So I haven’t blogged about it lately, but K and I have extended our “trial separation” by a week. He was supposed to come back home on Sunday, but we decided that we both needed more time. It was actually his idea, which shocked the hell out of me, because he is the one who was against our “break” the first time around.

So, the first week was really hard. I watched 90210 reruns, drank heavily and sat at my computer, listening to loud music and just being generally lonely. It was sad being by myself, but at the same time, not all that different from when K was actually there. At least this time there was a reason I was not having sex or any other kind of interaction.

This week was easier. Since I stayed at home most of last week, I got stir crazy around Tuesday and Anne and I went to the bar (after American Idol, of course [Ed. note: I agree with every word in this article. It sums it up so perfectly]) for a couple drinks. We ended up catching up with a guy we knew a LONG time ago (and whom, by the way, we were in NO way attracted to) and some of his friends. After a little while, we decided to walk across the street to another bar.

For reasons which I cannot recall (because the details were too unimportant, not because I’d had 3 rum and Diet Cokes. OK maybe a little of it was the rum), I went first, followed by Anne and the people we’d been talking to, who arrived a few minutes later. Lo and behold, who was sitting at the bar? Yep, K. We were totally innocent from debauchery, so I chatted him up for a bit and then went on my merry way when Anne and the others arrived. After all, we are taking a “break.” We feel in no way obligated to speak to each other every single day. Plus, he had already been at our house with his friends for several hours, so I’d had my fair share of him that day.

The next day, I tried calling him because he seemed peeved when he saw me at the bar. He never answered his phone until after work, and he definitely had an attitude when he picked up. Just the way he said, “hello,” I could feel it.

“What’s wrong?” I said.
“What?”
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.”
“You seem pissed off.”
“Well, I’m not exactly jubilated.” (his word, not mine)
“Why?”
“I think you know why.”
“Apparently I don’t.”

K then went on to explain that it had appeared that I was “scoping out the bar” before I called Anne in with our supposed entourage. First things first, I did not expect to see K at the bar. Secondly, I did not care that K was at the bar. Thirdly, what the fuck? I told K he was reading WAY too much into things. I may be smart, but I am not that scandalous. Especially after 3 rum and Diets.

Anyhoodle, we were supposed to go to a beach wedding this weekend, but I decided to take Anne instead of K, because I am in desperate need of a girl’s vacation. I am so effing excited. I can’t wait to get on the beach and drink mojitos. We picked a ton of fresh mint from my yard and we’re bringing all the fixin’s to make the best mojitos you will ever consume. I honestly CAN’T. WAIT.

So . . . hopefully Monday or Tuesday I will post some pictures from the trip. Of course, you’ll have to have access to the password to see them

Happy weekend!

If everyone could be more like you, the world would be a better place.

Love, Valerie

Jess asked, What is your favorite thing about yourself? And also, what is your favorite name for a pet?

There are just SO MANY wonderful things about yours truly, I just can’t decide  I would say that I am an extremely fast learner, but that doesn’t really have anything to do with a personal choice that I’ve made about myself, so I’ll skip that. I guess something that I’m most proud of is the fact that I went from basically being a quiet, timid pushover to being a woman of conviction who will take up for herself when she is right. I basically did a 180 after my first two relationships, in which I dated guys who treated me like poo. I just thought that was how relationships were supposed to be. I watched it happen to my Mom my whole life. I don’t know when the light switch flipped on, but it did, and I’m grateful. It’s a wonderful feeling when someone—a person who assumes that since you’re a young woman you won’t take up for yourself—says something rude, only to be put RIGHT in his place immediately afterward. A man—whom I’d worked with for about 2.3 seconds when he did this—made a snarky comment to me once, so I said, “ExCUSE me? I know you just did not speak to me like that. I am neither an idiot nor your slave.” The look on his face was priceless.

As far as my favorite pet name, right now I’m going with Noodle. I am keeping one of Layla’s pups, the one that most resembles (and emulates!) Layla, and that is what I’m naming her. After a few cocktails with a friend last week (we were most likely at my house watching American Idol), it just came to me. NOODLE! Isn’t it a cute little name? All of my animals have people names (Raquel, Oliver, Otis, Berta, Layla), and I decided it was time for a “pet” name.

