Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Almost derailed...

It seems that whenever I have a little money set aside for something (like a vacation, for instance) then immediately something else happens to make that money go away (like a car repair, for instance... or something else).

And that was threatening to make my vacation a non-vacation.

*sobbing*

However, the parentals have come to the rescue (thank you El Dub and Flip Flop... although at the present time I'm not sure that El Dub is even aware of what he has committed to... but no matter).

So, the vacation is back on!! YAY!!

*huge sigh of relief*

*groaning from RR*

I promise to post lots of pics and (hopefully) video of RR playing tennis.

It's gonna be epic...

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

I'm a little excited...

So, I started packing last night for my vacation. Is there such a thing as premature packing? If so, I have it. Not only that, I have done every load of laundry in my house (always an impressive feat) so I have the very best selection to take with me.

I know. It's sad.

But I'm a little excited about the vacation. RR is having doubts, however. Not only does he have to spend a week with my family (my idea of fun, but not necessarily his), we also have to participate in the Hay Family tennis tournament.

RR is a fairly athletic guy... if it involves being on the water or uneven ground. Which makes him fabulous for coast living and anything to do with being out in nature. However, you put him on flat ground and it's a tragedy. He can't stay upright. Seriously.

Involve a racket and a little, yellow ball you have to hit over a net and I'll be lucky to escape without any major limbs broken. Or my nose...

In his defense, he does have size 15 feet and it's like wearing flippers around. Try it. It's not easy to get around. But his finger-like toes have amazing gripping power when it comes to steep mountainsides. I'm convinced that in a previous life he was a mountain goat...

So.

Our only chance of beating any of the other couples is if they are rendered helpless by the sheer comedic value on the other side of the net. To further that, we plan on wearing matching socks and headbands. I was going to bedazzle both, but I have run out of time. Dang...

Hopefully we will get some video of us playing. It'll be worthy fodder for many years to come, I'm sure...

Friday, June 24, 2011

If only...

I could take all my cramps and give them to deserving people like... politicians.

Now that would be great. And much more comfortable for me. Because right now I feel like I'm about to give birth to an alien. Yeah, the one that pops out of your stomach.

I don't like it. Not one bit. But Mother Nature doesn't seem to care...

So glad it's Friday!!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Short-timer...

8 days. Only 8 more days (6 business days if anyone's counting) and then I'm ON VACATION. That's right. I'm taking a (very cheap because I'm ultra poor) vacation to Sunriver, Oregon.

That's assuming I make it to next week, of course...

Because after last week, this is not an automatic. It was rough... both personally and professionally.

Let's start with professionally. Tuesday was by far the worst day I've ever had at this job. It was awful. I couldn't get caught up, everything I was doing blew up in my face and the paper was 3 hours late getting out. It was horrible. This is the first time since working here that the paper has been late because I couldn't get my shit together. Of course, it was just way too much work for one person but that is besides the point. And not only did I miss deadline I ripped everyone within earshot a new one if they even dared to bother me. Not the way to act when you're "supposed" to be a professional... ugh.

The next day, the boss called me out on it. And if she had just done that it would've been fine. But she had to go and add a bunch of stuff that was not true. Basically she told me that I wasn't good at my job and maybe I should consider a different job since deadlines seem to be an issue.

Um, excuse me?

I basically told her (in not so many words) to shove it up her butt and fire me if that's how she felt.

Again, probably not the best approach... but I was pissed. Well, way beyond pissed but you get the idea. After all, I meet incredibly unfair deadlines on a monthly basis. And the paper has never been late because of me.

*growl*

After storming out of the office and calming down (and crying a lot) I decided that I did need to apologize for ripping her head off the day before, but that I needed to address her other "complaints", because they were unfair and untrue. So, I went back in and did just that. I explained (fairly rationally, given the circumstances) why I was so upset by what she said. I tried to keep my personal feelings out of it and just give the facts the way I saw them... and a rational, thoughtful conversation ensued. I think it will make things better in the long run, but we will see. So far, I still have a job and she's been pretty decent since then (even getting her ads in on time... shocking, I know).

So it seems that professionally it is no harm, no foul for now. But I'm still looking for something that pays better...

