Holy Sh!t! It's been HOW long?

Welcome to my new normal, whatever that it.  It's been waaaaayyyy too long since I've written.  No wonder I'm all crunchy?  So ~ what's new?  Where to start, where to start? 
Have switched partners on the home flipping business to Bestie (she ALWAYS has my back and I would trust her with my life), left the lighting store, sis is cancer free for over a year now, mom moved in with me for 13 months and is now back with other sis, went to Ireland for 10 days, am in love, am back to working out AGAIN, the pooches are awesome, am selling vodka...
Perhaps I need to expand on some of the above?
Getting the businesses moving again after stagnation is a process.  Slower than I'd like ~ but?  It's going!  Bringing on a couple more people, getting Real Estate license is next on the list for me there.  Bestie and I have taken a few classes together, things are looking up/heading in the right direction.
Ireland was AMAZING! Cannot wait to go back, though... So many places on my 'want to go there' list.  Here's an all too brief synopsis:  The entire town of Sligo knows me by name, the country is amazingly beautiful (it honestly felt like going home), 'AB', 'S' and I became local legends in Blackrock...  The list goes on.  You know you've had fun when the bartender from the previous evening sees you on the street, runs up to you calling you by name, lifts you into the air and exclaims, 'Stephanie!  Thank God yer still alive love'.  Whatthefuck did I do the night before??  Far too many amazing memories to fit here.
As for the love?  Had an old friend (actually, former roommate ~ from the 80's no less) find me via another mutual CA friend.  Ever so thankful that he did!  Our talks/e-mails/texts have me in a tizzy.  He's scheduled a trip to see me in August, me to see him in October, both of us heading to Houston in November, Thanksgiving there (meeting his kids?), back here for New Year's...  With all that travel scheduled, we'd better be a great fit.  I really don't have any fear that it won't work, we'll work out the rest of our life logistics later?  If this relationship fulfills even half of its potential it will be Amazing.  Awesome.  Too Good To Be True?  Or am I FINALLY due?  A HUGE PS?  He's already using the 'L' word, yay me!
Am actually enjoying work, the liquor business is soooo much more fun that the food business, but am still catering with AB ~ keeping my mad chef skilz sharp!
Working out, working out.  My least favorite activity EVER.  But?  Am wanting that curvy Sophia Vergara Sex-Goddess body.  Apparently, I will have to work for it.  Am willing to put in said 'word', if for no other satisfaction than having my 'wnat someone to see me naked' body back.  And soon!

Bearings

Am slowly getting my bearing ~ just in time to head off to Texas for the Rodeo...  Ameversoexcited!  And?  My new boss (that's me, beeteedub) is much less of a hardass so I am gone for 10 days!  I do miss the pooches, though.  Something new this year, am paying my nephew to take care of them, so less stress for the sis (finger's crossed). 
Today was paying it forward.  A friend broke his collar bone in a fall, took him to lunch and shopping.  Considering the bestie had to do EVERYTHING for me after I got the new shoulder, I probably still owe the Universe quite a bit more of the pay.  It's a start!
Too excited to attend my first 'Food Truck Rodeo' tomorrow in Murrells Inlet.  The grilled cheese truck is my first stop!
Busy week upcoming ~ heading to Charleston after the lighting store to celebrate a friends birthday on Monday, court on Tuesday (I'm just a witness) then grilling out with above injured friend and neighbors, back to lighting store on Wednesday, working on HS friend's wedding on Thursday, closing for restaurant sale on Friday.  Whew!
Hope your week is amazing!!

It's cancer...

If I never hear those words again, I will die a happy girl!  So much over the last 9 months...
Quit job, realized I actually HATED my job (80 hours, thankless, no days off ~ what's to hate?).  Went on first real vacation in 10 years.  Toomuchfun!  Thanks to 'D' and the lovely ladies of SoCal, my check liver light came on after only 9 days.  Got home just in time for sis to be diagnosed with 'it'.  Devastation?  Not even a strong enough word.  Now that she's cancer (and hair!) free, I can finally breathe...
Sadly, gained back the 30 hard fought lbs I had lost, and those assholes brought 2 more friends back with them.  Time to get healthy again ~ and STAY that way!!!
'A' and I started our own companies (yes ~ more than 1)!  We've decided to become house/trailer flippers extraordinaire ~ Queens of the Double Wides!
Am getting back to my happy place, seems it was at the beach the whole time...

Butcher? Baker? Candlestick Maker?

Trying to decide what to do when I grow up...  I feel as though I have a second chance, but what to do??  After 10 years with S****, I really NEED to find my passion again.  Is it party planning?  Writing?  Beach bumming????  Yikes and Yay, all at once...
I feel I need to use my talents/gifts/madskilz ~ but what exactly are they?  Thinking I need to put together an e-mail to several close friends asking what THEY think my strengths are.  Or not ~ will I love/hate the answer?  What if they don't know?  I surround myself with amazing women, if they don't know who would?  Me?  Toomuchpressure...
Have been having a blast lately, though!  Am tanned and relaxed for the first time in 10 years.  Have been boating, gone to concerts, cleaning and organizing the house ~ heading to Cali and a lake house later this month.  Much needed rest/relaxation/sharpeningtheblade, needed for years (neverEVER go 10 years without a proper vacation, btw).
What's next?  Let you know when I know (to be continued)...
P.S. ~ feel like that should have ended with that 'dun dun duuunnn' sound

New Start. Seriously!

So ~ actually logged my working hours for the past month.  Am horrified!  84 one week, 73 another, 81 & 67 rounded it out.  wth?  I've have started job hunting/searching ~ no small wonder I have had no real life to speak of for the past couple of years...  Completely on me, though ~ some of my teammates barely put in 35-40.  No idea how they do that AND keep their customers happy?  But enough of that ~
Am excited to have friends here this week (only with me for the weekend, then off to their nearby resort) and plenty of plans for the month of July.  Time to get a life my life back.

Ugh

Have you ever had a really rough day/week/month/year and thought, "Crap!  That sucked!"?  AND THEN REALLY had a rough day/week/month/year and thought, "Now this?  Is an actual shitstorm!"?  Welcometomyshitstorm...
Completely work related, nothing else, though sadly, I've worked so much the passed 3 years I don't have much else.  Pity?  Party of one?
So glad Bestie & her hubs are here this weekend ~ need some fun, nonalcoholic type.  Well...  Maybe just 1 drink (or 7?).

Great (re)start!

Woo Hoo ~ 2 days in a row...  What a week/month at work ~ this weekend is the annual Chaine dinner for the scholarship fund.  Unlike last year, I won't be working 30+hours over the weekend (just 12), as my sis and fam will be here at the beach for my gorgeous niece's cheer competition.  Very excited to FINALLY see her compete!  Even more excited for them to see all the new furniture!
Next weekend the Bestie+hubby will be here for his softball tourney ~ am looking forward to that as well.  Totally reminiscing about watching at the old airbase fields ~ an ex played for the USAF team and we were here often for games/tournaments.  Fond memories.  Speaking of that ex ~ he's baaaaaacccck!  Not that way, of course ~ I believe going back to an ex is like going to a garage sale and buying your own stuff.  Whywouldyou?  Tracked me down via something called 'mylife' and then fb.  Shockedthehellouttame!  We've caught up, I was sooooo in love with him back then ~ and now, NOW, he tells me he believes I was 'the one'.  wth??  I've GOT TO fix my lovelife Karma, and S O O N!
Bestie is hoping I will watch/meet/fallinlove with one of the guys playing on the hub's team and will immediately head back to Charleston.  I am hoping to win the lottery tomorrow night...