A DAY LATE...BUT NOT A DOLLAR SHORT...

Grateful for...

**you.

**changes in plans and the ability to go with the flow...

**flexible profs who love me...

**jobs that allow me to do me for the most part...i have 2 really great bosses...

**your enthusiasm and support even in light of your own struggles and issues...methinks you were right about your future in-law lol

**a very worthy challenger...you are quite good...gotta pull all the tricks outta my hat to keep up, i see...i like...

**time with the fruits of your branches...they are SO amazing...such beautiful reflections of you...love those personalities--so unique, so free, so funny, so themselves and not afraid to be so...even with a stanky leg, lol

**my baby sister making the varsity volleyball team as a sophomore--they cut some juniors/seniors to make room for her...but then, she is a junior olympian :)

**finally being able to get what's on the inside...out...you beat me to the punch, but i've been at this for a long, long time...

**the fact that you beat me to the punch...and how you did so...*swoon* lol

**7-day return/exchange policies...and the fact that it's now been 9...oh well :)

**how excited the kolaches made him...it was unexpected, but cool...

**stealth/covert ops with my gang of little soldiers...j-boogie, kamburger, t-car, and bow wow..that's the crew i run with...they couldn't keep us from where we wanted to be...

**you making it in time to watch the colors of sunset with me...

**cafepress.com....that was a fun game...thank goodness it was going too fast for me to actually purchase anything...though there are a few i might have to get back at...

**baby beauty helping me "get points"...made me smile

**everyone seeing the difference...

**friends who show their excitement, love, and support...it means more than you know...

**for the browns and greens in the deep forests of her eyes...

**for vulnerability and trust...wow.

**for loving you...

**for learning how you got to be you...

**for loving you more with each thing that i learn...

**for fruity pebbles, coffee, younger brothers, '57 chevys, RVs, etc...etc...etc...

**for my godson making the honor roll...i'm so proud of him

**for time with sunshine...it's nice to get double my pleasure, double my fun sometimes (mind OUT of the gutter people)...

**for 1 day of JUST US...been a long time coming...and i wouldn't have changed a thing...

**for this lifetime realities...screw the possibilities...

**dreams come true...literally.

**the state of my life right now...i am so grateful...truly...

**that you love me...

don't forget to smile...doesn't always come as mindlessly as breathing, but is potentially just as important...--bRandy

GRATEFUL IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT...

**Warning: this week's list is not for:**

1. those with a weak stomach...if you have a hard time with the mushy things, skip this week or refer to the post immediately preceding this one for a gift courtesy of the blog author (ebony, yours will be in pink, no worries, lol)

2. haters...

Actually...i take back #2...this one's actually my gift to ya...

**for the blues and mauves of sunset...a beautiful blend...

**for looking at the same world in a different way...like realizing how useful the period is as a punction mark--it really can communicate a lot...who knew??

**for the way that "i"s became "we"s..."mine" became "our"...and the passenger seat became "your side", lol

**for needing new tires...

**for patience being one of my virtues...

**for persistence being another...

**for the fact that the two aren't mutually exclusive...

**for her giggles...

**for my stylist--you're hired...

**for baby steps...and big girl steps...they both have their place...

**for my 2nd "whoa"....

**a.k.a.....for you in that dress...

**for the feeling that fate, destiny, ed mcmahon, texas lotto, a four-leaf clover, a griffin, AND a rabbit's foot all showed up at my door with balloons and a big ass check :)

**for my own personal griffin...

**the ease in being able to talk...the comfort in being listened to...

**our talk on saturday...

**the talk on tuesday...

**proof that my heart is alive and well...was touch-and-go there for a second...but i am definitely a believer...

**your appreciation of the little things...the big things...everything...

**(if you've made it this far without barfing, i commend you....but brace yourself--the ride gets bumpy from here...lol)

**for soft kisses...

**for eyes that see directly into me and that i have a real hard time looking away from....

**for hands in hair....

**for the electric shock--i actually felt it...

**for our conversation making me play peek-a-boo with my coworker, haha

**for extreme honesty...

**for extreme honesty...(so nice, i gotta say it twice)

**for being rendered speechless on the regular...

**for the fact that i'm not afraid to tell the world that you are mine and i am yours and that i am so blessed and lucky to have you...

**for "grateful" being an understatement at this point...

don't forget to smile...doesn't always come as mindlessly as breathing, but is potentially just as important...
--bRandy

COMING SOON...

