Headed down to Raleigh this weekend. We had tickets to Avenue Q, which you must go see if the tour is coming anywhere near you. Or you are going to NY. (Well, actually, read the synopsis first. There were a few "Well, I never!" walkouts at intermission.) (And seriously, not appropriate for children.) I laughed the whole time, even when I knew I was going to get elbowed. Like it's my fault the puppet said word-for-word something I said two months ago. Puppets need to get their own lines.

There was also shoe shopping and wine tasting. I met a friend for lunch today then headed back up, making it back before the storms it.

I'm starting the week with a much better outlook.

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.

It's important to have a friend that you can call up when something shitty has happened in your life, and when you tell them you need to hear that there is nothing wrong with you from a friendly voice, they do it in such a way that you know they truly, sincerely mean it.

Especially when you called them not knowing if they were really the most appropriate, but also feeling that they were the only one you wanted to hear it from.

Last night was my last book club. I won't see those women again for a while; some I may never see again. (There is talk of a beach trip later this year, and I am so there, but not everyone will make it.)

Tonight is my going away party, and while I'm excited that people are coming, it's also a sad occasion. I probably won't see most of them before I leave.

This is the part that sucks.

Aquamama and I won ye olde pub quiz last night.

Five of the six questions we missed (the sixth we missed so badly we can't remember it):

1. Which NFL team drafted Brett Farve?
2. What is the chemical symbol for Vanadium?
3. What does "SKU" stand for?
4. What Country is Cape Horn in?
5. What movie is the following quote from: "You're a dirty pirate hooker. Why don't you go back to Whore Island?"

The one that we made a wild guess on and got:
6. What is the most populous state capital?

The one that I pulled, somehow, out of the deep recesses of my mind:
7. Which NBA player holds the record for most points scored in a game?

The one that I somehow knew but really had to convince Aquamama of:
8. Which album was on the Bilboard 200 for the longest time?

The one that I am really embarassed that I knew:
9. Name the artist and title for the following lyric: "She's so lucky/she's a star/but she cries cries cries in her lonely heart thinking/if there's nothing missing in my life/then why do these tears come at night?"

Answers after the jump

WG: [British co-worker], guess what? Jasper has to wear an Elizabethan collar!*
BCW: Is he wearing a doublet also?
WG: No, it's actually one of those cone-thingys around his head. They just call it an Elizabethan collar.
BCW: I thought maybe he'd been in the dress-up box.
WG: We don't actually have a dress-up box.
BCW: I may have been watching too much Little Bear.** The cat in Little Bear goes in the dress-up box.

*I had to take him to the vet on Wednesday. He'd been chewing on his tail until the point that it was bloody, elciting the following excellent questions:
Aquamama: How did you end up with such high-maintenance cats?
TRgirl: How did he manage that with no teeth?
The vet doesn't know why he did that, and says we may have to amputate his tail. Apparently, Jasper is not so much going to pass away as have body parts removed until nothing remains.

**He has a four-year-old daugter.

Last week, we had a big company meeting. Well, it was our business group and the same business group out of Charlotte.

Anyway, afterwards we all went out for lunch. I sat with three of my male colleagues. I ordered the Caesar salad and baked potato combo. The waitress asked, "What kind of dressing would you like on your salad?" I told her, "Caesar," and she walked off to the kitchen. I said to the guys, "I never know how to answer that question. What do you say to that?"

My British colleague's suggestion?

"It's a fucking Caesar salad."

I read this article in today's Parade with interest. I've made several friends through blogging; I've only met one in real life. I am hoping to meet some of the others in the Spring, because I seriously need to get back to Boston.

To me, that's the thing that blogging has brought me, and it's why I keep doing it. I think the people who have met me from my writing see a different part of me than others. I'm glad that I have Michelle to commiserate with about our OCD tendencies. Janet makes me laugh and amazes me with her photography. Jenna gives me a kick in the pants when I need it. All are people I never would have met otherwise. I'm glad that the internet has made the world a smaller place.

Over lunch.

Watergirl: Oh, so that episode of Modern Marvels you were DVR-ing last night? It's not going to be airing anytime soon, so I have to come over and watch it.
R: I'll save it. I've got food leftover from the party. You can come over and watch!

Maybe it explains why we're both single...

