Wax On, Wax Off

I went for my first bikini wax today. Left my dignity at the door.

Pud & I are leaving for the beach with friends of ours Friday. I'm SOOO excited!! However, given my larger mid-section, I knew that my bikini area had not had the proper attention paid to it as of late, so I scheduled a wax. The day I scheduled my appointment, I read online about a woman dying following a bikini wax because she developed cellulitis. That's comforting. I could die because I'm fat.

My friend told me to take some Advil before I went. I would rather have had a glass (bottle) of wine. But, since I had to come back to work, I didn't think the alcohol would be my best option. Besides, that may add to the risk factor of cellulitis, I don't know.

I was scared to death and nervous as a whore in church before my appointment. Thought about canceling, but remembered that I can't see the Bic down there. And I remembered how Big Joz's mother looked on her first day at the beach...like she was "trying to smuggle Chewbacca in her underpants," said my sympathetic husband. I didn't want that.

I walked in to the day spa and this very nice girl led me back to a quiet room (with rather bright lights for a day spa!). Now, I had already given the lighting situation some thought. I am typically not really a modest person, but the idea of having my nether regions on display for a stranger to do something really hurtful to me freaked me out a little. Then I realized that the stranger would have hot wax around my nether regions...maybe it'd be best if she could actually SEE what she was doing!

She asked me "how much" I wanted her to do. I explained to her that I didn't want to embarrass myself or others by the sight of me in a swimsuit (refer to above comment about Big Joz's mom). I wanted to get my money's worth, but there was no need of exposing the full monty.

She then handed me a piece of dental floss with a small triangle-shaped one-ply napkin. I could wear this if I felt more "comfortable". Really?? At this point, it's like childbirth...I was on display for a stranger to have her hands touching parts of my body that are for my husband's pleasure, not hers.

And so, the torture began.

Actually, it wasn't as bad as I had expected (must have been the Advil!). I just wish it could have been as simple as one big rip off rather than several smaller ones. After a while in the same area, I got a little sore. Then she pulled out the tweezers. And keep in mind, we were just talking and laughing the entire time. That seemed to put me at ease a little, though.

So, I'm no longer a bikini wax virgin...Laura took that from me. All in all, it's not something I will look forward to doing again, but when the time comes, maybe I won't be quite so freaked out.

New Bed

I've got a little day trip planned today. I'm going to Selmer (isn't that a funny name for a town) this afternoon. My dad is meeting me there to pick up my niece and nephew who have been visiting since Saturday. I'm glad they got to come. Really.

On the way back, Bud, Pud & I are going to stop in Tupelo and run a few errands. We're going out in the middle of nowhere to buy a new bed from some nut case. Big Joz found the ad in the paper last week. The seller is rude as hell, but he has a brand new queen-size Tempurpedic mattress, box springs & platform for $400 (retail price--$2K+). Seems as if he went to a furniture store auction and ended up with several. Lucky us.

We love our king-size Tempurpedic that's in our bedroom downstairs. Mimi & Grandpa will be getting that bed when they come. The guest room will become Big Joz's & my new little love haven once they get here. We're going to be replacing the full-size bed that's in there now with the new queen. The full bed is OK for a night or two, but for something longer-term, it would be very uncomfortable (that's how we've tried to keep guests at bay--having a yukky bed). Just kidding. Really.

Anyway, since we're getting a new bed, we also need new...bedding! Big Joz and I talked it over during last night's anniversary dinner. Since we're buying new, let's just go all out and buy something absolutely fabulous, luxurious and delicious (translate--very expensive). However, being the practical person that I am and all (don't laugh), I thought we should be a little more reasonable. Besides, I don't think the oak furniture would give the lush, grandiose & extravagant fabric justice!

I've kind of for a long time secretly desired for a yellow bedroom...BUTTER yellow, of course! So I was thinking of a butter yellow, sage & white room. I had the perfect yellow quilt in mind. But, I don't think that'd look real good with the gray paint that's on the walls right now, though. And, since Big Joz is being such a good guy today, repainting a bedroom is just not something I'm going to put on his honey-do list right now. Too bad, though, because he also agreed that yellow would have been an option for him.

So, we decided to stick with our current color palette of gray, garnet & navy. Hopefully I'll find the perfect garnet down comforter today.

Have you missed me??