Designer Barf Bags...get 'em while they're hot!!

I SEE YOUR TRUE COLORS...THAT'S WHY I LOVE YOU...

When someone shows you that they're GREEN...do not be surprised when they don't turn out to be BLUE...

One of my favorite quotes is "when someone shows you who they are, believe them".  I like it so much because it is truth put so simply.  But as humans we are so quick to complicate what is really quite simple...We act so surprised when the people in our lives--both the major players and the supporting cast--do exactly as they've always (or at least mostly) done.  We allow ourselves the misery of shock and disgust when a liar lies.  We allow ourselves to waste time venting about the gossip who told our business.  And we allow our feelings to be hurt by the schoolyard bully who once again pretended to like us for a minute, only to pull our underwear up our asses and throw us in the trashcan the minute we let our guard down.

Liars lie.

Gossips tell your business....my business...and their own.

And bullies play possum until they smell an ounce of your weakness, fear, or vulnerability, and then they pounce.

But it's not that we need these life lessons--we all know these things.  In fact, many of us have taught children these things...

No, it's not about the knowing, it's about the remembering...and dammit if that part doesn't get us EVERY SINGLE TIME...

gots

ta

be 

more 

careful....

But it's not just the "bad" qualities that this applies to, it's also the good.  If someone shows you time and time again that they're honest, trust them.  Mind you, I said SHOWS you, not TELLS you...When someone shows you that no matter how much time or space is allowed to fill the gaps between you, they have your back ride or die...believe them.  

I wrote a blog very similar to this a long time ago, when this lesson first hit me.  Apparently it didn't hit me hard enough...apparently i needed to be knocked the hell out.  

And I was. And now I have truly learned this lesson...in a way that I'll never forget it again.  Whatever the specific traits in question, people WILL show themselves...you've just got to be paying attention.  They will show themselves many times...and when they show you time and time again that they are "green", you are doing NO ONE any favors by continuing to expect them to be "blue". For you, you're going to be perpetually disappointed.  For them, they're never going to feel truly loved or valued for just who they are--even if who they are (that trait in particular) is fucked up... if you're telling them you love them, they're expecting you to love the green in them...

not the green...

minus the  yellows...

to make them blue.

I am a firm believer that people evolve, they do not change.

Time, growth, maturity, and maybe even you,  may help them come around to being lime, neon, forest, pine, shamrock, emerald, or jade...but they will simply never be blue.

If blue is what you want, blue is out there...

probably waiting on someone who will love them for their blue and not expect them to be red...

blue is out there...

i am a believer. and i love the color blue.

ANY DAY IS A GREAT DAY TO BE...

GRATEFUL for...

**however i got here...right here. right now.

**the flickers of browns and greens in the forest of her eyes...

**...when she looks at me...

**3 exams down, 1 to go...hardest one remains, which will make the after-party that much sweeter

**getting to be a cheerleader for 2 of my favorite people later this week...

**true colors shown and confirmation that they don't look good on me in any way...

**listening ears/listening eyes--i have so missed both...

**seeing and talking to C/VW...we have our own way, don't we?

**someone thinking i'm mythical...

**short trips to make up for long waits...

**my "whoa" at pluckers...

**hanging out with my sunshine...brightens any day

**fucker. 

**ugh...i love you though...

**dropping the "demure" for a little bit...that look. that persona. no second thoughts. lol

**the fact that neither of you ever just let the other one make it--it is quite entertaining for me. hahahaah

**learning you...learning me...20 questions aint go nothing on us...

**my baby sister's 15th birthday in 5 days...have to show gratitude for the good things about that so that i don't slip into the "my baby's not a baby anymore" place...lol

**ms. badu's ballad being on the backburner for right now--presently looking in another direction...

**clean breaks...they say when you break a bone, it's better to have a clean break than a jagged fracture that can cut and really miss up other things that are going on around it...hmm, yeah...grateful for the clean break...

**bachelorette meals...i have been getting a little more adventurous....gotta do better tho. lol

**more time with my godson...man, he's a great kid....i love that little dude...

**kisses and blushes...and our own way of saying goodbye

**comfort and ease...and an intuition that is both scary and makes me feel so "known"...

**the creepy 3some...lol the electricity thing was too much...creepy lol

don't forget to smile...doesn't always come as mindlessly as breathing, but is potentially just as important...

--bRandy

I see you. I always have...and you know that. Don't forget it.

Love this...thought I'd share

Just wanted to accessorize...