Thinking Back...

It may be a day late but someone asked me about my dad this last week and I started thinking about him. They asked three questions and these were my answers:



1) What are three words that describe your Dad? Whistler, floor-loving (I made that count as one!) and funny.



2) What memory of him do you have of him being kind? I thought for a minute and suddenly remembered when we lived in Oregon there was this kid (I think, I have no idea how old the guy was) who lived across the street. He had some mental handicap but I don't remember what it was. But I remember my dad talking with him and telling us to be nice to him that while he may talk funny he was still a person too. (the neighborhood kids had been laughing about him I think). I just remember my dad was nice to him and that stuck with me.



3) What is your favorite memory of him? This one was hard. But I settled with again, when we were living in Oregon we would take long road trips to visit family in Idaho. He was not so fun to get packed and started on trips with but I remember we would listen to one of 3 tapes (yes, cassette tapes!) The Trio CD, (Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris) Afterglow, (the green one, don't remember the title) or this tape I think we bought at a truck stop with old 70's rock on it. My dad would bust out singing to all of them and in turn, so would we. That is where I learned to sing and to love it. Most of the little kids in the family don't remember that dad but when I think of him, that is how I remember him. In his 30's, chasing us around the yard, singing the same songs over and over and trying to teach us how to be good people.

They also asked the same questions about my mom and siblings, but since it is not mothers day or sibling day, nor do the answers matter, I settled on just posting this.

Hope everyone had a good fathers day.

Almost Time

Well guys, it is almost time. That is right...vacation is calling my name. Can you hear it? *Nichole....Nichole....*

And as we know the week before is full of eagerness, packing and sickness. Yeah, the sickness kills me. I got food poisoning on monday and spend monday night and tuesday with my best friend, the toilet. I puked and puked. When I was in high school I used to sleep next to the wall that shared the wall of the bathroom that my Dad used in the morning. My alarm clock was his puking in the mornings. It brought back flash-backs to those days and suddenlyI felt like my dad.

I ran around wednesday and thursday trying to catch up only to find myself coughing, sneezing, sore throat and runny nose were hot on my trail on friday. So as I load up on dayquil, I am hoping that it all gets out of my system by tuesday night.

Oh, and work this week was crazy! I had some woman accuse me (and another co-worker) of pulling her kids around the room and such. Well, video speaks for its self lady. Obviously we didn't and the video proved it. Moral of the story, if you don't have real proof, don't claim you do.

Went to the drive-in last night with some friends...so much fun! I was so happy that we got to get out and laugh. It was super fun.

Ok, enough of my week. I have pictures and I will post some soon. Maybe even get a few vacation ones this week too, haha!

Mean

Sometimes I am mean. Sometimes I feel mean. And sometimes it is totally deserved.

Mostly I am a nice person, don't get me wrong.

Although I do struggle with a bit of road rage (thanks dad!) but believe me I am trying. I only complained out loud once today while in the car and I had tons of errands to run. So, I count that as a good day.

It can be frustrating and very anger-inducing sometimes. Everyone does this...it is not just me. I am not tire-slashing, hair-pulling, punch-throwing or profanity-slinging mad, just what-a-brat, seriously, and silent-treatment mad.

Things that are sure to trigger my frustration:

Self-righteous people who believe that they are perfect or always right

Self-centered people who believe that everyone must be jealous of them

Emotionally degrading people who never really are out and out mean, you know the kind who are always "just trying to help" and tell you all your faults but always follow it with a "but you are wonderful!"

Users who only want to talk/hang out with you if it convenient or useful for them

People who cut you off knowingly and those who breast-feed, text and drive at the same time

People named Jason Mesnick

And

People who don't think I am amounting to anything or that my life is boring and easy because of my marital status and lack of biological children

With that said and expressed...

I received the last of my birthday presents yesterday...a lovely jewelry set from one of my besties, Stacy...so wonderful. I will post pictures soon. A ended up having a great birthday this year. I got to share it with the people who mean the most to me...I had a great cake (or three), and got some great gifts!

And again...I love to run. I kicked some guys butt at the gym yesterday when he saw how much I ran he asked me how I could stand to run that long and I just smile and was super happy to say, "Because I love it." Yes.

Family

So with the first reception done it means that we are only working hard to finish all of the stuff for the actual wedding and the second reception. It is crazy and hectic and it is begining to fray the nerves of my parents.

Do you notice the "bling" on my dad's bootaineer? It made us laugh.

My grandmother came in yesterday, my brother tonight and my great aunt tomorrow. Everyday the house gets more and more packed. With less personal space it gets more and more tense. But what is a good is a family without hilarious blow ups?
Oh, and my mom promises to be a part of the macarena at this wedding. We are all waiting on baited breath. Last year when Rachel got married dad's macarena was a huge hit so we are excited for mom's performance.

It has been raining today and it is cold. But the forecast for saturday is 75 and sunny. So lets keep our fingers crossed!