When I Roll Into the ...When I Stroll Into the...When I Bounce into...the Wild Wild West!

Big news folks, big. HUGE!

I got a job.

And the crowd goes wild!

It's in Arizona

And a hush falls over the crowd.

Yup...I'm packing my bags and heading out West, back to my college town (kinda...going to Phoenix, went to school in Tempe, just outside Phoenix.)

I'm taking a gig with an issue-based campaign as their Communications Director. This will give me fantastic statewide press experience, and hopefully help me get a campaign job when the 2010 Congressional races start up in the spring/summer.

If you remember from my Tweets, I mentioned that I got cold called by a company because I put my resume up on a political website...well 2 interviews and a lengthy reference check process later, they are the organization who hired me!

Oh yea...did I mention I'll be leaving in about 2 weeks? Yea...awesome.

If you've been following my Tweets, you'll also know that I've had just the WORST luck trying to get a new apartment here in DC...and now I'm thinking that all those rejections (and believe you me...there were a TON!) were for a reason - I was meant to take this job. (This also make me feel better about myself, so I don't think that people just didn't want to rent to me/live with me.)

I am bittersweet about the entire thing...I am going to miss my DC friends dearly (especially my bloggy friends - and especially especially this gal who is moving to my neighborhood as we speak!) and then there of course is the whole Florida issue.

Long story short with Florida: not sure what is going to happen. He's known from the very beginning that I haven't wanted anything serious...so we'll see. After the Badger debacle I'm totally against being in another long-distance relationship.

So if I don't write for a few weeks, know that I still love you all very much and I am just busily packing up my apartment, finding places to store everything, buying a car (no public transportation in Phoenix!), moving across the country (again...), finding a place to live, and oh yea - starting a brand new job.

I guess I'll have to change my header to "Thoughts on life and love in our State Capital city!" haha!

I hope you all have a fantastic rest of the week - thankfully I took the rest of the week off work (my lease was supposed to end July 31 and I knew I'd need the last final days to pack because I might possibly be the worst worst procrastinator EVER) so I'll be starting to pack and go through things and do a ton of research on my new job!

Cheers,



PS - If you happen to have a spare room in your place in the Phoenix area (and you know who you are...) and want a clean-ish roomie, let me know! :)

Why Tequila and Champagne are my BFFs...or why National Airport, Midwest Airlines, Alamo Rental Cars, and yes, even NASCAR, are on my bad side...

NOTE: This post was supposed to be done yesterday, but I needed some booze a day to decompress. So here it is, a day late (and 400 dollars short.)

Today, I flew to Milwaukee for a friend's wedding.

But, as with nearly all my air travel, it did not go without complications.

After staying up waaaaaay to late on Wednesday night playing on the blog and avoiding packing, I woke up at 9:00 a.m. to pack for my 2:00 p.m. flight out of National. Read: tired and cranky.

Side note: DC has 2 airports: Reagan National, just outside the city, and Dulles, about 45 minutes away (without traffic.)

Eventually I packed and showered and got ready to go to the airport. Florida took leave today so he could drive me - ain't he sweet? We decided that since he was off today we would use the day off to also get his new parking permit so he didn't keep getting parking tickets every night.

Florida drops me of at the airport and heads off to meet with my leasing agent to get the required proof of residency form that my agent said he would fill out for Florida.

I meanwhile check-in at Midwest and am informed that my flight is 15 minutes delayed.

15 minutes? No sweat!

I cruise through security (cutting my bare footsie on a shard of glass in the process...) and find a seat at my gate, get settled and comfy, and start reading Something Blue (FAB!)

A bit later I realize I haven't heard any announcement from the gate regarding the delay - which was now much more than 15 minutes late. But what I do hear is the gentleman sitting across from me talking to his neighbor, saying that the plane was at Dulles.

Dulles.

The other DC airport.

I am absolutely incredulous at this proclamation, so I decide I must head to the counter to verify for myself - because there had still not been any announcement from the gate.

Yup - plane at Dulles (DULLES!)

Nope - they have no idea when it is arriving at National.

Dejected, I return to my seat and decide a call to Mama Bea was in order. Yea, because she always cheers me up...

50 minutes later, Mama Bea and I hang up because my cell battery is somehow dying - still no info on when our plane is arriving, nor any official announcement from the gate.

I get a text from Florida:

Sorry to bug you while you're on the phone with Mama Bea, but you have to fill out the form so I need to wait until you get back to go to the DMV.

Wait - what??

Leasing agent SPECIFICALLY said that HE (leasing agent) would fill out the form and notarize it as he is a notary public (I think it what it's called.) And now he says that I have to fill it out?

So of course, I call the leasing agent and leave a very terse message: I am at the airport getting ready to board my plane (lie) and you need to call me back immediately to resolve this issue as you said you needed to fill out the form and notarize it.

Leasing agent calls back and informs me that no, my information (gotten from him!) was wrong and I actually had to fill the form out, sorry! (HATE my leasing agent.)

I call Florida back and just say - fill out the form with my info and sign it. I am not waiting to deal with this on Monday, and he needs the permit TODAY.

Oh, and still no announcement from the gate.

30 minutes later, Florida sends me this text:

I need a copy of your license before I can get the permit. And a copy of the lease with your name on it.

I swear I about lost it and replied with:

If ONE MORE THING goes wrong today I am going to SCREAM!

My plane is now 3 hours delayed (and was supposed to be touching down in Milwaukee and my magical plane was at the WRONG AIRPORT!) and Florida can't get the permit that we need today so he doesn't get any more tickets...I was about to lose it.

I finally hear an announcement that we are boarding (hmm, no one ever announced that our plane had arrived, but sweet!) I push through the line because I am in Row 9 and that is what the are boarding, and hand the agent my boarding pass.

She tells me I need to go to the next gate.

Huh??

Apparently they have CHANGED GATES. Awesome. Several people around me also then go to the "correct" gate, where they are boarding as well.

The idiotic boarding agent (who at this point is being so incredibly rude it was unbelievable. Lady - if you make an announcement, people won't individually come up to you every 5 minutes to find out what's going on. Not hard...) rudely takes my ticket while saying (not over the loudspeaker) that this is the final boarding call for our flight. What an idiot. No one can hear you! No one is here to board!

FINALLY on the plane I start to stress about getting a rental car when I land in Milwaukee. Yes I should have reserved online but frankly I was only home for one day and had to work most of it and then ran errands the rest of it and it slipped my mind. Sue me.

