Karen’s Place

****Warning this is gonna be a long one folks, I’m rambling today! ****

As I sit here on what is supposed to be the last weekend of summer, I’ve been thinking back on the past 8 months.  You know, even though the year has been somewhat tumultuous in ways, all in all I really think it has been one of the best years (thus far) I’ve had in a very long time.

As everyone is aware of by now, the personal changes I decided to make in my life made all the difference I do think.  It’s funny I was talking to a friend of mine who lives in North Carolina.  My friend is Irish, born and raised.  He was telling me when he was young his Mom used to tell him this story and he never knew what it meant until he was an adult.  I knew as soon as he was finished I would never remember it, but I sure wish I had.  I know it involved two cats and one that chased his tail all the time.  Anyway, the moral of the story was that you will never find happiness as long as you are chasing.  However, once you stop and start leading your life for you, happiness will find you.  I found it ironic he chose that story to tell me, because that’s just what I did.  I stopped everything I was doing.  I stopped working so hard at trying to control every aspect of my life and decided to just do what I wanted.  As it turns out I’m a much happier person and in turn so are those around me.  He said he began doing that a couple of years ago himself and found the same results.

So this year, I’ve been lucky enough to take my trip out East, I toured the USS Theodore Roosevelt where I was able to see my first boyfriend and good friend the Navy Chief and catch up with my old friends in North Carolina.  I’ve reconnected with my friend Kim.  I had a great albeit much too short romance with my army man, and I’ve been spending some great quality time with my oldest friend Tricia.  All this isn’t anything nobody doesn’t already know, so I’m not really sure why I’m repeating it for like the 100th time.  Probably because I’m exhausted and not really thinking straight… ha!

About six weeks ago my friend Laura and I went to a club that has live music almost every night.  We were not familiar with the band playing, but were pleasantly surprised.  After the second break or so, the guitarist, Shawn came over to our table and started chatting us up.  He was an extremely nice guy.  I’m sure at this point if I were to rave about his talent you would just assume I was being bias, but I’m not.  This guy can play like you wouldn’t believe!  Truly it blew me away.  So he talked to us on that break, and then came back during each subsequent break.  Each time he talked more and more about this other band he was in; a country band.  It was pretty clear he liked the country band much more than the one he was playing with this night.  So we all visited a while after the show was over with promises to ‘friend’ each other on myspace (you know that’s what you do now days - friend each other on myspace! ha ha). 

So a couple weeks later, I saw on his myspace that his country band (I wrote briefly about this band in a previous post) was playing on a night I could go and got my girls together and we drove out to see them.  I tell you what, he wasn’t kidding when he said that group was much different.  These guys had so much energy, got the crowd going and wow could they play!!  You can tell the guys are good friends in real life as well.  In fact Shawn and the lead singer, Chan are best friends.  I think that makes all the difference in the music.  I was called out as soon as we walked in the place and on the first break Shawn brought the guys over to meet my friends and me.  They sat and visited with us on many of the breaks and we were able to learn quite a bit about them.  Oddly, Chan was stationed at the same army post as my army man and was aquatinted with him…small small world.  So, we’ve been able to see them a couple of more times since then, the last time being Saturday night.  They had a great gig Saturday night.  Kansas City has a new entertainment district in our downtown area, called the Power and Light District.  Their gig was at one of the clubs down there called PBR Big Sky Bar.  Usually we get there when they are a good hour or so into their show, but this time we wanted to get there from the beginning.  We didn’t quite make that goal, but we were close.  None of us had been down to the P & L District before and might I say, we absolutely LOVED it!!!!!  Oh my gosh!!!  It was awesome!!!  It’s about time Kansas City did something as kick ass as this!!  We can’t wait until we can go down there again and just go from place to place.  It reminded me a lot of Vegas, it had that feeling where you were outside, but you didn’t feel like you were outside.  If you’ve been there, you know what I mean.  We were a little concerned about parking, we all heard horror stories about parking.  Then we saw the magic sign:  “VALET PARKING” *ding ding ding ding* worry over!  sweet!  Of course it cost, but with three of us splitting it, the cost was next to nothing.  Honestly, they could have really ripped us off with the cost of valet parking, but really $6 not bad at all.  I hope they don’t raise it after everyone gets used to using it.

