I finally had a conference call meeting with my boss and the woman who is leaving today. We didn't get everything covered, but we got some of it covered. I talked to her one-on-one later for a while going over some of the processes. But my teaching tools still aren't here, and tomorrow is the last day.
I was supposed to go out to dinner with Dad and Eve tonight, and in fact Dad even called me this morning to find out where I wanted to go,; but when it got close to time to go he called back and canceled. He isn't feeling well again, and I'm hoping this isn't anything to do with his back.
But that left me on my own again tonight. I just went on home.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
A post in which I am worried
I was up an hour before the alarm went off this morning. I hate that feeling. I tossed and turned, and tried to rest, but got up feeling all wuzzy and covered with sheet wrinkles. Ugh. But at least I wasn’t preoccupied with the meaning of life this morning. I sat on the porch, drank my coffee, and worried about this huge mass of work that’s headed my way.
This worry was exacerbated when the meeting to go over the Canadian bad debt function was re-scheduled today for the fourth time. Dayna is only here for two more days, and once she goes, that’s it. Her boss (and my new co-boss, lucky me) is terribly disorganized and never has a bit of time. My boss considers sending me spreadsheet “training”. So it’s not like I can count on any support for doing the new things that are heading my way. My boss seems to think that I should just be able to psychically intuit his wishes. Complicating matters, he will be in China for most of the month next month, so I won't be able to count on even his limited guidance. It'll just be me and Crazy (my new co-boss). Next month is gonna be hell.
After quietly freaking out in my head at my desk for a while today, I calmed myself down. I’ll get through it. It won’t be pleasant, but I’ll get through it. Not that I’m not thinking of retiring, buying an island somewhere (with what?) and raising macadamias or something.
I talked to Laura today. I called her because I didn’t hear back last night. She was having a trauma today though, and ultimately asked me to put off a visit to them. There were vague mentions of the weekend. The weather wasn’t pretty today anyway.
When I got off work though, I still didn’t want to go home. I was driving and thinking; just sure there was something I had been putting off that would be a suitable errand to eat some time tonight. Sure enough, I remembered that I really need some new work khakis. Since buying pants is somewhere near gum surgery in my ‘things I like to do’ list, I’ve been putting it off, but the ones I have I’ve been wearing for three years, and they’re looking decidedly raggedy.
I was resigned to paying retail. I’ve looked around a bit, but haven’t found anything I really liked. It doesn’t help that I really like the ones I have already. I’m at that age now where when something I like wears out I want another one exactly like it. It would have suited me fine to buy exactly the same pants again, but that wasn’t an option. I went in to Old Navy.
One of the reasons I hate pants shopping is that I seem to be at a magical size, which sounds much nicer than saying I have to buy clothes at the freak shop. Regular sized men’s pants just stop at a certain size. Then the sizes resume in the big and huge section. The problem is that there is a size gap between those two ranges, and I frequently fall in to that gap. Happily this was not the case today, and I found a pair of pants that fit me actually in the store. Usually at Old Navy, I have to go in, try things on, determine what will fit, and then order them on line. I was happy that they actually had something I was looking for that would fit me. But they had only one pair. They were on sale, which was great. The problem was that apparently people were stocking up on clothes to take to the Yukon or something. There were two registers open, both mounded up with incredibly huge orders. I wandered back and found a sales clerk (eventually, they weren’t exactly thick on the ground) and asked her for help with my pants. She confirmed that they had only one pair in the color I wanted to fit me, so I went back to stand in line. The same people were still checking out so it wasn’t like I lost any time or anything.
While I stood in line (befriending those around me and completing a short sociological study) I formulated a plan. I didn’t feel like eating what was at home. I would go to the other Old Navy store, buy the one pair of pants that they had to fit me, and then treat myself to a take-away from Brioso. That’s exactly what I did.
As much as I love their food, it is really hard for me to pay $10 for a plate of pasta (even if it is whole wheat and made there), which is what I did tonight. You can buy a lotta damn pasta for $10 at the grocery store. But I just decided I was treating myself, and that this wasn’t something I would make a habit.
When I got home I stuffed myself with pasta (which really was delicious) and then decided to put my new clothes in the hamper. I was merrily ripping tags off things when I noticed that one of the pairs of pants was inexplicably lilliputian. Turns out when I went back at the first store I had picked up the wrong pants. And I was so tickled to have that over. Oh well, I guess they can be exchanged.
This worry was exacerbated when the meeting to go over the Canadian bad debt function was re-scheduled today for the fourth time. Dayna is only here for two more days, and once she goes, that’s it. Her boss (and my new co-boss, lucky me) is terribly disorganized and never has a bit of time. My boss considers sending me spreadsheet “training”. So it’s not like I can count on any support for doing the new things that are heading my way. My boss seems to think that I should just be able to psychically intuit his wishes. Complicating matters, he will be in China for most of the month next month, so I won't be able to count on even his limited guidance. It'll just be me and Crazy (my new co-boss). Next month is gonna be hell.
After quietly freaking out in my head at my desk for a while today, I calmed myself down. I’ll get through it. It won’t be pleasant, but I’ll get through it. Not that I’m not thinking of retiring, buying an island somewhere (with what?) and raising macadamias or something.
I talked to Laura today. I called her because I didn’t hear back last night. She was having a trauma today though, and ultimately asked me to put off a visit to them. There were vague mentions of the weekend. The weather wasn’t pretty today anyway.
When I got off work though, I still didn’t want to go home. I was driving and thinking; just sure there was something I had been putting off that would be a suitable errand to eat some time tonight. Sure enough, I remembered that I really need some new work khakis. Since buying pants is somewhere near gum surgery in my ‘things I like to do’ list, I’ve been putting it off, but the ones I have I’ve been wearing for three years, and they’re looking decidedly raggedy.
I was resigned to paying retail. I’ve looked around a bit, but haven’t found anything I really liked. It doesn’t help that I really like the ones I have already. I’m at that age now where when something I like wears out I want another one exactly like it. It would have suited me fine to buy exactly the same pants again, but that wasn’t an option. I went in to Old Navy.
One of the reasons I hate pants shopping is that I seem to be at a magical size, which sounds much nicer than saying I have to buy clothes at the freak shop. Regular sized men’s pants just stop at a certain size. Then the sizes resume in the big and huge section. The problem is that there is a size gap between those two ranges, and I frequently fall in to that gap. Happily this was not the case today, and I found a pair of pants that fit me actually in the store. Usually at Old Navy, I have to go in, try things on, determine what will fit, and then order them on line. I was happy that they actually had something I was looking for that would fit me. But they had only one pair. They were on sale, which was great. The problem was that apparently people were stocking up on clothes to take to the Yukon or something. There were two registers open, both mounded up with incredibly huge orders. I wandered back and found a sales clerk (eventually, they weren’t exactly thick on the ground) and asked her for help with my pants. She confirmed that they had only one pair in the color I wanted to fit me, so I went back to stand in line. The same people were still checking out so it wasn’t like I lost any time or anything.
While I stood in line (befriending those around me and completing a short sociological study) I formulated a plan. I didn’t feel like eating what was at home. I would go to the other Old Navy store, buy the one pair of pants that they had to fit me, and then treat myself to a take-away from Brioso. That’s exactly what I did.
As much as I love their food, it is really hard for me to pay $10 for a plate of pasta (even if it is whole wheat and made there), which is what I did tonight. You can buy a lotta damn pasta for $10 at the grocery store. But I just decided I was treating myself, and that this wasn’t something I would make a habit.
When I got home I stuffed myself with pasta (which really was delicious) and then decided to put my new clothes in the hamper. I was merrily ripping tags off things when I noticed that one of the pairs of pants was inexplicably lilliputian. Turns out when I went back at the first store I had picked up the wrong pants. And I was so tickled to have that over. Oh well, I guess they can be exchanged.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
A post in which I want to be outside
It was one of those awful mornings this morning. I didn’t feel bad, I just woke up with the consciousness of being a rat in the rat race. My mind was a miasma of depressing ponderables: What is the point? Why am I here? Why am I pouring the (dwindling) juice of my youth down the insatiable gullet of a soulless corporation that doesn’t appreciate or care? Why do we waste our youth working, and then retire when we're too old and sick to enjoy life? Ugh. I hate those mornings. I got ready, got in the car, and joined the other rats on the way in for another day at the maze.
Today’s challenge at work was the continuing saga of trying to get my sign-on to work. Since my Canadian counterpart is leaving, my boss is trying to get me access to the Canadian account system. I actually was able to sign in to half of it today (since we have been mid-transition straddling two systems for several years). The other half is still a no-go. I don’t know if our system is hacker-proof or not, but through the labyrinthine multi-password system they have certainly succeeded in making it employee-proof. I’m starting to panic about all the new work at this point. The days before Dayna leaves are drifting away. Friday is her last day. And I haven’t received system access yet, not to mention a scrap of training. It’s gonna be hell.
When I left work, I went by to get a new battery put in my little clock. I got it at the beach several years ago and it had stopped working. I went to the Batteries Plus store in a trepidatious mindset. Usually this kind of thing turns into a ridiculously convoluted Quest for me. But no! The helpful and courteous clerk took my clock, said “That’ll be just a moment.” and just changed the battery! There was no “I’m sorry sir, we don’t have that size.” or “I’m sorry sir, this is a Guatemalan clock, and you’ll have to send it to Guatemala.” I thanked him profusely and left. The whole thing took about five minutes, and cost me three bucks. I left in a quite unreasonably jubilant mood. When I got home, I found that he had even set it for me.
It was an absolutely gorgeous fall afternoon; the kind of weather that makes you want to be outside. I couldn’t help but think how lovely it would be to sit with Kimbley and Laura on their fabulous deck and have a cocktail and a smoke. Sadly, though, Laura didn’t answer her phone. I left a message.
When I got home I opened all the windows and put a load of laundry in – I’m woefully behind. Then I ate some supper. I didn’t hear from Laura, but that was OK.
Tonight I watched my first episode of Glee. It was good, and I can understand what all the hoopla is about, although it was pretty high in teenage drama for me. Still, I’ll probably watch it. I’m wondering if I can finagle it into a weekly thing that I can do with Russ and Billy. Their weekends are so full that I would see more of them if I saw them during the week.
After that I fooled around on the computer a bit before turning in. My three-times-rescheduled meeting to go over Canada stuff is tomorrow. I need to be fresh for it.
Today’s challenge at work was the continuing saga of trying to get my sign-on to work. Since my Canadian counterpart is leaving, my boss is trying to get me access to the Canadian account system. I actually was able to sign in to half of it today (since we have been mid-transition straddling two systems for several years). The other half is still a no-go. I don’t know if our system is hacker-proof or not, but through the labyrinthine multi-password system they have certainly succeeded in making it employee-proof. I’m starting to panic about all the new work at this point. The days before Dayna leaves are drifting away. Friday is her last day. And I haven’t received system access yet, not to mention a scrap of training. It’s gonna be hell.
When I left work, I went by to get a new battery put in my little clock. I got it at the beach several years ago and it had stopped working. I went to the Batteries Plus store in a trepidatious mindset. Usually this kind of thing turns into a ridiculously convoluted Quest for me. But no! The helpful and courteous clerk took my clock, said “That’ll be just a moment.” and just changed the battery! There was no “I’m sorry sir, we don’t have that size.” or “I’m sorry sir, this is a Guatemalan clock, and you’ll have to send it to Guatemala.” I thanked him profusely and left. The whole thing took about five minutes, and cost me three bucks. I left in a quite unreasonably jubilant mood. When I got home, I found that he had even set it for me.
It was an absolutely gorgeous fall afternoon; the kind of weather that makes you want to be outside. I couldn’t help but think how lovely it would be to sit with Kimbley and Laura on their fabulous deck and have a cocktail and a smoke. Sadly, though, Laura didn’t answer her phone. I left a message.
When I got home I opened all the windows and put a load of laundry in – I’m woefully behind. Then I ate some supper. I didn’t hear from Laura, but that was OK.
Tonight I watched my first episode of Glee. It was good, and I can understand what all the hoopla is about, although it was pretty high in teenage drama for me. Still, I’ll probably watch it. I’m wondering if I can finagle it into a weekly thing that I can do with Russ and Billy. Their weekends are so full that I would see more of them if I saw them during the week.
After that I fooled around on the computer a bit before turning in. My three-times-rescheduled meeting to go over Canada stuff is tomorrow. I need to be fresh for it.
Monday, September 27, 2010
A post in which I pay for playing yesterday
I woke up this morning feeling unexpectedly good after all of yesterday’s adventures. Thankfully the E-B seems to be gone, rather than hanging around as it did this spring. I had my coffee and headed on in. It was dark this morning when I went out on the porch. Season’s changing.
I had lots of chores to do on the way home tonight since I played all day Sunday. I put it off by dropping a book on CD at the library, then went on to the grocery store. When I got home I ate a salad and then started cooking. I put the squash on the stove and put the saffron rice in the rice cooker, then stripped the bed, re-made it, and started the sheets washing. I folded the laundry that had been in the dryer.
I finished eating supper while my rice cooled, then packed up all the saffron rice and squash into lunches for this week. By the time I had finished cleaning up the kitchen, it was storming. I did want to rest for just a few minutes, and sat down in front of the telly with my computer on to finish my birthday Oreos. It was raining hard enough that the satellite signal went out, but that was actually kind of nice. I could hear the rain outside snicking on the windows and the house felt cozy. The signal came back on eventually, but by that time I was pretty well done in. I gratefully tucked myself between clean sheets.
I had lots of chores to do on the way home tonight since I played all day Sunday. I put it off by dropping a book on CD at the library, then went on to the grocery store. When I got home I ate a salad and then started cooking. I put the squash on the stove and put the saffron rice in the rice cooker, then stripped the bed, re-made it, and started the sheets washing. I folded the laundry that had been in the dryer.
I finished eating supper while my rice cooled, then packed up all the saffron rice and squash into lunches for this week. By the time I had finished cleaning up the kitchen, it was storming. I did want to rest for just a few minutes, and sat down in front of the telly with my computer on to finish my birthday Oreos. It was raining hard enough that the satellite signal went out, but that was actually kind of nice. I could hear the rain outside snicking on the windows and the house felt cozy. The signal came back on eventually, but by that time I was pretty well done in. I gratefully tucked myself between clean sheets.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
A post in which it is a full, busy, and very pleasant Sunday
I woke up (eventually) to drippy rain today. I was disappointed, because usually when the barometric pressure rises, Russ gets a headache and doesn’t feel like doing anything. He had asked for a wake-up call this morning though, and just as I was preparing myself to make a disappointing call he sent me a text telling me to come over! I was very glad to get it. When I got there, Billy was up too, and going with us. Usually he doesn’t get up to go to the flea market, so it was a double treat.
But Billy and I were hungry. After discussion we decided to go to Denny’s. They have a build-your-own omelet special going on that sounded tasty to me. The omelets were good, but the price they give you on the commercial is for just a cheese omelet with nothing else. As you add ingredients, the price goes up. Our service was pretty slow, but she was nice to us so we didn’t mind so much.