1. Who lead MLB with 54 home runs this year?
2. Name the top three oil producing (not exporting) countries.
3. Who is the current NC insurance commissioner?
4. Of the following four countries, which has the highest per capita consumption of beer: Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, or Australia?
5. What is the most recycled material in the U.S., by weight?

I am back from vacation on lovely Hilton Head Island. I will tell you about it later, when I have time to write more. For now, I shall leave you with the quote of the week, courtesy of Phoebs.

"A palm tree! They are real!"

Aquamama (to me): You should really never go into public relations.

If your friend sprays Miller Lite in your eyes, it burns.

Last night I had dinner with one of my professors/friends from grad school. (I haven’t seen her in forever! So glad I got to.) She filled me in on the many happenings with fellow students. The major theme seemed to be that the people I thought were least likely to have children now have children. Which is interesting when you consider that I’d always thought I wanted kids, and now I think, “Probably not so much with the kids.”

Anyway, this friend moved to Madison, WI last year. I was asking her to describe what Madison was like, and she said, “Well, the East side has a lot of industry, and it’s the poorer section of the city. Then you have the Capital Area, where there are million-dollar condos for the legislators, and then you have the University area, with the university type housing…” I said, “So, it’s kind of like Raleigh.” She said, “Yea, I guess so. Anyway, the rest of the city is all suburban.” “So it is Raleigh.” “You’re right. It’s Raleigh. With snow. And no garbage on the streets.”

Watergirl: I need to replace the igniter on my grill. It doesn’t work anymore.
Cdub: You can use a propane torch.
Watergirl: I have a butane lighter. I used that. It’s a “when I get around to it” fix. Plus, as an added bonus, I can use the lighter like a sword to keep Ri in the house.
Cdub: Don’t do that! He’s a pyromaniac.
Watergirl: I don’t light it. I just keep him back with it. The safety features are such that I have to use two hands to light it anyway.
Cdub: You have to use two hands to light it? How do you make crème brulee?
Watergirl: When do I make crème brulee?

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.

On Wednesday, two of my co-workers down here took me, Jack, and Josiah to see gators. We went here, on the trail mentioned on the first page. They are not kidding about the alligator habitat!

We saw in the neighborhood of 75 gators. We even heard a baby gator. The story is we scared this one:

Other things we saw: Great Egret, Cattle Egret, White Ibis, Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, and Red-winged Blackbird.

Oh, and a gator eating a fish.

Phone call.
TRgirl: Wait, why did I call you?
Watergirl: If I knew, then the call would be unnecessary.

She was calling to tell me when her baby shower is. Which is good, because I am flying back from Gainesville the day before. I did some checking, and it is actually cheaper to fly back to Richmond rather than to Raleigh. She and Randy will drive me and the dresser they are giving me home on Sunday.

Yesterday Stewie came over to re-measure me for my riding boots. The company owner walked her through it. Then we went and played pub trivia. We did way better than last time. Some of the answers: Hammurabi, Rome & Carthage, India, Secretary of State, The Netherlands, and Guinness.

Stewie also bought me coffee filters at TJ’s, because I have been to the grocery store twice this week and forgotten them.

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.

Last night, I got another point. I now have six (yay?). Unfortunately, I cannot recall why I got that point.

So, a few weeks ago I had a party. Well, it was a game night, but there was a point where people were doing shots. I may or may not have been one of those people. Which may or may not be why I am posting this weeks later, as I had to have help remembering one of the pertinent plot points.

Two of my guests stayed later than the others, for reasons that were not in anyway related to the shots.

Anyway, we sat around the living room talking. During the course of the discussion, my guy friend gave me points for various things. The points are detailed below:

Knowing and properly using pwned: 3 points
Purposely having no antibacterial soap in the house: 2 points
Being a morning person: -1 point
Telling Sarah that she could take Ri for a week, and then when she tried to give him back, it would be like "The Ransom of Red Chief": 2 1 points

So, I now have a total of 5 points. I don't actually know how many I need, or what the prize is (that last part is worrisome).

So, some of us from book club are going to the beach in May, to celebrate one of our member's graduation from med school. (She's leaving us for her internship/residency.) House was booked today. We're staying here. I am very excited! I've never been to the Outer Banks.

