Mama: Kadyn, do you want to ride your bike to swimming lessons today?
Kadyn: Yes, but with my training wheels.
Mama: I know. Dad put them back on for you.
Kadyn: I don't want to fall. If I fall then I will scrape my knee and it will hurt and then I will cry because it hurts and then when I put my legs in the water it will hurt a lot and I will have to get out of the water and go home.
Friday, August 31
Wednesday, August 29
Tuesday, August 28
The Story of Us Part III
August 6, 2012 marked 11 years together for Ryan and me.
Eleven years together, six of those married.
I love our story.
From the first 18 years of chance meetings and unbelievable coincidences to the last six years of marriage, parenthood and figuring out, well, everything.
I never want to forget how we came to be or all that we've been through to get here.
Catch up with Part I here and Part II here.
******
When I think about the first five years Ryan and I were together, it's a bit of a blur.
And not that great of a blur, actually.
Neither of us had the greatest of jobs and we always struggled with money.
The fallout from Ryan's previous relationship was carrying on - and actually cost me a job. The first good job I ever had.
I got laid off from the job after that and couldn't find another.
For WAY longer than I care to admit.
And we had a HUGE falling out with Ryan's mother.
("Falling out" Bahahaha! On a scale of 1 - Nuclear War? It was Chernobyl. Times 5.)
("Falling out" Bahahaha! On a scale of 1 - Nuclear War? It was Chernobyl. Times 5.)
Something that went on for about 4 years, will never be resolved and nearly broke Ryan's and my relationship.
Even still, the first five years were largely uneventful.
Well the first 3 anyway.
After wallowing in the biggest wallow hole in the history of holes, I got my unemployed (and quickly growing) ass up and enrolled in college.
Seems like that's something I would've and should've done a lot sooner, right? There are three reasons I didn't:
Even still, the first five years were largely uneventful.
Well the first 3 anyway.
After wallowing in the biggest wallow hole in the history of holes, I got my unemployed (and quickly growing) ass up and enrolled in college.
Seems like that's something I would've and should've done a lot sooner, right? There are three reasons I didn't:
- My parents NEVER talked to me about my future - post-secondary school, career, life plan, nada. I mean I knew I could be anything I wanted to be but I don't remember that conversation going past the princess and rock star phase.
- No money. Zip. Zero. Nothing. Nada. I had no college fund. My parents had no money. I had no money. And I was completely uneducated in the student loan/bursaries/grants department.
- I was going to be a Mama when I grew up. Part of the reason I didn't have an education/career plan is because I had a plan to be a Mama. That's what I have always wanted to be. (Once I got over wanting to be a princess and a rock star.) There was a brief period that I REALLY wanted to be a psychiatrist but on career research day I quickly realized that was FAR out of my grasp. Plus holy school forever, Batman!! The only flaw in my Mama plan was the time between finishing high school and actually having a baby. Apparently I thought I could just sit and look pretty in the meantime?? I also have to add that for a good number of years I was hellbent on having a sperm donor baby and doing it alone. Good thing I had a solid career plan to back that up.
So in 2004 I signed myself up to get a higher education.
I kinda like to talk this up a bit because I took a 10 month Administration course and "Oh, so you went to college to learn how to answer the phone?"
No. Asshat.
I'm not claiming to be a neurosurgeon or anything but the school is well-respected and the program highly recognized. I graduated on the Dean's List and I can run an office like a freaking BOSS.
So there.
But I'm totally off-track here.
I went to school, worked my ass off.
In the meantime, Ryan had left his warehouse job and started working as a concrete pump operator.
People ALWAYS ooh'd and aah'd over that and I always beamed.
My previous relationships had been the kind where people looked at us and thought "Why in the world is SHE with HIM??" (Not to make myself out to be some huge perfect prize or anything.) Never had I been with a guy people were IMPRESSED by.
I have to say, it's really, really awesome.
So I'm going to school, Ryan's working. I'm enjoying school, Ryan's happy in his job and making MUCH better money.
One autumn day I check my messages at lunch.
"Rebecca, It's Nicole from ::Ryan's work::. Ryan's been in an accident. He is ok. I talked to him and he's ok. Don't panic. But he's at the hospital. Call me when you get this."
Right.
Who DOESN'T panic when they get a call that a loved one has been in an accident and is at the hospital.
If there's no reason to panic WHY IS IT AT THE HOSPITAL!?!?!
I panicked. Obviously.
Turns out he was backing a cement mixer up to his pump, this happened, that happened and BAM! Ryan's trapped between the bumper of the mixer and the bumper on the pump truck. He basically ended up sitting on the bumper of the pump truck while the mixer drove up his leg.
He should have broke his femur.
Luckily for him, he'd been riding his bike back and forth to work so his legs were like tree trunks. The paramedics even asked him if he was a triathlete or something.
Femur intact, something punctured his thigh. We still have no idea what, but it left a sizeable hole in his leg. He was stitched up at the hospital and sent home to rest.
And fill out WCB forms.
A few weeks later Ryan went to the clinic to have the stitches removed. And the hole split open.
Do you know what happens when a gaping wound doesn't heal properly?
They pack it with gauze and let it heal from the inside out.
I get shivers just thinking about the endless snake of gauze stuffed in Ryan's leg.
::shudder::
Ryan now has a dent under his left ass cheek and a divot sort of looking thing on his upper thigh.
Sometimes he pretends it's a gunshot wound.
::rolleyes::
Though not incredibly serious, this was the first trauma Ryan and I had been through. It kinda made me realize how I felt about him.
Not in one of those profound, movie montage sort of ways. More of a "Hey. Maybe I'm in this for more than I thought I was" sort of ways. We were already pretty serious and committed this just kind of solidified it a bit more, I guess.
Shortly thereafter, girls in my class started getting engaged.
It was like an epidemic.
Almost every week someone was coming in with a shiny new rock on her finger.
And I was jealous.
Up until this point Ryan and I were on the same page marriage-wise: We weren't doing it.
We both agreed marriage was stupid and unnecessary. We could be just as committed without a legal document as we could with. So why bother?
Because all the other girls were doing it, that's why.
(Good reason, right?)
I jokingly pestered Ryan about buying me a shiny rock and, like a man, he just sort of shrugged it off.
I figured it wasn't happening. Whatever.
That February, Ryan and I went on a road trip to Vancouver, British Columbia.
Our first vacation together.
We spent one of the first days touring around Stanley Park and the Vancouver Aquarium. We had our caricatures drawn by a little old Asian man outside the Aquarium, we took pictures inside the Hollow Tree and took a stroll along the seawall.
Tres touristy!
As we were walking along the seawall - at sunset, of course - Ryan stops me and turns me so I'm facing him.
Honestly, I don't remember a single word he said to me. All I remember is thinking "What the eff is going on? We have dinner reservations and this guy is standing in the middle of the seawall jabbering on. I'm hungry!"
I might have even said something to the effect of "Come on! I'm hungry! Can't we do this later?"
