copy of an email

My brother sent this email to me. Too funny!

Apparently this guy had to take down his Christmas decorations this year. It turned out too real-life like!

New Year's Eve

I have never been a huge fan of new Year's Eve. Maybe because to me, it's depressing. And here's why: I never have anyone to turn to and yell "Happy New Year!!", hug & get a sloppy kiss from. Now, if you have a husband & you get put out with him....keep your comments to yourself; let me live in my little fantasy world for a while. If you were young (below the age of 24) when you got married...keep your comments to yourself. There is NO WAY you can possibly understand what it feels like to be by yourself at the stage I am at in life. I am THIRTY-FOUR years of age. No one of the opposite sex wants me to be theirs. AND, as I was discussing with one of my friends just the other day, just because you're single and this age, does not erase your feelings of sexual cravings. My friend and I included in this sexual cravings category- just being touched. Someone to touch your back, give you a quick hug, pat your arm, shoulder or leg.... and I don't need to go into what other kind of sexual cravings I have, do I? Yes, it sucks.

In fact, just this past week I met up with a man I hadn't seen since 2004, or maybe it was 2003. He and I went out a few times back then. He has since moved to Houston. He was in town for the holidays & was staying with his sister. He is a handsome man. He had grown a goatee since the last time I saw him. It was very sexy. The moustache part was still dark, but the beard part was mainly salt with some pepper. He is Native American, so he has these nice full lips. He is tall, something like 6'3". We were sitting together at a table and I had these visual images of sliding up next to his side and smooshing myself against him.....for the human contact. I fit so nicely under his shoulder, if I remember correctly. Alas, I contained myself. I didn't want the poor man knowing I was desperate. But see, how sad is it when I'm having daydreams about sidling up next to someone, to feel their body heat??

So, this is my fantasy: I have a man who desires me to be by his side because he wants me. It is New Year's Eve. We decide to go someplace where there are adults, ie. Times Square, a church dance, a club, another couple's house. We are dressed nicely and with a hint of sexiness- which means we both smell delectable. It gets close to midnight, we all count backwards from 10-1. We tell each other "Happy New Year" and he gives me a kiss I almost have to wipe my mouth after. Then, we give each other a hug.




Now see, is this too far fetched of a fantasy? Have I watched too many episodes of "Days of Our Lives"?


Instead, this is what I get.
Granted, I love the company, and the cookies were yummy.....but it's a far cry from my New Year's kiss. And yes, I cried once again.

Seriously, I'm supposed to feel safe?

On New Year's Eve, mom & I were having a rockin' good time (I had to wake her up before midnight) watching some DVRd shows. Every time I would fast forward I heard yelling. This continued for 2 hours. I finally heard a scream. This is quite unusual for our neighborhood. So- instead of getting up and looking outside (which would take energy & I"m into conserving that), I called 911. When I dial 911 it goes to Broken Arrow 911....so I have to ask for Wagoner County. They transferred me. I begin to tell this deputy about the yelling. He asks me if I can tell where the yelling is coming from...well- here...

Me: Yes, there's some yelling and screaming going on in our neighborhood. It's been going on for a couple of hours.
Deputy: Have you looked to see what's going on?
Me: Nope. But it's been going on for a couple of hours, so I decided to call you.
Deputy: Can you tell where the yelling is coming from?
Me: I'm pretty sure it's coming from the cul-de-sac behind my house.
Deputy: Is it a wooded area?
Me: No, not really. I mean, we all live on a little over an acre. There may be a few more trees in the cul-de-sac.
Deputy: OK....
Me: When you come into the neighborhood, we are the 1st house in the neighborhood. The 1st street you can turn on, you'll turn left. That's the cul-de-sac.
Deputy: OK. What's a cul-de-sac?
Me: (In complete dismay, shock, and trying to stifle laughter. I looked at mom, my eyebrows raised & mouthed the words "what the EFFF?") Ummm, it's a road that is a circle at the end.
Deputy: Oh, a circle drive. OK, do you want us to check on you when we're done?
Me: No, just see what's going on over there. I'm going to bed.