I may have preemptively bought rum and tequila this weekend. Although it was a small bottle of rum...

Good Mojito recipe, anyone?

So, I decided that I needed to get out of town this weekend, so I e-mailed Cdub to see if she wanted to go with me to DC this weekend. 

Cdub:  Yeah sure!  I know we have been half planning this so let's go.  Are we doing Ikea too?  And I don't mind driving.

Then I called Peg to see if we could stay with her.

Peg:  Of course you can!  Anything special, or do you just need to get out of town?

WG:  I just need to get out of town.

Peg:  Do you know how to caulk a bathtub?

Oh, and I just got this IM from Goose:

if it makes you feel any better, I will never ever ever do that to anyone...ever.

So, many of y'all don't know this, but some of my friends and I have this yahoo group thing, where we post messages asking for help, advice, prayers, or just to say thanks.  Anyway, someone on the group asked for an update on me this morning, as they had all heard the saga of the MW breakup.  (It was a general update request, as many of us had had things going on.)  When I told everyone that I am doing well, have started dating, and have realized that the "I'm happy being a single career woman," thing I used to have going on was a farce.  (I would like to find someone to spend my life with.  Mind you, I am not settling for just anyone.)  I just recieved a response from Leila, who wrote:

You go girl! I just can’t wait to meet the man you end up choosing since he will have to be something to keep up with you!

Aw, it made me cry, y'all. 

Yesterday, I met Ion.  He is sweet and tiny, and has the longest legs I have ever seen on a baby.  (He looks like his daddy.)  He also makes old man faces.  I was there for an hour, just holding him, and talking with 2.0.  She looks tired, but happy.  Happier than I've ever seen her.  Her parents were also glowing, and 2.0 spouse had a look of giddiness.  I am excited to be with them on this journey. 

Best story?  As I was holding Ion, he scrunched up his face as if he was going to start crying.

Watergirl:  (singsongs) No, no, no.

Ion:  (falls back asleep)

2.0 Mom:  See, she says, "No," and he listens.

2.0:  She says, "No," and everyone listens. 

Angeler!

Angeler came down from Buffalo for four days, and we did the Triangle's Hottest Spots Tour.  On Thursday, I picked her up from the airport, and then we went to Get Outdoors to look at a kayak.  (Why? Well, mom and dad are buying me one for my birthday/Christmas, so dad wanted me to look at it.)  We came back to the house, and Angeler met the boys.  Jasper loves her.  Ri was jealous and upset about the change in routine.  Then we hit Rockford's for dinner.

On Friday, we went to Duke Gardens.  It's the only time I took pictures this entire weekend. Pictures are here.  But first, Angeler!

Afterwards, shopping!  That night, we went out on the town to see Rich Emily- a friend of mine from here joined us.  Much fun was had by all!  The best part?  There was this guy who looked like Sanjeev from The Kumars at No. 42 doing interpretive dance to 70s classics.  Priceless.  Everyone in the place was laughing at him.  The restaurant staff was calling their colleagues back to the kitchen to watch him. 

Saturday, we went to the flea market, where Angeler got a purse.  That afternoon we went to Lazy Daze with JBabe, and I finally got this picture (#66).  When did I first mention it?  April?  May?  I don't remember.

Sunday we went to Chapel Hill, and yesterday we hung out by the pool.  A fun, relaxing weekend.

Also this weekend?  Jasper lost his last snaggletooth.  Teeth count: 3.

If you are a guy who is related to me, you definitely don't want to read this.

(Approximately 10:30 AM today)
Watergirl: (Dials phone)
2.0:  Hello?
Watergirl:  Hello.  How are you?  Is there a baby yet?  (Do y'all know 2.0 is pregnant?  Very pregnant.)
2.0:  I'm good.  No baby yet, but I am so ready. 
Watergirl:  I hear the end of pregnancy does that to you.
2.0:  I couldn't sleep last night, so I kicked 2.0 Spouse out of bed and read Harry Potter.
Watergirl:   (laughs)
2.0:  How's the studying going?
Watergirl:  Eh, not to well.  Having trouble concentrating at home.  I'm going to try studying at Barnes and Noble tonight, since I have to be out that way for a 7:00 appointment.
2.0:  What kind of appointment?
Watergirl:  (looks around office furtively, mumbles)  Bikini wax
2.0:  (whispering) I'm sorry I made you say "bikini wax" at work. 