We pay (again this was even less expensive than I’ve paid in the burbs to get into a club), get our hand stamped and head into the bar.  The guys are already playing.  We lead singer spots me right away and says ‘ahhh the posse’s here!!!’  Now is it a good thing or a bad thing to be recognized that quickly?  I’m not sure?  ha! naw it’s a good thing, he’s a sweetie.  The first thing we noticed about this joint was there were absolutely NO tables, or seats of any kind anywhere near the stage.  What the heck?  The second thing we noticed was the mechanical bull in the middle of the room.  Okay, that’s pretty cool I’m not sure if I’d seen one of those in person before.  The guys play wireless which allows them a lot more freedom than a lot of other bands.  Here’s a good example, when the third set started everyone wondered where Shawn was, Chan and Danny (the drummer) were there, but Shawn was nowhere to be found.  Then all of a sudden we could hear him.  This is where he was:

How fun! 

One thing my friends and I noticed about the people in this bar is that they seemed to be younger than us.  At first we thought we were going to be quite a bit out of place.  This didn’t seem to bother them.  They were a lot of fun to dance with.  In fact, one guy (who I should probably call a kid, but my ego won’t allow me to) came up with his friend and danced with my friend Kim and me. 

***oh at this point I should probably point out that I was barefoot.  To me shoes are only worn to get me in the door.  They come off probably 10 minutes after I get there.  Everyone tells me I’m going to get glass in my foot, or something more horrible.  I know, I know but I hate shoes - it’s a risk I take.

Okay, so this guy is dancing with me and he leans in and says “I promise I don’t want anything from you, I just want to tell you that you are SO pretty!  Then he points, from your feet to your face, you are SO pretty!”  Whoa!  I just said thank you!  Now what the heck is wrong with men of my generation being able to be open and honest like that?  Okay, maybe men of my generation don’t think I’m SO pretty.  ha ha.

We also stepped outside for some air where the three of us were immediately hit on by two college boys from Warrensburg.  Now that was fun.  One was sober, clearly thank goodness the DD, the other drunk off his butt!  He was hilarious!  His sober friend was so embarrassed of him, but the three of us just found it funny because at some point in our lives we’ve all been either that sober one, or that drunken one.  The drunken one offered to have us come back to their place the next day for some ’shrooms’.  We had to explain later to my friend Tricia these were psychedelic mushrooms, not the stuffed kind.  As soon as the invitation left drunk guys mouth, sober guy was all “NOOOOO!!!!, dude noooo!!!!”  It’s a good thing we’re cool people.  It’s a good thing Kim is a cool person - Her brother is a cop.  ha!

So the night ended and after standing for over five hours; since there were no tables or seats we were so thankful for the valet parking.

Final thoughts - yeah as if I haven’t had enough already?  As always, thanks Tricia and Kim for being posse!  Laura we missed you while you were out on sick leave.

Everyone if you’re anywhere near Kansas City, or Centralia, MO check this band out - they are Hazzard County

My Goddaughter showed this to me last night.  It is so funny!!

I’ve always heard the phrase that people come into your life at a certain time for a certain reason (something like that anyway). I always understood it, but never thought it really applied to me.

I’ve been extremely fortunate in my life to have the best of friend; even when my stubbornness at times refused to recognize them, even when I thought I was completely alone in the world all I had to do was look behind me and low and behold one of them had my back.

That’s what has made this past year so difficult for me. I’ve noticed my core group of friends all drifting off to different places. I have the friend I’ve considered my sister for 20 plus years that now we are lucky if we speak on the phone once a week. We have the third amigo to this trio who is slowly slipping away as well, off on her own separate interests and new friends. None of these things are bad, it’s just sad. I am very close friends with my friend/my sister’s boyfriend and her son is my Godson, so we will always have that connection. In addition, no matter what we know without having to say it if either of us needed the other we would be there without ever having to ask why.

Our third amigo is my Goddaughter’s Mom, same goes for her. I see her a little more frequently and now that Sam is in her mid-teens I talk (who am I kidding – text) to her every day. Still, there’s a little less in common as time goes by. Our conversations revolve more around the past and a little less around what is going on currently. I suppose that had I not had blinders on, I would have known this would happen one day.

I know in my heart that these two ladies will be with me the rest of my life in one capacity or another. I’ll make sure of it. I plan to participate in those kids wedding (wedding singular, I have no doubt they will marry one another!).

