Friday the Thirteenth

Don't go down to the lake.  I've seen the movie, or at least parts of it.  I know not to go down to the lake!  I never assumed that Happy Hour would be the thing to do me in!

If you are a superstitious person you would probably say that Friday the thirteenth didn't go so well for me.  If you are me you would say that the universe is shifting again, and it just happened to jolt extremely hard yesterday.

It was a stressful day at work and I shot a couple of things out into the universe in frustration.  You guessed it.  That is when the universe decides to listen, and WHAM!  The problem is, I am given options, but not answers.  I am given reminders, but no guidelines.

I made a comment to someone  "Have you sold that house yet?  I am ready to become a kept woman!"  Shortly afterwards he got an offer, countered, and the house sold.  No, I am not kidding.  I'm not really going to become a "kept" woman. :)  That is a little too much leisure for me.  Although being able to devote more time to writing, and working at what I love because I love it, not to pay the bills, would pretty much be heaven.  Plus, he is definitely an amazing man.  So of course it's complicated. :)

I sent another message out to the universe, and received a prompt reply, but that one I'm going to have to hold close to the vest for awhile longer.  Lets just say I took a hard look at some things that need to change, and since I do have a couple of clear goals, it's time to actually do something about it.

So after running around all day like a chicken with her head cut off I was really looking forward to Happy Hour!  That is when things took a very odd turn.  Boomer asked me a question about Brown Eyes' mother's Nigerian husband.  (No, I'm not kidding.)  There is some scuttlebutt going on out in the country involving a web scam, and there's a Nigerian man's pic on it.  She showed me, and I couldn't tell if it was him or not, and while I heard he was finally given clearance to come here, I wasn't sure if he had in fact arrived.  "Well, I'll just text Brown Eyes and ask!  I'm sure he'd like to know if this dude is behind things."  So I sent a text asking if this man was indeed in country now.  My phone immediately starts singing "All the Singles Ladies" by the Chippettes (my weird sense of humor), because that's his ring tone.  We talk for a minute about it, and while he doesn't think the man is here he would like to see the pic.  You're at Happy Hour?  Be right there.

What?  Uh............

At least I didn't have too much time to think about it, because he was indeed right there. Upon examining the photo, no it wast his Nigerian step father, who is fifteen or so years his junior. Brown Eyes probably stayed and visited for a half hour, it was all too surreal for me.  When Boomer got a little carried away with some female business he made a quick escape. :)  We all laughed, and then Boomer said.  "Gee I like him.  He's funny, he should join us more often."  I'm sure the look I shot her was pretty heartbroken.  "Um, HELLO?"  "Oh, yeah..... sorry."

That called for another whiskey coke, which went down way too fast.  Leading to an inebriated shopping trip next door for eggs, butter, and peanut butter and long discussions about types and prices of said peanut butter.  I really wanted to go home after that, but knew that I shouldn't drive, so I changed partners from Boomer (ditched I tell ya) to Sandy and her pal "Lady B" and headed down to V.I.P. to hang out and sober up.

At some point there were three texts between me and #2.  While I enjoy his company, and we did have fun again last Tuesday, my gut is telling me "wait, something isn't right."  My gut isn't wrong, where I go wrong is when I second guess myself and don't listen.  So while I'm not scrapping it yet, the caution flag is out.

Stuck with Lady B is always interesting, in ways I will not share.  Unlike Herself, who will (and did) share every detail of her life, no matter how personal.  I know things I never wanted to know, nor did I ask to know.  Now, I will talk like this with my gals sometimes.  The girl talk can get down right "blue waffle" raunchy.....but they are my girls, she is not.  Do not share things about your "Lady Business" (hence her name) with people you barely know.  It isn't seemly.  As my father would say...... Uncouth. :)

So I wound up back home safe and sound around ten.  Although pretty banged up on the inside.  Nothing happens for weeks, then in the span of a few hours I get pulled six ways to Sunday.  Windows slam shut, doors open, and reality slaps me in the face, hard.  Someday I will tell you that I'm well and truly over it, over him.  Today my friends, is just not that day.

We have two more Friday the thirteenths this year.  I should probably look them up on the calendar, use vacation days, and go hide somewhere..............without my cell phone. :)

Fair Weather Friends

I was thinking about splitting this blog into two, but the stories intertwine, so we'll see if I can do a decent job with the whole shebang!

Steve (xhubster) and I went to the Head of the Lakes fair, in Superior, together yesterday.  While we hang out from time to time, it's the first fun thing we've done together in years.  The day dawned HOT and muggy, becoming quite miserable by mid-afternoon.  We backed our fair start time til 6pm, but it really didn't help any.  I ran for the cheese curds right when we got there, because in that heat I knew I wouldn't be hungry for long, and I wasn't.  The icee was the  best thing I ate until the later night brownie sundae.  We slogged through the midway, and the barns, then found a fairly cool spot to just chill for a bit.  We had a nice visit, and some serious conversation about some things going on in his life.

The main concert, Pure Prairie League, (70's band that I barely know) was scheduled for 8, and at about 7:45 the texts start.  The gist of them is this:   The band came in to The Shack on Friday night, they were staying at The Baywalk Inn which is a block behind, and Jon met some of them.  They became pals and he got backstage passes.  Oh and by the way, they'll be back at The Shack after the concert if you guys want to join us!

Steve and I wandered over to the concert area and listened for a bit, then Lisa and Jon joined us and we all had a rather nice time!  The band sounded amazing.  They are, after all, not spring chickens anymore.  There are two younger guys in the group, and then some original members.  Awesome show!  Steve and I held hands through "Let me love you tonight" which I didn't realize they sang, and then when they sang "Amy" at the end he put his arm around me, and I put my head on his shoulder and we swayed, just like old times.  Too bad there weren't more moments like that in the old times.......perhaps there wouldn't be an X in front of his name.  It was sweet, and romantic, and a good time.  The sun went down (thank God) and we spent another hour re-walking the midway, under a big full moon, just enjoying each others company.  Oh, and a huge brownie sundae! 

This is the part of the story where the new me kicks in.  Normally the end would have been, Steve dropped me off at 10:30, I took a shower and went to bed.  After all, it was 10:30.  Who knows what I might miss on Sat night live.  The apartment was so stuffy.  I kicked the sandals off my aching feet, sat on my throne chair and contemplated life.  Pick up your phone dummy, this night is NOT over.  So I did, and then headed out to The Shack, where I met all the members of the band and visited with them, and Lisa and Jon, for about the next hour.  I learned a few new jokes.......that I might repeat to some of you in private......oh...here's one.  What did the buffalo say as his son was leaving?   Bison.   Ha.  Hilarious to drunk people. 

So a little after midnight we start saying our good-byes.  I really wish I had had the guts to have Mike sing for me, baby steps I guess.  I did, however, end up giving John, the keyboard player a ride back to the hotel.  He was stumbling around the parking lot, and asked our Jon for directions to the hotel.  I looked at Jon and said, Does he need a ride?  All I could see were the band member found in ditch headlines.  So Jon the band member climbed into my Eclipse and vroooom off we went into the night.  Very nice guy.  They all were.  To my brother in law Tom:  Yes, he remains a chaste, pure, keyboard player.  Sixty-six, married, and extremely intoxicated just really isn't my style.  :)

I'm so proud of myself!  If you get a chance, take it.  If it changes your life, LET IT!  Yesterday I crashed the bouncy house.  How about you???

OH, I almost forgot.  After knowing Lisa for....geez, I don't know, fifteen years or so.  I finally heard her sing!  Not bad my friend, not bad at all!