Done with home

I think I'll sum up the rest of my Florida trip tonight.

Mom was looking much better than the last time I saw her. She looked a little thinner but not unhealthy. It pained me to find out she was taking medications for her nerves and to sleep. But, staying at her house with her husband and my brother, I understand why she has to take them.

When my brother got out of jail and came back to her house, the entire vibe of the house changed. For some reason, it seems our step father has some kind of deep hate for my brother. I don't really get it but I never realized how bad it was until I was living with it. Honestly, I'm surprised my mom's not an alcoholic.

Anyhow, I was glad to be there. I now know what my brother has been trying to tell me for the last year. Step dad isn't the "great guy" he tried to trick us all into believing he was.

So me and my brother tried to keep Mom out of the house and away from his negative rampages. We took her to Border's and relaxed. We went shopping with her at the mall. We spent time with just her and it seemed to make her more at ease.

Sadly, I fear for my Mom's life. It feels kind of silly typing that out but I have to say it somewhere. The scary part is that my brother feels the same way. When I found that out, I had to say something to Mom. I think it upset her that we felt that way. She explained that she wasn't upset with me and Bud, but that she was upset that her husband made us feel that way. But then she said that she is in no way afraid of her husband. I have to just trust that for now. But I made my brother promise that if he ever saw step dad get crazy that he would make Mom leave. Fuck the house and the cars, her life is much more important.

Dad has proved that...well, he really isn't much of a dad. I was finally able to get him to hang out with us one night. We (me, Bud, KC and her husband) met up with him at a bar that he usually plays darts at. He was cool, bought us all drinks, and then kicked in with telling us all about the things that he's been doing with his new family. Usually, I don't mind listening, but watching my brothers face fill with pain sucked. It felt like Dad was rubbing it all in my bro's face. All the things that my brother wanted to do with Dad and Dad never showed up for, Dad is now doing with his youngest two kids. Simple things like fishing, camping, sports and such. I was waiting for my brother to explode on our dad. It must have taken Bud a lot of will power to keep from shoving Dad's cell phone down his throat.

Anyway, I wanted to see my step mom and two younger siblings before I left Florida. Since I was unable to drive (surgery) I told Dad to just come and pick me up one weekend or something. Well, it came down to the last night I was in town and I called. He said he'd pick me up. I waited, and waited, and waited...like usual. I was shocked when he finally did call (he usually just doesn't show and calls a few weeks later). Same old excuses and I pretty much said whatever. Typical Dad.

So I didn't get to see my youngest brother and sister. I didn't get to see my other sister either but that was because she lived three hours north of where I was and wasn't able to take a day off of work. I didn't bother trying to see my aunt and uncle (for reasons I won't bother to explain.)

But like I said before...I got to see and hang out with the people that count.
Mom
Bro
My nieces
KC
BM
My God-daughter and her brother
And the girls from the CLC!
I love all of you and miss you like mad.

Retro Florida

More of Florida...

It was great to get to see a few of my old high school friends. I didn't get to catch up with all of them (and its not like I didn't try *clears throat* MP, DC) but I did get to see the ones that matter most. KC of course but also Stephro.

Picture an average height, close to thin surfer/stoner chick with the wildest blond hair ever imagined on a girl. Hence the name Stephro. I believe I wrote about our trip out on her dads boat but I wanted to add the pictures.

Her father tried to change my mind about getting in the water but all I could imagine was me falling off the raft and sinking with that damn cast on my leg. Besides, the water was a bit rough. Even now, though, when I look at the pictures, I wish I would have just cut the damn thing off so I could dive in at least once.

It seems so strange. We've all changed so much but we are still the same. Stephro is married with three adorable kids now but still the same scatter-brain, happy-go-lucky surfer chick. Her hair is much shorter and she is much thinner (She refused to tell us her thinning secret. Three kids and as thin as a rail.) but she is still constantly smiling and laughing and making us laugh at her air-headedness.

KC and I had to take away her cool card though. As we were riding to the intercoastal, I had a chance to check out her cd's. We let her slide on the children's cd's but Spice Girls? We ended up giving it back though. Towards the bottom of the stack were her usual favorite: Led Zep, Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead.

