A week in a day!

I did more today than I usually do in a whole week!  And that's kinda sad, but we won't go there.

Bro blew into town from the Deep South and actually gave me (almost) 24 hours notice, which is MAJOR for him!  Usually, it's the same day notice, or he just shows up.  It's fun, and it's frustrating, all at the same time.  But, ultimately, I'm just delighted to see him!  Before he left today, we met for breakfast with his son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law and son's brother-from-another-mother (it's complicated, but it works).

It was 6:30 a.m. - we were all pretty cheery for such an early hour.  I kinda forgot 6:30 a.m. existed.

Aren't they sweet? Ah, young love....

I love my Bro!

After that (8:00 a.m.), I met Cinnamon for coffee, but didn't get any pics.  It was SUPER crowded at the coffeeshop and we didn't get to meet for long, but it was wonderful to catch up in person with her.  Here's an old-ish pic, just for reference, and 'cause I love pics.

Then, I did laundry, and walked to work.

Yes, I did.

Yup, not kidding, I did, both too and from.  30 minutes each way.

For agoraphobic, chicken-chit, "are you lookin' at ME?" me, that's big news!  And manohman, do I ever need the exercise.  It should be good for me.  Right?  Only one cat-call, so that's good.  On the way home, I noticed a flying pig in someone's front yard, empty plastic easter eggs scattered all over another yard, and had to suffer through smelling the absolutely BEST, most DELICIOUS smelling BBQ from one block away.

It was fun!  Mostly.  Now I'm jonesin' for some bbq.

I really wish I'd gotten pics of the pig and the eggs.  The pig was aDORable, just really cute in a not "squee" sort of way.  And the slaughtered easter eggs....  There are no words.  I'll just give you this:

eek.



Off topic, I had really pretty hair yesterday!

Cinnamon

Last night, after work, I met up with Cinnamon for a drink.  We went to Graydon's, a place where you can actually have a conversation with your friends while enjoying their vittles.  What was supposed to be just a drink and some chatting really got into some deep waters and I'm so glad we both had the time to spend a few hours together.

Cinnamon is one of my True Friends.  It doesn't bother her a bit that I disappear for months at a time only to show up again as though no time had passed.  She's one of the most independent, strongest women I know.  Also, one of the kindest. She's no saint, of course, but she's an angel in my life.  She's going through a really tough time, actually for the last couple of years has been, and I wish I could do something to help.

It's so hard when a friend is hurting and there's nothing concrete to do about it.  Sometimes, I guess the best thing is an open heart and wide ears.

Happy Star Wars Day!

May the Fourth be with you!

Geez, I love the original trilogy. I'll be running around with CaliGirl, celebrating her nephew successfully hunting down a college degree (W00T!!!), but, tonight, I'll be watching Episode IV.

Fluffy Coffee

Cinnamon and I try to meet once a week for coffee. She takes hers "fluffy," i.e. with sweet, caramel syrup, lots of whipped cream, and milk. I treat myself to a cappuchino, no whipped cream. I really enjoy getting together with her. I had to cancel this past week because of the TV thing, but I hope we can do it again in May.

Hi Cinnamon!


Her phone was not cooperating - she could rival a teen in her committment to her phone!

Lightning Round

Well, golly, lots of stuff going on, I just haven't written about it! I'll try to fill you in in a jiffy with a LIGHTNING ROUND!

The young woman who teaches the exercise class I'm taking looks JUST like Maggie Gyllenhaal. Spitting image, really. She (the teach) has no sense of rhythm, which both cracks me up (she's an aerobics instructor, for goodness sake!) and annoys me (she's an aerobics instructer, sheesh!). She doesn't keep count either on beat with the music she chooses or in a consistent beat. It certainly makes me focus more on what I'm doing!

Mr Handsome and I went to a wine tasing event a couple of nights ago. I learned a bit about white wines (balancing the tart or acidic with the sweet) and aromas. I love learning about wine! It was ok. The other people there were rather serious. I was just there for fun and learning. We did meet a couple, Nancy and Andy, who were very cute. They've been married for over 30 years and Andy isn't really into wine. He was just there to be with her. SWEET! He looked JUST like DeNiro. I kept staring at him! He had the squint, the facial ticks, the nose, just everything! hee hee! I had wine with DeNiro!


This morning, I got up at dawn to go have breakfast with Cinnamon. I've mentioned her before, but I don't think I've ever given our history. We were peons together in Retail Administration for a big bank. Sometimes, we were treated like team partners; other times, like office furniture. She's an inspiring woman, very calm, determined, elegant. Yet, has a sense of adventure and the ridiculous. Complicated. I like her!

