Friday night PB and I threw an Opening Ceremonies viewing party. (I love the Olympics. Love them. Will watch crazy sports in the middle of the night love them.) We moved the venue to my house. It was originally supposed to be at his place; unsurprisingly he has a better TV than I do and also can get HD. I could get HD, but I don’t like the amount of money I have to give Comcast now. The advantage my place had over his was that the parking lot was clear. Because it’s important that the guests be able to park.

It turned out that one of our friends, who is familiar with my living room setup (he and his wife take care of the boys when I’m away) offered to bring a projector. He and PB had a good time setting that up. (They are both computer guys. I’m not being sarcastic when I say that.) The party was fun and I enjoyed the Ceremonies. No, they were not the spectacle Beijing was, but I think the organizers realized that they couldn’t top that and thus didn’t try. Although, what was up with Nelly Furtado’s shoes?

Saturday we went to the wood lot* to split wood. I also helped load trucks for deliveries. Then we went shopping. I was in need of new pants. (My pants, they are too big.)

On Valentine’s Day we did end up being able to do what he’d planned. (It was originally supposed to be a surprise, but he ended up telling me when it was looking like it wouldn’t happen.) We headed up to Loudon Valley Vineyards for a wine tasting and picnic lunch (eaten in the tasting room of course). It should be noted PB does not like wine. I did a tasting; the wines were good, a few were too sweet for my taste, but the Cabernet Franc was amazing. Sadly, I only bought one bottle. I also had a glass of the Pinot Noir with lunch. Lunch was also quite good- it was prepared by a friend of ours who is also a chef.

It was a lovely, fairly low-key weekend. Even my pre-party flusterness wasn’t at the level it usually is. That’s a good thing, because this upcoming weekend is Sashafest 2010.

*Our Jaycee chapters have a joint project wherein we split wood donated by the City (they give us any trees they take down) and deliver it to people who would otherwise not be able to heat their homes. (We also take other wood donations.)

This morning I woke up. It was snowing, not badly. I headed out to work, driving slowly and carefully. Twice I went alternate ways to avoid traffic backups.

I saw 3 accidents, 5 cars that had spun out, and a jackknifed semi. For the record, I had not one problem.

When I finally got to the exit for my office complex it was backed up. Sadly, there is only one route of ingress/egress. I sat on the exit ramp for 30 minutes. When I finally made it out onto the road, it turned out that the issue was that people were having trouble getting up the hill, so the office complex tried to close down the road. Which, hey, if people could have turned around and left would have worked. Since they couldn’t, well, you’re just trapping people on an exit ramp.

This was our fourth snowstorm of the year. We have received greater than 400% of our average winter snowfall amounts. The snow has ruined 2 weekends (3 for some people; we planned on being snowed in for one of them) and will likely cause us to have to change our Valentine’s Day plans. (It did cause PB to have to spill what the plans were.*)

There is a possibility of more snow on Saturday and Monday.

I am sick of it. Can’t take any more snow. My tolerance is for one, maybe two storms each season. And really, not 7-12” of snow. And then it stays cold so that the snow doesn’t melt? Really? (That is very unusual for snowstorms here.)

It’s been decided that we are renewing our passports.

*Were awesome is what they were.

So, it snowed again this weekend. Started Friday afternoon, sleet and rain overnight, more snow Saturday until about 6PM. Last night the temperatures dropped to way below freezing, but today it's warmer, the sun is out, and things are melting.

(Aside: According to this blog post, Richmond has had 400% of our average snowfall this winter. And that was before this storm.)

Except for a brief trip to Kroger this afternoon, I've been stuck in the house with the cats since Thursday night. Anyone want a cat? Especially a white cat?

Tonight PB and I are supposed to go to a superbowl party. Not sure if that's going to happen. I can get there. He? Not so much. They haven't plowed out his neighborhood yet. (And let's not talk about how I'd be refusing to pay my homeowner's association dues, as this has happened each time there was snow.) I'm hopeful that we'll figure something out, because I am going a bit stir crazy.

Also, I don't want to yell at Peyton Manning by myself.

Friday night PB and I headed out to his co-workers house for a game night. We played The Settlers of Catan. The night can be summed up as: lovely people. Sucky game. (Yes, I know. Big hit in Germany. See: David Hasselhoff.)

It started snowing later that night. It did not stop until Saturday evening. We ended up with (depending upon where in the metro Richmond area you were) between 6-12". I remind you, this is the South.

We spent our snow day painting the hallway/stairwell in PB's house. PB learned that I have no skill when it comes to painting. (To be fair, I have now painted 3 times. In my entire life.) We also had the following conversation:

WG: Whoa!
PB: What?
WG: Nothing. Just almost fell down the stairs. (Note: Since I have known him there have been several major falls. One was on October. Still hasn't fully healed.)
PB: (sarcastically) Do you have inner ear problems?
WG: As a matter of fact, I do. Ha!

Oh, the paint color (not his choice) was a cold, hard, bright white. Is terrible and could only be saved by darkening the trim. His roommate has decided that she likes the color so much that she wants the trim the same color too. I am totally willing to repaint, but I am unwilling to paint the trim that color.

We also watched Lord of the Rings (the extended versions!). OK, we didn't get to The Return of the King until Sunday.

Oh, and we made eggs and bacon on Saturday. And tried a new meatloaf recipe. Could be good, needs tweaking.

• Last week at dodgeball, someone on the other team said to one of the girls on the team, “You’re like a sexy otter.” Worst compliment ever.
• PB’s car is amongst the many that Toyota has recalled. Toyota does not have a fix for the problem yet. Yay for death by uncontrolled speedy crash!
• (I’m not actually worried about that.)
• This morning I was awoken by a cat. I pet him and was telling him good morning when I realized that the cats aren’t supposed to be in the bedroom and I’d shut my door last night.
• I don’t think I can convey in words how much Orion hates PB. I can tell you that if Orion ever does, in fact, develop the ability to shoot laser beams out of his eyes, PB is a dead man.
• It’s supposed to snow this weekend. PB and I are planning a LOTR movie marathon. (He owns the extended versions.) We’re cool like that.
• Snow means one thing in the South. And that is French Toast. (Seriously, everyone runs to the store for eggs, milk, and bread. I have yet to figure out the magical properties of French Toast. Well, except for yumminess.)

Let’s pretend you are invited over to someone’s house to watch a football game. Dinner will also be served. You don’t particularly care to watch football. Do you

a.) Say, “Sounds fun, but I don’t really like football. Thanks for the invite, though.”

b.) Come, watch the game and hang out with your friends.

c.) Bring your laptop so that you and your girlfriend can take turns surfing the web. When she is not surfing the web, she will sleep on the couch.

If you pick c, please tell me how this is not rude.

Hi! Lots going on around here and I just haven't had time to post. In summary: Christmas- good. New Year's Eve- good. 2010- looking good.

Today, the office curmudgeon, who is an older gentleman (Note: is also an excellent engineer with years of experience that he is quite willing to share) asked me what server we store files on. Then he asked me how to get to the folder. Then he asked me how to transfer a file to it.

WG: Well, where is the file? Is it on your desktop?
OC: It's on my C drive.
WG: In the My documents folder? You can drag it from where it is to the sever folder.
OC: It's on my C drive. I don't know how to drag and drop.
WG: blank look
OC: Do you know how to use a slide rule?

Last Friday PB and I headed up to NJ for Bud’s wedding. We got to drive the path of the Nor’easter, which was awesome.

OK, it really wasn’t that bad. But, I’m not a huge fan of driving through rain. Especially in the dark. Which is why PB drove the dark part.

We did not make the rehearsal (that was not unexpected, but I had assured Bud that I would still be able to read the next day- I couldn’t think of a reason I would wake up illiterate.) but we did make the rehearsal dinner. Food, wine, chocolate dessert. And making PB answer questions about renovating Peg’s bathroom.

We drove up to the hotel and checked in and apparently watched some Seinfeld (this will be important later), although what I remember watching is History Channel.

Saturday, we woke up, headed out to a diner. (NJ natives miss real diners.) (PB grew up in the town next to the one I grew up in.) (Am going for a record with the parentheticals.) Then we went shoe shopping because he’d determined that I needed a pair of flats to wear. In case the heels got too uncomfortable.*

We got dressed and headed over to the church where I checked out where I’d be speaking. Also, I put on the corsage. On my left hand. Which already had a bracelet on it. Thus endeth the story of how PB ended up holding my coat, my purse, and a silver bracelet.

The ceremony was lovely. Monkey was the ring bearer and did a fantastically adorable job. My reading went well, first according to the English speakers, but then the Spanish agreed. (I did a Spanish reading. A poem about “El verdadero amor.” True love. My brother would not let me switch to The Princess Bride speech.)

After resting up for a while in the hotel we headed out to the reception. I have never had more food at a wedding. I had to check with my mom; the cocktail hour spread was enough that I wasn’t sure there would be a dinner. Which, would have totally been ok.

Hey, guess what? My brother sat all the cousins together. It was a kids’ table!

Anyway, fun! Dancing! Food! Fondue!

Headed back to the hotel on the free shuttle bus.

The next morning, Bud called. “Hey, are you guys going down to breakfast anytime soon?” No. Because we a.) did not pay for breakfasts at the hotel and b.) are still in our pajamas and watching Mythbusters.

(Clearly we know how to party.)

Anyway, we eventually got ready to leave and went and saw Bud and the SIL (who needs a nickname.**) and gave them their gift, because hey, why bring that to the reception? You know, if you are a forgetful moron.

We then headed in search of bagels. For lo, the bagels in VA, they are not so good. We had bagel/bagel sandwiches for breakfast and then bought some to go home. As PB was waiting to pay, he made some reference I did not get.

WG: What?
PB: It’s from Seinfeld.
WG: I don’t remember that. Oh! But I saw the Soup Nazi episode the other day.
PB: I know. I watched it with you.
WG: Really?
PB: Yes, that was me.
WG: I have trouble keeping the men in my life straight.

*Heels were fine. Slight cuts on my big toes at the end of the night. As Apple put it, “If you don’t have big gaping wounds at the end of the night, the shoes are not a problem.”

** Possible choices: The Beerwench, for she and Bud home brew, La Cubana because of how well, Cuban, or just The SIL, which boring. Thoughts? Other suggestions?

(Oh, and I took no pictures. TRgirl, Randy, PB, they all have pictures. I’ll post some as I get ‘em.)

This weekend, PB and I are off to NJ. Bud is getting married! Monkey is in the wedding. So are Randy and Goose. TRgirl and I are reading. I am reading in Spanish.

Full report Monday sometime next week.

Volleyball, about 2120 Thursday night. Our setter sent me a bad set. It was unbelievably bad.* To get it, I ended up swing with my left arm. This is not my hitting arm. I ended up hitting it at such an angle (and with force. Am crazy hitter.) that my arm popped out of socket. I knew immediately what had happened because I had surgery 15 years ago to repair this shoulder, because I’d gotten to the point where I was dislocating it several times a week. (Note: I was told after the surgery that it was highly unlikely I’d be able to dislocate it again. Way to go me!)

Although I’d used to be able to pop it back in easily, I couldn’t manage it last night. Luckily, one of my teammate’s boyfriend was there and agreed to take me to the hospital. (Note: He is also a friend of mine. And my mechanic.) We headed over but got lost, so I called Randy, since he drives an ambulance. (I’d already called them to tell them what had happened.) Finally made it; the ED was filled with sick children, one of whom gave me very sympathetic looks.

After an exceptionally long check-in process (Thanks for confirming my SSN with me, typing it in wrong, and then making me stand there while you tried to fix it, check-in lady!) they brought me back to a room rather quickly. Where we waited. For my 12-year-old nurse. And the doctor, who checked my shoulder and told me he didn’t think it was dislocated. He did promise to get me a Percocet.

Oh, was I in pain? Yes. Great pain. I said it was an 8, but that was when I moved or during a muscles spasm. Otherwise probably a 6. Of course, it was bad enough that I got sick. I may be underestimating.

They came to get me for my X-ray just before 2300. At that point Randy had shown up, so the Mechanic went to get my car and park it at his house. When I got back from X-Ray, finally a Percocet. My 12-year-old nurse decided she would take my T-shirt off and put me in the hospital gown right then. I shot her a look and she decided to give the Percocet 20 minutes to work.

She came back, cut my T-shirt off and helped me put the gown on. After she left, the Dr. came in and asked if I’d gotten my IV yet. I looked down at the back of my hand, then the crook of my elbow. “No.”

The nurse finally came to put the IV in. But, she didn’t bring the sedative and muscle relaxant with her. Because why do that? (Also, I should have let Randy do the stick, based upon the bruise I’ve got on my arm.)

I do believe that the doctor was getting annoyed with her.

Anyway, they knocked me out. Apparently they had some trouble getting the shoulder back in place, but that meant that Randy got to help. He was pleased.

When I woke up, I looked down, and still seeing the sheet that they had planned on using for the reduction under my arm, I looked over at Randy and said, “They didn’t do it yet?”

His answer? “Yes, about an hour ago.” I then moved my arm and was all, “Oh, yea, look at that.”

We finally made it home around 2:30 AM Friday. I did not work that day. Randy had to. At a different ED.

*I can’t set at all.

So, yea. We went on vacation. We= Apple, Angeler, and I. So, fun group, good times had. We went to Charleston; I am going back some day. Charleston = Awesome. Myrtle Beach = not so much. As PB (who wasn’t even there) was able to explain it best, I quote him. “You had fun, but not because you were in Myrtle Beach.” Myrtle Beach is very commercial and built up, but oddly you can walk nowhere. Just not my type of beach.

Moving on to this weekend. Friday I had happy hour and then headed over to Apple’s (she was not at happy hour). (Fun story: she called me while I was on my way over. I answered the phone with, “I’m on your front steps.”) I was sleeping at Apple’s because PB, Sasha, the Russian, and MJ were all meeting there at 6:45 AM. To go sailing!

We had to be there at 9 and it was about 2 hours away. Plus there was the obligatory coffee stop. (Wawa. No Dunkin’ Donuts on the way.)
The wind was out of the east, which made for some very choppy sailing. The Russian took Dramamine just before getting on the boat. He should have taken it at Wawa. We had to turn around and drop him and Sasha off- they headed home; the rest of us soldiered on. PB took the helm for a while and did a fine job of sailing us around and not dumping us off the boat. (Keelboat helped.) Also, he enjoyed every minute of it.

Sunday I met up with Dig, the Golden Boy, and PB to watch some football. Dig had no stake in any of the games. The Jets won, so I was happy. Green Bay won, so the Golden Boy was happy. San Francisco lost, so PB? Not happy.

But at least he had the sailing.

This past weekend (yes, I know it’s Thursday. Am very busy and important.) PB and I went to see Carbon Leaf Great Big Sea at Wolftrap (www.Wolftrap.org). Apple and EvilWatergirl* (EW from now on) joined us. The concert was fantastic. It did pour, and PB wanted to upgrade to covered seating (we were on the lawn) but was overruled. Or told he could upgrade his ticket but we were staying. The worst rain was after the show when everyone was walking to their cars, so he’d have gotten soaked anyway.

The next day we (PB and I. Apple and EW did not join us.) went and visited the Udvar-Hazy Center (real name much longer). It was fascinating. Really good displays and lots of crazy flying contraptions. Seriously, there was a lawn chair attached to a rotor. I prefer my helicopters to have, oh, sides, a front, a floor, you know…

When we were walking downstairs to the main floor, I almost opened the fire exit. You know, rather than turn right and keep walking towards the staircase exit that lead to the museum. My excuse is that I was talking and not reading. But still, had the potential to be the most embarrassing thing ever. PB might have left me there.

In other news that was not at all this weekend, I have a new bookclub. It’s like my old bookclub, but with fewer married moms. Which means we won’t have long discussions about kids**. Also, they had had issues with how My Sister’s Keeper*** ended, so bonus.

*Not actually Evil. She had moved to Chicago right about the time that I moved to Richmond, so the joke was that I joined the group as her replacement. She is back, but it has been determined that a.) I can stay in the group and b.) we are not arch enemies.

**I like kids. I just don’t want to spend my bookclub time talking about them. Or hearing your stories of when you were in labor with them (actually happened.) Also, so not a discussion I can participate in.

***I hate the ending of that book.

I woke myself up by laughing. I was having a dream in which my friends were making up various lyrics to Nickelback's "Rock Star." (No, I don't remember them. But they were funny.)

When my alarm went of 20 minutes later, "Rock Star" was playing.

I’ve just been really busy. Two weekends ago, Bud and his fiancée came down. When asked what he wanted to do, the answer was, “We want to see battlefields.” (This would be Bud, who just got back from Iraq.)

I had already planned for Friday night- we went on a ghost tour and had dinner at the Capital Ale House . (Bud’s a beer guy; he brews his own.) The last time I did the ghost tour, it was quieter. It was October, so no open car windows and such. Still a good time.

Saturday, battlefields! We started out at the visitor center for Richmond National Battlefield, aka the Tredegar Iron Works. We took a tour there. Others on the tour included a woman wearing a knit jumpsuit, another woman who answered her cell phone in the middle of the tour, and a guy who kept asking questions that had nothing to do with the tour. Like, hey, I have a question. About the river. Well, it’s totally related, because the river is just over there. Also, we made fun of him for the rest of the weekend by asking each other random questions. (We shan’t talk about the other thing we laughed about all weekend.) We then went out to Gaines’s Mill, where they had reenactors, for it was the anniversary of the battle. One of the regiments was a Zouave unit. They were cool, even with the silly pants.

That night I went to the best, most awesome, most fun wedding ever. Seriously. Wish all weddings were like that.

Sunday was the Crater. Bud’s comment? “I thought it would be bigger.” The temptation to bust out with, “That’s what she said!” was very strong, but I fought it successfully. Well, until now.

Last weekend was also a busy one. Canada Day party on Thursday (y’all know Apple is Canadian, right?). Friday, Apple, Flanders, PB and I hit the golf course for the first round that Apple and I have ever played. It went OK. Except at the end, when we found out people we calling and complaining about how slow we were. Which embarrassed me, but also made me angry, because, hey, how nice to have come out of the womb being able to golf. We hung out at Apple’s pool that afternoon and then hit Nacho Mama’s for dinner and margaritas as big as your head. We were able to sit outside on the deck.

Saturday hung with Apple and MJ and watched fireworks from near Apple’s house.

Sunday, PB and I went and saw Transformers. I enjoyed it, but it is every bit as bad as they say it is. Then we hung out at his house watching Deadliest Catch. There was a marathon! We couldn’t not watch it.

And now there is work, with its composting craziness.

I went out to Habitat for Humanity this weekend. Although the original plan had been for us to do some roofing, the shingles had been stolen the day before. We ended up putting up siding instead.

Now, I’ve put up siding before. Once. About 2 years ago. However, this filled the site supervisors with such confidence that not only did they not give us any instruction, they counted on me to teach the guy I was working with.

One thing I do know about putting up siding: you have to leave room at the end of the wall or along any doors, windows, what have you. (About ¼ inch, to allow for expansion.) When I was measuring, I was taking that into account.

Except that they guy cutting the siding? Was taking a half of an inch off of our measurement. His explanation? "That’s how I do it, to make sure you have space!" Except that since he was doing this based on my measurements, he didn’t need to. Nor did he ask me. He asked someone else on site if I was measuring tight or not.
He cut four lengths of siding. All were too short. He

1. threw a fit about wasted siding
   
2. told us if we screwed up again he was taking us off of the scaffolding
   
3. yelled across the entire site about how we didn’t know how to measure
   

1. you can probably find a place on the house to use 116” lengths of siding
   
2. right, because the whole reason we were hanging the siding that high was to play on the scaffolding
   
3. dude, you’d already messed up 3 measurements that you took.
   

1. Hey! I don’t have to be here. I’m volunteering, so, not really interested and getting yelled at and berated. I left.
   

I’m told that the carpenter was yelled at later himself for not measuring things correctly.

Tuesday I went to DC with Apple and her mom. Last time Apple and I had gone to DC we decided we’d head back to visit the Crime & Punishment Museum and the International Spy Museum. We decided we’d go when her mom was visiting. (Her mom lives in Fredericton, New Bruswick.)

Tuesday we headed up, metro, lunch, and finally, Crime Museum. We were in there for a little over three hours- it was fabulous. (Also fabulous? DC Museums on a Tuesday.) Really good exhibits, a lot of interactive stations, and just interesting. There were also pirates! The Spy Museum (full disclosure: I’ve been there before.) paled in comparison. I mean, it was interesting enough, but the other was just more interesting. And did not have a wild group of thirteen year-olds running about.

We had a lovely dinner at a pub near the Verizon Center of which I shall upload the picture I took of the dessert menu- lots of offerings with beer.

On Thursday a friend and I decided that we’d go see Carbon Leaf at the 9:30 Club in DC on Friday. If you look at their tour schedule, you’ll note that they’ll be in Richmond this Saturday. Alas, I will not, so this was really my only chance to see them. (Unless I go crash with Phoebs and see the Londonderry show. Hmm..) It was a good trip, except for the fact that we had planned upon eating there, which didn’t work out because the food was a.) unappealing and b.) not well-designed for eating whilst standing. Also of note: club is in a somewhat sketchy neighborhood. Elizabeth insisted upon taking us down side roads instead of main roads. We do not know why Elizabeth was mad at us.

So, yesterday I was in kind of a crappy mood. Ok, so it actually started the night before. Y’all know that I am on the board of the local chapter of a big community service/leadership organization, right? (Right, because I just told you. Please try and keep up.) Well, at our board meeting Tuesday, I got into it with two of my fellow board members, one for complaining about the number of events we have when she doesn’t go to them (meaning, I fail to see how us having more events that you don’t go to impacts you.), and one for wanting to develop a contingency plan in case another board member (not at the meeting) offends someone. (This particular board member, who is a very close friend of mine, can be very abrasive. It’s not personal, he’s just abrasive.) I was of the opinion that maybe we should wait until it happens and then tell him to shut up and go away. (He would. Shut up and go away I mean.)

Yesterday, slight argument with Bud. As he put it, “We were both a bit Grr.” True that. (No worries, all is well.)

So, I forced myself to go to the gym last night. Made me feel better.

Then I got home and discovered the broken garbage disposal.

But hey! The universe was all, “I’m sick of your bad mood crap.” So, first there was Zoot's post about her Dad, which totally and completely made me cry at work. Then I found out a friend of mine was in a car accident; someone on a suspended license backed into him while he was waiting at the drive-thru. (OK, truthfully that was a little bit funny. The car is a bone of contention between us. Well, just with me, since said person has no idea, but still, sucks for the car, glad my friend is ok, and wee tiny bit of serves you right dance.) And then, the very worst news of all: I found out a good friend of mine has cancer. (We are very hopeful that it will be completely removed next week.)

Universe, how about leaving my friends alone now? Kthxbye.

I’m fine, really. Been busy, is all. I had visitors last weekend, and we had 2 parties, a wine festival, and drag brunch to go to. This weekend was NASCAR and watch Monkey run my parents ragged.

Plus there was the whole pulling my abdominal muscles so badly that I couldn’t move for three days. And then on Sunday? Stomach flu. Which really sucked, as a friend from Raleigh was traveling through on Monday and I couldn’t meet up for lunch. Because of the not being able to eat and the not wanting to make others sick.

Today, I am sick of the rain but also hoping it continues so that softball is cancelled. Is that wrong?

And no, we didn’t get lost and just reappear now. I’ve just been wicked busy. Although, every time I go I'm reminded that I love DC and think I should live there. (Then I check housing prices and that goes away.)

Anyway, Apple and I met up at Flanders’s house on Saturday morning and drove up to the City. I did an excellent job of driving in the City proper and even got mad at someone for navigating DuPont Circle incorrectly. (Our hotel was on Connecticut Ave., northwest of the circle.) (Fun trick to play on people in DC: Tell them to meet you at the Starbucks at DuPont Circle. Watch in amusement as they try to figure out which one.)

It rained for the entire drive up and was still raining when we arrived. We parked at the hotel and walked down towards the mall. We decided to hit the newly re-opened National Museum of American History. It was crowded, but the new layout and exhibits are quite good. I’d have spent more time reading, but Apple is not so much of an exhibit reader. It’s all good. There were lines to get into see the Star Spangled Banner (we didn’t want to wait, and I’ve seen it before) and The First Ladies (again, we didn’t want to wait in line. I’ve seen it in the past and would have loved to see it again, but it was a 30 minute line.) There was also a line to get into the American Presidency exhibit, but we mistakenly entered through the back and skipped it. We didn’t even know about the line until we left the exhibit.

That night we headed down to the Tidal Basin; most of the Cherry Blossom activities had ended. Apple had read there was supposed to be music. No music. We did see fireworks however. Then we went and ate sushi for dinner.

