Things I learned from my mom:

-that it really doesn't matter how poor you are, you can always, ALWAYS afford coffee.
-that your home in the winter should be warm enough to wear shorts and a tank top, and that wearing slippers and a sweater to save on heating bills is ludicrous.
-that there is no such thing as "going too far" when it comes to pulling pranks and making fun of people.
-that watching the road while driving is optional, especially when you're looking at a book or spying on a daughter and her friends.
-that you're never too old to watch Bugs Bunny, and laugh.

Things I learned from my dad:

-that problems fade away with the sound of music.
-that the head is a very resilient thing, and can withstand a huge picture frame, the corner of an open cupboard and a loose fence board.
-that laughing at yourself is easy.
-that laughing at people who can't laugh at themselves, is even easier.
-that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, that you're kind of always in a state of waiting for the rubber to meet the road, that you should never throw the baby out with the bathwater, that you shouldn't count your chickens before they hatch, that the proof, is always in the pudding, and that it doesn't matter if your daughter has NO idea what your sayings mean, you should still say them.

Things I learned from my sister:

-it doesn't matter how much of an expert at avoiding you are , your laundry will NEVER go away on it's own.
-that sometimes, it's okay to avoid all responsibilities and spend all day in the sun.
-that keeping a poker face when someone is digging their finger nails into your skin and shaking with rage is hard, but possible.
-that people who talk in movie quotes are cooler than people who don't.
-that laugh attacks are best when followed up with puking, coughing, gagging, and someone getting physically hurt.

Things I learned from my husband:

-that people will think you're busy and productive if you just keep moving, even if moving means twitching, jumping or shaking your leg uncontrollably.
-that knowing a tiny bit about a subject does not make you an expert, and that saying "I don't know" is surprisingly easy.
-that it's possible to reach the top of a flight of stairs in one step.
-that it's also likely one will hurt themselves if one tries.
-that you can still sing a song that you don't know the words to, by simply making it up as you go.
-that you're never too old to have a Lego magazine subscription, and you can always say it's for your kids if people ask.

Things I learned from my daughter:

-that telling a good story means you include every single detail, such as what everyone was wearing, where everyone was standing, what was happening around the people involved in the story, what the weather was like at the time of the story, and if people lose interest in the story, it's best to just keep going.
-that eating two heaping spoon fulls of straight garlic will not kill you.
-that every possession is special and has a meaning and sentiment.
-that walking around and around and around the coffee table over and over while talking on the phone is fun, and good exercise.

Things I learned from my son:

-that cleaning your room is optional.
-that sitting still is optional.
-that being quiet is optional.
-that listening is optional.
-that having fun is more important than anything in the world.
-that it really doesn't matter what people think, it's okay to be you, even if you're a freak.

I'm not a morning person. Never ever have been.
When I first moved out, my sister would call me every morning. Some mornings she caught me up and functional, ready to talk. Other mornings, she woke me up, and would receive a series of grunts through the phone, to which she would respond with, 'ugh, just call me when you're awake.'
Many of our fights stemmed from those morning phone calls, because if she caught me when I was not quite awake, I was grumpy, irritable, irrational, annoyed, and generally looking to pick a fight.
I would wake up and need at least one full hour of no one talking to me or asking anything of me. I wasn't able to do anything functional, other than sip the coffee out of my cup, as well as walk to the coffee pot, to refill said cup.
Then, I got married. Turns out, a husband doesn't like it when his wife wants to bite his head off as soon as she opens her eyes. Hubby wakes up refreshed, viewing the morning just the same as any other part of the day. A time to talk, laugh, joke, plan and so on. So over the years, I worked on it, and worked on it, and worked on it.
Today, I am still not a morning person, not even close. However, I do not bite heads off, I am able to listen and actually retain information when someone talks to me, and I can walk around and accomplish things such as making breakfast for children. I'm able to greet my daughter with a "good morning" every morning, sure it may be groggy and not always genuine, but I do it. I can even muster up the strength to use words from the English language. It's not my first choice, as silence is best when it's first thing in the morning, but, I can, and I do. And sometimes, SOMEtimes, I smile.
Today, I add to my list of morning accomplishments, being able to write a nonsensical blog post.

My list of 20 random nonsense questions, because I miss Facebook, and need something to do, other than clean my house.

1. when you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
"bedhead is only sexy when your hair is clean, and not holding three days worth of oil"

2. do you miss anyone right now?
Yes, I miss my hubby. He's out of town right now, and he would normally be at work anyway, and he will still be home at normal time, but, because he's out of town, I miss him.

3. if you could move anywhere else, would you?
Some days, yes.

4. if you could choose, what would your last meal be?
A fillet mignon steak medium-rare, with a side of shrimp and scallops, a glass a merlot, oh, and TONS of broccoli.

