Broken Jaws and Sexy Heels

Is this disgusting or what?

If you can't tell, it's a picture of someones broken jaw.  This is our friend's brother, Cort.  It's a crappy picture, my husband sent it to me on my cell phone.  Remember the wedding we went to last weekend? Well this guy, who was supposed to be an usher at the wedding, never quite made it there.  Apparently on the way to the wedding, he cut someone off on the highway and unfortunately, it turned out that the person he did this too was bat shit crazy.  The dude followed him for about five miles, all the way to the wedding.  He then proceeded to jump out of his car, pull our friend Cort out of his vehicle (tux and all) and beat him about the face repeatedly.  This crazy asshole was also in his company van with a child strapped into a carseat in the back.

By the time anyone realized what was going on, the guy jumped into his van and sped away.  Luckily, someone got his license plate number and called the police.  They also called an ambulance and he was rushed off to the hospital.  Cort's jaw was broken in two different places, once on each side, and he was beat up pretty badly.

Turns out the police are very familiar with this cat.  So familiar with him, that they have now put Cort into protective custody because they are afraid of what this guy's friends might do to him.

Seriously, how messed up in the head can someone be?!

Note to self: Never cut anyone off, ever again.

* * * * * * *

On to happier subjects.

I went shoe shopping last week to find something perfect to go with my dress.  I found these....

I am in love with these shoes. I brought them home and upon trying them on with my dress, I realized it just wasn't a good match.  That didn't mean I had to take them back though.  Besides, I was already way too attached.  And they are going to look amazing with something else... like some skinny jeans...

I also like how they almost look like they are wearing little shirts with ruffles down the front.

Apparantly Sleeping is Just Not in the Cards for Me....

So for the past six months or so our bed has turned against us. Its definitely been around for a while, and although it was once a very comfortable nest, it had become something we dreaded getting into. Mostly because we knew that when we woke up, we would be riddled with back pain, shoulder pain and hip pain. I would also wake up every hour or two and need to reposition myself. And forget about ever sleeping in, the longer you were in it, the more sore you were the next day. So we finally caved and decided to fork over the money and get a new one.

Of course, we couldn't afford the one we REALLY wanted, which was a Tempur-pedic. I can't believe how much money they want for those damn things! They may very well be worth it, but if you don't have the money, then you don't have the money. After lots of research, price shopping and review reading, I settled on one that fit our budget and would hopefully give us a better night's rest. We waited a week and it was delivered to our door step. At first we thought it was the best thing in the world, and it was definitely more comfortable then our previous bed, but after a few nights we realized this bed was FIRM. Seriously way too firm for us. It was supportive and all, but we needed some cushion! My back pain was gone, but my hips were aching all day long now. So then I started researching memory foam toppers to go on top of it. I shopped around, picked one out, two days later (last Thursday) it was on the bed.

We realized right away that it was now just right for us. It was kinda like sleeping on a cloud and we loved laying on it. About the same time, the munchkin had started getting 6-8 teeth in all at the same time, so comfy or not, we were still up quite a bit with a very unhappy little girl. She never needed us to actually come into her room, but throughout the whole night she would wake up and groan or cry out and would in turn, wake me up. I feel so bad for her. Every time I get ready to head in there, she falls back asleep or gets really quiet. So I am caught in the hallway wondering what to do.

Yesterday, she seemed like she was feeling better. Maybe I was finally going to get a good night's sleep! I went to bed early even, so I could catch up. I have been feeling like such a zombie lately... I really needed some rest! I actually made it into bed around 9:30, which is a record for me these days. I must have been utterly exhausted because I don't even remember laying there for long. I was out like a light.

