Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Set Backs

Have you ever been through an emotionally abusive relationship? 
I have.

I was in a relationship where I was told that I would be "traded in for a newer and younger model". 
Hearing those words so often, and then being cheated on really damages a person. 

I'm strong.  And if you know me, I would hope that you would think that way too. 

But I am damaged. 

And sometimes those insecurities haunt me.
Sometimes they overpower me. 

I do my best to overcome those feelings. 

I am fully aware that not everyone is the same. 
I am fully aware that you cannot treat people a certain way because of past relationships. 
I am fully aware that not every guy is trying their hardest to get in the pants of some "newer and younger model" like my ex was. 

But the fact that my heart was betrayed on multiple levels multiple times, my demons sometimes get the best of me. 

I know that I am not the best person out there.
I know that I am not the prettiest, or the smartest, or have the best body. 
But I am me. 
I am a good person, and I am proud of the person that I have become. 

I guess what I am trying to say, is that I'm no Miss America; I'm no model. 
But I'm pretty awesome.
I didn't deserve the treatment that was given to me. 
But I need to really work on my insecurities. 

Not everyone is going to be "out to get me". 
There are loyal and faithful people, like myself, out there. 

And that just because you haven't heard from someone all night, doesn't mean that they don't care. 

I'm damaged goods, but I wouldn't be the strong person, the loving person that I am today without being damaged. 




<3 Jess

Saturday, February 21, 2015

My First Ever Valentine...

I'm a hopeless romantic.
Lets face it. I tell people all the time that I sold my tear ducts to the gypsies so that I force myself not to cry when I get overwhelmed and emotional.

My life motto is "Theres no crying in baseball". 

I don't have time to be able to get in touch with my inner emotions because deep down I've always been let down.

My last relationship I was let down time and time again with every birthday, holiday, and anniversary.

I'm the last person on the face of the Earth to be materialistic, but being forgotten time and time again really gets to you. And sometimes all you want is a card with your name on it signed from the one your hold dear to your heart.

The realist in me became a hardass, but the emotional in me was and still is a head over heals romantic.


I've never, I repeat.... NEVER gone out on Valentine's Day (or for Valentine's Day).
The fact that I was asked to be able to spend the evening with someone that I hold dear to my heart a month prior had me very nervous.

What do I say? What do I get? What do I wear?
And the one that had me up at night with wonder.....
WHAT DO I DO?! 

No seriously what do I do?  Do I set myself up for failure or allow myself to be swept off my feet?

I didn't know. 

So after COUNTLESS nights of the whole "What do you want to do?" "I don't know what do you want to do?" routine we finally agreed on a dress code.

HEY, its a start and it was one of my top worries.

As soon as I knew that we were to have dinner together I started thinking of what to get him.

He's funny. He's charming. He's entertaining.
He's become the one person that I run to first with everything.
And I mean everything!

When I have a bad day, I run to him.
When I'm having a good day, I run to him.
When I want someone to be down right honest, real, and truthful to me, I run to him.
Needless to say, he's become such an influential person in my life that I would consider him my left hand man (since I'm a lefty).

So what do I get the guy who means this much to me? 

I knew I wanted to make him a bouquet of bacon roses. And because I know how he likes bacon, I found a t-shirt that is about bacon that I thought he might like.

Those two things were cool, but he's been so amazing to me that I needed a "WOW" gift for him. Something that expressed to him how much I appreciate him and what he does for me on a daily basis. I know that I'm not the easiest person to deal with, and I'm sure that I will give this poor guy a few grey hairs... So I needed to think of something that can kinda make up for all of that.
Because Lord knows, he deserves it. 

Valentine's Day comes, and I'm filled with mixed emotions.
My son just left for his two week trip to visit his father, and I have my date later that night.

I was a bundle of nerves trying to get ready as I raided my closet for whatever I could find and possibly wear.

With me being on my diet and today being my cheat day I told him my one request is pasta.
So like the true gentleman that he is, he made reservations for us.

When he picked me up, my palms were sweaty and my heart was racing. I wasn't quite sure at all what to expect. But I knew, that no matter what I would have a wonderful time with him.
And I keept reassuring myself just that.

