2024 YEAR END RECAP : Best Laid Plans

So when I originally wrote this post, on Christmas Eve I was talking about how my nephew and his wife couldn’t join us for Christmas so we’d be going to see them on the weekend after Christmas which was going to eat into my downtime after the holiday. HOWEVER best laid plans be damned cause that Little Girl decided she wanted to join us for the celebration. My nephew and his lovely bride had a beautiful Baby Girl on Christmas Day almost 5 weeks prior to her due date. She was born around 3:30 and was 5lbs 14 oz and 18” long. She’s gonna be dumb tall like her dad. Her name is Olia Noelle and I love it, tho many of my fellow family members are struggling with the name. I myself can say it just fine until someone asks :D I say it like Ollie without the E but ad a AH to it. Oli-ah 😊 time will tell if I’m saying it right or not. My nephew and his wife aren't shy they will let us know if we aren't. Someday it will roll right off our tongue without us even thinking about it and we will giggle at the struggle bus that was her name. With this event I was upgraded from Aunt to Great Aunt and I mean I’ve always been great! As of this writing she is still in the hospital but her mom has been discharged and we are hopeful Olia will be coming home very soon as well. It's going to be exciting getting to celebrate this little thing every year on Christmas. I can’t wait to meet her and tickle her little feet!

However, this is about 2024 …. So digress. I admit that this wasn’t our best year on this blog…but wasn’t our worst ever … looking at you 2023 when we only managed 8 post for the entire year. That’s called minimum effort for sure. Ironically that was the year I started my “blog with a purpose” posts … and thus a post about a charitable foundation followed by me ranting about say Auburn Football …. Sadly, a constant on this blog (ranting about AU sports I mean). I also had only 8 posts in 2018 but it at least had more variety than 2023. Hey not every year can be a winner!

In 2024 I managed to knock out 10 posts, well 11 once this one goes up, on a variety of topics including another Blog with a Purpose post this time focusing on Anthony Nolan. That one was fun cause I was also helping sell a book at the same time. Don’t know if any books were sold cause of me but I’m sure I didn’t hurt the cause, well I hope I didn’t anyway. This was also the year my father turned 80 and he and I spent most of the year working on his memoirs which I found fascinating. Giving us his book was his gift to all of us this year. He also included a card with all his videos, pictures, etc, taken through August (AKA his birthday). That was a nice and very welcoming surprise that I wasn’t expecting. He’s good people my dad. This was also an Olympic year which is always exciting for me and of course Dragon Con for the 10^th time. I really believe we have been going far longer than that but 10 is a nice round number so that’s what we will go with.  

We have a new "most viewed" post which is "Baby Talk" a short story I wrote about a new mom and dad figuring out their new roles. I have no idea where it came from but it's been viewed 335 times so maybe others are enjoying it. I am proud that my Bryan White Tribute is in the top 5 of all time views. I was really proud of that one. Golden's "Drunksgiving" Post from 2014 rounds out the top views list and again I say she's way better at this than I am. 

This year the big absence was Golden. I keep telling her she is way better at this than I am … go back and read any posts tagged with GOLDEN and you’ll see what I mean. She uses words like a paintbrush in a way that I only wish I could do. 2024 is the year I was diagnosed with Covid shortly after coming home from Dragon Con. It really wasn’t that “bad” for me but I’ve had every shot the have been willing to give me. Right before I left I begged for one but the nice lady at CVS said that a new one was coming out soon and I should wait. I should have pushed it but I didn’t. Who knows maybe I would have gotten sick anyway. Maybe not. As it was I was confined to my room for 5 days then took two test both of which came back negative before coming back to the real world. I wasn’t really sick as much as I had a MASSIVE headache that just wouldn’t quit and was exhausted all the time, symptoms that lingered long after the negative tests results arrived. I still don’t think my energy level is back up to full but I guess I’m where I’m going to be. The best part of my COVID diagnosis is that neither Golden or my parents got it which was my biggest fear. 

As I am writing this news organizations are dusting off their Jimmy Carter memorial videos to bid farewell to a man that did as much good out of office as he did in office. Maybe it is because he is from nearby Plains, Georgia, or maybe it’s cause he was President when I was born (1977 – 1981) but he’s the first president I recall. From his humanitarian efforts especially with Habitat for Humanity is what I really remember. I also can’t get over the fact he was 100 … like can you imagine all he’s seen and lived through and all the changes he’s been through over his lifetime? I don’t know if I want to live to 100 … heck there are some days I’m not sure I want to make it to 45 but I guess that’s up to someone who isn’t me.

 

I hope you all had a good holiday surrounded by love and that 2025 is good for you and to 2025 I say please go easier on my friend Golden she really does not deserve the crap that the last few years have put her through. Use someone else as a punching back for a change PLEASE and thank you.

 

Marcy

Happy …. Whatever.

It must be a New Year cause everyone keeps telling me that it is, and people are posting these long eloquent write ups about what kind of year they have had and their hopes and prayers for the aforementioned new year. I know I should be one of those people. The kind of wants to document the year prior, see if there is anything I can learn form it as I move into a new calendar but I just don’t have it in me this year. 

I didn’t have a BAD year per say nor did I have a great year with things that stand out so that makes this process hard cause it feels like another wasted year. Let’s see the year started off with me battling a kidney stone, but I didn’t know it yet (cause I’m stubborn and don’t like doctors). Then my mother almost blead to death, which was super unpleasant. Mom’s emergency surgery took place not even a week after my kidney stone surgery so helping her recover while I was still recovering was a challenge, but she’s doing great so that’s a positive. She has like the smallest stomach in the world but she’s here and she cooked New Year’s Day lunch today, which was delicious, and for that I’m grateful. Then about a month or less after mom got out of the hospital my oldest nephew got married. Literally. Like from one massive activity to another in very quick succession. I broke his heart cause while mom was still in ICU he asked if she was going to make it to the wedding and I told him that was the least of my concerns at the moment. I meant what I said and I said it with my whole chest. My mom surviving was my entire focus at that moment and while I hate I broke his heart I’d do it again. She did in fact make it to the wedding, was dragged all over that church by the photographer and she never complained. She was exhausted and spent for the next 4 days but she watched the baby she helped raise (she kept him while his parents worked until he started school) walk down the aisle and get married. She had already made my dad and I promise that we would go even if she couldn’t and we had made plans incase she couldn’t go. Lucky it all worked out, but it was a very stressful Jan/Feb/March to say the least.