Thus fortified, we headed out to the Barnyard flea market. I usually score here, and haven’t been in a while, so I was particularly keen to go today. It was still raining, and the bottom fell out just as we got there, but Barnyard is covered so it’s the market of choice in the rain. There were plenty of people there. We took our time and had a leisurely stroll through. I found a great deal on some glass too!
I bought three luncheon plates in my pattern for $5 each, two saucers for $3 each, and a Cameo handled plate for only $8! I knew all of these were good prices, and scooped them right up. Later on, I found a couple of small bakers in the Sapphire Blue Fire King kitchenware I collect also, for only $1 each. There were no lids, but for that price I couldn’t leave them.
By the time we did all that and I bought produce, we were quite surprised to find it was 2pm!
We had dinner scheduled tonight in Spartanburg. James and Jeff are out of town, but Amanda is going to be at the house. I went home for a quick lie-down and a brush-up before returning to Russ and Billy’s house to head out.
Amanda and Morgan were on the porch when we got there (it was still raining), and we visited for a bit before Andrew showed up. We all went out to Cici’s Pizza for supper, which was quite adequate to the purpose, and where I ate several pounds of cinnamon buns. Man I love those things. They're like warm soft pillows of sweet cinnamon cushlin-y love.
After supper, though, Morgan and Andrew took off. We went back to the house and watched a couple of old re-runs of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which Russ, Billy, and Amanda seemed to enjoy re-watching (I of course was clueless).
But before you knew it, it was time to go home. I’ve had such a lovely weekend. I hadn’t had a full Russ and Billy day in far too long. It’s hard to think about going to work tomorrow. Its Dayna’s (my Canadian counter-part) last week of notice, so I have not only my regular things, but her things to learn as well. Sigh. But I have that pesky food and shelter addiction.
But Billy and I were hungry. After discussion we decided to go to Denny’s. They have a build-your-own omelet special going on that sounded tasty to me. The omelets were good, but the price they give you on the commercial is for just a cheese omelet with nothing else. As you add ingredients, the price goes up. Our service was pretty slow, but she was nice to us so we didn’t mind so much.
Thus fortified, we headed out to the Barnyard flea market. I usually score here, and haven’t been in a while, so I was particularly keen to go today. It was still raining, and the bottom fell out just as we got there, but Barnyard is covered so it’s the market of choice in the rain. There were plenty of people there. We took our time and had a leisurely stroll through. I found a great deal on some glass too!
I bought three luncheon plates in my pattern for $5 each, two saucers for $3 each, and a Cameo handled plate for only $8! I knew all of these were good prices, and scooped them right up. Later on, I found a couple of small bakers in the Sapphire Blue Fire King kitchenware I collect also, for only $1 each. There were no lids, but for that price I couldn’t leave them.
Cameo 10 1/2" handled plate in green by Anchor Hocking, circa 1930 - 1934
By the time we did all that and I bought produce, we were quite surprised to find it was 2pm!
We had dinner scheduled tonight in Spartanburg. James and Jeff are out of town, but Amanda is going to be at the house. I went home for a quick lie-down and a brush-up before returning to Russ and Billy’s house to head out.
Amanda and Morgan were on the porch when we got there (it was still raining), and we visited for a bit before Andrew showed up. We all went out to Cici’s Pizza for supper, which was quite adequate to the purpose, and where I ate several pounds of cinnamon buns. Man I love those things. They're like warm soft pillows of sweet cinnamon cushlin-y love.
After supper, though, Morgan and Andrew took off. We went back to the house and watched a couple of old re-runs of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which Russ, Billy, and Amanda seemed to enjoy re-watching (I of course was clueless).
But before you knew it, it was time to go home. I’ve had such a lovely weekend. I hadn’t had a full Russ and Billy day in far too long. It’s hard to think about going to work tomorrow. Its Dayna’s (my Canadian counter-part) last week of notice, so I have not only my regular things, but her things to learn as well. Sigh. But I have that pesky food and shelter addiction.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
A post in which I watch the game with Miss Kat and dana
I had promised myself all week that I would sleep as late as I wanted to this morning. That promise I kept.
I had talked to dana last night about visiting tonight, and she called me just as I was thinking about getting moving. That ended up being about noon. She told me to head on over whenever I felt like it. I wanted to go right then, but the house looked really bad. I haven’t done much you could call housework since before I went to the beach. I thought as I looked around that DSS was going to take the cats if I didn’t do something. I made a compromise with myself and decided I would clean until about three, then get cleaned up and go on over.
Since it was so late I decided to skip the flea market. I need produce, but Russ and I have tentative plans to go to the flea market tomorrow. I can get that then. I hauled off the recycling and then went by the library to pick up a book I had requested. When I got home I cleaned out the fridge, took out the trash, and then hauled the garbage and recycling cans outside and scrubbed them. That had needed doing for quite some time, but I hate doing it and had been putting it off. Leaving those on the deck to dry, I headed inside and dust mopped all the wood, and then thoroughly vacuumed. I ran over the baseboards, got under the furniture, and then did the rugs. By the time I got done, the house looked much better. I felt justified in going on to my much-anticipated visit.
I decided I wanted some cheerleader beer to drink during the game, but couldn’t find any. I ended up having to go to the grocery store, where I found some bottled malt drinks that claimed to taste like a mojito (meh, kinda) and picked up some snacks. I got over to Miss Kat’s place about 4:30.
We had a great time. We visited while watching a movie (Evan Almighty, which was OK but not really anything I would want to see again), then ordered up a cholesterol feast from a local greasy-spoon and watched a bit of telly while we ate supper.
The official designated activity tonight was the Carolina game. dana was pretty surprised that I was interested in watching the game with them, but I enjoy a football game every now and again if I have a team to route for and someone to explain things to me if I don’t understand. dana is a devoted Gamecocks fan, and the team has won the first three games this year. Sadly, the game against Auburn tonight broke the winning streak. They had a phenomenal quarterback that Carolina just couldn’t seem to stop in the second half. Still, we enjoyed most of the game, and it was great to be hanging out with Miss Kat and dana, two of my favorite people. I had a really nice time.
I had talked to dana last night about visiting tonight, and she called me just as I was thinking about getting moving. That ended up being about noon. She told me to head on over whenever I felt like it. I wanted to go right then, but the house looked really bad. I haven’t done much you could call housework since before I went to the beach. I thought as I looked around that DSS was going to take the cats if I didn’t do something. I made a compromise with myself and decided I would clean until about three, then get cleaned up and go on over.
Since it was so late I decided to skip the flea market. I need produce, but Russ and I have tentative plans to go to the flea market tomorrow. I can get that then. I hauled off the recycling and then went by the library to pick up a book I had requested. When I got home I cleaned out the fridge, took out the trash, and then hauled the garbage and recycling cans outside and scrubbed them. That had needed doing for quite some time, but I hate doing it and had been putting it off. Leaving those on the deck to dry, I headed inside and dust mopped all the wood, and then thoroughly vacuumed. I ran over the baseboards, got under the furniture, and then did the rugs. By the time I got done, the house looked much better. I felt justified in going on to my much-anticipated visit.
I decided I wanted some cheerleader beer to drink during the game, but couldn’t find any. I ended up having to go to the grocery store, where I found some bottled malt drinks that claimed to taste like a mojito (meh, kinda) and picked up some snacks. I got over to Miss Kat’s place about 4:30.
We had a great time. We visited while watching a movie (Evan Almighty, which was OK but not really anything I would want to see again), then ordered up a cholesterol feast from a local greasy-spoon and watched a bit of telly while we ate supper.
The official designated activity tonight was the Carolina game. dana was pretty surprised that I was interested in watching the game with them, but I enjoy a football game every now and again if I have a team to route for and someone to explain things to me if I don’t understand. dana is a devoted Gamecocks fan, and the team has won the first three games this year. Sadly, the game against Auburn tonight broke the winning streak. They had a phenomenal quarterback that Carolina just couldn’t seem to stop in the second half. Still, we enjoyed most of the game, and it was great to be hanging out with Miss Kat and dana, two of my favorite people. I had a really nice time.
Friday, September 24, 2010
A post in which it is husbands on the hoof - well, kinda
Tonight was the ‘Takeover Upstate’ dinner for the month – the first I’ve ever attended. On the third Friday of each month, the Facebook group determines a local restaurant, contacts the restaurant manager, and then send out an email about which restaurant we’re to meet at this week to ‘take over’.
I have thought this is a clever idea. It’s hard to meet men if you’re beyond bar age. Online meetings seem to be more labyrinthine every day. Between the closet cases who refuse to post face pictures, through to the guys who want every measurement on your body before they’ll talk to you (I had one guy in Atlanta tell me that he wouldn’t speak with anyone until he had a shirtless picture from the waist up), it is just difficult. Of course the area doesn’t help. I also figured this was pretty much for skinny people (a good portion of the gay populace, wherever you are), but until I had tried it, I decided that I couldn’t complain. I also had Russ and Billy to go with, and since Russ knows half the eastern seaboard it wasn’t like I would lack for someone to talk to.
I headed for their house after work. I had packed a bag of clothes to change into, which led to the first dilemma I face. If I dress up, I feel like I set an unrealistic standard, because I never dress up. I don’t want to try to be someone I’m not to attract someone with expectations I’m going to disappoint. On the other hand I didn’t want to show up looking like a slob either. In the end, I picked out a decent pair of shorts and a t-shirt and let that do it.
The restaurant was The Cazbah in Greer. I must confess that when I heard we were going to Greer I had limited expectations. I was quite pleasantly surprised, however, to find a very nice little restaurant in a quite hip little section of downtown Greer – I had no idea. We quickly met up with a couple of guys that we knew from the bear group and headed upstairs. The crowning glory of the place was a fabulous rooftop bar, built like a deck, but complete with lights and tables open to the sky. The weather was perfect and the outdoor area was just beautiful.
We had met a guy down at the bar name Ronnie. Now I knew he was too young, pretty, and skinny for me; but he was nice, and engaging, and we were soon chatting away with him. He followed us up to the rooftop to continue the conversation. I was slightly encouraged, until his lover arrived and he introduced me. But they were a very nice couple, and we enjoyed chatting with them.
This seemed to set the tone for the evening. Counter to my hope for husbands on the hoof, this appeared to be a gathering of couples on parade. They arrived two by two. I counted seven single men during the course of the evening. One was me. Two were guys I knew from the bear group. One was Doug, my ex’s old bowling partner. A very nice guy, but he has never been the slightest bit interested in me. Of the other three, two were young'uns, and the third one seemed to lose all interest after he found that I have never been to Southern Decadence. I talked to each of them, but none demonstrated any interest in continuing the conversation, although they were nice about it.
As I had feared, I was under-dressed. The Fag Blouses were on prominent display. Oh well, I'll know next time.
I sat and talked to Doug (and a very nice lesbian friend he had brought with him) for a while, catching up. She was charming, and he is a sweetheart, but eventually I decided I had monopolized enough of their time. I joined Russ and Billy at the table they had (finally, the place was a madhouse) procured and a waitress brought me some quite tasty nibbles. One of the reasons I never go to The Cazbah downtown is that the food is pretty horrendously overpriced. But I was here for a good time, and since all the single guys had been eliminated, I thought screw it, I’m gonna eat. I did.
Eventually, Russ and Billy decided we would head out for some ‘real food’, and we rounded up the new couple we had met (Ronnie and Chris), along with John and Brian from bear group, and headed over to Copper River Grill. Russ invited several other people who just didn’t make it over – it was that kind of evening. Yours truly was riding 5th wheel (or 7th, in this instance) as per usual.
I had eaten some already, and didn’t really need a full meal, but the nachos I ordered, though absolutely delicious, were far more food than I needed. They were so good I just couldn’t stop eating them though. I had plenty of time to eat too. We were at a big round table, and Russ was finding out all about Ronnie and Chris. I ate until I was just miserable.
By the time we left the restaurant, we were all too full to feel like doing much of anything else. The group split up, and I went back to Russ and Billy’s place with them. It was good just to spend some time with them. We’ve all been gone a lot lately, and I just haven’t seen them. I’ve missed them both – I love them so much. Russ and I went out on the smoking porch for just a little while, but he had to work tomorrow, and since I felt like a bloated whale anyway I headed on home shortly.
So it was a nice evening, even if it didn’t meet quite all of my hopes. You gotta get back out there some time. I loathe going to things like the takeover, but I’m really lucky to have friends that will help me out.
I have thought this is a clever idea. It’s hard to meet men if you’re beyond bar age. Online meetings seem to be more labyrinthine every day. Between the closet cases who refuse to post face pictures, through to the guys who want every measurement on your body before they’ll talk to you (I had one guy in Atlanta tell me that he wouldn’t speak with anyone until he had a shirtless picture from the waist up), it is just difficult. Of course the area doesn’t help. I also figured this was pretty much for skinny people (a good portion of the gay populace, wherever you are), but until I had tried it, I decided that I couldn’t complain. I also had Russ and Billy to go with, and since Russ knows half the eastern seaboard it wasn’t like I would lack for someone to talk to.
I headed for their house after work. I had packed a bag of clothes to change into, which led to the first dilemma I face. If I dress up, I feel like I set an unrealistic standard, because I never dress up. I don’t want to try to be someone I’m not to attract someone with expectations I’m going to disappoint. On the other hand I didn’t want to show up looking like a slob either. In the end, I picked out a decent pair of shorts and a t-shirt and let that do it.
The restaurant was The Cazbah in Greer. I must confess that when I heard we were going to Greer I had limited expectations. I was quite pleasantly surprised, however, to find a very nice little restaurant in a quite hip little section of downtown Greer – I had no idea. We quickly met up with a couple of guys that we knew from the bear group and headed upstairs. The crowning glory of the place was a fabulous rooftop bar, built like a deck, but complete with lights and tables open to the sky. The weather was perfect and the outdoor area was just beautiful.
We had met a guy down at the bar name Ronnie. Now I knew he was too young, pretty, and skinny for me; but he was nice, and engaging, and we were soon chatting away with him. He followed us up to the rooftop to continue the conversation. I was slightly encouraged, until his lover arrived and he introduced me. But they were a very nice couple, and we enjoyed chatting with them.
This seemed to set the tone for the evening. Counter to my hope for husbands on the hoof, this appeared to be a gathering of couples on parade. They arrived two by two. I counted seven single men during the course of the evening. One was me. Two were guys I knew from the bear group. One was Doug, my ex’s old bowling partner. A very nice guy, but he has never been the slightest bit interested in me. Of the other three, two were young'uns, and the third one seemed to lose all interest after he found that I have never been to Southern Decadence. I talked to each of them, but none demonstrated any interest in continuing the conversation, although they were nice about it.
As I had feared, I was under-dressed. The Fag Blouses were on prominent display. Oh well, I'll know next time.
