Dropping the "Mom" Bomb

So I've been with my fiancee for over three years. I love his family (yes, I do actually love my in-laws!), and his mother is very sweet. Here's the problem though...

I NEED to start calling my MIL (mother-in-law) "Mom". I look at her like one of my 2nd mom's (I used to look at my Aunt and my old next-door neighbor like 2nd mom's too). The thing is, that I'm in the habit of calling her, her name for so long that it's hard to suddenly change it to "mom".

Sure, I look at her like a mom, when she calls me she says "Hi, it's mom", and has even said "I'll be so honored when you call me mom". I think maybe I'm afraid of my fiancee's family thinking I'm a kiss ass, lol. Not sure.

So how did you go about calling your significant others family "Mom" or "Dad"?

Lastly, did your parent or parents take offense to you calling someone else their rightful "name"?

Meeting old friends for the first time

So tomorrow I leave my urban life in NYC for the weekend. My sister and I are driving up to a little town in Canada to visit a whole boat load of friends... many of whom I've been friends with for about three years!!!

We're staying with a friend Shelley, who once came to NYC- so we've met before. She also met Keith and Maximus. Everyone else who I will see this weekend I've never met, though I feel like I'm closer with them than most people in my life... pretty funny how you can establish such important relationships over the Internet. Eh?

It's funny though, I think to myself... when I meet everyone for the first time in person, do I hug them? Shit, I feel like I'm going to just by instinct... or will I feel like it's really the first time I'm meeting them since I'm used to their "virtual identity"?

Know what would be really funny... if I acted like a weirdo for the first hour or so. Obviously Shelley would have to be in on it since she met me and knows I'm "normal" (depending on what your definition of "normal" is *L*)... but I can easily freak out some people if I added a twitch or a stutter... or even a little bit of tourettes. Now that would rock... you have to admit it!

I'm really excited though, it always seemed like I'd never get to meet everyone who lives in Canada because well... we live in different countries! Though, when it comes down to it- I'm only 7-8 hours away... and I get free gas from my company *S*. Canada here I come!!!!

I have to say though... I don't think I could ever bring myself to do tourist-y things in Ontario. After all... they have a freakin' Pit Bull ban... get a clue Bryant and Bryant ass kissers.... you guys suck!!! Ignorant assholes. I'd hate buying anything there knowing that the taxes from my purchase would support these bastard murderers. But eh, what can you do... hopefully the Ontarians will eventually get this holocaust ended if they scream loud enough.

My sister actually asked me "Am I going to have to deal with a bunch of people who hate Pit Bulls? Because then I can't be nice!", lol... she's so funny. I explained how anyone in Ontario who's actually educated on dogs wouldn't be breedist... it's the average Joe and Jane that believe the nonsense.

I will say that I hate the fact Maximus can't come with us... he would so enjoy hanging out all weekend with new people... and once he gets over the initial fear of new (big) doggies, he'd love being around them too!

So, wish me a safe drive people... I'll be sure to post pics when I get back :)

I'm Your Old Soul

It's funny, I'm currently having a conversation on AIM with my closest cousin. She is 5 years older than me, the same age as my older sister, and we've always hung out. Once I hit 13 I was going out to clubs in NYC with them (though I've been done with that stage of my life for years now).

My sister and I have always been best friends, minus a few years where she was a teenager and I was WAY too young to go out with her... but that didn't mean I couldn't play spin the bottle with her friends when they came over *L* I guess that's why my first kiss was a peck on the lips by a 16 year old... and I was 9. Weirrrrrdo! Alright, the guy was being silly because he knew I had a crush on him anyway... sort of doing a nice thing for a lovestruck young girl... last I heard he's a loser and I'd never look in his direction- HA! Go figure! (Don't even know what made me think of that anyway)

Anyway, point being... I guess I've always been sort of mature for my age. I always felt like I was in charge of making sure everything was okay. An "old soul" some have said. It makes sense to me... but I can't help but wonder how easy life would be without cares or sense of responsibility. Though, I wouldn't change the way I am for the world. I'm happy with me, I'm secure in my intelligence and understanding, proud of what I've grown up to be, and the potential I have for the future. Everyone should be, and if not- that's a damn shame.