I’m not saying they are the only one’s who have changed here. In fact, I don’t think they’ve changed nearly as much as I have. I think they are the same people they’ve always been, but I’ve done an almost major overhaul of my life emotionally at least in the past year. That’s not to say I made a conscious decision to leave them behind, but I can’t stay home and hide every weekend like given the choice they would do. I realized I need to live my life. I’m sure this sounds very selfish and without knowing the situation, how can I blame anyone for thinking that?

I made the decision first of the year that I would do my best to never leave a room or someone’s company without a smile on my face. If I couldn’t do that, I wouldn’t put myself in that situation or person’s company again. You’d be amazed how much less stress and how much happier I’ve been. Of course, this isn’t practical for everyone I’m sure, but it is for me and I plan to continue this path…So here we are.

Last fall I was drug kicking and screaming to my high school reunion. There was only one good thing to come out of it. I found my old friend from Junior High. She’s the platinum blond in the pictures from the earlier post.

Back in the day, Junior High started in 7^th grade. I started that year with no friends in any of my classes. Talk about scared to death! I couldn’t even have a friend for a locker partner since we had to choose from our 4^th hour class. By the time I walked into band class I was depressed and defeated. That’s where I met this tiny little trouble maker with a big mouth. She played the flute just like me. She and her friend Melissa were the first to speak to me and from there it was history. I’ll never forget her for that and I’ll never be able to thank her for that either.

Over the years, Kim moved around quite a bit, but wherever she was, she always wrote and let me know where she was. In fact, for a year or so, she was at the lake and I got to spend a summer with her. She was the one who introduced me to my first boyfriend while we were at the skating rink.

After high school, Kim got married, and very soon after that, she had her daughter then her son. Then we lost contact. I always missed her but had no idea where she was.

I think it was fate that we were supposed to live our lives the way we did until now. She went on to become a nurse and a republican (ugh!). If I’d had any influence on her, she may not have become a republican. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. If we’d stayed friends through those years, I may not have two wonderful Godchildren.

It seems Kim and I are at a time in our lives when we need each other again. At least in my opinion. Her children are grown, well almost. They are 20 and 15. She’s still married, to the most awesome man by the way. If I may be as arrogant to speak for her, Kim seems to be in a place in her life where she is ready to begin to step a little out of that ‘housewife’ role every now and again and remind her of who she is. Exactly where I was/am. She’s at the point in her life where she’s ready for her own interests outside the home.

Whatever the reasons are, all I can say is I’m glad fate brought my friend back to me. We may not be 12 years old anymore (thank God), but we sure haven’t forgotten how to have fun, and you know what? She was the first person to talk to me at that reunion…Thanks Kim.

I’m a tad bit addicted to the Summer Olympics.  When I was younger it was always the Winter Olympics, but now it’s Summer all the way.  Last night as I was up waiting and waiting and waiting for them to get back to men’s swimming (HELLO! Michael Phelps??!!) I saw the below story.  The video isn’t the best quality, but it CRACKED me up!  It’s worth the watch.

This past Saturday was Girl’s Night Out.  My friends have husband’s and/or kids and it’s important for them to be able to get out of the house to cut loose and release some stress.  The players in the party were, Kim - who basically organized the entire night.  Kim has been my friend since the day I walked into band class in the seventh grade.  Tricia - who drove about 45 minutes in from out of town to be with us.  Tricia - has been my friend since the day I walked into my fifth grade classroom, and Laura - Laura I honestly thought was going to back out at the last minute and am SO glad she didn’t.  I think she’s glad she didn’t too.  Laura - has been my friend since almost the first day of choir class in the 10th grade.  As you can tell, three of my oldest (in time not age) and closest friends.

We started out meeting a friend and co-worker of Kim’s for dinner.  She was originally supposed to be with us for the entire night, but at the last minute couldn’t continue past dinner.  I’m sure she will regret it!  As you know by now, all roads for Kim and I lead to our regular pub.  Laura and Tricia had not yet been able to experience it, so we after dinner the four of us stopped by for a couple of hours.  Our ultimate goal for the evening was to go watch a favorite local band of ours.  We’ve become acquainted with the a couple of the band members and like to support them whenever possible.  Not to mention, the music is awesome!  Anyway, so first we stopped off at our regular haunt.  Laura and Tricia were able to meet Sweetie who of course greeted us warmly.  Sweetie is usually pretty amused by Kim and I, but this night he was even more so.  We entertained him with stories of our childhood and adolescence.  I was at an extreme disadvantage, because I was the common thread between all of us.  Therefore, the other three had stories about me the others hadn’t heard.  Oh the tales were flying!  It was fun though.

