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Archive for July, 2009

Part Two: And Away We Go!

Friday, July 31st, 2009

airplane take off

We had, at the very last minute the night before, secured a ride to the airport with a guy S sometimes employed. Yay, Brian! Not only did he show up ON TIME, but he helped us load the luggage in and unload at the airport.

I was excited, since I love to fly, but also a bit nervous since S never had. To make matters worse, when we left for the airport, we thought we were in different parts of the plane. That was okay though. I had a plan. I was going to very nicely explain to whoever I thought would be most amenable to the idea that since he had never flown, we weren’t sure if he was a puker, and did he/she really want to take that chance? Good plan, huh?

Well, as it turned out, it was entirely unnecessary. We secured seats together once we checked in at the airport. Well, we did the whole check in two hours early bit, as advised.

In Charlotte, they were so well organized that we were completed the entire process in all of twenty minutes. With all that spare time, we wandered around exploring. As mentioned before, S had never flown. It was kind of fun, seeing everything through his eyes. We tried out the moving sidewalks. We looked around in every gift shop. We visited all the gates, pausing to rock in the rocking chairs in front of some huge glass windows. As it neared time for us to board, we stopped at the Rocky Mountain Chocolates shop.

See, suddenly it occurred to me, that with everything going on that morning, and despite the fact that I had cooked an entire pound of bacon before we left the house, the whole of my breakfast was an orange. No way in hell was that going to tide me over until we landed at 2pm. So, we stopped to get a truffle each. (Because that truffle was going to go a long way to stave off hunger. And because I was determined to be the first person in the history of travel to return from a cruise weighing the same as when I left.)

There was no organized line, at first. And when one finally formed, we had lost a few spots. Keep in mind, this is in the airport. Everyone is in a hurry to catch a plane. This woman behind me is flipping her gourd while she waits. She’s sighing. She’s huffing. She’s puffing. Finally, when it’s our turn, she interrupts.

lady: Excuse me, but I’m in a hurry.

me: (I think I gave her one of my blank looks as I waited for her to grasp the stupidity of her remark) Uh huh.

lady: I really need to go.

me: I get it.

lady: (shifting)

me: Fine. So go. (I’m not sure why I was generous. I mean, not that it was an uncharacteristic move, just that she was being so…grrr.)

At this point she orders three, count them THREE, candy coated apples that she asks to be sliced and bagged individually. Now I’m ready to flip my gourd. All I needed was two, count them, TWO stinking truffles that would have been dropped into a single bag, passed off, and I would have been on my way. And I’m pretty sure I mentioned this to S, which may be why she made me feel like a total ass by paying for my truffles. Damn it. Just when I wanted to be good and annoyed for a minute.

Well, we boarded the plane. I let him have the window seat while I sat in between him and stranger danger. Stranger danger in this case was a mid twenties guy who was working on developing a genealogy website for his Irish family. And he was…shall we say, a little larger than the average bear. So he spent most of the flight seeping over into my seat. And have I mentioned often enough that I HATE BEING TOUCHED BY STRANGERS.

We land, we get our luggage fairly quickly. We find a line of taxis awaiting all of us unsuspecting tourists. We hop in the nearest one, which was, of course, being driven by a foreigner from Haiti. He takes us to the nearest liquor store on the way to our hotel in Miami Beach. And then it’s on to Miami Beach Resort and Spa.

Here’s what you must understand about booking a hotel online. It’s such a challenge to find a really great one. There’s a lot to consider between location, price, amenities, decor…and we only needed to be there for one night. I can handle almost anything for one night. I once stayed in a motel in Virginia that had a rotten floor surrounding the toilet. I just kept waiting for the thing to fall in on me. And in Florence, Italy, I had to shove a wardrobe in front of the door, since it refused to lock. So, most anything is a step up.

Well, we arrive, it looks great, a little fancier than we’ve stayed at before. There is a concierge, which was a totally new concept for S. And of course there are bellhops and valets. We end up in the lobby, attempting to check in about forty-five minutes before the actual check-in time. No big deal. We’ve done this before. Only now, our room isn’t ready. And we find out our room is non-smoking and has no balcony. (Mostly because there are virtually no rooms with balconies in Miami. Strange.) It’s now 3:15pm and Ghandi would have eaten more than I had that day.

