My opinion on Alec Baldwin

After I heard Alec Baldwin's leaked phone message to his daughter, I was stunned. I had always thought he was this great father, mostly because I've heard him talk about his daughter before and it's just the image I had in my head. That phone message blew my image right out of the water.

I was at work a few days after it hit the media and someone was playing it on one of the computers. A couple doctors were standing there and the male doctor said "oh please, that's ridiculous... we all have yelled at our kids.. he's doing what we all do" . My response to him was that we do NOT all talk to our kids like that. Alec Baldwin called his daughter a pig in that conversation and told her he was going to beat her ass when he sees her next...... you'd really have to listen to it.. it spells b.a.d. parenting. So we disagreed. Then I asked him if he heard the entire conversation and he said "No, I heard a small part.. but the media attention is ridiculous".

Well, unfortunately when you choose to put yourself in the spotlight as an entertainer, your entire life becomes a spotlight. I don't think it was right that this voice mail was leaked, but, I do know that when you're in a heated custody/visitation battle, anything like that will be used against you. I'm sure Kim Basinger jumped at the chance to leak that, to get the upper hand.

Alec Baldwin was on the View today, and I almost turned it. I thought though, that I do want to hear what he has to say. I was thinking he was going to make a bunch of excuses and lie about the voice message. Instead, he was very sincere. He talked about how he didn't mean that message per se to be for Ireland, but he was actually upset and giving a message to his ex wife through Ireland. (which is completely wrong)... but he explained a little about what he's been going through and gave a few examples of what the ex has been doing to him through the years. He's been battling this for a long time. I have some first hand knowledge/experience with father's advocates groups and father's rights because I attend a few of these meetings with my ex husband who was also going through a similar experience (way back when). I was absolutely frustrated for my ex, as his ex was totally not following the joint custody orders and manipulating the kids. I listened to Alec explain (and yes I know there are 3 sides to every story) but I truly felt he was sorry for what he did and just blew a gasket due to the ex blocking his phone calls from and to his daughter.

He said that he had NEVER talked to his daughter like that before and will never do that again... he is just so frustrated with the whole thing. I believe that BECAUSE, had he ever done that before, sure as sh*t, the ex would have leaked those messages to the media or used them in some way against him, and thus far, there isn't anything out there, like that, that exists against this man.

Some women / men are completely evil when it comes to these situations. I do believe that many men get crapped on when it comes to divorce and custody situations. I do believe it's true that if a man does something he's looked at one way (in regards to custody) but if a women does it, it's entirely different.

One example is that his daughter stated that she loves how he (alec) wakes her in the morning, by playing with her hair and asking her in a calm tone what she wants for breakfast... she told her father that she's not used to that because "mom just throws open the door and says 'get the hell up Ireland! You're going to be late..' "

I do know that when (a lot) of men take these women to court, they are treated like crap. Alec said that he took his ex to court for violating court orders and was told by the judge "what do you want me to do about it?" ... "sue her". If a woman takes a man to court (not in all cases, but most) concerning violations in court orders, she's listened to and the man gets into trouble.

This has just been my experience, listening to my ex about his kids and his ex wife... some of my friends or co-workers that have had to deal with it... and just reading about it in general.

Alec's interview on the View this morning hit me.. it was sincere. He's truly sorry and just went about things the wrong way after getting upset over an incident... he said he wants to get out of his NBC contract and work soley as a father's advocate. Maybe some good will come out of this.

Anyway, I no longer think Alec Baldwin is a slime parent. My apologies.

What's wrong with this picture(s)?

** warning ** cell phone pics below.. poor quality!

Where are the people? This is a mall VERY close to many of the tourist attractions right off International Drive in Orlando.

Which is it?

1. I was the first to arrive, so it's empty?

2. This was taken in the middle of a hurricane, and I felt like shopping (alone)?

3. It's a Sunday, and this mall doesn't believe in opening on Sunday (except I broke in)?

4. This mall was designed poorly and is hidden from tourist-view, and it's ALWAYS like this?



No fighting over books at this mall!

Can you hear my echo?

echo......

echo.....
On this particular day, it was 3 pm'ish and in the middle of the week.

This is my mall of choice for movies.. I always go here to catch a flick.

By the way, the answer is #4.

I wonder if any kids have jumped into this water? Oh wait.. no one goes here so I guess not.
Although I'm so not complaining about the lack of people, I can't understand how this mall stays in business?

Unless I happen to just coincidentally pick the days that no one else wants to go to this mall, it's ALWAYS like this!!

What's keeping this place afloat?

hmmmm
I'll have a large.. something.. with a side of something else.. and a few of those yummies...

and NO wait!!

:-)





Someone told me that they think Outdoor World must carry the entire mall.. the place is always packed. It's much bigger than this picture with at least 40 boats on show outside...

Dear Lisa...

.. I wanted to tell you, that you can finally rest in peace. Your killer was executed this morning by lethal injection. Your Mom was there ... along with Eric, and your cousin. Your mother is one of the strongest women I know. I can't imagine losing two daughters in one year and everything that she's gone through. My thoughts and prayers go out to her and your girls.
I've been thinking about you all day.
My heart aches when I think of what you went through that night and I'm so sorry that you were not able to see your daughters grow into the young women that they are today. I wanted to tell you, that I've been saving these articles for the last 13 years. I don't like to look at them, but occasionally over the years, I've come across them. Today, .. I have good reason to take them out. You never have to worry about him or anything he might do to another person. He's not going where you are.
Your youngest daughter wrote a letter to the prison board telling them it's ok with her that her father die today. I can't imagine a child having to write such a letter. She was way too young to remember you, and that is why your family and friends will fill Alexa and Jasmin's heads of the wonderful memories of their mom. Don't you worry. :)

Rest in peace my friend.
I love you.