There is a fresh wad of gum on the floor directly in front of my seat - right where my feet or purse would go. Awesome.

Trying to ignore the horrible children sitting in the row in front of me shaking their seat so much that I literally couldn't read my book that was sitting on the tray table (and trying with all my might to not 1) yell at them/their mother, 2) punch the back of their seat to get them to stop) I looked at the drink menu.

I do not drink (on planes.)

I hate to fly, and I learned early in my aviation career that Bea + plane booze = a vocally terrified, neurotic, paranoid Bea. Not good.

But Jack Daniels looked mighty, mighty good to me right then.

Luckily for me and my still-full wallet, bu the time they came around (much too late in the flight, in my opinion) I just got a Diet Dr. Pepper and waited patiently for the baked on board chocolate chip cookies (pretty much the only reason I fly Midwest.)

Once I had cookies in my tummy, things started getting better. I finished Something Blue (the book I STARTED at the airport!) and set about playing with my ipod and doing the crossword.

Pretty quickly, we landed. Sweet Lord, I am finally in Milwaukee.

I get my bag (2 rows behind me in the overhead bin...a total plane pet peeve of mine. Don't put your laptop/purse/coat in the overhead bin!) and take off to the rental car area.

Now, I just rented a car in Florida last weekend through Budget, and I have a coupon for a free weekend day rental, yay! I also have a coupon for $15.00 off through Alamo, double yay!

I decide to forgo the line at Budget and go next door to Alamo...where I am promptly told I cannot use my coupon because I don't have a reservation. Who cares if I made a reservation!

I huff off to wait in line at Budget. After waiting a few minutes, I realize that their sign saying Cars Available wasn't to be seen. I hear an agent on the phone with a customer saying something about NASCAR being in town...and I start to panic (It's not even real NASCAR - it's Busch Series...like the minor leagues of racing. Stupid stupid Busch Series!)

I look at my Budget coupon - also needed advance reservation.

Shit. Now what?

I saunter back over to Alamo with my tail between my legs, and request a car (their Cars Available sign was up.)

My cost (without any additional coverage or anything): $400.

$400!

For the exact same car I rented in Florida last weekend for under $100.

WTF?

I grimace and realize I don't have a choice, and fork over my debit card.

The agent, Nancy, asks for the printout of my return flight.

HUH? Yea...I don't have that.

She (not terribly) politely informs me that without proof of a return flight I can't use my debit card. SO stupid.

I ask her how I was expected to go about getting her a printout of my return flight. She responds that I needed to go the Midwest ticketing area and have one of them print out my return flight information.

Yea...right. That ain't happening. I just spent over 3 hours dealing with awful Midwest people...am NOT going to deal with another.

I very angrily throw my credit card at her (yes I know I am not being mature but I was PISSED!) and she informs me that my card says it was not authorized to be used.

You have GOT to be kidding me!

I yank back my card and dial the stupid credit card company to raise hell because I already activated this new card! There is no reason this shouldn't be working.

Meanwhile Alamo Nancy has called for backup, and one idiot boy has decided that talking to me while I am CLEARLY on the phone with the credit card company is a wise idea. He informs me that if my card was declined they can't run it again for 24 hours.

Shiiiiit.

I tell him that my card wasn't declined - it wasn't authorized, and that they would be running it again as soon as I was off the phone (take THAT Alamo Nancy and friends!)

Sure enough, 5 short minutes later, $400 was dumped onto my newly-reactivated credit card and I was angrily storming out to get my stupid car.

Ironically, the car is bright red, and I was red with anger.

Finally I get to my friend's house and we head off to dinner where we are approached by 2 ladies bearing Jose Cuervo Platino tequila shots. Yes, please! (PS what is it with me and tequila lately? I HATE tequila! But recently it has been soo good!) It is apparently a very exclusive tequila...but I'll tell you exactly what it tastes like:

Regular Tequila + water = Platino.

I told the girls this...they didn't look happy. But it was terrible - and my tablemates all agreed with my assessment. Sorry tequila girls, your shit sucks. Not my fault.

(Not to say I wouldn't have taken another shot has they given me more free booze...)

Next I decided to order the cava, but they were out, so they subbed in some very yummy champagne, which I downed elegantly sipped a few glasses one glass of.

Finally the wave of booze calm washed over me and I sunk back in my seat and remembered how much I love being in Milwaukee!

So today, I am feeling much better (save for the minor headache) and am looking forward to tonight's wedding - even if it is cold and rainy and the wedding is outdoors...

I'm sure there is more I am missing, but I need to hop in the shower to get ready for the wedding!

Wishing you all a fantastical weekend and blue, sunny skies!

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

When you see the Southern Cross for the first time...

Still on holiday in the Gulf! I wanted to bring you one of my *fave* Jimmy Buffett songs* in tribute to my own stay in Florida! Be home tomorrow!

Southern Cross

Got out of town on a boat goin' to southern islands.
Sailing a reach before a followin' sea.
She was makin' for the trades on the outside,
And the downhill run to Papeete Bay.

Off the wind on this heading lie the Marquesas.
We got eighty feet of the waterline.
Nicely making way.
In a noisy bar in Avalon I tried to call you.
But on a midnight watch I realized why twice you ran away.

Think about how many times I have fallen,
Spirits are using me, larger voices callin'.
What heaven brought you and me cannot be forgotten.
I have been around the world,
Lookin' for that woman, girl,
Who knows love can endure.
And you know it will. And you know it will.

When you see the Southern Cross for the first time,
You understand now why you came this way.
'Cause the truth you might be runnin' from is so small.
But it's as big as the promise, the promise of a coming day.

So I'm sailing for tomorrow, my dreams are a dyin'.
And my love is an anchor tied to you, tied with a silver chain.
I have my ship and all her flags are a flyin'
She is all that I have left and music is her name.

Think about how many times I have fallen,
Spirits are using me, larger voices callin'.
What heaven brought you and me cannot be forgotten.
I have been around the world,
Lookin' for that woman, girl,
Who knows love can endure.
And you know it will. And you know it will.

So we cheated and we lied and we tested
And we never failed to fail, it was the easiest thing to do.
You will survive being bested.
But somebody fine will come along make me forget about loving you.
At the Southern Cross

*Yes, I know it's not actually a Buffett song - it's a Crosby, Stills, and Nash song. But the first time I heard it live was back at a Buffett concert so I will always think of Jimmy when I hear it. The video is from the 2006 Buffett concert here in the DC area that I was SUPPOSED to go to, but ended up in Wisconsin for the campaign instead.

