Slacker

"The sooner I fall behind, the more time I have to catch up." - author unknown

I know, I make promises, I write them down here and then I still fail to follow through. It's not that I'm lying around eating bon-bons and watching daytime television. I'm launching a new part of our business and I'm putting in serious hours (example: yesterday, started at 7:45am and finished at 7:20pm with a 25 minute lunch). And my to do list gets longer and longer. With personal items (including this site) falling farther and farther down the list. I think some of my friends think I've died. I ignore texts and emails or respond at 2am... that's how well the sleep thing is going. So, while my laundry is getting done (at 4am) and my kitchen stays clean, the bags under my eyes are growing.

All excuses, I know. I'm full of them.

But also joy. Even with the pace I've been keeping, my spirits have been lifting. I'm giving myself a daily attitude adjustment and reminding myself that my attitude controls the way my day goes. And it's working. Along with red wine, deep breaths, time outs, and pedicures. But I'm getting there. And that's progress for me.

I returned late Sunday night from a weekend in old town Alexandria (VA) celebrating my favorite red head's upcoming nuptuals. A former roomie, sorority sister, and good friend from college, this redhead will be tying the knot next month in NY... I have a hotel reservation in the town of Fishkill, NY... no joke. She's getting married at a castle and there will be lawn games at this wedding reception. After the shenanigans this past weekend, I can't wait to see this crowd with croquet mallets and bocci balls! As I told the bride, I'm bringing my fancy camera to this wedding! I love the idea of it.

Speaking of cameras, I forgot mine as I was packing for this weekend. If I had known what delays awaited me at the airport, I would have turned around for it but I thought I was cutting it close so I kept going. Two flights cancelled and a third one delayed and delayed and delayed again. I was so late (and exhausted) getting to the hotel, I could barely formulate complete sentences while greeting everyone. But a good night's sleep and refreshing shower turned that around. So no incriminating pictures have been sent my way but let's just say, good times were had in Old Town. And much yumminess was eaten. I had the best crab cake of my life at Harry's Oyster Shack on King Street.

If you follow me on twitter (no? please do) then you read some of the highlights. We ended the night at a tavern with bluegrass music with no dancing signs posted which were quickly ignored. Made some Ozzie friends and drank to good friends, good times and new love. It was exactly what I needed. Maybe now, I'll be able to write about PARIS!

Work, NOLA, and Babies...

It's been a while. Don't feel neglected... I'm here. Just not as prompt as I should be. It's been a busy couple of weeks.




I've been really busy with work. Which is great. I love what I do and I think I'm doing a good job. I miss my leisure time but things aren't so crazy that I can't breathe. It's good.



I went to New Orleans over Memorial Day for a suprised shower for our friend Jenn, who's seven months pregnant. I have a great group of girlfriends from college that I travel with and we've remained really close friends - I've actually become better friends with some of them since graduation than I was in school.

Jenn is the first of us to have a baby so we went all out for this shower. It was so much fun and so good to hear how everyone else is doing. We've got a lot of changes: whether they are selling their home, having a baby, starting a new job or program, we're at a great change. By now we know that none of it will change our friendships but it's crazy to hear about.

Aren't we a pretty group?

Jenn is the one in blue in the middle... hard to tell that she's 7 months pregnant... she looks awesome!!!

So that's what's been going on here... what about your neck of the woods?

MURRAY!!!

I went over to my friend Lera's house for lunch and to meet her new puppy, MURRAY! There is nothing as sweet as a snuggly puppy who still has his puppy breath. The three of us sat on her floor and played with all the cute puppy toys for about 5 seconds... but we played with the paper towels for a good 2 hours.


Murrary loved toting his roll of paper towels around their kitchen/den area. Showing his prize off and acting as though he might share with you. Maybe... maybe... then nope, he trots off to another part of the room with his papertowels. It was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon and who wouldn't find this little guy adorable, huh?

Sorry for the quality of the picture - in the midst of the fog of my hangover, I forgot my camera so the one on my cell phone had to make due.

Made me lonesome for my own dog, Sandy - she's currently hanging out at my parent's home in Georgia. One of the many mistakes I've made in the past year was convince myself that leaving her behind would be better for both of us. This was stupid reasoning because:

1. My parents are not animal people and don't care at all about interacting with her and she's a lover of a dog who wants to be right where you are at all times.


2. She has to live outside at my parents' house and that's sad for all of us.


3. I've had more free time in the past 6 months than I've had her whole life. She would have loved being here with me hanging out and going to the doggie beach and wondering all over the city this summer


4. I wouldn't be in such a posh building because they don't allow dogs in such posh buildings, therefor my rent wouldn't be so crazy high.

I miss Sandy... here's a picture of my girl over Christmas, we're in the car about to head out to the farm so that she can run around. She's wearing her new blue collar that Santa Claus brought her. She had a stocking full of treats so we know she's loved but can't wait until I'm able to have her with me full time again.

Surreal

For the last 48 hours, my life has been surreal. I feel as though I'm just going through the motions. Sunday evening my parents called me to tell me that Ben, a childhood friend, was found dead in his apartment. He had asthma and it appears he had an attack that he couldn't get under control and no one was there to help him.

Nothing makes less sense than someone dying young. We're only 28.

I hate that there is so much that he'll never get to know and do... so many experiences that he and his family will miss because he isn't here. It doesn't make sense and nothing will ever explain it.

Ben is one of the kids that I spent every waking moment with from the age of 5 until 13, we lived in a small town in Georgia and all of my memories, riding bikes, swimming, racing across the playground, etc. involve him and a couple other friends. School projects, baseball games, bike wrecks and backyard football - images of an ideal childhood involving my friend Ben.

I ache for his family. Parents should never have to bury their child.