Oh and in the middle of all that I turned 44.

In April, I took my younger nephew and his friends to play Top Golf for the first time in Birmingham (the closest facility to where he lived) and we had a great time. I got to stay with my older nephew and his new bride (first houseguest for them), I got to spend a crapton of money on the nephew, and I had a really good time. It was a quick trip. Up on Friday, back on Sunday kind of trip but a good one. It was on that trip that I made a very important decision. See Golden was supposed to join us for Top Golf. However, her beloved Beetle … well blew up. Literally. As I am driving my parents van home (large enough to hold the group going to b’ham) I couldn’t stop thinking about Golden’s situation. See I have been watching a Hyundai Kona for years … I am going to say 4 or 5 (maybe longer) and I really really really really really wanted that car. However, my Hyundai Sonata was too good a car to just give up. I thought about trading it in but it was just too good of a car to even think about getting something else. So I waited. Every time I saw that car drive by tho I pointed it out. I loved that car. I had a very specific car in mind that I wanted tho. Hyundai Kona N Class Grey with grey interior, red accents, sport seats, and a sunroof. I must have built that car like a thousand times on their website only to back out cause I didn’t “need” a car. On that drive home it hit me ….. GOLDEN NEEDED A CAR …. I had a car … and I wanted a new car. The wheels started turning. I got home called Dad and immediately told him my plan. He said and I quote, “That’s a crazy reason to buy a car.” Then mom looked at him in disbelief and looked over at me and said “I think it sounds brilliant. You deserve this … do it.” I had been saving like a miser to get this car for a very long time. I had the budget to do it.

I usually get to work about 45 minutes early. Around here traffic can turn on you very quickly. 5 minutes on either side of the clock can cost you 15-20 minutes very easily. I’d rather be there early than risk being late. I used to go right in and get to work. Lately I’ve been sititng in my car playing on my phone for about 30-40 minutes then drag myself out of the car and into the building (I really gotta get out of that habit). On this day I used that time to do a search on the Hyundai website for my Hyundai. I found one yall….. like 30 minutes from Golden’s house. It was PERFECT! Like someone was telling me to do this for my friend. I filled in the information and asked someone to call me back. I had a call back in less than 2 hours. I spoke with the guy, we settled on some things and I explained what I was trying to do. I asked if he could hold it. He said yes but not long. See I still hadn’t talked to Golden. Maybe she doesn’t want my car. So, I hung up promising to give him an answer by the end of day. I texted Golden and asked if she had a few minutes to talk. She said sure is everything ok. I shut my door. I called her and I really believe she was in disbelief about what I was telling her. I basically told her that she could go out and buy something or I could do this, and she could have more time to get something she really wanted/liked as opposed to what was there. My car was a 2013 (bought in 2012) so it wasn’t like I was giving her a new car, but it was well cared for. It wasn’t going to last her forever but could last her another 3-5, maybe even 10 years. It wasn’t perfect it has some dings; the dash was cracking like crazy, paint was chipping in a few places but it was and is a good car. She really didn’t know what to say and I think she was afraid of getting her hopes up.

I got with dad, told him what the guy and I talked about, he suggested I counter with this other price, and I was like um ok… the guy said let him see what he could do. They countered and met us halfway. I was pleased. He was gonna get the paperwork going. I called Golden to say it was a Go. While we were on the phone the car guy beeped in. Another dealer had just sold MY CAR. I was devastated. I knew it was all coming together to easily. He tried to sell me on another and I said no it has to be that car, that set up, those colors that’s the car I want. That’s the car I’ve been dreaming about for years. He said let me see what I can do. I called Golden and we were both exhausted by this roller coaster. The dealer asked for me to give him until Lunch. I said ok. 10am … he calls. I found it, I don’t have it yet but I found it. I’ll call you back as soon as I have it. I said same car as yesterday he said yes. I’ll send you a picture as soon as I have it. I was confused by that but said ok. I called dad, I called Golden and I called the bank. I didn’t know how long it took to get a cashier’s check. Then I didn’t hear from him again until nearly 10 pm. I was like well there we go it was all too easy. Sigh. Golden was trying to figure out how to get to work the next day and I was sad. At 10 I get a text from the dealer. It was a picture of a car in a parking lot. It had just arrived from the swap me made with a dealer in TN. It was MY CAR, same color, same trim, same accessories as the one had and it was perfect. He said the next morning the guys would do the Hyundai inspection on it, and they could be driving to me by 10am. I was like wait the whole point is getting mine to Golden. He said due to all the trouble the dealer was willing to drive it down to me and drive my car back for Golden to pick up for free. I was like I’m sorry, what? For no additional money they were going to do that for me. I said let’s do it. He told me the total, I paid the deposit on my credit card, the rest by money order and I had purchased a car, mostly via text which blew my father’s mind. I called Golden and I tossed and turned all night. The next day was like a weird dream. I went to work, waiting for the bank to open so I could get the cashier’s check then came home and cleaned my Sonata like it had never been cleaned before. I almost cried when it left my driveway and prayed that the guy wouldn’t have any problems on the drive back I got my dream car and helped a friend out at the same time. We did the bill of sale stuff Golden sent me a check, I sent everything with the car so she could do the tag thing and to this day I’m afraid some glitch in the matrix happened cause it was all too smooth and perfect. I am still waiting for something to go wrong, even after all this time. It was a win win win and I was so very happy to do it. To this day it’s the coolest thing I’ve ever been able to do for a friend and while that was awesome, I can’t tell you how happy this car has made me. So, for me that’s my highlight of the year. I don’t know if I’ll ever top that nor will I try. Mighty, Golden's furbaby was very confused as to why my car was tehre but i was not. 