So, if my computer suddenly dies, it is because I just noticed that on the side of the box of CD-Rs I bought last night, it says, "For computer burning."  So, apparently my computer won't so much die as burst into flames.  Lesson?  Aways read the label.

I just received an e-mail from 2.0, and it contained the following advice (caps hers).  DO NOT E-MAIL THE TRUTH TO YOUR MOM.

The POD for today is to run to the grocery store, and then spend the day reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.  I also have to do some work.  And laundry.  And empty the dishwasher.  The rest of the weekend went as follows.  (Note:  I am taking Shea's advice.  Good friends, good books, and possibly even the Ben and Jerry's.) 

Friday I got a call from one of my friends, asking me if I wanted to hang out.  I agreed, and we went and got a manicure (her) and a pedicure (me), and then had dinner outside on the patio at the Hibernian.   

Last night, I went over to Leila's for dinner.  She'd invited a bunch of us over, as they are trying to clean out the freezer before hunting season.  We had Hungarian Partridge, grouse, and pheasant.   (Note:  While eating, one of the other attendees exclaimed, "I've eaten partridge, grouse, and peasant!"  We all moved just a little bit away from her.)  All were yummy!  Accompanied by fresh veggies, and possibly alcohol.  Oh, and the door prize for attending?  A pound of venison sausage.  Yum!  Now I have to decide if I'm making Bambi chili or Bambi spaghetti sauce...

The night was fun, but also sad.   I have wanted to show MW their house, because I know he would love it.  This was complicated by the fact that all I wanted to do yesterday was call him.  I still want to, more than anything.  I won't, for various reasons which may or may not include stubbornness and stupidity.   

I think I need to get away.  Who wants to take a road trip?

Tonight, I had planned on doing laundry and filling out my PE application.  I had also planned to go for a walk with 2.0.  When she called to say she was home, we decided that a swim would be nice after the walk (hot and humid here today).  During the walk, she mentioned that 2.0 spouse had met his friends for dinner, but was concerned about her plans, so she told him she'd query me.  We ended up going to The Mellow Mushroom, where the beers were $2.50.  (Note to MW:  I had a Belgian White.  They served it with an orange wedge, which, well, are they supposed to?)  Is it mean to drink in front of the pregnant lady?

I would feel bad, but she made fun of my '80s mix CD I had playing in my car.  In fact, the last words she said before leaving were, "Ha Ha Ha!  Duran Duran!"

Friday night, 2.0 and I went walking.  This was after a lengthy phone conversation that established that a:) we were both tired and didn't really feel like walking and b:) we were both lying on our beds during the conversation.  The walk did turn out to be a good idea, as we both felt better afterwards.  2.0 borrowed a few DVDs from me, and introduced 2.0 spouse to the joy that is The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Saturday, they came over for a cookout- nothing fancy, just hot dogs, hamburgers, coleslaw, tzatziki, and beer.  They supplied watermelon for dessert.  I noticed as I was going out to light the grill that MW had fixed the problem (I had complained about this) of the strings for the blinds constantly getting in the way by putting them up in the header.  This would not be a good time to mention that I am an engineer.  Also, we swam beforehand.  Or rather, we waded and then soaked our feet.  'Twas a bit cool.

Yesterday, 2.0 called and we went for a walk again.  (2.0:  I brought my swimsuit so that I could convince you to go swimming again.)  We went swimming afterwards, this time jumping in the pool.  Thus, I have begun my summer hair-lightening.  I am all about the natural highlights, people.  Then, we went to the mall so that 2.0 could have her Orange Julius and pretzel.  We then picked up 2.0 spouse and went to see Star Wars Episode III:  Revenge of the Sith. 

Was Lucas trying to make a comedy?  I can tell you that all three of us cracked up when Darth Vader yelled, "Nooooo!" upon learning of Padme's death.   Afterwards, 2.0 remarked, "That was a bad movie."  Of course, it was a Star Wars movie, so I expected nothing less.  I find the movies entertaining and enjoyable, but they are not good movies.   (Please do not e-mail or comment trying to convince me they are good movies.  Try you may.  Convince me you will not.)

