The old grey mare, ain't what she used to be.

I have mentioned in the past that I am a bit of a tomboy.  I've been this way as long as I can remember. 

 

I don't really know when it started but I don't recall ever being girly.  My mom made us wear dresses to church and all, but from candid pictures it would appear that I was adept at getting mussed up.  While my younger sister would spend lots of time on her hair, even in grade school. 

 

Perhaps because of those tendencies, my hair was generally cut short.  I remember wanting to be a rodeo clown really badly and going through a phase where I had different colored bandanas tied to my belt loops on my cut off shorts.  I have pictures where I looked like a boy in a girls outfit, short hair going every direction.  (I will post if I can find it.)

 

In my adult life I have probably gone some pretty extended periods of time wearing no makeup, wearing mostly just men's clothing and really not caring about my looks the way most girls do. I'd finally let my hair grow long, but it was in a barrette, clip or ponytail most of the time. I'd bet a few people were probably surprised I liked boys. (No offence Q and S, but I did try to stay away from the 10 Lesbian Hair Styles I read about at a friends house, she had it as a style guide.)

 

In the last few years I have tried to be better, I quit wearing t-shirts all the time and opt for something sort of women's tee from old navy or target.  I have the habit of buying the same style in several colors.  I have colored my hair and tried for more fashionable hair styles.  Only some of my pants and shoes are from the men's department.

 

Last week I purchased an eye shadow kit and have even worn it to work, so I could ask the ladies in the office if I did it right.  I was afraid I was going to look like Mimi from Drew Carey since it had green shadow in it. Normally I stick to skin tones like pink and taupe.

 

Lately I have quit coloring my hair at the recommendation of my stylist because since I don't wear hats often enough and I was going lighter than my natural color the color would sun fade and turn all funky. I went short to cut off all the old color. Then I got the bright idea to see how much snow was on top of old smoky.  More than I would like at 33 for sure, I would estimate to be 20% grey.  I have been polling my coworkers on whether or not I should go back to coloring, mixed opinions.  Some days it is not too noticeable if my hair curls nicely.  (You girls with naturally curly hair know what I am talking about.)  Right now a bad hair day is  one hundred times worse because it always seems like the grey is showing more.  Oddly enough, those are also my fattest days as well, I think I visually gain 50 pounds.

 

In the last 6 weeks based on random comments from strangers I don't know what to think. 

 

• One lady asked me if I was in college.  She was sitting right next to my grey hair.  (Yes, she made my day.)

 

• One very young server at Sonic called me sir, until I faced him, then he apologized profusely.

 

• Yesterday the nurse at the doctor's office didn't ask me when my last menstrual period was, she queried, "do you still get them?"

 

Where did I put that box of hair dye?

First let me say I don't want to be more depressing after the last entry.  I hope someday to improve my writing skills to the point I can talk about something that is serious without sounding mopey.  I feel like I sound mopey, which is probably because I was down in the dumps last week.  I have been wrestling with my mind about our current plans.  I'll tell you more about that later.  The point is I don't want to be mopey, life isn't always what we expect and what we plan, but it is what we make of it. Es verdad? 

 

Thanks to those of you who told me a story.  It encouraged me.

 

So this leads me to this post, as many of you know MuMo transitioned to her next journey recently.  I know her name was Karen, but I prefer MuMo.  She was one of my first blogging friends. She was the mentor who came by and encouraged me, a friendly voice from afar.  She was the one who nominated me for best of spaces, and they featured me way back in December 2005 

 

Yesterday afternoon when I checked my email as the boys were watching football (aka napping)  I noticed an email from Dana.  The subject line was MuMo and I knew what it would contain.  The tears started to form even before I opened it.  Dropping by her site, I read the many comments.  She was well loved.  You might think a blogging superstar like her wouldn't have time to go visit so many but she did. 

 

I remember over a year ago sobbing when she was ill and in the hospital, it didn't look good and I hated the thought of losing my new friend. It felt a little weird that I had become so attached to someone I had never even met in person. Luckily she got better and still imparted her wisdom, funny stories and recipes, although the visits were less often since she was so ill. While I still hate that she isn't here with us, I am grateful she isn't suffering anymore.  I know it was hard or impossible for her to do the many things she loved. 

 

I wonder if God will allow her to paint a sunset,  just imagine what she would do. 

 

In any case I didn't allow myself to wallow in sorrow long, it just didn't seem like something she would want me to do.  I took Z out on a "date" with mommy.  We went and saw Charlotte's Web.  It was a great movie in my opinion and I couldn't help but see the similarities between MuMo and Charlotte.  An unexpected friend when I needed one, who encouraged me, and made me feel special.  

Terrific              Radiant               Humble

Words that reminded me of her.  One of the last things the narrator said in the movie was It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.

 

I can't think of a better description of MuMo.  Goodbye good friend we will miss you and I still look forward to meeting you someday.

Failure, I never learned to spell it.

Do you ever look back on your life an the things you failed at?

 

I am not talking about never mastering roller blading or that guitar you have in your closet.

I am talking about complete failure, tuck your tail between your legs and go home failure.  Cry on your mom's shoulder kind of failure.