In May, a month after the car swap, I drove to Golden’s to watch her niece graduate and to celebrate Golden’s birthday. We went to the zoo, a tradition I haven’t been able to participate in years, and I had a very lovely time.  In Aug/Sept Golden and I made it back to Dragon Con for some much-needed time away, fun and laughter. We decided to venture north and found a really cool bookstore, which made for a nice relaxing drive to the con. Which was nice cause life was trying to suck the very life out of me and Golden and continues to do so. Golden's niece has just finished her first semester in college and seems to be doing really well there. I am very proud of her. 

In October, my oldest nephew and his wife suffered a devastating heartbreak and while they are still dealing with the aftereffects of it, they are still intact as a couple and are going to come out of this stronger I truly believe that even if they don't yet. 

In November, I started dealing with some more weird health issues. I used to have really high blood pressure but suddenly I have very low blood pressure. It runs in the family, and I am not a small girl, and I have a horrible diet. I'd tell you I'm going to work on that, but history says otherwise. However suddenly this year it started just dropping out of nowhere. I'm walking along and boom all dizzy and grabbing at walls about to pass out. I can hear my heartbeat, I can feel my heartbeat (sometimes it feels like it's about to leap out of my body...most of the time it feels like I'm on vibrate, or there is a techno show happening in the front yard). I haven’t taken my BP meds in over a month, and it keep bottoming out which is just crazy pants. I have been keeping a journal of my blood pressure since my last visit and have a follow up later this month. I think it’s stressing Golden out too. There really doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason for it. In December Golden had a very invasive sinus surgery which she is still recovering from. So when I say 2023 can go ….. I mean it can go and I’m ready for a New Year I’m just not optimistic that some of the 2023 crap won’t come with it.

So, consider this my year in recap I guess …….. and I didn’t even get into the work stuff which had its own drama and hell running through it but that’s another post … maybe.... or maybe I leave that in 2023. 

I hope everyone has a great start to 2024 and that we all keep moving forward cause at the end of the day that’s all we can do.

Marcy

2022 YEAR END REVIEW

It’s New Year's Eve … who knew. Not me at least not until someone sent me a text telling me to be safe tonight, and I was like why where I am going. They said you know if you go anywhere for the holiday. I responded with you mean tomorrow. They were like um…no tonight. People celebrate New Year's tonight, since it’s New Year's Eve. I again responded with tomorrow. They wrote back with a screen shot of the date, like my devices don’t also have that. Turns out … guys they were right today is New Year's Eve. The last day of 2022, the last day of the year, tomorrow starts a brand-new chapter full of wonder, excitement and pretty much the same shit that 2022 had but with a different date at the end … if I’m being honest.

New Year's has just never been a thing I celebrate. I mean yeah sure it’s an accomplishment to get from point A to point B I guess and not everyone got to make that circle, heck I went to 2 funerals just this week alone, so I see why people celebrate this “milestone” but I’ve just never been interested in it. Even as a little Marcy I wasn’t concerned with staying up to watch the ball drop. Seemed like a lot of fuss over not much and you spend the night wandering around going from place to place finally landing somewhere to count backwards from 10 then it’s over and everyone goes home or leaves to head to yet another place. I’d rather stay home, sleep at a decent hour and just get up the next day. I will admit I do like seeing how everyone chooses to usher out the current year and welcome the new one, but it’s all become a bit much. Every single town now has a thing. Hell, mine has a Moon Pie Drop. They take a LARGE Moon Pie strap it to the side of a building downtown and at midnight lower it to the ground because nothing says New Year like getting ready for Mardi Gras.

It's been another year of hard work and some appreciation for both Golden and I. I do wish she got more appreciation but there's very little I can do about that. I just completed my first year at the helm of the ship at my work, which has been a learning curve. I'm proud of what we got accomplished this year and know there's more we can do so that's the goal for 2023. Once gain I'm gonna lose some of my vacation time, I hope that next year I do better about that. Golden and I are trying to come up with our next big trip (other than Dragon Con) because it's been a few years since we did that. I think the two of us just need something to look forward to if I am being honest. 

Last year on this day it was 84 degrees and sunny, which was just dumb. I rang in the new year in shorts and a t-shirt. Less than 24 hours later it was raining and in the low 50s. tell me the south isn’t always sick for no reason and I’ll explain all that again. It’s been ridiculously cold the last week or so which was nice to have a Christmas holiday where I could wear my Christmas sweaters without sweating through them for a change. Today it’s 67, cloudy and wanting to rain. We had a wicked storm blow through on Friday afternoon and it was supposed to hold over until today, but it was moving faster than originally thought and we are left with a dreary, cloudy, warm day instead. Tomorrow it’s supposed to be in the high 70’s low 80’s. So basically, back to normal.

I’ve spent the majority of my “time off” for the holidays (Christmas and now New Year's) cleaning. Throwing things away, purging my life of the things I don’t “need” I have 5 bags of things to take…. somewhere. It’s mostly clothing that I can’t or don’t wear, some of which still have the tags on them. I’m really bad about that, it’s the downside of online shopping it looks better on the screen than in my house.

While I wasn’t looking this blog turned 8 years old. Since 2014 we have had 261 entries that have been viewed 27,526 times by ….. someone. We average about 29 post a year, but I credit most of that to the first two years when I did blog challenges and then in 2019, I did kind of a resurgence of the blog in an effort to bring it back to life. I will admit that with this blog I’ve not been trying to set the world on fire, teach anyone anything in particular, or even study specific subjects for a greater understanding of a higher universe but I have tried to stay consistent in my posting. Here lately it’s felt more like a journal or diary than an actual blog with a purpose or passion. Like this isn’t a lifestyle blog, or a blog trying to sell my various projects or causes, or a blog that is used to promote anything or generate likes and collaboration with companies. It’s just me, my little HP laptop that’s still kicking (knock on wood), and sometimes Golden just sharing various thoughts with people who might be interested. It tuns out that while most of our views come from the US, we also get a large portion from Russia and Ukraine (haven’t those people suffered enough) with France and Germany rounding out our top 5 countries. Sorry Canada you just missed the top 5.

