Well, it's official: Southern Brit is going back home. I instinctively knew this, yet it's always fun to deny the things that cause you an inkle of disappointment & pre-grieving. Does that sound far too dramatic? I suppose it does. Eh. What can I say? I've said in the past that I felt as if I've always known him. He has passed in & out of my life like a severe blow to the head, and I am still reeling from it.

 Interpret that as you will.

 ( Read the Sap! )

 When I was younger, I didn't blush as much.

 Now I blush all of the time. Quite annoying.

 However, apparently this trend is charming. Especially when I am trying to figure out if the Jimmie Johns guy is flirting with me. He's my age & fairly handsome.

 People, I need a brick so that I may render myself unconscious, every now & then. It really shouldn't be this hard know if someone is flirting with me! Augh.

 But anyway... having tremendous fun fiddling about with my Touch...It's going to force me out of the house, as I am in no position (globally, anyway) to receive Wi-Fi, and some of my apps require it. What a bizarre way to become more social. Anyway.

 Maybe I'll meet somebody awesome at Starbucks, Black Sheep, MIA, etc., who likes a few of the same things as I do.

Someday what a person needs is just someone else to connect with, on just one level. You know, more is good... but just one will work.

Come one, who else wants to go to the MIA on a Thursday evening & have coffee & look at stuff?

 My fortune cookie fortune: "You will meet up with old friends."
 I thought it wasn't the most brilliant of fortunes, my friends being at least 40 minutes away & all, but there it was.

My cell phone, which I normally have turned off after I'm home from work, rings at 11:25pm. Well, it plays a funky techno tune, but that's beside the point. I look at the number, don't recognize it, and figure it's some drunk guy who's calling his unfortunate girlfriend/boyfriend. I decide that I want to be a jerk & have every intention of calling the number back to fiddle with the mind of the drunk dude. I dial the number. Lo & Behold, it's not some drunk dude, it's My Lady Alyson-- calling out of the blue, after a woeful 2-year absence in my life. Holy shit, she's a fortune cookie fortune!

She called The Ex's old number, which I used to share-- but thankfully, he has had it disconnected. Must just be using his cell phone, now. Anyway... She called the other number stored in her phone, and it most definately did connect to me. Oh my goodness, how wonderful & strange!

I spent the next two hours telling her about her house, that I've never seen, which had various complaints & suggestions. I also popped in the fact that the neighbor's apple tree really wanted her to make an apple pie/dessert with its bounty. I've never been to where she lives, with a person the house calls The Man. Thank goodness for me, My Lady took it all in stride & didn't do much of an equivalent of other than blinking thoughtfully & being impressed that I can "feel" wood & stone from so far away. It had a lot to say, it's a good time of the month, what can I say. It's the trees. Always the trees.

Maybe in another story, I was a dryad who lost her tree, and have spent lifetimes searching for a new tree.

Or not.

I'm not psycho, I'm psychic-chotic-- remember?

Cheers & All

The month is slipping away. I'd go chasing after it, but I have this sneaking suspicion that all I'd find is snow, yuck!

AND!
An official invite for Friends-- or  those who are interested:
I will be having my official Unbirthday gathering (whether it's just me, Weasel & my mom or a few more) in Hastings at Schaar's Bluff, come Sunday, September 27th. It will be a basic picnic/steak or burger-type series of food stuffs, with a potluck option-- depending on number of folks. I am honestly not expecting many, as I am fairly far away & this is not much notice.
 I plan on being out there for most of the day, at least after 11am, and lounging by fire. I will be starting things on fire. Because that's very necessary. I don't know where I'll be hanging out, as of yet... probably in or by the East picnic shelter (even though I haven't reserved it-- turns out I needed one more day in advance to do so--DUR). As far as I know, unless the spot is reserved, folks are still welcome to descend upon it.
I will have a Plan B in place.

Jackanapes need not arrive.

I really want to have a Hot Chocolate Party in the winter, I've decided. All manner of nom-nom treats & of course a spotlight on real hot chocolate (the kind you almost have to eat, it's so rich). Hmmm. More on that later. Any thoughts?

