lxforever

“One friend came in / with lit / sparklers in both her hands for me / and saved the day / when I had run away / to darkness and black feelings”

—The Innocence Mission

“Everybody knows / it hurts to grow up / and everybody does / so weird to be back here / Let me tell you what / the years go on and / we’re still fighting / we’re still fighting it”

—Ben Folds

hurt, hurt, hurt

Oh Mortality May. Just one more day. One more day.

Hang in there.

May 2012 was a Disaster Zone. Brutal. It reminded me of a mini 2011. Not something I wish to repeat soon if ever, if I can help it. Good things happened, but mostly bad. I won’t miss it.

BUT. Tomorrow is JUNE, and there is a wonderful wedding ahead in just 9 days. THE EVENT of the year!!! Jenny and Hakan! Fun For All!!!

AND these last few days of May were preceded by 4 days off of solid fun (well, minus a few annoying details/events, I suppose) for Memorial Day weekend. Since these 4 days are mostly NOT representative of this sh*tshow of a month, they deserve an…

EOTW.

EOTW. My weekend began Thursday evening as I took Friday off at the advice of a trusted advisor. (NOTE, a very good choice/made a HUGE difference in my sanity to have four days off in a row where I did not have to keep my act together all damn day. BLISS.) And Thursday evening began with an ex(?)HITF HH reunion. Loring Park. Developer superstar BOYZ PJ/JV, Reverend Price, the DOPS, DOPS’s ofiance, and me. We discussed the future of online learning, the futility of online teaching, tips and tricks in the world of app dev, Java/C#, hating on design school and designers (Eric), Facebook pages for gov’t-related things (Petra), and more. I enjoyed a Surly Furious at JV’s rec. We parted ways and I went home to Jeff. Happy.

Friday Jeff was working but I was not. I rode my bike around the lakes, worked on wedding-related things, and went grocery shopping. Wrote a speech. Caught up on gymnastics gossip/gossip-board drama. Probably did more? I can’t recall? But it was a fine day off and much needed. Down time. Alone time. Jeff finally came home and I made us egg sandwiches (him) and BLTs (me). Awesome. We caught up on shows I think? Maybe not. Sorry, can’t remember. But it was nice.

Saturday…it was rainy. Jeff had to work. I drove him to work like a WIFE. I got home and cried a little bit. I was lonely, but also wanting to be alone…conundrums. Gah. Called Diana and Kristin and felt better. Finally got on the snake and got a’crackin’ on some more projects. It was the perfect sort of day for PROJECTS. Rainy rainy day, house to myself, Sex and the City marathon/Goodwill Hunting on TV, random gymnastics to follow along with – e.g., Simone Biles won the juniors portion of US Classic. Cool.

I accomplished a fair bit, then got dressed for yoga, packed the car, and went back to pick up Jeff. We went to a 5:30 75-minute C2 class downtown with one of our other favorite instructors. John. He is funny and energetic while also being very calming. The class was packed with yoga superstars. No mind. We fit right in and I put their handstands to shame. It was a very sweaty, very good class. 75 minutes = super. Yoga with Jeff = the best.

Showered there. They were playing the American Beauty soundtrack. Weird. Back home so Jeff could shower and we could dress up for dinner! Ginger Hop. One of our new favorite places. We were seated immediately. There was hardly anyone around which was kind of cool. I love being in town for Memorial Day weekend, because everyone else leaves. Anyway. The server was excelente as was the food. I got a ridiculous cocktail and Jeff got some Japanese beer. Jeff was IN LOVE with the food, me too, and we vowed to return soon. A long, leisurely, late dinner. Quite lovely. Always lovely to be alone with Jeff.

Blizzards. Home. Bed.

Sunday it was going to be very hot. We took our time getting our act together. Finally off! We visited Jeff’s grandpa’s grave. Always nice to do this weekend. Thank You Soldiers. I wish I had met him. Alas. Grandpas. 🙁 Life. Then to Bachman’s! Acquired many beautiful plants and supplies. Home to planty plant. After some shepherd’s hook confusion, we have a beautifully planted patch and a lovely little garden. Carrots! New heavy-duty spade. Etc. Finally we rinsed off and Jeff went to the gym, I went to the pool. Highland Park Pool….not very cool, actually. It is cheaper than Richfield and less trashy, but I prefer Richfield’s. But it was OK. Read my book and swam in the deep end.

Finally home. Read my book some more…addicted…finally showered and Jeff had fallen asleep. Late late evening napinski! I start dinner and a storm starts brewing. I get scared…! And so wake Jeff up. “You know what to do!” “Ok.” He loves WEATHER drama. I cook stir fry and he watches storms. Satellite goes out. Eh well that’s OK. Amazing stir-fry!

Then…? I don’t remember. OH YEAH! Mad Men. SUPER intense. Don kissing Peggy’s hand/Pegs leaving made me tear up a bit, it felt like leaving my first two jobs for sure (esp HITF). Oh agency life. I’m a sucker. I also teared up for Joanie…sad day. Yes this is a TV show I am aware. Anyway. Bed?

Monday…Monday Monday. I know I read my book on the patio and ate a lot of food! Eating and reading outside oh yeah! Lots of coldpress too…probably too much…I don’t care anymore. It is good and life is life. Anyway. Also lime beer! Jeff mowed and I planted seeds. Then off for a bike ride! It was an AMAZING ride, very fast, very intense (thanks to Jeff), up the river and goingsofast sofast sofassssst YES!! We got all the way to the Washington Ave bridge. Record time! Then back. Then relax. Then shower and GRILL! Jeff is a master griller. Steak and asparagus. We eat outside, then I work on projects. I’m exhausted from the bike ride and intend to sleep well but I’m pretty sure I woke up a lot. Oh Well.

So that my friends was a fantastic fun weekend with Jeff. I miss him from next week already 🙁 awwwww.

I am still hurting. That is that. There is nothing that can be done other than sitting with it. There is no way out other than through. But this week was a small improvement over the last. I just need more sleep.

Also Nationals next weekend too! Wow. I think I’ve got the team…Douglas Maroney Wieber Raisman Ross. Maybe sub Liukin/Li for Ross. We’ll see. But. That is my story for now.

Tomorrow Obama is in town…next door more or less. Exciting/confusing?! We’ll see. I think I should bike. Then pack then leave. Whew.

I am very very excited for the wedding and all of it. Just a few more days. My JJs. How I love them.

Happy June, I hope.