Christmas in Review

It's so much fun having little ones around for Christmas. Their delight in the smallest wonders kept all the adults smiling.

Some of my favorite moments:

Colin: "I got a box!"
Anna: "I hope you feel better by Christmas, Auntie Emily."
Both: "The CLOCK! The CLOCK!" (Said each time Nana's clock would chime. Then they would count in unison each time it rang.)
Colin: "Em-wee!" as he ran toward me with open arms and gave me a tackling hug.
Decorating gingerbread cookies with Anna and Jennifer.
Colin putting chocolate fudge into his mouth with both hands before saying, "Moh Chocwat, pwease."

Unfortunately, I'm still under the weather. My annoying cold has turned into a sinus infection, and my doctor is on holiday! (I'm seeing her colleague tomorrow -- the soonest I could get in.) It's nice to be home, and Sabrina is VERY glad I'm back, but I do miss those sweet voices and all the hugs.

Twas the Night Before Christmas 

A sweet kiss from Colin O. 

Opening my first gift, from Anna, a feather and 2 acorns, wrapped in paper decorated by her. Colin is playing with his new motorcycle. 

Fun with Anna & Colin

Anna and I are sitting at Grandad's computer. Just finished catching up reading my sisters' blogs and my comments. Thanks for everyone's well-wishes. I am starting to feel better. Anna says she hopes I'm better for Christmas and asks me several times a day how many days it is until Christmas.

Colin has a cold, too, and he refuses to blow his nose. But he will let you wipe it. It's something, I guess.

Anna and I had quite a giggle-fest yesterday when I laid on the couch and Grandad's dog Patchie came and laid on my tummy. Every time I laughed, Patchie would bounce up and down. She didn't try to get off, just enjoyed the ride, which only made us laugh more.

Later, Patchie made a coughing noise that sounded like "Blech!" I imitated the noise to Anna and Colin's delight. Colin kept saying "Again!" I must have Blech-ed 100 times.

My Status

I thought I should write something...even though I don't feel much like writing...but I thought if anyone was checking the site, it would be nice for them to see a new post. And I don't want to lose my loyal audience...

I feel like crap. In addition to my emotional upheaval, I've got a nasty head cold. It started on Saturday and has only gotten worse. I've gone through probably hundreds of tissues and taking decongestants, Mucinex and lots of vitamin C. Just hoping the congestion in my ears clears out before I fly to El Paso on Thursday.

That's what I'm focusing on...seeing my parents, Jenn, Anth and the kids for Christmas. I've wrapped all the gifts and have already started packing. Hope all who are reading have a wonderful, magical Christmas and safe travels!

All Good Things Must Come to an End

Steve and I have decided not to see each other anymore. I don't want to go into details, but it takes awhile to get to know someone, and sometimes, along the way, you learn things about them that aren't compatible with you.

I'm bummed. We had some fun times, but I also think I've made the right decision. It's just sad when things come to an end.

Holiday Symbolism

I love all the holiday decor. Several houses on my street deck their doors, trees and bushes with lights, and I always put up my tree and a wreath on the door.

But what's the significance of the pink flamingo?

One of the houses down the street, in addition to it's red, green and white Christmas lights, has a pink flamingo in lights, complete with an orange beak.

Evergreen trees are meant to signify God's everlasting love, and lights are to signal that Christ has come as the light to the world. But the pink flamingo? I just don't know.

About Being Thirty-Something

What is it about being over thirty that your body begins a mutiny against its host?

I remember in college learning something about after 30 your body biologically starts to decline. Any growth is now over, and biologically speaking, it's all downhill.

Well, I know what's growing! Chinny hairs! (This is what my mom and sisters and I call the suspiciously wiry and unwanted hairs that spring from your chin at wild angles.)

I found another one this morning. I have a mole in the middle of my chin that, since puberty, has sprouted obvious dark hairs. I tried getting the mole removed when I was 17, and although the mole got lighter and less noticeable, the hairs continued to emerge at regular intervals. Some are now gray -- I don't think this is due to my age. I think I have sped up the aging of those hair follicles by plucking them.

So I continuously check the mole on my chin for new growth. This morning, in addition to the new dark hair from the ever-producing mole, I also had a longish blonde hair under my chin. What's with that?! I don't need that!

At least men get some, too. Their extra hair springs from their nose and ears. Maybe the chin isn't so bad compared to that.

Of course, I'm sure my mom and aunts will post comments about how much more fun I have to look forward to: menopause, the disappearance of collagen, moustaches...Can't wait!

The Ultimate in Selective Listening

Why do cats selectively understand what you're saying? It's freezing outside today (literally, it's been raining and sleeting and is below the freezing point), and my cat is sitting by the sliding glass door, meowing to be let out. I even opened the door wide enough for her to get out, and she could tell it was too cold. She didn't go through the open door, so after 30 seconds or so, I shut it.

That was only 10-15 minutes ago. It's not any warmer now, I promise!

Sabrina is 12, and she really does understand some human phrases, such as:
Want a treat?
Wanna go outside?
Don't even think about it!
Ready for bed?

I love her dearly, but today, since I'm working from home because of the inclement weather and the incompetent driving ability of most Texans, she's driving me crazy!

Ok, I give up. I'm letting her out so she can experience this cold for herself. I know she'll just come back in and complain to me (more meowing), apparently believing that I control the weather.

(She went out...lasted about 1.5 minutes.)