Today?  Hiking.  It may rain, but I don't melt, and I definitely don't feel like hanging about the house. 

1. Air hockey and wedge sandals are not a good combination.
2. The Harley Davidson racing game is much better than the similar one featuring the crotch rockets.
3. We still suck at House of the Dead.
4. But not compared to how much we suck at pool. 

Saturday I went shopping with 2.0.  I needed a dress for a wedding on the 14th.  First we hit Hecht's, where I found one we liked.  I bought it and kept looking (well, might be something better).  At Lord and Taylor, I found another one (same brand).  2.0 didn't like it as well, but I thought I'd take it home and see which one I liked best.  Then, the following:

Watergirl:  So, do we like the first dress $60 more? 
2.0:  That's the price difference.
WG:  Yes.  Big sale here.
2.0:   We might not like it that much more.
WG:  Also, I don't need shoes to go with the second dress. 
2.0:  I definitely don't think we like it $60 and shoes more.

This is why we get along well. 

Also, because we both agreed that flipping off the guy in the red Jeep who ran over the day lilies to get into the left hand turn lane so that he could sit at the red light was a perfectly appropriate response.

Today, Cdub and I went to Lowe's to get me a grill.  She has a minivan, and I also figured she'd be helpful for putting it together.  Guess what?  It was already put together.  And I got a free set of tools and a free grill cover.   Sweet.

So, I cooked the first meal on the grill tonight.  (Of course Cdub was invited.)  Beef satay.  Yummy!  Served with coconut rice and Asian slaw.  All yummy.

Also. yesterday was Angeler's Birthday.  Happy Birthday!

Last night I went to Jbabe's house to watch The Amazing Race.  First of all, Ray?  Gretchen and Meredith beat you.  Ha!  I guess they don't belong in the Race with you.  Also, Rob and Amber?  It would have been decent of you to at least stop to ask if the brothers and their crew were OK after the accident.  You know, like everyone else did.  I am willing to forgive you the quitting, the bribing bus drivers to only open on door, and the overall smugness, but this?  Not so much.  My favorite teams right now are Brian & Greg and Uchenna & Joyce.

While I was sampling yesterday, I backed into a blackberry brier.  I thought I was OK, but while watching the race, I found a brier stuck in my left arm.  Since it was in a position where it would have been extremely difficult for me to remove, Jbabe said, "Do you want me to get it?"  Took about 20 minutes, but she got it out.  Not everyone would do that for me.

Today, I promise to stay away from the blackberry patch. 

I have been in North Carolina for four years now.  It took me almost all of those four years to find a group of friends here.  (I made friends along the way, but not enough to make up a group.)  It was OK, because I still had my grad school friends (still do), but it's not the same when your friends are in Buffalo, New Hampshire, and California. 

Anyway, on Monday I had lunch with R and Stetson.  (Stetson is her son, who will be joining us in April.  Stetson is not actually his name, I just call him that thanks to a game we played at the baby shower.)  See, I owed her the baby ziti (I do not give baby stuff.  New parents always get tons of baby stuff.  Food they need.), and I told her I would give it to her when we met up for lunch.  (Her husband, overhearing the tail end of this conversation, "WAIT!  What do we have to do to get our ziti?"   I was not quick enough to come up with something really good.)  The waiter came to take our drink order as we were talking about her bellybutton.  (My friends and I will discuss nearly anything.) 

Tuesday, I had non-lunch plans, so I ate at my desk.  (I usually eat at my desk.)

Today, I met 2.0 for lunch.  We went to a cafe  neither of us had been to before.  The food was excellent.  We've been busy and haven't seen each other much lately, so it was great to get together.  We did not talk about bellybuttons, unfortunately.  We did talk about how she met her husband.  (Note:  I once greeted him with, "Hi, [2.0 spouse].  You have green hair."  It was true, but he probably knew about it.) 

Now, Cool Boss and I (along with some other people from the office) are supposed to go to the NC Botanical Garden at lunch either tomorrow or Friday, but the weather may have other plans.  Confidential to the weather:  Sunday is the Vernal Equinox, and also I want to start wearing sandals. 

Last night was the 13th annual Triangle Water for Life event.   I am on the planning committee, so last week was quite busy with the last minute stuff.  This year we had a new venue and a new caterer.  The event went well- the new venue seemed quite popular.  I had a wonderful time.   Here I am with fellow book club members.

