I am so sorry

I just haven't been able to write lately.

A 13 year old boy in our town choose to end his short precious life. He and C played in the neighborhood and all summer at the pool while growing up. I will never forget how he wore his "shark fins and goggles" to chase all the kids around the shallow end. I can't believe that his life was that bad. He was having anxiety at school and it has come out that there was major bullying.

I am so sorry for the family.

A dear friend that has been trying to have a baby for years suffered a miscarriage last week. She was 37 weeks pregnant, on bedrest and doing great. Placenta previa. before they could even get to the hospital it was over. A perfect baby boy.

I am so sorry for the family.

I took my aunt to the hospital last week to have a procedure on her back. The surgeon came out to let me know that she was in really bad shape and if she didn't change her ways (diabetes and an alcoholic) she would not live much longer.
"2- 3 years?", I asked.
"Try weeks", was his reply.
She is 64 years old and has a body of an 85 year old. She refuses to change and her son has washed his hands of the whole mess. Its up to me and Nana Judy to handle everything.
I am so sad for my family.

Not much in comparison, but huge in Paintboy's life.
PB's car got broken into and all of his camera equipment was stolen. He takes photographs in addition to painting. This is serious equipment, thousands of dollars. Lots of them.
This is a man that is never without his camera. He feels like a part of him is missing. I feel like I am going to vomit know that he will replace it all, very soon.

My perfect town has been violated
my peacful world has been invaded
and none of it is funny

Long time no see..

I can't believe that it has been a week since I posted!

It has been a very long week. I worked late, helped C with a science fair project, held the ice cream sundae parties for the fundraiser, went to a friend's house for dinner, unloaded the storage unit of the Halloween decorations, started decorating, taught sunday school and had the "sahara desert" feeling eyes from surgery last week! I am tired just typing it all!

My eyes are doing great, I keep forgeting that I don't wear glasses and keep reaching for them. I swapped sight for memory. I am good with the switch. I will forget that I am crazy!

Take this quiz

You Should Live in Georgia

If you don't want to live in Georgia, you might also consider: North Carolina Florida Nebraska Ohio Texas

What State Should You Live In?

I saw this on Abnormally normal and thought I would give it a try. I wonder how in 6 questions they figured out so much?

Ouch!

That is just the beginning.

I had Custom Interlase, which is a bladless form of LASIC. It was custom because I have funky corneas and they had to smooth them out first. I also have very dry eyes, which is why I stopped wearing contacts a few years ago.

***WARNING***
For the info junkies out there- DO NOT WATCH THE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE. I had the procedure with my eyes open and I couldn't watch.

The procedure is best described as stressful, because of the pressure on your eye and having to hold perfectly still and focus on a light. I passed with flying colors, but the stuffed animal they gave me to hold could be missing a paw. oops!

I would definetly do all of this again, I just feel like I am walking around with dried out contacts in my eyes and I am not allowed to rub them.
But I can see.
For the first time in 29 years I can see without correction.

My new best friend is the bottle of tear drops.

Today is the day

that I get LASIC.
I have been blind (or nearly) for 29 years. I am incredibly nearsighted and have funky shaped corneas. This all leads to the fact that I can't see; not even the alarm clock next to my head in the morning.

I have chickened out on the surgery 3 times already.
I am going today.
Nana Judy is driving, Paint boy is codependent on the chickening out. He is out.
I am scared to death.

Phew!

I had the biggest weekend.

Paint boy and I had Date Night.
First we headed out to Bubbalini's. We had a fantastic dinner of Calamari and Lasagna. YUMMO! There were no children in sight, not ours or anyone else's. It helped we sat in the beautiful bar area.
We have season tickets to The Theater in Square. Friday night was Sherlock Holmes. Funny. It helps that they serve wine. Our tickets guarantee a date night once every 6 weeks.

Saturday brought about errands, laundry and Swirls!
Clemson girl, the Lawyer's Wife and her mom, Nana Judy and I, all headed to Swirls to paint. What a great idea! You bring drinks and snacks, they provide everything else. We were very adventuresome and decided to paint this-


Holy Crap! What were we thinking?

Paintboy asked if it was going to be "paint by number". No way, dude.
Blank canvas.
Brushes.
Paint.
It's all up to you.


Clemson and me with our blank canvas in the background.



Clemson and Lawyer's wife. They are well on their way.


Ta Da!!!!
Here are the results. Everyone did the same picture, but our own interpretation. SO fun.
We are definitely going back for the holiday pictures.
After drying over night the pictures were even better. The paint seemed to mellow. Either that or they just started to grow on us.
Like mold.

Sunday brought about church, but that is going to get its own post.

And then...

it was time...

for...

FANCY NANCY!!!!

Babycakes had her 4th birthday and I was invited to help at the hair station. It was fabulous and the kids had a blast. (Click on the 2 links above for tons of photos.)


In all their dress-up finery.

After everyone left, Babycakes broke out her Birthday loot. All at once.
Cinderella meets Barbie meets every bit of play makeup in the box.

She then went outside and ran over her boyfriend in the Barbie car. The entire time she was laughing uncontrollably as he chased her around the yard. It was priceless.


I have had the best weekend ever.

I need drugs

CAFFEINE COURT brought up an interesting topic the other day- What are you on?

I was a very proud member of the "I don't NEED a pill to get through the day" club until last year.

I chaired our JL largest fundraiser with half of the normal committee members (had to move the venue), had a child starting kindergarten, had a child starting middle school, ran my own business ( one employee pregnant and another with health issues), my husband made a career change AND we opened an art gallery.

I am now on 10mg of Lexapro every day.
I smile.
I breathe.
I usually can sleep through the night.

I am now apologizing, IF, I have spoken sharply to you or not said "please or thank you" as I should.

I am sorry.

Please do not lecture me on the drugs. I didn't need them until I was 35 with a middle schooler. You just don't need them yet.
Its just a matter of time. I'm just sayin'.

I now have lexapro and Firefly sweet tea vodka. Life is good.