We had to leave, and after driving much further than I thought we were going to have to, we landed at Tanner’s in Denver Colorado.  Okay, it wasn’t really Denver but it sure felt like it!  The guys had been playing for an hour or so, but let’s say the party didn’t start until we got there!  Okay, the party didn’t start until KIM got there!  ha!  Really though, no one can get a place dancing like the two of us.  It used to be I was worried about what people thought of me if I were to get up and dance.  Now I’m too old to care.  I love to dance, if I stink at it who cares?  All that matters is that I’m having fun.  So Kim and I begin to dance and others soon follow.  The night was great.  This will be a monthly event.  I’m not sure they can top this, but I’m sure we’ll try.  Here are some pictures:

Me, Laura, Kim and Tricia - We almost had to hog tie Laura to get her picture taken

I do almost always get what I want though!  ha ha ha ha ha

 
Tricia and Me - If I were really mean, I’d post another picture of us together when we were 10 yrs old!

 
Kim and Me - Yes her hair color is natural!  Really!

Here’s the guys - They say they’re country, but I’ve never heard a country band play
AC/DC like these guys!

The first thing I would like to do, is wish one of the most wonderful people in the entire world the most happiest of birthday’s tomorrow.  I feel so lucky to have her as not just my Aunt but as my friend.  She was only 9 years old when I was born, which had to be extremely weird for her - and I’m the youngest in my family.  How many kids are Aunt’s before they even start school?  My Aunt is one of the best people I know.  She not only works most of the time 6 day weeks, but in the summer this is in a freakin’ hot unairconditioned factory, when she comes home where she and her family live on a farm the work doesn’t stop.  If it’s harvest time…look out!  There’s no rest!  Oh, did I mention that happens AFTER she stops by my (often grumpy) Grandpa’s house EVERY single day to check on him and most likely go to the store for him.  EVERY single day.  My Grandpa doesn’t believe in making a shopping list.  He doesn’t look beyond the current day, so when she gets to his house to check on him each afternoon, he has something new for her to go fetch.  I honestly don’t know how she doesn’t collapse at the end of the day.  However, what does she do?  She has a virtual smile for me at all times.  She has kind words for me when I’ve had a bad day, and she has raised the best two kids I know.  Not to mention the smartest.  So after all that?  Happy Birthday!  I LOVE YOU!

I woke up this morning at 7:30 to the sound of my phone ringing.  Normally that would annoy me but not today.  Today it was Lowe’s telling me my new dishwasher would be delivered between 7:30 & 8:30.  Sweet!  The motor on my dishwasher burned out three years ago and I’ve been doing them by hand ever since.  Don’t get me wrong it really isn’t that big of a deal since it’s just me.  However, admittedly so-I’m a little lazy when it comes to house work and dishes are not really first on the priority list.  Last week I finally got fed up and decided enough was enough and I had done my final dish.  I’d tossed the idea around for a while but my built in is this tiny little apartment size and if I were to get a new one, I should really get a full size.  I called a friend to see if he could work on my cabinets to make a full size fit but sadly no. No such luck.  He suggested I get a portable.  So I did.  Wouldn’t you know, they don’t supply those in the stores.  I had to order it off the internet (what ever did we do before the internet?).  Lowe’s told me it would be here on the 15th.  Okay…  Then I got a call yesterday that it was in and they would deliver it today.  Dang, that was only a two day turn around.  Thanks Lowe’s! 

So, the delivery guys came today with my dishwasher.  They brought it in on the two wheeler.  Why it took two guys to use the two wheeler I have no idea.  I showed them where to put it in the kitchen so they did.  Then asked me to sign and left.  When I went into the kitchen I noticed they hadn’t even bothered to unpack it.  What the Heck?  Is it just me, or should they have taken it out of the box?  Whenever I’ve had furniture delivered they always take the wrapping off.  If they weren’t going to take it out of the box, why did the second guy even come in my house?  Yeah, thanks lowe’s!  ugh!   Good thing they were offering free delivery and I didn’t have to pay for that.  Anyway, I have this huge box sitting in my kitchen now.  If anyone’s kids want it to play with let me know.  Otherwise I have to figure out how to get it out to the trash guy, or how to get it to the recycling center. 

