Sap alert.

Ok so Christmas was a long weekend, too long actually. We drove all over hell and back just as we always do. We got to my Mother-in-law's early early early Saturday morning, had breakfast with Ronnie and Riley (or should I say Ronnie Junior) and bob and Carol. Then it was off to Melissa's where we had to leave one dog in in the van and put a diaper on the other one. Let's just say I love Melissa and the kids an awful lot to put the puppies through all that. You might be thinking "hey why not leave them at Carol's house while you visit with Melissa?" Well last time we left Gracie there for like 30 mintues when we came home our 4 year old nephew was running around the front yard just him and Gracie. And did I mention their front yard is 100 feet from a two lane highway where crazy country folk go about 80 mph? I almost had a heartattack.
Anyhow back to the Christmas miracles. While at Melissa's house the kids called Grandma Carol to thank her for the gifts, and inadvertantly Melissa ended up on the phone with her. This being the first conversation they have had in 3 years. Yep you guessed it they were on the phone for about an hour tears flowed and a reunion was scheduled for the next morning. Holy shit were we stunned!
Back to Carol's for more Christmas merriment. Sunday we spent all day cooking and then had dinner at about 1ish, with Ronnie, his new girlfriend and the step brother from hell. Here comes Christmas miracle #2 I get a call from my Mom just to find out that my brother is spending all day with her, ok that is unheard of???
Now we are off to my Mom's, on the way to Grand Blanc Mandy and both looked up and saw a falling star. I had never seen one quite like this before, (yes here comes the cheesy sap) we both made a wish and I got chills, it was so surreal. We surprised her and my brother by getting there hours and hours earlier than we are supposed to. Sarah and Jeff came over and we spend the rest of the evening watching football, playing euchre and watching dick-in-a-box from SNL on you tube. The few of the group that were smoking a little christmas pot couldn't get enough of the dick in a box video!
Christmas morning TOO early, off to Cooky's. It was awkard as always adn by the time we were ready to take off Cooky was crying, trying to hide it but not doing a great job. I am afraid Mandy and I acted too much like couple on this visit. No nothing physical but just the way we spoke. I wish I felt worse about this. Don't get me wrong I don't want her crying on Christmas but it has been almost 2 yrs since we came out to her, it's got to be time for some forward movement????
Back to my Mom's for my fav part of Christmas, our late morning gift exchange just us, mom, me, mandy, sarah, jeff, amanda, eric and rob. We took our annual cheesy on the couch in our jammies family photo and everyone took off.
Now get ready and on to the Hook's family party. And this was where our final Christmas miracle came in, my brother actually came to the Hook's party, can't even remember the last time he did that. It was fun, minus a few shitty comments by my cousin Shelley and one rant from our cousin Jenny all over Sarah. Mandy and I didn't make it home until almost 10 pm that night.
We finally had our private Christmas, which was the best in all.

Christmas 2006, miracle filled and finally over!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F2a6xYgaY8

Yes I am watching a television show meant teenagers I am sure BUT in my defense the show does show some promise of progress. I can only imagine how helpful it might be to teenagers out there who are scared to come out. And I have to admit they remind me a little of Mandy and I when we first started, add a few years of course.

Why am I still amazed at this point in my work life that people can be so incrediably unprofessional and get away with it because they are the "boss". I wish I could work in an environment where it was TRULY ok to be honest about the way you felt about how things worked. Where the term "politically correct" did not exsist. A place where I could celebrate Christmas and SAY merry christmas if I want without have to worry about offending the people I work with. Hey I choose to celebrate birthdays and christmas you don't, I won't look down on you or force you to celebrate if you do the same for me. How about this I won't say merry christmas to you or buy you a present. NOPE not good enough. We have to banish all signs that the holiday exsists so they won't feel uncomfortable, what about how I feel???

How about when you boss takes one of his "buddies" off to do an interview for a position that has opened up here and they don't come back for what is now going on 2.5 hrs. I hope he plans on interviewing all the candidates for 2.5 hrs + otherwise that is pretty biased. Let's just say she gets this position, I start looking for something else.

Ok so it has been brought to my attention that I have been a LJ slacker lately. I have no excuses, well yeah I do who am I kidding I ALWAYS have an excuse. I am busy dammit, work, (and not the boring peds job where I could right a novel at), work #2 which eats up my nights, school which eats up more nights, homework when I can squeeze it in, and then there's my wife (who ironically really wants to spend time with me) and my poor puppies. Too many things not enough time to do them all.

So I am still waiting to find out if I am pregnant. I don't think I am but others who I won't name seem convinced that I am..... I am trying NOT to listen to them and get my hopes up but it's easy to listen to what you want to hear. And maybe I think down deep if I keep saying I'm not that I really will be???

Sarah and Jeff are trying a temporary separation. It makes me sad that my little sister has to go through something so hard so early in her marriage. She is strong so I hope she fights to make it work, I hope they both do.

Busy weekend can't wait to get the hell outta here!!! GO TIGERS!!!

