Introduction

'Ello! Did you just say hello? No, I said 'ello, but you're close enough!

An introduction is generally the best place to start a new journey and blogging is my new journey. My name is Billie. I'm 31 years old and I live in Iowa. I was born in Iowa, lived in Oklahoma long enough for my brother to be born, and then moved to Georgia where I lived until I was 11 when we moved back to Iowa. Even though I've lived in Iowa far longer now than Georgia, I still like to say I'm from there. I loved Georgia! I tolerate Iowa, though I detest winters.

I'm married to a 33 year old, 6'1, mostly bald, broad shouldered, foul-mouthed, video game obsessed, man-child with Peter Pan Syndrome that makes me roll my eyes, laugh until my sides hurt, and takes care of me like noone else ever has, whom I love dearly. We've been together almost eight years. He's addressed my cards to the "Ball and Chain" since April 2008. We met when I was 14 and he was 16. We dated briefly back then and found our way back to each other many years later.

My husband, Richard has two sons. Jake is 13 and lives with us full-time. His mother has been MIA since he was 9 months old and has had very little contact with him. Sad for Jake, good for me, no baby mama drama. Jake started calling me Mom the day Richard and I got married. Jake and I have a fire and ice relationship. One day I'm his best friend and the next I'm the most hideous evil step-mother ever to step foot on the planet. This is largely due to me being the disciplinarian. I like to think he'll thank me one day. I love that kid as much as any mother could. Richard's other son is 10 and lives in Colorado, I've yet to meet him. His mother refuses any contact with any of us.

I've no biological children...yet. That's a whole blog post to itself. I do have four furbabies. I have three cats, Brutus (8), Roman (7), and Little Man (7). I also have a chocolate lab Asia (5) who is also referred to as The Beast. More on them later.

I work full-time at a casino as a slot attendant, which basically means casino b!t*h. I fix slot machines, pay jackpots, make change, get drinks, run errands, and babysit machines. I'm a shoulder to cry on and a high five to slap. My job is interesting to say the least and a constant source of entertaining stories and sore feet.

I've been struggling with anxiety since I was 17 and OCD since I was 21. Posts on those at a later date.

Well there's me in a few paragraphs, though there's loads more. I'm sarcastic, opinionated, fiercely protective, curious, lazy, skeptical, hopeful, and here's to my blogging journey!

~Billie