Who Are You Again?

Seems this summer has not been a fruitful one for blogging. And it's not just me. Some of my standard reads have been a little sparse as of late as well. A couple of them have new babies, so that's totally understandable, but even those who don't have been a little scarce. Makes me wonder if the charm has worn off for many of us. But enough editorializing...

I was really busy this summer, right up until my party. Then I think I lost all my motivation to get anything done. You'd think that the end of the summer would be enough of a deadline for me to launch into high speed, but not yet anyway. I still have about five weeks left. Some years that's half the summer, but this year it's well past the halfway point as the kids don't return until September 8.

So, what have I been doing with my summer? Well...

• I took part in a garage sale with some girls from work and got rid of a bit of stuff, which started me on a purging kick, but I've somehow stalled. I've sorted out bags of clothes for Goodwill from the dressers and my bedroom closet, but haven't yet gotten to the cabinet where I keep my sweaters and sweatshirts in the spare room, the closet in that room, or the coat closet. I also have the two boxes of items left from the garage sale that will be going still sitting in my living room. Honestly, it would probably take me about two more hours and I'd have everything sorted and a list made (for tax deduction purposes) so it could get out of here.
• I still haven't gotten a new backdoor put up, but maybe in the next couple of weeks Mom and Dad will make it up here and that will get done.
• My super-secret summer project has, so far, been unsuccessful and is now being put on hold temporarily. I could explain the reasons, but then it would be obvious what the project is.
• I attended a gathering of my high school band friends a week ago. We've had these in the past and they are always a lot of fun, but this year's was not very well attended. I did get to see G. and W. and I was able to talk very kindly with them. W. even asked how to make the pudding shots that I brought to the party and I graciously wrote out the recipe for her.
• Another friend from high school was home on leave from the military at the same time. Luke wrote to me in mid-June to see if I'd like to get together, so he came to visit two weeks ago. We had a great time reminiscing and getting caught up on each other's lives. He stayed over (on the couch) and we had lunch together the next day. I saw him again at the band reunion and we've started a regular correspondence. I'm going to visit him over winter vacation (he's in Germany), and we are going to spend New Year's in Paris! I finally get to use my new passport! Is there potential...? Perhaps. Technically he is an ex-boyfriend as we were "going together" for about a month when I was a sophomore and he was a freshman... you know... those relationships where you're too young to actually go on dates so instead it's just a lot of hand holding and kissing when no adults are around. He's always been a very sweet guy, but I can't say I was all that attracted to him back in school. Now, however... damn. The years have been good to him and he is a fine looking man. The main issue is the distance. He's in Germany until February, then will be going to Turkey for fifteen months before he will be back in the U.S. That's nearly two years, and even then he won't be anywhere terribly close. But I suppose that, if things have developed between us at that point, minus the physical contact, we'll have a better idea if it's worthwhile for me to go where he is. At that point he'll only have about three years left before he can retire.
• I rejoined Weight Watchers last week. After I saw a picture from the band reunion I decided it was time. I've gained back all the weight I lost four years ago and then some over the last couple of years. I had to buy new shorts this summer because I couldn't get into any of my old ones. What's funny is that people tell me all the time how I don't need to lose weight. I know I don't look as heavy as I am, but it bothers me that I can't wear the cute little tops I was wearing two years ago. I guess I should be grateful that I carry my weight fairly well, but I'm also concerned for health reasons. My BMI is only one point from being considered obese! How is that possible? At any rate, I'm down two pounds already, so I'm off to a good start. I'd really like to be down twenty-five for my trip in December (twenty-two weeks away) and it's definitely possible. Just got to stay focused!

That's it in a nutshell, I guess. Time to get some exercise in for the day.

Top Ten Things I Never Thought I'd See or Experience Until I Spent a Weekend In New Orleans

Honorable Mention: Miniature pony being walked down Bourbon St.

10. People walking down a city street with beer and other cocktails in plastic cups.

9. A guy painted head to toe with silver paint.

8. Strip clubs and sex shops every other door.

7. Bikini-clad girl with leg warmers and platform heels dancing in a doorway.

6. Beads left in the trees from previous years’ Mardi Gras.

5. A Leprechaun and his pot of gold.

4. Visiting CVS 5 times in a 36 hour period.

3. The nearly 2 inch gap under the door of our hotel room.

2. Guy humping the railing of his balcony with his penis hanging out of his pants at 9 p.m.

And finally...1. Being offered a drink by a drunk chili cook-off champion on the way back to the hotel. Shee-it!

Too Late

As I sat in O’Hare International Airport eating my tasty Big Mac for lunch, I took a few moments to really observe my surroundings and to listen to the sounds around me. I found that the PA constantly repeated the same announcements over and over again. One of them was about not going through the security checkpoints with any prohibited items. Another was about the 3-1-1 rule. You know, the one about only packing 3 ounce bottles that fit into 1 one quart bag in your carry-on luggage. Anyway, it suddenly dawns on me… isn’t it a waste of time to continue these announcements at this location in the airport? I mean, anyone who is here is already way past security at either this airport or another. Seems a little silly to me.

And, just as an aside: The smallest bottle of contact solution I could find at the store was 4 ounces, but was labeled as “TSA compliant” so that’s what I packed. No one said anything, so I guess it was okay.

Game ON!

Just got done chatting with Amber about our upcoming trip to Chicago. We've had to change our dates on several occasions, but I think we are finally set for spending New Years in the Windy City! She's on the case for a hotel room and my job is to get theater tickets. I'm so excited that I get to see Wicked again! Amber hasn't seen it yet, so it was an easy sell. I'm also pretty geeked to actually have some plans for New Year's Eve. That hasn't happened in about five years!