Most of you know I have been teetering on the edge of marriage failure this year.  We are about to make a huge leap together, one that will either sink us or save us. 

I guess the truth of life is, that you can't succeed if you don't try.  Sometimes when you try you fail.  It is just a fact of life.  Why do we worry about it so?

Our egos?

Often we can look back on our failures and see where that failure, set us up for success later on.  I have those in my life too.  However when can still see the flames from your dreams going up in flames, it is hard to see those lessons.

If you have a minute, say a quick prayer for my husband, he is going to be doing that today.  I need to be whatever that mix of sorrow and hope for the future a spouse should be today.  We are going to be making some big career changes and move.  It's scare standing here getting ready to jump and that self doubt about doing the right thing are bound to be chasing us. 

I have a challenge for you, that is hopefully a good blog topic if you need one.  Would you tell me about your worst failure and what you learned from it?

New Years Resolutions

It's January and tis the season for diets.  At least if you believe all the women's magazine covers at the checkout. Coincendentally why are there pyramids of Stacker II there as well?  What about Stacker I?  I never saw Stacker I, I don't want to miss a step.

 

Just the other day while checking out an Evil Conglomerate (aka X-Martget) the paper had an interesting headline.  You may wonder what paper I am refering too, and I am sure you won't be suprised that it is no other than the  Weekly World News. 

 

What?  You don't think the Weekly World News qualifies as a paper.  I am sure I am not the only one who would disagree with you.  To quote May Makenzie, This paper contains facts. And this paper has the eighth highest circulation in the whole wide world. Right? Plenty of facts. "Pregnant man gives birth." That's a fact.  (best read with a scottish brogue in your mind for full effects)

 

Now that I am done defending my news source,  I will tell you about the headline that so stirred me to write this post.

 

"Bigfoot Loses 600 Pounds" 

Try his amazing new diet!

 

 

As I stand in amazement in the grocery line I wonder:

• 
  
  How did they know bigfoot is my hero?


• 
  
  How did they know I need to lose 600 pounds exactly?


• 
  
  Do I have enough dough to buy the paper today?

My skeptic mind put an end to that line of thought. I realized that photo of bigfoot has to be photoshoped, everyone knows diets are an urban legend.

Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Well I hope everyone survived the holidays and no fist fights ensued. Ours were good and the only crying came from children under 5 this year. ; )

I haven't been online much being sidetracked by nasty little stomach bug my sister brought from California (it was bitchin, NOT) during my three days of vacation while the kids stayed with Grandma.

Plus we have been totally addicted to Text Twist around my house. Take my advice and please do not start.

New Years was nice, I slept it in and did nothing New Year's Day but hang out with the familia and watch movies and play with our new toys.

Tuesday was a gloomy day. My work day started off with a mess. I found some new overhead cabinets installed at my desk, however everything on the counter underneath was coated in dust and piled up. I bit my tongue and reminded myself I had storage now. Since it took until after lunch to clean it up. No blogging at lunch that day. The weather was gloomy too, lots of clouds, little sun. News of the death of a loved one for some of my coworker friends and of a another friends child having cancer, put me at a real low for the rest of the day and to be quite frank, blogging seemed like a bad idea when you feel that blue.

By Thursday thought the sun was starting to shine again. The diagnosis came in for my friends 6 year old daughter and while she does have cancer it is Stage II while the tumor they found was large, they think they got it all. Yesterday at lunch we took the food we had cooked and some money gathered over to the coworkers mothers house where the family was gathered. It was nice to get to meet more of the crazy Enriquez clan, they are a lot of fun. Plus we got hot buttered tortillas right off the griddle. I think I may take them some more food today, and not out of the kindness of my heart. Homemade tortillas are not a skill I have mastered. ; )

I thought I would show you my holiday photos.

Remember that Living Christmas Tree thing I was telling you about. Imagine this with 60-70 choir members stuck inside.
The boys got to visit Santa and tell him everything they wanted.



I have to admit I got everything I wanted this year. I felt spoiled. My mother-in-law got me this ring that I had eyeballed at a store over Thanksgiving




I also scored an MP3 player and a digital video camera. The boys got games and clothes. My parents worked it out with Santa to have a new playset dropped off at their house. Z dubbed it the pirate park because of the spyglass. They also all got new cowboy boots from Nonie and Padre and I can barely get the boys to take them off to sleep

My nephew Wyatt enjoyed the swing and his new John Deere Apron.

I don't want to forget my lovely neices. Makenzie with her mom (my sister.)


and Kadence with Great Aunt Roberta.


We made my Dad choke up with this present. Geez you think he wanted a tie instead


The boys got to play in the snow in Cloudcroft on our way over the mountain. Did I mention we got a gift certificate to the Lodge too? I can't wait to use that. It's a historic resort in Cloudcroft NM. Clarke Gable and Pancho Villa stayed there back in the day.




Since they haven't seen much snow in their lives it didn't take us long to call it quits. Z really wanted to build a snowman. We may have to make another trip up there before winter is over. Well I hope your forgive me for my absence, I'll be making the rounds to visit everyone.