2022 films. (Part I).

I do this thing at times, where I separate the movies I've watched and kind of update people on which movies/shows that I would recommend. I'm not sure why I fall out of the habit of it sometimes... probably has something to do with the fact that my attention span is that of a ferret on methamphetamine, but alas, here we are. We'll see where it goes from here.

I also figured that I would let people play a little catchup from back in the day:

Catch up from 2016.
Catch up from 2017: Part I, Part II, Part III.

Catch up from 2018: Part I, Part II.
Catch up from 2018/2019: Part I, Part II, Part III.

Catch up from 2020: Part I.  

Catch up from 2021: Part I, Part II. 

January's films: Out of Death, Accident Man, Force of Nature, Beyond the Law, Vehicle 19, The Final Wish, Land of the Lost, Doom, Godzilla vs. Kong, Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard.

My favorite: I couldn't decide between two this month so they're actually tied with.... Accident Man and Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard. Both of these movies had me and D cracking up beyond all measure. I honestly don't think we quit laughing through either one. Not to mention they're some damn good action movies. So yeah, definitely both of those! Least favorite of the month: Picking this was much easier than a favorite.... The Final Wish. Look, I get that most horror movies don't make sense and they're not supposed to. That's one of the things I love about them, they can be beyond random. However, this movie felt like they were trying to make four different movies at once and none of them were good. I just didn't like it at all.

January's rewatched from years gone by: Olympus Has Fallen, The Meg, Rush Hour 3, Super Troopers, Skyscraper, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 300: Rise of an Empire, Aquaman.

February's films: Nobody, Journey 2 The Mysterious Island, American Renegades, Last Rampage: The Escape of Gary Tison, Wrong Place Wrong Time, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, The Suicide Squad, Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City, Free Guy, Copshop, The King's Man, White Men Can't Jump, Texas Chainsaw Massacre(2022), Gridlocked, The Night Crew.

My favorite: There were so many good ones to choose from this month that I honestly can't choose just one, so I decided to at least break it down to two.... Nobody.... and.... Free Guy. Both of those movies had us cracking up or saying "damn" the entire time and I would totally watch both of them again right now. Seriously, D was even mad that we rented Free Guy instead of buying it. Least favorite of the month: This one is so easy that I didn't even have to put much thought into it.... Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. And no, it isn't because it had new people or is completely different from the originals. No. It's because it is quite literally just a terrible movie. It wasn't so bad that we couldn't sit through it, but it was bad enough that I don't ever want to watch it again. We were both so excited to see this and were met with nothing but disappointment. It's almost like they were trying to make four different movies comes together at once and none of them worked.

February's rewatched from years gone by: Speed, Night School, Game Over, Man!.

March's films: Kate, The Matrix: Resurrections, Outside the Wire, Dead Again in Tombstone, The Adam Project.

My favorite: It's so hard to choose between two of these, but when I get down to it I'm going with.... The Adam Project. The movie was cute and hilarious and Ryan Reynolds could probably make me laugh through a root canal, so there's that. It was a great one! Least favorite of the month: It pains me to say this but.... Dead Again in Tombstone. It wasn't horrible by any means, and everyone knows I love me some Danny Trejo. It just wasn't as good as the others we went through this month.

March's rewatched from years gone by: National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets, Zombieland, Mad Max: Fury Road, Dark Shadows.

April's films: Jackass Forever, Scream(2022), The Batman, Jolt.

My favorite: Let's just put it right out there in the open and admit that between Jackass Forever and Scream, I was real nostalgic this go around. It was like a piece of my childhood caught up to my thirties and I got to enjoy it all with my husband. But for an actual favorite I'm going with.... Jolt. Say what you will, but this movie had us cracking up and there was so much action. It was a good one. Least favorite of the month: This is a hard one, because none of the movies that we watched were bad this go around. My least favorite though would have to be.... The Batman. And no, it's not because Robert Pattinson is Batman. I think he did a good job. And I liked it. It just wasn't near my favorite.

