Sunday, January 25, 2009

Maaaaaybe it wouldn't be so bad?

Dear Blog,
I'm kind of whack. I was born whack. By whack I mean a hypochondriac. I can recount many examples and I will give you a few; back in middle school one of my friend's mother died of ALS disease or more commonly known as "Lou Gherig's Disease". Being young and not having dealt with much death in my life I did some research on ALS and found it was the deteriorating of muscles until eventually your heart atrophies and then you die. Some of the warning signs include twitching muscles, the numbing of limbs, etc. So from that point on, every time my muscle twitched or one of my limbs decided to go numb I was convinced that I had ALS and I was going to die. My parents convinced me that I was not going to die. I didn't understand why they weren't taking me seriously and they were going to be really sorry when I died. Clearly the joke was on me because I'm still alive.

If you are a faithful BellaFrench reader you will know that back in June I thought I might be prego and then found out I wasn't and life was hunky dory again. What I failed to mention in said blog post was that I was freaking out about the possibility of being knocked up. I had way too many things to get done before I could introduce a child into the Shurts household. I called my mom all crying and while she was trying to calm me down and convince me that more than likely I wasn't pregnant. Little did I know she was rejoicing on the other end of the phone on the 1% chance that I could be. She also secretly thought I was whack. Scratch that, she openly tells me I'm whack. A gene inherited from my father, or so she claims.

Now before all of you over eager readers start thinking I'm telling you this long drawn out story to reveal that I'm pregnant, I'm not. Let's just end that little fantasy right now.
Back to my story. I'm not going to get into all of the details because I know I have some sensitive readers out there that don't want to read about menstrual cycles and whatnot but I will say I had a reason to wonder if I was pregnant again.

Now, what's different about this wacky pregnancy scare is that this time I was kind of okay with it. I had the usual worries like, "is now the right time?" "the economy is shit right now...can we afford me...and a baby?" "will Aaron divorce me if I ask him 1.98 million times if I look fat in my pregnancy jeans?" but then I kind of got...maybe...a little excited.

I know. I can't believe I just wrote that.

When it came to pass that I was not pregnant I felt a little sad inside and I went to our bedroom and woke Aaron up and told him he wasn't going to be a dad just yet. I also texted my mom and said "Sorry Grandma...not yet". It was quite an eye opening experience for me because I always thought I was just going to have babies to carry on my wonderful gene pool (and Aaron's too but mainly mine). I didn't know that I would actually want one. Weird. Maybe I do have a nice gene (and a crazy gene) after all.

All I have to say is, Aaron better watch out. I always get what I want.

xoxo,
Alison

Friday, January 23, 2009

Who do you work for?

Dear Blog,

I work for a liberal Canadian company that endorses store fronts like this





Are we a match made in heaven? I think so.

xoxo,
Alison

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Thoughts from a Recessionista

Dear Blog,

I would love, love, love to say I coined the term 'recessionista' but I cannot. I read it today in a style blog and thought; "recessionista...what an amazing word. if anyone is going to look good in a recession, even though i'm not participating in said recession, it will be me. (pause and dramatic look to the heavens) DO YOU HEAR THAT ECONOMIC CLIMATE?!? YOU WILL NOT WIN THE WAR ON FASHION! (pause. regain composure) I will win. 'Cause I always do."

This recession is really cramping my style. Even though every retailer across the U.S is slashing prices and you can get really great deals on shoes and handbags and, well, everything, it's no fun to buy stuff when you hear the unemployment rate is rising and it's the highest it has been since like 1654 or something. Ugh. I guess what I'm trying to say is, it doesn't hurt to be a little cautious. I for one am making good headway in this department. Remember when I rationalized those $400 Louboutins last weekend and didn't understand why the husband didn't understand why I couldn't pass up a great deal? Well that was pre-recessionista. The new and improved recessionista tried on pair of absolutely D.O.P.E Dior's at Nordstrom, admired them in the mirror, sashayed around the shoe section and then gently put them back. Cause who needs a pair of 5 1/2 inch orange (yes, orange but trust me they are hot) heels when all you wear is luon* all day? Pas moi says newly formed recessionista. If I'm going to spend major $, it's going to be on luon. Plus, I need to wear all of the stuff I've rationalized in the past. Now those are the words of a true recessionista.

In non-recession related news, this past weekend I made an effort to make some friends outside of work and joined this random book club. It met on Sunday and I went with nervous anticipation. The women were nice enough but I just don't visualize myself hanging out with them outside of book club. So, I don't think I'm going to back. I tried. Now, on to the next venture. There's gotta be a newly formed recessionista in Seattle looking for a new bff. She's just gotta find me.

*luon=nylon and lycra blend

xoxo,
Alison

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Wake up and realize you are surrounded...

By amazing friends.

Dear Blog,

"They" (whoever the hell they are) say that when you die, moments of your life flash before your eyes. Instead of regaling you with witty banter from this past weekends whirlwind trip to the Carolinas, I thought instead I would put a smattering of some of the moments up here for "them" to remember so they can flash before my eyes before I kick the proverbial coffee can.

Laughing so loud and long with my family late night on Thursday and making myself remember this moment because it might be a while before all five of us are together again, laughing like this.

Eating a Rolaid after my first Bojangle's chicken biscuit in 6 months. It didn't sit too well y'all.

Wondering at what point my heart will stop beating so quickly when I hear my parents talking on the phone to someone at an ungodly hour in the morning. I know who is on the other line and I know it's not good news.

Eating STP dippers with my best mate and watching her child clumsily put little orange slices in her mouth, and realizing that we've known each other for over a decade and guess what? We're old.

Sitting in the back of the family wagon while driving to Charlotte and wondering how it will feel when I get there? Very scared that I won't want to go back to Seattle.

Rationalizing to myself and Aaron why I need those Christian Louboutins that are on sale at Bob Ellis for 60% off, yet are still $400. When I don't convince him, I threw a mild a temper tantrum. Then get mad at myself for said tantrum. Note to self: don't go into Bob Ellis next go round.

Seeing my best college friends, The Coles and The Youngs for the first time. You couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

Screaming in the back of Russ' car when Leigh and Kyle slyly told us they bought a beamer.

Crying at the middle of dinner when Kyle asked me if I missed Charlotte at all. Why can't I hold those stupid tears in?

Walking down East Boulevard.

Going over to a friend's house and have her offer me and Aaron weed. Ew. We declined.

Having dinner with good friends is one of my most favorite past times.

Walking into a random Starbucks and seeing an old friend and his huuuuuuuuuuuuge smile when he saw me. A big hug followed.

Burying the hatchet with an old friend over lunch and making a pact to start anew.

Running into a friend someone with whom I would like to bury the hatchet in her back.

Consciously making an effort not to tear up when I said good bye to Leigh and Miles and succeeding!

Barely making it inside before tearing up.

Thinking, "Charlotte is no longer my home. I am a visitor."

Driving home from the airport on I-5 this morning at 1 AM and thinking "This is my home, and I'm fine with that."

Feeling satisfied.

xoxo,
Alison