I'm Back!

I'm working on my story from this past weekend in Louisiana, so all 5 of my faithful readers, tune in tomorrow night when I post it after I finish. I'll give you 5 words I'll use in my posting about my trip though, just to keep you curious: Cactus, Duck Stuffing, Casino, Squirrel Meat, and Chunky. It's good to be back, too bad I have to work tomorrow...

Don’t Blink or You Might Miss It!

Jena?

While others are out enjoying a relaxing vacation for the long weekend (for instance my coworker and her now recent fiancé are heading to St. Thomas for the weekend to “celebrate” their engagement, and after seeing her ring she’s got a lot of celebrating to do to him!), or a nice cookout, some beer, and perhaps lounging at the pool, let me explain to you the fun I’ll be having this weekend (please note the slight undertone of sarcasm):

This Memorial Day I will be traveling with my family to go see even more family in Louisiana. An eight hour trip with my mom, dad, sister, and possibly grandmother to Jena, Louisiana. Can you find it on the map of the state that I’ve posted? Didn’t think so. In Jena, somehow we scored reservations at one of their lavish “resorts” (as you can imagine that a town this small would have a plethora of lavish resorts, right?). I don’t mean to brag or anything, but this place is top notch. I stayed here a few years ago. When you check in, along with your metal key with big plastic orange key chain, the old man at the reservation desk hands you 4 styrofoam cups, a coffee straw, and some sugar and creamer packets. This place is so fancy that they have coffee pots right in the rooms. Yep, right in the room. Can you imagine? But the amenities just don’t stop there my friends. It’s got a pool with a deep-end up to 4’. 4 whole feet! Why, you can just about dive into that kind of water! AND it’s not one of those above ground pools, either. Jealous yet? Thought you might be, but just save it until you hear my itinerary for the weekend.

My mother informed me last night that along with a fish fry with my dad’s side of the family that lives in Jena, that we will be touring old cemeteries while we’re there to try to track down ancestors on my dad’s side. It seems that he’s working on the family tree and has a lot of missing information. Now doesn’t trapsing through old cemeteries searching for your last name on a grave marker sound like a hoot? I told you you’d get jealous.

So let me break it down for you: 16 hours roundtrip in the car with your family to a tiny town in the middle of the state that doesn’t even show up on the map to stay in one of the 2 motels that they have in order to go to a fish fry and scour old cemeteries for long lost relatives. Who wouldn’t want to be me this weekend? I’d take this trip over St. Thomas ANY day, I mean, wouldn’t you?

Seriously, I’ll probably have a decent time because I am a family person and am actually one of the few people left in America that loves to be with my family. However, I won’t have access to the internet so you won’t be hearing from this kickin’ chicken this weekend. Now, now, wipe those tears – I’ll be sure to post a great story for you upon my return! I hope y’all have a nice and safe Memorial Day weekend and I look forward to reading all about what everyone else did when I get back.

The Super Bowl of Spring

Tonight was the super bowl of Spring TV for me. Fox and ABC had me flipping back and forth between the final show of American Idol and the season finale of LOST. My loyalty ultimately ended up with watching LOST, because the American Idol people tend to drag that show on and on an on. But Carrie winning was a shock to me because I was sure Bo had it in the bag. I'm sure he'll pick up a record deal though. I really didn't have a favorite between the two. I liked them both, so I was pretty much ok with whoever won.

LOST, on the other hand, was AMAZING! I'm so hooked. The dynamite scene that opened the show made me jump about 2 feet off the couch! I can't wait for the new season and we find out what happens to the people that were on the boat and where the little boy goes. Surely they won't kill Sawyer off. I need to find out more about his story and this man he wants to kill. Plus, he's one of the only 2 eye candies on the show. Although he's blonde, which typically isn't my type, he's still very sexy in a tough guy kind of way. He's the "bad cop" between he and "good cop" Jack.

And for dessert, as if it could get any better, I saw a trailer for a Dukes of Hazard movie coming out in August! How fun! I used to love that show when I was a kid! General Lee and all!! And Johnny Knoxville is playing Beau and Burt Reynolds is playing Rosco! I kind of gagged when they showed Jessica Simpson playing Daisy, one because I can't stand Jessica Simpson and two because Daisy was a brunette, but I'll suffer through that. I know you're probably thinking I'm a big cheese ball, but I was really excited to hear about it!

Snippets from Kara's World

I do my best thinking for some reason while drying my hair in the mornings. Not being a morning person, maybe the warm air activates the coffee circulating in my body and finally wakes up my brain.

