Today RM is going to meet my kids. We have been dating for over a month now and so far he has met almost all of my closest friends (did that all on my birthday night)and I have met a ton of his friends and basically the entire small town where he lives. He makes me feel so special when we are together. I have met his daughter and her boyfriend and also met his granddaughter. She is an adorable little 7 month old. Totally unfair of me to say ANYTHING bad or weird about him being a grandpa. I have to say that this is different for me. I have never dated a grandpa before. In all fairness I COULD be a grandma too. My eldest is 18…Lets not go there.

Back to the point…he is coming to town today for a full day of visits and house-warming parties and also a birthday party. The smart man that he is ..he is also bringing his dog along for the first time visit with my kids. Have I mentioned my kids love dogs? They may not even notice that man who brought a wonderful furry friend into their house. Smart man. Not that my kids are naughty or anything like that… but a furry friend will definitely up his stock in their eyes.
This whole meeting my “friend” is a bit scary for me. I want them to like him and for him to like them. He is a very calm and gentle man, I am hoping they sense that.
I am not looking for a “dad” for my kids, they have one of those. I feel I am simply sharing my completely wonderful children with someone who is special to me.
I really hope this goes well and he doesn’t run screaming all the way back to his little quiet town. Did I mention he has a fluffy-petable dog?

Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don’t do what they’re supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.
BUT……… Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you.
A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach.
When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley’s rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley’s end.
Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you.
Or come in and carry you out.
Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, Sisters-in-law,
Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!
The world wouldn’t be the same without women, and neither would I.
When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead.
Nor did we know how much we would need each other.
Every day, we need each other still.
Please visit MIR
and HELP fight to keep ALL our SISTERS kickin!

New Years Eve. We made plans for me to drive to where he lives and go out with his friends. He offered to come to town to pick me up but I declined and said I would bring my own vehicle. I got home from work and got ready. I packed an overnight bag and called RM for directions. He lives about an hour away from me but works in the same city I live in. The town where he lives is population 84. NO KIDDING. The city I live in is population 80,000. I made my way there and we left to go and meet his friends. They were fun and welcomed me right in. We all then went to a house party and celebrated the onset of 2006 with a wonderful kiss and hug at midnight. We talked and drank champagne. It was perfect.
We headed back to his place and talked for almost two hours more. I was dying to get more comfortable and stated I had brought some special jammies. I went to change and came out in my finest blue flannel polar bear pajamas. We both laughed for about 20 minutes. It was great.
A perfectly warm and snuggly start to 2006.

Waiting on the edge of your seats? Yeah…I thought so.
OK- back to the birthday party. The day was nice. I spent the afternoon at my friends parents hanging out and eating. Perfect.
The evenings plans were to meet some friends for the wrap up of the holiday and the birthday celebration would commence at midnight when my OFFICIAL birthday would begin. All my favorite and bestest friends showed up. I couldn’t believe it. It was incredible. We hung out and drank some beers. THEN…
RM walked in!!! I was pleasantly surprised at his attendance. I waved him over and leaned into one of my friends and said:”look-that boy is here to see ME” It was great. He was a total sport. Because of how we were standing I kinda had my back to him for most of the evening. He didn’t seem to mind. I introduced him to all my friends and they really seemed to like him. It was fun.
There is one particular song that after a few beers- I am known to dance on a barstool to. The song is “You can leave your hat on”
The bartender usually throws me his hat and insists I dance on the stool.
The bartender had no hat on …I thought I was safe. WHEW….
Hearing this news, RM jets out to his truck and shows back up with a hat. After much cheering on- I did it. I got up on the barstool and wiggled around and made a general ASS out of myself. I went 89 shades of red. Gosh-he must be SOOOO impressed now…..
The evening was coming to a close and most of my friends had left. RM and I talked a bit more and I asked if he could give me a ride home. He said sure and I went to get my coat. The owner of the bar was really drunk and thought it was later than what it was. He thought it was past closing time and as RM and I went out the front door he freaked out and ran after us. Yelled and screamed at us thinking we were going to get him in trouble for having people in the bar after hours. He shoved me and shoved RM….I yelled at him that it was DAWN…dammit!!! Stop it!!!
He went back inside and RM helped me get into his truck. We were both in total shock and I could only cry and feel like my birthday was ruined. RM found his way to my house and walked me to the door. I thanked him for the ride home. I apologized 500 times for what had happened with the man who I thought was my friend. I figured I would never see or hear from RM again.

RM did call the next day and left a message on my phone. He wanted to make sure I was okay. I called him back and we talked for almost an hour. He asked what I was doing for New Years Eve. I couldn’t beleive he wanted to see me again. We aggreed to talk again later in the week and firm up plans for New Years.
Did I have a date for the big night? Did I get a kiss at midnight?

OK OK- Since ALL ….1… of you out there want to know more, I guess I just have to give some details. geeesshh… I am pathetic.
For matters of personal security we will call him RM. (the names have been changed- but the story is true)
RM and I met on December 23rd. I had gone to the bar to meet my girlfriends and bring them their Christmas gifts. A tall, good looking man was chatting with his friend near us. I noticed him and smiled but figured that was the end of it. Comments going back and forth across the bar brought him to be standing next to us and we started chatting. He was funny, charming and seemed to be interested in me. wow…me?
By the end of the evening he had talked me into doing a shot for him. (twist my arm) I was finding out more about this stranger and so far so good.
I pulled out my cell phone to check the time and he made a statement about that if I had his number in there, then I could call him sometime. I joked and said-well what is it?
He told me the number and I programmed it in. He asked for my number even though he didn’t have a cell phone or paper or pen. My friend, the bartender, almost immediately pulled out a pen and paper-wrote it down and gave it to him.
I then proceeded to invite him to come to my birthday party that was going to be on the 26th. I got the obligatory “I will see what I can do” and he was off into the night. I honestly thought that was the end of it. The next morning I called the number that I had programmed in and left him a message. I thanked him for making my evening more interesting and also wished him a Merry Christmas..also reminded him of the party that was to be the next day.
More?

Wondering if anyone wants to hear about the new man????
I met him on Dec 23rd and invited him to my birthday party on Dec 26th…
He showed up for that-yes-cool.
We then made plans for New Years Eve..turned out fabulous…
and then again this past weekend.
Wanna know more?

2006 Goals-in no particular order:

STOP Procrastinating…..geesshh….It is the 5th and I said this
was going to be up on the 1st?

Swear less

Eat Less

Weigh Less

Put my clothes away immediately when I bring them upstairs.

Organize basement.

Buy a house (hey- then I wont have to organize the basement)

Save money for Christmas (10.00 a week should do it)

Drink more water

Make at least one new friend (imaginary ones don’t count)

Write more and better.