So, anyway, it was worth getting up so early. I always enjoy talking with her and we've decided to take a motorcycle safety/driving class together this Spring and had lots to talk about. I'm excited and nervous and REALLY looking forward to it. We met at this little café that I've been meaning to check out, called Red Jet Café. It's in an old library (which was a bank before that), so you KNOW I'm predisposed to liking it! The food (Greek Omelet and coffee) was delicious! Too ginormous, though; I had to take half of it home and the waitress was worried I didn't like it. SWEET! She wanted to make sure I enjoyed myself! I love that. Anyhoo, hanging with Cinnamon was a great way to start the day! Look at her beautiful hair. I need to get a decent flat iron.

Well! I'm gonna go try to get warm, and do some more READING!

holy cow, no access!

I wrote most of this this morning, before work.

No phone! It's like HEAVEN! Except that means there is no internet connection. Holy Cow! I'm an addict who can't get a fix!!!

Today is Joe Boyersmith's birthday. We were in elementary school together. A great old building, named after a president. It had a wonderful playground with lots of toys, a big tennis court, a basketball court, a soccer field, a baseball diamond, a wooded hill we'd play pirates, and indians and homesteaders in. It was wonderful. WONDERFUL! The kindergarten room had a beautiful fishpond, I loved the tiles and the water. I loved elementary school.

Joe was the only kid I knew who had a birthday in my birthday month. We were never buddies, he and I, but his mom and my best friend's mom were best friends. They sobbed when the Boyersmiths moved 2k miles away. His mom wrote letters back, relaying how BIG everything grew out there, including Joe; she said he was growing so fast she couldn't keep up with buying his clothes! Funny!

Walking to work today. Fo' sho'. Seeing Furniture Girl and her new baby girl tonight. Bringing delicious Indian food: Palak paneer, chicken korma, chicken vindaloo (so much fun to say! VIN-dah-loooooo), soft, warm, salty nan bread, raita. Golly, I'm hungry already!

I didn't walk. I was too late to walk, but I WAS on time for work. Well, there's always tomorrow.

OK, now it's after work, after seeing the BEAUTIFUL baby (Furniture Girl and Chair Man make lovely humans). The company was truly pleasant, their son is such a cutie, just bright as a button, and their new daughter is perfect perfect perfect! What a nice night! I had a lot of fun but now I'm absolutely pooped.

The internet is not working (again). Apparently, it WAS working, while I was at work, but now it's dead again. Very frustrating, 'cause when I'm at work, I don't have time to check my personal email. Not a big thing, really; I'm just anxious to see if anyone responded to my craigs ad. And, of course, I want to check all the blogs I read! AND update my very own! ;)

The last little bit I wrote after we got home. We still had no internet, so I wrote it all on old-school word processing. This all seems very random. SO! Why not add a random steampunk keyboard? I looooove steampunk stuff. I wish I could find a reeeeeeally good book that's steampunkey.

hot and sweaty

I blame Furniture Girl.

She is a Runner. 5Ks to Marathons, she's run 'em all, even when 7+months preggers with her second kid. In my world, she's hard-core (and isn't she pretty?).

Now, most of my other friends are becoming Runners, too! In the words of 'Danny Doyle', from Run Fat Boy Run, "Why?" I'd never try to talk anyone out of it, I envy their fit and toned bodies, but I just don't get it. Museum Girl told me it was for the endorphins and the fitness and, probably most important, the feeling of accomplishment. Those all make sense to me. It just HURTS so much!

So, anyhoo, with the fibromyalgia kicking my ass recently, making every movement a decision, I've decided to again try what the specialist said I should do. He said I should do challenging cardio, at least 3 x week, for 30-45 mins at a time, for at least three months. He said it would hurt like hell, but if I could push through the pain, I'd feel much, much better. I have tried, again and again, but the pain always smacked me down and put me in chains. I just couldn't push through the pain.

I'm going to try again. Today, I walked for a solid hour, a brisk walk, in the bright sunshine and summer heat. Sounds so low-key, so simple and relaxing. But I hurt. And I'll try even harder to push through this pain and keep on with my day instead of curling up, whimpering, as burning knives plunge into my legs. HA! I laugh at the pain! Also, I'm ashamed of how limited I am. I'm tired of having to say "I can't do that" to people who just want to go for a 5 mile hike. I'm embarrassed at gimping around, limping and staggering and thinking about every step I take. It's bullshit. Not the pain; the pain is very real. It's the limitations I blush over.

I WILL walk to work a few times a week, starting Thursday (tomorrow). It's only 30 minutes, I can do it! Without health insurance, this is my best way to take better care of myself. Simply walking. Thing is, I hate walking by myself. When I was a pet-sitter, it was fine, 'cause I usually had at least one dog with me. I HATE being looked at, noticed, stared at, and I figured people looked at the dogs, not me. Agoraphobia is a hobby of mine, I think. I like being inside, where no one can see me. I sound like a crazy person.

