Last night....talkin' bout last night

What a day-slash-week this has been. It was so busy and crazy and slightly broken and I forgot sometimes how good I have things.

Well, my dad's birthday was yesterday. He turned the ripe old age of 71. And he doesn't look it or act it. It's pretty incredible. Most folks figure him in the 60-65 range. These days though he talks like he feels old as the hills. The hills are sooooooooooo much older than he is.

It's this time in his life. For the past few years people have been dying and it's depressing. I know it must be so depressing. He is healthy and strong but has felt this fear. He needs to escape for a bit and realize that he isn't there yet. He will have his time. But, you can tell when you look at an old person that they aren't here for long. And he is not THERE yet. I worry that he won't get happy again and that makes me sad. He's got so much to enjoy I want him to enjoy it. He probably has 15 good years and a couple crappy really unhealthy ones. But if stays down like this, that won't happen. Attitude is such a strong determining factor. Most of all, I want him around to meet the kids i have someday, selfish girl that I am.

Anyway, an excellent man and family friend died recently. The funeral was scheduled for, of course, Dad's BIRTHDAY. Argh! How ironic, right? So we had made some birthday plans before we heard about this but it kind of took the wind out of the celebration plans for him. Oh, they guy was 10 years older than dad and had lung cancer.

Anyway, he and mom decided we'd go to cirque de soleil in a couple of weeks instead of getting together for the actual birthday. I thought that sounded quite excellent, but also thought he still needed a bday fiesta of sorts. Cville Yoga Buddy had already planned to visit them that night and she decided to bring a giant and wonderful german chocolate cake. We collaborated on timing once I knew their schedule.

Then I called r'noke Gym Buddy early Friday morning with the absurd suggestion that she ride with me to c'ville, spend a few hours with my family, and then ride home again all in one night. Not only did she agree to come along: she agreed with a happy eagerness that touched my heart. And we had a great time. We talked and laughed the whole way there and back, deep and meaningful, shallow and silly and once again I realized how lucky I am. How many people have as many deep and powerful relationships as I have had in my lifetime. I am so freakin' rich with lovely strong intelligent women!

Anyway, when I started writing I wanted to get around to the craziness of my week: windstorm and canceled school festival, adding another school and changing my schedule, being given conflicting directions to enforce cancellation of a school program, principal observation with a schedule change and no planning, and a crazy crick in my neck creating pain for an entire week. Work has definitely been the low place in my life these days.

But then one night with friends who are willing to spend hours with my parents because it is important to me reminded me of what's really important. Thanks ladies.

Max Caffeine

I had a great experience on my way northward today.

After work I went to lunch and took a walk with Adrien but I was feeling kind of sick and weird. Something will not stop dripping down the back of my throat no matter what i do. I was also tired from kitty cat cavorting in the night and so, irritable from said throat, tossed myself onto my bed, ignoring all the work that needed doing before traveling today.

After a brief nap (10 min? 1 hr? no idea) I got up and proceeded to do what I could to ready myself and my home. Two lights blew out (oh, the poor house-sitter), dishes are not finished (it was dark) but cats were fed, watered and happy. paperwork filled out, and vital things done. The superficial can wait.

After finding my keys, 10 trips packing the car (food? check. kitten? check. bag o stuff? check. computer? check) etc etc....Go to pet store and buy litter, litter pan, and new fancy cat food recommended by pet-sitter. Hurry out...it's time to run thru st-ucks and get on the road. I wanted to leave early. Oh well. Sanity is more important i think.

In the driveway there is no line. i peruse the menu at my leisure, deciding on a large regular coffee as adequate sustenance to make it through the two hour commute tonight.

"Welcome to St-ucks, this is Natalie, what can i get for you tonight?"

hm. i know a natalie. but she's too cool to work at st-ucks. but that voice sounds familiar. So confused I am that I decline milk and sugar. I always use milk and sugar with st-ucks coffee.

Pulling around I am excited to see it is Natalie! The famous and fabulous Natalie of NoShame Fame. And she is excited to see me, too. Her first words are something like, "Wow! It's You! What can I give you for free? Anything you want! Here, have this coffee cake!" And then she sees Max.

You see, Max likes to walk around in the car. It is his "thing". (Well, if a 4 month old kitten can have a "thing", that would be his). Seeing her delight, I jump out of the car, pull out the kitten, and hand him through the st-ucks window (while being respectful of all food handling regulations and sanitation concerns) and Natalie proudly displays him to her co-workers and friends. He handles it with his usual calm, slightly confused and curious demeanor. What a trooper.

Happy, rejuvenated, and thrilled to have had a simple surprise human encounter, I start on my journey.

Oh, but I do make one last stop (i was so BAD) Not only did I go to st-ucks, I drove thru the Christian Chicken place and got a sandwich and a lemonade. I was STARVING and it was right THERE. I am sorry planet, badly raised chickens and people who resent the christian majority, but I had to eat. AND now i have to complement them. The entire drive-thru was completely full - thats F.U.L.L. and it took about 2 minutes to wait, order, pay and leave. I got what I wanted, they were nice, it was good. The lettuce was awesome. Totally impressed.

Anyway, then I zoned out to mediocre comedians all the way to c'ville. It was so nice to come in and see mom and dad and chat with them. It's funny though - they really want to talk and keep asking me questions but I am too tired to be informative and entertaining so I finally had to request relief and television. We will talk it all out tomorrow.

Oh. Mr Max made it safe and sound, alternately sleeping on the back of my neck, on my lap, and on a pillow throne in the back seat. He likes to watch cars and trees go by. What a smarty. Traffic was fine. A little heavy but fine.

Now Max has thoroughly inspected my bedroom and (hopefully) can drum up enough fatigue to get us through the night. He will be here thru late tomorrow, early Friday, and then Apple will cat-sit for a day to get her kitty-cat on.

My parents keep the house at 75 degrees and the only blanket I can find is a winter-thick comforter. Here's hoping I don't sweat away to nothing throughout the night!

yesterday

is today. it is all the same.
no time, no time.
i have time, i just choose to spend it in not enough ways. (too many ways)

today - conferences at 2 schools, driving between them, translating and then running out the door to get to another one. then

racing to the car to drive to ctown to see Sting...STING. Live in concert right in front of me, not 12 feet away. oh Wow. What a great fun wonderful blast. We pretended we loved the first band, though I didn't. Sting's son's band opened - he didn't seem to sure of himself to me.

well, it's too late to write this but since it's officially ridiculously late in my head i don't care and it counts. duh.