It's been a busy week - and mostly, it's been all about me, baby!

Okay, well maybe not entirely - I've just done a lot of "me" things, it seems.

Tuesday, I had my nails done - damn, that is definitely becoming a "luxury item", given the amount of money I am putting into those babies!

Wednesday, I got my hair cut - three inches - it's now back up to my shoulders. Wheeeee! In a couple of weeks, I'm going to make my best effort to get it back to the natural (but fake) red color I miss so much.

Thursday, I got a new cel phone - and spent all evening downloading ring tones off the Internet. The theme from Sex and the City now plays when someone calls me, hehe. And I can set up special ring tones for certain people, so I know who is calling without even looking at the phone. Oh, and it's purple too, haha.

Friday, I went out drinking and dancing with friends, and had a great time as always. The downside was (as usual) the recovery on Saturday morning. Blecchhh.

Saturday afternoon, I did do something that wasn't about me for a change. Scott and his roommate, Bethany, came over so I could take him shopping for jeans (okay, so he's almost twenty - but he's still my child). We went to the Allen Premium Outlet mall (where he found nothing), then to Stonebriar mall (where he found nothing), and then to Tia's for dinner (where he found plenty - to eat). I did drive his car, and tried with all my might to convince him that he should give it to me, haha. But he wasn't budging, despite the over $600 a month he's paying in car loan and insurance combined.

It looks like at some point, I'll be taking his truck to drive instead. It's actually a cute little thing - a teal green Ford Ranger. I like that it is a stepside, but I have a hard time seeing myself driving a truck instead of a car. Oh well - we'll just have to see about that. It would definitely help my grandmother out, since she's making the payments on it, but it's just sitting idle.

At least the color would complement the red in my hair - what little is left of the red, at any rate. Hehe.

The Ex continues to have trouble with Justin and his defiant attitude. Friday when I was on my way out, he called me to report that Justin had just taken his anger out on Cody, and pushed his face against the kitchen cabinet, causing his nose to bleed.

The Ex says he doesn't understand Justin's temper. I pointed out that coming from someone who threatened to beat the shit out of me a few weeks ago - in front of Justin - that's a pretty ironic statement to make. The pot calling the kettle black, as it were. But The Ex doesn't seem to recognize the similarities between him and our son.

I would have Justin come live with me in a heartbeat if I could only afford a two-bedroom apartment. The time he spent here, when it was just the two of us, he behaved quite well from what I saw. Maybe that's because I let him buy whatever he wanted to eat from the grocery store (the boy gained 14 pounds in the month he was here!) - but even so, he did things such as taking out the garbage and cleaning the kitchen without even needing to be asked to do so.

Alone, Justin is almost the perfect child. When his little brother is around, however - then the antagonizing begins, and things get ugly far too often.

There just seems to be some conflicting testosterone issues going on here, if you ask me. The dynamics of the father and two sons is rife with potential head-butting - especially when the youngest son is perceived as the favorite. Add to that a stepmother and two stepsisters, and you've got a recipe for trouble with Justin.

Sigh.

September 11. Who'll ever forget such an anniversary like that day was?

I didn't really want to be subjected to the media fury that swirled on Wednesday. But when Howard began the re-broadcast of his 911 show, I couldn't help but get goosebumps as he brought me back to the events of that day a year ago.

And when the local station played Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA, I started to cry. I just couldn't help it, there is something about that particular song that touches me far more than The National Anthem or The Star Spangled Banner.

And at lunch, we sat at Friday's, and I watched the footage of the Towers falling, and was pulled back into the horror of it all.

After I arrived home, I just couldn't bear to watch the TV, or sit in front of my computer, trying not to remember. So, I decided to go to Chili's and drink myself silly instead.

It was exactly what I needed to do.

Ever had something happen which seemed so surreal and dreamlike, that talking about it would diminish it somehow, or cause it to not be true?

Then you'll understand that there are some things that I just can't bring myself to put into words. I'll keep those events tucked safely away, where I can savor them for the surprising gift that they turned out to be.

It's fun to walk around with a mysterious smile on your face that causes people to wonder about the secrets that you keep - even when you're not sure the secrets are real, or if you only imagined that they actually occurred.

Sometimes, the gifts that please you the most are the ones you never even realized you were hoping for - until they show up unexpectedly on your doorstep, and you know immediately that they were just what you desired at that very moment.

So all I can really do here is offer up my most humble thanks to the one who delivered a particularly special gift to my front door - and promise to return the favor a thousand-fold when the time is right.

Soon, I hope. =)