Keeping Up With The Haskhasians

Yes, my brain has been polluted with way too many E! series this summer, and my most favorite is anything that involves the Kardashians. Ok, so we're really nothing like them, except for the whole really hott and volumptious thing, but we HAVE had a lot going on. Where to begin?

I now know why they do spin offs of reality shows. So much has happened in the last few weeks that I should probably split this post into two parts.

Graduation week was a great time for my friends and I to get together and reminisce over the past four years. But, I have to admit, I didn't think I was going to enjoy graduation day. I was excited to see my family and celebrate, but I just knew that saying goodbye was going to be one of the hardest things I have ever done. Well, God has a fascinating way of turning sad days into new beginnings.

Natalie rode home with me so that I wouldn't drive off a ditch in depression of what I was leaving behind. (Not to be dramatic or anything) She kept asking me to tell her a secret, and if I did, she would tell me one. Well, I'm not a girl of that many secrets and I certainly can't keep one- so I was a little confused as to why she wanted to know a secret, or as to why she had been eating cheerios non stop and somewhere picked up a habit of drinking chocolate milk, or passed up a glass of wine at dinner the night before. Natalie passing up wine is like me say "no, thanks" to the Taco Bell drive thru.

Then, after we got on the subject of my unemployment, Natalie offered to let me be her nanny if/when she announced she was having a baby. "Wait, What?? What do you mean when?" I am going to be honest, I don't remember much after that, just a lot of screaming and Natalie grabbing the wheel to prevent us from driving into the Reservoir . I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNT! I think I said that about 500 times from the time I found out until the time we got home. She informed me that mom didn't know and she wanted to surprise her tonight.

So, where do you go when you have big news you want to celebrate with the whole family? Cracker Barrel of course! My mom had told me she wanted a rocking chair for Mother's Day, so we (really me, but Tommy will say it was his idea) came up with the idea of telling her while she was sitting the in the rocking chair. My mom's a pretty quick kitten, so I didn't get any pictures except these...

 My mom will undoubtedly tell you that this day was the happiest day of her life. Her first grandchild, her son's wedding only a month away and her baby girl's graduation day. She doesn't think she will ever have a more jam packed day of happiness. And to the mom that has done more than most people can imagine, nothing makes me happier than to know she did it. She raised three kids all by herself, and there were times in her life when bad news seemed to come as often as the mail. But not today, she can have her true moment of happiness and be overwhelmed with the joys in her life.. Annddd eat Cracker Barrel. Man, this is what life is really all about.

 So of course we wanted to buy her the exact rocker that she was sitting in. Mom, in her infinite wisdom, wanted the rocker Natalie was sitting in. For her, it represented the new generation of Haskins family. She also forbid me to sit in it until I was married. Fair enough.

Of course, I volunteered to sit half way between the trunk and the back seat to ensure that the rocker made it home safely. It was my first official duty as an aunt, but I can promise you it won't be my last. So, becoming Auntie Bobo is my dearest, most proud accomplishment. I promise that this peapod will be welcomed with abundant joy and happiness. I can't wait to spoil him/her with random, Southern goodies. Teach them how to play kick ball, buy them their first kitten, and let them eat candy like its going out of style. I don't even know how to articulate just how happy I am for my sister and RJ. I hope I am the best Aunt this world has ever seen..

PART II: Haskhasian Wedding Round 2 coming soon...

All My Women, Who Independent...

Gotta get better at this consistency thing. Im working on it, I promise. What a blessed few weeks this has turned out to be. Getting a job, getting an apartment, Kitty Kat Ross getting a job, getting to spend time with Clay, getting ridiculous discounts at J.Crew, and getting to enjoy my last little kid summer. Its been some of the best getting I have gotten in my whole life. (huh?)

Anywho, I have decided that as I am changing the blog should probably change too. I always get worried that my blog is like a diary. That's just silly- this is NOT xanga. (Even though, I kinda wish it was.) So, for the rest of the summer, my blog is dedicated to giving some sort of useful information.

I learned to change my headlight today. And I can't even tell you how excited I was. I finally conquered my fear of running a mile- no joke, it really was a fear. And I have conquered a few dims (done it myself) for my apartment. Bottom line is: I'm cheap, I'm independent and I want to be able to do things on my own that most people pay for. So, here it goes.