A Trip into the Past

One of the things Dallas is most known for, and the most shameful, is being the location for President John F. Kennedy's assassination. While I have driven past "the grassy knoll" on several occassions, I haven't visited the 6th Floor Museum at the Book Repository or taken the tour, until Monday night.

One of my clients was in town from Pittsburgh, and our evening activity was the tour. The museum is very well done, with many visuals, artifacts from the time period, audio and video. You can walk through at your own pace and experience any and all of these.

What I took away from the exhibit was a real sense of the sadness felt by the country and around the world when Kennedy's life was ended in such an unexpected and early time. The museum did a nice job of capturing that time in history -- the segregation, the Civil Rights movement, the fear of communism -- and Kennedy's idealism. I wish we had more of the sense of personal responsibility that he instilled in the generation of young people at that time: "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."

Happy Holidays! (Enjoying the festivities at my company party) 

Entertainment x 3

Although I flew back into town early Friday morning and we had planned a quiet evening, Steve got free symphony tickets for Friday evening, and we just couldn't pass it up. We had a quick Italian dinner and headed downtown. The symphony was hosting a talented young violinist as a guest soloist. She is just 17, but her talent and dedication were obvious. She was so expressive and obviously felt and loved the music she was playing. I enjoyed watching her and seeing both the child and the young woman in her expressions.

On Saturday night, we had both Steve’s and my company parties. His was held in a suite at the Mavericks’ game. Mine was held downtown, a “Monte Carlo” night with a karaoke room. We had so much fun at both…Sunday was spent recovering!

What I've Been Up To

Sorry I haven't posted since the Thanksgiving review. Monday was a whirlwind day back at the office, and I learned I would be in Chicago Tuesday and Wednesday. I already had plane tickets to Houston on Wednesday for Thursday's tea, so today is only my second day in the office this week!

Chicago was SO cold! When I got there, it was in the 30's with a bitter wind. There were a few snow flurries, but nothing on the ground. My two days of meetings went well, and Wednesday I headed to Houston, where it was a balmy 65-70.

The twins were so excited to see "Auntie Eminee!" I got lots of great hugs and kisses. Steph gave me a glass of wine, and Graham asked so sweetly for a sip, I couldn't refuse. He had a taste and replied, "Mmm! Yummy in my tummy!"

On Thursday, my mom, aunt Cinda, cousin Bevie and Steph's sister-in-law Gwynn and niece Lauren arrived. It was girl time! The twins suddenly had lots of family around to love on and play with. Once they went down for their afternoon nap, we all gathered in Stephanie's ample bathroom to get ready. Stephanie graciously fixed Bevie's, Lauren's, mom's and my hair! She's very stylish and has quite a way with hair accoutrements. We joked that she missed her calling as a hair stylist!

The tea was lovely. Held at the country club, everything was festively decorated, and there was plenty of delicious finger sandwiches, desserts and champagne. Everyone looked their finest. (Sorry I have no pictures to share. I forgot my camera, but I highjacked Steph's and took several photos.) We all commented that Jennifer was missed. The good doctor had patients to care for...

Now, it's back to reality. Crazy deadlines, clients calling to make changes at the last minute, and more work than can possibly get done in a day. (And I'm blogging. Well, I needed a break!)

Thanksgiving in Review

After four days off work, I guess I should be rested and ready to go, but instead, I SO don't feel like working today! At least it's a short week for me: I'll be going to Houston Wednesday night for Stephanie's annual Christmas tea on Thursday.

Thanksgiving was very fun and very filling. My niece and nephew, Paige and Graham, are very entertaining. They kept us all laughing and smiling throughout the weekend. It's so amazing to see each of my sisters as mothers. Steph is a great mom, very loving but also firm with the twins, and as a result, they are very well-behaved.

Our menu included:
A smoked Greenberg turkey (delicious as always, but now I'm getting sick of it)
Stuffing or Dressing recipe ala Jenn
Roast vegetables recipe ala Jenn
My great aunt Chachie's recipe for Cranberry relish
Spinach caserole
Seeduction roles
Wine from Steph and Al's collection
Pumpkin pie
Daddy's pecan pie

Last night, Steve (finally) got home from visiting his kids in New Mexico, and I made a Turkey Pot Pie with some of my leftovers. It turned out pretty good, but I really am running out of ways to convince myself to keep eating turkey!

Nana and Paige loving on Patchy 

Helping mom finish her turkey 

Daddy, me and Daniel 

Helping Grandad play guitar 

Waving goodbye to the ducks 

Feeding the ducks near my house 

Turkey and More Turkey

I guess some people like turkey more than I do. I don't dislike it, but I don't crave it either. It always mystifies me why my company has a turkey feast for us (with everyone bringing the side dishes) two days before we are all to eat pretty much the same thing with our families. Can't we do something a little different? Every year (this is my sixth Thanksgiving here), I suggest we do an Italian day, or a Mexican day, but no...it's turkey again.

My family is arriving in Dallas tomorrow. Stephanie, Al and the twins are coming from Houston, and my parents are driving in from El Paso. My friend Daniel will also be joining us. Since he's from Mexico, this is his first American Thanksgiving, and he's so very excited.

My only regret is that Steve won't be there. His plans changed, and he is now going out to New Mexico to see his kids instead of them coming here.

But it's the holiday to be thankful, and I have many things and people to be thankful for. My favorite part of Thanksgiving is being with family, although the dressing is a close second.

As Soft As...

