Say It Don't Spray It!

It started this past February. It was a terrible night of crushing fingers and dust storms. That was the night that I trepidatiously went to one of my first squadron spouses' events ever. It was at this dinner that I met a girl we will call Ann. I liked her. She was cute, fashionable and poised. She was nice and friendly without be overly so that she was scary. In discussions with me and some of the other girls I would hear her talk about topics that interest me AND she is a SAHM. Those are few and far between around here. I think I developed a bit of a girl crush. She and her husband were new "quitters" (as we reserve couples are called). She asked me some questions about the area and about Rich's job and said she might call me to talk about some issues more in depth. I told her that would be great and to call anytime. I asked Rich when I got home if he knew and/or liked her husband. He said yes to both. I thought, "Great! I think we could make new couple friends!" She never called. It is out of my somewhat reserved comfort zone to call a girl I met once who may or may not have found me interesting.

Now it is July. In the months since February there has been some minor squadron drama. (For further details on the drama you will have to look elsewhere.) I was concerned that because I am a relative unknown in the squadron my name might be attached to the drama. (Sorry to be vague, but some things do not belong on this blog.) Anywho, I was thinking this might be why she didn't call. So I finally broke one of my cardinal rules and confided to a very good friend who is also attached to the squadron about my dilemma. She understood and then she said that coincidentally she had been having squadron issues of her own and that she had been thinking of having Rich and I, along with Ann and her husband, over for dinner next week...Yay! She asked that I mention this "get together" to Ann that night at the Hail and Farewell at the Flying Saucer.

In keeping with the elements of a girl crush, I spend a ridiculous amount of mental energy deciding what to wear to the Hail and Farewell. I want her to think I am hip and interesting, no? We arrive at the bar and start mingling. I meet some new people which is nice and I meet Ann's husband, but she is way over at the other end of the room. I never quite make it over to say hello because I get involved in conversations with some other people and then get trapped in a conversation that is a total train wreck (again, look elsewhere for details). Finally, when she does make it towards my side of the room and she comes to chat I am feeling a little buzzed and flushed. She asks me a question and I answer her while still laughing at something or another which causes ...

spittle to fly from my mouth and land dead center on her cheeks!!!!!! OMG! SO embarrassing!
She made a joke of wiping off her face. Before anything else could transpire they started clinking the glass to start the official hailing and farewelling. Rich and I had to duck out quickly as he had an 0630 brief the next morning.

So, that was my first and last impression on the girl. And I'm having dinner with her family at the aforementioned friend's house on Friday. What will I do to embarrass myself this time?

P.S. In an attempt to regain some "coolness" factor, I am bringing both my much-loved chocolate pie and a fresh peach pie with a butter/peach brandy filling under the peaches. Wouldn't you want to be my friend if I made you delicious pies?

The Times, They are a Changin'

Picture this if you will...I am walking down the street on a Sunday morning. I am following a 40-inch-tall little boy with a backpack on his back and carrying a sleeping bag. It was so cute and picturesque, but all I could think was, "How did this happen? When did my little baby boy grow into a big kid who goes on sleepovers?"

Then it occurs to me that when Rich and I came home from the Flying Saucer the night prior,* we could not go to bed because we had to wait up for J and Con to get home from the movies.

So, in one weekend, my little boy grew into a big kid and my other two boys turned into kids I had to wait up for.

*More on my embarrassing social gaffes next post.

Career Advice

If you are completely opposed to the consumption of alcohol, and would be thrilled to see prohibition reinstated, then maybe you should not work at a LIQUOR STORE!

However, you certainly would give me one of the biggest laughs of my vacation.

Life is good!

The beach is great. Two days of rain, but still having fun and it looks like the rain will not be returning for a while. I'll post more if it does rain, but until then I'm off to make some sandcastles and drink margaritas.

OH, and now there is a Fresh Market IN DESTIN!!!!!! Could life be any better?

Somebody Call the CDC

Dear Annie,

You know that I love you dearly and have enjoyed our friendship. Your blog with all of its wit, book reviews and pictures of the adorable Sam entertain me almost daily. So, it is with much regret that I find myself considering avoiding you, even in blogging form. I think your disease is contagious. You know, that volunteering disease? I had gotten very good at saying "no" with much grace, but just now I hung up the phone and just stared at it thinking, "How could I have agreed to that?" The only conclusion I can come to is that Annie Disease is contagious and is transmitted via the Internet.

The cost of this disease? Sanity

Symptoms for me will include:
1. 6th grade room parent
2. Fall Festival Chair (HOLY CRAP!)
3. renewing my gig as the assistant to the Development Director
4. mentor family (not that big of a deal, thank goodness!)
5. PTO Hospitality Chair

I have heard that there are only two ways to manage the dreaded disease
1. Copious delegation
2. alcohol (preferably in the form of Vanilla Skyy or Absolut Citron)

If people end up suing that guy with TB, I will be forced to sue you for the cost of alcohol necessary to survive the next school year. Maybe Paige will publish some new cocktail recipes soon. I would love to write more, but I have to head over to the White Trash Mom right now to check her advice on hiding from the Muffia and Volunteer Gestapo!

Love,
MaryB

(circa 1994)



Happy Birthday to my oldest and dearest friend, el-e-e! We have spent years comparing and mulling over boyfriends. homework, books, prom dresses, college majors, jobs, wedding dresses, pregnancy, husbands, and kids. One day it will be grandchildren and great grandchildren! I am still reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and am sure that el-e-e is my laotong.

I have tried in vain to creatively express to the blogosphere what an amazing woman she is. However, I seem unable to create the picture montage I had envisioned. It would be in poor taste to call your best friend to get technical advice on how to create something that you were creating for her, don't ya think?


So, is it possible to paint her with words?



She is...



unbelievably smart



petite



demure



funny, and sometimes downright silly



fiercely loyal



a voracious reader



deep, pensive, thoughtful


beautiful, especially her stunning baby blue eyes


the best crepe maker ever!


a loving and patient mother


a girl with the voice that will stop you in your tracks and make you cry (especially if she sings Friends at your high school baccalaureate or Wherever you Go at your wedding)


the only person I know whose eye roll might equal mine



a Texan, but we'll forgive her for that

the girl who introduced me to the love of my life

the best friend I could have asked for for the past 18 years


so much more than I could describe here




I hope that you all have a friend like her in your lifetime. And, if you are lucky, you can marry their cousin so that she is stuck with you as family for the rest of her life!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

El-e-e, Why is it that you have all the sparkly dress pictures? Those would have been a hoot to use for this post! You would be surprised how hard I had to hunt for a picture of the two of us. They must all still be at my mom's house. We need some updated pictures!

Memorial Day Weekend Turns Into Memorial Week

What did you do this past long weekend? Hope you has as much fun as we did! I, always the city girl, was shocked to discover another side of myself. I am diggin' this whole ranch lifestyle. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of Con tagging the new calf's ear. The cows and calves were SOO cute! We saw them doctor a hurt cow, find a lost cow....I could go on and on, but here is the evidence of the fun... Oh, and Grant caught his first fish ever!