This morning I woke up and decided that I would do some work at home, including the installation of shelves in the kitchen.  I don't think a day has ever gone so fast.  Time truly does fly when you are having fun.  As I totally destroyed the kitchen, which even now has sawdust on the floor, I started thinking about my hopes, goals, and dreams for the future. 

Stephen installed knobs on our kitchen cabinets last night.  As I glanced at them today, the thought that immediately appeared in my mind was that those new knobs would make it much easier to baby proof our kitchen. 

The biological clock has officially sounded its first wakeup call.

I meant what I wrote above.  When I was younger, I always said that I would never have children.  I didn't want any of the bothersome little buggers. 

Time truly changes everything, and now the idea of having a baby has taken up residence in my mind.  I attribute much of my desire to have a child on the fact that I truly have found someone who will not leave me alone to raise a child on my own.  Secure in that knowledge, my resolve has consistently weakened.  Motherhood, for me, is not something to fear or dread.  It is a gift. 

Mercedes Benz, BMW, Jaguar, Bentley, Escalade, Lamborghini.  It makes sense that our daydreams are not often grounded in reality, but instead meander into the fantasical world where all wants and desires are granted.

Yet, for me, the car I have wanted since I was in college has been the Toyota Camry. 

I do like the Nissan Altima, too, though.  I wouldn't turn my nose up to any of the "dream cars" above, but when I think about the automobile I want, I remember the love I had for the Toyota Camry the first time I saw it.  The Huh? to which I referred in the title of this blog stems in great part from the fact that my "dream car" is . . . well . . . practical.  Are dreams like that supposed to be practical. 

Weird.

In any event, Stephen and I have been sharing a car for some time now, and it will be paid off later this year.  At that time, God willing, I will finally have the car of my dreams.  At least the cars about which I think consistently are all child-friendly. 

*Shrug*

I would love to visit Niagara Falls, Eqypt, Turkey, Japan, China, France, Spain, and Greece.  Each of these places have venues that simply should not be missed, such as the pyramids of Egypt or the Great Wall of China.  Yet the place I most want to visit before I die is St. Petersburg, Russia, with its Winter Palace and Hermitage museum.  I know that my fascination with St. Petersburg is tied to the fact that I studied Russian for 7 years and spent four months in Kazakhstan.  I have seen Moscow, with its mausoleum hosting the remains of Lenin, but I have never seen St. Petersburg, which is said to be more "European," in contrast to Moscow's purely "Russian" feel.  Some day, I will go to St. Petersburg.  It might disappoint me, true, but it might also be everything I have hyped it up to be in my mind, and more.

Given that I was working with a saw today, I probably should have focussed on my task and refused to allow my mind to engage in simple flights of fancy, but I did not hurt myself, anyway.

There is so much that I want to see and experience during my time on earth.  I have given nothing more than a few examples of things I hope to see in my future.

Question:  I thought about turning this into a tag in which I challenged readers to give your own list of the "Who?" "What?" and "Where," but I changed my mind.  Still if you are reading this, I would love to know what you "see" in your future.  If you do decide to blog your list, please let me know and I will include a link to your blog.  Don't feel obligated to do so on my account, though.  I look forward to hearing your "predictions."

During all the planning and home purchasing, I continued blogging.  At that time, many of the blogs I frequented were political blogs.  What can I say?  I am a sucker for politics and drama.  For the most part, I am proud to say that I maintained my composure, although there were times when all the pressure was just too much for me to handle, and I caved to my frustrations.  On a couple of occasions, I think I literally threw up my hands in exasperation and declared, "I'm SICK of this CRAP!"  Each time, I swore that I was done with political blogs.

Riiiighhhht.

I still managed to find plenty of time for the internet, however.  There was the random tag, although my favorite, I think, was one I did in February for Karlyn (where did SHE GO??) in which I listed 10 things about me about which no one cares.  I miss some of the people who commented back then so much.  Where did they GO???

And then there was the music.  Anyone who knows me knows that I love music.  My favorite musical moment of 2007 occurred early in the year.  Here's a hint:


Yeah, I was not disappointed when the Dixie Chicks swept the Grammys in February.  They earned it.

As the wedding drew closer, I started to FREAK OUT at the enormity of the events taking place in my life.  The one constant that never changed was Stephen and my love for him.