Now I ask you.....I'm supposed to feel safe with this law-enforcement officer who does not know what a cul-de-sac is? And...I did not mention to him that a circle drive is a driveway in someone's yard that is "U" shaped.

Happy New Year!

Lester the elf

So Grandi got Quinlynne this thing called Elf on the Shelf. Here's the jist: there is an Elf, you name it, the elf hides in your house & ever night, after the kid goes to sleep the elf goes to the North Pole to report to Pere Noel if said child has been naughty or nice. When the elf comes back to your house, he tries to hide in a new spot. Said child cannot touch elf, or the magic will be ruined.

I was skeptical of this little setup. But ya know what?? Quinlynne LOVES it. Every morning she comes into the living room to try to find where Lester the Elf is. She has found him every day almost right off. This morning Genevieve the kitty found Lester the Elf and knocked him down. Quinlynne was pretty irritated, but she wouldn't touch Lester (remembering the magic). Wow- can I keep this Elf out all year long??

Confession about Santa

OK, so I have a confession. I took Quinlynne to the mall, on Sunday, to see Santa. I'm terrible, and setting a bad example...I know. Quinlynne finally, after much coercion, sat on Santa's lap at Uncle Charlie & Aunt Connie's ward Christmas party. On Saturday night Quinlynne told me that she'd forgotten to tell Santa about something she wanted & she thought maybe we should head to the mall so she could tell him. The mall was already closed. The next morning she brought it up again. I decided to just seize the moment...last year we went to the Bass Pro Santa and I got a snapshot. The previous two years, I got something that looked like this:

So, we went to the mall. We got some cute pictures. Quinlynne had a tete-a-tete avec Pere Noel, and she seemed satisfied afterwards. We took some pictures of ourselves, too.

Cousins & pictures

The Saturday before Thanksgiving my SIL came down so we could take the girls to get their pictures done together. My mom has been wanting a picture of her grandkids, and she wanted them to send out with her Christmas cards. I decided the girls should wear red & black. I didn't think they should be matchy-matchy. It's hard trying to outfit kids when you don't have them with you....especially Abby; she is just a skinny little twig. Everything hangs on her, poor thing. Mandy and I ran out on Friday night to get the finishing touches for the girls' outfits, and we found this dress for Abby. We weren't sure about it since hers was red, black & white. BUT- it turned out GREAT! The girls did spectacularly...it gives us hope. You know how lots of times when you go to get pictures done- you're lucky if you get one or two you really like? Mandy & I had to seriously narrow it down. We were so proud of our girls! I'm not going to post any of the finished product, but let me post some pics of the girls in their outfits. BY the way, I can't get the pictures to go where they're supposed to go...so you have to put the correct caption with each one. I have faith you can do it.

Cadyn trying to check herself out in the mirror.

Look at that little foot. How chubby & adorable is it?

Abby & Quinlynne getting cookies for being so good.

Quinlynne & Abby watching a movie while Mandy & I made decisions.

Finally Finals are over

That's right, my friends. I took my Theory final yesterday. I finished my skill validation just an hour ago. I have now passed Level 2 of nursing school. I guess nothing's actually final until it's recorded in the gradebook for the college. BUT- I have an "A" in Issues & Perspectives & I got a "B" in my Theory class. I have passed! Woo hoo!

Unfortunately, I know of 3 classmates, thus far, who have not passed. I am very sad. They are all people I like, too! So, two down, two to go! Go Shandolynne, go Shandolynne! I just have to cheer for myself sometimes!

Three Little Pigs- new version

"Once upon a time there were three little pigs. Their names were Quinlynne, Abby & Cadyn." (At this point, I'm trying to not laugh. The three little pigs are girls....and cousins??) Quinlynne was VERY smart & built her house out of bricks. Abby & Cadyn were lazy & just built their houses out of sticks & straw." The story went on for quite a while, then apparently "Uncle Aaron & Mandy joined the lazy pigs Abby & Cadyn in Quinlynne's strong brick house, in fact the whole world can just go ahead and join them. The End."

