Going Natural

Now that my hair is longer, it's become a bit more of a hassle to fix. Takes longer to dry, longer to flat iron, and I thought there has to be a better way short of chopping it all off.

Decided to try and test out the "natural" style for my hair. Which means using a diffuser, encouraging the curls, and mainly wearing my hair naturel as opposed to beating it into submission.

Part of this involved lots of research on Pinterest and You Tube. Best ways to enhance curls, dry hair, condition, gel, cream, wax, layers, air dry, silicone, coconut oil, and so on.  This morning after washing my hair I immediately slathered
Paul Mitchell firm hold gel throughout my strands. Let my hair hang sans towel while I did my face. Gingerly diffused my hair on hot setting but low speed. Well it did encourage some of the curl. I was hoping for coils and ringlets but wound up with messy beach bum hair.  Trying to get the perfect waves/curls to form throughout my whole head, not just in certain sections.

Sis Luna suggested curly girl products she uses  - Love Ur Self or LUS. Looks promising.

Tomorrow is Friday which is awesome! However, it also means I have a bright and early appointment for my mammogram at 8am followed by a flu shot at 1pm!  Here's to welcoming the weekend by being groped, poked and prodded!

Hocus, Pocus, Big Cats, and Beds

We watch this movie every year. Watched it so many times - so good! Can't believe you haven't seen it!

With these phrases echoing in my head from friends and co-workers, I took the plunge and picked up a $5 copy of "Hocus Pocus" a 1993 film starring Bette Midler, Kathy Najimi, and Sarah Jessica Parker. High Hope's in store and thinking I had really missed on on a classic for all these years, I pressed play last night to watch it.

Oh no. So bad. So very, very bad. And not just because it was from 1993. Plain and simple bad acting, stupid storyline, and lack of humor. Skip it!  I wish I had!

There once was a movie named Hocus

Great reviews brought it into my focus

Tried to watch it last night

Bad acting such a fright

Discovered the movie was a big Jokus!

Last night Marie brought in the stray cat she named Romeo to visit. She had ended up befriending him then took him to an organization to be neutered where he also received a flea bath, shots, and a checkup at no cost. Well, this is a large cat. Flame point Siamese. Twice the size of my little Stubbins. And he likes me. This behemoth  feline scooted up on the couch to lay next to me. Ended up begging and pleading to get him to move. 

However, he's not as friendly with Marie. I tried to take a pic of them together and you can see how that turned out. 😳

Yesterday picked up tickets to the 2019 Monster Bash at the Monticello Hotel. It's a local Halloween party and if I remember correctly I've never been.

Today after meeting bestie for breakfast, swung by Joann's Fabric.  Needed material to make a different type of shrug to go with my mermaid outfit. Found some killer shiny material along with a mermaid wig.  Can't wait to put it all together!

After Joann's, Sam picked me up and we hit the storage unit to get my bed. The futon I was using wasn't cutting it so decided my bed was the best bet. Unfortunately, the set up is kind of weird since it's adjustable so could only grab the mattress.  

Came home, traded out the futon for the mattress, unloaded the futon in the storage unit, then Sam dropped me off at my rig. Headed over to Ross to browse.  The light pink rug recently purchased there was molting- pieces of string all over and Stubbs was chewing on it. So took it to storage as well. Ended up finding a fake fur blush pink rug that fits in nicely and is not shedding.

After Ross stopped by Walmart for a few groceries. At this point had been running around since breakfast - no makeup, leggings,  hair in ponytail, and was sweating and feeling grubby. However, fit right in at Wally World!  Picked up the essentials, including plain Almond Milk. I'm now a convert to this stuff - haven't had any cow's milk or butter since moving to Marie's. Not that I've given up dairy - still dig my cheese and yogurt!

Finally made it home, unloaded bags, cleaned my room, started laundry, ate dinner, and am now in bed, which feels really divine!  Here's to everyone having a wonderous sleep and starting Monday off rested and relaxed!

