Day 3: My First Love

For more information on the 30 day challenge, please read this post.  So far I feel like I am doing pretty well playing along... but I must remind myself that it is only day 3 and this could all change at any moment.

I will admit, I was not too excited about day 3's challenge.  I am not one that likes to live in or dwell on the past.  I will, however, do the challenge, regardless.

I am asked all the time whether the monkeys dad was my first love.  The truth is, no... he was not.  During the time that he and I were together, I thought I loved him.  And to some extent, I probably grew to love him, but not in the same sense.  I never realized this until I actually did fall in love for the first time, after our divorce.

I love this quote by Marilyn.  I find a lot of truth in it.  My first love, could do just this.  Kiss my forehead, or my cheek, and give me butterflies.  He could do the simplest things and make me fall in love with him over and over again.  This man does NOT know that he was my first true love, nor does he know that from time to time I still miss him and the fun that we had.

His name was Gary.  He was my first relationship after my divorce.  He meant the world to me, as did his kids.  We fell in love, we had our home, we played and played and played.  We loved watching movies and cuddling.  We loved watching sports together.  He taught me how to hit a bucket of balls at the driving range.  We talked about getting married.  We told our parents we were going to get married.  We talked about having a baby of our own.  We had an amazing run.

Then my life came crashing down.  Without giving too many details, things happened... we broke up and I moved out.  I was devastated.  I was not sure I could ever love again.  I didn't know if I even wanted to.

After the break up I did not date anyone for a long while.  I actually stayed in touch with Gary and his daughter for some time, and then even that tapered off.  I can't say to this day that I have ever loved someone as much as I loved him, but I do know that love like that is possible... because of him.

This year on my birthday, he found me on FB.  We have chatted a little since then.  Mostly the whole "how's life? How are the kids?" type of chat.  We have talked about maybe getting together sometime and catching up, but who knows?!  I guess I need to decide if that is truly something I want to do.

I know it's not much, but that is the story of my first love.

We will be back on Monday with Day 4.

Have a great weekend and happy Friday Monkey Manics!

Day 2: Nicknames

Photo found here

For more information on the 30 day challenge, please read this post.

It is day 2, and today the challenge is to share with you my nicknames.  Some may say that this should be one of the easier challenges, and I would probably say the same... if I didn't have to do it.

You see... I have spent 2 days thinking about this challenge, and trying to compile a list of my nicknames.  This is a little more difficult as I am not the one that calls myself these names.

Shall I include the fact that during my existence, I have probably been called "every name in the book"?!  Or the fact that no one can get it through their head that my name is Melissa and constantly call me some other name... Michelle being the most common?!  So common is it, that if you were to call me that, I would probably respond.... No joke here.

I have decided to skip over these facts and just compile a list of what I think falls into the category of an actual "nickname".  So here it is... the many names of... me!!

Mel

This has been a nickname of mine for many years.  As I have grown and gotten to know more people, I have acquired new people calling me this, and more often.  There are 3 people that call me this regularly... my baby sister (who has called me this almost as long as I can remember, although she usually says Mel Clark), bestie monkey and her boyfriend.  Now, for the record... bestie monkey didn't call me this til she started dating this man.  It rubbed off onto her, I guess.

Lissa

First we had the first part of the name, now we have the last part.  Only one person has ever called me this, and not very often... my mom. I used to love when I was growing up and she would say this instead of my full name.  For one, I knew I was not in trouble.  And for two, I knew that something good was probably about to happen.

Mommy

This is obviously a given, but it is my very favorite nickname.  My monkeys are 12 and 10, and they still have not grown out of saying mommy.  I secretly hope they never do.  

Honey Bee

There are 2 people in my life that have called me this... I am not going to go into that now, but maybe someday.  I had to include this one because it too is one of my favorites.  Melissa means "bee" in greek, and this is how this nickname got started.

Missy

Some might say that this is the most common nickname for my name.  I would tell them they are wrong... at least in my case.  Up until I was 17, my brother was the only person that ever used this name for me.  At 17, his current wife started calling me that because that was how she was introduced to me.  Now there were 2. At this point, a few others call me this as well, but only people that know me through my brother.

There you have it.  My list of nicknames.  I'm sure there are others I could have put on there, but this list will have to suffice for now.  I love all the nicknames I have, and am grateful that I have people that love me enough to call me these things out of love.... Ha!

Come back tomorrow, we will be doing Day 3: My First Love.  Could be interesting.

What is the one nickname that you are called that you absolutely love?

Happy Thursday Monkey Manics!!

P.S. I do not know what is going on with my blog and why things are showing up white... please bear with me while I try to figure it out.

Day 1: Introduce Myself

I found this 30 day challenge over at Blended With Love, a blog I have followed for some time.  I thought it might be fun for us all if 1 - I attempt to do it, and 2 - you all attempt to do it as well.  So, here it is... I challenge you all to play along.  You can click the link for Blended With Love to find the whole 30 day list, or you can just follow along with me.

For this 30 day challenge, I will post my challenges Monday through Friday, therefore Monday Musings and Throwback Thursdays will be taking a short break.

I am hoping you will all know a little more about me by the time we are done, and I hope to know a little more about you as well.

Day 1:  Introduce myself with a picture of me and 10 likes and dislikes.

This is me at an 80's birthday party I went to a few years back.  Bestie Monkey snapped this picture and I love it.  I was totally in my element here... laughing and having fun.  What you can't see is the glitter in my hair, and the fact that I am wearing a skirt... I know... so NOT like me.  I also have on boots with leg warmers... cause I'm cool like that!

I am going to start with my dislikes, because I always like to get the bad stuff out of the way first.  So... off we go...

10 Dislikes:

1 - I dislike selfish, disrespectful people.  'Nuff said.