Lisa was in her early pregnancy with her youngest child, Jasmin, when Jim had hit her for the last time. She gathered the strength to leave him and start a life as a single mother of two kids. Jim was very violent and it seemed he just got worse with the things he did. He often destroyed things in their home, left Lisa and their daughter for days on end and would drink until he was in full rage. After Lisa left him, he continued to stalk and harass her. She called the police many times, but he continued to do these things. For over a year, he left threatening messages on her machine, broke into her new house, left her notes telling her he was going to kill her and even assaulted her new fiance. She desperately tried to keep him and the drama out of her life as she moved on with a new one, but Jim (even with a girlfriend of his own) continued to make life hell for Lisa.
She had hoped and prayed for a restraining order. She brought the police notes and tapes full of these threats on several occasions. Five days before Lisa was murdered, she installed video equipment in her house to prove that Jim was breaking in and harassing her. She was finally granted a restraining order... on Jan. 25th. One day after she was killed.
The night Lisa was killed.. she was downstairs doing laundry and cleaning the house. Her two very young daughters (1 and 3) were upstairs sleeping in their beds. She was startled by banging on her door. It was Jim. He was outside threatening to kill her and said he had a gun. She quickly picked up the phone and dialed 911. Something she was used to doing because of his stalking and harassment. The 911 tapes were played at her trial. She was pleading for help. She told them what was happening and to please hurry .. "he's going to kill me..." she said. Not waiting for the police to arrive, she burst out the back door as he was breaking the front door down. She ran barefoot in the snow to the neighbors, pounding on the door. They didn't answer... she ran to another house and pleaded to be let in. They let her in their home as she was telling them her ex husband was trying to kill her. She still had the cordless phone in her hand..
They told her to go hide in the back of the house. She ran down the hall as Jim was banging on the neighbor's door, demanding to be let in. Lisa chose to hide in a linen closet, hoping he wouldn't find her there. He did. He dragged her out and shot her in the shoulder... she,wounded, ran to another room, where he followed and shot her two more times, at point blank... in her head. He was pissed that he had received a copy of the request for a restraining order and that it would be granted. More...

My... What BIG hair you have!

I was going through boxes of photos the other day, trying to organize the years.. events.. kids... I came across a few that just cracked me up. I'll share them here and there.. but for now, here are a couple.. Can you guess the years? (not the middle pic, that's free). I had to take a picture of the actual picture because my scanner doesn't have a brain... so hopefully these turn out well enough for you to atleast guess what era these were taken from.. haha

Guess the year.......

I'll give you this one.. it's 2006

And here's a bonus Halloween pic with the daughter... what year is this??

An Interview....

Jordan, courtesy of Am.

What is the last book you really, really loved and why should I read it?
I didn't have to think twice about that one Am, because the first and only thing that came to my mind was "Your Best Life Now" from Joel Osteen. Although it wasn't the last book I read, it was certainly the last book that I read that I "really, really loved". I worked through the 7 steps Joel states you have to muster through to work your way to your best life... I got stuck on "Letting go of the past" because the past is why I am in such the predicament I'm in now. I continue to pick that book up and sift through the pages.. and I will do so until I can get it right, or until the light finally comes on. I think you should read it for many reasons, but not because it has a religious foundation, I wouldn't push that on anyone, but Pastor Osteens words are more inpirational than anything... if you're looking for some inspiration, you may want to pick up a copy.

If you could change places with any fictional character, who would it be, and why?
Right now, the only person that comes to mind (probably given current life events) would be The Invisible Woman. I know that she was part of the Fantastic Four and fought against evil forces through her ability to become invisible or make those (people and things) around her invisible as well.... along with that handy dandy invisible force field. I'm afraid at this time, I might be tempted to use it for evil as well as good, so I'm not sure I would be the best Invisible Woman there was, but certainly a memorable one as I tortured the person who's tried to ruin my life for the past two years.

Why did you choose to be a nurse and and would you choose that again if given the chance?
Honestly, I chose to be a nurse primarily because I didn't have the time for med school. I moved around so much due to the Air Force, I figured nursing would be easier and I'd have a career faster. I initially went into nursing thinking that at some point I'll return to med school. Ha. 14 years later, I'm still a nurse. I wanted to go into the 'healthcare' field because I am very interested in medicine and healing. I'm all for trying to make sick people healthy. If given the chance... I'd have tried to stick it out in med school rather than trying to rush my life at warp speed. I'm happy with the choice, as most of the time it truly is rewarding and I know that I won't be replaced. Nurses are in high demand and I can get a job anywhere, anytime. All pluses.

What two things do you wish your life had more of? Less of?
Trusting people. There aren't too many people that I trust, for one reason or another. So many people are not trustworthy... and it's disconcerting to know that so many of these people protray themselves otherwise.
Free time. Although my job only requires that I work three 12 hour shifts a week, I tend to work four 12 hour shifts. You'd think that would be ok because there are three days left in the week, but not when one of them is spent destressing from the previous four...not to mention, catching up on sleep. Oh, can I add money to that list? :-)
Less of... procrastination (by myself). I want to be less of a procrastinator. I'll think about how I should start working on that.... tomorrow. See what I mean? Worries. Definitely worries. Having kids, it seems like that's all you do. I need to worry less.

If you could go back and re-do any major decision in your life, what would you change, and why?
I'm going with the first thing that comes to my mind with these questions. I really don't want to have to think about these and let things flow freely. That being said, the first thing that I could think of (but believe me, there are several) would be to change some events of two years ago. If I had ONE thing I could re-do, it would definitely be during this time. Beginning with not replying to emails sent from West Coast guy. I can't imagine where my life would be now, had I just ignored him. All the other mistakes I've made in the last two years were directly related to knowing West Coast guy, so yeah, I'd like to take back ever meeting him.
I can't take meeting him back.. so how do I move forward after all the things this person has done to me?
Especially when he continues to intrude into my computers and the lives of people I know.

