Good Bye 2008

To say that 2008 was an eventful year would be like saying the sun is slightly warm! (Although around here is Seattle, the fact that the sun exists is purely a rumor! LOL)

The year started out with me being mostly, happily married. On New Year's Eve, my husband gave me a pear shaped diamond ring in our champange glasses...it was very sweet and very romantic. But by April, I had moved into our guest bedroom, I met an amazing guy, and my husband filed for divorce. From there the year has had its ups and downs. In a way I'm more than ready for 2008 to be over and yet I'm sitting here crying at my desk sad for what was. This will be the first NYE in 12 years that I won't be spending it with Todd. I kinda wouldn't mind just going to bed early and waking up with it already being 2009.

Today I am filled with mixed emotions. I'm excited for the future, scared shit-less to be on my own and sad that my marriage is over. I have also reconnected with some amazing people that I went to high school with as well as meeting some incredible new, true friends and got rid of 1 cancerous 'friend'.

Last year I only made 1 resolution. That was to get out of debit (or at least not be in so much debit). However, I NEVER dreamt that it would happen by being cashed out of my house & getting divorced. Lesson learned, be careful what you wish for. This year I think the only resolutions I will make are to be a happier IrishGirl and a better mother to Master P!

I hope everyone has a great 2009. Happy New Year!!!!

Smack down at the local RR

LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!

So let me back up for a moment. Ashlee and I went out to lunch for our non-company sanctioned Christmas/New Years party. And what classier place to go then Red Robin. Can I get a "what-what"? Anywho, so we take our cozy lil love nest of a seat in the bar. This is the point in the date that I reveal to Ashlee, that if she treats me right, I will put out at the end of our date! We order our drinks (priorities!). A Mai Tai for my date and I order a Sand In Your Shorts. As usual, Ashlee doesn't like her choice and being the polite date that I am, I trade with her. I suck down my Mai Tai and order a Blue Moon. All the while we are enjoying polite conversation about bubble baths and eye goggles while eating our guacamole. By this time, Ashlee has finished her drink and is getting rather thirsty. To our dismay, the waitress, Flo has disappeared. I'm trying to calm Ashlee down, but nothing seems to be working.

When Flo FINALLY reappears, Ashlee gets all up in her face, talking this trash and that trash cause we all know that she's "Trashlee" (you know how people from Graham Cracker are). Ashlee then grabs the Teriyaki Burger off my plate and flings it at Flo. Ashlee rips off her clothes only to reveal a singlet like that on American Gladiator. It looked something like this:

Ashlee all Bad Ass. Her abs are really that tight too!

Of course Ashlee is now starting to get tired from the lack of food and too much booze (gotta love them Graham Crackers). Ashlee tags me in where I do an elbow drop off our booth. Flo goes down without much of a fight. I turn around and High-Five Ashlee. Ashlee then screams that Flo is coming back at me. This is when I grab a bar stool and with the other patrons shouting "chair, chair, chair" I crush it across her back! I would've done a pile driver, but 1-2-3, Flo's down for the count! High-five, very nice. The State Farm Girls win again. Lesson to all: DON'T MESS WITH THE FARM!!!

Me, sweet as can be!

All in all, I would have to say that it was a great Christmas/NY party. By far, the best I've EVER been too. In fact I was SO famished from my arss whooping that I took the bacon right out of my BLTA and dipped it straight into the mayo. Once I took care of the bacon, I went to work on the lettuce in mayo. Let's face it, EVERYTHING IS BETTER with mayo. And maybe next time, Flo will bring us our drinks in an orderly fashion!

Best Christmas EVER!!

I had a pretty awesome Christmas myself. I was completely spoiled by Steve! I received SOOOO many gifts that I couldn't possible take pictures of them all. In addition to the ones posted here. I got a pair of Colin Stuart shoes, a Cheechoo Sharks jersey, and not 1 but 2 new purses!

My new bed partner. He is a plush Zombie and ALL of his appendages come off!

