Par-TAY!

Or is it Part-AY!? Either way, I love to do it!

Not so much with the getting falling down drunk and puking everywhere (only done that once...okay maybe twice). I totally try to avoid that, mostly because it doesn't feel good at that moment, or when you wake up covered in unknown goo. Gross, I know, and really not germane to this entry, so let's move right along, shall we?

I love to PLAN parties. Once again, as we learned with my recent travel entry, I like to make plans, and rarely actually do anything with it.

Part of it is because party stuff is expensive. At least, the way I want to do it. Parties should be glitz, favors, swag bags, yummy food, appropriately themed drinks, games, preferably with a taxi or limo service to take people to and from the party.

Since Ridgecrest has neither of those options, it makes having a really awesome party a little more tricky. Or at least involves a lot less alcohol. No goo for the win?

SO! I'm in my own little world again this evening! Planning a party that will never take place, where I give out swag bags (the cost of which even planning, I don't mention to Pat for fear he will take my credit card forever). Where a cool summer breeze blows the 112º heat away as the tiki torches dance merrily around mojito holdin', cigar blowin', happy people.

I do realize, somewhere in my soul, that this will never happen. And I will become appropriately sad about it later. But for now, I'm having fun. But I need help!

See, the people who would come to this party are from a wide range of surrounding areas. From San Diego (4ish hours away if you don't drive like Beth), to LA (HI WEEZY'S! 3ish hours), to anyone on my Facebook/Twitter "Awesome" list who lives close enough and desires to drive.

So, what do I put in the swag bags that anyone can use? Amazon gift cards are so, blah! Do I find a spa, bookstore, geek store, etc., that is in the areas where individuals are coming from?

Do I simply get things from online stores and divide them into guy and girl bags? Or do I just get things that are "universal" (who like THAT crap?), and stick it all in the same color and type of bag?!

What would you do?! And would you come to my awesome party!? Even if you had to dress up *scowls at Pat*? Would you be awesome dahling?!

All Christmas Spirited Out?

I've got a few people I know who could use some outside help in getting stabilized and back on their feet.

Unfortunately, the last few journey's into taking care of others that Pat and I have undertaken turned out to be what one can mildly put as complete disasters. So Pat is a little unwilling to go out on a limb yet again, and I really can't blame him.

In the past though, I could always fall back onto the fact that I had my own money, as small a discretionary fund as it may have been. I could always offer a quick $20 or $40 that could do more to help other people than it could help me.

I feel now though, that I don't have that same freedom, for better or worse. I refuse to give out money or favors when I know Pat would have a problem with them. But now I struggle with not doing anything for people that I could help.

I stand here, watching others struggle, in a place where I used to be and had few (or no one) to help me. It seems wrong. It seems ungrateful. But I simply can't bring myself to start siphoning money away from our joint bank accounts without telling Pat what I'm doing. That would be deceitful and wrong, and I've worked hard to let Pat know he can trust me with his....our, money.

Those who know me will understand I've not always been good with money. My bankruptcy, car repo, and general history with money proves that point rather well. It's taken me years to carry a credit card and not go completely berserk with it. Knowing I have to come home and face Pat and explain to him why I've not been a good steward with our money is a HUGE factor in this.

Part of my not being good with money is not being able to say no. I'd sit there and give out my paycheck to those struggling and not have enough to pay my own bills, buy my own groceries, or take care of my own responsibilities. Pat has helped me. He is that quiet voice that says "no" gently, but responsibly.

I don't like it, but it's not a battle I'm going to pick. We have our own worries that are more important than me taking care of others before my husband.

So, for now, I'll sit here and watch others struggle. I'll wait until, maybe, those we've helped in the past are able to reciprocate. That's what it will take, I believe, for Pat to be willing to help others once again.

So no Christmas spirit for now, and prayers and thoughts to those who are going through what I know feels like hell on earth. Be strong, be smart with your money, be responsible....all those things I was never, before I met Pat. You CAN do it. I have faith.

5th Anniversary Trip Plans? *Panic*

Those who know me understand that travel is a passion I've had since I was little. It's a shocking passion though, considering I've never really gone anywhere or done anything.

The few places I have gone have been incredible experiences that I cherish greatly.

Knowing these things, it comes as a great shock to those who know me, that I rarely actually go places. Oh, I plan like a mad woman! I have itineraries, budgets, know what I would do there, check flight prices regularly to see when it is cheapest to go, know what to pack should I ever visit....and yet, I never really travel.

