Wednesday, December 24, 2008
My Sister, My friend.
When I was a kid I really thought Elton John was talking about me and Harmony. (like I was singing the song)I mean he did 'echo' hello hello, and me and Harmony were pretty good company, and Harmony gee I really love ya and I'm gonna love ya forever. (see my point)
Well as you know my Sister Harmony and I had a horrible fight last month while I was visiting in Pennsylvania. We spoke on Thanksgiving, and got into even a bigger fight over the phone.
For those of you who really truly know me I know this comes as a shock. I mean I have been telling people for years not to fight with their siblings or family. It's just not worth it. I always used my sister and I's relationship as the example. I know the people closest to me felt like 'shut up you and your sister's relationship is different' I heard that so much that I started to take a closer look at other women with their sisters. Yep we had a truly wonderful, exceptional relationship.
We have always been very close in age. I was born in July 1975, and she was born in January 1977. That is only 18 months apart. (Yes my parents were very busy. My brother came in Feb. 1979. That was only 25 months later.)
Being very close in age was not what made us so close. I mean I was the older sister, and everything I got to do she got to do. Anything that I had to wait to do like shave, date, ect. She got to do right after I did. That was a pain. Also, we shared a room the entire time we lived at home. I was always heavy, and she was always thin and beautiful. I hated that. When we would fight she would call me fat, and I would tell her that she didn't have any friends. We would always make up right away, and it would be like nothing ever happened.
As adults we always lived really close. We even lived together for awhile. Then I went to Georgia, and she and her husband worked things out. We have remained close. We talked everyday twice a day. She was my sister, and my best friend. I was very lucky.
As adults I only ever remember 2 big fights:
1- (1998) Was over seeing her at Easter. It was really a bad fight between us. Then my brother died and we just let it go. We both felt bad for fighting. Life is two short.
2- (2002) Was about the kids while we were camping. We said some really rotten things to each other that I will not repeat. But the next morning we said our I'm sorries let's never do that again and everything was fine.
Since then we have always been on the same side right wrong or indifferent. There has only been three women that I would 'hold hands into the sunset with no matter what' and my sister Harmony was the first.
Now it is 2008 and we are in our 3rd fight but it is the biggest fight of our life. Are we older and more stubborn? No I don't think thats what it is. You see during the other times we were thrown back together, just like when we were kids. You know right after the fight within a couple of days it was like hello here we are together so we need to make up. But this time is different because we are separated. I don't think anything worse happened here than happened before, I just think we are not together. If I lived there and our lives were intertwined then we would have made up by now. But that is not the case, and here we are.
My life just hasn't been the same since I left Pennsylvania this last time.
I am going to leave you with a wonderful Elton John Song 'Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word'
Harmony I love you, I miss you, and I am really sorry.
Gifts, Gifts, Memories, and Gifts!
Now for what I hate. I hate the feelings that come with gift giving. I hate thinking that my presents are not good enough, which leads to thoughts of I'm not good enough. Did I buy the right presents? Will my children feel like it is a great Christmas? Will the adults in my life really know how much they mean to me?
Over the years I have been given some really wonderful gifts, and some not so wonderful gifts. I am always truly grateful for all the gifts wanted or unwanted. I know that it really is the thought that counts. I would like to think back on some really great and not so great presents that I have recieved in my lifetime. (if you didn't make the list I'm sorry, If you made the not great list I'm sorry and I love you)
When I was a kid there were some toys that I got as a kid that I really remeber:
a troll that had on pink pjs that glow in the dark from my Dad (or that was what mom said)
a stuffed ant with a bonnet (I called her auntie, and I remember pulling her out of the bag at Grandma's house but I think she was from Santa)
a cabbage patch doll (the year they were really a hot item)
a Annie doll (barbie sized), Daddy Warbucks, and a car (Grandma Leon gave them to me I think)
I have a picture somewhere of me hugging an electric banket on Christmas morning.(from Mom)
Grandma Leon was always the best at buying us what we wanted like one year she bought the family an Atari. That was so great. We played that thing for hours. Then on a different year she bought us a nintendo. Oh we loved that thing to. My Dad loved both of those things. I remember Pappy Leon used to say 'I could drive that plane for real.' We believed him. ( I miss him)
As an adult:
Grandma bought me the comforter set I wanted with colorful fish all over. (I really loved that set)
Grandma also bought me a great set of pots one year.
