Happy (Belated) Thanksgiving

Sorry for my long absence. I was away for Thanksgiving. I hope everyone had a good week/weekend. I am not going to go all through mine because I am SO backed up at work. Basically, I have 5 more days of work before I go off on vacation again. *smile* This next trip is to Seattle to see My Baby!! Ok, not my baby, my little niece who is the cutest thing in the world. I’d post a picture, but my sister would flip out if she ever found out. She has issues with the internet, but I won’t go into that now. Here’s how my trip started last week Wednesday. I’ll go into the rest of it when I have more time.

Well, It all started when I flew into Detroit (It was snowing) and almost missed my connection. If anyone knows that airport, I had 5 minutes to get from Terminal A to Terminal C. Needless to say, I got my exercise that day! My fight to Cincinnati was short. When I got there it was good to see my old college roommate and her brother. I haven’t seen them in years. She moved to Cincinnati not to long ago, but the whole family is from Louisville KY. Now, I got in at 6 something. My roommate’s cousin was supposed to be flying in from Germany at 7 something, so we were going to wait for her. We were all going to drive down to Louisville to see the rest of the family. Well, apparently, she missed her connection in New Jersey and didn’t bother to give anyone details. She called her sister in South Carolina to say that she would be arriving at 9:30. Well, for one thing, Why didn’t she call the person that was meeting her at the airport?? AND, There was no damn flight getting in at 9:30!! There was an 8:50 flight and a 10:00 flight! Now, this cousin always causes problems! She is always broke, constantly “needs” stuff, and just generally a very irresponsible person. The reason we were waiting for her wasn’t actually to pick her up. This fool went to Germany for an undetermined amount of time and parked in the airport parking lot! She actually bought a one way ticket and thought it would be a good idea to park in long term parking. Alright. Whatever. That’s her business. But, then she had the nerve to fly back with NO MONEY!! And when I say no money, I mean literally, not a dollar in her pocket. Oh yeah, did I mention that she was traveling with her 3 year old son? He is the only reason that we waited for her, otherwise she would have had to figure out another way to get the money to get her car out of the parking lot. Instead, we hung out at the airport till about 11 (her flight was late!) and paid for her parking, gave her $10 emergency cash, and my roommate gave her her cell phone since the girl had used up all of the minutes on her phone. Oh yeah, did I mention that she was going to drive back to Louisville, KY after flying all day with no money and no phone and a 3 year old who has been kept inactive for hours? Now, about 9:30 when we were trying to figure out when she was coming in, we decided that we were just going to stay in Cincinnati for the night and drive down in the morning, but by 11 we had a second wind (or should I say they had a second wing!) I passed out in the back seat of the truck while we drove down to Louisville. I only woke up long enough to kiss Maw Maw (my surrogate Grandma) hello and climb into bed! And that was day one of my vacation.

I just have to let her go...

I can’t do it anymore. I just have to say goodbye. I can’t handle Lisa any more. So, from my previous post, you have already heard some of her/our issues. Well, as much as I didn’t want to go out on Friday, I resigned myself to do just that. I am a big birthday person! I send cards to my friends from Jr high and presents to my college friends’ kids on birthdays. If nothing else, I try to always acknowledge everyone’s birthdays. So, I figure I should go for Lisa’s 30th. After all, it is her 30th birthday! Plus, I kind of figured it may be the last time I see her before moving anyway. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t set a moving date or anything like that, but it’s not often that I see her anyway. So, Friday night… here’s what happened.

5:00 – Called Lisa to find out what time we were going out. She was on the phone.
5:45 – Lisa called back and told me 11. Ohhhh! 11? I know I’m getting old cuz I was thinking by 11, I’d be tired! The plan was for her to pick me up and we go to this place about 20 minutes south of me. She lives about 20 minutes north of me.
6:00 – Lisa calls again to say another friend is on her way to her house and why don’t I just come up there to hang out. By the way, I’m still at work. So, ISSUE 1 – Now she wants me to drive up to her which probably means she is gonna ask me to drive all night. I just told her I had to work and I’d call her after.
9:00 – I get home from work and call to tell her I was home and getting ready. She didn’t answer and her phone did that little beeping thing which lets you know the person is on the phone. ISSUE 2 – She just let me go to voicemail!!
11:00 – SP is all dressed up with her hair just done and just about to put on some makeup. Umm, yeah, I don’t do make up except when going out. I thought for a minute, “hmmm, Lisa hasn’t called. Let me not put on my makeup.”
11:30 – No Lisa. I call again, no answer.
11:50 – I call Lisa again. No answer. I left a message. “Well, It’s almost not your birthday anymore and I haven’t heard from you yet. I guess I’m going to bed now. I hope you had a good B-day.”
ISSUE 3 – This B*tch never called or answered her phone after I psyched myself up to go and got all ready!!

