Back and Relaxed! Now, delurk..........

Hola! I'm back from my little trip and am feeling oh-so-relaxed.

I mean, really? How could you NOT be relaxed?



Here's hoping I keep this feeling for more than five minutes.

I'll have to do some recaps (as well as finish recaps from the past..... er..... three months), but I don't have time, now. The next two weeks will be busy with my siblings' high school graduations and such activities.

I'll try to work on it, though.

Until then..........

I want you all to delurk.

Yeah, you.

I have 115 followers. While I'm grateful for all of you, I don't know all of you. So, tell me a little about yourself, please.

1) What's your name?

2) Age?

3) Occupation?

4) What's your favorite thing about summer?

5) Link to your blog?

To add to this, I'll add a little Q&A......

6) What's something you've been wondering about me? Anything at all?

Passport Update

HALLELUJAH!!!!!

Late yesterday afternoon, I received a call.

Actually, my house received a call and my mother answered.

Let it be said that this is one of those specific instances in which it's awesome to still live with your parents.

Anyway.......

She told the Passport Lady the entire story.

Then, she three-way called me and I spoke with the Passport Lady.

Passport Lady said that I was supposed to get a refund, since I cancelled the card. However, if I'd waive the refund, she would make sure to finish processing my passport and would overnight it.

Sold. I'll take it.

To be perfectly honest, I wasn't quite sure I believed her.

However, my brand-spankin-new passport arrived at my door, today!!!

Thank you, Lord!

The Passport Lady also gave me a couple of titles (ie, Customer Service Manager) to write a letter. She agreed with me that THEIR neglect in their application instructions caused this whole mess.

So, once I get back from my 3-day cruise, I will be sending some strongly worded letters.

The story of why I may not get to go on a cruise....

So, I mentioned last night that I may not go on my cruise, this weekend.

Here's why...............

My passport expired in mid-April. So, I went to renew it.

The last week of March (8 weeks prior to travel), I sent off all of my documentation to renew it. Only this time, I ordered a Passport Card, along with the Passport Book.

The Passport Card is relatively new. It is like a driver's license (ie, easily carried) and has some restrictions. You can travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Carribean via land or boat with it. So, as I'm going on a cruise, it would be perfect. Note: You HAVE to have the Book. The Card is optional.

I went to the Post Office to mail off my documentation. Again, last week of March. I even included my cell number and my email address, so I could "receive up to date information regarding my application."

April 12 - They take my payment.

Sometime mid-April - My friend who sent off for hers the week before me, received hers.

Late April - I wonder where my Passport is because my friend had hers weeks ago.

May 10 - I receive a letter in the mail.... regular mail, mind you..... that was mailed out on May 6th stating that there is a character limit on a Passprt Card and my name is too long. I could either change my name on both or just cancel the card. I call Passport Services. She confirms my declaration that there was NEVER any indication on the application and/or instructions that there is a character limit for a Passport Card. As in, I never would have ordered it if I'd known my name was too long.

May 11 - I overnight the letter (that HAD to be mailed out...... I couldn't do it via phone or internet) back to the National Passport Agency, cancelling the Passport Card. I just want the Book with my full and correct name on it.

May 13 - I call Passport Services and receive confirmation that they received the letter on May 12. My passport is back to being processed. The nice man I spoke with assured me that it shouldn't be a problem to have my Passport by my travel date (May 27).

Fast-forward to today.............

I've spoken to SEVEN people at Passport Services in the past two weeks, including an hour ago. My passport is "still being processed."

They can't tell me when it will be ready and sent to me.

They don't know how long it will take to finish.

They don't know what the hold up is.

They can't explain to me why it took them A FULL MONTH to tell me my name is too long.

They honestly don't know if I'll have my passport in time for travel.

They are going to have someone call me "within 48 hours" to discuss this and see about getting my passport to me in time.

Only 48 hours from now is 48 hours from when I'm supposed to be sailing off on a cruise ship.

I honestly don't know what to do, at this point.

All I know......... and, I'm not trying to sound dramatic........ is that this 3 day cruise with a couple of my girlfriends is the ONLY thing that got me through the past two months of work. Knowing that I'd have 3 full days without cell phone or internet or anyone calling me about inane things........ has literally saved my sanity.

I'm to the point of actually making plans for this weekend, so that I'll have a back-up to keep me occupied in case I can't sail.

500th Post: A Mish-Mash

This is my 500th Post. To be perfectly honest, part of the reason I haven't posted in three weeks is because I had 500th Post Anxiety.

What to write about? Should I do a giveaway? Should it be super special?

Seriously, I worried about this. Then, I decided not to care.

So, I'm doing a really, really long bit of a mish-mash...... kind of a "What has Jess been up to in the past 3 weeks?" ...............

