In Love? Married? How did this happen?

Long time, no blogging... 

Let me begin by saying.. I am married!!! MARRIED! MARRIED! Mrs. MARRIED!!

Three weeks ago today, I walked down the aisle and married my best friend... The day is a blur and the moment we exchange vows is nothing but a fleeting memory of the beautiful day... Which sounds depressing, but it's not.  I spent the entire morning remaining calm by thinking I would soon be legally bound and married to my soul mate.. I mean that's what the whole thing is about... Right?

It's about two souls becoming one, about your heart finding it's missing piece, or some garbage like that.. But the honest truth is, that is what it is about.. It's about finding the person who you want to spend your life with, share every adventure with, and plan a lifetime together.

I've always been independent and not sure if I would ever love anyone enough to take this giant leap... I never worried about what if I did not find "Mr. Right." I wanted to see everything, do everything, and I wasn't worried or interested in having to share my adventure with anyone.  I did not have to ask permission or acceptance, I was going to be great.. Alone. I loved my life and did not know "he" was missing until he walked into my life.  

I met my husband on the Internet... I met him when I didn't expect to be blindsided by love.  He walked into my life on Sunday afternoon and changed it forever.  I wish I could say I knew I would marry him the moment I saw him but that's not how our love story starts.  I was too pessimistic to believe he could be the one but "he" slowly broke down the walls and I remember each moment I fell more in love with "him."

I knew "he" was special, I knew I was attracted, and I knew he brought a peace to me that I hadn't felt in years.. I knew within the first few hours of our epic date that "he" would be special.... but I didn't realize he would be in my life forever.. I was too blind to see our love beginning but we were already creating memories.

I remember hesitating to ask him if I was the only one... The first time he told me he loved me.. He slurred the words and left me terribly confused, until he looked at me with his big brown eyes and asked why I didn't say it back... And repeated, clearly and softly... "I love you."

I remember the nerves I felt the first time I brought him home and wondering if he felt that way when we flew to his home town a few months later.. 

I remember spending our first New Years together and praying my life would never change.. That "he" would be the person I kissed every year at midnight... 

But my favorite memory is the moment he proposed.. My whole life changed.. I sat in my worn out PJs on the edge of our couch, My future husband dropped to one knee and proposed with a picture of my engagement ring, explaining he couldn't wait any longer... 

I remember crying, smiling, and wrapping my arms around him as I repeated, "Yes! Yes, I will marry you."

Then 13 months later, my father, my hero, walked me down the aisle towards this man who has become my world.  I have never been emotional but found myself in tears every single time I would think about this moment and I was terrified I would be a crying mess.. But together, with my husband and father, I was strong.  

Before the wedding, my husband and I had decided to pray together.  We held hands behind closed doors, my husband prayed and asked for all the things our marriage would need to be happy. I already knew I loved him and wanted to spend my life with him but it was that moment it became real.  He spoke the words I needed to hear to calm my nerves and to stop my eyes from crying.  When he squeezed my hand and reassured me of his love, I felt my heart swell and knew that our love would get me through everything. 

Five minutes later, my father and I squeezed into the smallest bathroom ever.  My dad and I held hands and prayed together; We asked for God's blessing on my marriage and then we asked God to get us both through the next 15 minutes without crying too much. We powwowed in the small church bathroom and decided we would not fall apart as he gave his little girl away. Then the music started and I held my daddy's hand, as he walked me towards my future... My father gave a beautiful speech and placed my hand in my husbands.
The moment will forever be sealed in my memories...  I became Mrs. R..   "I" became "we" and I began the greatest adventure of my life and I will spend it with him, "Mr. Right"

Once Upon a Time..

Today marks the beginning of my 365 day journey to marrying my greatest friend.

My Redneck Romeo

I'll start at the beginning… In early February 2012, I met Steve for a lunch date in Thorton park that turned into 7 hour long date that left both of us ready for another date.  Within a few days, he'd already become someone I looked forward to seeing and by that fall, I had another dog, less closet space, and house full of love.  I wouldn't have changed anything about our love story.. In my eyes, we've made Cinderella look silly... 

Within the last year, we created a life together that I will always be proud of and happy to share... 

I am so thankful to have found the love of my life and look forward to many more years with the love of my life..

Here is to the next 365 days!!! 

Values and Traditions Infringing on Women's Rights?

With the political debates approaching and the never ending Facebook post, I started thinking about the recent claims that women's rights are being threatened by the Republican party.

I grew up in a Republican, Christian, traditional home.  I was raised with the values that scare so many liberals.  So let me tell you what these "old fashioned" values have taught me.  Let me explain to you what I have learned and why the liberals should be threaten by the men and woman who hold these "redneck" "backwoods" rights so sacred.  Let me tell you why I am so strong, so confident, and so determined. Why I am not a victim of society, why I continue to live by the values of my grandparents and why I believe these values are what make strong women.