The Antiques Roadshow on PBS is just as hypnotic as the Weather Channel and TV Guide Channel. Great amounts of time pass before you realize you’re still watching it, but not really watching it.

I just love my new name that JOAT's has given me. It's so fun and original - KaraMel! Thanks!

I wake up and have to kill a granddaddy long-leg-type spider every morning before I get in my shower. You’d think after their friends fail to return from their visit to the “pool,” that the others would realize the shower may not be quite the water retreat that they had in mind. Or maybe these are the really old or really sick spiders and I’m the spider equivalent to Jack Khevorkian? How horrible!

In a teaser before a commercial break, Fox 5 News Chief Meteorologist, Ken Cook, says, “A cold front is on the way. What will the dryer weather mean for you?” You better not be teasing me, Ken. Dry weather means good hair days, and that makes me happy.

My dog’s become quite the con-artist. He incessantly, and seemingly desperately, begs and pleads for me to take him outside, so you would think once we get outside, he’d get right down to business. But oh no. We have to chase bugs, eat grass, and sniff every rock. I feel like I’m on a 10 minute nature walk with an elementary school science class. Listen, Darby (that's his name), when I go to use the restroom, I don't sniff the soap, examine the toothpaste, or play with my curling iron - I use the restroom! Let's go!

I think I need to “Save a horse…”

Observation

Guys that wear flip flops are hot. Guys in khakis and flip flops are even hotter.

Lawn Position is Filled

Ok, so I heard back from the lawn guy I called last week and he’s coming to mow my lawn on Wednesday for me. Thank goodness! The grass is almost as tall as I am and I was about to hire a topographer to sketch out a map from my driveway to the front door so I could find it. I have a lawn mower in the backyard, I just don’t know how to turn it on. I’ve never mowed a lawn in my life, but I was getting desperate enough to think about attempting it myself. So I’m excited to have found someone else to do it for me for at a really decent price. If you had previously applied or were thinking of applying to be the lucky one to mow the lawn, please don’t be disappointed that I’ve filled the position. Not to worry. I still have openings and am still accepting applications for several amazing positions. For the adventurous types, the Spider/Weird-Looking Bug Killer and Sunday Night Trash Taker-Outer positions are still available (which is odd because I was sure they’d be two of the first to get filled – they are just so exciting). Brand new postings include the part-time position of Helpful 32” TV Purchase Advisor, along with full-time positions of Car Washer, DVD Player Worker, and Boyfriend. The last position listed is more of an executive position and will require a bit more information, along with a preliminary interview with my dog (hey, if the dog doesn’t like you, chances are I won’t either). I think the titles are pretty self-explanatory, but if you would like a job description I’ll be happy to forward one on. Please send in your applications to my personal assistants, Com Ment and/or E. Mail, along with a cover letter stating why you would be the best candidate for the job and any relevant experience. Due to the sheer volume of applicants (HA!), I may not be able to personally respond to your application should it not meet the necessary requirements, you have an extra body part of any kind (including but not limited to toes, nipples, etc), you are missing a body part that may show up in someone's food, or you wear wife-beaters.

One Boot Was Made For Walking, Apparently

Can someone please help me understand the phenomenon of the mysterious one shoe on the side of the highway, please? Has anyone else ever wondered how or why this happens? I mean, how does one shoe end up on the side of the road? What happens to the other shoe? For instance, on my way back home tonight, I passed 3 different shoes on the side of the road. One was a black clog-looking shoe, one was a white high-top tennis shoe, and one was some sort of brown loafer. WTF? I mean, if they were kids’ shoes, I could imagine a 2- 3-year-old kid tossing one out of the window just because. Or a 4 –5 year old kid tossing a sibling’s shoe out the window after a backseat fight ending with mom shouting for each of them to “ be quiet and look out of their own windows.” While complying with mom’s demands, the sibling is still retaliating against the other by tossing a shoe out of their window. I can see that. I have a younger sister and when we were growing up, we had our fair share of backseat brawls that ended in us each having to “look out of our own windows” in mom’s car. But these appear to be adult shoes, and I really can’t imagine any possibility of how one shoe gets ditched to reside on the side of the road. However, I feel like whoever loses their one shoe to the D.O.T. should win some sort of “Idiot” prize. After giving this a great deal of thought (like 5 whole seconds), I’ve come up with the perfect thing. The prize these people should be awarded is the one sock you pull out of the dryer that lost it’s mate somewhere along the laundry process. These people only have one shoe now so they only need one sock. Man, I shock myself with my problem-solving ability sometimes. I should probably try out for the U.N. or Peace Corp or something.

