I love the weekends...but Good Lord....why are they over in like 20 minutes??? It seems like I have not enjoyed a relaxing weekend in years....other than the quick trip I took to NYC in September...which wasn't exactly relaxing by any means...we never stopped moving, but was nice in the aspect of not having to be 50 different places at once. I could just go....with no worries. My typical weekend now is, unfortunately, not like that. Is yours? And how do you get it like that? This past weekend for example went down like this:
Friday, work all day (from 6:45-3:15); appt. at 3:30; parents back in town, so stop by their house to say hi and grab Gabby, who had gone there after school; to publix for groceries; home to get ready for dance that night; make dinner; pick up kids and ferry to said dance; come home to take care of dog and do laundry; force self to stay awake until said teen gets home from dance....go to bed.
Saturday: wake up at the crack ass of dawn for no apparent reason; take care of dog; allow said dog to awaken teen; go to Sam's club with father at 10am; come home, put up groceries; go to Fox for quick breakfast/brunch; home to get ready for first of 2 soccer games; clean downstairs; be at field at 1p for 2p game; roast in sun for 2.5 hours; Target; Winn Dixie; home finally at 6p. Dinner; laundry; bed.
Sunday: up too late for early service; make breakfast; clean kitchen AGAIN; let dog wake up teen AGAIN; clean some of rest of house; get ready for soccer AGAIN; leave house at 1:45 for 3:20 game on other side of town...roast in sun for 3 hours; watch gabby play best game of season and score a goal; drive back to right side of town; drop gabby at confirmation meeting; take care of dog; make dinner; get frantic phone call from other parent requesting pick up for their child too; make quick phone call to long lost friend in Reno...and actually catch her; pick up said teens; drop off said extra teen...and chat with mother; home at 8:30...to take care of dog; clean kitchen AGAIN and go to bed.
Monday: Alarm went off at 5:30. WTH. Got up, get ready, got teen ready, made lunch for both, run late as usual...super late as I needed to take teen to school because ex is out of town. Made it to work finally at 8am. Never got laundry folded, made it to Lowe's, raked back yard or regained my sanity. Maybe next weekend.
**SIGH** Maybe it will be better now that Gabby's fall soccer season is over. "No", you say? I didn't think so. I don't want to be a grown up. I want to enjoy my weekends again....with no responsibilities. I want my house to actually get fully cleaned in one cleaning. I want to go out to dinner, and to the movies, and shopping at the mall. Will any of this ever happen???
Monday, October 18, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
One thing to Note
You can obviously see blog posts prior to the last couple months on here...they are actually from an old blog I had called Tullah Belle's Diary (another nickname...I know, how many can one person have???).
It was a blog mainly keeping up with all things Gabby for family that didn't get to see her all the time. I was really bad about keeping up with it though...but didn't want to lose them when I created this one and deleted that old one.
So feel free to peruse~
xoxo
It was a blog mainly keeping up with all things Gabby for family that didn't get to see her all the time. I was really bad about keeping up with it though...but didn't want to lose them when I created this one and deleted that old one.
So feel free to peruse~
xoxo
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Petunias are the prettiest
I bet you've been wondering where the title for my blog originated. You know you have...Don't be ashamed to admit it. :)
When I was little, my great uncle, who's name has always just been Uncle to me, nicknamed me Petunia. Well, after he had initially nicknamed me Peaches, but my father decided his precious brand new infant daughter didn't need to sound like a stripper. So Petunia it was.
I spent quite a bit of time at Bill (my aunt...Mary Bill) and Uncle's house as a child...see my sister is just 14 months younger than me, and my brother is 4 years older. So my mom had a newborn, a very precocious 1 yr old, and a ridiculously hyper 5 yr old. And my dad worked ALOT. Not surprisingly, she couldn't always deal...Lord, I have one child and couldn't deal. My aunt & uncle lived down the street from us, and their daughter was my godmother...so naturally I spent plenty of time there. My first sleepover was there, my first time swimming (I was two...and couldn't technically swim yet) was there...my first real birthday party, etc. I loved that house...and them. They were then, and still are, more like grandparents than extended family.
So, back to the point...he nicknamed me Petunia. It got shortened over the years to Tunia, Tunie and even Tunie Lu. People still call me by that nickname to this day~ it's like the gift that just keeps giving. When I was young, I used to ask Uncle why he called me Petunia (he never shortened it) and his response was always, "Because Petunias are the prettiest". So there you have it. Petunias are the prettiest. I would walk in the door and would always hear, before I had even walked around the corner to be seen, "There's my pretty Petunia", and I would always smile. I still do.