Next thing I know there's a ring box in my face.
Looking back now, I wish I remembered more. And I wish I hadn't been so "Yes, I'll marry you. Let's go! I'm hungry!"
I think it was a combination of being taken completely off guard, not really wanting some big public proposal and....hunger.
I totally ruined Ryan's proposal.
And, to make matters worse, I hated the ring he chose.
It was almost identical to my mother's wedding ring and, well, it just didn't conjure up the best feelings for me.
So here I am, the girl who was adamantly never getting married, changing her mind completely, ruining the proposal and hating the ring.
Why Ryan went through with it at all is beyond me.
I kinda like to talk this up a bit because I took a 10 month Administration course and "Oh, so you went to college to learn how to answer the phone?"
No. Asshat.
I'm not claiming to be a neurosurgeon or anything but the school is well-respected and the program highly recognized. I graduated on the Dean's List and I can run an office like a freaking BOSS.
So there.
But I'm totally off-track here.
I went to school, worked my ass off.
In the meantime, Ryan had left his warehouse job and started working as a concrete pump operator.
People ALWAYS ooh'd and aah'd over that and I always beamed.
My previous relationships had been the kind where people looked at us and thought "Why in the world is SHE with HIM??" (Not to make myself out to be some huge perfect prize or anything.) Never had I been with a guy people were IMPRESSED by.
I have to say, it's really, really awesome.
So I'm going to school, Ryan's working. I'm enjoying school, Ryan's happy in his job and making MUCH better money.
One autumn day I check my messages at lunch.
"Rebecca, It's Nicole from ::Ryan's work::. Ryan's been in an accident. He is ok. I talked to him and he's ok. Don't panic. But he's at the hospital. Call me when you get this."
Right.
Who DOESN'T panic when they get a call that a loved one has been in an accident and is at the hospital.
If there's no reason to panic WHY IS IT AT THE HOSPITAL!?!?!
I panicked. Obviously.
Turns out he was backing a cement mixer up to his pump, this happened, that happened and BAM! Ryan's trapped between the bumper of the mixer and the bumper on the pump truck. He basically ended up sitting on the bumper of the pump truck while the mixer drove up his leg.
He should have broke his femur.
Luckily for him, he'd been riding his bike back and forth to work so his legs were like tree trunks. The paramedics even asked him if he was a triathlete or something.
Femur intact, something punctured his thigh. We still have no idea what, but it left a sizeable hole in his leg. He was stitched up at the hospital and sent home to rest.
And fill out WCB forms.
A few weeks later Ryan went to the clinic to have the stitches removed. And the hole split open.
Do you know what happens when a gaping wound doesn't heal properly?
They pack it with gauze and let it heal from the inside out.
I get shivers just thinking about the endless snake of gauze stuffed in Ryan's leg.
::shudder::
Ryan now has a dent under his left ass cheek and a divot sort of looking thing on his upper thigh.
Sometimes he pretends it's a gunshot wound.
::rolleyes::
Though not incredibly serious, this was the first trauma Ryan and I had been through. It kinda made me realize how I felt about him.
Not in one of those profound, movie montage sort of ways. More of a "Hey. Maybe I'm in this for more than I thought I was" sort of ways. We were already pretty serious and committed this just kind of solidified it a bit more, I guess.
Shortly thereafter, girls in my class started getting engaged.
It was like an epidemic.
Almost every week someone was coming in with a shiny new rock on her finger.
And I was jealous.
Up until this point Ryan and I were on the same page marriage-wise: We weren't doing it.
We both agreed marriage was stupid and unnecessary. We could be just as committed without a legal document as we could with. So why bother?
Because all the other girls were doing it, that's why.
(Good reason, right?)
I jokingly pestered Ryan about buying me a shiny rock and, like a man, he just sort of shrugged it off.
I figured it wasn't happening. Whatever.
That February, Ryan and I went on a road trip to Vancouver, British Columbia.
Our first vacation together.
We spent one of the first days touring around Stanley Park and the Vancouver Aquarium. We had our caricatures drawn by a little old Asian man outside the Aquarium, we took pictures inside the Hollow Tree and took a stroll along the seawall.
Tres touristy!
As we were walking along the seawall - at sunset, of course - Ryan stops me and turns me so I'm facing him.
Honestly, I don't remember a single word he said to me. All I remember is thinking "What the eff is going on? We have dinner reservations and this guy is standing in the middle of the seawall jabbering on. I'm hungry!"
I might have even said something to the effect of "Come on! I'm hungry! Can't we do this later?"
Next thing I know there's a ring box in my face.
Looking back now, I wish I remembered more. And I wish I hadn't been so "Yes, I'll marry you. Let's go! I'm hungry!"
I think it was a combination of being taken completely off guard, not really wanting some big public proposal and....hunger.
I totally ruined Ryan's proposal.
And, to make matters worse, I hated the ring he chose.
It was almost identical to my mother's wedding ring and, well, it just didn't conjure up the best feelings for me.
So here I am, the girl who was adamantly never getting married, changing her mind completely, ruining the proposal and hating the ring.
Why Ryan went through with it at all is beyond me.
******
Monday, August 27
Dude. You're Totally Doing it Wrong.
I've been seeing a ton of posts, tweets and pins about these wAcKy bacon and egg cups and, I gotta say, most of them are ticking me off.
First of all, I've been making baked egg cups for YEARS so the fact that ya'll are (a) acting like these are amazingly brand new and (b) not giving me any credit makes me side-eye the internet like nobody's business.
Secondly, ya'll are doing it wrong.
I'm not going to do a step-by-step egg cup tutorial because there are eleventy billion of them already.
What I am going to do is show you how to make your egg cups BETTER.
(Which also proves that I did this first.)
(What do you mean I can't possibly be the first person ever in history to put an egg in a muffin tin and put it in the oven?)
(Side-eye.)
The first thing you need is one of these:
Um, duh! Of course you need a muffin pan, you say.
Ah, but this is not a regular old muffin pan, my friend. This is a silicone muffin pan and it makes a WORLD of difference when making baked egg cups.
When I firstinvented made these, I ruined many a metal pan and wasted dozens of eggs.
This may have been because I didn't spray the pan with Pam or any of those other scary non-stick, chemical-laden sprays so perhaps a silicone pan isn't essential but they are so much better than metal pans for all things muffin.
So get one.
They're, like, $10.
**A friendly silcone pan tip: Silicone is flexible. So BEFORE you put ANYTHING in the cups, put the pan on a cookie sheet. Any cookie sheet. Even that black one waaaaay at the back of the cupboard that is totally unusable but, for some reason, isn't in the trash.
Or you can not put the muffin pan on a cookie sheet and curse like a sailor while cleaning up raw egg from every surface in your kitchen.
Totally up to you.
So now that you know you've been using the wrong pan, let's chat about the egg part.
