When Pity Turns to Psychology

I’m not sure how many of you have watched Brokeback Mountain, but if you haven’t you are missing out.  I’d only seen it once and decided to watch it again on Saturday.  Such a wonderful, sad love story.  Of course I bawled my eyes out at the end.  Heath Ledger hugging Jake Gyllenhall’s jean jacket.  Torture!!! 

It got me to thinking about "The One" and having a little bit of a pity party.  I look around at my long-time friends and family and they have all found “The One.”  What’s wrong with me?  Why have I been gypped from finding the one for me?  Lord knows I’ve tried – three marriages, assorted boyfriends, and endless blind dates and for what?  Nothing.  Alone.  Just me and my dog. 

All this pity led me back to browsing the on-line dating apps as much from boredom as from curiosity.  What is out there?  Who is out there?  Could there be The One for me?

Yep, that ain’t gonna happen.  Some of those people scare me!!  Shallow, superficial, desperate, lonely – these descriptions do not fit me but certainly fit the majority of the men who tried to contact me.

The more I thought about it, the more I decided that when I least expected it I had found The One.  And I need to treat that one with kid gloves, realizing The One needed kindness, compassion, trust, a listening ear, regular compliments, honesty, and respect.

As you may have guessed, The One is me.  Just hanging out by myself is far more entertaining than being forced to have a conversation with someone simply because they are of the male species.  Or dumbing myself down to make it through a conversation about taxidermy, muscle cars, or the high brow acting career of Steven Segal. 

At some point in my life, God will bring me The One but until that time, I’m going to let Him work on me and the areas of my life that need forgiveness rather than blame.  So what if my love life hasn’t been successful?  Even though my romantic partners have not panned out, there are countless people in my life who love me unconditionally.  Why do I need The One when I have the many?

Here’s to on-going self-improvement, self-esteem, and as always maintaining my sense of humor in this crazy world! 

 

Lazy Days and Sundays

This weekend has been pretty darn lazy.  When I have no plans, I usually end up crafting and cooking, which was no exception this weekend.

Made shortbread cookies on Friday, two loaves of pumpkin bread yesterday, and today I painted rocks. Fit in some movies along with naps and by God Monday is almost here!!

Sun, Sand and Stubbs

Spent the afternoon with a Stubbs at Willow Grove today. Thankfully the rain had stopped and didn't return until after we had left.

Pulling the Plug on the Predator

Facebook is my guilty pleasure. I post goofy TGIF memes, say happy birthday to friends, play trivial quizzes, and catch up with family.  I also receive friend requests from people - usually co-workers, friends of friends, or at times people I don't know, who are promptly deleted.

The other day a man friend requested me who I thought was a friend of someone I knew.  It wasn't. This guy started FB messaging me.  Obviously a single dude my age who was trying to make a connection with other singles via Facebook.

He didn't expect that I'm a smart cookie. I asked him a lot of questions and his answers were:

• Wife was murdered 5 years ago in Berlin;
• Son hasn't spoken to him in 3 years;
• Only child;
• Parents are dead;
• Works in Afghanistan in the service but is from Ohio;
• Is 53 but has only been in the service 15 years, which made him 38 when he joined;
• Hasn't been on a date or had a girlfriend for 5 years since his wife died.

So, along with Facebook Google is also my friend. In another life I was born to be a detective. I searched this guy's info - nothing.  No family, tragic events, and shady military history added up to a big mystery.

At that point he began referring to me as Hon so the jig was up.  Does any of his info sound believable?  Perhaps to a desperate single woman but not to this diva.  I blocked that Internet predator faster than my Stubbs wolfing down a Milk Bone!

While it was an entertaining event, I won't accept friend requests from people I don't know again. A little too creepy for my taste!!

Hanging with Paul and Joanne

Today was a very long day at work so I relaxed tonight by watching a Paul Newman/Joanne Woodward movie From the Terrace (long and boring) and surfing Pinterest. Here are a few items of interest:

Names.org.  in my past life I was a shepherd.  Gee what a coincidence!!

