Hester Prynne here...

So, I haven’t blogged in a few weeks. Figured I would today. Y’all, there has been so much going on, I feel like I’m in a whirlwind.

Let me catch y’all up on a few things.

1. I became a Sunday School helper. Yay! Verrrry un-Aleta, but actually I’m excited about it. I really like the kids that we’re teaching (also very un-Aleta :) I don’t know, but it’s nice to be involved in things again. I’ve spent 4 years not having a Sunday School class, not really feeling like I belonged there…So I’m really loving it. I also like the whole accountability thing. Like there are things that I just won’t do anymore because I would feel like I’m not being a good role model.

2. Mama is halfway done with treatments. Yay. And she’s doing really well.

3. I am apparently becoming Hester Prynne in some people’s eyes. Though I did not have an affair with a minister and I’m NOT pregnant. It’s more the guilty by association thing. And the thing is, I don’t even know what the people that I’m “associated with” have done. And I don’t particularly want to know. I want to stay out of all the drama. I don’t need it.

Now, there is probably is much more going on that I just can’t think of right this moment, and later I will kick myself for not including…but I’m moving on to my rants of the week/month/year.

1. I wish people would realize that if I’m reading a book, please DON’T try to start up a conversation.

2. I’m changing my name. I hear it so often now, I seriously want to change it. “Aleta, do you….?” “Aleta, what do you think?” “Aleta, could you come here…?” Y’all get my drift. My name has been worn out.

3. For the love of Pete, I hate when people ask me a question and then interrupt me. Really? And on that same note, I hate when people interrupt other people while they are talking. It’s just rude.

4. Why is it when you think that you’ve gotten someone out of your life that they come back in and (possibly) sing you a song? Leave me be! Do you have radar?? Do you get signals when I am forgetting about you and think to yourself “Hmmmm…must come back in her life somehow?” ARGGGHHH!

5. I HATE when people blatantly lie to me. WTH? Just tell me the truth for Pete’s sake. It’s not that complicated.

6. As Jo Dee Messina put it “My give a D*** is busted”. Seriously. I know that this sounds completely awful, but I’ve had it. For some reason I have the “unburden your soul to me” effect on people. I hear about all their crap day after day after day. I can’t constantly be a encouraging person. I don’t have it in me to be that way 24/7. I just can’t do it. I can’t uplift 4 people at a time. Give me one person with a problem and I can listen and help…but I can’t do that with 4 people all at once. I. Yi. Yi.

On a similar note.

7. Have you ever heard someone like this… “Well, I know that I need to do this,…but if I do it than blah blah blah will happen. So I don’t know. But if I don’t do something different I’m going to go nuts…But then again…” and so on and so on. I know I have been guilty of this too…but crap, just do something already!! You could spend years talking about it. Just freaking do it. Wishy-washy is not a good place to be. And it’s not fun to hear about. And it’s not fun to be involved in. And if you’re not going to do it…then, freakin accept it and move on….Enough with the rants….moving on…

Weird event of the day:

An odd couple (that apparently once tried to sue Hitchcocks) come in with their 40ish year-old slow son….he seems semi-intelligent, but just one of those weird kids that never quite grows up. His brain is there, but he’s just got NO social skills….Chris is helping them at the counter. The son comes over and stands by my screen. He’s just standing there, looking, not at my face….(I’m wearing a low-cut shirt)…and he starts saying…while looking me over…

“This is a nice place to work. It’s just like I like it…Silent. I hate having people pester me while I’m trying to do things. Maybe I’m half Japanese or something. With nobody pestering you you can focus on what you’re doing and not make as many mistakes.”

I politely agree…then look back at my computer and start typing.

“Yeah, this is a really nice place. So quiet. I do hate people pestering me.”

I nod and look back at my computer.

“I also hate being surprised. Yeah, when it’s quiet, you can focus on what you’re doing.”

Me: “Yeah, you sure can.” (Give him a bug-eyed crazy look then look back at my computer).

Someone else walks in. I go to help them. As I’m helping him. The guy comes up and says. “Yep, thirty years ago, my mom went into a quiet office and they hired her on the spot and immediately put her to work.”