Got anything you want to learn how to do or have always wondered about? Leave a comment and I will google the heck out of it and try it myself.

I'd like to call it the How You How To. Basically, you ask me: "How you change dog lovers into kitty lovers?"
 I say:

LIKE THIS!  <-- click me

So, let me know what you want to know how to do. Cant make any promise, but I can promise that it will be an interesting summer!

Libs

Miss Haskins

As I look back on the last blog post, I can't help but laugh. This may sound dramatic- like many of the things I say- but I feel like I am a completely different person than I was two weeks ago. I am now saving for retirement and have health insurance. I bought my first piece of furniture for my new apartment and I had my first parent-teacher conference this morning. I know, right. In the words of my beloved grandaddy, "what in the cat hair are you talking about?"

So, here's the deal. Yes, I got a job. A funny job at that. I will be the new, but not the only, Miss Haskins at MRA. Sound familiar? Well yes, it does. I went to high school there. And I didn't just go to high school there, I basically grew up there. I started in kindergarten and didn't look back until I had my car packed headed to Starkville for college.

So, now here I am. I am going to be the resource teacher in the fall for grades 6-12th. Yes, I said 12th. Many of these students look about 4 years older than me and are confused as to why an ex-cheerleader (yes I still cling to my cheer days tightly) is going to be their new teacher.  I am not gonna lie- Im freaking out a little bit. But, I am excited about the new opportunity. Coincidentally enough, we found out that we got into our apartment in Legacy- so we will be moving in July 1st. I am so excited to live with such incredible people- Kitty Kat Ross and Prissy Li are going to be the best room mates a girl could ask for. I envision lots of owls and anchors and I'm real excited about it.

God is good. All the time, God is good. How often I forget that, and how quickly I am reminded by the blessings God offers in my life. I have gotten to shadow the lady I am taking over these past 2 weeks and I think she put it best. "No one picked you for this job. God himself put you here. I don't know why and I don't know what will come of it. But God's timing is always right."

Wow. So true. So refreshing. Such a blessing.

I have a lot of work to do- like learn geometry in a summer.

Love yall.

Miss Haskins

If you can't employ it, tan it

If I am honest, I have to say that the reason I haven't updated in a while is because this blog has kinda become my enemy, This blog for me is reality. And I knew anything that I wrote about it in the last few weeks would have made it true if it was in my blog. Im not a dramatic person, (ok. ok I am a dramatic person) but I feel like I just really wanted to soak up every last minute of senior year. I had a lot of draft posts but nothing worth clicking publish post about. It has been a great few weeks filled with lots of fun, sad, bittersweet memories.

And now. Here. I. am...

Its been full week since I have graduated, and still I have no idea what I am going to do with my life. I will try and make this the only whiney post I ever have. Don't get me wrong the break has been nice, I am learning a lot about myself and who I really want to become. (I have learned I definitely have a lllooonngg way to go)


I am changing. The blog is changing. Everything in my life is changing. D.r.a.m.a.t.i.c

But it's exciting! I have a lot to look forward to this summer : bachelorette parties, weddings, DC visits, maybe even a job and a new place to live!

Life's a garden, I just have to dig it. Figure out where I want to go in life. I am just a kitten in the flower pot of life. Deciding where to make my home. Will I be a daisy or a lilly? Who knows, right now, everything is a little empty.. but I know soon with grace and guidance I will be filled with endless blooms. (Maybe I should be a greeting card writer??)

So, for now, I am soaking up the sun and enjoying the uncertainties of life. After all, if I can't employ it, I might as well tan it.

Gotta go rotate the tires and load the dishes in the dishwasher. I am already 47.

PS.  Long Distance Relationship - 0 , Clay and Libbo- 1

Clayterd

I guess you could say this post was 9 years in the making. Back to a simpler time, when there were no blogs, internet was still pretty new, my screen name was SuGaRsPaZ123 and his was Crossdiddy23, home phones were the main way of communication and Ashanti held the top spot for her banging hit What's Love with Fat Joe.