I think I am going to name him Fred the Undead. Either way he'll keep

me warm on a cold winters night!

LOL. Nuff said!


Apparently I have A LOT to learn about dating a "geek".
So much so, that they wrote an entire book on it.

My fabulous "pirate" corset. I can't WAIT to go out to

put this puppy on!!!

snugly pjs from Master P.

A cute little teddy with a gift inside....

....the gift inside. An amethyst ring! And a perfect fit!

I hope everyone else has a fabulous Christmas too!!!

Santa Came to the Russell House

Master P has been waiting for Santa to get here since the 1st day of December. I lost count as to how many times I was asked "why" it wasn't Christmas already. Only to be followed by a "but why?" when I would answer him. Ahhh, gotta love a 3 year olds curiosity. He woke up bright and early and much like Randy from a Christmas Story, couldn't wait to tear into his first gift. We bypassed the stockings and headed straight for the presents wrapped in Spiderman paper!

Master P waiting patiently to start opening his gifts.

Wall-E pjs from Uncle John and Aunt Jamie.

His Princess Castle (yes he actually asked for a princess castle.)

IDK who is having more fun with it, him or me!!! =D

Elmo Live. Master P would go into convultions EVERY time he saw this at the store!

Lightning McQueen Piston 500 race track.

Master P is pooped after opening presents!

All in all, I'd say that Master P had a VERY Merry Christmas!

Hell has frozen over!

Yes Ladies and Gentlemen, it is true. In case you missed the news cast, Hell has officially frozen over. It has been snowing in the Seattle area since....it can't even remember when it started its been sooo long. Best guess would be since December 13th. So of course around here EVERYTHING shuts down. I mean people can barely drive in the rain, let alone in the snow. And what better way to enjoy the snow then to have some coffee (with Baileys of course), get out the sled and forget that you are 33! (until the next day when you ass is sore!!!)

That's me. Acting a foo! I wanna go fast!!

Measurement was taken at about 2pm before another storm came in.

I think at the worst we had over a foot...yes 12 inches of snow

in our yard!

Our house covered in snow.

Looking very Christmasy!

Master P doing his bit to shovel off the patio!

Master P in his "winter gear" enjoying the snow.

I can't really complain. Every once in a while, its nice to have snow instead of rain! And growing up in California, we NEVER had winters like this. Actually, I think I'd rather take the snow any day! I don't mind being curled up inside next to a warm fire hanging with Master P!

Karma is a Bitch!!!

So, I have an update to the "circle of sadness" that I posted earlier. We found out about the latest episode of "Days of Our Lives" on Monday. Ashlee and I had a really good laugh over the mess that is JM's life and thankful that we are NO longer part of it.

So its been snowing here in Seattle since....well its been so long that I can't even remember when it started, but for at least over a week. Tuesday morning, Ashlee gets to work a few minutes before I do. OMW into work, I get this text from Ashlee that as she was getting out of her truck, she slipped on the ice and fell. She landed right on her ass and now her back hurts. Ain't Karma a bitch.

I got to work just fine, but in celebrating my triumph of being able to drive into work w/no problems, I decided to go tanning at lunch. Seemed like a great idea at the time. As I was trying to get out of the parking spot, my car started to slide. So being the California girl that I am with NO experience driving in the snow, I hit the gas. WRONG!!! All I seemed to do was get myself into a rut....literally. Thankfully some really nice people helped push me back into the parking stall where I waited for Ashlee, my knight in shining armour, to come pick me up. Ain't Karma a bitch.

I guess we learned our lesson.....NAH!! I'm going to laugh just as hard and just as loud at the next episode of the "Circle Of Sadness" duh-duh-dunnnn!!

Another ring in the circle of sadness

So I've talked about the "circle of sadness" before and yet the saga continues. Not directly, but here's what happened. Thanks to a fellow stalker...ehm...concerned citizen, we have discovered that apparently JM is dumber than dirt and up to her old tricks!!