Next thing you know, I am vibrating and bumping around to some really loud and heavy bass. I look over at my clock and it's 1:45 am. Awe man... and I was sleeping so good for a change! I thought, It can't last too long, then I can go back to sleep. So I waited. I waited 15 minutes and started to get super pissed. Plus, I was afraid they were going to wake up the munchkin who was finally getting some good sleep herself. I got out of bed, went to the front door and peeked out the window. The neighbor's kid was sitting in his car across the street, no doubt smoking pot and listening to techno music. So I have nothing against pot, nor techno music for that matter (I've seen and enjoyed plenty of both back in my day), but wtf?! Its now 2:00 am and if you are gonna smoke pot in your car outside, don't you want to be a little more discreet about it? I started flashing my front porch light, hoping that it would get his attention and he would realize he was messing with people's sleep. Nothing. I realized if I wanted to go back to sleep any time soon I was going to have to brave the cold and walk my happy ass over there. So I pulled on some sweat pants, shoes and a coat and marched myself over there.

As I got closer to his car, I could see the window was rolled down half way and could smell the weed. Seriously, this kid is like 18 years old. How dumb do you have to be to combine smoking pot out in your car and really really loud bass at 2:00 am. Are we trying to attract attention to this or what? I walked straight up to his car and banged on his window as hard and fast as I could. He leaped up in his chair, started flaring his arms around, while a look of total and utter panic swept over his face. His reaction alone, almost made me feel better. I seriously scared the shit out of him.

He looked out at me "You scared the crap out of me!". I replied, "I can hear your bass in my bedroom." He said, breathing really heavy and with a shaking voice, "I am so so sorry!" I told him to just turn it down and started walking back to my house as he apologized again. I could hear him shutting off his car and the night was finally silent again. I kicked off my shoes, my pants and my coat along the path back to my bedroom and couldn't wait to get back to sleep. Joe was still out, of course, that guy can sleep through anything.

As my head hit the pillow and I closed my eyes, I started to hear another really loud sound. That little asshole's car alarm was going off! You have got to be kidding me! I laid there for a few minutes, thinking surely he is going to turn it off soon. Ten minutes later, it was still going on and I am not gonna lie, I was pretty much fuming at this point. And my husband was still sleeping! I went to the front door and peeked out. There was no one in the car. Apparently, they couldn't hear the alarm going off from inside their house (he doesn't park his car in front of his own house).

So back to the bedroom and I am waking up Joe. How that man can even still be sleeping through all of this is amazing to me and damnit, I was not going to deal with it by myself any longer. Joe gets up, puts on his coat and heads across the street. As soon as he gets to the door and knocks, the kids bedroom light shuts off. Joe waits, nothing, he knocks again, nothing. He just stands there for a while. Personally, I would be ringing the doorbell AND banging on the door. I might even be yelling too. I would not care if his parent's were woken up. Luckily for them, Joe is way more laid back then me. No one ever comes, Joe gives up and heads back home. At this time, the car alarm is starting to slow down, sputter and cut out as the battery power starts to run out. Then it stops. Finally.

We headed back to the bedroom and crawled into the bed. It was now almost 3:00am. Thanks jerk. Another night of crappy sleep.

So I am hoping, really really hoping, that I might actually get some good sleep tonight. If I don't, I am just gonna call in sick to work one of these days, have Joe take the munchkin to the sitter and just stay home in bed ALL day long!

Walmart Adventures, Baby Shower and Some Maternity Pics

I went to see my doctor on Friday and turns out I have a sinus infection (probably), but he said that drainage was causing my sore through. He prescribed me some antibiotics and some nose spray. He also said I needed to put a humidifier in my room to help with my soar throat. I went home and took a really really long nap. I took all of his advice, but decided to hold off on the antibiotics. I just don't want to take any more unless I absolutely have to. I have already taken them 2 different times for both kidney stones and I am really nervous about taking too many meds while pregnant. It's now Monday and I am already feeling alot better so I am really glad I decided to not take them.

Friday night we went to visit Joe's mom and sister & brother in-law. We had a yummy steak dinner at their house and visited for a while. Then his sister and brother in-law came over to our house to help Joe with some issues with the water heater and some plumbing. That took forever and since we really needed to go to Walmart to get a humidifier, we ended up going at 1:00 am. Late night trips to Walmart are always so interesting. This one wasn't any different.

