For Derek

I know I just filled out a survey in my last blog so Ill switch this one up a bit. I have been a bit of a Grumpy Gus for a few days and the lucky person to experience the worst of it would have to be Derek. For that, I have decided, he needs some praise!

All the reasons I am oh so lucky to have him:

He has been tolerating me for 15 months. Thats a long time, my friends.

He is so sweet to Molly, he is always picking her up when I work late, taking her out for me, and he is much better at playing fetch with her than I am.

He loves his Aggies. And I love that.

He is very, very smart.

He allows me to be "sensitive" when I need to be. He also allows me to be a neat freak and it doesnt bother him one bit. This may be due to the fact that he knows I will clean a mess he has left behind, but that is neither here nor there.

He takes me to dinner a lot. A whole lot.

He has come to Boston with me and met some of the most important people in my life.

He makes killer enchiladas. One of only two meals I will eat as leftovers.

He is just as social as I am and knows how important friends are.

He is almost always first to say Im sorry.....Im working on that.

We had the most amazing first date ever. He even recreated it for our six month anniversary.

He comes with an amazing family and group of friends. I feel truly blessed to know "his people"

He throws an amazing party-pretty much for any reason.

He loves me just the way I am.

Getting to Know You...Getting to Know All About You

Here are some things about me you may not already know:

Never in my life have I been: to Australia

The person who can drive me nuts is: My mother-she is also the most supportive person I know, I just dont like to hear when she is right and I am wrong.

High school: Anderson

When I'm nervous: talk a lot... or not at all

The last song I listened to was: I listened to celeb news on the radio... my fave

If I were to get married right now my best man/maid of honor would be: It would be oh so hard to pick... thank goodness I dont have to right now

My hair is: dirty...surprising, I know

When I was 5: I lived in MA

Last Christmas: I spent lots of time with my own family, Dereks family and then we went to Boston- Excellent way to celebrate in my book

I should be: going to the gym daily- either that or start buying circus tents to wear

When I look down I see: picture frames on my desk

The happiest recent event to occur was: Everyday something happy happens to me, Im a lucky girl

If I were a character on 'Friends' I'd be: Dont know, Im the one person in all of America that doesnt like that show

By this time next year: I hope to have a better idea of my "career" plans

I have a hard time understanding: math- it may as well be Greek

There's this girl I know that: Ive known my WHOLE life- not many people can say that.
You know I like you when: I laugh at your dumb jokes

If I won an award, the first person I would tell would be: my Mom or my grandfather

Take my advice: trust your gut

The thing I want to buy: Id love a new car, but not having a car payment is pretty sweet

If you visited the place I was born: it would depress you, lol. MA is a little gloomy for my taste

I plan to visit: with my Grandmother when she is here in Sept. Best news Ive gotten all day!

I'd stop my wedding if: I wasnt sure if I was marrying the right person... but if I was unsure, I doubt I would have let it get that far

The world could do without: liars

Most recent thing I've bought myself: food- how exciting

Most recent thing someone else bought me: I would have to say food from Derek when we went to dinner or maybe my birthday gifts

My middle name is: Kara

In the morning I: snooze until the last possible moment

Once, at a bar: I fell off my stool and hit my chin on the way down- I wish I could blame it on the drinks Id had, but it was more my just being clumsy than anything else

Last night I was: at the movies! Pineapple Express... (hilarious)

There's this guy I know who: makes me laugh ALL the time, even when I want to be mad.

If I was an animal I'd be: a puppy- everyone loves puppies!

A better name for me would be: I like my name thank you, didnt used to, but Im used to being "different"- except when people call me Debra, Stephanie or Deadray- that last one is real. A man last week actually called me that- as if its actually a name at all. Sheesh!

Tomorrow I am: working from 1-9 so I can go to the dentist (finally)

Tonight I am: probably going to think of an excuse to skip the gym and eat food that will only make me feel worse. But The Hills is on so that will help.

