Mommytale

For months I mommed! I planned, prepped, painted, and kept posts weekly on all the supplies, food, decor and dessert I needed for my baby’s Sesame Street themed 2nd birthday! 

I did all of that so the day of, there wouldn’t be any need for last minute shenanigans. We woke up at 8:30am and I didn’t sit mindlessly until about 9pm when the very last of the guests were out the door and it was just the clean and straightened (thanks to family and the husband) aftermath!

I hired an Elmo, assigned roles and responsibilities to friends and family, set up photo booths, created an agenda, and a playlist of YouTube videos to show....

In the end a house full of rambunctious toddlers and their, “too cool” big brothers or sisters were only interested in a single balloon and a 16x20 blow up bowling ball 🤷🏾‍♀️

FYI those were upstairs from a previous event

I say all this to say: 

Simplicity is key! And don’t stress the small stuff

Life 008

The beautiful thing about life is CHOICE! You get choices in life to live the life you imagine! Most people, especially in America, can take opportunities and turn them into a life worth living. Some people plan their life to the letter T and strategically make moves around that plan. Other people live by happenstance and as life comes to them they swing hoping for homeruns! A vast majority of people live...how shall I say...? As in the Good Book of Matthew 15:27 (side-eye)

Life is unpredictable true and it’s our greatest test of faith but if and when you allow God to order your steps, you feel more confident in your decisions. 

What’s not a good look is making choices to suit your selfish desires and then expecting other people to make moves and “save the day”, pick up where you leave off, clean up your mess, or quite frankly; take over because you can’t, or won’t based on all the life-decisions you make. It’s inappropriate, disruptive to others peace of mind, and rather reckless. 

CHILDREN make mistakes because they learn, grow, and develop through their mishaps and mistakes. Adults can make mistakes too out of error or common misjudgment. But no grown adult, on the other hand, should still be unstable and carefree when they’ve been afforded various CHOICES for several decades of learning, development, and growing. 

CHOICE. It’s a little word used for making selections or decisions based on the best of options for your life. As a new mother I’ve learned that ALL my choices especially now, have to be determined with my child in mind. This will last up until she’s a productive citizen because it’s my priority to model and shape her into a beautiful well-rounded human being. 

Life is not always about being foot-loose and fancy-free. It’s not always about satisfying a self-soothing gratification. Now...are we free to makes that our choice?! Absolutely. But don’t pee on people and call it rain by living your “best” life selfishly and then expecting someone else to splash through your pissy puddles. 

Friendship Rules vs Associates

This is a tragedy!

In college I had a group of girls that; it only took one time for me to know they weren’t “friends” to me. It was a night like most college party nights. I wasn’t with my normal group of friends, and I don’t really remember why. It could have been homecoming or some other big party weekend but the girls I spent that weekend with had solely become my associates strictly through our college associations. 

The particular night I recall;  I wasn’t inebriated however, I had been drinking enough. I wasn’t alert however, I wasn’t unaware. 

Socializing. 

I lingered one too many times and in turn; they left me! 

I looked around and they were gone. It was dark. It was an outdoors party. And if you’ve ever been l.e.f.t. without prior knowledge that it’s happening it can cause a sudden panic to come over you once you realize you’re alone. It feels as if you hear no sound other than your own heartbeat. Everything and everyone looks unfamiliar. 

I felt that. 

I felt it for longer than I care to remember. However, thank God for grace and His covering.  The night didn’t end tragic, ruined, or even with a spot on the associations.   My friends, true or just simply DECENT...wouldn’t have left me, not even for a second without me knowing it or where they were going and undoubtably not without one staying or them pulling me  along with them. It just doesn’t happen! 

The girls, the chics, the crew, the clique, the ladies I call FRIENDS...it doesn’t happen! 

The other side of the coin would be to say friends aren’t “babysitters” and my reply would be, what kind of friend doesn’t check up, help, recover, fend, protect, care for, or have concern for another person that they deem a companion? 

