Sharon's So Called Life

Wedding weekend....

No, nothing to do with me.  Tex's best friend is getting married tomorrow.  He's the best man.  This equates to much running around.  Starting out with my going to work today (1/2 day) in a sweatsuit with no makeup on - because I'm getting a spray tan.  Can't let these white legs or arms see the light of day without something.

Oh yeah, and I'm singing at the mass.  Oy. 

I guess the good news is I am back in several of my dresses in the closet, so my nightmare of getting a new one was avoided.  I say nightmare because I did make a lame attempt to try some things on - and mother of God have dresses gotten short!!!!!  I don't think I got any taller - lumpier maybe but sheesh.

Tex has his best man speech ready to go - and I have to give him a lot of credit - I think it's very good.

So, rehearsal tonight, wedding tomorrow, Mother's Day on Sunday.  I'll be ready for a nap by Sunday afternoon for sure.

This should be quite the good photo opp weekend however, so I'll do my best to get some posted next week.

To all my fellow Mom's out there - enjoy the day that is all about you.  Make sure you tell your Mom you love her on Sunday too. 

Why you should wait to blog until later in the day....

Because you blog about the whole wedding date thing, then get the call you've been waiting for.

APPROVAL!!!! 

Is it wrong that I'm dancing around my office?

WHOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Once you set a wedding date....

And do things like start searching around websites for information....you get lots of emails, etc with wonderful offers about dresses, invitations, etc.  This makes you start to break out in a cold sweat if you are me....because we all know TECHNICALLY MY DATE ISN'T MY DATE UNTIL I HAVE MY LETTER.

So today I got this in my inbox:

There are 240 days until your wedding.

Valium, anyone?

A fabulous request for information.....

Comments/Questions from a lurker ~v~ I'll do what I can to answer!

Ok - fine! I've been lurking for a while and I like it that way but...
I wouldn't mind a better picture of your ring. I'd love to her more definitive wedding plans but, I realize that your kinda on "hold" in that department right now.

I cannot tell you how many times I took a picture of this ring and it just never looked that good.  I can promise you it looks better in person.  Yes, my plans are "technically" on hold but I have determined a few things.  We will be getting married on January 2, 2009.  We will have a cocktail reception following the ceremony.  We will go on a kick ass honeymoon to a couples-only all inclusive because frankly, I'm dying for a vacation where I don't have to do a thing.  With sand and the ocean.  And drinks with little umbrellas.  I don't have a dress.  I don't have a caterer.  About the only thing I have is a great fiancee, a date, and, well, lots of stress with STILL no final letter.  I'm told any day now.  I've been told this for weeks.  Sigh.

How about pictures of the inside and/or outside of your house? A while back you bought furniture and a new tv but there are no pictures of how "great" everything looks now.

I'm not sure it looks so great LOL.  I will try and take some pictures.  My house is kind of boring I guess, two story, front porch, rockers.  Tan siding, blue shutters.  Yawn.  But it works. 

How did you get into your line of work? What exactly do you do? I'm a bit of an HR person myself. I handle payroll, incentive payments and service awards. Another girl handles benefits and hiring so I'm not EXACTLY HR although I do a lot during open enrollment as well. But, I do wonder how you got to where you are. You must make a decent living. Did you go to school to get a degree in this or did you just work your way up from the bottom?

I'll tell you the story of how I got into HR.  From as far back as I could remember, I wanted to be a lawyer.  I went to college, pursuing an English degree with the full intent of continuing on to law school.  Took a work study job in the law school and hated every minute.  Now I'm 1/2 way through an English degree (i.e. would you like fries with that) and no idea what to do.  Decide that HR appeals to me for a few reasons - law interpretation, dealing with people, etc.  I'm good with that.  Get a minor in HR as an undergrad, then went on for a Masters Degree in HR.  I've been working in HR since 1991, gradually (sometimes quickly) moving up level to level until my current role as the VP of HR at my organization.  I'm pretty good at what I do, I think.  Right now I'm a bit bored, because things are fairly calm.  I'm happier when it's a bit chaotic.  Keeps me motivated.  But, I know there are good things to come.  As far as what I do - everything you would imagine.  Employee and Labor Relations, Benefits, Payroll, Affirmative Action, Communications, Activities, etc.  The fun never ends ;)

More pics of Tex and you. You should start taking some cuz they're always cute on invitations.

He's not a big fan of getting his picture taken.  He's very critical of himself, which I don't get, because I think he's gorgeous. 

Kid stories and pics are fun too.

I try to share them when they are funny anyway!  At the same time, I don't put them too much out here because ya know, people are nuts.  I will share something that has provided them endless amusement the past few days - the girl bought a Barbie with a dog that eats these little nuggets (pooplets) then poops them out.  Yeah.  They've been hysterical with this. 

In short, I think we can all relate to each other on some basic level. We eat, we worry, we sleep, we poop, we work and try to raise our kids right. But, we don't often get a peek into how others do things. We can second guess ourselves and decisions and it's really validating to see others doing the same thing - KWIM?

Believe me, I love reading blogs for this very reason.  There are days when I laugh so damn hard because I think "I've been there" or "thank God that wasn't my kid (today anyway)".