My birthday is: over- it was August 3rd

Dirty Desiree

I look like trash today. Complete and total trash. Suffice it to say that I am wearing jeans, a Blue October t-shirt and my Rainbows. Nice. Its not that I dont care about the way I look or that I dont care about my job enough to put together a "real" outfit- its more about those glorious 45 extra minutes of sleep I get when I decide to look like this. Like I do today.

I am lucky to have a work environment that is based on comfort and is very lax in its guidelines. See, to me, I feel like I look like a homeless panhandler that one might encounter under the bridges of IH35, but to my coworkers, I probably seem right on par for work. Sure, some people here dress nicely and actually bother to apply make up on Fridays, but not me.

I have this admittedly strange school of thought that getting all gussied up for work on a Friday is just plain silly. Let me tell you why:

1) There is just no way that your hair will not look as good as it did this morning when its time to start your evening. Parts might be flatter than they started out, other parts may have flipped in the wrong direction. This is just unacceptable.

2) (for me) Its next to impossible to "freshen up" your face without feeling like you have dipped your entire head in cake batter. I know this is a strange comparison, but thats how I feel when I think I have too much make up on. Caked.

3) How can you possibly know what youll want to wear that night- and how is a work outfit also just the right choice for whatever you might be doing later? Sure, you could go home and change, but that seems like so much work.

I, myself, prefer to start fresh at the end of the day, ring in the weekend with fresh hair, make up and clothes. So, I have now let you into the deepest and darkest corners of my "getting dolled up" mind and now that you all think Im crazy/unsanitary/rough to look at, Ill leave you with a picture I took of myself this morning:

Happy Friday to you all!

I Am a Bad Blogger

I know, I know, its been far too long since my last post.

I dont really have an excuse either... just letting life get the best of me, I suppose.

I quit work at Massage Envy. Yes, a two and a half month stint was all it took. They werent getting what they wanted from me, and I wasnt getting what I wanted from them. Come pay day, it was nice to have an extra chunk of change but what I was being paid in comparison to what I was missing out on in my social circle just didnt add up. I am currently looking for a new second job and have decided to spare you all the details as last time it got so hairy and was hard for even me to keep up with.

I just ask that you guys keep me in your thoughts- its time for a change and Im doing everything I can to hurry it along.

Patriotism, Braces and Twins

I cannot, for the life of me, remember a time I was more interested in the Olympics than I have been this week. Granted, Michael Phelps (who some may argue is part dolphin) helps a lot, but the gymnastics and the swimming have absolutely blown me away. I have always enjoyed watching the Olympics- the figure skating, the gymnastics, the running, the skiing, etc. but it was more of a chance happening. If I turned the TV on, and I happened to catch an event, Id sit and watch for a bit. This year, however, I find myself actually studying my watch, counting down the minutes until the excitement from Beijing flicks onto my TV screen. 11:30 finds me up way past my bedtime, replacing the urge to sleep with a fast beating heart and clenched fists.

Now, I know everyone on earth is aware of Michael Phelps' amazing talent in the pool (aka "water cube") so going on and on about how wonderful a swimmer he is seems a bit unnecessary. Anyone that can rack up that many gold medals automatically gains hero status in my book! But I will allow myself to take this in a different direction... HIS TEETH! PLEASE, Michael, this is an open plea to get your teeth fixed. You are on the cover of every magazine known to man, your face has been beaming from every TV across the world and your teeth are horrid. I realize its a bit tacky to point it out, but were all friends here, no? Seriously. See an orthodontist and I'll leave you alone.

Lastly, in other Olympic news, I would like to show all of you that my friend Sarah has a twin. The irony not only stands out when I look at Sarah and then at Shawn Johnson and the resemblance is uncanny, but theres more. Shawn Johnson has proudly dawned 411 right there on her back for the world to see- that's Sarah's birthday! And of course, Sarah is a former gymnast. When I was younger, I used to tell my friends she would go to the Olympics someday... and I think I meant it, I mean, I knew she was good, but either way... I WAS RIGHT!