Apparently last Thursday, she was made to shovel snow from the front of her office building. Not a big deal in itself, but then she *whoops* "slips and falls". Goes home, takes some "drugs" and went to bed. "Drugs" which she ALWAYS seems to have handy (that's a story for another time). Proceeds to feel better the next morning and goes to work. Apparently, while on said "drug", she makes a mistake. 1 single mistake on 1 single policy *bullshit* (sorry, I sneezed.) =D Because of this said mistake she is then suspended w/o pay until further notice..aka fired!! On the way home from work, she then goes to the er where she learns that she now has broken her tailbone and has compressed 4-5 discs in her lumbar spine. (Thanks, CafeMom for the update).

Oh good Goddess, where to I begin? First, you are not "suspended w/o pay until further notice" for making A mistake. You are suspended because you don't know how to do your fucking job and have been fucking up royally for a loooong time. Second, I know I would've gone straight to the ER from work, ESPECIALLY if I had "broken my tailbone and compressed 4-5 discs." What a re-re. All I can say, and I'm sure I speak for all of us that have been kicked out of the "circle of sadness"..Thank Goddess that we don't have to deal with this. I can only imagine if we did. But I guess if you can no longer get sympathy from having "cancer" or your mom having "cancer" or your kids being threatened to be taken away by their Dad, you need to invent new reasons to gather sympathy and keep yourself in the "circle of sadness". The people I feel sorry for in this latest episode are her 2 daughters and her "friends". But you can only feel sorry for those dumb, stupid bastards for so long until one day you jump with joy and scream "WE TOLD YOU SO!!!"

TAKE A DEEP BREATH.....

AND RIP THE DAMN BAND-AID OFF ALREADY!!!!

So, I did it!!! It was tough, no one said it would be easy, but I FINALLY did it. I signed my divorce paperwork. And nothing has really changed. Balls of fire didn't fall from the sky, the Earth didn't shake and crack wide open (although last night it felt like it would), Hell hasn't frozen over. I don't know what I was expecting...maybe that the pen I was using would be made of some sort of invisible ink and everytime I signed, my signature would disappear. But in the end, nothing... I guess its kinda like on your birthday when your Mom wakes you up to ask if you feel any older or different? Not at first, but in the next couple of days, I'm sure that will change. Of course now comes the hard part...ha ha cuz its been a piece of cake up til now....the waiting. We have to wait for some judge who doesn't know a thing to sign off on our paperwork. A judge who has had nothing invested in the last 7 years to change 2 peoples lives forever. I'm sure it'll take less than a milisecond for him/her to review and sign and then WHAM!!! Its done and over with, the band-aid is off.

One thing is for sure. Once it is final, I'm going to party like its 1999!!! I want a cake and plenty 'o alcohol!!!! Nuff said. Oh except for maybe presents. Party on!

A chapter comes to a close...maybe

How do I begin? What do I say? I'm deeply saddened. I am sitting, starring blankly at my divorce papers. I FULLY enjoy being a wife. I LOVE being Mrs. Russell, or Mrs. Somebody for that matter. Now who am I? Am I Ex Mrs. Russell? The girl formerly known as Mrs. Russell? Should I now become just a symbol like Prince? Do I go back to just plain 'ol Ms. Reilly? What??? What do I do now?!?! Honestly, I've been starring at these papers for so long that the words are starting to blur together. I wonder if a boat is hidden in there somewhere. LOL "Irretrievably broken" "marriage dissolved" is what the papers say. How can love be "dissolved"?? *sigh* 7 years ago when I took my vows "for better or worse" "till death do us part" I really, honestly, whole heartedly meant them. Standing at the atler I NEVER in my wildest dreams thought that I would be just another statistic. Yet here I am, one step closer to being, as Tom Lykis says another "white single mother in Seattle." Thanks Tom. Can you blow me up now?!?!