Grandma would also buy me an angel every year for my collection. (I miss that)
Grandma always sends money now and Mom says I should go and buy my own angel and I do but it is not the same.
The Christmas after my brother died Harmony gave me an incense burner. It totally made me think of him. She is such a thoughtful gift giver.
The next wasn't a Christmas gift but it was a gift. Amanda bought me a pin that had Minnie and Daisy on it with the letters BFF on it. The day she gave it to me truly touched my heart. It was the day I knew she really meant all the times she called me her BFF.
My Mother In Law Pat gets the family a great present. For the last three years she has rented a house at a vacation location, and the whole family (all 20 something of us) goes and stays together for a whole week. I love love love this gift. This has really helped bring our family together.
Some of the gifts that were not quite right: (remember it's the thought that counts)
Chris bought me a really pretty necklace. However, it was a chocker and it didn't fit.
Andrew bought me a silk like night gown when he was like 10 and it was way way to small. I opened it and said 'I love it thank you so much' Chris said 'That is not going to fit on your leg' I said 'Shut up it is to I love it. The color is wonderful.' andrew was just beaming. The night gown wouldn't have fit on my thigh but that is not the point.
Andrew bought me and angel. It was the first black angel I ever had. (I still have it and love it)
The kids buy me things like back scratchers, pot holders, and dish towels.
All I asked this year for Christmas was for my children to clean the house on Christmas Eve. I hope they come through for me. It would take away so much pressure.
To all of you out there from all of us at my house have a safe and happy holiday season. I hope that Heavenly Father will bless you this year, and that you will all love one another.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Harajuku Lovers
All the dolls have a different scent. 'Baby' reminds me of baby soft. They all smell good. The other names are 'Love', 'Music', and 'Lil Angel'.
I thought about buying them for the girls for Christmas, but then I decided against it because I felt like they wouldn't know what it was, and then they would just throw it to the side. They don't always love the stuff I love. The older ones are very 'Brandish' you know Aeropostale, American Eagle, Hollister.... My luck is I would buy them this and they would be like I just wanted some other crappy perfume that doesn't even cost as much but carries some 'brand' name.
However, my littlest one Bethany who is 7 is head over heels in love with these little gems. She saw mine and thought it was cute. She even would visit her in my room, and sometimes sneak alittle. Well we were at Belks last Saturday and I showed her the display. She smelled all of them and was in love. The perfume lady gave her a sample card with all the scents in it. She carries this little sample paper around in her bag. She peels just enough back to get a good smell, and then tapes the samples back shut as to not waste it.
Last night we went to Belks again looking for teen gifts for friends. Bethany says 'Can we go see the Harajukus.' I say 'Yes let's go visit them.' She then showed the perfume lady that she still had her little sample card and didn't need another. Then she looked at all the bottles and asked me how much are they. I tell her the little bottles with the doll on top like mine is $25.00, and the heads with the solid are $65.00 for all 5.
As we are walking around in Belks Bethany is searching through her purse and counting her money. She says 'Mommy I have $17.00 and it's not enough. Can we count all my change?' I say 'Bethany it is really close to Christmas and you are not buying the perfume today.' She is very sad about this and is silently crying with big tears sliding down her face. When we get out of the store we sit down for a minute. I say 'Bethany you never know maybe you will get it for Christmas?' Bethany says crying 'No I won't I didn't even know about the Harajuku dolls and I didn't tell anyone that I wanted them for Christmas.' I say 'Well maybe you can talk to Daddy.' She says crying 'Daddy never listens to me like when I told him I wanted to go to Pennsylvania he just said UhUh.' It was very funny. She didn't think it was very funny at all. She cried all the way home while I laughed and called Aunt Amanda, and Grandma on the phone and told them the story. Hee Hee
She told her Dad about it that night, and he really listened to her. She was very excited about it and showed him her samples, and even peeled the tape back so he can smell. hee hee
She tells me right before bed 'I wish I never knew about the Harajuku dolls' hee hee (I guess if she never knew about them she wouldn't want them so bad. hee hee)
Friday, December 12, 2008
Photo Story Friday (Last Christmas)
Kelsea didn't really want to have photos taken by the tree, but she did it for me anyway.
