Tire Changing Story

Remember how I told you that we stopped and changed a lady's tire on our way home from our family Christmas dinner and there was a story that went with it. Well, I wanted to let you on it before I forgot it.

So as we were driving home, we see a car stopped at an intersection with a person getting ready to change a tire. We weren't sure if it was a guy or woman so we drove on past. It was a she, so Cowboy backed up and I asked her if she needed help. She did. She couldn't find the jack so Cowboy bundled up and I sat in the truck while he got out and helped her.

This is how the conversation went:

Cowboy: "We weren't sure if we should stop or not, you never know what kind of person you are stopping to help."

Lady: "Well, I appreciate you stopping to help me."

Cowboy: "To make sure we are safe, I had my wife stay in the car with a 45mm ready in case this didn't turn out well."
(okay, so he was only kidding at this point. We don't carry a gun.)

Lady: "I know what you mean. I have my conceal and carry license and carry my gun in the car. It has a laser on it so all I have to do is point and shoot. I just put the red dot on them and pull the trigger."

Seriously--what was he thinking and what are we doing here. Cowboy said she was a traveling RN and used the gun for safety. How does he have these conversations?

So much for Balance

At 5p when I'm still at work, I thought about balance and guess what. I stayed at work. I should have left. I could have left. But no, I just stayed there until 6p and then I left. I called Cowboy on the way home and let him know that I was going to make a new commitment to him that in 2010 I would do thing differently. I want to spend more time with him than I do at work.

Cowboy has been great for the past couple of night. I've come home to a toasty warm house (which is hard this time of year just heating with wood) and we've had super good meals both nights. He is a good cook so I feel really blessed.

We are leaving next week to go on our Honeymoon and I'm so excited to spend 4 days away with him. I've promised no computer, no phone--just total focus on him. Life just keeps getting better and better and we've only been married 9 months. I can't wait to see what is in store for us in the coming year(s).

Balance

I have been thinking. My life is not balanced. I have been working way to much and taking care of myself way to little. I need to make a change and get back to being more balanced in my life. I need to:

-work less and take care of myself more

-get back to church on a regular basis and pray regularly

-focus on what sparks my creativity

-eat better

-exercise more

-connect with friends

I'm going to work on a plan. I need to work on a plan. I have to make changes because I can't keep going like I am.

Christmas Time

I can't believe that Christmas 2009 has come and gone. Where did the year go? I've been remiss in blogging lately and have several things that I want to blog so I can remember them. Hopefully I will get caught up this week.

Wednesday night, Cowboy and I loaded the SUV and headed out for the farm. It rained all the way there and we were soon very excited that we left when we did. Mom and Dad were thrilled to have us home.

Thursday, our family had it's gathering. We have been getting together on Christmas Eve since I was a little girl. Even though it has evolved and changed, I look forward to it every year. My brother and famliy arrived early and we played a few card games. We loaded the cars and headed to the community center for our Christmas dinner. Mom and dad's house has gotten to small for the family, so we meet at the center. Everyone in the family was able to make it except for my nephew and his kids, the weather kept them away. We had a good time playing games, eating, visiting and just being together.

Unwrapping the gifts happened in a flurry. I think everyone was happy with what we got them. I got Cowboy a new golf hat, gym shorts and a western shirt from my parents and he was thrilled. My mom gave me money to shop for myself, those were the only presents I neglected to buy. Mom was a little disappointed but I promised her I will go shopping.

We got Dad a new flat panel TV from us kids and I think he was surprised and happy at the same time. Mom got a ton of good stuff and was very happy with all of her loot. They were tired but happy by the time we got home. Everyone made it home safely which was the biggest blessing on Christmas Eve. The weather was awful and it took some time to drive home but once we got the calls that everyone made it home safe, we could breathe a sigh of relief.

Christmas day was quiet. Just Cowboy and I and the parents. My sister came over with her hubby later for a game of cards and they shared supper with us. I had made a pot of ham and beans (my mom's favorite) which I came to regret later. Cowboy had the worst gas in the world. He made the whole living room smell like butt. Thank goodness Mom and Dad had gone to bed.

