A Perfect Day with a Perfect Friend

This is my BFF, Tiffany aka Lindsey, on our lunch trip on Saturday. Aren't we hotttttt?

What you can't see in this picture are all of the laughs we shared, waiting in line forever at the bank, the scary drive to lunch with the old dude falling asleep at the wheel, Tiffany's hair sticking to the seat as if it were a balloon, bartering for chapstick, and the deep conversation we shared later during dinner. Tiffany always knows just what to say. We have a lot of fun analyzing situations and making determinations about people and events that have shaped our lives. She has a big heart and feels everything deep inside and shows her emotions.

We laughed so hard we coughed and choked (or chocked as she has been known to do...ha ha) while trying to make a decision on the phone of "scrub or leave." (In case any of you reading this have heard the quote, "My lungs are bleeding," you will be happy to know that "scrub or leave" will be used over and over again just as MLAB has been.) We also talked, albeit briefly, about the reason we became such good friends to begin with. We really only have to say one word and we both go back in time and think about it. That was a drama-filled point in both of our lives, but we came out ahead, intact, and with a best friend. What more could we have asked for?

I know what I am asking for...one more day like Saturday.

With a few timing modifications.

And more pickles on my cheeseburger.

Love you, girl!

Manic Monday's Grammar Lesson

Class, today we will cover a lot. I mean, literally, a lot. And alot. And also allot. Pay attention.

This is very important.

A lot means many or frequently. I have received a lot of presents in my life. She does that a lot.

Allot means to distribute or to give or assign as one's share. She was alloted her share of his millions. (Don't I wish!)

Alot is NOT a word. Ever. Erase it. Forever.

And ever.

Your assignment is to run to the nearest chalkboard and write, "I will not use alot ever again" 500 times.

I have a full cabinet of chalk. I will mail it to you if you can't find any.

--Grammar Goddess

Those Defining Moments

Is it possible to have a moment in your life (or in my case, an entire day) that was *the* defining moment and still wish it had never happened? What would my life be like if it had not happened? Would I be the same person? Would I be where I am today? Would I have learned the same things from other events/moments that I learned from that one?

If things happen for a reason, when do people get to find out what the reason is/was? Or is that something that we as human beings aren't ever permitted to be clued in on? Is that part of the secret to the universe?

I read a blog the other day that listed a "do-over" list. I got to thinking about what would be on mine. And, really, it is quite small.

• I would have continued to play softball instead of deciding it wasn't worth it. Or I would have whined and cried a lot more so my parents would have let me play baseball because I was even better at that sport.
• I would take back one sentence I spoke in May of 1997. Just one.
• I would have gone to Myrtle Beach with my friends after graduation instead of choosing to stay home and work.
• I would have ignored an email from August 2004. Totally ignored it. As if it got lost in cyberspace.
• I wish I would have learned to stand up for myself sooner in life. Maybe I wouldn't still be carrying anger around from ancient history.
• I never would have cut my hair off two years ago.
• I would have fought a little harder to keep a friendship. But I didn't know how to fight for it. I didn't even know I had to until it was too late. So I guess I wish I would have known that trouble was coming so I could be prepared. Or perhaps prevented it.

I doubt that any of these things would have changed anything in my life as it is now, but perhaps I could have avoided some of the bad stuff. Or at least some of the things that I obsess over.

Lead me not into temptation...

Oh no. I'm in trouble.

I have mentioned before my love affair with Sabon, the awesome store Tiger and I found in Chicago. I made a large purchase while I was there. I sent my friend to the store when he was there visiting in December to make another purchase for me.

I love their products.

I was sitting at work today minding my own business and my phone rang. It was the girl from Sabon. Temptress.

She was calling to tell me about a special offer. An offer only available to their very best customers. An offer that can't be found anywhere else.

Free shipping. On a $50 order. No sales tax on a phone order.

I went down the hall to get willpower. Will was not available. Tiger provided nothing. Tiger got online to make her list.

As soon as Tiger gives me her list, I'm going to make mine. Don't I deserve something new from my favorite store?

I have not purchased anything for myself in months. Perhaps this will be a "payment" for not having my nails put back on yet?

Time to shop!

Moving Day!

I have all of my belongings packed up...

In a small, empty Pampers box...

I'm moving to gmail.

I'm scared.

What if my friends don't receive my change of address card?

What if I miss important information because managing three email accounts, one facebook, one blog, and countless other logins/passwords/freaking crazy combinations of letters and numbers and security questions and retina recognition software is about to drive me insane?

I guess I will deal.

On the bright side, I did not break a sweat today. Whew. Easiest move I have ever made.

Like Mother...Like Daughter

I'm frightened. Scared out of my mind.

She's just like me. Mini-Marcie.

I have heard that I should think of myself, double it, and that is what I'm going to have with my daughter. She's going to the basement when she is 5. I will feed her, bathe her, and allow some daylight to get to her...but that's it. (Of course this is a joke... no need to come and take her from me. But I'm really scared.)

Proof positive:

She went to the drawer where I keep the koozies and selected one. Then she put her sippy cup in it. Oh my.

Can you see why I am scared? I know I didn't know what a koozy was until I was at least 7 or 8. She's 2.

Goodbye to an old friend

I did it. Yesterday. I said goodbye to an old friend.

My nails. *sob*

I have had these nails on since the spring of 2001 with a short, one-month exception in the fall of 2002. But I had them. The same person has been doing them since November 2002. Every three or four weeks. A shiny new coat of red nail polish. Beautiful nails.

I took eight of them off myself over the course of a few days (nerves, I think). Then I had Becky take them the rest of the way off and clean them up. Now I have short fingernails. And I feel ugly.

Hideous.

But the funny thing is that no one has noticed. Not one person.

Except me.

I have an appointment on Wednesday to have them put back on. I am weak. And I can't feel ugly right now.