When I was little, my great uncle, who's name has always just been Uncle to me, nicknamed me Petunia. Well, after he had initially nicknamed me Peaches, but my father decided his precious brand new infant daughter didn't need to sound like a stripper. So Petunia it was.
I spent quite a bit of time at Bill (my aunt...Mary Bill) and Uncle's house as a child...see my sister is just 14 months younger than me, and my brother is 4 years older. So my mom had a newborn, a very precocious 1 yr old, and a ridiculously hyper 5 yr old. And my dad worked ALOT. Not surprisingly, she couldn't always deal...Lord, I have one child and couldn't deal. My aunt & uncle lived down the street from us, and their daughter was my godmother...so naturally I spent plenty of time there. My first sleepover was there, my first time swimming (I was two...and couldn't technically swim yet) was there...my first real birthday party, etc. I loved that house...and them. They were then, and still are, more like grandparents than extended family.
So, back to the point...he nicknamed me Petunia. It got shortened over the years to Tunia, Tunie and even Tunie Lu. People still call me by that nickname to this day~ it's like the gift that just keeps giving. When I was young, I used to ask Uncle why he called me Petunia (he never shortened it) and his response was always, "Because Petunias are the prettiest". So there you have it. Petunias are the prettiest. I would walk in the door and would always hear, before I had even walked around the corner to be seen, "There's my pretty Petunia", and I would always smile. I still do.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Home is where the Heart is?
So, I feel the need to tell you about where I live. I was born and raised in Jacksonville, Fl. in a neighborhood called Ortega. It's kind of like the "old money" section of Jacksonville, although we were anything but "old money". There are two parts of Ortega...Ortega Forest, where I grew up, which was the "new" section (built up around the '50s) and Old Ortega (read: old money...and old homes). I loved growing up in Ortega...loved my friends, neighbors, schools, etc. It's just a really great neighborhood....safe for your kids to bike around in, and knowing that any number of neighbors will call you to say..."hey! I just saw your kid". And I will totally admit being a snob about people that lived in Deerwood and Ponte Vedra...they were "new money" and totally ostentatious about it.
But back to the point...I grew up in Ortega. I moved away for college, and then got married and moved to California. San Diego to be precise. Which I loved...and never should have left. It's where my daughter was born, and where I met 3 of my closest friends, who remain so, to this day. San Diego holds a very special place in my heart and always will.
But back to Ortega...when Gabby was about two we moved back to Jacksonville. My husband and I divorced about a year later which prompted the move back into "the bubble". "The Bubble?", you ask. "Yes, The Bubble" as it is commonly referred. "Why?" you ask? Because people that live in the bubble never leave the bubble. And people that grew up in The Bubble somehow get drawn back to it like a moth to flame. We never cross "the ditch" more commonly referred to as the St. John's River, never venture to the other side of town (unless it is to the beach...at which point you take 95 straight to the beach with blinders on so you don't realize you have left The Bubble), never cross over Blanding Blvd to the "bad side of the westside", just never leave. There is one funny thing about The Bubble though...it's not a perfect circle. It's one of those funky shaped bubbles you blow that is long and kinda curved....like this:
See, The Bubble encompasses three neighborhoods...Ortega, Avondale and Riverside, which makes it kind of L-shaped...but it stops at the bridge...the one that goes over "the ditch". And to the other side, it stops at the Super Target...which is pushing it, because the Super Target is next to...a navy base. **Gasp**... I know. There is however one exception to the boundary on that side...and to the ditch...and that my friends, is Whole Foods. it was someone's bright idea to build the Whole Foods on the other side of the ditch...past the boundary of The Bubble....which was so devastating. But after a good cry, we Ortega girls put on our big girl panties and decided we could handle it. So, like going to the beach, you must put your blinders on, pass the dreaded navy base, cross the ditch on a 3 mile long bridge to come to the mecca of all grocery stores. Which is why when you go, you plan on being there for hours. No joke.