Yeah! I have a dishwasher!!    Oh the simplest things can make a girl so happy!!

Last night I went to see a musical at one of our many local theatres.  It was Always Patsy Cline  and it was outstanding!  I was a little concerned it would be a little over the top or that the lead wouldn’t do Patsy’s voice justice, but I was not disappointed.  Granted, no one since the day she died in 1963 has been able to match that pure voice of her’s but this actor made the part her own and did great.  Could you imagine having a job where you got to sing Patsy songs all night every night?  That would be awesome!  Not just Patsy songs, but there was some Kitty Wells thrown in and well numerous others from the early and late ’60’s; everything I was raised on.

The show was based on a true story of Patsy’s friendship with a fan (Louise) from Houston who befriended Patsy in a Honky-tonk in Texas in 1961 and remained friends with her until Patsy’s death in 1963.  You know, in today’s age of entourages and posse’s and agents and management, I wonder if that could even happen anymore? Could an average fan become friends with a celebrity?  Hummm, I wonder?  In this case it started because Patsy walked into that bar all alone prior to doing her show and Louise approached her.  Partially because she loved her music but also because she looked lonely.  Patsy didn’t blow her off go wait in her dressing room like I believe stars of today would.  She sat down at Louise’s table and had some beers with her.  What a crazy idea.   

Anyway, it was a fun night of music.  My friend and I had to do our best NOT to sing out loud to all the songs.  It was for the sake of the people around us really.  Oh who of which were at least 20 years older than us.  I tell you what people our age and younger just do not appreciate good music any more… tisk tisk tisk.

I was with my friend Kim, so after the show we headed for our normal hang out.  I’m not going to name it for fear that any stories told about this establishment could incriminate the staff and also our friend.  It seems when she and I are together all roads lead to this location.  Not at all a bad thing, it’s a pretty cool place.  We’ve made pretty good friends with the bartender.  I know a lot of people say that?  However, in our case it’s true.

We first went there early this summer, it was packed.  I met Kim and one of her work friends there for a night of dancing.  I’m pretty out going, but Kim even more so.  By the end of the night she was trying to broker a phone number exchange between this cute little barely 21 year old and this VERY hot our age bartender.  It didn’t go so well, but the bartender thanked her for her efforts.  The next time we stopped in he was working and immediately recognized us (YES it had been several weeks, we aren’t that much of a lush!).  It was a slow night and he talked to us the entire night.  We still didn’t know his name so to us it was sweetie.  He really didn’t seem to mind.  It was kind of fun being on the other end of the name for a change though.  I could say “Hey Sweetie?” and he would look up from the other end of the bar and see if I needed anything…Nice!   Kim and I visited with him then went on to dance for the rest of the night, but we still checked in on him to make sure he was working.  See, I was running a tab and I wanted to make sure HE would get my tip and not one of the other bartenders.  Time came to tab out and Kim and I looked at our bills and it was a fraction of what it should have been.  I mean a fraction!  I looked up at him, and questioned him on it and he just shrugged his shoulders and said ‘hey! I just punch in what you guys order, the register does the rest’.  yeah right sweetie.  okay!  Needless to say, he got big tips from both of us.

Sweetie was lucky enough to be on the receiving end of my boo-hoo fest when my military man left.  Lucky him!  But between him and Kim I was laughing like crazy by the end of the night.  Then we stopped in about three weeks ago and he wasn’t there, talk about boring!  I think we still danced and everything, but even the waitresses didn’t seem to be having a good time; interesting…

Here’s just a taste of Ms. Patsy Cline thanks to youtube:

Transcript of a text message conversation I had with my soon to be 14 year old Goddaughter tonight:

Me:  I just learned a line dance at a club. lol and I was really good!

Her:  Wat dance-

Me:  I don’t know-I went to the right, went to the left, kicked some.  lol are u proud of me or mortified? (ed note: of course I knew what dance it was, but it’s so much fun playing with her!)

