"We're gonna rock down to Electric Avenue"I am finally getting around to updating the blog. Now, I know I talk about being a slacker constantly and of course this is proven by nearly two months of inactivity on this site. However, I have been updating my myspace page on a much more regular basis. For some reason I feel like the blogger page is more “official” and I have to have sort of sense of purpose or at least complete sentences on this page. I can’t explain this thought process with any sense of rhyme or reason, though. I do feel bad about not keeping people who are not on myspace up to date on my life, no matter how small and insignificant those updates may be.
So (drumroll please) you are not only going to be blessed with a synopsis of the most recent events in my life, I am going to treat you with a string of the myspace blog entries since my last time on this page. Don’t get too excited…I am not promising insight or depth but it will give you a peek into my crazy mixed up brain!
About 3 weeks ago, I got first-hand experience on the effects of the largest power outage in St. Louis history. There were two storms that knocked out upwards of 600,000 people in the metro area – and I’ve seen some reports of closer to the 1 million mark some places. I was talking to the boy on the phone when the first rolled through Wednesday, July 19th from my meeting in DC and the winds were very, very bad. Some places experienced somewhere around 90 mph winds from what I’ve read.
My arrival home on Thursday was then, of course, to a hot and dim house. I was really hoping for the power to go back on Thursday night not knowing how bad we had been hit, so that didn’t happen. After an evening of dinner and a movie (and air conditioning) I ended up staying at a friend’s house because it was so darn hot. Why work couldn’t have been affected by the outage, I don’t know, but I had to go in on Friday. That morning another intense storm blew through and took out even more homes in the area, just as they were starting to work on getting things repaired.
No power still on Friday. Stayed with the boy. No power still on Saturday. Went home to check on the cats, pack a bag, and throw away the spoiled food in my freezer & fridge. Sang at a wedding that was relocated because of the outage. Moved to the parents’ house for the next 5 days, periodically checking on the kitties and obsessively checking the Ameren website for how many people were still without power and my own little “personal outage” page that kept telling me I had no power. I became completely obsessed with the discussion of the outage and the hope that one day I might be able to go home. The urge to be in my own space and own bed after I am gone for work is pretty strong, but again, it was July in St. Louis where heat and humidity rule. I am not insane. It was HOT.
Wednesday the boy and I went out to dinner and returned to my neighborhood in hopes that the power would be back on and we could watch a movie or something. As we pulled along the main road, I started seeing porch lights on the houses burning, igniting the little flame of hope in my heart. Turning into the front part of the subdivision, there were more porch lights on. I was really excited at this point. Alas, when we pulled onto my street everything was still dark. I almost cried I was so disappointed, as this day marked 12 days since I my life had been “normal.”
Thursday was an interesting day at work. I was semi-conned into going to a golf event for work. When I was approached all non-golfers were encouraged to go, it was going to be just some fun and there were golf carts and beer in the picture. A couple days before the event I find out that I actually have to play golf in a foursome. Wha-wha-what? This is not what I signed up for. I attempted to weasel out of it but my arm was twisted and I ended up going. Now, don’t feel too sorry for me. I did get paid for spending a day on the golf course. And I actually had fun. I am terrible, but every time I made contact with the ball I felt pretty ok about myself. The few times I actually made it fly more than 10 feet were pretty exhilarating, to be honest. The boys (of course it was all guys) were very kind and coached me well. It’s not something that I would do every day, but it was surprisingly fun.
As I was sitting in the clubhouse having a drink after the game (yes, I said clubhouse, and yes, it was still me and the boys club) my cell rings. E-liz is calling to tell me she stopped by my house and THE POWER IS ON!!!!!!!! I think I actually shed a tear over this. Being the great friend she is, she closed the windows and turned down the air and I got to sleep in my own bed that night. It was so joyful!
I got to spend three beautiful nights in my own house with my own stuff in my own bed before my family left for Hilton Head, SC for vacation. We had a great time – spent time on the beach, at the pool (and the pool bar), took a couple of boat rides, saw dolphins, collected shells, held an alligator, went putt-putting, ate out and watched movies. It was completely relaxing and so what I needed. After a week, I was ready to come home and see my boy, see the kitties and sleep in my own bed. (I talk a lot about sleeping in my own bed… weird because it’s not like it is a super comfortable mega bed or anything. It’s actually kind of a piece of crap and I need a new mattress. But I guess it is my piece of crap.)
So now, it’s back to the grind. August is busy and then it’s just a race to the end of the year. I’m traveling a lot for work, so I know it will fly by. And there you have my life story of the last few weeks. Enjoy the other entries below and relish in the excitement that is my life!
Saturday, August 05, 2006
i'm backi'm tired.
i'll have to fill you in on my little life later.
kisses.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
VACATION
i'm going on vacation tomorrow! yay! a week on the beach is just what the doctor ordered.
i will have to entertain you with stories about my power outage (it's back on), golfing (i sucked) and more when i get back.
be good. :)
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
day seven as a transientstill no power. i am trying to keep a positive attitude (you know me, polly positive) but i am getting whiny about it.
i want to go hooooooooooooooooooome! and sleep in my oooooownnnnn bed! waaaaaaaaaaaaah!
whew! glad that is out of my system. i am hopeful the power will be back on tomorrow. tomorrow, i love ya, tomorrow. you're only a day away. and now i am just slap-happy and stupid and boring the tar out of all of you. so i'll stop.
remind me to tell you about me golfing tomorrow. should be entertaining. or something.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
three days and countingi am still without power at my house. it went out weds night while i was still out of town and hasn't gone back on yet. for me and about 300,000 other people in STL.
i have been a vagabond the last few nights, sleeping at different places with AC and am at my folks' house tonight. i've been back to check on the cats, pick up laundry to do here, clean out my freezer of about $60 of spoiled food, and pack an overnight bag for who knows how many nights.
please ameren, make my block the next block you fix. i've been home for days and still have yet to sleep in my own bed (although I'm not complaining about the bed I slept in last night).
