Construction Zone of Thoughts

I'm still trying to get back in to my blogging groove...it has been more challenging this time compared to any time before when I've had long absences between posts. I'm sure y'all understand given the circumstances, but I've missed it, and it's actually a very important part of my life! But damn, I just can't seem to organize my thoughts every time I sit down to write...I guess I'm experiencing a writer's construction zone rather than a block. Yeah. That make sense! So, here's what I'll do; I'll try to navigate traffic! I'll share all the different kinds of lanes that are congested and backed up, and maybe at some point we'll get pass this stop and go movement of my thoughts. Are y'all staying with me here? Sheesh I hope so, 'cause I might just be confusing myself haha! Moving on...in no particular order...

Lane 8. Must lose weight.

Lane 1. Driving from Florida to Oklahoma and back again is the worst drive I've ever had to make. I think it would be better if I had someone traveling with me besides my fur baby, Kakashi, but otherwise, I hate it!

Lane 5. I should be updating my resume right now, but I'm blogging instead. I'll do that next.

Lane 11. Fun times in OK!!! New Years Eve Party with the Browns, moonshine shenanigans with Ana and Zach, karaoke at Bison Witches with Amanda, shots and drinks at Red Brick Bar with Beetle, homemade pizza and Cards Against Humanity with my buddies, Pub W with Des, and so much more not captured with photos!

 Lane 2. Worst timing ever: While driving through Dallas, I was feeling emotional leaving Oklahoma and my family support system. The song "The River" by Garth Brooks starts playing on the radio, and I started thinking about my Grandpa because this was one of his favorite songs my sister and I would sing. Then the worst thought occurs, "My grandparents are all gone. I have no grandparents now." Traffic, memories, and grief are a terrible combo...an emotional drain right off the bat on a long ride back to Florida! Sucky suck situation right there.

Lane 7. Lynch's Irish Pub right on the beach just down the road from me...LOVE! Legit Irish owners with Irish bartenders with Irish accents, super cool DJ, live bands, wonderful atmosphere, delicious tradition Irish food...let's just say HEAVEN for this Irish girl here!

Lane 3. An old friend was visiting family in Oklahoma (while I was still there) and met up with some mutual friends. However I wasn't supposed to know about it; read: I was being avoided. I never got a for sure reason why, but the possibility was that there may have been concern of jealousy from said friend's spouse. Check check check...public service announcement from Amy, The Ro Fo Sho, "I don't want your spouses! I have my own, thank you very much! There is no need to feel threatened or insecure about my friendships! I appreciate your consideration...peace out!" Yeah I might sound like a bitch, but that's not my intention...think indifference instead please haha!

Lane 6. I'm very very VERY happy to be back in Florida!!! It's warmer and sunnier here, and I'm grateful for the mood boost the nicer weather gives me. And I'm happy to be able to participate once again in the Iwo Jima's FRG...great support system! AND! So thrilled to have already spent some time with my pal, Elizabeth and tomorrow Karla! I love my Floridian girlfriends oh so much!

Lane 9. Loved the time I go to spend with family and friends in Oklahoma. I have the best friends a person could ask for! Michelle, Nicole, Amanda, Ana, Zach, Bryan, Andrew, Beetle, Zac Attack, Desirae, Jason, Christi, Ryan, Whitney, Angie, Christina, Pam & Ronnie, Laurel, Brenda, Jerry, Curtis, Uncle Bill, Debbie, Carlos, Donna, Daniel, Joyce, Charlie, Clayton, Jolie, Bekah, mama, daddy, and my nephew, Jack...y'all are my beloved Okies and I absolutely adored hearing from you and the time I got to spend with y'all! Loved meeting Amber and Matty too!

 Lane 4. Must find job ASAP!

Lane 10. My nephew became and IHop super fan...it was super awesome and super fun!

Oh my goodness there are so many lanes of traffic I could share...but, as construction zones often cause for travelers, I'm tired and ready to zoom on through this mess! I guess you could say I'm trying to find an alternative route! Thank you all for being patient with me as I continue to swerve between lanes in my attempt to find my way...also thank you for being patient with my abundance of metaphors and similes and other forms of comparisons and such and stuff and I'll shut up now...

I'll be back soon with updates on my depression, deployment tales, current events, rants, football, and much much more! Stay safe in life's construction zones, dear ones!

Hugs and love!
The Ro Fo Sho

Irish Every Day

My new part time job has not helped with my depression like I was hopeful it would. The place is understaffed and the expectations for the associates are unreasonable with the lack of coverage...therefore, I feel extremely stressed every time I work. I've come home crying on multiple occasions...

However, I feel like I wouldn't be having such a difficult time handling the stress if I wasn't dealing with clinical depression. At this point, though, it is what it is. My husband has been very supportive, thankfully! He may not understand it, but he knows how to comfort me...and surprise me!



Back story time! March 17, 2010, I woke up with the unbearable pain of a kidney stone. I knew what it was because it was my second experience...the first time I thought I was dying. So, I still felt like I was dying, but at least I knew what it was. My St. Patrick's Day was ruined...I went in to the hospital that morning and had surgery the next evening. My friends brought me balloons and flowers...my best bud brought me the commemorative mug that O'Connell's sells every year. And, Tom sat next to my hospital bed until I slept...

After my recovery and removal of the stint and end of antibiotics, Tom surprised me with a make up St. Patty's Day celebration. He called all of our friends and had them meet at O'Connell's Irish Pub with St. Pat's decorations, green beads, and even an Irish Princess tiara for me...I was legit surprised and so very very touched. He understood how much I love the holiday...how every year I would try and take the day and day after off, so I could drink green beer, hang with good friends, and listen to awesome live music all day. My friend, Michelle, and Tom put together a really great party for me to have a belated celebration, and it was as good and even better than every year before!

The week leading to this year's St. Patrick's Day was hard because of the stress and depression I was feeling from work. I couldn't even get excited about it! I knew we wouldn't be able to even enjoy the day because Tom and I both had to work the following Monday...so we planned on having friends over Saturday night. I came home from work on Friday crying, and I went to work the next morning feeling sick and awful. I text Tom at lunch that I was going to try and come home early...I was feeling too sick and down to even think about having people over that night. Lucky for me, work let me leave early...





Tom once again surprised me with plans he made for our party! I walked through the door to a decorated home complete with balloons and shamrock cookies...even a lighted shamrock in the window. He had my favorite flowers, daisies, for me as well as green beads. And he tidied up the place too!!! Swoon! He lifted my spirits with his thoughtfulness and attention. I took some medicine and a long nap, so when I woke, I was ready to celebrate with our friends. We drank green beer and green whiskey, and we played cards and listened to music...lots of laughter and smiles :) I am so grateful for this husband of mine...

  
 



It's not just a silly holiday...Tom knows how much I love my Irish ancestry...going to Ireland is one of my biggest dreams! My sweet husband has Irish ancestry as well! So we're not just Irish for a day...we're Irish every day...and we have year round decor to prove it! While Tom was deployed, he made a really cool purchase for us...the crests and origins of our family names...


 

They're above the fireplace right now, but I don't feel like they get enough light there, so I will be moving them. But, they are by far 3 of my very favorite things on our walls! They were a wonderful gift from my husband and now a daily reminder of his thoughtfulness and care he gives me all the time and especially with surprises like this St. Patrick's Day celebration.