This is my baby buritto Noah.
Bethany posing with her favorite ornament of the year.
She loved this so much that the next time I checked the pictures in my camera I saw she had taken 15 pictures of that little solider.
Madi, Noah, and Jackson showing each other how important they are to one another.
This Christmas Eve will be really different. We won't be at Nanny's we are all going to Pat's. It's sad to see that the tradition of going to Nanny's is now gone. We had no idea at that moment that it would be the last Christmas Eve there. Sometimes you just don't know.
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
Friday, December 5, 2008
Rocket Man and Piano Man
John and Joel first toured together in 1994, and their most recent Face 2 Face outing was a sold-out, 24-date trek in 2003.
"I love touring with Billy," John said in a statement. "I have the greatest respect for him and we're such good friends."
Added Joel: "The great thing about performing with Elton is that he is such a good piano player and that makes me have to dig deep to keep up with him. Not to mention, I've got the best seat in the house--only one piano away from Elton John!"
According to promoters, John and Joel plan to open on twin pianos and trade vocals on a series of duets. A headlining set by each artist with his own band will follow. The shows will end with an encore featuring both headliners and their backing bands.
I am very excited because these two wonderful people are touring together again, and they are coming to our area. Yeah Baby! The tickets will go on sale tomorrow morning. I am totally going to be sitting at the computer ready to push the button. I hope to get really great seats. However, it is all luck, and I have not been feeling lucky lately.
I asked Amanda to go to this concert and she said yes. Then I called Gigi and she said no. Then Amanda asked Courtney and she said no.
Then last night I said to my husband 'Amanda and I are going to try and get tickets to see Elton John, and Billy Joel.' He says 'Hey I want to see them.' He sucks the fun right from me. I say 'You can be the third wheel.' He is totally okay with that. However, now Amanda has backed out. Oh well. This will not ruin my fun. All I know is I am going to see them even if I have to go alone. Amanda and I will always have Michael Buble.
Does anyone else want to go?
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Specail Thanks
Harmony. Thanks for hanging out with us at the hotel, and pulling strings to get us treats, and stuff.
One last thing about the getaway weekend we had before I lay it to rest.
Now I am done and my posting can go back to normal. Was it ever normal?
Friday, November 28, 2008
Reconnecting part 3 the after party
Its just a small country bar. It was fun, until it wasn't..........
What would an after party be without dancing.
This is Treasa's Daughter Amber. I haven't seen them for years. There was a time in my life when I thought we would've been family. Oh well. Miss you girls.
After this was when I decided to try to take some self portraits. Now remember I am not really good at this.
And this guy. (Mark)
got into an almost fight. Things went bad really fast. Chris and I found ourselves in a place filled with people who were close, and we were outsiders. It didn't matter that I had lived there and knew most of them. It also didn't matter that Mark was saying some pretty bad stuff about me to Chris. Chris and I left. Then I went back inside and yelled at everyone, and said some really awful, and unforgiveable things to my sister. So, now we are not talking. It was a sad night. It has been a sad week.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Reconnecting with the class of 1993 (part 2)
My back never did feel better. I did walk outside in the freezing cold and across the property in just my robe. No one saw me naked. (thank goodness) Chris did love the spa. He wants to go to the spa again asap. (I still think is very manly) Yes we went to the reunion.
This is Bobby Delansky, me and Heather Spa. Bobby was real nice he came over and we talked for a few minutes. He still looks the same, but he was so different. Thanks Bobby. Heather is married to Rob. Rob was an upperclassmen. She still looks just as pretty as she did in high school.
This is Bernice Middleton(Carl Middleton's wife) Bobbi Anderson, I am not sure, Jen Shiffbauer (Mike Shiffbauer's wife), I am not sure, Holly Murphy, Karen Miller, Me, and Bobby Jo Snyder
We took a class photo. (in advance, I didn't know all the names. I really did know all the faces I just couldn't remember all the names. Sorry. Also, I know that some of the spelling is bad, but I really did my best.)