“Ok.”

You are pestering me, you weirdo!

I'm an addict

I am an addict. Yes, you read right, I’m an addict…an apron addict. I absolutely have fallen in love with aprons. I love funny ones, I love cute ones, I love kitchen-themed ones. I love them all. A few years ago, I bought myself a margarita one, and Lord, if I haven’t worn that one slap out. Though I absolutely love that one, and the Cedar Key shop that sells them, I have found a new source for my apron fix.

My friend Jackie is the “Apron Diva.” She makes some absolutely beautiful aprons. I’ve bought about 4 in the last couple of months, two for gifts and two for myself. The ones that I gave as gifts were a big hit. My mom and my friend Jess loved them. And I hope there’s no need to say here that I adored mine.

Here is a picture of the one that I bought for my mama. She loves watermelons.

I would show you Jess’ apron, but I gave it to her without first getting a picture.
I LOVE mine, too. Now, honestly, I haven’t worn them yet…I’m a little afraid to….for fear that I might get something on them….lol. But aren’t they the cutest things ever?

Here's a close up of this one (thanks to a pic that Jackie had emailed to me)...

I encourage y’all to stop by her blog: http://theaprondiva.blogspot.com/ If you’re reading this through my facebook page, visit “The Apron Diva” page, and become a fan.
If you order some, be warned, you will become an addict, too.

Now, I hope that y’all noticed that I conned my mama into being my model. Doesn’t she look cute? Now, y’all have to check out a close up of her head gear.

Do y’all remember the Troll dolls? I LOVED them when I was little, and mama has had this material forever. This morning she told me, as she was putting it on, that “I might not have any hair, but they have nice, pretty, colorful hair.” She’s so funny. :) She makes me laugh.

Actually, since about Friday, she’s been wearing some different hats. Check out what she wore on Friday. You can’t see her earrings, but they matched her outfit too.

All I can say is, my mama sure is cute.

Behold! A role model has arrived....

I am a small-town Southern girl. I love Country music, rodeos, antiquing, big hats, big hair, gossiping, sweet tea, front porches, southern drawls, men with southern drawls, coastal towns, rocking chairs, and Savannah. I’m a registered Democrat that often times sides with the Republicans, and I get excited during a political season. etc. etc. A bit cliché I know. What can I say? I’m just like many Southern girls.

Unlike a lot of Southerners, though, I am not a die-hard football fan. Now while you are picking your jaws up off the ground, please realize that I LOVE a good football game, but I don’t have one team that I root for constantly. Football, for me, is just so much more fun when I’m actually at the game. I don’t like watching them on TV.

Lately, I have been watching the news and hype about Tim Tebow. He is an extraordinary young man (how sad is this?? I think he really IS younger than me…wow.). Throughout his time at UF, he seems to have worn his beliefs like a billboard, and frankly, I think this is a WONDERFUL change of pace for our media. HE is what role models are all about. So many times now our youth have “role models” that are on drugs, have gone to jail at least once, and are in the media for scandals regularly. When Tebow came on the scene, I thought, FINALLY, a role model for young people!

I’d been hearing bits and pieces about this “commercial” for the last week or two, but I didn’t actually read about it until I saw something about it on facebook. When I read about how his mother had been told that she should have an abortion, because of the drugs they were going to give her for her condition, and her choice to keep him, I was amazed. What a great story. What a great message. She chose to keep this baby, and against all odds, look at what a great man he is!
Not that my lowly opinion matters, but I am very much a “pro-life” person. There are SO many couples out there that cannot have children, and would be elated to have that child. Why abort it? My mom had two miscarriages after she had me. My parents looked into adopting, because they weren’t sure that they could have another baby (low and behold a few years later, Rheba came along.). I also have a friend whose mother really considered abortion, but chose to keep her. I, honestly, cannot think of how different my life would’ve been without having her here. I am so very glad that her mother chose to keep her.

