Summer

It's been awhile since I've posted anything.  The summer went so fast - so much has happened.  My class reunion was probably the most important accomplishment in recent years.  It is amazing the number of classmates I now keep in touch with every week.  I am so beyond blessed to have this wonderful people in my life.  It makes it all worth getting up in the morning.  The feeling is like comfort food (yes, I seem to always compare everything to food)...  These are the folks that helped shape me in my youth.  Seems only fitting that we should enjoy each other in adulthood.

The remodeling project is finished!  My new kitchen and den are fabulous.  Taylor did such an amazing job - the fireplace is probably my favorite - black marble and a new mantle.  I can just sit on the couch and look at the fireplace and get all teary-eyed...  It's always the little things (actually, the fireplace cost about the same as I had budged for my England trip).....  Every little detail Taylor put into this project is amazing.  I am so grateful to him.

Have had a few parties this summer - class reunion committee, band reunion for Tom and Joy and the big reveal of the remodeling!  Each one was a joy and again, such fabulous friends.  The band reunion was probably the most surprising for me - I wasn't in the band in high school - gave it up for pep club!  Lord, the decisions we make as young people.  Anyway, Tom was in the band and unable to attend the reunion.  I didn't know him in high school, but we connected on Facebook.  Then, I got to know his wonderful wife, Joy.  It just seemed fitting when he told he would be in town, that a party should be given.  So, we planned it and almost everyone Tom wanted to see was able to come!  Again, fabulous food and friends.....

The Remodeling Bash was a couple of weeks ago.  I wanted everyone to meet Taylor and share in my joy of my remodeled digs.  It was so much fun - a fabulous mixture of people from all phases of my life.  We all wore name tags with a notation of how they knew me - that was hysterical - there was anything from "met her in jail", to "met her at a strip club", so "my brother from another mother" (he's Chinese)...  High School friends, oil and gas friends, neighbors, friends of friends that I know treasure as my own and LTYM soul mates!  I must say I drank a wee bit too much vodka that night, but all in all, I think it was a smashing success!  Thank you to everyone that was able to come.

So, now I'm wondering what will be next for me.  It's OU football time and Thunder basketball is around the corner.  Life is such a journey - so far, it's been quite a ride....

Old Friends are the Best

Last weekend was my class reunion - 40 years.....  Hard to imagine what I've been doing the last 40 years.  Doesn't seem possible.

We arrived at the Friday night location and the next 3 hours was just a blur.  Some faces were very familiar, but others were a bit more difficult to recognize.  Classmates flew in from all parts of the world - London, Maine, Detroit, Washington state and Washington DC.  Unbelievable - it was like Field of Dreams - if you build it, they will come............

Lots of picture taking, hugs and kisses.  We all share a history - some from elementary school.  We laughed and talked and tried to catch up as quickly as possible.  It was sort of like speed dating!  Just trying to cram everything in a very short period of time before someone else walked up and it started all over again.  I think I finally got to bed at 2:30 am.  What a night!

Saturday morning, a group of about 50 met at the high school for a Memorial service and a tour of the school.  My old friend, Andy, who flew in from London, handled the Memorial service.  It honored all our classmates that are no longer with us.  It was a fabulous service.  Andy was perfect!

The school tour was interesting - certainly have been some changes in 40 years!  LOL  The highlight of the day was when I asked the principal a question - "just how old are you?" to which he replied "37"~  Seriously?  Very nice guy - so energetic about the school and trying to make a difference in students' lives.

Saturday night was a blast!  We had a photo booth which turned out to be awesome - silly pics!  We took a class picture AND elementary school pics, too.  That was amazing.  My elementary school had the most classmates show up!  YAY Jackson!!!

At this point in our lives, no one really cares how much money you have or don't have or what you do for a living.  We were just glad to see each other - reminisce about crazy stuff we did in high school and just enjoy being together.  A group of us sat outside the hotel until 3:00 am - we just didn't want to let go - didn't want it to end - went by way too fast........

All in all, a fabulous weekend.  I love my class!!!  We will probably get together in 2 years to celebrate our 60th birthdays!  I still think most of us still act like we are still in high school!  LOL

Go Tigers!

Overload

Today is Friday...............

I am on complete and total overload.  I do this to myself all the time.  Must find the time to figure out why I do, but then that's another thing to do...  Oh vey...