One of my close friends just got engaged, tonight. She even called me before she posted it on Facebook, which tells you how close we are, lol. I'm SO, SO, SO, SO happy for her. And, a little bit sad for myself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Speaking of my non-existent love life........ things with TG are literally back to where they were before the letter. We've had two super long phone calls in the past several weeks. We text, email, and FB chat. He tells me stuff I'm pretty sure he's not telling anyone else.

Still a bit confused.

A lot better, emotionally, though. When he wants me around, I'm around. When he doesn't, I leave him alone. And, other than times like tonight when I'm feeling sorry for myself while still being happy for my friend, I'm actually pretty fine with the way things are. I wish they were different, but they aren't and I'm kind of just used to it. I might go more in detail later, but for now.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More about my non-existent love life....... Fun Distraction and I are back on our merry-go-round. I doubt anything will actually ever happen, but we like the dance, apparently.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My brother is finished with his high school classes. He just has to go on his Senior Trip and then Graduate.

This. Is. INSANE. To. Me.

How did he get so old?

How did I get so old?

He and my step-sister are getting ready to go off to college.

How in the world is all of this happening?

Last night, we went to a baseball game with a group of my coworkers and I wore a hat for about 5 seconds.......

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I have children, I want them to be as cute as this. Mmmmkay? Thanks.

Yes, those are my gym shoes.....

Yep, my shoes, again, lol......

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Good news!

I tried on my bridesmaid dress last night, for the first time since I started WW.

I can breath, now. Whew!

I still have a month to try to make it so it's not so snug.

But, the breathing part is a huge relief.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Speaking of WW, I've lost 7lbs. A little slow, but it's coming off.

When I got measured a week ago Friday, I'd lost several inches in various places.

As long as it's coming off, I'm good.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Also, speaking of WW.....

For the first time in my life, I can fit into Victoria's Secret bras.

Talk about a Non-Scale Victory.

Not a Wallet Victory, mind you.

I need a strapless bra for the bridesmaid dress. I was telling a friend, who works PT at VS and she convinced me to go in there while she was on shift.

I was also convinced I wouldn't fit into anything.

I was wrong and walked out with 3 bras.

Not a strapless one, but 3 bras.

I'm still pretty sure I wouldn't be able to fit into the majority of the things they sell, but at least I was able to buy something other than their body spray and lotion.

Buying the 3 bras (and still needing a strapless) convinced me to go serious bra-shopping.

I ended up buying 8 more this weekend. I got an absolute steal for them, though. Most should allow for a little more weight loss and a couple are more for when these newer ones are too big.

And, even though I feel slightly guilty about buying 11 bras and spending too much money in my opinion (even with the steal), I try to remind myself that I'm due.

Because it had been a LONG time.

As in, a really, really long time.

No really.

Like 4 years (hides head in shame).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My cousin's husband (and by extension, also my cousin) Mike was in town this past week. He was on a work training.

They have been married 9 years (1/3 of my life.... more insanity), this past week. It took us nine years to get him to Florida and now, he's been twice in three months.

It was so good to see him!! We went out to dinner in Orlando, one night, and another night he came over and we grilled steaks.

I can't wait until they're all here, permanently.

I need to finish recapping their visit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am supposed to go on a cruise, this upcoming weekend.

However, I may not get to go.

To be continued.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And, last, but not least............

the q's.

1. what's your favorite rainy day activity?

Reading a good book...... curling up on the couch and watching a movie..... going to the movies.

2. what time do you go to bed?

Usually between 11 and 12.

I'm a night-owl.

3. how many magazines do you subscribe to?

Zero.

4. did you sell all your belongings because you thought the world was ending yesterday?

Nope, I bought a bunch of bras.

5. what's your beauty obssesion?

It's beginning to be eyeliner and mascara.

6. if you could only wear one designer/brand for the rest of your life...what would it be?

I don't know. Ask me in about 20 lbs, lol.

7. what's your summer must have?

Flip-flops..... Panera's Strawberry Poppyseed with Chicken Salad..... Watermelon...... So You Think You Can Dance....... Big Brother

8. do you make weekly dinner menus?

I do not.

Babies, Buggies, and Sunday Questions........

For those coming from GTKY and Sunday Stealing..... welcome! The meme's are towards the bottom :)

This weekend has been full of interesting adventures!!

Saturday morning, I got up, gussied up, and headed east. See, I had an important party to attend. A special party for a special person.....

That's right!!!!!

Britt!!!

(insert a childish Na-na-na-boo-boo)

Brittany was so sweet and lovely. On her visit to her hometown, she was having a baby shower and was nice enough to invite me. I was so excited to see her again (it's been a year since our Bloggy Weekend).

Her parents' house is so nice and was decorated wonderfully for the occasion. All the yummy food was impossible to resist, lol.