As far as KC and I go, we both gained some weight since school but its nothing that a little extra exercise and a better diet won't fix. But like Steph, KC is also married with a kid. A seventeen year old son. I knew about him when we were still in touch but we both had controlling piece of shit boyfriends and (I blame the guys) we lost touch. Me, well I was married before both of them and divorced before Stephro got married and thankfully, I didn't have any kids from that jerk.

But we are all grownups and responsible. Unlike our take-no-shit, fuck-authority, rebellious youthful selves we once were. Okay, I'm still youthful and think I'm invincible but still...

It was good times and I wish I could have hung out a little more with Steph. I wish we all could have met up with MP. But MP was either really too busy or maybe she has a problem with me being gay. We weren't sure but we did have a great time without her.

Luck of the crutch

Gather around...its story time!

Not a back then story but a story none the less. I have 36 days of stories in my head about my trip to Florida. I won't bore anyone with all the details, so I'll stick to the highlights.

KC did meet me at the airport with my mom and when I was all settled at my mom's, we went through a tour of our childhood. The cop thing (previous entry) was a little extreme but we still had a great time.

We lucked out really. KC just happened to live like three minutes away from my mom's so it was pretty easy for us to hang out. Especially since I couldn't drive. Before the surgery we went to see the movie Hangover . Very funny movie and afterwards, KC and I made a million laughter filled promises that we would never let that happen if we ever went to Vegas together.

I hung out with her and her family a lot. Her husband is pretty cool and her 17 year old son is a hottie. We watched the X Games together and some of the Dew Tour. It pisses me off that they don't televise the women's competitions. The only women's comp they showed was the mx race. And I think the only reason they showed it was because a hearing impaired girl won.

Anyway, KC and her family took me to the IMax theater to see the new Harry Potter movie. I had never been to an IMax theater before and the experience was pretty cool.

We got to the place early because KC wanted to get a good seat since it was a sold out show. We weren't the only ones thinking early was good because when we got there, the line was already pretty long.
But being on my crutches paid off. One of the workers tapped me on the shoulder and told me that I needed to go upstairs. Seems the entrance we were standing at would be too difficult to do with my crutches. So we rode the elevator up and were the first to be seated. Yep, we got the best seats in the house.

KC says every time I visit Florida I have to bring my crutches.

Competing with a cartoon?

Gotta love south Florida weather! I'm not being sarcastic either. One minute - beautiful sun - next minute - wicked thunderstorms. That is one thing there isn't a lot of in north Georgia...thunderstorms.

Friends and family have been keeping me pretty busy down here. I've been spending more time at the ocean than I thought I would be. Saturday, me, KC, Stephro, and Stephro's family went out on Stephro's boat. I so wanted to go for a swim in that beautiful ocean but I was sure that with this cast on my leg that I would sink. But DAMN was I tempted. I've got this water proof boot to cover the cast and all but still. Besides, Stephro wouldn't let me and KC threatened to tell J...my friends are wicked sometimes.

Sunday, I went school clothes shopping with my family. It was weird being pushed around the mall in a wheel chair by my mom. When I finally got away from her for a moment, me and my brother contemplated how I could go down the escalator in the chair. I was sure I had it figured out but Mom busted us and scolded us for even thinking about it. I felt like I was five but laughed my ass off because Mom was on the verge of laughing the entire time she was giving us the third degree.

Last night, two of my nieces spent the night. Somewhere around 11:00pm, they knocked on my bedroom door and asked if they could come in. Monster, the 3 year old, was so cute. She asked if she could draw on my boo boo again. I couldn't refuse. Silly, the 8 year old, drew some too.

After they wreaked havoc on my cast, they climbed up in bed with me and we all compared scars. Monster thought her mosquito bites were scars and Silly has as many scars as I do. Most of them won't stay scars though. She's a bit of a tomboy - like me - and has accumulated a few scratches this summer. I was surprised that she could remember how she got each and every one of those scratches.

They were going to stay and "camp out" in my room, but when they found out that the TV in my room didn't pick up the channel for Sponge Bob, they quickly excused themselves and told me goodnight. I think I might be a little offended that they picked a cartoon over hanging out with me...lol.

