Stuff I Can't Stand
1. mean people
2. worms
3. cold
4. messy purse, messy wallet
5. Claire Burke Apple Jack & Peel potpourri
6. the smell of fried eggs
7. when people mix peanut butter and jelly or peanut butter and syrup together
8. raisins in food
9. onions
10. facial hair on men
11. ball caps, they don't look good on anyone
12. the movie "Vanilla Sky"
13. conservatives and pro-lifers who don't even want to take care of their own kids, but feel secure in telling women what they can and cannot do with their bodies
14. washing my car
15. putting gas in my car
16. going to the Post Office
17. chipped nail polish
18. the way it feels right before your period when you are fat, your face is all broken out and you have random feelings of homicide mixed with crying jags
19. panty lines
20. Granny panties & underwear that costs 88 cents at Wal-Mart
21. Wal-Mart
22. roots






- posted by Robyn @ 12:00 AM 0 comments

 
About Me
1. I have a son and he is the best thing about my life.

2. I was once the youngest person in the State of Oklahoma to hold an insurance license.

3. I once broke off an engagement because my dad bought me a new shiny red sports car if I'd give the ring back. And it was a big diamond ring.

4. I almost always think I'm fat, but I seldom judge other people's size and hate it when people are called fat.

5. A lot of the time, I sleep in the nude.

6. I was a fraud investigator for 5 years.

7. I was a researcher for a year.

8. I was an underwriter for a year.

9. I was the only girl in my family.

10. I lived at home until the day I got married.

11. When I had my son, I was only in labor for 3 hours.

12. I got my degree in Insurance.

13. I'm a vegetarian.

14. I'm registered Independent and I am very liberal.

15. I never wear a watch and I hardly ever care what time it is.

16. I took College Algebra three times before I passed it.

17. I was photographer on yearbook staff for 4 years in school and had my own darkroom. I took a picture of a drug dog once, and it won an award. Now I do good to take a picture with an automatic camera.

18. My waist is only 22". Nevermind what my bust or hips are though.

19. I have 17 pairs of jeans and they all fit me.

20. I can type really, really, really fast.

21. I have never mowed a yard in my life.

22. I have a conceal/carry gun permit.

23. I absolutely, positively think the death penalty is WRONG!










- posted by Robyn @ 12:00 AM 0 comments

 
My Favorite Things
1. Nathan
2. lipgloss
3. bracelets
4. sock monkeys
5. barbies
6. really, really high-heeled shoes
7. rice
8. coffee, especially Starbucks
9. hot, hot showers
10. movies
11. slick new magazines with lots of pictures & the way the paper smells
12. manicures & pedicures
13. listening to music really loud
14. flip flops
15. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
16. anything British
17. frogs (NOT real ones)
18. bears (NOT real ones)
19. fresh flowers - daisies & carnations & gladiolas & sunflowers
20. my yellow bedroom furniture and my antique vanity
21. my puppy
22. my brand new life
23. my cast iron dog
24. my grandma's engagement ring
25. sleeping
26. mexican food
27. the beach
28. the rain
29. school supplies
30. my mom's handwriting
31. french cruellers from Dunkin Donuts - bonus if they have chocolate frosting
32. the music at church
33. Sponge Bob Square Pants
34. candles
35. pretty panties
36. margaritas on the rocks with lots of salt on the rim
37. swinging
38. pistachio almond ice cream
39. dipped cones
40. my coin purse from Mount Rushmore
41. post it notes
42. really, really sharp wood pencils
43. Clark's pastry shop
44. the smell of the bakery at Silver Dollar City
45. hugs and kisses
46. books
47. the pistachio green cabinet I painted
48. birthday cake, especially the icing
49. the smell of clean laundry
50. my fuzzy pink bathrobe
51. the way it feels when you clean your ears with a Q-Tip
52. bald guys
53. the wind whipping my hair



- posted by Robyn @ 12:00 AM 1 comments

 
Movies I've Seen
Love Actually - 11.19.03 - this is probably one of my favorite movies ever & I love the scene where Hugh Grant dances

Along Came Polly - 1.25.04 - good

50 First Dates - 2.22.04 - good

Passion of the Christ - 2.28.04

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen - 2.29.04 - ehhhh
Leap years don't come along very often. Don't waste the extra days on movies like this.