When I got into his car I was completely overwhelmed, and it took every ounce of me to not tear up right then and there.

I was amazed with everything! 

He got me flowers, but not just any flowers! Pink (stargazer) lilies! My absolute favorite!
I would have been perfectly happy with the lilies, but there was more!

A great big teddy bear! (Who still needs a name)
A box of DIET hot chocolate, because he knows how much I've been wanting some!
(Seriously this guy is the sweetest!)
And then a little box of goodies! A sleeping mask, a hairbrush mirror combo (which I had been meaning to get since mine just broke), a little manicure set, and a great big Hershey's Kiss!

Never, in my wildest dreams has this happened to me. Ever.

And it took everything I had to not choke up on our way to the restaurant.

WHICH!! Just so happened to be one of my favorites! I had my Sweet Sixteen there, and my family had my fathers retirement party there as well. The fact that he said that it is one of his favorite places as well made it just that much more perfect.


Dinner was amazing! And it was just what my taste buds were craving!

Just before we ordered our desserts I just HAD to give him his big gift.

If I didn't give it to him then, I for sure was going to burst! 

With my phone recording his reaction, I handed him his card. On the inside I put in two quotes from two Billy Joel songs.
Billy Joel is his favorite! If there was anyone that he could be, I'm pretty darn sure it would be Billy Joel.
But I don't think that he got the references.

And then I handed him a small envelope.

And waited.....

His reaction to getting two tickets to see Billy Joel in concert was priceless! The look on his face was all I could have ever asked for!
Once again, I held back tears from watching his reaction.

It was joy, pure joy! 
And I would do it a thousand times over again just to be able to put such a genuine smile upon his face. 

The twinkle in his eyes when he smiled was brighter than any star I have ever seen in the sky.

After his excitement simmers he hands me a card. To which he said "I think that this describes us".
And he was so right! It was such a cute card! It made me smile, and laugh.

And then reusing my envelope, he hands it back to me.....

Inside he had printed out two sheets of paper describing what my gift was.

I GOT TWO THREE DAY PASSES TO A TASTE OF COUNTRY!!!!! 

The now the only reason why I didn't start to cry was because I didn't want my mascara to run. And the only reason why I didn't start jumping up and down screaming for joy was because we were still at the restaurant.

This was by far, the BEST gift that anyone has EVER given me!!!

Here I was thinking that I got him the best gift of the night, that I couldn't be topped...
But good golly Miss Molly, he sure did top me!!!

It's been about a week, and I am STILL in shock. I STILL cannot believe that this is happening!

After we had our desserts, we went to Bell (our local watering hole as we call it). And spent the rest of the evening with friends, laughing, having a good time, and telling everyone we knew the amazing gifts that we got each other.

I went to bed that night with a smile on my face. A smile that still has not left.

And I don't think that it ever will. 

My first ever Valentine's Date was by far the best date I have ever had in my entire life.

And for that, I can cry.


Jess

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

My love story, or better yet, lack of one

I feel like as open of a person that I am, I keep a big portion of me closed off to the public.

For the past year and a half my life has been utter hell. And if it weren't for the fact that I have amazing friends and family to back me, I don't know what I would do right now or where I would be.

But none the less I have a dark cloud of doom following me everywhere I go trying its best to sabotage any bit of happiness that I have in my life.

I am a firm believer that when you marry someone, you marry them with the intentions of it being for life. That you plan on being a team, with unison. That you plan on being forever faithful and never stray.
Why is it so hard for that to become reality? Why must some people stray, why must they hurt the one person who would love them to the end of time and gladly fight all their battles for them and with them?

I'd like to think it's insecurities or immaturity, but the truth is, its just assholeness.

You must be a complete asshole to see that you have a person, a partner who would gladly give you their right (or left) arm for anything that you need. Yet, you string them around and hurt them time and time again promising to change, promising to do better. When in reality, you never loved this person, you just have a hard time loving yourself so you need others to do it for you.

I should probably back track and fill you in on what happened, other wise this just looks like a madwoman's rant.