GUEST POST: Always a Northerner

Because, as you all know, I am off gallivanting the Gulf Coast with Florida, I brought in one of my awesome bloggy-turned-real-life-friend to guest post! Enjoy, and I'll be back soon!

If I set up my email rules correctly, your comments should be emailed to her - so feel free to comment away!

Hey all! I blog over at Always a Northerner and I am filling in for Sweet Bea while she is down in Florida soaking up the sun. I've got a major issue and need your help, so I am just going to jump right in and throw it all out there!

I have a lot of family members that read my blog, including my husband, so sometimes I can't talk about certain things. I have a problem that I would love other bloggers' opinion on, so guest blogging is the perfect way to blog about a dilemma without angering any family members. Right? At least, let's hope.

About a year ago my husband's sister got engaged to the guy she has been dating for a few years. When telling us the big news, she asked my husband and I to be in the wedding. We happily agreed to be attendants and to help with planning as much as possible, as we had just gone through it a few months prior to her engagement. The situation was slightly complicated by the fact that she lives in California and we live in DC, however, we both promised to do as much as we could to help. She informed us that she was planning to have the wedding the Saturday or Sunday of Labor Day weekend, which would work out great because it is easier for us (and the rest of her family) to travel out west for a weekend when an extra day like Labor Day is built in. Because life got crazy for all of us, we never actually communicated about the wedding again, until she contacted us last week with some new information.....

She decided to have a wedding where only 15 people are invited (including us) the THURSDAY before Labor Day and have the reception with family and friends on Sunday. All in California.

Obviously I am aware that it is her wedding and she can do whatever she wants, but seriously.... holy inconvenience.

I am a school psychologist in the public schools, and this is the second week of work for me. Also, this is my first year as a school psychologist, and I can't take off three days the second week of school, particularly on a holiday weekend. Taking time off before or after holidays is heavily frowned upon in general (because ALL school employees would take off then and there would be no one to work with the children), and doing it right after I begin working will look even worse. If this had been communicated to us prior to me accepting my current position, maybe I could have negotiated the days off, but at this point, I have already accepted without any special circumstances being brought to their attention.

Also, my husband will have just started his second year of law school and also shouldn't be missing important classes the first two weeks of school. However, his situation isn't nearly as serious as mine. It's just a tad inconvenient for him.

When she told us this we were honest and told her we would have to discuss our options given work and law school, hoping that she might be understanding if both or one of us (obviously me) couldn't make it for the wedding. Well, she must have told her parents what we said because a couple days later we received an email from my husband's mother telling us our attendance at the wedding is mandatory.

Nice.

I understand that she is family and that ideally we would be there, but doesn't making the wedding on a THURSDAY negate some of the obligation to be there?

I am just scared that I will forever be black listed by the family if I miss the wedding. As for work, I am scared to ask about taking the days off, because if they say no and then I take them as sick leave or something, I could lose my job and/or the chance to gain seniority in my position if I just skip out on work.

What would you do?

~The Northerner

Gone Coastal!

I'm here:

Sanibel Island, Florida
(photo from thesanibelisland.com)

Watching these:

(photo from sanibel-online.com)

Collecting these:

(photo from flickr.com)

Doing this:

(photo from bornesversustravel.com)

(and catching more than this guy:)

Florida

Be back in a few days!

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

PS - like the photo-journey idea for this post? Me too. That's why I blatantly stole it from Wearing Mascara. :)

UNEDITED FLORIDA PIC

(my photo)

;)

What?? You didn't really think I'd show you his FACE on here, did ya?

Oh, you did?

Oh...

Well hmmmm...

Sorry! :)

Cheers,

(a very naughty)
Sweet Bea

PS: Dugout Daisy- this pic is for you :) Enjoy the tattoos!

Buy me these, please!

A few bits and pieces of what I want for my birthday in 2.5 weeks:

1. A *jwj* necklace - preferably Toile or Sadie. Yes I can buy it myself but it is almost my birthday and I want someone else to buy it for me. :) When I was getting the original giveaway post ready, I very, very clearly too Florida to the *jwj* Etsy shop and pointed out incredibly carefully which ones I wanted for my birthday...we shall see if he listened (but I don't think he did, and you'll find out why at the bottom)

2.

L.L. Bean's Boat and Tote Zip-Top Bag, Large with Long Handles, Turquoise Sea.
{$31.00}

3.

J. Crew Critter Wedge Flip-Flops in Navy/White Fleur, size 5.
{$26.50 BUT 20% off when you order two}
(second choice = Grey & Pink Skulls)

4. A Vintage Dallas Cowboys fitted t-shirt. (Can't find any cute ones online just now...but I know they are out there.) Florida, listen up: I DO NOT WANT A JERSEY OR ANYTHING PINK!*

5. Sticky notes from Ashley Brooke Designs. A silly gift because I don't have a job where I use sticky notes...but that matters little to me. She had the idea of drawing me on the sticky notes with irises in my hair - cute, no? :)

Well, I suppose I've been selfish enough for this post, haven't I? My birthday is kinda a big deal (to me) and I expect everyone to fully relish in the fact that I was born 28 years + 347 days ago.

::GASP! That's right, I'll be turning 29!!::

This had better be a FAB birthday because it just might be the last one I celebrate!

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

* Guess what Florida got me for my birthday? After I specifically told him before he ordered my gifts that I did NOT want a jersey because I want to be able to wear the shirt on non-game days? A JERSEY. Boys. Do. NOT. Listen.**

**Am I being harsh and mean, and shouldn't I be thankful I have an amazing boyfriend who even bought me a birthday present? Yes, I should. I know this. But at the same time, when I specifically tell you something that I DON'T want, and when you are ordering the gift next to me and saying "I don't think you'll like this..." shouldn't that be a sign that it's perhaps not the right thing to get??

Will You Marry Me?

Dear Florida,

Can we please get married this summer? I would like this to be present at my wedding:

J.Crew's 'Sophia' Dress in Silk Chiffon

in this color for the MOH (because she has the most AMAZING blue eyes):

and in this color for the rest of the girls (because green is my fave color, obvi!):

and perhaps someone in this color too (or maybe just for me to wear!):

Thank you very much, honey.

