Sunday, October 19, 2008

Two Rights and a Weft

As always, I had fun with my girls on Saturday. We've decided to make an annual tradition out of going to Eastern State Penitentiary's Terror Behind the Walls. It's never a dull moment, and we're all equally impressed with how well it is run.

As I've said in previous posts, Saturday was what would have been my 11th wedding anniversary. My sister sent me a text saying she was thinking of me on Friday, which was really nice of her.

Be proud of me: I only broke down twice.

At the vet's as I was waiting for her to come in to check on my poor dog Pep who broke into hives, I started to think about what the day was, and had myself a good cry.

I also broke down after Manfriend came over, picked me up, went grocery shopping with me, bought me red roses, carried in my groceries and took out my trash as I put stuff away. I stood there at one point in amazement. We went to the grocery store, and we didn't get huffy or pissy with one another. We had our lists. We grabbed what was on our lists. We paid for our groceries. We packed his car. No incidents. None. Huh. No kidding. It was a fabulous domestic date.

I know this looks like a no-brainer. Uh, hello? Cheryl? It's food shopping. But, my ex-husband and I were not good co-grocery shoppers. We were fine individually, but put us together to shop for food - forget it.

Before Manfriend left, he gave me a bear hug and a kiss, and told me if I needed anything to call him. He's a total sweetheart. I love he's so willing to be available. And I don't mean like a taxi-cab kind of available. I mean, mentally available.

Yes, I'm gushing. I'm okay with that. But, it was again overwhelming, and as soon as he walked out the door, I cried. I cry at his kindness, because it is simply wonderful. Eventually I will get over the crying phase, but for now, it's what I do in reaction to what he does.

Back to girls night out: The girls arrived at 6:00, and we had dinner which consisted of lasagna (not mine, restaurant-purchased) and garlic bread, and dessert, which consisted of munching down a bunch of halloween candy and chatting it up in my kitchen. I was having such a good time I threw it out there we could ditch Terror Behind the Walls and just drink and chat. But, I had purchased the tickets, and the girls looked like they wanted to go out, so we piled into my car and drove to Broad and Spring Garden Streets to take the Ghost Bus to Eastern State Penitentiary.

As we were waiting to board the Ghost Bus, J told us a story, and it made me laugh so hard I snort-laughed. The two guys in front of us whipped their heads around, saw that I was the one snort-laughing, and said that the noise eminating from me was "impressive." When we entered the attraction, J got the attention of one of the zombies who followed her to two parts of the prison. This happened last year, too, as a zombie dressed in a zoot suit followed her through a room. Creepy and funny all at once. I 'laugh-screamed' every five minutes. T actually screamed a few times, too, which was terrific. It was so worth it.

When we left the Terror Behind the Walls and walked back to our parking, an Escalade drove by us, and all of a sudden we heard from the SUV: "Hey! Heeeey! I remember YOU!" and with that, we heard, "SNORT!" The guy actually made a pig snort noise.

Nice that my snort-laugh makes a lasting impression.

My jaw dropped. I waved, and told the guy to rock on as he and his group sped away. I thought T was going to wet her pants from laughing. J just stood there and shook her head. Ah, Philly. Yet another place of weirdo magnetism.

We get to the parking lot, and since I had forgotten to print out reverse directions, I asked the parking attendant for directions to 76 West. As he's explaining, he says, "Ok, so you go down this road, make a right. Go up two lights, make a right. Go to this light, and make a weft. So, basically, it's two rights and a weft."

Weft?

"Girls," as we pull out of the parking lot, "Did he say weft?" "Yep, weft."

Ookeedokee. Thank you. For a moment, I thought that I misheard him because I had a full bladder and couldn't concentrate on anything else other than getting home to pee .

Nope. Weft.

As we sat in traffic on 76, I thought about all the great stories of the day, and not one of them involved me in the fetal position in my bed being devastated by this milestone.

I survived.
I had a great day.
All of this is just the start of great days ahead.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Thank Goodness! I Thought The B*tch Would Never Leave...

Yeah, the title's a little harsh, but I'm talking about all of womankind's least favorite relative: Auntie Flow.

While I appreciate her monthly visits, lemme tell you what. She came with house guests this month: Uncle Cranky, Cousin Panic Attack, and her kid Eat Everything In Sight.

Uncle Cranky was pretty fierce this month. I grumbled about everything - my work, my house, my laundry, my job, other people's jobs, and other people's lives. Uncle Cranky also comes with permanently furrowed brow. I seriously consider Botox when I look in the mirror and see my brow lines emblazoned in my forehead. Then I think what Botox is made of - ahem, botulism (ew) - and I'm perfectly happy with permanently furrowed brow, which I'm now referring to as my character lines.

So Uncle Cranky can suck it...

Cousin Panic Attack hit me last night, and was kind enough to bring intensive chest pains and uncontrollable tears for no apparent reason. She knows how much I enjoy uncontrollable tears during PMS so she brought extra. Luckily for me, manfriend has lovely arms and great bear hugs to squeeze all the rest of the tears out of me.

