We Have a Name!!

 I know I mentioned when I started blogging again how Claire is now pregnant.  They finally made a choice for the name!!!!  Grayson Hayes!!!!!!!!!!!!  I love it so much and can't wait to meet him!!!

XOXO ~ Nicole

You Don't Have to Go Home But.....

 Oh, my goodness, I almost forgot to tell you guys.  Remember when I posted the other day about the kitties being disgruntled, I thought with their rude customer service "post"?

So, Bryan makes sure there is always food and water in the front and back.  Don't think he started doing this.  I did!  LOL And he complained and complained and now look at him.  We have a routine, and as it starts to get dark, he calls our cat inside (Lucille) if she happens to be out there.  She is one we got TNR'd and never left.  Currently we have Billy Jean who I feel won't be far along because he adores ME!!!  All the cats, we call Bryan the cat whisperer, gravitate to him.  But Billy Jean, he loves ME!!  lol

Bryan goes outside, calls Lucille if she is out, then hollers last call y'all, like at a bar!!!!!!!!!!!!  And they all come running to eat knowing he is about to put it up for the night.  Not the water obs.  Otherwise, them possums make themselves quite at a home.  That's a face there that only a mother can love.

🙀 🙀 🙀 ~ Nicole

What You Don't See Behind the Smile

 I know I haven't spoken much yet about the mental health issues in our family.  When I say family, I mean our little family of four.  If you have read my blog, you know my Mother is bat-shot crazy, and there are some others in the branches as well.  I wrote this, I guess you would say essay at the last career I had.  I had chosen to leave my last career because the atmosphere had changed with the new "owners".  But I will say before then, we were very family oriented and they were aware and accepted my issues.  I went to a new place to work that was supposed to be my "Happily Ever After", but it turned out to be far from it.  I'm not ready to get into that yet but while I was there, I realized how ignorant some people could be towards mental health issues.  I became angry inside feeling like it was supposed to be ignored, not talked about, not understood.    So, I ended up bringing the subject to people who I knew cared about me there.  I was so happy and nervous because we had a whole "Meeting" about it with cute cupcakes with umbrellas, themed colors, and I read this in front of everyone.  It was a shame some people that really needed to hear it, weren't' there, but God has a plan.

XOXO ~

Nicole

Back To the Future, Kinda...

****Originally started in July 2024****

*So, what did you do over the weekend?  I went to the Jay Z and Beyoncé concert Friday night with my favorite girl.  We were both so excited but her more than me for sure.*

I had won these on the radio.  If you see some of my older post, I rocked at it because I got to work so early, no one else was there, and not too many calling the "hot line" either, so I was a "regular!".  Lol

Actually, one time I won, the first time actually, when I was working and I was so nervous 104KRBE got mad at me because I kept messing up the "line".  The disappointment was deep in that lady's voice for sure.  Lol But coming in super early gave me the ability to walk around, if need be, I am a pacer and be myself.  So many times, they would say you have a great voice for the phone/radio, but homegirl never heard any job opportunities.

I won what I thought was Beyonce tickets, but Claire was tickled pink Jay Z was going to be there as well.  You must know at suck at directions and struggle with getting out of my 5-mile radius.  Going downtown is one of my biggest fears.  My dad used to tell me when I first started driving if you sat too long at a redlight, you would be "up on blocks".  At that time, I had no clue what a homeless person, beggar, etc. was.  He also knew I sucked at directions.  I easily got confused and tended to get lost and then cry.  I once ended up I think it was Beaumont before I pulled over and used a PAY-PHONE to call my dad.  He lived in La Porte y'all.    Wait till I tell you about the time I took Claire to see the play Wicked, Lady GAGA in concert, I am sure some other trips will come to memory as well.  Those kinds of tips always turned into some sort of experience for sure!  😂

We make it down there.  If you are from Houston, I treated us to The Original Ninfa's, and we lucked out because since we ate there, they let us park there for free and walk over to the concert.  This first thing we noticed was how small, quaint, etc. it was because I had done my research about it from other blogs then.  The next thing we noticed, no prices on the menu.  -wah-wah-wah-wahhh-  I think we all know what that means.  Now, the food and experience, amazing but that was the most expensive 2 tamales I think we ever ordered!!!!  And that was just Claire's lol.  Then it is time to walk over to the venue for Beyoncé......

Part two coming soon - In the meantime, any questions?  Anyone new to blog and want to say Hola!  I am here!!  

XOXO ~ Nicole

Rude Customers

So, we feed the stray kitties in our neighborhood.  We do our best to get them TNR'd and help other neighbors do so as well.  The other night Bryan when into the back yard and comes back in with this cardboard sign.  He sat it on the stove top before he put into the recycling bin.  I happen to be walking by to get me another Bud lite (hell yeah, I still love my Bud lite!!) and saw it.