I was walking around the produce department when this very odd woman came up to me and shouted "Hi!". She worked there and was stocking the fruit. And yes, she really was shouting at me. Something was really "off" about her. I knew she was disabled in some way, ofcourse that didn't bother me, it was where she took the conversation that started to put up a red flag. She started with asking me when my baby was due... then what was the sex... then what was her name... then where I would be delivering at... My answer to the last one was "I don't know yet." She was standing super close to me and talking in an extremely elevated voice. Maybe she wasn't aware of my personal space and maybe she just wasn't sure about what was appropriate banter for 1:30 am conversations with strangers, but I couldn't help but wonder if she was plotting to come and steal my baby. I guess she took the hint when I didn't really answer her last question and my demeanor shifted from friendly to guarded. At this point, Joe had also just walked up to join me. Without another word, she turned around and walked away. Wierd.

My baby shower on Saturday was so much fun! We got all kinds of wonderful gifts. Yay!! I was so impressed with what a good job my sisters and mom, and our friend Michele did. They worked really hard and everything turned out so nice. And just look at the pics of the food...

My sister went a little crazy with the menu. It was so delicious though and I had lots of leftovers to bring home to eat too!


Anna brought Isaac! I am so glad he is just about back to his normal happy self.

Here's some of the presents we got! Amy and Erin made tie dye onesies for the munchkin in a few different sizes. They were so cute.

Here's some of the people that came. I am in the middle with my two sisters to the right of me and my mom and my niece in front of us.


On Sunday we finally got our maternity pics taken. I would liked to have gotten them done sooner before I was so big and puffy, but I am still really happy with how they turned out. Our friend, Scott, did such a good job taking them! We took all the pics in the nursery and outside on our front porch, in our front yard and on the side of our house.



The one below is my favorite. I even remember while we were taking this one how much love I could feel between us. It was a wonderful feeling.


This tree is on the side of our house right outside the nursery window.



I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! My last ultrasound is wednesday morning.. I am really excited about seeing her! I will post the pic once we get it.

The Queen of Awesome and The (anticlimactic) Return of the Craigslist Underwear Model

I received a pretty snazzy award from my good buddy Gina over at Namaste By Day. Woo Hoo! Thanks Gina! I am tired today and wanted to blog, but my head is feeling a little fuzzy and I haven't been functioning at the top of my game (I am saving this topic for a whole other blog in itself). So I am grateful for the award... now I have a topic to focus on this Monday morning. This award is called the Queen of Awesome... err or rather the Queen of Awe-Summm?


My new role of Queen of Awe-Summm requires me to do the following:

1. List 7 things that make me Awe-Summm
2. Pass the award onto 7 bloggers that I love
3. Tag those bloggers to let them know they are now Queens too (and link back to the Queen who tagged you)

7 Things That Make Me Awe-Summm:

1. I am a pretty good cook. I'm no Wolfgang Puck, but I can hold my own.
   
2. I can throw a hoppin party.
3. I try really hard to be a good wife.
   
4. I try really hard to be a good daughter, sister and friend.
5. I am the queen of bargain shopping and seeking out really good deals and hard to find items.
6. I am a pretty talented graphic artist. I like to think so anyway.
7. I can shake my rump.
   

That wasn't that easy. Not that I don't think that I am awesome, but bragging on yourself isn't usually a recommended action. It feels kinda wierd really.

Okay, so now for the 7 other bloggers that I know are Queens:

1. Anrazel at Companion to the Wind
2. Little T at Craw Digger
3. Elle Charlie at Sometimes a Girl Needs a Blog
4. Seraphina
5. Jillian at It All Began With a Man and a Black Jeep
6. Maggie May at Flux Capacitor
7. Petra a.k.a. The Wise (*Young*) Mommy
   

I received an email last Thursday night from the "angry bitch" on craigslist. What a disappointment. It wasn't nearly as exciting as I had hoped, but here it is nonetheless....