A side by side comparison that will in no way, shape, or form do the similarities justice:

I am loved

I feel like I should be sporting one of those buttons that reads "I am loved"- I think its the silly product of an over-priced jewelry store thats given out when you plunk down who knows how many dollars on Valentines Day. Either way, I should be wearing one today.

Thank you so much to everyone who came out on Saturday for my birthday party! I had such a good time and truly felt like the luckiest girl on earth! I got a one of a kind cake made just for me by Rhonda, tons of delicious food made by Derek's Mom, Janet-and of course all of the miles logged by some of my very best friends. I truly have had one of the best birthday weeks ever.

No Fair!

I throw my best fits on here so dont mind while I throw yet another one.

The Massage Envy I work in happens to be smack dab in the middle of a brand new and half empty shopping center. Next to the clinic, a Third Base Sports bar is being built. I have seen the progress since I started working next door and have been eagerly awaiting its opening as it seems like a fun place to meet friends when I get off work. I so often am too tired to drive anywhere to meet everyone, so the idea of walking over and sitting down for a cold one seemed nice. Provided I have time to change out of my band-aid colored polo of course...


While working last night, one of the new owners came in to get a massage. I met him and we talked a bit, he told me all about the bar and then proceeded to ask me if Id be coming over the next day (today) to enjoy "friends and family night" and eat and drink for free. Tara, the 19 year old assistant manager I was working with, piped in and quickly squashed my dreams of endless drinks flowing out onto someone else's tab and said "She will not be one of the sales associates we are bringing over. Its all upper management and people that have been working here longer"- BURN!

Sure, I havent been there long, and it makes sense to send the upper management, but I ask you, how much use can a 19 year old have in a BAR?! She is not even supposed to STEP FOOT in there!!! So, to her response, I didnt say much but told him that he could count on me being there once the doors were open to the public, and I suspect I may weasel my way into a free drink or two...

Ugh! Teenagers with a bossy attitude... Im so glad Im not one of those anymore!!

Geriatric

So... I have to poke fun at myself for a moment. For the most part, I am a pretty dramatic person and tend to blow things out of proportion (i.e. out of the water) but this time, I really did hurt myself.

I thought that falling down in the shower was something only really really old people experienced by alas, I am now one of those really really old people and so, it was my turn.



I stepped into the shower and planted my right foot in what I can only assume was the soapiest and slimiest part of my bath tub last night. No, its not dirty but for some reason, it felt a little soapy. Much to my dismay, my foot did not stop there and flew right out from under me. Now, because I was putting all of my weight on said right foot, my left one followed in its path and also came out from under me. I found myself straddling the tub- my poor tailbone breaking my fall. As if that didnt hurt enough, my left leg slammed into the side of the tub and I know have a lump the size of a silver dollar and two deep purple bruises in either side of it.


Maybe I should have asked for a shower chair for my birthday instead of the beautiful diamond ring Derek gave me.

Do I make this look good, or what?

Birthday Love

Thank you so very much to everyone who made my birthday extra special this year. Turning 25 was rough for me, but all my friends and family made it so much fun!

My birthday weekend got off to a great start when I got to leave work super early on Friday. I went home and did some un-fun chores and checked in on Molly then rounded up some friends for a nearby happy hour. After that, Derek and I went to see Step-Brother, which was pretty funny.

On Saturday morning, I got to watch Macey for a little while- and she is so much fun might I add. We played with toys, watched the dogs run around in the back yard, and of course I chased her all over the house as she is much more mobile these days. She really put me to work! After a little quality time with Ryan and Rhonda after they came home, I headed to my own home to get ready for Kelsey's wedding. The cool thing about doing stuff with Derek's family is that they all feel like friends. Ryan and Rhonda, though they are Derek's brother and sister-in-law, are so much fun and it feels like Im hanging out with some of my very own best friends. Because I dont have siblings of my own, I think I seriously underestimate how good of friends they can be too! Also, as if theyre not enough, we get to hang out with Kelby and Riley (Derek's cousins) and Karin, who is Kelby's girlfriend is my FIFTH COUSIN! How funny is that?!