Oh, and that is not Noodle in the previous post. That is the dog my aunt is getting, and they are naming her Scarlet. An appropriate name, because her father’s name is Red

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Miriam asked, What is your favorite place in the world to visit? What do you do when you’re there?

I had a hard time with this question. I always love going to the beach, but I don’t have a specific one that I frequent. I guess I would have to say I love to visit Atlanta. I always get really excited when I get tickets for a concert in Atlanta, or tickets to a Braves game. Whenever I go there, I just feel consumed by CULTURE and PEOPLE and PLACES OH MY. It’s far South enough where you still get that “deep South” feel, but it’s also diverse enough that it’s not “hick-ish.” Plus, Atlanta has awesome shopping and restaurants (naturally). When I’m there I just try and soak up everything while I can before I come back home to the shit hole that is my hometown. The thing that sucks about Atlanta, though? Traffic. Holy hell the traffic. I would kill myself if I had to be in that every day.

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Libby asked, What 2 things would you bring with you on a deserted island?

The first thing I would bring is some sort of music playing device, assuming I could either have electricity and/or unlimited batteries. The second thing I would bring would be alcohol. Lots of it. Although, a man would be nice, too. Especially if that man were Keith Urban. Although he doesn’t drink . . . more for me I guess! Oh wait, if I brought Keith Urban and alcohol, I wouldn’t NEED a music playing device because he would sing to me. So, Keith Urban and alcohol.

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Laurel asked, What was your favorite outfit in eighth grade?

Ah, 1997. I was in my angsty teenage “I don’t give a fuck but I am oh so depressed” phase. I wore a T-shirt and jeans pretty much every day. After much Googleage, I was unable to find photographic evidence of my staple T-shirt in 8th grade, but I’ll try my best. Before Mossimo became a Target brand, it was the type of clothing line that you could find in abundance at Gadzooks, my OMG ABSOLUTE FAVORITE STORE EVER at that time. I shopped in the men’s section and bought T-shirts way too big for my 100 pound self. I bought a new Mossimo shirt pretty much every time I went to Gadzooks, and they all featured some sort of anime-like illustration. I’m pretty sure I wore one in my 8th grade class photo. Oh, and the staple American Eagle flare jeans. Ugh.

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Pessimistic Redhead asked, Is your blog title from The Family Stone? If not, how did you choose it?

No, it is not. Although I did like that movie. It actually came from Weeds. Celia Hodes, the extremely bitchy character in the show, said it, although I can’t for the life of me remember what the context was. I thought it was a perfect name for my blog since well, I am a freak. And I let my freak flag fly pretty regularly. And I like alliteration.

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Michael C asked, Because you are in Georgia, does Ray Charles’ ‘Georgia On My Mind’ make you get all weak in the knees like I do? How about Willie Nelson’s version? Don’t you feel glad that you have such a great song for your state when I have things like ‘It Never Rains In California,’ which is a complete and utter lie because it rained a little just yesterday?

Actually, I think I am immune to the effect that song has on most people because I DO live in Georgia. I don’t understand! Oh, and speaking of Willie Nelson, a former co-worker of mine has smoked pot with him. THAT is awesome. I’ll bet he had some good shit. But yes, Michael, of all the songs with states in the titles, I do agree that ‘Georgia on My Mind’ is the best.

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And finally, the lovely Stephanie, who is currently on hiatus but we still love her asked, Is there any one color that dominates your closet? For example, I look into my closet and see mostly blues and pinks in all my clothes.

Actually yes, Stephanie. There are several. In one category we have black/white/grey, because I am an incredibly boring dresser, and because I am cheap so I like my clothes to all GO with each other. The other two are green and navy, because I love nautical-looking clothes. My style is classic tinged with a little bit of preppy casual. OK, someone punch me for that last sentence.

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!

Note the placement of the itty bitty paw. Cuteness.

More to come.

Since everyone and their mama has already done it (and drama in my life is not allowing me to form coherent thoughts as of late), I am opening up the forum to you.

ASK ME QUESTIONS.

I will answer mostly anything, so don’t be shy. Ask more than one, while you’re at it, in case I don’t get very many responses