April's rewatched from years gone by: SWAT, Steel Magnolias, Varsity Blues, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

Tv series I've finished: The 100 (season1-3), FRIENDS: The Reunion, Harry Potter: 20th Anniversary Return to Hogwarts, The Big Bang Theory (season1-2), Sex and the City (season1-4), Peacemaker (season1), Ink Master (season1-10), Yellowstone (season2-4), Halo (season1).

Stand-up I've finished: Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain, Gary Owen: Doin What I Do, Jeff Foxworthy: The Good Old Days.

Documentaries I've Finished: I Am A Killer (season1-2), I Am A Killer: Released (season1), American Murder: The Family Next Door, Drew Peterson: An American Murder Mystery.

Books I've Finished: The Iron Predators: Part IV (Ellie Norse, ellie_n82), Lorenzo: Riders of Apollo: Mafia Stories (Dotty456), Chains: Riders of Apollo #10 (Dotty456), The Blind Mate (IrisJoy94), Beneath the Shadows (Ashe_frost), Mr. Bodyguard (Wxnterwxlf), His Angel (Lynn_Xoxo_), Cepheus (Illiteratehomebody), Protect Me (Kathleen Frederick), Rock Me (Kathleen Frederick), Help Me (Kathleen Frederick), Want Me (Kathleen Frederick), Save Me (Kathleen Frederick), Love Me (Kathleen Frederick), The Christmas Conversation (Hinawrites), His Shy Sphinx (Zondra_Allison), The Devil's Looking Glass (Zondra_Allison), Blood Lust (AliciaMarino), Red Reaper: Soldiers of Fortune- Book One (leelabellabooks), Zeus's Angel Outlaws Guardian Protector's MC- Book One (SeleneFH), Given Away (menarhodes), Tattoo Baby (DannielleSheridanMas), Burning Ember (AliceSchiller), Tommy's Angel (andromedaglow), Soren (claudicorn), Sweet as Venom (Explode).

I'm not saying all teenagers are bad, I'm just saying we don't want any.

There are times I think I give kids a hard way to go. I say to myself, “they can’t possibly be the little villains I make them out to be.” Essentially making myself feel like I should be nicer to them.

And then, I get stuck behind a school bus in traffic for fifteen minutes and have to watch teens interact with each other and attempt to interact with me and I’m like, “theeeerrrrrrreee it is. I knew y’all were little assholes.”

Three anxiety attacks and bunches of money later.

I had a dentist appointment yesterday to determine what could be done with my remaining teeth. Everyone that knows me knows that I've had dental problems for YEARS. And this is not one of those times that I'm being dramatic. I legit mean my entire life kind of years.

And unfortunately, dental problems aren't just a vain "I don't look good" (even though I in fact do not) kind of situation. On top of being mortifying (yes I'm missing one of my front teeth and yes it's an issue for me) it's also increasingly painful. I honestly can't remember the last time I ate or slept or hell, even just sat there without a constant throbbing or ache in my mouth.

Shit gets old real quick and frankly, years later, I am beyond over this big bag of dicks.

I've had so much dental work done. SO. MUCH. Thousands upon thousands of dollars trying not to be in pain and look halfway decent and it was all for not. And if I'm being perfectly honest, I didn't have the thousands of dollars to begin with. It was a I needed to have it done and had to pay on it for months at a time to pay it off deal. Which I know is how most people have to go about these types of things, but damn, when it's draining your bank account it hurts.

Especially when it ends up not working out. I mean, two and a half years ago I had a double root canal on my two front teeth and they're in horrible shape. Seriously, they're both broken and I'm incredibly paranoid that I'm going to wake up one morning and be missing one or both of my front teeth. 

That's the extent of it. 

I have to eat ibuprofen like it's goldfish crackers and actually eating? Pfft. I have to cut my food into small pieces or try to shove everything to one side of my mouth to bite and/or chew, because I can't actually use my front teeth to bite anything. They're too weak. 

To say it's frustrating would be an understatement. Mostly because I've always had good oral hygiene. Actually, good hygiene in general. We didn't have a lot growing up, but Momma always made sure we looked nice and were clean. We couldn't afford expensive things, but you best believe we afforded soap, toothpastes, all the essentials for hygienic purposes and care. Throughout my entire life I have brushed my teeth twice a day, flossed regularly and use mouthwash. Still to this day. But, do my teeth care that I try to maintain and be nice to them? 