Makeup memes.

That was it!  Good night all!!

Sunshine and Wicker on this Monday

Highlight of my Monday was snagging some free wicker furniture!!

Co-worker Tiffany was moving from her place and there was wicker porch furniture that had been left by one of her previous roommates.  I had seen it before and told her if she ever got rid of it I would take it. Well that's just what happened!!

Tiff moved out officially last Friday.  Today after work we made a rendezvous at her old place in hopes the wicker remained. Score it did!!!  Now to get it into the car.

It was obvious we were not engineers as we struggled to fit a loveseat, two chairs and a table into the car. We pulled, we pushed, we wrangled.  The best we could do was fit the couch, one chair and the table. Tiff was kind enough to take the other chair and haul it to work so it can be taken home tomorrow.  

This was how my drive home played out. 

Once home the furniture was unloaded and placed on the front porch. Ended up moving existing decor around then decided to go all out and brave the downstairs closet for pillows and throws. 

This closet seems to be the one where we toss everything. About a year or so ago I actually cleaned it out; however, once again it has become akin to the proverbial junk drawer with all sorts of odds and ends winding up in that tiny space. 

Digging through the closet amounted to me laying on my stomach over a variety of items. Mismatched shoes, cast off clothes from the boys, boxes, and a stuffed snowman softened my bones as I reached toward the back to grab a perfect pillow. I grabbed, I flung, and finally it was time to get myself up out of there, which was a lot easier said than done. 

Gripping the wall, my body moved slowly to my knees while visions of tomorrow's headline rose in my thoughts. "Middle-Aged Woman Breaks Leg in Hoarder's Closet."  Or better still "Trapped Woman Perishes After Choking On Christmas Snowman."  Yep such is my life. 

The good news is I made it out alive and continued on my redecorating.  Fluffed up the wicker, added throws, burlap, driftwood and pillows, and the task was done. Moved the previous bench, a wooden number with the carving of two horse heads (a castoff from horsey sister Eilene, which never fit into my beach theme) further down the porch. Placing a large driftwood plank on the seat, an aqua throw was carefully folded to camouflage the battling horses.  

After a final sweeping, the deed was done. Turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. Now to figure out where to put the second chair that will be arriving tomorrow.  Please say a small prayer that nothing will be needed from closet hell which will require my return to the abyss.

On a side note, the sun was out today, which puts me in a much better mood. Despite a regular intake of Vitamin D and B12, gray rainy weather just doesn't sit well with me.  Perhaps spring is finally here. And the best part?  Son Sam stopped by and mowed my front yard with a promise to mow the back yard and weedeat tomorrow!!  Life is certainly good!!

A Meringue Kind of Weekend

Last week was so packed full of work activities that I made up for it this weekend by relaxing.

Friday night, after having two nails come off, the evening was spent clipping and picking off all my nails because why not?  Hello short stubby fingers!

Slept in Saturday then spent the morning cleaning the kitchen, vacuuming, and the usual chores.  After looking at my little scruff meister Stubbs, I decided a trim and bath was in order. Mainly trimmed his face and feet then gave him a soapy scrubbing. He smells so much better but that trim job wasn't so great - he looks like a pudgy puff ball with four twigs for legs. Poor little pup.

Then of course with all that dog hair my allergies came to a head.  Took a shower then downed a benadryl to control the symptoms.  It was soon naptime.

That afternoon I made shrimp pasta salad along with some meringue cookies with lemon curd filling.  Yummy but too many for me so to off work they will go.

Yesterday I dinked around home then stopped at Goodwill to see if there were any acceptable movies. Snagged one of my favorites that I hadn't seen in a very long time - Glengarry Glen Ross, a David Mamet written film about salesmen and filled with swearing.  Al Pacino, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Spacey, Jack Lemmon - beyond excellent cast. It was good but not as great as my memory recalled.

And here it is Monday once again. Back to the grind, which should be busy since spring break is upon us.