What do I do about a very close friend who is in a relationship

That was doomed from the start?

That has never worked?

That never will work?

That started in chaos?

That continues in chaos?

That has ended more times that even she knows?

That starts back up even more?

That is emotionally draining?

That makes her feel bad about herself?

That makes me feel bad about myself?

That makes all of our friends sad.

That makes me sad.

The picture below isn’t really a picture, but rather the capture of a feeling of a friend to many bloggers has inside.

I luckily and gratefully call Lotus my imaginary/blog/IM friend and was devastated to learn she lost her baby last week. Please visit her site and wish her well.

Weekly Winners is her idea, so I found it fitting to pay homage to her and her loss this week.

Many smiles to you, Lotus, John, and Braden.

My BFF since 1st grade except 6th grade had her baby 2 weeks ago (so he’d be 2 weeks old now - do the math), and I can’t take enough pictures of him. He makes me want another one, but then I blink again, and that .57 seconds of crazy flies away.

Friggin Adorable

Sleeping Baby

3 Generations

And now for my household:

In the crapper?

Rose Bowl Parade Float - All Natural Plastic Flowers
In Lego

All that survived the twista was Dorothy’s house

Visit more Weekly Winners at Lotus’ site.

why is it
that someone
with so many imaginary fans
can seem so
invisible
with far-reaching
family
friends
to lean on
can live
in a self-made
bubble

i see you

Like “art imitates life,” so shall “blog imitate life.”

As you know, I’m normally the most hilarious blog on the internets to read, but as it’s been a very difficult few days and will continue on through the weekend, I feel that you, my loyal tens of readers, will stick around and help me through. And throw some hilarity my way. It’s OK to be funny in your comments. Please. I need it.

To everyone who’s thought about my family and given your condolences over the past 2 days, I am TRULY grateful. Your kind words and thoughts really have helped me through this. It’s amazing how the “imaginary friends” I have out in Blog World have helped. Again, thank you.

There really isn’t an update on how or why my cousin died. We do know that it wasn’t any “normal” condition or reason for an otherwise healthy pregnant woman (like an aneurysm or heart attack), but she was healthy and had just been to the doctor a few days earlier for a checkup. It may take up to 2 months to get a real answer or not even get an definitive answer at all which is very frustrating.

We do know her 3yo son was home with her, and he thought Mommy was sleeping. He told his dad, “Mommy just won’t wake up.” She had been dead for a few hours by the time her husband found her at home.

Christy and Josie (the baby) will be cremated together and their ashes scattered at the beach in S. Carolina.

My sister and I are helping as well as a team of other family and friends around their house. Today, Jackie and I had to return the baby’s crib linens which we were happy to do, yet so surreal. Luckily the customer service rep didn’t ask questions.

One thing I’ve learned from this is to make sure your kids, if they are old enough, learn how to dial 911 and WHY to dial 911. A few weeks ago, I started teaching my 3yo to dial emergency if she can’t get me up or if I am hurt. This may or may not have saved Christy, but it can’t hurt to teach your children the basics.

So, for the Haiku, I’ll do my best to let you know a little piece of Christy.

Pure True Yellow Life
Gabriel and Josephine
Loving Passionate

Trying to think
of the best way to describe
a person I knew

Together family
was when we chatted children
enough to know PURE

I’m not a good haiku-er, but I thought I’d try. Thinking back on Christy and what we lost has really made me think more about my core trueness. She was the most true person I know. Never pretentious. Always caring. She cared for our family deeply. Thinking back I can’t think of a single time that she said a negative word about anyone. Really. It’s hard to do for other people I know (myself included), but for her, pure and true.

Again, thanks for reading and helping me through. I tried to bring the funny back yesterday, but that flopped. I’ll try, try again in a few days. For now, it’s helping to live in the moment of grief.

It’s not all doom and gloom here - we are a very sarcastic, funny family, so we’re keeping it light. But with the funeral Saturday, sadness is hanging over us all.

Your kind, uplifting, funny words mean so much.

~Angie

Birth & Death Today

Birth: My best friend from childhood had her son early this morning.

Death: My pregnant cousin, due with her 2nd child in 6 weeks, was found dead tonight. Her son is 6 days older than my daughter.

Emotions.

Thanks SO much for all of your help so far with Lotus/Sarcastic Mom and her financial & medical fights.

So far, through purchases made at Good for the Kids, these guys have donated $39.85!