And the next day, ISSUE 4 – I called to find out what happened and she never answered or called back!!

So, Lovely, huh? Like I said, that along with all the other attitude, grief, money borrowing, guilt trips, and whatnot have caused me to just let it all go. I haven’t actually told her this, but then again, she still hasn’t called me, so I’m sure I won’t get to!

Just say NO!

How do I get myself sucked into this crap?? Traci says it’s because I’m a nice person. I just need to learn how to say NO! Here’s what happened…

Lisa called yesterday. First off, I just got a new cell phone and I haven’t programmed in all the numbers yet. So I didn’t even know who it was. I hate that “Hey, It’s me” crap when I answer the phone. Don’t assume I know who you are unless I acknowledgement you! “Ummm… Hi” is not an acknowledgement! Anyway, the next thing she said was “So what are you doing tomorrow.” “Ummm… nothing.” “Good. You can go out with me to celebrate my birthday!” Damn!! It’s Lisa!! What have I just gotten myself into? I already said I wasn’t doing anything. Think! Can I get out of this? THINK!!!! Brain shutting down… I hear myself say “ok…”

Now don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I have anything against Lisa. Well, not really… It’s just that she has issues and it’s really hard to be her friend. She cuts her self off from everyone then gets pissed because she says we don’t invite her to things when she is ready to be around us. Well, if you call and invite someone’s voice mail to stuff all the time and never even get a return phone call, wouldn’t you STOP CALLING?? Plus, the last two times I saw her I either gave (she said loan, but I knew I was never going to see it again) her money or paid for her because she was broke. No offense, but I am not here to support you (financially that is). I’m sorry you can’t hold down a steady job. I’m sorry your man isn’t paying your bills or supporting his child, but you knew he was married with 8 kids before you two hooked up. I’m sorry your mom moved away and took with her your source of free meals and babysitting, but I am not here to take her place! And for the last 2 years, you have either canceled last minute or just not shown up on my birthday and other close friends’ birthdays. Do ya’ll see why it’s hard to be her friend??? Do you see why I really am not feeling a night out with her and whatever new Love of her Life she is dating at the moment? At least while she has a man, she won’t ask me for money.

I’m sure I’ll have a story to tell on Monday…

It's My Birthday!!!!!

I am officially 28! I guess I have to stop saying I’m in my mid-20s. I had a pretty good birthday, nothing to over the top. The week before (Wed to Friday) was full of happy hours and work dinners. I laid around the house on Saturday, just relaxing/recovering. Yesterday was my actual birthday. I was awoken by a ringing phone, but I didn’t mind. It was Amber calling to wish me a happy birthday. It was really good to catch up with her. We haven’t talked much since she went off to law school. Then, I tidied up around the house a bit. My realtor was bringing someone by at noon. I watched football and read the paper, which I love to do on Sundays and I began receiving phone calls. First from Traci, who wanted to call even though I’d be seeing her in a few hours. Then my ex called, wishing me a happy birthday. Ben called and sung me a birthday song!! I saved it on my voice mail.Shelly left me a message along with Ori and NYABG sent me an email. My mom left me a message at 7:30 at night. I was at dinner with friends. Dinner was good. We had Indian, which I love! He Called. He called around 2, but his phone was all staticy. He said he’s call me back in 2 minutes. Hmmm… 2 minutes, nothing… 2 hours, nothing… 5 hours, nothing! By now, I’m a little pissed. I was talking to Traci as I was driving to meet up with her and a few other people. “Did he call?” “Yeah, but only for a minute cuz his phone was all staticy.” “Well, did he wish you a Happy Birthday?” “You know what, NO!! That bastard didn’t even say Happy Birthday!” “Well, did he know it was your birthday?” “Yes! And he didn’t even call me back!” Can I just say, its not like I expect anything for my birthday. I don’t need presents or parties. I just want some acknowledgement from certain people. My parents should call me. They did. My sister should to, but she didn’t call and I’m pissed at her for that! And he should have called. The 2 minute conversation, not good enough. Calling 7 hours later and singing happy b-day on my answering machine, not good enough. I was already pissed by then. And by the way, don’t tell me you are going to call and then not call. That pisses me off to no end!

Is it that time already??