My father worked three jobs so my mother could work less hours and be home with their children.  I am proud that my father taught my brother and I to work hard and to provide for our families.  I am honored that he taught my brother to treat all woman with care and respect, that he taught him to put the toilet seat down, to take out the trash, and to put the happiness of his wife and children above his own wants and needs.  My father has taken us all hunting, loved all three of us equally, and he has made all three of work hard.  He instilled chivalry into my brother and has shown my sister and I how we should be treated by a man.  Mostly importantly, he thought us respect, for him, my mother, ourselves, and each other. 

I am also blessed to have a father and a mother who sacrificed date nights and simple luxuries so that my mother could be home with us.  In my family, my mother's cooking is far more superior than anything served in a restaurant.  Her opinions are valued, she is cherished, she is respected, and above all she loved in our home.  My mother taught my sister and I how to be respectful of our husbands, how to care for our children, and that we deserved to be loved and cherished by a man.  She has also silently taught my brother how he should be loved and that when you provide and protect your family you deserve the same to be returned to you.  

Watching my parents live in service for each other, has taught me to love, to be kind, and to be thankful.  Their love and their lifestyle made me believe I could do anything; it will always be a strong quiet confidence throughout my life.  A confidence that has allowed me to pursue all my dreams, professional and nonprofessional.

I do not think I am weak because I have chosen to love and care for a man.  I am not embarrassed that I dream of one day being able to abandon my current life to pursue my dreams of raising and caring for a family.  I am not ashamed that I enjoy being home in time to cook dinner for a man.  I am proud that I have the footsteps of my grandmothers, aunts, and mother to walk in.  From their kitchens, minivans, church pews, and humble desks, these woman, individually, have contributed more to society than any man in a suit and tie.  Their hard work and sacrifices created a blue print of happiness for my cousins, siblings, and myself.

I realize being a female has had it's a advantages.  I have been treated kindly by older men who have said I reminded them of their daughters, granddaughters, or someone else in their lives. However, I am not blind to the injustices in our society or in the work field toward woman.  I know that my boobs and body have worked for me and against me.  I know that I work in a field where I am sometimes viewed as a prize but I also know that I am working with other men who are discriminated against because they're short, unattractive, or awkward. 

The fault of these injustices does not lie in the hands of the conservatives.  The fault lies in those who were not raised to respect others and who never learned the value of another person's feelings.  The fault lies with the man or woman who never learned to not judge or that in God's eyes we are equal.

I am also very aware that because of what woman before me have done, I have been able to accomplish more than most woman could years ago.  I believe I have done more for women rights by pursuing a lifestyle and career that I wanted, by excelling in a field that is strongly dominated by men.  I believe I am doing more for the feminist movement then some liberals.  I have chosen to work in a man's world, to compete with men, and to challenge them to compete with me.  I am doing more for the respect of woman by demanding respect in my office and by proving I am completely capable of handling myself in their "world".   I graduated college and obtained my masters without help.  I purchased a home by myself, with the money I have saved from busting my ass. I have succeeded by practicing the principles taught by my parents.  If I judged my success by the standards of a man, I would say I am doing better than most men but I measure my success by my own happiness in life.  I am successful because of the family that raised me no differently than my brother, because of the sacrifices my parents made to send me to school, and because of the confidence I gained from their unconditional, unbiased love.

I am not threaten by your opinion.  I do not need to fill the media with propaganda.  I do not need to look for verification in anything, other than myself.  I am not threaten by a man because I choose to nurture him.  I do not need a handout or your sympathy, I have a support system at home that makes me feel larger than life.  I am strong.  I am confident. I just happen have boobs! =)

Today is Devoted to the Honey Badger

After fighting a cold for a week and my own personal drama, I decided to call in today. I decided I would join the masses and take a long over due person day. I have been employed at the same job for five plus years and can count the times collectively I have called in sick on one hand.. Ok.. I just stopped and counted.. Maybe two hands ;)
Every time has been major.. Bronchitis or a broken appendage for example..

Until today.. When I woke up and thought.. What would Honey Badger do? Honey Badger does what he wants! And after not having called in for 435 days, I called in.  I stayed home, made chicken soup, listed some text books online, did multiple loads of laundry, cleaned, and more importantly I took what I wanted, a personal day! Back to the Honey Badger!

Tuesday I walked into the office and acted like a honey badger.. Since LSU lost Monday! The epic Honey Badger never touched the ball.. Ooopps! He touched it once and Bama came at him with a vengeance! Bama beat LSU and the WhoDats across the world hung our heads in shame!

So.. I shuffled into work Tuesday morning with a nasty head cold and a bruised ego to match my beloved Tigers' beautiful colors. I admitted the better team had won. I accepted the smirking, "Sorry"s and smiled at the "LS Who" all while knowing not once had I subjected any of them to the same shame when LSU made DUMBO GUMBO of them on November 5th! No, not once did I remind them, I clearly had more class. Instead I grinned and carried on.. Like a true fan.. With true Louisiana charm and class...