I am here at job #1 feeling like I am going to fall off my chair. I worked job #2 last night and the night before, got to bed Tues night at 1 and last night at 12. I feel like I must be crazy, but it feels so good to be this busy. I just feel like I function better on less sleep. BUT when I have the option to sleep I do it of course. I just feel like 7-8 hrs or more make me fell draggy, I have been getting about 5-6 the last three nights and I feel full of energy.
AND double bonus I have made about 200 bucks in the last two days!

On another totally unrelated note, I just checked my ovulation with an surge kit and I am officially ovulating right now. We can't inseminate tonite so it will have to be tomorrow night. That still should be pretty good timing. I am nervous and excited to start this again. We are using a new donor, one who has gotten a woman pregnant, two different women. Both women trying NOT to get pregnant, so I am hoping he has awesome swimmers who never give up!!! fingers crossed, toes crossed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is weekends like this past one that reminds me of what an old married couple we really are. Friday night we were in bed cuddling by 10. Saturday I had to go to work for my last day of training. 10-4ish. I went to my mom's and worked on some homework. Mandy came to join us and we all went to dinner at Bennigans. When we got back Mandy and I watched the Michigan State/Notre dame game and I worked on some homework. Mandy was falling asleep on the couch at 10, so we tivoed the end of the game and went to bed! I had to work again sunday morning, my first non-training shift. It went well, once you've been a server you are always a server in your head. I made about 70 bucks. Came home sunday night exhausted and sore from being on my feet all weekend. Mandy made me dinner, gave me a massage, we watched amazing race and went to bed AGAIN at like 10. It's official we are an OLD MARRIED COUPLE!!!

Ok the race. Yeah to the hot lesbian, wooooo hooooo. I love her! now if we could just get rid of her dad and partner her up with and equally hot lesbian it would be all the better.

My favorite line from the the kentucky lady was right when they were introducing the couples, she said and I quote " I never thought he'd be interested in me, cuz he is just WAY too cute!" Um what? really cuz if that is what cute is in kentucky I am glad I live in Michigan, where we have tooth brushes.

I have to admit I was glad to see the muslim guys go, no offense to anyone's religion but dammit I don't want to hear about it constantly. I am pretty sure alah, buddah or whoever you worship has better things to do than help you win a race. Mandy was done the minute he wouldn't shake the girl's hand. She made me back it up to see if he shook the guy's hand and when she saw that he did she was DONE with them.

I like the disabled girl but I as sweet as it was to hear her boyfriend encourage her so lovingly in the beginning, later it started to wear on my nerves. And let me tell you if I had a disability you'd be damn straight I would use it any way I could to get my ass ahead in that race. When it comes to competition you do whatever you gotta do to win dammit. Rob and Amber had NO problem using their celebrity status to almost win and I would have NO problem using WHATEVER I needed to use including my artificial leg if I had one.

The single moms need to lay off bitching about everyone else and just move their asses or they are gonna be out next!


Mandy and I always play along as geeky as that is. We pause it and decide who does the road block and decided which detour to take before we see what it really entails. This episode Mandy ate the fish eyes OF COURSE, we have a strict rule she does all roadblocks that consist of eating gross ass shit. By the way was there a rule that they HAD to use those chopsticks??? I mean come on use your hands if you have too!! And we chose the brick laying detour, I think we would have done pretty well with that one.

More opinions after episode 2!

Last night was my 3rd shift at my new part time job. After my opening shift this saturday I will officially be done with training and work my first "real" shift sunday. Finally I will be making some tips which is the reason I took the job to begin with. Last night I trained with Robert again, it's nice to train with him. He knows me and trusts me to pretty much do my own thing knowing I have the experience and knowledge to not screw up his tables. Plus it is SO wonderful to spend time with him. I miss my little brother, we never get to see each other. These two shifts with him are the most one on one time I have spent with him in a few years. That is sad to admit, really sad. I guess I never thought about it that way. I am a bad sister :(. Giving too much attention the the little sisters and not enough to him. He is a such a loving good hearted guy. Every table we went to he introduced me as his trainee and his big sister. You could just see on his face how happy he was to say that. From the very beginning Robert was the one who showed me instant unconditional love, accepting that I was his sister no questions asked and loving me from the very first moment we met. I get side tracked and forget all his wonderful qualities sometimes. His other not so wonderful traits sometimes overpower the good ones. Anyway I am happy to be spending more time with him. I love his crazy ass!

I couldn't have been happier for the weekend to arrive on Friday. I have some co-workers here that just live to make my life difficult I think. I was so frustrated by the time I left here that I wanted to scream. AND now starting tomorrow I have to train with the biggest offender. By the time I got home friday I was an irritable crab ass, poor mandy. We were supposed to go grocery shopping but I just decided to be a baby instead. Mandy was great she just appeased my pre-menstrual rants.