2 - I absolutely hate spiders, snakes and anything else creepy.

3 - I dislike lying... very much so.

4 - I dislike dressing up... especially if I have to get super fancy.

5 - I do not like when the monkeys don't get along.

6 - I dislike cinnamon and peppermint.

7 - I dislike yard work... house work, no problem... yard work... UGH!

8 - I dislike greasy foods, and not just because it's unhealthy either.

9 - I dislike hate snow... any snow... all snow.  Don't like it at all.

10 - I dislike fake people and the drama they cause.  Keep that shit away from me.

10 Likes:

1 - I like love being a mom.

2 - I like being outdoors... when the weather is nice.

3 - I like sushi... this is a recent discovery, but one I am very happy with.

4 - I like homemade food FAR better than the alternatives.

5 - I like wearing shorts, except at work.

6 - I like my job.  Most days.  I like helping people.

7 - I like blogging... my little escape.

8 - I like Peanut M&M's... probably too much... but can you say YUMMY?!

9 - I like tank tops and flip flops... A LOT.

10 - I like love laughing.  I truly believe it is the best medicine.

There you have it.  Be sure to come back tomorrow for Day 2: Nicknames.

Did you learn anything new about me?! What is one of your likes or dislikes?  Please share.

Happy Hump Day Monkey Manics!

Grrrrr!!!

Photo found here

Today, I am escaping reality.  Not literally, just mentally.  My brain needs a break.  Too much thinking going on and it is starting to hurt... no joke.

There is so much going on in my life right now, and yet nothing is really going on.  I have reached the point of the "fuck it" attitude.  Which, really... for me... doesn't happen all that often.

You see, I am the ultimate optimist.  Anything happens and I am always right there finding the good in it.  Not much can really bring me down from my blissful high.

I love being a happy person, and I am loved for it as well.  I am always trying to get others to be happy with me.  I am a believer that happiness and being positive are contagious.  Then again, the opposite end of the spectrum is as well.

I surround myself with happy people as best as I can, and keep the negative ones out.  This keeps me going, most days.

Today, however, despite the happy people I try to surround myself with, I still don't care... I... need... a... break.  And I think know I am entitled to it... every once in a while... right?!?!

I haven't been on Facebook, or twitter, or any of the others as much as usual lately, because I honestly could care less about the drama in other people's lives, and really don't give a shit about every meal you eat or when you take a bathroom break.  Tell me I am not the only one that has these friends...?!

I avoid the news for the most part.  Here in good ol' Utah, we have about a bajillion wildfires going on and it breaks my heart to see or hear about them. And unfortunately, unless someone is murdered (which is also known to break my heart) the fires are pretty much top news.

The summer weather has arrived.  We are supposed to reach 104 degrees this week.  A little on the hot side, but I am enjoying the weather nonetheless.  A nice ride in the mountains sounds absolutely fabulous when the temps reach that high.  Being stuck in the valley... blows.  I hate being cooped up in a building, but it gets a little too hot to spend too much  time outside.  Ugh... can't win!

I want a vacation... a real one.  I want to leave town for a significant amount of time.  I do not want to think about work.  Or housework.  Or car problems.  Or money problems.  Or bedtime.  Or anything else that makes my head spin.

Have you had enough of my bitching yet?!  I have.  I hate having this attitude.  Luckily, getting it all out has released some of the pressure in my head, so I am happy for that.

I hope you all are having a better day.

Come back tomorrow... we will be starting something that I think will be rather fun, and will challenge you all to do the same.

Happy Tuesday Monkey Manics!

Monday Musings

It is Monday.  I don't want it to be Monday.  Father Time and I had a little falling out last night, and it would seem he has won, once again.  The bright side to this is that Friday will soon show it's pretty face... so I won't complain too much... for now.

You all know that Monday means it is time for another round of Monday Musings.  The post where my random thoughts make it into cyber world.  This time may be a bit of a rough go-around, however.

Have you ever felt like your brain is so over loaded that it could explode at any moment?  That is how I have felt for the past week.  Yet, at the same time, it is empty.  I can truly think of nothing.  I do not understand this, but alas, it is the way it is.

I will attempt to put some thoughts down for you all regardless of the empty, yet too full, brain problem I am experiencing.  So, off we go...

- You can see in the picture above that there really are times when the monkeys get along and love each other, and no... they were not just doing it to pose for the picture.  I often wonder why it can't be like that all the time.  I constantly remind my monkeys that they really do need to learn to get along seeing as the only people they have for the rest of their lives is... each other.  However, half the time I feel like my words are falling on deaf ears.  Maybe it's the ages they are at?!  Maybe it's something else?!  Who knows, but I hate to see them fighting.

- I have been taking the monkeys on walks with me every evening when it starts to cool down.  They are loving it.  Sister walks with me, and Brother rides his roller blades.  Our walks last roughly an hour, and it is great to have that time for just the 3 of us, enjoying the weather.  Not to mention, Brothers legs are getting very strong.

- Being a working mom is not for me, I've decided.  So... the search begins for a wealthy man to take care of us.  Haha, not really.  I truly think I would get bored being at home all day while the monkeys were at school.  It just kills me that they are not in school right now, but I am still away from them all day.

- All of our friends are camping... I miss camping, I want to be with them right now.  That is all.

- Bestie Monkey celebrates her day of birth this week.  I always get her the same present.  Chocolate covered cinnamon bears.  Why?  Because it is a treat she doesn't have to share with me (I do not like cinnamon).  This year, however, I think I will get her some peanut M&M's.... why?!  Because I want some... take that Kris... ;)

- I want another weekend.  Once again, that is all.

That is it from me.  Do any of you have any random thoughts you'd like to share?

Happy Monday Monkey Manics!