I've been tagged!

My good friend Jen at Harried Mom to Four tagged me for a meme. I've actually done this one before and I like it a lot so I'm doing it again. This is the '6th folder, 6th photo' tag and this photo is from my 6th Aperture photo album:



This picture was taken last August during Fun Extravaganza! We made homemade playdough with Kool Aid and the kids loved it! Doesn't Mallory look so little?

The Bachelorette...It Ain't Me Dude

Oh Jillian. I was completely prepared to throw things at you this week because you appeared to be the dumbest woman in Canada. But then you gave me hope that you do have a good head on your shoulders.

The group went to Spain for their hanky panky dates. Or as Mama Kat called them...four one night stands.

Kiptyn was first. She has adored him from the start and thinks he is the perfect package with all of the qualities that someone would want to marry. She mentioned his hometown date and how cool his family was. And then she said that his mom was a doll and full of energy. That was code for...your mom is a little overbearing and I'm scared that she might be my Mother-in-law soon. They had some serious conversations and he told her that a proposal seems far off. She was obviously taken back and told him that she wants an engagement at the end of this and that you must take a leap of faith. At the end of the date, she turned down the one night stand saying that she didn't want to get her feelings confused by knocking boots with him. They did cuddle somewhere for a little bit but then she sent him on his way.

Reid was next. She described their relationship as slow to start but that they have physical chemistry and that she's crazy about him. She does question if he is ready. Their date was really funny and romanic (this is how REID says romantic and would be a deal breaker for me), they had a picnic basket and they needed to fill it with food but they don't speak any spanish and found it difficult to order anything. During the date, Reid continually says that he really, really likes her and tells the camera that it could be love but he isn't sure. Jill is giddy around him. Also, no one night stand for him either.

Oh Ed. (sigh) He earns himself a run, hug and squeal! Jillian is worried that Ed is too career driven and is still upset that he left her. They talk about it but I really didn't get an explanation from him...just that he couldn't stop thinking about her. They discussed how she didn't get to meet his family and she asks about them and he doesn't really say much. He also has horrible eye contact skills and it's freakin me out. Ultimately, she invites Ed to the fantasy suite so that she can catch him up to the other guys and by catch him up she means make out for hours.

Last and certainly least is Wes. Before he even meets up with Jill he makes a remark about the music scene in Spain. DUDE. You are here to see Jillian. They meet up and take a bike ride to a picnic where he sits as far away from her as he can, doesn't looks her in the eye and hasn't touch or kissed her at all. She is noticing the lack of affection and when she asks him if he would move to Vancouver for her he just *blinks* and doesn't really give an answer. They he used a great conversation ender....he spilled his beer all over his @ss. At dinner, he was distant and when she again grilled him about Laurel...he slipped up and said that he told some of the guys about his *girlfriend* and that he was with her for 6 years (was she with Wes when she was texting BRAD WOMACK?) Then he admitted that he was there because his manager thought it would be great for his music. And he told her Numero Uno is most important!

At this point, I am yelling at the TV...WALK OUT JILL! KICK HIM TO THE CURB! NO FANTASY FOR YOU PAL! He says he thinks they should use the fantasy suite. I almost lost my mind!

Jillian comes to her senses and escorts him outside to a cab. She says that she is embarrassed that he rode her this far....

And then we had The Most Clearcut Rose Ceremony EVER! And I was sad to see that Chris Harrison didn't make it to Spain. As the guys are standing there...Wes remarks to the guys that he will soon be back home having lots of sex. The looks on the guys faces....priceless!

Jillian comes out and thanks the guys for making her feel beautiful and in love. (expect for you Mr Jack@ss..you know who you are) She selects Ed, Reid and Kiptyn to be her lovers in Hawaii and walks Wes out to a waiting limo.

This is where it got really interesting. Wes says...he is the FIRST GUY on the Bachelorette to make it to the top 4 with a girlfriend! With an ugly smirk on his face he said it's going to take him a loong time to get over this and then says he is going to get his freak on in Spain! EVERYBODY'S GONNA KNOW MY NAME! He says that his acting days are over and that this was just a bump in the road....and he's cutting off the chains. THEN...he said that ED wouldn't even get so much as a nibble back in texas.