When I left to join the Coast Guard I was 19 years old (2007). My first duty station (USCGC Dallas) was home ported out of Charleston, SC. When I arrive my cutter was underway, so they had me work at the sector where I meet my ex.  For two weeks we were inseparable, it was almost magical. We worked all day together, and then hung out all night. We quickly developed a romance just as I was given the word on how and when I was going to actually meet my unit.

We kept in touch the whole month that I was gone. We called, texted, emailed all day, every day. He ended up waiting for me at the pier for me when my cutter pulled into home port. I thought he was perfect, I thought he was everything that I wanted and more. But I guess I was wrong.

Fast forward a few months later, a few patrols and we get engaged just before I head off to California. I was in my glory! I was completely giddy with the thought of planning a wedding for us, and making a life together. Once I was stationed down in Key West (2009), I noticed a change in him. We also had our first real major fight during this time too. A girl that was at the Station was commenting on his pages saying inappropriate things such as "oh I'm sure your girl wouldn't be happy with that", and he would leave comments on her pictures stating "the back of the neck is my favorite part of a woman". Naturally I called him out on it, to which he said he didn't mean anything to his comment other than just stating the fact, and he swore that she said it wasn't her writing those things. Apparently her ex-boyfriend hacked into her account and was writing that. I called bullshit, and told him that if I found out he continued any conversation with her that I would end us. To which he then begged and pleaded and said that I was over reacting but would respect my wishes.

He always said that he wasn't happy with his command. He seemed to have a lot of trouble there. I did my best with being 13 hours away to help get him on track and to move forward with his Coast Guard career. I was so proud of him when he finally got orders to A School, so we took vacation time together just before he had to leave. During that time, without anyone knowing we got married. As he headed up to Virginia, I made my way back to Key West as a newly married woman.

A few short weeks after returning back to Key West, I found out that I was pregnant. As scared as I was, I couldn't have been happier. I always knew that I wanted to be a mom, I just didn't know when I would be one. Once he was reunited with me being stationed at the Sector with me I felt that we were ready to be a family! But I was so wrong.

I never felt so alone during my pregnancy. There was zero intimacy, zero love, zero care. I busted my ass all on my own to care for the house, clean up after him, plan for the arrival of our baby, and work. If I was lucky he would have made dinner once a month, but even that was pushing it. I remember countless days and nights crying, and talking to my baby, letting him know that no matter what happens mommy loves him more than the world and I will always be there for him. I remember the strangers telling him to be nice to me and to treat me right because I am his wife, and the mother of his child. I cannot begin to say how embarrassed I was that strangers were telling this "grown" man to treat me with respect.

We lived in a three bedroom apartment at that time. Just as the baby was about to be born he reconnected with an old flame from his hometown. He assured me that it wasn't anything major, that he was just helping her out. But I felt it was very wrong that he was trying to open our home to her when I didn't know her saying that she can move in with her children and be like his "second wife". Maybe it was postpartum speaking, but I told her that a home has only room for one head bitch and that it would be me and no other. That this was my house and my territory and she was not welcomed.

The whole first year of PAC's life continued being the same. Me begging him to love me and getting no where. I finally caught him cheating on me with 2 women. One of them happened to be the girl he wanted to move into our home, the other was someone else from his hometown. I thought it was crazy that he was constantly telling me that he wanted to go back to his hometown to see his friends, but leave me and the baby back in Key West. But after I found out what he was doing behind my back of exchanging messages, suggestive comments, and nude photographs I called him out on his bluff. I remember screaming at him for hours, telling him how I wanted him gone. But he begged, and cried, and pleaded stating that he will change and never do that again. He also stated how since our son was about to turn 1 and the whole family was coming down for this that his mother was sick, and this was the only thing keeping her faith and spirits up. I remember looking at him in complete disgust telling him how the only reason why I would be willing to make it work was because at that moment I loved his mother more than him.

A few months later I got out of the Coast Guard (2011). I was enrolled at the local community college and was also working part time at the day care on base. For some reason he couldn't keep his mouth shut, or was incompetent of following orders, but he was always getting himself into trouble with his command. But just as we are learning to adjust to our new life, he throws a complete curve ball at me. When I come home after being in school all day, and then working at the day care I see him sitting in his uniform still (3 hours later) playing video games. As I rush to try and put dinner together, he tells me that he is officially on terminal leave and that we will be moving to his hometown as soon as my finals were done.