Starsky & Hutch - 3.7.04 - ok

Secret Window - 3.13.04 - got scared and left

Agent Cody Banks 2 - 3.14.04 - ok, like the first one better

Taking Lives - 3.21.04 - ehhh

Walking Tall - ok movie, bad date

Scooby-Doo 2 - 4.17.04

Scooby-Doo 2 - 4.25.04 - much better than the 1st one!

Mean Girls - 5.8.04 - ehhh

NY Minute - 5.15.04 - ok

Shrek 2 - 5.31.04 - ok

Harry Potter - 6.4.04 - best one yet

Garfield - 6.12.04 - good

Around the World in 80 Days - ok movie, bad date

Dodgeball - good

Spider-Man 2 - 7.1.04 - awesome!

Anchorman - 7.11.04 - bad, left early

Napoleon Dynamite - 7.24.04 - funny

Catwoman - 7.25.04 - good

I Robot - 7.28.04 - good

Bourne Supremacy - 8.5.04 - OK

I Robot - 8.7.04 - date with Nate. He said it was good.

The Village - 8.9.04 - very good

-Robyn







- posted by Robyn @ 12:00 AM 0 comments

 
In Case of Emergency...
1. Pray.

2. Remain calm. Do not panic. Absolutely, positively, do not panic!!!

3. Go get a manicure, a pedicure, a facial....or even better, all three. You may be having a crisis, but this is no time to be running around with scraggly looking nails. Go to Supercuts and get your hair washed and blown-out. For goodness sake, don't get anything (eyebrows, bikini line) waxed. This is no time to start ripping hair of your body (see #2 above). Just maintain your normal shaving ritual and you'll be fine.

4. Buy yourself something pretty.

5. Call friend(s). This is no time to be alone. You will either get support you need, or you will give your friend(s) the opportunity to chuckle about your dilemma once you hang up. But that's ok, because it's important that you are a good friend too, even if that means you are simply providing entertainment.

6. Go to the gym. Does wonders for your mental health and hey....at least it's not making you fat. Plus, chances are you will see those less physically fortunate than you while at the gym, therefore making you feel better about yourself, therefore making you feel better about whatever crisis it is that is in your life.

7. Refuse to let your emotions take the lead. I know, easier said than done.

8. Uncurl from the fetal position, get your heiny out of bed and do something. Anything.

9. Put on a cute outfit and some lipgloss. Put on the pretty panties even if no one sees them. I fix myself up for me and not for anybody else.

10. Do something nice for somebody else. There's nothing that'll make you forget about your own sad little life quicker than focusing on somebody else's sad little life. Just remember, no matter how bad you've got it, somebody is worse off than you and wishes they had your life.

11. Clean something. Staying busy keeps your mind off your troubles and there is something very satisfying about having a clean, sparkling toilet.

12. Yoga.

13. Go to the park and swing. Swinging is fun. Bonus: especially when you can hog a swing from a small child : ) You are a grown up and don't have to take turns.

14. Smile. Chose to be happy. No matter what.

Pretty short list for now. Guess I need to work on my coping skills!

-Robyn


- posted by Robyn @ 12:00 AM 0 comments

 
Pretty Panties
"Mommy, why do you wear such pretty underwear? Nobody sees it!"

Thanks, kid.

-Robyn

- posted by Robyn @ 12:00 AM 0 comments

 
Play-at-the-Pump
I was performing one of my least favorite chores tonight, filling up my car with gas.

I was the only person at the gas station. As I stood there waiting, a booming voice came over the loudspeaker: "Pump number 4 (that's me by the way), I think I love you". Hmmm....admiration from the gas station employees. I looked inside the gas station and saw two males just a waving away at me. So, I went over the the call button and pushed it. One of the attendants answered, and I said, "so, if you love me, why am I pumping my own gas?" The attendant paused and replied, "I wasn't prepared for that witty comeback, but I still think I love you".

I finished pumping my gas and thanked the attendants for making my day. I also took a moment of silence to thank God for pay-at-the-pump. Pretty will only get you so far, and it certainly doesn't get your gas pumped. Not even a free fountain drink or car wash.

-Robyn


- posted by Robyn @ 12:00 AM 0 comments

 
Our Schools - Providing a Disservice to Children!
Our schools are really providing a disservice to children.

I know this because my son, age 8 1/2, wants to be a rock star when he grows up.