I sat and talked to Doug (and a very nice lesbian friend he had brought with him) for a while, catching up. She was charming, and he is a sweetheart, but eventually I decided I had monopolized enough of their time. I joined Russ and Billy at the table they had (finally, the place was a madhouse) procured and a waitress brought me some quite tasty nibbles. One of the reasons I never go to The Cazbah downtown is that the food is pretty horrendously overpriced. But I was here for a good time, and since all the single guys had been eliminated, I thought screw it, I’m gonna eat. I did.
Eventually, Russ and Billy decided we would head out for some ‘real food’, and we rounded up the new couple we had met (Ronnie and Chris), along with John and Brian from bear group, and headed over to Copper River Grill. Russ invited several other people who just didn’t make it over – it was that kind of evening. Yours truly was riding 5th wheel (or 7th, in this instance) as per usual.
I had eaten some already, and didn’t really need a full meal, but the nachos I ordered, though absolutely delicious, were far more food than I needed. They were so good I just couldn’t stop eating them though. I had plenty of time to eat too. We were at a big round table, and Russ was finding out all about Ronnie and Chris. I ate until I was just miserable.
By the time we left the restaurant, we were all too full to feel like doing much of anything else. The group split up, and I went back to Russ and Billy’s place with them. It was good just to spend some time with them. We’ve all been gone a lot lately, and I just haven’t seen them. I’ve missed them both – I love them so much. Russ and I went out on the smoking porch for just a little while, but he had to work tomorrow, and since I felt like a bloated whale anyway I headed on home shortly.
So it was a nice evening, even if it didn’t meet quite all of my hopes. You gotta get back out there some time. I loathe going to things like the takeover, but I’m really lucky to have friends that will help me out.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
A post in which it is a quite busy evening**
Work was insane today. I had to round up slides from all the managers for the (thank God quarterly) employee meeting for credit/customer service. Alan wanted new slides (the managers don’t usually have to do any actual work for this meeting), and sent out an extremely vague email to that effect. I had to get clarification, type out clarification, send out examples, and then make personal visits to their desks to beg them to do the actual work. By the end of the day I was ready to throttle half of the department. I never got anything at all from Retail, the perpetual pain.
I also went through some of the new duties with the woman who gave notice.
I had put off (and put off, and put off) going to the grocery store, or indeed anywhere else this week just because things have been so busy. By today, we were kind of at defcon-1. I was out of cat food and cat litter, turbinado sugar for my coffee, and other basic supplies that just oughtn't be allowed to deplete.
Also, I had a friend come in from out of town. It would have been great timing if I hadn’t had all that stuff to do, but it was really good to see him. Of course I had worn SpongeBob underwear to work today. I went by and spent a little time with him before I started running all the errands, and listened to the latest disastrous update on his on-again off-again (seemingly mostly off these days) with this guy he’s crazy about who of course treats him like garbage.
I left him and headed out, already pooped. I went to the pet store and lugged out that stuff, then by the library to get a book I had requested, and then to the grocery store. Of course they are gearing up for yet another let’s-block-off-Main-Street event downtown, so I couldn’t get through to Publix. I went on to the crappy Bi-Lo near my house and paid too much for coffee. Even with the coupon, I’m pretty sure I got hosed.
I left there with of course everything I needed except the main thing I went in there for – sour cream. I had promised myself that for being a good boy and running errands I would collapse as soon as I got home and have a decadent baked potato dripping sour cream, but that was not to be. By the time I got everything unloaded, in the house, and put away, I was ready to collapse without even eating. I knew that was a bad idea.
I crammed chocolate covered macadamia nuts in my mouth as dinner warmed in the microwave, had a potato, and collapsed on the couch in front of the telly. I didn’t even turn the computer on. After I finished my baked potato (topped with verboten cheese I’m not supposed to have) I put some Brussels sprouts in the microwave, but by the time they were done I didn’t want them. I popped a few in my mouth while I washed the dishes, then brushed my teeth and fell into bed. It’s been a long day.
I also went through some of the new duties with the woman who gave notice.
I had put off (and put off, and put off) going to the grocery store, or indeed anywhere else this week just because things have been so busy. By today, we were kind of at defcon-1. I was out of cat food and cat litter, turbinado sugar for my coffee, and other basic supplies that just oughtn't be allowed to deplete.
Also, I had a friend come in from out of town. It would have been great timing if I hadn’t had all that stuff to do, but it was really good to see him. Of course I had worn SpongeBob underwear to work today. I went by and spent a little time with him before I started running all the errands, and listened to the latest disastrous update on his on-again off-again (seemingly mostly off these days) with this guy he’s crazy about who of course treats him like garbage.
I left him and headed out, already pooped. I went to the pet store and lugged out that stuff, then by the library to get a book I had requested, and then to the grocery store. Of course they are gearing up for yet another let’s-block-off-Main-Street event downtown, so I couldn’t get through to Publix. I went on to the crappy Bi-Lo near my house and paid too much for coffee. Even with the coupon, I’m pretty sure I got hosed.
I left there with of course everything I needed except the main thing I went in there for – sour cream. I had promised myself that for being a good boy and running errands I would collapse as soon as I got home and have a decadent baked potato dripping sour cream, but that was not to be. By the time I got everything unloaded, in the house, and put away, I was ready to collapse without even eating. I knew that was a bad idea.
I crammed chocolate covered macadamia nuts in my mouth as dinner warmed in the microwave, had a potato, and collapsed on the couch in front of the telly. I didn’t even turn the computer on. After I finished my baked potato (topped with verboten cheese I’m not supposed to have) I put some Brussels sprouts in the microwave, but by the time they were done I didn’t want them. I popped a few in my mouth while I washed the dishes, then brushed my teeth and fell into bed. It’s been a long day.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
A post in which a bomb is dropped
I woke up this morning after 9.5 hours of solid sleep – almost as tired as when I went to bed. I really, really hate this damn Epstein-Barr.
The bomb dropped at work today. The person who holds my position in Canada has resigned. Thank goodness she’s working a notice. I will be inheriting the accounts she manages, which is no big deal. I will also, however, be inheriting some of the insane amounts of reporting she does for her manager, who now lives here. That means I’ll be reporting directly to her for some things. And she is an incredibly demanding and difficult woman to deal with.
Not looking forward to this. My boss called me into his office to give me the official word today. When I asked about extra money to go along with the extra work, he laughed. So at this point, I’m waiting to see how bad it gets. My boss did tell me that I’m not getting all of her work load, and that the reserve report (which he has already told me I’ll inherit) will be ‘re-vamped’. I’m not working 12-15 hour days like her old assistant did. She is also known to schedule meetings at 7pm at night and stuff. Not doing that either. But I’m waiting to see how crazy it is before I start planting flags.
I talked to Dad on the phone on the way home from work. He had Eve at the shop for a while today, so I guess she’s doing OK. He said they didn’t need anything.
I have really been missing Russ and Billy time. We’ve both been out of town so much lately that we just haven’t seen that much of each other. I’ve missed them. Tonight we had planned to go out for the cancer-free celebration dinner. It seems more seemly now that Eve’s surgery is over, and unsubstantiated hot n juicy rumor is that she won’t have to have radiation or chemotherapy.
I fooled around for a while at a new Family Dollar while I waited for Billy to get home from work, then went in and hung out with him while we waited for Russ to get home. We were watching Sunset Boulevard on TCM and having a great time lampooning it when Russ came in. I truly love that movie – I don’t ever seem to tire of watching Gloria Swanson’s tour-de-force turn as Norma Desmond. She’s so over-the-top and so believable at the same time – riveting.
We went to Miyako for dinner of course. We had our favorite waitress too, who noted how long it had been since we were in. She is so great for us because she seems to have endless patience for Russ’s kama sutra sushi-ordering technique. She gets him exactly what he wants too, which is frankly amazing. Plus she’s just nice.
We talked over supper about how I never seem to meet anyone new. I know this is my fault because I never go anywhere to meet anyone new. Russ and Billy are going to the takeover upstate event Friday night, and want me to go with them. We’ll see. I’ve been hurting this week. They’re going to the big Halloween party we went to last year again, and said they would take me with them for that. They also want me to at least get a day pass to the camp out this fall that the new group is hosting. So I have a lot to think about.
When we finished supper and went back to their place, Russ and I spent a little time on the smoking porch. It was so nice. I really miss hanging out with them. Hopefully things will work out where I can hang out more with them. Tonight I had to keep an eye on the clock. I can’t believe there are two more days in this week – it feels about a month long!
The bomb dropped at work today. The person who holds my position in Canada has resigned. Thank goodness she’s working a notice. I will be inheriting the accounts she manages, which is no big deal. I will also, however, be inheriting some of the insane amounts of reporting she does for her manager, who now lives here. That means I’ll be reporting directly to her for some things. And she is an incredibly demanding and difficult woman to deal with.
Not looking forward to this. My boss called me into his office to give me the official word today. When I asked about extra money to go along with the extra work, he laughed. So at this point, I’m waiting to see how bad it gets. My boss did tell me that I’m not getting all of her work load, and that the reserve report (which he has already told me I’ll inherit) will be ‘re-vamped’. I’m not working 12-15 hour days like her old assistant did. She is also known to schedule meetings at 7pm at night and stuff. Not doing that either. But I’m waiting to see how crazy it is before I start planting flags.
I talked to Dad on the phone on the way home from work. He had Eve at the shop for a while today, so I guess she’s doing OK. He said they didn’t need anything.
I have really been missing Russ and Billy time. We’ve both been out of town so much lately that we just haven’t seen that much of each other. I’ve missed them. Tonight we had planned to go out for the cancer-free celebration dinner. It seems more seemly now that Eve’s surgery is over, and unsubstantiated hot n juicy rumor is that she won’t have to have radiation or chemotherapy.
I fooled around for a while at a new Family Dollar while I waited for Billy to get home from work, then went in and hung out with him while we waited for Russ to get home. We were watching Sunset Boulevard on TCM and having a great time lampooning it when Russ came in. I truly love that movie – I don’t ever seem to tire of watching Gloria Swanson’s tour-de-force turn as Norma Desmond. She’s so over-the-top and so believable at the same time – riveting.
We went to Miyako for dinner of course. We had our favorite waitress too, who noted how long it had been since we were in. She is so great for us because she seems to have endless patience for Russ’s kama sutra sushi-ordering technique. She gets him exactly what he wants too, which is frankly amazing. Plus she’s just nice.
We talked over supper about how I never seem to meet anyone new. I know this is my fault because I never go anywhere to meet anyone new. Russ and Billy are going to the takeover upstate event Friday night, and want me to go with them. We’ll see. I’ve been hurting this week. They’re going to the big Halloween party we went to last year again, and said they would take me with them for that. They also want me to at least get a day pass to the camp out this fall that the new group is hosting. So I have a lot to think about.
When we finished supper and went back to their place, Russ and I spent a little time on the smoking porch. It was so nice. I really miss hanging out with them. Hopefully things will work out where I can hang out more with them. Tonight I had to keep an eye on the clock. I can’t believe there are two more days in this week – it feels about a month long!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
A post in which I visit Eve after her surgery
I slept a solid 8 hours last night, but woke up feeling like I had done it in the back of a truck - a lumpy truck.
It was a busy day at work, but I got everything done.
I called Dad at quitting time, and he said that Eve would like some spaghetti from Capri’s, so I went and got that and took it in to them. I was on my way back to the hospital when I called Dad to get the room number again, only to be told they were home! I was quite surprised that they had release Eve already after such major surgery, but I guess that’s the way it goes now. I went on to the house.
She didn’t eat very much, but she seemed heavily on the pain meds, as well she should be. I ate and talked to Dad while the usual parade of E! Entertainment Television (somewhat ironically named, to my mind) and the like droned on. Apparently Ashton Kutcher has now had an affair. Who cares? There’s a new one every week! Who could possibly care at this point? But apparently there is an endless fascination with such matters.
If I had to watch that drivel spew every night, I would jump off a ledge. I much prefer SpongeBob reruns. So I guess we all have our own drivel.
I didn’t stay late. I started feeling bad again. I went home and turned in early.
It was a busy day at work, but I got everything done.
I called Dad at quitting time, and he said that Eve would like some spaghetti from Capri’s, so I went and got that and took it in to them. I was on my way back to the hospital when I called Dad to get the room number again, only to be told they were home! I was quite surprised that they had release Eve already after such major surgery, but I guess that’s the way it goes now. I went on to the house.
She didn’t eat very much, but she seemed heavily on the pain meds, as well she should be. I ate and talked to Dad while the usual parade of E! Entertainment Television (somewhat ironically named, to my mind) and the like droned on. Apparently Ashton Kutcher has now had an affair. Who cares? There’s a new one every week! Who could possibly care at this point? But apparently there is an endless fascination with such matters.
If I had to watch that drivel spew every night, I would jump off a ledge. I much prefer SpongeBob reruns. So I guess we all have our own drivel.
I didn’t stay late. I started feeling bad again. I went home and turned in early.
Monday, September 20, 2010
A post in which Eve has her surgery
I slept poorly, surprising after coming in so late last night. Less surprisingly, I woke up not feeling terrific, but better than I had expected.
Dad called me at about 11 to tell me that the removal portion of Eve’s surgery was over, and it appears to have gone well. They caught the cancer early, and it hadn’t metastasized. Her lymph nodes look to be clear also. I called him after work to see if I could bring him anything, but he couldn’t talk then. Eventually I called him back after I got home, only for him to tell me there was nothing I could do. Eve had been unconscious for most of the day, which was undoubtedly a blessing.
I called Russ and Billy. We had planned to have sushi tonight, but I had begged off because I thought I should be at the hospital. Russ wasn’t feeling well by this time though, and we re-planned things for Wednesday night.
I ate some supper and relaxed for a bit. I had planned on turning in early since last night was so rough, but just as I was getting ready to do it, Dad called. Eve was awake and wanted a hamburger. I ran over to McDonald’s and took her one to the hospital. Dad just met me downstairs since visiting hours were over, and I told him I would see them both tomorrow night.
Dad called me at about 11 to tell me that the removal portion of Eve’s surgery was over, and it appears to have gone well. They caught the cancer early, and it hadn’t metastasized. Her lymph nodes look to be clear also. I called him after work to see if I could bring him anything, but he couldn’t talk then. Eventually I called him back after I got home, only for him to tell me there was nothing I could do. Eve had been unconscious for most of the day, which was undoubtedly a blessing.
I called Russ and Billy. We had planned to have sushi tonight, but I had begged off because I thought I should be at the hospital. Russ wasn’t feeling well by this time though, and we re-planned things for Wednesday night.
I ate some supper and relaxed for a bit. I had planned on turning in early since last night was so rough, but just as I was getting ready to do it, Dad called. Eve was awake and wanted a hamburger. I ran over to McDonald’s and took her one to the hospital. Dad just met me downstairs since visiting hours were over, and I told him I would see them both tomorrow night.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
A post in which I go to Amanda's house warming
When I woke up this morning, I again felt like crap, but I had no coughing and no chest congestion, which means that I’m not getting what Mom had, although I won’t know for sure until the middle of next week. It is a nasty bug, which an apparent 8 to 9 day incubation period.
