Valentine's From Afar

Happy Valentine's Day, Dear Reader!  Here's hoping that you're having a wonderful time with your significant other... filled with chocolate, roses, and candlelight.  Personally, Yours Truely is hoping for something a little more practical... like a teleportation device. This Valentine's Day My Darlin' is a whopping 750 miles away... and the distance has never felt longer then it does today. 

Ever been in a long distance relationship, Dear Reader?  They are not for the faint of heart, the jealous type, or those who are overly clingy.  Yours Truely has found that it can increase the relationship's depth of communication... but only to the level one commits to really listening to their significant other.  My best advice... Spring for that unlimited phone plan and use it liberally!  Talk... text... flirt... discuss... or just be there in silence with each other... Use the time you're apart physically to foster the friendship and closeness that will provide the foundation for a lifetime. 

This is a time to learn about each other... to find out some of their likes and dislikes... their foibles.  During Christmas, we discussed decorating for the season.  Yours Truely, having been an apartment dweller for over a decade now, has almost gotten out of the habit.  My Darlin' laughed as she exclaimed "You are soooo screwed!" and cheerfully related how she loves to decorate for the season... inside and out.  (Yours Truely secretly misses the ritual and is soooo looking forward to sharing that with her this year.)  We've discussed everything from pets to parenting to politics.  We've surfed the web together... and listened as The Boy serenaded us on his guitar.

Yours Truely enjoys listening in to My Darlin's daily life as well... lurking electronically in the background as My Darlin' welcomes her son home from school, helps with the homework, and yells for him to quit bouncing on the couch.  She's mystified as to why Yours Truely does so, but it's amazing how much you learn about a person from the way they deal with their children.  One cannot keep up any sort of reasonable facade for long around their children... they'll rat you out everytime!  As a parent myself, Yours Truely is able to relate to all the trials and tribulations she's going through too.

A long distance relationship is difficult though. It will test your resolve... your patience... your love.  Still, Yours Truely does not regret a moment of it... and will gladly wait for you, My Darlin'.  After all, when you've been waiting your whole life to find your other half, what's a little longer.

Is My Southern Showin'?

Southerners have a way with words.  Dripping with honey... lubricated with sweet tea... drawn out through a velvet drawl... Our vocabulary is as colorful as our heritage and applied with molasses liberally over all we come in contact with.  Only a Southerner can get by with calling both their waitress and their mechanic "Hon" without drawing so much as a raised eyebrow.  "Hon" is just our way of politely acknowledging you.  Yours Truely cannot imagine a day going by without uttering "hon" at least a half dozen times through the course of day.  What else would one say?  "Hey you" is just so common, not to mention rude...

To Yours Truely, however, while "hon" can be applied to anyone from birth to grave.... "darlin'" is reserved for those especially close to your heart... The Boy may occasionally cringe, but receives the coveted term from Yours Truely on a semi-regular basis... at least when he's on good behavior.  The only other person currently eligable for the honor is my girlfriend.  She is my darlin'... a term she hears daily from Yours Truely.  (After all, "Absolutely, Darlin'" and "Yes indeedy, Darlin'" are two terms any Southerner who hopes to keep their gal happy should learn and apply liberally...)

In a recent New Year's post, Yours Truely spoke of the need for a proper pseudonym for my girlfriend... after all, The GF is already in use.  We tossed around a few ideas, including MML for My Main Lady that was suggested by a friend... but nothing felt right to me.  It had to be just right.... she was my darlin' after all... and then the lightbulb went off!  So Dear Reader... without further ado, please allow Yours Truely to introduce... My Darlin'.  (The following has been added to the Cast Of Characters for future generations edification and enlightenment.)

My Darlin' (Yours Truely's girlfriend) - A bubbly, passionate personality equally at home on horseback or poised on high heels.  She's been accused of resembling Sandra Bullock... but Yours Truely see a wee bit of Claudia Christian in her as well.  An animal lover, her household includes... a horse, a bearded lizard, a raccoon, and two dogs.... Oh, and a six year old son.   She's a patient, loving mother... a hard task with any energetic, young child.  Just the sound of her voice lifts Yours Truely's spirits and fills my heart.

New Year, here I come!

Yours Truely has been waiting in breathless anticipation for this New Year to finally arrive... So much to look forward to!  Let's catch you up on what's in store for the upcoming year, Dear Reader, shall we....

Behind Door Number One....

A brand new job!  This isn't a certainty... yet... But I should find out within the next week or so whether I'm being offered a promotion and position at our new plant.  Yours Truely has been chomping at the bit and gnawing at her nails over this one for awhile now, Dear Reader...Sure it would mean more money, but it also comes with a lot of work to be done before the plant opens and means I'd have to move to another state.  For someone who loves her ruts, this is a wee bit intimidating in and of itself.... Combine that with having to leave The Boy behind and it's enough to give one pause.  Yours Truely has received nothing but encouragement though from all concerned.... including my management.  So here's hoping for good news on the job front to share soon!

Moving On...
Yep, Yours Truely is finally going to crawl out from her personal purgatory of apartment dwelling and become a home owner once again.  My mind's made up... whether the aforementioned job comes through or not, it's on to greener pastures and quieter domiciles!  Though an online comment about having a vibrating couch (due to my downstairs neighbor's cranked up stereo) did lead to a wonderful, unexpected relationship... The ambiance has primarily led to an increased feeling of dis-ease on my part... playing havoc with my bouts of agoraphobia.  (Even harder to convince yourself to walk out that door when someone suddenly starts screaming in the hallway, believe me!)  So regardless of whether its across town or two states away.... UHaul here I come!

What does a Lesbian bring to the second date?....
Couldn't resist... tried... couldn't... forgive me....But speaking of UHauls... as mentioned in a previous post, Yours Truely has become involved recently in a long-distance relationship.  During this New Year, we're hoping to change that however... she says with a huge ear-to-ear grin plastered on her face.  To say Yours Truely is smitten would be a dis-serve to smites the world over... Yours Truely is full-bore head-over-heels in love, Dear Reader... much to The Boy's personal amusement.  He approves completely.... as though he had a say in the matter... She's won him over.. whether it was her sense of humor or how much we obviously care for each other... of course the Christmas gifts didn't hurt either!   Young and naive we're not though... we both realize that the hard work of the relationship lies ahead, but we're looking forward to facing it together.... Oh, and she has a six year old... Yours Truely is looking forward to starting a new family in more ways then one!  This year will be an exciting time indeed!
(Hummmm... will have to think of a good pseudonym for her soon... Any suggestions?)

Stand By Your Man...
That's right... Yours Truely was honored when one of my best online friends requested that I serve as his Best Man... ummm... make that Best Person at his wedding this year.  He and his fiance met and courted each other in the same online forum where I met my own love.  We all excited as many of our online friends will be traveling to help celebrate their new life together.... and, dadgum it, Yours Truely is going to rock a tux!  (I'll post pics too... just for you, Dear Reader) 

So there you have it... the main events of the New Year in a nutshell.  Of course, its yet to be seen what other surprises the New Year has in store as it never comes without a gift or two in hand... being a considerate guest.  The gift isn't always what we asked for... and may appear to be more curse then present... But given the distance of time we usually find the New Year's gift was just what we needed, when we needed it. 

Here's wishing you a wonderful New Year, Dear Reader... filled with surprises and gifts galore!