Dear Wes *Asshole* Hayden,

First of all, I would nibble ED from head to toe. He is a real man and you...my friend, are a loser! I don't think I have ever hated someone on a reality show before. You are a sorry excuse for a man and I hope to god that no one buys your music. Just because everybody knows your name...doesn't mean that you will benefit from it. If I walked into a bar in Texas and saw your name on the marquee...I would walk out. The only job I really think you're cut out for is delivering singing tele-grams. Or maybe a singing Wal-Mart greeter. Here's the thing...you are just a run of the mill bar band. I've seen my fair share and you aren't anything special. In fact, you are an embarrassment to country music. OH and here's a great title for your next single....It Ain't Me Dude.

Good Luck...you're going to need it.

Please take the poll on the left...thanks!

Friend Makin Monday~ Meet my BFF

Kelli at Outside my Kitchen Window is hosting Friend Making Monday this week while Kasey is on a whirl wind 12 state visiting vacation! Today's subject is a fabulous one...I'm so excited!

Tell us about your BFF...where did you meet, was it BFF at first sight, how long have you been friends, etc.

What makes her your BFF...what is it about this person that makes her so special to you?


My BFF is my sister. Her name is Roberta Ann but she has many nicknames like Birdy, Baconnie, and most recently Bobbi.

Let me tell you about the day that I met Bobbi. It was a beautiful day in August 1975, my parents woke me up very early in the morning and whisked me away to a neighbors apartment because The Baby was coming. The next couple of days were a blur...I'm sure my Dad came to retrieve me at some point and the next day I was taken to my parent's friends house where she ran a home daycare. There were other kids to play with but my heart was heavy.

They found me riding a little bike back and forth along a short piece of sidewalk in the backyard. My caretaker came out to see what was wrong with me and I told her that my parents didn't need me anymore because they had a new baby now.

It was a long time before she could play with me but we always had a good time together unless she was telling on me for taking her cruising in another town or leaving her home alone when I was supposed to be babysitting her. At one point when we were kids, we had a thriving Veterinarian practice in our home. We loved to pretend we had a million animals and we took turns cleaning their imaginary cages.

In the month of August...nine years ago...Bobbi saved my life. I was in an abusive marriage and my ex-husband was an alcoholic and drug addict. I escaped with what I could fit in my black Ford Escort, moved to Denver and Bobbi took me in. I slept on her couch for several months while I got my life back together. I honestly don't know what would have happened if she hadn't been there for me.

She lives in Dallas now so I don't get to see her very often but we talk on the phone and email every day. When we are reunited...it is like we have never been apart. I have the best time, laugh until my side hurts and feel so happy when I'm with her. My kids love her even though they have only seen her a few times and love talking to Aunt Bobbi on the phone. My daughter is the spitting image of her and acts more like her everyday.

Me and Bobbi...1987

Bobbi and Me...2009

In October...Bobbi and I are going to Vegas together for the SITScation conference. We haven't been on vacation alone together since 1997 when we caused all kinds of trouble in Mazatlan Mexico. Look out Vegas...here we come!

I love you Bobbi!

I Love a Parade!

We have had the best weekend! Calvin had Friday off for Independence Day so we decided it would be the best time to take the kids to their very first movie! We saw UP and they loved it! Poor Mallory is too small to fit in a seat so she sat in my lap. They loved that they got to eat popcorn and JuJuBe's in the morning and we loved sharing our love of movies with them.

Then we went to Zeppe's for some frozen custard for lunch.

Friday night, we grilled steaks and sat on the patio with a glass of wine and listened to our neighbors behind us practicing for the parade. They had their band set up on the back of a big truck. I love live music and they played for hours....

Saturday, we were sooo excited to walk a couple blocks from our house to see the Cherry Days Parade. Folks in our town start setting out their chairs along the parade route days ahead of time. We had just arrived when we ran into our neighbor across the street. These are the only folks that have really been friendly to us and their daughter is our babysitter. He invited us to come sit in their roped off area and some of our other neighbors were there. Everyone was very nice to us and even offered us chairs to sit in. One of the boys, gave Alex and Mallory some of the poppers that you throw on the ground and they pop. They loved these things!

