Posting

I was informed today by a loved one that they were concerned since I had not posted recently. I've been a little blue and don't want to share the gloom, so I've held off with the postings. I have been thoroughly enjoying Steve's blog though. He has a humorous way of expressing my annoyance at some things.

I am excited because next week I get to attend a national genealogy conference. Woo-Hoo! It will probably be the last for a while, since travel budgets will be cut next year. I get to travel to Philly with two of my coworkers so it should be fun! I like car rides, so traveling in the car for 11 or so hours should be fun. I think of it as lots of radio, conversation, and reading time. Once we get into town, I hope to have a few hours to see the town. You know me and travel! When I interviewed in Seattle, I took 4 hours to play tourist (suit and all). I get to visit with my former mentor, which should be fun. I haven't seen him in a year. Unfortunately, for those who read my blog, this means I will be out of contact for another week. Hopefully I'll come back with some fun stories.

I promise to come back in a chipper mood! The fall is arriving soon. I have been here for about a year now and I really enjoy the fall. The weather cooling down, the leaves changing colors, pumpkin season, and the lead up to holidays and snow. Things will return to normal in my universe.

You know all this talk of movies has made me want to do movie night. Have to read Steve's blog. We had a tradition in Tampa where we got together to watch some fan fave movies, such as Office Space. Maybe we need to think of a movie night for those who need it.

I know I've rambled in this blog. Can't be helped. My mind id scattered at the moment.

Vanity

I generally think I am not a vain person, but my vanity has been pushed to the limit. I have accepted the lines I've noticed near my eyes and mouth. I'm dealing with the chunks of gray hair I have now thanks to my mom. I watch my weight, but only for health purposes. Now I face the latest adjustment in my life. I have to wear the "black shoes". I mean really this is a travesty. My vanity has finally been assaulted.

I have accepted the doctor's edict and wear the shoes to work and have a stylish white pair at home. They blend very well with my work clothes. I have never been one who wears stylish footwear, but this truly has made me realize...I have to make adjustments on the road to...gulp...getting older.

Thought some humorous fun was in order.







(image from newbalance.com)

My Friend, John

I was informed this weekend that a long time friend of mine, John, passed away January 26. John and I had been friends for too many years to count. I can't describe my love and memories for him. They are so overwhelming. At this time, I feel like my heart is breaking and I can inadequately describe my feelings.

John and I knew each other from our days prior to working at an unnamed bookstore together. Shockingly to some people, he actually was an acquaintance with my ex when I met him. I remember when he received the job offer after graduation. I remember our long talks when both of us ended relationships. I remember sitting on the benches along Bayshore with my heart breaking. I remember celebrating Day of the Dead. I remember the various bars and clubs that John introduced me to. I remember when he bought his house and started refurbishing it. I remember him making me laugh at the lowest point in my life. John was the only friend who stuck by me during my divorce. I never knew anyone could get that low, but he was there the whole time lending me a shoulder, holding my hand, and helping put the pieces back together. You can say he had a great influence on the new me (the me everyone knows now).

Over the years, John and I moved in different directions in our lives, but we still kept in touch periodically. I am saddened that no one knew to contact me when he passed. A friend of his who used to work with James contacted us this weekend.

John was my friend and support in my life. He was always brutally honest with me which I respected. He told me once that a guy I was dating was not good for me and he was right. The next time I started dating a guy, I made him have lunch with John. In my mind if John didn't approve, there was something wrong with the guy. John really liked the next guy who is now my current husband.

I love the pic of John with the drinks. James will tell you John introduced him to martini bars. John and I used to hook up weekly to talk at a local martini bar in Hyde Park. This is where he met James for the first time. Since then James has chosen martinis as his drink. After our wedding, our guests informed us that John kept running to the bar to order drinks for people. John, the Drink Man.

People always ask me how I made the change in careers from HR to librarian. I always talk about my friend who informed me that I was basically doing the same job of a librarian but with stress and long hours. It got me thinking and after many discussions on how I could do the work, I applied for library school. John was the friend who convinced me to become a librarian. When I first met him, a lifetime ago, he was working on his MLS.

I have so many memories of him, many of them are hilarious and some are poignant. He was a true friend with a big heart. I truly will miss him and love him all my days for the light and future that he gave me. I hope I was half the friend to him that he was to me. Love you John.

Lost Wedding Ring

Reading about the Olympian who lost her ring during a game, I could relate. I managed to lose my engagement/ wedding band combo in San Francisco. Now I'm sure everyone will believe I lost it in a club or on a crazy incident or I left it behind. None of those are true.

I have to preface the story by explaining that I had sun poisoning on the top of my hands. I know an odd place! It was from my bike ride across the Golden Gate. I only burned the top of my hands and my face. So the tops of my hands were swollen and I kept moisturizing them. Once I was seated on the plane after a bout of musical seats, I snapped my seat belt on to discover the rings were no longer on my finger. After several minutes of hunting for it among the various seats I had previously sat in, the flight attendant questioned me on where I clearly remember seeing it last. I mentioned putting lotion on my hands before boarding the plane. I won't explain the whole long story, but thankfully the rings were located in the terminal on the ground next to the seat I had been sitting at before boarding. The rush of relief was overwhelming to say the least. I even received applause at the rings being found.

So I can relate to the Olympian who said her concentration was thrown off by her lost ring. The moments of panic I experienced are all a haze. I would like to thank the employees of Continental who were kind in helping locate my rings. As I said the vacation was a wild ride.

Death of a Friend

I debated writing something. I felt I wasn't the right person, but I've decided that isn't so. The reason for my hesitation is I was no longer speaking to Suzanne at the time of her death. I wish I could say this was due to me moving away, but it was due to a disagreement. When I heard of her passing, I felt such deep sadness for her. She did not have an easy time of it the last few years. The more I thought about her situation, the more I recalled when we had been friends.

Suzanne and I were lunch buddies for 3 years in Tampa. We rotated between a few specific restaurants, where Suzanne was always known and regaled. I always found it humorous that this woman who was known at work for being gruff, could evoke such tender feelings from these service workers. Suzanne was always compassionate and friendly towards me. Yes, she had her moments of getting gruff, but I knew she was my friend in the end. We used to enjoy discussing the JD Robb books. We discussed many hot topics, the hardest one being the loss of our loved ones to cancer.

I have many fond memories of Suzanne. I regret that she was alone at the time of her passing. I regret that she may have been afraid. I hope she has found peace after her years of struggle. I feel I can't express how I feel, but I felt I should make an effort. For those who knew Suzanne, please comment on your feelings. Also read Abby's blog. She expresses her feelings better than I.

San Francisco

My friend Sonia and I have returned from our crazy vacation in San Francisco. It was a wild ride, similar to Mr. Toad's Ride at Disney. We had way too much fun, walked way too much, ate too much, and slept way too little. Get the hint too much everything! It was a wonderful trip though. So what if Alcatraz was booked until mid-August, we took a ferry out around the Bay instead. Who cares that we couldn't catch a taxi late in the evening, we were picked up by a limo instead. The cable car passed us by twice, so we had to walk from North Beach to Union Square (a long walk); Sonia flirted with the conductor on another cable car who allowed us to ride for free and stopped the cable car since someone lost something out of their bag. Hmmm. Sorry, one of the many stories we said we would not share. There were plenty of crazy stories that will remain in San Francisco. Such as the things we saw in that club or our final night in town. It was the oddest, funniest, and perfect vacation. I plan to share more stories as I recall them. At this time my mind is periodically releasing the moments.