THE BREAKUP...

Dear 2008,

I hope that you don't find my breaking up with you in this letter as insincere.

I thought about texting you. However, I don't feel that is an acceptable form of communicating as do some people.

We've been together for a long time...

A year to be exact, and I felt that I owed it to you to express why I am leaving you.

After many sleepless nights and plenty of alone time to gather my thoughts I've decided that we weren't meant to be. Seriously, if you sit down and look back at our relationship, you too will recall that our bad times outweigh the good. You have caused me tears, stress and moments of horrible anxiety. There are episodes that occurred throughout our courting that I do not care to EVER relive! That being said, I simply cannot go on like this any longer.

I'm not saying there weren't good times. Sure there were...

Two of my girlfriends gave birth to beautiful healthy babies, I witnessed a wedding of a lifelong friend, I reconnected with old friends, The Rays made it to The World Series (so what if they didn't win), I took a fabulous trip to Texas, I created a blog, I've beaten The Old Guy in tennis a time or two (OR THREE!) and Taco Tuesday was established.

When I look back on our relationship, those are the times I would like to remember. I will always hold those memories close to my heart. I hope you are able to do the same.

The time has come for us to move on 2008.

As of 11:59 pm tonight you and I are officially over!

I wish you well.

Sincerely,
Life, Love & Lola

Ketchup...

Here's what's been going on in my world...

*I didn't get a fire extinguisher for Christmas, or 8 like I was promised.

*I did however get an electric grill. I guess Santa was watching the day I nearly blew myself up earlier this year while trying to light the gas one. Thanks Santa!

*I'm happy.

*Christmas at Lola's House was a success. We were surrounded by loving family, good friends and only had to endure one shitty relative who tends to be a complete downer. My Mom says "His glass is 95% half empty!" He's the reason her and I keep our glasses FULL!

*I bought another Christmas tree. Pre-lit, lime green, sparkly and on sale! So next year I will have 6!


*The Old Guy next door saved the day by fixing my disposal that was clogged cuz someone (not me) tried to shove too much shit in it. So we are adding plumber to his resume.

*Speaking of The Old Guy...I beat him on the court again.

*We went to the drums at the beach last night and I witnessed a drunk guy attempting to dance to the beat with no shirt and one sock on. That was pure entertainment. Seriously, I could have watched him for hours. And who wears socks to the beach? Better question... Who wears one sock to the beach?

*I'm happy.

*My Mom has informed me that her and I are going to Hawaii in May. She didn't however mention that she was paying for the trip...So I'm adding "save money for Hawaii" to my list of New Years Resolutions.

*I've become a farmer...minus the farm. Guess you could call me a lanai farmer. And some nights when the wind is blowing just right I can hear the cows mooing from my lanai. I'm growing tomatoes, jalapenos, cilantro, basil and strawberries.

Hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas!

A Christmas Tag...

Dana tagged me. Thank GOD, cuz I haven't had much to post about.

1. What is/are your favorite Christmas Movie(s)? Christmas Vacation & Christmas With The Cranks

2. Favorite Christmas Song? Santa Baby

3. Favorite Holiday Memory? Visiting The Biltmore Estate in North Carolina with my Mom and Grandmother. They have 250 trees!

4. What is your favorite cookie/treat to make? Pumpkin jalapeno muffins

5. Have you ever made an igloo? How in the hell do you do that?

6. Do you love Starbucks? I do. Pumpkin spice latte. No whip!

7. What makes the perfect Snowman? A corn cob pipe, a button nose and two eyes made out of coal. I guess.

8. Not sure what happened to #8 so we’ll move on..

9. Best gift you have ever received? My Kayak.

10. What is the snowman’s name on Rudolph? I should know this...Guess I killed that brain cell.

11. Silver or Gold? Silver

12. What is your favorite Christmas decoration? All of my Radko ornaments (I collect them), My Santa in a leopard coat and my trees of course!

13. What’s your Christmas decorating style? Lots of Santa's and reindeer. White lights.

14. Do you hang stockings? yep.

15. How many days do you celebrate Christmas? Well as you know I started decorating in October. My trees will most likely still be up in February. So I guess the answer is 5 months!

16. What was your favorite ornament on the tree as a child? My Disney ones. My mom collected them. This year I have one tree that is just Disney.