I was pretty sure that I remembered this feeling though – it’s that ^%$%$##@!!! Epstein-Barr acting up. I took some Ibuprofen and waited to feel a bit better before I went to the flea market for fruit. The NC apple people were back, and I scored another bag of Mutsus for this week. I walked around a bit, but by the time I got back to the car my head was hurting and I felt very tired.
It was almost all I could do to get back to the house, get my things in, and make it to the couch. After a little snooze, though, I felt better, and stirred around the house a bit. I made some very simple lunches (just broccoli and brown rice) for the week, and put some potatoes in to bake for suppers. I changed the sheet and did a couple of loads of laundry before lying down for a bit.
I was determined to go to Amanda’s house warming party tonight. She was so excited about everyone coming to her new place, and she’s such a sweet girl, plus I have missed seeing the gang. Russ and Billy were coming back from Columbia in time to go as well. Plus I feel like I just wasted the day yesterday and I really wanted to have a bit of fun before the week started.
I talked to James and he told me to meet them at their place at about 5:30, which left me plenty of time to finish up in the kitchen, clean up, and rest for a bit before I left the house. I made it there about 5:30 on the dot. Jeff and James were at a baptism, so I let myself in, let the dogs out, and relaxed a bit while I waited for everyone. Jeff and James work on their house all the time. It makes me feel bad about my place, where I basically do nothing. They have a gorgeous new deck set, and have been doing landscaping around the front of the house with slate. It looks really nice.
When everyone got there we set off for Amanda’s house. James rode with me to be sure I didn’t get lost. I didn’t really realize how far out she lived until we drove there. It was close to the NC border.
We met her roommates (who seemed very nice if a bit on the quiet side) and all visited while we checked out the new place. It’s very cozy and homey. Her roommates have some old furniture too, and their things combined with the pieces she got from Justin quite well. The fat cat picture I gave her for her birthday was in pride of place in the living room. We hung out and had cocktails and nibbles while supper cooked – delicious lasagna, salad, garlic bread, and a chocolate éclair pie for dessert. It was all delicious, and we ate so much supper we had to wait a while before dessert.
I was having a great time and hated to even think about going, but I knew I would pay for it in the morning. I said my goodnights and headed out. When I got into the car and turned on the GPS, I was quite surprised to see that I was almost an hour from the house. It was already 10:30 too; but there was nothing for it but to head on out. I had a lovely time, but I am dreading the morning!
I was pretty sure that I remembered this feeling though – it’s that ^%$%$##@!!! Epstein-Barr acting up. I took some Ibuprofen and waited to feel a bit better before I went to the flea market for fruit. The NC apple people were back, and I scored another bag of Mutsus for this week. I walked around a bit, but by the time I got back to the car my head was hurting and I felt very tired.
It was almost all I could do to get back to the house, get my things in, and make it to the couch. After a little snooze, though, I felt better, and stirred around the house a bit. I made some very simple lunches (just broccoli and brown rice) for the week, and put some potatoes in to bake for suppers. I changed the sheet and did a couple of loads of laundry before lying down for a bit.
I was determined to go to Amanda’s house warming party tonight. She was so excited about everyone coming to her new place, and she’s such a sweet girl, plus I have missed seeing the gang. Russ and Billy were coming back from Columbia in time to go as well. Plus I feel like I just wasted the day yesterday and I really wanted to have a bit of fun before the week started.
I talked to James and he told me to meet them at their place at about 5:30, which left me plenty of time to finish up in the kitchen, clean up, and rest for a bit before I left the house. I made it there about 5:30 on the dot. Jeff and James were at a baptism, so I let myself in, let the dogs out, and relaxed a bit while I waited for everyone. Jeff and James work on their house all the time. It makes me feel bad about my place, where I basically do nothing. They have a gorgeous new deck set, and have been doing landscaping around the front of the house with slate. It looks really nice.
When everyone got there we set off for Amanda’s house. James rode with me to be sure I didn’t get lost. I didn’t really realize how far out she lived until we drove there. It was close to the NC border.
We met her roommates (who seemed very nice if a bit on the quiet side) and all visited while we checked out the new place. It’s very cozy and homey. Her roommates have some old furniture too, and their things combined with the pieces she got from Justin quite well. The fat cat picture I gave her for her birthday was in pride of place in the living room. We hung out and had cocktails and nibbles while supper cooked – delicious lasagna, salad, garlic bread, and a chocolate éclair pie for dessert. It was all delicious, and we ate so much supper we had to wait a while before dessert.
I was having a great time and hated to even think about going, but I knew I would pay for it in the morning. I said my goodnights and headed out. When I got into the car and turned on the GPS, I was quite surprised to see that I was almost an hour from the house. It was already 10:30 too; but there was nothing for it but to head on out. I had a lovely time, but I am dreading the morning!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
A post in which I stay home, disappointingly
I woke up feeling like crap today. I hurt all over. I got up and stirred around a bit to see if I would feel better, but I didn’t. Eventually, I made the call to not go to Ava’s party. As much as I wanted to see her and go, I decided it wasn’t worth the chance of making everyone who was there sick, particularly the baby and Eve right before her surgery on Monday. I called Lisa, who was disappointed, but understood.
I spent most of the day on the sofa. I just plain hurt. I dozed off and on, and the cats laid all over me – they were thrilled. I watched telly, played on the computer, and snoozed off and on. I got cleaned up later and had decided to go grab something for supper, but then changed my mind. I ended up eating a light supper out of the freezer while I watched Gigi (I really like that movie more the more times I see it), and then started on Love in the Afternoon before turning in.
I was upset at missing the party, and at missing the Kindred thing in Atlanta. MC and sa were to be there, and I probably won’t see them for a while since they’ve moved to Tennessee. I just feel so useless. It was a quiet day, but I could feel that I needed the rest.
I spent most of the day on the sofa. I just plain hurt. I dozed off and on, and the cats laid all over me – they were thrilled. I watched telly, played on the computer, and snoozed off and on. I got cleaned up later and had decided to go grab something for supper, but then changed my mind. I ended up eating a light supper out of the freezer while I watched Gigi (I really like that movie more the more times I see it), and then started on Love in the Afternoon before turning in.
I was upset at missing the party, and at missing the Kindred thing in Atlanta. MC and sa were to be there, and I probably won’t see them for a while since they’ve moved to Tennessee. I just feel so useless. It was a quiet day, but I could feel that I needed the rest.
Friday, September 17, 2010
A post in which I go see Miss Kat and dana
Greg was there too.
Alan was back in the office today, but he had moved our meeting due to his calendar being backed up so I didn’t hear much from him today. By the end of the day though, I was feeling squiffy. I was really worried that I was coming down with that whatever it is that Rod and Mom have been suffering with. By the end of the day I was having a really hard time deciding what I should do tonight.
On the one hand I really wanted to go see Miss Kat and dana as I had arranged, but on the other hand I really didn’t want to give them the pestilence. dana called just as I was on the horns of the dilemma, and as usual short circuited the drama. “Just come on to the house,” she said. “I need your help with something anyway, and I’ll feed you too.” Since I wanted to go so badly anyway I allowed myself to be persuaded pretty easily.
I got home, did a quick change, and headed back out. When I got to the house, they were in a bit of a kerfuffle getting ready for a yard sale they’re having tomorrow. Turns out that dana wanted me to help move a final piece of furniture up from the basement, which I was happy to do, despite how hateful it was to move. Greg and I ultimately got it up there though. They’re also selling the gas stove I wanted, but they offered it to me so long ago (and I haven’t done anything about getting it) that I really couldn’t say anything about it.
It was so great to see them, as always. I have really missed them over the last couple of weeks. We hung out (and watched America’s Funniest Home Videos as we talked and visited) until I needed to go home. I was wiped out, full of pizza (they even got mushroom and onion, my favorite), and had to be up in the morning to drive to Columbia. It was a long day coming up. As much as I want to go to Ava’s birthday party, I’m not sure it’s a great idea with the way I’m feeling, and I needed a fair night’s sleep at least.
Alan was back in the office today, but he had moved our meeting due to his calendar being backed up so I didn’t hear much from him today. By the end of the day though, I was feeling squiffy. I was really worried that I was coming down with that whatever it is that Rod and Mom have been suffering with. By the end of the day I was having a really hard time deciding what I should do tonight.
On the one hand I really wanted to go see Miss Kat and dana as I had arranged, but on the other hand I really didn’t want to give them the pestilence. dana called just as I was on the horns of the dilemma, and as usual short circuited the drama. “Just come on to the house,” she said. “I need your help with something anyway, and I’ll feed you too.” Since I wanted to go so badly anyway I allowed myself to be persuaded pretty easily.
I got home, did a quick change, and headed back out. When I got to the house, they were in a bit of a kerfuffle getting ready for a yard sale they’re having tomorrow. Turns out that dana wanted me to help move a final piece of furniture up from the basement, which I was happy to do, despite how hateful it was to move. Greg and I ultimately got it up there though. They’re also selling the gas stove I wanted, but they offered it to me so long ago (and I haven’t done anything about getting it) that I really couldn’t say anything about it.
It was so great to see them, as always. I have really missed them over the last couple of weeks. We hung out (and watched America’s Funniest Home Videos as we talked and visited) until I needed to go home. I was wiped out, full of pizza (they even got mushroom and onion, my favorite), and had to be up in the morning to drive to Columbia. It was a long day coming up. As much as I want to go to Ava’s birthday party, I’m not sure it’s a great idea with the way I’m feeling, and I needed a fair night’s sleep at least.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
A post in which I find that I am cancer free!
And thank God for that!!
I had been doing a pretty good job of maintaining my denial, I thought, until today. Of course I still haven’t slept for the last couple of nights. I woke up this morning hurting too. But I was hoping it would be all over today. The appointment was at 11:30, and I showed up a little early. They then of course stuck me in a consulting room and left me there for a half hour, surrounded by hundreds of pamphlets about the myriad of things that can be wrong with your crotch. After resisting for a while, eventually I picked up a brochure on prostatectomy. It’s a serious operation – you can’t drive for two weeks! By the time the doctor finally came in, I had pretty much worked myself into a tizz. The first thing he said was “No cancer. Let’s just get that out of the way up front.” I was so relieved that I forgot everything I had planned to say. I really wasn’t as gracious with him as I would have liked to have been during the biopsy. He was really nice and I was, shall we say, not at my best. But the annoyance was washed away with relief, and the relief pretty much washed everything else out with it. I should send a card or something. My biopsy was almost perfect. There was one biopsy of the twelve they took that was slightly irregular. Because of that, and because of the family history, they’re going to do follow-up tests in six months (just an exam and drawing blood, not another biopsy). I can handle that. He told me there was nothing to be concerned about in the meantime.
So I got back to the office and sent out the critter call that everything was OK. I got a lot of nice texts from my friends. Russ’s of course said “Told you so!” He is so funny. He had indeed decided that I was fine when all this started, and I should have known that the laws of nature wouldn't dare contravene Russ. I heard back from Miss Kat with a confirmation of a visit tomorrow night too. I am so looking forward to seeing them – I miss them.
I called Mama, and she sounds awful. She’s been in the bed sick for the last two days, and Mom is one of those people who goes to work dead. If she called in after being out on vacation she must feel really terrible. So now I’m worried that I’m going to get that crap. We didn’t eat after each other as much as usual this past week though, so hopefully it will be OK. I’ll know in a couple of days I guess.
Tonight was my birthday dinner with Dad and Eve. Eve called me this morning to tell me that she had made reservations at The Open Hearth. She apparently wanted to go there, and it is a pretty swank place. She raved about how good the seafood was, so I ordered the oysters. They were a bit overdone, and a bit strong, but everything else was great and it takes a lot to put me off oysters. Our waiter was cute as a bug, too. The salad was good, the dressings were all made there, as was the bread (wonderful), and the coconut cream pie we had for dessert (transcendental). The baked potatoes come with something they call a ‘potato wheel’ which is big bowls of sour cream, butter, real bacon bits, and cheese; that idea is just as fabulous as it sounds. So basically we ate until we couldn’t move – literally.
Dad is still having motility issues from his surgery. I could tell because he asked if I would drive tonight. By the time we were through eating one of his legs had gone to sleep, and he was hurting. He’s been at the shop more this week than in the past several, plus he’s having problems with some of his Guardian ad Litem kids, so it’s been a very active week for him. I pulled the car up to the door to get him when he eventually made it outside. Eve’s knees were apparently giving her problems, and she had difficulty getting up too. It is sad to watch your parents falling apart like this. Hopefully Dad is on the mend, but Eve’s surgery is on Monday, and I don’t know if Dad’s going to be up to it or not. He sounded very resigned to taking care of her when we talked about it over dinner, but that’s not really what you want to hear if you’re the patient. I felt kind of sorry for Eve, although she was pretty good about it. We went back to the house and visited for a little bit, but Dad was tired and I didn’t stay for long. I was tired too.
Apparently I had to get back to the house to not sleep. I lay in bed for an hour and a half, paying the price for my gluttony – I was too stuffed to sleep! I have plenty of fodder for future eating too. Eve got me two boxes of chocolate covered macadamia nuts for my birthday. I love those! I also carried home the remains of that divoon pie she didn’t finish tonight – I’m not proud. I have birthday cookies in the freezer from one of my agencies that they send every year (they are wonderful). Plus I have a somewhat eaten pack of Oreos that Miss Kat and dana gave me. So treats just abound at the mo. I guess after all that’s done I’ll live on bread and water for a while…
Eventually I dropped off.
I had been doing a pretty good job of maintaining my denial, I thought, until today. Of course I still haven’t slept for the last couple of nights. I woke up this morning hurting too. But I was hoping it would be all over today. The appointment was at 11:30, and I showed up a little early. They then of course stuck me in a consulting room and left me there for a half hour, surrounded by hundreds of pamphlets about the myriad of things that can be wrong with your crotch. After resisting for a while, eventually I picked up a brochure on prostatectomy. It’s a serious operation – you can’t drive for two weeks! By the time the doctor finally came in, I had pretty much worked myself into a tizz. The first thing he said was “No cancer. Let’s just get that out of the way up front.” I was so relieved that I forgot everything I had planned to say. I really wasn’t as gracious with him as I would have liked to have been during the biopsy. He was really nice and I was, shall we say, not at my best. But the annoyance was washed away with relief, and the relief pretty much washed everything else out with it. I should send a card or something. My biopsy was almost perfect. There was one biopsy of the twelve they took that was slightly irregular. Because of that, and because of the family history, they’re going to do follow-up tests in six months (just an exam and drawing blood, not another biopsy). I can handle that. He told me there was nothing to be concerned about in the meantime.
So I got back to the office and sent out the critter call that everything was OK. I got a lot of nice texts from my friends. Russ’s of course said “Told you so!” He is so funny. He had indeed decided that I was fine when all this started, and I should have known that the laws of nature wouldn't dare contravene Russ. I heard back from Miss Kat with a confirmation of a visit tomorrow night too. I am so looking forward to seeing them – I miss them.
