Mama: My mother. She is from North Carolina and moved to Virginia when she married my dad 35 years ago. We work for the same company. We are very close most of the time. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2005. In January 2006 she had a double mastectomy. She has since had several months of chemotherapy and radiation as well as reconstructive surgery. She and I collect cookie jars together. She reads almost as much as I do and we love to read the same kind of books. She is the best person in the world to hit a yard sale or flea market with, though we haven’t gotten to do much of that since she got sick. She dreaded the idea of me getting a tattoo but now she loves it and is actually excited about the next two that I want.
Daddy: My folks have been married for 35 years. My dad and I are a lot alike – stubborn, hard-headed, always right, et cetera. Good thing my mom is a pretty patient and understanding person. Daddy was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (bone marrow cancer) in 2002. He had a bone marrow transplant in 2003 and is permanently disabled thanks to the damage done by the chemo. As much as he sometimes drives me nuts, I’m a total Daddy’s Girl. Thanks to him I was a total tomboy growing up. I laugh at girls who can’t bait their own hooks.
The Boy: So, the boy is my little brother and he is three years younger than me. He and I used to fight like cats and dogs when we were kids. We got along well sometimes, but then there were times when we threw bricks at each other. He joined the Marines when he graduated from high school and was in for 8 years. After he got out he went to work for a company that pays him an ass load of money to yell at people all day, teach people how to shoot, and spray people with mace. Sounds pretty good to me. He also moved to Virginia Beach and joined the National Guard. He got married on May 17, 2007 on the beach wearing shorts, a long sleeve shirt and no shoes. His Guard company deployed to Iraq on June 1, 2007 and he returned safe and sound to us on May 11, 2008.
Sis-in-law: Sis-in-law is ten years younger than me. Despite that fact, we have a ton in common. She loves to read and watch dumb movies and she loves Eddie Izzard. Granted, she’s never seen Star Wars, but no one is perfect. Anyway, she was in the Navy for four years. Now she has a job pretty similar to my brother’s. She gets paid to yell at people. (Really, I need to look into a job like that.) She is a lot like me and my mom which we love but it does make me feel slightly sorry for my brother. Sort of. After all, he did know this when he married her.
Beavis: Beavis is my parent’s Jack Russell. He’s an old man, he turned ten this year. He has epilepsy. He’s the smartest dog in the world. He can tell time and is a better wearther man than any of the dudes on tv. *Update* Our sweet Beavis passed November 2007.
Junebug aka Poop Head: Junebug is my Jack Russell. She is three years old and a spoiled brat. She always knows when I have a migraine and cuddles with me to make me feel better. She doesn’t like it when any of us are reading a book and not paying attention to her. She will climb up and either sit in front of it so you can’t see what you’re reading or she’ll just knock it out of your hand. I love her to death but she’s a total bitch.
Smoke aka Smokey Joe: The newest member of our family. Smoke is only six months old and growing like a weed. He in no way replaces our Beavis but he did help the hurt a little bit. Technically he belongs to my parents but when I’m home he follows me everywhere I go. He sleeps in my room, waits outside the tub while I’m in the shower, and generally acts like a tiny furry shadow.
BFF: My BFF and I met when we worked together at the store before I worked where I am now. We also went to high school together but we didn’t know each other then. Even though we did date the same loser. Sadly, after dating him in high school I made the mistake of dating him again later as an adult. Anyway. She’s been married for 13 years, has an awesome son (see Boy Wonder), and is always there when I need her. Plus she got me hooked on Tori Amos.
BFF’s Hubby: It’s pretty self explanitory to say he is my BFF’s husband of 13 years. He is a giant geek. He and I have a ton in common which makes Marinda laugh and also drives her a little bit nuts I think. He likes comic books (so do I), loves Star Wars (me too), and is generally the coolest nerd I ever met. Plus he’s really funny when he wants to be. He also has some issues with depression and anxiety, which while I understand those issues, I do not understand someone who does nothing to make their life better and who seemingly goes out of their way to make their loved one’s lives miserable. Sometimes I really really like him and other times I want to knock his ass into next year.
Boy Wonder: BFF and BFF’s Hubby’s son. He is the coolest 13 year old ever. I corrupted him and got him totally hooked on Eddie Izzard. I took all of my Izzard DVD’s over to their house and he’s had them for almost two years now and he watches them all of the time. He can quote Eddie for hours. I took him to see Eddie live back in May. He is also an awesome swimmer. I don’t know much about competetive swimming but I know he’s good and that’s all that matters. Like possible Olympic Trial good. He’s way smart but not always very motivated and doesn’t do as well in school as he should. One day I want to have a kid as cool as him.
More to come…