The wedding was a lot of fun, good food, good company and good music- what more could we ask for? Nothing. It was perfect.

I woke up on Sunday and immediately felt old. Maybe it was the late night I had the night before, or maybe it was mental but I perked up right away when the well wishes started to roll in. Its so nice to feel so loved on your special day and I felt nothing short of loved all day long. Being Texas and summer, the most logical use of the day was spending it at a pool with any and everyone who wanted to come and celebrate. We had a lot of fun in the pool and wore ourselves out just in time to eat dinner at Tokyo Steak House. Sunburn free and appetites roaring, we ate until we thought we might burst.

So... thank you all to came out, thank you for the phone calls, the text messages, the facebook and MySpace messages, the cakes (Steph and Katie), and the cards. It felt so incredible to be so loved yesterday and I could not have asked for a better way to spend my birthday!

Friends

In surfing around some other blogs I found this gem:

Its pulled it from a Glamour magazine in February of 2006. Enjoy.

12 Friends Every Woman Deserves

1. The friend who won't let you be less than your best, even if you sometimes want to kick her.

2. The friend who's spent the holidays with your parents, gotten drunk with your brother and lived through the dog-spaying incident of `92. She's family.

3. The personal comedian, so hilarious that you dare not call her while driving.

4. The friend who's a little bit evil--so entertaining.

5. A rich friend who will always buy dinner.

6. A poor friend who'll let you buy hers.

7. The work friend: listener, knower of backstory, saver of sanity.

8. The friend you can't wait to be Golden Girls with.

9. The neighbor who'll lend you her drill--or a pair of red stilettos.

10. The friend who drags out of you all the sexual details you're secretly dying to share.

11. The friend who rafts the Amazon, gets a pet snake and does speed dating--so you don't have to.

12. The friend who, instead of asking how she can help, just shows up and does.

Less Exciting Than Watching Paint Dry

Ive never claimed that my life is anything exciting or brag worthy but last night it reached an all time low. I had one of those nights that felt super productive and calmed my nerves, but in my haste and frenzy, I stopped and thought about how to some, my life may seem pretty mundane.

I left work at ACS, ran home and immediately started on my chores. I gave my cat fresh water and food, I started a much needed load of laundry, pulled out bills to pay, unloaded and loaded the dishwasher, and got my vacuum when it dawned on me that in the ENTIRE MONTH I have lived in my new place, I have not once ran the vacuum. Now thats just not like me!

I was well on my way to being done when I started in on the carpet in my bedroom. Not having vacuumed this entire time, I didnt realize that my curtains actually drag the ground (apparently they were hung higher in my old place) and the next thing I knew, my curtains were ripped from their rods and wound around the wheels of my vacuum. A horrid smell ripped through my apartment and for a minute I really thought the curtains might burst into flames until I fought them free from the no longer spinning wheels and then sat down to catch my breath. Who knew cleaning was a hazard to your health and well being?

Having run out of time, I hopped in my car armed with some bottled water to keep me cool on the drive to Massage Envy. I am convinced my AC is on the outs but refuse to actually admit it out loud (typing it doesnt count) so I just drink ice cold water while I drive and pretend the sweat isnt dripping into my eyes and down my back. Gross.

I arrived at work only to have a series of snide remarks thrown at me by one of the lovely teenagers I so often "talk" about:

"Why are you here?"