We raised $77,000 to fund drinking water projects in India, Bangladesh, Honduras, and Ethiopia.  I made my first ever live auction purchase, The Bayou by Susan Hecht. 

I was drawn to it when I first saw it, and made the final bid on it (Note:  this was my only bid on it.  I had talked myself out of it.).   I am planning on hanging it in my living room, above the couch. 

So, this weekend started off badly.  I had to tell Cool Boss that I was sick and needed to go home (he knows the particulars, and was very understanding, one of the many reasons he is Cool Boss).  Then I called Cdub and told her I needed to have lunch with my friend.  Her only question?  "Where?"  She met me at Olive Garden for Soup/Salad/Breadsticks, and then I went home and took a nap.  That night was the  draft horse pull.   Cdub and I stayed until the end (well, not through the awards presentation), but the Cool Spawn were tired, so the Cool Boss family left.  (I am told Cool Spawn fell asleep in the car on the way home.)   Then, since she would not have made it home in time and hadn't set up a tape,  we watched Battlestar Galactica. 

Saturday I woke up feeling better and ended up going shopping for dress shoes.  While at the mall, I decided that a pedicure was in order, and whilst my feet were soaking, the (what is the word?  nail tech?  I don't know.) talked me into a manicure.  But I did end up getting shoes.  Shoes on sale.  Then, there were more shoes on sale, so I bought another pair.  Yay shoes!

Wait, the shoes were after TRgirl called me and told me that the week they are going to Nags Head (The BIL"s parents have rented a house) is the week I am in Baltimore giving a presentation at the Batelle conference.  Stupid career advancement interfering with fun!

Sunday I got the ingredients for sausage and artichoke soup, and made a pot for during the SuperBowl.  MW joined me for the game and the soup.  I was rooting for the Pats, but I was hoping for a better game.   Also, Paul McCartney as the halftime show?  Did that not scream, "Who is the least likely artist to be found offensive?" 

Anyway, the insomnia came back last night, so y'all almost got a post at 2 AM.  (I played word games here instead.)  I decided that a workout might help fight that and allow me to sleep tonight, so I went to the gym this afternoon.  Actually, I had told Cool Boss I'd rather go walking at Lake Johnson, but was worried about being out there in the dark by myself.  I checked  my phone after I left the gym, and there was a voicemail from 2.0 asking me if I wanted to go walking.  So I did.   Fingers crossed, I will sleep tonight!

... but I'm going to tell you about my weekend anyway.   My blog, my rules. 

So, Friday was a new Battlestar Galactica.  I am addicted to this show.   It is frakin' good, people.  Watch it you must.

Saturday, 2.0 and I (2.0 is a new friend/character-  she has the same name as a former friend of mine but is a new and improved version) went dress shopping.  She found one; I did not.  But the best part was that she took me to this cool jewelery store in Chapel Hill, and all the jewelery was 50% off, and I got 2 new pairs of earrings.  And also run on sentences. 

Overheard in 2.0's wicked cool car:
2.0:  I said shit before and was worried you might be offended.  (Everyone who knows me, stop  with the laughter!)

WG:   I like Tori Amos, but I never understand what her songs are about.
2.0:  I make something up.  It's better that way.

So, when I saw today's  For Better or For Worse, I was reminded of my Mom.  We've faced a similar situation. 

On February 8, 2003 I drove out to the farm for a riding lesson.  That night was the Water for Life dinner, and I had some errands to run before heading out to Chapel Hill that afternoon.  I had been mostly riding bareback in my lessons, as Heather felt I needed to improve my seat.  Solie is an old man and has a cushy back, so I rather enjoyed riding him bareback.  That day was chilly but clear.  I was wearing my favorite UMass sweatshirt for warmth.  The lesson was going well, and we were working on using the reins less and more seat when getting him to whoa.  I was riding in the A-F-B direction, and as we came through the corner at M, Solie sped up.  In Castle Farm's ring, there is a slight downward slope in that direction, so this was not abnormal.