We were all waiting patiently for the fly over to signal the beginning of the parade!

Once the parade started...all of these kids walked into the streets with plastic bags. We soon discovered that every float throws candy and the kids scramble to retrieve it. Alex was so excited about this and he was great at grabbing a couple pieces before the vultures other kids took them.

Mallory wasn't interested in the candy or much of the parade. She was interested in eating all of the grapes that I brought as snacks.

For some unknown reason, Alex decided to eat his own fingers. I thought his eyes looked so pretty in this picture.
During the parade, a float from our doctor's office was going by. The kids' pediatrician was walking with his son, recognized us and came over to where I was sitting and gave me a water bottle with the clinic's logo on it. I was amazed that he had seen us in this crowd of people.

We let the kids stay up very late so that we could take them to see the fireworks. Around 9:15pm we headed over to Pop's Malt Shop to get some shakes before driving to find the perfect place to watch. We were the only customers there and they brought out some little fireworks and lit them in the parking lot for us. The kids even got to hold some sparklers. The grocery store was in our way for viewing so we drove a few blocks away and sat and watched the kids' first fireworks display. They loved it! Mallory kept saying Boom Shakea Shakea.


This was such an amazing day. For the first time since we moved here 32 months ago...it felt like we were accepted and welcome. The people we spent time with today were so generous and friendly. It felt like we were home....

Alex was up bright and early this morning. (WHY LORD WHY) and he wants to go see a parade and some fireworks. Oh sweetie....not until next year.

The Connie Diaries ~ June 1986

Last month, Connie was in love with a boy that lived a couple towns away, rode her bike 12 miles to see him only to have him ignore her. She wrangled a ride to the skating rink in a corvette and then got grounded for a month 31 days. Her relationship hit the skids because she couldn't go skating anymore and she had a bad dream that her boyfriend broke up with her.

My comments are in purple.

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June 1st, 1986...Sunday

Well, he did it. He broke up with me. I expected it but still I cried my eyes out. I'm still crying about it and I very well will be for a long time. Because I love him! Sure you do.

At about 1:15pm, John called me and told me that Andrew wanted to break up. What a loser! He gave me some lame excuse about Andrew always getting into trouble. So after I cried for about 15 minutes that's all? I went over to Lola's and talked to her for about half and hour then I rode my bike home.

Now about 6pm, Warren and John rang my doorbell! I asked them what they were doing here and John said he wanted to see if I was okay. I told him that I was fine, thanks for stopping by and I shut the door. I wish I hadn't done that...I want to call John and apologize but I can't because I'm grounded.

I had Lola call Andrew and ask him why he broke up with me. Here's what he said:

1. he didn't get to see me very often (cuz I was grounded)
2. I kept calling him and getting him in trouble

Lola asked him if he really, really wanted to break up with me and he said he didn't know. Well, when you put it THAT way. I kind of want him back, but I kind of don't. But I think the want overrules the don't.

Heartbroken Connie....

In a way falling in love is like hearing a wonderful new song on the radio for the first time. As you turn the volume up, it fills you with an indescribable joy and a feeling that all of your dreams are possible, and you can't wait for it to come on again.

Then as the song becomes more popular and you begin hearing it everywhere, you find yourself growing less and less fond of it, until one day it comes on the radio, and you realize that you can't stand it anymore. Eventually it finally fades to become just a golden oldie.

This is known as the American Bandstand Theory of Romantic Relationships. ~author unknown

June 2, 1986...Monday

I miss Andrew so much. I wish he was still my boyfriend. What did I do to deserve this? Please answer that. See June 1st.

June 4, 1986...Wednesday

Amy Rivers brought something up today that made sense. She said that the reason that Andrew broke up with me was because he didn't think I would have sex with him. I wouldn't? Lola has been trying to convince me that isn't true....that it's because we live so far apart. I don't know what to think. I wish I could think that he loved me still.