Yesterday, as I was recounting my trip to one of my colleagues, she asked if I was going to move to England. I told her that my Auntie Norma whispered in my ear as I was hugging her goodbye, "Move here!" It was so sweet, but I have built such a great life for myself here, and I can't imagine leaving it all right now.

Besides, I don't know how successful I would be in the marketing/advertising business in England. As most Americans know, the Brits have a slightly different sense of humor than we do. I also noticed their advertising campaigns refer to things that don't exactly translate to me.

As my dad and I were driving to London from Chester, we passed a big truck (lorrie) covered in advertisements for the toilet paper it was transporting. It said "Like a Roll of Puppies" and featured several golden retriever puppies. I laughed until I almost cried.

Home at Last

I didn't have a chance to write while I was in England because although most of my relatives have computers, they would rather I visit with them then get absorbed into the screen. So, this will be a long post to cover the past week.

Ooh, there's so much to tell. I started off by meeting my dad at the London Gatwick Airport. We picked up my rental car and drove west to Bristol. I did pretty well driving on the other side of the road. My only frustration was that the Hyundai had switched the positions of the windshield wipers and the blinkers, so I often signaled my intent to change lanes by wiping the windshield.

After a pub lunch of fish & chips, I dropped Daddy at the train station where he took a train up to Chester to see his friend Keith. I then drove to Dursley, a small town in an area called the Cotswolds. My cousins Phil and Sonya live there, and Sonya's directions were perfect. Sonya took a couple days off work to play with me, and when she opened the front door, we both exclaimed at the same time: "I/You made it!"

We shopped in Gloucester that afternoon and saw the old cathedral. Sonya pointed out a tower that had been damaged in the civil war and laughed when I asked, "what civil war?" (It was in the 1600's)

We had a drink at the pub to meet some of her friends, and Phil met us there. The three of us then had an Indian feast at their local restaurant, Dil Raj. It was incredibly delicious.

On Friday, Sonya took me shopping in Cardiff, the capital of Wales. It was cold and rainy that day, but we stayed out of most of the weather by staying in the shops! We had a lovely home-cooked meal that night, and the next day, Phil rode with me up to Wellington to see his dad, my Uncle Ken.

It was like coming home. Uncle Ken is just the same as ever, and he gave me a great big hug. He then announced how glad he was that I was there and that as I'm such a good cook, I could cook him dinner! We had some of his son Chris' lamb along with the Californian wine I brought him. He regaled me with stories of his past, telling me how he had met Auntie Olive and the early years of their marriage. I could have stayed a week.

The next morning, I picked up my dad from his friend's house and drove to Runcorn. We saw Uncle Colin and Auntie Dot and their daughter Paula, a frequent commenter on my and my sisters' blogs. And I got to meet Paula's son Luke! What a sweetie. He's so adorable, and although he was wary of me at the beginning, he did give me a hug goodbye. Paula and I chatted in the kitchen, and again, I felt my time was too short. I could have visited with her for days.

Daddy and I next stopped in Weaverham to see Auntie Norma (another frequent blog commenter) and Uncle Noel. Auntie Norma was a little more subdued than her usual effervescent self as she's been having heart problems. She's scheduled for a stent on Friday, so everyone keep her in your thoughts! She looked the same as the last time I saw her and had made us a lovely cake.

We spent the night in Kelsall with Daddy's friends before heading back to London. There, we had dinner with my friends Alan and Hurriyet and their lovely children before going to a hotel near Gatwick for our last evening.

It WAS a quick trip, but I still enjoyed it so much. The English countryside is so picturesque, and we had three days in a row of sunshine! The weather was unusually mild for November, but I enjoyed the briskness of the air and the cold, cold water from the taps. I feel very loved after seeing everyone in England. I was so warmly received by them all. I also received a warm welcome home from Steve and my cat Sabrina. They were happy to see me again. And I'm happy to be home, but I won't wait 3 years again before going back.

Uncle Colin and Auntie Dot 

the view from Uncle Colin's of the bridge in Runcorn 

Paula's son Luke 

Uncle Ken 

Uncle Noel and Auntie Norma 

The reason I haven't posted in awhile...

...is because I've been "worshipping the porcelain" -- very ill for the past two days. The doctor says several viruses have been going around with my symptoms, so I don't really know if it was food poisoning or a virus. Either way, I'm happy to be on the mend.

The only really nice part about being sick was how wonderful Steve was. He brought me a baked potato and cottage cheese (he had to make two separate stops for that) on Sunday, and on Monday, he picked up my prescription and brought it to me over his lunch hour. The worst part of living alone is when you're sick and don't even want to go to the grocery store or pharmacy. Steve was such a life-saver. Plus, he told me today I didn't even look bad as a sick person.

Tomorrow I leave for England!!! I don't know which is more exciting: being away from my demanding job for a week or seeing all my loved ones and travelling through the beautiful countryside of England. I'll try to write from the road as much as I can.

My Passion

(Now, get your mind out of the gutter...)

I've written before about my volunteering at the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and working with premies. This Monday was especially busy. When I arrived, Lily, the nurse I usually work with, said, "I REALLY need you tonight."

It's nice to feel like what you're doing really helps someone - both the nurses and the patients. Sometimes the nurses feel bad asking me to retrieve blankets or other supplies for them, but I really don't mind. It allows them to focus on their patients. Of course, my favorite thing to do is hold the babies.

I fed four babies this week and also got to help with a couple others. I talk to each of them and encourage them to eat and burp. I also got to speak a little Spanish to two new dads. My time there just flies by. I guess that's what happens when you're doing what you love.