I am thoroughly offended that 99% of these so-called egg cups are nothing more than a piece of half cooked bacon wrapped around the pan and filled with egg.
People, your egg cups can be SO much better than that.
The possibilities are ENDLESS.
Anything you would/could put in an omelette, you can put in your egg cups.
And you don't HAVE to put bacon (or ham) in or around the muffin cup before your pour your egg in (this is why a silicone pan is crucial) you can LOAD that baby up with bacon. Instead of one chincey piece.
I start by dumping my eggs in a large mixing bowl and scrambling them. I typically go heavy on the whites, light on the yolks but you can do any combination you like. Then chop your add-ins and dump them in.
A few suggestions:
Really you can put in whatever you want (just make sure you don't put TOO much stuff in or the egg won't set and bind properly) and you can make these as healthy or as sinful as you like.
You can also make a WHACK of these and store them in the fridge for the week. Just pop one in the microwave for 20 seconds and BREAKFAST! Or LUNCH! Or DINNER!
Think outside of the bacon and egg muffin cup, folks.
Let your baked egg cups be ALL they can be!!
First of all, I've been making baked egg cups for YEARS so the fact that ya'll are (a) acting like these are amazingly brand new and (b) not giving me any credit makes me side-eye the internet like nobody's business.
Secondly, ya'll are doing it wrong.
I'm not going to do a step-by-step egg cup tutorial because there are eleventy billion of them already.
What I am going to do is show you how to make your egg cups BETTER.
(Which also proves that I did this first.)
(What do you mean I can't possibly be the first person ever in history to put an egg in a muffin tin and put it in the oven?)
(Side-eye.)
The first thing you need is one of these:
 |
| Source |
Um, duh! Of course you need a muffin pan, you say.
Ah, but this is not a regular old muffin pan, my friend. This is a silicone muffin pan and it makes a WORLD of difference when making baked egg cups.
When I first
This may have been because I didn't spray the pan with Pam or any of those other scary non-stick, chemical-laden sprays so perhaps a silicone pan isn't essential but they are so much better than metal pans for all things muffin.
So get one.
They're, like, $10.
**A friendly silcone pan tip: Silicone is flexible. So BEFORE you put ANYTHING in the cups, put the pan on a cookie sheet. Any cookie sheet. Even that black one waaaaay at the back of the cupboard that is totally unusable but, for some reason, isn't in the trash.
Or you can not put the muffin pan on a cookie sheet and curse like a sailor while cleaning up raw egg from every surface in your kitchen.
Totally up to you.
So now that you know you've been using the wrong pan, let's chat about the egg part.
I am thoroughly offended that 99% of these so-called egg cups are nothing more than a piece of half cooked bacon wrapped around the pan and filled with egg.
People, your egg cups can be SO much better than that.
The possibilities are ENDLESS.
Anything you would/could put in an omelette, you can put in your egg cups.
And you don't HAVE to put bacon (or ham) in or around the muffin cup before your pour your egg in (this is why a silicone pan is crucial) you can LOAD that baby up with bacon. Instead of one chincey piece.
I start by dumping my eggs in a large mixing bowl and scrambling them. I typically go heavy on the whites, light on the yolks but you can do any combination you like. Then chop your add-ins and dump them in.
A few suggestions:
- Spinach and feta
- Ham and cheese
- Veggie (tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, peppers, etc)
- Three meat (ham, bacon, ground beef) <---- My husband's choice
- Bacon Double Cheeseburger (bacon, ground beef, mushrooms, cheese, more cheese)
- The Works (onion, ham/bacon, mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes)
Really you can put in whatever you want (just make sure you don't put TOO much stuff in or the egg won't set and bind properly) and you can make these as healthy or as sinful as you like.
You can also make a WHACK of these and store them in the fridge for the week. Just pop one in the microwave for 20 seconds and BREAKFAST! Or LUNCH! Or DINNER!
Think outside of the bacon and egg muffin cup, folks.
Let your baked egg cups be ALL they can be!!
Friday, August 24
Conversations with Kadyn...
Earlier in the week roofers started re-shingling our roof. Obviously Kadyn had to watch.
In the span of about 5 minutes, ALL of this happened....
Kadyn: MO-OM!!! Someone just cut the grass and ruined my ant snack!!!!
Mama: Your ant snack??
Kadyn: YEAH! They ruined it!
Mama: That is no good.
Kadyn: No. Now they don't have a snack! They just have a....well....they just have a blown away ant snack!!
~~30 seconds later~~
Kadyn: MAMA MAMA!! My kitty friend is out there!!
Mama: Is he?
Kadyn: Yeah. But he's way far away and I want to go pet him.
Mama: If he comes close, you let me know and we'll go say hi.
Kadyn: Ok!
Kadyn makes kitty calling noises trying to get his kitty friend to come closer.
Kadyn: Oh, no!! Mom! He's going on the road!! He's going further away!! Mom! He's not coming close!
Mama: I'm sorry buddy. But we'll see him again. We always do.
Kadyn: Awwww! Put I really wanted to say hi to my kitty friend. I haven't seen him in a year!!
~~30 seconds later~~
Kadyn: MAMA! MAMA! MAMA! MAMA! MAMA! MAMA!
Mama: Oh my goodness what!?
Kaydn: THERE'S A HOT AIR BALLOON!!!! THERE'S A HOT BALLOON!!!!! COME LOOK RIGHT NOW!!!!
The kid was seriously losing his mind. And for good reason. He'd never seen a hot air balloon in real life before and this one was close enough to touch.
In the span of about 5 minutes, ALL of this happened....
Kadyn: MO-OM!!! Someone just cut the grass and ruined my ant snack!!!!
Mama: Your ant snack??
Kadyn: YEAH! They ruined it!
Mama: That is no good.
Kadyn: No. Now they don't have a snack! They just have a....well....they just have a blown away ant snack!!
~~30 seconds later~~
Kadyn: MAMA MAMA!! My kitty friend is out there!!
Mama: Is he?
Kadyn: Yeah. But he's way far away and I want to go pet him.
Mama: If he comes close, you let me know and we'll go say hi.
Kadyn: Ok!
Kadyn makes kitty calling noises trying to get his kitty friend to come closer.
Kadyn: Oh, no!! Mom! He's going on the road!! He's going further away!! Mom! He's not coming close!
Mama: I'm sorry buddy. But we'll see him again. We always do.
Kadyn: Awwww! Put I really wanted to say hi to my kitty friend. I haven't seen him in a year!!
~~30 seconds later~~
Kadyn: MAMA! MAMA! MAMA! MAMA! MAMA! MAMA!
Mama: Oh my goodness what!?
Kaydn: THERE'S A HOT AIR BALLOON!!!! THERE'S A HOT BALLOON!!!!! COME LOOK RIGHT NOW!!!!
The kid was seriously losing his mind. And for good reason. He'd never seen a hot air balloon in real life before and this one was close enough to touch.