I miss wearing a wedding ring. I miss waking up and falling asleep with my husband. I miss being part of a team, a set, like salt and pepper, peanut butter and jelly, Sonny and Cher (okay bad example but you get my drift.) This is the part of the fairy tale that Disney doesn't tell you about. What happens to *insert Princess here* after the Prince kisses her and wakes her up? Life! That's what happens. And its hard and it sucks!!! But I guess making movies about the Ex Mrs. Charming doesn't sell dolls or dresses or makes money. Who wants to grow up to become an Ex-Wife and wear a tarnished crown?!?! Not me. I always wanted to be someone's Snow White.

I'm putting my pen down, papers still unsigned. Maybe I'll sign them tomorrow. For now, still Mrs. Russell.

Chivalry is dead?!?!

I know that times have changed. The older I get the more I'm reminded of this. I'm not saying that I need to be swept off my feet, carried out of the office by a knight in shining armour on a white horse or by Richard Gere, via An Officer And A Gentleman. But a little effort goes a long way. Let me tell you what I'm talking about.

So I'm on my way to the bank today to do the office deposit. Driving down Pac Highway like normal, minding my own business rocking out to the Funky Monkey. When what to my wonderous eyes should appear, but a sparkly red old beat up El Camino with tires so big that they actually belong on a Monster Truck. I quickly tried to grab my camera phone to take a picture of this. Damn!! Too slow. So I pull up to the light pretending not to look and continue to rock out to whatever is on the radio at the time. La la la, pay no attention to the 'Dude' hanging his head out the window yelling at me. "Yes sir, I'm deaf." Oh good, green light. No sooner do I start to pull away that honks occur. Oh dear Goddess, now what?!?!? So Romeo pulls up beside me and starts yelling at me. "I don't know radio too loud, la la la." "No speak English." Then starts waving his cell phone at me. Ok, does he need help, directions, what? Nope my phone number! WTF!!! Prince Charming, are you f-ing serious?? Oh no you didn't just wave your phone at me to get my number all the while driving in traffic. Puh-leese. *switches ring from right hand to left* Taken sir. See the ring??? Taken. Not interested. Find another grrrl to holla at out your window.

I'm sorry but is the fact that you spent more money on rims than you probably made last year supposed to impress me, make me swoon?!?! Is the fact that you are drowning in debt supposed to make me want to hop right in your ride? And please just because you have capped ALL of your teeth in gold, does NOT mean that you can support my shoe habit! I prefer a man who's jeans aren't 5 times the size that they are supposed to be. I'm not interested in seeing Joe Boxer.

What happened to the good 'ol days? Seriously? The days where a guy had to work a little for a girl's number? Buy her a few drinks, make her laugh, maybe dance a little? I'm sad to report that the age of cheesy pick-up lines is dead....a moment of silence please. Ok, moving on. The next time you want to get my number, maybe put a little more effort into it than just honking your horn and waving your phone at me!

Signed~ Juliet

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLEE!!!

I just wanted to do a quick post to say Happy Birthday-poo to Ashlee!! Congratulations on your eviction! Can't wait to celebrate tonight at The Grape Adventure with some Drinky-poos!

HALLOWEEN 2008

Ok, I've been slacking on my blog posts. *hangs head* *slaps wrist* But here they are. We had a lot of fun this Halloween. Preston was "good" Spiderman. He even slept in his costume the first night we bought it. Ahh, to be a wee-little one again! Plus my 1st nephew's birthday is on Halloween. We had a great time trick-or-treating and had a ball at the birthday party.

Getting our faces painted at Spooner Farms

We also decorated the front porch. Preston was

in charge of the spiders.

A whole lotta spiders!

Checking out the loot! He didn't do too bad
considering that I was the one that had to ring
the door bell. HEY!!! Where's my share?

Medusa and Egon.

My Brother and I at Lil John's

1st birthday party!

Ashlee's Last Binge!

So Ashlee is doing this amazing diet and having a ton of success with it. But what kind of friend would I be, if I didn't take her out the night before for one last "hurrah"? Exactly, I'm not, we just got rid of THAT friend, remember. So we headed out to a local wine shop for some good food and good drinks. If ever in Kent, I HIGHLY recommend going to The Grape Adventure. Make sure you ask for Daylene, not only is she an Insurance Goddess but she was our Wine Wench for the evening!

