One rung up the ladder from useless and boring, four down from hysterically entertaining, this blog is a feeble attempt to perfect mediocrity.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Sweet
The evening was perfect.
But that's not what makes my boyfriend so sweet.
Leaving the lake, I suggest we put the top on the Jeep part way down. It's a gorgeous night, not a cloud in the sky, and I can think of nothing better than spending the half hour ride home, stargazing and enjoying the summer evening. WG indulged me and we had the top back and were on our way.
Sweet man, indeed.
But that's still not what was truly sweet.
It was about ten miles down the road, when I have put my sweater on, and tucked my bare legs underneath me, and crossed my arms in an effort to keep warm, that my beyond-sweet boyfriend, without saying a word, simply reaches over and turns on the heat.
Now that, my dear friends, is a sweet, sweet man indeed.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Two Reasons I'm so Glad it Wasn't Our First Date
Scared after that experience to choose a new restaurant for fear it might be a strip club in disquise, we went with a familiar place and sat in the lobby waiting for a table. As a couple entered the door, I commented quietly to WG that they didn't seem to go together at all. The man had tattoos all up and down his arm, and the woman was dressed in a cutesy outfit, including a sunflower barrett in her hair. They ended up sitting next to us to wait and it didn't take us long to realize they were on a first date. It was all WG and I could do to contain ourselves. The woman talked incessantly while they waited. Telling the man about her recent move to the area, having quit her job, left her home and everything she owned back in Ohio, she moved up here, moved in with her mom and is starting over. She talked about her son, and how she doesn't have custody exactly, but had guardianship and she's trying to hold that over her ex's head as though she might request custody at any point (heaven help the child). She talked and talked and talked and the man just sat and nodded without getting a word in. WG and I were trying to devise a plan to help the poor lad escape an entire dinner of this train wreck when they called us to our table.
As we ate, we laughed about the movie experience and the eavesdropping in the lobby and both of us were so thankful that we were not out on a first date together. I cannot imagine what impression he might have had of me had this movie been our first date instead of "True Grit". And I am glad that neither of us are living with our parents, without a job, without custody of the children we have and without a clue that we are a mess and should not be seeking a relationship at this point.
While Date Night didn't go quite as smoothly as I had hoped (who knew that Winnie the Pooh might have been the best choice afterall?) we had a great time tonight.
I just hope he'll still call me tomorrow.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Not Funny
Apparently, however, according to my television and local stores, it's already BACK TO SCHOOL time.
Ahem.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
For Flash
Oh Brother, can you spare a zucchini? I have four in the fridge and I've given away just as many already. Went away for the weekend and returned home to a zucchini big enough to be a weapon. If you look closely, I have two celery plants on the bottom left of the zucchini. I have staked the zucchini branches, trying to give the celery sunlight. I always underestimate the size of the zucchini plant. The celery is for Flash, I don't much care for it myself.
Potatoes! I actually saw my first field of potatoes this weekend in our travels. I made WG off-road it with the Jeep so I could stop and look closely (and take pictures). While I find potatoes to be labor-intensive, we just so enjoyed having home-grown potatoes last winter (mmmm potato soup!) that I couldn't help but plant another crop. We.Shall.See.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Sisterly Advice
Oh the story that must be behind this one!!
The Get-Away
I had unintentionally thwarted his plans for my birthday by squeezing in a quick trip to TN over that weekend in August. Further challenged by working six days a week, he was determined to bring a fun and relaxing vacation trip of our own into our summer plans. WG pulled together plans for our weekend get-away in just three short hours.
WG arrived at 2:45 to load my things into the Jeep. I grabbed a bag from the fridge to add to the cooler. WG perused the items, taking a few out saying, "You don't need this. You don't need this."
"What?! Why don't I need those? You don't want cheese or crackers or summer sausage?! I know I'll want some Diet Coke, and you'll surely want some Coke Zero! I thought you loved these things!"
"EJ, I love all of those things. That's why I already have these exact items in the cooler."
"Oh." Scary how much we think alike.