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
oh say can you see...
i can see the washington monument from my hotel room.
i can see a glass of wine on the desk in front of me.
i can see the awesome highlights that my hairdresser jim gave me about 10 days ago.
i can see my reflection looking damn tired in the mirror.
i can see the end of my meeting happening very soon.
soon and very soon i will be coming back home, sleeping in my own bed, driving the new jeep, hanging with the boy, being very happy to be home again.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
cara + camera phone= DANGER!hi y'all. i'm in DC for work. Not working tonight, but tomorrow the madness ensues.
i recently got a new camera phone (thank you motorola for making crap phones that keep breaking and getting me upgrades for free) and have been snapping random pics A LOT. often whilst drinking. or sitting around my house with the cats. and it also brings out my vanity as i try to get a cute shot of myself. i am a dork.
anyway, just found out how to get them off my phone and onto the web. probably costing me an arm and a leg because it's through t-mobile, but hopefully the boy can help me figure out a better way someday.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
YAR!Went to see the new "Pirates" movie tonight. It was fun and entertaining. My boyfriend Johnny Depp is adorable.
However, the favorite quote of the night was this: "Billy Ocean is a bossy pimp." And it started with a conversation about the movie - figure that one out.
Liz is getting a t-shirt with that quote. She will be the envy of many.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
the name gamemuch better today and it's not even because i had two beers tonight!
i have exciting news! my dad bought a new car so i get to buy his jeep! i am so happy to have AC, a radio, and a sunroof i can hardly stand it.
so, the search is out for a name for the new wheels. my rules are simple:
1) the name has to be a "real person" name (not "car" or "green hornet" or anything like that)
2) it has to be a male name. girls drive boy cars.
3) it has to "fit" the type of car. mine is a dark purple jeep grand cherokee, somewhere in the early to mid 90s model year.
ideas anyone?
Sunday, July 09, 2006
yucki'm kind of schmoopy tonight.
earlier this evening was fun...hanging with my girl marcie for her birthday - i sucked at bowling and played the jukebox.
but now i'm home and moping around watching dumb chick movies. i need to just go to bed and start again tomorrow. fresh start, all that jazz.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
a bunch of random crap, or my typical blogtoday was the first day back to work after a lovely 4-day weekend. it was not too terribly bad but I still didn't want to be there.
my 4th was excellent; BBQ, pool, drinks, a little smooching... it was all good
i love Dane Cook's Tourgasm on HBO. i'm watching them throw things into Niagara Falls right now.
i have about a zillion mosquito bites. trying very hard not to scratch.
my wrist is finally feeling better but my shoulder is currently hurting. i am an f-ing mess.
the cats are snoozing on the couch. i wish they would go and do something productive like clean their catbox or vacuum. they totally don't pull their weight.
i have nothing else exciting to report, i was going to reminisce about independence days of yore but am too lazy to think that hard. so you get this load of crap. wallow in it because you love me.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
wasting timethat's all i did last night. totally unproductive and lazy on the couch. of course, it's my one "free" evening this week so i should have done a little more, but did i care? no.
and this morning it's hard to get started. i was gung ho for about 15 minutes when I first got to the office but now i have no desire to do the project i really need to work on.
ugh. so i'm blogging and wasting a few more minutes before i HAVE to dig into it.
oh, and it is weird/hard to type right now. my wrist has been hurting for a while and mom diagnosed me with tendonitis. i bought a wrist brace to sleep in, and it didn't help that much so now i am wearing to to work in as well and it is weird and i look like a geek.
ok. that's it. gotta get my rear in gear.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Feeling the loveWow, the last three comments i've gotten make me feel so loved! I would love to come and visit all of my friends...let's take a look and the travel plans of your wandering friend, me.
July: I'll be in DC for about a week. Anyone I know live close to there?
August: More personal travel planned here - first week I am trying to get to Hilton Head, SC with the fam. Come see me at the beach if you are close! Then mid-month I do have a Chicago trip planned. I will be staying with Jen, but would love to try and catch up with friends in Chicagoland (Kasi?) Then the end of the month I am in Denver and will be catching up with the fam.
September: I'll be in Dallas for a meeting towards the end of the month.
October: I'll be in San Antonio mid-month for work - big Texas meetings two months in a row. May also swing over to Austin for a few days while I'm in the neighborhood.
November: Tentatively may go to a planning meeting in Nashville. If I do end up going, I will probably stay extra to try and catch up with people.
December: Big meeting in Nashville, extending the trip is still TBD.
and that's the year, folks. As you can see, most of the travel is for work so I might slip in another personal trip here or there. Unfortunately Minnesota isn't on the roster, Aaron. :(
See why more and more vacation for me is being able to stay at the house and hang with the kitties?
I get to leave work in less than an hour - I am so stoked!
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Girls Night!Dinner + Drinks + More Drinks + Girl Talk = Fun
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
sometimes things work out
isn't that nice?
when you don't expect it, life puts a gem in front of you. it might be in the form of a random encounter turning into a friendship (or more), a new opportunity when you were at the end of your rope, someone reaching out to you when you needed to get out of your head...
call it grace or karma or whatever you believe, i'm just thankful for the times when it happens.
now if i could just get this mosquito bite on my ankle to stop itching all would be right with the world.
(((AND...SCENE!)))
And me getting ready to wash my face.
And Brian and Brockman with their scary doll twins. We saw lots of obnoxious spoiled children and I vowed to never take a daughter there for high tea. That place is seriously twisted.