Saturday was another quiet day at home. Finally around 4p, I took off and went to my brothers to visit them. They got a new puppy that was adorable. It was fun to spend a couple of hours with them.

Today was Mom's birthday so Cowboy made her a good breakfast. We visited a couple of hours and then headed back to the city. I was glad to make it home. I love every minute of being around my family. It's the holidays that make me think that I might want to move back there some day to be around them.

Sick and Tired...really

I have been on the go for the past week. I can't believe that I haven't been to my blog in a while. So here's my recap. I don't really recall last week. I was working a lot a usual. I went to a great jewelry party and bought some great Christmas presents for my mom, best friend and daughter-in-law (however, I don't say those words out loud).

I had a neat work experience on Thursday. We received a generous donation that went towards the women living in transitional living. They got to spend $100 on each of their kids for Christmas. They were very excited and grateful. It was a very neat experience to be a part of.

Friday night, I made 5 dozen sugar cookies...stockings, gingerbread men and balls. However, I only had green frosting so they all look the same. Green frosting with little beads on them.

Saturday morning, I woke up feeling like total shit. I hadn't taken my allergy medicine for a couple of days. I didn't want to fill my script because it cost $50. I just figured since we had a hard freeze and weren't in the moldy building so I should be fine. Wrong. I've been paying for it ever since. I got my script filled that day. Guess what, it was only $10. They came out with a generic for the medication. I haven't been sleeping well and I'm congested with a cough. I'm tired and cranky. Oh lucky me and those around me.

Saturday night, we went to Cowboy's son's house for dinner. It was a very nice Christmas dinner complete with good china and great food.

Sunday, we made a trip to the farm for a big family dinner with all the cousins. It was good to see most of them. (a few were gone) I didn't feel well most of the day but made it. On the way home, Cowboy changed a tire for some lady that would have had to wait 2 hours for road side assistance. (I'll tell the story of their conversations sometime)

Monday, work all day on the go most of it. Then shopping. Home to package 30 packages of deer meet all while trying to shoot Cowboy with the same gun he used to shoot the deer. I'm not sure if he's grumpy or it's that I don't feel well, but he is on everyone of my nerves that don't feel well. Watch out buddy.

I then made three personalized pillows that turned out adorable for my girls in Florida. I'll post a picture, they are really cute. Then to bed at 10:30p. I didn't sleep well last night. I woke up thinking I was drowning in my own snot, congestion, etc. I was up early and off to work early.

Tonight was more shopping and then home to wrap lots and lots of presents. I'm not done with shopping yet. I haven't gotten my little crafty things done for people.

I guess I can only do what I can do.

behind

I am so far behind this holiday season. Why? Why can't I get caught up? Work....Tired...Please give me some motivation to find the energy to get what I need to get done for Christmas.

Shopping

I am so proud of my husband. I wanted to go shopping for Christmas and asked him if he wanted to go with me. He hates shopping and hates it especially around the holidays. But he surprised me and said that he would go with me. He was ready around 11a and off we went. Our first stop was the mall. I found a couple of things that and he snuck off to buy me a Christmas present. I know that he bought me a couple of charms for my Pandora bracelet but I don't know which ones. Then it was off to the Western Store. Look who got some new boots. Aren't they awesome. Cowboy picked them out and I tried them on. He says they need to be wrapped up and put under the tree until Christmas....we'll see.

We had several more stops to make and he was such a trooper. My heart is full.

The big buck

I have forgotten to mention that Cowboy shot the big buck. He was so excited. I have never heard him like he was the night he shot the buck. He said his heart was pumping and he had adrenaline pumping through his veins. He had to drag the buck 100 yards in the dark. The buck was a 12 pointer with a drop tine that had two points. He debated and debated on whether or not he should get the head mounted. Being the good wife, I told him that I would get it mounted for him for Christmas. He found a taxidermist and we took the head in today. (Yeah, it's out of my freezer.)