If anyone wants to 'play'... email me and I'll ask you 5 questions .... you need to answer these questions as a post. My email can be found on my profile....

Dating Drama and Stalking. A timeline.

So Aaron has asked me, on more than one occasion, why I write about old match.com dates, or why am I not currently dating. I haven't been active on Match for quite some time. I briefly had a profile active last June, met someone right away and dated for a couple months.

I had a rough couple of years due to someone I met two years ago and am slowly recovering from. I'm not trying to get over this person, in fact, this person tried to ruin my life. I'm trying to get over the things this person did. Unbelievably, I'm still uncovering some things this person did or probably is still currently doing.

Text Stalking.

For instance, when I broke things off with him a few months into dating him, he lived on the west coast. I had started hanging out with an old guy friend who lived a few miles down the road. Oddly enough, EVERY single time I would visit my friend down the road, I would receive a text message from the guy I broke things off with saying things like "I know you're not home" or "I hope you're having fun over there" or "Hi.. wherever you are". I would NEVER get these texts when I was home. How on earth did he know I wasn't home?? I used to kid with my co-workers that there has to be a camera in my house, because how else would he know I was visiting my friend? I just wonder if I wasn't far off and there truly was some type of monitoring device in my house. I was thinking about this one night and it occured to me that most of the time I went to friend-down-the road's house (oh let's call him JS for short), it was because JS and I either emailed each other or sent IMs to each other. Hmmmm. Did I have spyware and didn't know it? There is no way it was coincidental that he just happened to text me every single time I went to JS's house. There were times that I was in bed around 11 pm or so, checking my email on my laptop before I drifted off and received an IM from JS to please come over and watch a movie (riiiiiiiiiiiiiight), but it was late, so who would think I'd leave the house that late? Well, sometimes I did. On my way over to JS's or already at JS's, my phone would ding with one of those texts.

You have to be a good Dad.

I initially broke things off with west coast guy because it didn't feel right. Nothing more or less really, I just wasn't that into him. I had some weird feeling that something just wasn't right and I went with it. I didn't owe him anything other than that, because it was the truth. He wanted to move to Florida (I was against it) and planned to do so. He has two kids that he has shared parenting with, so it troubled me immensely that he'd just up and leave them. What kind of father is he?? He knew my thoughts on him wanting to relocate and it simply wasn't going to change, even after telling me how much he would visit his kids during the year. I had thought that maybe that was why I had feelings that things weren't so right, because I thought less of him for wanting to leave his kids. I'm sure it had something to do with it, but there was something else I couldn't put my finger on. Other than the obvious traits, being a good father is A+ in my book.. and a huge turn on for me. I LOVE men who are great fathers/daddys. JS was an outstanding father. Although I never saw myself with JS long term, he was someone I liked to hang out with occasionally, we had fun and I totally respected him. West coast guy was SO jealous of my relationship with JS. Post break-up with west coast guy, he'd drill me about JS as often as he could.

The Others.

You'd never think that someone who appeared to be so into you would have time for extra female curricular activities, but some people are just evil. It turns out the entire time I was dating westcoast guy, he was carrying on with exes and even trying to make "new" friends. Maybe that was the "not right" feeling that I had.. but I had no idea he was doing this. Maybe it's my 6th sense on overtime. This all came out post break-up, which made me angry because I wasted 3.6 months on someone like this. After the initial 5 minutes of anger, I was relieved and happy with myself that I went with my feelings and ended things with him. One of his exes, TN, and I emailed back and forth. She had no idea I existed and I had no idea she existed. Well, I knew she was an ex, but I didn't know he was trying to reconcile. She had a lot to say.. it was all so overwhelming. I do remember saving some of her emails in westcoast guy's file. At the time, she had told me how he had stolen her password on her email, or put a spyware program on her computer a couple years prior and watched he for well over a year. I had forgotten about that. Until recently. She also said that he played games with her and an ex bf of hers. He was fixated on this ex of hers and messed with him (through the internet) for over a year!

Tell me in person!

He didn't like my break-up email/phone call. He thought I should do it in person. I didn't owe him that. Did I? We had only dated a few months. Also, at the time of this tell-me-in-person request, I didn't know what he had been up to... I didn't know about the others. I also had a feeling this person was stalker'ish material because of the crazy texts he sent me. I asked him how he knew when I wasn't home. He said "I figured you're single, attractive, so you're out somewhere" .... riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. I consulted with a couple friends about this 'in person' request... they said it wouldn't hurt and maybe it would bring some type of closure to him and he wouldn't text me anymore. He had planned on a long weekend in FL and bought tickets already. I told him that I would have ONE meeting with him. He asked that I pick him up from the airport at 10:30 pm. That was asking a lot since I had worked that day and had been up since 4:30 am. But, let's just get this over with. I also told JS about this and he said that I don't owe westcoast guy anything.

Torture.

The next time I break up with someone, I'm never picking them up from the airport late at night and driving them to their International Drive hotel for a loooooooong break up explanation. I was exhausted to begin. If you've ever been in this situation you know what I mean. Not taking people to a hotel late at night, but explaining to someone why you don't want to date them anymore and they whine/beg/plead/don't understand. If I had known then what I found out later on you better believe I never would have spent 3 torturous, aggravating, mind draining, physically fatigued hours on this crap. I had to work the next day at 6 am, I was just too fatigued to even blink, I couldn't think about a ten hour shift. I fell asleep on the extra double bed .... I actually felt drugged.

Welcome to Florida?