From: "E1988Brown@aol.com"
To: xxxxx@yahoo.com
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2009 11:39:14 PM
Subject: Re: 4 piece womens bedroom set - $300

well great now you know. Im aware of what I post

Now I know what? That she's an angry bitch? That she knew she was in her underwear? Or that she has the intelligence level of a spoon?

Is that all she's got? Why did she even bother? Boo.

Hill-bully Stand-off

I pull into the QT gas station a couple blocks from my work to get my morning coffee (3/4 decaff, 1/4 caff for the pregnant lady). I drive along the parking spaces until I get to the last spot (I like to be out of the way), and I pause before turning left into my spot to allow someone to pass infront of me.

But then he stopped.

He stopped his Bronco (I think it was a Bronco) right between me and my parking spot, and then he just stared at me. I could tell from 10 feet away that he hadn't showered in quite some time. His gray facial hair was unruly, overgrown and very dirty. He was probably in his late 50's or early 60's and I could only assume he never missed a meal. Or a snack. Or a case of beer. At first I was a little confused, and then I realized he was waiting for me to move. But I couldn't figure out why. Yes, I was in front of a pump, but there were 5 more pumps right past me. All he had to do was move up just a little bit and he could pull into any pump and I could pull into my parking spot. I, on the other hand, could not pull forward any further for a parking spot. He was blocking the last one.

He then proceeded to make angry hand gestures at my. Shooing me along and pointing to the pump behind me. I, in turn, started to similarly gesture towards the parking spot behind him. At this point, cars were starting to back up behind him, as he was sitting in the middle of the parking lot, and some were trying to go around him.

Then he rolls down his window.

So I roll down my window.

"Your in my way!", he barks at me, "What is your problem?!"

What is my problem?!?!

"Why are you being such a jerk?", I yelled back, "I can't go any further, there's no more parking spaces, I'm just trying to park. There are plenty of pumps, just drive forward."

"I'm not moving", he yells.

And we were yelling. Everyone on the property could here us.

"I'm not moving either", I yelled back, "I've got all day." Ofcourse, I didn't. I was already late for work, but I wasn't going to tell him that. I then proceeded to put my car into park, lean back in my chair and lace my arms across my chest. I looked around like I didn't have a care in the world and then I started to just stare at him dead in the face.

We were at an impasse.

A woman, who had just had to work hard to get around this man to park her car, starts walking towards us, "What is the problem here?", she asks.

"I'm not sure", I replied, "I'm just trying to park, and he won't move."

So she starts shouting at the man to move. He starts shouting back to mind her own business.

And this is where it starts to get really fun.

"Why don't you move your car, you hillbilly!? There's plenty of other pumps all along here. You blocking everyone's way!" She was screaming at him.

"I am not moving until she moves", he angrily points at me, "I want that pump, and she is in my way".

"There is a whole row of pumps right behind her", she screams back, "what are you on, crack or something? Move your car!"

"Why don't you go drink another beer!" he yells back.

This was getting good. The woman was obviously sober and thinking the same thing everyone else was... What was wrong with this man? We had drawn quite a crowd at this point of spectators standing around to see what was going to happen next.

The woman turned to me, "I am going to go inside and get one of the guys in there, you sit tight."

She walked off. Me and the man just sat there and continued to stare at each other. You could practically see the anger seething from every pore of his face. Everyone else just stood around watching us. No one was moving. A couple more minutes passed. Now yes, I realize maybe I should have just moved along, wrapped back around the parking lot and found a new spot. Not because I was in the wrong, but because it most likely isn't the best idea for a 6 month pregnant woman to get into a stand-off with an obviously crazed hillbilly. I probably should have been scared. But I have never been very good at backing down from a bully. Its just not in me.

