I've kept you waiting long enough

Whenever any blogger hasn't blogged in a while, it is next to impossible to start the first post back in any other way besides the following (What I'm trying to say is that I'm cliche and I know it): It's been a while since I've written anything on here. Of course I try to post something over at the Land of Nitsy on a quarterly basis, but this little bloggy buddy has suffered some pretty severe neglect since the inception of Nitsy in June. I won't lie and say that I'll be more diligent with my posts, but I will say this - I've missed writing. I guess I have fewer diverting shenanigans now that I'm a Sadie (note - not every girl can get herself a guy who looks like Nick). But I'll see if I can muster up some material for my fans in waiting.

Updates:

• Tomorrow night Nick and I leave for a road trip to Texas/Nick's mom's house. Redd will tag along with us. Boopie arrived there earlier today. Angi gets in on Monday. Fun times are about to ensue. The fact that I've already been married to Nick for 5 months and have yet to meet either of his parents or his sister is pretty interesting. I'm slightly nervous but mostly just excited.
• Nick and I have been called as ward missionaries. I'm excited to be in a calling where I can serve with my new husband.
• Work is work. Last night I had a dream where I got laid off/fired because the company got sold and my position became redundant. It was like a sucker punch to the gut to realize that those dream-jerks chose to keep a different dream-assistant that dream-works in my dream-office instead of dream-me! I was bitter and upset most of the day. How dare they! But again, it was just a dream.
• I need to dye my hair. Meeting your new mom-in-law with 3/4" roots is not a good plan. First impressions are important. Now I just need to figure out how to lose 50 pounds between now and Saturday night...
• I'm going to the New Moon movie tonight with the Irvine gals. Should be a fun time, but I'm yawning just thinking about it.

Hopefully those updates are enough to tide you over for the next 6 months or so. You're welcome.

I have been disowned

Since news of Nitsy's impending union broke I have slowly but surely been disowned by the members of my singles ward. The invitations to go out and do things have slowed from a virtual downpour to a light drizzle. I was shocked to learn that I was removed from the Visiting Teaching list for the month of June. I am getting released from my calling as a Family Home Evening group leader on Sunday. Further, I have not been asked out on one single date all month long! Jerks. But I have come to accept my fate. Tonight at FHE Mandy introduced herself to a new girl. That delightful girl asked my name and I said "it's Betsy, but don't bother remembering it. I'm getting married next week." This she accepted without even batting an eye. And that's pretty much the gist of it. I have been disowned. But it's all in the pursuit of something great and wonderful. The consummation of Nitsy and the premier of Fusion House. I was never happier to be excluded.

I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it.

(not Nitsy)

Nick is awesome. And I love him. And we're getting married.

Allie was super cool (as usual) and wrote this post on her blog about him. Go there, for more scoop on the best guy ever.

Also, we have a blog together, Land of Nitsy. Nick + Betsy = Nitsy.

It's Nitsy!

Partial list of stuff that I like about Nick

1. He looks a little bit like Nacho Libre
2. He likes good music, and insists on making me mix cd's
3. He sent a text to my dad saying that he owns strip clubs and makes good money
4. He will drive an hour each way just to spend some time with me
5. Once he left me a cute note under my pillow
6. He likes me just the way I am

What the What?!

Someone alert the presses; I have a boyfriend. I know, right?

Nick!

Yeah, Nick! Nick's a real name. Nick's your buddy. Nick's the kind of guy you can trust. The kind of guy you can drink a (root)beer with. The kind of guy that doesn't mind if you puke in his car. Nick. Oh, I'm sorry, vomit.

Financial Fast 2009

When I was in Portland last week Malia floated the idea of a spending fast in which she would only pay bills and buy groceries for a month. No eating out, no shopping for clothes or stuff for the house. I was intrigued, but not fully on board. When the stipulation of $20/week of walking around money was added, the idea became much more palatable to me. And when I changed it from a spending fast to a financial fast, I kind of loved the idea (clearly, I heart alliteration). I ran the plan by Mandy (fellow Shady Lady and BFFF) and we decided to start as soon as we practically could, which is today! I expect the next four weeks to give both my bank account and my pants some much needed breathing room. Wish me luck!

Totally hypothetical

Happened once, it happened twice it happened three times, maybe four times, maybe five times, maybe, maybe it happened six times but it won't happen seven times. No no no no no no...

Don't call me past 11pm. It won't happen again... Oh, also, don't call me after you make out with a chick 10 years my junior. That's MY rule now.

Your Mom

I got a new calling at church. That's right, I'm your mom. FHE mom, or group leader, as it's known around these parts. I am co-leading one of the professional groups (ages 25-30). The other group leader, Justin, and I will be teaching lessons out of the Preach My Gospel manual the first and third Mondays of each month along with other fun shenanigans.