As I have mentioned in the past…I get ugly when I’m not fed. We’re waiting. He’s doing well, despite the fact that he’s about to have a nic fit and he doesn’t trust leaving the luggage unattended in a strange city. And my body is eating itself. (Technically, it would mean my body was feasting. I can afford to miss a meal.) I’m digging through my purse for anything. And I mean ANYTHING. I would have eaten a cherry Chapstick. Luckily, I didn’t have to get that desperate. I had one of those mini-Tootsie pops. It was cherry. I don’t eat the tootsie roll part. So, it was gone in seconds, leaving me with a mild sugar buzz.

With two minutes to spare for check-in, the man working on our reservation makes eye contact. Now, picture it. This is a relatively ritzy hotel on the beach in Miami. There is a group of women dressed to impress, dripping with diamonds and other sparklies, and their truckload of designer luggage separating me from my room key and the promise of food after we dropped our bags. I was as nice as I could muster, really.

me: Excuse me! (And then I literally blew through the center of the group.)

I’m five feet nothing. S should be parting the way for me. I reach the desk and start looking around for him. Finally, I see him, doubled over laughing so hard that he can’t move. We had stopped speaking about ten minutes before on the grounds that we didn’t want to say something that would wreck the rest of the vacation. In that moment, brought together by laughter, all wounds were healed. And he nicknamed me ‘the human bowling ball.’ Huh, really? Because I have to tell you, I felt more like Moses parting the Red Sea. Oh well.

Yeah. I know I promised to tell you about being lost and alone in Miami today, but this post was already long enough. Come back tomorrow and find out why I should have a GPS chip installed in me.

Posted in Travels | 3 Comments »

A typical day…

Friday, July 31st, 2009

sunrise Just because I know you’ve all been dying for more insight into my life, since I’m so reluctant to share anything personal…*cough cough* I thought I’d give you a little taste of a typical day.

This morning, for example…

I struggled to get out of bed because S makes being there sooooo comfy
I dressed to work out
I didn’t actually work out because once I arrived in the living room I discovered our garage monkey had become a living room love seat monkey and I don’t need an audience (Doug will never learn)
so I posted to the blog and checked my stats (46 visitors yesterday, a new high, and I only need thirteen more unique visitors before Saturday to reach my personal goal of 200 unique visitors for the month…so please SHARE ME!)
then I made S his breakfast and brought it to him in bed, as usual (Don’t get too excited. He drinks Carnation Chocolate Instant Breakfast…it’s powder and milk, not actual cooking.)
I cleaned the cat box because would you believe, even though Keenan swears he cleans it daily…those kitty-cows have upped their bodily output to the point that it looks like it hasn’t been cleaned for days. I swear.
then I folded the laundry I did at ten o’clock last night and put it away (for the adults) and in the kids’ bedrooms
threw in a load of towels and sheets (the laundry is OFFICIALLY caught up…for now)
kissed S goodbye (he sought me out!)
showered (Didn’t really have time to shave the legs. Sorry, S. Think he’ll notice?)
made scrambled eggs covered in salsa (Damn diet breakfast! Pretty proud of myself though. I’ve been dreaming about the McGriddle ever since I wrote about it. Such willpower. Okay…not will power. Made a new deal with S. I’ll get in shape, he’ll quit smoking. Everybody wins!)
packed my lunch (Okay, stuck a Lean Cuisine in my bag. You say tomato…)
threw the laundry into the dryer
loaded the dishwasher and ran it
wrote ‘to do’ list for the kids (Wouldn’t it be lovely if the was one stinking thing I didn’t have to do around the house?)
stamped S’s mail and stuck it in the mail box
drove as fast as I dared to work (Saw four cops in three miles and narrowly avoided a head on collision as some man crossed into my lane while glancing behind him. Didn’t see my life flash before my eyes. A little disappointing.)