Sure, there are plenty of childish things I've done, stupid things that I'd love to take back. It makes me think about how people grow up so much from when they're teenagers, even if their core values were always positive... but I guess everyone has those thoughts. Mistakes are what make us grow into the quality adult versions of ourselves... though for some it takes longer to get there... perhaps more time between mistakes... or more mistakes to learn. Who knows really, it's different for everyone.

I really feel that what shows maturity is not the fact that you do not do foolish things, but more so that when you do, you can recognize it, and fix it. When it comes down to it, I was NEVER a bad person or a bad kid... I was always good, with good intent, and trying to be the perfect version of myself.... where I lacked was surrounding myself with friends who influence me poorly. People like that are poison, and there is no option other than ridding them of your life. The good thing about me is that I made my stupid teenage mistakes young in life and learned from them quickly... not to mention learning from the mistakes of those around me. Ultimately allowing me to become who I am now, much quicker.

A quote I heard recently from one of my favorite TV shows where a couple was getting married and the woman said in a speech at the rehearsal dinner "I am thankful for every mistake I've made in my life, because each and every one has led me to you". That's how I feel. :)

Family Parties

Is it just me or are family parties so frequent that I can't live a normal life? I mean seriously, it's every weekend... two or three parties a week!! There should be a limit on how many parties people should be allowed to hold within a particular time frame because I'm getting so sick of it.

I guess this is going to turn into quite the rant because I'm feeling it! Baby Showers- OMG I can't stand them... just let me send you the present, save the money and spare me of the boredom. Watching someone open gifts for FOUR hours isn't exactly my favorite form of entertainment. Meanwhile we all know why the party is required... because without the party all of the cheapos will get out of sending a present off of the registry! *L*

Though I guess it's nice to get together with family and have a reason to see everyone. It's just that I am generally a woman of moderation- a balance is necessary for me to have piece of mind and these present hungry baboon's are really starting to steal my sanity. ;) Okay, honestly I love giving prezzie's so it's really not about that. It's just that taking both days of my weekend, every weekend really frustrates me... I have things I want to do... errands I want to run... my fiancee and dog I'd like to just relax and unwind with. Not to mention taking care of myself- I barely workout like I used to anymore, and trust me I'm starting to feel it.

Having a big family, both on my side and Keith's side has it's benefits and of course it is something to be thankful for. It's just that having so much family, being me, is sometimes annoying. I'm not known for my patience... and I certainly have selective compassion... and some family members tend to teeter close to the edge with me.

Is it acceptable to take a break from life?? Just for a little while? *hehe*

Hello Blogspot!

I have a few friends that are already on here (hi Prin! I'm here!). So of course I wanted to come and share my world... I love to talk at times, so what better way to get my thoughts from my head to your eyes. :) Though there are other times I don't like to speak... and typing always works best... I guess... I think I'm just babbling now.

I'm engaged to be married in November of '08... exciting right? hehehe- it'd be exciting if you were doing all of the planning for me. Damn, wedding planning is like a job of it's own... guess that's why there are wedding planners, eh? ("eh" has most definitely caught on from my Canadian friends- or at least from me making fun of my Canadian friends, lol).

I am excited to get married though, not so much for wedding day but to be married to my fiancee. Not that I'm trying to start my blog off corny and sentimental (I don't always do sentimental too well, not for myself at least), but when you love someone you get excited for the future with them... everything that is to come... and for that, I am.

So yeah, we have a son-errr-dog... his name is Maximus. We think he may be a "Pogo", not that I'm trying to promote those lame-ass "designer dogs" *cough* mutts *cough* ... since there is NO such thing as a hybrid. But coincidentally, Maximus' mom is American Pit Bull Terrier... but he is certainly not 100% APBT. We've been guessing a performance line American Bulldog or a Dogo Argentino for a while... and according to the Dogo Argentino Assoc. they believe "Pogo"... but that's all bullshit anyway, he's just a really cute white dog who we share our life with and couldn't imagine our life without.


This is Maximus' famous shot we did for Christmas two years ago (he was one year old), think George Costanza from Seinfeld. *L*



So not too much to say right now... but they'll be more, I guarantee it. :)