Well Bleaders, as you can see, today was x-ray day. I should've had them taken yesterday, but clearly, I was far too exhausted to get over there....literally. So today I decided to go directly after waking up. Well, that's not entirely true, I should say after getting around, I've been awake since 3 am. I think I got a good solid 4 hours before I woke up though, so high five that.
As you can see, I'm grinning and baring it. Actually, mostly I'm just grimmacing. The x-rays were in fact taken lying down, not a good position for me. They asked if I could be pregnant before we got started. Ha! If Vader shifts positions in bed and jostles me a little bit I'm near tears & awake for the next 2 hours. I can't do anything that involves undressing, lying down, sitting down, rolling over, bouncing, twisting, bending, or any variety of movements that would in some way cause my hips to move my legs in an outward position rather than straight ahead. With this laundry list of pain provokers, it was easier to just say, "No, I'm not a masochist."
Oh the splendor. The wonder of it all. It's exactly what I've been dreaming of and I didn't even know it. A giftset. A teeny giftset of teeny Barbie as she's changed through the decades. Shut. Up. There are actually 6 tiny dolls in the giftset, not shown are Teeny Brunette Bubblecut Barbie and Teeny Number 1 Ponytail Barbie. They measure only about 2 1/4 inches. As you can see, they are all dressed in an itty bitty replica of their original outfit from the year they were released. Is there anything cuter than a miniscule orange plastic bikini with a white net cover up? Now, I know you can't really get the full appreciation of them from this little bitty picture, but I assure you, they are stunning. I want to just eat them, or crush them in my hand, like I'm King Kong until their heads pop off, or stuff them into my bra so they can go everywhere with me. That's how much I love them. Sadly, I can do none of those things as I'm not supposed to know about them. They're a super secret Christmas gift. Yeah right. One that I'm going to be drooling over in my office daily because I can't let it out of my sight.
Hmmm....do you know this person, Readers? No? Why it's China! You just don't recognize him because he's in his stealthy ninja thief mode. That's right, Readers, if you're moving out of your house in this neighborhood, make sure you mean it and take all your belongings with you the first time. Otherwise Ninja Thief China will have to bring his loot bag over and clean up for you. Leaving you scratching your head, wondering where your things have gone. China doesn't like a messy neighborhood, he wants it neat and clean, so keep that in mind before you try and make two or three trips to gather your things. Get it done right the first time. Geez.
Apparently, the One Woman Mob has sold her house. Readers, what am I going to do now? Who is going to take care of the animal carcasses that seem to pile up in my path? What will I do when China takes his gun out of retirement? Readers.....what is to become of me????
My kids don't know the word disgusting. In their world everything is dee-skusting. That must be just horrifically gross, I'm guessing. Like so bad that you can't even say the word properly for the fear of what it will do to your tongue. It's dripping with vileness.
Good news, I got my shit together enough so that I was able to pull off an open house this weekend. My back wasn't totally in shape, but it was good enough to scrub the floors, swiffer the ceilings and febreeze the curtains. Vader was a big help to me and we showed the crap out of this house, the open house went great! No offers yet, but we're sending positive thoughts out for one in the next day or two. Mostly because I'm postive we'll see some snow in the next month or two. I'm not having it, Readers. Not. Having. It.
I believe I've mentioned my friends VD before. This unfortunate combination of initials was completely unrealized by them until I so lovingly pointed it out to them one winter evening. How this fun-fact could be lost on them after 16 plus years of marriage I'll never know.
Last night was the 3rd annual VD September-fest & Rib Cook Off. I think it's obvious by the name that it was hosted by my friend V, who puts the V in VD. As well as her husband who technically is D, who puts the D in VD, but he's always been known in this blog as China and will be known as such forevermore. You can refresh why he's known as China here and also here. September-fest is a success based on who shows up, how good the food is, and if they can get live music. In my judgement this year was total success. 
BFF Good Joo came up from Indiana along her with hubby, Free Spirit. Of course they brought Little A and Juicy B. Free Spirit has a mini-band with his friend, Dentist. They play such favorites of us 30-somethings as Bon Jovi, Poison, Neil Diamond, and even a little Simon and Garfunkel. You can see by the pics of the party that Free Spirit looks like a farmer, that happens when you move to Indiana farm country. By next year he'll probably be singing Kenny Rogers and Willie Nelson. You can also see Juicy B, she's got the music in her, she can't get enough Bon Jovi. What you can't see in the picture is Good Joo loudly heckling Free Spirit. It didn't even throw him off track, he's a true professional.
Vader was very into the music, as you can see he's really letting loose. Then of course I'm sitting with Good Joo, E, and V. V is next to China who has his BFF Mini Me practically attached at the hip. Now, I'm going to have to point out that I'm on the left of the picture. I notice that there are others that look like me, nearly everyone was Dutch so we were blonde and everyone clearly copied my outfit, how embarrassing for them. They must all read my blog and have been studying my sense of style. I'll take it as a compliment.
This is a great photo of the party-goers as well as V & China with his BFF. For those of you who couldn't attend, China was the undisputed winner yet again of the rib cook off. I highly recommend stopping by the house of VD some night around dinner time if you smell grilling meat. China does magical things to his meat.
This is another aerial picture I had to take for The Fest so you could take in the splendor of food, grills, mini-band, and loads of party-goers. And Vader. Always the splendor of Vader.
Well Readers, it's never fun to say goodbye to summer. But that really depends on who you know, doesn't it? Who wouldn't look forward to an end of summer party such as this? I for one am happy to say, "Good-bye summer, bring on the VD Septemberfest!!"
I know, I look crabby. What could be wrong? Could it maybe have something to do with Vader? One look at my face says yes.
Vader and I have been married for over 12 years. In December, we will have been together for 16 years. That's quite a while. And to this very day, Readers, as in TODAY.....he still doesn't know my birthday. Don't get me wrong, we don't really do a gift thing for each other, no big celebrations, I'm an adult, I don't go all crazy over my birthday. But my husband could at least know the date. Without guessing. After 16 years. 16.
Huge thanks to my sister for the special effects, making this picture possible. Because of her, no more hats for me on my crabby days!
Poor Vader.....it was his birthday last week. Not only is he suuuuper old, I wasn't at home to cook him a birthday dinner or celebrate with him. Thus, he ate lots of fast food, as is evidenced by his birthday photo, and went to bed early. Now, I'm back from my extra long weekend and I plan to curb his fast-food eating and cook him some good meals and a belated cake. 
