Happy Dia De La Turkey!

Happy Thanksgiving 2006!

This year I am thankful for:

  1. My family and friends. The good, the bad, the drama, the love. Family and friends are what keep me going, and I am always, always grateful for the wonderful bunch with whom I have been blessed.

  2. My experiences and struggles while looking for a new job. I don’t yet know why I’m going through this, but I know that there is wonderful abundance on the other side, and I’m thankful for the lessons I am learning along the way.

  3. Grey’s Anatomy. CSI (Vegas and Miami). Dancing With the Stars. And my newest guilty pleasure – Hair Trauma on WE. Have y’all seen it? Hilarious!

  4. My home.

  5. Good music – Bob Marley, Donald Lawrence, Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Legend, Erykah Badu, Donny Hathaway, Aretha Franklin, Prince, Nina Simone, Hall & Oates . . . the list goes on and on (or it could).

This year’s Thanksgiving Dinner will consist of:

  1. Turkey wings and dressing

  2. Macaroni and cheese

  3. Collard Greens

  4. Green Peas

  5. Cranberry Sauce

  6. Lemon Pound Cake

  7. Sweet Potato Pie

  8. Rolls and Cornbread

All cooked by . . . drumroll please . . . Nerd Girl herself! Yep! This is my first time EVER cooking Thanksgiving dinner, so I hope that everything turns out okay – especially since this is my test run for when my WHOLE family is here for Christmas. I decided to keep the menu relatively simple. The only things I think I’ll have additionally at Christmas is a fried turkey (which I’ll order) and succotash – love the stuff.

Well, I’m off to put Lovegirl down for her nap – when she wakes up, it’ll be time to eat.

I wish you all the happiest of days with your loved ones! God Bless.

Friends . . . how many of us have them?

It is hard for me to make friends. I’m a naturally reserved person. Not shy per se, but reserved. I generally won’t approach someone I don’t know and start talking. If you start talking to me – watch out, it is on. But I rarely, if ever, make the first move. So basically, unless someone approaches me, I stand alone. Add to this the fact I’ve been told that I have a “do not approach me” air about myself. I don’t intentionally throw this vibe off, and it is something that I try to check myself on on the regular – so I’m not standing around glaring ya know, but it is a part of who I am.

So it goes to say that I’ve never been one of those girls that you find in a gaggle of other laughing, talking, having a great time women. I think I’m charming and witty and damn funny. And so do my friends – the few that I have. I’m just not a friend magnet I suppose.

Anyhoo, I’m really saddened that my “gym friend” M is moving. On to New Orleans she and her brood are headed. We started talking one day in spin class and have been cool since that day. Our daughters are a few months apart, and so we’d do occasional play dates, birthday parties, etc. Not a lifelong, bosom buddy, but a good pal nonetheless. And now she’s leaving. Which brings my grand friend total in MS down to 3. And one of those is considering moving too.

So ladies (and you too Brainhell if you’re still reading) please head over to the comments section and answer me this – who was the last friend you made and how did you meet her (or him)? I’m interested to know if this is strictly a Nerd Girl phenom or if everyone deals with this issue. Thanks in advance!


Why am I awake . . .



at 5:30 in the morning? Mostly because, as hard as I try not to be, I am worried about our financial future. I really didn’t think it would take this long for me to find another job. I’m tired of talking about it, tired of worrying about it, have said that I’m not worried about it, but, anyone who’s been up since 3:00 in the morning must have it on her mind – ya know? What’s the old saying? “If you pray, don’t worry and if you worry, don’t pray.” Great. I’m praying and worrying. I’ve probably canceled myself out.

Oh well, let’s move on to other things. Important stuff like . . .

Is it just me, or does that stank new Fergie (of the Black Eye Peas) song sound a lot like “Supersonic” from back in the day? Is it just me? It usually is. In case you’re wondering what song I could possibly be talking about, the name of the musical masterpiece is “Fergalicious.”

I am sorry to hear that Regina King (of the TV show “227” and many, many movies including “Ray”) and her husband are divorcing. Well, actually I’m not, since apparently he’s been abusing her for most (all?) of their eight year marriage. My friend and I were talking about this earlier today. I continue to be amazed at how many successful and financially secure women live and exist in abusive relationships. It hurts my heart to know that there are men who feel they have to dominate, control, and abuse the women they “love.” And that there are women who stay with these men. I know they have a child together, but still . . . and this is not really me being judgemental, because thank God, I have never experienced an abusive relationship. I just wonder why in a day and time when women have rights and options and money and resources so many women continue to stay in abusive relationships. I pray that she is able to move on and heal. And that he gets the help he needs.

I am so excited that Emmitt Smith and Mario have made it to the finals in “Dancing with the Stars.” I am hoping that Emmitt wins. I’ll be honest, I think Mario is actually a better dancer, but I think he’s had training or something which gives him an unfair advantage. And Emmitt is just so darned cute shimmying and shaking and gliding around that dance floor.

Wow. I’ve gone from Fergie to domestic violence to dancing celebs. I guess this is what happens when one blogs while deliriously sleepy yet is unable to sleep. Umm, what else . . .

Oh, I didn’t get the job at the hospital. I’m still waiting to hear from the university. I’ll keep you posted.

I got approved for unemployment. I never thought I’d be so happy to be receiving governmental aid. I was first told I couldn’t collect unemployment because I’d been fired and they would have to open up an investigation because unemployment was only for people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own – layoffs, plant closings, etc. I guess even the unemployment people see that there is no rationalizing that I was fired because of my “lousy” work, but kept on the payroll for two months past my firing to finish a project because I was the only one who could do it right. Geesh. Unemployment comes on a debit card that can be used at any store or I can get money off of it to pay bills. Who knew?

I’m slightly mortified at the fact that I’ve begun the process for putting Lovegirl on the Medicaid program. This is just not somewhere I ever thought I’d be in my life. I’ve always believed (and still do) that you shouldn’t have kids if you can’t afford them. I don’t mean “My Super Sweet 16” afford them, I mean basics – decent housing, decent meals, decent clothing. Yet, here I am “overeducated”, unemployed and putting my kid on a free health insurance plan. But, the thought of her not having insurance (she was covered on mine) terrifies me. Especially with her propensity for running into things and bumping that sweet precious little head of hers. I guess technically we could put her on Smoochy’s insurance, but honestly, he doesn’t bring home that much money – which was never a problem because I made enough for us to comfortably exist – and if we added her to his insurance, his check would be virtually nonexistent. I just feel an indescribable amount of shame having to rely on “the system” to provide for my family the things that I feel I should.

Wow. I believe I’m whining. And I don’t want to. So, it’s about 6:00 I guess I’ll log off and grab a few moments of relaxation before Lovegirl wakes up full of energy and ready to start the day.

Please forgive any typos, whining, incoherent thoughts – I was thinking about not posting this, but I guess I will because this is where I am. For right now anyhow.