And I will even go further! The better team won Monday night!! The team with a better coach won! Love you Les but the BIG GAME is not the only thing Baton Rouge lost to the Tide this week due to coaching..**cough** Landon Collins.. But let's be honest.. We do not need that kid! We got da HONEY BADGER!! 

So again.. Good game Bama.. because the last time yall won the championship the Saints won the Super Bowl ;)

We may not be the Aints anymore but after Monday we're pulling our brown bags back out...

Honey Badger doesnt give a shit what the office is saying about me today or what they thought of my LSU boys on Monday night... or for that matter what I thought of my team..

So today Honey Badger, I devote my epic act of defiance to you!!

My Decsion to Fish Online...

So I've decided to dip my toes into the theoritcal online dating pool and to see what there is out there in the "pond".  It was not easy to leap into this pond but with the passing of another birthday, the recent sting of a break up, and the never ending repeating phrase in my head, "Plenty of other fish in the sea!" it was time to dive into this online sea!



First, I had to overcome my own judgmental thoughts about online dating.  I had to give up on my fairy tale love story.  I had to relinquish my dreams of meeting my soul mate at work or of passing him in a crowded room. I had to accept that I might not be able to tell our grandchildren that we met in the break room; that we knew it was love at first sight  I had to accept that I am nearly 30. I had to realize that if I want to have these hypothetical grandchildren that I will need to venture outside of my office.  Especially since I have already dated two of my coworkers and I am not going to attempt a third time a charm scenario. In order to give this a fair chance, I also have to realize that love and relationships come in all sizes, packages, and more importantly.. all types of beginnings.

Second, my current methods of dating have been failing miserably.  It is time to accept that I was the practice girlfriend and I was fishing in the wrong pond.  I can only assume my friends are equally exhausted of my failed relationship attempts and my questionable judgement in men.  So why not leave it up to a computer? I mean it's based on 29 Dimensions of Compatibility.  Clearly, it has to be better than my biological and emotional reaction to a man which is based on only a few levels of compatibility and, in all honesty, it's rather one dimensional.  As I said, I am nearly 30! Time to grow up and become multidimensional!

Third, with deciding to take this step. I have to accept that my fun loving, good time girlfriends are also nearly 30 and also growing up.  The majority of my best friends are married or are getting married!  They are having children, they are getting tired before midnight, and if they do not fall into one of these groups, they are searching for their own soul mates.  They are aging too and they are tired of trolling the bars with me looking for hot available men.  They are exhausted themselves and going out on the town with me after yet another break up is taking it's toll on them too... We're getting old! Some of them are even dipping their toes into this internet sea, too.  We are all searching for our big catches!


So I have accepted these valuable truths and signed up for the dreaded and yet at the same time.. Ever so hopeful online dating scene.  I decided it is time to fish the hell out of this sea! To attempt to land the biggest bass! And to finally catch my dream king fish!

The Day My Dog Died and I Got a Black Eye...

After a quick lunch conversation revolving around the latest relationship gossip, my friend made a comment about men and their numerous excuses... We joked for awhile and I started making a list of some of the best excuses I've heard and the ones that have been given to my friends.  After a few hours of office laughs, my co-worker told me to start a blog and to start posting these fabulous and often amusing excuses.. Hence.. The Day My Dog Died and I Got a Black Eye...
So I will start this blog with my two favorite excuse so far...

1. My dog died...

My friend was given this excuse... She was told he needed a break because his dog died...

I, who am full of words, is speechless on this one... I love my dog and men have an even stranger attachment to their dogs... so in my mind if your dog died wouldn't you want some comfort? At least some sympathy action? Yeah.. Whatever.. This guy will forever go down in the history book of my life as the guy who used his dog to break up with my friend... 

2. I got a black eye and just don't want to be seen in public..

Now while a friend has backed this one up and has verified that tripping on a box and hitting a TV at the exact spot on your face that will give you a black eye is possible..  I have my own personal doubts...  After giggling at this story I thought about the probability of this excuse...
To you Mr. Black Eye... Lucky you for only hitting your face hard enough to give you a black eye but to not really doing any other type of damage. You didn't hit your chin, your forehead, your nose, or extruding part of your face? You made impact with the TV with the part of your face that is least protruding? It's a God damn miracle... Hey, next time be sure to whack your head on something else not important... like the part of your brain that made you think I was stupid enough to believe that one... and watch out for those TVs that jump out of no where and smack you in the eye...

Men Are Like Jeans

I like to think about men in terms of jeans.....
You have the pair of jeans that are out dated and no longer fit your lifestyle. (Give those to Goodwill)
The pair that you wouldnt even donate to Goodwill
The pair you try on because they're on sale... but you know they're not quite right but why not try anyway
The really expensive pair you shouldn't even mess with but you put them on your charge card and pay dearly for them later.
The comfortable pair you pull out every once and awhile.... (recycled men)  and then quickly throw back in the bottom of the drawer.
And then you hope you find that pair that you love! You wear the heck out of them! and they still look great on!

But you have to try a lot on before you find the perfect fit =D