I’d do the “What am I thankful for” thing, but I won’t…

Because I’ve already said it in so many other places, that it would just seem like I’m repeating myself.

So instead, I’m watching the parade, then I’ll watch the dog show, head over to Mom’s until it’s time to go to my sister’s for whatever it is they’ve got planned over there this year.

Oh, and I probably should think about getting dressed and stuff at some point. Nothing ruins a good time like a stinky Stef.  At least, that’s my take on it.

I’ll have to ask Sarah about that goofy video she and her sister made and posted on Facebook yesterday. It has a title card of a photograph of Sarah and Scott kissing.

That’s almost too much information for me (as Scott’s mom) to process. I feel like I walked in on them at entirely the wrong time. And even though the video is posted on Sarah’s sister’s Facebook page, she tagged her sister in it, and since Sarah is on my friend’s list over there, it shows up on my Wall.

Welcome to the world of TMI… or maybe it’s just me. I might feel differently if I were in a relationship, but I’d also like to think that at 46 years old, I’m beyond posting my private business on Facebook.

And I’d like to mention that it’s cold as crap outside and I’ll have to pull out the heavy coat, gloves, a hat, and a muffler… IF I can find the damn things in my closet! I don’t think I’ve unpacked any of that stuff yet, and I’ve lived here almost 5 months!

I wonder if it’ll snow. Now that would be different! Snow in Oklahoma on Thanksgiving. It hasn’t happened since I’ve lived here, but that doesn’t meant that it never has.

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Yesterday, November 24, would have been my friend Lisa’s 46th birthday. I still can’t believe she’s gone, and it’s been nearly 11 months now! Her son seems to be doing well, according to other friends of hers that have posted on Lisa’s Facebook page.

I know you’re watching over all of us who care about you, chica. Miss you!

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Mom just called, and I’m supposed to be ready to go by 1pm. That’s when they’re going to pick me up. Then we’ll head over to Tori and Dean’s.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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I’m Stef, and this is where it’s @ !~

A very sobering conversation…

One I should be having with one of the following people:

• Larry
• Chaz
• Mom

NOT with a 25 year old confined to a wheelchair.

Yet, I had said conversation with Vincent last night.

As mentioned in the previous post, Vincent is in the hospital in his hometown of Enid, Oklahoma. Yesterday morning, he had part of his left leg amputated because of an infection in his foot. His doctors were concerned that if the infection doesn’t clear up (and because Vincent’s legs are essentially useless, not a lot of blood is flowing there to aid in healing an infection), said infection could get into his bloodstream and kill him. So Vincent decided to let them amputate.

He told me last night that he expected to be in the hospital about 3 to 4 days, then go home.

Then we started talking about mortality, and Vincent’s acceptance of the fact that if it’s his time, it’s his time. He has a DNR (Do Not Resusitate) order, a medical power of attorney, and is working on drawing up a will.

He’s 25 years old! Hell, I have a will, but I’m 46. I should be planning for something like this. Because Vincent has had medical issues his entire life, this little episode has really opened his eyes to the possibility that he could actually die because of these medical issues.

I made him promise that if he did go to meet his maker, to please (for the love of God!) have someone in his family call me and let me know. He promised me that either his mother or brother would get in touch with me.

I’ve already lost one friend this year (miss you Lisa!), I don’t want to lose Vincent, too.

Would it be too much to ask that no one else die this year?!

I’m not ready to face my own mortality, much less someone else’s.

It was very surreal…

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I’m Stef and this is where it’s @ !~

He says he’s not a phone person, but…

he consistently keeps me on the phone for an hour or more. Dude, just get in your car and drive over here…!!

Chaz constantly amazes me on how much he isn’t something (computer literate, a phone person, etc), then goes ahead and proves himself wrong!

This morning was the first time since I moved that he’s called me, all because I called him the other night. He was busy watching and bitching about “America’s Got Talent” at the time and said he’d call me later in the week.