Without the slightest bit of a discussion I have to uproot our life due to his whimsical nature and face the unknown. Neither of us had jobs, and we were just learning how to recover with me getting out of the service. I was livid. I could not believe that he would put us in jeopardy like that. How can he make a decision like that and not even think to consult me? With a heavy heart full of reluctancy I moved to his hometown.

And it was hell from then on.

In 2012, shortly after we got there he started talking to one of the girls that I caught him cheating me on with again. I told his mother, to which she said "well, what did you do to cause this?" Cheating is an action that one person does, that one person make that decision in their mind to do such actions. If me being livid with him for bringing me to a town that I wanted nothing to do with was the cause of him to go back to her then he was not someone that I wanted to spend my forever with. I knew that I deserved better.  So, I gave him the ultimatum, change or I walk out the door with the baby. Once again he begged and pleaded.

That year he was unable to maintain any type of stability for work, leaving all of the finances on my burden. I was working full time, going to school full time, and taking care of the family full time. I was burned out. Exhausted was an understatement. So you can only imagine my surprise when I find out while he's away for training, two weeks before Christmas that he is once again cheating on me.

At this point I have no more emotion in me to cry, or scream. I remember calling up my parents and asking them if they can work on trying to come bring my son, my dog, and myself back home to New York. I knew that I couldn't be with someone who couldn't respect me enough to be faithful. I deserved to be with someone who wants to spend forever with just me and no one else.

Since the state of Florida does not have legal separation I drafted up a contract for us to sign and have notarized to guidelines that we both agreed to. He refused to sign it all month long. When moving day came hell broke loose. I remember him screaming and yelling at me that I wasn't allowed to take PAC, that he has to stay with him just as my parents pulled into the driveway. I remember clinging to PAC shaking and screaming and yelling at him saying how we were leaving, that he did this and there was nothing that he could do. As my parents are loading up the boxes that I had set aside for them he called the cops. So now I have the cops in my front lawn, and his sister (who I cannot stand). The officer asks me if the baby needs to be removed to a safe place, instantly his sister says she will take him, to which I insist that he is safest with me, I am his mother who is protecting him after all. Due to his assholeness nature we then have to go to family court to see what they can do, since divorce was not being filed at that time there was nothing they could do. Common sense finally seeped into his brain and he agreed to signing the notarized contract that I drafted up a month prior. After he took PAC to say goodbye to his family, and brought him home, we made our way to our new life.

I remember how the first few months of us being in New York were so strange. I cringed every time I would get texts from him begging me to come back home, that he new he messed up this time and wanted to fix it. I was where I belonged, I wasn't going to turn back to that, and I knew that he would never leave to come to us. Slowly my hurt turned to complete anger. The thought of his name became so vial to me. I've never had so much hatred for someone like I do for him, and to think that not long ago I loved him more than anything!

In July 2013 he served me with divorce papers, stating that he wants to have full custody of PAC, mean while he had not seen him since March when he came to visit for 3 days. October comes and I have to be in Florida for our court hearing. The court hearing mandated him to pay child support (I had been taking care of PAC all on my own without any help from him), and established a temporary custody agreement. I was awarded primary custody where I have him for 8 weeks, and he has him for 2 weeks. He has to come up every time and bring him down, and I have to go down and bring my son back home every time. It's a financially exhausting arrangement, but I'll sell my kidney if it meant I get my son back each time.

This past August 2014 we were supposed to have mediation. Here I was anticipating on us agreeing on terms and being able to put this miserable relationship behind me. I wanted freedom! I deserve freedom!  Within 5 minutes he stated that he would not settle for anything other than him being the primary parent. Now we are about to be involved in a full on investigation, and the courts now have to fully get involved in who will be the better parent to care for PAC. I've never been so angry that someone would try to take my baby away from me. I am a mother, a mother is supposed to be with her children, to raise them to care for them, to love them like mothers do. Yet, how am I to do my job as a mother if I do not have my child? I know he's doing this to hurt me. As if I have not been hurt enough by him, he has to hurt me even more.

