The Sunny South

What a trip we had!

It started out in Jacksonville. I flew in there Friday evening. S had to work, so she wasn't planning on coming down. She decided she couldn't wait so she drove down after work and got there about 11pm.

On Saturday, we drove up to Savannah and took care of some business matters for S. I LOVE Savannah. What a beautiful city! Palm trees, marshes, the moss on the trees, all those squares downtown. If you haven't been to Savannah, you should go and see for yourself.

Saturday afternoon we drove up to Atlanta. I had a couple free motel nights, so we stayed in a hotel in an office park in northeast Atlanta. S is from Atlanta, and she showed me the city, some of the places she lived and worked, and some of the "touristy" places too. Atlanta is really different, much larger and lots more traffic than I am used to. It wasn't the traffic so much as going 80+ mph in heavy traffic that was a little nerve wracking! We walked in Centennial Olympic Park, spent time in Midtown, toured the CNN studios and rode MARTA all around the city.

The next day, we left our hotel and drove out to Stone Mountain. It is a beautiful sight. We had fun riding around the mountain on the train and learning about how the figures 12 stories high were carved into the mountain.

After we left Stone Mountain, S took me back downtown and we stayed at a beautiful historic hotel . Initially they gave us a big cave-like room that S didn't really care for. She called the desk and they switched us to a beautiful suite with a nice cozy bedroom. It had a terrace and we loved leaving the door open and hearing the sounds of the city and looking out across the city lights that night.

It was great to spend time with S. The storms and complications of our lives didn't take a break, so mixed with the joy and laughter was some drama and tears. What would life be like if every day were smooth sailing? I'll take a storm with S by my side over calm waters any day.

Thirteen Things about Yankeegirl1. This is my first Thursday Thirteen. 2. I am almost done with my short term classes. Yay! I'm a communications major at the local branch of Ohio University. 3. My research class studied Participant Observation. Our group studied an online dating service. Yikes it was wild! I'm so glad I'm not "dating" anymore!(especially not men, lol) 4. Another group studied "tattoo culture". When they gave their presentation, one of the group members actually got a tattoo right there in the classroom. 5. The professor got yelled at for letting them give a tattoo in class. She gave as good as she got. (Go Dr. K!) 6. One of the other groups studied "Gay culture". Earlier in the quarter I heard these girls talking and they were pretty insensitive. Yesterday they gave a pretty impressive presentation. What do you know, they learned something in college! 7. My others classes are going well also. One is about interpersonal communication, and it's a little too touchy feely for me right now. 8. My kids are on vacation with their Dad. I really miss them. 9. They tried to go to Colorado the same day as Trop. They had airline employee passes and only made it as far as Chicago. The spent 12 hours at Midway airport before being put up in a dive motel for the night. The next day they called me from Florida. 10. I have a final exam and a paper due tomorrow. I should be working on those things now. 11. Work is going really well. I'm very busy and I'm learning lots of new things. 12. My boss has been out of town a lot and it has been fun to just handle things myself. 13. Did I say I'm so excited to see my sweetie? I'm going to see her tomorrow! I can't wait! I've got to go get my work done so I'll be ready to go. Have a great weekend everybody!

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I'm a very lucky woman

If you doubt it, see the previous post.

A Hard Day

I just wanted to write to you on your blog knowing that you would find my words and smile at my mischief. You need a smile today and I am glad to give you one, my love. I am sorry that you cried today. Sometimes the pressure of the divorce and the kids and school get to you and make you feel overwhelmed. I love you for the longing you feel for me and the days that it takes all you have not to come to me. I know that it is hard to stay away sometimes but you are doing the right thing. Today it is hard for me too. I will see you in five days.
Do you want this pic of me here? Take it off if you do not.
I love you,
S

Shamelessly stolen from Trop

You Have a Phlegmatic Temperament

Mild mannered and laid back, you take life at a slow pace.You are very consistent - both in emotions and actions.You tend to absorb set backs easily. You are cool and collected. It is difficult to offend you. You can remain composed and unemotional.You are a great friend and lover. You don't demand much of others.While you are quiet, you have a subtle wit that your friends know well. At your worst, you are lazy and unwilling to work at anything.You often get stuck in a rut, without aspirations or dreams.You can get too dependent on others, setting yourself up for abandonment.

Glad that's over

Well, I went to the shower. It was OK.
I smiled and conversed with former friends and with family members who don't normally want to give me the time of day. Some seemed genuinely happy to see me, others, well, not so much. I survived and I got to see my niece. I gave her a big hug and wished her well.
I waffled on inquiries about whether I was going to the wedding or not.
I didn't go. I took my boys on a weekend trip instead. Their sister left my house early so she could go with her dad to my nieces wedding. I told her that her "sentence" of spending time with me was over. She seemed happy about that. I hope someday she comes around. I'm not going to ruin the time I have with my boys waiting for that time to come. I love her with all my heart and I missed having her with us on the trip.

One of my dilemmas

My niece is getting married. My sister isn't really having anything to do with me since I moved out and made some changes last year. To the point that when my nephew graduated in June, my stbx and the kids were invited to his party, but not me.

Yesterday my sister called my cell phone. I ignored the called but she left a voice message inviting my daughter and I to a last minute shower for my niece and to see if we were going to the wedding.

