As many of you know, I have a 15 year old daughter. She’s wonderful…for driving me insane. You have to understand that my daughter was (in my eyes) perfect until last summer when she lost her mind. She’s gotten it back, but something has definitely changed. Maybe it got shaken and is just malfunctioning. Maybe she lost part of it. I don’t know, but whatever happened, I’m sure it’s not exactly the same as it was prior to last summer.

Vanessa NEVER kept a boyfriend for more than six weeks. Ever. She is the queen of flirting, but once a boy tried anything, she kicked them to the curb and moved on to the next one. She actually broke up with one because, “He kept trying to put his arm around me!!!!” GROSS!

A couple of years back, my brother-in-law called. “Hey. A boy called Charlea (my niece). I asked him what he was doing calling my house, asking for my daughter and he told me he wanted Vanessa’s phone number. I gave it to him and told him, ‘Boy, you’re brave. Don’t you know Vanessa’s mom hates boys? There’s a reason she’s not married. She hates men. She even taught her dog to attack them on sight. I’m not sure I’d call if I were you. Can’t it wait until school Monday?’” My brother-in-law got a kick out of it…and the boy was scared. He didn’t call my house until THREE HOURS later….and then was all Eddy Haskell like, “Ma’am, may I please speak with your daughter? I wanted to ask her some questions about our homework.”

Apparently though it’s been too long since all that happened because her current boyfriend has lasted several months now. This is the boy that my nephew overheard telling someone who asked for pot, “Not right now.” He now has the reputation for being a drug dealer. While you’d think that’s a bad thing, it actually works in my favor. “Boy, I’ve heard all about your dealing drugs and I’m here to tell you that you’d best be spoiling my daughter with that drug money! She deserves it.”

Vanessa tries hard to keep him away from me, but I can be annoying when I want to be (I’m sure none of you have ever noticed that!). We went to dinner the other night and I called to ask him along. After dinner, he tried to pay me for his meal, “Boy, I cannot accept drug money. You really need to change your profession.” While my daughter knows I’m giving him fits, he’s really not sure what to think….and man do I enjoy it. “I’m going to work at McDonald’s for the summer.”

I know that you’re probably thinking that this boy is obviously intimidated so what’s my problem? It’s not the boy. He may or may not be into drugs. I really don’t think so at this point because I’ve seen no evidence of it. The kid is on the honor roll at school and his mom is more strict than I am. My issue with him is my daughter’s change in attitude towards him as a boyfriend. She not only doesn’t mind him putting his arm around her, but she’s okay with him kissing her goodbye (which drives me insane! GET AWAY FROM MY BABY!) and has now started with the “I love you”s when getting off the phone.

I realize this is a normal part of growing up and it’s totally age appropriate. I just don’t think I’m old enough for this to be happening though.

Jurassic Park was Ethan’s favorite movie when he was little and there was one line that used to hit me hard every time I watched it:

“They were so busy wondering if they could, they didn’t stop to consider whether or not they should.”

While that line was talking about scientists, it’s not limited to them. Lately, I’ve wanted to quote that line and remind people that life is more of a yin yang than a competition. While you feel the need to push the boundaries and see what you can accomplish, it’s foolish to forget that every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

I’ve no doubt this makes me old. Worrying more about the consequences of my actions than the excitement of trying new things, but if you’re still doubting, one of my other favorite quotes is from Moira Banning in Hook:

“We have a few special years with our children, when they’re the ones that want us around. After that you’re going to be running after them for a bit of attention. It’s so fast Peter. Just a few years, and it’s over. And you are not being careful. And you are missing it.”

That line has been my anthem for years…and it hit me a bit ago that my few years are over. My kids are getting older and I’m having to work harder to stay involved in their lives. Of course that’s a good thing. Independence and all that, but man it can be a ego hit to remember how they always wanted me around before and now keep their bedroom door shut to keep me out…lol

I know what you’re thinking, “But Naye. He’s married!”

