Rev It Up!

I want a fast car. Not that this is a new revelation, just one that usually sits on the back burner until I've either a) spent the day at the track with Justin and friends or b) watched The Fast and the Furious for the thousandth time. Yesterday I happened to do both. Thus my overwhelming yearning for a hot, fast, six-speed car. In any color but white or yellow.

I really don't know much about cars. I ask Justin questions all the time but there are so many parts and such involved in the answers that they make sense as I'm listening but I couldn't repeat back any of the information and it sound relatively sane. Off the top of my head, I can say these few things though- I know when a car has NOS, I know when it's got a turbo and I definitely know what the sound of a broken rear end and/or drive shaft is. I also know that the low rumble of a beast of a car makes me smile. And want to drive it. Quickly. Preferably without running into any cops.

As we were walking around the track yesterday, I told Brittany that one day I'd have a car to bring to race. She asked jokingly if I wanted to take the Rav down a time or two and I laughed. I told her that being the kind of person I am, I'd have to have a car just as good, if not better than the boys. Cause I would not be that girl. The "oh, you're just a girl" girl. Blame it on my tomboy-ishness, blame it on my sheer stubborness, but I've never been one to take the implications of "you're just a girl" well. Yes, I appreciate doors being opened for me, and yes I appreciate when someone gets something off the high shelf for me, but I'll be damned if you think I have to depend on you for things. I am and have never been ashamed to climb shelves and scoot heavy things with my feet just to prove the point that I can do it my own self. *Breath* But I digress.

I told Justin after we'd been home for a while that after I'd built him his nice working garage, I wanted said fast car. And although I wouldn't be the first choice at being put to work as a mechanic, any modifications that were done to it I wanted to be involved in. Even though most of them would be a "put the wrench there and turn". Of course his response was pretty much "I'm not gonna tell you no". Cause for him, it's one more toy to play with :)

Time of My Life

For the past year, I've felt like life finally fell into place. Between me being happy with myself, happy in my relationships, and happy in my workplace, I knew that it was that point where all my nights of worry about this, that and the other were over. I also knew, however, that my nights of staying up late and hanging with the roomies was going by the wayside as well. And at that point I wasn't aware of just how much I was gonna miss it.

Last Friday I attended a concert here in town with my Meggie, Michael and a few of their friends. Halfway through singing my heart out to Papa Roach, I turned to Meg and said "I miss living in the apartment with you guys." She immediately responded "Me too! I found a 3 bedroom house in Gtown and told Michael that me and him, you and Justin and Dre and Cedric could all live together and it'd be great." It made my heart hurt and be happy at the same time that she too felt my sentiments.

I started staying at Justin's pretty much full time by the end of April of last year. I didn't officially move out of the apartment though until August, which was when our lease was up. Depsite the fact that I wasn't there very often in the end, it was still my apartment and my little family. They didn't call me Mom for nothing. The thoughts of missing the apartment/roommate life didn't really hit me hard until a few weeks ago when I twittered "I think I need to make my bedtime 1030. Go back to my apt days when I was in bed by 10 and back up at 1 asking the roomies to be quiet." Who would have ever thought I'd miss Meg saying "All she needs is a little love!" while I was angrily staring them down. But some of my fondest memories come from the random conversations that happened amongst the three (actually five) of us who lived in that apartment. Even the shadiness we all shared at some point or another, lol. There's just nothing like it in the world.

One day I hope that I live somewhere where my neighbors are my friends, our kids can play together, and we all sit around and laugh about the sordid affairs of yesteryear while grilling hamburgers, watching tv or just hanging out for the hell of it. But for now, I just want the good times to keep a rollin'.

You're Only as Old as You Feel

So the saying goes anyway. And if that's the case, then throw me some dentures and remind me what my name is, cause this girl is feeling far too old for her years.

I'm drawing ever closer to the quarter-century mark, which really is only about 1/4 of the lifetime I hope I have. And although I'm still in my prime of life (I haven't even had children to wear me down yet), I'm starting to feel the world slow down a little. Okay, maybe the world is actually going faster and I'm slowing down, but whatever the case there are a few things pointed out to me this weekend that I'm just too old to do anymore.

