On Death and Dying

While the world stops to remember Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. While people take the time to acknowledge the death of Ed McMahon, David Carradine and Billy Mays. Death goes on around us without most of acknowledging unless we are personally affected but when it happens in our lives we want the world to stop and see the pain that the loss of our loved one has caused.

Yesterday on Facebook a friend mentioned the death of Billy Mays, her friend responded that she didn't care about Billy Mays, Michael Jackson or Farrah Fawcett. She had lost her beloved Grandfather this week and in reading her comments her pain was palpable. She wanted people to know she loved him and in her life her Grandfather was more influential than anyone else being talked about this week.

My family experienced a loss this week also, I have not mentioned it because I felt it was too private. My Aunt passed away Wednesday after a 2 month struggle, my Uncle had to make the heart wrenching decision to take her off life support, he knew it was her wish not to be kept on artificial respiration but the choice to actually take her off was painful. She was a beautiful soul, when I was a bratty teenager she would write me letters. I thought she was great, even when I wanted nothing to do with the rest of family, she was artistic and sensitive. In my own life she was influential and she will be missed.

I was a huge Billy Mays fan, I am a sucker for infomercials and Billy could convince me I needed whatever he was selling. Especially after I bought OxiClean and it worked. I am still sad I never got a Big City Slider for my birthday, the people who know me in real life know how bad my addiction can be but apparently didn't get the hints that I do actually need the Big City Slider.

My little sister was adamant at a time in her life that she would marry either Michael Jackson or Alex Trebek and while she is getting married in December (sorry not to Alex Trebek, I think his wife would be annoyed) she was still sad at the passing of Michael Jackson.

The Rapscallion has become a full fledged MJ addict, he has sat for hours watching videos on YouTube. He has driven all of us in the household a little batty with having to listen to Beat It over and over again. I am all too happy to allow him to explore his new musical interest, I remember myself when the death of Kurt Cobain spurred my own interest in music.

1st Annual LosB Las Vegas Alleycat Race

Visit http://losbracing.blogspot.com/ to find out about our upcoming race!

This is me and Dear Hubby heading to Fort Collins for a random trip. We bought the tickets at 3 pm and flew out at 8 pm.

I called my Sister-in-Law to make sure she could pick us up from the airport in Denver, she told us that she could but that they had bought a new house and were moving this weekend. Dear Hubby had no interest in helping his brother move and called his Dad to pick us up instead. Nice, I guess that is how brothers roll.

We got into Fort Collins around 12:30, and basically went to sleep. On Saturday morning we had a nice breakfast with my Father-in-law and SMother-in-law. I had the best whole wheat pancakes and then SMother-in-law and I went shopping while Dear Hubby and his Dad went to a car show. We stopped at a little brewery called Coopersmiths and had a green chili beer, they are the best.

We went over to Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Laws new house in the afternoon after they had finished moving all their stuff with their friends. We went out that evening with them, it was crazy hanging out with them and their new house is awesome. It was owned by a hippie woman who built a rock climbing wall in the garage. I also got some bling, my Sister-in-Law convinced me to pierce my nose and I love it!

It pinched a little, and my eye watered just a little as you can see from my smeared eye make-up. I love that the shop we went to was showing Ratatouille in the background.

On Sunday we had dinner with SMother-in-Law's parents and everyone played on a Slip 'N Slide, turns out my Father-in-Law isn't as areo-dynamic as he thinks he is. Dear Hubby's cousin also came in from Aurora and it was great to see them, they just moved to Colorado from Tucson and they really love it there also.

We headed home early, early Monday morning. We were tired but it was a great trip, I love the family we have out there and we will get to go back out at the end of July when Dear Hubby's oldest brother will be out visiting also.

Leaving on a Jet-Plane

The Kidlet is leaving tomorrow for a trip with Bio-Mom to visit her family, he will get to see his grandmother, great-grandmother and Aunt. I know he will have fun but I will miss seeing him everyday.

The trip was planned during our custodial time and over Father's day. Since he won't be with us Dear Hubby took him to dinner last night and then they watched the movie that the Rapscallion bought him for Father's Day. I gave Dear Hubby a gift certificate for a massage, so maybe he can relax a little. Since we are kid-free I was thinking about going camping this weekend but I need to see how my own father would feel about that.

