The Water Bearer

I don't think I could be more of an Aquarius! I'm not really "into" this whole astrology thing but have always been intriqued by the traits and personality assessments. I have always said that I was an Aquarius through and through only because I can't get enough of water! I love the natural beauty in all bodies of water. I love lakes, rivers, oceans, and waterfalls. I crave water! If it's been a while I yern for it. I even told Jon this week that I could move up to Lake Lanier (or Hiawassee since it's got the lake AND mountains...that's what dreams are made of). I would love the peace and serenity of enjoying my cup of morning coffee sitting on the water's edge. I would love being able to see the sun reflecting off the water every day and let's get real...I would LOVE going out for a cruise on the boat with the wind in my hair, sun shining and water spraying. Ahh....maybe one day.....

Here's my personality profile based on my birthday of February 4th!

Aquarius - Ruled by Uranus : [Jan 21 - Feb 18]

• Slogan: I know, therefore am.

• Polar or Opposite sign: Leo

• Colour: All the colours of the rainbow

• The Water Bearer always thinks fifty years ahead in time

Aquarius Traits

Positive Traits

• Friendly and humanitarian

• Honest and loyal

• Original and inventive

• Independent and intellectual

Negative Traits

• Intractable and contrary

• Perverse and unpredictable

• Unemotional and detached

Aquarius Likes : fame and recognition, personal privacy, rainbows, dreams, magic, change for its own sake, eccentricity, surprises, and living within their means despite the many temptations which constantly surround them every waking moment.

Aquarius Dislikes : emotion and intimacy, people who show off, being taken for granted, being pinned down, violence and fighting, and senseless or purposeless extravagance of any sort.

Important Parameters

Lucky Number - 2

Lucky Color - Red

Lucky Flower - Snowdrop, foxglove, gentian

Lucky Gemstone - Amethyst

Lucky Day - Thursday

General features

A typical Aquarius has the attribute of intense desire to communicate. You are a bit tactless and rude if you don't learn to moderate your constant broadcasting around those whose opinions may be a bit more on the conservative side. You are interesting and attractive. You can be shy, sensitive, gentle and patient or enthusiastic and lively with a tendency to be exhibitionists. Both types are strong willed and forceful in its own way. You are very opinionated with strong convictions and fight for what you believe. You are farsighted and innovative. You are generally without prejudice and quite tolerant of others' point of view. They are good listeners, and care deeply for their friends. To people they are not close to however, they can be somewhat detached. The Aquarius sun sign is true blue and loyal. They are one of the first to sign up to serve their country, and will give their lives defending her.You are truly humane and known to be frank and outspoken. You are refined and idealistic, romantic and practical, personable and likable person. Being quick in mind and responding, you love activity and are quite reasonable in that. They can be counted on to come up with original ideas. They make good designers and inventors as well as musicians. These intellectuals excel in the arts as well as the technical trades. You cherish and guard your independence and are a strange mixture of caring concern and cool detachment. You will go out of your way to help when needed but will never get emotionally involved.

What do you think? I think it's pretty spot on.

The good and the bad...it's me.

"Sure you can do it by yourself, it'll only take 15 minutes"

So, I've been antsy and anxious about the lack of privacy in our living room lately. I think it all came to head the last time Jon went out of town. Since we moved in we've just had sheers over the main picture window in the living room. I mean, it's been this way since December but one day I just decided that it was time. It was getting to me thinking about the idea of 'they can see you but you can't see them.' Creepy, I know! Especially when you're home alone, sitting on the couch with your wimpy pups, watching TV (which 'they' could be watching too), playing on the computer and it just hits you! Scary!! And unnerving! So, I really wanted blinds but just knew that the blinds to cover this window were going to be expensive and why would we want to pour money into someone else's house? Well, last week I took a trip to Lowe's and sure enough, they said it would need to have custom blinds. Custom= expensive. However, being me and the type of person that doesn't like the word no and especially when it's something that is on the very forefront of my mind, I was going to make it happen! I went back and measured again and this time in three sections. The middle window and two smaller side windows. Surely it'll be under $100, right? Well, it was! $3.00 for the small, simple, basic vinyl side window blinds and $29.00 for the big window! Definitely worth it! So, I came home with blinds....this is just where the story starts...