Love,

Sweet Bea

PS: There is still time to enter my GIVEAWAY! Click here for all the details! It's super easy and a PERFECT item for the summer!! :)

Memorial Day

I tried to post this earlier today, but Florida fell asleep on my shoulder (big shock, I know,) and then my interwebs conked out...so I took a nap. But better late than never!

The U.S. Air Force (Wild Blue Yonder)

Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun!
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one hell of a roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame.
Nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force!

Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder,
Sent it high into the blue;
Hands of men blasted the world asunder;
How they lived God only knew! (God only knew!)
Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer
Gave us wings, ever to soar!
With scouts before and bombers galore.
Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!

Here's a toast to the host
Of those who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send a message of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down we roar to score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast, the U.S. Air Force!

Off we go into the wild sky yonder,
Keep the wings level and true;
If you'd live to be a grey-haired wonder
Keep the nose out of the blue!
Flying men, guarding the nation's border,
We'll be there, followed by more!
In echelon we carry on.

Nothing will stop the U.S. Air Force!

And because this will give you a glimpse at what a goofball my Airman really is:


Remember to stop and say thanks to all who serve - men and women alike - on this Memorial Day, and everyday. They are the ones whose service makes us able to enjoy the freedoms we have - including the freedom to blog.

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

PS - did you remember to enter my very first GIVEAWAY? No? Hmm, well click here to read all about it and enter!

Badger? I don't need no stinkin' Badger...

...not when I've got this guy on my arm:


You'll have to trust me that he looks a LOT hotter when his face isn't all blurred out :) I must also admit that I looked very nice last night myself - my skin wasn't acting up too bad (nothing that 5 poundsa little of cover-up couldn't hide, at least) and I had dark smoky eyes and pale glossy lips. My hair looked pretty fab too - I have thick curly hair naturally (don't believe me, eh?? It's true!) and since it was rainy I knew straightening it was going to be out of the question. So, I curled it, poofed up the front part (my face is round so I need the height!) and pulled the rest back into a ponytail that I pinned up. And then sprayed the crap out of misted ever so gently with super soft hold hairspray.

Needless to say, I got tons of compliments on my outfit and look both at the dinner and the BBQ...it actually became a little uncomfortable after a while...but it was nice to be seen as a girl instead of just one of the guys for a change, ya know? (Didn't hurt that I overheard several people talking to Badger and around him about how good I looked. Suck on that, Badg!)

Am I being perhaps a bit immature? Of course. But I don't care. He needs to realize what he threw away. And I'm MORE than happy to remind him.

The best part of the evening - and the part I was most concerned about beforehand - was how the people who are our (Badger and my) friends would react to having all 3 of us in the same place. They all love Florida and he's one of those guys who chats with anyone and ends up having the most random conversations with whomever he meets...not at all clingy. But the birthday twins, who were hosting the BBQ, are also some of Badger's closest friends and former roommates...so I was very worried that they wouldn't be as warm to Florida as they usually are, because Badger was there. (Does that make sense? It does in my head...but I'm not sure if I'm expressing it correctly.) But my worries were for naught - they didn't treat him any differently at all, which was great.

Anywho, unfortunately Florida is leaving for Salt Lake City tomorrow morning to advance a Drill Team trip there for a few days, so I'll be all alone. Tear. Luckily, softball season starts on Monday and we had a scrimmage against another Hill League team and beat them 24-1...so I'm hoping this is the year the Natty Boh's make the tournament!! :)

Happy Saturday evening to you all, sweet friends - and thank you for the kind words about Badger and not making me feel bad for needing to be vain for a bit. I appreciate it, and ya'll!

Cheers!

Sweet Bea

PS - did anyone watch the Derby??? What a crazy awesome finish! Mama Bea and I watch the Derby together every year, via phone...but she didn't get home in time from a First Communion to watch with me...boo. It's only the 2nd year we've not watched it "together." Our dream is to go to the Derby one year...alas.

The Badger returns...again

Awesome.

Roommate's boyfriend and his twin are having a birthday bbq tomorrow night.

Badger will be there.

Florida and I are planning on attending - coming right from a formal Air Force dinner...aka he'll be in uniform and I'll be in floor length dress (the dress I bought over a year ago to wear to an Inaugural Ball...but since I was the ONLY GIRL IN DC WHO DIDN'T GET TO GO TO ONE it will make it's debut tomorrow evening.)

I'm totally freaking out.

I was going to do a post with pictures and stories about how awesome Florida is...but now I can't get the impending disaster that is the bbq out of my head.

Isn't this silly? Florida is amazingly wonderful and adores me (and I adore him!) but at the same time I know how I absolutely fell apart last time Badger was in town and I had to deal with him...it was not classy, mature, or pretty. I cried for a week straight.

I know that He doesn't give us things we cannot handle...but I'm starting to wonder if He thinks I'm a whole lot stronger than I really am...

(PS I'm not a religious person per se...so you won't get many religious-leaning posts from me. But I do find comfort in a verse from Philippians - I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. It's either 4:13 or 3:14...both are great verses but I can never remember which is which.)

To make me feel better, here are some photos of irises from my 'hood I took on Tuesday evening. Shout out to my amazing photo assistant, Florida, who not only held me steady as I balanced on a rock wall to get some shots, he also pulled other plants out of my way. :) For like an hour. He's a good, good, man. :)




Cheers!

Sweet Bea

Florida vs. Florida...or how I learned not to let my boyfriend handle our travel plans (and other stories from the day)

I apologize in advance for any typographical errors in this post...I'm trying to type but Florida has once again taken residence on my right shoulder and I am forced to type with just my left hand...sigh. I suppose it's a small price to pay to have my yummy man snuggled up next to me...but it sure does make blogging hard!

Today I had to fight with my leasing company because they didn't cash my rent check for 20 days and then charged me a $50 late fee. They held my check because I am not on the lease (THEY said I didn't need to be, back in December!) and are complete idiots when it comes to managing the account. It is seriously ridiculous.

They were slightly more willing to actually be helpful this time I think because I had come from lunch at the Mexican restaurant with Dennis the Menace and drank margaritas while soaking up the crazy warm DC sun on the patio. And then walked 13 blocks in the heat to get to the leasing company (God forbid they actually have the site in a Metro-accessible area...) I was probably sweating tequila once I finally got there, HA! Oh well.

