Am I the only one?

Just a typical e-mail from my mother:

How are you? Just on the news a pregnant woman - young newspaper delivery person - was found murdered with multiple stab wounds in Raleigh behind AmeriKing store near highway. Be careful especially when you jog. Don't jog at night
or in isolated areas. Jog with someone.
Love, Mommy

Please someone tell me that they have a mother as neurotic as mine. This is not an isolated incident. I get these e-mails on a regular basis...sometimes it's someone who had a pocketbook snatched. Sometimes it's someone's husband that has poisoned them. Is this what my future holds? One day harrassing my kids about crimes that may or may not happen to them?

And I'm not sure what the connection between a pregnant woman being stabbed and me jogging at night is. Maybe someone can shed some light on that one.

Oh, Amie...

Open foot, insert mouth

Background story: one of my sister's dearest high school friends recently got pregnant. She's 21 years old, brought up as a good Catholic girl (aren't we all??) and still has a year of college to finish up. My sister and she literally grew up together, meeting in grade school and remaining close to this day. My sister's friend is devastated, but decided to keep the baby, rather than having an abortion. And, despite her mother's pleadings, has decided not to marry the father, since she doesn't feel like he's "the one."

In general, I have to commend her. She's pretty brave deciding to have the baby, and to hold out for true love to get married. And I know she must be so scared right now, especially since her parents as also devasted and the friend feels like people are going to think she's "white trash."

The story: This weekend, while at home for the reunion, my parents and Scott ran into Barnes and Noble, where we ran into this friend's mother. My parents ran into the mother a few minutes before I did, and when I rounded the corner, they all seemed to be wearing serious expressions. Of course, you can imagine what was on my mind and what I thought they were talking about, so I decided to lighten the mood (read: make a complete ass of myself).

After giving her a hug and saying hi, I said "So I hear congratulations are in order!" Her eyes got wide, she grabbed by arm, and pulled me behind the stacks. "What are you talking about?" This is where I start to babble incoherently, the blood rushing to my face and my heart pounding. "Are you talking about what I think you're talking about? Do you know? Do your parents know? Oh god, I want to die."

So did I.

She came back and confronted my parents (who were champs, by the way) and started to cry. I made a grown woman cry, god damn it. I felt terrible. I still feel terrible. Thirty minutes later, the sniffling subsided and I think she got a lot of fears and issues off her mind. I guess when you're in a situation like that, and you're embarrassed, you don't talk about it with many people and a lot of those feelings get trapped inside. In a way, maybe this was a good way to let a bit of steam out and to know that there are people out there that support you and your daughter, and people are more forgiving and understanding than you may initally give them credit for. Heck, even I was surprised at how supportive my mother was and how she really provided some quick and dirty counseling in the Barnes and Noble.

It's been a long time since I've wanted to sink into the floor and die...or at least rewind time by a mere 30 seconds. This was probably my biggest foot-in-mouth moment ever. I still feel terrible, but maybe, in the end, it helped a bit.

I just hope it doesn't happen again. Because the next moment just might be when I blurt out to the friend: How in the hell do you get accidentally get pregnant in the 21st century??

High School Reunion

This weekend was my 10-year high school reunion. I was actually really excited to go and see faces and people, many of whom I haven't seen in ten years. The reunion was an all-day Saturday affair, with a tour of the school in the morning, a picnic that afternoon, and an evening reception. Since we took the opportunity of being home to spend time with my parents, Scott and I just attending the reception that night.

Typically, the girls were all dolled up and the guys just didn't care (or at least, pretended not to care). There were so many pregnant people! We're all in that time of our lives, I suppose, but it was a regular baby factory out there!

It was fun to see everyone - from my elementary school crush to great friends that I lost touch with to really good friends that I still keep in touch with. And it was interesting to see some people who's lives are just as you expected them to be - and others who certainly surprised you. I guess that's how most high school reunions go, though.

So how did I fare? In high school, I was definitely the awkward, gangly girl...someone who hadn't quite fit into her body - or herself - yet. And I think, partly because of that, I lacked confidence. Ten years later, I think I've found more of that confidence and am more comfortable in my own skin. I think my personality has always been the same, although a bit toned down from high school. I was a bit more crazy, neurotic and "intense" (as Matt told me this weekend) than I am now...I think with my experiences over the last ten years - college, traveling, getting married, grad school - I've mellowed a bit.