I did just learn that our blog with the most views has changed … it used to be the “Royal Welcome” my Real Person fiction about Haley and Michaels working with the Royal Family. However ironically the post now with the most views of 314 is “He is Risen” posted in April 2019 … I just re read it and it’s nothing to special so I’m not sure why so many have felt the need to click on that particular one but it’s gonna be hard to pass that many views. But I’ll do my best.

Have a great 2023 and a safe New Year’s Eve, which is apparently tonight in case you didn't know.

Marcy (@beaslma)

You know what 2020 ... just ...just go

2020 ... you don't have to go home but you gotta get the hell out of here 

Unless the universe decides to just send us into a never ending 2020 it’s nearly over. We have finally reached the day when we can tell 2020 get out and leave. It’s been …. Interesting to say the least. It hasn’t been fun, much, and it has been stressful but I guess for some of us it could have been worse. For others however the idea of worse isn’t even something they can fathom.

To fully send 2020 to their room to think about what they have done we have to have a year end recap to remind us just a few of the things we accomplished this year. This year was not without accomplishments….we just have to dig a little deeper to find them. 

Blog Accomplishments: 

This blog was born in August of 2014 and we have had approximately 238 posts with over 22,324 views since that time. That honestly boggles my mind. Our top post changed this year. “Big Rona” bypassed our previous top post “Original Fiction – A Royal Welcome” with over 225 views 61 more views than my original fiction got featuring Haley and Michaels. I really enjoyed writing those stories I’m glad they got some love. I’m a little surprised to see so many of my “original fiction” pieces making it to our “top post” lists for all time. Maybe that means I should do more ….. I really should. I hope I will.

In 2020 alone we had 17 posts (Counting this one) …not the record for this blog by any stretch but it means the blog isn’t dead and that’s something I can be proud of. In previous years I did challenges to myself to post for a week or for an entire month, something I did not do this year. We spaced them out pretty well too so it wasn’t all at the beginning, middle or end of the year but only missed one month. June. I’m ok with that as June was a pretty challenging month for me as it was the middle of summer, work ramped up hard, I was seeing plans that were in place fall away and the fear of losing Dragon Con was becoming real. So June was just not a good month for me and thus was reflected in this blog.

March was a particularly busy month on this blog but that’s also when the Country ground to a semi – stand still and I had more to “say.” I started working from home in March and see no sign of returning to the office in the near future. I go in when necessary, but I don’t stay long. I am usually there long enough to get through what I need to get through then head back home. The numbers are ramping back up here in my town since Nov and the bossman is a gem of a guy who wants us to all stay safe. I also have two coworkers with very young children (one who just celebrated her first Crimmus) and another coworker who like me cares for aging family members who could be devastated by the virus. She’s a lot like me in that going out isn’t a concern for her but bringing it back very much is.  I wonder how long he’s going to be able to keep us at home before someone makes it necessary to come back. So far our group has been successful at doing our jobs and doing it well so right now it’s not an issue.

This year also saw the return of Golden to this blog with AITAH. I’m not going to harp on her, Lord knows she has enough going on without me climbing up on her back yelling about this blog. I hope 2021 gives her part of her spark back and allows her the recovery time that 2020 took away from her. However, I do hope 2021 will result in more blogs from her. Her voice is quite unique and the way she paints a picture with words is something I’ve never been able to match which makes me proud and also very jealous of her. Don’t tell her that tho I don’t want to give her a big head.

Marcy's Accomplishments

I have successfully mastered the work from home side of the table. I never thought I'd be good at it, and some days are frankly better than others. Last year our office floor flooded out and we quickly mobilized to working from home. So we had a trial run before the big thing and I think that helped. My bosses management style also helped. He's not a micromanager. He gives you an assignment and expects you to do it. If you have troubles or problems he expects you to handle them or come to him. He's an ex-professor so he's of the gives you a task and then he moves on expecting it to be handled. There's a few times that has backfired on him but luckily he has a staff that knows when to rally and get something done and that's what we have done throughout is rallied when necessary and kept the balls in the air. In September I crossed the milestone of having been working at my place of business for now 17 years. I know what's expected of me, the time frames required for said tasks. What I am learning as co-manager of this department now is how to lead. My boss and I basically split our already split region in half and he's "managed" one side while I've "managed" the other side. This has resulted in more communication and time management on my part in order to proof their submittals, helping them communicate needs to project managers and subs, and in helping them get their submittals across the finish line. I've learned a lot about not doing it for them but showing them how to do it so they can get better. I'm still working on that. 

Another accomplishment on my part is my hair. I have always had a love hate relationship with my hair. I still pretty much think it looks a mess 90% of the time but I truly do not recall the last time I went to a hair dresser. This has resulted in my hair being the longest it has ever been in my life. I have no idea how to style it, no idea really how to care for it but it's there and it is big and busy and long. Now I think I've decided to see just how long I can get it. See I've always kept it short cause it would force me to do something to it. The shorter my hair is the more curly it is. Wavy some times. When I was little mom swears I had the Shirley Temple ringlets and when she got my hair cut sometime after my 1st birthday, as mom's do, it grew back pencil straight much to her horror. It stayed that way until my awkward puberty years when it just did whatever the hell it wanted when it wanted. It's still kind of in that stage. I found some new shampoo (a friend was selling and I wanted to support her and I really like the way it made my hair feel, so I kept ordering it). The goal for 2021 is less ponytails and buns and more actually utilizing the beauty that is my hair cause it is pretty on most days for about 15 minutes. 