In all my Mondays at Parkland, I've only witnessed one death. It was a new patient that had just been admitted into the unit. I was feeding another one in the same room. There were several nurses around this little boy, and a couple doctors were walking in and out. One of the doctors was watching the monitors and first noticed the breathing changing slightly. The baby was born at 27 weeks, very young when a normal term pregnancy is 40 weeks. Lungs are one of the last organs to develop, and most premies have some difficulty with their respiration. The doctor alerted the nurses who immediately started supplementing the child's breathing with a CPR bag, but unfortunately he kept crashing. They called a code blue and several more staff members rushed into the room, although the space around his little bed was already full. They brought the father in, along with a translator and a minister. The minister gave last rites as the translator repeated the words in Spanish. I felt for the father. His face was in total shock. They escorted him out and then stopped the CPR. One of the nurses was crying, and the charge nurse reassured her that she and everyone else on the team had done everything possible.

It was very surreal. I wasn't sad for the baby, because I believe he went to a better place, a peaceful, loving, painless place. But my heart hurt for the parents, who had been awaiting the birth of their child and now had to bury him.

I admire the nurses and doctors who do this miniature work so much. But wow, the responsibility. If I mess up at work, or if the project just doesn't work out because of unavoidable factors, I feel badly, but it's not like life and death. It would be hard to let go and not question every action you took.

Good Times

Steve and I had such a great weekend last weekend. It began early with my company's Halloween carnival. Steve attended and got to meet several of my coworkers. On Friday, we both took off work for the afternoon and drove to Waco. He met my grandma and great aunt Sudie, my aunt Cinda and her kids, Robert and Beverly. We taught him to play the domino game chicken foot, and we all had fun.

Robert's basketball team was playing a game in Waco that evening, and it was really exciting to watch! Unfortunately, they lost by 5 points. I really enjoyed Bevie's cheering and heckling of the players and referees. I wish we all lived closer so I could see more games.

On Saturday, Steve took me to a mountain biking trail not far from my house that I was unaware of. We had a brisk 5-mile ride through the woods. It was beautiful with the leaves turning fall colors. He gave me his "old" heart monitor because he got a new one from his boss. (I put old in quotes because it's only a few months old.) So, throughout the ride, he would ask if I was ok and what my heart rate was.

Later, I cooked him dinner and then we went to a costume party at a local club. I resurrected my Marilyn Monroe costume and won 3rd place ($50 gift certificate)! Steve was proud of me but thought I deserved 1st or 2nd.

Robert is the tallest on his team. And so handsome! 

Me, Cinda, Bev and Rob at the game 

Happy Halloween

I really enjoy Halloween. I love dressing up and acting like someone else for a day. Fortunately for me, my company goes all out for Halloween. Everyone dresses up for work and at the end of the day we have a carnival-type party. This year, we had our costume day on Thursday. (last Thursday)

someone's child as a little fish 

winner of my self-created pageant, Ms. USA Divorcee 

my VP as a 70's disco rollerskater 

the president as Cat in the Hat 

My friend Sarah as a Picasso 

Fiesta

Last Saturday afternoon, Daniel invited me to join him at his cousin's daughter's 1st birthday party. He said I just HAD to experience a Mexican birthday party. I enjoy learning about other cultures and I LOVE Mexican food, so I agreed to go.

Daniel said it started at 4:00, but then told me not to get there before 4:30. Good to know. He explained later that "it's a Mexican thing" and it is considered rude if you arrive on time, even to a wedding!

We actually arrived closer to 5:00, and they were still setting everything up. In the backyard, they had a bouncy house for the kids and several tables set up with balloons and baby angel figurines. There was a keg in the corner of the yard, and after another hour or so, they set up the food: chicken mole, some pork dish, rice and beans. There were also fresh corn tortillas and salsa. When I reached for the salsa, Daniel's aunt asked quickly in Spanish if I like spicy food. (She was concerned about me.) Daniel translated for me, and I told her "Me gusta!" Almost everyone was speaking strictly Spanish, so I got to practice my few phrases. Daniel kept chuckling at how "cute" my accent is.

The birthday girl was dressed all in white and looked like a little princess. Of course, at one year, she could care less about all the fuss going on around her.

I left around 7:00, but Daniel said the party would continue late into the night. It was very laid back, and everyone was very welcoming. I asked Daniel to join me as I host my family for Thanksgiving, so I can return the favor and show him a traditional American holiday.

A night out with my guy, Steve 

Progress?

Last night, Steve and I met up with my gay boyfriend Daniel and some of his friends at some hip, ritzy bars in Uptown. Both places were full of beautiful people and loud music. I had been to one of the bars before, and I know the manager of security there. I guess I never really paid for my own drinks whenever I've been there, and Steve and I were shocked that our 2 drinks cost $18!

A friend of mine, reflecting on a past relationship, said she almost lost herself and is now getting to know herself again. Oh, I remember how that feels. In each of my three major adult relationships (Mark, Chris and Rod, for those who need reminding), I was so concerned with getting their approval, I didn't take care of myself. I let them take advantage of me and treat me poorly. I constantly felt like I had to earn their love.

Now, I'm entering into this relationship with Steve and balancing that with maintaining my sense of self. And I know now that I deserve to be treated with respect, just as I will treat others with respect. Steve is very easy-going and has been understanding of my push-pull and occasionally bumbling remarks. We each respect our individual time and our private time with our friends. And I think that makes the time we spend together that much sweeter.

