Just Heather

I’m meeting Rachael for dinner again tonight! Yay! She just told me I have to pick the place. Apparently we don’t know each other that well just yet. I am so indecisive about things like that. I’ve already picked 3 different places in the hour since I got her email.

It doesn’t help that I’m a picky eater. So you know the 3 I picked are virtually the same anyway. I have come to one decision—they must sell Coke. Not Pepsi. Coke. I don’t like fountain Pepsi so I end up drinking Mountain Dew. By the gallon. Not a good thing this week with my mind already racing.

I didn’t get to sleep last night until after 3. I just couldn’t shut it down. There’s so much to do before Friday and I’m so nervous. So to compensate, I’m pretty much doing nothing. Okay, that’s not true. I am raising my Literati rating pretty decently.

So I’m staring at my Literati tiles for like 5 minutes, wishing that ‘B’ was really a ‘P’ so I would have the greatest word ever—triple word score, double word score, double letter scores, and bonus for using all my tiles. Then it hits me—’braising’ is in fact a real word.

I’m thinking I should play only mindless games at 2 a.m. Thanks, Mir, for giving me something to think about in the middle of the night!

A few months ago, I “met” Rachael from Rainbow Fish. She stopped by one day and commented about being from Small Town, Indiana just like me. It turned out to be the same small town! I contacted her last week to see if she’d like to get together for lunch before she goes back to school. I hesitated at first because I didn’t want her to think I was some psycho stalker, but she had apparently wanted to ask me the same thing. I just got home from our dinner.

I can now officially say “my friend Rachael” rather than using the term to mean “this girl whose blog I read.” We spent 2 1/2 hours at dinner and never lacked for things to talk about. I had a great time (of course, having an evening out with no kids was a huge bonus for me!) and got to know Rachael a lot better. I’m glad to call her a friend.

This was my first experience meeting someone from online. It was also the first time I have ever considered it. The blog world is so different from anything I’ve ever been a part of. I call many of you “my friend” because it’s easier, but also because I truly feel like I know you—and you know me—as well or better than people I know in real life.

2004 was one of my most difficult years, but it was made so much easier just by having other people to vent to and read about. It turns out I’m not all alone. I’m not strange. Okay. Maybe I am, but so are you! This blog has been like a diary with feedback, and I love it. Thanks for sticking by me, even when all I’m doing is whining. Thanks for giving me something else to think about besides my own chaotic life. Thanks for letting me into your lives.

Genuine was talking about his favorite t.v. shows as a kid (and showing his age, I might add!) I grew up on classic 80s sitcoms. My sibs and I never missed an episode of Saved By the Bell. That might be why we seem to be the only people on earth who noticed that they all went to junior high in Indiana, but somehow moved the entire high school to California? I guess we’re not much of a market here in Redneckville.

Maybe it’s because my formative years were spent with TGIF tv that I am such a sucker for a happy ending. Every single one of life’s problems can be solved in under 30 minutes. If it’s a really, really big problem with life-changing consequences I might give you an hour to work around to the sappy hug just before the credits.

Genuine solved mine in 30 seconds. I was beginning to feel old when my old favorites started appearing on Nick at Night. Then he made me feel all better by talking about a bunch of shows I’ve never seen (and some I’ve never even heard of). I don’t even have to use the “young at heart” line. I’m just plain young. It’s all relative, you know.

I loved Lauren’s game (if you knew me in real life, what do you think you would know?), but since I have something like two readers I didn’t quite think I could pull it off. Instead, I decide to play True Confession a la genuine:

  1. I actually love the days when I don’t get anything done because little one insists on being held all day.
  2. If you ask me to bring snacks, I will never say no.
  3. I take a nap at least twice a week.
  4. If you say 69—in any context—I will giggle uncontrollably.
  5. If you think I don’t like you, you’re probably right.
  6. I didn’t forget what you asked me to buy; it just wasn’t on sale.
  7. We have enough food in this house to last at least 2 months; I will go shopping anyway.
  8. I am fashion illiterate.
  9. Sometimes, when I call “not it” as hubby gets home, I really did know she was dirty before he walked in the door.
  10. I do, in fact, think my kid is smarter than your kid.

Genuine asked what makes me happy. Typing out a short list made me smile. It’s nice to think about what love and happiness are sometimes.

This has been such a crazy month. It is so easy to get stressed out and forget about the good stuff. In an effort to kick out the yucky, out of control feelings here is a list of my happy thoughts:

  • Hugs and Kisses from my girls
  • quiet time with hubby
  • my girls’ giggles
  • turning down the blankets before climbing into bed
  • finding out hubby has already put away the toys before I come downstairs at night
  • sleeping in
  • helping a friend
  • Pizza Night
  • curling on the couch in the middle of the day to watch a favorite movie
  • bubble baths
  • the feeling of my husband’s hand on my back as we walk together
  • paying $5 for a cart full of groceries
  • the sweet sound of “I love you” from a toddler’s lips
  • Special “I love you” notes from a new writer
  • a phone call for no reason
  • blank spaces on my calendar
  • a cool breeze on a sunny day
  • giving the perfect gift
  • a gentle reminder that Someone’s watching over me
  • a yummy candle scent filling the house
  • finding cash left in a pocket—even if it’s just $1
  • getting ready for Date Night
  • a mid-week lunch with hubby

Okay, so now I have this blog. I’m not really sure what to do with it. I think my hubby is hoping I’ll talk at him less. I am a stay at home mom to our 2 children, ages 5 and 10 months. While I think it is the most important job in the world, it leaves me craving adult conversation at the end of the day. So maybe this will be where I pretend I’m talking to other people who are potty-trained and don’t have imaginary friends (you don’t, do you?) Maybe I’ll just use it so the hubby will actually hear me. He seems to pay attention more when technology is involved. I suppose that is the geek in him. Or, maybe I’ll do as Chet suggested and use this blog to report on behind the scenes life with Super!Geek. Nah, that would only encourage him.