Let me start from the beginning…kind of. I used to enjoy the challenge of shopping– finding a deal, the right fit, etc. Then I had The Boy. I then realized that I had not really bought jeans that didn’t include Old Navy or $10 in the past four years. No, I am not kidding, so last night, in spite of my desire to purchase fair trade jeans, I went to The Buckle with a friend, and I kid you not, I tried on at least 20 pairs. Things I learned during my experience:

** Lucky jeans are no longer popular. WHAT? My favorites, because they always fit.

** Lucky jeans are no longer at The Buckle. At least I didn’t see a single pair. Le sigh.

** Jeans’ popularity is dependent on their pocket style, not so much fit, these days. Again. Totally foreign to me.

** I did not recognize a single brand I tried on. No, I am not kidding. A friend told me after that I did indeed buy the “hot” jeans of the day. Whatever.

** I’ve obviously changed since my mission was solely to find a good fit, and I no longer know anything of style and/or fads.

** My bottom is larger than it has ever been in spite of my otherwise fit body and similar weight and body style as the day I got married. Strange. It makes buying jeans a challenge.

I could go on, but I’ll stop.

Basically, life changes.

I never thought I’d see the day…

…I’m ending this pointless post now.

Mama said there’ll be days like this,
There’ll be days like this Mama said
(Mama said, mama said)
Mama said there’ll be days like this,
There’ll be days like this my Mama said
(Mama said, mama said)

Today stunk. I could sit here and list the reasons, but really it boiled down to The Boy being REALLY sad that he had to go to school and me to work, which he quickly rebounded from but I did not. He’s been needing extra cuddle time, and I have been busy. None the less, his cries were heard in my heart, and my whole day was a bit downtrodden by it, so I canceled my normal Monday activities and spent the evening at home with him playing. Even as he laughs and puts my heart pieces back together, I can’t help but feel like crying. I feel like this is something complex that no one can fully understand. I don’t talk about it, but I write.

Today is what it is.  Tomorrow will be another day– another opportunity.

September 26, 2009 TU vs. Sam Houston State

I came home for Labor Day weekend only to bail on returning to DC. Well, not exactly. The Boy was ready and needing for me to be home, and my supervisor in DC was willing to allow me to work for her from Tulsa. When I was going to return for a meeting, she encouraged me to call in instead of flying in for the meeting.  Times like that remind me not only how lucky I am to have a job, but to have one that values families and encourages employees to have a life outside of the office. No one complains when I show The Boy where I work (in DC or Tulsa). No one complains when I must take off due to The Boy being ill (especially when Kevin is out of the country). No one complains when I want to take a few days off, as long as I don’t have a deadline looming.

Anyway…

I spent September working for Headquarters and transitioning back to project work. My work is looking a lot different these days as I learn a new role (for me) in the Corps. I am still helping out the economists (a new one started today! Woo hoo!!!), but also doing some study management work, which is really challenging and exciting for me.

Then October came… and we’ve spent the past week or so preparing our house to go on the market. Yes, we’re selling so a buyer can take advantage of the first time homebuyer credit. At the same time, we’re in no rush, so if the offer is not right, we’re willing to take the house off the market in November or December and do this for real in the spring.

Kevin has a contract. He’s going back to the same country– different team. On one hand, I’m disappointed, because I would really like for him to go somewhere easier for us to visit. On the other hand, in these uncertain economic times (yes, even in basketball), he has a paying job without a drastic paycut. And yes, many of our friends are playing for a small fraction of what they were paid as little as 12 months ago, if they are able to get a job at all. Trying times for many basketball families.

That’s about all we have going on right now. More to come, I am sure.

Some days are yellow.

Some are blue.

On different days

I’m different too.

Most days, I am happy (yellow), but some days are blue.  Today was purple (On Purple Days I’m sad. I groan. I drag my tail. I walk alone).  Things did not go smoothly. It’s not that any one item was horrible in and of itself, but the combination of “junk” certainly made a dent on my day.  If you want to skip to the positive stuff, scroll down to the pictures.

I didn’t sleep well.

I woke up late.

I missed the Metro train by a minute.

Work stunk.

I didn’t get to take lunch due to a four HOUR (yes, hour) virtual teleconference (web and phone based) where I said…absolutely nothing.

I miss The Boy and Kevin.

A friend of mine from high school died unexpectedly last week, and tomorrow is her wake. I’m not there.

Oh, and today? Today is our anniversary.

There was a time when all this stuff would get me down, but in reflecting on our five years of marriage, I must admit.

Five years ago…

…we said “I do”

…life changed forever

…our commitment was solidified

…a small church in the country took on a whole new meaning.

Five years ago, today seemed like forever in the future.

We have weathered some storms…

…survived injuries…

…cuts…

…disagreements…

…emotions…

…mountains and valleys.

We made a baby. OK, that part was fun.

Became adults.

And most importantly, no matter what has happened, we remain one another’s biggest supporters.

Kevin will tell you I am the rock.

I will tell you he is the one who gives me strength on Earth.

Five years ago seems like yesterday.

Hopefully five more will too, because time sure flies when you are having fun!

It was the perfect low-key, high-fun weekend to get to meet in person (I had met two prior to the weekend) the basketball wives that I lean on all season long. I hope next year more women can join us! Most of the pictures will be on The Boy’s blog.

What he looks like when he's sick...and sleeping.

OK. Not really, but I’m running low on title creativity! My flight was…you guessed it…delayed, so I got back to Tulsa a little later than planned. Not a big deal.

Saturday I went to work– redoing the landscaping. I’m sorry, but I do not have a finished picture. Hmm… anyway… I planted more hostas and some hydrangeas before filling in some space with more begonias.I hope to wait until next year to see how full they come back before planing anything else.

Overnight on Saturday, The Boy got sick, and by sick, I mean a 103 degree temprature for no apparent reason! He was moaning, not sleeping, and miserable, so we gave him some medicine. Fortunately that allowed him to sleep for a little while, but only if he was on top of me, and the child was REALLY hot for a portion of that time, so I got almost no sleep at all. Being the ever lovely wife, however, I did manage to make Kevin pancakes for Father’s Day. I know– all my friends and family wrote lovely posts for their husbands on father’s day, while Kevin got pancakes, a sick toddler, and an exhausted wife.  At least he got pancakes and sleep.

The Boy was sick most of Sunday, though he woke up around six (after a five to six hour nap) and asked for Sonic. WHAT?  Specifically– a blue slush, hot dog on a stick, cheddar bites and tator tots. Considering he had not eaten much in the past 24 hours or so, I caved and went to purchase him some Sonic. (Yes, I’m still shaking my head.) At least he was feeling better.

Wednesday I went to listen to the band my supervisor, Ed, plays in. They’re pretty good. Commercial Vehicle. I packed and Thursday we took off for the BasketWives Meet-up in Chicago.