I read it, I read it again.  I looked at him and said, "the kitties are leaving us notes now???"

Massage or As My Daughter Used to Say, "Smadge".

Ohhhhhh, I must tell you guys about my massage experiences.  As a child, then adult - I must say the adult ones got a lot better until they didn't.

As a child, my first experience with a massage was with my Mother.  I tend to call her Mom or Mother, but always a capitol M because - well, if you have read my blog or are currently new, she is not a nice person.  As a matter of fact, I haven't had any contact with her in 10+ years, and although it was extremely difficult to make that decision, it was a SMART one!!  And if you or someone you know has a relationship like I did with a parent, sometimes people are just too toxic to have any connection to.  You cut your losses, even if it is a parent, and you are a better person because of it

She took me to one of those "fat" spas with her.  I was 20 by then, but weighed maybe 89 lbs.  I was a super picky eater back in the day.  For dinner I remember they had these tiny portions on the plate, and nothing I really even wanted to eat except for maybe a sprig or two that looked like lettuce.  I asked her to take me to McDonalds; I always got the same thing - Happy Meal Cheeseburger plain with Hi-C orange.  Always.  Imgain Bryan's excitement when we first started dating and he took me to a place called The Macaroni Grill.  I liked you could color on the "tablecloths".  As you can probably tell, I was a very naive 20-year-old when Bryan met me.  I even had a Little Mermaid comforter set - I called it the "Mermaid test" and Bryan passed!!  My aunt did a good job protecting me when I went to live with her at age 11.  At that age all the way until 14 or 15, I was still going outside to ride bikes and play with the younger kids on my street.  Imagine my horror when I got my period and had to wear a pad trying to ride a bike.  It felt like my vagina was going numb.  And when I started having to wear a bra!!  No longer was I able to play football and X-Men etc. without a bra on.  I am rambling......

Any who, Bryan ordered calamari as an appetizer.  I tried one because he said he was "trying to broaden my horizons" and that sounded thoughtful lol.  I told him it tasted like a rubber band and I said no mas.  For my dinner, I ordered a grilled cheese.  Back to the resort, went to bed hungry that night but wasn't nothing new to me.  I remember we had two separate beds, and she watched a bunch of movies.  Pedicure time came, my Mom knew I had athlete's foot on I think my left foot.  I was so embarrassed of it - the first time Bryan and I showered together; I wore my socks!!!  Thank God I was hot right!?!?  LOL So it is pedicure time, we are sitting next to each other, and I mention to my lady that I couldn't imagine having to work on people's feet all day.  My mom laughs or maybe hoots more like it meanly, says the girl with something wrong with her foot.  Then comes time for spa time and massage time.  My Mother tells me that I need to take all of my clothes, ALLLLLL, and put on the robe.  We go to the spa/hot tub, Some folks no robe, no nothing.  I just sat on the side with my feet in the hot tub clutching my robe for dear life.  Massage time!  You guessed it, robe off.  Naked.  I wanted to die.  I think I blocked everything else out other than we left early Thank You Baby Jesus!!!!

After that, as an adult I was terrified of getting a massage.  Tried to get one with Claire when we went to Disney as a family.  Just my luck, I had shaved prior to going and after one day, it looked like I had gonorrhea from my ankles to right below my knees.  They refused to work or even touch my legs; they put a towel over them lol.  I didn't want Claire to feel like I did, so I told her she did not have to take all of her clothes off if she didn't want to.  Of course, my girl was like have at it lady!!!!!!!!!  Lol.

Part 2 - Tomorrow......

Boys & Girls

 Ok, like I was saying.  If you used to read my old posts and maybe you are just reading now....  I was very lady-like, I never ever "tooted" around men.  Ever!!!  And for the longest time, when I lived with some boyfriends, we never used the restroom for # 2 when one of us was home!!!   Ever.  My first boyfriend/fiancé, I lived with him and his family for at least a year or more.  I surely didn't hold it in that long - but I don't remember ever pooping when he was home.  

One of my boyfriends and I moved in together later on in life.  I would literally go to the grocery store by our house if he was home and I had to poop.  But that I blame on a previous boyfriend.  I told him I was going to take a shower, which I was but I locked the door because I also had to poop.  I had just gotten into the shower when I hear him say "Don't ever tell me you shit don't stink" and died laughing.  I was mortified.  He had picked the lock and was very proud of himself.

Bryan never farted around me, and when he did, I got mad.  Why?  Because girls don't fart!  LOL That's what I like to say.  We have settled into an old married couple now.  I still do not want to talk about your bowel movements, nasty.  But, usually when he does fart he will let me know prior.  And you would be proud of me.  I also do it around him when I can't hold it, and I will say I have to toot.  He says toot away!  And if it is loud, he will say that isn't a toot, that's a fart.  Men!!!!