I tried to get him to slow down without using my hands and lost my balance.  I came off his left side, but remember at one point looking up at his neck and the sky.  I don't remember any pain when I landed, but something made me look down at my right leg.  It was bent above my boot.  (My boots come above my ankle.)  I said, "Heather, I broke my leg!"  She said, "Do you want me to call 911?"  I assured her that this was a good idea, and entered into that eldest daughter someone-else-is-freaking-out-so-I-must-be-calm-mode.

I had Heather get my purse out of my car, because I would need my insurance card.  She grabbed my phone and asked who she should call.  I couldn't think of anyone at first; my best Raleigh friend (at that time) was not home that weekend.  Then I remembered that TRgirl had recently moved to Richmond, so Heather called her.  (TRgirl answered her phone and almost hung up on Heather, because she thought at first it was a telemarketer.  Luckily, she realized my number had popped up on the Caller ID.)   Heather gave her directions, directions I knew would not get her to me, but I couldn't help. 

In the meantime, the ambulance had arrived.  Solie, much to my surprise, stood quietly while the ambulance raced up the lane, lights and sirens on.  The ambulance was followed by a fire truck.  The paramedics came out to me and introduced themselves.  One said, "It's nice to meet you."   I told him, "No offense, but I wish we weren't meeting."  He laughed.  I begged them not to cut my boot off, as they were rather expensive.   I was told they wouldn't cut it off if while they were taking it off I didn't scream.  I am certain they expected I would.  I didn't.  Those boots cost a lot.

They put me on a back board and loaded me into the ambulance.  TRgirl called Mom (I knew she would) and said, "I'm going to Raleigh.  Watergirl fell off a horse and hurt herself and she was crying."  She remembers hearing me cry over the phone, and that's when she knew it was serious. 

As they were working on me, I was aware that one of the younger students (I now know who she is) had arrived for her lesson and was watching all of this.  I was very worried about her, and kept asking Heather to tell her everything would be OK. 

They loaded me into the ambulance, and I was aware that some woman I did not know was going to follow me to the hospital and that Chris, Heather's husband, would meet me there.  The mystery woman was his mother, who had dropped by the farm unexpectedly (and fortuitously).  She would pick up Dylan so that Chris could stay with me. 

Before we left for the hospital, the head paramedic asked me if I needed morphine.  I told him I was OK.  He said, "Looking at your leg hurts me.  You're getting morphine."  He then asked which hospital I wanted to go to, and told me where he would want to go if it were him.  A good thing to do here is take the paramedic's advice. 

Off we went to WakeMed.  It was a long, bumpy ride.  They wheeled me into the ER and the hospital immediately took my insurance information.  I argued with the nurse about cutting off my sweatshirt, my argument being "I broke my leg."  However, since I was involved in a fall, I was strapped to a board and they wouldn't unstrap me until they did a C-series.  The nurse compromised and cut off only my sports bra- it was my riding bra with the underwires (still haven't replaced it). 

I was wheeled into X-ray, where I kept laughing at the tech because they X-rayed my ankle last.  I found that very funny.  I know I was in X-ray for a while, but I don't know how long.

When I was wheeled back into an exam room, Chris came in.  He said, "I had to tell them I'm your brother."  I remember telling him I would have to cancel my next lesson and hoped that I wouldn't be charged, in accordance with the cancellation policy.  He reassured me I wouldn't.  He held my hand (or rather, he let me crush his hand) while they set my leg.  They couldn't do surgery that day, because some guy in Holly Springs had shot his mother and them himself, so there wasn't an OR free. 

By that time TRgirl had arrived.   She made sure the hospital gave me pants (they had cut mine off), and she and Chris loaded me into the back of her Pathfinder (the same one Bud just crashed).  She drove me home, went grocery shopping, and protected me from the boys jumping on my leg (Seriously, that was all they wanted to do.  Very helpful.).  She had a soccer game the next morning, and Mom wouldn't be there then and didn't want me left alone.  So I called Cdub, who at that point was really more of a casual acquaintance than a good friend, and is still not a morning person, but she agreed to come over at 0700 the next day to stay with me. 

Mom came, there was surgery eventually, lots of PT, and I am back to almost perfect now (well, anklewise).  But the reason for this post is to say that although this seemed like a bad thing, it actually had some very good outcomes.  TRgirl got in the car to come help me without even knowing where she was going, just knowing that I needed her.  Mom dropped everything to come and stay with me for a few weeks.  Cdub took very good care of me when they all left, and has become an amazing friend.  I lost my job in one of our offices, but convinced another one to take me on.  I am much happier at work now.  And oddly enough, the work Heather and I had to do to get me riding again has made me a better rider.