After dealing with the idiots lovely people who run my building (and of course putting in the requisite daytime drunk dials to Florida, my bestie from college KJ, and of course, my mom - who had to leave her class to take my call, HA!) I returned home to try and clean my apartment. After the Roommate tried to blame the funk in our apartment on our chipolte shrimp from the last post (even though it clearly smelled in there BEFORE we cooked) I decided that one of us needed to clean the apartment...and since she still treats me like the maid (even though I now work more than she does!) I figured the only person to clean would be me. As usual.

Then Florida came over and we booked our trip to Florida the State! :) Sanibel Island, here we come!

He was on the phone with the hotel we are staying at booking the cottage when Bestie called to tell me her dad was in town. I absolutely LOVE her dad so of course I started chatting away with her and stopped listening to Florida book the reservation. I was surprised that he was able to get us a beachfront cottage since I had called earlier in the day and wasn't able to get one right on the beach...but I thought nothing of it.

Until I got off the phone with Bestie.

I popped over to where he was and started listening to his convo with the booking agent, who was on speakerphone.

She confirmed his credit card number and everything, and then started to give us the details of the cancellation policy. "Since you are nearly within 15 days of arrival, blah blah blah..."

Wait - nearly within 15 days of arrival?? We aren't going until June!

So I hop onto the convo and cut off the very nice woman and say - what days do you have the reservation for?? "May 13-16," she replies.

Florida then instantly realizes what he did wrong. We are going in JUNE...not MAY!

MEN!

We all got a good laugh and unfortunately the beachfront cottage is booked up in June when, you know, we are actually going to be in Florida...but oh well.

My day concluded with a stop at Jacob's Coffee Shop to get smoothies, a wander over to where my poor car has been parked for about 4 months to check when the registration expires (May of NEXT year - yay me for getting 2-year registration and zone parking permit last year!) and then a tour of my Capitol Hill neighborhood looking for irises to photograph (pics to come soon - got some great ones before my battery died.)

Before we knew it, we were jaunting down Bestie's street and just about to walk past her place when out walk she and her boyfriend gK. Yay!! They had an errand to run but we all met up for late night dinner at Union Pub near our houses. Bestie and I are still sad that they did away with the Wedge salad though. :(

Well sweet friends, Florida just woke up and has shifted positions, but not before giving me a big kiss and telling me what I beautiful smile I have (I was smiling because I was here with ya'll chatting about him and I was trying to hide my screen!) so I guess it's time to hit the hay.

Wishing you a wonderful Tuesday evening (even though it is now Wednesday morning here on the East Coast) and a fantastic rest of the week. Hopefully the weather is as glorious for ya'll as it is over here - the breeze blowing through my open windows is absolutely heaven right now.

Cheers!

Sweet Bea

There is no moral to this story at all...

...and everything I tell you very well could be a lie...

(It's not - but it's a line from a FANTASTIC Peacemakers song, Nada, that is in my head and I needed a title for this hodgepodge post!)

The already-too-short weekends are even shorter when you have to work on Sundays...what a drag! :(

Friday I had the day shift but Florida came and picked me up at 7 or so and we headed back to my place for happy hour with BP and his girlfriend, another friend from college BA and his fiancee. BP, his girlfriend, and I are very close - the 3 of us do lots together and it's never awkward. And when one or the other is out of town, then I play with whomever is left - I'm an equal opportunity friend I guess.

But BA's fiancee is another story. I've only met her a few times...and it is literally like pulling teeth.

The first time I "met" her we were all at a bar watching the ASU vs. U of Arizona football game. Game sucked, but BP's girlfriend (really need to get her a nickname!) and I had a blast talking to people from the Santa Bar Crawl that invaded our tiny bar. BP and BA were watching the game and chatting...but BA's fiancee had her friends in town and refused to even speak to us girls. In fact, when BA tried to introduce her to me, she was all "Umm, I'm taking a picture?" completely rudely and sarcastically.

She was, in short, awful.

She's also gone around to some of our college friends and bad-mouthed BP's girlfriend as being "high-maintenance," which can be true sometimes, but rarely and there is no way that the fiancee would have ever experienced it. I rarely have and I'm with them all the time.

The next time i met the fiancee was at a wine and cheese party at their condo and she didn't even acknowledge that I had walked in (with BP and girlfriend) until I was chatting with her fiancee (who I've known for going on 9 years now) and then she butted right in and proceeded to try and make out with him in the middle of our conversation. Yuck.

So, needless to say, I was hesitant to accept BP and girlfriend's happyy hour invite since BA and fiancee were going to be there...but I hadn't seen BP since they returned from Europe and sitting outside having a beer sounded lovely, so I dragged Florida and off we went.

Well, to our shared surprise, the fiancee - once she warmed up (didn't even say hi to me and barely said hi to Florida, who she had never met) she was actually pleasant to be around - what a refreshing change! So the happy hour was actually lovely and we all had a good time and good food.

After happy hour, Florida and I headed off to an impromptu bbq at Roommate's boyfriend's house down the street from where I and the BP's live. Florida immediately got into deep conversations about Air Force funding and so I was wandering around chatting with random folks when I had a blast from my recent past: my Chief of Staff for the campaign I was on made an appearance.

I hadn't seen her since Election Day and it was not the most pleasant way to leave our relationship. But, she gave me a big hug and congratulated me on a job that she heard I had just gotten (which, sigh, was the result of false information...I didn't get the job and had just found out a few hours before) and chatted about the really messed up situation from this post. See, she left right after the campaign to go run another office. Apparently, the agreed upon plan was that if the Communications Director was leaving right after the election, I was supposed to take over once I got back to DC. If he wasn't going to leave for 6 months or so, then the Deputy (who is also now her boyfriend) was supposed to take over. Needless to say, we both got screwed. But she offered her services to try and send out my resume to as many places as possible, which was so great and will be really helpful. All in all, a great night!

Saturday was fantastic too - so incredibly toasty warm! Florida and I lounged around like bums all day and then finally got out act together and met The Northerner and her hubby for drinks up in Dupont. Unfortunately, the schizophrenic DC weather made us run inside partway through drinks and dinner, but we still had fun. This was the first time Florida met anyone from my blog world...he was really nervous - it was so cute! :) But we had a blast and finally went home to crash since we both had to work on Sunday (boo.)

