"Tying Up Loose Ends..."

I've left some odds-and-ends posts unfinished around here... I need to do a little house-keeping and bring some things up to date...

I posted about the work on my Grandmother Brown's headstone here...

 Jeff and I spoke last week... finally got things resolved... he told me that the stone wasn't fit for what I wanted done to it... I'm not sure I necessarily buy what he told me... after all, he was able to get the dates on it, albeit in the wrong place... and he didn't put her name on it as I wanted...  I sent him a letter stating all I mentioned in the last post... and that I had enclosed a check for half payment of the amount we agreed upon... with the balance being paid upon completion...

During our phone conversation, he said that he could go back and add it if I wanted to... or he would accept  the payment I had forwarded as payment in full for what he had done...  I discussed everything with family members, and they are content with what he had done.

Obviously, I feel I had only completed half of my promise to Dad...

I will head north soon... see the headstone... and see what I will do next... I may get a foot stone with her name on it... and let it go at that...

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I had posted HERE about having seen my former wife at the cemetery on Mother's Day... and how she was lamenting that she didn't have money for a car tag... although she is a professor here at Alluvial Flood Plain State University... and makes pretty decent money... I mentioned that I had given her $200 so she could get her tag and cover other miscellaneous expenses...  

I mentioned something about not being able to understand the stupid things I do...

I talked to GirlShoes last afternoon... she told me that she and her Mom had a great visit... I asked about what all they did... and GirlShoes said... "you should see the neat tattoo that Mom got while she was down here..."

Ready...Aim... Fire....

WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! 

... and that's all I've got to say about that...

~Forrest Gump~

I have nothing against tattoos... or tramp stamps... or any thing like that... I just think that when you can't pay your bills, there should be priorities...

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I shared the ideas that you all left concerning the baby shower presents... and she thought what you all recommended was so lovely... and befitting... She feels that is a great way to honor the memory of little Zachary...

Thank you all so much for your insights...

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Senorita had posted here  last month questions for which she was asking for answers...  and I replied HERE...

In the comments section of my post, Senorita brought up a couple of points that I would like to comment on...

Senorita said: 

All I've really wanted is success in my career and love and my whole life it's been a constant uphill battle and everything has been a total flop.

I would ask you to define for yourself what "success" is...  You did just turn 29... you may want to write out some kind of plan about where/what you would like to be doing when you are 39...  Has everything really been a flop?  You did get your education!  You do really seem to excel at your dancing!!  You did get to parachute!!!  I would argue that for your age, you have been able to do a lot more than most people!!!!

I just got a new job in a law firm. It's entry level, when I have the educational background for a more senior position, but this is a start.

After you accept an entry level position with a company, guess what you get afterwards?  Experience... great experience... something that most firms will expect of you when you want to move higher into the existing company or go to work at another firm!!  Take advantage of any workshops or continuing education courses that your employer might offer you...  Do you have a resume?  One that you really like?? If so, is it up to date???  Try to find work-related experiences to add to it... be sure to add anything that might fall under the category of 'Community Service'...  These are the things you can do now... to take advantage of the 'next opportunity' that comes along...

As for my love life, I have never really had a relationship where I was in love. Everything has been a constant uphill battle and men are mean and heartless for the most part, or at least for what I've known. Everything has pretty much blown up in my face.

I'm afraid I can't offer much help here... I've written before about relationships where I don't think the feelings are mutually reciprocated... much like that high school thing that some people say, " I love you more than you love me..." more often than not is probably true...  When my marriage turned south on me, I doubted that she loved me... or maybe even that I didn't love her any more...  some of the relationships I've been in since have suffered much the same way... I either loved them more than they loved me, or vice versa...  I've had relationships blow up in my face... I've posted way too much about them...

I just don't want my life to end on this note. I want to know what it feels like to have a wonderful career and what it's like to love someone, since I feel like my life is void of success and love. This can't be it.

I honestly don't think Life is going to end on that note for you...  you are 29... do you know that if you have a great successful 30-year career, you will only be 59... trust me... that is NOT old!!!!!!

Outside of family members, do you think you have ever really loved anyone?  Has there ever been anyone you have been so physically and emotionally drawn to??

I interpret what you are saying to mean that you are hungry... for something more career-wise... and something much more relationship-wise...

Think about where you want to be in 10 years... write it out!! Think about what you want to have relationship-wise... write it out!! And then work on the traits and characteristics of each... 

Life is easier with a plan... Note I didn't say Life is easy... just easier...

I know many people that would trade places with you...

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I did a search before hand and found some photos having to do with "tying up loose ends"... I don't want to not use them...

C'mere, baby... let me help you with that... 

S&M Barbie...

Damn... I do NOT remember this particular Ken and Barbie outfit...

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I do think that winds up the loose ends that I had promised I would address...

I trust I didn't bore you to tears...

~shoes~