I have been tramatized

Truly. Tramatized. The idea that someone I considered a friend has turned out to be a lying, deceitful, manipulative bitch is depressing. I clearly didn't know her at all.

And if I forget that for even a second, I'm pretty sure there is a hilt sticking out of my back from where she drove the knife in. Brutal. Just brutal.

It's bad enough that she has lied to an incredible number of people about everything from her knowledge base to whether or not she gives a holy shit about me, but that is just the beginning.

She didn't come to me and say "hey we have a problem" or "I have to tell you something before I go to God and everybody."

No, she just walked in bitched me out and then walked out. The rest of the fall out is just fall out. Beginning to end: she is a deceptive bitch.

God willing, she will not show up at my book party Wednesday. I swear I'll punch her.

It's been 2 months and a couple of days...

since my last blog post. How sad is that? Cause Shit has been a happening. I mean it. Let's see.

School started. Responsible for the production of the largest yearbook in the country AND a 250 page centennial book is kicking my ass. I am literally doing TWICE the work for the exact same pay. I am working 10-12 hour days Every. Single. Day. I'm tired. Flat tired.

I left the top down and allowed Bubbles to be rained on. Killed the eletrical system. I can not believe I did that. It was a very expensive lesson.

Now I am learning a harsh lesson about .. I don't even know what. Truth? Misjudging people?

I can't even go into details except to say that being confronted with what someone says to you, and what that person says to others and realizing that what they want others to believe doesn't relate to reality. What a bummer.

Reporter loses job for blogging

Stories like this are good reminders for me. One, what I write can get me in trouble no matter how well I think I've separated this blog from my real existence. Two, not everyone gets humor. Or thinks I'm funny (no matter how crazy that sounds.) Three, writing is a release. Having an audience allows for feedback, and we live in a world where no one ever wants anyone to step out of the "politically correct zone" Employers and vigilantes suck.

In other news, the real estate book (2nd edition) which I was supposed to have totally completed by the middle of July has at least finally gone to the printer. Still have proofs, but I'm a hellofa lot closer than I was a week ago.

Next: the real estate exam. Then school starts. ug.

All the shit I have stopped doing

I need to change some things. I am basically cranky as all get out these days. I am trying to take a little time to focus internally and figure out what I need to be changing to "get happy" as it were.

1. I finally ran yesterday for the first time in FOREVER. Now, if I can just keep it going. I know I will feel better.

2. I am getting my derrierre back in church... if you've been following this blog for any length of time you should be thinking, gee this sounds familiar. I am a better person when I am going to church. I just am. So why I let myself slack off and stop going is beyond me. I'm better during the school year about saying my morning prayers before I get in the day, but I am going to work on getting back in that groove too.

3. I need to be writing regularly (see now it looks SUPER familiar because it is all the same things that make me happy and a better person that I stop doing because...well, I have no idea.) Once we get the journalism website up and running again, I'd really like to write regularly about teaching there. Really stretch my writing skills.

4. Probably need to work on my diet. However many years it has been since the gall bladder came out, I am still plagued with issues. It still isn't totally clear to me what exactly sets my stomach off, but I do know healthy eating can only help... sigh. I'm not giving up drinking though. Forget that.

5. I have got to get back on schedule working on the house. I haven't done anything in months, and I can feel it slipping away. I learned how to tile last weekend when my BIL Jim came to town. He is awesome. I am ready to tile, but I have to pull up all the laminate, and then get the pantry put in... so it's the usual time and money. ug.

I'm sure there is more I can kvetch about, but I'm going to stop here. Maybe I can write something profound and soul searching soon. or not. It's really a crap shoot.

I used to be so good at this

I think of things to blog about all of the time. But do I blog? No. I do not. AND since I use this as my journal it means I now have huge gaps in my "memories." tragic really. Now, I have to write brief notes so I have a small chance of remembering things.

Did I write about the trip to Europe? No. And there was a lot to write about. The guy leading the trip was a bit of a wack, and I knew before the trip that I was worried. The kids were GREAT as always, but he just made me tired. I'm glad I went, but I'm glad it is over. At the end of the trip he said I had too many opinions, I talked too much and I cussed. hahaha. As if anyone who has spent 30 minutes with me in the last 20 years couldn't tell you that.

Side note- I took a ton of photos of people practically having sex in public. It was almost a theme of the trip. Total weirdness. We also went to the beach in Rome. Very lovely. I had a lot of fun having not done that before.

Another side note - I would check in with the dog sitter. Totally had to beg her for photos. Seriously, it got to the point I was requesting proof of life because I thought one of them might be dead... sigh.

Palm Springs. I can safely say that Texas is not hotter than hell. Turns out Palm Springs in July is. I went with my friends Scott and Lisa. I had a totally fantastic time. Probably one of the very best vacations I've ever had. Despite the fact after laying in the sun for ten minutes at ten am on the first day the little piece of metal on my swimming suit had literally burned my flesh requiring a wardrobe change!!

Teaching Jostens yearbook camp for three days was the usual BS. The big excitement was that for once when people got pissy with each other I was not at the center of it!! HA I enjoy it, but there are a lot of women that are a little too crazed about yearbooks etc. I just can't get that torqued up over it all.

The Gracie and Dixie continue fighting like mad things. I haven't figured out what I am going to do about that.

I am working desperately to fininsh the damn real estate book and then hand it off to the committee with a thank you and goodby. I am  totally and completely ready to be done with it.

I'm raising a 15lb terrorist

It's embarrassing. Either of the other dogs could sit on her, but we are all terrorized but the little rat. She looks pretty cute, doesn't she? She is snuggly, she is quite sweet when she wants to be.... she is also an utter hellion when she is full out barking without giving any indication of what it is she wants. 

Side note, I will say I think Dixie starts growling/barking at Gracie as much as Gracie tries to start stuff with Dixie. Of course Dixie is trying to warn Gracie away. Gracie sees it as a line in the sand she clearly needs to cross to show she is not scared. 

I have been diligently putting them both in their kennels when they start yelling at each other. It's quite tiresome.  They spend a lot of time in their kennels... 

End of Day 7

First and foremost, I am TIRED people. We have hauled our asses through Italy...and tomorrow at the ass crack of dawn we will be getting up to head to the airport and Paris. But we won't be staying in Paris, oh no. We will be getting on a bus and riding for God knows how long out to the beaches of Dday. As I told the girls, these are not your laying on towels staring at others kind of beaches...these are the sharp jagged how did anyone survive Dday beaches.

I'm sad to be leaving Venice, because I quite love Venice...but I have to admit, I'm starting to think about Mexican food a lot and I really MISS MY DOGS. I kept asking the dog sitter to send photos... I don't know if she thought I was kidding or what... Not kidding. FINALLY she sent me my proof of life photos...

I realize it is hard to tell in these photos...but they miss me terribly. Clearly, broken up over my absence! 

We started realizing we were getting bit by mosquitos or something in Florence...it has continued in Venice. Most unpleasant.

When I get home I have lots of photos I'll be posting with stories..if I can remember them.

I'm having a terrible time tryinig to blog. I can't get pictures to upload for diddly, my eyes are burning all of the time and I am feeling very old...5 days of being coherent left...then on a plane.