Who knew that blinds could be part of the "trials and tribulations" of marriage? It started out as such an exciting thing (I know...blinds, exciting, I'm old) and turned into a nightmare! The lady at Lowe's said "sure you can do it yourself, it'll only take 15 minutes." Well, sure if you are mounting the blinds to drywall or own a drill! Needless to say, Jon HAD to get involved, we both got frustrated and ended the night with a middle blind barely hanging (due to my misjudgement of bracket placement) and uncovered side windows. The next day we picked up where we left off with a little trip to Wal-Mart for a high powered screwdriver and VOILE!, done in 15 minutes! Now, if only we could learn to laugh about these things during the catastophe, and not just afterwards, installing blinds and other "home duties" would be much easier.

I think I'm on a hunt for inexpensive, pretty curtains. Or, what's your opinion? The window is very nice and has character. It's a nice, paned, triple picture window with thick molding from the 1950's. Does it need curtains? Drapes would add some color I suppose.

Just to see you smile

(Just to see you smile) I'd do anything that you wanted me to.... And all is said and done I'd never count the cost.... It's worth all thats lost.... Just to see you smile....LOVE IT!

I have to say that this is my all time favorite Tim McGraw song and he definitely played it on Saturday night! We had such a good time and I absolutely love Tim McGraw! Oh! Not to mention Lady Antebellum was there too! There's just something about good country music, shared with good people, all enjoyed while hanging out barefoot on the grass that makes me SO happy! Before you say something like, "barefoot? What? No Boots?" Believe me, I had my cowboy(girl) boots on before we walked in, but who can resist soft green grass between your toes? Not this girl! I just love the freeing feel of being barefoot. It's funny because I immediately kick my shoes off when I get home and keep them off as much as I can! Jon is the exact opposite and has been known to be "that guy" that wears socks and flip flops (complete with the excess sock being jammed between his big toe and long toe to accommodate the thong on his flop, ew and ouch) just to resist being barefoot. Not to mention, he walks around the house ALL the time in shoes, usually flip flops, but still! He walks up to the bed in flip flops and leaves them by the side of the bed when he lies down and slides them back on once he gets up in the morning! WHAT?! He's crazy!

This weekend was great! I'm still thinking about how I loved having my Saturday afternoon free (we had lunch and an afternoon beer on the patio :-)) and having Eric, Enslen and Lane in town made it even better! I love being close to them again and being able to see family more often. It was fun going to the concert with EandE and having a chance to hang out in such a fun atmosphere. I think we are gonna have a great life together! I can't wait for family vacations with our kids, Eric, Jason, me and our families! I think we need to start an annual family beach vacay. Maybe we could get the Lamberths (Eric's in-laws) and the Rays in on it too....that'd be so much fun! Oh!! Did I mention that Lane knows my name now? It melts my heart and I love being Aunt 'Manda. She's gonna be stiff competition for our future babies!

Moral to the story: I hate shoes, love my family and LOVE Tim McGraw!

The Waiting Game

Why did we give it that name? It’s not a game. Games are fun and the ‘waiting game" is not fun! I feel like I’ve been playing this so-called waiting game for different things consistently for the past two years. I mean, you know…I’ve been playing it my whole life but it used to be for things like my next chance to play with my best friend or the next school day or my next test. Lately in life it’s changed to things like waiting for the love of my life and once he was found, waiting for the ring, and then after that, it was waiting until our wedding day and then waiting to hear about the move, and now it’s even another waiting game! All the other "waiting games" I’ve played lately have been positive and exciting. This waiting game has an awesome and positive end but the actual waiting part is REALLY hard. I’m excited about the end to this game.

As I’m writing this I’m thinking about how there will always be some sort of "waiting game" in life. This is just the beginning of it all. Down the road I’ll be waiting on telling people that we’re turning into a true family and then we’ll wait to meet our bundle of joy and then after that we’ll be waiting for each little milestone to happen. I guess waiting is good, it means there is anticipation. If there was nothing to anticipate what would be the fun in life? Plus….isn’t this life all one big waiting game for the next life? The life we were all meant to have?

Deep, I know.

Chicken Butt.