And this is where the venting begins.

parked beyond the red line, which is a new rule (And prompted a phone call to Donna. I parked across from her, which made our SUVs look like they were facing off in a fight to the death. I could picture revving engines and everything. It was the only thing that made me giggle this morning.)
walked through two parking lots, a natural area, and a huge landscaped median to arrive at the door I must enter, which is another new rule
pried the doors open (FFS!)
walked through the store on highly polished floors (at least I didn’t wipe out this time)
arrived to find the phone already ringing (and I really like to ease into my day…)

Ta da! Now I work for eight hours, go home, do dinner, work on the computer…

I should be a size three, damn it!

Oh, I’ve decided to give a weight loss update on Mondays. Anything more frequent than that will only make me tense and ugly. And we wouldn’t want that would we?

Posted in Reflections | 2 Comments »

Happy Dance Time!

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

fireworks Or it could be a case of premature adulation.

I heard from my agent. She checked out the blog. And now she wants to see the second novel I completed. I’m very excited.

And yesterday, I had a new all-time high with visitors. 46! Yay!

But wait…there’s more! I learned how to install a photo gallery so I can share my pictures. I know, there’s nothing I like more than being able to look at vacation and other photos of complete strangers. On the bright side, you are in control. Set the speed. Fast forward if you want. But definitely check out my towel animals from the cruise.

And…for those of you who may have missed it previously, check out the glossary and the players. Enjoy! (Because I’m really enjoying my pet project. Hope it shows!)

Posted in Reflections | No Comments »

Part One: The Planning…

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

miami beach photo S had just finished a major Hardie siding job that I had referred him for. He had told me previously that he would reward me for recommending him. We were on again/off again at the time, but never terribly far apart. For reasons that I won’t even bother trying to get into right now, I believed in my heart that we were meant to be.

So, when he invited me to meet him and some of our friends at Chuck E. Cheese to play skeeball, which is totally our game since our first beach trip, I went. We had fun. He was a bit flirty, but I tried to be as aloof as possible, remembering that this is S we’re talking about. We’re in the middle of shooting scarab beetles and mummies when he popped the question. (Not that question, silly!) He invited me to Miami with him. It was our dream to see blue water together. Oh, and this being Saturday night, he wanted to leave by Wednesday. (I talked him into letting me work the entire week.)

In the history of our relationship, S is famous for the take back. He has turned it into something of an art form. And I was always left a shattered mess. You name it, he’s taken it back on the grounds, mostly, that he was wearing his Jager goggles as he viewed life. Last night, he explained it differently. It seems that I am so positive, so optimistic, so good that I make him believe anything is possible, etc. (Not sure when that became a bad thing…)

Anyway, I was afraid that with an entire week between the departure and the planning, he might back out. The only thing I had on my side was that he hated to waste money. Thus, the planning began. We had two goals in mind: swim in blue water and visit his friend Ian who lived in Miami.

Soon, I realized that if we really wanted to maximize our vacation dollar, a cruise was the way to go. And luckily, Miami being the major port that it was, there were plenty of cruises to choose from. All we had to do was select the length we wanted to be gone and the destinations we wanted to see.

With so little time before the departure, we had to call Expedia.com rather than book on the website. In all honesty, given that it was our first cruise, it was probably best that we spoke with one of their helpful agents. The cruise was booked, departing Port of Miami on Monday, making two stops in Key West and Cozumel, then returning to port on Friday morning. It was a nice choice for a first cruise.

(Really, if you start too big, everything else will pale in comparison. We’re working our way up gradually so there will always be a wow factor.) Good plan, huh?

Then we worked with Expedia to book our flights and our hotels. I never knew planning something so fun could be so exhausting. There was so much to think about. We wanted to spend as much time on the water as possible. And we wanted to be within walking distance of as much as possible. And since it was a huge splurge, we wanted nice accommodations. There was a lot to consider.

There was also much to organize at home for our departure. I had to make sure J would keep the kids and knew what they had going on that week. Rachel was in the thick of play rehearsals at that point. There was carpooling to consider. And there was the math tutoring. And she had to babysit. Well, suffice it to say, a whole lot of logistics.

The hardest part of the planning…in truth…was finding someone to take us to and pick us up from the airport.

**Check back tomorrow when I tell you about becoming the human bowling ball and being lost and alone in Miami.**

Posted in Travels | 1 Comment »

Watch for changes!

