Journey & Adventure

Today is my (and J's) 22nd wedding anniversary.  I can't believe it's been that long.  Somedays, it literally feels like a lifetime of hard work and then there are days when it only seems like yesterday. The lyrics to this song pretty much say it all … STILL THE ONE (Orleans) We've been together since way back when Sometimes I never want to see you again But I want you to know, after all these years You're still the one I want whisperin' in my ear You're still the one I want to talk to in bed Still the one that turns my head We're still having fun, and you're still the one I looked at your face every day But I never saw it 'til I went away When winter came, I just wanted to go Deep in the desert, I longed for the snow You're still the one that makes me laugh Still the one that's my better half We're still having fun, and you're still the one You're still the one that makes me strong Still the one

Does anyone else get tired of giving?   Giving their time, their knowledge, their support, and even to a certain extent, their friendship or their love?   Normally I don’t mind giving, but lately - I’m tired of it.   I’m tired of being the problem solver, the peacekeeper, the caregiver.    I’m tired of being pulled in a million directions and in general, I’m just tired.       I just want to be left the hell alone, so that I can recharge myself.   I don’t mean to sound selfish or bitter, but I don’t really care.   I’m also tired of being politically correct.     Now, that the bitterness is out of the way – I’m excited about an award I received last week from R. Jacob Post .   Stay tuned for details….they will be forthcoming. 

I’m feeling in a bit of a “mood” today and I can’t put my finger on the cause.   I just know I’m feeling “off”.   I like my new job, but I miss the people from my boring old job.    I miss my old boss – at least we laughed about things.     I miss some of my old co-workers – especially the one that would bake me cookies.   I miss being able to surf the internet.  Oh, how I miss the internet (insert longing sigh).   Yes, I’m well aware how much I complained about that old job and about having nothing to do, but at least I had people to talk to, to laugh with, commiserate with and to make fun of.   Here, there is no one.  I’ve been here over 6 months and not a single person has grown on me yet.  I’ve tried to engage them, but to no avail.   I don’t know how to explain it, but they’re an odd bunch.  We have absolutely nothing in common, but that’s not what makes them odd.  Maybe it’s because they are significantly older than

The deed is done – J and I have booked our trip to Hawaii in December and will be bringing along an entourage with us - consisting of my in-laws, my 27 year old niece and The Boy.   I still suspect my sister-in-law from Ireland and her husband will end up joining us there.     Because of the cheap flight prices, we couldn’t get everyone on the same flights, so The Boy and my niece are travelling separately, but together with each other.   They have two stopovers and limited time in between flight changes. Technically they are adults and I shouldn’t worry, but when two easily distracted people get together, it could mean chaos.     The trip should be okay – J’s mom is over-the-top excited and has started to pack already.   She is even talking about trying to snorkel.     This trip will earn us at least 3 get out of jail free cards from future family functions.   Whoo hooo!   Never in my life have I had to drive a minivan, but this trip will be a first.   

The weather for this week has been hot and humid.   The temperatures have been in the range of 95 to 104 with the humidity.    I AM NOT complaining – I did enough of that from November to May.   Instead, I’m embracing it.     We haven’t even turned on our air conditioning.   As long as the nights are cooler, I don’t need A/C.   I only need to know it’s there for when I do need it.   We have ceiling fans throughout our house, we have plenty of cold beverages in the refrigerator and ice in the freezer.   This is the way life’s forecast is supposed to be – sunny, hot with a chance of cold beverages in the evening…

What has become of us?   All we do is scurry from one appointment to another, from one chore to another, from one day to another.   We don’t stop to appreciate what’s around us, the seasons, each other.     We rarely take time for ourselves and it seems we don’t even have enough time in the day to stop and breathe.   The Boy said to me this morning…”All I can think is how exhausted I am.   I don’t have any time for anything and the most depressing part is…that’s the way my life will be forever.”   I was so shocked by that statement coming from someone so young and so inexperienced with the real world.   I wish I could have disagreed with him.   The only words of wisdom I could muster were “Don’t let your life get out of control now or you’ll never recover.   You’re young enough to change your destiny.”      I wish I believed what I said to be true.     As much as I like to believe we are in charge of our destiny, I’m becoming a doubter – at least for today.  I’m s

So, know how I said that I wouldn’t be going on a vacation until my Philippines trip in March 2012?   Well, it turns out that I lied - maybe.    I know.   I know – liar, liar, pants on fire….   BUT in my defense – I’m only thinking about going away because I'm getting an awesome deal on flights.    I still can’t technically afford to go, but I’ll figure that out later.      As a bonus, we are going over J’s birthday in December, so that means I won’t have to buy him a present – considering the trip will double as his present.   We are considering asking J’s parents if they want to go with us.   This decision goes against both of our better judgments; however I’m not sure if the trip will be worse than the “guilt trip” they send us on every time we tell them were going away….   J’s mother’s famous line:    ”Hmmm, it must be nice to travel.   We just don’t have the experience to travel on our own.   It would be nice if someone would offer to take us with t