We also had to get the pictures he took developed and several 5x7's made to send to folks. I swear the boy is just like a kid with a new favorite toy. That is all he can and has talked about for the past 5 days.

Gotta love this man.

So Angry

Cowboy came to the man's room last night.

C: Come with me upstairs, I need to tell you something.

Me: Okay, what.

C: You know that sometimes we have family that really disappoints us and sometimes they take advantage of our kindness.

M: Yes. (where is this leading??)

C: Well, that can be said for this.

M:(WTF?)

C: Well, I was going through my checkbook and trying to balance my checkbook and was sure the bank made a $100 mistake. Then I got to looking and there was a check that went through that was out of order. Here it is.

M: Really!!??!!

The daughter repaid us when she stayed with us the night before our Thanksgiving dinner by stealing her dad's check and forging a $100 check. I am freaking pissed as hell. I can never imagine stealing from my parents. I'm just boiling about this. Cowboy doesn't make much money and has to work hard for what he does make. Plus, before she left, he slipped her $40.

Boiling, just pissed and boiling.

Christmas Cards

On a whim, I decided to make Christmas cards. I finished and last night we got them all addressed and Cowboy took them to the post office this morning.

While we were addressing the cards, I asked Cowboy if his other wives sent out Christmas cards. He said they did but "no one did it as well as me". Awwww. (It's a semi-compliment)

Crappy not crappy day

Crappiness-
My new supervisor that was supposed to start today to take a huge load of work off me, didn't start today and won't be coming to work because of the crappy pay. Sucks for me!

The Health Department came today and shut down my kitchen. Really sucks for me!

A co-worker's mother died. Sucks for her.

On a happy note...Cowboy is home. Yeah for me!

Lazy Day

I feel like I have been a total bum today. My mom was supposed to come up and spend the day with me. She wasn't able to come so I spent the whole day alone (except for a 15 minute visit with my neighbor). I am totally bored. How did I ever live alone for over 20 years?

I was able to get my Christmas decorations up, the lights put up outside, and one craft project done. I also am attempting to toast pumpkin seeds. (We still had pumpkins on our front porch.) I'm getting the laundry done.

Cowboy has moved on and traveled down to my parents farm. He is going to try to hunt there and see if he can get the trophy buck. I'm glad he is having fun. I miss my boy. This house is a big place without him.

He's gone. My Hank has left me. Well, at least for 10 days. He went deer hunting and I am hoping he has a good time and brings home the big one. I miss having him around here. He really does so much around the house, especially in the winter. We heat the house only with wood and it takes a lot of work to keep both wood stoves burning and heating the house. I think that I take it for granted that our home will always be warm. When he's gone, it makes me realize how much work he does to keep the home fires burning.

Sometimes, I'm surprised that I miss him as much as I do. I lived by my self for such a long time and prided myself on my independence. It's amazing how quickly we moved into a routine that takes both of us to make it work. I love that fact that I can give up some independence but still know that I can take care of myself if I need to.

I think at times I take Cowboy for granted and I don't want to do that. I want to always show him that I appreciate him and love him for all that he does for me. I need to remind myself that he doesn't have to do everything that he does. I know he does all he does because he loves me. I want to show him that I am his partner, team mate and equal so I probably should step up my game.

Random Questions

Random questons that just rattle in my brain....

Do you ever wonder what it would be like not to have those pesky judgemental thoughts run through your brain?

Do you wonder if you really prayed, I mean really prayed, to win a million dollars, you would?

Do you wonder if you are really living the life you were supposed to live, or if at some point or twist, you were mixed up with the really happy chick that has lots of money and a perfect life?

Do you ever wonder if you hadn't met your husband (or partner) if you would have found someone better or worse than you got?

Do you ever wonder if you have bad karma for something you didn't intentionally do?

Do you ever wonder if you could pull of being complete slug and just live off other people?


Hmmmmmm