I called Mama, and she sounds awful. She’s been in the bed sick for the last two days, and Mom is one of those people who goes to work dead. If she called in after being out on vacation she must feel really terrible. So now I’m worried that I’m going to get that crap. We didn’t eat after each other as much as usual this past week though, so hopefully it will be OK. I’ll know in a couple of days I guess.
Tonight was my birthday dinner with Dad and Eve. Eve called me this morning to tell me that she had made reservations at The Open Hearth. She apparently wanted to go there, and it is a pretty swank place. She raved about how good the seafood was, so I ordered the oysters. They were a bit overdone, and a bit strong, but everything else was great and it takes a lot to put me off oysters. Our waiter was cute as a bug, too. The salad was good, the dressings were all made there, as was the bread (wonderful), and the coconut cream pie we had for dessert (transcendental). The baked potatoes come with something they call a ‘potato wheel’ which is big bowls of sour cream, butter, real bacon bits, and cheese; that idea is just as fabulous as it sounds. So basically we ate until we couldn’t move – literally.
Dad is still having motility issues from his surgery. I could tell because he asked if I would drive tonight. By the time we were through eating one of his legs had gone to sleep, and he was hurting. He’s been at the shop more this week than in the past several, plus he’s having problems with some of his Guardian ad Litem kids, so it’s been a very active week for him. I pulled the car up to the door to get him when he eventually made it outside. Eve’s knees were apparently giving her problems, and she had difficulty getting up too. It is sad to watch your parents falling apart like this. Hopefully Dad is on the mend, but Eve’s surgery is on Monday, and I don’t know if Dad’s going to be up to it or not. He sounded very resigned to taking care of her when we talked about it over dinner, but that’s not really what you want to hear if you’re the patient. I felt kind of sorry for Eve, although she was pretty good about it. We went back to the house and visited for a little bit, but Dad was tired and I didn’t stay for long. I was tired too.
Apparently I had to get back to the house to not sleep. I lay in bed for an hour and a half, paying the price for my gluttony – I was too stuffed to sleep! I have plenty of fodder for future eating too. Eve got me two boxes of chocolate covered macadamia nuts for my birthday. I love those! I also carried home the remains of that divoon pie she didn’t finish tonight – I’m not proud. I have birthday cookies in the freezer from one of my agencies that they send every year (they are wonderful). Plus I have a somewhat eaten pack of Oreos that Miss Kat and dana gave me. So treats just abound at the mo. I guess after all that’s done I’ll live on bread and water for a while…
Eventually I dropped off.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
A post in which I am late getting home
I called the doctor's office first thing this morning. My appointment for the biopsy results is tomorrow.
I talked to Eve today about going to dinner with her and my dad. Dad had called on my birthday to ask me when I would go out with them, and I wanted to get it in this week because she goes in for her surgery next Monday. We set that up for tomorrow evening.
I called and talked to Lisa today. She had told me that she was going to call and talk to Cindy about Eve's surgery next week. She had. Apparently Cindy doesn't plan on calling or contacting Eve. She seemed to be downplaying the seriousness of this operation. You do have to sometimes take things with a grain of salt where she is concerned, but we both wanted her to understand that this is real. Either Cindy is in denial or she just plain doesn't care. Lisa and I have both been through it with Dad. He is a difficult man to love at times. But neither of us could allow him to have a serious operation like this and not even call him. I just can't wrap my mind around they way she's acting. It makes me sad. The smallest gesture from her would mean much more to Eve than anything Lisa or I could do.
When I got off work tonight there was a horrible traffic jam on the highway. The road I work on is so busy that the slightest problem jams traffic on all the surrounding roads for miles. There was just no way home. When I saw how bad things were, I went back to the office and read for an hour before I even tried to leave. Things were still backed up, but were moving better than they had been.
My desire to be home was at war with starvation. I had taken a diet lunch today, and by 6:30 I was ravenous. I was really craving a baked potato in the worst way. I ended up succumbing and going to Ruby Tuesday to pay $15 for a salad and potato. Highway robbery (even if they do make their own gorgeous pumpernickel croutons), but sometimes you just give in.
When I got home I called Miss Kat and made sure she and dana had received my thank you text for the nice homecoming they arranged for me on Monday. They had, but I thanked them again anyway. I love them so much, and I miss them. I talked to her about possibly visiting Friday evening. She's trying to find out what her schedule looks like. I'm back in Columbia this weekend for Ava's Pink Princess birthday party. I'm going to stay the night with Mom. At this point I'm ready for a weekend at home, but that will have to wait.
Amanda's housewarming party is this Sunday, and I hope I can make it back in time. Jeff and James have been helping her decorate and prepare to settle in. I think they're more excited about her moving out than she is. They've also kindly offered me a ride to the party.
I turned on telly, and as usual when I really need distracting, there is nothing on. I eventually turned it over to America's Funniest Home Videos, which I am trying to use sparingly and only in times of greatest need. I can feel my IQ dropping as I watch it. I played on the computer, watched TV, and tried not to think about the doctor's appointment tomorrow until it was time to turn in, at which point I took sleeping pills. I haven't been sleeping well this week anyway, and I figured I would need them. I was right.
I talked to Eve today about going to dinner with her and my dad. Dad had called on my birthday to ask me when I would go out with them, and I wanted to get it in this week because she goes in for her surgery next Monday. We set that up for tomorrow evening.
I called and talked to Lisa today. She had told me that she was going to call and talk to Cindy about Eve's surgery next week. She had. Apparently Cindy doesn't plan on calling or contacting Eve. She seemed to be downplaying the seriousness of this operation. You do have to sometimes take things with a grain of salt where she is concerned, but we both wanted her to understand that this is real. Either Cindy is in denial or she just plain doesn't care. Lisa and I have both been through it with Dad. He is a difficult man to love at times. But neither of us could allow him to have a serious operation like this and not even call him. I just can't wrap my mind around they way she's acting. It makes me sad. The smallest gesture from her would mean much more to Eve than anything Lisa or I could do.
When I got off work tonight there was a horrible traffic jam on the highway. The road I work on is so busy that the slightest problem jams traffic on all the surrounding roads for miles. There was just no way home. When I saw how bad things were, I went back to the office and read for an hour before I even tried to leave. Things were still backed up, but were moving better than they had been.
My desire to be home was at war with starvation. I had taken a diet lunch today, and by 6:30 I was ravenous. I was really craving a baked potato in the worst way. I ended up succumbing and going to Ruby Tuesday to pay $15 for a salad and potato. Highway robbery (even if they do make their own gorgeous pumpernickel croutons), but sometimes you just give in.
When I got home I called Miss Kat and made sure she and dana had received my thank you text for the nice homecoming they arranged for me on Monday. They had, but I thanked them again anyway. I love them so much, and I miss them. I talked to her about possibly visiting Friday evening. She's trying to find out what her schedule looks like. I'm back in Columbia this weekend for Ava's Pink Princess birthday party. I'm going to stay the night with Mom. At this point I'm ready for a weekend at home, but that will have to wait.
Amanda's housewarming party is this Sunday, and I hope I can make it back in time. Jeff and James have been helping her decorate and prepare to settle in. I think they're more excited about her moving out than she is. They've also kindly offered me a ride to the party.
I turned on telly, and as usual when I really need distracting, there is nothing on. I eventually turned it over to America's Funniest Home Videos, which I am trying to use sparingly and only in times of greatest need. I can feel my IQ dropping as I watch it. I played on the computer, watched TV, and tried not to think about the doctor's appointment tomorrow until it was time to turn in, at which point I took sleeping pills. I haven't been sleeping well this week anyway, and I figured I would need them. I was right.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
A post in which I am back at work*
Well it was back to the ole grindstone today. I woke up really sleepy this morning, so it is probably a good thing I didn't go see friends last night. I was dreaming very intensely about Dad and Eve getting a divorce, for some reason. We were meeting with an attorney in her large and impressive-looking car at the local mall, and I was there, in the spirit of dream-logic that makes the bizarre perfectly understandable.
Alan is out of the office for the next several days, which is a nice little surprise. I was able to get caught up without too much trouble.
I needed to call the doctor today to confirm my appointment to get the biopsy results, but at the end of the day I found that it had quite slipped my mind. I guess the denial isn't quite as over as I thought. I can always call them tomorrow morning I guess.
Jeremiah called this afternoon, and actually showed up, which was nice.
After he left, I went to the grocery store for a micro-trip just to get sandwich stuff for lunches this week.
Gone with the Wind was on TCM tonight, and I got caught up in it. I don't remember that movie making me tear up as much as it did tonight. I'm so easy these days. I'm turning into quite the romantic. Mom tells me that increasing sentimentality is one of those things that happens when you get older. I usually only watch the part up until the war starts, but I found the whole thing unusually absorbing tonight. I didn't stay up until the end, but I stayed up later than I should have. I had a surprisingly hard time getting to sleep tonight. I figured after last night I would be out like a light, but I kept getting sucked back in to the movie.
Alan is out of the office for the next several days, which is a nice little surprise. I was able to get caught up without too much trouble.
I needed to call the doctor today to confirm my appointment to get the biopsy results, but at the end of the day I found that it had quite slipped my mind. I guess the denial isn't quite as over as I thought. I can always call them tomorrow morning I guess.
Jeremiah called this afternoon, and actually showed up, which was nice.
After he left, I went to the grocery store for a micro-trip just to get sandwich stuff for lunches this week.
Gone with the Wind was on TCM tonight, and I got caught up in it. I don't remember that movie making me tear up as much as it did tonight. I'm so easy these days. I'm turning into quite the romantic. Mom tells me that increasing sentimentality is one of those things that happens when you get older. I usually only watch the part up until the war starts, but I found the whole thing unusually absorbing tonight. I didn't stay up until the end, but I stayed up later than I should have. I had a surprisingly hard time getting to sleep tonight. I figured after last night I would be out like a light, but I kept getting sucked back in to the movie.
Monday, September 13, 2010
A post in which it is time to head home
This morning the focus was on getting checked out and getting back. We pulled things together in short order and hit the K&W (which does a surprisingly good - and cheap - breakfast) before we hit the road. I had seen several new antique places on this trip, and because it was so early Mom asked if I'd like to visit a few before we left town in earnest. Well of course I did. There was a little nook tucked away almost behind our hotel that had lots of cool stuff. I found a bowl I wanted, that was pretty reasonably priced. I've been looking at these for a couple of years now, but every time I found one it was priced two to three times what it was worth. For $10, I was happy to buy this one, even if the book value on it is only $12. I usually don't like amber glass all that much, but I just really think this is a pretty piece.
Madrid 11" console bowl in amber by Federal Glass Company, circa 1932 - 1939
That was a nice way to start the day, and end the trip. We headed back inland, stopping at another antique place on the way, but I didn't buy anything there. We stopped in Florence for McDonald's frappes, Mom's latest addiction. They are tasty.
When we got to Columbia, I dropped Mom off, filled up with gas, and left a message for my buddy Chip, then headed on home. I got in about 4pm. I don't like having to come in late on a trip and rush around to have things half-organized before the next day. I had plenty of time today. I unpacked, cleaned all my new glass, hung my new wind chimes on the porch, saw to the cats, and put in a load of laundry. I should have gone to the grocery store, but I had a lunch in the freezer for tomorrow and just plain didn't feel like going.
I did feel like seeing friends tonight. dana had been through and left me a sweet card for my birthday, a gift, and a bag of Oreos. It was a nice thing to come home to. I sent them a thank you text, but it being Monday night, I figured they would be holed up. I sent out a general text to let everyone know I was back. I thought I might go to dinner with Russ and Billy, but Billy is out of town and Russ buries himself in work when Billy's gone.
I was trying not to get broody. I've really been looking forward to the trip, and it was of course a let down now that it's over. Seeing the ocean always makes me feel small, but I hadn't really gotten broody on this trip until tonight. Time is passing. Mom is already having problems moving from the arthritis in her hips, and that makes me sad. We talked a good bit about Granny over the past several days, and how her life has changed as her health declines. I'm still single, almost four years on. Being at the beach and seeing everyone there with their spouses just makes me feel like a late-comer to the square dance - everyone seems to be already paired up. I count my blessings like saying a rosary at this point, but that doesn't always work. I'm really not looking forward to getting the biopsy results back this week. I had successfully used denial to put off dealing with it until now, but I'm going to have to deal with it soon.
In the end, I had a modest dinner out of the freezer (appropriate after all the rich food I've eaten over the past several days), and turned on the computer and telly. I watched Hoarders while I answered a bewildering number of birthday greetings on Facebook.
Adding to the weirdness was seeing a picture of Michael with Juan Carlos on his Facebook profile. I knew that he was seeing the guy, apparently seriously, and that he has been to the Dominican Republic to meet his family and stuff; but it was just a jolt to see a picture of him with someone else. Michael has a lot more gray in his beard too. It just reinforced the time-is-passing-and-life-is-passing-me-by thing.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
A post in which it is quite a lazy day
I woke this morning to find that Mother had experienced another rough night. Apparently putting the mattress on the floor didn't do the trick last night. I went and fetched some cream cheese for the bagels while she made coffee.
We had agreed to take some more time to relax than we usually do when we're off together, and we have done so, but today was a really lazy day. I went down for a quick dip in the pool after breakfast while mom rested, and then we got cleaned up to go to the Gay Dolphin.
I love the Gay Dolphin. I've been going there since I was a little kid, and no trip to the beach is complete without stopping in to get something. It's not as much that they have such fabulous things - they really don't, despite the mind boggling array of crap. But mixed in with the junk are things they have been carrying since I was little; vintage post cards of women in bikinis with Madonna-esque breast cones in the tops and the like. It's comforting to know that the store never really seems to change that much. The sedimentary layers of disarray please me. When I was a kid, it seemed like an endless trove of incredible treasures. While my perception has changed now that I'm older, I never walk in without recapturing a scrap of that wonder. Although I am still frustrated in my quest for a non-embroidered Gay Dolphin t-shirt, I emerged triumphant with another set of wind chimes, a magnet (I always buy a fridge magnet on trips), a Christmas ornament (Mom and I get ornaments every year on our trip), and a box of salt water taffy (which for some reason I was inexplicably craving).
Next on the agenda today was lunch at Peaches. This is another vacation tradition. Although I am a pescetarian, I do fall off the wagon once a year to have a hot dog at Peaches. We've been eating there since I was a little kid, and it just takes me back. The hot dog this year was even better than I remembered them being, and the staff was both cute and nice. It was a capital lunch.
After lunch we went back to the room for a nap. Afterwards we were rather at loose ends, having done just about everything we set out to do. Mom suggested we just go down to the beach. It was a glorious afternoon, and the water was just as delightful as it was the first day. I body surfed for a while, and then just flopped in a lounger beside Mom and chatted with her about the endless parade of people walking by to be looked at. Mom tried with limited success to feed the birds some stale bread she had brought for that express purpose. It was just a nice relaxing afternoon, basically doing nothing.
