Catching up

In no particular order, here are some recent things from my life:

1. The Woo is curled up next to the keyboard, snoozing and purring. His eyes are scrunched up and his floofy feet will sometimes stretch out to make starfishy paws. Other times, he will roll over with his belly exposed, completely trusting and witout a care in his head, of which I am jealous. I adore this cat to no end.

2. I watched "Rachels Getting Married" off of Movies On Demand. Loved it, but I am a little sick of movie perfect familes. So this family wasn't perfect, but all of their combined friends and family were.

3. Bought an FM transmittery thing for the new car, whom I am currently referring to as "Miss Pretty", so I can plug in my iPod. Icanhastunage?

4. Went in to work Saturday thinking I could get things done - two of my coworkers were there, one with her daughter. I left after only an hour and a half. My point was to get things done ALONE. Plus, I am of the opinion that if those two spent less time during their regular day yapping and texting, they wouldn't need to come in extra...

5. So a couple of weeks ago, S. came to me and said that he didn't want to lose me forever, that he had been wrong about a lot of things and was ready and willing to make changes, whatever it took to get me back. So I guess we are together, but I am REALLY not sure that this is a) what I want, b) going to work, and c) even possible given our history. I alternate between being cautious and then being concerned that I am overthinking things by being too cautious. My brain is a scary little place.

6. I am thinking about dropping my bookclub. We all take turns picking boooks, and lately they have sucked. The Christmas Sweater was a book that I was embarrased to have been sen reading, and it was such a horrible schmaltzy book to pick for a book club. No great plot lines, no character development, just dreck. Next book on deck is something by Jodi Picoult. Nothing against the book yet, as I haven't started reading it, but this author falls under chick-lit to me. I want a little something else out of a book club. The former club I was in discussed "real" books - The Handmaidens Tale, Middlesex, The Kite Runner, etc. Books of substance. Maybe I will try and draft my own club?

7. S. would like to move to Florida. His father has a house there that we used for a vacation once. Not much, but it would be our own house, in a quiet place and with very cheap rent. What's the problem, you ask? Florida. The bug capital of the world. There is a creek behind the house, which horseshoes out to a bay. The Bay? IDK. Anyway, the place is rife with things that have too many legs. And I have issues with just hosing down the place with chemicals every month. Can't be good for me or the cats. But the rent would be less than half of what we are paying now, which would allow quicker pay off of MissPretty, and there is a college very nearby so I could finally use my scary little brain. Of course, S. and I are still in a honeymoon phase, where everything is going smoothly, but in 6 weeks or 6 months...? Also, S. has been back over the road for 3-7 days at a time, so living together full time may not even work.

8. Last week, S. and I drove MissPretty over to his moms house to take her to dinner. She needs help - that's for another post though. So while we were there I checked the mail and discovered a package. I didn't remember ordering anything recelty from Amazon, but it was a possibility....turned out to be a package of jewelry from GEM. The man is entirely too generous. 3 pairs of silver and gemstone earrings, 2 necklaces and a beautiful delicate amethyst bracelet. Presents form myself are great, but random gifts form friends totally rock. I need to finish a cross stitch present for him soon. I did mail a package last week for GG, Greg and GEM, so I am not slacking on my end.

That's all for now. It is 7:20 and I have not slept well the past week or so, so I am going to take a double dose of the sleeping meds and conk out.

Birthday Loot and a movie review

I am now officially loving my job. When I interviewed, the owner told me all about how every one there was part of a big family and every person was just so special. Well, cynical little old me sort of blew that off as just a standard interview team player kind of speech. The other employees had told me that since the pay was not great and the benefits non-existent, that the owner tried to really make us happy anyway. I sort of blew that off too, since I am so new to the company, and again more than a little suspicious and cynical.

I was so wrong. I had mentioned that I am going through a bad breakup and didn't want to make my own cake, so the owner baked a cheesecake for me. Thats right. Homemade, with fresh strawberries on top!!!!

And there were streamers, balloons and GIFTS! I was blown away by the generosity, especially since I have only worked there for a month. I received the Happy perfume, along with the Clinique freebie bag (they are so expensive, but their giveaways are great!), a Lancome freebie bag with all sorts of goodies in it, a quilted gold travel toiletry bag (prettier than it sounds), oodles of bath and body works lotions and potions in a very pretty spring-y tote bag, lip balms (I am an addict), and assorted mani-pedi type things.

Not only was all of this a complete surprise to me, but it came at just the right time too. I have to think it is karma, and that for the moment, things are going exactly as they are meant to for me, and will only keep getting better.

I also received a package of goodies from GEM - 8 rings, 2 necklaces, a beaded lipstick holder and a wall hanging thing that says "wish upon a star". GEM is the worlds best shopper of thrift stores and flea markets and always finds amazing things, although some of my goodies were new. He is incredibly kind and generous, as well as thoughtful - and he sends funny little cards for virtually every holiday. I will have to send my next boyfriend to a boot camp with GEM on how to treat a person really well and find little trinkets for special occasions! He has been very supportive of me during all the issues with S., and though he does not always take my side, he is looking out for what is best for me and offers oints of view I might not have thought of otherwise. I hope all of you out there have such a great person in their lives.

On to the movies!

I watched "The Other Boleyn Girl" on Tuesday. Reader(s), save your money. I had read, and enjoyed, the Phillippa Gregory book it was based on, but the movie was so so much less than what it could have been. I had also read that Rue McClanahan (Blanche Devereaux from The Golden Girls) was in the movie. But she didn't have a speaking role that I heard, and I didn't even see her, which was disapointing. Anne just seemed like a petty bitch, and not the very smart and scheming person she seemed to be in her life. And Mary was a total pushover patsy, but I think in reality she was probably just as aware of the political climate she was living in as Anne, but the portrayal was so weak in this movie.

So the movie sort of sucked, but I was out and about enjoying myself on my birthday, so it wasn't a total loss. I think I want to see the ovie about Edith Piaf, La Vie En Rose next, not sure if it is out on DVD yet, but hopefully it will be soon if not already.

I am pleased with myself for another reason - I have three cards, written in, signed, sealed, addressed and stamped to go out in the mail tomorrow. I love getting non-bill mail, so I am sending it to other people as well, and I hope to do it more frequently. In GEM's card, I sent him a little sampler from the "Subversive Cross-stitch" line that says "Please don't do coke in the bathroom". GEM is not a former club kid per se, but he was very much on the prowl in the 80's and will hopefully get a kick out of it. I am also sending him a lovely purple crocus/lily one that I got the pattern for free online. I am getting craftier in my older age!

My new coworkers have also given me the heads up on some possible apartments to check out as well as some to avoid. All in all, things are going pretty well here in Marias World. And still I am not taking antidepressants. I think maybe I am just getting better because I am taking more control over my life, and I am going to keep moving forward and being more positive.