ummm.... wow.

playlist... to be added to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiISAo-k74s LINK

Reminder

Mantra to self: It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. It's not all about you. ..... why the fuck not?

Just Enough...

It is funny how vacations make you glad to come back home. I mean, I didn't want to leave the beach - it was great fun and more relaxing than anything i've experienced in way too long... but i was so very, very glad to pull into my driveway this afternoon. If the condo had been extended another day, i most certainly would have stayed longer - but it IS nice to come home and have a day to collect myself before hitting the work world running on monday.

I loved the 2 mile walks on the beach i did each day, with company and alone. Different experiences. Alone I found myself being more fanciful with my environment. A dead tree washed ashore became bones the ocean had vomited forth. The sea foam which undulated like a living creature reminded me of the legends of mermaids and how they became foam when they hit the shore. I could see how such myths were born. The snakey weaving of sand that blew in ocean-like waves about an inch above the compacted sand base fascinated me. And the sun breaking threw the storm clouds and setting the water aflame had me frozen and basking in the amazing visuals.

Living in the city, i think we sometimes forget these amazing things that can been seen when we step out of the concrete and onto the sand. I feel reconnected ... maybe just a little... but the thread that ties me to the planet is definitely more vibrant than it was before my trip to the beach.

Eeep. I'm how old?

There is something slightly insane about the madcap gaiety surrounding birthdays. We're all wahooing and singing out in joy at being one year closer to the finish line? Normally, i detest my birthdays. Completely, thoroughly abhor them and try to slink past them will little or no fanfare.  I decided this year to turn over a new birthday leaf and jump into the whole "Yay me!" shenanigans with both feet. I figured I might actually enjoy the day if i did. But i woke up this morning with the exact same "aw fuck, it's my birthday again" thought. Only it's a little worse .... because I danced around with the happy face the last several days, so I have to now keep it firmly in place ALL DAY and hope it does crack my makeup.

Sometimes I am my own worst enemy. yay me.

Yesterday i survived the governmental nightmare which is the DMV so i could renew my drivers' license. It was Service Line Hell. Window two said "express renewal." I waited there until they told me i had to go thru window nine first. Window 9 sent me back to window 2, which had me fill out paperwork and then sent me to window one where i had to pay and then wait for window four which didn't need to see me after all and told me to wait for window three where i finally collected my brand-spanking-new license. I had to confirm all the info was correct at window four though before they would let me leave. I staggered out of there grateful that i don't have to do it again for ten years.

Vacation Countdown

I haven't taken a vacation in about three years and haven't been to the beach in fifteen. I don't think I've been this excited about a vacation in like...ever. 

My sister is already there with a friend and from what i hear much shopping has already ocurred. Bitches. Can't believe they went shopping without me. :P

The scramble to get work wrapped up so i can get the fuck out of here has been muy loco and i keep having to make lists of things i can't forget to do... like renew my driver's license which expires tomorrow. Ooops. I ran down to the DMV yesterday but of course they had just instituted new hours and were now closed on mondays, effective yesterday. Groan.

I'm planning on making this my catchup year, where I take off more time to just fucking enjoy life. Heading to Savannah to meet up with a close friend at the end of the month. Going to Santa Fe in July or August to revel in the arts, and then meeting up with friends at an arts festival in North Carolina in October. If I can swing the money I also plan on popping over to LA in December or January and visiting friends there. Hopefully next year I can make it over to europe. 

Yup. I have lots of lost vacationing to make up for. 

Starting tomorrow. And it is funny, i usually dread birthdays but this year, because of the beach and promises of copious amounts of alcohol (WTF is Swampwater anyhoo?) i'm actually looking forward to it.

Retail WTF?

Between racing from office to home today I popped into one of the upscale clothing stores thinking I would "quickly" (ha!) purchase either a haltered swimsuit top or haltertop bra so i can wear the absolutely adorable halter sundress i bought last week. 

I walked in and the store was dark inside with only a few lights on. I asked if they were open and they said "yes, yes, of course." Hmmm. Okay. Put new meaning to fashion shopping in the dark.

Browsing through racks and racks of gag-inducing swimsuits I discovered that anything I liked didn't have my size. The days of carrying more than one item in a popular size are apparently over and gone. In the midst of desperately seeking swimsuit, a saleswoman approached and offered to help. I told her what i was looking for and that I didn't think they had anything that met my needs. She insisted that she could find exactly what I wanted. I shook my head and strolled away, looking one more time in case I had missed something suitable. (heh. swimsuit pun.) 

The next thing I knew, the woman, who had that half-crazed look in her eye that commission hungry sales people can get, was shoving an armful of swimsuits into my arms and dragging me to the dressing room.  Now, i don't know if she was trying to butter me up or was just a poor judge of size but half of what she handed me was two sizes too small. What remained was either hideous or mislabeled by a delusional manufacturer. One single piece actually fit. It wasn't exactly what I liked since it had a funky black and white pattern all over it... but it might have worked. Except for one tiny problem. Now I know my boobs have gotten less...endowed... because my everyday bras can testify to it. However, this particular bikini top somehow made me look like i was sporting Double-Ds. 

The saleswoman asked me if everything was okay and i responded that i found one that fit but the way my breasts spilled out of it was pretty obscene for public wear. I stepped out of the dressing cubby so she could see. 

"Looks great!"

"Ummm... my boobs..."

"They're lovely! Will that be Mastercard or Visa?"

After removing the top and letting her drag me to several more racks, I regretfully (not) told her that I just didn't see spending money on something that would get me arrested. I beat a hasty retreat for the lingere department, thinking I'd have better luck with a bra. I was immediately pounced on by another (very prissy) saleswoman who wanted to know where I was going.

"Lingere."

"You can't."

"I ...ummm... it's right there. I need a bra."

"Our systems are down. Can't you see the lights are out? Let me walk you to the exit."

I asked her why the hell the swimsuit department had just spent an hour trying to sell me a swimsuit if they couldn't actually SELL me anything. Heehee. The look on her face when she stomped off toward the swimsuits was priceless. 

So, no cute halterdress going into my luggage tomorrow for the beach. Damn.