go bucs!

Went to a Bucs preseason game with Julie tonight...

Raymond James Stadium - you rule.  You do.  You are one of my favorites.  I had forgotten what it's like to be outside at a game, since I spend more time at the Trop and the Ice Palace...sweating and ponchos?  Okay, I'm homegrown, so I'm in!  It's been too long since I've been to a Bucs game...Bucs games have gotten to be a little expensive for me, but Julie found a deal for this preseason game, AND we got to see our Bucs, AND we got to get girl time at RayJay, AND we got to people watch (always fun for me, you know that), so we went...the adventures began early.

On the way, found Julie's boyfriend at I-275 & MLK...he seemed upset when we drove by and she didn't stop.  She told me later he'll have flowers for her, chocolate on her bed, and wine poured when she gets home.  If it's not Nighttrain, I'll be disappointed for her.

Got parked, then entered the wrong side of RayJay....that's okay, we need to burn calories.  Over to the other side, beer & soda stop (thank you for being DD, Julie), find our seats...yes, we're nosebleed, but they rule.  Because we can see everything and we're getting a cool breeze...in AUGUST.  Because we're homegrown, we know this is something to not complain about...we do not say "it's a little cold" when it's August and there's a breeze and we are actually a little cold because of the weather...we do not.  We suck it up and smile and say "what a gorgeous night."  Chances are I'll have boob sweat tomorrow, so I'm not going to bitch.

Watched the game - offense looked alright, defense made us mad.  Bucs lost.  After people watching, though, Bucs female fans are waaaaaaayyyyy cuter than Browns female fans, so #winning.  

Headed back to B-Town...avoided Julie's boyfriend, as we didn't need the drama.  

I don't care what you think - GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

go see "american ultra"

Go see "American Ultra".  Immediately.  And if you can take your grownup child with you, do that.  What a fun mom & daughter day, watching a few of our favorites in a great movie...go see it.  I'm telling you, go see it.

Rachel and I got to to the theater with plenty of time to spare.  So much time to spare that we talked and chatted with the girls at the concession stand (I'm a chatter.  I think I get it from  my dad.  I make friends everywhere.  Rachel is a chatter, too, in certain places.  This place has films all over the place, so we were in her element).  We took our time buttering our popcorn and getting our sodas - you know I got Cherry Coke.  Duh.  Then we head to the theater that they told us it was in, got our assigned seats, and I quickly realized the movie had already started.  What?  We're EARLY.  The movie doesn't start for 15 minutes.  I look at my ticket stub (thank goodness it was in my pocket), and realize we bought tickets to the showing that already started.  

I whisper this to Rachel, hoping to not aggravate the people around us (not many at a Wednesday matinee, but there were some people there).  She can't hear me, so I lean over to whisper again, and my phone falls on the floor.  I can't find it.  I feel all over and can't find it.  The man a few seats down is looking at me like "Bitch, we're about to go to the Straight Outta Compton" theater and I'll take care of you there.  I look at her and whisper, "My phone fell".  She says, "Go to guest services and I'll find your phone".  Off to guest services I bounce, because I'm phoneless and smelling this amazing popcorn, and want to see the whole movie.  We get the right tickets and off to the right theater we go.   She tells me the man I was worried was aggravated by me helped her find my phone.  I think, "How nice"...then I think, "He probably was like - anything to get that loud cherry coke slurping, phone dropping bitch out of here". 

Glad we did - you do need to see the whole thing.  And this is one is worth seeing...

i adulted well tonight

It's not the carline's fault...it's not totally the carline's fault.  Today was the first day of school, and I knew traffic would be a mess, so we left early.  Morning carlines - went great.  I've been doing this for 15 years...this afternoon, though.  High school was a sort of nightmare...middle school?  Ouch.  I had the deputy have me "circle around" TWICE because he couldn't let me in the turn lane..."circle around" at the middle school means continuing on that fairly main road to another turn, cutting through a pretty big neighborhood, then coming back out to the intersecting road and trying again.  Chloe and the two kids I drive home saw me...both times...my phone started blowing up..."Why are you driving past school?  I see you."  They probably thought I was playing a wicked prank on them.  It's 10:35 p.m. and I'm at home on my computer, so we did get home.

Dinner with some amazing friends at Acropolis...I always feel like such a grownup when I go to a restaurant with other women...I don't know why.  Even though I have crayons in my purse and bitstrips on my phone.  I ordered a dirty martini, after placing my filthy purse down.  And a salmon salad.  This wasn't my usual Chick-Fil-A order, peeps...oh no, this was me, showered, makeup on, a necklace even...you should've seen it.  I did get a picture of our beautiful salads.

Home now waiting on laundry...all thoughts of being a martini drinking grownup pummeling down...who am I kidding?  I'd rather be in my nasty sandals waiting on laundry than drinking martinis.  But the hanging out with friends?  Any time...and the salmon salad was pretty good, too.

yes, school supplies are still expensive...

A lot of my friends' & family's kids have already started back at school...fortunately, our county is one of the last in the area to start back, allowing me more time to procrastinate and wait until the day before school starts to finish back to school shopping.  And immunizations.  Because that's how I roll...I like to keep it super exciting and stressful.

I've been buying school supplies for 15 years...they're still expensive.  And parents are cutthroat when it's time to find them.  Thank goodness Office Depot is usually a pretty reliable last minute stop, full of supplies...some aren't where they're supposed to be...and they don't have everything (well, school starts tomorrow, so that one's really my fault)...and the aisles are small...and the huge-SUV-driving-rude-getoutofmyway-navigate-their-carts-like-they-do-their-cars moms took up too much of those aisles...but they have almost everything and are close to home.  I think I got hit on in the aisle with dividers...that was kind of hilarious.  Especially when I saw what I look like...shorts, Red Hot Chili Peppers teeshirt, horrible sandals, sweating, trying to keep track of how much I was spending in my head, and getting frustrated with the HSDRGNTCLTDTC moms, and my go-to hairstyle, the ponytail/bun/messy mess...he must've been having a day a little like mine.