Dinner tonight was to be at Nance's Creek Front Restaurant. Nance's is one of Mom's very favorite restaurants at the beach, and we always eat there at least one night while we're gone. They do have great food, and it's a popular place. Even on a Sunday night there was a wait. Mom ran into some people she knew and we chatted with them to pass the time. We had a capital meal. I ordered a seafood combo that I couldn't finish, and Mom had one of her own, a surprising departure from her usual predilection for crab legs. I was quite surprised.
After supper we made our leisurely way back to the room, stopping at a few beach stores on the way back. I scored a Myrtle Beach t-shirt I liked and of course needed, having brought only two others with me from past trips. When we got back to the room, Mom took the bed. I was glad about that. I had no problem getting to sleep on the sofa bed.
We had agreed to take some more time to relax than we usually do when we're off together, and we have done so, but today was a really lazy day. I went down for a quick dip in the pool after breakfast while mom rested, and then we got cleaned up to go to the Gay Dolphin.
I love the Gay Dolphin. I've been going there since I was a little kid, and no trip to the beach is complete without stopping in to get something. It's not as much that they have such fabulous things - they really don't, despite the mind boggling array of crap. But mixed in with the junk are things they have been carrying since I was little; vintage post cards of women in bikinis with Madonna-esque breast cones in the tops and the like. It's comforting to know that the store never really seems to change that much. The sedimentary layers of disarray please me. When I was a kid, it seemed like an endless trove of incredible treasures. While my perception has changed now that I'm older, I never walk in without recapturing a scrap of that wonder. Although I am still frustrated in my quest for a non-embroidered Gay Dolphin t-shirt, I emerged triumphant with another set of wind chimes, a magnet (I always buy a fridge magnet on trips), a Christmas ornament (Mom and I get ornaments every year on our trip), and a box of salt water taffy (which for some reason I was inexplicably craving).
Next on the agenda today was lunch at Peaches. This is another vacation tradition. Although I am a pescetarian, I do fall off the wagon once a year to have a hot dog at Peaches. We've been eating there since I was a little kid, and it just takes me back. The hot dog this year was even better than I remembered them being, and the staff was both cute and nice. It was a capital lunch.
After lunch we went back to the room for a nap. Afterwards we were rather at loose ends, having done just about everything we set out to do. Mom suggested we just go down to the beach. It was a glorious afternoon, and the water was just as delightful as it was the first day. I body surfed for a while, and then just flopped in a lounger beside Mom and chatted with her about the endless parade of people walking by to be looked at. Mom tried with limited success to feed the birds some stale bread she had brought for that express purpose. It was just a nice relaxing afternoon, basically doing nothing.
Dinner tonight was to be at Nance's Creek Front Restaurant. Nance's is one of Mom's very favorite restaurants at the beach, and we always eat there at least one night while we're gone. They do have great food, and it's a popular place. Even on a Sunday night there was a wait. Mom ran into some people she knew and we chatted with them to pass the time. We had a capital meal. I ordered a seafood combo that I couldn't finish, and Mom had one of her own, a surprising departure from her usual predilection for crab legs. I was quite surprised.
After supper we made our leisurely way back to the room, stopping at a few beach stores on the way back. I scored a Myrtle Beach t-shirt I liked and of course needed, having brought only two others with me from past trips. When we got back to the room, Mom took the bed. I was glad about that. I had no problem getting to sleep on the sofa bed.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
A post in which is is another flea market day!
The glorious view from our balcony this morning, the sun beginning to come through the haze The day started off kind of hazy, but it looked as if it would clear off. It did. Mom slept much better last night, and arose bright-eyed and bushy-tailed today. We both love to eat breakfast out, and always do so at least once while we're gone. We got up and went to a place called Uncle John's this morning. Mom really likes it and has been eating there for years. They use canned mushrooms in the omelets, but otherwise it's pretty good. I opted for the breakfast bar this morning because it's so cheap. After eggs, fried potatoes, watermelon, cheese danish, french toast sticks, and a pancake all washed down with tomato juice, I felt fortified enough to continue to the flea market in North Myrtle. We hadn't been this far north yet, and enjoyed seeing the new places, and the old places we've come to look for through the years. They have a conspicuously marked '4:20' store that I find amusing. They have toned down the paint job a bit since we were here last.
The north Myrtle flea market is my favorite in the area. The other ones all have vendors who are there every day. North Myrtle is the only one where some actual yard sale people show up. There are still a lot of vendors, but at least there are some chances for a real bargain. There was a new booth set up by a local artist with some really pretty things. We looked, but didn't end up buying anything, despite impressive prices.
I have scored here before, and I've been ripped off here before. Today was a pretty good day for glass, although I didn't get any really outstanding bargains. I first found an Old Cafe olive dish for a bit over $3. I wasn't 100% sure what it was, and couldn't find the seller, so I decided to look around and come back. Next I found a saucer in my pattern so I picked that up, mainly because I found it. It was $6, which is full book value, but I don't see tons of those, an some have cup rings and some don't. This one did.
Florentine #1 saucer in green by Hazel-Atlas, circa 1932 - 1935
Old Cafe 7 1/8" olive dish in pink by Anchor Hocking, circa 1936 - 1940
After lunch I wanted to go back to a big antique place we always go through when we're at the beach. Sadly, it seems to be going downhill. Every time we go there seem to be more spaces being let to people to sell tourist-y crap (fake little boats, pictures of sunsets, taffy, etc). There are still some antique vendors towards the back of the store, including a booth with lots of depression glass, but the prices would make even an aggressive pricer blush - they were ridiculous. I did eventually find one bowl I wanted at another booth. I paid $10 for it, mainly because it was one of the best prices I found, and because I have a companion bowl to go with it, but I later found out that was full book value for it.
Diamond Quilted 6 5/8" round bowl in pink by Imperial Glass - Ohio, circa 1930
By the time we left the antique store, Mom was flagging. We went on back to the room for a nap and I took a dip in the pool. There were a bunch of kids down there today, but it was fine. I wasn't down there for that long.
Dinner tonight was Thai. I love Thai food, but after last year's food poisoning debacle in Atlanta I figured Mom would be sworn off of it for all time. I really couldn't have blamed her either. But again, she's a trooper, and said she didn't mind going. I guess it didn't hurt that we had been there two years ago and she was fine afterwards. So off we went to Bangkok House. The Thai tea was really great. I had Phad Thai, and although it was quite serviceable, it wasn't up to the level of fabulousness that I remembered. Still, I adore Thai food.
Mom adores Krispy Kreme doughnuts. I mean who doesn't right? But Mom really loves them. Whenever she comes to see me, we make a night run to the doughnut shop, and we always do when we're at the beach. Tonight was the doughnut run night. The 'Hot Doughnuts' sign was on, and they were of course transcendentally delicious, in the way unique to hot Krispy Kremes. We strolled through a couple of beach shops on the way back to the room, but didn't see anything we couldn't live without.
Friday, September 10, 2010
A post in which it is a flea market day
The morning dawned bright and clear - for me anyway. Mom had a rough night. The hotel we’re staying in used to have Murphy beds in the front room of the ocean front suites, but no longer. They’ve removed them and installed apparently un-sleepable fold out sofas in their stead. Mom always takes the ocean front room because she likes to crack the door and sleep with the sound of the ocean; but apparently she tossed and turned a good portion of the night before just moving the mattress to the floor. The air conditioning is also kind of uneven, so while I was too warm in the back bedroom, Mom was too cold in the front. She’s a trooper though, and by the time we had coffee and bagels on the balcony she was almost back to her old self.
There were flea markets to do. Whatever else we do when we’re off together; we always hit both flea markets when we’re at the beach. The one south of the strand, in Surfside, is open 4 days a week (this time of year), so that was the destination today. There is a lot of kitchen stuff at this one, and usually one or both of us are looking for something in particular, but not this trip. We still had a good time going over it. I was looking for a hat since I had neglected to bring one. I visited the Depression Glass lady here who has lots of pretty things, but has lots of pretty prices on them. As usual, I didn’t buy anything from her. I did pick up some Mary Kay skin stuff (for some reason I usually only buy this stuff when I’m off with Mom), and a glorious pair of Freddie Mercury mirrored aviator sunglasses with which I was most pleased.
I need more sunglasses like I need a hole in the head, but Mom was looking for some so I was lured in. These were so spectacular that I really just couldn't resist. Mom also found some lovely ones, faux tortiseshell with amber lenses and a tasteful smattering of sparklies on the frames.
Since we’d made it through in such record time (not lingering as usual over all the kitchen places) we had plenty of time to go through the indoor flea market also. This one isn’t really a flea market so much as an amalgamation of various junk dealers. You can pick up old souvenirs, jewelry, and stuff like that. I did score a (supposedly) real pair of Crocs flip-flops though. I can’t usually wear them, but the t-strap (the part that goes between your toes) on these is made of cloth, and they don’t seem to hurt my feet.
Well pleased with our finds, we adjourned to the local 120+ item Chinese buffet for a celebratory luncheon. Lovely. Following that, replete with bargains and Chinese food (if still no hat) we retired to the hotel for a nap.
Since we had an early lunch today we went out for ice cream this afternoon. Mom loves ice cream, and apparently I have recently come into my inheritance of this passion. I had a mint chocolate chip hot fudge sundae with nuts - the first sundae I have eaten in years. It was perfectly proportioned as to the ice-cream-to-hot-fudge ratio, and I very much enjoyed it. The woman working there seemed rather underwhelmed to see us, but then you can't have everything.
While we were strolling through beach shops on our way back to the room, Lisa called with the emergency du jour. Apparently Ava has decided that she wants to have a tea party at her birthday party, next Saturday, and Lisa was passing on the charge to find a china tea set. For a three-year-old. I thought this a bit much, frankly, as much as I adore Ava, but we agreed to look around. A subsequent trip through the local pottery warehouse, however, was fruitless.
We headed back to the hotel, where I took a dip in the pool. It was surprisingly un-refreshing. The pool heater is apparently working overtime, and the water is almost hot. Plus a bunch of people were down there with kids running around and stuff. Not very relaxing. Still they have as much right to enjoy their vacation as I do. It is diverting to watch the various vignettes unfold. We have a Muslim family staying; the mother was in the pool covered from head to ankles in cloth, as was her husband in an impressive amount of body fur. A redneck couple billed and cooed in the pool; he obviously younger and fairly attractive, with a tip-tilted Irish Rick Astley nose, she obviously higher-mileage and no beauty IMHO. He apparently has a predilection for the Ample Woman, and she was pretty shamelessly fishing for compliments. I was thinking she should probably be grateful and not press her luck, but hey, what do I know?
For dinner tonight, we decided on Mexican. There’s an excellent place here called Abuelo’s. We have eaten there several times and really enjoyed it. The problem is that we couldn’t seem to find it. We drove out to where we remembered it being and drove all around, but couldn't seem to quite get there. We wondered if it was even still open. Eventually, we gave up and went to another Mexican place nearby. We had a quite serviceable meal (Mother’s seemed to be better than mine tonight), but it just wasn’t as good as Abuelo’s. (We didn’t know the name either, and it had been two years since we had been there. I did look it up when I got back, and am delighted to tell you that they are still in business.)
By the time we got back, it was getting late, and we were both tired. Mom hadn’t slept well, and I had walked her a lot today. I was tired too. We sat and looked at the waves for a bit, then turned in, after carefully fixing Mom’s mattress on the floor. She was determined to sleep in the ocean front room.
There were flea markets to do. Whatever else we do when we’re off together; we always hit both flea markets when we’re at the beach. The one south of the strand, in Surfside, is open 4 days a week (this time of year), so that was the destination today. There is a lot of kitchen stuff at this one, and usually one or both of us are looking for something in particular, but not this trip. We still had a good time going over it. I was looking for a hat since I had neglected to bring one. I visited the Depression Glass lady here who has lots of pretty things, but has lots of pretty prices on them. As usual, I didn’t buy anything from her. I did pick up some Mary Kay skin stuff (for some reason I usually only buy this stuff when I’m off with Mom), and a glorious pair of Freddie Mercury mirrored aviator sunglasses with which I was most pleased.
I need more sunglasses like I need a hole in the head, but Mom was looking for some so I was lured in. These were so spectacular that I really just couldn't resist. Mom also found some lovely ones, faux tortiseshell with amber lenses and a tasteful smattering of sparklies on the frames.
Since we’d made it through in such record time (not lingering as usual over all the kitchen places) we had plenty of time to go through the indoor flea market also. This one isn’t really a flea market so much as an amalgamation of various junk dealers. You can pick up old souvenirs, jewelry, and stuff like that. I did score a (supposedly) real pair of Crocs flip-flops though. I can’t usually wear them, but the t-strap (the part that goes between your toes) on these is made of cloth, and they don’t seem to hurt my feet.
Well pleased with our finds, we adjourned to the local 120+ item Chinese buffet for a celebratory luncheon. Lovely. Following that, replete with bargains and Chinese food (if still no hat) we retired to the hotel for a nap.
Since we had an early lunch today we went out for ice cream this afternoon. Mom loves ice cream, and apparently I have recently come into my inheritance of this passion. I had a mint chocolate chip hot fudge sundae with nuts - the first sundae I have eaten in years. It was perfectly proportioned as to the ice-cream-to-hot-fudge ratio, and I very much enjoyed it. The woman working there seemed rather underwhelmed to see us, but then you can't have everything.
While we were strolling through beach shops on our way back to the room, Lisa called with the emergency du jour. Apparently Ava has decided that she wants to have a tea party at her birthday party, next Saturday, and Lisa was passing on the charge to find a china tea set. For a three-year-old. I thought this a bit much, frankly, as much as I adore Ava, but we agreed to look around. A subsequent trip through the local pottery warehouse, however, was fruitless.
We headed back to the hotel, where I took a dip in the pool. It was surprisingly un-refreshing. The pool heater is apparently working overtime, and the water is almost hot. Plus a bunch of people were down there with kids running around and stuff. Not very relaxing. Still they have as much right to enjoy their vacation as I do. It is diverting to watch the various vignettes unfold. We have a Muslim family staying; the mother was in the pool covered from head to ankles in cloth, as was her husband in an impressive amount of body fur. A redneck couple billed and cooed in the pool; he obviously younger and fairly attractive, with a tip-tilted Irish Rick Astley nose, she obviously higher-mileage and no beauty IMHO. He apparently has a predilection for the Ample Woman, and she was pretty shamelessly fishing for compliments. I was thinking she should probably be grateful and not press her luck, but hey, what do I know?
For dinner tonight, we decided on Mexican. There’s an excellent place here called Abuelo’s. We have eaten there several times and really enjoyed it. The problem is that we couldn’t seem to find it. We drove out to where we remembered it being and drove all around, but couldn't seem to quite get there. We wondered if it was even still open. Eventually, we gave up and went to another Mexican place nearby. We had a quite serviceable meal (Mother’s seemed to be better than mine tonight), but it just wasn’t as good as Abuelo’s. (We didn’t know the name either, and it had been two years since we had been there. I did look it up when I got back, and am delighted to tell you that they are still in business.)