5. what famous person, dead or alive, would you want to have lunch with?
P!nk. I love her, always have.

6. what was the last book you read?
Captivating by Stasi Eldredge. It only skimmed the surface on the first read, and I have to read it again, and again, and again.

7. what was the last movie you watched?
Children of Men.

8. what was the last song you heard?
Some doo-op song by Accapella on Free. That song actually really irritates me. Not the message, but the doo-ops.

9. what is your dream vacation?
Anywhere with my husband. Except maybe in a tent. That's not in my dream.

10. what is the next trip you will take?
New Orleans baby! NEW ORLEANS!

11. did you ever go to camp?
I did, lots. One time my mom had to be called to come get me because I was homesick. Another time I counted over 100 mosquito bites, yes, 100, and another time my sisters boyfriend was supposed to keep my gravol in his pocket for the ride home, but it got all crushed, so he put it in my juice and made me drink it. Yes, I have fond memories of camp.

12. have you ever been in love?
Yes, many times, with the same person.

13. what do you want to know about the future?
Nothing. I'm easily scared, and have a tendency to bolt when things get tough. I think it's just best for everyone if I don't know.

14. where is your best friend?
In the form of a few different people. One I share a bed with, one lives down the street, one is fabulous and has seen me through my worst and my best and still calls me friend, and one I've never met.

15. how is your best friend?
They are all nothing short of amazing.

16. who is the biggest gossiper you know?
Probably me.

17. what does your last text message say?
'What are you guys doing tonight? Come to Divas.'

18. what are 3 things you've always wanted to do, that you still plan to accomplish?
Find my true worth and solid identity, be a runner and stay a runner, to love without boundaries.

19. what is one thing you learned from your parents?
That what's theirs is mine, even though what's mine isn't necessarily theirs, that spaghetti is apparently the easiest and most convenient thing to make, that laughter is the best medicine especially when laughing at your own expense, that red lights are optional as well as paying your parking tickets, that it really doesn't matter what you've done, you will ALWAYS be loved, ALWAYS.

20. what is one thing you hope to teach to your own children?
Honesty and transparency. That the raw and unedited version of 'them', is ALL they need to walk in. That when things are kept hidden, they rot and mold inside. And that when things are in the open, there are NO borders keeping them from becoming the people they want to be.

I don't have a green thumb. My thumb isn't even remotely green. I've learned over the years that live plants do not add life and color to my house. Instead, they show my true colors to my friends and family, that I am not responsible enough to care, tend to, and water my plants.

This year however, I've decided to throw out the rule book I've authored for myself, and claim that I am not defined by what I am not. Along with many other crazy deeds, some regretted and some not, I decided to take a deep breath, and plant some perennials. It's still undetermined whether these poor plants will live or die, as I've already killed one shrub, but, so far so good.
I was outside this morning, enjoying my shot of "fresh" air, and noticed that one of my perennials (of which I have NO idea what it's called, because I have NO idea what I planted) was completely wilted. I thought it was dead, and beyond repair. I quickly grabbed the hose and watered the crap out of mr. nameless wilting perennial. To my amazement, just a few hours later, it looked as good as new, lifeless and gorgeous.

I'm thinking, this might be how it is with God. When we're wilting, because of all the heat and dry weather life might be throwing at us, or even because of our own refusal for water, it only takes ONE dose of water from Gods well to bring us back. So many times, I look at myself when I'm wilting, unable to see my beauty. How can a flower that's wilting still be beautiful? But Gods eyes are so much bigger than mine, and He sees my FULL potential when He looks at me.

I could very well kill all my perennials. I have no idea what I'm doing. I know that it might only take one irresponsible day of being too lazy to water them, to find they've all died a slow and painful death. So be it. If I could grab hold of this simple message, it'd be worth it. (just don't tell my husband I said that, because I spent way too much money on these stupid plants.)

update on me:

-I am hardcore going through Facebook withdrawals! Some days are better than others, but I'm ashamed to admit that most days, I miss it like crazy.

-Seems that the mountains of life these days are over, and although hard times still come, they come in the form of hills. Running with even the smallest bit of incline makes for a very hard workout, but am pressing through, knowing there's no time limit, and I can take as many breaks as I need.

update on everything else:

-son is officially potty trained! PHEW.
-hubby and I are celebrating our 6th anniversary tomorrow. Double phew :P
-one more week and then schoooooooools OUT, FOR, SUMMAH!
-hubby continues to enjoy his new truck, getting it stuck any chance he gets.
-found cat poo in my freshly planted perennials this morning.
-bought a treadmill, and am thoroughly enjoying running, but even more so, enjoying not feeling like I have to.
-have nothing more to say, and am still finding it super hard to blog. Updating facebook status's with silly song lyrics and various complaints was way easier.