I have also lost some weight during all this insanity. Not to the point that those around me notice, I'm sure, but I can definitely feel my clothes fitting differently. Clothes that used to be far too tight to wear comfortably now and feel good in them. I attribute it to not eating out as much. I used to go to lunch daily with coworkers and that of course isn't happening. Sometimes on the weekend we'd shop and get lunch on the way home. That's not happening either. Basically on Sundays after church we do lunch before heading home. Otherwise it's food here at the house. That being said I'm also eating Fritos while I type this so in a few months that could all change. However for now I'm counting it as an accomplishment. 

You gotta celebrate the little things sometimes guys. 

Golden's Accomplishments

I am confident she got to this part of the post and said "what accomplishments" but these are the accomplishments that I have seen for her from a far. She's still moving. there are times during this entire year where if she had just laid down and said enough I'd have 100% understood but she got back up....looked life in the eye and said is that all you got!? 

Golden had to quarantine twice, once when we thought she was sick and again recently when her dad got sick. During her first quarantine she made the best of it by purging her house a project she had been working on but the quarantine allowed her to really dive in. It resulted in her finishing up the Mighty Little Library which she fills with books for the community to enjoy and also rearranged the books in her house into her very own library which now lives in her dinning room which wasn't really being used for anything. People that know Golden and the way she keeps books in every square inch of her home knows just what a chore that was for her. I can't wait to see it in person and sit in her awesome new chair. She's really trying to fix up her home and make it very nice, as something she can be proud of for years to come as opposed to a structure that houses her things and sometimes a Marcy for a few days. I'm very proud of her for that. She has packed up things to give away, items for those around her that have had it far worse than she has including clothing, kitchen things, household items and books that she doesn't read but could be used else where. 

She has also not missed a single day at her job, unless it was for the aforementioned quarantines. See Golden's an essential worker and as such has not only maintained her work schedule but has worked a schedule that no single human being should have to work ... ever .. in life. It's really amazing she hasn't killed anyone this year and that might have been her biggest accomplishment. Her work has pushed her harder than necessary and then more so to the point where once I looked up a number to call and kick up fuss on her behalf but knew that would make it worse and I honestly wasn't sure she could handle worse. I do however have the number now and will use it if necessary. That's not a threat it is a promise. 

Health

Our little Blog family didn’t completely escape the Virus …… my nephew got it, but had very mild symptoms. I also had an Aunt and Uncle and several family, friends, and coworkers that contracted the virus all with varying degrees of symptoms which I find fascinating. Personally for me ... my uncle passed away from the virus which made for one of the more bizarre funerals I’ve ever attended. We also lost a few church members due to the virus that I didn't see coming. Golden’s dad suffered through a pretty rough round of it and is really still in the middle of the fight. He’s no longer contagious but he’s definitely not “well” and might never fully recover. 

Prayers for her dad are welcome as well as prayers for all who have suffered through this horrible stupid disease and those that will continue to suffer through it as we move forward cause we as a Country have sucked at this pandemic.

So in an effort to get a post into the December bucket I’m going to end it with some words of wisdom form Golden …

“Dude I’m so over this fucking year, 2020 can go fuck itself!”

Yes 2020 you do just that and here’s to a much better 2021 for us all! 

Stay safe out there all you viewers …. We need your eyeballs. 

See ya on the other side ..... 

Marcy & Golden 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

Happy New Year to all my readers, or those that accidently clicked on this link when it was posted on Twitter. Welcome to the random thoughts that fall our of my mind, through my arms and fingers and into this blog. I’ve decided I’m not making any New Year’s resolutions, every year I do and every year it just becomes a list of things I didn’t do, or accomplish. So I’m not falling for it again. Nope not me. 

It’s been a very interesting year. From the struggles with my mom’s health (she’s doing amazing by the way), to work stress, it just felt like one long Groundhog type day. You know one of those days where no matter what I did during the day I get up and we do it all over again. That’s not to say there weren’t fun or good moments sprinkled in throughout the year cause there was.

I got a little more involved at the Church, helping the finance office, serving on the “Imagine Team” and once again helping with VBS and dressed as Marvin the Martian at our annual Trunk or Treat in October.  

In January I got to see Vanessa Peters at the Listening Room, for the 2^nd time. She’s as lovely today as she was a year ago when I met her. I would make my way back to the Listening Room – now known as the People’s Room of Mobile - in a few months to see my musical hero. I really should spend more time at the Listening Room (AKA People’s Room). I should spend more time doing a lot of things but especially that. I keep saying I’m going to go down there one day and just see whose playing. Maybe this year.

Auburn of course was another highlight of my life, as it has been for the last 40 something years. I got to see a Baseball game, a basketball game, a few football games, softball and volleyball games as well as a couple gymnastic meets all in person or TV. I really want to see more in person. I mean what is science doing if not building me a portal that allows me to teleport to these venues so I can have these fun experiences then get back in time for work the next day. I mean comeon! Get on that.

In March I got to go to a work conference and visit my cousin to meet her new daughter, who has recently started walking, the daughter not my cousin. Int was that trip that I also got to spend a few days with a dear friend of mine. I think that would have been a TON of fun if I weren’t also on my social media break for lent. I might have to not do that again this year. ha!

In April I attended my first (and likely only) Kiss concert with a friend which I have to admit I enjoyed more than I thought I would. They are her all time favorite band and since this was their farewell tour it was now or never. I also saw KC and the Sunshine band with this same friend back in June.

In May I took a work trip to Tampa to help with a project. I think they are expecting me to do that again this year. It was nice to get out of the office that’s for sure. Later that same month I got to fart around with Golden for her birthday where we watched movies, ate good good, laughed and reconnected.

In August I got to sit in a room and listen to my musical idol play music, I could listen to Bryan White read a phone book and be happy as a clam.

Golden and I made another trip to Dragon Con and while it wasn’t exactly as we had hoped or planned that it would be I think we made the best of it and had a really good time.

As far as this blog is concerned I brought it back to life some what with 50 posts with only 3 months without a post. I am kind of proud of that. Of course my 30 posts in November as part of a challenge I gave to myself helped in that effort but I’m trying to keep this thing going. I still can’t believe that I’ve been using this thing since 2014 that’s over 200 posts that you guys have sat through and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you guys indulging me when I need to give my brain a break from the world.

