I was on the phone with my dad the other day, and we were talking about how I was storing my kayak at 2.0's house.  He asked me if I was keeping my PFD under her house as well (no, I'm not.).  He said, "You could keep your paddle there."  At this point, I realized I had no idea where my paddle was.  After thinking about it, I realized I left it at the kayak shop when I had the paddling lesson.  I called them yesterday, and get to pick up my paddle today.   Thankfully. 

I re-joined Weight Watchers last night.  Put on some pounds with the studying.  For me, WW works- I've got to stick to it this time, though.  New weigh-in date is Wednesday.  (I liked the group and the leader last night.)

So, I had a free weekend. Unless you count the fact that I had to go into work both days. That was easy, and I was a slacker this weekend and left early on several occasions, so it's all good.

Yesterday, I went for an "urban hike." A group of my girlfriends met at the NC Museum of Art and walked the Museum Park.   One of us had her fiftieth birthday yesterday, so as we sat in the Cloud Chamber we made her share her wisdom with us.  The most profound (to me) thing that she said was, "Life is hard enough on it's own.  Don't make it harder."  I shall try and incorporate that. 

Also, yesterday I went to the new REI.  Bought saddles and a fairing for my rack.  Both were used today when I went kayaking.  (Dear New England friends:  I went kayaking today and wore shorts.  Love ya!)  Then I ran errands.  Which was fun, but not when compared to the rug shampooing of Saturday.  Yay!  Clean carpet!

Oh, and Ri is using the open windows to call strays to the house. 

Like I said before, I had a "me" weekend.  Lots of time to reflect.  In light of recent events, I have decided to take a break from dating.  I just can't do it right now.  Although I am very picky in general, once I do decide that I want to date someone (I mean a specific someone), I give my heart very easily.  Which means I am hurt very easily.  I need some time to heal, some time to steel myself for trying again. 

This would be one of the things about myself that I wish I could change, but can't.

The lovely Jenna has tagged me with a meme.

5 Things

10 years ago – I was a junior in college, working in the Physics Department and at my hometown’s water treatment plant.
8 years ago - I had moved to MA and started my Master’s Degree.
4-7 years ago – I finished my Master’s and took a job in NC.
2 years ago – I was transferred to another office within my company.
Now – I am still here, considering finding another job. I have taken the PE and am waiting on results. I am getting more involved with my community here- I joined the Jaycees last night.  

Five yummy things:

1) Chocolate
2) Spinach Artichoke Dip
3) Feta cheese
4) Starbucks Skim Mocha, no whip.
5) Pepperoni Pizza

Five songs I know by heart:

1)  Moondance (Van Morrison)
2)  Suds in the Bucket (Sara Evans)
3)  Sin Wagon (The Dixie Chicks)
4)  Nothing Else Matters (Metallica)
5)  Paradise by the Dashboard Light (MeatLoaf)

Five things I would do with a lot of money:

1) Pay off my debt.
2) Travel
3) Buy a house.
4) Buy a horse.
5) Send Goose to college.

Five places I would to escape to:
1) Peg’s
2) Maine
3) the beach
4) Ireland
5) a tent somewhere

Five things I would never wear:

1) Gauchos
2) Capri Pants
3) Skorts
4) Halter top
5) Fanny pack

Five favorite TV shows:

1)  The Amazing Race
2)  Gilmore Girls
3)  Battlestar Galactica      
4) CSI 5) Cold Case

Five things I enjoy doing:

1) Kayaking
2) Horseback Riding
3) Cooking
4) Traveling
5) Playing with the boys

Five Favorite toys:

1)  Kayak
2)  Orion
3)  Fred (Peg’s cat)
4)  my hiking boots
5) My Canon A75.

Five people who get this meme:

How ‘bout 2? Megan and Janet.

We had another Christmas Party Planning committee meeting today at work.  Our last meeting, I was excited and looking forward to the party.  I thought I had someone to go with.  Now, I'll be going alone.  As usual.  I hate going to these sort of things alone.  No one to commiserate with, no one to make fun of others with.  (On a side note, we are making name tags for the Christmas Party.  Don't we all work together?  Shouldn't we know each other?  I'm wearing someone else's.)  The truth is, big crowds make me nervous (even when I know the people).  I hate going to parties by myself.  Mingling is not one of my better skills.  Ugh.  This is where a gay boyfriend would really come in handy.

Oh, the party?  Is on my 30th birthday.  (Note:  I am bummed about my birthday.  Not about the getting older part, but about the I am a single career gal who doesn't want to be single and actually has no career path.  Seriously, most of what I do I did when I worked as a lab tech in high school.  Seven years of school has gotten me more money, but not much else.)