Last night was my first FHE in this group (I had actually been attending in the other Pro Group). There were 10 people there including one to three dudes I could possibly be interested in. Nice. Justin taught an awesome lesson about Charity and then we played the Game of Things. When the thing was "Things that confirm that you are losing your memory" my answer was "I can't remember the last time I had a date." Although untrue, it had the desired effect of having a few of the guys in attendance offering to remedy this problem. We'll see if they step up to the plate with an actual date offer.

I won't lie, I think I have a new crush brewing here. I mean, who wouldn't have a crush on a cute laser scientist that enjoys a little Teen Girl Squad or 4 Gregs, and references a show/song that I like-like in casual conversation?

The answers may surprise you

Question: Am I really considering getting involved with a guy that does not own a car?
Answer: Yes, yes I am.

Question: Does said guy work at a movie theater?
Answer: In fact, yes.

Question: Wait... what?
Answer: I know, right? I clearly need help.

Special Redheads

I was told once by a very wise person that everyone needs a special redhead in their life. I have several special redheads in my life currently.




Special redhead #1: Allison Pipkin Hite, my once girlscamp buddy and current sister-in-law of awesomeness. Karl and Allie are freakin' adorable together! I LOVE ALLIE. I pretty much can't wait for these two to start producing some super sweet ginger nieces and nephews for me.

Special redhead #2: Krystin Pipkin, pretty much my adoptive sister/niece-in-law. I love this kid. Between her twin obsessions (Twilight and HIMYM) and straight boy craziness how could I NOT love this chick? She is hot, and available. Tell your friends.

Special redhead #3: Mandy Shaff, roommate, BFFF and Shady Lady of super-awesomeness. It's kind of remarkable that even though I spend about a billion hours per week with this gal, I'm still not sick of her! Whether we're making a POA, puting in some facetime, scouting the Simbas, hanging with the faux-fam or making random phone calls at midnight on a Thursday, I relish our friendship like Mandy relishes froyo.

You'd think that with all these special redheads in my life that there simply isn't room for one more. But when a good, cool, attractive, nice, gainfully employed (not at a movie theater) redheaded man that is also fun, funny, and interesting enters the picture, you make room.

Would anyone like to take a stab at deciphering the meaning of this:

?

Am I imagical enough for this to happen?

I like it.

And like can lead to like-like, and like-like can lead to love.

She & Him

Do yourselves a favor, and get this album.She & Him is Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward

...You're welcome!

That just happened.

About once a week Facebook shows itself as a mystical place where astonishing and bizarre things happen.

Exhibit A
My former fiance from 7 YEARS AGO and I had a delightful chat last night. We haven't been in contact in about a billion years, so it was interesting and odd and kind of great to hear from him. I'm glad that we'll have an easy rapport should we ever meet in a social setting, which is likely considering the cross-over in our friend pools.

Next.

So, that was quick. This week started out with two suitors in contention for my affections, and it is heading into the weekend with none. Crushes come and go pretty quickly around the Shady Lady Hideaway. It likely has something to do with the fact that I think it's ridiculous to waste time hiding how I feel about men. I know there's a place for seduction and a chase in relationships, and I am not inept at flirting. However, generally speaking, I have a no-nonsense approach to dating. If I like a man, I will tell him so. It's true that this approach leaves one emotionally exposed and open to all kinds of rejection. But I figure that I'd rather have the rejection happen NOW than weeks or months down the road. Sometimes I'm the one doing the rejecting, and sometimes I'm the one getting rejected. Either way is just fine. When the rejection happens early on, they aren't really rejecting me, they're rejecting the idea of me, which may or may not coincide with the actual me. This distinction may only exist in my mind, but it's an important one. Anyway, so long as the guys seem to be attracted to me like moths to a flame, I don't think there's cause to change my approach.

In other news, I still kind of have a crush on that one guy. You know the one.

Listamania!

I have recently started attending a singles ward for church. It's been fun and funny. My Bishop is a funny and genuinely delightful man. He has been troubled lately by the lack of proper dating between the members of the ward, so he adopted a plan that he has seen work in other singles congregations in the past. Each ward member filled out a slip of paper with his or her name at the top followed by a list of 5 people they would like to go out with. Once the lists are in, the process of comparing and contrasting can commence. If there is any cross-over in lists (you have written the name of someone that wrote your name as well) Bishop would contact the dude to inform him that he should ask that specific girl out on a proper date. Matchmaking at its finest.

