The Boots

I’ll start the new chapter off with a fairly mild tale that will embarrass only myself. Just after high school, I hung out with a group of guys who I guess you would refer to as “techies,” one of which was my fiancé, Aaron. We pulled many all-nighters trying to beat the latest video games. This often required late night trips to the local Wal-mart for munchies.

One such night, I had recently purchased a lovely pair of the knee-high “hooker boots” that were oh-so popular that year. I bought a budget pair that I thought would be wonderful because they laced up the front for looks, but also had zippers up the side so you didn’t have to unlace them to take them off. This was a good idea in theory. The problem was, the top two laces were just those hooks that you wrap around, so every time I unzipped the boots they would slack and the laces would fall out anyway. Thus, requiring you to both lace and zip them up every time. It took way too long to get these boots on, let me tell you.

So that night I was wearing these boots at a friends’ house when the guys decide to make a run to Wal-mart. I asked Aaron if he would drive so that I could just put the boots on in the car and save us some time. He agreed and we headed out. I sat in the passenger seat in the dark feeling my way around to put the boots on. I felt the zipper and slipped my foot in and shifted my it around trying to wedge it into the bottom of the boot. It didn’t quite feel right and I thought, “Well, maybe I am trying to put the wrong shoe on the wrong foot?" So, I asked Aaron to turn on the light for a minute so I could see what I was doing.

When the lights came on, I looked down and began to laugh hysterically. My foot was inside my purse. Aaron looked over and saw it too.

Aaron: What the hell is wrong with you?

Me: (still laughing) I dunno, I just felt the zipper and shoved my foot in??

Aaron: Okay, I understand the zipper part, but didn’t you feel all the stuff in the bottom of your purse?

I have no idea. But I know that I laughed till I cried. I laughed so hard that I still didn’t have my shoes on by the time we made it to Wal-mart.

Something Old, Something New

So, I’m sure you’ve noticed my lack of blogging lately. It has not been for a lack of time, but for a lack of material. I’ve been dating someone seriously for almost a year now, which has removed my need to do stupid things such as drive halfway across the country for a horrible first date. I’ve gotten a new car which has a functioning gas gauge and even a little light that comes on the remind me that I will soon need to stop for fuel. I’ve not been “hitting the bars” and having drunken wild stories to tell. Things have become…I wouldn’t say boring, but maybe more stable is the word? It’s nice. It’s comfortable. It’s definitely much safer!

But this has caused a hole in my blogging. This, I can fix. I have only been blogging for the last two years or so. I have PLENTY of stories from pre-blog days. So, here begins a new chapter in my blog. I will delve into my past and dig up the kinds of stories that you always end up rehashing at 3am at a Waffle House or the first time you meet some new friends. I love those nights and those stories. I hope you will too. Bear with me though, I will probably go way back in some of the blogs which will require that I introduce several “characters” that I may or may not have ever mentioned before. I hope you stick it out. And please, PLEASE give feedback. I am considering publishing a book that would be comprised of stories much like the ones I will post here. Feedback, good or bad will help me decide whether or not this is a worthwhile endeavor, so I’d really appreciate it.

And in advance, my apologies to any friends who might be embarrassed by future posts…but you knew this day would come, didn't you?

Tooting My Own Horn

Can I just say that I'm proud of myself? After tiling the countertops last week, I decided to tackle tiling the kitchen and laundry room floors. While Scott and I were in TN visiting his family, we made a trip to Home Depot to pick up some supplies to help his cousin finish his basement. You can’t take me into Home Depot without me finding something I “need.” I decided to price out buying a wet saw versus renting one. They had one for only $88! SOLD! So my souvenir from our trip to TN was a wetsaw and some tin backsplash tiles. I was thrilled. So when we got home, I picked out my tile color and got all my stuff together.

Saturday, I put most of the solid tiles down and then left for Valley for the weekend. I used my wet saw on Tuesday night for the first time and was surprised that I actually did a good job and managed not to cut off any limbs or appendages. I did cut myself a couple of times, but only on the sharp edge of a cut tile and NOT the saw thankfully.

One note about wet saws: The little safety guard not only keeps you from touching the blade and little bits from flying out into your face…but it also keep the stream of water from shooting directly into your eyes. I found this out the hard way.

Last night, I grouted the kitchen and I am amazed at how well it turned out considering my lack of experience. I’m really impressed that I was able to do this completely by myself. Scott helped take the quarter round off around the floor and moved the refrigerator for me, but other than that, I have done this all myself. Thus, the tooting of my own horn. I’m a little proud, can ya tell?

Anyway, so the kitchen is almost done. I just have to clean up one more time, seal the grout and put down new quarter round and then its on to the laundry room. Here’s a pic of the progress, but keep in mind the tile is still a little hazy from the grout:


I know they look a little orangy but they are actually tan. I can't wait until its all done!

Did I Mention How Awesome I Am?

Well, how awesome I am with a little help from my friends? Justin, Jennifer and I re-tiled my kitchen counter last night and I must say it looks pretty darn good! (Hard not to look a considerable amount better considering it was previously done with small pink floor tiles.) It hasn't been grouted or anything yet, which is why the lines are so dark in the photo below. I'm debating now on what to use as a backsplash since the new and shiny tiles make the old ones look dingy?

Just Another Lunch

I just got back from lunch with several co-workers. I paid for my lunch in the cafeteria and looked ahead where a co-worker, Tommy, was already sitting and holding a table for us. I realized I hadn't gotten a knife and went back to get one. I walked back to the table, sat down and started arranging my trey. I looked over at the table to my right and there sat Tommy laughing. I looked up and realized I was sitting with some old scruffy guy that I didn't know. I was totally embarrassed. I moved to the right table and another co-worker, Brian, came walking up behind me laughing so hard he about dropped his trey. We tried to have causal conversation but every time Brian looked at me he started cracking up all over again. Go figure. I'm an idiot.