By the time we got back, it was getting late, and we were both tired. Mom hadn’t slept well, and I had walked her a lot today. I was tired too. We sat and looked at the waves for a bit, then turned in, after carefully fixing Mom’s mattress on the floor. She was determined to sleep in the ocean front room.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
A post in which I am 43
I woke up this morning to a birthday card from Mama. We milled around for a bit before loading the car. We had agreed last night to take it easy and not try to leave at the crack of dawn – this is supposed to be relaxing time. She eventually got everything rounded up, and I eventually got it all packed in the car, and then we headed for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel. Mom loves that place, and although much of the allure continues to elude me we had a good breakfast. I drove down, getting happy birthday texts from friends, and a special birthday call from dana.
We decided to get to the hotel before going to lunch, and made it down by about 2pm. After checking in and taking the bags up, we set out in search of a Greek salad. Longings for feta cheese and vinaigrette were destined to be unrewarded, however. We were unable to readily find a Greek restaurant, and settled for Friendly’s instead. It was close, and by that point we were really hungry. I had a very good tuna melt and a (non-Greek) salad.
After lunch we went back to the hotel to unpack and hit the beach for a while. Mom read and rested while I body surfed for a while. The water was very warm and gentle, and I very much enjoyed my swim.
We decided on Italian for dinner. It was my birthday dinner, and we eventually settled on a place called Rossi’s. It was a swank place, and they waited on us hand and foot, but didn't look down their noses at us for being dressed in vacation clothes. I was in shorts. The salads were excellent, with an in-house creamy Italian parmesan dressing that had to be tasted to be believed, accompanied by homemade piping hot garlic bread. I think my entree was better than Mom’s, but mine was excellent; perfectly cooked Grouper in a lemon/butter/caper sauce that was out of this world. The waiter was very nice, and topped off the meal by bringing me a tiramisu (my favorite dessert) with a candle in it – and no shrieking waiters. It was the best tiramisu I have ever eaten. What a meal!
On the way back, we hit a beach store or two, and a drug store to get stuff we had forgotten, or just odds and ends we needed to pick up. Then went back to the room and sat on the balcony to watch the waves for a while.
If you have to turn 43, this was a pretty damn good way to do it I have to say.
We decided to get to the hotel before going to lunch, and made it down by about 2pm. After checking in and taking the bags up, we set out in search of a Greek salad. Longings for feta cheese and vinaigrette were destined to be unrewarded, however. We were unable to readily find a Greek restaurant, and settled for Friendly’s instead. It was close, and by that point we were really hungry. I had a very good tuna melt and a (non-Greek) salad.
After lunch we went back to the hotel to unpack and hit the beach for a while. Mom read and rested while I body surfed for a while. The water was very warm and gentle, and I very much enjoyed my swim.
We decided on Italian for dinner. It was my birthday dinner, and we eventually settled on a place called Rossi’s. It was a swank place, and they waited on us hand and foot, but didn't look down their noses at us for being dressed in vacation clothes. I was in shorts. The salads were excellent, with an in-house creamy Italian parmesan dressing that had to be tasted to be believed, accompanied by homemade piping hot garlic bread. I think my entree was better than Mom’s, but mine was excellent; perfectly cooked Grouper in a lemon/butter/caper sauce that was out of this world. The waiter was very nice, and topped off the meal by bringing me a tiramisu (my favorite dessert) with a candle in it – and no shrieking waiters. It was the best tiramisu I have ever eaten. What a meal!
On the way back, we hit a beach store or two, and a drug store to get stuff we had forgotten, or just odds and ends we needed to pick up. Then went back to the room and sat on the balcony to watch the waves for a while.
If you have to turn 43, this was a pretty damn good way to do it I have to say.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
A post in which I get out of town
Eventually.
After another crappy night’s sleep, I got up and got ready for work. I figured I would have plenty of time to rest over the next several days. When I walked in, the girls had decorated my desk for my birthday tomorrow. My friend Nancy had also baked a cake for me. She gave me the recipe for one of my favorite cakes, and made one for my birthday. I thought it was really sweet that she went to all that trouble. They usually just get bakery cakes for birthdays here. Also, since I'm not really in anyone's department, they don't usually decorate my desk and stuff. I know Nancy was behind that. They had gotten me a card as well. It was nice, and I was touched. Work was fine, and I was able to get all the reports done (despite my boss’s extra pains to nit-pick) and the audit completed.
Russ was having an issue though. My appointment was tonight after work because he said he couldn’t take me any other day this week. He texted me at lunch to tell me that he had a filling fall out of his tooth, and had a dental appointment at 4pm. I didn’t hear back from him so I called when I got off work. He asked that I load the car before I came to the shop, so I did that. I really wanted to change after my haircut, but it was fine, and he got to the shop about the time I could get there.
And then, finally, I was able to get on the road. I really need this trip. The drive down was uneventful. I put a PG Wodehouse book on CD in the stereo and booked it, stopping at a Subway for supper on the way. I got a head start on my vacation eating by buying three cookies with my sandwich (I would have sworn that the girl asked me if I would like free cookies, but then that couldn’t possibly be right now could it?), but they were so sweet and loaded with artificial vanilla that I couldn’t finish them. I ate two though.
It was good to see Mom. We talked for a while. Granny is starting to realize that she isn’t going to be able to go home any time soon, if at all. I don’t see how she can go home with all that is wrong with her, but she’s fighting being at the nursing home. Any time they bring her something from her house, she sends it back home the next weekend. She won’t leave her room to be involved with any of the social activities, and more troubling, won’t have her hair done. She doesn’t answer her cell phone they got her when you call because she can’t remember how. She won’t let the staff do anything for her. She either has the housekeeper or whichever daughter is there do for her. Her housekeeper is still staying there days with her right now, but that isn’t going to last for much longer. She doesn’t seem to be settling in. It’s not a good situation, but I don’t know that there is anything I can do about it.
We caught each other up on the family news, but it had been a long day for me. I went on to bed. Tomorrow, the beach!
After another crappy night’s sleep, I got up and got ready for work. I figured I would have plenty of time to rest over the next several days. When I walked in, the girls had decorated my desk for my birthday tomorrow. My friend Nancy had also baked a cake for me. She gave me the recipe for one of my favorite cakes, and made one for my birthday. I thought it was really sweet that she went to all that trouble. They usually just get bakery cakes for birthdays here. Also, since I'm not really in anyone's department, they don't usually decorate my desk and stuff. I know Nancy was behind that. They had gotten me a card as well. It was nice, and I was touched. Work was fine, and I was able to get all the reports done (despite my boss’s extra pains to nit-pick) and the audit completed.
Russ was having an issue though. My appointment was tonight after work because he said he couldn’t take me any other day this week. He texted me at lunch to tell me that he had a filling fall out of his tooth, and had a dental appointment at 4pm. I didn’t hear back from him so I called when I got off work. He asked that I load the car before I came to the shop, so I did that. I really wanted to change after my haircut, but it was fine, and he got to the shop about the time I could get there.
And then, finally, I was able to get on the road. I really need this trip. The drive down was uneventful. I put a PG Wodehouse book on CD in the stereo and booked it, stopping at a Subway for supper on the way. I got a head start on my vacation eating by buying three cookies with my sandwich (I would have sworn that the girl asked me if I would like free cookies, but then that couldn’t possibly be right now could it?), but they were so sweet and loaded with artificial vanilla that I couldn’t finish them. I ate two though.
It was good to see Mom. We talked for a while. Granny is starting to realize that she isn’t going to be able to go home any time soon, if at all. I don’t see how she can go home with all that is wrong with her, but she’s fighting being at the nursing home. Any time they bring her something from her house, she sends it back home the next weekend. She won’t leave her room to be involved with any of the social activities, and more troubling, won’t have her hair done. She doesn’t answer her cell phone they got her when you call because she can’t remember how. She won’t let the staff do anything for her. She either has the housekeeper or whichever daughter is there do for her. Her housekeeper is still staying there days with her right now, but that isn’t going to last for much longer. She doesn’t seem to be settling in. It’s not a good situation, but I don’t know that there is anything I can do about it.
We caught each other up on the family news, but it had been a long day for me. I went on to bed. Tomorrow, the beach!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
A post in which trip work continues
I’m on a tight schedule this week for reports, but I think I can get them done. The main problem, as always, is one particular division. I’ve used everything up to and including personal charm to get their stuff in on time, and it has helped, but they still lag.
I exchanged emails with Mom today, more out of mutual excitement than actually needing to communicate. I really want this trip to go well after last year’s debacle in Atlanta.
After work I went to the library for books and books on CD, then by the grocery store for just a few odds and ends I didn’t want to have to worry about picking up when I got home, and then by the bank. When I got home I started packing. I am not a light packer and I’m going to be gone for five days, so this was not a casual undertaking. Still, once I made the decision to limit myself to three pairs of shoes I was OK. It helped that all the laundry was done.
Afterwards I settled down on the sofa with a huge bowl of snap beans and taters, and watched a special on TCM about Vivien Leigh. She was a truly ravishingly beautiful woman, even if one of the people they interviewed described his first impression of her as “rather muffin-faced…not at all the beauty she was later to become”. I guess anyone can have an off day, right? But then, bless her heart, she had kind of an off life. I don't think I would trade lives with her (even if she was still alive) for all her fame.
I had a terrible time getting to sleep tonight. Difficult last night too. I wonder if the honeymoon effect of the blood pressure medication is wearing off, and I’m going to have insomnia again. What an awful thought. Then again, maybe it's just the usual 'trip nerves'. I'm usually too excited to sleep the night before the fall trip.
I exchanged emails with Mom today, more out of mutual excitement than actually needing to communicate. I really want this trip to go well after last year’s debacle in Atlanta.
After work I went to the library for books and books on CD, then by the grocery store for just a few odds and ends I didn’t want to have to worry about picking up when I got home, and then by the bank. When I got home I started packing. I am not a light packer and I’m going to be gone for five days, so this was not a casual undertaking. Still, once I made the decision to limit myself to three pairs of shoes I was OK. It helped that all the laundry was done.
Afterwards I settled down on the sofa with a huge bowl of snap beans and taters, and watched a special on TCM about Vivien Leigh. She was a truly ravishingly beautiful woman, even if one of the people they interviewed described his first impression of her as “rather muffin-faced…not at all the beauty she was later to become”. I guess anyone can have an off day, right? But then, bless her heart, she had kind of an off life. I don't think I would trade lives with her (even if she was still alive) for all her fame.
I had a terrible time getting to sleep tonight. Difficult last night too. I wonder if the honeymoon effect of the blood pressure medication is wearing off, and I’m going to have insomnia again. What an awful thought. Then again, maybe it's just the usual 'trip nerves'. I'm usually too excited to sleep the night before the fall trip.
Monday, September 6, 2010
A post in which I am a remarkably good boy
Despite getting off to rather a slow start. Since I was out so late last night, I slept in, then had a leisurely, if small, breakfast, and lazed around for a bit before I got moving. But there were things that just had to be done.
I am convinced that if we had more three day weekends I would get more house work done. It just takes me two days of goofing off before I feel like doing anything, and I usually don’t have a third day to actually buckle down. That’s my excuse anyway…
I did all the laundry, including towels, sheets, and shower curtain. Terry may be coming to stay a night or two while I’m gone, and I wanted things to be nice. Plus it just needed doing. I cooked my beans and taters. I scrubbed the bathroom floor, and swept the kitchen. The kitchen really needed mopping as well, but I wasn’t going to just go crazy.
I called Russ and Billy, hoping they would get home soon enough to go to dinner or something. I knew they were coming back from Savannah today, and I would have liked to have heard about the trip. But they were stuck in traffic, and didn’t get back until around 9. Ugh. That is miserable. Apparently there was quite a pile up on the way back from the beach on Labor Day weekend – go figure.
I knew Miss Kat and dana would be holed up after the trip, and didn’t bother them.
So I just stayed in and relaxed with the computer and the telly. There wasn’t anything really great on. I tuned in to a Hoarders marathon. I will admit a morbid fascination, and it certainly made me feel better about the way my house looks, but it was a bit of a downer. I guess I really didn’t need to go out tonight anyway. I’ve already screwed up my circadian rhythm staying out so late, I’ve certainly done my share of partying, and I’ve smoked like a fiend all weekend. Plus I’ll be all over the place at the beach later this week, so I really can’t complain about not getting out of the house, right? Just as well to spend an evening in, I suppose.
I am convinced that if we had more three day weekends I would get more house work done. It just takes me two days of goofing off before I feel like doing anything, and I usually don’t have a third day to actually buckle down. That’s my excuse anyway…
I did all the laundry, including towels, sheets, and shower curtain. Terry may be coming to stay a night or two while I’m gone, and I wanted things to be nice. Plus it just needed doing. I cooked my beans and taters. I scrubbed the bathroom floor, and swept the kitchen. The kitchen really needed mopping as well, but I wasn’t going to just go crazy.
I called Russ and Billy, hoping they would get home soon enough to go to dinner or something. I knew they were coming back from Savannah today, and I would have liked to have heard about the trip. But they were stuck in traffic, and didn’t get back until around 9. Ugh. That is miserable. Apparently there was quite a pile up on the way back from the beach on Labor Day weekend – go figure.
I knew Miss Kat and dana would be holed up after the trip, and didn’t bother them.
So I just stayed in and relaxed with the computer and the telly. There wasn’t anything really great on. I tuned in to a Hoarders marathon. I will admit a morbid fascination, and it certainly made me feel better about the way my house looks, but it was a bit of a downer. I guess I really didn’t need to go out tonight anyway. I’ve already screwed up my circadian rhythm staying out so late, I’ve certainly done my share of partying, and I’ve smoked like a fiend all weekend. Plus I’ll be all over the place at the beach later this week, so I really can’t complain about not getting out of the house, right? Just as well to spend an evening in, I suppose.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
A post in which I am off to Spartanburg
I woke up to another gorgeous day. I wandered over to the White Horse Road flea market and just walked around, again not buying (or indeed even seeing) anything of note, but just enjoying the fine weather. There were some people down from North Carolina for the day selling apples, and they had an irresistible bag of Mutsus, which are my favorite. The bag I got had a beautiful big fat one, perfectly ripe, right on top. I also picked up some snap beans and little potatoes to cook.
When I left the market, I thought that such a magnificent apple really deserved to be paired with some Stilton, that most noble of cheeses, to make one of my favorite meals. I drifted over towards The Fresh Market in full redneck flea market regalia. I didn’t care. I’ve been cleaning out the fridge a bit at the time in preparation for leaving town, and there really isn’t anything fresh in the house, so while I was there I browsed their excellent deli and picked up “fun groceries” – just little dibs and dabs of things that looked good, and that could be used up before Tuesday. A spot of pasta salad, some salmon in dill cream sauce, a hard roll baked fresh with a crunchy crust, and of course the Stilton. I always get an almond cookie from the bakery when I go too. Just one; but I do love them. I just like going in there. It doesn’t smell like disinfectant, it smells like fresh coffee and baking bread; and they always have classical music playing. Sigh. I would love to be rich. But a little bit of the rich life every now and then doesn’t cost so very much.