I will be matching that amount (rounded up to 40) and Good for the Kids will be donating $80 to Lotus and the Family Carroll.

Please continue to help Lotus and her family by sending gift cards, donating through PayPal (see Lotus’ page for the link), or making purchases at Good for the Kids. Use code ~ LotusRocks ~ and 10% of your total order will be donated to Lotus and her family at the end of each month.

Rock the rack and love some Lotus!

She’s way too cool to be me. Or I’m not cool enough to be her.

Either way, it was fanfriggintabulous to meet her and the other local bloggers last night.

Orlando was lucky enough to be on Bossy’s crazy-ass road trip, so I begged and pleaded signed up to meet her so that some of her coolness would rub off on me.

She’s totally cool in that way that she has no idea that she’s cool. And that’s what is so cool. (No, I’m not 12.)

To be honest, I was crazy a bit nervous to go and almost didn’t, but I’m so glad I put my big girl granny panties on and went.

Why be scared? Cause that guy would be there. But now that I’ve met him and his way-cool (again, not 12) hot-ass wife and I’ve been to his way-cool house, I have a strange bloggy crush on him.

Also at the swinger swinging party was this guy, this girl, her, that lady, and she was (don’t have a link yet).

Moral of this story: GO MEET BOSSY when she comes to your town. She’s only 4/5 days into her trip, so most of you still have the chance to meet her.

About meeting Bossy, I was asked if she farted unicorns and if she just stepped out of an Urban Outfitters catalog. I say yes to both, but she would probably ask what UO was cause she’s that cool. And since I sat next to her at dinner, I did smell those sweet smelling unicorn farts, and I’m now filled with glitter and sunshine.

Like I said in yesterday’s post, Bossy is bar-none the BESTEST hugger in the universe. For serious. (Again, I’m 31.)

One of the many questions I asked Bossy is why she never smiles in pictures, and she said she’s smiling on the inside. I also asked how she came about the name “Bossy,” but that’s a trade secret that is locked in the vault. And only I know…

Note: I was trying SO hard to unobtrusive with a flash, so I tried to be all Bossy-cool and take pics w/o a flash. What does that get me? Fuzzy pics.

Bossy - Maggie - Karl

Bossy takes lots of pictures

Hot-Ass Wife Avitable - Avitable

Ya… About That - Little Miss Sunshine State - Miss Britt

Look! Bossy’s newish computer!

And one more time, Me with Bossy
I got her to smile. It’s my charm. Or my cool new glasses.

This is purposely short. Cause I am tired.

But I’m on a natural HIGH from meeting a bloggy idol.

Little-known Bossy fact - Bossy is an amazing hugger. Two of the best hugs I’ve ever had. For serious.

More about the night to come when I’m awake.

Me and Bossy (she’s the purty one on the right)

Bossy snuggled me. I liked it.

Bossy’s hand next to my hand. F.O.R.E.V.E.R.

People people people…

You’re ROCKING the Lotus Rack all around the internets! Brava!!!! Keep it up!

Just for a show of solidarity and lovin’ to my girl, Lotus (Sarcastic Mom), I’m now expanding the products in my store for which I will be donating a percentage of sales!

It’s not just stuff you can suck or stuff anymore - it’s toys, too!

Go to Good for the Kids, buy buy buy, and enter code “lotusrocks” in the coupon code box upon checkout. 20% of the purchase price of the items you buy that you can suck on*, stuff, or play with will go DIRECTLY to Ms. Lotus and her new MOVE! Don’t forget - she has MOUNDS of medical bills to catch up on, too.

In all, there are many ways to donate to Lotus and little man Braden:

1. Purchase at Good for the Kids (see above) through March 30th

2. Send in a gift card in any amount you’d like to a store she could use (Victoria’s Secret can count, too):
Lotus Carroll
c/o Angie Lynch
3564 Avalon Park Blvd East
Suite 1 #120
Orlando FL 32828

3. Donate via PayPal. Lotus has a link from her site directly to her PayPal acct for donations.

Donators will be posted on the Peeps Who Love Lotus page here. Let me know when you donate, and I’ll add you name. I’m sure you won’t be scamming us… I’m sure… Right???

Keep on rockin’ the rack and rockin’ the horns pics! Every little bit of info spread around helps! Comment here when you’ve posted the rack or horns banners, pretty please.

Gooooooooooo bloggers! (That’s my attempt at a pep talk.)

*Sorry, Nuby replacements and cups can’t count. Bah…