I just want to complain...

The AC is out. It's been 6 months since we had it repaired. It's been in our house for less than 3 years. Less than 3 years ago, we replaced the entire thing. I do not live in a climate, nor have I properly acclimatized myself to adjust to the tropics that I'm living in. The dogs are overheating. They are overheating to a degree that I swear causes our inside temperature to increase at least an additional 5 degrees.
Fuel is horribly expensive. I am cheap and do not want to put gas in my car. I do not know how to transport over 40 pounds of dog food from the store to my house without driving. I say over 40 pounds because we buy a 40 pound bag of dry dog food in addition to can food. The 40 pound bag of dog food has increased by $3.00 over the last six months.
My job requires me to pay attention to fuel prices. I do not know how people can afford to put gas in their cars. I know many people that have to drive for work. I cannot imagine how they are paying their other bills and their fuel bills. It is simply ridiculous.
Memorial Day weekend in protest of the high fuel costs I had my own little sit in. I did not leave town, I drove as little as possible. I could not believe the traffic on the highways when I did get out of the house. Why do I feel sorry for these people who still can manage to drive all over the place, eat out in restaurants, go to the movies ,while I'm sitting at home trying to figure out how to save money???
My hair has gotten so gray. I try to be thankful that I have hair, because, sadly, it is falling out. I do not want to sit and have it dyed. I do not want to spend the money, I do not want to waste my time. I know people may judge me for not maintaining my appearance. I hope they simply do not look my way. That'll be fine by me, too.
I don't know if it's just the day, the time, or the temperature that has caused me to want to complain. But, my goodness, this is my short list of complaints. I could go on and on. I could complain about politics, the cable company, the upcoming switch to digital signal, just to name a few things. There are even more legitimate complaints -- unwanted children in our country, puppy mills, and a disregard for respect for each other.
Tonight, I will have to simply be thankful that I can complain. I know there are so many out there trapped, unable to complain, or perhaps have no one to complain to....at least I have you!

I was tagged???

I got tagged--but I like it, so that's a good thing!

Here are the rules:
A) The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
B) Each player answers the questions about himself or herself.
C) At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1) Ten years ago I was...In college, I guess I was watching Heather stress about graduating and getting married. I was probably telling her not to get married because she was too young. No, I don't think I was that cynical those days, I probably didn't tell her that. She'll remember better than I!! 1998, wow, 10 years since my "senior" year of college. WOW...

2) Five things on today's to-do list...Apparently I need to figure out what I've done over the last 10 years! Invoices are stacking up, I must get through those today. It's Wednesday, so I've got some other AP, AR, and P/L type reports that just may not get finished today, but are on the list. I'm adding find out what the word "meme" is, because Heather's used it twice and if I looked it up last time, I don't remember what the definition is...or maybe I looked it up and couldn't find it? Anyway, that's 4....ummm....Feed the dogs??? I really don't want to think of all the other "work" I have to do -- which explains why I'm doing this right now!

3) Things I'd do if I were a billionaire: Unfortunately, I'd probably still worry about money. I'd spend more frivolously -- especially on my folks. I'd invest, well, I may hire someone to invest for me. Perhaps seek election or find a try to find a more down to earth political figure to team up with. I think the politics are sinking this country and it bothers me more every day. Holland or Denmark I hear are good places to consider moving to??? As a billionaire, I'd consider an international move -- yeah right, in my dreams!

4) Three bad habits: Only three?!?!?!? Procrastination, laziness, and excessive"negative self-talk".

5) Five places I've lived: My parents, Legett Hall, my house. Hmmmm.... there were several rooms in Legett. I stayed a month in Austin at my aunts and spent a month in Dallas -- do any of these count? How sad...

6) Six jobs I've had in my life: I changed this to six places I've worked -- Stewart Title (great job), Adoption Access (sad job), Texas Department of Agriculture (fun job), Skyline Displays (job I thought I'd like), Sepia Photos (Santa=Satan job) and Rocky Top (I'm still here, aren't I?)

Tag more people? Impossible - too few blogging buddies. But, any bloggers who catch this, re-post! Does that mean I loose?

Happy Hump Day!

Good times, old pals

Have you ever had one of those pals, always in your life, but maybe just not every day? Someone you always laugh with, but never make enough time with? I have too many of those to count! Shame on me for not making more time to spend with those few special people. They make me feel good about who I am, and, well, just good, even when life's looking gloomy.

I had lunch with an old pal today. We have been a constant part of each other's lives for, gosh, I guess well over 15 years! I just realized how long we've really known each other. Time has just zoomed past us.

We went to high school together. So, during those days, we saw each other very often. There were classes together, social events together, and we even attended each other's family functions! Then, after a little chance entered the picture, ended up going to the same college. We even lived on the same side of campus in student housing. Throughout college we would "hang out", sometimes a lot, sometimes not.