Sunday morning we went to the National Zoo. We only had a few hours, so we didn’t see the entire thing, but I did drag Apple into the reptile house. I do enjoy the reptiles. (As long as Harry doesn’t let the snakes out!) We headed out of the City around 1:30 PM. We were heading down to Flanders’s parents’ house for dinner; they live about an hour west of Richmond. I knew how I wanted to get there (it’s similar to getting to Bob and Steph’s) but Elizabeth (that’s my GPS) was insistent that we take a different route. As such, we had to navigate to US-66 with a map of Virginia which had a very incomplete map of DC on it. Thus, we went all the way down to Constitution Avenue instead of taking K Street. Which, when there are signs saying that Mall traffic is congested, means it will take you an hour to get out of the City.

We’re planning on returning when Apple’s mom comes to visit. We want to go to the Crime and Punishment Museum and the Spy Museum . That will likely be a day trip.

This guy tried to pick me up in a bar one night about 2 years ago. Awesome. He kept telling me how much money he had in the bank. It increased at least once. ("I got $600 in the bank." "I got $800 in the bank. We can go get it right now.")*

His final selling point was that he lived in a $450/month apartment "down by the jail."

Why did I not go for that?

*It has occurred to me that perhaps he thought I was a high-priced, very casually dressed hooker trying to pick up johns at Pub Quiz and that's why he kept offering me money.

Watergirl: I think my liver has forgiven me for Saturday. Maybe it’s even healed!
Office Admin (OA from now on): I don’t think it works that way. But, I figure if we stop drinking by the time we’re 50, we’ll be fine.
WG: That only gives you 10 years!
OA: Oh, like it gives you so much longer. Like what, 13 years?
WG: No, 17. That’s nearly twice as long!
OA: Bitch.

Later, over wine and with different people:
WG: And Obama hasn’t fixed everything yet!
Yoga Boy: I know! And he’s been President for three months now!
ShanShan: I’m no longer an Obama fan. He’s gone back on some of his promises.
WG and YB (in stereo): He’s a politician!

Today is better. Apparently I just needed a good crying spell.

Luckily, I have good friends (Y'all included!). And an understanding future sister-in-law. Who, at some point, should get a nickname.

People to whom I have cried today:

Our Administrative Assistant
Reen
Sasha (at her house, while watching The Office)
Ed
My future Sister-in-law
Jdub
Mechanic Boy

People to whom I have not cried:
The actual person I am crying about.

As it turns out, there was extra money collected during registration for Dodgeball. (It has to do with single sign-ups vs. team sign-ups.) As our team is made up of mostly 21-25 year-old boys, it was decided that the extra money would be spent on a keg and wings. (There were e-mails flying back and forth wherein they discussed the research they were doing on the cost of kegs.)

Yesterday, we got an e-mail update:

To: Dodgeball Team
Subject: Dodgeball Drinkfest.

Our monies went to pay for the keg and jim beam-for shots. We ask that if u want snacks to please bring some. I will be bringing wings-and I might be willing to share;)

Dodgeball Teammate

So, now there is beer, Jim Beam, and no food. Apparently I am going to a frat party.

This weekend I’m headed up to NJ. Bud is home from Iraq on R&R. (Did y’all know he was in Iraq? Not sure I’ve mentioned it.) I’ll head up with Randy, TRgirl and Monkey on Friday and head back on Monday. I am excited to see my brother, but I hate NJ with the fire of a thousand suns.

Since TRgirl usually watches the boys while I’m away, I have to have a friend come and take care of them. Orion has to have meds twice a day and I feel bad asking people to check on them. Normally if I’m going away for an extended period I drive them out to my Uncle’s. (Bob and Steph: We have seven cats, what are two more? The boys: There are also dogs there!) (Jasper spends most of his time in Steph’s closet. Orion sits on the bench by the dining room window and yells at me for 10 minutes when I come to pick them up.) However, Bob and Steph live 2.5 hours away, so it makes no sense to drive them out there for a weekend trip.

Oh, and did I tell you I had the best time last weekend? It was in the 60s here and we hung out in Flanders’s backyard Saturday night sitting around the fire pit, having some wine, shooting the breeze. That was so much more fun than any bar would be. Well, except for when Hobbes* drank my wine.

*Hobbes is Apple’s dog and a complete alcoholic.

Friday night, wine with the girls. Then I went home and slept because I had a killer cold. Saturday I woke up and went up to BARK to volunteer. I had a good time, but the number of dogs was overwhelming. Most everyone else wanted to take one home; I had had my fill of dogs.

I went home and took a nap, and when I woke up there was a message from a friend of mine. She was wondering, since it was supposed to be nice on Sunday (it was 60 here), if I wanted to go out to the barn and ride her horse. That is akin to asking me if I’d like some wine.

We went out and trail rode for about an hour and a half. I’m not as sore as I thought I would be. It was fabulous and confirmed the fact that I really do need to start riding again.

On the way home, my car overheated. The temperature gauge was in the red. Good times. I put 2.5 gallons of water in it and made it home. I thought the body shop (who replaced the radiator) would give me difficultes about checking it out, but they were surprisingly agreeable.

Conversation with our Administrative Assistant:

WG: I'm taking a long lunch. I've got a therapy appointment and then I have to run home because I forgot to take my crazy pills this morning.
AA: Don't say that! pause They are anti-crazy pills.

Today is my first follow up visit with my new psychiatrist. I am feeling much better- I’m back to where I should be. To me, this reinforces that what I have is a chemical imbalance. I’m still going to talk to her about some therapy, because I feel like right now there are a few things I need to talk through. Overall though, I am content. Thanks to everyone who left comments and/or checked up on me. This is a journey and I took a wrong turn, but I’m back on the right path now.

This weekend I received possibly the best text message ever.

"Dont eat the white dip"

See, I went to a wine tasting competion at a friend's house. The white dip had crab in it. Unfortunately, I didn't get the text before I got there. I asked about the white dip and was told, "DON'T EAT IT!" This confused the other person who was there (we were on time; the rest of the partygoers were not) because she could not understand why one would put food out and then not let people eat it.

Someone brought peach Wild Vines to the party. I think it was a joke. I hope it was a joke.

Friday I went out with the AA at work to celebrate her birthday. We went and did some beer tasting where it was confirmed that I don't like bitter beers.

Saturday AM I headed out, split some wood for people who can't afford to heat their houses, and then came home and cleaned. I then went to a party briefly and then out to dinner and a movie with a friend. We saw Zack and Miri Make a Porno. If you like Kevin Smith movies you will like it. If you don't, you will find it vile and disgusting. I like it and found it very funny, but must say that I have never before been attracted to Jason Mewes. I am disturbed that I am now.

Today I didn't do much of anything. I slept on the couch last night and woke up at 11. And then spent most of the rest of the day dozing. Seriously, my main accomplishment for the day is, "I drank some wine."

I got a message from someone I went to high school with on Facebook. It said, "I'm married to (some guy I don't know) and we now have 8 children." The only response I have been able to formulate is "Better you than me!" because, holy crap!

Christmas day I had dinner with Randy’s family at his sister’s. Then I went to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with a friend. At the theater, there was a seating dispute that somehow necessitated police involvement. After the movie started, we heard from behind us, “Someone needs to chill out.” “Well someone needs to stop kicking my chair.” “Chill out!” “Stop kicking my chair.” So then we thought there might be a fight. Merry Christmas!
We had second Christmas on Saturday. See, after Monkey was born TRgirl awesomely declared that they were not traveling for Christmas. Which means my parents come down here after Christmas, Peg and Bob and Steph come out from where they are and we do Christmas the weekend after Christmas Day. Which means that I don’t have to travel.

I gave Monkey some books and a stuffed cat. When he opened the cat, he said, “Mow mow!” It was cute, but you may have had to be there.

Tonight I am having a New Year’s Eve party. Why? Because that way I get to stay home.

A friend of mine sent me an e-mail last week; he asked me how I was. I haven't answered.

Right now, it's a difficult question for me to answer.

I stopped taking my medications about 2 months ago. If you'll recall, right before I left Raleigh my Dr. told me that he didn't think I had bipolar disorder after all and "had just been having some emotional problems." Then he gave me enough prescriptions to last me 5 months. So, they ran out, I hadn't found (or bothered to even look for) another doctor. I just stopped taking them.

I was fine for about a month. Then things started getting stressful, I started not being able to sleep, and things just spiraled downward. I no longer wanted to be. That's the state I get to- I don't want to die, I just want to cease to exist.

It took me a while to admit that that's where I was, but my friends helped me find a doctor. The doctor fit me in right away, I'm back on my meds, and I quit the thing that was causing me the most stress. I'm starting to feel better; I feel like I'm climbing back out of the hole. The days are still mostly black, but there are some periods of color.

I suppose the anser to the question is: I was bad. I'm still not good, but it's getting better.

Today, the layout room:

Project Manager (to Watergirl, who is listening to her iPod): Good tunes?
WG: Actually, it's Click and Clack.
PM: A woman after my own heart! But I don't know how you can listen to them and focus on what you are doing.
WG: [PM], I'm folding paper. For the second day in a row.
PM leaves.

Last weekend we (Randy, TRgirl, Monkey, and I) went up to the parents' for Thanksgiving. Yes, it was a week early. Randy and TRgirl rotate Thanksgiving with the families, and it was their year to go to our parents', but he had to work on Thanksgiving. So we had it early.

(I never go to my parents' for Thanksgiving. I hate the drive.)

We were cooking that Saturday and the turkey had finished early. Mom was worried about the timing because she'd planned everything else around the turkey finishing when it was supposed to.

Fear not! We will always come up with a solution. TRgirl was picking up the pan with the turkey in it. Mom had used and aluminum roasting pan. It had handles, but TRgirl did not use them. She used the sides of the aluminum pan. Said pan promptly collapsed and spilled the drippings all down the front of TRgirl. Goose had stepped in to help, and they didn't drop the turkey, but she was yelling. I ran into the kitchen where Mom was taking TRgirl out of her pants. I went and turned the shower on- cool water. At this point we were all convinced that the grease/drippings were hot and she was burnt. At this point, Randy took over her (he's an EMT; we thought it prudent.)

I walk out into the kitchen to see greasy pan drippings all over the floor. Mom was crying, Goose was crying, and I started cleaning up the mess. I took my shoes off because, well, feet are easier to clean. It took 3 washings to get the floor semi-clean.

TRgirl was fine; the drippings had cooled before she spilled them on herself. Apparently the clothes she was wearing still smell like turkey.

I spent actual Thanksgiving out at Bob and Steph's. It was a good time, up until I hit the deer on the way home. I'm fine; deer is not. Car is in the shop, but it will go on my comprehensive. Therefore, my rates won't go up. The End.

If my weekend were getting a performance review, I would give it a rating of “Did not meet expectations.” The final straw was Sunday night.

I had gone out earlier in the day to get spare house keys made. I am heading up to NJ this weekend with TRgirl, Randy, and Monkey for Thanksgiving. We’re doing it early because of Randy’s work schedule. (It will be my first “Thanksgiving” at my parents’ house in 7 years.) I have to get a friend to watch the boys as TRgirl is generally the person who does it when I’m away.

Anyway, I had keys made. The cat-sitter was supposed to come over last night and learn the routine. I wanted to test them out beforehand. Phoebs had called earlier in the day, so I was returning her call and decided to test the key. Grabbed one of the new spares, closed the door, turned the key, and locked the door.

Except that now I couldn’t unlock the door. The key that had locked the door was not able to open it. I was stuck outside with no coat; luckily it was about 50 degrees. Also lucky? The part where I was on the phone. I let Phoebs go and called TRgirl- they have my spare key.

When I told TRgirl the story, she said, “Well, I’m in the middle of eating dinner.” My eye-roll was apparently audible; she corrected herself by saying, “I could leave, but Monkey is also in the middle of his dinner.” She promised to come over when he was finished.

I called Phoebs back and we talked for another 20 minutes. TRgirl called and said, “Randy has your key and hasn’t called me back.” Yep, Randy had taken my keys to work. At his 24 hour shift at the firehouse. In a completely different county. He was on a call, so we had to wait until he got back to the firehouse to go and get them.

I had to reschedule the cat-sitter’s visit.

I was talking to Apple last night about the election. (Note: Apple is Canadian but is very invested in this election.) I was telling her that I believe everyone has the right to their opinion and that I am willing to listen to other's opinions, I felt that my friends who support McCain have resorted to name calling. One accused me of "drinking the cool-aid" (OK. I do admit that it was really difficult not to respond with, "At least Obama's supporters know it's Kool-Aid, dumbass!") and another accused me of not understanding what I was doing to the country. Which, actually, I believe I'm doing the right thing for the country or else I wouldn't be doing it. (The general implication has been that I have bought into some Cult of Personality and that I am not even thinking of the issues.)

Apple said, "I haven't noticed that. Of course, I'm not friends with any McCain supporters, so there is that."

That’s my favorite quote from this weekend. Possibly this year.

Anyway, the weekend. Friday night I met some friends out at Chipotle. One of them had won free dinner for 10. Afterwards I hung out at home; I considered going out for wine but the discovery that I had left my debit card at home made that impossible.

Saturday I went to the Folk Festival . I was there before it opened to man a table for a friend. She’s started up a new business selling compostable and biodegradable food containers and utensils. (Since the name of her business is Green Duck she shall be known as Ducky.) Anyway, we had to be there to show the volunteers what could go into the compost receptacles. (The vendors had not been required to buy from Ducky, just encouraged. As such, there was a mixture.)

Once the festival started up I met up with another friend and we hung out for most of the day, catching a few acts. My favorite was Liadan, but then it is a well-known fact that I like the Irish music. We also saw a guitar workshop where different styles were played. It was fascinating.

After being out there for most of the day, I headed home and collapsed on my couch. I even turned down an invitation to go out for oysters.

Sunday evening I went and saw Religulous and then we went out to dinner. Dinner is where the quote came from. The movie was good; it was funny and the interviewees often made the arguments for Bill Maher. On the other hand, he was constantly interrupting the interviewees and at the end of the movie he got quite preachy, which was ironic. But at the end of the day, how can you not like a movie that has a United States Senator admit (after saying some truly stupid things), “You don’t have to pass an IQ test to get into the Senate.” (Dear Arkansas: You might want to rethink that.)

Friday night I met up with Apple and Flanders (and a few of Flanders’s co-workers) for Happy Hour. I was not impressed with the bar, but I did learn that the wife of one of the co-workers grew up in the same town as me.

Afterwards, Apple and I were torn between watching the debates or going out. We finally decided on watching the debates and then going out, but the 2+ bottles of wine we drank during the debate ruled that out. I slept at her house where her dog played musical beds all night.

Saturday we had volleyball practice and then I went out with the girls to our wine bar. And then to our ale house.

Sunday I went over to a friend’s to work on my brakes. (He’s a mechanic and was helping. Also got me a deal on parts.) He called up that morning and said, “Have you had breakfast yet?” When I told him I hadn’t, he replied, “I’m making pancakes. Come over.”

We discovered that I didn’t have quite the right set of tools for the job. (I am requesting a bunch of mechanics tools for Christmas. I am planning on keeping this car for a while and I want to be able to work on it.) We drove to his work and picked up some tools; it turned out that the most important was the cheater bar.

That night, Apple and I went to the State Fair. (Dear VA: Your State Fair is lame compared to North Carolina’s. Please remedy that when you move into your new digs. Thanks, Watergirl.) When I got to her house, her dog jumped on me, leaving muddy paw prints on my shirt. I borrowed a shirt from her, so I was walking around the fair in a shirt (a size smaller than I normally wear) that said, “Life is simple. Eat, sleep, be Canadian.” across my chest. I got a lot of comments about Canada from men, proving that that is where they are looking.

This past weekend my parents came down to see Monkey. TRgirl, Randy, and I were around but were clearly not as interesting. They really enjoyed the fact that he is now in a talking phase and will tell you a story with mostly nonsensical words, goya being his favorite. He ends the stories with, “OK?” and is happy when you answer with, “OK.”

Saturday we took him to the zoo. Randy elected to stay home and enjoy having the house to himself. The Richmond Zoo is odd in that you can feed most of the animals. Which, in case you are wondering, leads to obese prairie dogs.

At one point my dad was feeding one of the monkeys. (Note: an actual monkey. Not Monkey.) This monkey had climbed up his enclosure and was sitting on one of the fence supports. He was trying to catch the food my dad threw, and every time he didn’t he gave my dad a look that said, “Dude, WTF?” This was sometimes accompanied by gestures. (This is not the first strange encounter that my dad has had with a primate. He once royally ticked off a gorilla at the National Zoo. We don’t know why, but the gorilla did not like him.)

You can also feed the giraffes. If you did not know, giraffes have long (about 18 inches) prehensile tongues. One of them used said tongue to lick Monkey’s head. This bothered the child not one bit.

I left early, as Apple and I were going to Williamsburg for the Wine and Cheese event at the Williamsburg Storytelling Festival. We met a third friend and her mom there. It was fabulous. I did not really know what to expect, but I enjoyed it so much that I am already looking forward to next year.

After the event, the three of us (sans the mom) headed over to Food for Thought which I highly recommend that you try should you ever be in Williamsburg. (Invite me. I have a coupon!) We spent the night at the mom’s house. She made us a fabulous breakfast the next day.

Apple and I headed home and stopped at Flanders’s to pick up her dog. We ended up staying for about 5 hours. We also debated about the proper possessive of Flanders. (Since we were talking about his house, Flanders’s is correct. If we had been talking about his stove, then it would be Flanders’.)

Tonight I’m babysitting. OK?

Yesterday I got an e-mail which said I had both permission and funding to attend the state AWWA/WEA conference.

The conference is September 7- September 11.

Those of you paying attention will notice that that is this week.

Also, I couldn't go Wednesday or Thursday because of project work.

Today I got up at 0530 and drove out to Va Beach.

There's traffic in the Tidewater. Richmond? Not so much with the traffic, really.

It was a worthwhile trip- I got to meet some colleagues from other office and some clients, talk to some vendors, and also ran into a few old friends.

And then there's the mileage reimbursement...

So, the situation last night that I was worried about? Not so much a big deal. But, and I apologize to all of my non-Richmond friends, Richmond birthday celebrations? Way more memorable than any others.

The last Birthday I went to? We ended up cruising around the Swift Creek Reservoir on a pontoon boat with some people who were also at the restaurant celebrating a birthday. (Note: the birthday girl did not come out on the boat. Maybe she had to go read People Magazine or something.)

Last night’s birthday? My Canadian friend was turning 28. (Hi, my friends are babies.) I suppose, since y’all don’t know any of these people, I need to set the scene. Or, you know, introduce them. I’ll just go with the main players.

Apple: My Canadian friend. The birthday girl.
Josie: Mutual friend of ours. Is launching her own business this week.
Prime Minister of Fun (PMF): Another friend. Fellow Environmental Engineer.
Crazy Drunk Bitch: Needs no explanation.
Flanders: Guy friend of ours. The one whose housewarming party I went to, even though I didn’t know him at the time.

So, we met downtown at Cha Cha’s Cantina for happy hour. Please note that Apple was late to her own party. A few of us including Apple and PMF walked over to Havana 59 for dinner where Josie, Crazy Drunk Bitch (who at this point was Loud but Nonoffensive Tipsy Girl) and a few others met up with us. I sat on the end of the table next to Apple and across from Josie. PMF was 2 seats to the right of Josie; Crazy Drunk Girl was seated diagonally to the right of PMF.

Anyway, mojitos (yum!), food, the waiter attempting to take my soup before I was done (the second time that has happened to me in Richmond. River City = the City of half-eaten soup?) (That waiter also did another thing I hate. I gave him $40 for a bill of $26 and he asked me if I needed change. Answer: Yes. That would be a ridiculous tip. Just bring the change without asking- If I don’t need it, because for some reason I feel that you deserve a 54% tip (by the way, that would include not taking my food away), I’ll just leave it all on the table, mkay?)

Sorry. Story. We are splitting a dessert when we all suddenly realize that Crazy Drunk Girl is verbally attacking PMF. Then she got in her face, and apparently there was a fork involved (waved threateningly) which I didn’t see. All while calling her a liar. And telling her that all her friends think she’s a liar. And they’ve all told her that she’s a liar. And gesturing threateningly with the salt and pepper shakers.

What is this thing she’s lied about? It seems that PMF was offered the opportunity to take an overseas position (overseas positions are the theme of this week’s posts) and had discussed it with Crazy Drunk Bitch, presumably when she was neither crazy nor drunk, because Crazy Drunk Bitch had just returned from an overseas posting. The lying part came in when she didn’t tell everyone else. So, I think the argument was that it was a lie of omission, but the fact of the matter is that PMF doesn’t have to share everything with everyone. It’s perfectly reasonable to seek out the counsel of someone with applicable life experience and yet not want to confuse yourself with getting everyone’s thoughts on the matter. Point: Not a lie.

Crazy Drunk Bitch would not let it go. A cab was called, she was told to leave, didn’t happen. One of our friends disappeared; it later turned out she couldn’t deal and went home. Josie, in the most awesome moment of the night, says to Crazy Drunk Bitch, “You need to leave. You are not welcome at this table. No one wants you here!” This didn’t work either. We called the waiter over (remember, not the sharpest knife) and asked him to give him her check. He hands hers over and we ask him to get a manager/bouncer. He is busy sorting out all the checks at the table.

WG: Leave them here. We’ll distribute them.
Waiter: continues thumbing through receipts
WG: NOW!
Josie: grabs checks from waiter

I gave her a pen, she signed her receipt and walked out of the restaurant, flipping us off as she did.

Flanders: Who wants a drink? They’re on me!

(We did explain to the waiter why we had gotten short with him. He had apparently missed the whole kerfuffle, though I’m not sure how he managed that.)

First the background: Y'all remember when I was unhappy at my job? Before I moved up to Richmond? And I was toying with the idea of Pharmacy school? The other thing I looked into was....

MOVING TO NEW ZEALAND!

NZ is actively seeking out immigrants with technical backgrounds. None of the jobs they had posted aligned with my background. However, I'm still on the e-mail list.

Yesterday I was informed that they are looking for workers for two large wastewater projects in Auckland.

I'm now thinking that moving to New Zealand is an entirely different proposition than moving to Richmond.

This weekend, the only day of note was Saturday. I went for a ride out at Pocahontas State Park . This would be a fine example of biting off more than one can chew. There were a lot of hills. Major hills. Also, the trail is not well marked so I got lost a few times. And, it turns out that there is some sort of problem with my front derailluer, so I would downshift and my pedals would stop moving. Which is bad.

Saturday night I went with my friend Kathy to the Sara Evans concert. This was the second time I seen her (Sara Evans, not Kathy) in the past year. Stace and I went to see her at the NC State Fair. This was at a better venue with better acoustics and there was no tractor pull to be heard. Also, I did not have to return to the Turkey Shoot afterwards.

There was also beer at this concert. Which Kathy ended up buying since some guy gave her a free ticket just as I bought mine. (I think he only had one.)

We also started planning for my birthday. (Yes, I do know it’s in December. Time is running out!) We decided that it should include alcohol and multiple bars.

Sunday I cleaned and then painted my toenails while watching Ice Road Truckers. That’s how I roll, yo.

• Bob called me last night (Bob is, in fact, my uncle) to tell me that they'd had to put Bear down. Bear was my grandfather's dog, and also the best dog ever. He was great with kids, great with my granddad (who had a lot of trouble getting around due to his RA), and always happy to be with his people. And his people? All people. Bear also had arthritis which until recently was responding well to medication. Recently it had gotten so bad that he couldn't make it down the steps to the yard and Bob or Steph would have to carry him outside to do his business. Bear wasn't a complainer, but he was in pain. I have not doubt that Bob and Steph did the very best for him and I'm going to miss that funny-looking dog. (He was a german shepherd/basset hound.)
• On a lighter note, msnbc had a headline on their site that said, "Aborigine wants boomerang back." I thought that was the point of a boomerang.
• Tomorrow I am going to see Sara Evans. I can't wait! I love Sara Evans.
• My bike was one of the best purchases I have ever made. Even when I don't feel like going (and seriously, I need to get back in shape, so I am making myself) once I'm out there, I love it. I mostly ride trails (there is a really good system here in Richmond) and while I'm doing so, I feel like I'm ten again. Also, yesterday I may or may not have crashed into a tree.

If someone ever asks you to sign up for a bowling league that starts bowling at 9PM on Wednesday nights, say no. That is a bad idea.

Also a bad idea? Trying to hit on me while wearing plaid shorts, especially if your opening line has something to do with my low score. I know I’m not a good bowler and I’m OK with that, but I am in no mood to be teased about it at 11:30 at night. On a Wednesday. When I have to work the next day.

