48 Great Things About My Special Weekend

1. Pumpkin Peeps from my pal!
2. As well as two fabulous bottles of my favorite wine in two fabulous wine bags, decorated with my favorite... stars!
3. A sweet and thoughtful card (and check) from my Aunt N!
4. A thoughtful email from Aunt P!
5. Pushing a huge project out the door on Friday!
6. Having the weekend off from work (for the first time in almost six months)!
7. A good cry, remembering the people who meant the most in your life. It's overwhelmingly sad that they're gone, but I'm so truly blessed to have had them in the first place!
8. The first cool front that you can actually feel... the weather is wonderful!
9. Spending time with my oldest (by that, I mean longest!) and bestest friend!
10. A custom made photo book, celebrating our friendship! It's so awesome! I love it and cry every time I look at it!
11. My coveted, much anticipated and awesome howling dog sculpture!
12. An excellent and oversized fried chicken lunch at Grand Luxe!
13. Creme brulee to top off an already stuffed tummy!
14. Fun adventures at Cost Plus World Market!
15. Perfect new front door mat, matching both the exterior and interior of my house!
16. Four perfect hammered iron dogs!
17. An awesome wood cross!
18. Three new Halloween rubber ducks!
19. A handful of other clever rubber ducks!
20. A new basket with wooden handles, just like I've been looking for!
21. A surprise email from someone who validated my weekend off!
22. An quiet evening of house flipping entertainment on Bravo!
23. Re-run fried chicken for dinner!
24. The most wonderful night's sleep... in almost forever!
25. Sleeping in!
26. Shmuggling with Miss C, as if she knew it was my special day!
27. Breakfast in bed! (Ok, I had to get up, get dressed and go get it, before I enjoyed it in bed, but still...)!
28. Leisurely chores! Finally time to clean the iron! (You know, soak the filter in vinegar and steam the tank to you heart's content)! And... Socks in (the wash) = Socks out (of the dryer)! That has to be some sort of record!
29. A sweet card and Starbucks gift card (making the gift way over done) from my (peeps and wine) pal!
30. Baking home made peanut butter cookies!
31. Eating home made peanur butter cookies!
32. Lazily watching mindless television!
33. A phone call from my bestest friend!
34. A phone call from Aunt N!
35. Hummingbirds and butterflies!
36. A phone call with melodic salutations from my (peeps and wine and bucks) pal and Shiner Hoo Hoo!
37. In honor of my special day, non-partisan politics, courtesy of 740 KTRH.
38. And a carefully worded message from the 9-5-0, Radio Mojo!
39. A hilarious card from 'Sammy the Psychic Dog'!
40. An equally hilarious card from M&S, who I want to mention... are well within my top 5 favorite people!
41. A true surprise (thank goodness it didn't need air holes!) and thoughtful gift from M&S (top 5, for sure!)... and something I've always wanted... a rock salt crystal lamp! It's beautiful!
42. Margarita Sunday with my favorite people!
43. Fried avocado! Need I say more?!
44. Nothing says your special day like wearing a sombrero and having your (big ole fat) picture taken!
45. Phone call from my brother! I love him so much!
46. Singing phone call from MMSP&J!
47. Phone call from pals, L&S! I already miss them!
48. Peaceful moments to reflect on the day, the weekend. I'm blessed. I am!

George Clooney & My Feelings

No wonder I feel old!

This is not a good time for me to have reminders that youth is fleeting!

Hilarious Question of the Day

Care to guess how old I am today?

If you think the question is funny, read the first comment!

46 Hopes

1. Dogs go to Heaven.
2. There's a big family reunion in Heaven.
3. Good health and a long life.
4. Miss C lives as long as I do.
5. Continued blessings.
6. Eternal forgiveness.
7. My brother has a change of heart.
8. Mom and Daddy are still looking over me.
9. That I'll always make them proud.
10. Houston and the entire nation are free from terrorism and natural disaster.
11. Someday we'll all get along.
12. I'll adopt, either formally or informally.
13. MJ will have a change of heart.
14. Or I will find the right S/O.
15. All the people I love will live in close proximity.
16. Pay house off at least 10 years early.
17. Total, unconditional equality.
18. Total, unconditional love.
19. God wraps His arms around my loved ones who have entered His Kingdom.
20. Lose weight and get in shape... to stay.
21. Spend more time with friends.
22. Prosperity and well-being for all my loved ones.
23. Pets and children never suffer from the neglect, abuse or poor decisions of others.
24. A more joyful way to earn a living.
25. Windfalls come my way.
26. Investments and savings increase.
27. Own land in the country, as well as a beach house.
28. Own a "sweet" Honda Trail 90.
29. To be valued and appreciated more, by others.
30. I'll know when opportunity knocks.
31. I'll publish my books.
32. An increase in everyday energy.
33. Better vision.
34. Professional advancement.
35. White bread will be discovered to cure cancer, heart disease and strokes.
36. Compete, athletically, again.
37. Security (emotional, financial and personal safety) and much, much less worry.
38. Many more hellos and no more goodbyes.
39. My voice is heard, and I'm careful when I use it.
40. Natalee Holloway is found alive in Paulus Van Der Sloot's house.
41. Reunion with those with whom I'm estranged.
42. Increasing strength and strong will.
43. Never have another accident.
44. Those I've lost know how much I love and miss them.
45. I'll not always be the one... who if something bad is going to happen to, it will happen to me.
46. Rats, snakes, poisonous spiders reach extinction. Mice exist only in laboratories.