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

Those of you who have been reading me for a while may have noticed that new affiliates keep popping up. I have to tell you, that one thing I have always counted on in life was word of mouth advertising. I would much rather hear from someone I trust that a product is great or lousy. So, expect complete honesty from me.

For example, this morning, on the way in to work, I decided to give Wendy’s breakfast a shot. I like Wendy’s. I don’t love Wendy’s. They have a salad that I was rather addicted to for a while, The Chicken BLT, which was great with their italian vinagrette dressing. Anyway, breakfast not their thing. (At least as far as I’m concerned.)

I ordered a bacon egg and cheese biscuit. (Biscuits are all the rage in the south.) It was…not good. It fulfilled its main purpose. I was no longer hungry. At the same time, food is for my soul as well as my body. And I really wasn’t feeling it. The biscuit was too buttery greasy.

My favorite biscuits? They come from Chick-fil-a. Ahhh. And I can tell you where every Chick-fil-a is within a five mile radius. Alas, there was no Chick-fil-a on my route and I couldn’t justify being any later than I was already. There was also no McDonald’s, or I would have had the McGriddle, which is a work of art, true breakfast sandwich engineering genius. Now…I’m looking forward to lunch. (Not that much, it’s a Lean Cuisine.)

So, trust me when I say, I will only advertise companies I truly believe in.

Hostgator made this blog possible and affordable. Between their online support and their easy to understand instructions, even the newbie can create a decent looking blog. See?
Match.com truly is the one dating site I had any luck with. I jumped through hoops with eharmony only to be rejected. (That did nothing for my ego. The rejection was because the divorce wasn’t final, by the way.) Match made dating less scary, more fun. I loved getting matches every day, loved having a top five to choose from that better helped with their future suggestions, loved the many ways to be in contact. (everything from a wink to an IM) If you want a real relationship and not a hook up, work with them.
Gevalia is best known for their coffees. I like the smell of coffee. And with it is really doctored, I like the taste. The problem is that I am a delicate flower and it tends to be too harsh for my tummy. So, I’m a tea drinker. Their teas are soooo stupid good. The Afternoon Revival is the one that I turn to around 2pm just to make it through the day. (Do not drink close to bedtime. They have other teas for that.) The prices are competitive, no more than a grocery store.
And last, but certainly not least, Expedia holds a very special place in my heart. I started using them in February when S and I planned a major trip. (I can’t wait to tell you all about it!) And since then, they are the site I have turned to for all my travel needs from car rentals to hotels to air fare. They really reward customer loyalty, which is probably why they are so popular. And they make it simple, whether working with them online or by phone.

Rest assured, I won’t steer you wrong. At the same time, I know that everything is subjective. Hope you do, too.

Posted in Recommendations | No Comments »

Okay, today I’m pissy…

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

volcano Last night I was accused of it, but for sure, right now I am. And I’m hoping it’s that PMS thing because according to EPT there’s no baby baking. (Now Mom, we’re not trying, but accidents happen.) So, here are some of the things just irritating the heck out of me this morning.

I’m constantly running late. I never used to run late. Heck, I used to be early. Now…late, late, late.
In my efforts to lose weight, I have actually managed to gain .2 of a pound. Yup. That’s me. Dieter extraordinaire. Luckily, it hasn’t managed to impede my ability to zip my pants.
And I really can’t talk about the last one. Although, I will admit that I have just now started taking a new diet pill that came on a free trial basis. (I will let you know how it works.) And I’m not looking forward to some of the side effects it promises. It does say that it helps with a woman’s sex drive. And I need that like a I need another hole in the head.
I hate having an edit button. Sometimes I just want to vent. (This is nothing! Ask Donna.) I just really want to say whatever I feel right now, but I know I can’t. I know that if I do, somebody who knows S will stumble across it and say, “So, your girl says…” This makes me very irritable. Luckily, Donna is bound to walk by soon for a break and I can cut loose on her. She likes it!

Ahhh. I’m feeling better already. It’s good to have a plan.

So, anyone else need to vent this morning. Come on…I can’t be the only one. Let ‘er rip. You’ll feel better. And it will make me feel better, too.

