Which came first...

... the stress or the stressor?
This came to my attention recently - no shock - but the pressure I have between me & this person can be felt by outside people. Apparently the tension can be cut with a knife. OK, I admit it - its there. So, now what? Who approaches who on this? Obviously A. no one wants to "give in" B. who "gives in" if there's really nothing to give in about? I mean, who broaches the subject matter? Especially when I'm apparently the one CAUSING the tension in the other person? So then C. What the hell do I do about it? Wait for the person to relax or do I address the situation? Addressing situations is what got me here, so I am told. So then... now what? Frankly, who WTF cares - get over it people. Speak your mind, voice your opinions and if I step on your toes - tell me. Why in the hell do I intimidate so much? Tell me to back off and then what? I dunno - tell me and fine out.

29 Forever

Well, it was my birthday this past weekend. Rob was gone (yes, ladies - he got my OK before booking the flight). He was in San Fran for the APE comic convention (again, ladies, COMIC BOOK CONVENTION - yes, that is why I didn't go to SF with him even though it was my birthday weekend).
Friday was fantastic: great weather all day, Rob surprised me with flowers delivered that morning to work, there happened to be the Jim Beam Formula One car parked outside behind the store (I didn't go for a ride although they were giving them - that thing is LOUD even at 15mph!), the bosses were out of town, the store had cake, a co-worker took me out for lunch and a beer, I went to a bar with a few more co-workers and later attended a marketing event (another beer), went home (beer), met with Kelly who made me black cow cupcakes (chocolate cake with cream cheese frosted - dear Gawd, they're good) & gave me an incredible necklace, had dinner* (provided by Ms. Pitzer) with the ladies (*wine), and enjoyed some conversation (champagne!) and I was out. Literally, OUT! I was drunk and ready for bed by 11PM (too old to party, I guess).
Saturday, my actual birthday, was a lot more low key - rainy and cold. I did laundry and ran errands (yippee, fun stuff) and later watched "Thank You for Smoking" with Kelly before going out for Thai dinner. Yes, the movie's funny - go see it!
Rob gets home tonight about midnight. Not a moment too soon: I started taking apart the bathroom yesterday in attempt to paint the trim work throughout the house. Its a bitch, its oil-based paint that must first be painted in a primer before using latex-based trim paint. Say it with me, "This might be the next guy's problem".

CHALLENGE!

From my dear ol' dad
Well, he challenged me to do it (doesn't effect me any, he might have to defend himself, but I ain't scared).
In response to a posting my friend John sent me:
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0310-20.htm

My dad has this to say. Any feedback? Responses? Retortes? Anyone looking for a political debate?

"Molly Ivins is a Yellow Dog Democrat who hates all Republicans, I have read, and choked on, her left-wing garbage for years! As for Russ Feingold, he's a bed-wetting, thumb-sucking COMMUNIST! It's interesting that Molly wants a candidate who's not afraid to tell-it-like-it-is, when she's one of the champions of this mamby-pamby political correctness! She should crawl back under the rock she was born under!

Feel free to use this in your BLOG........If you dare!"

Love, dad.

BFN

Had this dream early this AM right before waking. I dreamt I got up and took the pee-stick test. It was faint but positive. I thought, "Oh my God." I rubbed and rubbed my eyes cause I thought maybe it was my eyes still adjusting to the early morning and took another test. Same thing. I happen to have a 3rd and final test in the cabinet - take it. Same thing. I am shaking and light headed... decide to forego this "magical" way I planned to tell Rob and instead curl up next to him (he's asleep) and say, "I'm pregnant." More of the dream involves us taking the day off of work an hanging out, adjusting to the thought of it all. I realize we can't go clothing shopping and frankly, I just want to look around, spaced. Alarm goes off;... I'm up.

Trenchy-trench-trench

Rob's trench. He created this convoluted drainage system which involves multiple short pipes leading/turning/twisting/catching leaves/ etc off the house and then runs the length of the yard out to the alley. It RAINED last night. Idiot here decides to run out in this LIGHTNING STORM under the huge electricity conducting trees armed with an umbrella and a metal flashlight to inspect his handiwork. It worked! And, ...he survived albeit wet.

Shrubbie-Shrub-Shrub

Here's the bushes we put in the back of the house this past weekend. It looked like a a spotty dirt patch before (there were never any foundation plantings there!).

Wait, shhh, did you hear it? I think I ovulated.

I'm addicted to blogs where women post their potential pregnancy signs at various DPO (days past ovulation). Seriously, addicted. I have learned terms like: DH (darling husband), MIL (mother-in-law) and CM (cervical mucas). I need a freaking glossary of terms... most I just finally figured it. Its a whole underground network of desperately unprego woman curious if last week's belch was a sign that junior's on his way. Hmmm....
In other news, we planted bushes this past weekend. I sent photos to various people, I need to post 'em, too. I bought recycled area cobblestones to line the bed, filled it with a truckload of topsoil (thanks for the truck loan, Ms. Gill-Gordon), bought 8 bushes (3 spreading yews, a conical juniper, a white flowered spirea and 3 mini Japanese boxwoods) and 2 Heather. With the help of Rob's heft and Greg's mighty mite power - we dug holes, planted 'em and I spread mulch the following day. Looks fantabulous! I can't wait to do more but I am also getting over sticker shock so maybe I can wait afterall.
Rob finished his "trench" project - what began as a poor gradation problem around the house turn into a full-fledged drainage solution complete with 30ft+ of trench and laid plumber's pipe. I have photos of that little mess, too. Rob topped it all off with soil late Sunday eve and the dirt-filled trench blends right in with our dirt patch backyard... believe it or not, I'm not being sarcastic here.
Anyhow, till I post photos -.