So my heart goes out to this young lady’s family. Lord have mercy on the conscience of all involved. Speculations, misjudgments, and allegations, among other things, will certainly conspire but in the end this loss is troublesome and disturbing all around. God be with them all. 

Bounce Back

Its not a waste if at the time you thought it was perfect for you! The "it" I'm referring to could signify anything; that tweed pantsuit, that special charm bracelet your wore with every outfit, your favorite pair of gator shoes, that class you took that you have absolutely no use for, the plaid sofa, that move across country, those extra souvenir shirts you bought, that relationship you've been in for three years (you know the one, that after the first year, you knew it wouldn't last!)...it doesn't matter!! Because at the time, it was clearly something you believed in and wanted to make work!  

 

If anything, think of it as a learning experience! A short segment of your life that was a blessing through teaching you a great lesson. A lesson that only experience...and um...(clears throat) a ton of cash could have taught you. We're too hard on ourselves sometimes! Shoot! Everyone makes mistakes...the key is knowing how to bounce back! Everyone has had major setbacks and disappointments. We've ALL had those "uh oh" moments, but think positively! If you hadn't taken that class that you have absolutely NO use for; you never would have met *Kenny, and if you never met *Kenny, you wouldn't have met *Shirley, and let's face it; had you not met *Shirley, she couldn't have introduced you to *Tim....and *Tim is the one who got you the amazing job, with the company you absolutely LOVE!  

As I say; Life happens...and it's happening with or without you! So buckle up and enjoy the ride...I mean, why so serious?

My Proposal

I never, quite honestly remember blogging about my engagement. There were SO many things going on during that time. From graduating with my Master’s, to family and friends attending my graduation getaway, to the process of purchasing a new home, from beginning work with a new principal...blogging was simply overshadowed and that is disappointing on my part. 

 Now though, on the heels of the 2nd year anniversary of the day he proposed, Saturday, August 20th, I’m blogging about it!

We’d just left my graduation. I’d invited friends and family that could attend to go and travel with us to Lamar University and then on to Lake Charles, Louisiana to stay at the Golden Nugget Resort and Casino. My plan was a weekend getaway filled with surprises, congratulations, and fun but never in a million years would I have imagined my then boyfriend that I’d been dating for three full years had planned to pop the question! Sure we’d discussed the notion. Looked at rings. Went to view homes. Talked marriage plans, our future, kids, where we wanted to live and how we wanted to live before as far back as during the first year of dating. What’s the ideal proposal? You know? All the idealogical yummy talk couples in love have but still, to this day, I wouldn’t have bet five dollars on him proposing at that time. 

After morning graduation our first stop was lunch, followed by a poolside graduation party, then dinner, late drinks and dancing, wake up to a breakfast buffet, pool again and head home...with gambling shuffled in between if guests wanted. Lunch however was shifted greatly slightly when it came time for toasts...and my boyfriend was the one that suggested it👀 He’s social but not that social so that should’ve gotten me, but no! It didn’t. Then my mom wasn’t at the table, for some reason, and we had to wait on her. I could’ve maybe thought something then, but why would I if they’re all about to toast to my accomplishment👀 

When she finally gets to the table he stands and makes me stand too👀 now if I shouldn’t have known then I don’t know what...but still I’m thinking he’s just trying to be extra lol for my graduation lol.

He tells everyone how proud of me he is and how much he loves me, other words that begin to fade because he then drops to one knee👀 That’s it! That’s how the question was popped! In front of my family and friends....and the entire Pappadeaux restaurant. I have pictures, may even have video...but my one bff who is a camera Nazi...we told her to get the bright lights out of our face 🤦🏾‍♀️ so we probably aren’t recorded 😂🤣 If only I’d have known👀...

I was so clueless I didn’t even know until after the fact that he asked my daddy for my hand in marriage before we left to get on the road that morning. And shockingly my dad held onto the secret the entire morning from my mom because he said she’d have given it away 😂🤣

Greg & Vivian

I made your favorite meal! Rosemary steak, garlic mashed potatoes and cream corn. Oh! I almost forgot I also have salad, let me get it.