Although, it turns out that if you have a really high handicap, you can totally beat the best team in the league.

• Last Friday I threw an Opening Ceremonies Party. It was my first official party in Richmond. I ‘ve been here 4 months and have enough friends to throw a party. That was so not the case in Raleigh.
• This Friday I’m going to a housewarming party for a guy I don’t know. A friend of mine is throwing the party, and he wouldn’t give her a guest list, so she just invited all of her friends.
• (I’m very excited about having friends. Not that I don’t have friends, or that I am some sort of unfriendworthy person, but it took me a lot longer to make friends in Raleigh. I learned from that experience and immediately joined a Jaycee chapter up here and said yes to every invitation I got.)
• On Saturday I have a cookout and then I’m going to the Richmond Braves game. (Tickets are a spendy $7.) It’s also bring your dog night.
• I’ve now relaxed the “every invitation” rule. I turned down playing for a football team this fall because the games are Sunday mornings. I cherish my Sunday mornings of drinking coffee and reading the paper.
• Thanks to some very lovely photos a friend posted on Facebook, I am recommitting myself to working out and eating semi-healthily. Ugh.
• Started out yesterday with a bike ride. Through the woods along the river. I love my bike. Really good purchase on my part. I’m heading out again today.

So, through my Facebook account people from high school have been contacting me. Some of them I’m glad to hear from, some of them I don’t care either way, and one of them? I don’t actually have any recollection of her whatsoever.

Anyway, it’s all good. Except that every single one of them is married. Most of them have kids. This has been quite the shock to me, because very few of my real life friends are married. Even fewer have kids. It’s just not a circle I run in. And yet somehow I feel like I missed the train.

The odd thing about this? I don’t really want to get married. I don’t really want to have kids. I’m looking for more of a heterosexual life partner. Live together, split costs, nothing more legally binding than maybe a mortgage. (Note I said legally. It’s entirely possible to have a long-term relationship without being married.) In this day and age, I’m not sure that marriage means all that much. There are other reasons according to my therapist. Let’s not get into that.
Of course, all of this comes at a time when I feel ready to date again. So, if you happen to know someone who isn’t going to be all, “Let’s have babies right away!” isn’t that into religion, and likes the outdoor activities, send him my way.

Yea, I didn’t think so.

Monkey would like for you to know that there are cats in my house. He would also like the cats to know that they are cats. (The boys: “We know.”) And will you come over here, because he would like to show you the cats.

TRgirl and I took him to the pool on Sunday. He loves swimming, but gets frustrated that we hold him the entire time. We do this to prevent him from drowning, as he cannot yet swim.

Sunday I also went out and bought bowling shoes. For I have joined a bowling league. (It’s just a fun league- I am a completely non-competitive bowler.)

As another part of my quest to meet as many people in the Richmond area as possible, I went sailing on Saturday. I have not been sailing since I moved South. I forgot how much I loved it- I was on a HobieCat for the first time. They totally talked me into joining the club.

People keep stealing my stapler. It's apparently a hazard of having a desk located near the copier.

I have now labled my stapler.

It's a black swingline stapler.

So, I’ve not written because I feel like I should write about my vacation. Here’s the thing, though. My vacation, while thoroughly enjoyable, did not lead to good blog fodder. We went to Maine. Kayaked, hiked, shopped in NH (no sales tax), and visited with my Aunt (she lives up there). All wonderful, but not the most exciting things to read about. So, no vacation write-up. I do have tons of pictures, which I will upload to flickr someday.

Last week Randy graduated from fire academy. The ceremony was last Monday. I had planned on heading up there from work, but we lost internet/e-mail, so I left early. (Seriously, I ran out of things I could do.) I called TRgirl to see if she wanted to carpool, and she said, “That would work out well. You can drive my car home.” It turned out that she and Randy were planning on going out with the rest of his class to celebrate after the dinner at his parents’ house. They were going to put Monkey to bed there, go out, pick Monkey up, and then head home. His parents live about 30 minutes away from them; I live five. So, we simplified things. I drove her car home with Monkey in it, put him to bed, and hung out until the got home.

TRgirl: You don’t mind? It won’t mess up your plans?
WG: Well, my plans were to go home and watch TV. You have a TV.

(Confidential to TRgirl: That crying he did in the car? Over as soon as we started driving off. Clearly just a show for you.)

Also, I am very proud of Randy.

Thursday I went to the Trace Adkins concert . I am very curious as to how they sell that particular concert series to the acts. “So, you’ll be playing at an outdoor stage in an office park.” “An office park?” While there, I mocked on of Randy’s firefighting compatriots for flirting with the young (15-16) girls who were flirting with him.

Saturday we went to see Mamma Mia! That movie? Fun. Except for when Pierce Brosnan sings. That part makes your ears bleed and the baby Jesus cry.

I spent the last week in Maine. Love! I have stories and pictures to tell, but likely not tonight, as Randy is graduating from fire academy.

Stacy and Sara came up this weekend, and we had a blast. We headed out west to do a little wine tasting/touring. We started at Wintergreen Winery on Friday. We also hit Hilltop (Fruit wines and meadery! I’m not usually a fan of the fruit wines, but I do love a good pear wine.), Cardinal Point, Afton Mountain and Veritas, where everyone was quite dressed up, it seemed. Also where one of the people tasting wines asked, “What’s a vintner?” (Answer: Something you should know before you go wine tasting.) We stayed in Charlottesville that night and watched 5 firework displays from the top of a parking deck near UVA.

Saturday, we started at Oakencroft Winery. (These wineries are all on the Monticello Wine Trail). We headed north towards Culpeper to visit two more, Sharp Rock and Old House. (I’m certain I’ve mentioned those before, which should be proof enough that I’ll go back to wineries, so if anyone wants to do a wine tour…)

We finished off the wine tour by hitting IKEA. As you do.

We had a kickball game tonight. I scored a run (first one of the season for me). Also, I got on base both times I was up.

But, the best part? I was playing second base and made two outs.

Unfortunately, the second one ended up like this:

It was a forced out at second and the ball was kicked into the outfield. I stood on the base, waiting for the throw, which I caught. Right before the base runner slammed into me. I said, "Ow!" put my hand up to my face, pulled it back, looked at it, and said, "Guys? I think I'm bleeding."

That was an understatement.

At least I made the out.

*I have one tomorrow.

So, this weekend I went whitewater rafting! And I didn't write about it until now because I just got sent the pictures. Or something like that.

We headed up to West Virgina on Friday and set up camp. Then we got dinner and hung around the fire having deep conversations about religion. (Paaartaaaay!)

The rafting trip was Saturday. We set out at 0830, which worked out well, because we were among the first groups on the river. The water was cold, but the rafting was awesome. Well, except for the fact that 2 of the 4 people on my side couldn't paddle. Or follow any sort of rhythm. I was maybe thinking about clocking someone with my paddle.

The water was cool, so I didn't swim much. I did get a face full lin one of the rapids. Oh, and at one point we landed on anther boat and I thought we were going to flip. But we didn't.

Interesting fact: The New River is one of the oldest in the world and runs North.

According to our guide, people who cannot are often on her rafting trips. I would like to suggest that if you can't swim, whitewater rafting is probably not a good activity for you.

That night we went back to camp, hung out, played spades, and taught MMatt how to roast marshmallows. Good times!

Anyway, here are some pictures:

Our boat (Heather, the guide, is in the front):

What boats look like from up at the New River Gorge Bridge Overlook:

(Pictures not taken by me or with my camera. For I am so lame that I did not bring one.)

Friday after work I went to get a pedicure. I hadn’t had one since my last trip to Raleigh (a month ago), and that one? Not so great, actually. I forgot to take my phone off of vibrate when I left work. (I always put it on vibrate at work. That way I can be annoyed when everyone else’s phones ring and not be a hypocrite.) At some point when I was in the chair, TRgirl called and left me a message. When I was sitting at the drying station, I checked my phone and listened to her message about how she had to work at 1730 but that Randy was going to be late getting home and could I come watch Monkey? It was 1725. I called her back and said I would be there as soon as I could, paid, and went out to my car. Note that I did not turn the phone’s ringer back on.

I got to the house, ran in (still in my pedicure flip-flops), and there was Randy. TRgirl had called and left a message saying he’d gotten there, but I hadn’t heard the phone. Randy said, “Since you’re here, want to stay for dinner? It’s hamburgers.”

Saturday I washed my car. I’ve never done that before. In fact, my previous car? I never once washed it. Don’t get me wrong- I had it washed, I just never washed it myself. Once I’d finished that, I drove out to the storage unit and picked up my tent.

I went over to TRgirl and Randy’s to put it up. (Next week we’re heading north to see Bud’s big Army send-off. The next week I’m heading to West Virginia to go whitewater rafting. We’re camping, and I’d never even taken the tent out of the box. I thought it prudent to check it out before leaving.) They weren’t home, but apparently you can go over their house, walk into their backyard, and put up a tent without any of the neighbors saying anything or calling the police. Although, come to think of it, maybe they just didn’t want to make that call.

911: 911, What’s your emergency.
Caller: Someone broke into my neighbor’s back yard and is putting up a tent.
911: They’re putting up a tent?

Did I mention it was 100 degrees out? It was, so after spending 3 hours outside, I had to take a nap.

Saturday night I went to a party. I stayed until 3AM. As I was leaving, the host asked, “Are you sure you’re OK to drive?” I said, “Dude, I’ve been here since 7PM and have had 3 beers. The real question is, why am I OK to drive?” (One explanation: I did not participate in the ghetto beer pong. (Ghetto beer pong: played on tray tables instead of a ping pong table.))

Sunday we took Monkey to the pool. He is a fan of all things water. He even kept putting his face in. Afterwards, I thought about going to the bike shop and getting fitted, but then I remembered I’d had 5 hours of sleep. I stayed home and watched some season 1 episodes of Big Love. And, of course, the season premiere of Army Wives was last night. Ah show, I’ve missed you.

Driving to work today, thinking about what I have to get done this week. Pull off of the exit to work as I realize

"Shit! We've got a 9AM meeting at the WTP lab. And I'm wearing open-toed shoes!"

Call co-worker, tell him that I'm a moron, will most likely meet him at the plant.
Call co-worker back, tell him that the one thing I wasn't a moron about was printing out the agendas Friday, and to please bring them.
Drive home, run upstairs (Orion: "Wha?"), change shoes.
Run downstairs, drive back towards office.
Realize at exit for WTP would be very early. Decide to drive to office. Realize this is good, as have turkey sandwich in bag for lunch.
Rememeber that we have new employee welcome lunch today.
Get into office, put lunch in fridge for Tuesday, pick up agendas, notebook, and co-worker. Head towards plant.

Co-worker, upon hearing that I brought lunch, "This weekend messed you all up. What did you do?"
WG: "I didn't even drink."

Saturday was the NFB-Richmond Chapter picnic. I was a driver. The picnic was held at a big, new house. On the patio. Which surrounds an in ground pool. Luckily, no one fell in. Because, really, could have been a recipe for disaster.

My parents were heading back from SC this weekend, so they stayed at TRgirl and Randy's that night. I joined them for dinner. I was cutting up cucumber for the salad when TRgirl said to me, "Why are you cutting them on that?" "Because it's a cutting board?" "We don't use that one. Now I have to wash it."

She also has a kitchen island that you may not put drinks down on.

(Should you come to my house, feel free to use any cutting board you can find. Also, you may put drinks down on all surfaces in the kitchen.)

Today I went over there for breakfast. This afternoon, I went to see Sex and the City. I'll post my thoughts after the jump in order to avoid spoiling anyone.

Y'all do remember that time I was told I had endocarditis, right? On Tuesday I went to the doctor because I'd had swelling in my lymph nodes for a week, and it was starting to get painful. The doctor checked me over for all of 3 minutes and referred me to a specialist.

When I called the specialist? Fertility Clinic. Which, not actually my problem. I have a fairly good idea why I'm not pregnant right now.

I called the Doctor back and learned that she had been trying to send me to an OB/GYN or a breast surgeon. (The swollen lymph nodes are in my underarms.) (It occurs to me that some of y'all may not actually want these details.)The secretary at the office decided to give me the name of an Endocrinologist.

I called TRgirl, who managed to give me the name of an actual OB/GYN. I saw another Doctor in that practice yesterday. He checked me over and asked me about a bug bite that I have on my right boob. (Damn v-neck shirts). Turns out that, although this doesn't explain the swelling from a week ago, I have quite the skin infection around the bite. (Skin infection on my boob. I am the sexy.) I really think the first doctor should have caught it. I mean, it didn't occur to me, but I'm not actually a doctor, and the large, spreading, warm redness didn't raise any red flags. But really, the first doctor probably should have seen it.

Anyway, I am now on antibiotics. Not as massive as cat bite antibiotics, but still. (Oh, and they should take care of whatever other infection was present.)

Ok, it's not as bad as the time that Goose was diagnosed with pneumonia when he really had appendicitis, but still...

Friday night Robin drove up. Bud was supposed to drive down and arrive very late (or early), but as he was still sitting at the train station, 2 hours from his house, at 7 PM, he didn’t really feel up to making the 6 hour drive to my house after that. He came down Saturday morning. We all attended the event of the year, Monkey’s first birthday party.

Robin and I went on a Canal Cruise that night. The whole canal thing was something I didn’t know much about (meaning, the canal system in Richmond. I am familiar with canals in general.) and it turned out to be very interesting.
Saturday we headed out to the Richmond National Battlefield and the American Civil War Center. Lots of reading there. When we went into the museum, the City’s water rescue team was starting a river rescue. When we came out 2 hours later, they were still there. (Everything turned out OK). We hit another Civil War site (Chimborazo Hospital) and then headed to dinner and to see Indiana Jones.

Sunday we went to the botanical gardens, met some friends for lunch, and then checked out more of the City, including the Hollywood Cemetery. We were afraid we’d never get out. Turns out, all kinda looks the same.

So, that was my weekend. How about you?

Well, the farmer's market was lame. There were three produce vendors. The rest of the vendors? Flea market. I want produce at a farmer's market. If I want flea market stuff, well, I'll go to a flea market.

Anyway, there's another market I'll try. But not this coming weekend, as I'll have a full house. Including people sleeping in the living room.

I do need to start getting outside more. One idea I have is to see if TRgirl will let me take Monkey for some evening walks. Kickball starts on June 10, so that will help as well.

I also ought to vacuum my car before vegetation starts growing in the dirt on the floor.

Oh, and my very very good, most excellent friend was able to rearrange things so that I am able to go to Bud's departure ceremony. (I did have a prior commitment.) The least exciting part of that is the road trip with the one-year-old.

• I was informed yesterday that Target can't "give out" quarters. I just wanted to get a roll. I would have give you $10 for it. (BTW, the cashier (who had had difficulty making change for the person ahead of me) told me that a roll of quarters was $25. Oh, sweetie, no.) I turns out that the bank in Ukrop's is open untl 7, and they were happy to give me a roll of quarters.
• The teller discussed the awfulness of laundromats with me. I was going to go and wash blankets and my mattress pad yesterday, but them I remembered that I had to lock the boys up in the guest room today (pest control. They'd take Orion.) so I wanted to wash the bedspread after that. So, I'll be going this afternoon. I am that lame.
• To get both boys into the guest room easily, chase Jasper up there. Orion will follow all, "What's he doing? I want to do it too! Hey, why are you closing the door?"
• This weekend I am planning on finally checking out the Farmer's Market. I love Farmer's Markets.
• I lost my address book in the move. I've got a new one ready to go, so please send your address. I've even got plans to send Christmas cards this year. E-mail, in case you haven't got it, is watergirl.micheleATgmail.com

I did sleep some last night. I've still got a Tylenol PM hangover. (I can't take a prescription pill at 0030, but I can take 1 Tylenol PM). There were thunderstorms, so Jasper was a bit freaked out.

I've got my iPod on; I have not heard my co-workers yet today.

I'm still not thrilled with my place, but I am planning on waiting out the lease.

It's gray and gloomy.

Well I do believe that professionally this was the right move for me, personally I'm not so sure. I miss the people at my old office. They aren't as fun here. I miss my cube with the window. Not only does the guy behind me have a window, he shuts his blinds every day because he doesn't want to look outside. Also, he makes noises all day long. If you've ever met an 8-year-old boy you know what I mean. I can't find my iPod headphones, so I can't drown him out. I just found them. Tomorrow, I'll bring my iPod and I won't have to listen to him.

Also, WTF is up with my co-worker who is currently on a conference call? On speakerphone. In his cube. I don't make you listen to my conference calls, guy.

I hate, hate, hate where I live. I miss my little house. The place is adequate, but it's nothing special. It's an apartment complex, so the population is transient and there is no sense of community. The AC is terrible. I have to run fans upstairs and still I sweat because it's so goddamned humid. It will be really fun when I am running the clothes dryer this summer. That's right, the dryer is upstairs. It's a stackable washer/dryer and holds about 6 things. I'm really pissed that I have to go to the laundromat to wash some blankets and a quilt. I could have washed them in my old washer. The only redeeming quality the place has is that it's close to my sister's. I can get out of the lease early, but it will cost me a month's rent. So, I cannot wait until next April.

Of course, I'd love to be able to buy a house then, but I don't see it happening.

I also have a few people I'd like to call up and tell off.

And I hate all of my work clothes.

The fact that I only got three hours of sleep last night may have exacerbated this.

1. Sold beer at the NASCAR race.
2. Got hit on by two rednecks as I was trying to leave. Who were friends, and apparently taking turns with the hitting on me. Good times.

It has been a seriously long week, y'all. We had a big client workshop yesterday which we spent the beginning of the week getting ready for (I was working at 10 PM on Sunday). The workshop went well, but it was draining. I skipped book club in favor of going home and taking a 2 hour nap.

Draining as that may have been, it was also satisfying. I finally feel like I'm contributing, rather than just doing whatever I can find to keep me billable. Or being the department firefighter.

Saturday was National Rebuilding Day, so I spent the day working on a church. (Yep, we worked on the headquarters for the Richmond event.) It was supposed to be from 8-5, but we finally wrapped up around 6:30. By that time, few volunteers were left, so even though all I wanted to do was go home and shower, I couldn’t. My main project was putting together curtains to hide the old baptismal font. This involved lots of stapling. First, stapling pleats in bolts of fabric, then stapling the fabric to 2x4s. (If I had known about this project ahead of time, I could have come up with a solution that was just as economic, and yet easier.) All was well until it came time to attach the 2x4s to the ceiling. 119 year old church. Couldn’t find the studs. The guys kept saying, “But they should be 16 inches on center.” Me: “119 years old.”

Anyway, I had work to do over the weekend, and also laundry, which I had planned on doing when I got home on Saturday. However, I was beat, so instead I sat on my couch.

Which made Sunday absolutely nuts. I got up, read the paper, worked for 2 hours, cleaned the kitchen, did the laundry and left for Culpeper around 3 to take Peg out for her birthday. Bob and Steph met us at the restaurant. We determined that Peg and I would fly to Maine together this summer (huge family vacation in ME) and Bob and Steph would take the boys. So, I’m going to drive the boys out there and drive Peg back to Richmond. Or, as I put it, a trade. And Peg’s potty-trained. Peg: “Mostly. I am getting older.”

I got back home at 10 and worked for another hour.

I need a weekend to recover from my weekend.

I spent the weekend in Raleigh. I headed down on Thursday because I had an appointment to get my hair cut on Friday afternoon. It's been chopped. Not sure I like it.

The real reason I went down was because we had tickets for Spamalot. Loved it! The boys are not enjoying the fact that I keep singing "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" to them.

Other things: lunch at Hard Times, Earth Day festivities, and brunch with Stew. Stew! Oh, and I also managed to lock Robin out of her house. Because I am all crazy and do thinks like lock the door in between the garage and the house. My dad gave us helpful hints on how to break in, but it turned out that a friend of hers had a key.

Oh, I also picked up my propane tank, so I can now cook things on the grill.

1. If for some reason you want to buy me a gift, I could really use a pair of these.
2. Monkey is fascinated by the boys' noses. He keeps trying to touch them, which tends to end up as him poking them in the eye.
3. I have 5 boxes left to unpack.
4. Then I have to finish hanging things on the walls.
5. However, I am completely obsessed with looking at houses for sale.

Before leaving Raleigh, I called the cable company to see if I could cancel my account and drop off my equipment at the customer service center. The CSR asked me why I was cancelling and I told him it was because I was moving.

CSR: Are you moving out of our service area?
WG: Yes.
CSR: Did you check?
WG: Well, since I have (another cable company) schedule to come and do an install, yes.
CSR: Is there anything we can do to keep you in our service area?
WG: I'm moving because my job transferred me. It has nothing to do with my cable service.

We made it up on Thursday with no problems. Jasper is apparently a huge fan of wall to wall carpeting. He is much happier here. We also had our first mass escape this afternoon, but all returned safely. I had dinner at TRgirl and Ryan's and confused my dad wickedly when I answered her cell phone. I cannot run the dryer with the closet door shut or it sets off the smoke alarm. My vanities do not have drawers or shelves, they are just big gaping maws. I miss my friends; I've sent them my address. I hope they come visit.

Thursday I planned to sign my lease. I was in meetings all day. I checked my phone at 3:30 PM to find a fairly frantic message from my leasing agent. When I called her back, I was told that my original apartment had been flooded (pipe burst, shot hole in wall) and they were moving me to a different one.

I checked the new one out; it was fine, so I signed my lease. Of course, I had already set up utilities and my renter’s insurance. The insurance and cable? No problem changing those. The electric? Whole other story. First, they were closed from Friday until today. Then, when I called, the person I spoke to wanted to transfer me to someone to talk about my flood damage. He said, “Will that be OK?” I answered, “No. I just want to switch my service address.”

We got that done, and he informed me that there was a $15 connection fee. I told him I’d already paid that. I was told that was for the previous apartment, and they had to charge me another $15, there was no way to waive it. I told him I wanted to speak to a supervisor, and suddenly he could waive it.

Also this weekend, Aquamama picked up my washer. (She needed one, and I had one to sell.) Orion is very upset that the washer is gone. He keeps going to where it was and crying. He has never done laundry, so I don’t understand the sudden need.

Let's see. The last time I posted? Apparently 4 days ago. That night was my going away party (not to be confused with my going-away girls' night out or my going away office dinner), held at my house. It was a blast. I didn't cry at all, not even when Ed broke a wineglass. (Wait! There's leftover wine. Hang on.) OK. Back. (Confidential to Stewie: There is also leftover IPA.)

I would like to inform you that even though I picked on Ed for having the party at my house, I love my house and I love having parties there. I also love picking on Ed.

Saturday was wine club. But first was trivia smackdown with Robin. Who beat me! That almost never happens.

Sunday Robin helped me put my kayak on my car. I brought it up to Richmond that night. While driving up, I got a call from my landlord. I called her back as she asked. She said, "I thought I'd let Orion out. However, he was camouflaged on the bed pillow."

I now have a cube and a key to the Richmond office. Came back to Raleigh last night.

I called my leasing company this morning. They wanted to check that I was signing my lease on Thursday, but would give me the key Friday, when the lease started. I said, "But I need the key on Thursday," and was told, "You can't have your key until the lease starts, and that starts Friday. When you called, you said you wanted to sign the lease Thursday, not to move in then." I had to explain that I had called to change the signing because I'm going to be in Richmond on Thursday, not Friday. If I were able to pick the key up on Friday, I'd sign the lease then. I was told, "We can change the lease, but you have to pay for Thursday."

Duh. Seriously.

Today, I spent the afternoon setting up cable, electric, and new insurance. The cable took some time, because the sales rep told me that Comcast's records showed that I owed them $90. Interesting, since I've never been a customer. However, the customer service rep found no record of such a thing. So, I will have cable and internet.

Excess stuff


Originally uploaded by H2O girl.

I cleaned out the storage bench, the attic, and the coat closet. I also started on the study (it's actually coming along quite well). The stuff on the bed? That's what I need to get rid of.



Except for Jasper. I'm keeping him.

I signed up for a few meetup groups in Richmond this past weekend. Yesterday I signed up for an event. One of the groups is going to James River Cellars. Who loves a good winery tour more than I do? (No one is the answer.) The bad part? It's on the 29th, and I should probably spend the day unpacking, not drinking wine.

The movers are coming to pack up my stuff and start loading the truck on March 26. I move on March 27.

They'd like me to have another helper on move-in day, but I don't know anyone who is free on a Thursday.

Hey! A day is totally a break! Shut up!