No, I don't think so. But he moved here anyway, about 45 minutes from me. I didn't understand that one and certainly didn't welcome it. But, whatever... he wasn't my boyfriend. I'll never understand why someone chooses to be away from their children. There was no other reason to move here other than selfish reasons. I wonder why a westcoast person contacted me to begin with... was this his plan from the start? Anywhere but here? Was that his headline? I can't remember. I felt bad for his kids.

You did what?

I told him that I wouldn't date him. He asked me if I'd at least be friendly and that he's accepted the break up. Every once in awhile I'd pop online for something and he'd send me an IM. He asked me what I was doing one night. I said I was searching the house for chocolate. I almost ran out to Walgreens because I couldn't find chocolate. I just had to have some. He said that I must be ovulating because I "always" want chocolate when I ovulate. *blink*, what? How does any man know when a female ovulates, or even cares for that matter? He let it slip that he knows when I ovulate. He said he googled ovulation months ago and found an ovulation calendar and informed me that I'm on an 'exact 27 day cycle'. *double blink*. I started questioning him about this ovulation thing and why on God's green earth would he even think to google that stuff... he stuttered in his IM about just wanting to know, and gave no real good reason. Much later on (like a year), he admitted he wanted to know the 'optimum' time for procreation. *puke*

Skipping

.... a lot of the stuff that happened the summer after westcoast guy moved here. I'm not ready to openly discuss it.. not on a public blog. I just knew that I wanted nothing to do with westcoast guy... the stress I went through that summer was the worst I've ever dealt with in my life. I lost JS as a friend indirectly because of westcoast guy... and so much more.

Match.Broken

I went back on match after a long hiatus. It was something I wasn't sure I wanted to do, but I was going to give it another shot. At first things were real cool and I received a lot of emails. Then people I was talking to suddenly disappeared or stopped responding. That was so odd, to me. Is my match.com broken? I was also getting tons of winks, then hardly anything. I hadn't checked or edited my profile since I put it out there a few weeks before, so I thought maybe I should spark it up some. I was horrified to find that my profile listed me as a "male"... and that I drink often (which I don't), that I smoke (which I don't), that I had 7 kids (or more than a litter), I was listed as "married", I was listed as "need to lose a few pounds" when I was 120 lbs. I couldn't understand that at all. I emailed match.com instantly. Did my profile get mixed up somehow with some fat guy? I fixed my profile and immediately started getting winks again. Phew. I started talking to a few guys that week, trying to get to know them a little better than a profile allows. I put them in my favorites and the next thing I know, they disappeared from my favorites. I wasn't getting emails again and discovered that my profile was "hidden". This was driving me crazy so I canceled my membership. Before I did that however, I was emailing with someone from St. Pete (prior to my profile being hidden). We hit it off and started dating. About a month or so into getting to know St. Pete, I decided he wasn't for me. I guess it was just too soon to start dating. And by the way.. St Pete didn't take it well either.. what's wrong with people. If it's not meant to be... you should be happy about that. At least I tell you early on in the relationship, right??!!

Broken emails too?

Coincidentally around the time my Match.com got screwy, so did my emails. I kept in contact with guys from my past. Nothing sexual about it, a lot of them wanted to remain friends, so we'd keep in touch here and there. I dated a guy 11 years ago and we are very good friends to this day. We probably emailed once a month or so to catch up. I am upfront about that. I don't hide it from anyone and don't make excuses. We're just friends. I had received an IM from my friend of 11 years last year, requesting that I don't contact him because he's in a relationship and we should probably not exchange emails. That was so odd, because the both of us have had relationships in the last 11 years and still kept in touch. I sent him an email about the odd IM conversation, but he didn't respond. He sent me a text a few weeks ago, something about he was coming to FL for a week and if I wasn't such a loser, he'd come see me. *blink* so I texted him back, which led to him calling me. He said he did NOT send me an IM about not contacting him, nor did he receive an email from me about it... he said he did, however, receive an email from me asking him not to contact me again because I was engaged and working on my relationship, and I didn't feel contact with him was appropriate. I NEVER sent an email like that. I found out also, that I allegedly sent my ex husband the same email (who still contacted me from time to time).

Spyware.

Everyone suggested I put spyware on my computer to see if I have a spy program. I had some knowledge of spy programs because I had put a spy (keystroke logger) on my computer that I shared with the ex (who wasn't an ex at the time). It was on for less than a week before I told him that I did it. I was paranoid about men having affairs, and my ex's ex wife was coming on strong and still after him. I just wanted to make sure things were on the up and up, because I know she contacted him frequently. A friend suggested that I put that on the computer to see what was going on because I didn't expect him to just tell me the truth if he was goofing off. I was wrong, nothing was going on and I told him what I did to OUR computer. Then the program was removed. He actually said he would have done the same thing and wasn't mad at all. But it's different if you put a spyware program on someone's computer that you are NOT in a relationship with. It's awful to have to put one on a computer period, but to put one on a computer to stalk someone is creepy... and I'm sure completely illegal. I bought a program and ran it on my computer. It detected a lot of things, but I was never sure even to this day if it had an actual spyware program on it. I just clicked on "get rid of everything" at the end.

A new computer

That didn't work... because I was still being invaded. I told someone at work about this and he said he'd email me.. asking me out. (he's gay but my stalker doesn't know that)... we emailed back and forth and he pretended to live in Jacksonville. I was absolutely horrified when he came into work a week or so later with a copy of an IM that he had with me (that he really didn't have with me)... he just had it with my screen name.

It was me, telling him that Jacksonville was just too far and not to contact me again. I had had it. I couldn't believe this was happening, so I bought a new computer. The same thing started happening on my brand new computer (pc), so I stopped using it and bought a laptop. I have a brand new PC sitting in my closet. What a waste! I know my emails continue to be read... I know that names I've never even talked to appear on my buddy list. I look at my "blocked" name list and don't recognize half the names, and then some of the names I never would have blocked from contacting me, they were friends of mine!! No wonder I hadn't heard from them in some time. This is internet stalking at it's finest. I know my blog (this blog) is being read.