So, on Dec. 22nd I headed out for my parents' house in NJ to spend Christmas there.  I overnighted at Peg's; we exchanged gifts, and I picked up the gifts TRgirl had left there.  (See, when I told her I was stopping a Peg's on the way up, she said, "How am I supposed to get my presents to NJ?"  So, my family thinks I am a dictionary, a reference book, and a courier.  Oh, the hats I wear.) 

Anyway, I told y'all about the first part of the trip already.   What I did not tell you is that Casper, my parents' cat, hates me.  With the fire of a thousand suns is how much this cat hates me.  But he loves my dad.

Also, if you think I am a dork, this picture of Bud proves it to be a genetic condition.

Anyway, I left NJ on the 29th, and met Erica (Erica!) at Klondike Kate's  for lunch.  We hadn't seen each other in about 3 years, so I asked our wonderful and patient waitress to take a picture. 

Then I headed down to TRgirl and the BIL's for dinner.   It took me 2 hours to get from the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to Fredericksburg.  Oh how I hate NoVA.  Anyway, finally made it to Richmond, where The BIL said, "Did you do something different with your hair?"  TRgirl:  "Um, it's straight??!!" 

Finally made it back to Raleigh at 1130, was at work at 0730.  Forgot 1800 riding lesson that night.  D'oh!

And thanks to my Christmas money and the Eddie Bauer white sale, the redecoration of the bedroom and bathroom is nearly complete.

Here's wishing y'all a wonderful 2005.

Phoebs and I, taking a break from kayaking. Thanks to random sailboarding lady!

First, the bad. I spent 12 hours in airports yesterday trying to get home. The good thing about this is, when your boss picks you up at the airport at 2AM, he doesn't argue when you tell him you are not going to work the next day.

Anyway, I left on Thursday to see Phoebs. I arrived in Manchester at about 8:30 that night, and we drove to her house. Thanks to a flood, it is currently in a state of construction, but it is a cute little house. With a pink deck.

The best thing about the house is that it is within walking distance of Pawtuckaway Lake. She and her neighbors keep their kayaks there, so I was able to borrow one. We spent Friday morning kayaking and picking really small blueberries. We then went into Kittery, ME, at at the Weathervane, and went outlet shopping. After eating, we visited the restroom. The woman who had been in the stall next to me took the opportunity to tell me over hand washing that she thought I was her daughter when she saw my feet, because we both have the same freaky long toes, with the second toe longer than the big toe. "Makes it hard to buy shoes," was her parting comment. Phoebes was flabbergasted by this conversation. Scarily, it is not the strangest one I have had with a random person.

Saturday we went into Boston and went shopping along Newberry and Boylston Streets. While walking along Newberry, a girl walked into me. Not only did she not apologize, she kept going. Right through me! I need to remember not to wear my Invisibilty Cloak when shopping. (Incidentally, later in the T, a man walked into me, but he apologized. Also, he was blind.) I did by a really cool framed set of three prints (Boston scenes). Now I must decide whether to put them in the living room or the bedroom.

Sunday we went hiking at the Flume Gorge at Franconia Notch State Park. (Do check out the winter photos!) This reminds me what I miss about New England- the scenery. (The winter photos remind me what I don't miss.)

Monday- kayaking, then airport hell.

Phoebs should be sending pictures- I'll try to post some.

So, we have been setting up these microcosms for over a week now, as there have been pH problems (damn microbes and their preference for neutral!) We set them up again today, adding some sodium hydroxide (problems were on the acidic side). Some of the pHs then came out too high, so I called Cool Boss into the lab to discuss the next step. He looked at the pHs, went over to the base cabinet, and grabed a bottle of pelletized sodium hydroxide. The following conversation then took place:

Watergirl: (Cool boss), what are you doing?
CB: I'm going to adjust the pH.
WG: No, really, what are you doing?
CB: Those pHs are too high. I'm going to lower them.
WG: With sodium hydroxide?
CB: (puzzled look) Sulfuric Acid?
WG: That would be better.