Went out with my girls last night, danced to some 80s music. Woke up this morning (or rather, Orion woke me up (at 11)) this morning in an excellent mood. I watched some TV and then took advantage of the lovely weather (Dear friends in New England, I was outside in a T-shirt today. Love, Watergirl.) to clean out my storage shed. I can move all of the stuff in there when I go up to sign my lease. Although the kayak is probably going up the next time I head to Richmond. It's going to live with TRgirl and Randy.

(Did I mention that my new place is 5 minutes from them? And that that will be the closest I've lived to family in my entire adult life? I'm not sure I can handle it.)

I also cleaned out the pantry. Later this week will be the attic and the bathroom, followed by the room I am most dreading, the study.

Other things I need to do this week:

1. Schedule the move with the movers
   
2. Set up utilities.
   
3. Call about insurance.
   
4. Start working on getting my VA PE license.
   
5. Figure out what I need to do to register my car and get my VA driver's license.
   

I have a place to live. I have a move to address even. Apparently, I really am moving to Richmond.

I got into work this morning and spent an hour trying to get my computer to work. I tried to call our support desk (located in Sacramento) (Sacramento! Closer than India!) , only to learn that they fixed our phones by cutting off our long distance service. (We've just moved offices. Our switchboard was installed in the wrong building.) When I did finally get a hold of them (I used my cell and had them call me back) they agreed that there was in fact a problem, but they didn't know how to fix it.

Then I went to meet with a vendor. Who stared creepily at all of us. But most creepily at me, as he was staring at my chest. (This is included in the list entitled, "How not to get me to buy things from you.")

He made me ice cream. Ice cream! It was extremely difficult to leave for the beach. But leave I did.

The beach was fabulous- it was in the high 60s, so near perfect weather. They made me blueberry pancakes.

I may have overreacted a wee bit. I am not happy with the moving assistance they have offered, and I am getting some quotes so that I can negotiate that. But, at the end of the day, it's not big enough that I won't take the job because of it.

I mean, I'll still complain...

This weekend I found the neighborhood I want to live in. Today, I found a house in that neighborhood. The lessor has not called me back yet. Also, I got my transfer letter and they are really not offering enough for me to move. So, all in all, it may be a no go.

I am told the transfer letter is on its way. Of course, I will not be here tomorrow, as I have put in all of my hours and I am going to see TRgirl, Randy, and Monkey* this weekend.

*I am going to keep trying out nicknames for my nephew. For some reason, I tend to call boy children "monkey".

I got an e-mail from the Richmond boss telling me he told HR to start the process. Today their regional HR rep called my regional HR rep. Things are moving along, slowly, through the bureaucracy.

I'm going up to visit and really check out the city on the 26th.

Oh, and yesterday one of our senior PMs came in and told me that he'd heard I was talking to Richmond. He thinks it's a good move for me. He was also very impressed with the way things came together. (I know 2/3 of the staff up there, TRgirl and Randy are there.) I believe the word "kismet" was used. Anyhow, since the company has transferred him before, I asked him if I was being unreasonable in expecting moving expenses (my boss had thought so). His advice? "If they won't pay for you to move, don't go!"

So, the Richmond boss called my boss today. They are playing VM tag, but still, it's good news, especially when you consider that I had decided that it had been taken away. (Why, yes, I am a bit melodramatic.)

Also, Orion is once again, in the words of my mother, "More work than a 2 year old."

My new boss is supposed to call me this week, so that we can start working out details on the transfer. He said it most likely would be yesterday. Nothing yet. I'm stuck in limbo. I don't know how much work to take on at this office, because I don't know when they want me to start up there. I can't start looking for a place to live, because I don't know when I'm moving. I can't start packing, because I don't know where I'm moving too, so I don't know what I need to take.

Tomorrow we are supposed to update our workload plans. I think I'll use that as an excuse to call.

So, I haven't posted much, because there is only one thing I want to talk about. But, I needed to tell some off-line people first.

Drum roll...

I'm taking the job. I'm moving to Richmond. I don't have more details than that at the moment.

I am both excited and terrified.

Here's to big changes in 2008!

Do you know where's a great place to spend Christmas night? The ER. Awesome.

The day started out like I had planned it. I woke up, had some coffee, opened my present from Cdub. (External hard drive!) I vacuumed, ran the dishwasher, and put the roof racks back on my car. I had planned to vacuum it, but realized I needed an extension cord. I went and saw Juno, which I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend.

When I got home, I put the garbage out. Which is when Orion escaped. For the second time today. The first time I caught him easily. The second time> Not so much. He started with the caterwauling and hissing, and I tried to lure him out with canned foods and treats. Did not work. He finally came out from under the boxwoods and headed for the patio. I grabbed him, and he bit me.

Phone call
Mom: Hello?
WG: He bit me again!
Mom: You need to go have it checked out.
WG: I can't until tomorrow. No place is open.
Mom: The ER? That is open.

So, I headed over to the ER. Lot of people there with apparent cooking injuries. Also, some woman with a dislocated shoulder. She was sobbing, and I mean, yeah, that shit hurts (trust me. I know about the shoulder dislocation.), but I wasn't even sobbing like that when I smashed my ankle.

Anyway, I'm sitting in the ER, waiting to be called. A cop walks in. I didn't think much of it, because it's not that unusual. Then, I heard him ask the security guard for me. My first thought? "I didn't see any signs saying I couldn't park there."

He was actually there because the triage nurse called him to report a cat bite. Well, the call he got was for an "animal bite". He called his supervisor to see if he actually had to take a report on a housecat, and I overheard him say, "Even if it just bit the owner?" Orion is now on the books with animal control. He is under quarantine for 10 days. That quarantine will take place at home and at the vet's, where I'd planned on boarding him while away. (This is all in case he has rabies. His rabies vaccination was on Nov. 29.) Although, the paperwork does say if he escapes, I should call the police.

I may. I'm tired of being bitten.

I had my interview in Richmond today. They offered me the job. So, now the ball is in my court.

The move would be a good one, career-wise. I'd get PM* experience and training, and the work is more like what I want to be doing- there's still a variety, and I won't get pigeonholed as, say, the DBP**-girl, but there is little to no environmental documentation, which is fabulous. It's a small office, but I actually know 2 of the three people I'd be working with- one was a few years ahead of me in grad school, and one was a vendor I worked with on a pilot project .

Of course, the downside is it means moving out of my comfort zone. I'm leaning towards taking it, because at this point in my life, my career is the thing that's important. Plus, I'd get to see the sprog a lot more.

*project management
** disinfection by-products

As an offshoot of not getting the Chicago job, the recruiter for the Northeast Region passed my resume around. (I may have mentioned that.) I got a call from the Hampton Roads office- the staffing manager there also works for the Richmond office. The Richmond office is interested in me enough that I’m going up next week for an interview.
Now, the issues. Richmond would be good in that it’s where TRgirl, Randy, and the Sprog live. I know some other people there so I wouldn’t be totally friendless, but I’ll still need to find my own core group. It’s also closer to Peg, Bobby, and Steffy. Also, it sounds like the work there will fit more with my career path (or what I thought I wanted my career path to be).

But, I have my core group of friends here. I love my house, I love my neighborhood. I’ve got a good psychiatrist. My vet knows both of my cats and their health issues. I love where I ride, and I absolutely love the horse I am currently riding, so much so that when she does sell it will break my heart.

So, if I get the position, I’ll have to decide. To I try here for another year, to see if we can make my job be what I want it to be? I love the people I work with, so it’s not awful coming to work everyday. It’s just not great either. Do I stay here and plan on pharmacy school? Or do I take a chance on a position that seems a better fit for what I thought I wanted to do, even though I may learn that it isn’t what I want at all, and I do want to go back to school? Do I make the decision to uproot my life again?

I don’t know.

Here are the things I must do between today and tomorrow.

Today:

1. go to the grocery store and pick up frozen strawberries, cream cheese, sour cream, jello, french fried onions, green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and canned cat food (one of those is not for Thanksgiving dinner).
   
2. bring in garbage can
   
3. swing by Turkey Shoot and pick up 3 turkeys.
   
4. drop off box of #6 targets at Turkey Shoot
   
5. Jaycee meeting
   
6. laundry
   
7. pack for Peg's
   
8. burn cd of new iTunes song
   

Tomorrow:

1. check air in tires
   
2. work
   
3. pick up pies
   
4. drive to Peg's
   

I can register for classes tomorrow. Unfortunately, the three classes I need to get into UNC's program are either full or not offered. However, Aquamama and I were searching the web this morning, and we found this program. It's shorter than UNC's program, and also in New England. So, for that one, I need a psychology course. So, guess what I'm taking next semester?

Saturday night I went out with friends of mine. Goal: to drink girly drinks. Place: Rum Runners. (Fun fact: there's a scene in the Nickelback video for "Rockstar" where that building is seen in the background.) So, we're there having a good time, much to the amusement of the woman sitting near us, there to celebrate her 7th wedding anniversary. In fact, at one point they played some beach music, and she grabbed my hand and we shagged. (Do click the link. It's not what you think.) Or she did. I have no idea how to shag. Although I was told I did a reasonable impression of one.

Anyway, Hi Joy!

Every year, the High School in my town has a band competition. Part of the "Band Day" is a parade through downtown. The bands line up in front of my house. Last year they surprised me and I was almost late for a volunteer thing. This year I was ready and got to watch. The boys watched too. At one point, I took Orion outside to watch, and he growled at the bands as they walked by. Other pictures can be found here.

I did not get the position. I am extremely disappointed. They still want to talk with me about positions in the region and mentioned Hampton Roads, VA.

That's not going to happen.

Oh, and please don't give me the "everything works out the way it should" line. I will kick you.

Last night I decided to join NaBloPoMo. The idea is that I am to post every day. I joined because I've gotten away from blogging, and this may be the kick in the pants I need. Also, it may give me to chance to do a few essay-type entries, rather than "You know what's weird?"

Of course, I don't mean today. Today I am anxiously awaiting a phone call. It's for a job that I applied for, in another city, with my current company. I want to get it. I feel like I've been in Raleigh long enough. I'd like to go somewhere else. Anyway, keep your fingers crossed for me. I think I have a reasonable chance of getting it.

Nor did I run off with a carnie, as was the rumor at work.

Yes, I did spend a good 10 days at the NC State Fair. Running the Turkey Shoot. (We now have a new sign. Is much better. Go me!) (Also, we do not shoot turkeys. You win a turkey. A frozen turkey.) I haven't finished running numbers yet, but indications are that it went well and I most likely met my goal, fundraising-wise.

Then I spent a few days recuperating. Tonight I'm selling tickets at the Haunted House. Tomorrow I shall finally vacuum my house so that it no longer looks like I've been stabling horses in there. (Turkey Shoot has hay. Hay gets caught in pants that are cuffed because even though one is spending days surrounded by fried insert-any-food-you-can-think-of, one's pants are becoming too big. One comes home very late after 12-14 hour day, forgets about hay, takes pants off, spilling hay all over bathroom. Cats spread hay throughout house. Repeat 10X.) Also tomorrow: getting ready to go to Atlanta for the weekend.

Oh, but on the exciting front, I have a follow-up phone interview tomorrow for that position in Chicago. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

• I've been busy at work (so very very strange!) and with the Turkey Shoot, so I've not been around much.
  
• I may or may not be going to Atlanta the weekend after the Turkey Shoot.
  
• I want to buy Dodi. She's up for lease, and there is a lease-to-own option, but her price goes up $2,000 in January. And I can't have the rest of it by then. But, I've never fallen for a horse like this before. She needs some work, but she's young, which is why she's cheap. However, she moves well, which is what you want to look for.
  
• Woke up at 2AM this morning. I'm not sure what woke me up, but I probably wouldn't have been quite as awake if Orion hadn't jumped 3 feet when I pet him.
  
• After going back to sleep, I woke up again to a very strange sound. I couldn't figure it out, and then I realized it was rain. Rain!
  
• I have 530 T-shirts in my car.
  
• Bud cracks me up.
  

OK. That's about all I can think of. For now, anywa.

I had my first Turkey Shoot related freak-out today. It was of the "OMG! I can't get it all done!" type. Which, I can get it all done. I shall list what I still need to do.

1. Order targets (we have enough to get started with. I've requested quotes.)
   
2. Laminate the colored targets (groups shoot by target color).
   
3. Buy passes (am getting check tonight).
   
4. See if any Jaycees want to buy a shirt.
   
5. Shift captain training.
   
6. Check gun locks.
   
7. Hang new sign.
   
8. Buy snacks/drinks for manpower.
   
9. Figure out why my keys don't work.
   

In other news, I rode Dodi yesterday. Now, a TB/Percheron cross has always been my dream horse. She was fabulous. Sweet, willing, although a bit slow to pick up things. She's still a baby, so she's got lots of growing/training yet to do. I may change the horse I lease.

Look! Slideshow!

We had a fabulous time. Hilton Head is wonderful. You should go. We spent time on the beach (amazing beaches!), kayaked, went on a dolphin cruise, toured Savannah, GA, and basically just hung out.

Phoebs has more pictures. She should share them.

A few months ago, my company put out an internal request for people to work on a big project in Chicago. I applied, but never heard anything, so I put it out of my mind.

They called me today. I have a phone interview on Friday.

(Apologies to Stew for stealing this page from her book.)

So, thanks to a recent ego boost, I decided to try the online dating thing again. I signed up for the smiley faced one, because, well, I haven't tried it yet. It's going OK. Nothing has really come of it yet, but I'm talking with one guy that I'm interested in. Then there's this other guy. He seems nice enough, and is into horses, so I figured, "What the heck?' He would like to become a dairy farmer, and he was telling me that he thinks that's what's scaring women away. I was all, "Cows are cool! Goats are cooler! I could have a horse!" Nothing to be taken seriously, because, well, we've only talked over e-mail, so it's not like I'm planning for the future or anything here.

His response?

"Being a part of a dairy business is not to be taken lightly. Life on a dairy farm will change and affect you whether you are an active participant in the business or not.... Milking cows is not a job or a career but rather frequently refered (sic) to as a lifestyle or way of life... 24 Hours/Day, 365 Days/Year. My looking and smelling like what comes out of a cows backside mixed in with the smell of sour milk is the least what is to be expected. Oh, another good thing to mention to consider... Cows get milked twice daily... Approximately every 12 hours."

Uh, OK. Later in the letter he says, "Dairy farming is unique, for all the hard work I think I like what it has to offer for myself and a family."

Here's the thing. I don't know that I want to have kids. Meaning, I'm leaning towards no. I am not saying definitely no because things change, but as of this point, I don't want kids. (I'm not sure I've explicitly stated that here before.) I like kids, don't get me wrong, but I really like when they go home with their parents.

(I have already formulated extensive plans for corrupting my nephew.)

It seems clear to me that I need to tell this guy, "Hey, yea, this isn't going to happen." Do I have an obligation to tell him that the whole dairy farming as a way of life thing is a bit much after say, a week and a half of e-mailing? That things might go better for him if he maybe let that go, just a bit? That no one has to make any life decisions based upon a few e-mails? In other words, chill out?

Two weeks ago I had talked about how I felt some mounting rage. It subsided, but I still brought it up at my next appointment. We talked about what had caused it and how I had handled it. After our discussion, my doctor said, “I’m proud of you for how you dealt with that.”

Of course, I now want a T-shirt that says, “My psychiatrist is proud of me.” It would get people wondering, don’t you think?

This weekend I headed down to Atlanta to see a friend. I’d been teasing him that as far as I knew, Atlanta had an airport, MARTA trains, and an office of my company. He insisted that there was more to the city.
Unfortunately, he ended up having to work on Saturday down at Callaway Gardens. We headed down there at 0’dark thirty. I dropped him off and headed out to see what there was to do- he had several long breaks. After the recon, I headed back to the Gardens to check them out.

The first thing I went to see was the raptor show. (Oh, did I mention it was 8 million degrees out with 90,000% humidity? I didn’t? Well, it was. There was no shade where the show was.) The first bird was a Great Horned Owl named Juniper. If any of y’all know Orion, well, she was the bird equivalent. Opinion on everything. Very talkative. The next bird was a Red-tailed hawk. I forget his name. At the end of his segment, the trainer told him, “Home”. He flew off in another direction, which prompted her to say to him, “That’s not home. I don’t know what that is.” He wouldn’t come back, so she sent the other trainer after him. They couldn’t catch him, so the show was cancelled. I found this all very amusing. Of course, I was working on about 3 hours sleep, so that may have been part of it. But the hawk was all, “Road trip!”

That afternoon I visited the butterfly pavilion. A butterfly landed on this six year old girl near me, and she said, “It’s not even one of the pretty ones.” Never satisfied, that kid.

That afternoon we went to see The Bourne Ultimatum. Perhaps it would have made more sense had I seen the first two. That would not have excused the shaky camera work, however.

Sunday we checked out Five Points and went to Stone Mountain. We did not hike up (still with the stifling heat), but I did see the carving of the Confederate Generals. Well, kinda. There were trees in front.

The story ends with Myspace confusion, as they so often do.

Over the past few days I've noticed that I have had to work very hard to contain rage. I am not sure how much sense this will make, but I can feel the anger. I'm not angry about anything, just angry. I don't even know what brought it on. Things have been stressful lately, but I've tried to remove myself as much as possible. I have a doctors appointment next Friday, but if it doesn't get better by Monday, I'll be calling him sooner.

My new bed was delivered Friday. Love! I’ve upgraded to a queen size. The cats were confused when Cdub and I moved the old bed into the guest room, but they adjusted well and slept in there with me on Thursday night.

This means that I now have an actual guest room. This is good news for Phoebs and Angeler- neither one of them will have to sleep on the floor in September.

Friday night Stew and I went to see Waitress. It was excellent. You should see it. Although Stew did cry through the entire movie. I didn’t think it was that sad. Except for Adrienne Shelly.

Saturday was Habitat. I was working on putting up siding. I was up on the third level of scaffolding when I realized I was dizzy and nauseated. I got down and started drinking lots of water. Luckily, it was about 20 minutes from the end of our shift, and we had put most of the siding up while the other group still didn’t have their door up.

That night, we went to Downtown Live to see Night Ranger. Don’t go see Night Ranger. They were awful. We left after 3 songs and moved on to Tir Na Nog to see Walrus and then hit The Pour House to see some band that had a cowbell. Both of those bands? Good. Night Ranger? Bad.

I received my copy of Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies on Friday. While it has reinforced that I do want a greyhound, it has also made me realize that now is not the right time. I don’t have the time needed to properly train a dog; too much is going on right now. I have vacation coming up, the Turkey Shoot is gearing up, and then there’s this whole work thing.

Also, I probably shouldn’t ask my landlord to reconsider the dog thing at the same time I have to tell her that I locked myself out of the house and had to break in through the storm door, which now needs to be fixed. (This happened at 0645 on Saturday. I had to be somewhere at 0700. Oh, and I didn’t call my landlord because my phone was safely locked up inside the house.)

Saturday I had a cookout. I was out running errands, picking up stuff (I have lots of Heineken. Come over!) when I got a call. Well, I didn’t get it- I got the VM when I got home. It was an acquaintance of mine, saying that she’d heard about the party from someone else and could she come too? The phrase, “I am unabashedly inviting myself,” was used. I called the person who had told her about the party and that she should see if she could come, all “WTF? I’m trying to keep the party small. Don’t invite people.” The self-inviter did not come, but did send me a somewhat nasty text message, which, way to get invited to the next one. Except no.

Note: if the person who had told her about the party had called me and said, “Can so-and-so come with me?” I would have had no problem with it. It was the calling me up and inviting oneself that I had a problem with.

One of the errands I ran was to the mall, where the Triangle Greyhound Society was having an event. I met dogs, I played with dogs, I talked with owners, and now I really, really want one. And I don’t see my landlord letting that happen.

Or, I cannot make a decision, so I am turning to the internet.

I need new bedding for the new bed. Target has some on sale, and I was going to order it, but now I am confused. Do I order the light blue duvet cover and shams and match it with brown sheets and bedskirt, or do I go monochromatic with the blue? Or monochromatic, but then add brown accents? Or should I just forget the Target stuff and go with this?

The walls in my bedroom are brown with a faux suede finish. (HATE! To change it, I'd have to sand the entire room, which, also HATE!). Maybe even a dark taupe- there's quite a bit of grey in the walls. Taupe walls + hardwood floor + unfinished wood closet doors= need to add some color to the room with the bedding.

Oh, and when you're done with that, I need suggestions on a book to pick for book club in September. It must be available in paperback and be less than 350 pages.

Monday I had a riding lesson, and for the second time in a month I had a major anxiety attack while on Sandi. She got a bit upset by another horse, and it lead to my getting scared. It also forced Heather and I to work on emergency dismounts, which we have been putting off for years now. I spent the rest of the lesson getting on and off of the horse. I am more comfortable with an emergency dismount now, but still need to work on it.

Tuesday I went to Pub Quiz with Stace. We won third place. Well, with Danny, who was sitting next to us at the bar, so we made him part of our team.

Wednesday was the Fourth of July Turkey Shoot. (Note: You can only win a T-shirt at the 4th of July shoot). I spent all day at the fairgrounds. We hung out, had a cookout, made some money, and watched the fireworks from the top of the building. Which involved climbing up and down the rickety ladder.

Thursday was exciting- I cleaned the fridge and did laundry. Funny part: I was talking to mom as I cleaned the fridge, so she heard my exclamation of, “I don’t remember eating that.” She found this amusing, but when you live alone, there’s a lot of room in the fridge for storage, so…

Monday night I was supposed to fly into Atlanta so that I could attend a training course on Tuesday. When I got to the airport, I learned that my 7PM flight had been cancelled. (No I didn’t call first. Shut up.) They put me on the next flight out, which didn’t leave until around 8:30. However, that flight was delayed. When I asked the gate agent how long it was delayed, she said, “It might take off around 11. That’s what they’ve told me.”

I called our travel agency to see if I could get another flight out. (After arriving in Atlanta, I was supposed to take the MARTA to where I was staying. It’s about a 45 minute ride. So, I would have gotten to the hotel around 2-ish.) There was a Delta flight at 0600, so I booked that, went home, and went to bed.

(Actually, there was completely unrelated drama that I had to deal with while in the airport, and the delays and all made for a stressful situation.)

I woke up a 0330. Orion was not expecting the alarm to go off then and jumped about 10 feet off the bed. Was at the airport by 0430. Through security by 0440. No coffee at the airport until 0500. We lined up at Starbucks.

I was at our Atlanta office by 0830, in plenty of time for the training. Back at the Atlanta airport by 5:30 PM. I was supposed to take a 9:30 flight, but they put me on standby for the 7 PM flight. I was able to get on it, and was home by 10:30.

Long day.

Yesterday I got a bonus at work. I was all, “I will buy a bag!” “I will buy more shoes!” “I could put it towards a saddle.”

Then my back twinged, and I remembered that I really need a new mattress. So, the money will go towards that. I’m planning on getting a queen. I don’t suspect that that means the cats will no longer sleep curled up against me- I think that is most likely not a space issue.

So, it’s been a bummy week. Nothing in particular, just bummy. When I have weeks like this, I get the desire to either

1. move to a new place. A completely different town. Just gather my things and head out. Right now, the places on my list all have snowy winters. Which I moved here to get away from. But apparently now miss.

   Or

2. get a dog. Right now, the preferred breed is a greyhound.
   

I realize those things are not remotely related. I have no idea why those are the two things that I become obsessed with. I mean, on the one had, a new place would be interesting. New people, new favorite places. But then again, it took me about 4 years to feel settled here. And then the dog thing. I love dogs. But they are a lot more work then cats. And there’s still the possibility of traveling for work. Which means I’d have to pay for a kennel. Oh, and also, according to my lease I can’t have a dog.

So, one of the solutions is more feasible (new town!) but one is easier and could be accomplished sooner (dog!). What to do, what to do.

Or, there’s the going back to school thing…

Friday night a friend called me and asked me what my plans were. What I said, “Not really anything.” Actual answer, “I was going to clean the bathroom.” So, I didn’t clean the bathroom that night. I met some friends for dinner and then we went to see Knocked Up. Which is very funny and I enthusiastically recommend it. Way more entertaining than cleaning a bathroom.

Saturday AM I did the Race for the Cure. I love it, partially because the neighborhood we walk through really gets into it. They set up sprinklers to walk through, make signs cheering us on, and there’s usually a brigade of people with SuperSoakers.

That afternoon I took a nap and ran some errands. Then I went out to celebrate a friend’s 25th (!) birthday.

Sunday I started laundry and cleaning the house before heading out to do Adopt-a-Highway. At one point, I bent over to pick up a water bottle. I realized the bottle was covered with ants. I looked down to see that I had stepped into a nest of fire ants. So, if you were driving down Wake Forest Road Sunday afternoon and saw a girl hopping around with one bare foot while flogging her leg with a sock, hi! Luckily, I reacted quickly and didn’t get too bit up.
Finally got home around 6 (more errands). I finished cleaning the house (including bathroom!) at around 7.