Posted in Just Venting | 2 Comments »

Pool-thirty!

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

water feet Sunday, S and I were dying for some pool time. We suddenly realized that we hadn’t gone to the pool yet, the entire season. And considering how long the pool season is in Charlotte, that was really saying something. In fact, the last time we were in a pool at all was our April trip to Myrtle Beach.

We tried to work it out with Jay and Spring, but it wasn’t happening. They were not in the pool mood. When we finally resigned ourselves to not being able to cool off and headed to Wal-mart, Spring called and threw us a bone. We should all meet up after work tomorrow to swim with the kids. Cool. A plan for pool time.

In the past, S has been hesitant to make plans. His theory is that whenever he makes plans, they tend to fall apart. Over the past year or so, I have to admit that he does seem rather cursed in that department. Still, I went about the day with the pool plan in mind.

We had an early dinner by S’s standards. (Which meant that we were done by 6pm.) I had the beach bag packed with towels, toys, and other necessities. He had a cooler ready with several more necessities. And with everyone finally decked out in their poolside best, we headed out the door. The moment we set foot outside the garage, the sky opened up on us.

Cautiously optimistic, we drove to Spring and Jay’s anyway. S checked the Doppler on his phone and was convinced it would only be a fleeting storm. Well, as the evening wore on, Spring gave up. The little ones, Lala and Lena, had to be showered and in bed by 8pm. So at 7:10, she began getting them ready for bed. And that was when the sky broke and the sun came out again.

S was impatient. We hadn’t changed for nothing, so we were going swimming. We left, bringing Breanna, Spring’s oldest, with us. The pool we elected to go to was one we had spent much time at last summer. Our theory was that we could somehow get in there.

Minutes later, that theory was shot all to hell when we realized the pool was padlocked. No getting around that. Determined, we drove back to Jay and Spring’s where S pleaded our case and suggested that we might use their pool passes. The catch, we would have to sign in using their names.

We arrived, found security lax, and managed to get in a whopping thirty minutes of water play before the pool closed for the night. Make that, the adults had thirty minutes of water play. The last ten minutes of each hour were for the adults to have fun and cool off ALONE. So, the kids had twenty minutes. And we had ten additional minutes of adult swim. Yay. Of course, the pool was more fun with them in there. We like my kids.

In fact, we like my kids and the kids who adopt me so much that they come home with us…a lot. Actually, I used to be the home for wayward kids until we moved in with S. He has curtailed a lot of that. (Much to Rachel’s chagrin.) Anyway, we worked out a deal with Spring and Jay, offering to take Breanna off their hands for the night.

It was a good night. For the most part. It just doens’t seem like it should be that difficult to get wet in a major city. This is not some third world country. Nor is this some rinky-dink town. We live in Charlotte, NC! So, if there is anyone out there with some other ideas for how to beat the heat and cool off in a pool in Charlotte, please contact me. I will take all the advice I can get. I hate being hot.

Posted in Reflections | No Comments »

Sometimes…He’s a Bear!

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

grizzly bear Okay, now I promised S that I would never write anything bad about him. And I don’t really think I’m doing that now. Just stating the facts, man.

So, in reality, he’s always a bear. Last night, for example, he was a cuddly teddy bear of a man. Rachel had Breanna, Spring’s oldest daughter, over for the night. We rented a movie, Push, and had snacks and watched it, the five of us, together.

S helped Keenan make some popcorn, which was so sweet that I could have just kissed him from head to toe. And he made me a ‘rita, cause Mommy needed a cocktail. We had just come back from the pool, which was a total fiasco, deserving of its own post. He had hung out with the kids while I hit Blockbuster.

It always makes me a little nervous to see him winding up rope as I walk in. Last fall he hog tied Rachel to level the playing field for Keenan. Yeah. Seriously. But everyone seemed unscathed and happy. (Okay, Rachel may have said something about being head locked in his arm pit while Keenan tickled her…)

Anyway, we were having a great time, playing a little keep away with the Boursin (the garlic and herb is my FAVORITE), before finally settling in. S and I took the lounger, the girls grabbed the couch, and Keenan settled for the floor. The movie didn’t stand a chance.