OK... now on to the hard one. Personally...

Some background first. RR is ADHD (which I've talked about a little bit before) and has a massive sensitivity to sugar. Which makes things difficult because sugar is in everything. Seriously. Start reading labels and you'll see what I mean.

The ADHD can be tough. Sometimes it totally catches me off balance because, of course, my brain doesn't function the way his does. However, the more I get to know him the easier that part becomes. He has certain ways he does things and as long as I can deliver the info in a way he can process all is well.

The sugar thing is another thing all together. Because I'm not with RR 24/7 I don't know what he's gotten into food-wise that day. I work on the assumption that he's been strict with his diet because otherwise I just end up being a nag... but sometimes he is not. And sometimes he eats something that he thinks is OK and it ends up not being that way.

And when that happens he mentally jumps down the rabbit hole. Well, maybe falls is a better word. And let me tell you, that hole is deep...

And it affects us pretty dramatically for a few days which is rough. He becomes a very brittle and needy person and I get very distant and annoyed by it, which makes him more needy and more brittle... You see my problem.

And by brittle I mean that something that would have elicited no comment the day before all of a sudden becomes a flashpoint for WWIII. It's tough to deal with, I'm not going to lie. And when he is in that place he really pushes my buttons and I'm not good about walking away from that. So then major blow-ups occur. And it's a vicious cycle until he's back to normal... which can be a day or it can be a week. It just depends...

We need a way to get through those times... but there are times when I wonder if it is worth it. He has some major upsides... but this is a pretty major downside. Right now it's 85% good, 15% bad. I'd like to get it more to a 95%/5%. He's working on it, but sometimes it's hard to know what to do when faced with that situation.

I'm not ready to call it quits or anything like that. But they are things I need to consider if this is going to be very long-term. But, it did make for a long week last week...

But I see blue sky on the horizon...

And vacation is only a few days away...

Friday, June 17, 2011

A busy week...

It's been a busy week for birthdays...

As you may or may not remember, I am the oldest of 6 kids (what were my parents thinking?). And this week it was bro #1 & #2's birthday.

Brother #1 but 2nd child...

And brother #2...

Happy birthday, guys. I love you both!! 

Thursday, June 16, 2011

I never told you about my weekend...

And, boy, was it a doozy...

On Saturday I attending a gaming show that was being held at the barn where the horses are boarded at. I got there early, warmed up Flash really well and then stood in line waiting my turn for the run at the poles (which was the first event). Flash and I started our run and then he decided to plant his front feet and throw in a big buck.

Ass and saddle parted ways.

And actually, I ended up clinging to his neck. From there I worked my way back into the saddle (while he stood stock still... he knew he was in big trouble) and then continued our run. I was the only person who's horse bucked. I could have killed him...

Needless to say, we didn't do very well on that run. But we did end up with a lot of 2nd places for the other events. After a rocky start the day ended pretty well...

On Sunday, RR and I drove down to Newport and did a poker ride. So basically you buy in ($5 per hand) and then draw cards along the trail ride down the beach. If you get a good hand you win prizes.

We both drew a low pair. No prizes for us...

But it was a fun ride none-the-less. Elmo (up until the last 15 minutes) was a saint even though there was major ass-hattery going on all around us. And Flash was his normal pleasant self.

Too bad the weather wasn't great...

But RR and I timed it just right. Just as we got the horses unsaddled and loaded back in the trailer the sky opened up and started pouring rain. I felt bad for the 30 or so horses still out on the beach...

This weekend I'm heading to the Parental's to hang with Flip Flop. El Dub is outta town on a motorcycle ride and mom wants to play. Sounds like a good time to me.

Plus I get to meet my new nephew. Can't wait to cuddle and love on that little guy...

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Hair today, gone tomorrow...

Every year when "summer" rolls around I shave the marshmallow for 2 reasons...

1. The amount of hair coming off that dog would fill a small condo.

2. She looks hilarious after it's done...

 Marshmallow: Whaddya mean? I look great...
Daisy: You are an embarrassment...

Shut up, Daisy. Am not...

Both of you shut up. I'm the cutest thing that ever lived...