Thursday, August 23
A Dandy Ol' Time
Ryan and I celebrated our 11 & 6 anniversary in a VERY cool way.
A double date to a Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra show!
I know, I know.
I've talked about these guys ad nauseum but I just cannot get enough.
Night's like this past Monday are EXACTLY why.
(Seriously, people. You MUST check these guys out.)
First of all it was a secret show. Very few people knew it was even happening and even fewer knew where it was happening.
In fact, NO ONE but the organizers and the performers knew where it was until a week or so before the show.
Added to this veil of mystery was the very strongly encouraged dress code - 1920s - 40s, Vaudeville....
The four of us gussied ourselves up and arrived in STYLE....
Nice, eh?!?!
And a few more for fun....
I wasn't sure if I was going to make it at all.
A migraine hit Sunday night so I barely slept and the migraine was still pounding when I woke up. Plus I hadn't eaten in 4 days and was still queasy as hell.
I knocked back some water, popped some gravel, downed a Booster Juice and hoped for the best.
The underground club turned out to be a pretty freaking small one room.....building? House?
It's no bigger than my main floor. And there is NO AC.
That was KILLER in almost 90 degree temps (outside) after a scorching fever.
But it's an interesting little place. You'd never guess it was anything but an abandoned building as the outside of the building is completely blank.
Inside there are couple vintage couches, upside down mannequin legs, tin foil art, a very debonaire sailor statue-type guy and random chunks of styrofoam all over the ceiling for soundproofing.
It's very scene.
It was a good time! Good crowd! Good show!
Emily Bachynski of Hello Doctor opened the show and I fell in love with her voice from the first note. She has this raspy, sort of bluesy (but not really) deliciousness to her voice. I can't describe it but I love it. She was great.
And then Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra.
I love these guys so much.
Their music gets into my bones. And I love it.
They played for two hours and it was almost like a spiritual sweat lodge experience.
(It was seriously THAT hot. Everyone in the place was dripping.)
Ryan and I don't get to go out often sans kiddos. In fact we almost never get to go out for some adult fun so this was extra special.
So much better than some fancy dinner or movie or something regular like that.
I had such a great time. It was the perfect way to celebrate our anniversary.
A double date to a Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra show!
I know, I know.
I've talked about these guys ad nauseum but I just cannot get enough.
Night's like this past Monday are EXACTLY why.
(Seriously, people. You MUST check these guys out.)
First of all it was a secret show. Very few people knew it was even happening and even fewer knew where it was happening.
In fact, NO ONE but the organizers and the performers knew where it was until a week or so before the show.
Added to this veil of mystery was the very strongly encouraged dress code - 1920s - 40s, Vaudeville....
The four of us gussied ourselves up and arrived in STYLE....
Nice, eh?!?!
And a few more for fun....
I wasn't sure if I was going to make it at all.
A migraine hit Sunday night so I barely slept and the migraine was still pounding when I woke up. Plus I hadn't eaten in 4 days and was still queasy as hell.
I knocked back some water, popped some gravel, downed a Booster Juice and hoped for the best.
The underground club turned out to be a pretty freaking small one room.....building? House?
It's no bigger than my main floor. And there is NO AC.
That was KILLER in almost 90 degree temps (outside) after a scorching fever.
But it's an interesting little place. You'd never guess it was anything but an abandoned building as the outside of the building is completely blank.
Inside there are couple vintage couches, upside down mannequin legs, tin foil art, a very debonaire sailor statue-type guy and random chunks of styrofoam all over the ceiling for soundproofing.
It's very scene.
It was a good time! Good crowd! Good show!
Emily Bachynski of Hello Doctor opened the show and I fell in love with her voice from the first note. She has this raspy, sort of bluesy (but not really) deliciousness to her voice. I can't describe it but I love it. She was great.
And then Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra.
I love these guys so much.
Their music gets into my bones. And I love it.
They played for two hours and it was almost like a spiritual sweat lodge experience.
(It was seriously THAT hot. Everyone in the place was dripping.)
Ryan and I don't get to go out often sans kiddos. In fact we almost never get to go out for some adult fun so this was extra special.
So much better than some fancy dinner or movie or something regular like that.
I had such a great time. It was the perfect way to celebrate our anniversary.
Tuesday, August 21
The Story of Us Part II
August 6, 2012 marked 11 years together for Ryan and me.
Eleven years together, six of those married.
I love our story.
From the first 18 years of chance meetings and unbelievable coincidences to the last six years of marriage, parenthood and figuring out, well, everything.
I never want to forget how we came to be or all that we've been through to get here.
Catch up with Part I here.
Eleven years together, six of those married.
I love our story.
From the first 18 years of chance meetings and unbelievable coincidences to the last six years of marriage, parenthood and figuring out, well, everything.
I never want to forget how we came to be or all that we've been through to get here.
Catch up with Part I here.
******
I found out shortly after Ryan moved in that he had a girlfriend.
I didn't really care because we were supposed to be roommates. And because, after 4 years of stupid boys, I'd sworn off relationships for a while.
At age 18.
::rolleyes::
(Besides that I was not really at all seeing Loser Boy who thought he was using me but in reality he took me places, spent money on me and I gave him nothing. Not for lack of trying on my part though, if you pick up what I'm putting down. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.)
Then I found out I knew his girlfriend.
Not only did I know her, she was an old boss of mine.
And we didn't leave on the best of terms.
(She was managing a failing clothing store and was told to make quota or she'd be done. I was hired and, because I could sell a comb to a bald man, kicked serious ass numbers-wise. Like SERIOUS ASS. This made her look very, very bad. D to the E to the MOTED. She blamed the whole thing on me. I guess I can sorta understand. I'd probably be bitter towards some pop tart ten years younger than me strolling in and making me look terrible too.)
Ryan told her he was moving in with me before I knew about her.
She was NOT happy.
Not in the least.
But she had her own immoral dilemma going on (one which I won't be getting into for several reasons) so she really couldn't say anything at all.
Plus Ryan didn't care in the least what her opinion was.
Ryan, Mike (that friend who wouldn't come in my house) and I started hanging out pretty much all the time.
(Mike and I drunkenly talked out his issues and all was aces again.)
We were kinda like Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place.
Except the second guy didn't live with us.
And it was a strip club, not a pizza place.
And none of us worked at the strip club. We just hung out there. A lot.
Hey, it was less than two blocks away, I didn't pay cover (hardly paid for drinks), decent atmosphere...and did I mention it was LESS THAN TWO BLOCKS AWAY??
One particularly drunken night ended my faux relationship with Loser Boy and I have to interject with the story of our demise because Ryan and I still joke about it to this day.
Ryan, Mike and I went to the strip club and drank our faces off. I'm pretty sure this is the night I judged Amateur Night. Nothing bad happened, we just got really, really drunk. For reasons I cannot remember (probably because of all that drinking) I ended up sleeping on the couch. Around 11 am, the phone rang. It was Loser Boy. He was going shopping and wanted to know if I wanted to come.