I’ve talked about S’s magic hugs. Well, something about him holding me, even if I think I’m not sleepy…I pass out in minutes. MINUTES. The only parts of the movie I saw were when he would ask if I was alseep and I’d force my eyes open and mumble about being awake. Luckily, the movie doesn’t need to be returned until Saturday, so I still have a shot at seeing it. Next time, I will be sitting on the couch. Uh huh.

So all of that…that was S in teddy bear mode. I like him in teddy bear mode. Ahhh. Unfortunately, sometimes, S wakes up in grizzly bear mode. That’s right, one of the many faces of S. (I have jokingly called him Sybill.)

What I have learned, the bad bear modes don’t last. And the way I respond, handle it with calm, give him space, let him cool down, that’s why I last. And I have also recognized, this morning actually, that I don’t always need a goodbye kiss.

I grabbed Breanna, since I was dropping her off on the way to work. She was ready in record time. Yay, Breanna!

me: He’s in a mood this morning. Do not make eye contact. Keep your head down.

Breanna: (immediately dropping her head) Okay, madre. (All of Rachel’s friends call me some version of ‘Mom.’)

S: (shouted from the garage while I was headed at a brisk pace to the car in the driveway) Goodbye!

me: (pausing like a deer in headlights) Yeah, goodbye!

S: (staring at me, expecting me to come into the garage for my kiss) Okay?

me: Um, you’re scary this morning. I’m going to forgo the kiss. I want to live.

S: (laughing) Okay. Well, the cable company shouldn’t have put me on hold.

me: Those bastards! (raising my hand in mock Girl Scout honor) I promise I will never put you on hold first thing in the morning.

S: Okay then. Have a nice day.

me: You too.

And I thought about it on the drive to work. I think I may have tamed the bear. He never used to say goodbye, let alone tell me to have a nice day. And being a bit more civilized hasn’t hurt his rugged good looks or made him less of the man I fell for. Instead, he’s easier to be with. He’s less abrasive. He’s quicker to apologize. He’s eager to rebuild bridges. He’s more understanding and intuitive and agreeable. Why just last night, last words before falling asleep: we agreed we were lucky to have each other. Luck is simply a more comfortable way of saying we know we’re blessed.

Posted in Reflections | No Comments »

Best exercise…

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Okay. I have never pretended to be the all-knowing exercise guru. I have tried more programs over the years than I can count on both hands. And I’ve had some mixed results.

Please take a moment and let me know what exercise regimens you’ve had the best results from.

Here’s what I’m looking for:

fast results
no longer than forty-five minutes a day (I cannot get up any earlier in the morning)
burns fat
tones muscle
does not involve a ridiculous amount of skill or coordination (I’m clumsy and low skill)

Let me know!

Posted in Health and Beauty | 14 Comments »

Making a House a Home

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

It is quite possibly the smallest room in the house, save for the bathroom and not including the wet bar. And yet it has become our very favorite, which surprises me more than anything. S and I can be found there together at the end of every work day. I help him with his invoices and emails, he keeps me company while I write.

It’s a warm homey space, thanks to the books and book cases. We placed the Lane Cedar Chest I couldn’t part with between the windows creating a window seat for Sophie, our littlest kitty-cow. And while the furniture and deep red walls, a color S created, are reason enough for the room to be welcoming, my personal belief is that the accessories are what has truly made it the most inviting room in the house.

See, everywhere I look, it’s a walk down memory lane for me. I have shells from our various beach excursions that I placed in containers with candles. And there are glasses from the cruise. (I’ll have to tell you all about the cruise…) And there are pictures of us parasailing in Myrtle Beach. I have the coconut monkey and the towel animal S made me sharing space on one shelf.

Yup, I have no doubt it’s the warm memories, the feelings conjured up at the sight of all those relics that truly make it our favorite place in the house. And the best part, we have an entire house to fill with the memories we continue to make. Already, there has been some overflow. I have a picture we took on Valentine’s Day in the Florida Keys over the mantle. And I’m eager to continue that theme through the rest of our decorating. Now we just need to travel more.

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