After work Florida picked me up and we headed back to Bolling to drop off his friend who he brought with him and came back to my place to cook chipolte shrimp and eat/watch Forgetting Sarah Marshall on my rooftop deck. Unfortunately, my deck is stupidly small for the size of the building, and the people out there wouldn't take their feet off the chairs so we could sit down...so we carried everything back down to camp out in my room (since my roommate was watching a movie on the couch and it was apparently she wasn't going to move for us.) Unfortunately, my stupid laptop won't let me play the DVD and, as usual, as I was trying to figure out what was wrong, Florida fell asleep on my shoulder. I almost got up to take a pic of him snoozing for the blog because he is so cute when he sleeps (hell, he's so cute anytime!) but i couldn't remember where the cord for my camera is so I gave up that plan pretty quickly. Oh well...maybe another time :)

And now I should be catching the bus to work in 20 minutes or so but here I am, in bed, chatting with all of you. :) Don't you love my priorities????

Wishing you all a comfortably cool Monday (as it is 90 here in our Nation's Capital!)

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

This is going to be a Wearing Mascara-focused post...just so everyone knows. :)

1. WM has switched over to WordPress so make sure you updated your Google Reader or your list of blogs you follow...otherwise you won't be able to keep up! ALSO - you should check out her current post about blog plagiarism. It's pretty messed up (plagiarism, not her post, obvi!) and she offers tools to help protect your blog from a similar attack. I pity the fool who tried to plagiarize my words...mainly because who the heck would want to! :)

2. I have a cold. This is not WM focused, obvi, but I wanted to break up the theme a bit. I work in food service right now...having a cold is not only sucky, but kinda gross. If you come visit me I will not breathe on you or your food service products. :)

3. I am itchy. I have a scant sunburn/tan from Saturday's glorious weather and spending the day either at Jacob's Coffee around the corner from my house having breakfast with out-of-town friends, at Bagels and Baguettes meeting up with Bestie and her bf, gK, or back at Jacob's drinking sweet tea and doing the crossword with Florida. I literally soaked up the sun this weekend. :)

4. Back to WM. So remember how a while ago she posted a mascara review about Dior's DiorShow Mascara, and how it related to a certain wonderfully naughty man-bit. Well, the other morning during sleep v. 2.0 (I worked Sunday night and stayed at Florida's house for a romantic dinner and movie night...which was great except that we stay at my house during the week because he has to be at work at 7:00 a.m. and since he lives an hour away - versus my 20 minutes - means we are in the car at 5:45 a.m., which means we are up at 5:30 a.m., ugh.) I had the most RANDOM dream I think I have ever had. And I've had some really, really strange dreams.

But first, here's a side note that will help to explain the dream (I hope): Have you ever seen Superbad? Well, I've recently become OBSESSED with Forgetting Sarah Marshall and have loved every Apatow move I've seen (except Pineapple Express, which I was forced to watch during my weekend in Madison) so I really wanted to watch it, and Florida owns it. So, if you've seen Superbad you know about Seth's obsessive man-bits drawings, right? And if you haven't...well, Seth obsessively draws man-bits. (I didn't give anything away, I promise.)

Anywho...so here is my dream: I walk into a Sephora-type facility looking for a new mascara. I remember Wearing Mascara's review of some Dior mascara, and ask the helpful lady to pull all of the Diors for my perusal.

And then I see it: the holy grail of mascara. The DiorShow, in all it's splendid glory. It's beauty is like nothing I've seen before - I swear I heard angels singing and a halo of sunlight appeared behind it as I lifted it from the shelf.

The mascara was large indeed, easily exceeding a full foot in length and quite hefty in the rotund department as well. But it's true exquisiteness lay not in it's size, no no, but in it's shape. One part Washington Monument, 2 parts Christmas ornament, composed entirely of the most magnificently cold stainless steel I've ever beholden.

At this point I am woken up to a text message from Florida telling me that he's changing his entire life-plan based on some info the Air Force finally got around to passing along to him, so I couldn't dwell in the WTF-ness of my dream.

So I thought I would share my lovely dream with you all. I hope it brightens up your Tuesday afternoon. :) I am off work today, and even though I have a cold I need to do laundry and clean my house (I got my feather bed dry-cleaned...the reason why is a completely separate post, trust me...and now there are little feathers all over my house!)

I can only assume 2 things about this dream:

1. I miss WM and my bloggy friends!! We haven't played together in a while :(

2. I clearly still had Superbad and the man-bit drawings on my mind when I went back to sleep at my house.

Regardless, it was a weird, WEIRD, dream that left in in absolute giggles when I replayed it in my head later (and when I told Florida about it too.)

Happy Tuesdays, sweet friends!

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

A little Friday miscellany for ya'll

Whoopsie!

Instead of showering and properly prepping myself to head to work for 9 or so hours...I stayed in bed and caught up on your blogs.

And I don't regret one minute second of it!

Hope ya'll have a lovely Friday evening and an even better weekend, in case I don't get a chance to come back and chat. I'm working tonight and going to a party with Florida's Air Force friends tomorrow night...wish me luck. They are all hammering him as to why he hasn't brought me around yet (ahem, ya'll were in ALABAMA for a month!) so I have to be on my best behavior and charm them (and their girlfriends/wives.)

I might be social...but in crowds where I know very few people I get quite intimidated and tend to clam up, try too hard to be funny, and drink. Not a good combo.

There is a rumour however that Rock Band will be played...and as we all know your Sweet Bea loves to sing :) Rock Band to me is just in-home karaoke! So maybe I will wow them with my vocal stylings?

Anywho, no real topic here...I've been meaning to post all week but Florida has tended to fall asleep on my shoulder while I work on stuff (I had an interview this week - keep those fingers crossed!) which gives me an excuse to cheat and come to blogland (my happy place!) and catch up on your lives...but makes it impossible to catch you up since I can't move my right arm as he is snoozing away on it.

Cheers!

Sweet Bea

Awards to get and give

Hello sweeties!

Florida is HOME and I am happy. He unfortunately had to go in to work today, on my day off(!), so I have some time to check in and say hi to all ya'll.

First - a HUGE thank you to each and every one of you who sent happy thoughts my way this weekend. They meant more to me than you probably realize. I know I'm not the first, nor will I be the last to say this - but I am so lucky to have wandered my way into this amazing network of folks back in November. I've made some WONDERFUL new real life and online friends, and caught back up with some of my nearest and dearest real life friends from days gone by.

