For all of my closest and dearest friends . . .

Tonight - as I lay awake unable to sleep yet again - I was thinking about a whole bunch of random things. And one of the things I thought about was how certain things we do can lead to other, completely random things - certain events lead to other events that are completely unexpected.

For instance:

My ex-husband used to be obsessed with video games - to the point that it was a real problem in our relationship. It got to the point where I learned to love video games just so we'd have something to do "together". (This isn't a knock on him - he's a good guy. And I know plenty of men with gaming addictions.) One day he started playing this game called "Seafight". It's this crazy, free online game. Anyway, that game was one of those that you play with other people, and you can chat and stuff. My ex had me start playing the game with him, and in doing so, I met my friend David. (Hi, David!) David and I talked while I was going through my divorce and I admit that he was a great comfort to me. (So, thanks for that.) :)

Anyway, David used to date this woman named Becky and, shortly after David and I started talking, they started dating again. And through him, I met Becky - who is now one of my most very best friends in the whole world! (Hi, Becky!)

The whole point of all of this is that - through one of those video games that I loathed because of how much time it stole from my marriage, I met Becky. And it was in such an indirect way that it's kinda crazy. I don't think I could go a single day without chatting with her because we have so stinkin' much in common. We both went through divorces at the same time - we both seem to be dating guys (with the same first initials a lot of the time) at the same time, and we are just in very similar places in our life. It's crazy to think that if it weren't for that silly Seafight game, I never would have met her. I'm very glad I did. She's like a sister to me.

I also count myself very blessed to have been so close with so many of my friends - even if we haven't always stayed super close. Especially:

Miriam R.
Becky H.
Hailee D.
Aubrey D.
Tasheena B.
(I do consider all of the above to be my sisters - two of them really are) ;)
The Mattsons (the whole crew!)
Daniel P.
David R.
Derik W.
Katie W.
Jessica F.
Jessica S.
Alexie H.
Krystal S.
Melissa M.
Destiny L.
Cheryl H.
Liz M.
Kira W.

 . . . and that doesn't even touch any of my cousins who I'm also very close with (special shout-outs to Ally, Jake, and Melissa.)

Those are all the people who I've been the closest with in my life at some point or another and they will always be very dear to me. Thank-you for you friendship guys!

"What is a friend? A single soul in two bodies." - Aristotle

My Best Friend.

Ugh. I can't seem to fall asleep. Good thing I don't have to open in the morning. At least I (sort of) get to sleep in.

I watched the movie "Something Borrowed" today. I liked it. The dance scene in it is pretty fun. Here, see for yourself. Click here. Aubrey and I spent about 20 minutes learning and perfecting the moves. Haha. I still suck, btw. ;)

When I was younger I used to get told that I looked a lot like Kate Hudson. There was this one guy I dated for a little while who used to tell me that when I smiled, I looked just like her. I never saw it (still don't), and I definitely don't look anything like her anymore. It was all in the eyes, and as I've gotten older, my eyes have gotten wider and . . . droopier. Blah.

Anyway, back to the movie . . . I would recommend it, I guess. It's not my favorite, but it was entertaining. I really like the bond that Kate and Ginnifer's characters have in that movie. Same with the bond that Kate and Anne's characters have in "Bridal Wars". I think I feel that way because I've been fortunate enough to have a best friend like that. (Not one that tried to sabotage my wedding or sleep with my fiance, but one that knew me better than anyone). We grew up together - completely inseparable - and even though we don't keep in touch as much now as we used to, I feel like we are just as close. She's my sister. I have so many memories of us that I wouldn't trade for anything. Like the time we got chased by a cow that jumped through the barn window, or the trips we took to Utah to visit boys. All of the time we spent when we were little collecting pennies and other loose change, and then purchasing "penny candies" down at Andy's gas station. Oh man . . . or the time that we watched Ernest Goes to Jail and laughed our @$$'s off while eating Raman Noodles and drinking Snapple! (We were such dorks, but oh so cool! haha). Let's see . . . Cruising around in the grape, making up dances with your brother, me developing a crush on your brother and you putting up with it, you plucking my eyebrows for the first time, you shaving my arms for the first time (lol), all the trips to the Mall, and our double dates to the dances . . . Pierre's and our infatuation with the guy who impersonated Elvis. I don't think I learned very much in the 11th grade because I was too busy writing you a note during my boring classes that I would later pass to you in the hallway between class (and you'd do the same). I still have those notes, btw. They are in my photo album with our HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of photos.

 I love how we didn't really fit in anywhere, but we fit in everywhere at the same time. We didn't have a "click", we just floated from group to group, making friends and hanging out. People could ALWAYS hear us coming because we were ALWAYS laughing . . . LOUDLY. I remember sleep-overs -- me in my sweatsuit and "toasty-socks" with three blankets and you in shorts and a sports bra with a sheet. We'd attempt to watch a movie and I'd always fall asleep before the previews were even over. Ooh . . . singing lessons. Some of my fondest memories were of our weekly singing lessons. I miss performing with you -- in church, at the park for holidays, wherever.

Remember the time we walked that kitten with the collapsed lung all the way to the vet on a wooden board -- both of us in tears and fuming at the kid who had squished it? Or how about making "healthy salads" for the horses?

I seriously have so many fond memories and great stories! All good times. I feel really fortunate to have had friendship like that. I know that not everyone does. So, thank-you for your friendship, "Freddie-Poo". I feel honored and blessed to have you in my life. I look forward to many more years of our friendship. ;) You know I love ya!

Love, Your "Hose Head". ;)

It saddens me a little that I don't have any pictures of us together passed the age of 17. We'll be needing to fix that.