Never say never again!

I've decided I should ban the word never from my vocabulary. It seems as though most of the time, when I say NEVER, it usually ends up to be the thing I end up doing, inexplicably drawn to it, like a moth to light. I could give lots of examples, but they are not really that interesting. Well, okay, I'll give one example, like "I'll never live with a man again". Oops, there we go, first one on the list to go. I live with a man. Granted, he's my little brother, so I am not sure that really counts, and he's the neatest and tidiest man I've ever met, plus there's obviously no romance, so I am not sure that really even counts. No, I don't think so. I think I meant "I'll never live with a romantic partner again". Yes, that's absolutely what I meant. There are so many more. But again, not really interesting. Suffice it to say, I will work on that never thing.

Grace in Small Things: 28/365

1. The day off work, a day to play and relax
2. The train ride through the redwoods
3. My new water shoes, that were ON SALE
4. The fact that I live so close to the beach, it doesn't take all day to get there!
5. The inclusiveness of the current residents at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

The Busyness of Busy

Wow. If I ever complain about not having enough to do, slap me, shake me, turn me upside down. Remind me about these days of arriving at work before 7:00 a.m., and finally having time to pee in the late afternoon, only to round out the day by leaving at 7:00 p.m.

Did I really say in my job interview that I love being really busy? I did? Why, yes, I remember now. I DID say that! That wasn't really me speaking. That was that hyped up 50 year old, who drank too much coffee that day, to stay awake for the 6 hour drive to the interviews (first and second interview, as well as the writing sample all completed on the same day), only to turn around and drive the 6 hours home. Now I am remembering. Ah, yes. It's all coming back to me now. But, that was three long years ago. Now I'm 53 (I think....right now I am having a hard time remembering anything...my brain is absolutely fried), with much less caffeine in my system, and a much older, fatter, aching body.

So, for today, I take it all back. Let's re-do that interview, shall we? What's that you ask? Do I handle being really busy very well? Ya know, work well under pressure? Oh, no, I don't really like to be super busy. I like to be the normal, human-like busy, thank you very much.

Grace in Small Things: 27/365

1. I do have a job, after all
2. My presentation yesterday went smooth as silk
3. There are only 5 weeks left in the semester
4. Additional camping trips at different beaches (4 total this summer!)
5. Rick, for giving me advice that I didn't know I needed, but so appreciated and actually needed very much!

Spring break is really all about the FRIENDS and food

I've decided that this week is really a LOT about friends, a little about the food and wine, and also about the never ending journey of parenthood. It certainly does not stop when children grow up and move out and move on. Remembering the lessons I learned as a parent when they were younger, and translating that into allowing them to make life-altering decisions on their own, means I have done my job; sometimes well, sometimes not so well. While I am often very pleased with their decisions, right now, at this exact moment, I am crossing my fingers that they have what it takes to make good decisions and good choices, regardless of what I think and feel about those very important decisions and choices. Please cross your fingers with me and hope that everything works out as it should. Details and particulars will follow soon.

Spring break is really all about the food

Grace in Small Things: 26/365

1. Hobee's Blueberry Coffee Cake
2. The trip to the gym that will help me take off Hobee's coffee cake
3. The very expensive and yummy wine we drank last night
4. The trip to the gym yesterday as a preemptive strike for the wine and delicious food at Frankie, Johnnie and Luigi's
5. Steve's pre-trial hearing results

Viewing videos on blogs for EDIT 024

Being the dutiful student that I am, I viewed a couple of videos on classmates' blogs. Specifically, I viewed Robin's video on reproductive technology within the Jewish community, and was fascinated to learn that it is the female that determines whether the baby is Jewish or not. In other words, when a woman is considering implantation of an egg, the egg should be from a female who is Jewish, because that determines whether the baby will be born Jewish or not. The baby can convert to the Jewish faith, but technically speaking, according to the video, the ideal situation is where both the donor and recipient are Jewish. Furthermore, getting these eggs from donors who are Jewish is sometimes difficult, because it narrows the possibilities down from all egg donors to just those who are Jewish.

The other video I watched was on Cat's blog and it was a very cute video of sea turtles! One of Cat's top wishes when she was in Hawaii was to swim with sea turtles and she not only got the chance, she videotaped it! Very cute!

There. Assignment done.

Good things really do happen to good people (sometimes)

Grace in Small Things: 25/365

1. My So Cal friend got a new job (just in the knick of time, now that she is sans husband)
2. My very best guy friend in Florida, Steve (he's a psychologist, so I call him Dr. Feel Good), who called me last night just to catch up after a very lengthy intermission in our communication (not for bad reasons, just busy raising his son and growing his successful business, and also going through a divorce)
3. My friend and workout buddy, who is a very good listener and goes to the gym almost every single day, and has a birthday tomorrow!
4. My friend and yoga partner, who managed to call me during a layover in Chicago (his birthday is today!)
5. My parents are celebrating their 58th wedding anniversary today (whew! Is that some sort of record, or what?)

p.s. golf, women, beer, and margaritas

I just got back from my annual trek to Palm Springs to attend a golf tournament. Lots and lots of really great golf (the LPGA), sunshine, walking, women (after all, it IS the LGPA), and we managed to cool our jets by whipping up some cocktails out on the verandah, to wash down the chips and very hot salsa I bought at Trader Joe's. My So Cal friend (the one whose husband just left) and I had a nice time. Some moaning and groaning about her husband, naturally, but also some conversation NOT about her husband. I felt obligated to keep her hydrated (we both are certified Mixologists, having completed bar tending school some time ago), and I felt it only proper and caring to provide a steady stream of cooling, soothing, yummy drinks with lots of alcohol, to ease the pain a wee bit, of her recent and oh so painful separation from her husband of 34 years. Apparently, it did the trick, at least a little bit. She was able to talk about lots of stuff, and some of it actually involved thinking ahead instead of dwelling on the past. At least for now.