I found out..

.. how it was being done. You don't need a spyware program to do it... just have AOL/AIM. After a year and a half of internet hell, I finally found out last week how someone was able to do this. The only way to fix it... is get rid of AOL. Now I wonder how many other people I emailed (that I really didn't email) or how many people have emailed me and I never got it? I wonder if JS ever received (fake) emails/IMs from me.. I wonder if JS ever emailed me and I never got it?

So now you know, why I've chosen to take such a long break from dating. This last one really did me in for a long time... but I'm way too young to allow such a creepy person to get the best of me. I'm coming back. Soon. :-)

Why I Blog, Tagged by FlatCoke

Flat tagged me from her site..... quite simple. 5 reasons why you blog..

1. Cindy made me do it. Kidding. She introduced me to blogging last February.
2. It's therapeutic.
3. To meet new people.
4. Because it's fun.
5. I like to write. Sometimes.

Match.Punk'd

Keep in mind this was a practical joke.... I had no script... I totally winged this one and almost screwed it up a couple times.

Me: what if I like the guy? then what?!
friend: you won't. I mean, you will, but not that way.
Me: Isn't this a little mean?
friend: what? no! he'd do it to one of us in a second.
Me: and why wouldn't I like him?
friend: I take it you didn't check out his profile.
Me: not yet, getting ready to.
friend: who knows, but I wouldn't think so

I checked his profile and I'm quite sure I'd have never "winked" on my own. Seems like a nice enough guy, but just not someone I'd have responded to. He's 5'6. I won't date anyone shorter than 5'9. Bald. I like hair. Hates tv, especially reality programs. I'm a reality show junkie. Has a rottweiler (sp), I'd never date anyone with a dog like that. Hates hip hop or 'current' music. I'm musically diverse. Doesn't like movie theaters. I have to get a movie fix at least twice a month. 'Nuff said. So I sent the wink and he responded almost immediately, like, within the hour. A couple emails were exchanged and we met at Barnes and Noble. He seemed pleasant. We talked for a few minutes and then the show had to begin, I had plans later and needed to get this going. We sat down at a table in the back as he flipped through an Atlas, showing me a small country he had visited over the summer. I excused myself with:
"I'll be right back... while we're here, I want to grab a couple things.... it'll only take a sec.."

(I interrupted his story of his trip... number one no no!! haha)
I returned quickly with a stack of books from the self help section. A couple on sex addiction, a Dr. Phil relationship rescue book and a couple random HELP me books. I sat them down next to me as if it were my normal reading material. I watched him try to NOT stare at my 'help me' books. He quickly picked up back on the summer visit talk we were having before I rudely got up to look for books.
Him: My friend and I stayed two weeks in this quaint, not so touristy town...
Me: was it a woman?
Him: excuse me?
Me: did you travel with a woman?
Him: uhm. yes, a friend.
Me: Oh. a friend. Do you love her?
Him: That's a bit of a strange question so early in the getting to know you phase..
Me: Oh sorry. I did that on my date lastnight too. I need to stop that.
Him: I thought you said you haven't dated in nearly a month.
Me: Yeah, I forgot about that. I tell little white lies once in awhile. (pointing at the books) .. I'm trying to work on that.
Him: (taking a deep breath)
Me: Are you ok? (laughing)
Him: Is this funny for you?
Me: I can't help it. I laugh for no reason at all. One of those things I have to work on.

Him: (literally scratching his head)

Me: Hey I have an idea. Ask me any question you want... or we could play truth or dare. Or.. tag, you're it!

Him: Are you serious?

Me: No, I'm just kidding. I'm just playing with you...

Me: What countries have you been to? (pointing at the atlas book in front of him)

Him: (he opened the book and flipped around), finally he said: Well, I've been here. (pointing to Canada)

Me: Oh yeah I've been there too. I like how you can get medications like antibiotics there with no prescription.

Me: Would you write me a prescription?

Him: (raising his eyebrows and sitting back in his chair, arms folded), he said: You know, I really have to be going.

Me: Really? Where are you going? Do you have a date?

Him: No. Really, it's been a treat. I really should run.

Me: Call me!!

As he was getting up to leave, I asked him when he wants to get together again. He said he'd check his schedule. I told him as soon as my divorce was final I could meet him in other spots other than Barnes and Noble way in the back. He almost ran out. Even though this was a practical joke, I felt HORRIBLE. I had never pulled a practical joke on someone I've never met before, so I was a bit nervous, which probably went well with what I was doing, because he probably thought I was a lunatic. It worked like a charm. He talked about some cRaZy chick he met at B&N the next day to his friends... they ribbed him for claiming he had a great knack for never meeting crazy women. I wanted my co-worker friend to tell the guy that it was a practical joke IMMEDIATELY, but he wanted to wait one more day. I don't like someone thinking I'm psycho for more than 24 hours. :-) They all met up for happy hour at this place called Seasons 52, two days after the "practical joke". He went into detail about the crazy girl and that he couldn't believe there are actually women out there like that. (that appear normal through their profile and are lunatics in person). Just about then, I got the text (cue) to enter and sit at the table. As my friend was texting me, he was telling his buddy that he had a good girl he wanted him to meet...... :-)

One cosmopolitan, $7. The tab for the evening, $230. The look on Match.Punkd's face when I sat down... absolutely priceless.

I never apologized more to someone in my life... and the rest of the group never laughed so hard (including the victim).

I am happy to report that we became friends. Match.Punkd got married last year and we still keep in touch for a good laugh.. oh, and medical advice.

You so owe me

a Match story from 2004

friend: hey Jordan! are you still on Match.com?

Me: yes, but I haven't been 'active' for a few weeks

friend: why, are you seeing anyone?