Marcy
@beaslma

Happy New Year

Happy New Year …. Some 12 days into the new year but yeah you haven’t told me happy new year yet either so suck it! In prep for this post I looked back at the previous year and you know what …. We didn’t do half bad …. We didn’t do great mind you, I’m not at all saying I deserve a pat on my back or anything but we had 8 various posts spread out through 6 different months and to me that’s pretty darn good. Hey I was an average student who was damn proud of a C, an A or B was better of course but I could live with a C. In the real world no one cares if you got C’s ….. a friend recently told me "D stands for Diploma" and I thought well not really but maybe .... ha …. just saying.

Last year I shared some original writing, did a few music posts about Eric Erdman and The Springs, shared my Social MediaBreak during lent, and my transition to a new phone - UPDPATE: I did go with the S9+ and LOVE it. So when I say it was a variety of topics I’m not joking. My problem with this blog is that I often think ohhhh I should write about my frustrations with never getting to go to a movie in a theater and why it never seems to happen and how I hope that it will happen more then something horrific happens in the world and I think well that just seems assy now. I want to be a lot of things when I grow up but assy isn’t one of them. So then I delete the word document and move on with my day. I used to keep them thinking I’d post it later but then later never came or when I went back to read it the post seemed silly and unnecessary cause I was no longer in that frame of mind. 

Last year was fun I went to our corporate office for a “retreat” in Franklin, TN (got to take one of my coworkers on her first flight which was really fun), went to DragonCon with Golden, saw several concerts with my friend Katie including Def Leppard and Journey in New Orleans, and capped off the year with Christina in Disney for Halloween. Now that I look back at this blog … kind of should have shared more of those events with you guys. This year I have a concert with Vanessa Peters to look forward to (later this month), Kiss in Birmingham with Katie, Christina and I are trying to get a trip to AU pulled together, and of course Dragon Con with Golden. Did I mention that Golden and I will be in a host hotel for the first time and not just any host hotel but the mother of all host hotels … THE MARRIOT !!!!! I am so excited about this turn of events. There is also talk of sending me to a conference in March in Ashville NC but no confirmation on that from the powers that be. Hopefully I'll get off my duff and make those blog worthy cause they totes should be. 

This past year I’ve also hesitated to write anything for fear that someone might read it (AKA family) and get their feelings hurt. I have since realized that I can’t let that hold me back. My mother almost died twice this year, and while no one in my family reads this thing (that I know of) I’d have hated one of them reading about some of our struggles and in particular my frustrations throughout it since it wasn’t that we weren’t really telling people about it but at first we didn’t know what to say. Here’s the story ……. she was sick and instead of making her go to a doctor we let her “handle it her way” until her way wasn’t working anymore. I finally forced the issue and called 911 myself and if I hadn’t she would have bled to death within the next 12-24 hours. She had a bleeding ulcer that was trying to perforate. She sat in the ER all night long and well into the next day getting blood, losing blood and waiting for someone to decide they were going to do something. At the same time my father was on the other side of the hospital getting his pacemaker replaced. Thank god for my brother, he was able to sit with mom while I was with my dad and that was the longest 12-24 hours of my life. Once dad was done we checked him out, drove him around the hospital (he wanted to see my mom), he went back into the ER (by himself cause they wouldn’t let us go with him – one at a time they said) while my brother and I hung out After leaving the ER at midnight and being back at the hospital at 5 I was in zombie mode as the adrenalin was wearing off. Then he took my dad home (later I discovered dad had him replace a toilet and I was livid) and I went to sit with my mom who kept telling me to go home and rest. She finally had surgery that afternoon around 4. They “fixed it” but the doctor said she almost died on the table twice and he was shaking when he said it which did not fill me with warm fuzzys. A week later she was home. Two weeks after that we were back in the ER and this time they had to slice open her stomache from side to side when they weren’t able to clamp and artery. That one we really almost lost her. She was in the hospital for 2 weeks and in rehab for 2 more weeks. She is now home and getting stronger every day but it was a tough 2-3 months for sure. She claims if she sees blood again she’s not saying anything cause that ordeal took a lot out of her. I hope that’s all talk but I also am checking her more often now because of it. I feel like I’m in three lives right now. My work life, my home life, and my by myself life. If I’m not working or taking care of mom I’m in my room watching you tube trying to get myself tired enough to sleep. I’m not sleeping well. I’m averaging about 4-5 hours a night but it’s interrupted sleep so I’d say I’m getting less than that. I’m still moving however so that’s something I’m proud of. My father has been a ROCK throughout this entire ordeal, who would have thought it. He has the bed side manner of say Peter Griffin. He means well but often he’s just in the way but this time I think he’s proving the definition of for better or for worse. God love them they are a cute little couple. Dad’s running himself half ragged too but he’s also pushing himself harder than I’d like. I keep telling him to take some time for himself but I really think he’s “fixing mom” which is replacing some of the guilt he has from “not being able to fix his mom” when he was working and had two kids and Alzheimer’s is a **tch even if he doesn’t believe she had it. She totes did but i'm not gonna argue with him about it just now.

So this is a post to say Happy New Year and a post to keep this blog alive and to try and get my voice back on this thing. I really do enjoy using this blog to share my thoughts and gives with the world I just need to make it more of a priority. I'm nearly 40 (in like 15 days) so that's going to fun to share as well. It's a new decade for me … let's make it a good one. 

Marcy

@beaslma

2018 Resolutions/Guidelines

HAPPY NEW YEAR…. In a few hours … look I plan to be sound asleep in bed at midnight or at least in bed wishing the neighbors would stop with the fireworks already. So I’m telling you happy new year now mostly cause I can’t wait for this shitstorm of a year to just go. Seriously 2017 don’t let the door hit you on the way out. It’s not 2017’s fault, really I mean it just showed up and what happened …well it just happened however I’m blaming 2017 cause there’s really no one else to blame.