I’ve done it again. I have completely overextended myself. My planner? You should see it. It doesn’t even have the volleyball schedule in it, mostly because I don’t have the volleyball schedule yet. Oh, and volleyball starts tonight. Plus, now I’m increasing my riding schedule (note: that is a good thing), I’ve got Jaycee crap all this weekend, all next weekend, and then the weekend after that. The last week of the month I spend a day in Atlanta (I fly in the night before), have volleyball and riding, and then head up to Richmond. (The Richmond thing is also good.)

Also overwhelming? I am manpower chair for a huge project the Jaycees are running this month. I am having a very difficult time getting people to help. I just had someone back out of everything she volunteered for except for the fun thing (not uncommon for said person. Not known for doing projects involving labor, but shows up for all the parties.). When I told her I didn’t need her for anything, she wrote back “Thank you so much! I am doing manpower for (another upcoming large project) so I feel your pain.” No, clearly you don’t, or you wouldn’t have cancelled. Ask Aquamama about the wonderful things I was saying to you through the computer.

Regular readers of this blog (Hi regular readers!) know that I do this on occasion. So, now you have an assignment. Next May, one of you remind me not to sign up for volleyball.

On Thursday when I got into work, I had an e-mail from Cdub. It was forwarded from one of her co-workers, who was looking to get rid of tickets to Sweet Charity (starring Molly Ringwald!). I believe my answer to her was, "You should have called me! I didn't get this until today. I would have loved to go!" It turned out the tickets were still available. The seats were excellent, and the show was really funny. I wasn't actually very familiar with the show- it's funny and smart. You should see it.

It's a good thing that we enjoyed the show, because we went out to dinner beforehand and got some of the worst service we had ever gotten. The waiter took our drink orders, walked away, and didn't come back for our dinner orders until the drinks were ready, 10 minutes later. I even tried to stop him after he brought water over, but he ran off. We finally ordered, the food (as usual at this place) was excellent. We ate, our plates were cleared at 7:25. At 7:40 we still did not have our check. When I finally managed to flag the waiter down (he spent a good bit of time evading us), I told him to bring the check, as we had tickets to a show. He did not get a good tip. (He probably realized we weren't happy, as it was the manager who finally brought us the check.) I was not happy.

Saturday we volunteered at Operation Sharehouse. I love volunteering there- there's a tangible result to your work (we packaged over 5,000 meals). They also allow (and encourage) children as young as 5 to participate- we had several little ones working with us- which I also like.

Afterward was errands.

Today, I headed out to the Capital Dressage Show to volunteer as a ring steward. Ring steward keep track of the competitors and also get to check bits and spurs after the ride. (Translation: I stuck my hands (with gloves on) into the mouths of horses I'd never seen before.) It was a nasty rainy day today (and also the 3rd day of the show), so we had a lot of scratches. Most people went early- we can't force them to, but if they are ready, they may. Afterwards I went through the trade show- I needed new gloves and some boot socks. When I went to purchase them, I learned that the tack shop was giving 10% off to volunteers. Yay!

I was supposed to have a riding lesson at 3, but after standing out in the rain all morning, I wasn't feeling it.

Last Friday, I went out to Cat’s Cradle to see Martin Sexton. I’d never heard of him, but it sounded like fun. He is very talented and did an amazing acoustical “Folsom Prison Blues”. The end of the concert turned into a bit of a revival, but I’ll forgive him that.

Saturday was the Tiki Party. I dragged Stewie along, and at this party, where she knew no one but me, she met people who live 2 blocks away from her. We also had the pleasure of telling people we met through our blogs.

Sunday I did yardwork and cleaned. It was most exciting.

Yesterday Stewie, Aquamama, the British co-worker, Stewie’s ex-roommate, his girlfriend, and I went to play Pub Quiz at the Saucer. We totally kicked ass, and won a $50 gift certificate. To be used at the Saucer next Tuesday, and next Tuesday only. It’s a racket!

But hey, free beer, ya know?

In case any of you are wondering, I am at this very moment driving down to get Aquamama and the kids, as her car is broken down. Or, at least that's what I told the guy I was on a date with.

This would be the second date. Well, not really a date. Get-together? We haven't been on what I would consider a date.

He's a smart, funny, nice guy. Also painfully shy. Which means I have to do a lot of the nudging. Am tired of it. Maybe it's a confidence issue? I don't know. I do know that when he finally called today, after I told him "You asked me out again, nary a word about it since. You are interesting and I'd like to get to know you better," I told him I was going to the mall (Macy's had a duvet on sale. Really good deal.) He agreed to meet me there. We walked around the mall for a while and then were heading up to Frankie's (they have arcade games, putt-putt, etc.) On the way, I called Aquamama and told her I was bored out of my freaking mind. Because I was.

She called with the fake emergency. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood to hang out today, I don't know. She's all for giving him another chance, because the first time we met, I had a good time (oh, and 2 beers. Coincidence?). I think I will, but I'm not going to push for it.

Feel free to hate me now.

Last weekend I volunteered at the Downtown Raleigh Home Tour. Afterwards, I went and toured some of the homes with a friend of mine. Said friend is Irish. We got to talking about Boston, and she said, "I've been to Boston. I have relations there." I pondered for a minute, wondering if I should say anything. "Just so you know," I said to her, "In the US, we say 'relatives'. 'Having relations' is a euphemism for sex." Response: "Really? I'm sure I've said that before! Why has no one said anything?"

Things I learned on the home tour:

1. People who buy $950,000 condos are apparently so enamored of large walk-in closets that they don't care that the bedrooms are noticeably smaller than they could be due to said closets.
   
2. Spending $350,000 on a condo does not mean that you get hardwood floors. Laminate*, baby!
   
3. You can also spend $244,000 on a condo where the bedroom has no windows. Oh, and the hallway and kitchen have laminate floors.
   
4. However, it is possible to take a condo built in the 80s and update it so that it is my absolute favorite house on the tour.
   

Also, last night I went before the Jaycee board to present my resume. I was approved as the 2007 Turkey Shoot Chair. Which, yay, 2007 Turkey Shoot Chair! And also, holy crap, 2007 Turkey Shoot Chair!

*I have no problem with laminate floors. It's just that in that price range**, I'd want hardwood.

**I am totally pretending I could ever afford something in that price range.

Early last week, a friend of mine e-mailed me to see if I wanted to go to a speed dating event with her. I hemmed and hawed and then decided to talk it over with Stewie, the voice of reason. Stew: "What else are you going to be doing?" Me: "Nothing, really." Stew: "So go. What's the worst that could happen?" (That's her favorite question, actually. Sometimes it's not even rhetorical.)

So, I went, if only for the $2 domestics (except for Yuengling, which, when did PA secede?), $3 imports, and $3 well drinks. I ended up having a good time. Most of the guys were nice guys, but not people I'd date. One of them replied to everything I said with, "Right on. Right on." He also answered my question of, "Did you grow up around here?" (Sidenote: Most of the people around here did not in fact grow up around here.) with, "What do you mean by around here?" Um...

Then there was the guy who told me he played football in college. I asked him what position, and he said, "Cornerback." He then challenged me about what a cornerback is, and was impressed when I knew. (What? Girls can understand football?) I asked him if his favorite NFL team was the Falcons, and he said, "How'd you guess?" "You told me you were from Atlanta. It was a reasonable starting point."

The last guy I "dated" was drunk enough to be slurring his words. He started out by telling me that the last people he met through speed dating were liars. Then, as an added bonus he told me how he didn't like my friend (the one that I came with). He did know we were friends. It turned out that he is a recruiter, so he spent the next 3 minutes incredulous that I am a PE. "That's one of the hardest tests to pass! Do you know how hard it is to find a PE?" He repeated the last question several times, until I told him that I worked with several and that many of my friends are also PEs, so no, I don't know how hard it is to find one.

I talked to one of the guys that I had circled "yes" to afterward, and he started telling me a story about how his friend's girlfriend had moved to Chicago. They ended up breaking up, and then he proceeded to tell me all about the crush he had on her, even though he didn't know it. He said, "But I'm over it now." Me: "Are ya sure?" Him: "Why did I talk about that?"

It turns out that only one of the guys that I checked yes to also checked yes for me, which is fine. The ones I did pick wasn't because I was really interested in a relationship (because, hello, 5 minutes?)with them, but I thought I might enjoy seeing again.

It was an interesting experience, but I'm not convinced I do it again. I can meet strange freaky guys and guys who aren't interested in me for free on any given day.

I got up at 0400 yesterday morning to catch an 0615 flight. For future reference, bad idea. (Although, the travelers at that hour are familiar with the self-check kiosks.) The couple in front of me at security had a cat with them. They had to take the cat out of the carrier and carry him through the metal detector with them. My cats would not have been nearly as easily controlled. Not that I ever plan on flying with them. (Like the other passengers want Orion in the cabin, yowling the entire time.)

I took MARTA to our office here. This office is better than my office for the following reasons:

• within walking distance to restaurants and public transportation
  
• no cockroaches falling from ceiling
  

When I was ready to leave, I called my hotel. They run a shuttle. I don’t have to have a car. There is an entire shopping center across the street from the hotel, so more restaurants within walking distance. Most excellent.

Oh, and when I was packing I couldn't decide between 2 shirts, so I threw them both in. This worked out well when I stained one of them while ironing. (Stupid hotel irons!)

Ticketing counter,RDU. 6 open self-service kiosks; three people in line in front of me. To the woman before me, “Is there a reason no one is using those?” “Um, yeah, there’s no one there to check you in.” “OK, but they are self-service kiosks.” I pass them.

Ticketing agent , putting the baggage claim ticket on my bag,: “You’re going to Spokane?” “No, I’m going to Columbus, GA.” “I try to guess what the airport designation is. I’m always wrong.” (Note: Spokane is GEG. Columbus, GA is CSG.)

Atlanta, connection delayed 5 times. I stop watching passengers and pick up my book. I look up, a glance. I see him from the back; I never see his face. It is familiar, a reminder of the past, a jump in my chest. Most likely not him, but what if it was?

3 hours after scheduled departure we take off. Rental car clerk can't find mileage for car. Nor can she find gas. "Just bring it back as close as you can to what it was."

Hotel: Gladly paid $4.25 for a Miller Lite.

When my parents were down for Easter (I was a stop on their trip to FL), my dad told me he had three weeks of timeshares that had to be used before October and asked me if I wanted one. I thought about it for roughly a nanosecond before saying yes.

I called Angeler, my favorite traveling companion, to see where we should go. Our first choice was San Francisco, but nothing was available. So, we will be going to Hilton Head. Beach! Golfing! Savannah, GA less than an hour away! Oh, and I don’t even need a plane ticket.

I can’t wait for September.

Huzzah! Friday night I went to the Ren Faire with Little Matty. He wanted to see Albannach. First there was drinking of mead, then an “Acrobatic Equestrian Show”. Two of the performers got into an argument (the one flipping from the Belgian and landing on a pony didn’t like how the Belgian was being lead. The guy leading the Belgian stormed off.). It was awesome! The band was great, but we didn’t stay for the entire show, as it was cold.

Saturday I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned because my parents, Goose, and his girlfriend were staying at my house on the way to Florida. Sunday I made breakfast, saw them off, and then did my taxes.

Oh, and my dad offered me a week at a timeshare, so now I am planning a vacation. First step: figuring out where to go.

These pictures were taken at 8:30 this morning. Remember, I live in North Carolina. Also, it's April.

I was successful with the coffe and had some this morning. However, I walked upstairs with my car keys and not my office keys, so it seems to have not helped.

In other news, I will be joining Weight Watchers next week. A co-worker and I are doing it together- we can go to meetings during lunch.

This week, I am having trouble setting up the coffee. Well, actually it goes back to Friday. Friday (well, actually Thursday night) I forgot to put a key ingredient in the coffeepot. Water. Forgot the water. Sunday I set up the coffee before Cdub and I went to see Delirium. But, I forgot to set it to “auto” so no coffee Monday morning. Today, I did all that, except I forgot to check when the timer was set for, so coffee was brewed. At midnight.
Anyway, the point is that for the last 3 business days, I have had no coffee until after arriving at work. Which leads to things like this:

Watergirl: I just lost my keys.
British Co-worker: That’s not good.
British Co-worker: Wait, just lost them as in 30 seconds ago when you came through the door you had them and now you don’t?
Watergirl: That would be correct.

I fixed my storm door this weekend. It hasn't latched since I moved into the house. I took the lock apart, cleaned the crud off, and WD-40'd it. Now, I can sit in the living room and have the front door open. The cats can look out the storm door. Today, we were all sitting in the living room- Ri on my lap, Jasper lying on the rug. A backhoe drove down the street. Jasper ran to the window to see it.

TRgirl's baby shower was, well, a baby shower. The cool part was that she and Randy took me to the driving range the night before. I am now in the market for golf clubs.

Oh, TRgirl has painted the baby's room as an ocean. There is sky and waves. Except I thought it was sky and mountains. Which lead to this exchange:

TRgirl: Have you ever heard of blue mountains?
Watergirl: The Blue Ridge Mountains? The Blue Mountains in Jamaica?

We had our highest point total at Pub Quiz tonight, and were still one point out of fourth place. Which we would have tied for if someone had believed me when I told them what a calorie was.

Which is why I haven’t written much. So, here are some random thoughts:

• The more I drive my new car, the more I love it.
  
• Of course, I am writing this from the service area, because one of the seat belts is broken. I am also getting a second key.
  
• Did you see The Amazing Race on Sunday? They had these wicked cool bomb sniffing rats. The rats were huge. I mean, for rats. Bigger than a Chihuahua. I kind of want to get one, and only partially because I want to see the cats react to a prey animal that is their size.
  
• Also on Sunday I went for a walk with 2.0 and the Boo. I have not seen them in forever. It’s nice to connect with friends again.
  
• This weekend is TRgirl’s baby shower. While I am very excited about becoming an aunt, I found Babies ‘R Us terrifying. Which must have shown, because the employees kept asking me if I needed help. When I was done, I had to go to AutoZone to clear my head.
  

This is for Michelle because she asked.

This is also for Michelle because I am mean.

So, the new vehicle means that I will not be buying a place later this year. I made that decision for several reasons. First of all, I love the house and neighborhood I am in. I'm not ready to give up on it yet. Secondly, I'm now not sure I'll be here (in this city) for 3 more years. Thirdly, about 3 weeks ago several rows of townhomes in a new development went up in flames. From that I learned that the building codes do not require that the firewall extend through the attic. Because, as we all know, fire never spreads through the attic.

1. Washed all the floors in the house.
2. Laundry
3. Cooked. Which I mention because it hasn’t happened in some time.
4. Bought a new (used) car.

As far as the work situation goes, I am essentially being blamed for something that is not my fault, and even if it were would actually point to a whole host of other problems. Also, and even more frustrating, is that some of the people I worked with are telling my boss the exact opposite of what they told me. Which shouldn't surprise me, and yet always does.

But, I have been given the chance to start anew. I've got a new project to work on, and even though I've been told that I really have to make this one work (I have such power for a peon!) it is a project that is actually in line with my experience, which should help.

(Oh, and if I ever tell you that I've never done something and I don't know what I'm doing, what I mean is that I've never done it and I don't know what I'm doing.)

So, anyway, the work frustration should be over soon. Which will give me more free time to be frustrated about other things. Like the fact that I cannot find a wallet that I like.

If you are meeting with your boss and your psychiatrist on the same day, meet with your boss first. That way, when the meeting with your boss goes the opposite of how you thought it would, you can talk to your shrink about it.

If you can't do that, make sure your shrink tells you to look out for yourself because there is no loyalty in the business world.

So, it looks like I’m not going to lose my job. Which, good. I also found out yesterday that many people on the project team are surprised that I’m the one being let go. No one is disappointed with my work. I’ve also realized that the kind of experience that I need I won’t get in Raleigh, so I have talked to some people about a possible transfer. It looks like they will have the work, the question is can I be put on the right teams so that we both benefit.

I was doing the whole networking thing yesterday, and was talking to our I&C guy on the phone. I told him what was going on, and then I told him I was looking for design experience, so if he heard anything let me know. And I told him I was willing to travel. He said, “That’s not the tra- word you want to be using. “

So, now it’s a wait and see. Which we all know is something I excel at.

My project manager is in town today. At 5:30 PM he called me into his office. He said, "After this week, you're going to go home, Jack and Josiah are going to come back, and you are not." I'm told it's a budget problem. I'm not sure I believe that. I was enjoying the project, I was enjoying working with the project team. I've been learning a lot. I've gotten to like it down here. I was completely gobsmacked. I think that I will probably lose my job. My boss had planned on me being on this project until the beginning of May. Now, I will have no work. I'm told they are trying to find something, but I don't know that they will. I liked this job. I liked the people. It's all over now.

Oh, and as an added bonus, I've been avoiding a situation at home. The travel has made avoidance easy. Now, I'm going to have to face it, somehow.

If I run away, don't look for me in Wyoming.

I haven't been writing much because my days are like this:

Wake up. Work out. Work. Work. Work. Eat dinner. Hotel room. Sleep.

Except for the one night where we did stadiums. My right quad was sore to the touch for the next two days.

But, on the weekends, I get my own car. And I can do stuff! Saturday morning a group from work met up to play Ultimate. Why did no one tell me how much fun it is. All y'all are fired.

It's fun, but difficult to play, and there is much running. So, I'd like to play more, but I really need to get into better shape.

Afterwards, I headed out to Orlando for some outlet shopping. Well, mostly to just get in the car and drive, but the outlet shopping was a good excuse, and I knew the guys wouldn't come. I didn't get much, but no big deal there.

Today I met up with our PA and her sister here to go riding. Her sister has 2 Tennessee Walkers, and I got to ride Spanky. Sweet horse- I'd not ridden a gaited horse before, and it is very nice. He is for sale, but is not a dressage horse. Also, I can't really afford a horse right now.

So, last night I almost wrote an entry telling y'all how I was in fact taking the boys to Gainesville, because my PA had found me an apartment.

Well, good thing I didn't.

She called back today. First, because the people renting the place had decided that they could not, in fact, take credit cards. (Yesterday they had told her we could pay with the company card.) Then again because, oh, also, they wanted a $500 deposit for the cats.

Neither of these things were unreasonable, per se. What was unreasonable was that conditions kept being added. It make me uncomfortable, so I decided not to do it.

So, this weekend, we take the cats to VA.

My Uncle says he knows that I am not actually crazy, I just sound it lately.

I just got off of the phone with our project assistant. It is now looking like I won’t be heading to Gainesville for an extended stay. So far, the only furnished place she can find that will also take the cats is the extended stay hotel. Which puts us in one room together. For nearly three months. I don’t see it working. I’ve got one other possibility, but as of now it looks like the boys are going to my uncle’s. Which is, if nothing else, a shorter road trip.

First, Stewie and I picked nicknames for them. Jack is about 2 years younger than me, a native Vermonter. If he were a dog, he'd be a Jack Russel Terrier. Josiah is in the age group known as "my parents" (his son is Goose's age). He just transferred to Charlote from NoVa, but he is a native of Buffalo and huge Sabres fan.

So, Thursday some of the girls at work invited me to go to a wine bar on Friday. I told Jack that I'd not be doing happy hour with them. He decided he'd come with us (other guys were coming). Josiah came along as well. I had a wonderful time- I have not had much female interaction as of late. The boys looked bored.

They were bored. They didn't like the atmosphere, and Josiah is still complaining that he spent $12 on a glass of wine.

The girls were going to another bar. I gave the guys the keys to my rental car. Found some nice neighborhoods in Gainesville (I've mostly seen the college neighborhoods, which are as you would imagine.) We hung out and they dropped me off at my hotel.

Yesterday we went out to Cedar Key with another co-worker and his mom. We had lunch, walked around for a little bit, and then drove back. I enjoyed the town, but we didn't spend enough time.

After we got back, I took a nap. Then I went and hung out at Borders for a while. (The Barnes & Noble here has no cafe. And no couches. Is stupid.) Came back, read, watched TV, went to bed.

Josiah called me this morning (woke me up) to see if I wanted to go to breakfast. We went to breakfast, where the boys complained about how bored they were. I've not been bored at all. But then again, I've been known to spend entire weekends by myself.

Plus, the book I'm reading? Really good.

Transferring. Which, by the way, has only been mentioned as a possibility. But still, I must worry about it. (Except for last night, when my computer crashed and I was worried about that. It’s fixed now, so no more worries on that front.) I’ve researched housing, and it’s more expensive down here (Gainesville is more reasonable than Orlando.) I love the Gainesville office, but I also love the Raleigh office.

Gainesville is a nice town. There is quite a bit to do. However, the Barnes and Noble does not have a café, so there goes one of my favorite activities. Once you get out of Gainesville, there is nothing. There is also no Sephora.

There is in Orlando. Which is a big town with lots to do, and probably fairly easy to entice people to visit. Even my parents go there. Of course, it’s larger, and there are the tourists, but the parks are south of the actual city. I’ve not been to that office, so I can’t say anything about it.

Yesterday morning I was all, “No! Not even considering it!” Yesterday afternoon, I was, “Wait, Gainesville would be nice.” This morning I’m, “Well, maybe Orlando would be OK.”

Remember, none of this has actually been offered.

It’s fun being me.

Project Assistant: printing off color brochures
Watergirl: Oh, a golf tournament!
PA: I’ll bring you one
WG: I can’t play golf. I can drive around in a golf cart and drink beer.
PA: I like to drive around in a golf cart.
WG: I like beer.
Other PA: That’s my girl!

Later:

Phone rings
Watergirl: Hello?
Flygt pump rep: Hi, it’s [Flygt pump rep]. What can I help you with?
WG: I’m looking for some pumps. Some teeny-tiny pumps. But I can’t find them using your software.
FPR: Well, how about we make them bigger? Just teeny pumps.

I’m back in Gainesville. It is cold here, which is unfair. I mean, if you’re going to send me to Florida, at least make sure it’s warm. I brought flip-flops! (On a barely related note, I need new flip-flops.)

While I’m down here, I have several things I need to do. I need to write up a final project report for a Jaycee project (CPG in Jaycee lingo). Most importantly, I need to catch up with some people I haven’t caught up with in a while.

I got an e-mail on my birthday from Caroline, and I still haven’t written back. She told me she was moving, but I don’t know to where.

I also got a Christmas card from Erica last week. She doesn’t have my new address, and the post office has been dreadful with the mail forwarding. I have no e-mail address for her, so I have to write her a snail mail letter.

This brings up an interesting point. I started this blog as a way of keeping up with people. I’ve not been doing a good job of that. So, if you read this and we haven’t talked in a while, leave a comment! Send me an e-mail! Also, my cell phone number hasn’t changed in 4 years.

Conversation during a haircut today.

Watergirl: So, a little while ago, I wanted to dye my hair brown.
Hairdresser: Instead, why don't you just stab me in the heart?
WG: See, when I was thinking of doing it, I was talking to someone, and I can't remember who, but I was telling them that I didn't want to do it myself, and they said, "Why don't you just call your hairdresser?" but I told them you wouldn't do it.
Hairdresser: See? You do know me!

Friday night I landed at RDU. Two of my friends picked me up, and we went out to dinner. They took me to an Italian restaurant near their house, and I've finally found good pizza in Raleigh. So good, in fact, that I briefly thought of moving back to that area, even though I hated it when I lived there.

As we were ordering, my friend started telling me about a dream he'd had. I looked at his wife and said, "Did he just say 'wombat'?" She confirmed that he had.

Once they dropped me off, it was difficult for me to refrain myself from running around the house yelling, "My couch! My bed! My kitchen!"

Cdub dropped the boys off yesterday. They spent a good portion of the day mad at me. I felt guilty that I hadn't been home, so I let them sleep with me. Around 3:30 AM, I woke up because I was being stared at. (Mom: Ha! Payback!) Jasper was standing over me. I realized I had a splitting headache, so I got up and took some Tylenol. When I got back into the room, Jasper was sound asleep. I had to go sleep on the couch because he was snoring.

Today I heard my co-worker, the one who is keeper of the car keys, say, at noon, an hour into a phone call, “No, I’m ok. I’ve got a can of peanuts I’m snacking on, plus I have some baby carrots.” I went over, got the keys, and took the other co-worker to lunch.

I am going home tomorrow. I am very much looking forward to it. I have plans with many of my friends, and I’ll get to ride, and I’ll get to see my boys. The boys I have here are not the same.