I have tried to do trips for our anniversaries that are fun and allow Pat and I to spend time together doing stuff we both enjoy.

For our honeymoon we took a Royal Caribbean 4 day cruise on the Monarch of the Seas. We left from the San Pedro port and went to Catalina and Ensenada. We had a BLAST!

On our first anniversary we went to Disneyland. I had won a Disneyland vacation from a Signature Travel. I wanted to stay in a "Classic Disney" hotel, so I chose the Disney hotel, a quintessential Disney stay, right? Wrong!

We should have stayed at the Grand Californian in all its splendor. But we had a free stay, free parking, and free tickets and boy did we have fun!!! Pat had never been to Disneyland before, so it was especially fun for me to show him around what I consider to be my second home.

For our second anniversary we took a cruise on Princess with John and Lisa. We left from San Pedro and visited Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and Mazatlan. It was, again, a totally awesome trip! While we had fun, we'll most likely not go on Princess again for a while. Service and food was great, but entertainment and general events were not our style.

For our third anniversary we went to the San Diego Zoo. It was a quick weekend trip, but we took a ton of pictures, had yummy food, and got to go to one of the most amazing animal experiences in the United States.

Our 4th anniversary is coming up in April, 2010. Since we had to move our January cruise (for Pat's birthday) to April, we'll be celebrating with John and Lisa on a Carnival cruise on the beautiful Splendor, a ship leaving from the Long Beach port.

We'll be hitting the same ports as last time, and going within 3 weeks of the time we went last, but I'm looking forward to trying out a new cruise line and doing new things in port.

But the main problem I'm having is our 5th anniversary. I would like to plan something really amazingly awesome. The issue? I have so many trips planned, I have no idea what I really want to do. And Pat's not really much of a traveler, or a celebrator....

Honestly, he'd be good with going to McDonalds to celebrate our anniversary. Which is not going to happen - well, it COULD happen but it'd have to be a McDonalds in Hawaii, or the Bahamas or something.

I keep thinking I want to take a Disney cruise, or an alaskan cruise in a balcony cabin. Or maybe a stay at an all inclusive in Tulum, Mexico or Negril, Jamaica. Perhaps a week long stay in DC doing the tourist thing (I've never been). You know! Visiting the museums, the Library of congress, the White House....AH! The history! I'd have to do the Arlington Cemetary, Gettysburg, the Holocaust museum, the monuments...Pat would be bored freakin' stiff. So, perhaps something else?

I need to figure out soon what we're doing, so I can start saving, budgeting, planning....You know, the fun stuff! Plus, regardless of what we do, I have to talk Pat into doing it and that's the hardest part!!

Any ideas?!

My Six Year Old Husband

I got Pat some seriously fat lewtz today. He got a Dremel, and we had to postpone opening other presents while he geeked out, opened the box, and checked it out. He immediately started charging it and we went out so he could show me how it worked.

I was surprised by the level of sparks and noise that came from the small machine while he cut the ends of the nails that were sticking out of our fence. I became immediately concerned that he could do some serious damage, and I talked to him about being a responsible adult with his new toy. He agreed that he'd be good about it.

Not five minutes after we came back inside, he asked me if I thought opening thick plastic packaging with the Dremel would be inappropriate. I am going to come home one day to a disaster caused by my well meaning, but sometimes crazy, husband.

Pat also put together his 18 volt cordless blower (more like a broom), and since it's a Black and Decker the battery is interchangeable with some of the other power tools we have, so Pat will be able to use it whenever he wants.

With this item, we also immediately went outside and cleaned off the back porch. I got bored (and cold) after about 5 minutes, so I left Pat to finish cleaning by himself.

Right now, he's checking out Scribblenauts, one of the games I got him for the DS. The other game is the newest release in the Link saga, Spirit Tracks. I really hope he enjoys them, as the research in finding a game for him is exhausting!

Jojo got us See's chocolates, which are almost all gone! WOO HOO!

Our dinner of rib eye steak, corn on the cob, crescent rolls, and scalloped potatoes is settling nicely in between my $4 bottle of Pinot, and chocolate covered cherries that were in Pat's stocking stuffer.

Of course, Pat got a Manning jersey (Peyton, duh), and I was worried about grease stains while he was grilling but I think he was excited about having such great grilling gear!!

