Wednesday, August 19, 2009

And That's Why Its Good To Be ME!

--If you don't get the Gene Simmon's reference in the title, you are really missing out!

I was driving in my car when I realized I am a very lucky person. I observe things around me that really make me appreciate the things I have and the people in my life. I keep seeing marriages falling apart, people with mental illness running their lives, people miserable in every aspect of their work lives, people with ups and downs in their personal relationships .... and realize that its good to be me. I have so much to be thankful and grateful for!

  • I have an awesome (and HUGE) family. My baby cousin isn't a baby anymore, and now he's one of my texting buddies. My mom is the coolest mom you could ever hope for. My grandpa is the best landlord ever! My cousin Christine makes me smile every day - just by being herself! We always look forward to football games together - not for the sport, but just for the purpose of being together and spending a day laughing, sharing stories, and, of course, rooting for our teams. Its a family of Oregon State University alums!
  • My dog. My cat. I LOVE my pets. They are my babies. Lady is my little angel. I think she was supposed to enter my life when she did. Even though they try to deny it, I know my cat and dog do like sharing each other's company. My cat is my princess. We've been together through tons - and traveled across this huge country together TWICE! She really does think she is the head of the household - and she almost is - if only she could change her own litter!
  • I live in an adorable cottage. Its got a fresh coat of new paint color on it, a new pool in the backyard, and well, its home! Way better than apartment life for sure. I have such a huge area of land around my house - at times I can almost try to pretend I have no neighbors!
  • What's that dude's name? That one guy - the one with the little ND accent that slips out when he doesn't even realize it? Oh yeah - Michael. He just popped into my life so unexpectedly - and I haven't had one boring day since! I was so used to living alone for so long, and now during the rare times he goes to visit his parents, my house feels way too quiet and empty. How on earth did you worm your way in so well, you little "pill"!?! ;-)
  • Heather R** kicks ass! My BFF and I get to see each other now more than ever. Her BF and my BF are practically BFFs now, too - how cute are we?!? I have 3 completely adorable "nieces" that I just .... adore! Each of them has their own unique personality. Little Carly just cracks me up every time I see her. That girl is such a R** already - and she's only 3!
  • Jessica is the bomb! Wait - do we get to say that anymore? Hm. Okay - Jessica ROCKS so hard! We are going to be on vacation together in less than 2 months and I am so freaking excited. Excited about the trip, yes, but also really excited to get to hang with Jessica for more than just a day or two before we have to part ways and get back to work and normal life. Everything we see and do in October will be a first for her, so I really hope she has the best time ever!
  • Facebook - yeah, as crazy as it is - I'm actually glad its around. I've reconnected with so many old friends, and connected with new ones that I've actually known forever, but never really "knew". I love the blogs my friends write. I have so much fun reading them and living vicariously through their lives -- especially since nearly all of them have children except for me. I get to have this little peek into life with a child and what my future has in store. Gosh, I hope my kid ends up as cute as my friends' children.
  • There's another one! I'm fortunate enough to have friends that have cute children. I can't lie and tell people their ugly kid looks cute. I still remember the ugliest baby I ever saw when I was working in Florida. It freaked me out. Anyway - thank you to my friends for producing cute children!
  • My friends in general. You guys really are the coolest! I have so many that are true friends. Good people that make me laugh. Friends with police officers as husbands that respond super fast when something goes down and I needed assistance! Friends to vent with during a stressful work day. Friends to go to lunch with when we need a mini-break to catch up on things. Friends to share spiced rum with. Friends to share shots of tequila with. Friends to do Black Friday shopping with. Friends to discuss American Idol with. Friends to watch old home movies with and laugh until we cry.
  • Rocky Horror Picture Show. Random? Yes. But how awesome is RHPS?!? Its like a subculture of people that know it and truly appreciate it. I love that my friends love it as much as I do! I'm glad there are people in my life that can go to a RHPS tribute show with me - and find total amusement in watching the sign language interpreters versus the actual performers!
  • Yin. Yang. They go hand in hand. I am soooo lucky to have a Yang to my Yin. His name is Mike. Gee whiz - these Michaels are everywhere in my life! Life wouldn't be right if Mike wasn't in my life. Without ever meeting we ended up having matching tattoos. Now we have some matching piercings. But our yin/yang goes way deeper than just body art. He's one of my closest and dearest friends. When we vacation together I call it a family vacation - not just a vacation with a friend. Mike will be in my wedding. Can I get him in a dress? Probably not - but you know, there's time to debate that issue!
  • I am pretty darn lucky to have my job! Seems everywhere you go you hear people talk of being laid off from their jobs and struggling to find another. I've been at mine for years now - and even though I get "a case of the Mondays" every once in a while - I'm still pretty darn lucky! I enjoy what I do. I have some really great friends that I work with, and I am left alone to be pretty independent and just get my work done. So yay for employment!
  • My car. I love my car! We get along great. She just got a bath. Her A/C has never failed me. She still looks new even though she just crossed over the 10,000 mile mark!
  • Oregon!! I feel so lucky to live in the most beautiful state I've ever visited - which is quite a few! After living in Florida for so long, I really appreciate the beauty and peace of the Pacific Northwest. We have gorgeous seasons, so much nature to get out and explore, my friends and family are here. Its just a great place to be.
  • I feel like I could keep going. So I'll end with this ... freedom! I am thankful for my freedom. Freedom to do what I want, say what I want, buy what I want, go where I want whenever I want. Freedom that takes me to Florida every year to see my BBFF. Freedom that lets me visit Fabulous Las Vegas on a whim. I am thankful for Las Vegas!! It is my favorite place to be. The sights. The sounds. The ability to drink in a mall or on a sidewalk or in a bathroom or in an elevator or in a casino or in a bar watching your friend shine in a drag show or on a monorail or ....you get the idea. Vegas is the ultimate playground of freedom and sinful indulgence. I can't get enough of it! Maybe its time to plan another trip! Michael? Mike? Clark? You boys ready?? Let's do it!!

3 comments:

  1. Wow that was shallow! I kid, I kid! Lovely blog!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Have you been ingesting foreign substances? Nice stuff. And - yes - I am the coolest!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Its so great you appreciate all you have. You really do sound like a lucky girl! I am glad we reconnected on Facebook. And by the way - I guarantee your kids will be cuter than those of your friends. It's just a given. Even if they are ugly they'll be the cutest to you and no one will tell you otherwise. Plus I'm sure they will be just as precocious.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for reading my little blog, your comments rock my compression socks!! ºoº