I've always found it interesting to see yourself through others' eyes. To get their perspective and compare how it's different from how you see yourself. This weekend, I got to do exactly that and think I've done just about alright these past ten years. My high school self would have been proud!

It was fun to see everyone and to reconnect and I'm looking forward to doing that again in another ten years. Maybe there will be a lot fewer pregnant girls that time!

One man's trash is another man's treasure

On Saturday, we had our yardsale. And we didn't do to shabby...$257. I was amazed at the things that sold - and didn't sell. Clearly, furniture is a big mover. Our old nightstand and dressers were among the first items to go. And clothes sold well, too. But the R5 golfbag went to Goodwill and the golf clubs didn't sell until the last hour. I guess our treasure was another man's trash.

But boy, does it feel good to have gotten rid of some stuff. My wardrobe has been cut by more than half and now you can actually get into our guest room closet. I think it's funny that while we want to reduce and minimize, other people were looking to add by coming to our yardsale. That's the beauty of a perfect market system, right? I'm all about getting rid of "stuff" and clearning out the clutter in my life. But even though we got rid of a lot of this "stuff", there still seem to be more "stuff" in our house. Do we really need all this "stuff?" I think our lives would be less complicated without all the clutter and nonsense that surrounds us.

With a new house on our minds, we keep on throwing things out and we keep an eye on not getting things that we don't need. I want to haul as little things as possible to our new abode and want to start fresh with clean lines and quality furniture, even if it means spending more and having less. Out with the old, and in the new (and few)!

Rejected

Our offer on the house was countered. We then counter-counter offered. And they rejected it. Which leaves us home-less.

I really had my heart set on that house. Scott seems to think that the fat lady hasn't yet sung...something about a strategy on their part. I think not only has the fat lady sung, she has left the stage. Although I do tend to get a bit fatalistic when my dreams have been crushed into a fine, chalky powder.

We'll see and I'll keep you posted.

In other news...my friend, Martha, has told me she is pregnant! Yay for new babies! Boo for not telling me for SIX MONTHS!! Just because I live on the other side of the country doesn't give you an excuse not to spread the good news. At least it's just in time for our 10 year high school reunion next weekend. Can't wait to see the look on everyone's faces! And I can't wait to see pregnant Martha! :)

Off to the races!

Scott and I put our first ever offer on a house today! It's a bit exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. We really like the house - it has tons of charm, lots of what we're looking for, and just a great vibe - but we think the sellers are asking way too much for it. Even their agent admitted, in his own way, to our agent that he advised them to list it for less.

So we offered what is truly a fair price, but it's way lower than what they are asking. I'm just hoping that they see the light and realize that they really want to give this house to a young, deserving, loving couple. Because that's what it's all about, right? Not how much you get for a house, but who's going to take it from you.

Wish us luck...we hope to hear something soon!

Women are revengeful, spiteful creatures

I can say that. I'm a woman.

Scott and I went running at our favorite trail at Lake Lynn and came across quite a sight in the parking lot: a little sports car (well, if you call a Pontiac a sports car) had all four tires slashed (and when I mean slashed, I mean someone almost completely carved out the spokes on one of the tires), had its rear window completely smashed in (glass littered the pavement), had a "spiderweb" on the front windshield from someone hitting it with a blunt object, was keyed down the side and had graffiti written all over the car (not suitable for reprint here).

We came the conclusion that it had to be a woman because only a woman would be this revengeful. Plus, the graffiti had graphics to go with the written insults and I just don't think a man would have that much attention to detail.

And then, a few days later, I heard Carrie Underwood's new song:

I dug my key into the side

of his pretty little souped-up four wheel drive.

Carved my name into his leather seats.

Took a Louisville Slugger to both headlights

Slashed a hole in all four tires.

Maybe next time he'll think before he cheats.

Hmmm...life imitating art? Or maybe further evidence that woman are revengeful, spiteful creatures. And take their cues from other revengeful, spiteful women!