Fun Stuff...

Today the crew went to the Ren Faire for my niece's 21st birthday. 20 of us in 5 cars and all super excited. That man and I hadn't been since K2 was 3 or 4 (we used to go several times a season). K3 had only been once with school, and K4 had never been there. I was so excited for them to go and thrilled that they loved it so much.
The kids took off to spend their money with instructions to meet us at the jail at a specific time so we could decide on lunch. Most of us walked around, checking stuff out, tasting wine, drinking hot mulled wine, or having beer for breakfast, (but just one, because it was expensive!) and laughing hysterically. We ended up changing the meeting place to the mud pit since the show was starting. That was very funny.
Then we moved on to lunch. Food costs weren't too bad. Sure, I spent a little more than fast food, but less than a sit down restaurant. That man and K3 ate turkey legs. Holy crap, they were huge! K4 had pizza and half of my perogies. I had perogies and then a gyro. So good.
K3, K4, and I got sidetracked by one of the musical performances, but we eventually met up with everyone again. More walking. More wine tasting. More shop visiting. Ended up following some awesome music and staying for the show...then buying a cd and getting it signed. K4 loved it because the band had a violin lead who was so super fantastic! When she got the cd signed, the violinist encouraged her to visit her website and check out the sheet music and forums after she found out K4 also plays the violin. So cool. K4 was thrilled.
We caught more music, met up with most everyone at the pub, did a little more walking around, watched the pirate auction, went to some more shops, tasted some more wine, met up at the pub again. Then decided we were done in... it was cold, though most of us have sunburned faces. K4 was falling asleep on the bench, That man's knees were killing him, and a few others were hurting, too. A quick stop at the wine / gift shop for one last wine tasting / tshirt and wine purchasing, then a random group picture (though some of our group had already left due to pain), mayhem trying to get out of the parking lot...met up at the 'rents for hanging out and cake. Pizza first, talking, laughing... then birthday cake (my s-i-l makes the best cake ever!). More hanging out... then home.
So tired, but such a great day!! My love for the Ren Faire has been reignited. I can't wait to go back and my whole family feels the same way!
And, I did my words for the writing challenge! Whoo!
Behave!

Getting it Back...

It's kind of obvious my life has changed dramatically this past year. "The Job" has been a huge adjustment - physically, emotionally, and with the family. My writing's taken a hit and so have the opportunities to socialize and have fun. I'm not whining (not really) - just stating fact. I have to do whatever necessary to make sure my family survives. I do it willingly (mostly). but that doesn't mean it isn't without true and major side effects.
It's not over. I'm still adjusting, though I hadn't deluded myself into thinking the adjustment phase would be over quick. I promised the face in the mirror I wouldn't be too hard on it until after the first year - going through each season and holiday and reconfiguring the way things are done. I haven't lived up to that promise as much as I should have because I should be able to do it all, especially if you ask my ages old Superwoman complex. Anyway, I digress...
The first year is coming to an end soon, and I can tell. I feel more settled, more energetic, ready to focus. I don't say much about the job, but suffice it to say it's very complicated and requires an insane amount of mental energy and focus. I have at least a million things to remember every day - and what I have to remember changes frequently. Maybe I've finally trained my brain to separate and can shake off the busyness of my days enough to re-focus my energy on other things after I leave. Maybe it's because I've made a decision to pass off some of my volunteer obligations (as I take on a huge one with my writing chapter...hrm) I don't know, but I do feel different. Maybe it's because 2011 is almost over...and well, wouldn't that just be like me to finally get my act together the year the world's supposed to end? Ha!
2011 definitely hasn't lived up to its expectations in many ways. And, as usual (and probably delusional) I am ever hopeful for 2012.
I'm thinking about my goals for 2012 (not resolutions, because resolutions suck). I don't know if I'll post them or not, but I will have some definite goals written down and will do my best to get to this time next year with the ability to say Done!.
So, go away 2011...you suck! Bring on 2012!
Behave!

Tall Tale Tuesday...Or Not

There's a lot I could Tall Tale Tuesday about, but I'm not feeling any of it.
I mentioned the weekend was not relaxing and I'll tell you why. Or at least some of why.
Tuesday evening, my sister got bit by something. By Wednesday morning, she had a rash. This rash got bad enough that she went to the doctor Wednesday afternoon. They said she had shingles and gave her a bunch of meds. Thursday morning, she was in so much pain she could barely walk. And she had a fever. She called the doctor and went back in. They gave her different meds, drew a circle around the area and told her if her fever got higher or if the redness extended beyond the circle to go to the emergency room. She texted me a little before 11pm to tell me they were on their way to the emergency room. She's been in the hospital ever since. Sunday night they did surgery to remove the necrotic tissue and the infected area. Now she's got a wound pump to help draw out the nasty fluids. They still don't know what bit her, or what's causing the infection.
There's a possibility it was a Brown Recluse spider. We're still waiting to hear anything on that. It's rare in this area, but not unheard of. My brother-in-law thinks he caught one and it's currently in a jar waiting for confirmation on what species it is.
It's possible she could come home today. With the wound pump and a visiting nurse.
So there you have it. Scary stuff.
Behave!

Well...

Man, today went quick.
It's still hot. Very hot. And all of the storms we've been promised have totally skipped us. That's a little disappointing to me because I love a good storm. We're supposed to get one tonight, but so far nothing...
I cannot believe we're almost at the end of June. Heck, we are at the end of June. A few more days and it'll be July. Summer is going fast and I don't feel like it's really started yet. The next thing I know, school will be starting again!
We're on the baby wait. They're at the hospital right now. I'm waiting for the call that says they're keeping her before heading out. If not, then I'll go to bed with my phone clutched tightly in my hands. Things are moving along though and very soon I'll be a grandma. For real. Weird.
And that is all for now.
Behave!

Waiting...

Those of you who know me know I'm not a patient waiter. I want things to happen now, and if they don't, well, it's frustrating. Usually I do okay with the whole waiting game. The publishing business is heavy on the wait. I've learned to live with that. Maybe not always silently, or happily, but I know it's just the way things are.
That's not what I'm talking about...
I'm talking about waiting in general. As of right now, I feel like I'm just...waiting. There's this air of expectancy and resolution around me, but I'm not really waiting for much. I feel like I should be though and I'm not sure what it means. It happens on occasion and it scares me a little, because usually when I feel like this something bad happens. The hopeful waiting vibe is crushed like a little bug on the sidewalk.
Anyway.
While trying to figure this anomaly out, I started thinking about what kind of waiting drives me the craziest. Here's the short list:
1. Waiting for service calls. You know which ones I mean - "We'll be out between eight and noon." and then they show up at eleven-fifty-five and you've wasted all of that time waiting, too afraid to even go to the bathroom for fear they'll knock on the door as soon as you drop your drawers.
2. Waiting in line while the people who are supposed to be doing whatever they're getting paid to do discuss their private lives and forget there are paying customers there.
3. Waiting for people to get ready to go somewhere after they've fooled around during the time they should have been getting ready, and now you're going to be late.
4. Waiting for bad service, which kind of goes with number two, but not really.
5. Those long hours between now and when you're leaving to go someplace fun.
I might have more, but I'm dealing with a nasty headache that hasn't responded to any attempt at kicking it.
So what kind of wait drives you crazy?
Behave!