Had Chloe and Ethan with me, so we made a fun day of it...including Cici's Pizza.  I had salad because I didn't feel like having diarrhea tonight.  Then home for the kids to put their supplies into their bookbags and get ready...one last day of play for Chloe and Ethan before school starts, and one last day of nonstop gaming for David before school starts...Rachel is hitting the community college tomorrow, and Brendan is back at the dorms.

Chicken teriyaki for dinner, Chloe has already practiced her makeup for tomorrow (uhhhh what???), the Bucs game on television...good night, y'all  :)

wash my van

Dear Florida summer rains  - I know I was complaining when it was raining for like 31 days straight, and I stand by those complaints...but can you send some rain tonight?  It's like 100 degrees out with no breeze, and the a/c isn't working right AGAIN.  My boobs are tired of sweating...

Also, during that 31 days, was it not possible to add soap and wax and wash my van?  That would've been the bombdiggaty.

Back to my regularly scheduled writing...as I drove in my filthy van to mom's for coffee (don't judge), I actually wandered around B-Town for awhile before I wound up in mom's driveway.  I left for cat food.  Drove up and down Highway 60 and then took the roads to mom's.  Thought about Dad a lot, and how I wish I could still say "mom & dad's".  Believe it or not, mom did not have fresh coffee made, so she made some.  Enjoyed some giggling with her, Jachel, & Rocelyn, then back home.  Without cat food.

Back out in my filthy van to get clothes for David...Kohl's cash and coupons!  And got cat food. Back home to make meatloaf, potatoes, & green beans.  Minor mutiny regarding meatloaf, then negotiations.  By negotiations, I mean I didn't cook something different.

Getting the school starting stuff done!  School starts in two days...what?  My alarm clock is going to be like, "Bitch, please".

Challenges are challenging me on my terms now...they're always there, but I'm getting used to how to be in control of the outcome of them.  And that feels good.  Today was a great day.  Tomorrow will be an amazing day, too.

coffeecoffeecoffeecoffee

Up early again, coffee immediately and off to have coffee with my mama...too much coffee?  No such thing.

Looked at apartments, got snacks for my PartyLite show, then home to get ready...had the hoedown at mom's, so back to the Kennedy Bullpen for the PartyLite hoedown...our friend, Kristin, is the best PartyLite consultant ever!  A fun afternoon with my mama, my sissy, my bestie, and some great friends...and I had coffee.  Yes, another cup.  And what?

More applications, less worry, less crying...I like the Mandy I'm finding.  I do.  And I'm surrounded by family and friends that love me so much that I feel it.  I'm going to grow, I know it.

Spaghetti and meatballs for dinner...my kids were happy.  Funny how certain meals make all of them happy.  :)  AND I brought home cookies and cream puffs from the PartyLite show - dessert!

Running errands after the PartyLite hoedown?  Too much fun...shorts, Alabama Roll Tide teeshirt, Alabama earrings, and my favorite horseshit on the bottom camo and pink boots...should've worn my cowgirl hat (I had it with me) into the stores, too...if you want to be looked at at CVS and Winn-Dixie, wear what I wore.  I will say most looks were approving...I take that as a good thing.  And to the guy in the horrible Gators gear - hhhaaahahhhaaahhaaa!  Roll Tide, y'all!!!!!!!!!

“Some roses grow through concrete. Remember that.” - Brandi L. Bates, Red Flags

I now have the fourteen supply lists from the high school and middle school and can shop...with three days until school starts.  I don't want to show my bitch face, because a few years ago there were four schools involved...with Rachel and Brendan out of high school, school shopping has changed some...what hasn't changed, though, is the very last minute handing out of supply lists.  And, really, tax free in Florida week?  You couldn't wait until NOW?  I think Office Depot will be happy to see me this weekend.

Up early and allowed negativity and being frightened to affect my mood.  On the list for tomorrow - don't do that.  Wake up and smile.  I always am telling somebody "there's always something to smile about".  I need to listen to myself a little more, I think.

More applications, worry, sweating, thinking, overthinking, crying...I was busy today.

And I think I've had the ID Channel on all day.  Well, besides getting caught up on "Big Brother".  ID Channel - you're the bombdiggaty.  I don't care that people look at me sideways for watching it, binging on it, being kind of fascinated by it...and "Big Brother"...well, please get better.  This season is chalking up to be a big fucking waste of my time...if somebody doesn't get Vanessa and Austwins out soon...ugh.  Who am I kidding?  I'll keep watching.  But if Vanessa wins...ugh.  James' pranks make for fun, and Johnny Mack, well he's why I watch.

Everybody grab your own dinner night...mommy's not cooking.  Leftovers, frozen stuff, whatever you can find.  So Rachel and Brendan are out - being all grown-uppy and everything...doing their thang...David and Chloe fed.  I got hungry a few minutes ago and realized I didn't eat.  Frozen chicken strips - in the oven.  Don't look at me like that...you've done it.  I would've eaten trail mix, but when I buy it, it's gone in like four days...just like this time.  And I don't get any.

It's after 10:00 p.m. and I'm about to eat chicken strips...and work on my PartyLite show (let me know if you want to order anything!) and my Younique show (let me know if you want to order anything!).  I really want this free stuff.....