Staying up late multiple nights in a row. Sadly enough, even when younger this wasn't the greatest idea for me. Having never really been a morning person (and what little bit I was ever so quickly fading away with each passing day), getting up when I've had less than the desired 8 hours of shut eye is never good. Granted, in college I could go to bed in the middle of the AM and drag myself to class the next morning (well, my 9 or 10's at least). These days, however, I'm good to have both eyes open by the time I'm walking to the car to drive to work.

Sleeping in the bathroom floor as a side effect of alcohol. Starting around my senior year of college, I found out very quickly that my bed of choice after a night of hanging out with friends was the bathroom floor. Offering it's cool, hard exterior to lay on, I couldn't say no after finally getting what was left of my stomach lining to stay put. Nowadays, I have a few things working against me in the department. The biggest being lack of experience in oh, the past year, lol. When you mix low tolerance with tendency for everything to hit at once, you once again have the perfect recipe for waking up the next morning with towels as blankets and pillows and a possible cramp in your leg from not having stretched it in more than four hours.

But my, do I look back at those days fondly. Plenty of memories to go along with 3am bedtimes and being hit with the bathroom door cause someone didn't know you were asleep in the floor :)

Playing Catch Up

Back in the day, I wrote almost every day in my livejournal. Not that my life was any more exciting then than it is now, it was just a vehicle to pass the time, prevent boredom, procrastinate from homework, vent and share similar life experiences with the few friends that I had met through the site. I then decided to start this blog. And admittedly, I've been very bad about keeping up with it.

Ironically enough, I never intended to share the most personal side of myself on this particular page. Because of situations far, far in the past I've always been a little eh about just putting any and everything out there for people to read. And because of this fact, I never seem to have much in the way of stories to share because most of them I find too near and dear to blurt out to the whole world. Silly of me right?

So let it be known that it's on my list of things to do after tax season to start putting a little effort into sharing the ongoings of life once again. The little things, the funny moments, the pains and disappointments that come along every now and again. Just gotta bear with me though. Cause this office owns my soul until after the 15th :)

Celebrating

A year ago today, I asked a wonderful man if he would like to dive into a relationship with me. Okay, I really asked if he'd like to be my "boo bear." But the sentiment was true and heartfelt and after having worked up to it for six weeks, he agreed with a smile. That's the smile I've gotten to wake up to every morning (literally- the boy is a freakin' ray of sunshine in the mornings compared to me) for so many days of the last year, I wouldn't know where to start counting.

The transition from the getting to know you into the getting to love you was seamless. In less than a month, I was completely enamoured and willing to start placing bets that this was the one I'd be with when I was 90 and senile (at least I'd think it was him). Turned out he was feeling much the same and here we are- a year into what will be a lifetime together :)

I told him recently that he completely uncomplicated my life. Although he doesn't quite understand how that's even possible (let alone how big of a deal in my world that is), he knows that means he's special. And damn right he is. I never second guess, hold back, question or ponder the other possibilities with him. He told me the other night I was a bad liar and I said that it was because I was always joking around when I tried, although he had no worries for the real thing cause there was nothing for me to hide from him. So far from what other relationships have been. So many things and feelings that I felt I had to tuck away with others aren't even present now. Ah, the joys of a soulmate.

Here's to the amazing first year we've had together and all the others that are yet to come. I truly am blessed to have met him and become a part of his life. Happy one year sweetheart!

Why I Love My Man

As tagged per Nicole, here's some answers to questions about why I'm in love with one Mr. Justin :)

1. Where we met - Justin and I met on a cold, January day at a mutual friends house. Kent and Emily were my best friends from college and Justin worked with Kent, and long story short a group of us had decided to start running a few days a week after work and the first day there he was. He had on a Georgetown hoodie (as did I) and after making a comment about us matching, I met up with him for a few moments after the run to ask a few questions. I then stalked him on facebook and myspace for a day before sending a simple message that was sure to get a good response from him.

2. Our first date - Technically our first date wasn't planned. We had intended for me to come over to his house to run after work, but it turned too cold and we went to Johnny Carrino's and a movie instead.