"I have sales training today"

"No you dont"

"Yes I do"

"No you dont, its not today"

"Well it says it is on the schedule"

"OH! I was supposed to call you- training takes place at the Arbor Walk location, it stars at 5, you better leave now if youre going to make it at all"

"You were supposed to call me? Why didnt you? Can you call them and let them know you didnt tell me the right information and now Ill be late-I have to drive the opposite way down 35 during rush hour traffic"

"You can call them"

"Thanks?"

I hopped back in my car which of course, had heated back up from its already NON COOL temperature, and started back in the direction I had come from. Luckily it only took me about 20 minutes so I wasnt too late. I walked in and stayed for sales training until about 8:15 PM. This actually seemed early since Im used to getting home around 10:30 on nights I work at Massage Envy, so I made the most of my time and made a stop on the way home.

HEB was my destination- which was only made necessary by the fact that I was down to my last roll of toilet paper. I did my usual months worth of shopping and got out of there as quickly as possible. For those of you that dont already know, I HATE the grocery store and shopping in it. I also hate going more than necessary and as a direct result, usually spend the greater part of an hour unpacking and organizing the mass amounts of food I buy. Ive never been the kind of person that can go and just buy a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread- its all or nothing.

When I got home, I unloaded all the food and started making my lunch for the next day. This is the precise moment that I stopped and thought about all the things Id done that day- I worked, I cleaned, I paid bills, I worked again, I grocery shopped, and I made my lunch for the next day. Shortly after that realization, I crawled into bed and fell asleep.

Tell me this- when does the "fun part" of being an adult kick in? Are your lives like this?

Wedding Bells

Yes, we survived another wedding weekend. This time it was Walt and Jennifer's turn to take the plunge. I did my best Saturday to take as many pictures as possible.

I worked on Friday night and met up with the wedding party (post rehearsal dinner) for some drinks and to tour the new house in Blackhawk purchased by the newlyweds. Impressive would be an understatement. Since Im no good with spacial description or recalling a physical layout, and little remains in my memory aside from their granite counter tops and mega tall ceilings, Ill just leave it at amazing.











The wedding came a bit early on Saturday since it was at 2. It was a decently long catholic service with lots of up and downs, kneeling and hand motions that I didnt know the meaning of. The reception found us at good ol' Pfluger Hall with pink EVERYWHERE. There was a candy bar, a cupcake tower in place of the traditional cake, and all sorts of pink decorations with the Bride and Grooms name plastered across them. Around 10 PM, after lots of dancing, food and drinks, the newlyweds were whisked away in their getaway car and we all headed to a local bar within walking distance for some karaoke. This seems to be a tradition among our friends after local weddings, and Players knows us by name. Im not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing... but either way, we always have fun!

Sunday was spent in its typical manner: scrumptious food for lunch at the Bohls', lots of Macey squeezing time, some lounging (I watched the Wizard of Oz) and then Derek and I went to see The Dark Knight at the IMAX. We both thought it was so good, a little scary and twisted, but oh so entertaining. I will, however add the we both had really bad nightmares, but the movie was still good- just maybe not Sunday night appropriate? Bedtime found me falling asleep to the E! True Hollywood Story of Britney Spears: The Price of Fame. Sucker for bad tv? I think so.

Old Enough to Know Better

I find it to be nothing short of ironic that I recently posted about my impending birthday, my age, and my insecurities with it all. This irony is mostly due to the fact that I am about to preach to all of you just how much more I know than some of the people I encounter on a daily basis.

I work with a girl, age 19, at Massage Envy- who also happens to be unmarried and pregnant. No, there is nothing wrong with her situation, I cannot judge, but what is wrong is that she does drugs. While pregnant. She lives with her boyfriend that has no job and works ALL THE TIME to support the two of them. Why is he unemployed? He failed his drug test and is on probation for punching his girlfriend's (aka baby mamma) Dad. Said boyfriend comes to the store and sits in the office every time she works, start to finish and waits out the entire shift. He sometimes looks for jobs online, makes phone calls as they dont have a phone of their own, and brings food for his expectant girlfriend. Then they go home and get high.