Me: No... just got out of something... taking a few weeks dating hiatus

friend: lol. ok, good!

Me: good? why are you asking? you're married!

friend: I know silly. I have something up my sleeve, can I call?

Me: No! I want this in writing.. what are you up to?

friend: I have a friend, new in town, moved to IsleWorth last month.

Me: ok, what's wrong with him?

friend: nothing!!! he just signed up on Match. Loser! (sorry). You HAVE to contact him.

Me: there's something wrong with him, you're too eager.

friend: let me call! I'm calling. Bye!

friend has signed off line.

Friend calls to tell me that his friend from back in the day (10 years out of med school) just moved to the area and is going to work at a local hospital. Divorced 2 years. Looking for a new start. He claims that his friend was bragging at the local happy hour pub the other day how he's never had a psycho encounter... everyone has been nice.. just hasn't met the right one. Friend and company tell this guy that to just give it a few more weeks, there's bound to be some psycho story to tell from internet dating. Afterall, haven't we ALL met our share of psychos / weirdos from internet dating (those of you that admit that you've done it anyway). They can't believe that this guy friend of theirs' has been internet dating for almost a year and hasn't met anyone "crazy" or even a little crazy.

Me: so you want your friend to have a psycho encouner and the first person that pops in your mind is ME?

friend: ahhahahahaha... no... no. But I don't know many single women, other than a few nurses at work, I have a wife, he KNOWS her and her friends. I don't don't how many pranks you've pulled on me at work, you so owe me!

Me: I guess if you put it that way... hey, what am I supposed to do?

friend: contact him. send him one of those hugs, or winks.. or flirt things, whatever.

Me: and? what if he doesn't respond?

friend: Oh he WILL.

Me: how can you be so sure, what's your plan B?

friend: no need for a plan B, this'll work. If you can pull off scheduling me for my own cholecystectomy and then trying to convince me that I did it... you can do anything.

Me: lol, that was funny

friend: ok so then you owe me

Me: this is crazy. what's his match name?

friend: let the fun begin!

and this is the intro.... to Match.Punk'd. Stay tuned.

The Office - Internet Dating

Kassie kicks "ask"

Meet Kassie. Apparently her parents just let her watch a movie with a "monster" in it... she has some thoughts after watching this.... (worth watching!)

The Office - Monkey Alan

The Office - dirty emails

In this clip, someone cut and pasted their Manager's head on a nude female , added a couple men in the photo and then emailed it to everyone in the office... he just found it and wants to know who did it..

this is why Gareth Keenan (assistant to the manager) was investigating in a previous The Office clip I have (see below) several posts ago.

Virginia Tech :(

I just wanted to say that I'm very sad over the shootings that occured today at Virginia Tech.
I'm very sad for the people that lost their lives, the injured people and all of their families.

I've been following this through most of the day... mostly from CNN.

I'm surprised that the other (major) stations didn't cover this (other than breaking through programs here and there for updates). This is the biggest mass murder in U.S. history.... Yet.. they were all about covering the Imus thing.... ??

Addendum: I should have said "biggest mass shooting in US History"... Cindy and I are currently emailing back in forth about our disagreement of using "US history..." I was always taught then when saying US History, it implicates that the event took place in the US .... but I guess it could involve the US as well, not just on our soil.... so that is why I'm changing it to... biggest mass shooting in US continental history... CNN said it first actually, I'm just stealing their words...

Whistler 2004

Whistler 2004

just a few of the 100's of pics taken

the little tiny specks in the snow... are skiiers.. :)
one of the lifts... to Blackcomb Mountain

Chris

Whistler Village

ski school

A view from our ski in/out resort

Whistler Village, night and day

Hit and run

I was reading Cindy's post about a hit and run that they watched happen yesterday, and it reminded me of a hit and almost run I watched a couple years ago. I was exiting a movie theatre with guy and walking through the parking lot when we saw a black car pull out of a parking spot and ram right into the back of a silver bmw. It wasn't my car, but instinctively (because I have a death wish) started walking towards the black car that had come to a hault after hitting the silver car. A female was driving, male was in the passenger seat. Male poked his head out of the window and asked me if that was my car. I said that it wasn't, he started to put his window back up when I asked him if he was going to let the owner know what they just did. He just rolled his eyes at me. Within a few seconds, they put the car in drive and started to maneuvre forward.. I immediately pulled out my cell phone and started snapping shots of their car, the license plate and the guy who had his head out the window. He kept telling female to "drive!" She said something to him and he responded with "who gives a f*ck, just drive...". She was extremely nervous and as she was pulling forward, I shouted that I was notifying the police and giving them and the owner the pics I took. Female slammed on the breaks and started crying. Male got out of the car and walked around to the driver's side and opened the door, he kept telling female to get out of the car and get in the passenger seat. She finally got out and went to the passenger seat without looking up. He got in and shut the door. I noticed several more people walking through the parking lot and shouted in their direction ... "does anyone know who this car belongs to?... this guy just hit it and he's trying to leave.." Two guys came running towards us... one was saying something like " what the f...." while the other was saying "... who did this??..." .. I pointed at the guy who was trying to adjust his seat and take off. One of the guys ran over to the driver's side.. the driver said "dude, sorry about that.. I dropped my cigarette in my lap and wasn't paying attention..." I said "she was the one driving, they just switched seats... anyway.. give me your email, I'll send you these pics off my phone if you need them..."

In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have gotten so involved and just taken down the information without confronting them, because it wasn't even my car. But that's me... that's my instinct, trying to right the wrongs. I told you I have a death wish.

It's the people who do things like that... that also run stop signs. Roll through stop signs. Go out of turn on a 4-way stop, cut you off on the road... drive fast when you try to pass them... they also see different signs on the road then other drivers do.

