I have a younger brother as you know but we were raised pretty much like only children because of the gap in ages and I learned early on how to amuse myself. As long as I have books to read, I am fine. I also don’t need to connect with people all of the time.

I’m an introvert (I know I have friends reading this now saying STOP LYING!, but it’s the truth). I have to work at being social and friendly. I am terrible in big groups. All of that is tiresome and draining for me. I prefer more one-on-one interaction or smaller groups.

It’s hard to get close to me. It amazes me sometimes the people who consider me a friend and refer to me as friend that I consider an acquaintance.

As is often the case here lately, this blog post is pretty much about nothing. Sorry. Lost my blogjo.

My family loves my cats and my mom wanted company so it was a win-win because I could still be connected to them. They are now my mother’s cats. She spoils them with daily treats and my aunt visits and brings them treats and rubs bellies for hours on end and my uncle visits and scratches ears for hours on end — cat heaven! that’s where they are now. My mama is happier. I did the right thing.

But I still miss them bouncing all over the bed in the morning trying to get me to wake up and feed them and following me around and walking on my head and purring in my ear. I’ve been watching these videos for the past couple of days and laughing laughing laughing.

This one reminds me of my orange tabby:

And, to tell the truth, I didn’t want to do the job. It’s more of the stuff I’ve been doing over the past few years and I’m trying to shift to some different content. At my current place of employment I’ve been working on doing more of the things I want to do and in recent months have found I’m being called on to do more of it.

BUT it was the kind of gig I could do for a year and then use its juice to bounce to something else I *wanted* to do. And for that reason alone, I was willing to seriously consider it.

I always start off the year with a list of goals, usually focused on finances, because I like money. LOL! But they also often involve personal enrichment goals — taking a class, learning a new skill, experiencing something NEW, expanding my horizons.

As a couple we set some financial goals last year that we didn’t quite achieve but we didn’t completely blow off either. I also had the goal of getting my house situated one way or the other by Dec. 31. That goal was accomplished. I wanted to lose some weight, and I did that, too.

We set some new financial goals this year and began putting our plans into action immediately. I intend to lose more weight this year and become more active. I’m thinking about taking some pole dancing lessons. Why? I dunno. Cause. Mr. SLS said that was a limited “goal” as we are not putting a pole up in our house. LOL!

Anyway, this is rambling but there is a point in there somewhere: What are your goals?

Mr. SLS and I started calling it my Linus blanket after a bit because I move from room to room with it and sometimes use it as a pillow.

One day a couple of weeks ago Mr. SLS was cold and I put the throw over him and he discovered how toasty warm and comfy it is and now, this is the two of us with this blanket (sans the pop-up commentary from the person who posted the video):

Our niece loved the gift my mama gave her and played with it from the time she opened it until the time we left. What really made my day was when Mr. SLS’ sister and her husband left, our niece and nephew (his brother’s kids) jumped up and down screaming: “AUNTIE [my name] and UNCLE [hubby's name] ARE STAYING! AUNTIE [my name] and UNCLE [hubby's name] ARE STAYING! YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!” So I guess we are ALL on the same page in reference to Mr. SLS’ sister. LOL!

That said, Mr. SLS’ sister cried when she opened our gift. Apparently the idea that we picked out something that was so perfect for her overwhelmed her. His sister is very hippy dippy and emotional so while the reax was a little bit much it wasn’t out of character for her.

Anyway, gotta get back to my family. Type at ya later!

What’s really funny is I said we should get my mom a new phone for her house cause I swear every-damn-time I call her that phone is crackling or about to die or something. Well, apparently me, my brother AND her boyfriend all were disgusted with that phone and all got her the same thing. She laughed and laughed and laughed. We’ll take ours back and get her this book she wants and some other things.

I baked two pumpkin pies last night with my gingersnap and walnut crust and topped with my homemade cranberry sauce. I also got my sweet potato souffle ready so I could pop it into the oven this a.m. after putting the topping on it (I used crushed pecans, crushed cinnamon cookies, light brown sugar, butter and a little flour for the topping) and in a bit I’ll make the oyster stuffing. We’re going to Mr. SLS’ brother’s house and it will be fun to watch the kids open their presents.

All in all, not a bad morning. Hope yours is as lovely and that you are sharing it with your loved ones.

In all the time we’ve been together I’ve only gotten greasy about the mouth once with Mr. SLS. He left the house. Later he told me not to EVER cuss at him again. And I haven’t.

But in the past I have said some things with the intention of slicing and dicing a muthaeffer with my tongue.

Like the time I said to a dude, “Hell, all this yipyapping and shit, you sound like a bitch. Get some ballz ’bout yourself.”

And the time after that when I said, “I’m sorry I said the shit, but only because you keep bringin’ it up two, three years later, hell! Stop whining wit’ yo’ bitch ass.”

There was the time I said, “If I gotta figure this out all by myself, what the hell do I need you for?”

And oh yeah, the time I said, “If you want to eat here, you need to bring some groceries, cause my money don’t feed me and big [N-words]*, too.”

I get it honest, I do. I’ve listened to and watched my mama, aunts, grandma, great-aunts, cousins and beyond grind a mofo down with their words. I used to be proud of being mouthy and having a quick comeback on the ready in case a negro acted up.

Not anymore. I remember my mama telling me a few years ago that she wanted me to be married and if I wanted to be married I couldn’t do what she did. She had had her husband and didn’t want another one, I still had to get mine and talking any kinda way to a man I supposedly cared about was not cool.

If it matters at all, I said all of that to the SAME man and I eventually realized I didn’t respect him. Or love him. Or like him. We broke up and have never spoken again.

What about you? Do you let whatever comes up come out and talk to your mates/dates disrespectfully? If so, how’s that working for you?

*This was before I decided to remove that word from my vocabulary.

I went shopping with my sister-in-law in a “bonding” outing. It was OK, though she is much more of a shopper than I am and about an hour in I was done. (Why does it seem like people with the least to spend stay in the mall frittering away money they aint got?)

I’ve talked to the people in the other city twice now and am just waiting to see what they intend to do. It’s both a great opportunity and a not-so-great opportunity at the same time. Hard to explain. I’m not sure what I’ll do if an offer comes. Whatever happens it will be the right thing, I’m sure.

Mr. SLS and I had our first big disagreement as a couple this past week. I was so mad I couldn’t talk to him for a day or so. I finally calmed down enough for us to talk and we aired our grievances and got it all out just in time for the snow to fall and trap us in the house for a day.

Which leads me to being snowed in…and being snowed in and making up. I hate snow. But, I like making up all snuggly BECAUSE of the snow.

Finally, my mom will be here in a few days and when I was putting up the Christmas stockings I realized that she isn’t extended family she is a part of our little family here in D.C.

I thought about starting my next IVF cycle this month and then changed my mind. Maybe next month.

There’s more but I’m already tired of typing so, until next time!