Happy 5th of July!

I'm a day late, so, yeah...  The boyfriend and I had a great day yesterday!  We went to the palace and walked around the gardens.  We strolled downtown and grabbed a beer at one of our favorite restaurants.  Took a bunch of pics including some of us, which we don't really ever do, and it was so nice.

Me rocking my Endo Awareness shirt :)

It was an absolutely gorgeous day that a couple of days ago I was afraid might not happen.  We had Hurricane Arthur blow through Thursday night, and a lot of places rescheduled their holiday events.  I know farther east had it worse than us, but we've had stronger thunderstorms than that, and luckily no real damage from him.  I think we're in for stronger storms later this year though.

The rest of the week was busy.  The manager at work has still been on vacation, and I actually had to go in on my other day off when someone didn't show back up after their lunch break.  Fun.  Luckily no real crises though, knock on wood.  The big boss man is having a pool party this afternoon, which I really need to start getting ready for soon.

I had another physical therapy appointment this week which was quite entertaining.  It was early in the morning, and all the people who work there were cutting up.  It was pretty amusing.  I started doing some new exercises that kicked my ass and I've been sore ever since.

We're having a little cookout here at our house tomorrow for some of the family.  His mom, aunt and uncle will be here.  I invited my parents, but I don't think they'll come.  I didn't get my anti-social tendencies from a stranger.  But my step-dad's health is bad too, and I know he can't really leave the house for long.  We'll see.  Either way, I'm looking forward to it.  I'll be trying my hand for the first time (I think) at a NY style cheesecake.  Pretty stoked about that.

Options

I have a bit of a quandary.  It's nothing serious or life changing and is definitely another first world problem.  I got back a decent refund from my taxes this year.  I'm reserving about half of it to pay for my trip to DC for the EndoMarch and for a visit to the dentist for a cleaning, which I haven't had in about two years.

But I'm not sure what to do with the rest of it.  I was originally going to put it all towards my credit card but I'm not sure anymore.  It wouldn't make a huge dent in it and wouldn't take my payments down by much.  I've been thinking of other options since I rarely have a decent chunk of cash like this.

I could put it in my savings account and just sit on it for awhile.

I could save it to put towards a wedding/honeymoon hopefully later this year.

I could save it for a future laparoscopy should I need it.

I could use it for an online photography class I've been wanting to take for years. 

I could use it to do a little home improvement.  I really want to redo the floors.  The bamboo in the living and dining rooms is all scratched and the planks are separating.  I really hate the carpet in the bedrooms.  I would have to save more for all of that though.

I could get a king size bed with it.  Two grown adults and two big dogs on a queen does not a good night's rest make.

I could use it to open an IRA since I have no savings for retirement at all yet.

I could put it towards buying my own engagement ring for him to go ahead and propose with, haha!  But seriously, I actually considered it, lol.

Hmmm....

Boy and Pet Schtuff

It's a beautiful day.  It's cool outside with a nice breeze, and this has been the first non hot and sticky day I've actually been home to enjoy having the windows open since moving in.  I'm drinking a cup of coffee and listening to the birds sing.  Life is good.

The ex-bf and I had a talk about what we are to each other, what we're doing, and our future.  Basically, there is no long-term future.  He does not like this place and desperately wants to move.  I do not.  So that's that.  We're hanging out having a good time and enjoying each others' company for now.  I told him I do know the direction I want my life to be heading and I need to get on that soon.  He understood.  I told him I don't want to hurt him, and he assured me I wouldn't be.

Of course, I'm both happy and sad about this.  I'm very happy that we've finally talked about it and are on the same page.  I'm sad because we get along so well, and I really wanted him to be the one.  I do love him, and as cliche as it sounds, I do hope we can remain friends after we both move on.  We'll see.

He's going on vacation tomorrow, and I'll be keeping his dog... the one we got together.  I miss him and hated giving up another dog, but once again, they're good for each other.  My puppy is doing well and will be three years old this weekend!

My boss used to be a professional photographer, and last week she did portraits of all the staff and their pets.  We did head shots during the day, then went to the river after work.  I "puppynapped" the ex's dog and took him to the river too and will put a collage together as a Christmas gift, after a little editing out of the leash.  It was fun, and here are some good ones...

He was so good at posing, we had to dress him up!

No words... haha!

The flash scared him every time, so not too many good close ups.

Yep, that's me, haha.

For his first time at the river and on a dock, he did really well!

Happy, smiling pooch.

 

I love all my animals!!

Fabulous Fourth

What a beautiful day it has been!  Got to sleep in and had cinnamon rolls and coffee for breakfast.  Later morning, the roommate and I headed out for Independence Day celebrations downtown.  First we heard the drum and fife band and watched them march up to the palace doors...

 

 

We parked ourselves in the grass and listened to a reading of the Declaration of Independence...

Then we walked around the gardens and took lots of pictures...

What I imagine to be the entrance to a secret garden

 

 

Gorgeousness all around!  It was fantastic.  After our little self-guided tour of all the grounds, we headed further downtown and walked the streets.  We went into a little store, and I had my first ever ice cream float.  We visited a friend working at a local outdoors shop.  We passed a group on the street handing out mini American flags that had been in the ground at a local memorial for fallen soldiers.  Each flag represented a life lost in Iraq, and I almost teared up hearing the story as I was handed one.  I really am lucky.