Let me just stop to emphasize that I - the girl in this faux relationship - went to a strip club, drank my face off and passed out on the couch and he - the guy in this faux relationship - was calling to see if I wanted to go shopping with him.
Now you see why I'd sworn off relationships?? I knew how to pick 'em, folks!!
Anyway he was NOT pleased that I got shit-housed with two guys at a strip club. And he was even less pleased that I would not be shopping with him because of said shit-housing.
I never spoke to him after that. Not even once.
He did not call me again, ever.
He literally disappeared off the face of the earth.
Which was pretty impressive since he was very good buddies with a guy who lived in an apartment the floor up from mine and was at our building literally every day.
Ryan and I joke (still!!) that he's still shopping. Longest shopping trip ever - over 11 years!!!
Anyway......
One particularly drunken night ended my faux relationship with Loser Boy and I have to interject with the story of our demise because Ryan and I still joke about it to this day.
Ryan, Mike and I went to the strip club and drank our faces off. I'm pretty sure this is the night I judged Amateur Night. Nothing bad happened, we just got really, really drunk. For reasons I cannot remember (probably because of all that drinking) I ended up sleeping on the couch. Around 11 am, the phone rang. It was Loser Boy. He was going shopping and wanted to know if I wanted to come.
Let me just stop to emphasize that I - the girl in this faux relationship - went to a strip club, drank my face off and passed out on the couch and he - the guy in this faux relationship - was calling to see if I wanted to go shopping with him.
Now you see why I'd sworn off relationships?? I knew how to pick 'em, folks!!
Anyway he was NOT pleased that I got shit-housed with two guys at a strip club. And he was even less pleased that I would not be shopping with him because of said shit-housing.
I never spoke to him after that. Not even once.
He did not call me again, ever.
He literally disappeared off the face of the earth.
Which was pretty impressive since he was very good buddies with a guy who lived in an apartment the floor up from mine and was at our building literally every day.
Ryan and I joke (still!!) that he's still shopping. Longest shopping trip ever - over 11 years!!!
Anyway......
Not long after this incident Mike and I convinced Ryan to break up with his 'girlfriend.' In fact, the idea might have even began that very night.
Trust me when I say this was a very good idea for all parties.
It was a bit of a messy break up. With after effects that went on for a couple years. I can't claim complete innocence but I was provoked and my actions were well deserved. And still slightly amusing. But that story isn't one that needs to be told.
At this point nothing had really happened between Ryan and I.
By nothing really I mean we both knew we were on the edge of something happening and, even though we'd both stuck the tippy tops of our toes in, we hadn't yet jumped in the water.
And then we did.
And then nothing was really said about it.
I've never been a give-the-milk-away-for-free kind of gal so I wasn't about to just let this go.
Plus we lived together.
Plus I'd just seen the after effects of drunkenly sleeping with your roommate with Loser Boy's friend upstairs and his roommate.
(Though, to clarify, neither Ryan nor I was drunk.)
It was a bit of a messy break up. With after effects that went on for a couple years. I can't claim complete innocence but I was provoked and my actions were well deserved. And still slightly amusing. But that story isn't one that needs to be told.
At this point nothing had really happened between Ryan and I.
By nothing really I mean we both knew we were on the edge of something happening and, even though we'd both stuck the tippy tops of our toes in, we hadn't yet jumped in the water.
And then we did.
And then nothing was really said about it.
I've never been a give-the-milk-away-for-free kind of gal so I wasn't about to just let this go.
Plus we lived together.
Plus I'd just seen the after effects of drunkenly sleeping with your roommate with Loser Boy's friend upstairs and his roommate.
(Though, to clarify, neither Ryan nor I was drunk.)
The morning of the day Ryan and I became "official" I woke up and decided to get a tattoo.
Ryan came with me because doesn't your roommate go with you when you get tattooed?
After my appointment we went back to the apartment.
The details of the day are fuzzy - it's been over ELEVEN YEARS - but what I remember is him laying on his back on the couch and me straddling him.
Not like that!
Pervert.
There might have been some kissing but clothes were on.
It'd had been a few days since we, you know.... so I asked him what the deal was.
He didn't know. Because he is male. And that's how males answer those types of questions.
Me, being 18, flirty and cool (Bahahaha!) I told him that I wasn't going to get off him until he gave me an answer.
We continued in this mature fashion until we were OFFICIAL.
Shortly thereafter we stopped sleeping in separate rooms.
And shortly after that, I made him sell his bed.
What?
It's not like he needed it and I wanted my spare bedroom back.
Ryan came with me because doesn't your roommate go with you when you get tattooed?
After my appointment we went back to the apartment.
The details of the day are fuzzy - it's been over ELEVEN YEARS - but what I remember is him laying on his back on the couch and me straddling him.
Not like that!
Pervert.
There might have been some kissing but clothes were on.
It'd had been a few days since we, you know.... so I asked him what the deal was.
He didn't know. Because he is male. And that's how males answer those types of questions.
Me, being 18, flirty and cool (Bahahaha!) I told him that I wasn't going to get off him until he gave me an answer.
We continued in this mature fashion until we were OFFICIAL.
Shortly thereafter we stopped sleeping in separate rooms.
And shortly after that, I made him sell his bed.
What?
It's not like he needed it and I wanted my spare bedroom back.
*****
Monday, August 20
Currently...
Oh, friends.....
It's been a hell of a weekend.
I found myself in bed at 8:30 Friday night and didn't get out of bed until 9:00 am Sunday morning.
This may sound like heaven to a lot of Mamas out there and if it weren't for the 102 degree temperature, the puking, the migraines and the nose bleeds, it would have been heaven for me too.
I'm feeling better today. I just need to drink a shitton of fluid and eat something.
Anyway no one wants to hear about a pukey overheated mess and I certainly don't want to talk about it. It kicked my ass, it's gone now, end of story.
Read on....
These posts are all over the Blogosphere lately.
I first saw them on Sometimes Sweet, then last week on On and Et (who saw it on This Amazing Day.)
I've been thinking about doing my own and I'm thinking it might become a monthly thing.
We'll see!
Currently I am....
Loving... Avocados. Does anything else really need to be said about these? I didn't think so.
Wishing.... Our families didn't suck so much. It's a reoccurring gripe that I try not to whine about but DAMN! It's hard. And it really sucks. Especially when Ryan's working 70+hours/6 days a week. Even if Ryan didn't work so much, it's still something I struggle to comprehend. I don't know that I'll ever 'get over it.'
Reading.... Fifty Shades Darker. *Hangs head in shame* I said I wasn't going to read it and now I'm knee deep in pseudo-BDSM. The writing is unbiddenly terrible and the story isn't all that great, yet I am still sucked right in. And no, it's not because of the sex. I'm fairly certain I'm having hotter and better sex than Miss Steele and Mr Grey. TMI??