Just as I was thinking this, the woman was returning with one of the QT employees. He started walking towards the man, waving his arm for him to move along. The fucking asshole, giant piece of shit, man looked around, finally realizing he wasn't going to win this battle. With a defeated look upon his face, he stepped on the gas and moved forward, pulling in front of another pump. I turned my wheel to the left and pulled into the parking spot.

Ha ha! It was a small victory, but I was claiming it. But seriously, what the hell?

As I walked into the gas station, everyone was a buzz. They were all talking about what had just happened. And if they hadn't seen it, someone was relaying it to them. I was also getting a real kick out of the look on their faces as they realized this lunatic had been directing all of his angry, crazy energy towards a poor, defenseless, obviously pregnant woman.

"Are you okay?", the woman who had helped me asked, "I am shaking, I am so mad."

I assured her I was fine and I thanked the wonderfully kind woman, for coming to my aid.

After making my coffee, I headed toward the register. The man had finished pumping his gas and was there checking out. I ducked behind a row of chips, deciding that without the armor of my Santa Fe, I was better off avoiding any more interaction with this nut job. I pretended to continue shopping. I then peeked over the tops of the chips. He was gone. It was safe. I paid for my coffee, and the random crystal light I picked up while "undercover", and walked out the door. I was relieved to not see the bronco anywhere in sight.

What a way to start my morning. Instead of focusing on how crazy and angry this man was, I have decided to take something else away from it instead. Looking back I am so grateful for the woman that stepped up and came to my defense. She didn't have to do that. She could have easily went right into the gas station, minded her own business and went on her way. But she didn't. And for that I am very grateful.

I might just still be sitting in my car having a stair-off at this very moment.

"Free Advice is Worth Every Penny" ~ Richard Denny

While searching for a white nightstand for the nursery, I came across this ad on craigslist:

4 piece womens bedroom set - $300 (south county)

I have a 4 piece womens bedroom set. It is an off white color with one tall dresser, bed head board im not selling the bed frame, one night stand, and long dresser with mirror attached. this set is in good condition I need to sell it because im moving. please contact me by email me at e1988brown@aol.com or my home phone at 314-651-9572 only serious buyers call my phone.

You might notice that the woman selling the furniture has a guest appearance in the mirror in her underwear. I also like how instead of having a headboard, her bed comes with a "bed head" board. Hahahahaha

Moving on.

I have been a little nervous about the creepos on craigslist lately. You may have heard on the news about the "Craigslist Killer". I always make sure that Joe is home too when someone is coming to pick up something I am selling, and I always take him with me if I am picking something up. I for one would not be advertising myself in my undies while trying to sell some furniture. It just doesn't seem safe. I'm just sayin'.

So...... I couldn't help but email her. Really I was just trying to look out for a sista.

My original email:

Hi

I hope this doesn't come across the wrong way... but I just wanted to let you know incase you didn't notice that you show up in the mirror in your pictures in your boxer shorts and sports bra. I noticed it right away, so I just wanted to tell you incase you didn't know and would want to.

And if you already knew that, just ignore me :)

Laura

Her Reply:

From: "E1988Brown@aol.com"
To: xxxxxx@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 8:56:08 PM
Subject: Re: 4 piece womens bedroom set - $300

really I did not notice . seeing that my room is full of mirrors I couldn't help but to be in the picture.. so why don't you get a life because I'm aware of what I post.

My Reply:

wow. I am really sorry to have offended you. There has been some scary stuff involving people on craigslist on the news. As a woman, I was just looking out for another woman.

If I had had any idea you were such an angry bitch, I would have never sent you the email.

Okay, so maybe my last reply was a little immature. I probably should have just ignored her last email and went on my merry way. But I just couldn't help it. I mean really... I thought I was being nice. What if she really had no idea she was in the background in her underwear? It is possible. I was kinda thinking she would get my email and then thank me for pointing it out, and would then change her picture.

I was obviously wrong.

I guess I should have just minded my own business. But I got a good laugh out of her anyway. I am still half expecting to get another email from her. We'll see. I'll let you know if I do.