But they both made it up to me before they left today. I got TWO...yes TWO...get well drawings from them. (Silly drew Sponge Bob's face on one of them though.) I'm gonna miss them when I go home.

Learning

Things I've learned since I've been back in Ft. Lauderdale...

I have the greatest friends and Mom and Step-dad in the world!
Foot surgery...sucks.
Passing out in front of your mom and having her try to catch you before your head smacks the concrete and her failing because you out weigh her and she breaks her fingernail off in your arm is quite painful.
Never go to the courthouse if you are on crutches because its pretty much guaranteed that you will have to walk about three miles to get to the room you need to be in and the crutches will give you blood blisters on each hand and make you feel like you have the shoulders of a football player.
No matter what the mood is of the people that surround me, its a given that I will make them laugh somehow and that will change their mood for the rest of the day for the better.
Taking a shower with your right leg in a cast is NOT easy! (Unless you are a ballerina...lol...which I'm not.)
Its nearly impossible to find a comfortable position to sleep with ten pillows under your heavy, casted leg and your toes keep going numb.
It is totally impossible to have a great morning stretch with a cast and god-only-knows-how-many stitches under that cast. (You wake up real fast!)

I am such an independent person. Mom knows this and is always the first to point it out to me. So this cast thing is driving me nuts. I can't go in the kitchen and fend for myself because, with the crutches, I can't carry anything. Moving around the house is getting a bit easier. Mom has been pretty inventive and has came up with a few good ideas to help me out when I'm at the house by myself. My favorite so far is her filling up water bottles with super sweet crack tea and leaving them in the fridge. I can easily stuff a bottle in my pocket and take it around with me where ever I go. Two thumbs up on that one because I was getting tired of drinking water.

In other news...my incarcerated brother got sprung yesterday. We went to his bond hearing. Man, the state attorney was hell bent on getting any possible money she could out of us to get him out. It was a surprise to all of us when my bro's attorney called my mom up as a witness or something. Mom handled it like a pro and the judge let my bro go without us having to pay a dime. Mom rocks...I just hope my brother starts to appreciate her for all she has done for us.

I had a talk with him last night. He made all kinds of promises that I've heard from his mouth at least a million times. I can only pray that he means them this time. I did point out to him that what he has been doing is slowly killing our mother. I mean, God, she has to take all kinds of medications now...for her nerves, for stress, for sleep. It sucks and I know its because my brother makes her worry so fucking much. I don't know...I'll just keep my fingers crossed that he will change his ways and Mom will get back to good.

My buddy, my pal, KC has been hanging out with me whenever she can. Its really great the way we picked up our friendship like we weren't out of touch for 16 years. I didn't realize how much I missed her friendship until I actually saw her again. I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't let that happen again.

Last but not least...The CLC girls.
Star, Walker, Bruiser, Peace, Dimes, and Candy...you gals are fucking hilarious. Thank you, thank you very much for such a great time last night. It was so great to see Ash and Candy sober. Lani, WELCOME to the circus! Fair warning though...you hurt my girl Dimes and I break your arms...lol. Hey...I think Lani earned a nickname last night...Animal. It suits her.

I absolutely and completely miss J. I swear its like I'm missing a vital organ or something. Kind of like I'm lost in the dark too. Crazy.

Pictures and wild and crazy stories will soon be posted.

Insert catchy title here...

Its official. My dog, Aspen, is pissed off that I'm leaving. She went from following me around the house constantly to ignoring me now. J is going to have her hands full with that one.

I hope everyone had a great Fourth. We went to Helen. They had a decent fireworks show.

I was talking with KC today. She's going to ride to the airport with my mom to pick me up.
She said, "How the hell are we going to go surfing with you on crutches?"
I had to laugh. Because, secretly, I've been trying to think of a way for me to surf too. (Don't tell J.) I figured a plastic bag and a whole bunch of duct tape would work for the cast but I'm sure my balance and swimming would be for shit. So yeah, that idea is out.
So I told her, "We can go with Stefro and I'll watch from the sand."
"That would totally suck," she laughed.

It wouldn't totally suck. I'd be with friends at the one place I can say I truly love...the ocean.

I got an email from my friend TLee the other day. She said, "B! My life sucks! Call me, ASAP."