Then he talks about all these programs he watches on tv about science vs. the existence of God.

Sometimes he gets a little too deep for me. I don’t have a zillion cable channels to watch all day long.

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I friended Saon on Facebook the other night. Whatever possessed him to join Facebook is beyond me! He’s mainly a MySpace guy.

It seems so weird talking to him now, seven years after our relationship ended. It just brings home to me the fact that I am not the same person I was just seven years ago. He’s remarried, not exactly happy in that marriage, but matured enough to realize that he has to make it work somehow. The way he talks about his stepdaughter makes her sound like the devil’s spawn (no discipline from her mother, and when he tries to apply some discipline, wifey gets all over him about it). 

He contacted me mainly to tell me that one of his nephews died recently and that the funeral was this past Friday. This was one nephew who was about Saon’s age, and this caused him all kinds of introspection. Nothing like facing your own mortality! That happened to me when Lisa died in January, so I could totally relate. 

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Speaking of Lisa, it’s been a little over six months since she passed, and I’m still seeing little things in my environment that remind me of her. Then I get to thinking about how fragile life is, and how it could all end before we’re really through living it. I think that’s why I live the way I do… because no one is promised tomorrow. Everyday I wake up, I thank God for allowing me to live another day. Or, as Chaz’s grandmother put it (as paraphrased by him, of course): every day above ground is a good day.

Amen!

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And someone says he has a plan.

I’ll believe it when I see it.

(Lord, I’m so cynical!)

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I’m Stef and this is where it’s@ !~

Homework, sleep, eat, do it again

I have my first real homework, and it’s to write a paper for my Mass Media Effects class about Maxwell McCombs and his agenda setting theory. It’s due on Thursday, with in-text citations, a bibliography in APA format and everything!

Have I mentioned how much I hate APA formatting? I prefer MLA, but Dr. Nelson has the final say, so APA it is. *sigh*

Also due Thursday and doesn’t need nearly as much research is an introductory monologue for my Beginning Acting class.

This is going to be interesting not having a working computer at home. I’m going to be spending a LOT of time in the UCO library this week. Mostly tomorrow. Good thing my first class isn’t until 2pm!

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I didn’t get to attend Lisa’s memorial on Saturday due to transportation issues.  However, her son may get to leave the hospital this week, so that’s a good thing. He’s got a long road ahead, but I think he’ll be able to handle it with the help and guidance of his uncle (Lisa’s brother). And he’s got a whole slew of people praying and rooting for him along the way.

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I talked to Chaz on Sunday, and he’s just about settled into his new digs. He dropped about $3,ooo on all new furniture (because his old stuff was thrift store hit-n-miss)… and that’s not counting the washer and dryer combo he wants to get, and the flatscreen TV he’s had his eye on for about a month now. Fortunately, he is in a position to afford it.

And the new place? Worlds away from where he was living. He told me that this was the best thing he could have done for himself. Hopefully, his demeanor will improve, because that other place was depressing as hell.

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Apropos of nothing, I found a gray hair on Daniel’s head this afternoon while we were at the library studying. He wanted to believe that it was a blonde hair, but it was definitely white/gray in color. Sorry, Daniel… 😦 All at age 26! Poor baby…

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I am so tired, I can’t think of anything else I wanted to write about…

Because this is Where it’s @ !

–MorelaterZ–

I’m graduating at 7pm this evening…

and Lisa and her son are going camping with his Cub Scout troop.

I’m such a nervous wreck right now that camping sounds like a great idea! But since the storms last night lowered the air temperature considerably, and I, too, don’t do cold well (just ask Chaz! LOL), maybe I’ll meditate myself into calm and toddle on over to graduation site by 6pm.

Yeah, right, like meditating is going to help me. I should be studying for finals!

If I get some decent pix, I’ll post them over the weekend.

Eeek!

That’s all from where I sit.

–MorelaterZ–