It's an interesting experience when you meet a Bloggy Friend's "real life" friends and family. For one, YOU are known as the "Blogger." I can't tell you how many times I explained that I met Britt through the internet, lol. Then, there are soooo many people that you've never met and don't know about you, but you read all about, everyday. So, you feel like you know them...... but, they know you only slightly better than Adam's Housecat. Once again, I was constantly explaining that I already knew blah, blah, blah because I read about it on Britt's blog or because we've discussed it during our meet-ups, lol.

However, another thing you learn is that as awesome as your Bloggy Friends are..... their "real life" friends and family are just as awesome. Everyone was so nice and friendly! I had looonnngggg conversations with people I'd never met before and probably wouldn't see again. Her very own mother hugged my neck and told me I was welcome to come say Hi anytime I was in the area, lol.

I did get to chat with Britt a bit and, of course, grabbed a picture........... (excuse the lighting).....

Sadly, I had to cut out right as she was opening her presents for her Baby Girl. I had to get to work.

Which brings me to interesting adventure #2..................

I went to a Mud Bog for the very first time in my life.

For those of you who don't know what a Mud Bog is, it's a big pile of mud. Where rednecks go to get really, really dirty.

For those of you who say that Florida isn't a part of the South............. you've obviously never been to my part of the state.

I was born and raised in Central Florida. I have rednecks as family members. I am even what can be considered "Southern."

However, mudding is not something I participate in. I don't like getting dirty. At all.

So, going to the 2nd largest Mud Bog in the state was an eye-opener. We were having an event there. As we were driving in, I saw a woman riding on a Swamp Buggy, breastfeeding her baby.

No words.

I will let the pictures do the rest of the talking. I was like a tourist in a foreign country.

I honestly don't know how they can stand to be so dirty.

Last night was truly an education for me, lol. I can't fully explain it.

My 3rd adventure was....................

Yep! I bought a new car!!!

I've had my Hyundai Accent for almost 10 years. I got it in August 2001.

Despite enduring slight ridicule for driving around "The Go-Kart", I liked my little car.

However, over the past year, I've been having some troubles with it. Just wear and tear. Plus, more recently, it's proven to be a little too small for my needs.

So, after much thought............ trust me, I ponder these things A LOT........ I went to the dealership and got myself a Ford Escape. I already love it :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

the q's.

1. did you watch the royal wedding?

I did!! I watched bits and pieces while I was getting ready for work. Then, Friday night, I watched the whole recording.

It really was amazing :)

2. tea and crumpets or coffee and a scone?

I do love a good scone!

3 who's cuter..prince william or prince harry?

I used to think William, but in the past few years, most definitely Harry.

4. can you speak in a english accent?

Only certain phrases.......... like, "Where you in the boat when the boat tipped over?" Lydia cracks up when I say that, lol.

5. do you own a fancy hat?

Nope

6. would you rather live in a castle or an english cottage?

Castle. I'm all about castles.

7. how old were you when prince charles and princess diana got married? were you even born?

I was not born, yet.

8. have you found your prince?

No, but someday he'll come :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday Stealing

1. If your lover betrayed you, what will your reaction be?

I'm not sure. Probably not a good one.

2. If you can have a dream to come true, what would it be?

I'd meet the man I'm supposed to marry.... marry him.... and, have kids.

3. What is the one thing most hated by you?

Mice

4. What would you do with a billion dollars?

I'd pay off the new car I just bought :)....... Pay of my parents' house........ Buy a house...... Take me family and friends on a massive vacation.......... Gift the church........ Donate a HUGE amount to St Jude

5. Could you fall in love with your best friend?

I already have done that.

6. Which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?

Both.

7. How long do you intend to wait for someone you really love?

Oy vey, is that a loaded question.

8. If the person you secretly like is already attached, what would you do?

Try to get over him...... unsuccessfully.

9. If you'd like to act (movies, stage) with someone, who would it be?

George Clooney

10. What do you expect of your loved one?

To love and respect me back.

11. How would you see yourself in ten years time?

Hopefully, married with kids. And, skinnier.

12. What’s your fear?

That the answer to the above question won't happen.

13. Would you rather be single and rich or married, but poor?

Married, but wise with what little money we had.

14. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

Make my bed. Every single morning.

15. Do you ever hold back in a relationship?

Yeah, unfortunately.

16. If you fell in love with two people simultaneously, how would you pick?

I have no idea. Assuming that they both loved me back and I loved them both equally, I guess I'd go with the man that made the most sense.

17. Would you forgive and forget no matter how horrible a thing that special someone has done?

I don't know. There are some horrible things that I don't know that I could forget or that would let me trust, again.

18. What are your three most important expectations in love?

To be faithful, to be trusting, and to be my partner