I love my niece, and she did invite me, but I so do not want to go to this event. She is marrying a man from England and moving there so if I don't go, I won't see her again for 12-18 months. I have all of my kids this week and if I don't take them somewhere this weekend, I won't have a chance to take them due to all the other summer commitments they have with their dad, band camp, scout camp, etc.

My sister's family are fundamentalist christians, and it seems like to them(mostly her) there is no worse sin than to be gay. I hate the thought of going. I hate the judgment in my sisters voice. I hate the way the kids don't hug me anymore like I have some kind of contagious disease.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Rough waters ahead

Be careful out there.

So sing already!

They say it isn't over till the fat lady sings- So sing already!
This divorce needs to be done. now.
That is all.

A Quote

"Any force that tries to make you feel shame for being who you are, and loving who you love, is a form of tyranny over your mind. And it must be rejected, resisted and defeated."

Anybody want to venture a guess as to who said it? I'll give hints if necessary.

MEME

I know I'm late to this party- but at least it's a post! As seen previously at Trop's, Sassy's and Caroline's, just to name a few:


WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My Mom's sister, Jean, and my Dad, whose middle name was Eugene

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? No, it's very sloppy

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Honey ham

DO YOU HAVE KIDS? 3

IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I hope so, but I'm really pretty boring

DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? yes, sometimes too much

DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Had them out at age 23 ( I would NOT reccomend it)

WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Not

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Frosted mini wheats

DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Usually

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Cookies & Cream

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their teeth.

RED OR PINK? I love aqua and red together

WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I'm too passive

WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My Mom

WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Khaki capris and brown sandals

IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? yellow

FAVORITE SMELLS? My Sweetie, ditto Sassy on the seashore

WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My ex, ugh.

HAIR COLOR? Reddish brown w/ just a little gray

EYE COLOR? Brown

DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes

FAVORITE FOOD? Italian or Mexican

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings. I do not do scary movies at.all.

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Bridge on the River Kwai with my 8 yo son. (He and I both love history)

WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Grey t-shirt

SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer definately

HUGS OR KISSES? Kisses

FAVORITE DESSERT? Barely baked, fresh from the oven chocolate chip cookies

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? Anthropology, Business Law, and Social Psych for school

WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Reba reruns

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SOUND? My sweetie's laugh.

ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles

WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME. California

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Not really

DO YOU THINK YOU'RE STRONG? After the last 14 months, Yes, but not as strong as I'd like to be. I'd like to have more "emotional toughness" and ability to think on my feet

A few things you don't want to hear ( and a few you do)

From the court reporter taking your divorce deposition: "This is the most interesting deposition I've ever taken." Thankfully she didn't say this to my face or I'd have had to mess her up. She told my lawyer later.

From your stbx:" I could put 3 or 4 things (pieces of information) out there and ruin you" Yeah, spyware is a be-yotch.

From your new boss: "Your husband's attorney just called me" Day 3 on my new job. Nice.

From your attorney after a whole day of negotiation: "We have twenty minutes to write this down (the whole custody arrangement) or the judge is leaving"

From your attorney after your divorce case is settled: "Sorry" (see above)

From the financial aid office at your new school: " You filed as married? who told you to do that?" (THEY DID!!!)

From your youngest son's teacher: "Your son accidently threw away his retainer at lunch today" (he'd only had it for 6 days)

Those are a few of the recent happenings in my world, Thankfully, there have been a few things I did want to hear as well, or I might not be sitting here. Things like:

From my sweetie: "I love you", "I'm so proud of you", "I can't wait to see you", "Hello wife"

From my oldest son: "Kinko that" translation : "I love you". He's too cool or too shy to say the actual words, so I always get "ditto" or "Kinko that" when I tell him I love him.

From my youngest: "Sit next to me, Mom", "When do I get to go to your house?", " Awww Do I have to go to Dad's?" I know this probably sounds awful, but after what they've been through and the trials I've had with the oldest, it's music to my ears that at least one of them still wants to be with me.

What things do you like to hear or not hear?

Mixed Bag

A wonderful visit this weekend. Wonderful memories, tempered by moments of drama. My ex having a fit. My dd trying to extort money from my sweetie. My sweetie spending over an hour on the phone with the ex. Those three episodes alone will keep me busy with my therapist for months.
It was wonderful to have my sweetie for 4 whole days! It has been so long since we've had that much time together. It was different, and it was the best 4 days I've had in long, long time. I was hoping it would be the first of many such visits- but my sweetie isn't sure she can handle the drama that comes with visits here. Sigh. Another twist in the road. When will I be able to go home?

Success!!

Well, I did it. Another big step on my journey. I have a new job! Yesterday was my first day and it was great. I went in there and had a great day. I was confident. I was capable. The best part of all was, this job came looking for me. I was looking like crazy and this man found my resume on Monster.com and called ME. Thanks to everyone for your encouragement.

Another former thumper.....

You know the Bible 100%!

Wow! You are awesome! You are a true Biblical scholar, not just a hearer but a personal reader! The books, the characters, the events, the verses - you know it all! You are fantastic!

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Crossing my fingers......

My Visual DNA

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