Though no one knows for sure what this commercial will be like, there is still so much controversy. Pro-choice groups are protesting the airing of this commercial. From what I understand, there are some channels that aren’t playing it. My question is “why?” It is my understanding that we still have freedom of speech in this country. Though usually it is the liberal crowd throwing that cry up, why can’t it be used here? The simple fact is this: Everyone has a right to their opinion. We shouldn’t hush one group because the other doesn’t agree with it. They were given their chance to speak out, therefore, Pro-life groups should be given their chance. If these pro-choice groups are so firm in their belief that they are right, why are they so worried about one person contradicting them?

Birthdays Birthdays everywhere…

Krystle and Jess

So, January has been a busy month for me. I absolutely love to plan things, so planning 2 birthday parties was just what I needed to get my mind off of other things.
One of my best/oldest friends, Krystle (KW), celebrated her birthday on January 8th. The invitations were sent. The rather ugly, but yummy, cake was made. And we had a really good time. We went to the Ivy House in Alachua for dinner, then went back to KW’s for cake. Here are some of the pics.

Memorable things about KW’s birthday: road rage on the way to Alachua. The “Black Ice” text message. Story time with Naomi. Wayne’s black eye. Talking about “ghetto” Barbie and guns. And Maddie’s Beauty and the Beast stripdown….A good time was had by all :)
A birthday that fell in between the two parties was Mr. Dennis’. I used to work with him at Hitchcocks, and he is always so sweet. And I absolutely adore his wife too. They are just some of the nicest people. So, when I looked through my birthday book, and saw that his was coming up, I had to think of a good new cake to fix. (I always feel like I make the same cakes for Hitchcocks). After my friend Jackie’s suggestion, I decided to bake a peaches and cream cake. All I can say is, ooh-la-la, y’all. I got good reviews from Hitchcocks. I did taste-test the sweet cream icing…and o.m.g. it was wonderful.

On the 21st, my friend Jess celebrated her 24th birthday. This year is special, because she is expecting her first baby this year (and I will say here that our little group couldn’t be more excited!). I thought and thought about a theme, and couldn’t come up with anything. So, when I asked Jess what her favorite restaurant was and she just said that she really wanted some good seafood, my wheels started spinning. The “Crabby Girls’ night out” idea was born. Moo-hahahahaha…lol.
Invitations were made. Favors were made.

Little cartons full of candy

Mini photo albums

Jess said that she didn’t want a cake, but that her favorite sweets were peanut butter blossoms and rice crispy treats. So, I wanted to please the preggo :) But I had to personalize them a bit.

Crabby Rice Crispy Treats

We all had a really good time. Though, I think Brittney was scared of the restaurant. If I remember correctly, statements like “This is where old people go to die” and “This place smells like a museum” were mentioned. (If you are wondering what was meant about the first comment, please realize that we were the only ones eating there that were under 50.)
Interesting things that happened…We saw what the hippie generation grew up to be. We all crammed into my car to take pics and eat cookies (it was really cold outside). Lol. Brittney got pulled over (thankfully no ticket). Jess R. realized how vitally important her left ring finger was. And KW took a nosedive into her living room floor :) Good times. Memorable it was.

Things I learned on Friday night… 1) Never assume that you and your friend are alone in a multi-stall bathroom. I learned this the hard way. When I got into the bathroom at Seabreeze, I remembered I was wearing a girdle. I said “KW, I forgot I was wearing a girdle, these things are HARD to get on and off in a small bathroom stall.” KW replied in a hushed shrill voice “We’re not alone.” To which I replied “Just my luck.” KW and I giggled and giggled. When the other lady came out of the stall, the woman just looked at KW, didn’t smile or anything. WTH? Seriously, that is just my luck. :) 2) KW’s big bamboo-looking chair is not where she needs to sit…or where anyone needs to sit for that matter. Lol. 3) KW has no idea who the singers to old and moderately-old country songs are…

Jimbo's Ride

So,…this weekend was rather un-eventful. I’ve been battling a cold the last couple of days (and I HATE being sick), but all of this started out when I lost my voice. All weekend long I sounded like a boy hitting puberty. Either my voice got really high, or went really raspy and low. Not fun. In fact, when I called Hitchcocks to see if they had the new Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade magazine, I was told “God, you sound horrible.” Nice, huh? Way to attract customers *cough, cough*.

