This One’s Going Out to Caren From Ohio

Song Lyric of the Day:

Come on and we’ll sing, like we were free / Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us / Come on and we’ll try, one last time / I’m off of the floor one more time to find you

Mat Kearney / “Nothing Left to Lose”

10:00PM.
Wow. Where to begin? I guess the most logical place to start is to say that I just haven’t been up to blogging lately (like you hadn’t already figured that out). The insomnia-fueled exhaustion, day-to-day stress, and inevitable illness all took their toll on me. But really, if I’m going to be honest with myself, my 9/11 tribute post completely took the wind out of my sails. I mean, how could I go back to writing about the mundane details of my day-to-day life after writing myself through the emotional ringer? I also felt like it would have been disrespectful of me to go back to my usual blathering immediately after that post, so I held off. And held off. And then life got so busy I found myself without time to think, much less write. To wit:

• I’m now another year closer to death – I celebrated my birthday on September 17. Rich successfully pulled off a surprise party for me at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, Casa Don Gallo. Thanks to my parents, Samantha, Benjamin, Curry, Jonathan, Tamara, Doug, and Carol for making my birthday so memorable and fun. Thanks to Mom for seasons one and two of Rescue Me, Dad for the Kohl’s gift card, Momma Carol and Papa Doug for the moolah, Benjamin for the Best Buy gift card, Tamara for season one of Prison Break, and Jonnie and Curry for the Target gift card. Extra special thanks to Rich for organizing and pulling it all off, as well as for the gift certificate for dance lessons, The Ninth Gate DVD (the gift of Depp works year-round), and the divine cheesecake. You rock, babe. And even though Vanessa was only there in spirit since she was home in Clarksville, special thanks to her for mailing me my gift: season three of my all-time favorite comedy series, Arrested Development. I’m enjoying watching favorite episodes all over again.
  

• My little monster baby, Caleb, turned four on September 22. Rich and I celebrated by ordering a bone-shaped birthday cake from River Dog Bakery (reminder: no human kids to spoil), complete with peanut butter trim and lettering saying “Happy 4th Birthday, Caleb.” Snoops very happily helped her little brother work on and finish the cake off in under three days.

• I got my other baby sister married off. After hosting her bridal shower at my house in August, I was Samantha’s matron of honor at her wedding on October 8. I’m thrilled for her and my new BIL, Shawn, and wish them all the best. I’m honored to have been a part of their wedding (despite having gotten as sick as I could get without actually dying by the time the big day rolled around).

• I took a writing class – I finally lit the fire under my ass. My friend, Stephanie, and I signed up for UT’s Intensive Writing Fiction Workshop. That book idea that’s been floating around in my head for a while? It’s finally been committed to paper and is on its way. Not only did I realize an epiphany – writing fiction is fun – but, more importantly, I got what I needed – writing support and encouragement from people in the same boat as me. (Not to discount Rich’s support/nagging). Better yet, even though our six-week course ended on Tuesday, we’re going to do our best to meet up at least once a month (starting after Thanksgiving) and continue our writing support group.

• I spent a day shopping with my friend, Caren, and spending my birthday loot. A few Sundays ago, Caren and I met up for lunch at McAlister’s Deli before embarking on a day-long shopping trip. I had birthday cash and gift cards burning a hole in my pocket, so it was particularly fun for me, especially with a good friend accompanying me. Caren helped me spend my Kohl’s gift card by encouraging me to pick up a cool, brown velvet jacket; she said it was definitely me, only girlier. I spent some of the birthday cash from Momma Carol and Papa Doug on some great sale items (white tee, Editor pants) at Express; I spent the rest of that cash on the books The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield and The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen. After four solid hours of shopping, this old lady went home ready for a nap.

• I enjoyed Happy Hour at Casa Don Gallo with Kelley and Camille after work one night. All I can say is, you haven’t truly lived if you’ve never heard a Mariachi band play “The Chicken Dance.” Seriously.

• We got our missing furniture from IKEA Atlanta – our bedroom set is now complete. Which is why Rich and I have been immersed in home improvement and furniture assembly projects (new CD towers, coffee table, entertainment center). We’ve even gotten an estimate on new carpet for the bedroom. Two words about our potential new carpet: shagadelic purple.

And now I’m trying to get things in order for my trip to New York City. Rich is flying out tomorrow morning; he’s going a couple of days ahead of me since it’s easier for him to ask off since he’s still freelancing for our company. Also, this way he gets an extra two days since I had my two days back in May when I flew up for Aunt Bea’s wedding.

I’ll go ahead and say thanks ahead of time to my wonderful parents and wonderful friend, Nan (and Caren, Nan’s backup), who will be caring for the poochkins and kitties, respectively. Nan’s even biting the bullet and driving me to the airport to catch my 6AM flight Saturday. Now, that’s a great friend.

So much to do, so little time…