A Conversation with Radical #1

Radical #1: “Mom, my dump truck is broken.”

Me: “Oh man!  Maybe if you take care of your toys, they won’t break.”

Radical #1: “Oh yeah.  But can I get a new one because this one is broken?”

Me: “Um, no.  You need to take care and play nicely with your toys so they don’t break.”

Radical #1: “But please, mom!”

Me: “Just because your toy breaks doesn’t mean you can always get a new one.”

Radical #1: “Yes mom, you can get me a new one from the store!”

Me: “A store?  What store?”

Radical #1: “Wal-Mart!”

Me: laughing…”You need money to get stuff from Wal-Mart!”

Radical #1: “Okay, you give me some money to get a new dump truck at Wal-Mart?”

Me: “What?  No, it doesn’t quite work that way.”

Radical #1: “Oh okay.  How’s about I ask the lady at the Wal-Mart for money because my dump truck is broken and then with the money I can get a red dump truck!”

Me: still laughing…”Okay, good luck with that, buddy!”

What the what?  I think he’s been hanging out with my mother and Tutu Lady too much.

Have a happy Friday!

Jenn.

A Piece of Advice to Myself.

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Remember in this post I said this “thing” is clinging to me and I couldn’t come up with a decent post?  Well, this “thing” is actually my emotions.  Lately, my heart has been heavy and my emotions are all over the creation.  They are coming from all angles and I’ve been trying to sort through them. 

I woke up yesterday determined to get it all out instead of keeping it bottled up and get it all out I did.  I released everything; I think I abused my keyboard and I also had a talk with one of the BFFs.  I felt better.  I felt like I could move forward with a fresh view. 

As I was out on the lanai this morning enjoying my coffee, I was reflecting on my emotions and how it affected my life for the past few weeks.  This is life and life isn’t always butterflies and rainbows.  I’m always going to have some type of issue and things are not always going to go my way.  I’ll come across somebody who will say or do something that pisses me off.  I get that but how I react is what needs to change.  I need to step back, gather my thoughts, and look at the big picture. 

Easier said than done, huh?  Yep, but the more I practice that the easier it’ll be.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m still human and I can guarantee you that in some cases, in the heat of the moment, I will let my emotions get the best of me but I’m human and we all do it.  What I’m saying is that I am aiming to be in a positive light for the most part. 

And then I had an epiphany. 

It hit me like a ton of coconuts and at that moment I said to myself out loud (at 6:30am, haha!) “Oh my gosh!  You sooooo need to practice what you preach!” 

All this time I’ve been giving advice to others about looking at the big picture, think before you speak, it’s not the end of the world, live your life and don’t let others bring you down, if you were to put your problems up on a tree alongside everyone else you’ll gladly take yours back, and blah, blah, and blah. 

Why is it so easy for me to give advice but so hard to take use it?  Don’t answer that…haha! 

Anyway, I am feeling a whole lot better and now I can move forward and get some shiz done.  Shiz meaning my work (which is piling up, sorry mom!).  And come to think of it, I have a lot of posts which have been sitting in my drafts.  Great, now I can post on a regular basis instead of going MIA all the time. 

Well lovelies, that’s all I got for now.  Have a lovely day!

Peace out!

Jenn.

Coconuts Make Me Smile.

Happy Friday!  I’m linking up with Lindsay again for the Little Things link up. 
Here are some of the little things that made me smile this week…

Being able to spontaneously drive home.  I’m glad that I can go home whenever I want instead of having to “plan” the trip and get on a plane and all that jazz. 

Coconuts. 

 They remind me of this guy.  My Pops.  I miss him.

Finding sweet smelling flowers in my yard.  It was like finding treasure!

Oh, and I can’t forget Maika’i Rewards…a free tray of strawberries.  SCORE!



I know, same picture as last time...



Have a lovely weekend, friends!

Jenn.

Random Thursday

Did you know that I thought today was Monday?  Don’t know why I thought that. 

So this “thing” is still clinging to me so I thought I’d share some random thoughts buzzing around this ‘ol brain of mine.

` When did I become such a hoarder with boxes?  Any type of box: small, medium, large, cute.  I keep them.  All of them.

` Radical #1 is growing up so fast.  He’ll be 4 in a couple of months.  I’ll have a 4 year old.  Is that insane or what?  It’s also time to let him go…to pre-school.  Oh, the torture!