Two weeks from today will be my class reunion - I have taken on this job and as always, will be so glad when it's over.  So many things to do, questions to answer, emails to send, text messages to answer, details to worry over, and yet somehow I know it will all come together and be a blast!  Right now, I'm worried we don't have enough folks signed up to pay for the reunion.  Everyone tells me it will be fine - everyone tells me it will all work out.  Who is this "everyone" cuz right now I'd like to punch him/her right in the face.......

Tonight, I'm headed to Norman to eat sushi and drink dirty martinis with some great friends.  These ladies are all part of the committee and I'm sure they are all tired of listening to me.  Guess that's why Nancy has lined up her girls to drive me home tonight - she has a sneaking suspicion that I might drink a few too many martinis.  I'm a thinkin' she might be right!  LOL

I am starting to believe that I'm wired up pretty tight right now.  Mr. Handyman told me straight up last night that I should start smoking pot!  He thinks I need to jigger down a bit (my words, not his cuz I can't remember exactly the words he used)....  I don't think anyone has ever said that to me before.  I mean the smoking pot thing, not the wired up thing.  So someone had the balls to tell me I need to slow down a bit; that I should take the pot?  Guess it's something to consider.  Who knows maybe that's why I used to be more fun in my earlier years - those hazy days as I like to call them.... 

Hhmmm, let's recap.  Things going on in my life right now:  reunion, remodeling, daughter home from college with her stuff everywhere and I do mean everywhere, working fulltime, my sweet puppy has been sick on and off for 2 weeks, backyard landscaping (now finished) and just life in general being a single woman that owns a house.

OK, kids, I will keep you posted on how everything is going!  Hopefully, there will be no need for a bail bondsman tonight!  HA

Thank God Life Goes On.....

This past Sunday was such a treat - the first time my Listen To Your Mother cast has been together since the show!  Almost   We cooked burgers and hot dogs and everyone brought their own special dish.  We laughed and hugged and talked and hugged.  It was just love! 

Crazy to think we barely know each other, yet we absolutely adore one another.  We come in all shapes and sizes from all walks of life, all kinds of jobs, all kinds of experiences, but we are bound together by this one fabulous moment in our lives - the Listen To Your Mother show!

I know for sure I can't image my life without these women in it.  They make me think outside the box, make me laugh until I can't breathe and give the absolute best hugs!!!  Most of all, they give me HOPE!  Hope is such a magical gift!  Hope that I can step outside the box anytime I want and without question, they will be there to catch me and to root me on to the finish line.  Hope that tomorrow will be even better than today.  Hope that my life is far from over.

To be honest, the last couple of years have been tough.  My house has been a bed and breakfast (not by choice) - my son moved home for over a year, my sister moved here from Houston and lived and worked with me for 6 months, and then my daughter came home from college. 

I was seeing a man for a couple of years and it didn't end very well.  He was my first love and someone that has been in and out of my life since I was 16.  Other than my brother, he has always been there for me.  I didn't take the breakup very well - gained about 80 pounds and just sort of holed up in my house.  I just felt like a complete failure.  I didn't realize just how lonely I was.

Then, came Misti and her announcement she would be directing the inaugural Listen To Your Mother show in OKC.  I had written a story for a writing class I took in college a few years ago.  It needed a little work, so I pulled it out and began working on it.  I'd throw it away and then a couple of days later, I'd think about it and pull it out again.  This went on for a couple of weeks.  Misti posted a deadline for submitting stories.  Again, I went back and forth.  It was now or never.  Not sure how long I looked at the "Send" button before I pressed it and then gasped that I had actually sent the story.

The entire process of making it to the live show was so completely and totally out of my comfort zone.  I wasn't sure about anything going on in my life and I kept asking myself "Why did you send that stupid story", but I just kept hearing Misti's voice telling all of us how awesome an experience she had last year and that "everyone has a story to tell"...  Yes, I had a story, but would anyone really want to hear it?  Lucky for me, they did...

Suffice it to say, my life is changed forever - it was an experience that is hard to put into words.  This group of women literally saved my life.  I feel alive again.  I believe that I can do anything.  I'm investigating some new business opportunities that may take me away from OKC, but I am not afraid anymore.  Hope.......

I love, love, love my LTYM sisters and I do believe there is a GIRLS NIGHT OUT looming in the near future...  Stay tuned.........

My 99 year old friend

Yesterday, one of our investors stopped by to "take care of some business".  As it turns, out Connie was celebrating his 99th birthday!  He certainly doesn't look 99 nor does he act 99 - although I'm sure I know enough people that old to make that statement.  His daughter was with him.  She lives in California and flew in for the big celebration.

