Best Friend

I talked to my best friend from high school this morning. My best guy friend, anyway.

He is the older brother I never had and believe me, it wasn't an easy job.

I haven't talked to him in forever. When he was a senior in high school, both of our dad's got out of the Navy and he moved to Massachusetts and I moved to Maryland. We both went back to Virginia later but wound up going our separate ways as adults.

He came to visit me after I got married to the Senior Chief and was pregnant with my girl child. That was the last time I saw him.

I've talked to him off and on over the years but we haven't really kept in touch.

We didn't really need to. I love him and he loves me. We'll always be friends.

And that's just good to know.

Aren't friendships like that nice? We have kind of transcended the friendship bond and it's gone right on in to family. I've known this guy since I was 6 years old.

It was a little awkward in some spots, because we didn't need to have a long conversation to catch up. I'm good..you're good..good.

And you know..he hasn't changed a bit. Well, he has..we all change..but not in the basic areas.

Up With The Sun, Gone With The Wind

My usual waking time is between five am and five-thirty am. I like to get up before the kids so I can have my wits together before I wake them up.

I procrastinated waking Yabu Jr. up this morning because I know it's going to be tough to get him to school today. That kid is the fakingest kid you've ever seen. EVERY Sunday night, he does this whole routine where he's setting up to be 'sick' on Monday morning.

Superbowl Sunday, yesterday..it's especially on the days where there's fun to be had. And on weekends where he's had Saturday school, which he had this weekend.

I'm finding I have less and less patience for this as time wears on. He's not little anymore and it's not cute. It pisses me off to have to fight with him for him to do what he's supposed to do.

As well, he's failing math, and I'm not at all pleased about that.

This morning, I actually have an appointment, so I have less patience than my usual lack of patience.

The sad face, the dawdling, the whining..all that not going to work this morning because he's going to have to deal with The Senior Chief. Hahaha!

Ten Years Ago

Ten years ago on this day, the sport of NASCAR lost a legend. It was a sad day then, and it's a sad day now.

It's hard to explain why the Intimidator meant so much to so many people. Maybe it was his racing style, maybe it was his personal style.

He represented a lot of us working class folks. He was still a working class guy, even when he achieved so much fame. He appeared to be a shy guy.

I saw him once in person at the Mall of Georgia. He looked very uncomfortable with all the attention.

Ten years gone, but not forgotten. Still the man, after all this time. His souvenir stand still is a top seller. I still have a sweatshirt that I wear that is still a favorite.

I couldn't help but rewatch the final laps of that fateful Daytona 500. So many changes have come to the sport since that death. Many say as a result of, but I don't believe that. The season before took 4 drivers in fatal accidents at various racetracks on the circuit. Changes were already coming.

None of those deaths affected so many people like Earnhardt's did, though. Most still can't think of it without shedding a tear or two.

Feb. 18, 2001. The day the racing world was changed forever.

RAW

Or is it RAWR? My daughter says the latter, but what do I know?

Not a damn thing, really.

This Superbowl Sunday came and went without any undue stress. Well, a little, but there's always a little.

No unauthorized pyrotechnics, as the Senior Chief would say.

I made some kick assed food...eventually. I made recipes I had never tried before so dinner was delayed til half-time, and it was only ready then because the king native got a little bitchy.

They liked it anyway...or so they said. The leftovers are still there, however. The same dish I brought home from the club that was premade, all gone. Hey, I know it wasn't right...I got rushed..but to be lied to about how good it was...well, it's just a good thing my tastebuds work.

I'm just happy nobody blew up.

Middle School

Middle school sucks as far as I can tell. We didn't have middle school when I was a kid, we had junior high. Whatever, it still sucks.

What sucks the most is that I can't tell my kids that people ever really get any better.

I couldn't WAIT to be a grown up because I thought people somehow quit sucking so much when they were grownups. Boy, was I ever wrong.

I was in Wally World last night with my littlest son, who is almost taller than me now. He has grown a foot since this time last year.

Anyway, we're in the line..got all our stuff loaded on the conveyor and are crowded pretty close next to the people in front of us. Behind us is a group of a couple of ladies and little kid.

One of the ladies spied some gift cards right next to the refrigerator that holds all the sodas. She SHOVES my cart into me...I'm almost running into the people in front of me, almost...

She's trying to get at these stupid cards. Sick of my cart being shoved up my ass, I shove my cart right back at her and turn around and tell her..."Just wait a minute already." She tells her friend that I told her to wait and then calls me a bitch.

Which I am. No denying that. Hahaha!

I am actually used to people being assholes at this point in my life. I mean, seriously, the hope that people would change has LONG since been dashed. I expect it anymore.

My little son, though, is a little indignant at this lady. My kids still hold the hope that people aren't so mean. Poor babies.

He was outraged that she called me a bitch. And that she used that word in front of her little son.

I had to laugh a little. And then he comes home and tells the Senior Chief that some lady at the store was "being mean to his mommy".