But back to the story, now that you know what the bubble is. Way back when, I moved back to the bubble. To Old Ortega to be exact. I love it here. I also hate it here. It is the land of cute families and country clubs (which I don't mind at all....several of my friends are some of those cute families!) It is also the land of everyone knowing your business before you do. But it's pretty much like that anywhere, right? right?? But...I have my little house that Gabby and I have lived in since she was 3 1/2. And even though it continuously falls apart, I love it. It fits us...or at least it will when I get finished updating it (yes, I realize we have lived here for 10 years). And it's location was perfect...close to churches, parks, and family....oh yes, the family. When we moved here, my parents lived in OF which was across the main road, Roosevelt...and their house was approximately 1 mile away....the perfect distance. My ex husband lived in Avondale, approx. 5 miles away...again, the perfect distance...not too far to be inconvenient and not too close that we were in each others back pockets. My brother lived a few miles away (and still does...he's the one hold out), my sister lived in San Marco (across the ditch...but just barely out of the bubble), and a good bit of my extended family lived with a 2 mile radius...close enough to visit regularly...but again...not close enough for them to come knocking for a cup of sugar. Just Perfect.
My, how God likes to laugh at me sometimes. Within 3 years, my sister had gotten married and moved to OF, my parents had sold their house in OF for being "too big" and decided to build something smaller; and my ex-husband had remarried and had also decided to house hunt. And the two latter ones decided that my neighborhood was the one they wanted...my parents built a house literally around the corner from me...and my ex bought a house 2 blocks away. On the same street. Seriously. I couldn't believe it. I looked at Gabby one day and said, "We have to move". but being 6 years old, she just looked at me like I was crazy.
Somehow, I made it through. And it is convenient. Gabby can easily go to her dad's house, or my parents house on her bike now. And my parents are now close enough that I can raid their house for that cup of sugar...and whatever else they happen to have in the fridge between paychecks. But Good Lord...being in each others pockets is God awful annoying. I don't want everyone to know my business all the time. And it is very inconvenient that I have to pass certain houses every time I want to get to one of my closest friends' house...which by the way is just about every day. Or if I want to take my dog for a walk...or go to the church I grew up in. Or when you mistakenly think the guy on the bike you just passed is hot, and for a moment wonder if he's single and where he lives...only to have your child in the back seat say, "Hey look, it's Dad!". Yes, my friends, that actually happened. I almost drove off the road. And sure enough, as I gave myself whiplash turning to look, there he was turning his bike around to come chat with us. I could have died from utter mortification. And as I related my story of pure humiliation to my friend (who lives in Reno) all she did was about pee herself from laughing so hard. (Its still not funny, if you were wondering...but I love you anyway). I am such a spaz.
**SIGH** So this is my home. This is where I was raised and where I have raised my daughter. This is the neighborhood I love for all its quirks. The people, the houses, the old oak tree lined streets, even the being in each others pockets. Which is why I will never understand why someone who doesn't love this neighborhood for its quirks and its people, who doesn't have children they want to raise here, that bashes it every time they open their mouths to speak about it, would move here. If you hate it here that much, then by all means...move out. We don't want you to be here either.
But back to the point...I grew up in Ortega. I moved away for college, and then got married and moved to California. San Diego to be precise. Which I loved...and never should have left. It's where my daughter was born, and where I met 3 of my closest friends, who remain so, to this day. San Diego holds a very special place in my heart and always will.
But back to Ortega...when Gabby was about two we moved back to Jacksonville. My husband and I divorced about a year later which prompted the move back into "the bubble". "The Bubble?", you ask. "Yes, The Bubble" as it is commonly referred. "Why?" you ask? Because people that live in the bubble never leave the bubble. And people that grew up in The Bubble somehow get drawn back to it like a moth to flame. We never cross "the ditch" more commonly referred to as the St. John's River, never venture to the other side of town (unless it is to the beach...at which point you take 95 straight to the beach with blinders on so you don't realize you have left The Bubble), never cross over Blanding Blvd to the "bad side of the westside", just never leave. There is one funny thing about The Bubble though...it's not a perfect circle. It's one of those funky shaped bubbles you blow that is long and kinda curved....like this:
See, The Bubble encompasses three neighborhoods...Ortega, Avondale and Riverside, which makes it kind of L-shaped...but it stops at the bridge...the one that goes over "the ditch". And to the other side, it stops at the Super Target...which is pushing it, because the Super Target is next to...a navy base. **Gasp**... I know. There is however one exception to the boundary on that side...and to the ditch...and that my friends, is Whole Foods. it was someone's bright idea to build the Whole Foods on the other side of the ditch...past the boundary of The Bubble....which was so devastating. But after a good cry, we Ortega girls put on our big girl panties and decided we could handle it. So, like going to the beach, you must put your blinders on, pass the dreaded navy base, cross the ditch on a 3 mile long bridge to come to the mecca of all grocery stores. Which is why when you go, you plan on being there for hours. No joke.