South Florida is really a great place to be. I love it here. I mean, think about it. It’s still in the mid-80s and it’s the middle of November. I live a mere 10 minute drive from the beach, not that I go that often, but that’s not the point. There is always something to do. Lots of festivals for the family or 24 hours worth of clubbing, depending on what your into. You can get Latin and Caribbean food anytime you want. Mmmmm, Plantains and Jerk Chicken! There’s just one thing that I really hate about living down here. Well, I guess 2 if you count Hurricanes, but those, up till last year, were very rare. What I hate is when we are in Season! In season means that it is damn cold everywhere else so all of these people, usually elderly people, invade our “peaceful little town”. Usually these people own condos or homes and just come down from November to April. The rest of the year, their homes are left vacant. Now don’t get me wrong. Tourists are great. They are the reason we don’t have to pay state income taxes, but it’s just those damn Snow Birds that think they won the place. Here are ways to tell when the season has begun.

1. You begin to notice a lot of Canadian license plates.

2. The 3 million dollar house down the street has it’s hurricane shutters off. They’ve only been on for 7 months! What a waste…

3. Someone in the left hand lane of the busy highway stops and puts on their blinker because they realize that their exit is 20 yards up.

4. All of the handicap parking spaces at the grocery store are full in the middle of the day.

5. You start to notice a lot of those really old HUGE cars that look brand new driving themselves around the drug store parking lot. Only when you get closer to you see the little old lady who can barely see over the steering wheel.

6. You get hit on by a drunk 20 year old at 8AM while getting gas to go to work. (Ok, that’s not the beginning of Season. It’s really the end when we have a month of spring breakers down here. But hey, at least you know it's all coming to an end soon.)

My Weekend

I had the laziest weekend I’ve had in a long time! I didn’t do a damn thing.

Friday I had dinner with a close friend, her hubby, and their baby boy. It was nice, but of course an early evening since we had a 2 year old with us. He gets a bit cranky the closer he gets to bedtime. Not to mention the fact that they still don’t have power. That’s enough to make anyone cranky.

Saturday I watched a bunch of movies. I didn’t leave the house except to check on my neighbor. Her mother called me because she couldn’t reach her and she was worried. Did I mention that my neighbor is in her Mid-40s? Talk about needing to let go! It’s actually kind of sad. My neighbor has written off men and has resigned herself to a life alone with her two cats, looking after her ailing parents. She’s that one person you know that you say to yourself “I hope I don’t end up like them”. You feel bad saying it, but you know it’s true. I guess that’s a whole ‘nother story in it’s self!

Sunday I laid out by the pool for a while. It was a beautiful day, highs in the mid-80s. I spend the morning laying buy the pool, reading this new book I have “A Million Little Pieces” and taking occasional dips to cool off. I can’t remember the last time I did that. I of course had to head in a little before one to catch football. Falcons and the Dolphins. I ended up laying on my couch watching football for the rest of the day/evening. I only got up to make dinner. That’s what I call a good Sunday!

Excuse my ramblings

It’s been so weird since I’ve been home. I’ve been all stressed and anxious, not to mention having a cold and worrying about my broken windows. I’m trying not to let things bother me but I can’t. I have a cold, which makes me miserable. I can feel that I am getting better today, but I still have this cough. I have 2 broken windows, one in the front/guest room, and one in my bedroom. The windows are neatly covered in plastic, but that can’t hold for too long. Plus, who is gonna want to buy the house with broken windows. I talked to a window place today and they are backlogged by 3 months, but at least they called me back. Normally I can’t get ANYONE on the phone. I’m all stressed about selling the house. I’ll feel so much better when I have a contract on the house! I’m still all stressed by Wilma. Schools are still out and quite a few people still don’t have power and/or cable and/or phone. On the news, half of the air time is still devoted to Wilma, if not more. And they are “watching” this system of storms out in the Atlantic. It’s nothing now but… That’s how it always goes. I just feel sad every time I look around. There are very few branches on the trees and even fewer leaves. The palm trees look like sticks without the fronds on top. Signs are down and there are blue tarps everywhere. It just depresses me. Work is pretty much back to normal, busy. And I miss my dog. He is staying up in VA till I get there. It will make the house easier to show.

I guess another reason I’m in this little funk is my birthday. It is 9 days away. I’m really not feeling that celebratory this year, which is weird with my theory of week long B-day celebration. (Everyone should celebrate their birthday for at least a week!) I kind of just want it to pass unnoticed, but then again, I know myself and I’ll be pissed if people have forgotten about it. Not that I really need to celebrate or want presents or anything. It’s just that I ALWAYS remember people’s birthdays and I try to do things for them. I don’t do it to get anything in return, but it still bothers me when no one even acknowledges mine. Is it weird to want acknowledgement but nothing else? I guess I just feel old because most of my friends are married and have kids or are in the process of getting married or having kids. I don’t feel like I should be celebrating, I feel like I should be in bed.