Connie's wife passed away a couple of months ago and he wanted to change some things on his account.  We took care of some of the business and then just visited.

What a delightful man!  He told me if I would come out to "The Pub" at 4:30, he would buy me a glass of wine!  His retirement home has a bar - love this concept.  Something to look forward to!  I asked Connie if I could have a rain check until we finalize our business and then I would come out.  He was so gracious and said, "of course"...  Can't wait to go see him!

Can you just imagine the stories he can tell me?  The things he has seen and experienced?  His thoughts on the world today?  He was born in 1914 - need to Google world events...  I'm just so excited to sit and just listen to him...

Mr. Connie - you are a gem and I am so glad you came to visit me yesterday.

Stay tuned.....

I got a new eye!!!

Cataract surgery this past Tuesday.  What a crazy day!  I am certain I was the youngest person in the waiting room.  There were these 2 little old ladies - I'm pretty sure neither one of them should have been driving.  The one that was having the surgery forgot to leave her jewelry at home, so the 2 of them were huddled up trying to get all of her treasures off and into a safe place - "you can never be too safe, Marge"....

The entire surgery took 10 minutes and I was in recovery for 10 minutes - it was like going to the 7-11 for an Icee...  My follow up apt the next day took longer!  LOL

It's an amazing surgery - I can see much clearer already.  Colors are brighter..

The only downside is I can't wear eye makeup for a week - seriously?  Have you taken a look at me without eye makeup?  It's like every day is a Saturday - just some foundation and lipstick.  I have shaved off about 15 minutes in the morning - I'm actually on time to work!

But seriously, I NEED my eye makeup.  Every time I go to the bathroom and look at myself in the mirror, I am thinking - crap, I forgot to put on mascara!  This is the absolute worst part of the entire procedure.  I need some glasses just to cover up this face............

I will have the other eye in 2 more weeks.  So, basically, I will be without makeup for an entire month. 

Stay tuned.............

Sir Paul McCartney

I have a been a Beatles fan for most of my life.  As a young girl, my friends and I used to build a house by draping blankets over the jungle gym in the back yard.  Then we would argue over who got to be married to John or Paul.  No one ever wanted Ringo or George - it was always John or Paul...  We would pretend to cook dinner and make up all kinds of scenarios, but mostly we were just got to say we were married to John or Paul and made fun of whoever got stuck with Ringo or George! 

I had all kinds of Beatles memorabilia in my room, but my Dad threw away all of that "junk" years ago...  Oh, how I wish I still had the bobble heads and the posters..  In recent years, I have been acquiring old Beatles albums - mine are literally falling apart.

I was never lucky enough to see the Beatles in concert - saw Ringo several years ago with his All Star Band.

Until last night and then I was privileged enough to see Paul McCartney play at the BOK Center in Tulsa.  I had heard stories from friends about how awesome he was in concert.  I am hear to tell you, it is all true and then some.  He played for 3 hours!  It was well worth the drive.

The crowd was electric and Paul was absolutely charming!  He sang and sang and sang - played several different guitars (including the 1 he used with the Beatles in the 60's) and played 2 different pianos.  He told fabulous stories and was just genuinely having a good time....  He seemed enamored with saying OKLAHOMA...  LOL  Very funny and still so stinkin' cute...  He wore a royal blue blazer with a white shirt, jeans and black boots that reminded me of the boots the Beatles used to wear.  Need to Google "Paul McCartney's boots".

It was quite a production.  "Live and Let Die" was like a Vegas show - filled with fire, lights and fireworks.  When he sang "Blackbird", the stage was way up in the air and there he was playing his guitar and singing.  All thru the night, he showed videos of the Beatles.  Just such good memories tied to the Beatles and their music.

Music does indeed soothe the soul. Those songs took me back to my childhood thru my adulthood.  This is my music.  Their music had such an impact on my life.  It introduced me to rock 'n roll.  I used to sit on my bed for hours and listen to their albums.  And just dreaming about those Beatles.  I just knew at some point, Paul McCartney would appear on my doorstep and ask my Dad for my hand in marriage...

So, my darling friend and I drove home last night reveling in the magic of the night and arrived back in Oklahoma City around 1:00 am...  Very long night, but wouldn't have missed it for the world.  Thank you Cois for going with me - always so awesome to share with a good pal....

Long live Paul McCartney and his music!!!

P.S.  I have on my NEW Paul McCartney T-shirt today....  Will probably sleep in it tonight, too!