The Divine Megan's Friday questions:   

1. What tantalizes you the most? (tan·ta·lize (tăn'tÉ™-lÄ«z'): To excite (another) by exposing something desirable while keeping it out of reach.) [Thanks Janey!]   Hmm...  Dark Chocolate maybe?  I don't know. 
2. Have you started your Christmas shopping? When do you usually start? (Thanks Michele!)  No.  I don't usually start until after Thanksgiving.  I also do a lot of online shopping. 
3. Do you have today off? If yes, what are your plans. If no, what would you be doing if you had it off? No.  I am working.  If I were off, I'd be cleaning. 
4. Sleep nekkid or no? Why? (Thanks Krista!)  Yes, usually.  I buy nice sheets, I like to feel them.
5. If you have pets, do you let them sleep with you? (Thanks Krista!)  I do, and they usually do, unless Orion keeps waking me up to get me to move.  Then they get thrown out. 
6. What is your favorite thing about the holiday season? (Thanks Azzy!)  I like Thanksgiving, getting together with family.  I also like baking Christmas cookies. 
7. What's your favorite writing instrument? The Pilot G-2  0.5mm.   
8. What are your plans for the weekend?  I am cleaning my house, Cdub and I are going to the movies and dinner, and another friend and I are getting together to plan my birthday party!

Saturday I slept in.  Until 10 AM-very late for me.  I went to work that afternoon, then headed to the mall.  I needed new moisturizer.  My skin has decided that it will still be oily and breakout, but it's also going to be dry.  Clarins was giving free facials, so yay!  Bought some moisturizer, which I can return if I don't like it. 

Met Cdub for a movie (Derailed.  Liked it.)  (Cdub was amused the entire night by the fact that I had called and left her a message saying, "I lost track of time at the mall, I'll be there a little late."  Cdub:  "I'm at the mall, so I'm going to be late to meet you at the mall." )  We went to Firebird's after the movie for dinner, and the hostess cheerfully informed us that the wait was 60 to 70 minutes.  Me:  "Um, no."  She was very confused that I was telling her we weren't waiting.  We left, and found a little deli to eat at.  Had chili and a Caesar salad.  Yummy.

Saturday night had many dreams about the most recent beau.  In the dreams, we were still together and happy.  Dear subconscious, please try to keep up.  Love, Watergirl.

Today, I went to the Orange County Open Studio tour with a friend.  We had a great time, and saw some lovely art.

Today I sent out the invitations for my party.  Yep, I'm throwing myself a birthday party.  At someone else's house.  Because when I am tacky, I am TACKY. 

But so very excited. 

From the Divine Megan.

1. What do you give thanks for this Thanksgiving?  My family, my friends, the boys.
2. Do you have any Thanksgiving traditions?  I go up to my Great-Aunts.  Dinner is at my Aunt and Uncle's with her family.  We also go see the new Harry Potter movie sometime over the weekend.
3. What's the best part about Thanksgiving?  Having time off from work and seeing my family. 
4. What's your favorite Thanksgiving food?  I like the stuffing.  And mincemeat pie.
5. Do you have the day after Thanksgiving off? If so, what are you going to do with your day? Yes, I do.  I will hang around Peg's house reading.  We eat leftovers for dinner.  I think TRgirl and Randy are coming out to see us that day. 
6. What are your plans for the weekend?  Tonight I am going to see Walk the Line with Little Matty.  Tomorrow I am riding, and I don't know what else I'll do.  I may have lunch with Jbabe. 

Friday, Little Matty and I went to see Walk the Line.  When I got to the theater, I had a message from another friend of mine, "Hey, I thought we could do the single girl thing and go see a movie."  I called her back and had her meet us at the theater.  (She asked, "Wait.  Am I interrupting a date?"  Um, no.  Because I wouldn't have invited you if it were a date.)  The movie?  Excellent.  You should go see it.  Afterwards we went out to dinner, where I had a very large beer. 

Saturday I rode in the morning.  I rode Buster, a new arrival at the farm.  He is wonderful and I really liked him, even though he ran me into the barbed wire fence and ripped my breeches.  They were kind of ripped up anyway.   Later that day, I went shoe shopping and bought nothing.  No shoes.  Well, I did buy too many books at Barnes and Noble.  Including Bridget Jones's Diary, as recommended by Jenna.  Whose advice is usually sound.  I came home, watched The Godfather (I had borrowed it from Little Matty.)  I'd not seen it before.  Good movie, although I had trouble keeping track of who had been killed.

Sunday I read the paper, cleaned house, e-mailed, and read.  It was a good ending to an excellent weekend. 

This weekend, I found a post of mine that had been copied and pasted onto someone else's blog, with no attribution to me (I'm not linking, because I will not give this person site traffic).   The work posted here is mine, not yours.  It is copyrighted under US copyright laws.  (Go here for an explanation.)  If you aren't clever enough to write your own stuff (especially a post about why you chose the career you are in) then perhaps you shouldn't have a blog. 

to my new home. Megan made it all pretty for me. I love it!

Little Matty: (to printer) Print, damn you!
Watergirl: Does that work?
LM: It does when you also click on the little print window.
WG: Oh, so you don't know which actually works.
LM: No, I haven't isolated the variables.