Apartment Living Wednesday

I loves me a wife beater.

No!
Not the slap yo' bitch upside the head wife beater.
The other one.

{photo: Alternative Outfitters}

Apparently for us females, we're to call them "boy beaters". Whatever.
There is something about the comfort of that tight tank top that just feels right.
Being from Maine, I'm allowed to wear them pretty much whenever and wherever I want and well, because I'm also of the female species I can get away with this too.
Double stereotype bonus!

I love to wear those beauties to bed with my favorite pair of pajama bottoms. It truly is the definition of sexy. I mean look!

{photo: Dickies}

{photo: Target}

How could you pass that up?
I'm comfy, happy, content and super relaxed; its perfect.


Now just the other day, here in the Compound, a male species was sporting a wife beater.
I don't even know what to say about that.
Really.


Am I not the only one who associates this...

{photo: Dickies}

with this...

{photo: 95silvia}

I'm counting my lucky stars tonight that I live "East".

*Jenn over at Jeans Friday uses MyLiveSignature to sign off her posts and I thought it was an absolutely fabulous idea so I checked it out, thought it was way neat, so... Wah Lah!
Now you need to go check Jenn out. She's great! She has rockin' musical taste too.*

we be jammin'

Those 2 tickets have been the source of a ridiculous amount of drama in my life lately and who doesn't love drama right?

Remember a while back I mentioned Jex puts a lot of thought into his gifts? Well those 2 tickets were a result of his wonderful thinking aka my Christmas gift.

So now that Jex and I are no longer together he wants the tickets back. It has been a huge back and forth battle; via emails of course. Apparently they weren't a gift for me but for us. I don't get it. I have a lot of things to say about this issue but that's not exactly what this post is about. The end result is I'm going and he won't be accompanying me. Maybe that's a completely bitchy move on my part, maybe it's not. End of discussion. Period.

Now I have an extra ticket!
Problem already solved.
My best friend Amanda (Nora) will be going with me. She is absolutely the greatest. Completely. Totally.Go read her blog too! She started me blogging but she hasn't been blogging herself a whole bunch. Go visit her, light a fire under her ass and make that change. She's über funny.
Her and I together = trouble!

Me being a single mom with few chances to hang my "Mom Hat" up and be the 20something year old I am and her being a mom to two wild and crazy boys who also doesn't get the chance to hang up her "Mom Hat" and be the *cough*something year old, we are going to enjoy this concert for every damn thing it is worth!

She's never been to a concert, I've never been to anything that mattered. We've also never done a road trip of sorts so this is what we're going to do.
We're leaving on Friday and not coming back till Sunday!
Seriously freakin' excited!!
When motherhood starts at 20 things like this do that to ya.
Granted it is only Maine to New Hampshire, but when you live in East Bum Fuck Maine and it will take at least 5.5 hours to get there, we are not going to just make this a day trip.

Friday: drive drive drive
Friday night: concert with Matt Nathanson, Billy Currington, and and and... Sugarland!
After concert: drive half hourish to a cheap hotel (we want extra play money for the weekend)
Saturday: whatever-wherever in NH: feel free to submit your ideas
Saturday night: find another cheap hotel
Sunday: few things here and there and then drive drive drive

All that drive...drive... driving means we need mu... mu... music! I have a decent collection of tunage but there must be a roadtrip playlist. You can't argue with the fact that some music is better for driving than others. I want to load up my iPod, another thoughtful Jex gift, with great music! Really great music. Yes, I could upload all my Matt Nathanson, Billy Currington, and Sugarland tunes but I mean really, come on, I want more.

What do you have on your playlists? What do you jam to when you're driving? Leave me your thoughts and ideas. I have a pretty eclectic taste in music. Amanda does too; or at least she will for that weekend.

Made by Pixies in the Magical Land of Yum!