Daylene our fabulous Wine Wench for the evening!

The cheesy french bread dipped in balsamic vinegar is to DIE for!

Some times accidents happen!



That's ok we still Wuv each other!

We will definitly be back to binge again to celebrate Ashlee's success on her diet! And yes, not only is Daylene a fabulous wench, but a great friend. She managed to get ALL of the red wine out of my teal sweater! =D Good as new!

And the winner is....

ME!!! I FINALLY did it!!! I feel sooo much lighter, having dropped that 215lb monkey, aka my BFF, off my back. It wasn't pretty, but really what break up is? But it NEEDED to be done. I can't begin to tell you what a great feeling it is not to cringe EVERY time my cell phone rings dreading that it is her. Talk about a Pavlovian response! FINALLY no more lies, no more deceit, NO MORE DRAMA!!! I swear, Susan Lucci never experienced this much drama!

I am taking off my crown and am passing it to the next poor foolish ignorant soul who will be crowned the next "Miss BFF 2008".

In the words of the late, great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

The Class of '93 (or so I thought)

I have always been under the impression, naive as it may be, that once you got out of high school, all of the drama and back talking crap stopped....Oh how wrong I truly am!! Apparently this phenomenon continues well into the late 20's and even 30's! I have to wonder, am I the only one that didn't get the memo?

I am just soooo sick and tired of people who think that the Universe only revolves around them. News flash...it doesn't!!! How boring is your life that you actually HAVE to create (and
by "create", I mean make-up) drama and situations. Really, how many times can you have ovarian cancer and cysts before any sane Doctor is going to suggest having a hysterectomy? To date...4! But check back again next April cuz that seems to be cyst season. Or breast cancer? It appears that she is the host that spreads breast cancer to EVERYONE that is around her during the month of September. At least once a year someone either dies from or has stage 4 breast cancer. Obviously Breast Cancer is NOT a joke. I have raised money for and walked in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-day. However, I do have a problem with people using it to keep themselves in the lime light.

BEWARE all those having birthdays, babies, weddings and yes even divorces pending, she's likely to TRUMP you too!

Shall I continue? Oh I think so! My "friend" who is supposed to be my BFF, is one of the BIGGEST back stabbers of ALL time. If you have a problem with me, please be adult enough to say it to my face. I have had to hear through the grapevine...and yes, I used to play that game "telephone" and I know how messed up things can get, however when EVERYONE is saying the same story. So apparently not only did my ex-husband, but now my boyfriend has either wanted to or has had a 3-some with her. Please, I highly doubt she can even spell Ménage à trois, let alone know what to do in one!!! Why? WHY GODDESS, can't people just be honest?!?! So my ex-husband, boyfriend, their friend's, etc. don't want to f*&^k you? Move on, find another poor unsuspecting soul to be Baby's Daddy #3!

I think this pretty much sums up my "friend": touché to "The Girl Next To You" for posting something SOOO wise!

Willkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome!

Welcome to my blog!!

First of all a BIG THANK YOU to Ashlee who has gotten me totally addicted to blogs. Who knew! As much as I tried to resist...and believe me, I tried, I am now blogging! And as far as I know, NO HELL has NOT frozen over! =p But Ashlee does put up with a lot from me. Like the fact that apparently, I say "Awesome" ALL the time. Yes, I am a child of the 80's.

So, I'm 33 and I have a 3 1/2 year old son, named Preston. He is the light of my life. I am in the process of a divorce and for the first time about to live on my own. I'm learning a great deal about myself in the process. Like the fact that NO I do NOT need a man around, even to kill a spider.....I just need Mata (see Ashlee's blog). Ok, well maybe I still need a man around for one thing....buying me shoes!!! Size 8, just incase anyone wants to buy me a pair! LOL.

So sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. I'm sure it'll be bumpy at times, but that's life!