46 Things I Don't Like Very Much

1. telephone
2. interruptions
3. helplessness
4. being sucked in by bpd's. (my beef is not with them, but with myself)
5. prejudice, bigotry and inequality
6. people who fear the unknown... cultures, ethnicities, orientations
7. patronization
8. lack of respect for military
9. lack of gratitude for what this country has to offer
10. stinginess
11. lack of empathy
12. weakness
13. narcissism
14. property taxes I pay for benefits I don't receive
15. income taxes I pay for things I don't agree with
16. the rising cost of living v. the stagnant (but stable!) paycheck
17. corruption
18. when the people you love more than anything... don't remember
19. constant pressure
20. the one time in a thousand that I don't read the signals correctly
21. people who don't feel guilt
22. bs
23. "Holier than Thou" crap.
24. inferiority
25. terrorism
26. close mindedness
27. cliques
28. hell threats and accusations
29. being ignored
30. bothering people
31. jealousy, when there is absolutely no reason
32. not doing a good job
33. errors, mistakes, bobos, misdemeanors... (even though we all make them)
34. people who don't admit mistakes
35. balancing time between billable, actual, and the budget
36. having a high billable wage and a low fee, which means having MANY less hours to work with! i would do ANYthing to increase profits, as i realize i work with great guys who share... but sometimes it's SO hard and i hold my feet to the fire.
37. winters that aren't cold enough
38. unpredictability
39. security concerns
40. lawn services that mow when the grass hasn't grown
41. ski trips without snow
42. not being heard
43. risking vulnerability and receiving no response... none
44. the other shoe dropping
45. demeaning response to honor, character and morality
46. excrutiating traffic

46 Tasty Delicacies

1. Veauve Cliquot
2. Pepi Sauvignon Blanc
3. DDFL's breads, et al
4. Patrick's flan
5. Dude's peas and mashed potatos
6. Dude's beef and mac casserole
7. KBJ's king ranch casserole
8. YMSP's tuna
9. MRT's chili
10. Sonic's cherry limeade
11. Hooter's wings
12. Wings n More (n Things) wings and beer
13. Tecate and lime
14. Chang's spicy chicken
15. Dude's filet mignon
16. KBJ's rocky road pie
17. DDFL's fried chicken recipe
18. RPG's chicken fried steak
19. Dude's corn log.
20. Cookie Bouquet's cookies
21. Anything at KL&W's.
22. Daddy O's Fifth Avenue Pizza
23. Margaritas
24. BarBQ Inn's fried shrimp
25. Flying Saucer Pie Company pies
26. Dessert Gallery's almost anything
27. Steph's Asian cole slaw
28. 59 Cafe's vanilla coke.
29. DDFL's corn casserole
30. Benj's fried turkey and anything else.
31. Pappasito's chicken fajitas.
32. Chang's lettuce wraps.
33. Marie Callender's key lime pie.
34. Pasta Lomante's shrimp scampi
35. Pasta Lomante's garlic cheese bread
36. Bellaire BroilerBurger burger
37. Myti Burger's you name it
38. Flying Dutchman's anything
39. Luby's fried fish combo with mashed potatos and fresh green beans.
40. Qing Dynasty's general tso's chicken
41. In order, the BBQ House (Nacogdoches) , Tom's BBQ (College Station / Bryan) and Pappas BBQ (Houston) chopped pork sandwich.
42. Taste of Texas filet mignon
43. Taste of Texas salad and and bread with apple butter
44. Kim Son's pan fried chicken
45. Catfish and fixings at Catfish King and the little place in Appleby
46. Fresh yeast rolls made by darn near anybody