If You Like Pina Coladas

Destin, FL

I'm so ready to get to the beach. The sand, the sun, the smell of sunscreen, the light wind off the water, the sound of the seagulls and the crashing waves, fresh seafood for dinner, and the hardest decision to make is what bathing suit to wear... I'm getting desperate here. I've got a wedding to go to the first weekend of June that's in Myrtle Beach, SC, but that's not the same. I want at least a week-long stay at a beach on the Gulf. If I don't get there soon, I think I might wither up and die. Anyone else as starved for fun in the sun as I am?

At Last

I've finally remembered to research this damn sticker to figure out what it stands for. I see it everywhere and for years I've wondered what it was. Mystery solved. Back to the bat cave, Robin.

Admit One Coconut

I’m really looking forward to this weekend for two reasons. Number one is that I’ve had one of the worst days at work today. Had I stayed to respond to a jackass coworker’s email this evening instead of immediately leaving for the night absolutely fuming after I got it, I probably would have been fired for ripping him to shreds. However, I did decide to leave for the night, concoct a more appropriate business-like response, and save my job. Hey, I have a mortgage to pay, and a dog to support.

Reason number two is the 3-day reggae party that my friend’s boyfriend apparently throws every year. She said that this year will make the 12th year. Check out the fun:

For those who have never been, this is our annual weekend-long Spring party which promotes reggae music, sunny weather, drinking and fun times with all of our good friends! Tent Village is in full effect....come for a night or the whole weekend!! Scheduled events are as follows:

Fri. night (5/20) - Spinning Reggae music and Jah Pong (Beer Pong) Tournament - til the wee hours. Bonfire! Menu: Jamaica Smiles - Red-Gold-Green Jell-O Shots - Rasta FUEL -Mucho BEER

Sat. day (5/21) - Cookout 3PM-6PM, Sat nite (5/21) - Live Reggae band/s @ 9ish! Afterwards, Reggae spinning late night again! Menu: identical

Sun. day (5/22) Horseshoe Tourney begins promptly @ 1 or 2, and we have to finish all the drinks! Reggae still spinning...

Parking for the festival is 100% on Long Acres Dr, which is just one house down from ours. Mapquest will find us with ease. As always, bring friends, and admission is one coconut...call if?s

Sounds like good times, doesn't it? I’ve got a few other things on my plate this weekend so unfortunately I won’t be sleeping in “tent city.” I'll most likely go tomorrow night or Saturday day before the other going away party I've got to go to. She said I could extend the invite to my friends, so if anyone’s interested, let me know! Ha! She did say that people come from 6 states every year, so maybe you could carpool with someone already coming…Hope to see you there!!

Party’s Over When Somebody Vomits

I tried to post this over the weekend, but when I went to post, it wouldn't post and it didn’t save it. For some reason, I lost it, and then was too lazy to rewrite. So I’m just now trying to re-create what I initially wrote.

One of my coworkers is moving to Arizona, so we all went out for a last hurrah with her this past Friday night. She is a bit on the wild and crazy side, and brings a little of it out in everyone when we hang out. When she and I have hung out, we’ve ended up with a bachelor party of strange guys while in Hilton Head, swimming in a hotel pool to which we were not staying, and busted in on a house party that we were not invited to, nor did we know anyone at the party but pretended we did. I know, sounds a bit like college girls and less like career girls, but I’m telling it like it is. And it’s been fun.