You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling...Hall & Oates

June 5, 1986...Thursday

I'm no longer a freshman. I'm now a Sophomore and will be attending Greeley Central High School. I'm having a hard time believing that I will be going to high school. Three fast years from now I'll be out and going to college marrying some a-hole. Today was a very sad day for me. I left behind my school, teachers and all of my friends. I was crying when I left.

Tonight was Roberta's BIG softball game. They won 19-7! These was a very nice looking guy there and his sister is on Roberta's team. His name is Peter and he's a preppy type...just right for me! That is my favorite type!

John called and I told him to forget about getting Andrew and I back together. He asked if there was someone else and I said YES. Okay, okay...I lied. Then he told me something that I had hoped he would say...he said 'just because you and Andrew broke up doesn't mean you can't still call me.' I told him not to worry...that we would still be friends and I would call.

June 6, 1986...Friday

I had a great time with my parents tonight. Roberta was at a friends house and we went to Horsetooth Reservoir and then to JB's Drive Inn for ice cream. Tomorrow we are going to Roberta's softball game and then to Denver to see Space Camp. I want to see Top Gun but she doesn't want to.

June 8, 1986...Sunday

As of yesterday, I am no longer grounded and my phone is back in my room! YAY! I wish school was starting soon...I'm already bored. It's been ONE DAY! I thought I should make a list of things that I'm going to do this summer. I guess I started young with the list making.

1. Go to the library
2. Play Tennis at UNC You don't know how to play tennis
3. Take the bus downtown You never took the bus...you were scared of the bus
4. Go swimming You don't swim either...you lay out.

June 10, 1986...Tuesday

I'm in a super good mood! Last night, John came by to see me. I was really nervous and I didn't talk very much I just looked into his beautiful brown eyes! He didn't stay very long but I was so twittered! I invented Twitter too! I think I have a crush on John....what about his pregnant ex-girlfriend?

June 15, 1986...Sunday

A few days ago I got my permit to drive. In three short months, I will be 16 years old. My report card came in the mail. :(

Science....A
Foods....C Martha would be so disappointed
Social Studies...B
Language Arts...B
Health....C This explains so much
Pre-Algebra...C

I can't believe I got THREE C's. And how the hell did I get C's in Health and Foods? Whatever!

I need to find a job. I don't have any money and I can't get a raise out of my parents. I don't know what to do. I wish school was starting soon...only 75 more days. I'm so bored and I'm sick of tanning already. I think the baby oil fumes are going to your head.

June 17, 1986...Tuesday

Today was a great and wonderful day from 8pm to 10pm. I called my wonderful friend Oh Sheila M. and she has this special phone where you can talk to someone and call another person and have them both on the line at the same time. Cool...my first three way. We called Andrew. shocking! She said her name was Brittany and that she went to Highland High and he was asking what she looked like and he was FLIRTING with her. JERK! I was laughing so hard!!

June 22, 1986...Sunday

Happy first day of SUMMER! Yesterday, I went to Lakeside Amusement park in Denver with Lola, Troy, Sheila and Dawn. It was really fun and I went on the roller coaster twice! Today my Dad took me to see Top Gun.


It's a great movie and Tom Cruise is really good looking!

June 23, 1986...Monday

I can't wait for school to start. I'm so pissed that all of my friends are going to West and I'm stuck going to Central. I lived on the wrong side of the tracks. I don't know very many people and the ones I do know...I don't like very much. Let's go through the list:

Darla Paulson. She is not my favorite person and I guess she and I are going to share a locker at the big GCHS. I want a locker of my own and I'm not into this whole locker sharing business. Anyway, she ignores me sometimes and that ticks me off.

Tanya Sparrow. I don't know her very well, but she is nice. She kind of lives in the fast lane. The What? She is not my type of friend.

Tina Nodbulk. I don't like her very much cuz she gets on my nerves and from what I've heard she gets on everyone's nerves.

Sara Ortiz. She doesn't seem a likely friend for me because she was a cheerleader and all kinds of other stuff. She is leaving behind all of her friends too. We'll see how popular she is without her friends....

Hopefully I can pick up a copy of How to Win Friends and Influence People at the library!