Well, besides the fact that I’m sick, I did get to do something fun this weekend. For most, this would come as a shock…but I LOVE rodeos. Surprised, right? And I really like the bull riding. Maybe it’s just all the excitement of it. I can remember my parents taking me when I was little (which was rather frequently, considering there wasn’t a whole lot happening here back then…It was before the days of the Chiefland Super Walmart. lol) and it always seemed like they’d blast Garth Brooks “Rodeo” right before the bull-riding would start. Have I mentioned that I LOOOOOOVVVVVEEEEE me some Garth Brooks? He, seriously, is still super hot…and probably will be til he’s like 80. :) Trisha, I’m so jealous.

But I digress…I love rodeos. So, when my sister told me that Jimmy a/k/a “Jimbo” was going to be riding this weekend in a bull ride I was super excited. I’ve seen Jimmy ride a few times, and honestly, I’m always sitting on the edge of my seat. It always makes me nervous when he goes to ride (I will add here that I was told he lost 11 teeth riding a few weeks ago when he head-butted a bull….thank God for a good oral surgeon…he’s only 16). See, I love Jimbo dearly. I’m considering him my adopted little brother. He’s one of the two friends of Rheba’s that I actually like (being Jimmy and Carly).

Well, we had a blast at the bull ride (except for my minor hissy fit…but I won’t get into that here). So, I will share a couple of pictures.

Jimbo and his groupies…lol…Rheba and Carly.

This is my #1 favorite bull rider, the Jimbo, all geared up for his ride.

This is Jimmy riding. (The biggest bull out of the bunch. My tummy was in knots).

Also, I will say here that I LOVE my camera and its lens. You might need to enlarge this last picture …but you can actually see the snot coming out of the bull’s nose. Gross, I know…but how awesome is it that my camera caught that? Ok…maybe it just excites me…but I do love my camera :)

All I can say is...I sure am proud of Jimmy...And I'm so happy that he's found something that he can have fun doing (even if it makes his adopted family a little nervous :) )

More things I don’t understand…

1) Why everyone thinks the newspaper office is the operator.



2) Who thought this would be an appropriate Christmas gift for someone? (Please note the eyeglasses, pearls, and extra feathers…if you can’t see it clearly enough, please click on it to enlarge…I swear to the Lord Almighty that one of my family members received this thing one year for Christmas…why??). Although this totally takes the cake for bad gifts, I had another family member receive a bejeweled roach pin to put on their best Sunday dress.

3) Why the one night I go to pick up my sister at a basketball game, in a nightshirt with no pants on, there are cops ALL over the premises flashing lights into cars.



4) Why there are some doors that seem to have no meaning. Please note the top door...with no stairway. It's just a door. I get to see this everyday.

5) Why some fathers-of-the-bride deem it their job to tell the bridesmaids how to hold their bouquet. –I swear y’all, this actually happened in a wedding I was in, and I wanted to deck the father-of-the-bride before it was said and done.

6) Why someone thought it was a good idea to add the Cow Auction to RFDtv.

7) Why should we still be punished just because someone lied thirty years ago, in church, and told someone that they sang beautifully. The joke has been over for thirty years, pal. She's still tone-deaf. Why must we still be tortured??

8) Why are some “Come Adopt a Pet” Ads sounding more like personal ads? O.M.G. there was a crazy one about 6 months ago in a not-to-be-named publication in the Levy County area that was a girl dog “wanting to meet a good male dog.” WTH???

9) Why do some white girls think their long-lost talent is rapping??

10) Why do I always get into arguments with the relay operators that call me at work? Every time, it goes like this:

Me: Journal, how can I help you?
Relay lady: This is a relay call, I will be reciting what the person on the other line is typing to me. Me: Let me make this simple,…we don’t take credit cards.
RL: Ma’am, I still have to recite what they type. Could you please repeat what you said, beginning with “Journal?”
Me: Ma’am, this is a waste of time, we don’t take credit cards. The person typing will hang up if you tell them that.
RL: Could you please repeat that slower, beginning at “Ma’am.”
Me: ARRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!
Click.