We got GREAT presents from all our friends and family, and are very blessed to know people who appreciate us so much! I can only hope we showed our friends and loved ones that we also appreciate them!!

Either way - between the Dremel, the blower, and Pat's instinctive ability to do scary things with hand tools, I am a little scared of coming home from work one day and not having a house!!

Next week Pat will be home from work, and he's got a lot of little projects to do! We're also getting quotes from people for de-popcorning and re-texturing the ceiling, so hopefully they'll be able to start soon and get it done before Pat's birthday.

It's going to be a busy rest of this month, and January doesn't look like it's going to slow down, so if I don't keep up with you, just give me a yell, and I'll be sure to at the very least, drop you an email! :)

Love you all! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

B

Merry Christmas to Our Troops

I would like to take a few seconds to wish our troops here at home or serving abroad a very Merry Christmas and a safe, happy, and healthy New Year.

Your sacrifices and the sacrifices of your families from your wives and mothers to your kids and the jobs you do here at home - are not forgotten. They are appreciated and are not forgotten, regardless of the way our country may act towards the war you fight.

Whether you are celebrating here at home with your family and loved ones, in a tent camp, convoy, while completing a mission, or being served by the fantastic USO, please know you are being thought of today. You are prayed for, appreciated, and silently thanked every day.

To our vets who are not taken care of as they should be (and even to those who are): Thank you for your service. Thank you for putting those of us here at home in front of those most important to you and doing a duty I for one know I could never do.

If you know someone in the military, at your earliest chance - please thank them for their service. If you know someone who served at one time - please thank them for their service.

If you enjoy the freedoms this country has (which are rapidly being taken away), please thank those who fought most to give it to us.

Merry Christmas to everyone, but a special nod to those who are or have served.
Blessings and safe travels to all in the new year!

B

Dear Stupid Commercials,

I realize that I am unlike 99% of women. I realize that most women must want the things you are trying so VERY hard to sell, otherwise, you're wasting a LOT of money convincing people otherwise.

But I'd appreciate it if you'd stop telling my husband I want him to buy me jewelery, a car (specifically a BMW), flowers, a new house, or a watch, for Christmas.

I want my husband to walk in the door from work, hug me, and tell me how proud he is of me that I work full time (more hours than he does), and still manage to get more done in the house than he does and how much he appreciates it. Regardless of the fact he makes more than double what I do.

I want him to not act like it's a miracle he took out the trash when I've already swept, mopped, done 4 loads of laundry, and swept the front and back porch.

I want him to realize that wanting a house wife and a woman that brings home 30K a year is NOT a right, it's a bleeping miracle. And! That when the house wife stuff sometimes falters (because I am NOT super woman), a simple - "Honey, thank you for all that you do, I love you", is a band aid better than any gift he can buy (except a surprise trip to Disneyworld - that he lets me plan in full, and let's face it, Pat would never even think of that! :p).

Now, Pat is pretty good about all of this stuff - but having conversations at work, I realize I am a very lucky woman. My husband loves me, appreciates what I do most of the time, works hard and gets awesome reviews at work (I am SO proud of you Pat!!), and usually cooks dinner and does dishes! (Mostly because I'd rather eat off paper plates and drink out of plastic cups than EVER touch a dirty dish, but that's another story.)

Pat is the biggest blessing I've ever had bestowed upon me, and I am blessed with him every day. I lose jewelery like it's no big deal, and hardly wear it anyway! I hate cleaning up dead flowers, it makes me sad. Plus where the hell am I going to put it!

I love my Honda Pat got me a few years ago, and in June it will be paid off completely (YAY 3 year financing with only $600 in interest over 3 years!). Now, I doubt Pat is going to let me put even a fraction of that car payment into our trip fund - but let's be honest, that's what I really want.

No rings I won't wear, earrings I can't wear, necklaces I will lose, flowers that die, cars that only pretentious bastards drive (think one of his cousins drives one....sorry!), or crap that will sit there and collect dust I now have to clean!

MORE TRIPS! And Pat being HAPPY about trips! I.E., I want the impossible for Christmas ;p But Pat always makes it work, and makes me happy - so I guess I just want to wake up next to him, and laugh at stupid commercials while assuring him wildly not to buy me anything stupid. Unless it's a Disneyland premium annual pass, cause let's face it - that's just HOT!

Merry Christmas people! AND GO BRONCOS!