However, it does make it harder to avoid a situation I’ve been trying to avoid. A situation that has been bothering me for over a month now. I’ve been mostly successful at avoiding it, and I can do so for the next week without a problem. At some point I’m going to have to figure out either how to deal with it, or how to let it go. The biggest problem is that I feel like I’ve been made a fool of, all warning signs pointed to the eventual outcome, and I ignored them. To top it all off, I tried to salvage the situation and ended up saying things that I didn’t want to, things that were not necessarily true, but that I can’t take back. So, there’s an entire group of people that I am not yet ready to face.

On a less whiny note, I will be shopping for a new purse. Something large enough to hold a book and my iPod for when I travel, and yet small/stylish enough to be used as an everyday purse. Currently, I am carrying my Healthy Back Bag through airports and switching to another purse that I’ve packed in my suitcase. I’m trying to pack less. I left my brown boots home this time. I’ve missed them.

But, the problem with traveling with two male co-workers is that they do not understand that. At all.

It started off when I asked, “When are we going to lunch?” Answer, “I’m not hungry,” which is not what I asked. We finally did go (the not hungry one didn’t come, and I had to point out to him that he’d need to give me the keys) and I explained that 1:15 is way to late for lunch for me, and I have otherwise conformed my schedule to theirs, so I’d appreciate it if we could at least eat lunch earlier.

I came back to learn that I am losing the cube I sit in here, and will be relocated to the cube that serves as a library. So, not really a lot of room to work. Why would we want to make things easier on the girl working away from home 2/3 of the time? No reason to do that at all- she’s already proven she’ll put up with most anything. Except late lunches.

Friday night we headed out to an oyster bar for happy hour. Is there anything better than oysters and $0.99 Yuengling? I think not.

One of my co-workers (sidenote: must come up with nicknames for them. Since I will be spending most of my time over the next few months with them, they will probably make a few appearances.) headed down to Tampa. This worked, because I am allowed to rent a car for the weekends. So, one of our co-workers from here took two of us to St. Augustine. We did not go in the fort, which I would have liked. We did go to the beach, where we saw a woman with a pet monkey. (Probably a marmoset, but also maybe a squirrel monkey.)

Today, they went rollerblading. I walked. Tomorrow, back to the grind.

Hi. I am in Gainesville. It’s warm here, but not much warmer than Raleigh was. I took a cab to the airport this morning. He was late because he was looking for my street on the other side of town. (There is a similarly named road, albeit one that includes an entire extra word, on that side of town.) The dispatcher did ask me which street I was off of. That street is nowhere near where he was.

I just got off of the phone with someone at a competing company- I was providing a reference for a friend. As we ended the call, she said, “Well, you’re with the Raleigh office of (my company)? Are you happy with your current position?”

Watergirl: I am 1/3 of the way to meeting my medical deductible!

Co-worker: But it’s only January 2nd.

WG: Well, I am an overachiever.

2006 has been a rough year for me. I’ve been focused on the wrong group of people, I’ve fallen for the wrong guys (2005 taste in men, come back!), been diagnosed with bipolar disorder (which forced me to face some things I didn’t necessarily want to), I killed a dog or a cat, I got a speeding ticket, I no longer have the best ankle break in the whole family, and now my new meds are giving me a funny taste in my mouth.

But!

There were some good things, some excellent things even. So, I present to you 10 things that prove in 2006 wasn’t actually a bust:

1. I met Stewie. Stewie is awesome. Y’all should meet her too.
   
2. Kristi, who is also awesome. And bonus, her husband rocks!
   
3. I found out I’m going to be an aunt. (Don’t tell TRgirl and Randy, but since I don’t plan on having kids, this means that I get to buy the noisy toys. I am so buying and stashing Annoy-the-crap-out-of-me Elmo. Until he’s 3. (My nephew, not Elmo.))
   
4. New job!
   
5. Ridiculous raise at new job.
   
6. I paid off my car.
   
7. Turkey shoot. I love the Turkey Shoot. Or, I love shooting things.
   
8. I started jumping again. (On horses. So, really, it’s the horse that’s jumping. But I do have to stay on.)
   
9. Therapy. Should have done that years ago.
   
10. Bruno and I won sixth place for the year at MacNair’s.
    

I hope y’all enjoyed your holidays. My Christmas was good. Quiet, lots of food. Saturday, TRgirl and Randy came out. We had lunch, hung out, did the gift exchange. I now have Cranium. Y’all come over and play! Bob, Steffie, and I saw Night at the Museum. Fun!

Christmas Eve we had breakfast at Steffie’s mom’s house. Bud: You had biscuits and gravy? I miss biscuits and gravy! (I did not actually eat the biscuits and gravy.)

Christmas morning I set my alarm because Peg wanted to open gifts before 10AM Mass. After we opened gifts, she said, “Do you mind if we go to Spanish Mass at 4? It will be less crowded.” Then, buffet lunch at the Best Western. After Mass, dinner with more of Steffie’s family, including the best banana pudding in the world. (I did not get the “no communion” reminder.) (Also, Spanish Mass was given by a priest from Africa. His Spanish was quite good.)

Yesterday, I drove back. Note from Peg: “Watch the speedometer!” No worries there.

Today, I am back at work. I am regretting backing out of the beach trip, even though I know it was the right decision. If I were to go, I’d get fed up and leave early anyway.

Update on me: Am now cleaning. This is a good sign. Unless I go too far with the cleaning and am scrubbing things with toothbrushes at 4AM.

Update on mom: We may be neck and neck in the hardware division. However, she has no coral in her leg, so I get some bonus points. They tried to put her cast on yesterday, but she couldn’t bend her ankle enough. I hope that they start PT early- I was doing PT for at least a month before I could put any weight on my leg. I’m a bit worried- she doesn’t sound well on the phone. She’s having trouble getting around, and dad went out and got her a wheelchair. I found the wheelchair great for going out, but didn’t use it in the house except for when I was doing laundry. Also, don’t let Goose drive. He will run your leg into things.

I had my annual review today. I was dreading it. I hate them. It went very well, much better than I expected. So that was good news. With a decent raise to boot!

Orion got tired of me rolling away from him this morning, so he decided to sleep on me. Orion is sleeping in his room tonight.

I leave tomorrow for VA. I’ll be there until Tuesday. TRgirl and Randy are coming out to Culpeper on Saturday. Peg and I will go to church at some point (not sure when yet) and Peg will remind me that I cannot take communion. Apparently she has this fear that I am going to rush Father Leo and demand the sacrament.

I still have 2 presents to buy. I’ll be doing that tomorrow morning.

• Mom fell down the stairs and broke her ankle Sunday. Sunday night she told me, “I think I’ll be back to work by Wednesday.” Me: “Ha!” Yesterday she had surgery, and they discovered the break was worse than they thought. We are still waiting to see who wins. (Win: having more hardware than someone else. My entry is 2 plates, 15 screws, and a bone graft.)
• Went to the Dr. yesterday. I need a new doctor. I will look for one once all this travel is over. He did adjust my meds, however.
• I am doing better. Still not well. Thanks to everyone who has called or e-mailed.
• We are going to see Flicka tonight. I am way too excited about this.

Yesterday was a bad day. An awful day. A black day. I called TRgirl, who said she would skip her party. I called Stewie, who said, "I am cancelling my date." I called TRgirl back and told her she didn't have to come (Stewie lives closer). I got an e-mail from another friend checking on me.

After I got home (flight delays!) Stewie came over, made dinner, and we watched 13 Going on 30, which was silly and fun and what I needed.

Today, I am better. Not completely, but I will be.

I get my boys back. I miss my boys.

I leave to go back home tomorrow. I’m not sure I want to go. I’ve gotten to the point where I am feeling comfortable in this office. I’m in a routine. (Everyone who knows me is all, “Oh. There it is.”)

I think it also has to do with the fact that I am frustrated with my life at home. Frustrated with my friends. Frustrated with my house, and the crappy, torn-up yard. And the temporary microwave that I’ve had for over two months now because the built in one broke, and my landlords are insisting that a microwave with an exhaust fan and a light is a special order item, which, have they been to Lowes? I want the top of my baker’s rack back. It’s where I put my purse. It’s where I put the mail.

I’m not sure any of that matters, really, since I can’t have a dog where I’m at. But do I really want to move again? I don’t know. (No, I do know. I don’t want to move. Well, within the area I am in now. I could be open to moving to another state.)

I think in the end, that’s why the car thing bothers me so much. I’ve been looking forward to this as a semi-new beginning, and now it is less so, because I don’t get to go out and meet new people. There are new people in the office, but (and it could be a factor of the time of year) we aren’t doing a lot of socializing. So, I’m stuck with my two teammates, who still want to talk wastewater plants when we go to dinner. It’s not the change I’d hoped for.

PS: Boston Terriers are way better than French Bulldogs.

The situation from the other night has been resolved. Upon further reflection, I was not at fault, and the other party involved is refusing to accept causality. It was really the kick in the pants I needed to remove myself from a bad situation. And that’s all there is to say about that.

In other news, I did not tell y’all that last week, while dining at an Italian chain restaurant (sounds like Barraba’s), the waitress referred to me as my co-worker’s mother. He’s 15 months younger than I am. Way to talk yourself out of a tip!

The next day, at lunch (where I was the only female in the group), they handed him my credit card. We aren’t sure if that is worse for him, or for me.

I really want to get a dog, specifically a Boston Terrier. I’m not sure how Jasper feels about that. Orion loves dogs. Of course, first I need to stop with all the travel. Secondly, I need to clear it with my landlord. Thirdly, I need to research dog training, because there is nothing I hate more than an ill-trained dog.

I also need to start Christmas shopping. I tried to start last night, but the address I needed was at home. With all of the travel and stuff, Christmas is feeling like something I have to do. I’m not decorating, because I won’t really have time to take the decorations down. I don’t plan on sending out Christmas cards this year- I hope people don’t take that as a slight.

You're jealous of that, I know.

Birthday went well. Lovely day. Immediately after the Birthday ended (after midnight...) was spectacularly, mind-bogglingly bad. Still kinda reeling here.

Screw it, I'm going to Gainesville.

I'm doing better- my boss is helping me out, as much as he can. Still sharing a car with 2 people. Luckily, the hotel is located near a major shopping area, and there are sidewalks all the way. So, I can walk to Target, walk to B&N, walk to some restaurants. Also? I found a delivery service that will deliver from numerous restaurants. Delivery fee is $4.95, but what can one do, really?

The lead that I am working for is both knowledgeable and patient. I am learning a lot from him, which is really the point anyway. The overwhelming majority of the project team have something to teach me. Well, actually, all of the project team does, because sometimes you need to learning what not to do is more valuable than learning what to do.

Even though my supervisor had told me on Thursday, "Don't worry about the car," I was called into a meeting with the project manager today. First, he told me that I had to set up twice daily meetings with my design lead, because this is my first design. Which is true, but I know that, am completely terrified of screwing up, and plan on spending a lot of time in his office.

Then he said, "I've heard rumblings about the car thing. What's going on?" I told him my concerns. Not only did he tell me that three of us have to share one car, he also threw the fact that he is letting me fly home this weekend in my face. Had I known that was a possiblity, I would have bought my own damn ticket.

I left the conference room where he was sitting, and I got so angry that I could not breathe. A colleague took me into his office to calm me down. He also said, "No project is worth getting this upset. No job is worth getting this upset."

He's right. I'm trying to see if I can get off this project. I like the people I work with, and I don't want to leave this company, but I can't do this. We've been told it's through March, but it may be through June or later. If I can't be taken off of this project, I will be using all downtime to find another job. Not in consulting.

First of all, the name tag they put up for me? Well, it's made of paper. And my name is spelled wrong. (I had been worried about the name tag. Like it signaled some sort of permanence.)

I have a Chrysler Sebring convertible. Cool car. No backseat, huge blind spot.

The hotel has mosaic floors in the elevator. I haven't been able to get a picture, because I haven't been alone in the elevator all day. I am not taking a picture of the elevator floor when other people are there. Also, there is a speaker for the TV in the bathroom. And a rectractable clothesline.

So, I am in Gainesville. It is very warm. I have a convertible. And wireless internet.

Also, it is entirely possible that I watch too much TV, as evidenced by the following conversation:

Mom: Call me when you get down there.
WG: OK, but it won't be until at least Amazing Race.

Compound that with the fact that most of my friends are really letting me down right now.

And then? I go to ride tonight, thinking it will de-stress me.

Except that Heather told me that Bruno is leaving tomorrow.

I'd be lying if I told you I didn't cry.

So, you know how I'm doing this thing for my job where I spend two weeks in Gainesville, FL and one week home, rinse, repeat?

The PM has decided that the three of us going down need to share one car. For the entire two weeks.

It's really good for me that he doesn't work in this office.

The good: Thanksgiving was very enjoyable. I spent it with Peg, Bobby, and Stephanie, and her family. I love her family, because they treat me as if they've decided, "Well, she's Bobby's family, so she's ours too!" As usual, we had way too much food. I still have some. Anyone want to come have some mincemeat pie? Friday, it was beautiful. Bobby was working, so Stephanie and I went for a drive. We had a destination in mind, but as we drove, we saw a sign saying "Winery now open!" We decided to go see. We turned, and proceeded to drive very far up a mountain, off of a paved road to a gravel road, past a sign that said, "End state maintenance", through a narrow gap between 2 barns, and past some cattle. There was, indeed, a winery. The wines were so-so.

Later that day, we saw more winery signs. This winery was more accessible, and the wines were better. I bought 3 bottles. We had lunch at a little cafe, and then we headed home. It was a really good day.

The bad: Yesterday, heading home, I hit an animal. I think it was a puppy. I tried to avoid it, but couldn't. I felt awful, and was thinking about that and not my driving, when I passed a sheriff's deputy. I looked at my speed, and knew it was over. I saw him hit his lights and flip a u-turn, so I just pulled over and waited for him.

My last speeding ticket was Thanksgiving weekend, 5 years ago.

The very ugly: I hung out with some friends last night, and drank way too much. I am still in the process of finding out what happened, because I have only vague memories.

The last time that happened? My 25th birthday.

Surprisingly, I am not hungover, having followed the Phoebs rule: Lots of water, eat a cookie.

I am off to VA (otherwise known as the land with no high-speed internet) to enjoy Thanksgiving with my great-aunt, my uncle, his wife, and her family. I've spent Thanksgiving with them for the last 5 years, and they have been 5 wonderful Thanksgivings.

I hope yours is wonderful too.

When I mentioned that I wouldn't mind getting back in touch with my ex-boyfriend, I did not mean that I wanted to randomly run into some guy I used to date while at a party.

Sorry for the confusion,

Watergirl

Watergirl: walks through office, eating a pickle**
Co-worker: That pickle smells funny.
Watergirl: Well, it tastes fine.
Co-worker: It really doesn't smell funny. You were supposed to call me a pickle-smeller. You ruined the joke.

*not that you really needed it
**I love pickles. These were left over from yesterday's lunch. I ate leftover fruit, too.

So, I belong to a community service organization. Our chapter is rather large- we've got about 230 members. I have run two projects for them, and have regretted doing each. There is a mentality that 2 projects cannot be scheduled on the same day. Which, for some of our larger projects, I can agree with. However, usually the reasoning is completely inane.

Case in point: I am running a second CPR class. We had many more people than could fill the 8 slots sign up for the first. I would prefer to hold it on December 9 (as would the instructor, who is donating his time, but that is apparently not something to consider), but our yearly installation banquet is that night. I have been asked to check with him about holding it on the second "since the training starts so early and I imagine the banquet will last pretty late). It would make for a long day."

First of all, 9AM is not "so early". 6 AM is "so early". I imagine most of these people are up by 9 most weekdays. And also, take a nap. That's what I do when I'm going to be out late.

I'm tired of everything being a freaking production. I'm tired of the cliques. I'm tired of it being just like high school, even though our average age is somewhere between 29 and 31. I wish I had not just renewed my membership.

I don't plan on running another project.

But I did win tickets to see a preview of the Tenacious D movie on Tuesday.

I generally enjoy Jack Black flicks, so it should be fun.

And I can pick up the tickets right near work! Where I will not be on Monday. But I can still pick them up Tuesday.

First of all, I am back in Raleigh. For three entire weeks! Except when I go away for Thanksgiving.

And now, on Thanksgiving. I have been looking forward (for months now) to November 22. Because on November 22 I can get a new phone. Except that I just realized, that's the day before Thanksgiving. So I can't get a new phone. Because I want to have a phone that is working for travel. So I have to wait until that Saturday, after I get back.

I have decided that new phone will have Bluetooth, because the one thing I miss about having a landline is that I have lost the ability to walk around and complete other tasks (laundry, etc.) while talking on the phone. Because it is just not possible to cradle my cell phone in between my ear and my shoulder. So now talking on the phone is something that cannot be multi-tasked (Jasper: Yes it can! You can still pet me!), and that just doesn't work for me.

Friday night, Cdub came over so that we could go to dinner. I told her, "First I have to go vote." So, I took her to vote. Never say a night with me isn't fun.

After voting, we went out to dinner and then saw Borat. Very funny movie. Not a family film, however.

Saturday, we went to see the Monet in Normandy exhibit. Excellent exhibit. However, I always forget that the exhibit space there is tiny. One should not go one the weekends. One should take an afternoon off from work to go.

Sunday, I went and checked out an exhibit on the Terrorism in America. I did not know that German saboteurs had blown up munitions depots in NY and NJ before the US entered WWI.

After touring the exhibit, I sat in on this forum. Most interesting.

Every once in a while, I'm reminded why I like living here.

Things I have said recently, of the "I never imagined that would ever come out of my mouth variety":

"I have to bring a cheesehead back to Raleigh."

"There's a marching band in front of my house."

"I thought I was going to have to call and tell you I couldn't come, as I was trapped in my house by marching bands."

So, back in Charlotte. But this time, many of the project team members are here. Including the Design Manager. Who was actually able to tell me something about the Gainesville schedule. He even had a calendar. So, now I feel at least somewhat prepared.

Anyway, we all went out to dinner tonight, and since Enterprise gave me a mom car (hello, Chrysler Pacifica) I drove. Which would have worked out well, except that I have this habit of putting the car into drive even when I want to back up. I never actually go forward, I just go to "D" before "R". Which most people either don't notice, or are too polite to comment on. Not my co-workers.

Of course, it might have had something to do with the fact that as we got into the car, I told them, "I'm an excellent driver."

Yesterday, after a riding lesson, I got my brakes done. After they were pulled off of the car, I asked "Were they as bad as I thought?" Answer: yes. Or possibly even worse than I thought. In fact, we could have taken this picture. So now, the car stops easily. This is considered a good thing.

(Note: Due to all the travel, I was only driving my car 25% of the time. Also, not home to get it worked on.)

Unrelated to the brakes, except that it also happened this weekend:

I went to the grocery store to pick up some things. While there, I checked the beer aisle, because I've been craving some Boddington's. Score! Except, when I got to the self-checkout, I suddenly remembered it was Sunday. I asked the cashier, "What time is it?" He looked at the clock and said, "Noon." I said, "Really noon?" and he looked in my cart. "Oh, it will go through now."

No alcohol before noon on Sundays.

As I was checking out this morning, the clerk at the desk, (she hadn't been in earlier this week), looked at me and said, "Did you get your hair cut?"

Not only because the carny who hit on me last night told me he'd stop by and see me tonight (Little Matty and Lori, stop laughing!), but also because I've spent so much time there that the fried Snickers bars are starting to look interesting.

Speaking of Little Matty, I pretty much forced him and Lori into the Turkey Shoot. He won the round. Got a turkey. It pays to listen to me.

Tomorrow they are picking up the old couch. Jasper will be sad. He likes it in front of the dining room window. Lots of sun.

Also tomorrow, I am getting a haircut. I'm tired of long. I'm thinking of chin-length.

One of my e-mail accounts was wonky for about 5 days. I don't check it often, but there was a 5-day gap between spam. No idea what happened.

I would like to enforce an office rule about coffee. Namely, if you are unwilling to make coffee when you empty the pot, you are not allowed to drink coffee.

Cohesive theme? Look elsewhere.

So, I spent most of this weekend at the State Fair. We are running a Turkey Shoot, and I am on the committee. It’s fun, but tiring. And I am still jumping occasionally when I hear the shotguns, which is a bit crazy. You know, since I work there.

I also found out that I am a bit of an idiot. Or, as I told Jenny, the stupidest stupid that ever stupided. (Just so you don't get all mad at her, she disagreed.) So, even though I had decided to blow off my run, I ran. And now my knee hurts. Good news is the running/not being able to eat combo has made my pants too big. Which is good. I’d like to lose some weight before I live in Gainesville.

In other news, my coffee table has no top. Because the glass for the top? Was delivered broken. When the delivery guy told me, I said, “Of course it is.”

They’re shipping me a new one, but I’m going to need help to get it on the table.

So, I sort of freaked out yesterday, called my supervisor, and told him I was tired of being in Charlotte, and that there was no reason I couldn't do what I was doing in Charlotte in Raleigh. Then I told my PM I had personal things come up that needed to be taken care of in Raleigh. (In this case, "personal things" = keeping myself sane.) The bad part about coming back early is that I have to drive my own car now.

In other news, the party this weekend was a success. The last guests left at 2:30- they had to sober up. We may have been doing shots, which may be why they needed to sober up.

Two days until furniture delivery!

Sorry. I'd forgotten.

I am in Charlotte through Thursday.

I have decided to start running. Bought new sneakers, went for the first run today. I am starting slowly.

If the travel does not slow down after Gainesville, I will need to look for another job.

I am back. In my house. For three whole entire days before I go back to Charlotte.

I did not find any shoes. I did finally find this, however. Raleigh's Sephora hasn't had it for at least 6 weeks now. The woman at Foster's told me, "You smell good!"

Foster's. Yes. I was IMing with Stewie earlier, telling her I needed to stop at the market (not just any supermarket, but the really fancy one) and buy jelly for the party. She was all, "Seven Pepper Jelly? I love that with cream cheese!" She also pointed out that I could go to the actual Foster's Market to get it. Which is why she got this phone call:

Stewie: Hello?
WG: I'm lost in Chapel Hill!

(She did set me on the right path, and now there is jelly.)

Tonight we had a bowl-a-thon to raise money for the burn center. I knew that I would see the Boy there; it would be the first time since he dumped me. I was a little nervous, but was on a team with friends, so I knew I'd be OK and have a good time.

This afternoon, as I was riding out to Chapel Hill to shop here, my phone rang. I'd been waiting for a call, so I answered, even though I didn't recognize the number. It was the Boy.

Boy: Are you bowling tonight?
WG: Yes.
Boy: Can you bring my tent?
WG: It's already in my car.
Boy: What are you doing?
WG: Going to Chapel Hill to buy jewelery.
Boy: Oh, OK. Well, I'd talk otherwise, but I'll let you go, since you're with (mutual friend). We can catch up tonight.
WG: OK. Bye.

Tonight, he ended up being 2 lanes away (meaning there was only one lane between us). I was hanging with my friends, having a good time. He came up several times to talk- I was fairly laconic. At one point I was standing near the lane, talking. I had my hand on my hip, and he walked by, said, "Hey" and bumped my arm. Pregnant Friend: "Wow. He really is a jackass. I think he's pissed that you're having a good time."

Later, as I walked by him after returning my shoes, he said, "Meet me in the parking lot?" I said OK, because, well, tent. He gave me a flirtatious eyebrow raise (trust me, I know him, and I know what it means). I believe it was met with an eyeroll and derisive snort.

I waited for him in the parking lot, and handed him his tent when he came out.

Boy: So, what have you been up to?
WG: Not much, traveling for work a lot.
Boy: Any hot dates?

My landlord went to look at the microwave yesterday. He called me to let me know that the back door had been left open. (My back door, it does not like to close.) He said, 'But it's OK. Both cats are in the living room."

He called back to tell me he could find nothing wrong with the microwave. I said, "Of course you can't. It doesn't happen right away."

I came home, and discovered why the cats were in the living room. (Jasper: Actually, you had been home for a half-hour and walked past it 3 times. I had to sit by the mouse to show you.)

The microwave woke me up at 1AM.

So, the appointment today? I don't know. First of all, this is a reschedule- he decided that he wasn't working on the day my first appointment was scheduled. Today, I sat around for 30 minutes after my scheduled appointment time. I hate that. My time is also valuable. So, I met with him, we talked for 15 minutes, and he changed my meds- different formula on my antidepressant, upping the dose of Lamictal (Phoebs, you should go to med school.).

I see him again in a month. If he's late or cancels, I'm finding a new doctor.

Oh, and I filled the new prescription today. On the bottle is a sticker that says, "Take with or without food." I had no idea that there might be another choice.

I'm back from Charlotte. With way too much work. And I am going back next week. And the week after.