On the Mend

Thank you all for your sympathy. I'm happy to report I'm on the mend! Today, both sides of my mouth are feeling better, and I'm even able to chew soft foods on the crown side. Whew!

Yesterday was also a tough day because I didn't hear from Steve. It was VERY unusual. I had called him and left 2 voicemail messages Tuesday night. I was disappointed not to hear from him, but he had mentioned he was helping a friend. He's spoiled me with morning messages of "have a good day!" and Wednesday morning, there was no message. I emailed him once I got to work and didn't get a reply. By this time, as you can imagine, my mind is working overtime. Did I do something to anger him? Could he have been in an accident?

I sent him a text message as I was leaving work: "What's up? I haven't heard from you in 24 hours."

And he texted me back: "Home sick. Slept all day."

Poor guy had been vomiting, unable to keep any solid food down, and sleeping as much as possible. He, too, seems to be on the mend today.

Update to Earlier Post

The periodontist was a cold, unfeeling jerk, but I think he isolated the problem. I say he was cold and unfeeling because he didn't seem at all affected by the spontaneous tears running down my face while he poked at the affected area. I couldn't help it. It hurt SO badly. He finally pulled out this small piece of bone that he says was inside my gums. He figured it got caught between my tooth and gum and my body was trying to push it out the other side of the gum. So it had made its way halfway through and was causing much discomfort to the surrounding tissue.

He didn't think it was my bone, but more likely something I ate, and said hopefully I will heal in a couple days.

I hope so. Because if he tries that again, I'm going to insist on squeezing his testicles to let him know how much pain I'm experiencing.

Don't Mess with Me Today

Pain sucks. Especially when it's in your head. Especially when it's in your MOUTH and it hurts to eat. I feel like someone is imposing a no-eat diet on me. And I'm pissed (and hungry).

When I was in Pittsburgh last week, my mouth started hurting on the lower right side. When I got back home, I called and saw the dentist on Wednesday. He took x-rays and did a thorough exam and determined that it must be "just" an ulcer. He said to swish with warm salt water (yum!) and take Advil and it should clear up in 7-10 days.

TODAY IS DAY 10 AND IT STILL HURTS LIKE HELL.

Add to this the fact that the same dentist put in a crown on the lower left side on Monday. Now I can't really chew on either side of my mouth because it hurts too much.

The dentist made an appointment for me to see a periodontist today, so hopefully he can make this go away!

I'm not sleeping well because of the pain either. So now I'm tired, hurting, hungry and do I need to mention cranky?

Heroes come in all forms

Between Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty, I grew up fantasizing about my white knight in shining armor riding up to rescue me. Reality, of course, crashes the fairytale, and you realize that a) you should be self-sufficient and not need "rescuing," and b) who wears armor these days? it's not all that sexy.

I'm pretty handy around the house, probably due to all the times I hung out watching my dad do things in the garage or backyard. I've installed a light fixture on a fan, textured and painted my kitchen and bathroom, stripped and refinished the cabinets on the bar, and even fixed a leak under the kitchen sink. (Thanks to technology, I took a picture of the pipe that was leaking and showed it to the helpful salesman at Home Depot, telling him, "I need THIS.")

However, I am pretty unprepared to do much else in the way of plumbing. It's one of those areas like engines that I don't understand and get anxious when things start going wrong.

On Saturday morning (yeah, I know, I should have written this earlier, but just relax and read the story, ok?) I went to the bathroom first thing as always. I noticed the bath mat in front of the toilet was SOAKED. I must admit, my first thought was my feline companion had confused the mat with her litter box, but even if she REALLY had to go, she couldn't soak the whole mat. Plus, it didn't smell like urine. (Cat urine has a distinctively apalling smell that is unmistakable and very difficult to eliminate.)

I spoke to Steve on the phone and mentioned the bath mat, and he suggested I turn off the water to that toilet and he would check it for me when he came over later. So I did that and later in the day used my other toilet.

It wouldn't flush. Instead, the water is rising up to the edge. Uh oh... This toilet has done that to me twice before (twice in 2 years isn't so bad, I think) so I grabbed the plunger and attacked the toilet. Unlike previous times, though, nothing was changing, and in fact, water started coming UP the neighboring tub!

I called my friend who's husband is a plumber, and she said she'd have him call me. Meanwhile, I checked the first toilet, and there was more water on the floor. I called Steve in a panic, and he came right over. He was there when my plumber friend called and was able to understand his instructions. He ended up fixing the clog by using my garden hose in the "clean out" pipe out front. It was very impressive! (And saved me money because I didn't have to pay a plumber to come out.)

I think better than a brave knight who can horseback ride is a guy who can fix things around the house.

May I Have this Dance?

To answer a comment posted by my sis Jenn last week about the fact that I'm not posting much because I'm dating Steve:

[smiling]

Maybe. Steve was out-of-town, travelling for work for almost a week, and when he came back into town last Thursday night, I didn't post Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. It's so nice to have someone to spend time with! We had a quiet dinner Thursday night, went out with friends of his on Friday night, went to a party for a friend of mine on Saturday night, and met my best friend for lunch on Sunday. Whew!

Steve is very sweet. He likes to drop me off at the airport and pick me up for my trips. It's very convenient for me, and it's nice to have someone waiting for you when you get home. I used to feel extra lonely when I travelled -- when you get to your destination, most people call someone at home to let them know you arrived. I would get there and wonder if anyone even knew I was out-of-town. As I was leaving, Steve said, "Call me when you get there and let me know you got there safely."