Overall it was a pretty decent year, for me anyway, for the Country that's for history to decide. My 2017 resolutions all pretty much came out ahead so that’s a positive. In 2017 my resolutions included write more … which I did … kinda …hey I finished my Haley and Michael’s story so that’s one thing I did … I didn’t start a new one which I had wanted to do but hey that’s Future Marcy’s problem right?! I also wanted to exercise and lose some weight. I did kind of do this, I maintained the weight I was at so I didn’t gain any but I lost very little too so I’m calling this one a draw. I wanted to Travel more and damn if that didn’t rocket to the top of my success list. I traveled to Auburn a few times, Birmingham a few more times, Atlanta a few times, Pensacola (for work), Orlando for fun, and Nashville for the best weekend ever. I definitely can say that this resolution was met with a very happy yes let’s do that attitude. I wanted to get more involved in church, since I had just started a new church in 2016 and I can definitely report that I did do that, from Vacation Bible School to helping with Communion and the Nursery this was also a successful resolution. I also helped with several “parents night out events” and have been appointed to keeping up with the monies coming in and out of the church in 2018 which I’ve already started. I wanted to spend more time with friends which I can report I did so, I mean I didn’t go on all those trips myself did I? I want to make more time to stop and do lunch with friends, or have dinner with friends I don’t see often more in 2018 so that’s a new goal. I also didn’t want to die. That was the main thing I wanted to accomplish for 2017 and I can proudly say that I accomplished that goal. Whew … it was touch and go panic wise most of the year but I did it. Suck it 2017.

So … what do I hope to accomplish in 2018 …. What does it have in store for me ….. what can I try to control when the outside world is too much ….. these are my resolutions/guidelines for 2018 …

1.       Lose Weight – I desperate need to keep this one in check. It’s weird I’m like the opposite of anorexic, like I don’t feel overweight when I’m just sitting around or walking around then I walk by a piece of store front glass and I’m like who the hell is that or someone takes a picture and I’m all ewwwwwwwwwwwww. I really need to get this in check sooner than later and no time like the present, or tomorrow, maybe tomorrow is better. If nothing else I want to be able to go to things and buy a tshirt remembering that trip or that event and right now I’m often told they don’t have that size I have started wearing clothing that fits instead of clothing that’s too big so I can hide in it some. That’s helped a bit but I have more work to be done … stupid chips … being so damn delicious.

2.       Clean More – I have a tendency to let things go until I simply can’t take it anymore then have a massive day where I spend it cleaning, typically it’s a Saturday and by say 5pm I’m done even if I’m not done. So my area often looks worse than it is cause there are piles of crap everywhere. I need to take a lot of stuff to good will, I have far more clothes than I’ll ever wear, I need to throw things away that I’m not going to use and are of no use to anyone else. These are things I really need to do. I should also vacuum more but I know me let’s start with just being able to sit on the window seat.

3.       Spend more time with Friends – this includes dinners after work, or long lunches with friends I don’t see often. I did some of that this past year but not nearly as much. There was still al lot “let’s do x-y-z” then nothing came of it, and I miss these people. My goal is to do more of the planning and less of the not doing the planning. I’m not talking long trips, I’m talking around town going to movies, going to dinner, having adult conversations over adult beverages. I’m really bad about thinking no one wants to do x-y-z with me so I don’t ask, but I need to trust these people to tell me no. ha!

4.       Travel more – I want to continue to travel in 2018. I really enjoyed that aspect of 2017 getting to go and do things instead of being at work or not being at work. I even enjoyed a few of my work travel trips, tho my friendship trips were way more fun obviously. It’s not even 2018 and I already have a trip to New Orleans planned for Mardi Gras (who am I ?) and also a trip to Orlando in October with that same friend now that I think about it. So I’m hoping 2018 will follow 2017’s example and I’ll have more fun during my “downtime” cause after all that’s why I work as hard as I do right?!

5.       Spend time with the nephew’s – As I said the other day the older nephew will be in college next year, that’s just insane. I know after he gets to Auburn he’ll have less time with his aunt Marcy and that’s ok. He’s growing up and has his own life but I have little time left to hang with him so I want to take advantage of it even if he’s busier than I am between school, work and his girlfriend, bring her a long, I like her. As for the little one when big bro leaves I want to hang with him more too cause I remember when my brother left for school I suddenly felt like I was disconnected from him even if we didn’t spent a lot of time together as it was. I want to do more with them than go to a sporting event, have lunch, then come home.

6.       Discover new music – last year I found a new artist whom I adore cause I took a chance and found someone who I my ear holes have been very happy that I found. My twitter follower list is filled with independent artist just waiting for that big break and I like seeing that from the beginning. I also want to post more about these artist to try and put their name out there some. When this blog first started I wrote a lot about my obsession with music, I need to get back into that.

7.       See more movies – I’m not talking about DVDs tho I do have a ton of those still in the wrappers but I’m talking seeing movies in the theater. I had several movies this year that I wanted to see then never did. Either I couldn’t’ find anyone interested in said movie or there wasn’t a good time to go so the movie left the theater. My goal this year a movie every other month even if I have to go alone, I mean it’s not like me and the friend I drag along are going to be talking through the movie right?

8.       Write more letters – sure social media is fine and allows us to feel connected even when we really aren’t, but a long or short letter to someone can make their day. I want to do that more often, I had a pen pal I guess I still have that pen pal I haven’t heard from her in a while but I went a few months without reaching out to her too. I want to make more of an effort to her and to others in my life who aren’t close enough to touch but that would be fun to reach out to in this more traditional way.

So that’s the plan for 2018 …… I’m sure I’m leaving a few things off but just cause they aren’t on this list that doesn’t mean I can’t do them right?! I’m not nearly as anxiety ridden about 2018 as I was but I see another social media break for me in my future. I really enjoyed the Lent break I took and I think that’s going to become a yearly thing for me. It’s good to step away, stop with the RT and shares and think about how we use that platform not always for the greater good. I’m hoping that 2018 will include more conversations and less name calling, more discussions about events and ideas and less dismissing things outright since they don’t fit into my beliefs. I think we can make the world a better place in 2018 but only if we strive to listen to one another, have the conversations we’ve been avoiding and realize that it’s ok to not agree with others as long as those disagreements are done respectively. You can’t change someone’s view but treating that person as if they are an asshat. You don’t have to change the world but you can make it a better place. Let’s make 2018 a positive year and that starts with what we post, how we interact with one another and frankly what we put out into the world. 