` Radical #2 has become attached to a stuffed bear which he named “Sophie”.  Sophie goes everywhere with him.  Also, Sophie is a ‘he’.  Hmmm…

` The ants go marching one by one….The more I hunt them down, the more they come and harass me.  I can’t stand them, especially the biting ones.  And they only bite me.

` It’s been cold here.  I’ve been in a jacket all day kind of cold.  Don’t ask me what the temperature is.  If you ask me how cold it is my answer will be “not bad”, “cold”, or “freezing my butt cold!”  And now that I’ve typed the word “cold” 6 times, I find it to be an odd word.  Fork is another odd word to me.

` There’s a strong FOUL smell coming from my neighbor’s house.  I can’t bring myself to type the thought that crossed my mind.  Let’s just say that he’s not the nicest person in the world; we’ve had confrontations a few times which resulted in calling the police.  One of those confrontations was him blocking me in my driveway with his jalopy truck and silently calling me out.  So based on that, you can form your own opinion on what I was thinking…

` My little {well, not so little anymore} brother proposed to his GF on Valentine’s Day.  It warmed my heart when he asked for my approval but I reminded him that he needs her father’s approval.  I’m so happy for him and my future SIL!!

` This has been his favorite thing to do lately.  He’s obsessed with umbrellas.  I set it up and he sits under it and eats his box of raisins while hanging out with Sophie.



yep, that would be a binky.  i have a post coming on that subject soon.



I hope y’all have a great day! 

Jenn.

P.S.  The weekend is almost here!!!  But I’m sure I’m not the only one who knows that.

Surprise, Surprise!

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Happy Love Day, Lovelies!  I hope your day was filled with love, hugs, and kisses! 

I got a big surprise from the Mister today: flowers and chocolates and a balloon. 

Yeah, it may not be big for some but it is for me.  This is big because we don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day which brings me to confess that I didn’t tell you the whole truth.  I know, I suck. 

Anyway, remember this post where I mentioned that we don’t celebrate V-Day?  Well, the Mister is actually the one who doesn’t celebrate V-Day.  He says every day should be a love day and I agree but what girl doesn’t love to get flowers?  Or chocolate?  Or a sappy card?  So over the years I’ve accepted that V-Day is just another day.  And when the Mister came home today with all the goodies, I jumped for joy. 

I told him that I am still in shock and he’s all “why?”  I go on to tell him “well, after eight years of not getting anything, I wasn’t expecting this!”  And he’s all “what do you mean?  I get you something every year for Valentine’s Day.” 

silence…

I was speechless.  And when I finally told him that that wasn’t the case and reminded him about ‘everyday should be a love day’, the look on his face was priceless.  Did he really think that he got me something every year or is he just pulling my leg?  Whatever it is, I’m just stoked to have gotten something.  So thanks, babe and Happy Valentine’s Day to you too.

Love, love!

Jenn.

Home is where my heart is.

Hooray for Mondays!!  I heart Mondays. 

We went home-home, sweet home for the weekend.  It was lovely.  We I was on a mission to eat at Outback Steakhouse but Radical #1 came down with a mysterious something Saturday afternoon so we had to abort the mission.  By the time Sunday rolled around, all was honkie-dorie.  Although I did not get my beloved Bloomin’ Onion, I’m glad he was back to himself.  There is always another time.

We got home late Sunday evening and the Mister surprised us with pizza!  I heart pizza.  And I heart him even more for tapping into thoughts of not wanting to cook when we got home. 
  

Do you ever have those times when you have so much to say but nothing comes out?  Yeah?  Me too and that’s been the case for a few days.  I can’t seem to come up with a decent post.  I write, I read, and I’m all “what are you talking about, Jenn?”  I’ll get out of this “thing” soon but for now I’ll leave you with a picture.




home-home, sweet home!

 

How was your weekend?

Jenn.

Confessions of a fisherman’s other half.

It’s that time again…

The Mister’s boat has been out of commission for the past few months and although I was enjoying it, I knew it would come to an end sooner than later.  And so, the time has come for overnight fishing trips to commence.  I knew it was coming; I just didn’t mentally prepare myself for it. 