{ photo credit: meppol }

Over a year ago I was introduced to this beautiful creation. A random guy in the grocery store was near Boy Child and I while we were discussing the fact that, "no, we are not making banana pops in the middle of winter. You can have peanut butter and chocolate chips."
This man then started talking with me about all the crazy concoctions we had both created with peanut butter and/or chocolate. He then asked me if I had ever tried Nutella.

I perked up... "Nutella?"

As he started to tell me about this creation, an intense sound of amazement and passion overtook him. I mean this man was literally up in the heavens. It was absolutely contagious, so contagious I couldn't get my ass over to the "peanut butter aisle" fast enough.

As I was scanning that section, up and down and side to side there it sat, all in its glory. That beautiful jar right on the top shelf. Then I looked at the price (I'm cheap)...Holy smokes! Seriously?
I read the ingredients... hazelnut? That made me a little nervous because I cannot stand hazelnut coffee and the actual nut I'm not too fond of, but then I saw it... the heavenly word of all words... CHOCOLATE!

SOLD!

That little jar went into the cupboard and I eyed it for days; nervous to try it. Always a skeptic. I finally convinced Boy Child to try it on a piece of bread first. He took a bite and his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.
I asked, "is it good?" He wasn't answering me. He was enjoying every moment that my question was of no importance to him.
I mumbled "frig this" and made my own creation of Nutella and bread. I smelled it and then took my first bite...

I seriously think I swore. It went something like "holy shit!" or maybe even something along the lines of "Oh my fuckin' gawd this is good!"

Ever since that day I've had an affair with Nutella. I put it on bread. I pair it with peanut butter, which is incredibly dangerous for me. I make Nutella and banana sandwiches. I'll eat that royal yumminess right out of the jar by the spoonful; I don't discriminate. Strawberries and Nutella have a serious love affair on sunny days. Take some vanilla cupcake batter, drop a bit of Nutella in there, swirl it, bake it and OH LA LA!! You won't even need frosting! Or frost those cupcakes with Nutella; you'll get more eternal bliss in your mouth. Seriously.
Top off your pancakes, crepes, waffles or whatever. Crackers. Cookies.
If you can dream it, it can be done!

So now if you'll excuse me I have some unfinished business to take of.

I'm seeing green

St. Patrick's Day. Never got it. Never understood it. Don't judge me.

I just know people wear green, shout "Kiss me I'm Irish!" even if they're not and eat food that is associated with Ireland. We can't forget about those cute lil leprechauns and the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Yes, I know I forgot the drinking. Just another day. Just another excuse to sling one back.

Whatever.

In honor of the 17th day of March we wore green. Something about being pinched if you don't? Who makes this shit up?

I'm all set with being touched by strange random people all day.

Stay out of my personal space bubble!

Like Valentine's Day, where I do something special for Boy Child, I also do something for St. Patrick's Day. It is never anything huge and crazy. This one is all about small and simple because well, it's only March 17th.

Last year he went off to school with green pancakes in his tummy. Talk about an excellent start to a day! Getting those bastards the right shade of green was not an easy task either.

Today... well, we've had a rough day. He started his day with a new snazzy jazzy T-shirt and some rockin' green funky socks. He spent the later part of the day at the doctor's office followed by a trip to the hospital for x rays. It was a whirlwind of activity!

The school served corn beef and cabbage for lunch, which he didn't eat. It came time for dinner and I was tired and frankly my dear, lazy. I started to wrack my brain with ideas and I was coming up short handed because I was determined to keep it March 17th themed.

Then... finally it hit me! If it was a snake it would have bit me. Seriously.

Internet, I'd like to introduce you to dinner.

Green Mac & Cheese!

I paired it with tofu dogs and we had a crazy and fantastic combination! A great ending to, well a crazy day.

Happy Green Wearing 17th day of March!

Apartment Living Wednesday

I don't have anything wild and crazy to post today. I do but I'm not going to.

I need to rethink my blog. I mean really think.
Something happened last night that shined a different light on this situation. Something big.
As a result of that, I have to make changes and seek approval. I will have a co-author and editor of sorts to assist me. I'm not sure how I feel about this yet or if this is something I'm ready to allow. I mean after all, this is my space.
But out of respect and privacy my heart is even bigger now, and with that I'm incredibly proud.