My list was simple as I'm new and still trying to diversify my dating portfolio. I listed three men that I had hung out with in a group setting, one man that I talked with briefly that I find attractive, and one man that had spoken in Sacrament Meeting that day that I found both attractive and well spoken (important qualities in any sort of friend.) So far I know that I had one instance of cross-over (see previous post). We'll see if I get any dates out of the deal.

Triangulation Station Textation

JK: Hey I was just thinking about last night and I'm sorry if it was awkward.

BHS: How's this for awkward? It seems we've got a bit of a triangle going here. I'm interested in M and I'm sensing that you are interested in me. Am I wrong?

BHS: Just thought I'd throw that out there. Nothing like clearing the air via test message. Ha.

JK: I wouldn't lie but I do like you. But I can tell you like him.

JK: Amen I'm glad you put it out there.

BHS: Yeah sorry to disappoint... But just so you know, you did make my list :) I'm just obviously interested in M right now for some unexplained reason.

BHS: Well let's agree to be friends without any awkwardness and just a hint of attraction and tension. Agreed? :)

JK: LOL totally agreed! Just to let you know you made my list too :)

Double Trouble

I'm in a bit of a pickle, kids. This week I have been hanging out with these two dudes, and we all have been having a really fun time together. I really like hanging out with men. They are less petty, more relaxed and typically easier to read than women. Plus, if there's a chance for some action, that is also preferred. Just sayin. Anyway, here's the thing - I can't tell which one of my new buddies (if either) likes me. I mean like likes me. I'm usually pretty intuitive about these things, but in this case I can see signs of interest in both of these dudes. They are pretty close, so I don't think that either would stand in the way of the other's possible happiness with me, so I just don't get it. Perhaps they are just trying to see who I like before proceeding. If so, best of luck to them. I'm a tad on the boy crazy side as of late, so I'd date either. But I won't lie - there is one that I'd be a little quicker to say yes to. There's really something to be said for mystery. And dreaminess. And classically good looks. And being able to build a house by hand from the ground up. And laser tag proficiency.

In addition to the above, I have a couple other possibilities on deck. One Jane Austen lover (say it with me: HOT.) Plus I was asked out via facebook chat by another acquaintance yesterday. Interesting.

Soy un perdedor?

"In every breakup there is a winner and loser -- with the very rare tie."

At first, I was the clear winner. I moved in to my own awesomely furnished place, maintained my good job, and maintained proper grooming habits. Plus, everyone (including his family) "sided" with me. And I was happy. Really happy. Finally, and for the first time in years. He was a messed up, horrible horrible wreck that had to move in to his parent's house when he realized he couldn't afford the lifestyle to which he had become accustomed without me footing the bill.

Nine months later...

Oh, man. He has moved on in a big way. He has resumed showering. And wearing pants. And shoes. And brushing the teeth. He has a new place, a "new" girl (GIRL) with a rockin bod, and seems happy. I know, right?!

Me? I'm 40 pounds overweight, at the same job, same place, same same same. Sigh. Class has its place, for sure, but I'm about ready to be a classless hussy. I want to do something crazy and interesting and spirited. A small percent of me wants to show him up and make him regret it all. But mostly I'm just ready to get back to being me.

A temporary break from the classiness I have come to be known for.

Suck it, shameless hussy.

Operation: Place Holder

As a teen my siblings and I would come up with code "operation" names for the people that we were currently crushing on. Who could forget Operation: Rio Salsa, Operation: Huff n Puff, or my favorite, Operation: Fill 'er Up!? In my current incarnation as a single person I have had a few active operations including the ill-fated Operation: Red Dragon, the revisitation of Operation: TP Salsa, as well as the dead-on-arrival Operation: Taco Bell. I hit pause on Operation: J2.0 when he moved out of state. I diverted myself with the internet thing for a while, but it was a dead end. So I began looking around closer to home. Enter Operation: Place Holder.

I have been going out on dates with Operation: Place Holder for the past few weeks. I realized practically from the beginning that it was going nowhere fast. Let's face it; I was never super attracted to this guy on any level, but I thought I would give him a shot. What did I have to lose, right? The dude was intoxicated by my free spirited ways, and I will admit that I was loving the attention he heaped on. For about two days. Then I was like -- hey, ease up bro. I wanted to keep things casual, while he showed signs of wanting to lock this down (and really, who could blame him?) One friend pointed out that I was way out of his league. Another mentioned that I was probably just rebounding. Possible, I guess. Historically speaking, I don't do rebounds, that is, unless I'm using the classic "Want to get involved in a really unhealthy rebound relationship?" pick-up line. Anyway, whatever the motives for dating Operation: Place Holder were, they are no more. I mercifully cut him loose last night before he had the chance to get even more attached. As much as I love free meals, I don't relish the idea of breaking hearts. And as his operation name states, he was really nothing more than a place holder for me.