Just as it was getting almost too hot to bear, the slightest sprinkling came down to cool us off, continuing our local streak of at least (gotta be by now!) two weeks straight of rain every single day.  It's been ridiculous.

But today has been fabulous, and I've highly enjoyed it.  I'm hanging with the ex-bf this evening and trying to convince him to go see fireworks with me.  I haven't been to a display since 2009, I believe.  Although I'm not sure if I want to be out in all the heat again waiting for darkness to fall.  We shall see.

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas!

That song's in my head, and I love it!

It's been a good, busy week.  Work was crazy with all the holiday business.  Only a half day tomorrow, which is fantastic.  We had our staff Christmas party at a restaurant downtown last night, and it was wonderful.  It was probably the most low-key one I've been to, but I think everyone had a good time.  We did the "White Elephant" thing, and I stole a gift card.  I felt kinda bad "stealing" a gift, but the person who first had it went up and ended up with another of the same, so no harm, no foul!

Found a very old friend on FB yesterday.  He had sent me a message back in freakin March, but it went to some "Other" folder in the message center that I'd never seen until yesterday.  I was going through FB's new security things and learned about it.  Craziness.  It's a cool story with him though... We met in a chat room (remember those?!) back when we were both in 8th grade which was 1997, I think.  We emailed and chatted all through high school, then finally met when we were 20 or so.  We kind of fell out of touch about five years ago.  It's nice to talk to him again.

I'm so excited for Tuesday!  I think I've nailed all my gifts for everyone this year.  My favorite one is for my step-dad.  He's a writer and has been in the process of turning one of his screenplays into a novel for quite some time now.  He's got it based in our old town and mentioned once he'd hoped to get a picture of the river at sunrise for the cover.  I finally dragged my ass out of bed early enough and drove there on a gorgeous morning this week.  There was a mist on the river, and the sun made it glow.  I noticed a cop keeping an eye on me, but I think he was just being nosy, haha.  The pictures turned out beautifully, and I can't wait for him to see them.  He's not in the best of health, and I don't know if he'll get to finish that book, but maybe this will keep him going on it for a bit.

Happy Holidays!

Ups and Downs

I last wrote about four days ago, and it seems like so much has happened since then.  Thursday I had a very weird date.  The guy was super nice, but kinda strange.  The highlight of the evening was when a random kid ran right up to me and got a little fresh.  He couldn't have been more than two, so I didn't hold it against him.  He had down syndrome and the brightest blond hair I think I've ever seen.  He looked right in my eyes and gave me the biggest smile.  Then his older brother came to retrieve him and shot me a look like I was about to kidnap him or something.  I won't lie... I thought about it.

Anyways, I got all sad after the date and ended up calling the husband that night.  I just really wanted to hear his voice.  He's still the one who knows me the best, and I want to talk to him all the time.  The conversation was really short and awkward, but he was very nice about it.

Then Friday and Saturday nights were much needed girls nights.  Margaritas at El Cerro with some coworkers after work Friday, then The Hangover 2, dessert downtown and a long chat in the park with friends last night.  Had lunch with another friend, her husband and their new little baby boy today.  He screamed every time I touched him, but then he'd smile at me.  Broke and melted my heart one after the other.

This afternoon was the best part though.  I had a date with a guy who really seems to like me back.  Good conversation and he's cute as hell.  He sent me a text about five minutes after he left that said "That was really nice".  I hope this one wants to stick around for a date number two.

Tomorrow I start my photography class!!!  Don't remember if I've said anything about it before, but it's a beginners digital course one night a week for eight weeks over the summer.  I have to bring in samples of my previous "work" and hopefully I won't have to get up in front of the entire class and show everyone.  Here's a little collage of some of the pics I'm taking in.  I'm excited. :)

Weekend in Music City

So this one is a little late since all this went down last weekend, but better late than never.  Nashville was pretty awesome and we loved it there!  We stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, the most beautiful hotel I've ever seen.  We toured the Parthenon and Ryman Auditorium.  We ate at some pretty great places including City House, Marche and Jack's Bar-B-Que.  We took a NashTrash tour of downtown with the Jugg sisters, and one sister tried to smother a guy with her bosom.  At one point they called me a whore, but they pretty much called everyone a whore.  It was a great time, and I tried to photograph it as we went along.  I really hope we get to move there!

Smoky deliciousness

Setting up the stage at Ryman Auditorium

The in-laws at the Parthenon... cute couple!

The husband's wood-fired pizza at City House...
house made belly ham, mozzarella,
grana padano, oregano, chilies... yum!

The view from our balcony at Gaylord Opryland Hotel

Even prettier at night

The NashTrash tour big pink bus

The smothering!

Attempts at Photography

Lately I've been learning about my beautiful new camera and how to use all the different functions and settings.  I read each page of the manual and now I'm starting in on some books about digital photography.

One of the first few "lessons" in the book I'm reading now is about shooting flowers against white and black backgrounds.  I only have a random assortment of artificial flowers in the house, but I figured they'd do to start out with.  I got a little carried away and must have taken 200 pictures.  Complete novice that I am, only a few turned out maybe halfway decent, but I had the best time taking them!  I absolutely love it!

These are a few of my favorites...