Last night, he called me and asked if I'd be interested in taking dancing lessons with him. How fun! I think it would be a blast, and as I'm sure my mom would say, it's a great opportunity to learn how he will react in a learning situation. We haven't determined what kind of dance yet, but I'm thinking maybe Salsa!

Worry? Who, Me?

In the past, I've been told (mainly by men who are probably scared of their own feelings) that I'm emotional. I prefer to say I'm passionate and empathetic, but at times, I will agree I may be a tad sappy. I'm in one of those phases right now.

You know it's bad when shopping for cards at Hallmark causes you to well up with tears, or watching the TV show House about a young girl with cancer causes a good bout of crying.

Work has been stressful lately, and hormones aren't helping the situation either. But as I was flying to Pittsburgh last night (I'm here for work for the next couple days), I was realizing how much of the "drama" in my life I create myself, or rather, how much of it is just in my head.

How often is it that we stress or worry over our perception of the way things are, only to discover later that we were wrong and there was nothing to worry about? I've had a couple of these lately, both personally and professionally, and I'm trying to take a step back and not spend so much energy worrying. As I once read, worrying is like rocking in a rocking chair. You expend a lot of energy, but you don't get anywhere.

Getting the Last Laugh

Oh, sweet victory.

Remember the guy who said he had a problem with the fact that I'd been married before, even though he knew that before we went on 3 dates? (See Leave the Past in the Past) Well, he just called!

"Remember me?"

Why, yes, I do.

"Well, we haven't spoken in awhile, but I wanted to call and see how you were doing."

I'm doing really well. In fact, I recently started dating this GREAT guy...

"Oh. Gee, that's great. Well, if things change, give me a call."

Ha! You wish!

(Actually, I think I said something, like: well, thanks for calling!)

Needing a Taste of Home

Since we moved around every 2-4 years growing up, I never know exactly how to answer the question "Where are you from?" Home has always been more of where my loved ones were rather than a particular city.

There were two exceptions: through the years, we always visited my mom's mom in Dallas and visited England to see my dad's family. I guess that's part of the reason I settled in Dallas, and why my heart often longs for the green hills of England.

Now with my sisters' and my blogs, I get to read comments from my Auntie Norma and cousin Paula almost daily. And I have a new blog-friend, Hannah, who writes about her dating travails in the UK. Just reading the way they write, the phrases and words they use, reminds me of England.

I've decided it's time to go back! Unlike the French, I truly enjoy British food, and I'm looking forward to some of my favorites, like a proper English breakfast, fish & chips, a Ploughman's lunch...

I'm planning on going in early November. Auntie Norma and Paula, I want to see you both! I don't have your email addresses (our email system crashed at work a few weeks ago and I lost my contact list), and I don't want to post my email address here. Could you each write me and let me know what your schedules are for November? If you don't have my email address, maybe you could write to my dad?

See you soon!

Such a Nice Guy

Yesterday, Steve delivered a beautiful, huge bouquet of flowers to my office! I was at lunch with a colleague at the time, and when I returned, all the girls in the office were buzzing about the bouquet and curious to know who had sent them.

We had dinner with his best friend and his girlfriend. When Steve drove me home, he was playing his favorite CD. He kissed my hand and said he really loves my perfume. I kissed his hand back, and Steve said, "I love you too."

I think I stopped breathing. I was thinking, I'm NOT ready for this.
I said, "What did you say?"

He said again, "I love you too."

I said, "Uhh..."

And then he realized what I had heard and started laughing and pointing to the CD player. "U2! U2!"

We both cracked up laughing.

Keeping the Audience in Mind

Well, I did it. I told Steve about my blog. He read the entries I wrote about him and ALL THE HISTORY. Said his favorite was Pet Peeves.

He's the first guy I've dated that I've told about the blog, mostly because I've made fun of the other guys and they didn't last long enough to let them know about my closet writer. I'm touched that he read it all, that he found it interesting enough to keep going and that he's interested in me to learn about me through my blog. But now, of course, I have to be careful what I write!

Not that there's anything bad to write. Things are moving along nicely. We are enjoying each other's company and have spent time both going out and staying in. But as my fellow bloggers will understand, you have to keep your audience in mind when venting.

For example, my family all reads this. (Steve was a bit alarmed to learn this. "Your WHOLE family?") So I don't want to write about my parents or sisters doing things that might, possibly, if-I-wasn't-such-an-even-tempered-person, annoy me. Of course, they are such wonderful, considerate, loving people that those things don't occur often. If at all. Right, family? (desperate attempt to get you all to comment)

My Own Personal Hurricane Evacuees

Early Wednesday morning I received a call from my sister Stephanie in Houston. With forecasters warning of Hurricane Rita’s approach and experiencing firsthand the increasing panic of fellow Houstonians at the bank, gas station and grocery store, she wisely decided to pack up the twins and head north to Dallas. Her husband Al was already in Dallas on what he was expecting to be a daytrip for business. He headed over to my house, and we anxiously waited to hear Steph’s progress.

We were hoping Steph would get as far as Waco, but the highways were already getting clogged with the millions fleeing the impending storm. She decided to head west towards Lexington and our aunt’s house instead. A trip that usually takes 1 ½ to 2 hours took 8.

Thursday morning, Steph headed north again. It took her another 8-9 hours to get to Dallas (this trip usually takes 3 ½ hours). By this time, I had left, travelling on business to Pittsburgh. But Al was at my house to welcome his family. He had gone shopping and stocked my pantry and fridge with all their favorite foods.