Now, on to the awards!

As you know, yesterday was the NCAA Men's Championship Game. March and April are always bittersweet for me because as much as I LOVE tournament time and March Madness, it means the end of college basketball season is near and that makes me sad. It also means that baseball season is starting...which might make me even sadder (Sorry Daisy!)

But anyways, without any further ado, it is time to announce the winner of Blogs n' Brackets:

JACKIE from Always a Northerner!!!!!

Her bracket was pretty much awesome - in the West region, she was 100% until she had Memphis over Mizzou and UConn...not too shabby!!! :)

I, unfortunately, placed second to last. Sad, sad Bea indeed. Oh well.

I think next year, I will coordinate a giveaway with the bracket - wouldn't that be fun?

Now, onto a big THANK YOU for some bloggers who have recently given me awards! Katherine from just lovely gave me the Love Ya Award - yay! Her name will be added to my sidebar along with ASC's :)

And, Freck from It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere gave me the Kreativ Blogger Award!



Since this is a new award for me, here are the rules that accompany it:

List 7 things that you love, and then pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you love! Be sure to tag them and let them know that they have won. You can copy the picture of the award and paste it on your sideboard letting the whole world know . . . you are Kreativ!

Lulu from Dirty Martini Diaries - not only a real life friend but also an incredibly creative lady! She planned her entire wedding from across the country! And, since I know her and her impeccable style, I know it is going to be a WONDERFUL and creative affair.

Megan from Newly Wed, Newly Bred - also a longtime real life friend, her writings crack me up, no matter what they are about. Also check our her pics of her baby...if those ain't creative then I don't know what is!

Jackie from Always a Northerner - her and her hubby's apartment is so warm, inviting, and very creatively decorated (gotta love DC apartments!) My favorite is the sign by her front door - Enter as Strangers, Leave as Friends. Tis so true!

Nina from According to Nina - Just check out Target Tuesdays for a sample of her creativity...not to mention her gift-giving ideas!

Erica from Sunshine Daydreamin' - Hooray for *jewelry without jewels*! What could be more creative that those??? LOVE THEM!

Kappa Prep at Monograms and Manicures - she is always crafting up cute ideas and sharing them with our bloggy world

Mojito Maven at Make Mine a Mojito - not only does she have some of the most creative and unique post topics, she also has the courage to stand behind her views and her posts.

Okie dokie sweet friends, your Bea needs to get out of her warm and comfy bed and into a warm and toasty shower and eat some leftover fajitas! Have a fantastic Tuesday afternoon!

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

Thank you Badger...or how I learned to stop sweating the stuff over which I have no control

Well sweet friends, it's the middle of the night and my Florida is not yet home.

Though he texted me FROM the plane, it had mechanical problems and they weren't able to get another MILAIR or commercial flight to DC today...so alas, no happy reunion for me, yet.

His flight (hopefully!) leaves tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. with a layover in North Carolina before arriving DC after 1:00 p.m.

What a sad panda I am tonight! I nearly burst into tears when I got a text from him nearly an hour after I put up my last post...I just knew it was going to be bad news.

But - this gave me an opportunity to put into effect something I learned from my terrible breakup with Badger: There is no use in getting angry at something that is out of your control.

Let me back up and explain.

See, as you all know, I went to CA in June and came back just before Thanksgiving for the campaign season. I didn't get to see my beloved Badger that entire time. Not once. Towards the end, we were barely even speaking on the phone due to my crazy schedule (or at least that's how I justified it at the time. But I digress...)

I went to AZ to visit my best friend KJ from college for a few days, since it had been nearly 5 years since I'd seen her and I desperately needed some down time after the campaign ended. It was in Arizona that Badger taught me his lesson.

I got into town on Thursday and unfortunately KJ had to work Friday night (poor thing has 2 jobs because she's a high school math teacher and gets paid nothing.) She apologized up and down for ditching me when I was in town, but she really needed the money to help pay for her condo mortgage since she kept having roommate problems. I said not to worry, I would hang out with her puppy (who is an old man doggie now!) Wiley and watch TV. I was ready to absolutely veg out.

Imagine my surprise when Badger called! I was so excited to talk to him because I was coming home in just a few days and I couldn't wait to see him!

And then he dropped the bomb. He got a gig for full pay rate with a great Art Director in NYC...and it was for the exact time I was going to be in DC before he headed back to Wisconsin for Thanksgiving.

In retrospect, it was an amazing opportunity for him - he's an independent filmmaker and because he's not in the union he gets the shaft a lot on his pay, and has to work with less-than-awesome people sometimes. But, at the time, I didn't react quite so objectively.

I. Flipped. Out. Big time.

While he had really made me mad a few times on the campaign (not answering his phone, not returning my calls/texts/emails/facebook messages, etc) I absolutely let loose on him, releasing nearly 6 months of pent up anger and frustrations about how he treated me and how he obviously didn't care about me.

It went on for quite a while...and was NOT pretty. Tears and cuss words were involved. It was a cathartic experience for me. I'm not sure however if KJ's neighbors appreciated it...but whatevs.

I was devastated and beyond angry. And he knew it.

That conversation/argument/flip out was the final nail in the coffin for our relationship. He realized that he couldn't be with someone who didn't understand how his life was going to be and wasn't in NYC. Granted, he realized this a loooooooooooooong time before this, but I guess had hoped for the best? Who knows what went on in his head - but this was clearly the final kick he needed to actually do what he knew he wanted to do. He broke up with me one week later.

I've held onto this anger for a very long time, as unhealthy as I know it to be. But, I am still very mad at Badger for what he did and how he treated me. But he taught me a lesson.

I needed to look beyond my own feelings of anger, hurt, and resentment and see the bigger picture. This was a great chance for him and I needed to put my own feelings aside and be supportive, even as hurt as I was. (In theory) he didn't have a choice - he had to take this gig. It was beyond his control.

Now granted, there are several differences between this situation with Badger and this situation with Florida, and I fully realize that. But I think the lesson here is not to diminish the importance of the similarities - both situations left me feeling angry, hurt, and resentful, but both were beyond our control.

So when he texted me earlier today with "Not coming home until tomorrow, baby...," as much as I wanted to respond, "Are you f'ing kidding me? That is such BS I'm so pissed!" and go off on a textual tirade, I simply responded ":( Boo. Are you booked for a flight?"