I got home and had a leisurely repast, then lay around for a while. I had told Jeff and James that I would be up there early today to help, but I was feeling lazy and indulgent (act surprised). I also hadn’t done a single chore today. So I did the daily chores, got cleaned up, and headed to Spartanburg.
I was really looking forward to dinner tonight with the gang. They always have it on Sunday night, and I am usually haunted by the specter of the coming Monday and my early alarm. Tonight though, I didn’t have to worry because I could stay as late as I wanted. And yay me. I got up there around 4 and talked to James and Jeff while they fixed supper.
The rest of the gang trickled in. Russ and Billy of course remain out of town, but Amanda was there and of course it’s always a joy to see her. Morgan came with the new beau, Andrew. He’s a nice enough guy, and doesn’t seem to get cagey around gay people, which is all I really require of straight guys. We visited for a while and had cocktails before moving on to supper. There were salmon burgers (regular burgers for the carnivores) with all the fixins, oven-fried potatoes, grilled eggplant, and a butterscotch pudding/pie for dessert.
We ate on the deck and visited and talked while James magically whisked the dishes away. We moved inside for a while. There was some movie about people trapped in hell, and I pulled out the movies I had brought, but Amanda was the one that looked after me and got the channel changed. Eventually True Blood came on. They watch it every week, but I usually leave when it comes on. Apparently the season finale is next week, and they’re wondering what to watch next, but honestly I would just prefer not to have the TV on and visit. Of course it’s not my party, and most of them don’t spend as much time alone with only the TV for companionship as I do.
It was a great evening, as always, and we all enjoyed each other’s company. I took advantage of being able to stay late too – I stayed really late.
When I left the market, I thought that such a magnificent apple really deserved to be paired with some Stilton, that most noble of cheeses, to make one of my favorite meals. I drifted over towards The Fresh Market in full redneck flea market regalia. I didn’t care. I’ve been cleaning out the fridge a bit at the time in preparation for leaving town, and there really isn’t anything fresh in the house, so while I was there I browsed their excellent deli and picked up “fun groceries” – just little dibs and dabs of things that looked good, and that could be used up before Tuesday. A spot of pasta salad, some salmon in dill cream sauce, a hard roll baked fresh with a crunchy crust, and of course the Stilton. I always get an almond cookie from the bakery when I go too. Just one; but I do love them. I just like going in there. It doesn’t smell like disinfectant, it smells like fresh coffee and baking bread; and they always have classical music playing. Sigh. I would love to be rich. But a little bit of the rich life every now and then doesn’t cost so very much.
I got home and had a leisurely repast, then lay around for a while. I had told Jeff and James that I would be up there early today to help, but I was feeling lazy and indulgent (act surprised). I also hadn’t done a single chore today. So I did the daily chores, got cleaned up, and headed to Spartanburg.
I was really looking forward to dinner tonight with the gang. They always have it on Sunday night, and I am usually haunted by the specter of the coming Monday and my early alarm. Tonight though, I didn’t have to worry because I could stay as late as I wanted. And yay me. I got up there around 4 and talked to James and Jeff while they fixed supper.
The rest of the gang trickled in. Russ and Billy of course remain out of town, but Amanda was there and of course it’s always a joy to see her. Morgan came with the new beau, Andrew. He’s a nice enough guy, and doesn’t seem to get cagey around gay people, which is all I really require of straight guys. We visited for a while and had cocktails before moving on to supper. There were salmon burgers (regular burgers for the carnivores) with all the fixins, oven-fried potatoes, grilled eggplant, and a butterscotch pudding/pie for dessert.
We ate on the deck and visited and talked while James magically whisked the dishes away. We moved inside for a while. There was some movie about people trapped in hell, and I pulled out the movies I had brought, but Amanda was the one that looked after me and got the channel changed. Eventually True Blood came on. They watch it every week, but I usually leave when it comes on. Apparently the season finale is next week, and they’re wondering what to watch next, but honestly I would just prefer not to have the TV on and visit. Of course it’s not my party, and most of them don’t spend as much time alone with only the TV for companionship as I do.
It was a great evening, as always, and we all enjoyed each other’s company. I took advantage of being able to stay late too – I stayed really late.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
A post in which I go to a pool party
It was an absolutely gloriously beautiful day today. The weather was cooler than it has been, and God had just ironed out gorgeous crisp sunshine and draped it all over everything. It would have been a crime to stay indoors in the face of such a divine gift.
I got in the car, ran an errand or two, and then headed to the Anderson Jockey Lot. I passed up a nice half-set of Cherry Blossom. Meh. It was pink, and the guy wanted more money than I had in my pocket; and what was I going to do with a half set anyway? I did see several other pieces, but they were all crystal. Again meh. I mainly just wanted to walk around outside and look at the boys anyway, and I got to do that. I picked up some beautiful white peaches and headed home.
I started putting out feelers to folks, but couldn’t reach anyone. I thought that Jennifer and Christina were having a pool party this weekend, but I found out that they were working. I couldn't reach Nicole. Rick and James were having a party, I found out when I talked to Laura. Russ, Billy, Miss Kat, and dana are all in Savannah, and Donnie is in Pittsburg. So I was just short on the friends in town this weekend.
I lounged around the house for a while and scrubbed my shower, which badly needed it. I decided I deserved a reward. I really hate to clean the bathroom, so anytime I do it I give myself treats. I called Laura to see if they were free, and found that she and Kimbley were over at Rick’s. I decided to crash the party. When Nicole called me later, she decided to do that too.
It was a gorgeous evening. It was nice and cool, the sky was black velvet, and we were relaxing on the deck around Rick and James’s glorious pool. I got in the water for a while. Most of the hard-core people were inside playing poker, but they came out to chat now and again. I got to see Laura’s friend Chris, who is a really nice guy. I just enjoyed hanging out, having some beers, and talking to friends I hadn't seen in too long. I was very glad I went to the party.
I got in the car, ran an errand or two, and then headed to the Anderson Jockey Lot. I passed up a nice half-set of Cherry Blossom. Meh. It was pink, and the guy wanted more money than I had in my pocket; and what was I going to do with a half set anyway? I did see several other pieces, but they were all crystal. Again meh. I mainly just wanted to walk around outside and look at the boys anyway, and I got to do that. I picked up some beautiful white peaches and headed home.
I started putting out feelers to folks, but couldn’t reach anyone. I thought that Jennifer and Christina were having a pool party this weekend, but I found out that they were working. I couldn't reach Nicole. Rick and James were having a party, I found out when I talked to Laura. Russ, Billy, Miss Kat, and dana are all in Savannah, and Donnie is in Pittsburg. So I was just short on the friends in town this weekend.
I lounged around the house for a while and scrubbed my shower, which badly needed it. I decided I deserved a reward. I really hate to clean the bathroom, so anytime I do it I give myself treats. I called Laura to see if they were free, and found that she and Kimbley were over at Rick’s. I decided to crash the party. When Nicole called me later, she decided to do that too.
It was a gorgeous evening. It was nice and cool, the sky was black velvet, and we were relaxing on the deck around Rick and James’s glorious pool. I got in the water for a while. Most of the hard-core people were inside playing poker, but they came out to chat now and again. I got to see Laura’s friend Chris, who is a really nice guy. I just enjoyed hanging out, having some beers, and talking to friends I hadn't seen in too long. I was very glad I went to the party.
Friday, September 3, 2010
A post in which my picture is finished!
I finally got the reports straightened out today to do month end. So late this afternoon, the work started. Great. I’m pretty sure I can get all the month end reports done, but next week’s report is going to be super-squeaky tight to get out by Wednesday afternoon. That’s life I guess.
After work I went to pick up my second new painting (finally)! The guy helped me wrestle it into the car, and told me there was no way to hang it except with a “drywall molly” due to the weight. I dutifully went right over to Home Depot and proceeded to mystify the staff by asking for a couple. No one there had ever heard of them. So I picked up a couple of hundred pound bulldog hangers and headed for the house.
dana called me from the car on the way to Savannah. She said that Greg was at their place though, and that he could help me with the picture. So I drove over there, let him follow me home, and the picture went up surprisingly easily. I had thought it was going to be a real issue, but it went up with the hangers I had. We checked to see if they looked as if they would hold, and then went to supper. We had Mexican at the little place near my house. It’s kind of hit or miss, and my food wasn’t very good tonight. I hope Greg’s was better. The main charm (other than proximity) is that it still has a smoking section, but when we got there I found out Greg didn’t smoke. I can’t believe I didn’t know that. If his food wasn't any better than mine, I guess he'll score the experience as charm-free.
After supper we relaxed at my place and talked for a while. I put in Ponyo. The new picture looks enormous because the frame is huge and sticks out 4-6 inches from the wall. It really dominates the room. Greg left after a while and I finished watching the movie before turning in.
After work I went to pick up my second new painting (finally)! The guy helped me wrestle it into the car, and told me there was no way to hang it except with a “drywall molly” due to the weight. I dutifully went right over to Home Depot and proceeded to mystify the staff by asking for a couple. No one there had ever heard of them. So I picked up a couple of hundred pound bulldog hangers and headed for the house.
dana called me from the car on the way to Savannah. She said that Greg was at their place though, and that he could help me with the picture. So I drove over there, let him follow me home, and the picture went up surprisingly easily. I had thought it was going to be a real issue, but it went up with the hangers I had. We checked to see if they looked as if they would hold, and then went to supper. We had Mexican at the little place near my house. It’s kind of hit or miss, and my food wasn’t very good tonight. I hope Greg’s was better. The main charm (other than proximity) is that it still has a smoking section, but when we got there I found out Greg didn’t smoke. I can’t believe I didn’t know that. If his food wasn't any better than mine, I guess he'll score the experience as charm-free.
After supper we relaxed at my place and talked for a while. I put in Ponyo. The new picture looks enormous because the frame is huge and sticks out 4-6 inches from the wall. It really dominates the room. Greg left after a while and I finished watching the movie before turning in.
The new picture, in pride of place above the mantle. Isn't that frame gorgeous? I mean I love the picture too, but wow. I am just so impressed with myself.
(The new painting is a copy of one called Samson Breaking His Bands, by John Francis Rigaud. It depicts Samson breaking the fresh bowstrings with which Delilah has bound him while he slept. She bound him twice before he finally told her that his hair was the secret, and we all know what happened then. I have to think that a guy who kept telling his girlfriend to tie him up with stuff had to be a kindred spirit on some level. Rigaud was an English painter who painted this in 1784. This painting was his diploma piece and secured his place in the Royal Society. It is of course painted after the style of the famous Caravaggio, with a religous subject rendered in bright light against a dark background. Shortly after 1800, though, his career went into decline, and he largely restored painted decorations in buildings after that.)Thursday, September 2, 2010
A post in which I have dinner with Dad dn Eve
I walked in today to find a $93k fraud on my desk. Sigh. Not pretty, but it happens. That pretty much set the tone for the day. The month end reports that I use to put together numbers for my boss were wrong – again. I sent in the info to the IT dept and of course didn’t hear peep one back. Plus one particularly annoying account which is paying – by inches – made me wish there was a virtual slap upside the head as an email option. Plus I didn’t feel the best I’ve ever felt, although I felt better than yesterday.
They called today from the framers to tell me that my second painting is framed and ready to roll. I called dana and made sure she would be able to help me hang it. I wanted to pick it up tonight, but remembered I had dinner out to get to.
Soon enough though, it was time to leave, and I was most grateful to do so. Eve had called and asked me to meet them at the Cracker Barrel.
My Uncle Chris ended up being at dinner too. He rode down for the day (three and a half hours each way!). It was good to see him though. He’s a good, nice man. I went back to the house and visited with them for a while after we ate, but I was actually pretty wiped out. It had been a helluva day, and I had finished it off by eating fried shrimp, fries, mac n’ cheese, and fried okra. No, I don’t have an unhealthy relationship with food, why do you ask?
They called today from the framers to tell me that my second painting is framed and ready to roll. I called dana and made sure she would be able to help me hang it. I wanted to pick it up tonight, but remembered I had dinner out to get to.
Soon enough though, it was time to leave, and I was most grateful to do so. Eve had called and asked me to meet them at the Cracker Barrel.
My Uncle Chris ended up being at dinner too. He rode down for the day (three and a half hours each way!). It was good to see him though. He’s a good, nice man. I went back to the house and visited with them for a while after we ate, but I was actually pretty wiped out. It had been a helluva day, and I had finished it off by eating fried shrimp, fries, mac n’ cheese, and fried okra. No, I don’t have an unhealthy relationship with food, why do you ask?
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
A post in which I am poorly
I woke up this morning feeling like crap. I’ve had a little tickle in my chest for the past couple of days. It had turned croupy this morning, and I was running a low-grade fever. Dammit. My friends have been passing around and upper respiratory infection, and apparently it’s my turn to have it.
I wouldn’t have been so upset about it if we weren’t leaving for the beach next week. The trip I took with Mom last year turned in to such a disaster that I really don’t want anything to mar this year. I called in and made an appointment to see the doctor.
It’s ironic to me that I usually end up busier when I stay home than if I went on in to work. All I really wanted to do was lay down, but I had to get cleaned up and stuff so I could go to my appointment. I just made it. Then I had to go to the drug store afterwards.
By the time I got home, I was well and truly wiped. I took my meds, ate something and napped for a bit. I did feel a bit better later and put a load of laundry in. I have to get clothes washed for next week since I’m a bit backed up at the mo.
Russ called again today about going to Savannah this weekend. As much as I’d love to go, being gone five days next week is just going to be enough traveling for me. I need to get in touch with Jennifer and Christina about their pool party this weekend, but right now the possibility of any revelry seems remote.
I also called Dad, since I had intended to go see him tonight. I asked about coming tomorrow, and since I’ll have been on meds for 24 hours by that time we set it up. Lots going on right now, but I’m promising myself a good period of rest this weekend.
I wouldn’t have been so upset about it if we weren’t leaving for the beach next week. The trip I took with Mom last year turned in to such a disaster that I really don’t want anything to mar this year. I called in and made an appointment to see the doctor.
It’s ironic to me that I usually end up busier when I stay home than if I went on in to work. All I really wanted to do was lay down, but I had to get cleaned up and stuff so I could go to my appointment. I just made it. Then I had to go to the drug store afterwards.
By the time I got home, I was well and truly wiped. I took my meds, ate something and napped for a bit. I did feel a bit better later and put a load of laundry in. I have to get clothes washed for next week since I’m a bit backed up at the mo.
Russ called again today about going to Savannah this weekend. As much as I’d love to go, being gone five days next week is just going to be enough traveling for me. I need to get in touch with Jennifer and Christina about their pool party this weekend, but right now the possibility of any revelry seems remote.
I also called Dad, since I had intended to go see him tonight. I asked about coming tomorrow, and since I’ll have been on meds for 24 hours by that time we set it up. Lots going on right now, but I’m promising myself a good period of rest this weekend.
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