I specifically remember a conversation I had with Wesley Hostler on the playground in 2nd grade. Wesley asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I answered an actor or a princess. Nevermind the chances for royal lineage were slim, Wesley simply replied, "you can't be an actor, you're a girl. You'd have to be an actress". So in the 25 or so years since I've been in the 2nd grade, nobody, nobody has gone to the trouble to educate children on the realities of grown-up jobs. They've taught our kids sex ed and diversity and environmentalism, but nobody has said when you grow up you will most likely NOT be a ballerina or an astronaut. Nobody is saying words like insurance, customer service, food service, assembly line, sales, actuary, call center.... Even worse, I'm sure they are not pointing out the fact that a great many of them will experience unemployment, downsizing and layoffs and preparing them for those seasons in their lives.

Now, I know the parents should have some responsibility. But I actually refuse to be the one to burst this bubble.

-Robyn



- posted by Robyn @ 12:00 AM 0 comments

 
The Labelmaker
My dad writes his name on everything. His full name. Larry C. Riley. And not just his name. His name and the date. My dad even wrote his full name and the date on his broom in the garage. Apparently, even the thing he sweeps with needs to be labeled.

One day, I noticed he had written the date/name thing in his shoes. I had to ask him about that one. Apparently, you see, if he were to die in a plane crash, they would know who he was. I would think if you were in a plane crash, you might not end up with your shoes on, but o.k.

I would suppose though in this world where everything is so temporary and disposable, it would be nice to know how long you've had something, like your favorite pair of shoes. I had on this pair of shoes the other day. They are black satin kitten heeled mules with little flowers embroidered on them. I think I paid $7 for them. I was looking at these shoes and I decided I love them as much as it is possible to love a pair of shoes and that they are my favorite shoes. I wish I had written the date on them. At least I could have written the date I decided they were my favorites, but I didn't.

The other day, I was riding in the car and my son said "Great. Pa Pa wrote my name and the date on my light saber". Apparently, dad can't be controlled and his labeling extends to the personal property of others as well.

-Robyn



- posted by Robyn @ 12:00 AM 0 comments

 
Cute Shoes Cure the Blues
I have one pair of strappy black sandals I just love. They have really high heels, and I say the higher the heels, the better. I like to be very tall. Every time I wear them, somebody says "cute shoes". That just makes you feel good!

Today, I have on brand new flip flops. Black pattent bottoms, with clear straps on top. This morning, when I was in line at Starbucks (yes, I know, I spend a lotta time at Starbucks), this man behind me told me how cute my shoes were. He was either gay or totally feet flirting with me! Who cares, what a great way to start my day!

-Robyn





- posted by Robyn @ 12:00 AM 0 comments

 
The Search for Strawberry Soda, Part 4
Wow! I had a nice lunch date and it went great! He was really nice. No complaints whatsoever. He's a nice church boy too!

The only thing was....it didn't last very long. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. He did ask me to get together again though.

Oh well, I look really pretty today and I got my coffee for FREE at Starbucks this morning. Life is good.

-Robyn


- posted by Robyn @ 12:00 AM 0 comments

 
The Search for Strawberry Soda, Part 3
At least someone finds me attractive...

My son, age 8, just got back from summer camp. Bless his heart, he was going to miss me so much, he had to take a picture of Mom with him. Not just any picture, but a 5x7 picture. In a frame.

The other day, we were swimming, and he mentioned to me that some kid at camp took my picture. I said "maybe I reminded him of his mom". My son said "no, he said he had a crush on you". I asked my son "how long did this kid have my picture"? My son said "practically the entire time we were at camp". Finally, my son said he told him...."gimme my mom back"!

Maybe he has a single dad....

-Robyn


- posted by Robyn @ 12:00 AM 0 comments

 
Trucker Hat
I was standing in the que at Starbucks, waiting for my beverage. This guy in line next to me struck up a conversation. Said he was visiting from Kentucky. He asked me where he could go run and I gave him directions to the jogging trails at the lake.

Facial hair. Ugh. Trucker hat. And when I say Trucker Hat, I don't mean in a cool, trendy kind of way. I mean in a redneck kind of way.

After a few minutes of chit-chat, I wished him well on his visit. The Barista called my name and handed me my Caramel Macchiato and I headed out. I had to run by the Kinko's a couple of doors down from Starbucks.

Went to Kinko's, did my work and started to leave. Scary trucker hat man was right there at the door! He was smooth with the "fancy meeting you here" bit.... I told him I had to get to work and sped away as fast as I could! Ewwwww!