Idiocracy

I'm gonna try to keep this as "nice" as possible, but...why are some people so dumb? Here in the apartment industry we thrive on those who actually follow instructions, those who don't ask stupid questions, those who realize that they live in an apartment and do not own it, those who do not want special recognition for something that is expected, and those that mostly resemble some sort of common sense or intelligence. Ahhh......that's all for now.

Reason, Season, Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life,
whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.

-poem by Aleksandra Lachut

You know I've been thinking about this lately and it is definitely true, but...WHY do we have to have "season or reason" friends? If these people come into our lives and make a difference than why can't they stay a part of our lives? What is it that tears friends apart or leads us in opposite directions? I know that life happens and paths take you different directions sometimes but why can't those paths continue to cross? And how can we look back at our lives and wonder why some people are not still in it? You know...I miss some of those people who were "reason or season" friends. I want more "lifetime" friends. Is that so much to ask for? Can you have too many friends? Is that why? Do you get to a certain quota? I'm writing this to say that from now on I want "lifetime" friends...I'm finished with "reason or season" friends and if you were once in my life than I still want you to be in my life. There's still so much life that's yet to happen and I want those who have known me from all stages to be involved even if you were a "reason or season" friend...let's make it a "lifetime" thing!

I love you mom!

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”

-Washington Irving

Kick me while I'm down

I feel like maybe it's just that I've had a lot going on lately with work, the possibilities for change and getting things in order, but I feel like I never get everything done or everything accomplished at the end of the day. Not that I'm stressed out but sometimes life just throws a few too many curve balls at once. The curve ball that I'm thinking about right now is my first speeding ticket since 2006 with a value of $185!! I just feel like we are always treading water with money. We're trying to pay off ALL of our debt before August to open up more possibilities for me and every time I think we're about to do it something like this happens! I hate getting paid on Friday and by the next Tuesday everything being gone! I'm not really complaining about the amount of the paycheck and actually think we're both good with money(DISCLAIMER), but I just hate the feeling of never being able to get ahead. The feeling of being stagnant and not moving forward to a bigger goal. I don't know....maybe it's just me but I have a problem with planning and looking forward to the next big thing or the next step. The next step in mind for us is right now is SAVING money! Sigh...this is what happens when I pay a pointless $200 to the Georgia government on one tab while I blog on the other...

Happy Birthday baby!

Wow...I need to get better about this blogging thing! I feel like I've been so tired and busy this week. I mean, nothing out of the ordinary or anything. Just working, sleeping, and eating and doing it all over again the next day. I need to try to gather my thoughts on this thing more often. It's slightly therapetic and my hubby tends to think I'm funny so....it keeps me wanting to write.

Now...the thoughts....date night and Jon's "over the hill" birthday!

On Thursday night we were planning to go to Mary Poppins because we had free tickets and who doesn't like getting dressed up and heading to the Fox, right? Well, we decided that we'd go to Mary Poppins when we had kids and re-routed to a nice Italian dinner date night. I think it was a much better decision in the end. We went to this place close to the Fox called Barronda (where Jon had previously had an awful date, not with me of course) and it was amazing! We had a great bottle of wine, calamari, awesome pasta dishes and even Tiramisu! Man was it nice to have a real date night and awesome dinner too. I think since moving to Atlanta Jon and I have forgotten that we still need to do real date nights instead of always opting to hang out with friends. But, that being said...it's nice to have close friends again and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Jon is offically 28 YEARS OLD!! So old! I mean, before you know it he's going to be bald and I'm gonna be so senile I won't remember how old we really are. Plus, we need to start making babies before his little swimmers (or my chicks) dry up and it can't happen. Haha....I'm totally kidding baby (sorta)! I actually can't believe how old we are but I'm looking forward to what's still to come. Sometimes I don't feel like we are old enough to actually be 28 and 26! I remember when that seemed so old and honestly, I feel like we're still young and figuring things out. Will we always feel like that? Is there a turning point to where you feel like you've got it all together. I think this is why they say "you'll never be ready" for kids. Maybe it's because of this same feeling of never being "settled".

For Jon's birthday Chad and I scored some awesome seats at the Braves game! I'll add some pictures below. But, we were 8 rows behind the right-handed batter's box! I think it was a success and all of us had a great time, including the birthday boy! It was definitely awesome....my only complaint.....I wish I had ordered the hot dog and bypassed the nachos. :-)