So, about 20 coworkers all head over to a local sports bar after work on Friday and have drinks on the patio. The weather was beautiful and we were all buying her a drink and toasting to her move. After about 2 hours of enjoying the evening, it’s decided that we should all go down the street to the karaoke bar. I had never been to this particular place, and being one of the first ones there, here’s my initial observation: A) The place was small. Very small. It may have been just larger than a port-o-potty with neon beer signs by just a few feet. There was already a large party there, and with us on the way, the place would be packed. B) There was an Elvis. I guess there’s probably one in every karaoke joint. Elvis had a HUGE beer gut and wore a bright orange University of Tennessee shirt along with his gold-rimmed glasses. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised because I don’t think the combination of an Elvis impersonator, beer gut, and a UT t-shirt is uncommon. Those 3 things probably go together like Blue, Suede, and Shoes. C) There was the lingering drunk guy there by himself. The kind with longer, stringy hair and a t-shirt promoting some strip club. Classy place, I’m fully aware. When the rest of my coworkers arrived, he immediately tried to latch onto our group. Um, no. Go stumble back to your bar stool you creepy toad. Anyway, we had a good turnout show up from the previous place, about 13, which is good considering the fall-off rate in losing people is usually high when there’s a change in location. Especially for a coworker kind of thing. Anyway, the beer buckets were ordered and the karaoke began. People got up to sing that I NEVER thought would ever be a karaoke star. We were serenaded with The Humpty Dance, I Will Survive, Copa Cabana, and The Gambler. It was crazy! Halfway through the night, I look to see that I’ve got my ex-boss and a coworker grinding to the music on my left and Elvis and the toad trying to pick up another 2 coworkers on my right. And of course, more drinks for the one that’s leaving. Everyone’s having a great time until…vomit. The going away girl throws up right there in the middle of the bar. People scattered like drunk people when the lights come up at last call and they realize they’d been dancing with an ugly all night. And thus, the party was over. A few of us went back to a friend’s apartment and hung out for a little while but the buzz was pretty much killed. I got home around 3am and ate Advil like candy all day on Saturday. For some reason, I had a mega-headache that wouldn’t go away.

Forget Greek, It's All Chinese to Me

The company I work for strives to be "inclusive." In other words, they're tired of lawsuits, and they've fallen into the ridiculous "P.C." B.S. that the ACLU freaks have established in our country (yes, that's right, I said "freaks" and if you're offended, get over it. Here's a kleenex). Anyway, every month we have some sort of multi-cultural shindig for a week in celebration of some culture or another. And I'll admit, it's usually pretty interesting - Latin dance classes held in the cafeteria, an Irish dance team performance (think River Dance sans the "Lord"), or an Asian fashion show. So this past week was the Asian heritage celebration. Friday they had all kinds of Asian foods to sample (ever tried Ube ice cream? It's a purple yam that they make ice cream out of and it's not bad), the aforementioned fashion show, bonsaii trees to be raffled off, and a cute old Chinese gentleman that would write your name in Chinese. Mine's posted above. Or so I assume. How am I to know that this is actually my name? What if he's written something horrible and now I've framed it and hung it proudly in my office for all to see? So, I decided to put out a plea in the blog community. For all of you (and I'd hope you know who you are) that read Chinese, please let me know if the above indeed says "Kara." If that's not what it says, then please tell me what it says instead so I'll know if I really want to put it on display or not. I also have two more questions if you please:
1) Does anyone know if computer keyboards in China have Chinese characters on the keys? How about the keyboards in Greece, or in Iraq? I don't want to be arrogant enough to assume that all computer keyboards have western letters. I just don't know and I'm curious.
2) Does anyone want to head to China for a few weeks to set up a booth there writing Chinese people's names in English on paper to frame in their offices/living rooms? Could be a good money-maker...it worked over here...

Warning

Please bear with me during the next 4 months. I might come across as a bit snappy at times. That's because I just received my 10-year high school reunion information in the mail today (set for October 1st). I have also just officially given up food until then. Thanks in advance for your patience.

How Appropriate

So this postcard from a good friend of mine showed up in my mailbox today. Too funny!! In light of the recent couple of guys I've posted about, this is pretty appropriate.




Thanks, Sabs!

Let 'Em Down Easy, But Give Feedback

For single women out there everywhere - this will come in handy.

Dear ___________________:

