So much for intentions...

I intended to go to group therapy tonight but by the time I got away from work and could have gotten there it would have been 7:30p-ish...and then I'd only be staying till 9p. I decided given the distance and the fact I have to work tomorrow staying home would be the better option. I can still work on the challenge here and just may before the night is up.

It's been a draining day reading appeals and I still have a few to go. In addition to putting out fires and clearing up a few other loose ends. Tomorrow will be just as hectic trying to get everything taken care of before taking off on Friday...and I still need to find a hotel for Friday night!

I so very tired at the moment the thought of crawling in bed is what appeals most...perhaps it will be an 'early' night for me....

random thoughts...

It was Memorial Day weekend with of course, a coveted extra day off. I spent most of it in Austin just hanging out with Elsa. She cooked, we ate out a few times, watched some movies, did some scrap shopping and even a little scrapping. Oh and reading. As usual I came home with armloads of books. Why do I bother to buy books when I can just go to Elsa's and load up??? Between what I already have 'waiting' and what I brought home I have plenty to read and the pace I've been going for months, maybe even years! But I don't want that to be the case. I tell myself I'm going to read some every day...but that soon goes by the wayside too.

I did pick up a new book over the weekend that's NOT a romance/mystery/vampire novel. It's "We Are Their Heaven" by Allison Dubois. She's the meduim that the show Medium is based on. Now it's not something I watch and the book is something I wouldn't normally give a second glance, much less read. Something about it caught my eye the other afternoon and I knew I had to have it. It's a quick easy, read. I'd have finished it already if I had stayed up a bit later last night or settled down with it tonight. Maybe I will try to finish it tonight. It really goes well with book club this month since it's about remembering loved ones. Basically the book talks about how those we love who've passed never really leave us, how they are always around us, especially when we need them. Maybe it's silly, but it's given me some comfort. It's validated some things Mike has told me and it inspires me to scrap some things. Now if I'd just sit down and do the scrapping!

In addition to it being a short week due to the holiday yesterday, it's also a short week because I am off Friday! Making the quick trip to Vinton to see 'Da Boys. Third row but at least I'll get to see the show. After this who knows when I'll have the chance to catch another show. For my birthday perhaps if I'm able to make it up to Branson and I certainly want to try to get tickets to the Christmas shows in Lake Charles. Definitely Galveston in January.

On the way back I plan to swing through Pasadena to the stamp show. Since I decided not to make the trek to Arlington the following week I figure I can splurge a little if I should find something. Not spending a small fortune going to Arlington should allow me the indulgence of the Pasadena show and a goodie or two if there's something I really feel that I can't live without that is affordable. Just have to wait and see!

Finally Friday...ohh, Saturday by now....

Ahhhh, a three day weekend. We started summer hours this week which means in the office by 7:30a--UGH>>>>but it also means off at 12:3op on Fridays...YEAH. Went to crop this afternoon/evening only to find my friends had cancelled and not told me. And to think, earlier I was thinking it was not a good day for me but went. I stay anyway--afterall I'd driven all the way over there and paid my money. I did get something accomplished which was a good feeling...and was able to do a couple of pages and still get away early. Home by 11p.

Had some things to get done around here before I 'run to Austin' for the remainder of the weekend. And it's been a debate with myself about going because I have soooo much here to be done. I finally realized what mom always told me--it'll be here. Go, enjoy, have a good time. And I can use the get-away. No set plans and knowing us there's no telling where we'll end up! We do plan to scrap--but we'll see how far we make it with that.

The next two weeks will be short ones for me at work so I better enjoy them because I fear it's going to be a long, busy, crazy summer. And even though I'll still have over four days of vacation time, good luck finding time to schedule them.

Next week I 'run' to Vinton to see 'Da Boys'. Now if I can only get a hotel room! Still time to deal with that. Come back from that, work just shy of three days and then have a (self-scheduled) four day weekend. The plan was to go to the scrapbook convention in Arlington but once I did a few quick calculations the base cost of that made my decision. I figure it would cost more than my Branson vacation so home I stay. But that's okay and I'm actually looking forward to it. With luck I'll actually STAY HOME and get things done around here finally. Organizing, cleaning, scrapping. I'm going to try.

Now to finish picking up around here, maybe another load of laundry or two and then off to bed.

Feeling blueish...

The series finale of Gilmore Girls was last night. It's sad in a way to see it 'go'. I understand all good things must come to an end. And really, going any further probably wouldn't have lasted much longer since Rory is now a college graduate. But still it's like saying goodbye to good friends. Lorelai and Rory have been 'with me' since just before mom's death. Finding Gilmore Girls was like finding comfort. Sure I can watch it on DVD (though I only have a three of the seasons) but it just won't be the same. Goodbye Gilmore Girls..... I so hope there will be a reunion show in the future...maybe find that Luke and Lorelai did end up together and that Rory and Logan or even Rory and Dean got back together and all is 'right with the world'.

