Life these days

I have so many things going on lately. At times I feel a bit overwhelmed.

I am getting Faery Wings back on track. I was too distracted when I had it up before. Didn't have a good game plan. I think I can make it work much better this time. The server I was using held all my info 'hostage'. Normally you can upload the site to FTP, then move it to the new server. There was nowhere to export the info. I even had my Coding God friend look at it... the bastards want to make it difficult for you to leave them. Well too bad. They were too expensive. I am on a great server now and even got a huge discount by using the code in the cnet review I read about them. I'm set for a year. Now to revamp, rethink, recode ... re-everything. I was upset I didn't do this in time for Christmas shopping, but my dear friend said to focus on 2009. I do have a feeling it's going to be a great year.

I'm also excited Logan is home for a visit. He was in Texas at Sheppard, but heads out after this break to Nebraska for his new job. He is gonna freeze up there and it's so darn far away. He is doing so well and says he actually feels like he is doing something right. He looks good and has put on weight and says he works out all the time. I am very happy for him.

I now am helping another one of Zack's good friends in trouble. He has been staying with us a lot through hard times, but I wish I could do more. He has lost almost 15 pounds off his already frail frame. Though we struggle day to day with money... I make sure there is always plenty to eat. We try and give him a happy place to come to escape the pain at home. Zack is so concerned for him. He knows how life can turn ugly and people you think you know can change all too well. I was freaking a bit about making ends meet and the added costs we have. Rich hugged me and said we would make it. He said "This is what you do. You took in Logan. You took me in, and now you are there for Michael."

Let's see.... on Thanksgiving my kids were with their dad. I was so happy Meg was well enough to go to her Aunt Julie's. I got frequent updates on what was going on through the day. I love that. I still get to feel connected to them even when I can't be with them. I love how close we are. :) The best thing I heard was that everyone kept telling Meg how much she looks like me. That must really chaff her dad's ass. lol As bad as he hates me and wants me out of his life, he has to see me every time he looks at her.
Anyway ... I had a great Thanksgiving. Lucille is an amazing cook and I was thrilled to get to see the Villages. My parents and Rich and I left early so we could ride around south Ocala to look at the gorgeous horse ranches. *sigh* I want land and horses one day. When we got there food was served shorty after. It came in courses. o... m... g... there was so much. I haven't seen Joey or Marie in ages. We laughed and had a great time. The meal from start to finish ... I think it was 2 hours of eating!

On Friday Rich and I got up and headed to Orlando to meet Chris at the convention center for the car show. We had a blast! Afterward we hit I-Drive and ate at a great place ... but the name has slipped my mind. The food was incredible. It was a gorgeous day so we sat outside. I really had a great time.

As we were leaving my mom called to tell me they were out of the Dyson vacuum she was getting me for Christmas at both Targets. I was so excited to hear I was getting one I told her we would hit a couple on the way home. We stopped at the Target by the Florida Mall first ... and the display was empty. We wandered the store a bit and I saw an employee and decided to ask. He said they were out. But as I turned around... there is Rich walking up to me with one in his hand! I squealed like a little girl. lol The purchase of the vacuum came with a $100 gift card. Since I needed a vacuum so bad my mom let me have it early. She said whatever we wanted with the gc had to go under the tree from her... even if we put our own money in with it. Rich ran to the Target by our house and came home with a camera! I squealed again. Mine has been broken for a couple months now and I have been having to rely on my phone camera. Even though I know what it is, I am still going to be excited to open it. I went years and years without gifts to make my kids Christmas special. I am exited to be getting gifts again!

Needless to say by the time we got home Friday I was exhausted. We had already made plans to meet Tyler's family in Cocoa Village. I just couldn't do it. My body was done. So Rich took Meg, Zack and Michael up there. They came home all chatty having to tell me all about the night. I was so glad they had a great time. Sue got a great pic of Meg and Tyler ice skating and sent it to my phone. I warned him Meg can't skate! lol Of course he spent the rest of the weekend at the house... as usual.

My mom had my extended family over for dinner Saturday night. lol Tyler is stuck like glue to Megan's side and over as much as possible and of course Michael too. We had a great time and took a walk down the pier just before sunset. It was beautiful.

We are busy getting the decorations down and putting them out. We got a new 8' tree the end of last year for $25! It's really nice. The other one pretty much died last year. I had always had real trees and really enjoyed them. But they got more and more expensive. I just couldn't do it anymore.

Tonight I got to have a great conversation with a dear friend on the phone. His Jersey accent kills me. I think we are heading up there for a visit next summer for a get together with some other buds. I had tears streaming down my face when we talked about Kip. I wish he could be there too, but it will be great to see everyone else. I can't wait!!!!!!

I have to stop getting distracted and get back to uploading my products on the server. I know I just rambled on. It probably makes no sense. lol

Tribute

Thank you Tharikifa so much for making this beautiful tribute to our Nightbreed. It brought tears to my eyes. Thank you also for including me in the quotes. I feel honored.

RIP

As hard as these pictures are for me to look at, I thought I'd repost them from Peter's Blog. Peter took these at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

I believe the flower arrangement in this picture is the one my friends at the WMA bought.

It looks as though he went out in style. Just as he would have wanted.

Rest in peace, my dear friend. You will never be forgotten.

Heartwarming....

An old friend of mine whom I lost touch with over stupid things I don't even remember spent the last few days drawing this gorgeous picture. She really captured not only Kip's image but emotion too.

I wish she had signed it! Maybe she will send me a newer version with her signature.

*hint hint*

Thank you for sharing this gorgeous tribute to Kip with me.

More on Kip ...

I have found a few things about Kip online. The most interesting is this blog from Bible Money Matters . It is an old colleague of Kips who wrote about him. I find it ironic that one of his memorials would be in a Christian based blog. He would find that amusing too.

His obituary guestbook is already getting posts, and one brought me to tears. The one thing that holds true about him is he had the outer intimidating exterior. If he didn't like someone... they knew it. He didn't hold back. But he had a heart of gold and was the most loyal friend to have. He was a truly amazing guy with a personality bigger than life. He was someone that could never be ignored.

There are a couple of topics on the WMA about him too.

I would give anything to have the money to get to that funeral on Friday. It's going to take me a good long while to recover from this loss. I will never forget him. He will always be in my heart.

**edit**

Maureen sent me another link she found. (thanks girlie!)
He looks so young and clean cut!

Another link



To add a bit of lightheartedness, I want to share this Photoshopped image Melissa (Sachi) made a few years back.

Gia and Kip at the prom

Loss of a friend

I didn't think this weekend could get worse.
I got a call earlier that a dear friend of mine passed away this afternoon. He had pneumonia and ended up dying from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. I am numb, yet in excruciating pain. We used to be so close for years, but because of a few little tiffs, we drifted apart the past couple of years. If there were only a way to erase the stupid things we do in life. We are both Gemini. Both have hot tempers and tons of love to give. Both wore out hearts on our sleeves. When we had good times, they were great. When we clashed... everyone ran for cover. Please, God forgive me for the mean things I said to him. His friendship meant the world to me. He had a tough metal exterior, but he was soft and sweet on the inside. He had a good heart and soul. Please take care of him. He will be missed greatly.
To anyone reading this... treat those you love like they are special every day.
Kip Allan aka NightbreedRest in peace my dear friend.