Hope this helps a little.  I'll try and respond to the pics, I swear.

More questions, answered.....

Because my theme of the day is PROCRASTINATION.  Today's questions brought to you by the letter A - or that would be Alice :)

what do you think you've done really well with WRT your kids and the divorce? what would you do differently if you could have a do-over? 

What do I think I've done well?  I think I've done the communication thing pretty well.  I've answered questions when they are asked, I encourage (or force) conversation when I think it's necessary.  I am glad that I didn't bring Tex into their lives until I was sure about him.  As much as it kills me, I'm still glad he doesn't sleep with me when they are home. 

If I had a do-over?  Only one?  Sheesh, where to begin.  I think I tried to overcompensate with being the "good mom" out of guilt.  This created my kids taking advantage on a regular basis.  I'm trying to reign it in - but I will admit it's hard.  I wish I wouldn't have allowed guilt to drive so many of my decisions through this process.  Then again, guilt drives a lot of things in my life - so this is nothing new to the divorce.

do you ever think about moving to another part of the country?  If being far from family wasn't an issue, where would you want to go? (assuming you'd want to move, that is).

Honestly?  No.  I don't think about moving.  I did leave my small town for about four years in the early 90s - spent a few years in Atlanta, and a few years in New Jersey.  Moved back here with no intention of leaving again.

That being said, of course if I was in a situation where I needed to move for a job, well, I would probably stay in the general Northeast.  The South was not for me.  I can't see myself anywhere in the middle of the US - and once you get out West, I'd be way far away from those that I love.

what's a fear you've conquered?

I'd love to tell you my fear of bees, but that would be a stretch LOL.  I still jump and run like a sissy girl when one is around, although I do manage to reign it in around my kids so they don't freak out as much.

I think the biggest fear I've dealt with in my life (and I won't say conquered, because it still pokes its head out now and then) is being true to myself and not being afraid of what others will think.  Not being afraid to be me - love me or hate me, I am who I am.  I used to always say that was the case, but the reality was I spent a lot of years doing what other people expected me to do.  And sold myself way short in the process.  Call me selfish now, if you must.  Personally, I feel enlightened.  I'm not always happy with the outcome, but I know I'm doing what I think is best in the end.  It's great when it works out in my favor of course LOL.

what would you do if you had 3 wishes (and you cannot wish for more wishes!!)?

I realize this gives me an opportunity to wish for things like world peace, a stable world economy, medical cures, etc.  Of course I would like to see all those things happen.  I'll give you three wishes a little closer to home.

My first wish would be for happiness, good health, and financial and emotional stability for all those that I love. 

My second wish would be for time and money.  Time to be the mother I want to be.  Time to be the soon to be wife I hope I will be.  Time to travel the world and experience the best of what it has to offer.  Time to educate myself continually.  Time to rest, time to play, time to live.  Money comes along with this, of course.  I would like to live without the concern of the future, financially.  I would like to be able to educate my children in whatever way they desire.  The money to travel without caution.  The money to take care of those that I love.  I would like the money so that I can have the time, if that makes sense.

And number three?  Well, If those around me are happy and healthy, and I've now got the time and money to do whatever I want, then I would wish for someone needier than me to get that last one. 

My angel....

We all survived 1st Holy Communion.  Now we're all exhausted but it was a co-mingling of the ex family and current family and I have to say it went better than I expected. 

Here's a pic of my girl :)  I only cried a little (and not while singing!!!)  More pics here if you are interested.

A day lost, a house cleaned....

I didn't go to work yesterday.  That's not to say I didn't work, because I probably worked harder than I would have in the office.  I cleaned.  And purged.  And may I just say, my house looks quite nice.

The unfortunate thing was I suffering from some significant gastro distress.  More than "I ate something I shouldn't have" and will suffer as a result.  No, this was please God don't make me be near any other human beings because I am a toxic waste dump.  Holy crap.  Literally.  I couldn't stand the smell of myself, which is certainly no small feat.  I spent way too much time in the bathroom or spraying febreeze on my couch in horror.  I have absolutely no idea what was going on.  All I know is, I hope to GOD it's over.

So it's the big day BEFORE the girl's 1st Holy Communion.  The dress is hung and pressed, the veil is ready to go.  I think I've got her hair down, at least what I plan on doing.  We'll be up early just in case I screw it up.  I know I'm going to cry.  She told me I'm not allowed to cry, since I'm singing - but I told her I would just wait to cry until in between songs :)

The ex in laws are coming.  And to my house for coffee afterwards.  Joyous.

News on the brother front - according to him this morning, he and the fiancee have broken up.  Again.  Anyone interested in taking bets on whether or not this wedding is going to take place?  I feel terrible - but again, as I've said before, better now than later.  I just wish they would make their minds up already.

And remember that honeymoon event I went to?  We won the $250 gift card.  Woot.

Today is another Communion party, then some errands, then not much else.  Maybe a movie rental for later - Tex works at the big HD today.  Boo.

I know I still have questions to answer - and will start again as the week starts.  Well, after I post some pics of my angel from tomorrow.

Hope you have a great Saturday.

Oh - and in case you feel like giving me an opinion...what do you think about this dress?