But back to the story, now that you know what the bubble is. Way back when, I moved back to the bubble. To Old Ortega to be exact. I love it here. I also hate it here. It is the land of cute families and country clubs (which I don't mind at all....several of my friends are some of those cute families!) It is also the land of everyone knowing your business before you do. But it's pretty much like that anywhere, right? right?? But...I have my little house that Gabby and I have lived in since she was 3 1/2. And even though it continuously falls apart, I love it. It fits us...or at least it will when I get finished updating it (yes, I realize we have lived here for 10 years). And it's location was perfect...close to churches, parks, and family....oh yes, the family. When we moved here, my parents lived in OF which was across the main road, Roosevelt...and their house was approximately 1 mile away....the perfect distance. My ex husband lived in Avondale, approx. 5 miles away...again, the perfect distance...not too far to be inconvenient and not too close that we were in each others back pockets. My brother lived a few miles away (and still does...he's the one hold out), my sister lived in San Marco (across the ditch...but just barely out of the bubble), and a good bit of my extended family lived with a 2 mile radius...close enough to visit regularly...but again...not close enough for them to come knocking for a cup of sugar. Just Perfect.
My, how God likes to laugh at me sometimes. Within 3 years, my sister had gotten married and moved to OF, my parents had sold their house in OF for being "too big" and decided to build something smaller; and my ex-husband had remarried and had also decided to house hunt. And the two latter ones decided that my neighborhood was the one they wanted...my parents built a house literally around the corner from me...and my ex bought a house 2 blocks away. On the same street. Seriously. I couldn't believe it. I looked at Gabby one day and said, "We have to move". but being 6 years old, she just looked at me like I was crazy.
Somehow, I made it through. And it is convenient. Gabby can easily go to her dad's house, or my parents house on her bike now. And my parents are now close enough that I can raid their house for that cup of sugar...and whatever else they happen to have in the fridge between paychecks. But Good Lord...being in each others pockets is God awful annoying. I don't want everyone to know my business all the time. And it is very inconvenient that I have to pass certain houses every time I want to get to one of my closest friends' house...which by the way is just about every day. Or if I want to take my dog for a walk...or go to the church I grew up in. Or when you mistakenly think the guy on the bike you just passed is hot, and for a moment wonder if he's single and where he lives...only to have your child in the back seat say, "Hey look, it's Dad!". Yes, my friends, that actually happened. I almost drove off the road. And sure enough, as I gave myself whiplash turning to look, there he was turning his bike around to come chat with us. I could have died from utter mortification. And as I related my story of pure humiliation to my friend (who lives in Reno) all she did was about pee herself from laughing so hard. (Its still not funny, if you were wondering...but I love you anyway). I am such a spaz.
**SIGH** So this is my home. This is where I was raised and where I have raised my daughter. This is the neighborhood I love for all its quirks. The people, the houses, the old oak tree lined streets, even the being in each others pockets. Which is why I will never understand why someone who doesn't love this neighborhood for its quirks and its people, who doesn't have children they want to raise here, that bashes it every time they open their mouths to speak about it, would move here. If you hate it here that much, then by all means...move out. We don't want you to be here either.
Monday, October 11, 2010
ME
I am a chef, I am a QA Analyst, I am a mom, I am a sister, a daughter, a niece, an aunt. I am a Mormon.
Whoa! Just kidding. Those commercials crack me up. I'm a catholic (my grandparents just rolled over in their graves). But I grew up Methodist. And I am all those things up there...all at once sometimes, which can get kinda crazy.
How bout this? I am a divorced mom of one, Gabby, who is hitting the teen years (Lord in all your mercifulness, save me). I am owner and BFF to one mutt of a dog named Jasper (because that is where my family is from...not from the Twilight books), that I love almost as much as my child...even when he does chew up my really expensive shoes....and he gets spankings just like she did too.
I am a soccer mom...I just can't help it. Especially when Gabby plays competitive soccer and we have to travel. My organizational streak freaks out when we have a disorganized coach...so I take that on too. It works. Things just get done my way. I am totally cool with that. No Super 8's for this mommy! (I could totally be Shelley Long in Troop Beverly Hills.)
I am surrounded by my family (seriously, they all live within a mile...including my ex...it's weird) and my wonderful friends. Although some of my most wonderful friends live far away....like the other side of the country far. (you know who you are).
And I am an individual. I beat to my own drum...and you can't hear it. And I am okay with that. My mold got broken the instant I was made. Seriously. God dropped it.
But anywho....these are my stories...I ramble, but hey...this is for me, right? It's like free therapy.