Goodbye to 223

I'm not there
But the house still stands
Soaked with memories of
Two little boys running
Up and down the stairs
Heading toward the candy drawer
Hidden in the kitchen

Traces of Buddy, Fred, Ethel, Spike and a few more dogs who called its space home
Two marriages took place within its walls, both starting with high hopes yet failing just the same

Two little boys grew up and flew the confines of mom's house
Where there was once a tumble of teenage friends with unlimited appetites
Had evolved into a house with empty bedrooms
And a woman in her fifties with only her little dog and memories to fill the space

I won't be there this year
To greet 500 trick or treaters
That home of 21 years
Now belongs to someone else
No, I don't want to drive by
And see the gray color it's been painted, the first tree planted chopped down or the updated landscape design
For to me it will always remain
The home that held just a mom
And her two little boys

Mermaid and Mini Dogs

This week was rather memorable.  First off, I think I was promoted - think being the operative word.

They are reorganizing the commercial line titles and it seemed my duties fell into a higher level. Although no one has told me, all of a sudden my email signature block popped up with a higher title. Hmmm...was this just slipped in as a type of game i.e. What's Your Line?  If you can spot your new title you get to keep it? And is there a dollar amount associated with this promotion? It's all a mystery but one that should play out to a finish this week even if I have to jump in to solve the story.

Marie and I were invited to a Halloween party for Saturday. The excitement of what to wear was overtaking our week! We threw our resources together, borrowed from others than hit Goodwill. Found a mermaid tail  blanket sort of thing that could easily be turned into an outfit. 

Ended up sewing a mermaid inspired tee to the blanket, attached a wrist cord to the tail, threw on a sparkly shrug, iridescence makeup, a shell in my hair and voila! Mermaid city had arrived.  

Marie dressed up as a flapper girl.  She picked up a furry cardigan from Goodwill which I stitched into a shortened shrug.  She even dyed her pink fringe dress red at the last minute. We also spent an hour Saturday afternoon preparing crescent wrapped little smokies to take to the Halloween shindig. 

Unfortunately, time was not on our side and we wound up running late for the party. And it was in Toutle so it was a bit of a drive. Plus we drove slower than normal in fear of deer being on the dark, lonely country roads.

But arrive we finally did. Party was held in a big barn arena with lots of hay bales, peach moonshine, and cornhole. Let's just say we were expecting heels and champagne but ended up with beer and Romeos. However, the weenie wraps were a hit and I even broke out my karaoke version of Patsy Cline's "Crazy" so the evening was not wasted!  Actually took a ride on the barn swing attached to the beams of the arena in all my mermaid regalia to top off the night. A party is only as entertaining as what you bring to it and we brought our best!

Left the backwoods of Toutle around midnight. Took the dark roads slow and thankfully so as we ran smackdab into a family of four deer on the road. We smiled at them, they smiled at us, then made their way across the road with no injuries to either party.

Finally stumbled into bed about 1:15 am. Currently riding the couch wrapped up in a warm blanket, gnawing on a few leftover lil smokie wraps, which is a perfect place to be this Sunday afternoon.

Transforming a Room into A Home

Days have been running along and my acclimation to my new place has grown but still in the adjustment phase.  There are times at night when I awaken to thoughts that I'm still in my old bedroom.

Thursday met up with Sam so he could transport my fainting couch from the storage unit to my room, which needed a bit more. We worked slowly but were able to wiggle it in and it fit perfectly!   Tossed a throw and a couple of fuzzy pink pillows on it and it immediately added to the homeyness of the room.

Friday met up with pal Shelly for lunch at Cow Deli. Had been so long since we had visited! We promised each other to do something together very soon,  like the time we went to Cannon Beach. We definitely need a girl's day!

Along with working some overtime during the week, Saturday found me toiling away at the office to reduce the amount of training on the back burner.  Took a pause at 1:30 to break Panera bread with Jordan and Candy - had the nostalgic meal of grilled cheese and tomato bisque. Back to work then threw in the towel after reaching 8 hours of stuffing my brain full of certificates, Acord forms, endorsements and the like.

Once home, Marie and I tackled a wall lettering project. She had a huge quote hanging about that we figured would fit in nicely on one of my walls. Measured, marked, peeled the backing, then slowly adhered the words to the wall. After that, rubbed the lettering to ensure adherence then peeled the paper bit by bit so as not to disturb the quote. And it turned out perfect! The quote, although supposedly by Marilyn Monroe, is a wee bit negative but still adds a certain jois de vivre to the room.