Her: OMG! The cupid shuffle! Did u walk it out?

Me:  YES! I walked it out! Ha! So are u proud of me?

Her:  OMG! lol i’m proud and completely um…idk lol

Me:  Yeah I know I just had to share it with you.

First.  I absolutely love this girl the older she gets.  When she was an infant I didn’t think I would love her more at any other age.  Same for every single stage since.  But her being a teenager has been so much fun.  Probably because I’m still single and ‘out there’ in the world so to speak and our generational paths are crossing. 

Second.  Look at the direction our English language is headed with this text message revolution.  Not only do these kids type like this, but they speak like that.  You know that old cell phone commercial; I think it’s for a cell phone, where the whole family is talking in acronyms?  Yeah, that’s not so far off the mark.  They really do say ‘idk’ for I don’t know.  They really do say ‘OMG’ for Oh my God (that one doesn’t bother me as much).  However, if I ever start to hear ‘lol’ instead of true laughter, it will all be over! 

Did I mention I got tickets???  14th row!!!  I’m so excited!!  These guys give me chills…and Noooo not because they are such good eye candy.  That’s just the gravy!

I remember some time ago, maybe a year or so I complained on my blog about how much I spent filling my gas tank. I think back then I spent $36 to fill my little Ford Focus. Tonight I spent $47 to filling up my tank. Yes that’s right $47!!! When is this going to stop? Yeah, that was a rhetorical question. I almost got a knot in my stomach while paying for it. Unbelievable! Have I heard anything about the price of oil in the election campaigns? Nope. Nothing. Zilch. I have been getting a little better gas mileage lately though; I’ve been trying that trick I read about in one of those chain emails. It said not to hold the gas nozzle all the way down while pumping the gas, I can’t remember the physics involved in the reasoning but it actually seems to be working. I’ve been getting about 20 miles more per tank. It’s not much, but it’s something…

Speaking of saving gas. When I took this new job at work, one of the perks was the ability to work from home one day a week. I knew it would be a while before I’d be able to do that, but I’m working on a project now and I’m pretty settled in so, starting tomorrow I’ll be working every Thursday from home. It will be SO nice. It will not only save me gas, but already in the new job I get to wear casual clothes every Friday, but now with not being in the office on Thursdays I only have to come up with work clothes three days a week. That will be really nice! Oh yeah, and the extra hour of sleep will be great too. I worked from home for a while several years ago and it was so nice! Get up, make my coffee and wonder into the office for the day. Maybe get dressed, maybe not until lunch. I am looking forward to this. The others in my department don’t come in on their work at home days for anything. They even call in for meetings. I’m really looking forward to this. Oh, yeah and of course I’ll be much more productive.

Let’s see what else is going on…Oh, so Saturday I’ve been invited to a divorce party. Really? A divorce party? I suppose if this guy were that terrible of a person the gal would be pretty happy to be rid of him, but celebrating the end of something you thought would last forever? I really don’t get that. However, my friend has asked me as a favor to come out because this young lady doesn’t have that many friends. So I will. I hope it doesn’t turn in to a night of man bashing. As disappointed as I’ve been in men in the past and even recently, you can’t blame an entire gender for the acts of a few (or maybe even many).

Ahh yes, and then there’s my brother…He ended a conversation on the phone with me yesterday stating “so there’s something for your blog!” So here it is:

We were at dinner Saturday and they got his order wrong (my brother and sister are extremely picky eaters and special order everything). He told the waiter and returned his plate to the kitchen. A few minutes later the manager came over, apologized for the mistake and comped his meal. What the heck? I never get anything comped EVER! He always gets stuff for free, or he wins stuff. Whatever! So yesterday he calls me and asks me if I had been to Jose Peppers earlier. Nope, I came home right after work and vegged. He seemed skeptical and asked again. I assured him I’d been nowhere near Jose Peppers. He said he and his family had just had dinner there and when they asked for the bill the waiter said it had already been taken care of. What?? Already taken care of? He said yes, when they walked in a lady had noticed them and told the staff she wanted to take care of their bill. Holy Cow! This would be why my brother was so sure I’d been there. Are you kidding me? I have better things to do than stake out Jose Peppers and secretly pay my brothers $200 food bill! Still, it was an awesome thing for this person to do and a really great opportunity for my brother and family to pay it forward.