noxious.sunshine

I'm home. And this is going to be long.

Shorty & Jinx were under the impression that I wouldn't be able to go through security and board without a photo ID, but I forgot to mention that I'd already spoken with both the Texas DMV, someone with TSA, -&- Googled info on that kind of situation.

The lady I spoke with at the DMV so very kindly gave me a fax number and told me she'd be more than happy to fax my file to TSA for me to help prove my identity.

When I called TSA, they just told me to take anything I could - birth certificate, social security card, mail with my name on it, etc to show security, but it's ultimately up to the officer(s) on duty as to how they want to pursue it.

But actually, standard procedure, I assume, is an officer calling the TSA office in DC or something and me having to answer a few questions to verify myself (questions that only I would know the answers to, obvs), then going through regular security followed by a pat down. It really wasn't that bad at all and the people who dealt with me @ LGA were all very nice about the situation. The lady who asked me the questions for TSA actually kinda told me to STFU via hand signals 'cuz I was volunteering too much information and it was making them want to ask even -more- questions.

But I made it through. And I made it home. Albeit it in a heaping mess of pain from sitting on my ass pretty consistently for 8.5 hours .

Parker and I were beside ourselves with excitement. She made me a present.. She decorated a box with tissue paper & ribbon and inside, was a paper Daisy Duck bracelet, a small envelope with my name, address, & a stamp on it filled with a couple of little letters she'd written me, and underneath -that- was a dollar bill and a Nashville keychain.

I nearly lost it when I saw the dollar bill. My child is the absolute sweetest, most kind-hearted little girl (even though she can be a right bitch like her mom sometimes and I constantly get owned hardcore). She took that dollar out of her allowance and put it in that box. She's always offering to give me money out of her piggy bank. She says, "But Mommy..You don't have any money, and I do.. I want to help you".

I'm so incredibly lucky to have such an amazing child.

I'm gonna put the dollar bill in one of her pictures/picture frames and keep it.

I vaguely remember doing the same for my Dad one year when I was little.. It was his birthday and I guess I'd gone in the truck with him and we met my PawPaw (his dad) for lunch at a truck stop. I'd been playing games and bummed a dollar off of PawPaw.. My dad got irritated with me and told me not to ask, but PawPaw gave it to me anyway. Dad thought that I wanted to play more games.

Later on, when we were back in the truck, I stuck the dollar bill in my dad's shirt pocket, gave him a big hug around the neck, and told him Happy Birthday.

Turned out, I was the only one that'd remembered.

My dad -still- has it in his wallet. It's folded up in one of the credit card slots.

ANYWHO. Parker was a complete and total wild banshee on crack all day today.. It was exhausting for me, but I understand.. She was insanely happy to see me and just couldn't contain herself. Like it was literally an explosion of emotion for her and she just didn't know what to do or how to act.

I feel bad that I was so exhausted, but we played and watched cartoons, and played with our electronic devices.

No seriously, I've been up since 2 p.m. Monday with only 1 - 1.5 hrs of sleep before my flight.

Dad made his spaghetti for Parker & me for dinner tonight- a much welcome & missed meal.

I told him that I'd be more than happy to cook for him all week this week.. His response: "Maybe I wanna cook for -you-, though..!"

So. Stinking. Sweet.

Since my mom's passing, we've become a lot closer. He's always been my hero and I don't know what I'll do without him. Jay and I make it a point to watch NASCAR on Sundays (Jay's into it now. MWAHAHAHAHA) and dad and I text each other throughout . We talk nearly everyday on the phone, and yeah.

And he makes me laugh. We have the same sense of humor.. Just an hour ago, he sent me a message on Facebook.... He's literally 6 feet away in his bedroom.

Jay and I got into a huge argument Monday, and we nearly broke up, but it's over now.. And not worth going into detail. We made up and things are fine.

What else?

Squirt, my dad's Min Pin, was beyond excited to see me- and I felt the exact same way. He did what we call his "Happy Bark" for a good 10 minutes and rubbed his head all over me.

I feel so sorry for him.. He's -never- been an only dog, and he's gone through losing so many loved ones in his life- his little brother from the same litter of puppies (Joey), our boxer Sassy (he nearly died from depression), Bozo- my Newfie, Ellie- our last Boxer, my mom, and then Gidget- my mom's precious teacup poodle. He actually sniffed around and cried for Gidget for a week. It really breaks my heart.. I'm very glad that my coming here cheered him up and that he was excited to see me.

What else happened today?

My ex called me after he got off of work. And was talking to me about some issues he's having with his baby mama and the child support office and some other things.

This still really baffles me, though.

-HE- broke up with -ME-. In one of the worst possible ways ever- saying that I ruined his life, he hated me, he never wanted to see me again, etc.

I know I've talked about it plenty of times, but The Breakup was traumatizing. Very traumatizing.

And since I've met and started dating Jay, and moved back to Tennessee, my ex is like always texting me wanting to talk . After I got to NYC, this fool had the balls to ask if he could stay with us if he decides to take a short trip up here.

So back to tonight and him telling me about his problems.. It was just weird. And then he said he wants to stop by tomorrow night (tonight!? IDK) to see me and maybe my dad if he's still up when he gets here.

He was like "I'll bring you tequila and Squirt & beer for your dad if you want".

It's a tricky situation.. My dad actually -wants- to be friends with my ex. Both of my parents genuinely loved him. And so did Parker.. She still does. He was in Parker's life since she was a baby.

I guess you could say he was her "Father Figure".. Not to mention, Parker and my ex's son got along like a house on fire even though he's 6 years older than my little girl. And he also loved me. He even said that he really hoped that his dad and I would get married someday. He said that I'd be the most awesome step-mom ever and that he'd love to have Parker for a step-sister..

ANYWHO. I'm now reduced to rambling.. So I think I'm done for now.

Also, my dad still has painkillers from his trip to the ER. I snagged a couple to help get rid of some of the pain in my tail bone..

He's pretty anti-narcotics .. 'Cuz of how easy it is to get hooked on them,and the damage they can do to the liver.

I'm wondering if I could/should just outright ask him if I can have one or 2.

IDK. I'm losing all brain funcitonality or something.

I'll post more later.. lmao