I was on a media-fast for most of the last 2 weeks, I found that I was spending a little too much time online getting this blog off the ground. I needed some time away to regroup and get my thoughts in order. I am feeling much clearer now and will be back to regular posting next week.

I did wash the Rapscallions blanket that he will take with him, hopefully it smells like my house and he will know I miss him.

Media Fast

Sorry about the absence, I was on a self imposed media fast from my computer for a few days. I needed some time to attend to some issues that were happening in my household, nothing major and things are great. I will update more once I can climb out from underneath the giant pile of email!

I Shall Love Him and Call Him Tyson

Yesterday I cleaned my parents house, it was quite a job. It took about 9 hours because I was being a perfectionist about everything. My 84 year old Grandmother followed me around the house all day asking if she could help, I felt really bad but I didn't need her help and her constant presence over my shoulder was actually getting in my way a little. I am horrible, I can't believe I just typed that.

I also broke my parents vacuum cleaner, not such a good first day on the job. Their vacuum cleaner has been on it's last legs for a while, so it wasn't a shock that he passed away while in my care. I have a history of breaking things that have wheels. I told my Dad that I broke the vacuum cleaner and since I had sprinkled baking soda on the carpet I needed a new one. I mentioned that I had been at Target that morning and seen a Dyson on clearance for 1/2 the original price. He told me my Mom wanted the DC25 All Floors, the one with the ball, as it happens that was the one on clearance. After a quick trip to Target my parents got a new vacuum cleaner and while I have never publicly proclaimed a love of a vacuum, I was smitten.

I called Dear Hubby and told him I needed this vacuum, he wasn't convinced because even on clearance this was more than we have ever spent on a household item. Oh except our bed, we spent 3 years sleeping on an old mattress and when we could afford it we sprung for a new bed, complete with box spring and nice mattress. I digress, most of our household items have been either given to us or rescued from the thrift store or even the trash (I admit it, I am a dumpster diver) the only exception to this rule is Dear Hubby's mountain bike, even used I think it cost more than his truck.

So I begged a little bit for a new vacuum, I might have promised some sexual favors (Dad pretend you didn't read that) but he wasn't understanding my passion for a new vacuum. He did mention that I could get it, but we needed to wait until we had money in the bank, whatever, he also did mention he was OK with "anything that makes you want to vacuum more" but I still didn't feel like he was understanding our need for this vacuum. Or so I thought, I came home from cleaning a little sore and smelling like vinegar (great natural disinfectant) I sat on the couch and watched some t.v. with Dear Hubby. After a little bit I had to take a shower, I was grossing myself out with how badly I smelled. When I got out of the shower I saw something laying in my bed.

It was the vacuum! Dear Hubby had gone out and bought it, it was the last one in the store. I love him (and Dear Hubby too) it is the most super awesome vacuum ever. It doesn't clog, it doesn't weight 50lbs, it doesn't overheat and sound like a jet plane taking off (you know who I am talking about crappy vacuum cleaner I inherited from Patty Cakes) I have named him Tyson because he is sexy like a super-model!

My Dad Wants to be Your Facebook Friend

I am lucky, I have wonderful parents. They have always supported me in whatever I want to do, I don't think I would have lasted one day as a Stepmom if I hadn't had my own mom as a wonderful example of how to be a mother/stepmother with grace and dignity. I am my Dad's daughter, I got his sense of humor and his ability to stick his foot in his mouth at just the right occasion. My parent's are proud of me, they love Dear Hubby and the Kidlet.

I know my Dad is proud of me because I can read it in his Facebook posts. Now I will admit I feel like a little kid when I read something he has posted bragging about me, especially since he likes to do it to my group of sarcastic, sh*t talking friends. Dear Hubby and his friends Tico and Sickboy started a little club, it is basically a social drinking club. Sickboy started a Facebook group and my Dad joined the group. No worries my Dad is cool! Except when he outed me as a nerd to my "cool" Facebook friends.

Oh well, I am blessed with parents that care. I am not really complaining and if you want my Dad will be your Facebook friend!

LBDCOL4L