Hmmm. Can't argue with that...

Friday, June 10, 2011

Welcome the new arrival...

My brother and sis-in-law just had their first baby arrive yesterday. And oh my gosh is he cute!!

Look at that face. Don't you just wanna cuddle him?

I can't wait to meet him in person :)

Thursday, June 9, 2011

I think one personality is plenty...

So, my twin Wildflower is back in the dating hunt. And it's rough out there!! She had some guy contact her yesterday that was bi-polar and ADHD...

Not a good combo. At. All.

I'm a bit familiar with ADD/ADHD now. RR has it. It proves to be difficult sometimes (remember the time blog?) but for the most part he has coping mechanisms that allow him to get through the day in a semi-reasonable fashion and run a business. His ADHD mostly manifests in the form of hoarding multiples of the same thing and then throwing them in his already-crowded storage unit. But, that's his problem, not mine. Yet...

But that's another blog.

Bi-polar is also something I'm familiar with. I know people who have it and it's a tough one. You never know which personality is going to walk through the door. I've worked for 2 people who had it and it was a no-win situation. I can't even imagine trying to create a relationship around such a thing. They are hard enough as it is.

I think my limit is one mental disorder per relationship.

Wildflower pretty much feels the same...

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

It's a rough life...

My horses have it rough... knee-deep in grass and all.

What do you want? Can't you see we're busy here?

When I come to get them out of the pasture for a ride, they act like I have committed some cardinal sin. 

We can't see you. Therefore, you do not exist...
Nomz, nomz, nomz...

They might be onto something, though. There is something to be said for kicking back and enjoying oneself in the sun with tasty treats...

Now this is more like it. Where's my cocktail?

Although it doesn't beat riding. I guess my poor, picked-on horses will just have to suffer the inhumanity of it all...

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Mars vs. Venus: The time issue...

Have you ever noticed that time is not actually a linear measurement? It stretches out and, at times, almost seems to stop.

However, for the most part I can tell you exactly how much time any given activity is going to take and schedule my time accordingly. Up until I met RR I didn't realize that not everyone can do this...

He can't. His brain is not wired the same way mine is and this leads to some interesting time-related conversations...

Such as:

Me: Hey there, I'm going to be home in 15 minutes. Want to meet me and then go for a walk on the beach?

RR: Sure, I'll be there right about the same time.

So, I proceed to go home and then wait. And wait. And wait. And tap my foot a lot and wait...

And then RR shows up around an hour later.

I, being a woman, am pissed (of course). RR, on the other hand, is oblivious to the reason why I could possibly want to rip his lips off.

*sigh*

So, now our time related conversations go something like this:

Me: Hey there, I'm going to be home in 15 minutes. Want to meet me and then go for a walk on the beach?

RR: Sure, I'll be there right about the same time.

Me: Is that 15 minutes my time? Or 15 minutes your time?

RR: Well, better give me an hour... just in case.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Flip Flop said there'd be days like this...

I just wish they happened more often...

Here, on the Oregon Coast, we are gearing up for 3 days of amazing weather. RR and I will be taking advantage and riding on the beach tomorrow.

But this morning I only had time for a walk on the beach with the pups and RR. But, man, was it gorgeous out there...

It was so nice I wanted to sun myself,
but this starfish beat me to it...

Wisely, I assigned RR to DPR duty...

Dog Poo Retrieval duty, that is...

The tide was low and the water was beautiful...




Enjoy your weekend. I plan on enjoying the heck outta mine...

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Happy Anniversary, again...

Only it's the Parentals celebrating today. 40 "blissful" years ago they decided to tie the knot...

Congrats Flip Flop and El Dub...

May there be many more in your future!!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

My, my, the time does fly...

Hey, I was a poet and didn't know it ;)

Ok... moving on.

Today makes 6 months of dating "bliss" for RR and I. Actually, a lot of it has been very good. Some has been not-so-good. But it can't all be rainbows and butterflies 24/7. Or so I'm told...

What it has been is a lot of fun. Plus, it was RR's birthday a few days ago too. Lots to celebrate!!

Here's to many, many more months together...
 
Happy to have you in my life :)