Mid-Mid-Life Crisis

It's good/strange to be back here.  I feel this need to write again, to create again.  I feel like it's been so long since I've been here and so much has changed.  I have changed!  Looking back at myself, I can't believe where I once was!

I went shopping a few weeks ago...I was looking for a pink sweater.  For those of you who know me, well then you know that pink, pink ain't really my thing.  I found said pink sweater, and a pink tee with a white fleece, as well as a pink 3/4 sleeve with a white vest.  Jeremy's first question as I was pulling all of these pink things out of my bag, "What is wrong with you?"  And my dog, my dog has a pink collar and matching leash.  But, in my defense, pink and chocolate brown go together so well!

As if all the pink wasn't strange enough, I decided that I needed a camouflage sweatshirt.  Camouflage - one thing that I hate more than pink ( besides flip-flops - I better be careful, I'll be buying those come summer if this keeps up!).  My sweatshirt (mossy oak pattern from Cabela's) is due to arrive today.

I've had a bunch of little epiphanies in the past few months.  Little things like, you are not responsible for another person's happiness.  You are not responsible for another's actions or reactions.  Sometimes things/relationships/people are what they are and nothing more.  That it's very easy to succumb to another's negativity and tough to learn how to get around it.  I'm not saying that I now go through life ignorant of others and their thoughts or feelings, I think I was dwelling on others so much that I wasn't paying attention to myself or my little family and what is best for us.

I find myself smiling more.  I say 'hello' to people and I look them in the eye, rather than mumbling to my shoes.  I'm still not real outgoing and I don't care to venture far from my home, those things haven't changed.  I still don't care for busy restaurants, stores or large public events (i.e. concerts, etc.).  I get very overwhelmed and kind of suffocated, some of which has to do with the next paragraph and some I simply get very nervous and I try to be witty or cute and I totally come off like a big fat JERK!  I'm learning that it is okay to just be quiet too.

And to really knock your socks off, I've been doing a lot of reading.  I haven't updated my Goodreads to reflect this because of my choice of subject matter.  I've been reading a lot of books on psychic development, intuition and mediumship.  Call me a gypsy, call me a witch, quote to me what the Bible says about fortune telling, tell me I'll burn in Hell - it's nothing I haven't said to myself so, unless you have seen or really talked to me in the past 6 months, you haven't witnessed the difference in me.  You haven't noticed the skip in my step, the excitement I have for what lies ahead of me (no, I don't know but, I'm thrilled to find out!), or the smile on my face!  If it's evil, how can my spirit feel so awakened?  Shit - I've even gone back to church!

Whew!  Now I got that I just showed you my porn stash...talk about some relief!  Talk about a mid-life crisis.  This place just got really interesting, huh?  It's good to be back!  :)

Halloween 2010 and then some!

It's been awhile, I figured I'd better make this a good one.

Pumpkin carving = YULK!

And for Jacob this year, we found Pumpkin Masters Fright Lights.  They are little pegs that are hammered into the pumpkin rather than carving.  They were AWESOME!  Too bad this dope didn't take pictures!  We also skipped our tradition of getting pumpkins from Gene this year.  We just couldn't work it out. 

Of course, my little firefighter!  What else would he be!?!  He spent most of his trick or treat time at the firestation!  The guys were very impressed by his 'turnout gear'!  He had boots that matched (black and yellow) and even the tag on the back of his hat (he used my badge for work)!  Ron, our 2nd chief, is going to make Jacob his very own tag "just like a firefighter".

And then we went to Manistee!  Can you belive it was November?

 The guys were fishing from the pier.  This guy had his son pull up their catch so Jacob could see the "Big Fish".

Taken from the top of the catwalk.  Can you see the lower laker to the right of the pier on the left?  This was taken on 11/07 - The Mighty Edmund Fitzgerald sunk in the gales of November on 11/10 (then again...it is Michigan, wait 20 minutes, the weather will change!).

How cute is that kid?

I think we may have started a new tradition for our weekend trips to Manistee.  First an ambulance with lights & sirens...

Then a train.  Notice he's not wearing a coat!?!  He heard the horn and ran out!

Hello from the Northside Bar!  My Daddy used to take me there to play machine bowling and you could get a bowl of peanuts and throw the shells on the floor.  And then, when you were done with your pop, you threw the can into the bin!

The pictures above were taken from the parking lot.

Thanks Tim-O, the burgers were GREAT!

Jacob and Edna.  Yes, finally, you get to meet my mother!

I will be back soon with Jacob's Fifth (yeah, he's gonna be 5!) birthday!