He was a man with a plan.
By 3pm, we were on the road. My only knowledge of our destination was "it's north."
We saw three of the five great lakes and marveled at each and every one.
Curiosity got the best of us, and we stopped to see the Black Bear Ranch, where over 80 black bears have been rescued and cared for. WG was kind enough to lean on a tree and help this poor fellow reach just a few more berries. He said he did it so I could get a better picture, but I think he's a softie for those big brown bear eyes.
We had dinner outside and listened to some great live music.
We took time out to play a round of 18. WG beat me by one point, which scores major points in my book. It's been a long time since I've had serious putt-putt competition!!
Unable to capture the breathtaking serenity of the lakes themselves, this is my favorite photo from our trip, taken while hiking through the woods. Thanks, WG, for such an amazing get-away, and for patiently waiting in mosquito-infested woods for me to get just the perfect shot.
You are an amazing man.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Forgiven
We both promised to handle each other a little differently going forward.
WG is back.
:)
Friday, July 15, 2011
Chick-Flick Philosophy Works!!
Jules and Bear found these and brought them to me this morning! I am so excited that Chick-flick Philosophy works! I can now cross #1 right off my list!! (Now that I know it actually works, I am kind of kicking myself for not including a few other items on the list. Like a boyfriend. But hey, when I start making NFL salary kind of money and I'm thin with money, I'll be able to get a boyfriend pretty easily, right? He'll probably take me out to dinner at a restaurant with great live music, too. Who knows, maybe he'll be a window salesman and run a tree service on the side!! Next up - my furry but shed-less pets!)
They Have Their Moments
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Why I Am An Idiot Part #437
I arrived at school with the loaded car only to find an email from the custodians saying they would be waxing floors in my new building today and no one would be allowed into the building until Monday afternoon. Sigh. The best laid plans, you know...
Not to be derailed, however, I took the 80 degree, low-humidity weather as a sign that I should instead spend the day out-of-doors working on my gardens and lawn. (I'll admit, this seemed like an even better idea than Plan A, as I'm still not 100% gung-ho about the idea of first grade and who doesn't love a day spent out in the garden?!?!) I returned home, changed my clothes and was about to head outside when I decided to follow Flash's example - I grabbed my ipod. I was thrilled that I had remembered to charge it the other day; while I love my shuffle, I don't use it nearly as often as the teenager. I even took the time before heading outside to get it hooked behind me and to thread my earphones up through the back of my shirt so the chord wouldn't get in the way of digging, weeding or watering. Flash would be so
I wasn't outside ten minutes before I realized the error of my ways. My hands were already covered in dirt, I couldn't begin to see or easily forward the songs on the playlist, and I couldn't even easily detangle myself from the contraption altogether to
Nothing like an entire playlist of your ex-boyfriend's favorite tunes to help keep your mind off...well, your ex-boyfriend.
Triple sigh.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The Limits of Love
Monday, July 11, 2011
I want tootsie pops without the sticks.
I want furry pets that don't shed all over my carpets.
I want to get thin without trying.
I never want to start my snowblower again.
I want more money in the bank.
I want new windows before winter.
I want to go out to eat where there is great live music.
I want to teach third grade again next year.
I want gas to be under $2 a gallon again.
I want my teenager to get a job.
I want my pine tree to be cut down, chopped up and removed from my premises immediately.
I want to be 29 again.
I want a hammock.
I want the government to decide what NFL/NBA players get paid and I want the salaries the players currently believe aren't high enough.
I want a politician who says s/he is an advocate for children to actually ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN.
I want all my far-away friends to live nearby.
I want to go somewhere new for vacation.
I want to be invited to a BBQ so I can take this great broccoli salad I discovered this summer.
I want mascara that doesn't smudge all over my eyes minutes after I put it on.
It's Chick-Flick Philosophy, but hey, it was worth a shot, right?
C'est Fini
If it wasn't obvious from previous posts, suffice it to say, I really liked this one.
Friday, July 01, 2011
Uncle Who?
Ahhh, I see we have much teaching left to do...