It’s okay. I don’t have a problem sharing.

Okay. Okay. That’s not true. There are some things I simply won’t share. Luckily, music isn’t one of those. Why do I like this guy so much? He comes across so laid back and his songs typically show hope and promise rather than sadness and confusion. If I could just find a way of making all the media people take up his outlook…

Just a few days ago, I made a comment to a friend that has been a bit distraught about dating in the past and is trying to enjoy being single now. I said, “While you know what you want right now, I assure you that is subject to a lot of change. I think mainly because 20’s is when people are first completely on their own. As their experiences grow, they adapt and change with them; therefore what they want also changes.”

In hindsight, I know better than to say something like that even if I think it’s true. =/ However, I opened my big mouth and hurt someone’s feelings. Maybe their thoughts and opinions wont change. Maybe they do know exactly what they want. It’s not my place to imply they don’t know that stuff. Anyway, that’s not the point. It’s just the backdrop so that you’ll understand the rest of the post.

I was at work, on my lunch hour and looking for something to do. I picked up a copy of O magazine that was sitting on the table. O is Oprah’s magazine and I can’t say that I typically read it, but I’ll read anything when I have an hour to kill and nothing to do. I flip it open and landed on a page with a pic of Phylicia Rashad and read the text box across from the picture. It was a letter she’d written to her younger self:

“Dear Phylicia,
Romantic involvement distracts you and can blind you to what’s really in front of you. And what is really in front of you? You are. You don’t even know yourself yet. You think you know and you want to assert that you do, now that you’re a certain age, but you don’t. What’s in front of you is a whole world of experiences beyond your imagination. Put yourself, and your growth and development first. There are long-term repercussions to what you’re doing now. Everything you do, every thought you have, every word you say creates a memory that you will hold in your body. It’s imprinted on you and affects you in subtle ways-ways you are not always aware of. With that in mind, be very conscious and selective. With high hopes for you, Phylicia.”

What an “OH WOW! I was just talking about this!” moment. I love those moments. They make me believe that everything in life is linked by a force you can’t see. Of course it could just be coincidence…the seed was planted before and never left your subconscious, but I prefer to think it’s more. =)

In this case, I think I have some kind of psychic ability that just hasn’t been developed!

*tries to move her mouse using her newly discovered powers*

I need feedback.  You like the site?  Too purple?  Not enough Poohage?  Any features or items you want to see?  I like the comments showing on the main page….and that there’s not so much clutter.  Feedback people!  Give me feedback!!

Once again, thanks to Barhug!  He modified the theme I liked, made the header, and gave me Poohage.  *hugs*

I happened to look down at the checkout lane and see a big 3.3 oz Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate bar staring up at me.  Of course I had to buy it.  Mmmmm…dark chocolate.  *drools*

I recently posted on a friend’s blog that I didn’t think I’d ever get married again.

I’d been missing mojo so I emailed him one night to make sure he was still alive.

Why am I telling you all this?  Because the next day, I got this in an email from mojo:

Oh my god you are going to love this story.  Ok I dreamt last night that you got married in my mom and dad’s church!  And what was so funny was that it was a normal wedding in a mormon church.  So all of the mormons who were there were all up in arms that you were playing music that wasn’t sanctioned as church music and all that.  And I kept falling asleep in the audience and you would have to yell out, “Lance Call needs to wake his ass up!” every time I did.

 

Then after the chefs were preparing all the dinner plates for the reception and everything was covered in chocolate sauce.  Then I got in a fight with my brother because he was trying to get me to be a mormon again.

 

What good timing, eh?

 

Yup…this is remake #3.  You can blame Stigwood for this one.  He wants RSS stuffs.  Then when I mentioned it, other people jumped on the bandwagon so we’re here at WordPress.  Wonder how long this one will last.

Thanks Barhug for holding my hand through the install.  I’ll have to play around with themes and settings later.  No time today, but I’m off tomorrow!