OK, off to try to wake up & de-ouch. I am definately a stereotypical American-- I can't even walk 5 miles without feeling it the next day. Sheesh. Must. Move. More!

Anyway... Really & truly trying to wake up, now...

Cheers & All

 Fuck. Something is very wrong. I feel it, am spinning with it, and I don't know who it is, sunofabitch.

Perhaps I'm reading the sensation incorrectly (like that's never happened before), but it feels wrong-- not like it's something really impossibly awesome or such.

 Fuckity-fuckity.

 Hurry up, somebody. Give me some news.

 

  Hmmm, the power of extended networks on the Internets...  I forgot to mention here (though I Tweeted) that a former much-beloved penpal (yes, we actually sent letters, imagine that) contacted me through Facebook. He bopped in just to say "Hey, do you remember me?" I thought it was pretty awesome. He's an Englishman who spent about 20 years in Germany, who is now in Leeds. His letters were so damned amusing. Krikey, he's almost 50, now. Where did the time go??
 
 I also wanted to say that if Hot Pursuit harasses me at work any more, I'm going to talk to my manager about it. I'm NOT going to sleep with the doorknob, I'm NOT interested in dating him, or anything else. He's... greasy, oily, ooze-y (Uzi? *snort*) & even Bounty can't pick up what he leaves behind. *shudder* Ugh, yuck!

 I am thoughtful this morning (oh no, run for your lives!)...  I will be going out & about for a drive, shortly. I have a mid-day shift, and a short one at that, so... despite the fact that I am terribly groggy, I'm going to get my ass moving. Move it, ass!

 Cheers & All

 It was easier to be invisible & somewhat anonymous... no one could be blamed for disappointment or shock. Or wanting to very quietly, Run Away!

On the upside, I really love my staff. It is really too damned bad that I can't be more a part of their lives, for fear of losing my own job. Management is not always the bag of chips.

Hmmm. Unless it's cow chips. *snort*

 Cheers & All

 Ugh. Now I remember why I hate getting my pictor taken. Bleah, argh.  Just goes to show a person how difficult it can be to adjust to a new body/image.

 "Hell w' dis!" (she said, putting her hands on her hips and shaking her head defiantly). I'm gonna get my hair done tomorrow.  I may not be able to do any immediate action for my three chins, besides get off my ass (which means I need to get off the computer and move said ass), but I can get my hair follicles disguised. Yeah!

 My fun mystery guest has left... I was very happy to have his company. His sage advice was to take a week off or so, and to go to some random place I've never been to, before.  No wonder I like him. 

( Mystery Guest Revealed )

 For once, I'm going to take my mum's advice: "Breathe deep, just relax, and don't give a shit."

 I like that advice. A lot.

 So. Mystery fun guest tomorrow evening (I even talked my way into getting a short work day tomorrow, hooray!), whoo whoo.
 Mum is coming down on Sunday & will be staying through at least Monday.
 I even have Sunday & Monday off. This means I get to hit Schaar's Bluff. YEAH!! Gawd, I've missed it.

 I am going to grill. Hear the sizzle? Yeah, that's me. Er, well, at least my food! lol

OK, time for a last tidy-up, and then I pronounce the place "fuck it, it'll have to do." 

 Pee Ess I broke down & bought a "real" lawn mower. Sort of. It's electric. However, because I am The Raineth, I have no idea how I'm going to manage the whole "I need 150 feet, not 100 feet" of outdoor electrical cord bit. Hmmm, yes. Quite... Some days... I tell you...

 Cheers & All

Thank you, Jenifgrr.

I was pretty bent out of shape, and you helped calm me down.

Have I told you that you're amazing, lately?

 Well, that's it.

 I would have cleaned more, but it's just not happening. Quite frankly, I'm also bloody well sick of cleaning, after two weeks straight of it. Bleah!

Sad to say, that barely scratched the surface. I am an organized slob. I don't grow critters on plates or such, but I just let stuff pile up. There's nobody else here to say "Hey, you, pick that crap up!" so... it just goes & goes. Stuff gets misplaced. Lost. Neglected. Ho-hum'd. Now?