Sometimes, I pretend I'm a celebrity going incognito, or I'm a superhero. Kinda like Bey0nce pretends she's $asha Fier¢e for her really strong performances. I understand. I do. It's easier to be out there if it's not really "you." It's just like wearing a mask, or a uniform. People don't see the real you: they see what you choose for them to see.

Today, on my walk (to the library, by the way. I like to have a mission, rather than just wander aimlessly), I pretended I was Lara Croft. She is an awesome superhero-ish chick! Made me feel strong and confident and walk with strength, ignoring the stabs and burns of each step. YEAH!

Ok, so, more pics from the Sibs Reunion tomorrow!

Universe lessons

The universe is trying to teach me the same lesson it's been trying to teach me since the sixth grade. I'm really trying to listen, to learn, and I think I've made a little progress this last time around. Here's hoping the lesson sticks! It's about self-control, regret, forgiveness, hope. All serious stuff. All stuff I need to keep at the front of my mind!

Welcome Home!

One of my bestest friends moved back here recently! YAY! I've missed him, his quirky sense of humor, his passion, his nuttiness, his creativity... a good friend. Mr. Handsome and I took him to Corez last night and it was, as ALWAYS, delicious! It was great to hang out with him and have some laughs.

Welcome home, Drum Man!

knitting

I really enjoy knitting. I mean, I REALLY enjoy knitting! It's wonderful to be creating something, doing something, clicky-clicky-clicky (I have aluminum needles, for the most part) that you can then share and/or USE! But the whole process is just fun! I'm not sure why, exactly. I can't knit in the round (circular knitting) , I can't make anything except squares/rectangles, I can't do cables or lace or anything but knit and purl... but I just love to knit. The softness of the yarn, the colors expanding between my hands, dripping down to my lap, the quietness, the busyness, the focus, the sociableness.... I just love it.

California Girl wants me to make her something, but she says she won't use it! "I'll put it away to keep it nice," she said. But NOOOO!!!!! I want her to USE it and think of me each time (or at least occasionally when) she uses it! Dead Girl said she'd love to have something and would definitely use it, so I AM working on a project for her right now (shhhhh! Don't tell!). I have to admit, I'm a bit ashamed to give someone a humble washcloth, dishcloth, dishtowel, or scarf, but that's all I can make. Hometown Girl is a talented crocheter herself, so I've never even offered! What I SHOULD do is ask for crochet lessons!

Sis, I was going to make you legwarmers, I really was, I even found a way to make them without having to knit in the round (see crazy video above - HARD!) but I chickened out. I made you a scarf, but then you said you didn't LIKE scarves! So, I'd love to make you something, but WHAT?!? Ok, I'll go back to the legwarmer idea... or maybe writst/arm warmers? A shawl? Lemme know! :)

This is my latest project, actually finished now, but no picture of it finished, sorry. There are two of them! I was going to give them away, but then Bubba cacked up a chihuahua-sized hairball on them. Seriously! It was a HUGE hairball! I'm sure he feels much better, and I washed them and everything (you can't tell he ever cacked-up on them), but I just don't feel right giving away something Mr. Bubbles vomited on, y'know?

Right now, I'm finishing up a long, blue, really soft scarf and I'm making some washcloths that look cabled, but it's really just alternating knitting and purling (thank you, Crazy Aunt Purl!). It looks GREAT though! I'm using a VERY bright yellow, 100% cotton yarn. It's a super-cheery yellow, not retina-burning. It's SUNNY FUN!

Lucky

Friends: what would we do without them....




PS: did you notice I face-replaced those who prefer to not be on the web? Am I good or what? If I were going to face-replace me, this is what I'd look like:

Friends

This is California Girl (face-replaced 'cause she REALLY doesn't want to be on the 'net). When we first met, I thought she was a preppy. She thought I was a loser. We became best friends, finishing each other's sentences, staying out WAAAAY too late, adventuring to Florida. She was there for me when no one else knew I was alone. She is my heart-sister.

Friends

This is Hometown Girl (face-replaced, since she doesn't want her pic on the 'net). Her mom was like my mom. Her house was like my house. We sat in her front room, each in our own comfy chair, and read so many books (The Lord of the Rings comes to mind) together, almost competing to see who'd finish first. So much tragedy in such a short time for both of us. But we made it through.

Friends

This is Dead Girl (I've done a face-replace on her actual face, 'cause I don't know if she wants her mug all over the 'net). She's been a devotée of the Grateful Dead for decades. She and I go waaaaay back. My father and her Grandfather were associates. Our familes knew each other before we were born. She and I became friends in 7th Grade. We'd write notes to each other and had these little characters we drew and wrote stories about. Later on, as tragedy fell and life continued and we grew up, we also grew apart. But we reconnected a few years ago and I'm SO glad!