A Man's Greatest Possession is a Sympathetic Wife - Fortune Cookie

-So, what are you going to do, now that you've graduated?

-Nothing!! haha

My long awaited salon day was a much needed relaxing day that I LOVE Jarod for pushing me to have for myself.  I may have spent a lot more than I should ever spend on someone else doing my toe nails and washing my hair, but I'll tell you something, I loved every minute of it.

So, the Aeros won Game 7, meaning they're on to Round 3 of playoffs ....aka at least another two weeks before I MIGHT see Jarod again.  This was definitely a bittersweet win in my book.  While I'm super excited for the team, I can't help but think how much this sucks.  Since graduation ( 5 days ago) I've been soo excited to the end of my tenure as single parent Vi Pham.  Sammy is seriously CRAZY these days, constantly crawling around, climbing, standing, and singing his brains out.  I'd like to throw him to Dad now, PLZ.  Jarod keeps hearing about all the things that are happening, but hasn't seen any of it in real life. I keep telling him the best solution is to fly us down, but he thinks I'm crazy... probably because I ask everyday.  He's says I'm bad luck... I'm not even allowed to watch the games online. HAHAHA

I've been attempting to finish up (aka a last minute start) to my wedding plans.  Within two days, I've rented all the serve ware and tableware, figured out what Sam will be wearing, booked a musician and photographer, purchased and received my engraved champagne flutes and cake servers, created my invitations and began making the mailing labels, and started (almost finished) my backyard flower and herb garden. hahaha Weddings? NBD.

What has Jarod done?  Asked me to make him a list of his things to do for the wedding (3 things) and sent me this youtube video :

That's what he'd like to re-create for our first dance...

I had something else in mind:

After I showed him my rendition of our first dance, he asked me why my BFF Brittni would be a part of our first dance... he obvi still doesn't understand yet. I love him. hahah

Jarod, at the root of his soul, may be one of the most innocent mentalities I've ever encountered. Throughout the time we've known each other, I am constantly shocked by the genuinely good nature Jarod has.  Maybe it's because I expected different from a hockey player, but Jarod has a softer side to him than me at age 6, (when I cried everyday when I realized I had to go to school all day and had to be away from my dad...I was also a little afraid of my special ed reading teacher)  I take it in stride and realize that the things Jarod means to say aren't the things I think they mean.  Mostly because I have a cold heart and rely solely on sarcasm to impress people. There is so much I have to explain to Jarod about the world, not because he's stupid, but because he just doesn't understand how people could have ill intentions.  I love and hate this about him, but I love him more than words.  All I can do when he has some shocking statement is smile and agree.  If I really wanted to change him, I wouldn't have the Jarod that I've met and fell in love with.

So when Jarod tells me he doesn't want me to come down to Texas because I might be bad luck, I know he doesn't not want me around.  I know its for the same reason he hasn't gotten his hair cut or shaved his face.  He's trying to win it all for me and Sam. And that's just alright with me.

But it's not going to stop me from asking! :)

The Return of Did You Know:
The month of May is Asian/ American South Pacific Islander awareness month?  Compliments of Nick Jr. hahaha

Mommies and the Future of Vi...Palmer?

Happy Mother's Day!!

Soo, being a mommy now, I get another reason to celebrate all my goodness. Sammy can't show his appreciation through gifts or anything right now, but his cuddling has been the best gift he could give me every day!  Maybe, when he grows up, we can cuddle everyday on Mother's Day for 15 minutes.  Weird? Yes.  Will I ask him to do it when he's 15 and probs hating me?  Yes.

Tell me how you really feel, Sam

Everyone says they have the best mother in the world.  You know what?  I've got 3... and not in that lesbionic way.  My mom is perfect, best cook EVER, a little crazy, fun, and extremely loving (even though she covers it up with a bit of racism and judging).  She's been the reason for sooo many of my fantastic stories and honestly, is the reason why Sam was the baby he was when he was born, as well as the bratty little smart fella he is today.  I learned at to be a mom from her, for better or for worst (It's probably where I get my "SAMMAAAYYY!! STOP IT!" even though he doesn't understand how to listen right now anyway.)  Even though, sometimes, it seems like she is trying to steal my child, I love her dearly.