Hell no. They're ungrateful.

They're too soft to hold any proper fillings and they're constantly wearing down and snapping themselves off at any given moment. They're sensitive to everything (hot, cold, sweet, savory, doesn't really matter). And my tongue is constantly raw and burning. It makes swallowing and getting through the day real sweet. Probably doesn't help that I have the horrible habit of clenching and grinding my teeth without realizing it, but here we are. 

And there I sat. Explaining to my new dentist all the things I've had done to my teeth and how I take care of them and how many problems I've had and keep having. Trying to explain and make him see that I have been trying my entire life to get a handle on this situation and can't seem to hold that grasp. Recalling the times I've had to have teeth pulled from horrible pain. And there have been many. More than many. A plethora really. The man took one look at my x-rays and calmly explained to me that he could see all the work and how hard I've tried. He explained that it wasn't my fault, sometimes these things just happen no matter what we do. 

I was speechless. Because never once in all my time explaining what my teeth are doing has a dentist actually looked me dead ass in the face and understood where I was coming from. He just got it. Didn't think I was crazy or dramatic. Didn't question why I was this frustrated with my mouth at thirty-two years old. Didn't try to talk me into some ridiculously expensive procedure that wasn't going to work out and keep me in the same sinking boat I've been paddling in. Nope. Dude literally just looked at my x-rays, listened to what I had to say and explained why he thought it was happening and what we could do to help. That's it. That's all the man had to say and offer. No judgment or superiority, just understanding and solution.

Shit blew my entire mind.

So that's where we came up with a plan. And that's when I put down the money to have the work done. D and I had already discussed my situation and he informed me "do what needs to be done, we'll make it work, I'm tired of you hurting all the time." It was less than we thought it was going to be, but still hurts me to think about.

And what is the plan? Well.... luckily, my bottom teeth aren't too bad. They could use a little TLC, but they're not in horrible shape. Mostly because every time one of my bottom teeth have hurt it's been so excruciating that I've had it yanked out of my head as soon as possible. So, those are on the back burner (for now). 

The real issue is my top row. I literally have no good and/or salvageable teeth up there. Therefore, I go in on 5/4 to have a few back teeth pulled and an impression made. From there, we'll set up another appointment and when I go in then, they'll pull the remaining teeth in the front and slide a plate right in.

Am I nervous? F*ck yes. Am I excited to not have that constant pain anymore? Also, f*ck yes. Am I excited about the healing time, paying off the money we had to spend, or having to get used to having a denture plate at thirty-two years old? F*ck no. 

But, at the end of the day, this is what is best and I'm so exhausted trying to find another solution. Then again, I honestly think this one is the best and only one I have, so there's no more looking. The plan is set in motion. 

And here my nervous little self sits waiting for this shit to get on with.

It will always be a struggle, but we try to help my mental health with activities together and a stress free home life.

Ever since we went on vacation and came back, D and I have had an avid "chill" about our lives. We do everything that we're supposed to do (ie: work, pay bills, be semi-productive members of society), but I would be lying if I said we weren't in a zen state. And it would also be a lie to say that we hate it. Because we don't. 

Sure, there are things that bother us. Things that make my anxiety go through the roof and things that make his temper flare, but for the most part, we've accepted that we're happier just being together and whoosah about life. 

Honestly, I don't know if it's marriage or my thirties, but whichever it is, I am here for it.

I go to the dentist tomorrow to look into having some pretty extensive dental work done and I've been a bit (I feel justifiably!) nervous about the whole ordeal. D has assured me that it's all going to be fine, because I'm tough and there's nothing we can't handle together (yeah, we treat all things in our lives to be equally important!). I'm going to a new dentist (that my cousin Jen recommended) and he's apparently real nice and effective, so hopefully we'll get this handled and it won't cost me our first born (because those bitches ain't getting my Tayderbug!). 