But with all that said... it is still Apartment Living Wednesday!

I love the look of these Barn Stars on houses. They're so simple yet they have such a deep feeling for me. I purchased this for our previous house and it came along for the move. I'm determined to make this apartment really feel like home. Coming here and seeing my Barn Star on the outside of our apartment definitely helps to seal that deal.

It shouts Welcome Home!

This was taken this morning while it was snowing and raining. Oh how I love Maine winters.

...and dammit, wouldn't you know it, my hair got wet. Really wet. I took about 10 pictures just to get ONE that I actually liked.

Happy Wednesday!

the question

He asked me if I loved him. I was silent.
Then it was: "why do you love me and what do you love about me?"

My throat wet dry and I felt like I was being choked.
I instantly stopped breathing.
My fingers went numb and my feet became paralyzed.
I was upset because he was questioning me and my words, but I didn't have an answer for him.
I still don't have an answer for him.
I wonder if I'll ever have an answer for him; especially the answers he's looking for.

If he had asked me a year or even months ago, I could have rattled off an in depth list of things about him that made my knees weak. Or the things about us that were amazing.
The moments that gave me butterflies. The times when I had the biggest smile on my face.

Now I can't.

Is it really possible that in a blink of an eye those things change? Those moments stop?

Just.Like.That.
Done.

Do we really measure love by things? Moments? Is it possible to measure love? How does one do that?

What about defining love?

Is it possible that I didn't love him? If I did, if I do; then I should be able to answer him.
Right now.
Even if there were problems. Even if I did walk away.


Love isn't supposed to have a light switch, but right now... my light is off.

Hypnotized

I can't take it anymore!
If I hear his voice or see his face one more time I seriously think I'm going to seek out more mood altering drugs. This is getting out of control.

I listen to the radio. A lot.
I rarely watch television but when I do, the hair on the back of my neck stands up.
This man is out of control!

Our state has one particular-- we'll finance you even if you have shit ass credit car dealers. We actually have like 8,675,309 of those bad boys. They don't care if you've had your house taken away, you live in a box or eat nothing but Ramen noodles. You're going to give them money and they're going to give you a piece of shit with 4 wheels. Signed, sealed, and delivered.

Well, this man has television and radio commercials to advertise his business. He has to.
His radio ads play just about every other time there is a "commercial break".
It's fuckin' irritating. I hear it in the car and I scream at him!
I hear it in the house and I do the childish put my hands over my ears and go "LA LA LA LAAAA!!" till its over.

If I had big enough balls, I'd punch him in the face if I ever saw him in person.
Ok-- maybe not, that isn't necessary, but he needs to pipe it down some.
Wait.
A LOT.


I'm serious. Watch.








...and to think his radio commercials are by far much louder.

Now what are you waiting for?

COME JOIN THE PARTY!!!

Apartment Living Wednesday

Can you believe we're already slapped with another Wednesday? I can't.
The week has been insanely busy for me. I still have boxes here and there. Piles of stuff that need to find homes and overall, just some organization.
I've also had to write papers for school, study for mid terms and keep Boy Child occupied. School cancellations are both evil and blessings in disguise.

A lot has happened around the compound and it will probably take me a little while to catch up but I will. It has to calm down at some point. It cannot always be crazy. Right? Oy!

**
I don't even know what day this was

The Mail Man had just brought the Boy Child home from his weekend full of brainless activity and we were upstairs doing something. I have no idea what; I suffer from CRS.

Then I hear... *knock knock*

I know it is probably not one of my crazy friends, they'd probably ring the doorbell if they didn't see me through the windows. I have a doorbell now and apparently this amuses them.

Me: "Who the hell is that?"