Momm-eeee

Wherever my mom has skipped moments, as we all do, I've had my sisters.  Yes, we fight, yes we bicker, yes, we talk behind each other's backs.... but I also do that with my mom, like everyday.   They seriously take care of me like they are moms.  They give me advice, steer me in the right direction, and scold me when I've done something wrong.  They don't just do it to make me feel bad (although sometimes... maaaybe) but they do it because they feel the need to take care of me and all my crazy messups.  Their instinct to do that is so much more than on a sister level, they care for me like I'm their baby.  and I love it!  They aren't moms yet, not even close, but one day, they're kids are going to be so crazy and fun and loving, it'll be insane!

Maybe I have a skewed view of what a mommy should be, but I wouldn't have my mommies be any other way, and I could never be another other type of mom.

What a big 12-15 months I've had!  I can't believe everything I've done.  After graduation, my little sister asked me "Are you glad it's done?"  As a mom would, I replied "When you have a kid, you'll realize, you're never done."  Finishing school just opened the door to so many other things that I have to do.  Now I'm a full time mommy, who is planning her wedding (weird, and out of order), planning on moving to God knows where, and then being a wife.  When it mix it all together, some of the jobs I will do will over lap so it'll be NBD.   But when you list it all out, it seems like a lot.  But seriously, any mommy that complains or tries to gain sympathy through all the work she has to do, shouldn't be a mom.  It's a thankless job!  GET USED TO IT ALREADY!!

So, as I thought, graduation was kind of a bummer.  Reason 357 of why I didn't want to go.  Jarod wasn't here, obvi, and I think the College of Arts and Science had THE worst speakers ever. ("In the film, the Kings Speech..." Sorry I still can't get over that)  I texted through the entire ceremony that lasted longer than it took to park.  I wish I had bought one of those electronic gaming systems.  On top of that, my parents missed them saying my name out loud (leading them to believe I didn't really graduate jk jk) and I hated that stooopid hat!!!  On a funny note, in the first half of the ceremony, Sammy started crying and I HEARD him.  I texted my sister and asked if Sammy just freaked out, and she said yes.  I recognized his cry? Whoa.  My BFF Brittni did a pub crawl in my honor, because I obvi don't have the alcoholic strength or energy to do it anymore.  How fantastic is she?

Graduation... I'm in the back

My fake degree

After all this was done, all I could think about was the future.  What AM I going to do?  My dad has given me several suggestions, and when it came down to it, we realized we needed a miracle.  Every choice I have right now, has at least one consequence to go with it.  There is no perfect route for me.  Somehow, my life choices has left me in a rut.  Every way you look at it, I will be taking a serious consequence down the road, and the only thing I can really do is pick what will keep my family (Jarod, Sammy and Me) together at this point.  Do you know what they call that?  Mommy Sacrifice.  Again, it's thankless and you just have to do it.  Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy to do what I can for my family, but at the same time, I can't help but think that somewhere, down the line, I made the wrong decision, and now, I'm kind of lost.  

  

All that's left is to pray for an answer.  I have to rely on something, much larger than myself, to help me take care of my family and guide me in the right direction.  As always, I can't wait to be led down this blind road to see what happens.  Obvi I'll write, and obvi I'm hoping for a reality show.

Check ya lata!

  

It's Nearing the End!

Happy Birthday to Miss Ashley Flood (Soon-to-be Mrs. Buck!)  We love and miss you soo much! Can't wait to see you this summer when you come to the OxBox!!

Two large research papers and one exam down, I'm taking another one of my many breaks to do some wedding browsing.  Of course I couldn't hold off on it all under the week was over...my mind is going absolutely crazy over it all!!! Forget the fact that I still haven't started studying for my 8 o'clock final, have not purchased a graduate gown, am planning on wearing a dress from my pregnancy, and am pretty sure I have forgotten how to use a hairdryer... I can't wait to be married!

I've been searching all the corners of the internet trying to get some concrete, REALISTIC ideas for my at-home wedding and I finally found something!

www.younghouselove.com

I haven't read any more of the blog than her wedding entry, but I believe that her last name must be young, and they have a house...and they're in love?  I swear, some of her ideas came straight out of my head, and it's GREAT to see that she actually pulled it off!  I've already utilized two of her money saving tips with ideas that I already had... at least I'm attempting to!

In other news...