Nerves, anxiety and stress aside, at the end of the day, I get to come home to my loving husband and amazing furbabies and they do shit like leave me a trail of flowers from the front door of our house into the kitchen (to the steak), so I officially know my little Gatorbaby is cooking me dinner. 

And that, my friends, is what they call balance.

🌴 I should've stayed in bed today.... on vacay. 🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴

Have you ever gotten back from vacation and as soon as you step foot into your everyday life you're just like.... uhh, nope? No? Funny.... happened to me. 

D and I just got back from our annual Florida/see the family vacation (4/1-4/10) and to say that we were perfectly content living the chill life for a week would be an understatement. Seriously, it was so damn nice to just relax and unwind. We rushed for nothing and worried for not. It was honestly damn ideal.

We drove Doug Judy down this year and I have to say this was the most comfortable trip all around yet. The first year had fantastic traffic conditions. Covid was doing it's thing and we were legitimately the only car on the road for miles upon miles, but BeetleJuke was not a comfy ride for a family of five. Last year was extremely comfortable, because we had the van, but traffic was a nightmare and a normally 14/15 hour trip ended up taking us over 22 hours to accomplish. This year though? Not only did we luck out on the traffic front, but Doug Judy was perfect for a family of five. Our trip down took about 13 hours and our trip home took about 11.

I've said it once, but I'll say it again.... DOUG JUDY IS A F*CKING BEAST!!

I got sunburnt to the point of a couple blisters popping up on my shoulder, but it was worth it to get to hang out with everybody, wash mine and my MIL's rides, and drive the side-by-side! I even met some new members of my extended married into family. Ok, they're not new, technically I'm the new one, but they're new to me! Everyone was awesome as always and it amazes me at times what a loving and close family I married into. Shit blows my mind.

I even got thrown into my MIL's pool by D's our 6'8/370 lbs. cousin. Dude literally threw me over his shoulder and laughed when I immediately gave up and just hung there. Bro, I am 5'0/120 lbs. WHERE WAS I GONNA GO?! So yes, I not only got to meet family members that I hadn't had a chance to before (and they were f*cking great!), but I got to see my returning faves! I talk about it like it's a reality show of some sort, but they love me all the same for it.

My FIL made me authentic German food and I'm literally drooling thinking about it right now. He made Rouladen. Have you ever had Rouladen? If not, let me tell you right damn now, you are missing out my friend. The concept of it sounds a bit strange when you explain it, but trust me like I trusted him and you will not be disappointed. Now that I think about it, my in-laws fed me too damn well and now I'm spoiled and all of this non-vacation food is just a real Debbie Downer.

My MIL was going to put me on a horse this time around, but time got away from us (as I said, we rushed for absolutely nothing), so that got postponed until next year. However, the three of us did find the roof rack that I wanted for Doug Judy and seven bags of Acme jerky, so postponing getting on a harbinger of death with hooves was alright with me. I'm nothing if not a compromiser. *wink wink*

While staying with my other FIL, we basically just hung out, watched Ink Master and the new Scream movie (yay!!), chilled, and once again, got in no rush for absolutely anything. Did I mention how relaxed we both were for ten whole days? 

Even the driving didn't stress us out. I don't think either of us have been that relaxed in.... well.... maybe ever. I don't know what it was, but it was just so damn nice.

And now we're back to our everyday lives.... back to work.... and I can't help but think we should've stayed our asses on vacation. Sure, that's completely unreasonable and nobody actually gets to live their entire lives like it's a vacation, but it's a real nice thought. A real, damn good, wish it was a possibility thought.

Honestly, I just want to scream at people to leave me alone and let me live on island time (even though I've never actually been to an island?), because I'M STAYING IN MY BUBBLE WITH MY HUSBAND DAMMIT!

Ugh, fine. Back to the real world it is.

My baby is officially old enough to go bar hopping. 🧡🧡🧡

Happy 21st Birthday to the best baby this side of the Mississippi!! I can’t believe how long I’ve been blessed enough to be this little ones momma, but I do know it’s been the greatest joy imaginable. I love you, Tayder.