I regret to inform you that you have been eliminated from further contention as Mr. Right. As you are probably aware, the competition was exceedingly tough and dozens of well-qualified candidates such as yourself also failed to make the final cut. I will, however, keep your name on file should an opening come available. So that you may find better success in your future romantic endeavors, please allow me to offer the following reason(s) you were disqualified from the competition (check all that apply).
1.___Your last name is objectionable. I can’t imagine taking it, hyphenating it, or subjecting my children to it.
2.___Your first name is objectionable. It’s just not something I can picture myself yelling out in a fit of passion.
3.___The fact that our first dining experience to date has left MY wallet a little lighter, and YOUR pants a little tighter!
4.___Your inadvertent admission that you “buy condoms by the truckload” indicates that you may be interested in me for something other than my personality.
5.___You failed the 20 Question Rule. (ie. I asked you 20 questions about yourself before you asked me more than one about myself)
6.___Your constant emailing, shows me you have TOO much time on your hands!
7.___Your legs are skinnier than mine. If I you can FIT into my pants, then you can’t GET into my pants.
8.___You’re too short. Any son that we produced would inevitably be beaten up repeatedly at recess.
9.___You have a hairy back.
10.___I find your inability to fix my car extraordinarily unappealing.
11.___The fact that your apartment has been condemned reveals an inherent slovinliness that I fear is unbreakable.
12.___The phrase “my mother” has popped up far too often in conversation.
13.___You still live with your parents.
14.___I find your wardrobe of Star Trek uniforms a little disconcerting.
15.___Your frequent references to your ex-girlfriend lead me to suspect that you are some sort of psychotic stalker.
16.___Your ability to belch the alphabet is not a trait that I am seeking in a long term partner.
17.___Your height is out of proportion to your weight. If you should, however, happen to gain the necessary 17 vertical inches, please resubmit your application.
18.___Somehow I doubt those condoms that I found in your overnight bag were really necessary for a successful business trip.
19.___I am out of your league; set your sights lower next time.

Sincerely,

Please DO NOT Reply to All

Some dumbass accidentally sent an email out to one of her coworkers today and somehow (I'm not sure how) she CCed the ENTIRE company on the email. Luckily it was work related, but this email went out to 500, 000 people that work for our company across the nation! But, she's not the biggest dumbass of them all, the bigger ones were the ones that responded and hit REPLY TO ALL, so everyone in the company got their response, too. I spent about an hour deleting all of these responses and more - over 150 by the end of the day! It jammed up the entire email system. These are just a few of the *real* reponses that people sent back (and the comments I'd love to send back to them but didn't because I was too busy trying to DELETE all of the responses instead):

This is an unauthorized use of the internet.
(Ok, genius, this isn't the internet, it's email. And who gave you a badge and told you what's authorized and unauthorized use of the internet anyway? Oh yea, Poncho called and needs the badge back)

I think my Mother even got this email!
(I bet she did. And guess what you idiot, she got your response, too, because you hit REPLY TO ALL!)

Hi, I am getting e-mails that don't belong to me, I am in San Diego
(Who knew San Diego could get email? This person sounds as shocked as I was. I thought Atlanta was the only city with email capability.)

I believe I am on the email chain in error.
(Oooooh, that's so weird. You TOO?? I thought just the other 498,000 people were on the email chain in error.)

THIS HAS REACHED THE HR DEPARTMENT - PLEASE REMOVE FROM E-MAIL LIST!!!!!
(Oh, no, not the HR department!? My, this has really gotten out of hand! They're actually having to do some work in deleting these emails, which is more work then they've had in a long time)

Please remove me from this list.
(Listen, as painful as this experience has been, at least you're on the company wide email list. If you weren't on the list, then you would not be receiving a paycheck from this company. Perhaps you should contact HR to be removed from the list. Apparently they received this email, too - see above).

Me as well! This could very well have a virus attached seeing the “ZWYZZZ” bogus mailing list.I highly recommend everyone permanently deleting these asap!
(Aww, do I hafta? I was thinking about saving the emails to occasionally bring back up and reminesce on the good times)

STOP REPLYING TO ALL!!! MY REGIONAL VP IS RECEIVING ALL OF YOUR EMAILS ON HER BLACKBERRY. PLEASE STOP!!
(Well bless her heart. What a good little administrative assistant you are to stick up for her like that. I bet you got a nice box of candy on the Admin Holiday, didn't you?)

Please do not respond to all...I have already got 12 messages..thanks
(Just 12? Oh, my friend, you're just getting started. Just wait! You know how only 10% of an iceberg's above water?)

I know that our CEO was thinking his company is filled with a bunch of morons assuming he's on the company-wide email list. And I'd probably have to go with him on that thought.

1,897,015,265 Seconds Left to Live

So I've jumped on the blog bandwagon and found my Personal Day of Death. Apparently I'll be passing on Wednesday, June 24, 2065 at the age of 88. That's good. At least by passing on a Wednesday, the funeral can be planned for a Saturday. That way, more people will be able to come. I've always liked a good turn out.

I can't believe I've ticked away 137 seconds of what I have left to live writing this.

Pop Quiz #1

I figure every so often, I’ll give all of you a few questions to answer about me. I dunno, just something to do. I know some of you are strangers that read this, but I think that’ll make this the most fun! You’ll have to guess at your answers. Use your imagination. I’m looking forward to what I get back.

