The Bukowski Family

So it’s been awhile since I have updated.  In fact over 6 months. Shame on me.  So here’s what we’ve been up to.

April 2009:

In April, David and I took a vacation to New York. What an awesome time we had!!! I fell in LOVE with that city and cannot wait to go back again. Who would have thought I would have loved New York City? Definately not me.  We went to the Met,  Ellis Island, Central Park, walked the Brooklyn Bridge and  saw a Broadway Show (The Little Mermaid, of course!)  We also got to witness the faux Air Force 1 and the fighter jet fly over really low. It was a little unnerving. Yet – quite hilarious that someone is that stupid and thought it was a good idea.

May 2009:

This month work began on Mom’s new house. It was decided that Mom was going to buy a bigger house with a large lot to build a guest house so that my Grandma could live with but not with my mom.  So we begin the renovation process at Mom’s while plans for the guest house are still stuck in red tape.

June 2009:

Kind of a slow month.  I had to pitch in and cover the front desk at work for a few weeks.  I didn’t mind it. It certainly was different than my “day job” but the patient contact was nice. David and I argued over what “Home Improvement” project we should tackle this month – so we settle on window dressings. Woo hoo! Curtains! (Notice the sarcasm here)

July 2009:

The most important part of July - turning 25!!  I don’t know why that’s is so important. It came and went like any other day.  Cindy also closed on her new home this month so the renovations on that began as well.  It’s a cute little home. And it has a pool. Bonus!

August 2009:

Birthday Celebrations for David and me at Buca Da Beppo. Not as exciting as my 21st birthday – but just as important. Had a limoncello martini for the 1st time and it was delicious! We also found out that David’s sister is pregnant.  I still don’t think David knows how to feel about that.

Also took Danielle and a friend to the GREEN DAY SHOW!! I freakin LOVE Green Day and thought it kicked ass that I could have suite tickets. I was nervous about taking my teenage neice to a “Rock” show – but I know they had a good time and it was worth it!

September 2009:

David’s Birthday Trip to California.  For David’s birthday, I found a Kustom Kulture Car Show in California and decided we would go there.  So we left bright and early at 6am and headed to Ventura making a stop in Pasadena and Camarillo (OUTLET MALL SHOPPING!!!) along the way. Then drive down to Santa Monica, and Long Beach and spend the rest of the time around the Disney area. We, unfortunately, didn’t have enough time to go to Disneyland or California Adventure s0 we settled for Downtown Disney where we had a nice romantic dinner at Catal and watched Fireworks. Almost as good as spending the day in Disneyland.

Almost. 

Also this month – Grandma was diagnosed with Colon Cancer.  Cancer rears its head again in this family.  Then just after this diagnosis my mother comes down ill. They find a spot on her lung and need her to go have a biopsy. After the biopsy – her lung collapses. Of course it does. But all works out for the best when it’s determined Mom does NOT have lung cancer but rather Valley Fever.  Valley Fever 1 Cancer 0. 

October:

Mom FINALLY moves in to her new home. Since Grandma’s house is STILL stuck in red tape -it’s decided that Grandma will move in with mom since the home is more than large enough.  So the work begins with a quickness to pack up Grandma’s home. We find all sorts of odd and bizzare things and decide we’re going to sell what we don’t want on Ebay.  So that’s my new project once the essentials are taken of with the move.  Grandma seemed excited to move – but now that she’s there with the billion dogs we all have-  we’ll see how well that lasts.

Grandma also decides to proceed with her cancer surgery. So the big day was October 20th.  At 89, Grandma is by no means an ideal candidate. The blockage was removed and it was decided to not proceed with Chemo or radiation. Since the doctors say colon cancer is a slow moving cancer – we’ll see where it goes.

November:

Grandma is still weak from her surgery but I guess that’s to be expected. I try to visit her at least every other day; and to let my mom have a break from being a home health nurse.  Oh I am patiently waiting for Black Friday when I can wake up bright and early and shop till I drop!

So that has been the last 6 months. No disasters, no loss of jobs (THANK GOD!), no new cars, no new babies(and not for YEARS!)

I think I am liking this life I have settled down into. Yea – it’s been good.

I have been reading a few articles about the town hall meetings for socialized i mean the Obama health care plan.  And what really has gotten to me is how some media figures are bashing the few people that brought guns. I mean they do have the right to have said guns.. Its not like they were in the meeting popping rounds off to scare people. They were peaceful protesters..  Some people that read this may think I am crazy saying someone with a gun is a peaceful protester.  Just think of the outcome that could have been if these people were hostile.  Other people that may read this will say well that’s just using intimidation..  In my opinion if these protesters wanted to really intimidate people there would have been gun fire or threats of shooting.   Not one person at a town hall meeting was injured or assaulted with a firearm.  Again this aids in my case that these protesters were peaceful other wise there would have been a blood bath..   And to the people who say guns shouldn’t be allowed to be owned.  How would you like it if they said we needed to take away some of your freedoms.  I just love when people say that its guns that kill people..   I have never seen just a gun kill or hurt someone on its own.  I own a few guns and have never seen my .45 pistol hurt or kill anyone.   What kills people is people the gun cant think on its own.   And yes i do agree with some ideas that these people do have.  I don’t think anyone who has committed a crime should own a firearm.   I am one of many who are pro firearm and I will never give up my right to do so.  I believe that in the hands of a responsible owner guns are 100% safe.

As David and I celebrate our 2nd Valentine’s day together as husband and wife – I think about how lucky I am to still be in that stage where our marriage is fun. I know you’re thinking – Mon-  it’s only been a little over a year – shouldn’t your marriage still be in that stage??!!  You’re absolutely right. It really should be. And yet, many marriages fail within the first five years of marriage. Why is this? Although David and I have our moments, it hasn’t ever gotten to the point where it is so bad that I don’t want to make it work. I can’t imagine my life without David – he’s my very best friend and the person I can count on 110%.

While I was planning my wedding celebration – my mom would tell me – don’t get caught up in the wedding. The wedding lasts a day – a marriage should last a lifetime. Maybe that’s why so many marriages today fail – they’re focused on the wrong thing. The wedding is more important than the marriage.

My marriage is in no way perfect.  It is sometimes selfish, controlling, greedy, and painful. However, my marriage is also giving, growing, sharing, and wonderful.

I promised myself before I got married that I would always remember to laugh at least once a day with my husband.  David and I laugh all the time. We have little inside jokes, stories, and games that we play with each other. Our favorite game recently is the “One Billion Dollar Check” game. David and I talk about what we would do that day when our 1 Billion Dollar check arrives in the mail.

It’s very fun to dream with my husband about what we would do with that money – but we’re also very down to earth about the here and now. We realize that no Billion dollar check is going to magically appear in our mailbox and that we can dream about that all we want but really it’s about what we have today.

Even though times are rough sometimes – I wouldn’t trade my life with David for anything. Someway, somehow  – we always get through it.

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!