I have somewhat nailed down the Gainesville schedule. Three of us will be spending 2 weeks there, a week at home, lather, rinse, repeat. From December until February.

I think I just need to line up many cat sitters.

I am off to bed- the second night in a row that I am retiring before 9:30.

Tomorrow, first appointment with the new shrink. He's a PA and PhD Psychologist. I'm a little nervous.

(Note: it doesn't sleep with me.)

Friday night, I had Little Matty, his wife, and CP over for dinner. (Rosemary chicken. Yum!) Best conversation:

WG: So, it's like I fell and hit my head or something. First I decide to start jumping again, and then after jumping, I decide that a McDonald's cheeseburger sounds good. (For those of you new around here, I haven't eaten a hamburger in about 20 years. I don't like them.)
Little Matty: Are you pregnant?
WG: God, I hope not.
CP: Was it good?
(silence)
Mrs. Little Matty: We all want to know the answer to that one.

Saturday, I went to pick up my rental car. (Am leaving for Charlotte at o'dark thirty tomorrow, and the rental place is not open on Sundays.) I walk in, and the clerk says, "We've got a RAV 4 headed over here for you." This was fortuitous, as I was helping Ali move that morning.

I love the RAV 4. Want one. But it now looks like it will be a while before I replace my car.

Saturday night, hung out at a local "Irish" pub with some friends.

Came home, went to bed at 2.

Awakened at 3:30 by microwave, which has decided to cycle through its "AutoCook" options. While beeping. Loudly.

I made it stop, but it happened twice more (3:45 and 4:00). The second time, I had to go trip the breaker to make it stop.

Did I mention my breaker box is outside?

Right now, I am very self-conscious. I feel like people are talking about me and laughing. (My therapist: Actually, you're not that important.) Yet, at the same time, I am also strangely brave about things. Jumping? Which I swore I would never do again? Which I started yesterday, on a lark, partially because Solie likes jumping? (Since when do I make decisions based upon what the horse likes?) Which I am also doing, and looking forward to, today?

I had a dream last night that I was at a meeting for the civic group I belong to. They made me get up and sing (I do not sing in public)- in fact, I was given a newspaper and had to make up a song about what was in the paper. The boy was there (he's also a member of this group). I never saw him, but I heard him laughing at me. I so hate my subconscious.

Part of me wants to call him, to talk to him about why. I know that I won't get any satisfaction from that. Part of the reason I am so bothered by this is that I will have run into him again. I was hoping he'd show up at the meeting Tuesday, but he couldn't even do that for me. (Yes, I realize he didn't know that was expected.) Right now, I can barely keep from crying. "How are you?" makes me well up. And I don't want to cry when I see him. And I don't know what to do about it.

Oh, and the wanting to talk to him? That's why I'm keeping his tent. I'm hoping that it will make him talk to me. Which, again, is stupid.

I had a good session today. We talked about the boy and other stuff, and how all the stuff is related. I am hurt right now, and I have been trying to rationalize it into not being hurt. That won't work.

So, I'm going to be hurt, knowing that it is magnified by other things, things I carry with me. I also know the hurt will end, but by allowing myself to feel it now, I can let all of it go.

Yesterday: Ordered new living room furniture. This will be the first new couch I have ever owned.

Today: Bought 1.75L of Barbados Rum and 1.75L of Skyy Vodka at a liquor store in South Carolina. At 9:30. AM.

Charlotte: Close to South Carolina. And their lax liquor laws. (Compared to here, anyway.)

I had a good time in Atlanta. I learned a lot in the training and got to know two co-workers better. But for me, the best part was that I got to be Cool Career Chick. Wake up call! Read the paper over coffee in the hotel lobby. Work. Hit the hotel gym. Dinner, out, with beverages!

In Atlanta, I felt at peace. I felt things were where they were supposed to be.

I got on the plane to come back, and I could feel the anger and rage building. The flight was delayed, and I realized that no one knew or cared when I was supposed to land. On my way to a meeting, I cried in the car. (I do most of my crying in the car. I do not know why.)

I see myself differently at home. I don't see myself as successful, or cool, or interesting. I am all of those things when I travel. I think that's why I am looking forward to Gainesville. I get to be a better version of me.

Doxie has never mentioned it, so I assume she lives in a magical part of town.

This trip has been good. It has reassured me that the PM I've been working for does not, in fact, hate me. (I am still paranoid after my last job. Eventually, that should go away.) I've gotten to know him and another co-worker (they work out of another office) better, and I think our working relationship will be all the better for that.

All that, and Trenching/Excavation safety!

So, here's a fun practical joke to play on me. (The downside is it takes a while to pan out.) When your son is very little, take a trip to TX. Borrow my suitcase. Leave teeny tiny hats, socks, and even a diaper cover in one of the pockets, so that I find them when unpacking in my hotel room, nearly a year later.

I was baffled for a few moments, until I remembered lending 2.0 my bag. I called her, and when I told her what I had found, she said, "I want those back!" Me: "I didn't steal them, you know."

To answer some questions left by my last post: Gainesville, FL. Not quite sure how we will be doing it, but it looks like it will be from December- April. Note to company: Am not spending my birthday in Gainesville.

I am now looking forward to what is likely temporary duty (TDY) in Gainesville. I had first heard this mentioned about a week after I started, and agreed to it, as it would really get my foot in the door. It had not resurfaced again until Thursday. I had been out in Charlotte Tuesday and Wednesday for training, and the guy who trained us is out of Gainesville. He was talking to my boss on Thursday, and mentioned that he'd heard that I be coming down earlier than anticipated. I had heard nothing of this. We are trying to figure out when, so that we can work out the details.

My boss is very concerned with working out the details. Why? Because during a conversation about work travel, I told him about my bipolar disorder. He was very understanding, and has assured me that we can work it out in a way that will make it as easy on me as possible.

I still think I'll need to find a foster home for the cats. The deployment may be for six months, and I don't think it's fair to them that they live essentially alone for that long.

It's a good opportunity, and I think I've learned enough from moving down here that I won't spend six months in a strange city with no friends.

I hear Gainesville is lovely.

First, I would like to that 2.0 and The Cap'n for having me to dinner, and Cdub, who I just called, for saying, "I'll be right over."

Me: No, it's OK. 2.0 and The Cap'n fed me and gave me lots of alcohol.
Cdub: But you're still crying, so I'm coming.

I would like to also state for the record that I do not hate the cats. I hate the situation.

I also do no believe the boy. I think he is lying, about what I don't know, but I think him a liar. And if he were here right now I would break his nose. Am also angry!

Anyway, the point of this post. I have a checkered dating history. Not much in college/grad school. Too focused on the future. If I could go back and change that, I would. Because I feel like I missed my shot, and now I'm stuck. I love my new job, and feel like I have an actual career, but I don't think it's what will make me happy in the end.

Checkered? Yes. Well, remember how I was completely gutted a year ago? I've dated since then, been hurt, but the boy was the first guy I'd felt really comfortable with since MW- the first one I could really be me with.

I hate dating. Abhor it. Hate trying to sell myself to someone. At the same time, I do not want to spend the rest of my life alone. Yet, I'm feeling more and more like that will be the way it will go. I'm frustrated. I'm tired of being hurt. I don't know if I can do it anymore.

Yes, I am lucky. I have good friends. I have siblings who would do anything for me, including Randy, who really doesn't have to. But I am so tired of this, so tired of feeling like there is something wrong with me.

I just want a "home".

The boy dumped me. Because I have cats. Which he is allergic to. But he knew I had them before he asked me out.

FUCK!

This week:

Yesterday I drove out to Charlotte. Today I drove back. Tomorrow I am in the office. Friday and Saturday I am camping with Jenny.

Next week:
Monday afternoon I leave for Atlanta. Thursday afternoon I come back. Friday night I babysit the Boo. Saturday is a wedding celebration/housewarming party.

The week after that
Meeting in Charlotte on Monday.

Am important, career-type person. (Also, camping!)

The answer is yes. Saturday I hit the mall with 2.0. I needed to replace my watch (the stainless coating was flaking off. That's OK for a $55 watch I've had for 4 years.). I ended up spending the most I have ever spent on a watch- it's a Seiko, but it was 50% off.

I have to go to a wedding party (they eloped in May) on the 16th. I was told the dress is "dressy casual". Which, wha? I decided I would wear a skirt. I went out to Target on Sunday and decided, "I'll just run into Marshall's and see what they have." What they had was a lovely jersey skirt in a black and white print with a gorgeous drape. Add a black Old Navy shell, and voila! My version of dressy casual.

The shell is shape-hugging, and also black, which meant I needed a new bra- all of my black ones are lacy, not smooth-cupped. So, we hit Vicky's this morning. I bought a black bra in a style I already own- I know I like it and that it's comfortable. (Thus concludes the part where you learn just a little too much about my foundation undergarments.)

I will wear said outfit with my sexy black pumps.

Yesterday I also went to Home Depot, where I bought air filters, a rasp, and a new dimmer switch. The rasp was for opening up a hole in the door to the storage shed. I've been working on replacing the knob for weeks, but the new knob did not fit into the hole that the old knob had. So, I used the rasp to make the hole bigger, and locked the shed finally!

Then I was so excited I went to install the new dimmer switch. I was extremely confident I could do it. I was also extremely wrong. I don't have lights in the dining room.

The boy is coming to help.

On Friday, I met some friends for dinner and a movie. We planned dinner early, figuring we'd have to wait for a table. We didn't, so we were quite early for the movie. We bought tickets and walked down to Barnes and Noble. I bought the latest book club book. I couldn't remember the name of the book, so the clerk helped me find it.

Clerk: Oh dear. This is our last copy, and it's damaged.
WG: Damaged?
Clerk: Yes. This page is bent. I can call around to other stores in the area and see if they have it, or I can just give you a 10% discount.
WG: A discount will be fine!

We then saw Little Miss Sunshine. You must see it. It was one of the most thoroughly enjoyable movies I've seen in a while.

Saturday, I worked at the Food Bank in the morning and went to Lazy Daze (an arts fair down the street from my house). Went home, took a nap, got ready for a date. (Through no effort on my part, the shortest dating moratorium in the history of the world has ended.) Dinner, then we met up with friends to see this band.

This morning, 2.0 called. "We're making cupcakes and I don't have enough muffin tins. Can I borrow one?" (I heard her mother in the background, complaining about the muffin tin shortage.) She came up, borrowed a muffin tin, crisis averted.

Why the urgent muffin tin need? The Boo turned one today, and they were having a party. With my new favorite drink, summer cocktail! (That was for the adults. The babies and the dog, try as they might, did not get any.) Not only did the Boo get chocolate cupcake all over him, but also all over my skirt. Not a lot of people who could get away with that.

What I planned to do today:

1. walk with 2.0
   
2. wash floors
   
3. laundry
   

What I did do today:

1. walk with 2.0
   
2. drink a beer with 2.0
   
3. have dinner and a bottle of wine with 2.0, The Cap'n, and Boo (well, no wine for Boo. Not for a lack of effort on his part, though.)
   

Change is good!

Admin at work: You got a package. The UPS guy has apologized for the box.
Watergirl: Wait, you have to see this. I paid off my car, so I bought a purse. (Aside: was on sale!)
Admin: You paid off your car?
WG: Yep.
Admin: You paid off your car and all you bought was a purse? Girl, you need some shoes too!

I just got back from a date with a guy. During the date, he said, "Should we wrap this up?" He also spent the entire time playing with his right ear. And then he said, "So, what'd you think?" (I think I'm sorry I skipped book club.)

When he got home, he wrote me the following e-mail:

From: Boring, slightly odd date
To: Watergirl
Date received: August 10, 2006
Subject: Thank you

Warmest regards,
Boring, slightly odd date

I'm sorry, did he just ask me to be his emergency back-up plan?

That doesn't even warrant a response.

So, my rental car? Had a V-6. (It was a Hyundai Sonata. Nice car. Does not come as a wagon, or I would be all over it.) It's bad to give me a V-6.

I stayed at a new hotel this time (Residence Inn, Southpark. It's by the big mall! Where the bookstore has an awesome cafe!) I called TRgirl to verify cell reception. Cell reception, check! Clean bathroom, check! Fully-functional tiny kitchen, check! (Seriously, it's like a little timeshare.)

Today? Site visit, meeting, drive home.

In 2.5 hours. See? V-6 bad.

I made a point of sweeping last night (Jasper: And vacuuming! For the love of God, vacuuming! Why?). I also changed my sheets. I am feeling much better now. I don't know which is the best way to look at it- I feel better because I accomplished some things on my list, or I feel better because I cleaned.

I'm in a funk right now. (I am also trying to type from behind a cat, whose father wasn't a glassmaker, that's for sure.) I don't know what's wrong. I am just down, and I can feel the anger in the background. I am upset that my house isn't more ready, but I am having trouble doing what I need to do to get it ready. I'm frustrated that I have to go to Charlotte yet again on Sunday, and worried that they'll try and make me stay longer than a day, which I really cannot do next week- I can't skip the riding lesson right before a show.

I'm also frustrated that I have stuff every day of the week. I feel very overwhelmed, which makes me shut down and do nothing, which leads to more to do, which leads to more overwhelmed.

Vicious cycle, that.

Friday afternoon I headed out to Wrightsville Beach with a friend- a group of us were spending the weekend out there. The best part of the weekend? Kayaking. We did the marshlands paddle. Didn't see much wildlife, but that's to be expected when your do a tour from 1100 to 1300. Not the best wildlife viewing time. (We did see some cool spiders on a dredge island. Cannot remember what they are called.)

For the second time this year, I went on a trip with a large group of people, didn't bring my car, and ended up feeling trapped and chained to people. I will bring my car the next time! That way, when it's decided that trying to go to dinner on a Saturday night in a group of 16 is a good idea, I can say, "No, thank you," and go find a Subway or something, so that when we end up back at the hotel at 8 PM and still have not been served by 8:50 (we were seated right away. I still did not have silverware 50 minutes later.) I don't have to walk out of the restaurant and go have a ham sandwich upstairs, because otherwise I am going to start breaking things.

So, rules: 1. Always bring your own car. 2. Never go out to dinner in a group of 16. (Max group size: 6. Can't really have a conversation with more than that many people anyway.) 3. Do not let your roommates talk you into letting two more people stay in your room. 6 people is too many in a room with only one shower.

I don't think the fact that I'd spent the week out of town helped the situation any.

Home again, jiggedy jig.

I'm home for one night. It's nice. Jasper, however, thinks I should just go back to Charlotte, because he doesn't need me anyway. Orion is acting like I was just in the bathroom, that's all.

Tomorrow, beach!

1. I am not staying in this hotel again. Not only did I have to change rooms, but I get no cell reception. I want to be able to call people, dammit!

2. Was e-mailing with on of my co-workers today. He told me I could get a copy of something the next time I was in Raleigh. I told him I hoped to be there next week, as I miss my house, my cats, and I very much doubt that they are weeding the flowerbeds. He wrote back, "If they do weed the flowerbeds while you're gone, will you send them to my house?"

3. Did I tell you the new room has a bad TV?

4. And also, this weekend is a Beach Trip! Now with kayaking!
   

I should preface this entry by telling you that I don't like paying a lot of money for a hotel. I don't need anything fancy- just a bed and a bathroom. And clean. I need clean.

I checked into my hotel today (I am staying at a chain that I would not normally stay at- the rate I'm getting, with taxes, is $100/night. And it's a good rate.), and went to my room, which was on the first floor. I don't like first floor rooms, what with them being easily accessible to anyone. But I also don't like to argue with the front desk people. It's not that big of a deal, really.

However, when I went into my room, the bathroom floor? Was so dirty that I did not want to stand on it without shoes on. I hemmed and hawed, trying to convince myself that it would be OK tomorrow- they'd clean it better. However, I finally decided that for $100 a night, a clean bathroom floor wasn't too much to ask for. So, I complained, and they switched my room. (Guy: I don't have any other King rooms on the first floor. Me: Didn't really want the first floor anyway.)

Still, I feel bad for complaining.

Yesterday, I went grocery shopping first thing. Then Jenny came over to help pull weeds. It made quite a difference, and I am not so overwhelmed with the gardening now. Jenny's good peeps.

After lunch, I headed out to the barn to get Bruno ready for today's show. Wash and comb his tail, pull his mane, clean his tack. Took about 3 hours, an hour longer than I had anticipated.

Run home, shower, get ready for symphony. (Was so tired actually fell a sleep for a minute.)

Today? Show.

Co-worker: So I told my wife you were in the Jaycees, and she said, "Aren't they a bunch of do-gooders?"
Watergirl: Actually, when I joined, one of my friends said, "Oh, you'll never fit in there!"
Co-worker: What?
Watergirl: She thought I said "Junior League". I wouldn't fit in well there. At all. But really, she reacted like I'd said I was joining the Hell's Angels.
Co-worker: You'd fit in better with them then the Junior League.

First of all, thank y'all for being so supportive. The reason I finally decided to write that post was because there were things that I was having to censor here because I hadn't.

I am not embarrassed about my diagnosis. I have bipolar disorder. I also have asthma. What I am frustrated by is the need to censor what I say. If I accidentally let it slip to someone that I am asthmatic, it's not a big deal. No one ever thinks, "Well, if she just wanted to breathe," or "Well, she just doesn't know how to handle her breathing." However, if I let the fact that I have bipolar disorder slip, it may very well change someone's perception of me. I have made the choice that anyone I consider a close friend will know, because I'm not hiding from my friends. That doesn't mean I am sending out a memo, or greeting new people with, "Hello. Let me tell you about my bipolar disorder." It means I'm not going to be careful what I say around my friends.

Work is really what concerns me, because work and my dad are my two biggest triggers. I've got a pretty good handle on the dad thing- I live in NC, he lives in NJ. However, I need to work. I hope that changing jobs helps, but I also worry about what will happen if I get too stressed out. I had someone in my corner at my old job, someone who would stick up for me but also let me know when I was getting out of hand. In therapy, we are working on gaining control over my emotions, especially anger, but I'm afraid that at some point it won't work. And then what? So it's really a question of do I do damage control, damage clean-up, or just hope for no damage? Right now, I am hoping for no damage.

The beginning of this year, things were not going well. I hated my job with the fire of a thousand suns. I was having difficulty finding something else. I was frustrated, I was angry, and I was very depressed. I was not in control of my emotions. Cool Boss (who is the hero of this story) was convinced that something was wrong with my meds. (After 8 years on Zoloft, I had recently switched to Wellbutrin.) I made an appointment to see a psychiatrist in May. (This was early March.) Things got worse, and he advised me that waiting for the May appointment was not the best idea. (Also at this point I had a long e-mail conversation with a fellow blogger about psychiatrists and therapy with a fellow blogger- I'm grateful that she took the time to do that for me. I'd had a bad experience with the only psychiatrist I'd ever seen (he creeped me out, so I stopped going.), and I needed some reassurance that not all of them were like that.) I was, at this point, sleeping about 4 hours a night.

I made an appointment with a different doctor for March 28th. After a taking a long and detailed history (something Dr. Creepy had failed to do), she said, "I don't think that depression is your problem. I think you have bipolar disorder." (I have bipolar II- I haven't gone into a full manic state. Depression and hypomania with some mixed-mood states thrown in. Mixed-mood state: All the fun of depression with the anger and irritability of a manic episode thrown in. Fun for all!)

So, this guy I know told me about his blog, and I went and checked it out, and while I like him in person, his blog makes me want to get in my car, drive to wherever he lives, and kick him. It's a blog chronicling his dating life, and he really comes off badly in it. Actually, he comes off as a tool. If I were dating him and I came across the blog, I would immediately dump him.

Now clearly, I'm not reading it anymore, but if he asks if I did, do I tell him, "Yes, you big tool, here's your kick!" or do I lie? And am I under any obligation to point out that people he doesn't want to find the blog may, in fact, find it, even if he doesn't ask?

I have lovely flower gardens in front of my house. They are full of weeds. Mostly grass, which, stupid grass and its stupid runners. I did half of the side garden (not one of the bad ones!) and it took me nearly an hour and I filled up a 15 gallon garbage can. I can't even begin to think about tackling the front ones.

Also? Some of the weeds I pulled? May not have been weeds. I just deemed them so.

The point is that I want pretty gardens, and I am somewhat convinced that once I get them cleaned out, I can keep them that way, but the cleaning them out is daunting.

Do you guys know who came over yesterday? Jenny! This was my first time meeting a blog-friend. I was a little nervous, but it turns out I needn't have been. She is funny and delightful. (Also, she walks around my neighborhood with much less complaining than Randy.) We walked up to the Serendipity Grill for lunch, and then we explored Downtown Cary. We have a pharmacy with a soda fountain! Also a lovely little antiques shop next to the yummy yet closed bakery. We also had fun exploring the Indian Market.

When we got back, we toured the yard. I don't think I've told y'all, but besides blackberries, I also have some fruit trees. Figs, apples, and peaches. The peaches for some reason are not ripening. They are just rotting or drying out on the tree. No idea why. (Neither the figs nor the apples are ready yet.) Also, I have pecan trees, but the harvest for those is in the fall. Then Jenny took her boxes and left. (She'd come to pick up moving boxes.)

Last night, Cdub and I saw Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. I enjoyed it, although not as much as the first. Do stay for the credits if you go.

For the past two days, my car has been a little tricky to start up. I did think that I'd probably have to get a new battery this weekend. Today when I got out of work (on my way to the barn. Never when I am just going home.) she wouldn't start. Luckily, our administrative assistant had walked out at the same time I did, and she heard my car not start. Also luckily, she had jumper cables. Because I? I took them out of my car for the move and never put them back. (Generally, I drive around with an auto-care crate. I had taken it out for the trunk space.)

When I went to start her up after riding, she was sticky again, so I thought, "Well, there's an AutoZone up the road, and I definitely won't be able to start her in the morning if I don't get a new battery." I went in, found out the price, and called Dad.

Dad: Hello.
WG: So, I'm at AutoZone, and since I just tried my car and she won't start, it's a bit of a moot point, but they are trying to charge me $60 for a battery. Plus $10 "core charge."*
Dad: Why are you arguing over $10?
WG: I'm not. But aren't batteries like $20?
Dad: Yes. In 1971.

I bought the battery, and the AutoZone guy came out to install it. (Also in the auto-care crate? Tools.) Took him forever to find the right size socket for the 4 nuts that you have to take off/loosen to take out the battery. Except that the 4th one? A completely different size. Took him about 20 minutes to put the new battery in.

But then? The car started. Easily.

On the way home? The gas light came on. My reaction? "I just bought you a battery!"

*I didn't have to pay this because I traded in my old battery. Still have no idea what it's about, though.

Monday I worked on unpacking (one room left!). I started weeding the flowerbeds as well. It was hot, and there was sweat running into my eyes after about 15 minutes. Also, I am having trouble pulling the grass up. Runners!

Tuesday I finished organizing my bedroom and then vacuumed before Ali arrived to pick me up for the Turkey Shoot. (Note: No actual turkeys were shot. Turkey Shooting.....target shooting that is, a.k.a. still board, card or block shoot. When we run it at the State Fair, the winner receives a frozen turkey or a T-shirt. Yesterday, the only prize was a T-shirt.) We broke for fireworks, and watched them from the roof of the Turkey Shoot building.

After we closed, Ali and I got to shoot. She'd never shot before; it was my 2nd time on a shotgun. Thankfully, we both hit the bottle we were aiming for. Otherwise, embarrassing.

When I got home, I had trouble sleeping. It seems that 5 hours of shotgun blasts winds me up.

Saturday we went tubing on the Dan River. It was fun, but the water was low. This meant that a.) I was bored with the trip about 1.5 hours before it was over and b.) the "butts up" call was heard often, but sometimes not in time. It is very rare that you bruise your ass on rocks while kayaking. There was one area where the current was so bad that all of us had our feet swept out from under us. There was also a time where I jumped out of my tube and landed next to one of these. It looked at me for a moment and then swam away. We'd seen another snake earlier (same species, I believe), and everyone freaked out that it was a cottonmouth. I had to assure them it wasn't because a.) it was a slender snake and b.) no triangular head. Then, "How do you know all that?" Because I read up on these things? I have a fear of poisonous snakes, so I find out how to identify them. Seems logical to me.

On another note, the northwestern Piedmont of NC? Stunning. I suspect the job market is very bad, however.

Yesterday, I did some unpacking. Cdub and I went on the search for the TV stand, which is from Target. However, we skipped the Target close to us figuring they wouldn't have it. We went to 2 others before they called around to see who did have it. We picked it up at the North Hills one, but it was damaged, so we returned it at Cary (closest to my house!), where we bought one in perfect condition. Then we spent 2.5 hours putting it together.

