5 weeks after our divorce without his son there. I thought that was really tacky and sneaky. My son will be front and center on my wedding day...because it's his life that's changing too.

2. Laid back and informal. I don't like weddings, mine or anyone else's. Ceremonies annoy me...and stress me out. I don't do weddings or graduations and I hate funerals. I'm weird that way. However, I do want something for my family and Erik's family to attend...even it's just really small and casual.

3. Sixty pounds less. I'm not about to make a resolution this year after getting everything I've ever wanted, but I do need to lose weight. 60 pounds won't get it all off me, but it will definitely make me feel better. I'm the worst diet slacker there is...wish me luck on this one.

Any ideas on this stuff??

...

I'M ENGAGED!!!!!

Oh, and Happy New Year! :)