So we race downstairs and see "Onion" (you'll understand later) standing at the door, cigarette in hand and dog leash in other with a pit bull attached. I'm not exactly impressed.
Onion lives two doors down from me.
Onion and I have a history.
Many years ago when I received shit for money in retail hell, Onion and I worked together. Onion used to give me goose bumps.
Not the "Ohh baby, you make me so hot" goose bumps.
The "Ohh fuck, he's creepy. He doesn't look at me, he looks through me" goose bumps.
Ya follow? Good.

I had a really hard time working with him. Frankly, he was a pain in my ass and kinda... umm.. err... slow. I had zero patience for him. None!
This was before medication too. People like him are why people like me take me take drugs.
It's true!
On occasion I would give Onion a ride home because, well for obvious reasons. He was ride less.

And now.... he is my neighbor!

I open the door and there he is. Standing tall and proud to meet his new neighbor.
The single mom.

"Hi! I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Onion." (you have no idea how bad I just wanted to say "I know" but I didn't)

I returned the favor, although not tall and proud. I acknowledged the dog in which he tells me...

"Oh, you don't want him in your house."

Umm... you're fuckin' right I don't!
Don't get me wrong; I love animals and all that fancy shit and I know the strong stereotype against pit bulls but it is what it is. Don't be hating. I read the news. I've seen it and so have you.

The conversation ends and he leaves. I want to shower.

Time passes and now I know the date. February 24th. I wrote it down.

Boy Child and I are upstairs drooling over his new bookcase I had built for him while he was at school. Also the new bookcase which I also umm... kinda sorta broke. This is why you don't buy shit from Walmart that you have to assemble then attach a piece of cardboard with a million teeny tiny nails to the back. Epic fail.

Again... *knock knock*

"Who the fuck?" (Yes, I swear around Boy Child and yes, he tells me this is wrong.)

TaDa! There he is!

I open the door and....

Him: This is going to sound kind of strange but would you happen to have a piece of onion?
Me: A piece?
Him: Yes. I just need a piece.
Me: I'll just give you the whole thing. Really.

I go get him an onion and return to the door in which he blurts...
"you look familiar to me"

Dammit! I've been had!
Me: Yea, we worked at "XXX" together.
Him: Ohh.. yea! Ok!

And off he went.

Oh me! Oh my! Seriously. What ever happened to the days when your neighbor would come over and ask for a cup of sugar or an egg?

Him asking for a "piece of onion" better not have a hidden message because this chic is not giving out any pieces and if he thinks my piece compares to an onion, I'd hate to see where he has been getting his real honest to goodness pieces.

Monday Moment

Boy Child has some of the coolest action figures. Heck, he has some of the coolest toys.
Period.

I go without so he doesn't have to. I will not deny that he is certifiably spoiled. Spoiled but not rotten.

This apartment has a tub, whereas all our previous homes only had a shower. What a pain in the ass that was.

Never take your tub for granted.

Love and honor thy tub.

Boy Child has a lot of tub time to make up for and he is doing a damn good job at it. He requests the water to be "this hot"; hot enough where it leaves his skin that shade of pink that stays beyond his completed water missions.

He also requests bubbles and his "guys". So I fulfill his requests and leave him alone to accomplish his missions. He is also requesting 'privacy'. Ohh boy!

Seeing that it is nasty outside and snowing like it is no one's business, school is cancelled for both of us. I let him lounge around in his "pajammies" for a while then it was off to the tub!

An hour! Seriously. That child was in there for an hour! Getting him to pay attention to my directions for 2 minutes is damn near impossible, but he'll sit in water for an hour! That blows my friggin' mind!

I went upstairs to make sure he was still alive and rescue him from the evil men he was playing with; I was sure they had him tied up by now.

I brought the camera with me for evidence. Ya know... in case the police didn't believe me that these little men had tied up my Boy Child.

He wasn't tied up but he was peaking at me!

These are the coolest looking freaks I have ever seen!

He was getting seriously annoyed with me.
Who enjoys having their picture taken when they're naked?
Other than Jenna Jameson of course?

He is too young to look that old!

Remember the drama with tooth #3?
Well, tooth #4 was pulled out last Tuesday with just as much drama, if not more.