I know. 

*Gag*

Wow, as I am looking through my old blogs tonight, I realize how many people I have met who I haven't seen in a while.  I think one of my resolutions is to pay more attention to people who read my blog and take the time to comment.  I miss some of you so much!  (Czuch Republic, Karlyn, Lisa, J, wow, I have become very self-involved, and I am sorry to all of you!).

Sorry for that little aside.  It seems like, looking back, some people were around everyday, and then they were gone, while I met some people in March for the first time and still run into them EVERYWHERE!

and

†Torie†

come to mind, after they left a comment on a blog in March I posted for a friend who had to delete her profile, thanks to a hacker.  Does anyone recognize this person:

I said it in March, and I stand by it:  "She is an awesome blogger with a great perspective.  Even if you don't agree with her, she puts a lot of thought into her writing . . . Add her.  Read her stuff.  She is worth it!"

Sorry for the meandering there, y'all!

I moved into my new home, and met some people from myspace, even.  Bambie, I don't know what your new screen name is, but I was so glad you were here to help me move!

In March, I had an automobile accident while driving to pick up Stephen.  I survived, obviously.

As the wedding neared, I could not resist trying on the dress . . . .


The wedding invitations were finally ready to be sent.  I made them myself!

Then, on April 5th, I quit my job as an attorney.  I woke up, and I called in quitting.  I have not regretted it since then.


Of course, the next month I spent looking for a job while planning a wedding was kind of interesting, or not boring, or, yeah, that part definitely sucked.  Still, there were some ups. 

For one, the ladies at Stephen's church threw me a wedding shower.


Keith, I will never be able to repay you for taking the photographs, and for walking me down the aisle.  THANK YOU AGAIN!


All of the wedding photos can be found by following this link! 

After the wedding, Stephen and I enjoyed a brief honeymoon-let at Devil's Den, Arkansas. 

Yeah, we went camping, and it was absolutely wonderful!


Although it seemed as though my life was finally coming together on the surface, behind the scenes it was spiralling out of control, and had been for quite some times as I continued to drink myself into a stupor every night.  Finally, on August 12th, I admitted to myself in a very public way that I have a problem with alcohol.  I quit drinking that day, realizing at last that I had slowly been killing myself. 

Basically, I realized that I was basically suicidal, and that alcohol had become my chosen method of death. 

Following one relapse, on September 1st, I had to start over.  So far, it has been four months (today) since my last drink (even after Stephen's two car accidents in September and October).



During the past four months, I have been spending time with people out in the real world, trying to learn to live life without drinking.  Truthfully, little of note has happened during that time.

Well, I did have my braces removed on October 12th, bringing to its conclusion a long road to transformation that began in April 2004, when I looked like this:


During that time, I changed very little.


That, and we got robbed two days before Stephen's birthday.  Again.  For the third time.

Then, of course, there was my birthday blog celebration.  I turned 34 on November 24.  To celebrate the event of my birth, I dedicated a week of my blog to . . . myself.

Seriously, I had the most fun blogging that week about things I enjoy, people I cherish, and my hopes and dreams for the next year of my life.  I started with one of my favorite things -- music and ended with my birthday wishes. 

That pretty much led to December and the end to my first full year of blogging.  I think the blog I enjoyed writing the most was one of my last ones.

I want you, I need you, I love you.

The rest of the month was pretty much consumed by, for the most part, Christmas and a competition.

I ended up winning three categories.


Swear to God I did not mess with the vote count.  Not even a little.  I have many of you to thank, and I do.  I am eternally grateful for the love and support I have received from the friends I have met on myspace.  Anyone who tries to minimize the role of myspace by saying "It's only myspace" has seriously underestimated its role as a social network.

In any event, I have to say that 2007 was an absolutely fantastic year in many ways, but it was also one of the most difficult years of my life.  Thanks for indulging my reflection on the year that was.  It took awhile to go back through my blogs, which, to be honest, is the only way I can put it all in reference. 

So far, I have rung in the year 2008 with my new husband, I am sober today, and I am enjoying life with the highest of hopes for 2008.  I hope to be a better wife to Stephen, a better sister and daughter, and a better friend to my friends.  Beyond that, I just hope we don't get robbed this year or have any more car accidents.