Whoa! Just kidding. Those commercials crack me up. I'm a catholic (my grandparents just rolled over in their graves). But I grew up Methodist. And I am all those things up there...all at once sometimes, which can get kinda crazy.
How bout this? I am a divorced mom of one, Gabby, who is hitting the teen years (Lord in all your mercifulness, save me). I am owner and BFF to one mutt of a dog named Jasper (because that is where my family is from...not from the Twilight books), that I love almost as much as my child...even when he does chew up my really expensive shoes....and he gets spankings just like she did too.
I am a soccer mom...I just can't help it. Especially when Gabby plays competitive soccer and we have to travel. My organizational streak freaks out when we have a disorganized coach...so I take that on too. It works. Things just get done my way. I am totally cool with that. No Super 8's for this mommy! (I could totally be Shelley Long in Troop Beverly Hills.)
I am surrounded by my family (seriously, they all live within a mile...including my ex...it's weird) and my wonderful friends. Although some of my most wonderful friends live far away....like the other side of the country far. (you know who you are).
And I am an individual. I beat to my own drum...and you can't hear it. And I am okay with that. My mold got broken the instant I was made. Seriously. God dropped it.
But anywho....these are my stories...I ramble, but hey...this is for me, right? It's like free therapy.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
So, 3 days after my last post, I started culinary school. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!! I have always loved to cook and bake and do all sorts of kichen-y things...but to learn professionally??? to actually become a chef???? I am beside myself. I am learning so many things that I never knew....and how to make things that I never had. or the proper way to make things. I am in Heaven...and it has a TON of homework!
Friday, January 8, 2010
2010
I have goals in 2010. BIG ONES. I really hope I can meet them. I really, really want to. I don't know if I can. One of the biggest is, naturally, to get healthy. 2009 was a bust. 2009 was a bad year in general and thankfully it is behind me now!
But back to getting healthy. In late 2008 I was diagnosed with PCOS which is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. The fun news that came along with that was Type 2 Diabetes. PCOS is caused by Insulin Resistance, which had gone undiagnosed in me for probably 15 years. (I'm angry about that) But, you deal. From October 2008 through the end of that year, I watched my diet carefully, took my meds and dropped 30 lbs. Off to a great start. Then I got laid off, life interrupted me and I completely fell off track. So, in 2009, I put 18 of those 30 back on. So...the goal for 2010 is to get back on track, CAREFULLY watch my diet, take my meds, drop the lbs (a side benefit) and excercise regularly. So wish me luck.
Next...make something of myself. We're starting that goal off by going to culinary school. I start classes on Monday...so I'll let you know how it goes. I am completely scared out of my mind.
Three...get out of debt. Or at least make a dent. This is the one I am scared that I will fail miserably with. It of course doesn't help that my father keeps adding things that pop into his head to the bill that I owe him...on top of the other debt. Yesterday I went from owing him roughly $4k to $11k in about 5 minutes. It was very disheartening. This is one of those things I could really use prayer on.
Four...be a better parent.
So those are my 4 biggies. I am worried about them and don't want to fail, but am very apprehensive. The new year isn't off to a great start so far and it is very disheartening.
**Sigh**
But back to getting healthy. In late 2008 I was diagnosed with PCOS which is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. The fun news that came along with that was Type 2 Diabetes. PCOS is caused by Insulin Resistance, which had gone undiagnosed in me for probably 15 years. (I'm angry about that) But, you deal. From October 2008 through the end of that year, I watched my diet carefully, took my meds and dropped 30 lbs. Off to a great start. Then I got laid off, life interrupted me and I completely fell off track. So, in 2009, I put 18 of those 30 back on. So...the goal for 2010 is to get back on track, CAREFULLY watch my diet, take my meds, drop the lbs (a side benefit) and excercise regularly. So wish me luck.
Next...make something of myself. We're starting that goal off by going to culinary school. I start classes on Monday...so I'll let you know how it goes. I am completely scared out of my mind.
Three...get out of debt. Or at least make a dent. This is the one I am scared that I will fail miserably with. It of course doesn't help that my father keeps adding things that pop into his head to the bill that I owe him...on top of the other debt. Yesterday I went from owing him roughly $4k to $11k in about 5 minutes. It was very disheartening. This is one of those things I could really use prayer on.
Four...be a better parent.
So those are my 4 biggies. I am worried about them and don't want to fail, but am very apprehensive. The new year isn't off to a great start so far and it is very disheartening.
**Sigh**
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