Oh sure, totally forget that it takes the patience of many small gods (of which I am not one) to clean this place... Oy. I am expecting a guest this Saturday, and I was going to try to be all impressive. Hmmm. Well. At this point in time,  I have only tomorrow morning left to clean; my work schedule changed abruptly, and that's that. 
 I will have to settle for a clean bathroom, mostly organized spare bedroom, no dishes (or few dishes), no britches lounging about, and a well-rested Raineth. I mean, really... My house can be spic & span, but that's not going to fly if I'm a totally crabby, tired bitch. I am horrible when I am crabby.

 Besides... mum is coming down on Sunday, and I have that day & Monday off. At long last, I will be able to go back to Schaar's Bluff! I missed a lot of photo opportunities, and the peace that is there for the taking. Aaaah, I can hardly wait.

 I'm actually going to call it a night. No, really. I am. I can get up earlier in the morning & tackle some stuff. Mostly... I just want to rest. I have not been feeling well, and I refuse to be ill this weekend.

 Cheers & All

 I hated this day, almost down to the last 1/2 hour. GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.

 First, my beloved blogger Southern Brit  & his girlfriend/second leg roadtrip companion ran across a shitload of trouble whilst in Greensboro, NC; overnight, the vehicle was broken into, and pretty much all of his gear was stolen. Just about broke my heart to read that.
 Sure, I don't know him, but I've been reading his blog for a while now, and I like who he seems to be. He's just an amazingly uplifting kind of guy. The kind of person who will make you want to throw shit at your version of God when he eventually dies, because the loss will be so great. Anyway. Soldiering on...  I really want to see him make it through his Underground: USA project. One of his lovely friends has set up a PayPal donations thingy for him; the loss of his gear is about $6,000 alone. Holy Hellfire! If nothing else, moral support is really, really necessary. 

 ( The Shite Continues... )

Uhm.

"Something."

Lots in my head, mostly to do with C's eminent departure. *sigh*

On the Upside, remember me talking/posting about my crazy-nuts & completely, totally lovable neighbor David, from Charleston? I just heard from him, and I think I Sqeee'd. Really loud. For a long time. Here it comes again...

SQUEEEEEEEEE! 

I realize that it's been a long time. People change, lives change... I know mine did. I love that we remember people best for who they were... and sometimes, the person they are now (or at least most recently!) becomes the person we cherish the most.

 Damn. Does this count as a possible "When one door closes, a window will open" bit? Grrr, arrr.

 A conversation with C., on how fcuking bummed I am that we had to cancel our plans for sushi tonight:

C: "Well, what's the best thing you saw today?"
R: "Huh?"
C: "The best thing you saw today. And it can't be 'ass.'"
R: "Gee-zus. OK... Uhm, I saw an egret on my way home. Come to think of it, I see one every day, either on my way to work or on the way home. Did you know that they have a very varied diet? Frogs, insects, minnows, whatever they can find in shallow water. Huh. I wonder if they get sick if they eat those screwed-up three-legged frogs?"
C: "Uhm, I hadn't thought about it. But think of how full they'd be if they ate frogs with five legs!"
R: "Are you sure there aren't going to be any raw frogs, next week?"
C: "No. Do you want cooked ones?"
R: "Eeew. Tried those, me no likey. They reeked of genetic meddling."
C: "Maybe they once had three eyes."
R: "That's not funny."
C: "Are you sure the egret only had two legs and two eyes?"
R: *huffs a breath out in disgust* "Where's something to throw?"
C: "Just throw your car keys. If they're lost, you can't drive back to work."
R: " I love how you think, but that just wouldn't work. Besides, they wouldn't actually hit you, and then I really WOULD lose them."
C: "It was the thought that counted."
R: 'Right!"

Ohhh, fudge, I'm so bummed. Oh Well. He's not gone yet. There's next week. And then... That's it.

Fucking Hell.

 Conversation with C., as I ranted about my workday and the seemingly completely shit state of the Universe and Its Contents, for a wee bit:

( Follow the Conversation )