Guess it's just that hopeless romantic in me....

Relax....

...something I have got to figure out how to do. The muscles in my back are nothing but knots. The chiropractor is helping-some. He even commented Saturday that we've got to do something about the tight muscles--but no suggestions. Sometimes it's as though he takes his time, even spends extra and other days it feels as though I'm being rushed through. Just the basic adjustment m'am. No time for extra kneading or alignment. It's somewhat of a frustrating process really. Some days I feel great and others I have this annoying little continous pain. I feel progress...and then I feel setback. And I wonder in those times I feel setback if I'll be labeled as 'milking' it if I go in for an adjustment. Hell, I'm paying for--quite a bit too. And that brings a whole other set of stress.

I think it's just life getting me down at the moment. And of course hating myself for all the stupid things I've done in my life. The fall down the stairs and not doing anything for months being at the forefront of my mind.

I probably shouldn't have but I did splurge and go get a massage this afternoon. Only thirty minutes, but worth it. I finally got rid of the shoulder soreness I've had since leaving Branson. It wasn't the usual person I go to but it's something I can do from time to time and will try to do. With all the stress and everything else I need things to help me relax.

If only...

Back to Reality...

While I should have spent today at home, doing laundry, relaxing, getting ready to return to work I've actually been running most of the day. Had ten (yes, 10) rolls of film developed. I'm still trying to load the pictures from my digital camera--another 200 plus shots--but I'm having problems. I'm afraid I'm either gonna fry my camera or crash my computer...and I can't afford a new computer just yet.

So tomorrow I have to go back to the reality of the 8 to 5 gring and all the frustration and stress that goes with it. I 'ran' so much all last week I'm not sure I got any real rest. I know there were many things I had wanted to do, might normally have done that I just did not get around to. So, I'll 'go there in my head' and think about the next trip.

I also have a visit to the chiropractor tomorrow which I'm looking forward to. Thankfully I've not had a great deal of pain the last week but there have been a few times things weren't 'quite right'. And then there's the matter of a pain in my shoulder after picking up my suitcase yesterday morning. Lucky me. Just another reason to look forward to 5pm!

OMG!!!

So I'm here in Branson....running around and catching a show here and there. This afternoon was Tony Roi and tonight, Paul Revere and the Raiders and Bill Medley.

And I'm having fun with the new camera. I was going to try getting a few rolls of film from yesterday developed today till I checked prices. Single prints and a cd are more (here) than what it will cost for double prints and a cd at home. Guess I'll be waiting. I'm so very curious to see how the pictures come out.

Although I have the new 35mm, I'm still using the digital. Often taking as many digital as well as film. And tonight after the Paul Revere/Bill Medley show, Bill Medley's tour manager stopped me because he wants to see the pictures I took. I was in awe. Sending shots to Joe is one thing--though not well, he 'knows' me....this guy doesn't know my from Adam and yet he wants to see my pictures. It probably means nothing but it's fun to be asked!

Branson and other bits....

I knew it had been a while since I'd posted but didn't realize just how long. So much has been going on...a HUGE fall down an ENTIRE FLIGHT OF STAIRS the day after I last posted....and stupid, stupid me I did NOTHING till nearly three months later. Amazing what a person will do once they are in excruciating pain and hardly able to walk. But...thanks to a wonderul man (chiropractor) I am functional again. All of that is another story.

So anyway my topic is Branson....because THAT is where I am! Got in late Tuesday evening and did virtually nothing the first night...yesterday was spent running--which I knew it would be. Afterall, it was Wednesday and THE BOYS were in town. Oh the adventures. Places like this are 'interesting' and fun partly because you never know who you may run into and where....and it's even more fun when they 'know' you or at least partially recognize you. And of course, there's the 'one' that scares the s#@% out of you--but in a good way.

I don't know for certain just what it is about this place, but it's been the one place I can truly relax. I hope that continues to be the case. Things here, like everywhere, are changing so much. Going to the Lake Taneycomo waterfront just breaks my heart. I understand things change in the name of progress but I'm not so certain I care for this progress even if it does mean I can shop some favorite stores without having to drive to Springfield.....that used to be one of the adventures of the trip as well. I guess as long as I can still find 'peace' up here and the spots to get away from everything I'll be okay. And being able to slip in some time seeing favorite muscians is definite plus.

And Duane if you happen to read this...I'll get back to you on that garden!