3. How long did we date before we were married? - Haha, well we're still in the dating process, but I've got my money on a few years :)

4. How long have been hitched? - Not yet, but I promise that there'll be at least 65 years of us bugging one another

5. Favorite feature - His eyes and long, long eyelashes

6. Favorite quality - In all honesty, everything. Justin turned out to be everything that I had ever put on my list of qualities I wanted in a future husband. But I suppose my favorite is something I just told him last night- his ability to uncomplicate my life. Since he and I have been together, my uncanny ability to overcomplicate any situation has decreased immensely.

7. His nickname for me - Although we call each other Babe, I'm pretty sure mine is usually one of two: punkass or short stack

8. His favorite color - I think he's a fan of blue

9. His favorite sport - I don't know that there's one that trumps the rest of them completely, but I'd say college football is on the top of the list. He does enjoy Nascar and shooting matches too though :)

10. Who said I love you first - Although he told me first that he was falling in love, I was able to show him an email I'd sent to Emily two days earlier confessing that I felt a little silly for feeling that I was already falling in love with him. I'll call it even though :)

11. Our first kiss, when and where - He got a small peck after our dinner together Valentine's Day. Our first real kiss was two days later at Saddle Ridge after I asked him if he "wanted to be my boo" lol

12. Favorite couple thing to do - Since it's been cold, hanging out at the house and watching tv. But this summer I'm sure it'll include going to the shooting range together.

13. His hidden talent - I don't think he really has one. Unless you count the fact that he can name cars just from hearing them (and usually their price tag) and guns from just taking a quick look at them.

14. His favorite music - Metallica and the like. He likes hard rock, the stuff that just screams at you through the speakers.

15. What I admire most about him - His drive in life. Justin is an intelligent man who works hard and tries to educate himself in everything that he does, whether it be a one time repair on something or a full blown hobby. He's literally full of interesting knowledge that just comes out at all times and I love hearing.

16. His favorite pastime - Cars and guns.

17. Will he read this - I seriously doubt it :)

Update to my Cast

So, yesterday was the magical day that I got my partial cast off. Now, before getting into the details I must clarify that I was under the impression that since I was only wearing it for two weeks that my hand would be good to go after yesterday. Wrong.

Upon pulling my hand from the splint, my fingers were so happy to be able to bend again. But the pain that was there in the beginning was still there, and just as bad. I spent a good five minutes poking around, pushing the pad of my pinky, placing my hand on the seat and putting some pressure on it, only to wince each time. I was a bit confused. When the doctor asked me how I felt and I expressed "basically the same as before" he looked at me and said "Well, it's still broke." All he needed was a "Duh!" after it to make me feel any more stupid. I assume that because the bone isn't displaced and it's in the area that it is that I don't need to wear a splint or cast to allow it to heal. And he also didn't want my hand to get stiff. So I've got 6-8 more weeks before the bone is completely healed. Wonderful.

Although the cast was annoying, I'd rather have it back on at this point. Yesterday being the first day out, I was getting used to doing the little things again with my left hand and found very quickly that even picking a sheet of paper up to flip it over tweaks the hand. And how many times during the day do you just automatically do something with your hands without really thinking about it first? I was so pissed off last night when I got home from work just because nothing had really changed. And I was even more pissed off because I felt like I was being a baby about it when I really wasn't. Such a little thing to make things so complicated. But i guess that's the way life works sometimes.

I'd been going back and forth about what to do concerning my Krav class. I'm no good for partnering cause I can't use that hand (instructions were to not do anything to hit it or have it hit, or put pressure on it) so no holding bags, no drills, no punches and the like with the left hand, no pushups or other warm ups that involve being on my hands. But Justin talked to Curt after class who said that I needed to keep coming and they'd find stuff for me to do. And that he thought I had what was known as a 'boxer's fracture' which is apparently cause because of the force you put on that part of your hand and takes a long time to fully recover from. I was a little less disheartened to hear that, so next week I'll be starting back to class ready to perfect my kicks, knees and elbows, lol.