I know he has a girlfriend already, and the fact that he has moved on does not even phase me. I am more worried about my child. But what baffles my mind, is that he has her living with him, sharing the same bed that we used to share and he thinks its okay to do that with our son in the next room. That action alone lets me know that he isn't doing this because he loves his son, he's doing this to hurt me. What man would put his needs before his own child's needs? A selfish man would.

Which is why he doesn't care that every 8 weeks he's pulling his son out of school for 2 weeks. A program that I fought so hard for him to get into, he has to leave every 8 weeks. A real man would put his son's education first, not his own "needs".

My mother finally told my son, that his father is trying to take him away from me to where he won't live with me anymore. She said how he cried and said he would talk to his daddy to make sure he doesn't move to Florida because he lives with mommy. My heart breaks that my 4 year old now has to be a part of this in ways that I wanted to shield him from everything. But we are a family, and we cannot hide important information like this from each other. We cannot keep secrets. So while I may not divulge into every thing that has happened, I will try to let him know of the severity of what is going on.

Meanwhile, I just pray for freedom, because I just want to move on with my life.

Jess

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Spellbound

That moment when you cannot sleep because all you do is think of that special someone who has you enchanted by their mere existence. But, they don't even know how much of an impact they make on your life. How excited you get when they like/comment on anything on your Facebook page. And the thought of talking to this person makes you giggle like a schoolgirl.

They call it a crush for a reason. 

For at a moments notice if this special person does not feel the same way towards you, you are literally crushed. 

Ouch! 

I'm so afraid that this is what will happen to me. 

Oh dear, you have no clue how spellbound I am by your mere presence in my company. 
I shouldn't be, but yet I am. 

It's such a scary feeling, having a crush. You never know how they will react.

If it's positive then you'll squeal with delight! 
At least that is what I do. 
If it's negative, then how do you pick up the pieces that were left? How do you move on? 
But then what happens next if it's positive? 

There are too many variables to consider.

Maybe it's because I'm such a hopeless romantic that I cannot help but sit and hope that you might possibly have the same feelings for me that I do for you.

And maybe I'm a bit of a realist and can see all the reasons why you wouldn't have the same feelings for me.

Either way, I'm up half the night thinking about all the "what if's".

What if
What if...

Jess

Friday, July 11, 2014

Current Location: Friend Zone

Have you ever had feelings for someone, but you feel like they have "friend zoned" you?

Yeah that's how I feel.

Hi, I'm Jess, forever in the friend zone.....

JOY

I mean, I guess that it could be worse, this individual could hate me.
Why would anyone hate, me is beyond my wildest dreams, but hey, it could happen.

What constitutes someone to be "friend zoned"?

Then again, what is the "friend zone"?

According to what I've noticed guys and girls have two different standards of such zone.

My very good friend told me the guy's version, which I naturally forgot since is wasn't the version I wanted it to be.
But for girls, the "friend zone" is where the girl doesn't see you in any way other than a friend.
There is no way that anything more than pure friendship will happen between the two of you.
Forget sex. Forget kissing. Forget dates.... unless shes going to the mall and wants your oppinon on clothes.
That my dears, is the female version of the friend zone..... or at least MY version of the friend zone.

But nothing makes me feel more vulnerable rather than the conflict I am facing right now.

See theres this guy, and I can't help but feel that I have squashed all chances of being more than friends with him.
Thus, me being in the "friend zone".
I have always felt that he would never give me the time of day.

After all, why would any guy want to give me the time of day when he has gorgeous women surrounding him.
I would never be able to compete with their beauty, never mind their possible intellect.
It's just not my style.

So, I've laid low, and hoped that this guy would eventually look my way.
And he hasn't.

Well, they say it's true, alcohol always lowers your innovations.
So, naturally one night to which I was hoping to once again catch his attention, I had allowed alcohol to persuade my moral compass to not point due North.
I then allowed my attention to be deviated to a guy who seemed to want my attention.

To this day I still cannot look myself in the eye for deviating from my compass.
I'm not saying that I had sexual encounters with that individual.
For goodness sakes I am not that kind of a woman. I respect myself far too much.