17. Where will you be spending this Christmas? My house.

18. When do you open presents? Christmas morning.

19. Real tree or artificial? Both. 1 real. 2 green artificial. 1 white artificial. 1 pink artificial.

I tag Magnolia Mama and My Mia Smiles

I've been meaning to post pics of the trees and of Lola in her antlers, but I've just learned that the reason I couldn't find my camera is because he took it.

Don't worry...As usual The Old Man next door is going to save the day and take some pics for me. So not only is he my handyman, pool boy, fireman, tennis coach, dog sitter and lawn man. He is now my photographer too!

COUNTDOWN...

11 more days and this year will be offically over!

I'm looking at 2009 as a fresh start.

And I'm SO not looking back!

Funny I tried this in 2007/2008 too...I failed.

This year I will succeed!

My New Years Resolution is to be happy!

Everyday!

It's been hell knowing you 2008!

11 more days and you're outta here!

FACE-LIFT

I gave Magnolia Mama the key to this joint while I was at work today.

WOW Magnolia Mama!

I love what you've done with the place!

Go check out her blog. She's one of my lifelong friends, a wife and a mom of two. She's also responsible for introducing me to "The Blogging World."

You can also visit her at Paper Court Press. She designs fabulous invitations, holiday cards, birth announcements (DANA!) and note cards.


Thanks so much Magnolia Mama!!

I needed a change.

CHANGE IS GOOD!

I'm going to let this be the start of many wonderful changes in my life and in the new year.

Dear Printer/Copier,

Consider yourself lucky that it's not

"NATIONAL BRING YOUR FIREARMS TO WORK DAY"

I'm Just Saying.

L,L & L

Rude Awkening

This morning I awoke to 11 incoming text messages on my blackberry.

11!
IN A ROW!
BEFORE 6AM!

Holy shit. I shot out of bed. For a split second I thought I was trapped inside of an Asteroid video game.

If you were trying to rattle my nerves...
It worked.

Last Night...

While at a Japanese Steakhouse they lit the hibachi at the table next to us and this 10 year old little boy went flying backward out of his seat onto the floor.

Now that's exactly how you SHOULD react during a fire!

Of course I was laughing my ass off.

OUT LOUD!

Sorry little dude...I can't control myself in those types of situations.

The Christmas Cards...

Are beginning to roll in.

They look different this year.

Not only are they addressed to only ME.

They are addressed to MS. ME.

So, not only have I lost my husband and occasionally my mind this year.

I lost my damn R too!

I liked MRS.

Can't I just keep it and tell people the "R" is silent?

B-U-S-Y

I AIN'T GOT NO ALIBI. I'M BUSY. HEY! HEY! I'M BUSY!

Beats being ugly (you'll get that if you were a cheerleader back in the day).

Anyhow, sorry to leave you hanging on the poop story.

I'll get to that eventually...

It is the most wonderful WINE of the year!

Pardon me I meant TIME.

So between work, parties, shopping and decorating (5th tree is up. Thank you very much).

There isn't much time to blog.

I will let you in on one thing I've learned recently...

I like my dog more than I like most people.

BTW...

You know how I always envy all of your kid's poop stories that make me LMAO?

I have a great one.

It doesn't involve me.

It doesn't involve Lola (Thank you very much Rachael Ray).

Stay tuned.

One Of The Cons...

About not having a man under your roof...

Is that I seriously suck at stringing Christmas lights.

Seriously, any one of your children could do a better job than I.

Don't worry I'm not going to jump into a relationship or pick up some guy just to get these lights hung.

I will go out and purchase a pre-lit tree before I will stoop to that level.

Who am I?

Tough girl all of a sudden?

I'm all "Who needs a man?"

"I can hang my own damn lights!"

Reality though...

Dad will be here tomorrow.

One Of The Pros...

About trying to sell your house without a man living under your roof. Is that when you get a call and a couple wants to see your home in an hour and a half...

You don't panic about a mess.

Because, there is no mess.

Simply turn on all the lights, light some candles, add a little background music and remove the magnet you display very proudly on the front of your fridge that states "I Have The Pussy So I make The Rules."

Voila!

You're ready to show.

Wish me luck!