Friends, relationships, schedules, expectations ....

I have a very busy, and sometimes complicated life.  My groups of friends are diverse and dynamic.  I tend to have girls weekends, wine weekends, get away weekends, party weekends ... like I said I'm busy.

A complicated situation came up this weekend.  A friend unknowingly (rather obtusely) blew my plans to hell this weekend, and I had to scramble to save a night I'd been looking forward too for a while now.  Ok, it wasn't going to be quiet what I had in mind, but it would still be a good time.  Then, this morning, the same friends tells me that it's changing (again) .... oy.  She wants me to involve myself into her personal affairs to change the dynamics of this weekend, yet again.  She wants me to take on a responsibility, I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with and to really go out of my way for her.  Normally I'm the "shirt off my back" type person for a friend.  I'll drop everything and do anything I can to help a friend, because that's what my friends do for me.  However this "friend" is more like the "friend of a friend".  She's been nice, but she's rather self absorbed and I don't know if I want to walk this landmind for her.

What I'm struggling with is saying No.

♥♥♥ Bésame mucho ♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Tomorrow is Valentine's Day ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

One of my favourite romantic things is Diana Krall singing Bésame mucho

May you enjoy some loving kisses with the one you love tomorrow!

Wild animals in a restaurant

 So tonight we took the gifts out for dinner.  We haven't been out to eat anywhere with the boys other than McDonald's in goodness knows how long.  We always find we spend more time trying to get them out from under the table and begging them to eat some of the food than actually enjoying ourselves.

Today was different, while there was some time spent under the table, and the french fries were consumed faster than anything else, we went to an appropriate place.  Where there were parents all around of with children their age and the kids would play peek-a-boo with one another, when the parents laughed.  Instead of sweating the "having perfectly behaved children" I just cherished the fact there was no screaming, the lil'est gift asked to go to the bathroom (three times) ... and since he's potty training, that was a GREAT thing.

We had a lot of fun, now we're all just crashed out and I'm trying to not get frustrated with Husband's new website.  grrrrrrrrrrrr.

totally conflicted ....

Ok, so I've become completely addicted to Netflix.  I love that I can watch seasons back to back on my iPad, then over to the TV, then off to the phone if necessary.  The series I'm starting with is Drop Dead Diva.  I've affectionately referred to it as "Fat Ally McBeal".  Premise in a nutshell, 24 year old dizty blond model (Deb) gets killed in a car accident and comes back in a 32 year old overweight smart lawyer's (Jane's) body.   Granted I like watching the progression of "Deb" learning what she can do in Jane's body, but where I'm conflicted is the love story.

Grayson, the super hot mid-twenties almost fiance of Deb's works at Jane's law firm now ... was hired right after the accident.  He "loved" Deb, she was his "soul-mate" ... but he doesn't know that Deb is really who is in Jane's body.  Okay, I'm almost at the season finale of season two, and Grayson is now dating his second girl since Deb's death, and none of them are Jane.  Isn't "soul-mate" what's inside?  Shouldn't he be drawn to Jane's personality, instead of chasing more barbies?  I get that it may be "Jumping the Shark" for him to fall for Jane, but what type of message is it sending?  That it really is the packaging, and not the product?

I like this show, it's cute, mindless fun, but I'm a little frustrated by the message ... and my excessive use of quotation marks in this post!

I HAD to HAVE her!

After another fun night with friends and having the Exceptional M with us again, it was time to fall in love (apparently). I saw her in the morning, spotted her on line, and instantly fell in love. Michaela and I took off, I had to find her, I had to HAVE her. There was no stopping me, no wild horses or force of nature could stop Me from OWNING her.

We found her, her soft skin under my touch simply BEGGED to be caressed, subtle and elegant, it was warm to my touch, aching for more. I took her in My arms, knowing we'd never be apart again.

My beautiful Penelope, I love you, more than I should, more than is right, I know, it was fast, it was impetuous, but it was destined to be, and I'm complete with you hanging off My arm. I love showing you off, and when Russ finds out how much you cost, you'll be bequeathed to Michaela, because he's going to KILL me.

:-)

When out of the blue ...

So I took the youngest gift shopping today.  We were at friends for a Robbie Burns day party (yes I ate haggis and yes I enjoyed it) and he left his plastic Super Mario doll there.  He ... was ... devastated ... until he fell asleep and forgot all about it of course.

Today I decided to go to the Gates Of Hell (aka Walmart) and replace it for him.  I had to return something I purchased the day before and get an HDMI cable to see if we can fix the TV downstairs.  So ... after doing the return, groaning as I see the only cable they have is a Phillips for $39 or a Monster for $39.50 I know I'm over a barrel but it'll be cheaper than a new TV.  I've been in the industry, I know the retailers are buying the cable for $10 and selling for $40.  I know the manufacturers are landing them here from china for $1.50 and selling then to the retailers for $10.  I remember the profit cables put to my bottom line, now I'm the sucker paying for it.

As we're standing in the toy aisle looking for a new toy for the lil'est gift, a guy (about my age) standing there with a boy about 5 asks me how much the cable is.  I tell him and he replies with "can you watch my son for a second" ... and literally takes off.  Ummmm okay.

He returns in about 2 minutes and hands me an HDMI cable from the dollar store $2.00.  Apparently he's an AV Tech and hates watching people get screwed.  I was gobsmacked.  Offered to give him money, he just said his payment is watching someone not get hosed.

Yes, I believe it, people are innately good.  Pay it forward!

So ... I have this friend

who's smarter than most, and certainly knows me better than most people.  She's very tall, strikingly gorgeous, freakishly smart and has a scary level of insight.  Fortunately I love her, or she'd simply scare the hell outta me.

I went to her today with something I was chewing over.  She knew exactly what I was looking for, an honest an clear assessment of the situation.   She didn't blow smoke up my skirt, she gave it to me straight up.  One of the few with the balls to do it.  As usual, she was right, and she helped me make some good choices, even if they weren't the easy ones.

Funny thing is, as I was executing the actions to make the good choices, a good little piece of news slid in the side.  It made me smile, knowing it was a sign I was doing the right thing.

Thanks Michaela, I don't know what I'd do without you!