46 Off the Wall Things About Me

1. I have a vivid imagination and propensity to exaggerate for humor.
2. I hold myself much more accountable than anyone else.
3. I'm not afraid to pony up and admit error and say I'm sorry.
4. I make many mistakes, but repeat VERY few.
5. I'm a closet psychologist. No... really!
6. I prefer Miss C's company to almost everyone else's.
7. I have an almost infinite willingness to forgive, if asked.
8. My preference is to listen more than I speak, but if I speak, I expect to be heard.
9. I have a tendency to test people.
10. I've fallen in unconditional love four times in my life.
11. I love the taste of milk chocolate and popcorn, at the same time.
12. I read the book, The Introvert Advantage, for the first time last year. And I finally understand myself.
13. Recognition is far less important to me than gratitude.
14. I've survived and overcome the worst things in life that are required. If I have no other consolation, it is that those things are behind me.
15. I pretended to be someone I'm not until 1995, at which time I gave up and became exactly who I am.
16. I accommodate pretense with reality in a 15/85 percent relationship. I do this to make others more comfortable, but also allow them the opportunity to grow, stretch and accept.
17. I try to live my life as an example.
18. I only have six regrets. I know what they are, and I don't have the guts to put them in public writing. I will say that I wish that I had cared for and loved beyond reason and situation, and that my timing had been much better . It's enough that I agonize over them regularly; I won't say more.
19. In spite of my rolling eyes in childhood, manners, ettiquette and life rules are very important.
20. My Daddy introduced me to two people, that in retrospect, tells me that he understood me far deeper than I understood myself. Further, he loved and respected me more than I love(d)and respect(ed) myself.
21. Of all the modern inventions, I like the telephone the least.
22. I always thought I would be "famous" among my peers.
23. I once had a dog who was JUST like me, very intuitive, and introverted. He gave me just what I needed, and I hope I did the same for him. He lived 17 1/2 years. We went through the highlights and lowlights of life together. I almost died when he did.
24. Miss C saved my life. And she changed it, too.
25. I connect easily.
26. I would make a wonderful mother.
27. I AM my Daddy and Mother combined.
28. I don't have a political party.
29. I find Frank Lloyd Wright to be equal parts genious and ass. For those reasons, I find him particularly endearing.
30. Up until 1992, I thought I could "fix" anything by hard work and prayer.
31. Up until 1999, I blamed myself for everything that went wrong in my world.
32. Up until January 2, 2005, I believed that I was less in the eyes of the Lord.
33. I could "fix" the world, if given the power and opportunity.
34. I feel for my friends as if they were myself.
35. My comfort, security and authentic self grow closer and closer with every passing day. (Refer to 16 above, and the shrinking 15/85 rule).
36. I am Virgo and Libra combined, (I was born Virgo, but premature by a month, thus intended a Libra).
37. I have distinct memories back to before pre-kindergarten.
38. I, once, re-arranged gifts from Santa under the Christmas tree, so that I received the things that I wanted.
39. I always took a bath, albeit a short one, when told.
40. I find Gertrude Stein, and her writings, personally inspiring and directly applicable.
41. I am kin to the Wright Brothers.
42. My relatives founded Moorhead City, North Carolina.
43. I'm a rule follower, to the extreme. When annoyed and provoked, however, I will tilt the scales to attempt to prove indescrepancies. (But I'll feel overwhelming guilt).
44. If I could change anything in life, I'd change certain people's hearts.
45. I used to view poverty as a disadvantage, but now I feel it's a badge of honor, courage and invention.
46. My pessimism is concealed optismism. I would much rather be pleasantly surprised, than bitterly disappointed.

46 Other Things I Love

1. Old fashioned hand written letters.
2. Spending time with Miss C.
3. Being told "I love you" by someone who really does.
4. Soft clean sheets.
5. Puppy kisses, and of course, breath.
6. Capturing the right person's attention and interest.
7. Gardening.
8. Jigsaw puzzles.
9. Throwing a successful party.
10. Comets games.
11. Bird watching.
12. Petting zoos.
13. Basketball.
14. Having friends remember.
15. Organization.
16. EBay.
17. New clothes.
18. Home improvement stores.
19. Common courtesy.
20. Handmade crafts.
21. Chicago.
22. Good company.
23. Fairness and equality.
24. Decorating for Christmas.
25. Buying gifts.
26. Ellen.
27. Figuring people out.
28. Playstation 2.
29. NTN trivia.
30. Sports bars, ice houses and brew pubs.
31. Design.
32. Vacation days.
33. Snagging a collectible at a good price.
34. Completing a project.
35. Crafting paper boxes.
36. Making jewelry.
37. Investments of ALL kinds, including time in friendships.
38. Friendliness of strangers.
39. Giddiness.
40. Finding an efficient solution to a difficult problem.
41. Comedy.
42. A good surprise!
43. Synchronized green lights.
44. Reality television.
45. Casual, spontaneous get-togethers.
46. Beach houses.

Birthday Celebration Extended

My favorite part of having a birthday is spending time with my oldest and dearest friend. And this year, as always, we had a blast!

We indulged in fabulous food at PF Chang's. She brought me a birthday cake (its story alone is worth a click!), and it was totally yummy. My gifts were thoughtful and perfect, as always. And we finished off the afternoon with an adventure through Cost Plus World Market.

Every minute was memorable. And my sides hurt from the laughter!