But my point is, I now know that I have ruined any chance of possibly gaining this guys attention from my lack of a moral compass encounter.

What I hope for, is the chance to redeem myself, and to prove that I am someone worthy to be given a chance.
Because for once in my life, I feel that this guy is of a worthy character to spend my time with.

He has morals, beliefs, and he values himself.
This guy actually knows his self worth and wont settle for anything less.

I am enamored by his classic charm. 
They don't make class like him any more. 

My guess is that nothing will become of this, and in fact, he will never know how often he crosses my mind on a daily basis.

But thats okay right?
Because, sometimes, just sometimes dreams are better than reality...

And sometimes, its good to know you have a friend you care so much about....

Sometimes

Jess

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

I wanna grow old with you.....

I cannot begin to tell you how many people in the past month have asked me why I am single.

And the fact of the matter is, I don't know. 

I am perfectly happy doing my "single girl swag". 
I like the fact that I don't have to keep "tabs" on someone, and that no one keeps "tabs" on me. 

But I am a romantic, and my heart is ready to share love. 

I miss being able to spend quality time with someone who cares about me, just as much as I care for them. 
I miss being able to care for someone. 

I'm talking about being their shoulder/ear for when the have had a bad day, to prepare a home cooked meal for them after a long day at work, to be the reason that they smile.

I miss that. 
I miss companionship. 

As much as I would love a relationship and to be able to give someone my all again, I'm not going to settle. 
This time around, I know what I deserve and I don't want to be blind sighted by infatuation. 
I want chemistry, compatibility, and companionship

In the end, I really want someone to grow old with. 

When people ask me the dreaded question "so, do you have a boyfriend?" I cringe when I tell them no and see the look of shock on their face. 
Am I missing something here?
Am I supposed to have a boyfriend? 

And then I think.... 
Is there something wrong with me that does not qualify me to be a candidate for a partner? 
Yes, I know that I'm still in the middle of my divorce. 
No, I will never ever EVER go back to him, even for the sake of my son. 
Yes, I know that being a single mom is probably not so desirable for some. But trust me, I didn't plan on being one, but I'll never change it for a second.
No, I do not have the body of a model. But my heart is the biggest you'll ever see/meet, and I'm the most loyal person ever. 


I know this probably sounds like I am saying "someone, anyone, just love me", but that is far from the case. 

My time on Earth (like yours) is precious and limited. I don't want to waste my time with just anyone. 
I have a right to be picky about who I spend my time with. 
So, by all means, I'm not looking for the first guy to walk my way and start planning a wedding.

I want someone who shares dreams, goals, and ambitions with me, and has their own. 
Like I said before, I want someone who I can grow old with and still be madly in love with them till the day I die. 
I want someone who will not only be a lover, but a best friend.

I know that I'm not an easy person.
I'm stubborn, forgetful, and far from perfect. 
But, whoever you are, wherever you are, I promise till my dying days that I will give 200% into a relationship, and stand beside you through the darkest storms, and bask in your glow when you see the light. 

My heart will forever be yours.
That is a promise you can count on.

Jess

Monday, May 5, 2014

Destination: FIT CITY

Have you ever worked so hard for something, started to obtain it, and then had something happen where everything you worked for was thrown away?

That is what I have done. 

In January 2012, I made it my mission to get back to my Boot Camp body. And up till July 2013, I was only 30 lbs away from that.

Only with everything that my life has thrown me the past 6 months, I have destroyed everything that I worked so hard for.

I cannot even begin to explain how upset with myself I am for this.

I'm honestly ashamed to even look into the mirror. 

But enough is enough and I'm tired of making excuses for myself.

I'm getting back on that wagon and riding it all the way to Fit City. 

I'm going to work on eating right again.
And most of all, working on exercising again.

I used to work out 6 days a week twice a day. Now I don't.

Granted the past few months I have been dealing with a leg injury.  But I will go back to listening to my body and not pushing myself to the point of injury anymore.

So..... lets see how I can keep myself accountable on here.
Before hand I had an amazing support system.  I need to find that again.

Maybe this blog can be just that :)

So.... heres to hoping that I get back on that wagon and stick to it the entire journey. 

Jess