This has always been unique relationship. I'm not sure why, other than we're both weird in our own ways. We'd ride home from college together; we'd complain about school and relationships; and we'd hang out at weird times walking around campus just talking about life. Then we may not see each other for an extended time, but like any other friendship, once we'd spend a little time together, it was as nothing had changed.

We each moved back to our hometown after college. Nothing changed, we were still each our own weird selves. Once we were out of school, we'd even ride back to college together for events. Time passed, and now, we're in that next phase of life. We spend our day to day lives working, being married (not to each other, obviously), spending time with family, and whatever else 30-somethings "do". Of course, we don't see each other often, but when we do, it almost always starts with a hug, there's time spent laughing, a few complaints, and ends with, "We should do this more often".

It's really comforting sharing a "past" with someone and knowing that no matter what, a "future" with them is just as likely...even if we drive each other crazy sometimes! ;)

SEX

I'm counting down the days for the release of the movie Sex in the City.

I did not watch the show when it was on HBO, we didn't have HBO then. I think I was probably still in college, maybe just out of college??? I can't remember. But, thanks to TBS and the WB Sex is on all the time now! I have seen just about every episode (less some of the raunchy stuff I wouldn't have liked, anyway). It's like the life I never led! I was never part of the a fashion-crazed, trendy, gal-pal group that is portrayed on the show. Sadly, I have never had the relationship with "the city" that there is on the show. But, hey, that's fine by me -- now I've been able to experience the life that could-have-been simply by being an observer of these fabulous ladies!

New York, NY -- it's a wonderful place. At least in my imagination it has always been terrific. It may as well have a pulse, because there is always so much life in the city. Growing up, I always wanted to visit NY. I was convinced that I would live there, even if just briefly. Well, I've never lived there. A couple of years ago, I was fortunate enough to get to visit. The visit was too short! There was so much to see, so many things I could have done, but I was only traveling through for work. I was working most the time I was there, so instead of sleeping, I went exploring! Recently, I heard the cast of the show/movie in an interview describing the city as a character for the story line. No doubt, NY plays a significant role in the success of the story.

The way the show is written, the main character is a writer, a columnist, for a local paper. We watch her experiences with friends, men, and perhaps most importantly shoes. At the end of each episode, we almost always would see her writing her column, summing up the episode and giving her view of the relationship angle we had just seen. It was almost as if we were introduced to blogging! I realize this was her job, she was writing for an actual publication. But looking back -- this show originally aired in the mid 90's -- perhaps this was many people's first exposure to what has become so popular for all of us bloggers???

Now the movie, and I simply cannot wait! It comes out this month. I truly wish I had a group of gal-pal to go watch this with, but hey, it's something I know I will enjoy, and who cares if I'm there solo, right??

Siblings -- Part One

I'm an only child. This means I grew up with just me and my parents -- both of them. I'm extremely grateful for having not just any male and female to grow up with; I actually had my biological mother and my biological father there to guide me through the maze of life...I digress, something that is common for me. There was no sharing, no sibling fights, no taking turns, no one to play with, no one to get scared with, no hand-me-downs, no one blame, no one to get in trouble with.

For the first 10 years of my life I hated the fact that my parents would not, or could not, provide me with a sibling...preferably an older brother. I was always fascinated by those with an older brother, and it just didn't make sense why they would not grant me this request. I really felt that I need an older brother to guide me. Of course, I was convinced that my parents just didn't tell me everything I needed to know socially. This "older brother" was a necessity for my social success. Luckily, I had a friend who closely fit the bill, but it just wasn't the same.

Then, the over the next 10 years I decided that when/if I ever married, he must have a large family. I already loved these people and could not wait to consider them my own. This was likely because each of my parents embraced their "in-laws". Growing up, it was as both sides of my family had known each other forever! I wanted the same thing. I wanted holidays to be a massive gathering of people, hanging out, having fun -- it would be something like I had only seen in the movies.

At some point during the next decade, I realized I may not find the family to marry, but I had quite possibly found the "one". So, we got married. He comes from a small family, only one brother. He has a few cousins, but they are not close. This was actually a "con" I had considered when we talked about getting married. The pictures of my future were fading, and I accepted that fact. We would create pictures better than I had imagined, just different.

Now, I'm in my thirties, I thank my parents often for not having any other children. It's taken me this long to realize I'm grateful to have grown up as an only child. Now, I have no one to share the work of caring for aging parents but I have no one to disagree with over how my parents should be cared for. There is no one for me to burden with my "woes" of life, but I do not feel obligated to continually provide support for a sibling that makes bad decisions.

No longer do I wish for more family, I just pray for guidance on how to handle the family that is in my life. I try to be thankful for what I do have. I realize it is more than many have, and quite possibly all I could handle.