Watching.... Degrassi. I've been watching this series since the 80's when it was Degrassi Street. Then Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi: The Next Generation and now just Degrassi. Canadian kids grew up watching Joey Jeremiah, Caitlin Ryan, Wheels and Lucy and, of course, Zit Remedy. "Everybody wants something....." It's always been somewhat of controversial show. They covered topics that were very taboo in the 80's and 90's - sex, AIDS, teen pregnancy, abortion, eating disorders, suicide, drinking and driving. And they did it in a very real and honest way. The current series covers the same topics along with more current teen issues - cutting, homosexuality, mental illness, bullying, gangs - and they still do it in a very real and relatable way.
I watch partly because I've ALWAYS watched and partly because, even though the boys are still very young, I'm hoping maybe it will help me stay relatable to my kids when they hit these stages. Or maybe it's just what I tell myself to justify a 20-something Mama watching a show about teenagers.
If you have teenage children - or preteens - check out this show. Watch it WITH your kids.
Listening to...The Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra. I discovered this gypsy folk bluegrass awesomeness at Skafest last month and I'm in love. AND they're playing a secret show in the city tonight. AND WE'RE GOING! AND it's a costume show with a 20s-40s/Vaudeville theme. These guys make my heart so happy. If you haven't checked them out already, you must!!
Cooking...Fish tacos! I can't help but cringe AND giggle every time I think about/talk about/make fish tacos. Maybe that's half the reason I'm digging them so much? They are DELISH! And I've figured out a super easy, super quick, super delicious way to make them at home. I actually whipped one up for lunch last week in about the same time it takes to make a cold sandwich. Man, it was good!
Anticipating...Kadyn starting school. I hate, hate, hate that he is old enough to go to kindergarten but he is going to LOVE it and I know he will thrive and learn and grow so much. Plus it will give Graysen and I some VERY much needed one on one time. So much good is going to come from Kadyn starting school that I am finding it difficult to wallow in Mama sadness. Even though I'd really like to ugly cry for a week over it.
It's been a hell of a weekend.
I found myself in bed at 8:30 Friday night and didn't get out of bed until 9:00 am Sunday morning.
This may sound like heaven to a lot of Mamas out there and if it weren't for the 102 degree temperature, the puking, the migraines and the nose bleeds, it would have been heaven for me too.
I'm feeling better today. I just need to drink a shitton of fluid and eat something.
Anyway no one wants to hear about a pukey overheated mess and I certainly don't want to talk about it. It kicked my ass, it's gone now, end of story.
Read on....
These posts are all over the Blogosphere lately.
I first saw them on Sometimes Sweet, then last week on On and Et (who saw it on This Amazing Day.)
I've been thinking about doing my own and I'm thinking it might become a monthly thing.
We'll see!
Currently I am....
Loving... Avocados. Does anything else really need to be said about these? I didn't think so.
Wishing.... Our families didn't suck so much. It's a reoccurring gripe that I try not to whine about but DAMN! It's hard. And it really sucks. Especially when Ryan's working 70+hours/6 days a week. Even if Ryan didn't work so much, it's still something I struggle to comprehend. I don't know that I'll ever 'get over it.'
Reading.... Fifty Shades Darker. *Hangs head in shame* I said I wasn't going to read it and now I'm knee deep in pseudo-BDSM. The writing is unbiddenly terrible and the story isn't all that great, yet I am still sucked right in. And no, it's not because of the sex. I'm fairly certain I'm having hotter and better sex than Miss Steele and Mr Grey. TMI??
Watching.... Degrassi. I've been watching this series since the 80's when it was Degrassi Street. Then Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi: The Next Generation and now just Degrassi. Canadian kids grew up watching Joey Jeremiah, Caitlin Ryan, Wheels and Lucy and, of course, Zit Remedy. "Everybody wants something....." It's always been somewhat of controversial show. They covered topics that were very taboo in the 80's and 90's - sex, AIDS, teen pregnancy, abortion, eating disorders, suicide, drinking and driving. And they did it in a very real and honest way. The current series covers the same topics along with more current teen issues - cutting, homosexuality, mental illness, bullying, gangs - and they still do it in a very real and relatable way.
I watch partly because I've ALWAYS watched and partly because, even though the boys are still very young, I'm hoping maybe it will help me stay relatable to my kids when they hit these stages. Or maybe it's just what I tell myself to justify a 20-something Mama watching a show about teenagers.
If you have teenage children - or preteens - check out this show. Watch it WITH your kids.
Listening to...The Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra. I discovered this gypsy folk bluegrass awesomeness at Skafest last month and I'm in love. AND they're playing a secret show in the city tonight. AND WE'RE GOING! AND it's a costume show with a 20s-40s/Vaudeville theme. These guys make my heart so happy. If you haven't checked them out already, you must!!
Cooking...Fish tacos! I can't help but cringe AND giggle every time I think about/talk about/make fish tacos. Maybe that's half the reason I'm digging them so much? They are DELISH! And I've figured out a super easy, super quick, super delicious way to make them at home. I actually whipped one up for lunch last week in about the same time it takes to make a cold sandwich. Man, it was good!
Anticipating...Kadyn starting school. I hate, hate, hate that he is old enough to go to kindergarten but he is going to LOVE it and I know he will thrive and learn and grow so much. Plus it will give Graysen and I some VERY much needed one on one time. So much good is going to come from Kadyn starting school that I am finding it difficult to wallow in Mama sadness. Even though I'd really like to ugly cry for a week over it.
Friday, August 17
Conversations with Kadyn...
Kadyn's going to be a rock star when he grows up, I am sure of it.
I'm also sure that this little ditty will be solid gold when he's a MAJOR ROCK STAR.
"Ooooooooooh Graaaaaayyyyyysen!!!
He wants to be naaaaaaaaaked!!!
But you can't be naaaaaaaaked in the backyaaaaaard!!!!
And a 1! 2! 3! 4!!!!!!!"
I'm also sure that this little ditty will be solid gold when he's a MAJOR ROCK STAR.
"Ooooooooooh Graaaaaayyyyyysen!!!
He wants to be naaaaaaaaaked!!!
But you can't be naaaaaaaaked in the backyaaaaaard!!!!
And a 1! 2! 3! 4!!!!!!!"
Thursday, August 16
Gone Fishing....
A couple weekends ago we went a-fishing.
Kadyn's been asking to go for a while and Ryan suddenly thinks he's a master angler (or whatever those fisher people are called.)
I haven't been fishing in years but I do like it. I'm just not all BASS PRO or whatever.
Clearly.
Since I thought taking a toddler fishing would be NBD.
I KNEW it was a bad idea but I convinced myself it would be fine.
Yeah, no.
About two seconds after this photo was taken....
...that rod slowly descended to the bottom of the pond.
Then, with nothing to do, Graysen ran amok.
Around a body of water.
I had no less than 15 heart attacks before I decided this was just not working and we needed to go home.
The big kids got a little bit of fishing in....
And I sent them back the next day for some bonding time.