We were two peas in a pod. Best friends who told each other everything. He lied to me and said I wasn't pale and I lied to him and said he wasn't chubby- it was the perfect combination of middle school romance.

So, here we are 9 years later. Still going strong. Sure we have had our ups and downs (recall the mushroom head days) but there is no doubt that Clay has always been my best friend. We have mastered the art of playing baseball with two players and two dogs in his front yard and have been to see every chick flick ever made. (Our first was Maid In Manhattan, Clay loves Jennifer Lopez) We love Cracker Barrel and sometimes act like we are already 56.

His anniversary gift of Jumper Cables was the perfect example of how practical and caring we are. He knows my car doesn't always like to start and I always have a hard time figuring it out. One could say he is the jumper cables to my heart (I think I just threw up a little bit, I apologize)

Anndd now... A quick summary of some of the most awkwardly awesome photos from the last nine years (key music: "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban)

So, thanks Clay for putting up with the weirdest girl I know. Some may say we have a strange relationship, but I call it love. No, we don't always dress alike or sing, but we are always fun, sincere and enjoy having a good time together. (I hope at least one person got that reference)  We don't get to see each other as often as we would like, but hey, it works for us. Cuz we're the two best friends that anyone can have, anyone can have. 

Wishing for you a love like mine,

Libba, Libbers, Libnasty, Pickles (that's for you Clay)

Fish Fry

Unless you have seen me in the last 24 hours, you haven't heard the news!! I discovered a new cousin. And not the Katherine Ross and Peyton Fiser 12th cousin, once removed type of cousin. This is like a double cousin, on both sides. Haskins, Tingle love. Yes I said Tingle, don't hate, I will name my first cat Tingle in honor of my beautiful grandmother, who is affectionately known as Gron Gron (pronounced like yawn yawn.)

 I know it sounds a bit off, and I can't guarantee no incest yet, BUTTT I'm working on the family tree.

Weird.. you might say that I should know my family. But the fact of the matter is, my grandmother had 10 brothers and sisters and so did my grandfather. Thats 20 crazy fools running around with my blood line. And not to mention their equally crazy offspring. We're looking at like 100 people here, easy.

Who's the lucky victim that gets stuck with me for their rest of their life?

None other than Stephen Felker. I know, I know, I am a lucky cousin.

He joins the ranks of some pretty stellar individuals. Thomas Jefferson, Sid Salter, Uncle Marcus who does magic tricks like you have never seen, a pizza eating champ, just to name a few.

Welcome to the fam, Ste Ste.

When I googled Cousin Cats, this is the first image.. pretty fitting I think. I'll let you guess which one is which.

Moral of the story? Go look at your family tree, you never know who you might be related to!! Especially if you live in Mississippi. 

PS I can't promise that this will be the weirdest post I ever have. It could get weirder.

Sunshine Day

What a weekend!

Full of bittersweet, funny, ultimate sorority-life moments (including a music montage to Josh Groban's "You Raise Me Up"). It was definitely a weekend of "lasts", but a weekend of encouragement and laughter.

Derby Days was such a fun way to begin wrapping up my senior year. Derby Days is probably one of my favorite things I have done in college. Not so much for the competitive side, but because it allows for every chapter to come together to bring their most creative, theatrical, hilarious acts all on one stage.  It was a bit of a downgrade from last year's glamourous role of Julia Roberts, but I channeled Alice  the best way I knew how (I know she would have totally grinded on a vaccuum cleaner if given the chance) And strangely enough, I looked as if I was her younger, hotter, physically fit sister. No one said I looked just like Julia last year, but boy, did I look just like Alice. (Thank you, I think?)

Ole Liz -my mom- came in town to visit and we had a great time sharing moments from my last four years of college. She gave me a $40  handshake when she left- what a peach! She is even letting me move in with her in a few weeks. TAG TEAM, back again.

There is so much to write about the weekend, but I don't want to bore you with the details. But, don't worry, since I am writing this on a Sunday, I will continue the tradition of Creepy Kitten Sunday: Future Family Portrait Edition. Who needs kids when you got kiddies?

I finally got the red hair I have always wanted. And I brought back the sophisticated version of the mushroom. I have so much to look forward to!!

Libbers