Let’s do this!

Marcy (@beaslma)

Mandatory Year End Post

We started this blog in August 2014 and as I look towards the end of 2017 and towards 2018 I can’t help but wonder …. Why someone would take the time to read what we have written. I mean 12,909 times people have clicked on this blog in the last three years, you’d think that you guys would have better things to read. I mean don’t get me wrong …. I appreciate you all being here I just wonder if you don’t have a head injury, lost a bet in hell, or are under court order forcing you to be here. Either way … welcome and I hope in some small way we have entertained you.  According to my calculations we had over 24 posts this year and had 5 months with more than 3 posts so that’s exciting. I even got Golden to do a few posts in 2017, here’s hoping she makes it back in 2018 more.

I will admit this time last year I was very wary of 2017. I didn’t have high aspirations for it …frankly I wasn’t sure we’d even be around for yearend post to be possible so since we are …. 2017 is a win, I guess, I mean jeezz that bar was set really really low huh? I spent most of the year at near panic attack status and my social media break during Lent helped get me back in check somewhat. It was that serious people. I have also decided based on my previous fears to “seize the day” as it were and do things outside of my comfort zone. I can honestly say for the first time in my professional life I did not neglect my vacation time. You know what was so great about that….work didn’t fall apart. Everything continued as needed and I realized for the first time really that it truly wasn’t all on my shoulders, something my boss has been telling me for years.

This vacation time was spent having a really great time. I started the year with a trip to Auburn to see the Gymnastics team do their thing (we wanted to go to a softball game but no tickets available), then Golden’s birthday trip to the Zoo in May. In July I went with a friend to see Asia/Journey in concert and fart around a bit at the Beach being lazy in a pool (that’s right people I worse a swimsuit in public and no one died (that I’m aware of anyway)). In August/September Dragon Con took full stage, and in October Nashville/Ed Sheeran then to cap off the year Disney with Golden. I made a deal with myself last year I was going to travel more, spend more time with friends and family and have experiences not just wish I was doing things. I took over 3 work weeks (15 days total) off this year at various points of the year and still have over 3 weeks in the vacation bank. According to HR I can also be sick for a month should I need to utilize that, here’s hoping I don’t, then again a mental health day every once in a while might be a good idea. I’ll cough now in case I need it *cough*.

That’s crazy to me, but that’s what some 14 years of neglecting your vacation time gets you I guess. That’s another mile stone I reached, I have now been at my job for 14 years. If work were a kid it would be a teenager about to start studying for his/her permit as he/she stands at the top of the stairs yelling they hate me for being well an adult and “interfering in their life” or some jazz like that according to TV/movies I watch. As it stands, I’m still not married, not even in a relationship of any type, and kids are so far out of my radar that I’ve decided I’m ok with not ever having any, that’s what Nephews are for right?! Speaking of Nephews in 2018 the oldest will be graduating from High School and he’s already been accepted to Auburn University for the fall. He’s really stupid smart and has gotten over $8K in scholarship monies so far and they are still rolling in. I’m insanely proud of him and yet also worried about him at the same time. I’m sure he’ll do fine but I know that my first semester (Quarter … we were on Quarters then) was rough and no matter how many times I tell him that he thinks I got this, which is fine cause I did the same thing when my brother tried to warn me. He’s going to have find out himself and I know that but I wish he could learn from the mistakes I made. He’ll be fine, he’ll stumble and pick himself back up and I just might have to make it to a few games next year to you know check on him and all.

I did a few things this year for me, I went to the doctor for some long overdue things that could have waited but are making my life easier so I’m glad I did it. My blood pressure is more under control than it has been which is, as Martha Stewart would say “a good thing.” I lost a little bit of weight but would like to do more. I’ve never really dieted (as anyone who has seen me can tell) but I do think it’s time I did something for real about this weight, the issue is I really like to eat, and I’m also a stress eater. I don’t eat a lot but what I do eat isn’t good for me, lots of fried food, salty stuff that kind of thing. Chips are my weakness… I LOVE CHIPS any kind all day long. I think it’s the crunch. I also love opening that bag for the first time…… “Hi…My name is Marcy and I’m addicted to the crunch of eating chips!”

2018 I hope for more of the same …. Travel, time with friends, time with family, fun not just work … that’s the goal. I already have a few fun things lined up for 2018 including a few concerts and another trip to Disney in October with Christina and her family. We are going to trick or treat in the Magic Kingdom people! That sounds like so much fun ... mental note to self gotta find a costume. I assume that we will do Dragon Con again but it’s far too early to make those plans, ha! Of course I’ll continue my involvement at our new church – um … I’ve now been there over a year can I still call it my “new” church? – These silly people have appointed me as the record keeper for the monies coming in and out of the church, which is very daunting cause me and numbers don’t get along. Lucky I have people watching my back to make sure I’m doing it correctly, bless them. I assume I’ll also help with Vacation Bible School again and more Kid’s Night Out events are in my future as well I’m sure. The kids seem to enjoy them and I think the parents do as well.

I will write another “New Years” post with resolutions/guidelines for the coming year, but I’ll admit 2018 doesn’t feel as scary as 2017 did, or maybe my brain is just numb to it all…who knows.

Either way … thanks for reading, thanks for being my sounding board, and thanks for not being bored even if I’ve started treating this thing like my diary of events.

Have a fantastic New Year see you on the other side!

Marcy (@beaslma)

PS – in 2018 I’m hoping to get Golden (@theonlygolden) back on this blog, 2017 was not good to her, it was downright evil actually, here is to an even better 2018 for her as well as for all reading these words.