Finally, my favorite Auntie Flow relative, Eat Everything In Sight, did not disappoint. I think I scared the manfriend this week as I chomped down on things like pancakes the size of our heads, practically swallowed whole a Tasty Kakes Junior in about two minutes, and menacingly slurped my Egg Drop Soup from PF Chang's in his presence.

I have no shame in my game, so I'll just say it: I love Eat Everything In Sight, the fattening bastard.

What I learned this month: I was at my worst these past two weeks (I count in PMS time - I would have to be locked up if my menstrual cycle lasted for two weeks) and it was okay. It's okay to have days like this. It's okay to be sad, angry, bloated, panicked, scared, cranky, miserable and blubbery.

And now that I've said it's okay to be sad, angry, bloated, panicked, scared, cranky, miserable and blubbery, all of these have to leave with Auntie Flow and her entourage.

Go away. Now. Buh-bye. Even Eat Everything In Sight. Pack your things. Get!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

The Romantic Road

I find myself in a very interesting place in life:

Divorced.

What would have been my 11th wedding anniversary coming up in a few days.

And...smitten.


Yeah. Didn't see smitten happening. Didn't see it coming at all. But, now that it's here, it's quite lovely.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

House Beautiful

My Dad, bless his heart, has completed painting the rooms in my house! Yay, me! He did such a fabulous job that I had to share. The following are pictures of my living room, dining room, family room, guest room and laundry room. As you can see, I like color!!!















Thursday, October 9, 2008

The Steel Anniversary

My wedding anniversary date is just around the corner. It would have been our 11th year. The traditional anniversary gift for 11 years is steel. I would have most likely figured out a way to incorporate that into the gift I would have purchased.


Now I'm steeling myself for all of the emotional crap.


A few months ago - even a few weeks ago - I thought to myself: I don't want to see anyone on that day. I just want to be alone with my thoughts. It's the first of many milestones I'll have to deal with this year, and I don't want anyone seeing me. I'll probably be a mess.


Well, dear friends, I've decided not to be in mourning on that day. But I will be surrounded by steel! My two partners in fun, shopping and friendship and I are going to the Eastern State Penitentiary's Terror Behind The Walls attraction. It's the remains of the prison - just a bit jazzed up and scary as all get out during the Fall.


From the Eastern State Penitentiary web site:

Opened in 1829 as part of a controversial movement to change the behavior of inmates through "confinement in solitude with labor," Eastern State Penitentiary quickly became one of the most expensive and most copied buildings in the young United States. It is estimated that more than 300 prisons worldwide are based on the Penitentiary's wagon-wheel, or "radial" floor plan.

Some of America's most notorious criminals were held in the Penitentiary's vaulted, sky-lit cells, including bank robber Willie Sutton and Al Capone. After 142 years of consecutive use, Eastern State Penitentiary was completely abandoned in 1971, and now stands, a lost world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers.


Yeah, okay...maybe that description isn't exactly appealing, but we had such a blast last year. I screamed-laughed my head off as the other two girls led the way through the one-hour tour. As is custom, we'll also most likely be shivering from the pouring rain that also occurs every single time we go out. I'm not kidding! Most times, we have to go and get towels and wring our clothes out. Maybe in our previous lives we were rain makers.


I have a picture of the three of us from last year. We are freezing our butts off, and soaked to the bone, and yet you'd never know it. We're smiling ear to ear in the shot.


This year, I'm especially looking forward to it. The girls will be coming to my house, kicking a frozen margarita bucket, and staying over for girl talk and some fun time away from regular responsibilities as moms and wives.


For every memory that makes me sad, there are two that make me realize I'm going to be okay.

Now, if I can just figure out a good hangover remedy...

Kickin' It Circa 1980s...

Best Buy is awesome. I went there with my manfriend and perused the music aisles. I left with about $60 worth of music (5 CDs).

While I did buy Feist, The Killers and Apocalyptica...I also went old school (meaning pre-iPod days...sigh...). I bought Michael Jackson's Number Ones CD and a compilation Def Leppard CD, too.

It's October. It's Halloween season. What better way to rock out but to Thriller? As I was dancing in my car, I thought of the scene from 13 Going on 30. Yeah, Michael Jackson's more than a bit odd, but man could he make some great dance music. I don't care who you are - how do you not want to get up and dance?

Enjoy the video, thanks to YouTube:


Sunday, October 5, 2008

The Happiest Place on Earth

I had the best vacation a couple of weeks ago. I could not have asked for more, even when I had the opportunity to do so.

For the first time in the bazillion times I've been to Disney World in Orlando, I met the Fairy Godmother. It was a pretty cool moment, standing there with her.


I think if I had met her seven months ago, I would have given her a laundry list of wishes:


  • I would have wanted February 18, 2008 - the day my then-husband of 10 plus years told me he didn't want to be married anymore - to have been erased

  • I would have wanted a second chance at children

  • I would have wanted purpose to my life

  • I would have wanted lipo. (Hey, I didn't say the list would be completely without superficial wishes!)

Life isn't always perfect, but I am so grateful for what I have in mine. Granted, I cry now and again, but I smile more than I did a number of months ago.


So, when I saw the Fairy Godmother, I gave her a hug and smiled.