Very, very irritating. However, I did get the satisfaction of arguing one time until the Relay woman cussed. Though, maybe I shouldn’t brag about that. :)

11.) Why is it that young country music singing girls think that hopping is dancing?? I may love their music, but Lord, they cannot dance (neither can I, and that is why I stay off the dance floor).

12.) Why were ascots ever popular?

13.) Why are meek and mild people so prone to road rage?

14.) Why is it that ALL teenage boys in this area go through that stage of going through town making the noise: “WAAAAAAAAAH, WAH, WAHHHHHHHH!” with their trucks. O.M.G.

15.) Why do we have to have A SIGN in our office over a display of post-its, saying “Not edible?” And the sad thing is…people still ask.

16.) Why kids that skate off of people’s roofs at 15, are likely to be the next Bill Gates?

17.) Why does everyone invite me to be their neighbor on farmville?? I don't want to help you raise a damn barn. :) lol

To end this, I’m going to post a picture of what is hanging on my wall at work. I’m still mad, if you couldn’t tell ;-)

For the love of Cheesy Tots

I haven’t blogged in a while. I’ve been thinking about it a lot, but I never can seem to make it out to my computer at night anymore…partly due to our “stamping room” (where the computer is located) being about 20º colder than the rest of the house. So, today, I thought I’d play catch up a bit while I’m at lunch.

Well, today…my thumbs are tired. Of course, it’s from wildly texting Krystle all morning (big surprise). As a side note, I wonder if, in like 20 years, people will start being diagnosed with some form of funky thumb disorder that we all earned by texting every chance we got. Or maybe, in billions of years, because of “evolution,” maybe we will have like super thumbs or something….just a thought.

But I digress,…I was texting Krystle this morning…We were talking about Nascar, skinny boys in wranglers, and my “type of guy” (which by the way, I’m becoming increasingly concerned because it’s beginning to look like my “type of guy” is pudgy guys that are buttholes..Im not so concerned about the pudge. I do love a chubby guy....just not the buttholes). Suddenly, I was possessed. I started texting Krystle faster and faster, going off on a tear about “just some stupid guy” that shall remain nameless. It’s funny how sometimes we think that we are over something, then something reminds us of it, and we get pissed all over again. Although I’m certainly trying to watch my anger issues in this new year, I must say that I have pinned up my mini voo-doo doll, and it is hanging nicely upside-down on my wall at work. Just a heads-up, apparently I’m not over it, so “just some stupid guy” be warned…I may possibly throw a grade-A, Aleta hissy fit the next time I’m blessed with your presence, and I may not be able to contain myself when I want to kick you in the shin and suckerpunch you in the gut. Just a warning.

OMG, I must simply blog about this. This is one of those “you know you’re a chubby girl when” stories. Right before Christmas, I had done one of my anonymous “good deeds,” and decided to reward myself with cheesy tots from Burger King (considering I had not yet had breakfast).—I can seriously attribute about 20lbs of me to cheesy tots and iced coffee that I thoroughly enjoyed while going to school.—Anyways, so I pulled up to the drive thru and ordered… “Ma’am, we don’t have them anymore. They’ve been discontinued.” “What??!” is all I could muster. I swear, y’all, I think chubby girls everywhere cried a little that day. :_(

Christmas with my family this year was wonderful and yet anxiety-ridden. I say that because I stayed on “near panic attack” mode all through the holidays. We were given some news that made us all a little anxious on Christmas Eve, and we had to wait until after the New Year to get the results. But my family had a happy, healthy, wonderful Christmas and that was a true blessing.

Just a little note—we got good results, so after all that worrying, everything was ok.

Now onto my New Years resolutions. I plan on trying to control my anger (which I seem to be succeeding at superbly haha). I plan on yet another attempt at losing weight (I have the desire…just not the will or staying power…lol). I WILL take time to read more this year (4 years of college deprived me of my pleasure reading). And I HOPE to figure out what I want to get my MA degree in this year (and possibly start school again in the fall). Oh wait, one more, I also resolve to not be such a “potty mouth.” I have GOT to work on that one.

I hope that everyone that reads this is having a wonderful New Year. My wish for all of y’all is that everyone you love has a happy, healthy New Year.