I had no clue there were so many versions of the Three Little Pigs. Also, tonight there were all sorts of questions. "Momma, did you pick me out of the baby store? Why? Did you want a special girl? (I told her a couple of weeks ago the reason she had curly hair is because that is what God gave her. In response to why God gave her curly hair I told her it was because he thought she was really special, and special people get curly hair. She LOVED that answer & has asked me about it repeatedly.) Did you want a girl named Quinlynne? Why did you name me Quinlynne? How did you get my name, when I was in your belly? Did you know I was gonna come out of your potty? Oh yeah- I came out of your belly, huh??" Oh the questions!!!! What a cute way to end my birthday, though. I detest Sunday birthdays, and this was a way to make me giggle on my special day! Thank you, my smart, pretty, funny daughter!

Sorry

I know it's been more than a couple of days since I have posted. But, to tell you the truth- school has kept me hoppin'. The semster is coming to a close, and you know what that entails. Everything kind of starts the downhill trend, speeding up and speeding up! This week was not too bad at clinicals though, even though my patient was one sick guy. I got to go with him to have an EGD & Colonoscopy, and while we were in the PACU, it was great to see a lady from church (who is a nurse) bringing a patient in from the OR. It's always nice to have a friendly face! Soon, my friends, soon I will be able to say (hopefully) "Two down, two to go!" I am close to half done in my quest to become a Registered Nurse. Thank goodness! I just don't know why I didn't do this the first time around in school. It would have been so much easier. But, I didn't think I was smart enough, and I did what was easy for me. Hindsight's 20/20, right?

Since I'm talking about being in the PACU, let me include a picture of my child when she was 11 months old, in the PACU.

This was when she had her adenoids removed. I knew something was wrong when it had been over an hour since they took her back to the OR. Seems as though Quinlynne would not start breathing on her own after they stopped anesthesia. I knew she had scared everyone in all of the ORs, because they kept coming out (after I was with her) to look at her, but trying to look nonchalant. What's that old saying "Can't BS a BSer"? I know how to downplay things so people won't worry. I could feel all this gunk rattling around in my baby's chest, and the ambu bag which had not yet been discarded from surgery lying on her bed. Oh well- she came by the adenoid thing rightfully, I had mine removed 3 times, and Adar has always had problems with his. What a combination. So far, Quinlynne has had hers removed twice. I wonder how many times it'll take? Thank goodness for modern medicine and the people who Heavenly Father had with her in the room that day.

I hope that as a healthcare provider, I will be able to be a person patients and their families will be thankful for. It's my goal!

Halloween 2009

This year Quinlynne had quite the time deciding what she was going to be. Then she broke her arm & we didn't know if the cast was still going to be in place on the big night. Turns out she had a splint, but she still went as a ladybug. I wanted her to be a princess- but the thought that won me over for the ladybug? How many more times am I going to get to see her dressed up CUTE? I had a test today, so Uncle Charlie & Aunt Connie had her for the weekend so I could study. I had to work in trick-or-treating in there somehow.

Quinlynne came home about 4:30 on Saturday evening so I could get her ready. I painted her face. At first she wasn't too sure about what I was doing....but neither was I! After each phase of the makeup application, Quinlynne would get up & run to the bathroom mirror to see what was going on on her face. I knew I had done something right when I heard her shrieks of approval & her making "OOOOOH" sounds in the bathroom.

We went to downtown Broken Arrow for some Halloween action. It was satisfactory. That is all I have to say about it. We then came back to our neighborhood & hit the few houses that had their lights on.

I dressed up (at the last minute) as a gypsy. The thing is...I don't think most people realized I was dressed up! I had on lots of mismatched jewelry, a scarf around my head, I don't know what I could have done differently. Oh well.