There was no sense in flipping out - HE did not break the 2 planes and make all the commercial flights fill up so he didn't have to come home. I know he felt awful and was just as disappointed as I was, so why make it worse?

So - I paused, and decided that I was not going to sweat this situation over which neither of us have any control. I was going to roll with the punches and go with the flow.

Now - will I still flip out over things because I'm in a bad mood or because I'm projecting anger? I don't doubt it for one second.

BUT I have learned, from Badger, (and who the heck ever thought I'd be saying that, eh? Not me, that's for sure!) that it is not worth the headache or eventual heartbreak these outbursts can have. I take a deep breath and try to remain positive. At least Florida won't have to wear his flight suit on the plane, he can wear civilian clothes. There is a silver lining to nearly every situation.

So, thank you Badger. You may have caused me heartbreak like I've never known, but you may also have saved me from several more.You taught me the lesson that so many who proceeded you failed to do. You taught me how to breathe, pause, reflect, and proceed. Or, as others have said much more simply and eloquently than I:

image courtesy of www.keepcalmandcarryon.com

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

THE text! YAY!

Sweet friends I just got THE text!

THE text from Florida that says the plane is taking off and that he will be home to me in 4.5 hours! (The are flying MILAIR - military aircraft - with a sliding departure time...so we had no idea when they were leaving until a half hour or so ago.)

So...I have 4.5 hours to clean the mess it took me a month to make in my room. And put away 4 loads of laundry. And DO 2 loads of laundry, including the sheets I am currently laying in. And shower. And find a cute outfit. And do my hair. And do my makeup. Oh yea, and find something for lunch AND dinner.

So what did I decide to do?

Come play with you for a few minutes :) (because apparently I didn't do that enough with my 3-hour long post about the Peacemakers earlier today!)

Ok sweeties - I am going to get up and out of bed (because it IS 1:30 p.m. after all!) and put on some Peacemakers and clean clean clean my room!

So...needless to say, I might not be back to chat for a few days ;)

See ya'll later!

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

Old love, new potential love

Today is April 4th.

It is Mama and Daddy Bea's anniversary. They have been married for 45 years - can you believe it??

(Don't judge me, but I had to use the trusty laptop calculator to do the math...)

I'm so lucky to have them as a model and inspiration for how I want to live my life.

And speaking of new potential loves, FLORIDA GETS HOME TOMORROW! WHOO HOO!!!!

I am so incredibly excited to see him I can barely contain it!

Since he is a potential new love, and the relationship is blossoming, I decided to share some of my favorite blossoms with you - DC's famous cherry blossoms! (Lame segue, I know...) These pics are a few years old...I just haven't been able to get to the trees this year, and it has been so rainy and windy these past few days, I'm afraid they are almost gone already. The cherry blossoms are so fleeting...I suppose that adds to their beauty in a way - they are a brief reminder to live life as it comes, because it could all be gone tomorrow.

my personal favorite :)

the Tidal Basin with the Washington Monument

closer shot of the Washington Monument.
(See all the people underneath the tree? It is PACKED!)

the White House through the trees, and more tourists
(I've always wanted to get a paddle boat during the festival!)

the Jefferson Memorial, or as Mama and Daddy Bea like to call it, the Standing Man.
(The Lincoln Memorial is, therefore, the Sitting Man.)

Side note: If you live in the DC area, go to Giffords Ice Cream NOW. They have Cherry Blossom ice cream and it is HEAVEN!

Hope ya'll are having a wonderful Saturday afternoon!

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

PS I have to share a random memory with you. It was my first year in DC and the bestie and I were driving into the city from our apartment in Alexandria (about 20 minutes away.) I think we were going to look at the cherry blossoms maybe? I can remember what we were doing...but we ended up spending 3 hours in the car and couldn't get to where we were trying to park...and somehow just got dumped back on the highway headed towards home. BUT, the windows were rolled down, the weather was warm(ish) and we had Fleetwood Mac blasting in the car. It was a wonderful day.

It was, however, very similar to when we tried to have Ethiopian food around the same time - but that's another story for another day, sweet friends. Needless to say, Bea and Bestie are much better with directions after living here for over 5 years. :)

Three Big Words...or how I might have accidentally told my Diet Boyfriend that I loved him...

...oh sweet friends, how I wish I made some of this stuff up. Seriously.

***The Scene***

Sweet Bea, after a night of Leine's and basketball with BP, enters her bedroom, unaware of her intoxication.

She picks up her phone to dial Florida.

(Phone Rings)

Florida: Hey baby, what's up?

Bea: (slurring) Hey you sexy man you, what are you doing?

Florida: I'm at Hooters with the guys...have you been drinking?

Bea: (slyly) Nooooooo...

Florida: Hahaha, you crack me up babydoll.

Bea: Yea, yea, you love me

Florida: Yea, I do. You love me too.

Bea: Yea, I love you too. [Version Florida heard]

-or-

Bea: Yea, yea, yea, whatever. [Version Bea thinks she said]

**The Next Morning**

(Bea and Florida are texting)

Bea: Morning baby!

Florida: Ugh...my head hurts.

Bea: Boo, I'm sorry babe. I feel great!

Florida: You're so mean.

Bea: Maybe, but you think it's cute.

Florida: Nope, not today I don't.

Bea: Boo, I hate you.

Florida: No you don't, you love me. You told me so last night.

(Record scratching to a stop)

Bea: No I didn't.

Florida: Yes you did.

**End Scene**

Needless to say...this morning was incredibly confusing. I still maintain that I did not actually say those three little words...he maintains that I did. When asked why he said that he loved me (when I was, or so I thought, being obviously playful) he responded that he was caught up in the moment. I replied that he was in HOOTERS and it wasn't exactly the epicenter for romance.

At the end of the day, we talked it out and worked it out and both realize that we are *not* in love with the other (in case anyone was wondering) and that we perhaps need to be slightly more careful with what we say to the other.

We're both still wounded from past relationships, and while he is still more angry at his ex, I am still more sad at Badger. We both have been told that we weren't loved anymore by people who promised to be there and love us. We are, really, fighting the same battles. We are teammates. We are friends. We are lovers. We are helping each other learn to trust again and learn to feel again.

Anyways, my sweet friends, the hour is getting late and I am getting tired, and my Florida is even more tired in Alabama and wants to hear my voice before he goes off to sleep :)

Have a restful night and peaceful dreams!

Cheers!

Sweet Bea