Take a stab at my middle name.

What is one word to describe your first impression of me upon reading my blog?

If you and I were stranded on a desert island, what one thing would I bring?

The Bachelorette Pad

Outside of the typical condiments that you’d find in a fridge in Anywhere, USA, here’s an inventory of the contents of my fridge:

2 Yoplait yogurts (usually taken to work to eat for breakfast)*
1 opened, 1 unopened jar of pickles
3 applesauces (unsweetened and not good. They’ve become more of part of the interior fridge décor instead of something I’d actually consider eating)
½ block of cheddar cheese*
1 bag of unopened carrots (impulse purchase while I was having a healthy shopping day at the grocery store. To bad that health kick didn’t follow me home to where I’d actually open and eat them)
½ cup left of 1% milk that expires today
1 bag of wilted lettuce (to be thrown out next garbage day- I got home from the store and the salad dressing I had was expired so I just let the lettuce expire too)
3 eggs
1 container of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter (and I can’t)
3 bottled waters
1 carton of coffee creamer*
3 Bud Lights*
1 bottle of Yellow Tail Chardonney*
*denotes the MVPs of the fridge – Most Valuable Products

Now I know what you’re thinking when you read this. I’m sure it’s along the lines of – “well this girl’s a real Julia Childes – Emeril, look out!” I know, I know, it sounds like I’m a culinary genius, what with all of the amazing ingredients I have to whip up something spectacular. But you’ll be disappointed to learn that I just don’t really cook that much. Not that I don’t like to, but it’s just me here to eat it, and I don’t want to go to the trouble. It’s always too much food and it either goes to waste, or I end up having the same thing for dinner 4 or 5 nights that week to get rid of it. So I stock the freezer with Lean Cuisines, frozen burritos, and Lean Pockets instead, but I’m seriously getting tired of that repitoire. Anyone want to come over for dinner? I’ll go to the store and actually cook. Then maybe my fridge won’t look so pitiful.

Goodbye J.

Dear J.,
I’m writing you my official goodbye, and my official closing of your chapter in my life. It’s time I completely moved on - it’s been a long time coming, and a year in the making. I’ve personally come a long way since you left me as an openly raw broken shell of myself on the bathroom floor, unable to collect my tears, my thoughts, or the pieces of my broken heart. You will never, ever know the void, the emptiness, the hole that was left after you shared your decision. And I was, and still am too stubborn to ever let you know just what kind of effect you had. Always being such an independent women, I’ve never had anyone strip me of my spirit like you did, but then again, I had never been as vulnerable to anyone else as I was to you.

I have grown immensely over the year and the initial indescribable pain has thankfully subsided considerably. It’s getting better all the time. That’s a huge blessing because I was unsure at times if it’d ever stop. God knows how much I prayed for it to go away. Those first few months I’d jump for my phone thinking that it’d be you. The more times that it wasn’t, the more I realized it would never be. You haunted me in my dreams for the better part of this past year, but as the pain began to diminish, so did your appearances. It’s been a very long road, and I definitely would never go back to do it all again, I don’t think I could bare it, but I also wouldn’t want to have not experienced it at all. What a whirlwind.

In the 18 months of our relationship, I know our love was not a superficial love. I don’t think I’ll ever understand exactly how or what changed or even why, but I do have comfort and faith that while you weren’t chosen for me, you were part of the master plan for my life. And I take solace in the fact that there are more amazing things awaiting me. I can’t even imagine, and my anticipation is abundant! I realize that this experience has better prepared me for what’s to come. I’m stronger and better for it. I’ve been very careful to not let this create any hardening around my heart because I’d hate to think that you got the best of my love instead of the true person meant for me.

With the knowledge of your impending marriage this summer, I think J.M. says it best in saying that “I wish you strength when times are hard. I wish with all my heart you’ve found just what you’re looking for. I wish you joy. I wish you peace. And that every star you see is within your reach.”

With forgiveness,
Kara

PS. The new Brooks and Dunn song hits the nail on the head: It's Getting Better All the Time

I don't stop breathing every time the phone rings. My heart don't race when someones at my door. I've almost given up thinkin' your ever gonna call. I don't believe in magic anymore. I just don't lie awake at night - Asking God would get you off my mind. It's getting better all the time. It's getting better all the time. Yeah, I think I'm gonna make it - 'Cause God won't make a mountain I can't climb. It's getting better all the time. It's getting better all the time.