The next day at Starbucks, they told me a guy I had met at Kinko's had brought me a card and left it. I told them they could just put it in the trash! Guys....this is not the way to pick up a girl! Maybe this is how you STALK a girl, but this is not how to meet someone new!

-Robyn



- posted by Robyn @ 12:00 AM 1 comments

 
The Search for Strawberry Soda, Part 2
I met a guy who goes to my church! A church boy! Yea for me!

We swapped e-mail addresses and instant messaged each other last night.

Sometimes the world is too small in a bad way. Turns out, his ex-girlfriend used to work for my boss. Once this common knowledge was exchanged, he could not get off the discussion of his ex-girlfriend. This went on and on and on.... I don't want to know about the ex-girlfriend. Hey buddy...I want to talk about me! I certainly don't want to talk about any of my former relationships. That only hinders my ability to forget about them, which is what I am trying to do! Finally, mercifully, he clued in on the fact that I wasn't interested in his ex-girlfriend. It's obvious he still has issues about her & the breakup. Let me share some "Jedi wisdom": let go of the anger before it destroys you. One great thing about God, sometimes he allows things, like relationships, to simply be OVER. Maybe God has freed you from the bondage of a bad relationship! One way to let go of the anger....stop talking about it! Let it go an move on, especially when you have just met someone fabulous!

Sometimes the world is too small in a good way. Because this morning, I could walk into my boss's office and get an unbiased opinion on this guy I had just met. My boss told me all I needed to know...

Ugh. So much for church boy.

-Robyn





- posted by Robyn @ 12:00 AM 0 comments

 
The Search for Strawberry Soda, Part 1
I met a guy Saturday night. Yea for me!

I didn't really want to hang with him, but once I found out he was a sheriff's Deputy....I felt kind of obligated. It's hard to brush off a guy who can potentially help you with your tickets (especially when you drive like me) or more importantly has the ability to cuff you and incarcerate you.

Let me paint the picture. Starbucks. Me: strapless Express sundress. Light blue, black pinstripes, flower embroidery. Laces up the back. Black 4 inch high heeled strappy sandals. I am feeling pretty good about me. Him: biker t-shirt, and get ready for this.....a camouflage ball cap. For those of you who don't know me...I have this thing about ball caps/manners. Especially ball caps in public places, most especially in restaurants and church. Take them off! It's bad manners! He also had a mustache. Gentlemen, facial hair is a bad thing. I conduct a relentless and daily hair removal process on about 90% of my body, you can shave your little face! Don't get me wrong...his appearance was fine. I'd just had to put him in a general category of "not my type". At this point, I'm not really sure what my type is, but he wasn't it. He had one thing going for him though...he drinks coffee!

We hung out for a while and chatted. Really, he chatted. I was held prisoner (but what can I say? The guy is used to dealing with a captive audience of inmates. He probably treats everyone this way!) and listened. Similar interest: Nascar. However, he likes driver Jeff Gordon. I like Dale Earnhardt Jr. For those of you who don't know anything about the sport, we might as well be from different planets.

He was kind enough to show me his three tattoos. One on his chest and two on his legs. Two of them involved skulls. Yes, he showed these to me right there in Starbucks, in front of God and the world. He told me how he'd made a promise to himself that he would get all the tattoos he wanted before age 35....two more years and lots of patches of skin left. I guess it is good to meet a guy with clear, defined goals.

He also said he had a dog who weighs 90 pounds. Said the dog is so sweet and has a heart of gold. So what! This is an animal who weighs approximately 20 lbs. (if you go by my driver's license) less than me. I'm not taking any chances!

I mainly sat in a chair, drank my water and felt my eyes glaze over as this guy went on and on and on about his job. It was interesting and all, but geez - every once in a while it's good to pause and let the other person talk. Ask a question. Take a breath. I found out this guy's entire life history, and I don't think he even learned the basic things about me - like what I do for a living, do I have kids, etc.

I did manage to mention I'm vegetarian. The guy looked at me like I was the biggest freak on the face of the earth. He said, "I've never met anyone who didn't eat meat". You could tell the concept of a meal that didn't include a slaughtered animal was genuinely shocking to him.

The good news. It's nice to know, at a time when I've been kind of down on myself, felt like maybe I wasn't good enough for anybody, there is hope. Hey - there are guys interested in talking to me. Even if they are only interested in talking about themselves!

-Robyn





- posted by Robyn @ 12:00 AM 0 comments