I'm not sure anyone reads this anymore. Well, except for maybe my PECA friends. But now that I know there's at least somewhat of an interest, I'll try to do better at keeping y'all in the loop with the lives of Mama Joz, Big Joz, Bud & Pud.

For now, though, I'm going to go back to bed. Was there for a while, but couldn't sleep. Since Big Joz was tired and all, I thought it best that I get up and try doing something to make me sleepy. So I balanced my checkbook. That just made my stomach upset. Then I opted for a glass of wine. That just gave me the heartburn.

Big changes are in store for all of us in the not-so-distant future. Stay tuned.

Completely off the subject, but is anyone else sick and tired of the Michael Jackson news?? I'm sorry if this offends any of you (you know, the ONE person who reads it!), but dang--he's a freak of nature who molested children...Beat It, Michael...good riddance!

By the way, Big Joz got called "Papa Joz" tonight...I kinda liked it. So, if you hear me talk about Papa Joz, don't think I'm referring to Big Joz's dad or anything.

Words on Women & Strength

As a daughter, mother, sister or friend, please watch and read:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_4qwVLqt9Q

Anniversaries

Yesterday...Happy 65th Wedding Anniversary to my grandparents!!

Today...Happy 40th Wedding Anniversary to my in-laws!!

My husband and I are so blessed to have such awesome examples of long-standing marriages so close to us.

My own parents would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in September, but they decided to get one of those heart-wrenching divorces after 35 years of marriage. Seems they each had been miserable long enough. However, that's another story for another day.

We've been through quite a lot together, my darlin' and me, after over twenty years of putting up with each other's sh..tuff! One thing's for sure, though, I sure don't want to imagine growing old without him! I want Bud & Pud to have to plan a fancy, dancy, schmancy, golden wedding anniversary party for us!

Merry Christmas Eve...hope Santa's good to all of you!

I'm still around!

Just wanted all my friends (especially those at PECA...whatever the hell that is!) that I'm still around. Just busy. I'll be back in action soon I hope!

Disappointment

Today at noon I had an appointment to get naked and let some woman rub all over my body. Now before y'all go and think I've gone lesbian, let me clarify.... I had an appointment for a massage. I just love a massage!

I've had some soreness under my right shoulder blade and some uncomfortableness in my lower back that I knew she could work out for me.

Amidst the dust, noise and mess of getting a new ceiling, and paint fumes from the work room getting painted here at work, I was very much anticipating a break this morning. So, the time came. I pulled up to the curb and walked ever so excitedly to the door...that was locked. I waited a few minutes, thinking she just might be in with another client. I then called the number on the door where an impersonal machine took my call. It had no idea how disappointed I was.

Unfortunately, the woman with the hands of magic had forgotten to mark my name in her calendar. My hour of relaxation was whisked away.

Potatoes

I just love a potato!

Mashed, creamed, baked, fried, twice-baked, stewed, roasted, scattered, smothered & covered, with gravy, without gravy, in a soup....

Butter, salt and cheese are my favorite "go-withs" to a potato.

My Mimi makes the best mashed potatoes ever.

I don't particularly care for raw potato.

Or sweet potatoes. However, I make a sweet potato casserole for the holidays that's supposed to be really good...I usually eat just one bite to say I have.

I like instant potatoes, too.

I just love a potato!

Tomorrow is a big day!

First of all, if you aren't registered to vote and you're old enough to be, shame on you!

Secondly, I just wanted to remind all of you who ARE registered to exercise your right and vote tomorrow!

Finally, if you ARE registered to vote and don't (for whatever reason), shame on you. And don't come fussing to me when things don't go your way...your vote counts!

Making a Change

Well, today's the day...the first day of the rest of my life! Well, sort of.

My local gym has been offering a "Make a Change" challenge. I have accepted the challenge. For the next 12 weeks, I'll be a member of the gym--no commitments, no contracts, no enrollment fee...just a member with a chance to make a change.

So, at 5:00 (less than an hour...ACK!), I'll meet with a trainer who will orient me and get me started. We'll work together to come up with goals and she'll show me what to do, how to do it, how often to do it, etc. Then in six weeks, we'll reevaluate and see what progress I have made (hopefully I won't have REgressed!).

Lucky for me, Big Joz bought that elliptical machine and set it up right in our living room, so on the days I only have to do cardio, I can just do it in the comfort of my own home. That Big Joz...he's so darn thoughtful!

So...wish me luck...you know I'm gonna need it!