I can handle day trips but when it comes to overnight trips, well that’s a different story.  I worry.  I have sleepless nights.  Sometimes I feel like calling him every hour just to see if he’s okay but I know that would annoy him.  It’s dark and while the rest of the world is sleeping, they are out there alone.  I say they because he knows I’d chop his balls off if he went alone.  I get paranoid at the fact that if anything was to go wrong, he is not in my reach.  I know I shouldn’t think that way but sometimes it gets the best of me. 

I know that the Mister knows what he’s doing.  I know he takes all the necessary precautions.  Mother Nature is who scares me.  Sometimes I wish I had a monitor so I could see him when he’s out on the ocean.  That would put me at ease, sort of. 

And other times, I wish he would get a different hobby.  Everyone wins in the end; he gives fish away to friends and family and sometimes he gets paid for it, which comes in handy.  If I could just figure out how to block these feelings, all will be well and I’d get some sleep. 

But never mind my feelings; it is what he loves to do and I need to support him.  I’ll just continue to pray for his safety.

Jenn.

L.O.V.E.

Well, hello!  I know it’s been quiet around these parts lately.  I’ve been busy: work and the Radicals and we all had a nasty cold.  I’m doing the “What’s Your Love Story” link-up with Becky over at From Mrs. to Mama today.

How long have you and your significant other been together?  The Mister and I have been together for 8 years come March 23^rd.
How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}  Haha!  I wouldn’t call it a love story.  We met in the parking lot of a bar.  It was last call and I was so ready to go home.  I was tired, I was tipsy, and I was ready to call it a night, err, morning.  I decided to go to the car and wait for my peeps.  Before y’all jump on my ass, we did have a DD.  Anyway, the Mister just happened to be parked right across from me and he just happened to be waiting for his peeps too.  Since I didn’t feel like sitting on concrete I had this bright idea to ask him if I could wait in his car.  Hey, a nice warm car was better than freezing my bum out in the cold!  We got to talking and I have to say that his attempt to “flirt” was a fail.  Maybe I wasn’t in the mood or maybe the fact that he was from the other side of the island turned me off.  He asked if I had a boyfriend and I don’t know what possessed me to say this but I responded with “Yeah I have 5, do you wanna be the 6^th?”  I tend to be a smart-ass when I’m cranky but he didn’t give up.  My peeps finally made it to the car and when he tried to give me his number they were all “no, she doesn’t need your number!”   We drove off and that was that.  We ran into each other {at the same bar} again  a couple of months later and this time he made it a point to exchange numbers, but I never called him.  I didn’t even remember his name.  A couple of months later I get a call from him, we hang out; go on a couple of dates.  Eight years and 2 Radicals later, here we are.
If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}  I would like to but that subject is not talked about.  You can go here to read why.
 If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?  If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?  If a miracle happens and we do get married, it’ll be a small wedding with close family and friends.
Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!  We call each other “babe” or “hun/honey”.  The only time we use first names is if we’re mad.
 Name 3 things you love most about your honey.   1) His heart.  I’ve watched him grow and change greatly over the years.  1) His personality.  I know this is going to sound weird but he has a “unique” one that constantly challenges me in a good way. 3) The words that come out of his mouth.  Yep, it’s another weird one.  Most times, the things he talks about either kills me or makes me bust-a-gut-laugh.  Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?  Nothing yet.  And knowing him, if that day ever comes, he would be the one to say something like “so what?  you like get married?”  Typical.
Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?  Niether.  We don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day.  I know, we’re so dry!  Our view is that everyday should be a love day.  But now that we have Radicals, we bake some goodies.
Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?  Um, a sunset dinner on the beach.  We never get out so if the opportunity presents itself, I’ll take it.
Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?  I’d like to take him to travel the world and experience different cultures.  We need to get off of this rock J  If you ask him this question, it would have something to do with the ocean, on a boat, for weeks.  Ugh, I’m not too thrilled with that.
Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.  Nothing.  Oh wait, the Radicals and I are baking something. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's Day?  Even though we don’t celebrate I’m using this day as an excuse to get a label maker.
Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.  Patience, communication, and kindness.  We clash all the time; that’s just our personalities but it doesn’t mean we don’t love each other.  He views the world in black and white.  I view the world in color.  What we do agree on is we are who we are and we’re not trying to change each other.  Oh, one last piece of advice: sex, lots of it.  Haha!
Show us a picture of what love means to you.

Love, love!

Jenn.