Announcer: We interrupt this bloggy hiatus to bring you a special report from the surface of the sun. Our correspondent, Tara, is braving the elements to bring us the latest.
Tara?
Me: Well, I don’t know who you are, and I’m not actually on the surface of the sun, but it sure does feel like it. Happy to provide an update, though.
Me, bursting through to say hi!
Three-day weekend in my sight.
Three-day weekend starts tonight.
Three-day weekend filled with glee.
Three-day weekend, COME TO ME.
Three-day weekend, hours away.
Three-day weekend still at bay.
Three-day weekend starts right now.
Happy thoughts, frown upsidedown.
I’m *working* but, you know, looking forward to the three-day holiday weekend. The countdown begins with the posting of this, FRIDAY FHOUGHTS, FOLUME EIGHT!
It’s getting close to my hibernation time, what with the unofficial start of Summer this weekend. I’m going to try this year, though, to get out some, at least at night when the darkness helps temper the temps somewhat. I started this week by heading out on a drive to clear my head and make the adulting things tolerable. I finally visited a location I’ve passed a million times.
Continue reading →
Many moons ago, I ventured to one of my favorite happy places to celebrate my birthday. Twas a solo retreat meant to enable me to enjoy some sand, surf, and solitude as I began a new trip around the sun.
After several years of not doing so, this year I resurrected this activity. A month ago on what’s known as The Best Day of My Year, I ventured to one of my favorite beaches and spent several glorious days there all by myself.
Happy birthday to me!
Continue reading →
I did this last week. I’m doing it again. Could it be a trend? Stay tuned.
A few random Friday fhoughts:
(Boy, that was wordy.)
A spam comment started with this: “Keep functioning.” (A) Thanks, bot, for the encouragement said in a really weird way. (B) How did you know I’m struggling to function?
I know why Barnes & Noble will eventually go out of business. (Yes, they’re still in business.) They are acting like Blockbuster and Best Buy in terms of what they offer (a (possibly) dying commodity) and customer service (buying just one CD? It STILL takes at least three hours here!). It won’t be long until they close their doors for good if they keep this up.
I just put pain-relieving cream on my neck and left shoulder area. I’m an athlete, always moving, who took it too far? Oh, no. I hurt myself by holding a book whilst sitting in my car at the park for a while, followed by an hour-long phone call during which I held the phone’s receiver between my right shoulder and ear, instead of my hand, with my head up straight.
I put pain reliever on my body because of a book, a bucket seat, and an old-school landline phone.
At least this injury took some doing. I remember a few years ago when I pulled a leg muscle stretching before getting out of bed, and the time I worked a temp job that didn’t appreciate employees’ need for a chair with arms and an ergonomic mouse set up, causing legitimate back pain from my arm dangling for hours as I clicked.
This latest “injury,” and I’m using that term loosely, is simply caused by the fact that my muscles and body are no longer easy to abuse (not that this qualifies by any stretch of the imagination — which is stretching I wouldn’t do lest I injure my imagination as well). And why can’t I sit in an uncomfortable position holding a book for hours and cradle a phone receiver with my shoulder? Because I’m no longer a youngin’.
*in my whispy old-timer voice* I remember when I could stay up all night, falling asleep during summer breaks at 6 a.m. and waking at noon feeling refreshed. Now, I’m lucky if I stay awake past 11 on Friday night. Back in the day, I could half-hang off the couch, upsidedown, and read for hours. Now, I need my reading glasses, which I often can’t find, and apparently a back pillow and frequent breaks to rest my eyes, my arms, and my neck. And yeah, it wouldn’t have been an issue had I used my newfangled 21st century cell phone (of course, that will give me brain cancer, but at least my neck wouldn’t hurt, eh). But I like my Princess phone and the landline sounds better (still).
Cheesy Buffalo chicken dip. Not shown: Antacid.
Am I truly old? No. But obviously I’m on my way. How old am I? I’m I pull neck muscles holding a book in my car and a phone with my shoulder old. I’m I have to take antacid before eating (and often the morning after eating) Buffalo chicken wings old. And now I’m I complain about my aches and pains old.
I’m too young for my AARP card or to start buying that insurance that only covers funerals. But my body’s making me feel like I’m half-dead sometimes. *sigh*
Speaking of time, what time is it? 3:30? Oh, I have to start getting ready for the early bird special at 4. Ooh! Buffalo wings *pops an antacid*
A rare moment alone, so I sit in silence, not saying a word. I can do this for hours, perhaps days (have to try that). No music. No TV. Just the sound of the wind outside my window blowing through the trees (whose leaves may never change color since the temps are back in the 80s).
Usually, I’m an eye-to-the-sky kind of girl. There are cloud shapes to recognize, blue sky to marvel at, birds flying by. There’s a lot going on up there. Plus, when you tend to be optimistic, things are always looking up, eh?
Last week I discovered, though, the joy of looking down.
On the hottest day of the year, with my gas tank gauge needle dangling perilously above the “E,” I decided I needed a little fuel. I wasn’t looking forward to getting out of the cool of the air-conditioned car, but hey, that’s why I wear the big girl pants. Adults do what they gotta do (whining optional).
As I walked around to the passenger’s side where the gas tank is, with my head slightly tilted toward the ground, I saw something shiny. (This is not an ADD alert — I really saw something shiny.) Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a quarter — a whole 25 cents! — just waiting for me to pick it up and pocket it. “Thanks, Mr. Person Who Dropped a Quarter,” I said out loud to no one in particular.
After fueling up a wee bit, I decided to go to the library to pick up the books I had on hold. Four. To add to the stack in my office already — both library and bargain bought. As I left the parking lot and ambled on the pavement leading to the Door of Knowledge (I love the library, in case you didn’t know), I saw chalk on the ground. There were hearts and books, numbers, random letters. Then, a most beautiful sight: “I ❤ books!!” Me, too, kid. If only I had some chalk to add a contribution to your awesome thought.
I sometimes forget to look around and down, rather than looking up, as I’m wont to do. Turns out, if you do, you might find and/or see some amazing things. Give it a try. I’ll bet you a quarter you see something cool.