This morning I picked blackberries (I'd like to make them into a sauce, for like angel food cake. Anyone have a recipe?) and took Jasper to the vet. The new vet. Where they want me to pay $200 every year for bloodwork to monitor for diabetes, kidney and liver problems (which, hello, he's not going to let me do much about) and send him to have dental X-Rays. And they charge me for a full office visit every time I bring him in for a shot. I am so switching back to my old vet, even though they are about 25 miles away.

Coming up: more unpacking, weeding, a pedicure, mini turkey shoot, and fireworks.

Ah, the move. The move went well, overall. TR girl and I picked up the truck at 0730. We then went back to the old place, packed up the boys, and moved them to the new place. I had litter. I had litter pans. I had blankets for them to sleep on. I had Jasper’s pot. I had their water dish. I had their food dish. I did not, however, have their food.

We headed back to the house. TR girl called Randy; he told her Little Matty was there as well. By the time we got back, they had loaded the washer and dryer in. TR girl stayed outside to direct the loading. (Seriously, if you are moving, hire her. Girl can pack a truck.) Cdub showed up, and we started loading electronics in her van. More friends showed up; one was sent to feed the cats (she knew where the new house is.) We loaded up the truck, Cdub’s van, a pickup, and the cars and headed over. Then unloading. All of this was done by 1230. I fed them lunch; Randy and SG decided beer was necessary, so they went and picked up two 12 packs. (I still have beer. Come on over.)

TR girl and I dropped off the truck, ran to Lowe’s, and went back to the old place to empty out the fridge. (Actually, before all that she unpacked my kitchen. Thanks TR girl! I just found my measuring cups!) Randy napped. We came home, cleaned up, and head over to The Cap’n and 2.0’s for dinner. (They were all, “You are moving today. Come have dinner with us. Then, you don’t have to worry about it.” (They live about 3 blocks away.) It seems like not a big deal, but not having to worry about dinner was an enormous help.) While we were at dinner, Jbabe came over to clean out her freezer (Jbabe is now my landlord.).

We got back, let the cats out of the room I’d locked them in, and were doing some unpacking when Randy said, “Why is the back door wide open?” (There is a door from the kitchen to the laundry room. This door has a cat door in it. There is also a door from the laundry room to outside. This door does not have a cat door in it.) I figured Jbabe must have left it open when she came over.

About a half and hour later, I realized no Jasper. Could not find him anywhere. TR girl and I looked outside. I called him. Nothing. We searched the house again; it was getting late and we all were exhausted. TR girl was all, “Well, maybe he’s just hiding in the house somewhere.” We went to bed.

That night, I heard Ri making lots of noise. I went out into the dining room, and he was chasing a mouse. The mouse gave me a look that said, “Help?” I told him, “Not my problem.” However, at this point I realized Jaz was outside- he wouldn’t have missed the mouse action.

Sunday morning I got up and went outside. I found Jaz’s collar on the patio. (Both TR girl and I are certain it was not there the night before.) No Jaz. I was very upset. Randy was the next one up, and I told him I’d found the collar, and then I started crying. I calmed down, and he headed out to the kitchen. I told him I’d made coffee, he said, “OK.” I realized he’d been gone way too long to make coffee- he’d actually gone outside to look. Randy is not a cat person.

Figuring Jaz was lost, and feeling there was not much that could be done, we headed out to breakfast. Driving back, we saw The Cap’n coming in from his run. I stopped and told him what had happened and asked them to keep an eye out.

When I got home, I called Jbabe. She didn’t answer, and I was not in any state to leave a message (it would not have been a nice message) so I called Mom. I said, “Hi.” She said, “What’s the matter?” I told her the story, and she said, “He hates outside. He didn’t go far. He’s probably just hiding under a bush.” With her on the phone, I went outside to look. Jbabe called back, and I hung up from Mom to talk to her. As I was telling her the story, I heard “Mew?” from a bush. It was Jaz. I hung up the phone, went in, and pulled him out.

Then Jasper faced a dilemma. He was scared from being outside, but he hates to be held. He decided to fight me the entire way back to the house. Am scratched up. The relief of finding him far outweighed a few scratches.

On Monday, my boss asked how the move went.

WG: The moving went well, but I lost a cat the first night.
Boss: Did you get a cat back?
WG: Yes, thankfully.
Boss: The same cat?

Don't worry. I will. Soon.

Yesterday I went online to transfer my cable service. All went well (not keeping cable phone), until I went to select a time for them to come out. I picked Tuesday evening, which was stupid, because I had rescheduled next week's riding lesson for then. I tried to go back and change it immediately, but this cannot be done. Because, well, who would make that kind of mistake? (Answer: me.) So then I called them. No evidence of the work order, and after talking to 2 people, it was decided that I should call back today.

I called back today and was told the work order didn't go through, because Jbabe had not yet cancelled her service. I called Jbabe. She called and cancelled her service. I called to transfer my service. This time, I was told that the transfer of service was only free if I transferred all services (which, Wha? I'll still be a customer, dumbasses.), so I had to transfer the digital cable, cable internet, and cable phone. And then immediately cancel the phone (I say again, Wha?). They couldn't come out until next Friday morning. So I scheduled that and wondered how one lives without the internet for nearly a week. You know, when one is not on vacation.

Not an hour later I got an e-mail confirming the Tuesday appointment. I am not going to try and change it, because Lord knows I don't need three appointments. Moral of the story: I may have internet Tuesday. Or maybe Friday.

I called to confirm the truck rental today. The guy told me a charge that was twice what I expected. I asked about it, and I was told that it was in the system for 2 days, not one day. I said, "Ah. Gave me a heart attack. Thanks!" He said, earnestly, "You're welcome. Have a good day!"

And finally, it occurs to me that I would like to go out on a date. Mind you, I don't want to go through the whole meeting someone to date thing. I just want some guy to show up at my door, all "We're going to dinner. And then maybe a movie." That could happen, right?

At least for a while, anyway. Oh, no, things are fine here. I just am so busy, with the move and the non-boring job and the move, that I don't have time to post. And then, once I move, I'll have no internet at home for like 4 days. Which is crazy, because no internet? How can there be no internet? It's crazy! So anyway, once there is internet, I will have to talk to y'all. And show you pictures.

This weekend was tiring. I'm not even sure that it was good but tiring at this point. I had fun while I was there, but am frustrated now. Which again, could be because of the tired.

And also, the moving. On Saturday. So much to do. Cdub helped pack the kitchen today.

Did I mention I'm tired?

I have to make a trip to the Charlotte office tomorrow. I'll be driving 6 hours round trip in Alberto, plus working 8 hours. Then, on Thursday I report to NC state at 1730 for the weekend. My point? Have a great weekend- I'll see y'all Monday.

Last night, I was heading home after Pride and Prejudice. (Excellent, except no Colin Firth. It's hard to live up to his Mr. Darcy. But movies outdoors? Love. Last night was cool and not buggy, so perfect.) My cell phone rang. (Note: It's usually impossible to get me in the car. I don't hear the phone. Also, I don't really like to talk while driving.) It was one of the girls I'd seen the movie with. For many reasons, we'll call her JC.

JC: Where are you?
WG: Heading home. Why?
JC: Well, I was going down Wade Ave. and the deer just jumped out in front of me. I couldn't stop. The deer is dead. The cops don't know when they'll get out here, and I don't want to sit by myself. I'll call someone closer.
(I live about 2 miles from where she was. Not too many people closer, really.)
WG: I'll come. I'm not that far. Where are you?
JC: I don't know. I'm after the ramp, but not on I-40. I was trying to get on 40 East to go home.
WG: OK, I'll be there.

I drove back toward the museum, and got on Wade Avenue heading East, the way I would go to get to 40 East. No car, no deer.

(phone rings)
JC: Yes?
WG: Where are you?
JC: Across from the RBC center.
WG: So you were heading west?
JC: I don't know. I'm not that good with directions.
WG: OK. I know where you are. But you are heading west.

I find her, go to pull up behind her car, and nearly hit the deer myself. We check out the damage, and then go sit in my car. (Side note: We have the same car. Different model years (no design changes) different colors.)

JC: The cops said they didn't know how long they would take.
WG: Yea, the problem is this isn't high priority for them. It is for you, but not them.
JC: Oh, I understand that. I don't know if I need a police report for my insurance company.
WG: You could call the 800 number on the back of your card.
JC: I don't have my insurance card. But I could get their number from directory assistance!
WG: That you could.
JC: Calls directory assistance, gets number, begins dialing.
WG: Oh, the cop's here.
JC: Are you sure?
WG: The blue and white flashing lights say yes.
Officer: I almost hit that deer!
JC: (points to me) She did too!

The cop takes a look at her car, gets her info and gets back into the cruiser to write the report. We get back in my car to wait.

WG: Damn girl, you need to hit deer more often!
JC: I know, right?

So, we had our second Adopt-a-Highway today. (Did I tell y'all I am the project char? I'm the project chair.) We had to use unauthorized bags, because the DOT warehouse is operating under their summer hours. 0700-1530. Which is not posted anywhere. Which means that I can't stop on my way home from work, I have to stop on my way to work. And I did not find out their hours until Friday. At work. Way to run a program, DOT!

Anyway, trash picked up. Strangest thing found? The thing that beat pieces of measuring tape (111-152" and 214-232"), an bag for a toilet bulb (because you need to open that in your car) and Funshine Bear? A pack of birth-control pills, with most of the pills still in the pack. We had fun imagining the scenarios under which they ended up on the side of the road.

I came home and packed up the linen closets. Bedroom is also done. (It would be helpful if I would stop finding books around the house. Hello, I have too many books. (Moving team: Yay.))

Tonight, Pride and Prejudice at the NC Museum of Art.

I'm feeling kind of bummed today. Just one of those days. But I do need to write some letters.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Drivers on I-440,

If you feel the need to cut me off, do not slow down after doing so. Keep up with the flow of traffic in your new lane.

Also, when passing semis, it is helpful if you drive faster than they are.

You're lucky RPG launchers are not an option on Sentras,

Watergirl

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Dear Orion,

Please stop jumping on the Printer/copier/scanner. Or, at least the buttons that turn it on. I don't need any more copies of blank paper.

Love,

The lady who sleeps in your bed

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Jasper,

If you are downstairs and you have lost both Orion and me, it's likely we are upstairs. No need to stand in the living room and cry.

Love,

Seriously, it's a 1050 sq. ft. house.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear annoying neighbor who talks to me all the time,

Stop. Also, if I stop my car in the road to let you cross, cross. Don't turn and start walking toward my car. Dangerous for you.

And your little dog too,

Watergirl

• I've decided to institute goals for packing. Because I like goals. Mostly, I don't like not meeting goals. Tonight, I finish my bedroom and move on to the linen closets.

• Note that I am no longer posting from work. All Internet activity is monitored, and well, I like this job.

• Except the bathroom is too far away.

• Jasper is mad at me because I am spending most of my time at home packing, so he's ignoring me. For not paying attention to him.

• Orion is just using the plants as litterboxes. And sleeping with his head on the router.

• I sold books, CDs, and DVDs today for $46. They didn't take all of them. Leftovers go to Goodwill.

• I can't find the TV bench I want. Correction- I can find it, but it's at IKEA. Our nearest IKEA? Springfield VA.
  

Y'all know how I do that thing where I take on more than I can really comfortably do? Well, not only did I start a new job this week, but I have Adopt a Highway on Saturday, HOBY all next weekend, and am moving in ~2 weeks. So tonight I find out that the volleyball league I signed up for (the team must have a certain number of females to play) starts next Wednesday.

I am never getting my house packed up.

My first day went well. It was the usual orientation stuff, but I am thinking I am going to like it there. (Actually, I was told I would.) I may even have a career path. And there is engineering involved! That's about all I'll say on it though.

I had a lesson tonight. (One more thing: New job is 15-20 minutes from the barn. Yay!) I rode Bruno, and have decided I'm going to work on him for the next few weeks. If I can get him to move forward consistently, he's a good looking horse. I think I may do better in the dressage ring on him.

Last night, I couldn't fall/stay asleep, all "What have I done?" and "I don't work for Cool Boss anymore!" (Sidenote: Both former employees and clients of my new boss have spoken very highly of him.)

This morning, I was reading the paper, and came across this quote from Soren Kierkegaard:

Life must be understood backwards; but... it must be lived forward.

At a time when I should be looking forward (new job! new house!) I find myself looking to the past. To last year, to six months ago. Partially because I took other's advice when it went against what I wanted to do, but maybe partially because I am scared. What if things don't work out? What if I'm not any happier? I also know that if I didn't do these things, I'd forever wonder, "What if I had?"

I need to learn to live more in the now.

I made it back to work today. Yep, I took yesterday off. Because, well, why not take a sick day on my last week, which is actually a short week to begin with? (Note: I really was sick.) I am feeling better, but still not 100%.

Kimmy was taking me out for a farewell lunch today, because she can't make the official one, which is Friday. Here's how the IM went.

Kimmy: We still on for lunch?
Watergirl: Sure, but no Mexican or Italian.
Kimmy: I was thinking P.F. Chang's.
Watergirl: Bleargh!

Kimmy had missed the reason for my absence. We ended up at Brig's, which is like a diner, but is not a diner, because diners are open 24 hours.

(phone rings)

The Cap'n: Hello.
Watergirl: Hi Cap'n, it's Watergirl. How are you?
The Cap'n: Pretty good.
Watergirl: That's good. Is 2.0 there?
The Cap'n: Actually, she's not. She got the opportunity to take a sailing seminar in Florida. She'll be back Thursday. (Sidenote: 2.0 is lucky!)
Watergirl: Well, then, and I hate to ask, but I need a favor.
The Cap'n: What's up?
Watergirl: Well, this morning I woke up at 3 sick. Really sick, and...
The Cap'n: Oh no! You have The Monkey Death. I had The Monkey Death. The good news is, it seems to be a 24-hour thing.
Watergirl: That is good news, if I can last that long. But I really need saltines and ginger ale, and I can't go to the store.
The Cap'n: Well, we were planning on heading over to the office in about an hour. Can you wait until then?
Watergirl: Sure can! Thanks!

Friday afternoon, I got a call from a friend of mine. (Note to self: You should hang out with her more.) She wanted to know if I was free for a movie this weekend. Which ended up being Friday, with two other friends of hers. We met at Hibachi Xpress for dinner. I had no idea it even existed! But now I know where to go to get take-out sushi.

Yesterday was the tiki party. I got to visit with several friends I haven't seen in ages which was most excellent. Afterwards, I met up with One L and we went out to Tir Na Nog to see Suicide Blonde, and '80s cover band. They were good; I'd see them again. Funny story of the night: We didn't know it when we headed out, but there was a concert downtown that night. Because of that, the parking decks that are normally free Saturday nights had a $5 charge. Which we didn't want to pay. But One L is like me and doesn't (read: can't) parallel park. So, we drove around looking for a parking space, and I spotted one that was two spaces (I can get in those. And out even, if someone ends up taking the other space.), so I was all, "Park there!" But when we pulled up, there was a suspicious "No parking" sign. I got out to check it, and it was for weekdays. Some guy on the street confirmed that it was OK, and then helped One L park, because it turns out that someone is worse at parallel parking than me. Anyway, it turned out he was homeless, he said he wanted to get something to eat, so I gave him $5. (It would get him food, and if he wanted it for something else, it wouldn't get him far. And it is entirely possible that he needed that money more than I did.) But really, we could have just parked in the garage.

Mom: "How's the packing coming?"
Watergirl: "HA!"

Little Matty: "How's the packing coming?"
Watergirl: "HAAA!"

My house looks less like I am packing, and more like I have decided that collecting boxes is fun. I do have two boxes packed, but one of them contains my bird book, and I need that to tell lastewie what birds I saw this weekend, so I will be unpacking it. Right now, the boxes are most likely to contain cats.

(Note to cats: stop going in the boxes. The boxes are not for play. I am thisclose to taping up boxes with you inside them. I will label the box with one of my new Sharpies (many colors! couldn't resist!) and not unpack it until after the move. So there.)

Many of y'all have asked if the move is local. I assure you it is. I am moving 3.7 miles away from where I live now. The joke is that I am moving into the containment area. See, it is said that the name of the town I will be living in is an acronym for "Containment Area for Relocated Yankees." However, I am not moving into one of the big, fancy, golf communities. In fact, the house was built in the 1950s, long before (or long after, depending upon how you look at it) the Yankee Influx. It is a 3-bedroom, 1.5 bath house with hardwood floors, a mostly decorative fireplace, and a beautiful kitchen. The storage in the house is excellent, especially considering the era it was built in. I love it, and will post pictures when I move in.

It had to wait until it was official. I have (finally!) found a new job, thanks to some wonderful friends of mine. I start the new job June 5. I am excited, but also a little nervous. Mostly, I am happy.

Of course, there's still that pesky move thing...

The beach was wonderful. It was cooler than I would have liked, and the thunderstorms were spectacular, but I wouldn't have not gone. I have pictures, and will post them later. Hope y'all had good weekends too.

Yesterday I interviewed for a job I really want. I don't think I got it. I am very bummed. Also, completely and utterly frustrated with this job search. Thankfully, I leave for the beach tomorrow, where there will be my girlfriends and lots of wine.

Yesterday, the Jaycees helped with the NALC Food Drive. We hung around the post office waiting for the mail trucks to come in, unloaded donations, and sorted them (well, until it got late. Then we didn't sort anymore.) There is something gratifying about tossing cans into a very large box. The amount of food collected filled one semi-trailer about 3/4 full, and we left before the other semi got there. Now, there were many items that were just people cleaning out their pantry, (No, we don't need the open box of cereal. Thanks.) but most of what was brought in will be used by the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC. The Food Bank volunteer told us as the first truck pulled away that the food would be gone by Thursday (do note that the Food Bank turns the food over to charities which distribute it, but this is still an overall indication of need). It was dirty, tiring work, but also fun.

That night, a group of us headed out to Clayton to see Ashton Allen at The Flipside. He is talented and put on a good show, but it's not really my type of music. However, I loved the musician after him. Sara Hamilton has a wonderful voice (she was amazing live) and plays rock/country, which is exactly the kind of music I love (well, that and Celtic pop, but that's another story.) I had decided I was buying the CD two songs into her set. I'm very glad I did. It's excellent. I'd check her out if she's heading your way.

Actually, when we first got to the venue (very small, very intimate, the kind of bar I would love to hang out at, if it weren't 40 minutes away from my house (oh, and also, needs more cute guys)) we sat down outside because some of us (me included) had not eaten since lunch. (It was then about 8:30.) There was a pretty blonde woman sitting at the table across from us, eating and enjoying a glass of wine. A couple walked up to her, she greeted them and they talked for a while. I assumed she was from Clayton. But I was wrong, as I found out when she took the stage. So, it seems she is also very down to earth.

Oh, and it's been a while since I went to hang out at a bar with a large group. I forgot how much fun that can be.

I will start this off by telling y'all that on Monday, I got home and said, "Oh! I left my onions at work."

One of my co-workers (who also farms (I mean also in the "in addition to working with me" sense and not in the "News flash! I am a farmer," sense.)) sells bags of Vidalia onions every year. They are trucked in from Vidalia County, Georgia, and he drives down to Fayetteville, NC to pick them up and delivers them to us at work. The are $10 for a 10 lb. bag. This is a reasonable price, and I do like Vidalia onions. But, the thing is, I like onions in things. Not plain. So, I don't know if I can use them all. I may have to chop and freeze. I am taking recipe suggestions.

Little Matty and I are currently having a conversation over IM. While we sit in the same room about 5 feet apart.

In anticipation of going to the beach next week, and also in an effort to reduce the number of books I buy, I placed holds on 4 books at the library last week. (Here in Wake County, you can go to the library's website with a list of books you want to read, place holds on all of them, and have them held at the branch closest to you (or whatever branch you want, actually). I did not plan on picking all four of them up together. However, they are all in now. I am hopeful that three of them will be 3-week loans; the other is a newer, in-demand book, so it is probably a short loan. But clearly, instead of purging/packing, I will be reading.

What books are they, you ask? Saturday by Ian McEwan, Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Steven J. Dunbar, The Princes of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd, and My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult.

P.S. I'm having spam comment problems, and I know some of you faithful readers have an authentication script- I have to type in a series of numbers to leave comments on your site. Does it help? How do I get one?

P.P.S. I also have 2 full sets of Bradford Exchange collectors plates that I bought years ago (I had this bizarre fascination with the Civil War.). The fascination is gone, I no longer want the plates, but I don't want to just throw them out. How would I go about selling them? Ebay?

So, Saturday was the 14th running of the Brookhill Steeplechase. The Raleigh Jaycees run the event, so many of us were out there volunteering. I was a Customer Service Rep for some of the tent customers. Basically, I took orders for tickets, chairs, tables, and parking passes before the event. Day of, I set up said tables and chairs, made sure my customers were happy, answered questions, emptied garbages, and took down said tables and chairs. (I was complemented on my mad garbage removal skillz.) In return, I got to watch the races and hang out and eat with my customers.

Although it doesn't sound like much, I was out at the farm for 11.5 hours, and the setting up/taking down of the tables and chairs wasn't easy. There was a lot of walking between tents, and much garbage to be emptied. I managed to do fairly well with the sun- my face got a little red, and my big toes got a little burnt. I highly recommend this sunblock, though I will still be carrying sunblock lotion for my face. I was wearing a skirt, and my legs were filthy at the end of the day. Well, except for my scar. My scar has magical dirt-repelling abilities.

Also? Some guy told me he loved me.

Early Wednesday morning I had a dream which woke me up. I couldn't get back to sleep for nearly an hour and a half (which put me at about 45 minutes before my alarm went off). I tossed and turned so much that Ri gave up and went to sleep somewhere that was not the bed. Went to work, it was work. We had a major equipment failure about 30 minutes before Little Matty and I both had to leave. (This same piece of equipment has failed in exactly the same way 3 out of the last 4 times we had to use it. Will we send it back to the manufacturer to be repaired? Nooo. Grrrr.) Anyway, by the time I left work I also had a headache.

On my way to the barn, I kept thinking that I would like to shut my eyes, just for a minute. I yawned through my entire lesson. Christina was all, "You're exhausted. Canter some more!"

I went home, watched The Amazing Race and then America's Next Top Model (don't judge!). (ANTM was awesome, because Jade described elephants as preposterous and said they were related to dinosaurs.) Then, I went to sleep, figuring I did not need to take a sleeping pill, because I was so tired it could not happen again.

Ha! I was wrong. Woken up by another strange dream. (Luckily at 5AM). In this dream, Little Matty and I both were able to pick up a horse trailer (with 2 horses in it) by ourselves. That's preposterous.

So, I have postponed the decision. I can't attend the initial meeting anyway, as I will be at the beach.

I am a list maker. Shocking, I know! Anyway, #1 on my moving list is done. I have reserved a truck. Now about all those other things...

I just received an e-mail about the first Water for Life Dinner planning committee meeting. I don't know what to do. (Well, I know what to do about that particular meeting. I'll be at the beach.) I believe in the cause, I have very good friends on the committee, and I've done it for 5 years now. However, the last dinner left quite a sour taste in my mouth. I did not even want to attend the event. I don't know that I'm far enough removed from that to join next year's committee yet. I don't even know that I want to be involved at all.

Saturday, 2.0 and I headed out to Spring Daze. (This was after I fed her son his first piece of banana bread. Kid makes funny faces when he tries new foods. (Side note: 2.0 Spouse will hereafter be known as The Cap'n, for reasons known to Bud.)) I bought a new purse from here because I fell in love with it. I've been looking for a spring bag for some time now, and hadn't found one I liked. This one is not found in stores! And handmade!

Later that afternoon, Cdub and I met 2.0 at the movies. We saw Stick It, which we all thoroughly enjoyed. It was entertaining, and made some interesting observations about judging in gymnastics. I recommend it, if for no other reason than seeing WeiWei's facial expressions.

Cdub and I headed out to Greenshields for dinner. I was underwhelmed. The food was merely OK, certainly not good enough to make up for the extremely slow service. And the hostess (who was somewhere between 17 and 21) was wearing a skirt that was very short. Imagine that you are having her do the finger-tip test. This skirt would have hit her mid-forearm. It would have been cute if she had been hanging out with her friends. It was not, however, appropriate for work. If I were her boss, I would have sent her home. Anyway, we won't be making that a regular spot.

Today, Heather and I went for a trail ride at Umstead. I was on Solie, and she was on a pony she has at the barn on trial. He's a good pony, but was unsure about some of the things out on the trail. He balked at a bridge and a creek, both of which he went through immediately after seeing Solie do it. If a bicycle or walker or dog made him nervous, he sidled up right along beside Solie. They'd not met before we loaded them in the trailer, but apparently whilst in there together came to some sort of understanding