When I arrived home from the airport on Friday, it was so nice to come home to Stephanie in my kitchen and two precious little ones playing in my backyard! Steph and Al were very appreciative and thanked me for opening my home and apologized for the “invasion,” but I didn’t mind. I enjoy my home’s solitude and quiet, but sometimes it gets lonely.

Paige and Graham are talking so much now, and they sing! Paige especially enjoys singing. Al and I took them to the park near my house and took bread to feed the ducks nearby. On our way back, I was carrying Paige, and I started singing “Twinkle, twinkle little star.” She joined right in with her sweet high voice.

Graham is still a charmer. He has a devilishly handsome grin, and he gave me lots of kisses. He enjoyed strumming Grandad’s guitar (he calls it “pittar"). Paige is slower to warm to people, but my heart soared when she scooted her body to lean against me as we were watching Dora. And on Saturday, when we went to the mall for lunch, she called out my name and grabbed my hand.

Now my house is quiet again. I am putting things back in their proper place (my house wasn’t exactly toddler-proof), although I still haven’t found my tea cozy…

Another Successful Date

We had a great dinner last night! Steve picked me up at 7:00, and we went to a little Thai restaurant in Las Colinas. Another star for him: he likes spicy food! (For those of you who don't know, I LOVE spicy food.) We ordered two spicy dishes and some red wine and shared it all.

It was a nice, leisurely paced dinner. We were one of the last tables in the restaurant, but we just talked and talked.

Afterwards, we went to a pub on the way back to my house and played darts. Neither of us is very good, but we each got a bullseye once.

I haven't yet mentioned his hot-rod of a car: a new Chrysler minivan! It's his company car, and he gets to choose from a list of cars. He actually chose the minivan to purposefully scare off the many women in the Dallas area who are superficial and materialistic. I think it's hilarious! He said a lot of women ask a guy what they drive. I don't know enough about cars or care what a person drives. He says he loves building it up, "It's a brand-new, silver, nice interior..." then hits them with the bombshell "Chrysler minivan!!!"

Smiling

I've had such a lovely weekend. It all started last Thursday. I went to my local haunt for a drink and a salad (I think they offset each other) and ended up sitting at the bar next to this guy, Steve. He was getting his check and about to leave when we started talking, but he decided to stay. I was very impressed with him. He's intelligent, ambitious, CUTE, nice and worldly. He lived in Germany for 12 years, first as a teen and then working for his current company. He's 38, divorced with two kids, who live with their mom in New Mexico. We had a really great conversation, exchanged business cards and a great kiss.

He called me the next morning. So sweet! I had told him I was going to Waco to visit my grandma & great aunt on Friday and wouldn't be back until Saturday afternoon, and he asked if I would give him a call when I got back in town.

Grandma and I went to a concert. This was a make-up event for the opera that got cancelled this spring when the organization ran out of funds. The two lead opera singers performed several opera pieces and some Broadway ones. The baritone was much better suited to the opera. His pronounciation and style were just too proper for the Broadway songs. The soprano stole the show. She was so talented and hit so many high notes, making it all appear effortless.

I had a nice visit with Grandma and Sudie and just as I was leaving, my phone rang. It was Steve. You know, it's so rare to find someone who really likes you that you also really like. I was touched that he called, and we talked as I headed back to Dallas. We each had plans for the early evening (I had a friend's 40th birthday party and he had dinner plans with friends), but we agreed to meet up around 8:30 or so.

The party was fun, good food, conversation and lots of laughter. Steve called as promised at 8:00, but neither of us was ready to meet. We finally met up around 11:30 at a dance club. A friend of mine from the party went with me, and we all danced until the club closed at 2:00. It was such a blast. My hair was wet with sweat around my face from dancing so much. And I just remember laughing and smiling a lot.

I try to keep my blog G-rated for my myriad of readers which include my cousin and my dad. So some of you will have to read between the lines.

Steve came back to my house and we talked and kissed until 3:30 or 4. He's so sweet. This combination of being attracted to someone and also feeling so comfortable with them is new to me.

I made him breakfast this morning. He calls when he says he will and did again this afternoon. We had originally planned to go cycling (he's into mountain biking!), but both of us were tired from lack of sleep. But he said he still wanted to see me, if I wanted, and he came over and watched a football game with me, and I made a simple dinner. He was very complimentary.

Other great things:
He likes my cat Sabrina. And she likes him.
He's learning how to ride a motorcycle and was impressed with mine.
He said I have a European/English look about me. (I love that!)
He has told me several times how thankful he is to have met me.
He's been genuinely interested in learning about my family and looking at the pictures around my house.
He has several friends that have been in his life for 15 years or so.
He speaks very highly and respectfully about his dad.
We agree on our political leanings and basic spiritual beliefs.
While he was here for dinner, he killed a nasty cockroach that found it's way into my kitchen.
He's very open about his past and takes responsibility for his part in his marriage not working.
He's financially secure and owns two houses (one here and one in Virginia Beach).
Did I mention he's a great kisser?

I can't help smiling. This is fun. More to come! We have plans to have dinner on Tuesday.

Race Results

They finally posted the results. Jennifer's and my team, Viva Terlingua, named after her terrific, soulful dog that passed away last year, finished in 1 hour 54 minutes, placing 54 out of 86.