So I called her. We hadn't talked in about three years, so after a quick catch up, I finally got her to tell me why her life sucks. It was simple...she's lonely.
She says she's going to come and see me when I'm down south. She lives near Daytona so its a bit of a drive, well, boring really.

The list is getting long. I might have to take an appointment book with me...lol. But it makes me feel good to have all these friends who want to spend time with me.

Hey Starr...party at your house? What do ya say???

Countdown....38 hours.
This sucks.
I miss her already.

Facebook comment wars

Facebook comment wars...what more can I say. I have a lot of strange, hilarious friends. The best thing is that we all have the same off the wall humor that most people wouldn't get. Actually, we would probably be institutionalized if someone was to read some of our conversations that we've had on that IM thing on facebook. On to the comment war...

A little background on KC. She is an old friend from high school who recently found me on facebook. Up until two weeks ago, it had been about 17 years since we had spoke to each other. But I swear...its like we never lost touch. There was actually four of us in this group and KC found SB and I found MP. So we are all back together again! Watch out world...lol.


My pal, KC, wrote this on my wall: its a wonderful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day in the neighborhood, would you be mine, could you be mine ..wont you be my neighbor. Won't you be my neighbor!

Me commenting: at 11:21pm April 10
OMG!

KC: at 11:21pm April 10
you know you love Mr rogers.

Me: at 11:29pm April 10
love like in a "you are a freaky ass mofo and I don't wanna trigger your inner psycho, so I'm gonna be nice (safe) and say that I love you" kind of way

KC: at 11:31pm April 10
wow is someone a little paranoid........... you so know you are a closet Mr. Rogers fan. go ahead say it out loud it's OK.

Me: at 11:37pm April 10
paranoid? paranoid! Have you ever seen that creepy ass smile...those crazed eyes, like he was planning on how he was going to cook you...yeah...you'd be paranoid too

KC: at 11:38pm April 10
you know he can't see you through the tv right? Didn't your mommy teach you that?

Me: at 11:41pm April 10
I knew my mom forgot to teach me something...damnit!

KC: at 11:43pm April 10
i guess she taught you most of the important stuff

Me: at 11:44pm April 10
yeah...like Mr. Rogers is creepy.

KC: at 11:45pm April 10
lmao

Somewhere in between all that...I wrote this on her wall: only if you promise to buy me those slippers and a silly sweater

KC commented: at 11:22pm April 10
i think i can afford that

Me: at 11:28pm April 10
yeah...but I'm not sure if you wanna see that...me in JUST the slippers and sweater

KC: at 11:29pm April 10
u need a g- string and pasties too. ok

Me: at 11:30pm April 10
you buying?!

KC: at 11:32pm April 10
YOU KNOW I AM BUT YOU MUST PARADE AROUND IN IT

Me: at 11:38pm April 10
*I'm too sexy for these slippers...too sexy for these slippers*

KC: at 11:39pm April 10
ok RIGHT SAID FRED

Me: at 12:08am April 11
you know I'm too sexy otherwise you wouldn't be PAYING!

KC: at 12:10am April 11
your sexiness often keeps me up at night

Me: at 12:12am April 11
i know...what can i say...but I won't apologize...God made me this way *striking my pose*

KC: at 12:14am April 11
you doing that muscle man pose again?

Me: at 12:22am April 11
and I'm touching myself...because I can't help it, I'm so sexy

KC: at 12:23am April 11
when i think about you i touch myself .................you singing that song while you do it?

Me: at 12:24am April 11
OWWWW!

KC: at 12:25am April 11
shall i sing it to you?

Me: at 12:27am April 11
please...but I wanna hear Joan..."I Wanna Be Your Dog"

KC: at 12:28am April 11
man now i am going to have that song stuck in my head for days. I hope you appreciate it. at 12:29am April 11 don't know if i know the all words to that

Me: at 12:30am April 11
i do appreciate it and fake it...i won't mind

KC: at 12:31am April 11
straight women are use to faking it

Me: at 12:31am April 11
exactly

KC: at 12:33am April 11
so it should be good then., very believable

Maybe I'll post some of the comments we got on this little war later, but for now, I hope it made someone laugh!