Sammy is louder and crazier than ever!  He's already crawling all over the house, going up the step in my parent's house, and starting to pull himself up and attempting to walk away.  It's actually very dangerous.  haha.  The other day, he slipped and fell and hit his head on the hardwood flooring.  Oops, Mom!  The little guy has been singing up a storm and talking to no end. So cute!!

I will be posting a picture of the little monkey later today that you all will LOVE!!

Randommmm

So, I'm laying here, backwards on my childhood bed, NOT doing any work for my exams, feeling sorry for myself.  I have no motivation to get anything concrete down at this moment, so I thought I'd at least entertain myself with a blog entry and write down some random thoughts:

1. I'm still in utter disbelief that I spelled pandemonium correctly on the first try.  It's just one of those words that you don't use often, but is important to have in your vocabulary.  Like Mediterranean, (I still pronounce it with an emphasis on "an") you should just know it.

2. Sam's been whimpering like a puppy all night and it bugs me.  I decided to stay at my parents so I could have time to work on things without worrying about Sam.  They're usually the best babysitters, but I was pretty much Sam's babysitter this weekend.  I didn't get anything done. Crap.

3. I work a lot better when I've been drinking.  Especially when it comes to writing.  I have no creative flow when I'm tired and sleep deprived.  So far, I've written bits of my essay on French Rap Music and Rebellions.  This includes my title : The Rights of Hip Hop: Makin' Dolla Bills for Justice ... do you think that's catchy enough?  My professors always like my titles.

4.  My idol Coco T (Ice T's wife) is getting her own reality show on E! Do you know how much I LOVE this?  Scratch Jarod a sensitive musician/poet, I want him to be just like Ice.

5.  I have very poor grammar and math skillz.  Both of which, I've heard, are the basic foundations of being intelligent.  I guess I get a big "Oops" on that

6.  My mother has gotten exponentially more hilarious in the past few months.  Not in that senile way, either.  Her wit intrigues me.

7. I just did a 180 on my wedding. Totally different plans. Haven't told Jarod yet... Oops again!

8. All this rain makes my bones hurt.

9. It's really hard to find the numbers on my computer to make this list, so I'm gonna call it quits.

Sorry I stopped short of ten, but my eyes hurt and I don't have anything creative to say.

  

The Things I Miss

The past year has been a whirlwind of new things that has created a whole new me.  While I enjoy the company of my little bear, there is so much I miss about my old self.  I miss my supermodel hair, I miss bikini bathing suits and wearing shirts as dresses, I miss free time and thoughtless days.  But most of all, I miss Jarod.

In almost less than two months, we'll be back together in Ohio and getting ready to take the plunge into the married life.  It's interesting how we have our Sammy, we share everything, and for a time, we lived together and yet, I'm kind of nervous.  How different can it be?

Well, for starters, I can't overreact and tell him I'm leaving.  The legal proceedings of a divorce are too long and complicated for him to believe that I'd actually go through with all that just because we have a minor disagreement. (This is a joke, guys...but seriously.)

Jarod and I both have romantic notions of each other that never seem to be fulfilled.  We think very highly of each other.  But real life has never stopped us from trying our hardest to make the other person's dreams come true.  Jarod would do anything if it would mean I'd turn my frown upside down.  While, on some level, I wish I would have fallen in love with a musician/poet, I would pick my meathead of a hockey player any day.  And while Jarod thought he got a timid girl, who, as I found out yesterday, likes the outdoors (why would he ever think I did?!?) He chose me!  The surprising connection that brought the two of us together seems to have boggled the minds of anyone who knows us, but seriously, who really knows us? The only people who understand us are the two of us.  Add to that the crazy life of a hockey family and we look like a recipe for disaster, but I'd put money on us. haha

Do you ever find yourself listening to the radio, and you hear a song that reminds you of something that just takes you back to a moment in time that you can almost feel?  Lately, every time I hear a love song, it takes everything in me not to close my eyes (because I'm driving...DANGEROUS) and take a minute to remember Jarod holding my hand, or just being near.  I mean, how sappy is that?  It's not like he's in a coma or anything like that.  He's in Texas playing hockey.  If anything, he should be having the time of his life.  I believe this is all the product of too little sleep and too much baby Sam. BUT maybe I'm turning into a romantic.

Enough ramblings and back to school! Gotta finish semi-strong!


Did you know Ostriches are the only birds who have eyelashes?

