The best birthday EVER!!

It started at 8 AM with text messages from various friends and family. I even got messages from the "unspeakable" ones. I slept for a while longer. It was my birthday after all. Tasha said I was allowed to sleep till 11 AM and I took full advantage of it.

At the proper time, I got up and a long, hot shower. I love those kinds of showers. Just relaxed under the stream of hot water and felt all the stresses of the week wash away.  Ahhhhhh. So wonderful.

At 12 PM, Tasha picked me up and we stopped at a local coffee house for a wonderful latte. I love me a good latte. I miss Cafe Europa in Dawson Creek. Such wonderful service. Wonderful coffee. It was so relaxing to sit in the cafe or at the tables outside in the sunshine.

Anyway, back to my story.

We started driving towards Charlie Lake. By this point, I had it narrowed down to a new tattoo or a pedicure. Sure enough, we turned into the driveway for a local spa! I was so excited! Turns out it wasn't just pedicures, we were getting massages AND facials!

Needless to say, this boi was over the top excited!!

I know what some of you men might say. "That is pretty girlie thing to do. Real men don't get pedicures or facials." Guess what? You are wrong! Lots of men do. And trust me, once you have a decent pedicure, you will be sold on the idea. Your feet feel WONDERFUL!! And as for a facial, everyone needs to take care of their skin. Period.

I had the massage first. Felt wonderful! It wasn't like massage therapy. This was a lighter touch but still felt awesome. It was a full body massage with hot towels. So relaxing. She even massaged my fingers and my head. We all now I love having my head massaged. I could hardly get up from the bed, I was so relaxed.

Next up, was the pedicure while Tasha headed in for her massage.

Now, I have had a pedicure before. While I was on my cruise to Mexico. But this felt better. She massaged my feet! I have said for years that I would marry the first woman who gives me a decent foot massage. The lady doing mine was already married. Bummer. Anyway, she rubbed and scrubbed and exfoliated my feet. She put moisturizer on them and paraffin wax. My feet were like baby feet by the time I was done.

Next up was the facial. I have never had one before so I wasn't sure what to expect. I lay down on the table, covered up with a sheet and she put something over my eyes to block the bright light. Then she ran the "Zit sucker 2000" over my face. It sucks your pores clean. It was pretty cool. Like a tiny vacuum on your face. Then she started with various goopy stuff and hot towels. It felt pretty good too.

Then, after we were finished, we headed back into town. Tasha dropped me off at home so I could relax for a few minutes. I headed over to her place for a fire and weenie roast. She made made potato salad and macaroni salad. My favourites! We roasted some weenies and had a few laughs.

All in all, it was the BEST birthday EVER!!

It's a new year. With all sorts of wonderful on the horizon. I am looking forward to it. I haven't felt this way in a long time. So positive and strong. Been a long time coming that's for sure.



Out in the hall, there's a cat fight, it's just after midnight. Guess I'll be all right.

Dustin

Hello. My name is.....

Dustin Carnell.

Haha!

I love that movie! Let's see how many of my followers can name that movie!

I am having a typical Sunday. The Saskatchewan/Calgary game is on, the fur kids are sleeping in various spots around the apartment and I am avoiding housework.

Yup. Just another Sunday at home.

I am really looking forward to Grey Cup this year. I think because I am planning a little party. It shows real progress for me. Admittedly, the people I have invited are all close friends and people I trust. But then, why would I invite people I don't like to my home? Seems silly to me.

I will have to clean the house that day.

I bought a Grey Cup jersey from Safeway last week. Have you seen it? It is pretty cool! I am getting my name on it. So sweet!! I really do think that "H" should buy one for "L".

Just sayin.

I ran into a couple of people I knew from my former life yesterday at a local store. They were my ex's step nephew and his wife. Apparently, there is great discord in that family. Worse then mine. It seems almost that whole family is falling apart. There has been money lent and not paid back, gambling out of control, insults flinged around, a married couple having to live with a family member because they are so far in debt, they can't see the light. A grandchild that won't know the grandparents because of a petty issue.

So pretty much the same thing that was going on 7 years ago when I left.

I am so glad I am out of that. It made me sad to hear about it but at the same time, a huge sense of relief that I am where I am now. I know my life is not perfect by any means. But I pay my own bills, support myself and though I am not speaking to my sisters, I am on speaking terms with the rest of my family.

I really do wonder what kept me so long in that relationship. The first 4 years anyway. I guess I had little to no self esteem to think I could do it on my own. That I could meet someone better. That I could be happy. The second almost 4 years was because I couldn't leave while my mother in law was dying. As unhappy as I was, I couldn't do that to my ex. I had enough respect for her for that.

I, of course, figured out I am so much better then that.

Yes. I am taking the high road on this. I can't feel sorry for a family full of co dependence and people who always, ALWAYS blame others for their issues. They own up to nothing. They will back each other up in the lies and deceit they dish out. It is scary. Not one of them is allowed to make a mistake and then figure out how to fix it on their own.  They will bend over backwards to "save" each other when all they are really doing is digging the hole deeper.

I can only feel happy that I am no longer in that cesspool. And I am glad that not everyone related to them think I am some horrible person because I finally left. I had the balls to stand up and say no more and leave. No one in that family is ever going to be truly happy until they learn to live their lives.

OK. Maybe I am a little bitter. Who wouldn't be? One woman who went out with my ex before me, used to steal from the family, beat up the ex, cheated on her. But because that one likes to drink and party etc, she is or was back in the fold. I guess like speaks to like.

Makes no sense to me. None at all.

Onto happier things.

So the two women I was emailing with. One has kind of disappeared off the radar. The other one and I have been texting and there was even a short phone call on Friday night. I am hoping we will talk again very soon. Maybe even today. She is funny and seems very nice. Outgoing. Which I think I need. Someone to drag me out of my comfort zone once in a while. So I guess we will see.

The game is getting interestng so I am going to go and watch.

He was the ghost of a Texas ladies man.


Dustin