I'm Not Shy

I mentioned to some of my coworkers that I have a blog that is mostly read by family and friends and a few online blog-friends, and she was almost horrified. She couldn't believe I would be thrilled to get strangers' comments about what I wrote. She just saw it as an invasion of privacy or something. (Yes, I explained that blogs, being on the world wide web, are open to the online public.)

My sister Jennifer and I met a cute Irish guy at the race last weekend. He was one of the staff organizing and working the race, and we met him on Saturday when we dropped off our bikes and boat. He caught us trying to both squeeze into the one-person boat on dry land, and we all had a good laugh at what must have been an amusing sight. We spoke with him for a few minutes and learned he lives in the Austin area (figures...a much hipper town than Dallas) and is from northern Ireland. (And he wasn't wearing a wedding ring. I know, not a definite sign that someone's not married, but a good start.)

We saw him several times during the race, and I called out to him once, "Hey, Irish!" He smiled and cheered us on.

After we finished, I looked for him but didn't see him again. I really wanted to talk to him, so...I just sent an email to the race director through the race's website asking him for the guy's name or to forward my message to Irish Guy. Kinda crazy, and I realize in today's world of privacy concerns, the race director may think I'm a psycho-stalker-girl and not give me the info. But, what the hell? I figure it doesn't hurt to ask, and if he says no or doesn't pass the message along, I'm no worse off than I am now. And if he does pass the message along, maybe it will make Irish Guy smile at least.

The Proof is in the X-Ray

A couple years ago, I started having some pretty strange symptoms from my scoliosis. Every so often when I would stand up after sitting at my desk, my right hip would give out on me, and if I didn't catch myself, I would collapse to the floor. It wasn't exactly painful (except if I hit the floor or furniture on the way down), but it was very disconcerting.

I've known about my back being slightly off center since I was 13 or so. Remember those days in gym class where all the girls would have to stand around without their shirts and get checked for scoliosis? I usually went home with a note telling my parents they saw an irregularity. I was checked out by a doctor, but he said it wasn't serious.

About 10 years ago, I went to an orthopedist because my back was giving me a lot of pain (more than I had gotten accustomed to). He took x-rays, and for the first time, I could see where and how my spine went off course. The lumbar vertebrae curved to the right, and the cervical vertebrae curved to the left to compensate. The doctor told me my scoliosis was only 10-15 degrees off normal, not bad enough to require surgery but just something that would give me discomfort. Basically, he told me to live with it and to check in with him as I aged.

And so I just accepted the chronic lower back pain, and I often popped my neck by leaning my head to either side. It gave me some relief.

But two years ago, I decided to put my previous biases about chiropractors aside and give it a try. I met a petite chiropractor about my age at a local health fair, and she honestly answered my questions and addressed my concerns. And she gave me hope. She said she could help.

After only a few months, I was feeling so much better. I could sleep better because I wasn't in as much pain. I could sit in cars more comfortably. I could even turn my head without having to turn my whole torso to look over my shoulder. After a year, she took x-rays and compared them with my starting x-rays. The difference was noticeable. The vertebrae had moved, although they were still not completely in-line.

We took x-rays again today, two years since I began the therapy. The x-rays confirmed why I wasn't having as much pain and the reason for the increased mobility and flexibility. My back x-ray no longer shows any sign of curvature. It's unbelievable. She actually said "we've eliminated your scoliosis." I never thought that was possible! I never dreamed that high. I was just hoping for a reduction of pain, but I have gotten so many additional benefits. I feel so grateful to my doctor and that I found her.

W.A.R. II

Yesterday was my second Women's Adventure Race, and I'm happy to report I could tell a marked improvement in my performance!

It was held on a large YMCA camp ground west of Fort Worth. The drive was long, especially with the astronomical gas prices, but the venue was really gorgeous. Similar to last time, there was a run, bike, water event and another bike portion. But Jenn and I agreed the run should have been called a hike. There were very steep climbs that no one was running through. We did run on the straighter areas, though.

The bike section was so scenic through the woods. Jenn led most of the time, although we switched a couple times. The only slow part was the areas drenched in sand. You just cannot keep bike wheels turning through deep sand. We had to get off our bikes and walk them through that part, but otherwise, I didn't have to stop to catch my breath at all, unlike last time. It also helped that I got us CamelBacks to carry water and easily drink throughout the race.

The kayak that Jennifer mentioned in her recent post, Keep Austin Weird, was pretty small. We practiced the day before (on dry land) and figured we could get our butts in but would have to straddle the boat and keep our legs out. Once in the water, our legs were dragging us down and Jenn kept hitting my leg with her paddle. I jumped out, almost capsizing her, and grabbed the back of the boat and kicked. She said, "I can't see you, but I can hear you!" With her paddling and my flutter kick, we made it around the pond.

Then back on the bikes, and this time we didn't have to stop for the mystery events. The mystery events were pretty much all the same as the Austin race. I think we were both a little disappointed that there wasn't anything new, but I also felt more prepared, knowing what was coming.

All in all, it was a great day. Anthony's parents came out with his nephew Andrew and the kids, Anna & Colin. The day was overcast, which kept the heat down. I was exhausted afterwards (and didn't do much of anything the rest of the day), but I'm actually not too sore today. I feel ready for the next one!

A few pictures from last weekend

I didn't take many pictures last weekend, but below are a couple. Jenn kept me pretty busy preparing for this weekend's Women's Adventure Race.

Cutie Colin being silly at the breakfast table 

Anna enjoys a gelato treat after getting a vaccine