Sadly they didn't catch anything but weeds....
I foresee many a solo weekend while the boys are off on fishing trips.
What AM I going to do with myself!?!?!
Kadyn's been asking to go for a while and Ryan suddenly thinks he's a master angler (or whatever those fisher people are called.)
I haven't been fishing in years but I do like it. I'm just not all BASS PRO or whatever.
Clearly.
Since I thought taking a toddler fishing would be NBD.
I KNEW it was a bad idea but I convinced myself it would be fine.
Yeah, no.
About two seconds after this photo was taken....
...that rod slowly descended to the bottom of the pond.
Then, with nothing to do, Graysen ran amok.
Around a body of water.
I had no less than 15 heart attacks before I decided this was just not working and we needed to go home.
The big kids got a little bit of fishing in....
And I sent them back the next day for some bonding time.
Sadly they didn't catch anything but weeds....
I foresee many a solo weekend while the boys are off on fishing trips.
What AM I going to do with myself!?!?!
Wednesday, August 15
Tuesday, August 14
The Story of Us Part I
August 6, 2012 marked 11 years together for Ryan and me.
Eleven years together, six of those married.
I love our story.
From the first 18 years of chance meetings and unbelievable coincidences to the last six years of marriage, parenthood and figuring out, well, everything.
I never want to forget how we came to be or all that we've been through to get here.
And so....The Story of Us......
When my mom came to pick me up on the first day of kindergarten (yes, kindergarten) and asked who I was playing with, I dreamily told her 'My Ryan....'
At the tender age of 5, I was in love.
I remember walking home from school and listening to him and his friends sing those nasty boy songs:
"Old Mc Donald sitting on fence, picking his balls with a monkey wrench...."
And my personal favourite:
"Big green globs of greasy grimey gopher guts! Mutilated monkey meat!"
(If you ask Ryan to sing it today, he still knows all the words)
So dreamy.......
And then I met David Bellingham**.
He had red high top Converse.
And he kissed me under the hockey net.
*Swoon*
But he liked Summer Stachinksky**.
Even though he kissed ME under the hockey net.
Boys are fickle.
Then, halfway through fifth grade, we moved and I switched schools.
Ryan did the same around that time.
We went to different middle schools even though we lived just a school field away from each other and had some of the same neighbourhood friends. (Though we never saw each other and didn't discover this until years later.)
About two weeks into tenth grade, sitting on top of a desk in Math 14 listening to the teacher take attendance, I heard a familiar name called.
My head jolted up I searched the room.
My eyes landed on a long-haired skid kid in a flannel jacket with a stupid grin on his face, finger pointed directly at me.
When ours eyes met, he said, "I know you!"
I could feel my cheeks turn bright red and I almost blurted out "OH MY GOD! MY RYAN!"
But I didn't, thankfully.
Instead, I squeaked out a 'Yeah.'
"You went to *insert elementary school here*!"
"Yeah." I say.
Genius, Rebecca. Genius.
A few months later, some stupid, stupid boy paid me the tiniest bit of attention and my brain fell out of my head.
For three years.
(Plus one that I spent with another stupid, stupid boy.)
During the first year of brainlessness, I was ruthlessly (RUTHLESSLY, I tells ya!) pursued by Ryan.
This did not please Stupid, Stupid Boy #1 in the least. Especially since it was unapologetically in his face.
Since it was high school I got the old 'If you don't say something to him, I will.'
So I said something.
I'm pretty sure it was something along the lines of "Look. I know this is stupid. I don't even want to be having this conversation with you because it's so stupid but Stupid, Stupid Boy is pissed at you flirting with me and he said if I don't tell you to stop, he will. And, seriously, he's not going to beat you up or anything because he's stupid but I just don't want to deal with that. So maybe you could just stop doing things in front of him?"
Ryan chuckled, grinned his stupid grin and agreed.
Stupid, Stupid Boy was of NO concern to Ryan, though, so nothing really changed.
Fast forward to an evening in 2001.
I'm at work in an accessories store in a mall.
I'm a super cool chick in my tight black capris and rocker tank with roushed sides and a glittery screen-printed eagle topped off with a crimped and sparkled high ponytail.
I said super cool, didn't I?
I'm restocking the ring section when a guy comes into the store.
I stand up, turn around and see Ryan standing there. Stupid grin as always.
We chat a bit, catch up. I tell him I had somewhat recently broken up with Stupid, Stupid Boy #2 and am in a 2 bedroom apartment by myself. I'm looking for a roommate but, you know, people suck.
Wouldn't you know it...he's looking to move out of his mom's (rather she's moving and he doesn't want to go with) and hey! Maybe he could be my roommate!
I said yes immediately.
I don't know why. It just seemed like a good idea.
He told me he was going camping (with a girl I was not a fan of. Ick) and he'd call me in two weeks.
Two weeks came. And went.
I put the whole thing out of my head and went on with my business.
And then he called.
I gave him a bit of attitude about not calling when he said he would. He apologized and asked if he could come over to talk about the whole roommate thing - if I was still interested.
I made some sarcastic comment about not being interested if he pays his rent with the same urgency he makes phone calls. He laughed and said he'd be right over.
He brought a friend with him, Mike, (a mutual friend from high school with a funny side story) who wouldn't come in the house (because of the funny side story.) Ryan left Mike sitting outside while he came in to check the place out and talk about rent and such.
I told Ryan the deal - this is my apartment, full of my stuff, all you need is your bedroom stuff. You're totally free to use anything but don't ruin my shit or I'll cut you. Your half of the rent and bills is $XX and if you do the dishes and clean the bathrooms, I will do EVERYTHING else - including cook for you.
Good deal, right!?!?!
He thought so, too, and handed me first month's rent in cash.
Sweet!
A few days later he showed up with his stuff and roommates we were.
Come back next week for Part II.
"It's like Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place.
Eleven years together, six of those married.
I love our story.
From the first 18 years of chance meetings and unbelievable coincidences to the last six years of marriage, parenthood and figuring out, well, everything.
I never want to forget how we came to be or all that we've been through to get here.
And so....The Story of Us......
******
When my mom came to pick me up on the first day of kindergarten (yes, kindergarten) and asked who I was playing with, I dreamily told her 'My Ryan....'
At the tender age of 5, I was in love.
I remember walking home from school and listening to him and his friends sing those nasty boy songs:
"Old Mc Donald sitting on fence, picking his balls with a monkey wrench...."
And my personal favourite:
"Big green globs of greasy grimey gopher guts! Mutilated monkey meat!"
(If you ask Ryan to sing it today, he still knows all the words)
So dreamy.......
And then I met David Bellingham**.
He had red high top Converse.
And he kissed me under the hockey net.
*Swoon*
But he liked Summer Stachinksky**.
Even though he kissed ME under the hockey net.
Boys are fickle.
Then, halfway through fifth grade, we moved and I switched schools.
Ryan did the same around that time.