Sunday arrived and have spent the majority of the time lounging.  Took a shower, slapped on makeup, and straightened my hair in hope it would inspire me to pursue an adventure of some sort. Nope, that didn't happen and the rest of the day has been spent watching What's My Line and the Great British Bake Off.

On a side note, quitting smoking has been going great. Don't have the urges like before. Tomorrow is my last day of Chantix; put in a refill but haven't heard back from pharmacy on it.

Also enjoying my recent SUV purchase. All cash, paid for at a very acceptable rate, and insurance is low. Rig has been awesome - very clean, one owner, and passing Carfax.

Eliminating the cig purchases, the auto loan, and working overtime is all in the plan to bump up my personal equity. And right now that feels good.

Green Plastic Bag World

Oh it's been a whirlwind, life changing, big ball of activity over the last week.

With Sam's help, moved in to Marie's. She had started painting my room which meant I slept in her bed and she slept on the couch the first night. Painting continued, then ripping out closet organizers along with wood to paint the closet. The past two days she has been finishing the closet and hanging curtains. In a nutshell, this means my numerous bags of clothes and shoes are still in the back room and I'm living out of green plastic bags!  However, I see a light at the end of the tunnel and my room should be finished by this weekend.

Living with a roommate will also be a learning experience. We are somewhat like The Odd Couple - she's Felix and I'm Oscar. She's a bit on the OCD side when it comes to organization and cleaning. I'm following her lead as it's her house.  So becoming a bit more neat and tidy - wash my dishes after each meal, pick up the bathroom when done, and that sort of thing.

Last night Marie was gone feeding the cats at our friends who were in Vegas.  They have a country home filled with apple trees, deer, and a breathtaking view.

While she was out, I took my Chantix pill - the quitting smoking has been going great - on what I thought was a full stomach. Was relaxing in the recliner when it suddenly hit me that I was going to be sick. Jumped up and ran to the bathroom but alas didn't make it quite in time. Following the literal upheaval, it was time to clean up the mess on the floor, on the lower wall, on the toilet and God knows where else. I was going fast as I wanted it done before The White Glove got home.  Whew - finished in time and carried my bagged clean up mess outside and tossed in the garbage.  If you think I was covering my tracks, you are absolutely correct!

She arrived home shortly thereafter and I let her know I was sick but didn't tell her the extent of my illness -

Thought I got away with it but alas, tonight she asked me if I had gotten sick on the floor. Uh yes but why do you ask? She said the floor was sticky. Just can't get away with nothing can you?

Stubbs has become quite settled in his new home. He and Lilly are somewhat buds and he's enjoying his time here. It's a plus that Marie is here all day so he doesn't have time to miss his mama.

A Little Bit of This and That

Happy 4-year Anniversary to Jordan and Candy last week!

And yes, still in the house. The days are dragging by while I wait for a glitch to be fixed. I'm ready to go, just focusing on last minute items to be taken to storage. Once I get the green light will be heading to Marie's. Beginning to feel like Grey Gardens in the house - kind of a ramshackle way to live with little furnishings, one lamp, and a couch that thankfully isn't hurting my back. And now the rain has begun which unfortunately puts a damper on my spirits.  With hope and prayers the closing will be done this week.

Yes, the below represents me but with Stubbs in my arms. 🙄
               

The good news is I just started Chantix to quit smoking. So far so good and it has helped with the cravings. Sam stopped by Saturday morning when the dosage had gone up. Prescription suggests to eat something before taking the pill.  I ate a piece of wheat bread and discovered that was not the ticket! Ended up on back porch barfing my guts out.   Poor Sam brought me out a paper towel. Thankfully,  the doses went down fine as I learned my lesson that a slice of bread won't cut it - digested oatmeal works much better!

This morning trimmed my bangs. Always go back and forth but bangs seem to give a better look with the added benefit of covering my forehead wrinkles!

Saw in the news that Chris March, a Project Runway veteran, passed away. He was a more down-to-earth, funny contestant and one of my favs. Rest in peace, Chris.

 Here's to everyone having a great week! And hopefully the rain will depart!