Three things

I stole/borrowed this post from Ally. Thanks Ally :)
Take some time and view the YouTubes I put on... Joel Osteen has a pretty good message on the 3-parter, below.

Three things that scare me:
1. SPIDERS
2. Super high roller coasters
3. Loud unexpected noises


Three people who make me laugh:
1. Brian Regan
2. Ellen Degeneres
3. Everyone from "The Office" on BBC


If you have never watched an episode of the BBC's "The Office", run out and rent it from Blockbuster... I love this show. In this clip, Gareth (assistant manager) tries to figure out who drew a pornographic picture in the office and passed it around. He's "investigating" each of the office workers. As you can tell, they don't take him seriously at all, but he takes himself very seriously.. he's all about doing things the right way, no clowning around, yet he works with people who clown around all day. He's teased often by his co-workers (in good fun)and is often annoyed at their 'work ethics'... enjoy.


Three things I love:
1. the kids (of course)
2. lobster
3. laughter

Three things I dislike:
1. loud and aggressive people
2. rudeness
3. making mistakes

Three things I don't understand:
1. Abusive people
2. Instructions (I'd rather look at the picture and figure it out)
3. Relationships

Three things on my desk:
I don't have a desk anymore since I mainly use my laptop. (my brand new pc is in my closet on the floor packed away).
So how about three things on my coffee table?
1. A Chesapeake Bay "Exotic Spice" candle
2. Three remotes (one most recently from TiVo)
3. A Charlotte's Web dvd

Three things I'm doing right now:
1. Blogging of course
2. IM'ing with two people
3. Watching TiVo'd shows

Three things I want to do before I die:
1. Write a journal of the kid's lives, so that they can read it when they are older (and interested in what they did), and before I start to have memory problems so I can get things straight!
2. Travel to places on my travel wish list.
3. Have a true and meaningful relationship for once


Three things I can do:
1. Deliver a baby
2. Maneuver through the worst traffic (and drive stick shift)
3. Make people laugh

Three things I can't do:
1. Find a lasting relationship
2. Jog for long distances (because of foot surgery)
3. Handle change.

Three things I think you should listen to:
1. Other people. Because you don't listen. You hear what people have to say quickly and then run off because you're life is too busy and important. Start listening better.
2. Joel Osteen
3. Norah Jones' first cd










Three things you should never listen to:
1. Al Sharpton, because he's an ass. It's ok to speak out for people that have been wronged, but you never see him speaking out when someone of his own race wrongs someone else of his own race, only when "white" people do it. Wrong is wrong, jackass.
2. Heavy metal hard core head banging puke music. It'll give you a headache.
3. Heavy gossipers. If they're talking to you about someone, they're talking about you as well.

Three things I'd like to learn:
1. Spanish (I know quite a bit, but I'd like to be fluent)
2. To be a better person. I believe I'm a good person now, but I want to be better.
3. How to pick a better mate. :-)

Three favorite foods:
1. Lobster! Hey I wasted this answer on a question above!
2. Shrimp (sauteed in garlic sauce and wine)
3. Filet Mignon.
Do I have to list only three... I love food... :)

Three shows I watched as a kid:
1. The Brady Bunch
2. The Partridge Family
3. The Electric Company



Three things I regret:
1. Not going to med school
2. Most of my past relationships
3. Not buying a house when I first moved here, when they were 1/3 of the price they are now.

Happy Easter

I was....

.... thinking about you today. I was remembering things because today is 4/4. I wonder if you remember the significance of 4/4, like I do? ESPECIALLY when it was 4/4/04. I told you that I wanted to swim with the dolphins that day. We both loved dolphins SO much.. I was afraid to go into the water because it was green and I couldn't see through it like crystal blue water.. Do you remember? Three years ago today we were down in Miami, boating around the waterways looking for dolphins? (smile) You told me (as I was hanging over the side of the boat) that if I caught a dolphin mid-air on camera, that I would have good luck? I was so afraid to get the pictures developed (disposable camera) that I waited for weeks to take it into Walgreens. I developed them and got doubles (like you asked) and there was the dolphin I snapped, but it was half in the water and half out. I wonder if that's why I had bad luck after you moved.

I wonder how you're doing up there. Have you acclimated to the crazy cold windy days? or do you jump off the transit in that big city and run into the skyscraper that you call "work"? Do you think of the FL sun to keep you warm? Do you remember how you and "A" would sneeze the moment you stepped outside and blamed it on the sun? "the bright sun makes me sneeze as soon as I step out into it and then it's over". I had never heard that before, but you always did it.

I wanted to tell you that I wasn't able to listen to Norah Jones for a long long time. You had no idea who she was before I introduced you to "Come Away With Me"..and then you couldn't put it down. "A" loved it too. It helped her sleep at night. Thank you for buying me her 2nd cd when we were in Canada... it's not the same as the first, but I still listen to it. I still laugh when I think about how frustrated you would get at your "british" GPS system in your car.... "turn right in one quahtah of a mile" she would say, and you would say 'there is NO right!!!... where are we damnit?!" Or how she would tell you to keep going straight after the road ended. :-) I was packing recently and found the box of stuff. No one was more thoughtful than you. No one has put more into his gifts than you... you have ideas like no one I know. You're truly one of a kind. I still have the "fish" from Bailey, Banks and Biddle. Very cute. I was going to see Joel Osteen last year and the person who was driving took MANY wrong turns. I couldn't help but think if you had been the navigator, I'd have seen Joel Osteen ON time. On one of the wrong turns, we passed the Aquarium. I smiled briefly remembering a certain bird that landed on your head. What had been a tranquil moment turned into a rushed event because you thought it would poop on your hair. I miss traveling with you. I never got you to take any 'funny" pictures but you sure had me take several... like climbing into hippo mouths and on top of plastic elephants. I returned to the Miami zoo a year or so later. It wasn't the same. I was thinking about taking the kids back to Cirque Du Soleil at Disney. I still have the black Cirque coffee cup that you 'forced' me to get... even though I don't drink coffee... it goes well with hot cocoa. I was thinking about our trip to Chicago and what we were about to do there. You were so excited and happy. The entire time I kept thinking "this is too fast, what am I doing??!" The smile on my face hid the fear I had of jumping into the BIG ONE so soon... I should have told you then. I've never been so cold or had more fun that week picking out the future residence. *shiver* Our flight to Vancouver the next week was totally different though, what a gorgeous area, thank you for sharing that with me, you Canadian you. What a great ski trip we had. I wish I could find some of the photos from our trip to Busch Gardens... I know they're around here somewhere.













