Hello? Anyone out there still?

Whoops... I didn't mean to take such a long hiatus from this lil' blogitty blog.  Can't believe it's been over a month since I posted!  And, yes, I realize I didn't finish the challenge.  What can I say?  I suck.  Naw, not really.  I just got bored with it, and couldn't bear to do the last two.  Not because they were difficult, I was just so totally over it.   Shawna + posting consecutively for 31 days = no bueno. 

Anyway... not a whole lot is new around these parts.  I've maintained contact with Bio Dad.  We've emailed back and forth since Christmas time.  It's gotten a little more sporadic lately, but I think we're both kind of running out of things to say.  He wants to come visit.  Last we talked about it (which was sometime last month) He was thinking the last week of February or the first week of March.  I haven't heard anything new, so I'm thinking it's not going to happen.  But, who knows?  I'm a little apprehensive of the visit, but overall I'm okay with it.  He's planning on coming with his girlfriend, and they'd be staying in Tucson, with her brother.  So I feel like that kind of takes the pressure off.  Anything we do, I'll have Sam with, and he'll have his gf with, so they'll kind of be buffers so to speak.  And with them staying in Tucson, it means I'm not solely responsible for entertaining them.  I think it'll be good.  That is, if it happens.  Either way, I'm really okay with it.  As I've said, I'm not looking for a Dad.  I have one, thankyouverymuch.  But I would like to get to know, (as well as allow him to get to know me) my biological dad. 

The only other fun thing in the works (gosh, I make it sound like we're totally dull and have nothing going on, huh?)  I'm planning the hubs 40th birthday get-away for next month.  It's all starting to come together, and I have to say, I'm getting pretty excited!  He knows we're going to California, but everything else, I'm keeping under wraps until we get there!  He doesn't read this blog, so I know I'm safe spilling the beans here! :)

It'll be a very busy weekend (as most of our California trips are).  We fly in on a Thursday afternoon.  We have the rest of the day (as well as most of the next) to do whatever we want. Hopefully we can manage to get some relaxing in. 

We will be staying here:

Photo from the JW Marriott LA Live Website


Friday night (Hubby's actual birthday) one of his friends will be hosting a party for him at her downtown LA loft (thus the choice to stay downtown, vs in Orange County as we usually do).  Saturday, we're hoping to go The Getty Museum.  Of course, that depends on how we're all feeling after Friday night's festivities.  Saturday night is time for round two of the birthday celebration.  We're going to this bar in Hollywood, where we have the birdcage reserved.  Sounds a bit odd, right?  I think it'll be fun though!  Thank goodness I have a TON of help from a couple of Sam's friends.  I'm pretty clueless when it comes to nightlife in LA.  Luckily, they are not. 

Of course, no trip to Southern California is complete without a trip to the House of Mouse.  (well, at least not in this household)  We'll wrap up our trip with a quick (just the one day) trip to Disneyland before heading back home on Monday.

Like I said, it'll be a quick, busy trip.  But it will be oh-so-very fun!  Can't wait!



Day Twenty Nine: Make me smile

Day Twenty Nine: A photo that makes you smile

My nephews.  I miss them SO much, it's a little ridiculous.  Aren't they just the cutest kids?  Gavin was 5 in this photo, and Austin was 9.  This was taken a year and a half ago, so they've grown up quite a bit then.  Unfortunately, I haven't seen them since shortly after this was taken. :( 

Tomorrow: A photo of someone you miss (only two more days!!!)

Day Twenty Eight: Fears

Day Twenty Eight:  A photo of something I'm afraid of

SPIDERS!

Really, it should be any insects.  But particularily spiders.  And now, living in the desert?  Scorpions are up at the top of that list as well.  Yuck.

Tomorrow:  A photo that can always make you smile

Day Twenty Seven: My family

Day Twenty Seven:  A photo of you and a family member

My mama and I.  This was taken when my parents were here over Christmas, visiting.  A little back story: When my mom was in Washington, visiting family for Thanksgiving, she took a lot of photos.  In every photo, my cousin did this hand under then chin thing, and I had to give her a bad time about it.  So Mom & I decided to pose like this just for my cousin. 

Tomorrow: A photo of something I'm afraid of

Day Twenty Six: Most meaning

Day Twenty Six:  A photo of something that means a lot to you

My hubby.  He means the world to me!  I can't imagine life without him!

So I know it was supposed to be "someTHING" that means a lot to me, but then there's the whole not attached to things factor, so I cheated.  Just a little bit.  :)

Tomorrow: A photo of yourself & a family member

Day Twenty Five: My Day

Day Twenty Five : A photo of your day

Work, work  & more work.

Tomorrow:  A photo of something that means a lot to you

Fam Damily

I mentioned back on day 17 of the photo challenge that my biological dad had recently friended me on Facebook.  I let a few weeks go by, and hadn't heard anything from him.  I decided that I would try to reach out to him.  In the spirit of the holidays and all that mumbo jumbo.  :)  So I sent him a quick message on Facebook, basically asking what his intentions were.  It's been nearly 30 years since he last contacted me, why now?  Did he want to get to know me, have some semblance of a relationship with me, or what.  I said that I had a lot of questions, and if I'm being totally honest, a lot of resentment and anger towards him. 

He replied back right away.  Said that he was waiting until after the holidays, as he didn't want to cause me any confusion or make the time with my family difficult.  He said that decisions were made thirty years ago that he didn't like, but he went along with.  He said I was the joy in his life, and he still carries a photo of me with him.  He was married for 25 years, and has begun to re-evaluate things in his life since the divorce.

So, long story short.  Well, shorter.  It comes out that he used to send me letters.  A couple times a year to find out how I was, and asking for photos.  He never got any response, and after awhile he stopped writing.  He didn't know what I was told.  If I knew he existed, or not.  Well, during the divorce, his ex-wife asked him if he ever wrote me any more letters.  He said he hadn't, and she told him that if he did, I might actually get them now.  All those years he wrote to me, she made sure they were never mailed.  Can you believe that?  Granted, he's not entirely innocent in that he could have mailed the letters himself, or talked to my mom directly when his ex-wife told him that he shouldn't send me gifts anymore because it caused too much confusion. 

We're continuing to email each other.  He seems genuine and sincere in what he says.  I'm hopeful, but still somewhat apprehensive.  It's kind of weird... what do you say to your dad that you haven't talked to in 30 years?  Mostly we're just trying to get to know each other right now.  I have 2 half brothers, in addition to the one that contacted me a few years ago.  One is 26 years old, the other is 24.  He told the 24 year old about me just Friday night, and the other one doesn't know yet.  Kind of weird.  Couldn't I have gotten a sister outta the deal?  Instead I now have 6 brothers!  :) 

We'll see how it all works out.  Just taking it one day at a time!