We went to different middle schools even though we lived just a school field away from each other and had some of the same neighbourhood friends. (Though we never saw each other and didn't discover this until years later.)
About two weeks into tenth grade, sitting on top of a desk in Math 14 listening to the teacher take attendance, I heard a familiar name called.
My head jolted up I searched the room.
My eyes landed on a long-haired skid kid in a flannel jacket with a stupid grin on his face, finger pointed directly at me.
When ours eyes met, he said, "I know you!"
I could feel my cheeks turn bright red and I almost blurted out "OH MY GOD! MY RYAN!"
But I didn't, thankfully.
Instead, I squeaked out a 'Yeah.'
"You went to *insert elementary school here*!"
"Yeah." I say.
Genius, Rebecca. Genius.
A few months later, some stupid, stupid boy paid me the tiniest bit of attention and my brain fell out of my head.
For three years.
(Plus one that I spent with another stupid, stupid boy.)
During the first year of brainlessness, I was ruthlessly (RUTHLESSLY, I tells ya!) pursued by Ryan.
This did not please Stupid, Stupid Boy #1 in the least. Especially since it was unapologetically in his face.
Since it was high school I got the old 'If you don't say something to him, I will.'
So I said something.
I'm pretty sure it was something along the lines of "Look. I know this is stupid. I don't even want to be having this conversation with you because it's so stupid but Stupid, Stupid Boy is pissed at you flirting with me and he said if I don't tell you to stop, he will. And, seriously, he's not going to beat you up or anything because he's stupid but I just don't want to deal with that. So maybe you could just stop doing things in front of him?"
Ryan chuckled, grinned his stupid grin and agreed.
Stupid, Stupid Boy was of NO concern to Ryan, though, so nothing really changed.
And Stupid, Stupid Boy was, well, stupid, so nothing really happened.
Fast forward to an evening in 2001.
I'm at work in an accessories store in a mall.
I'm a super cool chick in my tight black capris and rocker tank with roushed sides and a glittery screen-printed eagle topped off with a crimped and sparkled high ponytail.
I said super cool, didn't I?
I'm restocking the ring section when a guy comes into the store.
I stand up, turn around and see Ryan standing there. Stupid grin as always.
We chat a bit, catch up. I tell him I had somewhat recently broken up with Stupid, Stupid Boy #2 and am in a 2 bedroom apartment by myself. I'm looking for a roommate but, you know, people suck.
Wouldn't you know it...he's looking to move out of his mom's (rather she's moving and he doesn't want to go with) and hey! Maybe he could be my roommate!
I said yes immediately.
I don't know why. It just seemed like a good idea.
He told me he was going camping (with a girl I was not a fan of. Ick) and he'd call me in two weeks.
Two weeks came. And went.
I put the whole thing out of my head and went on with my business.
And then he called.
I gave him a bit of attitude about not calling when he said he would. He apologized and asked if he could come over to talk about the whole roommate thing - if I was still interested.
I made some sarcastic comment about not being interested if he pays his rent with the same urgency he makes phone calls. He laughed and said he'd be right over.
He brought a friend with him, Mike, (a mutual friend from high school with a funny side story) who wouldn't come in the house (because of the funny side story.) Ryan left Mike sitting outside while he came in to check the place out and talk about rent and such.
I told Ryan the deal - this is my apartment, full of my stuff, all you need is your bedroom stuff. You're totally free to use anything but don't ruin my shit or I'll cut you. Your half of the rent and bills is $XX and if you do the dishes and clean the bathrooms, I will do EVERYTHING else - including cook for you.
Good deal, right!?!?!
He thought so, too, and handed me first month's rent in cash.
Sweet!
A few days later he showed up with his stuff and roommates we were.
******
Come back next week for Part II.
"It's like Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place.
Except the pizza place is a strip club."
**Names changed for privacy
Monday, August 13
Cereal, Guys. No More Real Tea
So here's the scoop:
- I am still not over vacation being over. Not at all.
- I want to live in a fantasy land with frequent lottery wins and a husband who works, well, never.
- A giant storm hit while I was away and killed pretty much everything in the yard & garden.
- I came home to garden death and weeds as tall as Kadyn because Ryan was too pissed off to do anything about the yard/garden.
- He made a bad choice (and I told him so) but he's not in agreement.
- He is wrong.
- Ryan bought a chunk of carpet for the basement - which we cleaned, purged and organized the shit out of.
- The boys now have a decent sized play space that is all theirs and is not my living room.
- There are still toys in my living room.
- I put the boys in 5x/week swimming lessons for two weeks.
- After being MIA for two weeks, I finally found my brain.
- DAILY swimming lessons are not the best choice.
- BUT Kadyn's instructor told me he's totally ROCKING his back floats and is working on some pretty rad underwater skillz.
- Once Graysen got over being away from his brother, he kicked some aqua ass, too!!
- We're going to stick to 1x/week swimming lessons in the future.
- Kadyn starts school in less than a month.
- I've been researching Klonopin and Xanax
- Graysen turns 2 in a month.
- What do you think is more effective - Klonopin and whiskey? Or Xanax and tequila?
- I really want a dog.
- We've been to the animal shelter twice in the last month.
- BC Police called me a couple weeks ago.
- They found my cameras!!
- I completely underestimated the stupidity of the thieves.
- If I'm super duper lucky, the pictures the thieves took of themselves will still be on the camera when I get it back. (Yes. THEY TOOK PICTURES OF THEMSELVES ON THE CAMERA THEY STOLE AND DIDN'T DELETE THEM.)
- My faith in karma has been affirmed.
- As of August 6, Ryan and I have been together for 11 years, married for 6.
- I cannot believe I've spent over a decade of my life with the same person and I still love him. (Most of the time.)
- Mondays are extra nasty when you only had a one-day weekend.
Friday, August 3
Conversations with Kadyn....
Kadyn and Graysen were playing trains beside me.
Kadyn: Hey! Mama! Look!
He puts two pieces of track together, grabs the airplane, drives it down the 2 piece tracks and TAKE OFF!
Mama: Very cool. Is that a runway you built?
Kadyn: I guess. *puzzled look* But Mama?
Mama: Yes?
Kadyn: Planes can't run. *small pause* They don't have any feet.
Mama: *giggling* I know, bud. But planes take off and land on something called a runway. It's just a long strip of road but it's called a runway.
Kadyn, very matter-of-factly: Well planes still can't run. Cause they don't have feet.
Kadyn: Hey! Mama! Look!
He puts two pieces of track together, grabs the airplane, drives it down the 2 piece tracks and TAKE OFF!
Mama: Very cool. Is that a runway you built?
Kadyn: I guess. *puzzled look* But Mama?
Mama: Yes?
Kadyn: Planes can't run. *small pause* They don't have any feet.
Mama: *giggling* I know, bud. But planes take off and land on something called a runway. It's just a long strip of road but it's called a runway.
Kadyn, very matter-of-factly: Well planes still can't run. Cause they don't have feet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)