(In a daze) I’m really not hungry. I’ve got some things to check out before another early morning.

What’s wrong Greg? You haven’t been your talkative self since this morning before work when you checked your email...did negotiations go south? Did something happen at the firm? Talk to me. You’ve never been too upset to eat; especially you’re favorite steak meal.

I don’t want to talk just yet, Vivian.

What do you mean? I’m your wife. If you can’t vent your frustrations of the world to me....who can you talk to? I don’t want to become one of those couples that isolate each other when things seem rough.

(Long pause)

Greg? What is it?

How could you screw my fraternity brother and associate at the firm? 

(Vivian looks shocked) What?!

How could you? This dude and I work alongside each other. This dude and I have gone for drinks after working on cases together. This dude has confided in me personal family issues with his kid, his girlfriend, his parents. I even took his kid to the Astros game.

I-

He’s been around the both of us together. Talking. Laughing. Drinking. And you have the audacity to be screwing him every chance you got. What kind of woman does this type of betrayal to the man that she “loves”? Who are you?

I- 

You know I asked the question...but I don’t want your tacky, ruthless answer! You have nothing to say to me. There’s NO excuse, there’s NO apology worth it. There’s NO explanation! 

Greg. I would never betray you like that.

It’s already done! I saw the pictures. He sent you over a dozen pathetic pics of himself posing like a b-rated Internet prick. Who knows what you’ve been sending him and who has access to it? Some emails came through last week, but it was sent to my junk mail as to why it was just checked. It had all types of messages you two have been sending back and forth to each other. So save your lie and further lies you’re about to conjure up. 

It’s not a lie. I have no idea where this is coming from. He’s obviously pissed that you two will never be friends again because of that Motley case and your promotion. I have no idea what you’re talking about. There’s nothing to lie or conjure up with a meaningless prick. I would never! Don't no where you’re getting this from but we can't fix it with you hearing rumors and bs from who knows where and not being willing to hear me out or get to the bottom of it together. 

Has Vivian betrayed Greg? Why have emails and pictures been sent to Greg? Are there more? Is there more evidence against Vivian that proves her unfaithfulness to Greg?

Delano & Christine

Man! I knew I’d see you again outside of that office building. Wow! How are you?

I’m good. Hello.

You don’t know who I am, do you? 

No. I’m sorry. I don’t recognize you.

You speak to me every Sunday morning as you go into the building.

No. You must be mistaken. I’ve never met you. 

Maybe because I’m in a suit and tie usually and today I look like a bum, in a white tee shirt and shorts. 

No. I just don’t honestly remember.

I’m the one in the Range Rover that pulls up and we speak almost every Sunday morning.

Oh my goodness! Yes! I remember you now. You DO look totally different. Oh my goodness I didn’t recognize you at all.

A lot of people say that. (He smiles) Can I help you with your bags? I mean, as long as your boyfriend wouldn’t be mad. I noticed you’re not wearing a ring.

(She smiles) I don’t have a husband or a boyfriend but I don’t think anyone would be mad at a gentleman helping a lady to her car with bags.

So, do you live around here? 

I do. In the neighborhood over. How about yourself?

I have family over here and I made the store run.

I see. 

So, now that I’ve shown you I’m a gentleman, helped you to your car and all. You’ve told me you don’t have a boyfriend or husband...could I have your number to call you sometime. Take you out. Get to know you better. 

Well...do you have a wife or girlfriend? 

Divorced. 

And the girlfriend part...

Totally unattached. I’d like to get to know you better. 

I’m not used to getting involved with someone divorced. I don’t know. 

Totally my past. She was a good wife. It didn’t work out, so I gave her the house. Nothing more, nothing less. It’s in the past.

How far will this encounter with Delano and Christine go? Are they both actually single and unattached? Find out if there are any loose ends to tie up?