I have started making suggestions to him:
"Why dont you get a job at HEB stocking groceries at night, I think you get paid more to work those non traditional hours and it would leave your days open for interviews if you find something better" or "How about UPS, could you check packages in and out or drive a delivery truck?"

To my suggestions he always mumbles something about not wanting this or that job and how he's waiting on paperwork from xyz to come through. They are on food stamps and have applied for WIC but still have no food in the house and what little food they did have, went bad when their electricity was turned off from not paying the bill three months in a row.

Im not saying all of this to be mean or sound like Im perfect because we all know I am far from that- but I just dont understand how someone so young could get herself in so deep? I told Derek last night that I was so close to taking her home with me when she said she might sleep in her car as her non air conditioned apartment was too hot for her pregnant body. I soon realized that while it would provide her with a good night of sleep and cool air, it would not fix her situation or make it better in any way for the long run. Also, I had to come to terms with the fact that it is not my job to take care of her and that just taking care of myself is hard enough.

To add on what I fear is already a blog entry that makes me sound like the most high and mighty person ever, I am going to vent about the people I talk to on a daily basis here at the American Cancer Society. Sometimes I am convinced that people simply do not think at all before they pick up the phone.

While I realize that Cancer can be a very confusing and complicated topic to discuss, it blows my mind that people can call in and say they have cancer- to which I always ask what type they have been diagnosed with. I cannot even count all the times I have gotten an "I dont know" answer.

HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW WHAT KIND OF CANCER YOU HAVE???????????

I have had some real doozies Id like to take a moment to share with you (in no particular order):

1) "I have prosRate cancer...
2) "Tell me about that skim cell research thingy"
3) "Where can I get a free mammYogram?"
4) "Thank you for calling your American Cancer Society, this is Desiree how can I help you?"
"Yea, is this the American Red Cross? I need to be CPR certified"
"No, sir, this is the American Cancer Society"
5) "The cure for Cancer can be found in rattlesnake venom, I have proof"
6) "I have cancer, can you pave my driveway for me?"
7) "What number did I dial?"
"Im not sure, do you remember what numbers you pressed on your phone?"
8) "Can you tell me what the survival rate is for stage # (insert cancer here) is?"
" Stage # (cancer) has a 100% survival rate"
" is that a good thing?"
9) "I was diagnosed with lung cancer, and I cant pay my bills- can you help me pay them?"
"I can look and see whats available in your area for financial assistance, whats your zip code?"
"Hold on, let me light my cigarette- then Ill have a free hand to write down this information"
10) "Someone came and put a box in front of a store I own- it says to donate clothes and shoes for the homeless, can you come pick it up?"
"Does it say its from the American Cancer Society?"
"No, it doesnt"
"Then we cannot come and pick that up, you will need to contact the organization that placed it there"
'Oh, so you wont come get it? Fine."

Happy Friday to you all.

The Perks

So I took advantage of the hours I have clocked at Massage Envy last night and got a free massage. I chose the least creepy of my co-workers (a very fun loving gay man) and scheduled myself an hour with him.

He told me that not only are my back and neck a disaster area but he suggested I get a massage at least once a month because of all the tension I seem to hold in that area (I could have told you that). He really worked out a lot of kinks I had back there and stretched me out better than I have done myself for what feels like years... and sent me on my way with instructions to drink a lot of water. The reason for this being that when the muscles are worked over like that, many toxins are released and if you dont drink a lot of water to flush it all out, you may actually get sick from it all! Talk about disgusting. It also helps with any soreness that may linger on for the next few days but I chose to focus on the grosser reason.

Today, I feel relaxed and calm but Im afraid something stressful will come my way and Ill start making knots in my back again! Its only a matter of time.

A Clean Bill of Health

Molly's heart is fine and her parasite is gone. Thank goodness we got all good news!