So I have this new friend. Actually, she's not so new... I met her many, many years ago. I probably saw her first at school but we weren't friends until we worked together at the Canton DQ one summer.
(I think that job holds the title of My Favorite Job Ever.)
She was kinda redneck back then. (I say that with love) Actually, the only thing I have to base that statement on is that she was madly in love with a redneck boy and swooned over countryfied wedding dresses in a bridal magazine. Now that I think about it, I have no idea where she got that magazine. I have never seen those dresses anywhere since....
(and for the record, she didn't marry that boy)

Fast forward to 1999... I start dating a man (that is now my husband) and when I mention my DQ friend one day, he tells me that she was born and raised right through the woods from his childhood home in Sutallee! She had play dates and sleepovers with his sister! It made me happy to have this little connection to her.
Then I got to add another connection--- Her aunt and uncle lived right next door to my husbands childhood home...AND they decided to sell their house and move to FL the very same month that we were house hunting....AND we fell in love with the house and bought it! It makes me smile knowing that my old DQ friend swam in my pool when she was little...and was scared to walk down my basement steps when she visited her aunt and uncle.

One day she started a blog. Her mother sent my mother-in-law a link (they have been friends this whole time!) My mother-in-law was getting a kick out of this cute, funny blog and shared the link with me. I stalked my old DQ friend via her blog for several months. I shared her stories with my sister and she also became a stalker. (this is the first person that we've stalked. please don't call the cops) I finally came out of the shadows and we started exchanging emails here and there....slowly the friendship grew stronger and stronger.
I attended a baby shower for her first born. My sister had a daughter about two weeks after my friend had hers and we all got together a few months afterwords to let the babies meet and greet. (maybe one day they will stalk each other via blog before becoming friends...)
Since my sister and I both enjoyed being around her, we started inviting my DQ friend to our monthly Girls Night Out. The more I was around her, the more I wanted to be around her.

So I have this new friend. Her name is Brandi. She is my soul sista. She is wicked cool. We share many of the same interests but are different enough to make it interesting. We can talk for hours (we did, for seven, just the other night) We both love 'fermented grape juice' and 'liquid bread'. She is my new hooping buddy, whether she wants to be or not! She has dreadlocks that my sister and I helped create. (We've never done that to hair before but she trusted us! I told you she was cool!)
I'm on cloud nine when I'm spending time with her. I'm walking on air after having been around her. She lets me be me, never judging. Our friendship started flourishing right when I was in the market for a new friend.
I can say that I'm so glad I found her....but she's really been here all along.

Brandi, thank you for being a friend. Love ya!

I hate Christmas.
yep, that's right. I said it. I hate it.
well...I think I hate it. I'm conflicted....
It's a love/hate thing.
I want to love it. I really do.........
I love snow, snowflakes, pretty ornaments, sparkly white lights (but never left up after the new year!)
I love cold nights, pretty gift wrap (actually, gift wrap is a bit of an obsession of mine)
I enjoy seeing nice wreaths and beautifully decorated dining room tables.
Winter is actually my favorite time of year.

October is for Halloween.
November is for Thanksgiving and all things fall...
December is winter...as is January and February.
I have the New Years spirit in January and February is all about L O V E!!! (I do enjoy Valentines Day)
what is it about XMAS that gets me down?! The consumerism? (that sounds soooo Charlie Brown Christmas!)
I do despise the fact that xmas goods are out and about in stores before Halloween. some stores dare to be different and bring it out Nov 1st.
it makes me want to barf. I HATE seeing holiday decor before thanksgiving....
does that make me a Scrooge?! maybe.

I've decided I hate the concept of bringing a dead tree into your house.
W E I R D !!! really, stop and think about it...it's kinda strange, don't cha think?!
I hate those inflatable objects that are all the rage. They look retarded when they aren't inflated...and when they are inflated, they are running up your electricity bill.
Speaking of your electricity bills, how much do those outside lights run you?! Is it worth it?!
I've decided I hate the tradition of sending cards. Talk about wasteful... paper cards, envelopes, pricey stamps, fuel to haul the things. They just get a quick smile and hung up and then tossed in the trash! or if you are like me, saved and used as gift tags or decor for the top of a gift! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! :)

I hate that the best Music Choice channel, Sounds of the Season, plays awesome down tempo music all year long...except on holidays. So ya get some Octoberfest music, then Halloween... but as soon as the clock strikes 12 on Halloween night, ya get Christmas music! and believe you me, it'll play until March!
I hate having people say 'don't buy me anything...I don't need anything' but ya kinda feel like you should buy them something....you know, to express your love for them! right?!
everyone is hard to shop for. no one needs anything. and besides, I'm BROKE! Everyone is!


There is a saying: If ya can't beat 'em, join 'em.
we'll... I can't beat the christmas crazies, that's for sure! Do I join them? eh. I don't really want to.