Our flight to Dallas the week after Whistler was equally memorable. The talks of our three week vacation to Tuscany filled the three hours like it was only 15 minutes. I remember everything and how much fun we all used to have. I often think of the twins. I wonder how they are coping up there. I remember when twin A fell into the snow bank for the first time in his life, how freightened he was. Has he gotten used to it? Does snow still scare him? He's the smartest 5 year old I know. But he's 8 now. I can't even imagine. Nothing warms my heart more than when I think of twin B. How is she? Did she get used to her wheel chair? Can she "drive" it now? Has she taken any steps with her new walker? How is her physical therapist? Is she responding at all? Does she say more words? I remember a couple years ago when you emailed me and told me that she said "purple"..... I smiled the ENTIRE day. I can't believe she actually said "purple". I can't believe she's 8 now! I miss her little tiny self... and her "J" whispers. I wonder if their mother finally realized how precious they both were and visits them?

I just wanted to let you know that I am thinking of you. All three of you and I miss you guys so much. xoxo









and this is the bonus photo... you threw these in the back of the box because I had a "crappy" camera and everyone's eyes turned out red and you said we looked evil. Suddenly I had a brand new camera....


















and it worked.. no more red eyes!







ps and just for the heck of it.... here is the first email you ever sent me, pulled straight from my "saved" emails.... (ok it was the 2nd) .. the first email was quick and just asked me if I was still available.. :-)



Jordan,
Thanks for the great reply back. I'm writing with some nice quiet time as the children are with their mother for the weekend. It's nice to "talk" to someone who is aligned with ones perspective. I definately agree that self-understanding is important but only to a point... becomes a little too introspective if you are not careful... and some things are better with someone (beyond the obvious... lol)! I would like to know much more about you as well... where did you move from (Canada for me - 11 years ago)... what is your favorite food (Italian for me)?, what is your dream vacation you have never taken (mine is Tuscany... also love to downhill ski)?, favorite evening (dine in under candle light then snuggle in front of a fire with a great bottle of wine on a chilly evening - it's that tactile thing again... gets me every time :))?, how many kids in your litter (I have 2)?, how old (mine are 4 year-old twins)?... that's a good start :).

At the risk of sounding overly aggressive here I should say I am open to zipping over for lunch or dinner some time (yes, I do wear my seatbelt :)).

My schedule is pretty much free every other weekend when the kids are at their mothers.

Talk soon.
Christopher

Complaint - Girl Bedroom Door

There must be a way of opening this thing without it sounding like an entire football team has just trampled through it. The girl insists on opening her door and letting the world know that she's done it at the same time. The way she opens her door drives me completely insane. SO insane, in fact, I feel I must blogcomplain about it. You know how you have to turn the knob (in this case lower the knob) completely and then open the door? She does not get this concept. She half turns/lowers the door knob and then barrels through the door. You literally want to jump through your seat when you hear it.... mostly because it startles me. After the initial startle, I get pissed because she continues to do this after many many many + 1,000 times of telling her not to do this. We just moved here and HER door is the ONLY door that now squeeks when you open it. I just had to blog about this because, it's seriously driving me insane. I actually threatened to take her door off the hinges until she can open it like a normal person.

The Bachelor

I have been watching The Bachelor since it started several years ago. Is it me or are the women getting more psycho? Lastnight's Psychoette award belongs to Lindsey from Kansas. This embarrassment of a female did nothing but make fun of the other women, concede herself as the best choice for the bachelor, throw f bombs and glare her way through the evening. Real classy. If someone out there knows this idiot.. please inform her that she was not chosen because it was obvious what type of person she is, NOT because she "wasn't blonde with fake boobs" as she declared. I was disgusted by her the entire evening, moreso after she exited the bachelorette lineup when not given a rose.. she immediately wanted her "bag" and to be taken home, refusing to say traditional goodbyes to the other women. (Not that they cared). Most of them were extremely embarrassed to even be standing next to her. She then shouted the typical loser response, "the bachelor had a big head and fake teeth anyway... next!"

Meet loser Lindsey:




Don't leave comments telling me to not watch the Bachelor anymore, it won't work! I am an admitted Bachelor fanatic and I can't resist watching this. Mostly because I want to see if he picks who I think would be a perfect fit for him... after all these years, the person I choose has always ended up in the top two!

My day off....

I switched days with a co-worker, which gave me today off...

first... I stayed in THIS as long as I could:

..until these two made me get up....
because they wanted to go here..

to get new sneakers...

so then I made them go here:
because I wanted new shoes too...



and I found these on sale for $69...
I liked them, so I bought them...
(this cell phone pic doesn't do them justice)



It was a beautiful day today.... I'm so glad I had

the day off....

We drove through here... but then decided it was
too late in the day to go...

so we went here instead...

now I'm home... excited for tomorrow

to come... so that these guys:

can beat these guys:

then when they're done,

I can watch this:

(which I've been waiting for, for months)!!

Sunsets

Here are a few cell phone pics of one of
my favorite things... sunsets.
I was driving home from work the other night and caught snapped these...