Sorry Social Life, I Can't See You Tonight. I've Gotta Be a Mom

Let me clue you in on my pitiful life (jk jk, but seriously...)

It's Friday night, 10:52 PM.  I'm sitting here in front of the television watching Yo Gabba Gabba on silent, constantly refreshing the stats on Jarod's game (because I'm too cheap to purchase the video feed tonight, plus it sucks big ones to see it cut out every five minutes) with my empty cup of wine, contemplating whether or not I smell bad enough to shower.

P.S. Jarod scores on the one night I don't buy the damn game. Kill me.

Yes. My life has change just a bit.

There was a time when pitiful meant something completely different.  My BFF Brittni and I would scrap together our dollars (usually around 7 or 8) contemplate whether or not eating a real dinner was worth the extra money and go out to join some pub crawls, meet some nerds, hula hoop...whatever our hearts desired... starting at 4 pm lasting until who knows when (maybe with a trip to the library to pick up Jarod haha).  That sort of pitiful was, at least, fun. and we usually made a few dollars throughout the night.
Fun nights were posted on facebook within the month, and I shaved my legs on the reg.

Now, I get separation anxiety from Sam.  I seriously love the little bugger to death. If I don't have to leave him, I won't.  I feel like I really have no reason to, because I don't have anything friends anyway.  He's much more fun anyway.  We make animal noises, we play on the compy, and we love all the same shows (except I secretly suspect he likes watching Olivia, which I despise for her selfish ways). I love it! But then again, who would want to leave this cute little face? :)

Having said all of that, I think I'm ready for a little nap before Jarod calls me post-game. Let's hope for a win (or a loss. I'm not sure which one I want more yet)  Go Aeros!

Did you know: There are no words in the English dictionary that rhyme with the word "Month"?

Quiting Another Addiction

I'm quitting coffee.

I think starting to drink coffee might have been a top five worst decisions I've never made... and I blame Jarod.

When I met Jarod and we started dating, I obvi used studying as a way to hang out more.  More to my surprise, Jarod actually wanted to study instead of make out.  So I'd sit there, bored out of my mind on my computer, FBing, while he studied and would usually doze off for awhile (I can sleep standing up).  Every time I would come over, Jarod had a fresh pot of coffee.  Honestly... the stuff tastes like boiling hot bitter water to me.  Especially since the only way Jarod would offer it was black...no sugar, no cream.  If I didn't like him so much, I'd probably spit it in his face.  haha.  (But seriously....in February when my sister and I eat chocolates from the Valentine's day boxes, if I get one with fruit or coconut, I make a face and she sticks out her hand for me to spit it out.  We've been doing it since I was little, nbd)

Cut to Mommy: The Student.  As perfect as Jarod can be, coffee became my lover.  I had coffee in the morning, in the afternoon, even at night depending on what needed to get done.  Before you feel sorry for me, I'm seriously, the ultimate slacker so I wait until late night on the day before to get things done, so essentially, MY bad! (Emphasis on the "my") I seriously could stay up for days.  But now, I'm getting just a little worried.  I've been having these half awake half asleep moments where I can't tell the difference between dreaming and reality, I'm very irritable, and because drinking coffee made my appetite go away, I haven't been eating very well.  Those things alarmed me, but now I'm concerned.  My hair is falling out like whoa.  It's not because I stopped taking prenatals, because I never took them in the first place.  And this started happening very recently.  I could very well make a wig out of the hair that falls out in one day.  This has never happened before, and I'm afraid I might go bald.  Biggest fear aside from the government regulating TV consumption.  So, I'm stopping.  While I'm no longer a scientist, I could still play one on TV convincingly, so I decided that because the caffeine was draining my system more often (drink coffee= pee a lot), it was draining out the small amount of nutrition I was getting.  Thursday was awful, today was better.  But I also didn't have to do anything but hang out with Sam.  One logical alternative would be to take vitamin supplements.  Um, wrong.  I sure as hell will not swallow those.  Do I look like a drug mule?  I would gag and probably die.

I'm looking into some alternatives, but right now, I decided on a little arithmetic: 

[(Old Vi)+(Mommy Vi)]-[(Excessive Drinking)+(Mild Stupidity/Bad Decisions)]= V2k11

OMG amazing.

Every day is new so we'll seeeee :)

Did you know: The Fedex logo as an arrow between the "e" and the "x".  Thank you Ochocinco :)