Saturday the plan was to have a few people over, drink some beers for the game. At my current age and drinking level it is very important to have a plan when drinking. My plan on Saturday was to start drinking at 4, hang out with my sister and Mom and some neighbors. THAT information (and the fact that Notre Dame was getting their asses handed to them) was how I based the pace of my intake, which ended up being rather quick. Enter the unexpected (and welcomed) variables. My sorority sisters from college were near my house and stopped by. They wanted to go out drinking somewhere. (ok this new info SHOULD have slowed my pace but one the pace is set there's really no going back) So Mandy, Mila, Sharon, Amanda, Kristen, Gary, Tammy, Eric and I all ended up at Jake's. Um let's see if I can hit the highlights. My sister got to meet drunk Mila (who is a totally different person than sober Mila), drunk Mila and I had one of our drunk heart to hearts, Sharon and I had on of our drunk head butts, it seems like I remember those hurting less than this one did. Drunk everyone sang keroke, drunk kristen and gary sang paradise by the dashboard lights not once but twice. Drunk us made my sister an honorary zeta (blindfold included) and also intiated her into the buffalo club, nickel included. Mandy got the cowboy to give up his hat so we could take pictures, mandy got bit in the stomach by drunk Johnny who left a mark, there was a lot of drunk huging and kissing. Here is the proof....


Sharon, me, Mila and amanda pre shot







I was just tall enough to ride the ride, Mila had no problems, sorry Kristen :(



Did I mention drunk singing?



The spoused "putting up with the hens" as Mandy likes to say.




Mila and Mandy



I think this was towards the end, I look like I am holding on for dear life!

Well I think my pace would have held out until 2:30am even though it was pretty fast had there not been shots involved. So many shots, I am not sure where any of them came from but damn there always seemed to be one in front of me.

Sunday was very quiet and involved one nap. Mandy and I ended sleeping on the aerobed in the basement last night since it was so frickin hot in our house. In my hungover state I just couldn't stand that. So we had a camp out, it was fun. But we always have fun :)

Well I a big slacker with my journal lately, I kept telling myself that as soon as I found the pix I would post. We have been busy lately. Mandy and I decided to buckle down from now until christmas. She is going to start working as much overtime as she can and I have started a part time job. yes I am waiting tables again. I actually love doing it and I missed it. It's the best way to make money part time. I am working at Buffalo Wild Wings, the one my sisters manage and my brother works at, so it's a family affair. I just started "training" this week. My first real shift will be this Sunday, ok I better make money with football and all. These people here are LOYAL to the lions no matter how sucky they are, so they need beer to make it seem less painful when they lose.

so anyway back to labor day. We were at a place called Camp Grace Bentley, it is a camp for physically and mentally challenged kids. (go ahead and make the "o so that's why they let you in" jokes) The camp closes in late August so they let Mandy's friend Andrea's family use it for labor day. Let me paint a picture of the place, there are two rows of little cabins to sleep in and one big cabin in the middle with a big kitchen and tables and a big screen tv. Behind the big house is a deck that overlooks Lake Huron, and down the hill is the beach area. The best part of the place is that it is completely surrounded by a fence. So as soon as we got there the dogs could be off the leash all weekend. They had so much fun there were about 6 other dogs there. AND it was little Gracie Lou's 3rd bday on Saturday, so I made little doggie cupcakes for all the dogs. (go ahead and make fun again). Gracie and Wrig were the only 2 girls there so let's just say they were the object of every other dogs affection. Poor gracie being the only little one kept running under my legs to get away from all the sex. They both ran themselves completely out of gas.




That is the ONLY reason they are cuddling, there are safety in numbers.

The entire weekend was a big drunken party. People kept coming and going all weekend, people I had never seen before and probably will never see again. Friday was the most calm of the nights everyone was pretty tired from the trip. Saturday the U of M game was on at noon so that's when the first beer cracked. I for some strang reason starting drinking like a rock star immediately. By 5 I was pretty much wasted. My plan was to go take a nap for a few hours and get up for the Notre Dame game. Well let's just say the nap lasted until the following morning. Mandy stumbled to bed at about midnight and she had to sleep with the basket by our bed. Here are some pictures that happen when I was passed out.




Lucky girl under those shirts!




This is the definition of REALLY THIRSTY!




I think this is right before she started stumbling my way.


So on to sunday. There were daylight hours too, not just aimlessly wondering around drunk. We played bache ball, swam in the heated pool, played catch with a softball and a frisbee, took the dogs down to the lake etc..



Mandy and Mary had to encourage Wrig to get in, I guess they wasn't ready for that wave to hit.






Wrig liked the heated pool better! Who wouldn't.

After our water play we played drinking chutes and ladders, I lost. But I dindn't come in LAST place, DAMN CHUTES and not enough ladders. After my embarrassing performance in chutes and laders we moved inside and started playing 3 man, then tippy cup, then categories, then waterfall......... The night was just endless beer after beer after beer. But hey I didn't make the nap mistake again.




I can't remember what the hell mandy was doing here but it was after all the drinking games so who knows!


We had a blast! AND we were invited back next year everyone loved the lesbians. How could they resist?!




We posed in front of the Camp sign just like all the other campers have done in the past. Let's just hope we don't end up on the wall with the kids.