MargaritaTime

If I had to rate this week on an annoyingness scale of 1-10, I'd give it an 8. Sure, a score of 8 is nothing approaching a 10+, but it was just enough to put me in that space where I long for complete isolation from reality.

Each day I've started with a plan in mind and not much later, the entire thing is derailed with 75 new things that weren't even invented 15 minutes earlier. But such is life, right? If you can't be flexible, you'll have issues.

Last night after some much needed rain (ahhh, I love that sound), the weather turned and we're experiencing the first real taste of Fall here in Florida. It's that kind of delicious temperature that keeps you nestled in the covers and apparently also keeps your cell phone alarm on "silent" so you don't realize you're late as hell for work. I awoke with a startle this morning but was able to get ready in 20 minutes.

The weekend should provide a lovely reprieve from the insanity of the last 5 days.

We enjoyed a nice stroll in Bradenton's Village of the Arts this evening. Tomorrow morning, I'm meeting a friend going solo at Robinson Preserve for what promises to be a cool and delightful walk through some of the most gorgeous restored habitat in Manatee County.  When friends sleep in, you gotta forgive them.

And tomorrow evening, Husband and I are looking forward to the Girls, Inc. fundraiser on Longboat Key. That organization makes a tremendous difference in the lives of girls. The dedicated organizational leadership, its innovative programs and the stories I hear of girls who have a new sense of confidence are all prime examples of what good nonprofits do.

Margarita, anyone?  I'm in the mood for a nice cocktail.

The Hiatus and Scattered Reports from In Between

One of my least favorite words of all time is "hiatus." It's right up there with "hyena." 

I've taken the longest writing hiatus on Gropius since I started the blog but I'm checking in to report a few scattered happenings since we've talked last. My mind, work, and everything-in-between-and-overlapping have been too tied up in details to put anything reasonable on the old scrolling digital journal. And most of those things I felt that I would regret writing about later.

So here's a tiny sampling on the reportable mini-happenings from the last post:

Why "Hello there, Bono!"  Thank you very much to the gal at work who Photoshopped us together when the latest professional staff photos came in. Some people got a wrinkle or two removed; I got Bono. I'm really happy about the choice. Husband has been a great sport about it, since I obviously printed this and put it up on the fridge.

This is sweet Ingrid with her husband Stig. You may remember from previous posts that we lost her over a year ago to blood cancer. She was an amazing and inspirational soul for nearly everyone who met her--whether it was for an afternoon or a decade. I miss her daily. I've put a team together to walk in her honor on October 16.  The Light the Night Walks take place all over the country to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Many thanks to Pines Lake Redhead & all the others who gave money to support the cause. You rock, and I appreciate you so much. If you'd like to contribute to the cause, you can check out our team and donate here.

Thank goodness for the angels who walk here on Earth. My sweet Flanders is 12, and we woke up one morning to find her stumbling about. Every few steps her legs just seemed to give out. Her eyes were darting back and forth wildly like she was speed reading.  Our normal vet couldn't see her that day.  I was panicked.

A vet practicing an hour from our house (who donates every ounce of time outside of her practice to local animal rescue groups) took my call on her cell and came in on her day off to see Flanders. I am so grateful. Turns out Flanders had "old dog" vestibular disease, making her dizzy. That, along with arthritis, put her in bad shape. She's doing much better now, and I have her under the care of someone who looks at her as a member of my family, not just a furry object who lives in my house.

This is not your brain on drugs. This is my brain (not on drugs). Thoreau was not kidding when he said our lives were frittered away by detail. There are so many things I'm trying to mentally keep track of, I've been a bit scrambled lately. Okay, totally scrambled. Completely and totally freaking scrambled. I'm working on that since life doesn't usually change in it's pace, but the way you handle it can.

To all the regular Gropius visitors, thanks for hanging out with me. I'll be catching up with you this week during my down time in my trip to Charlotte. If you're new, thanks for reading and I hope you'll come back.

A Long Short Week

Always hard to imagine how a 4-day work week can end up seeming longer than the standard one, but it happens. It's been an interesting week, that's for sure.

We once again made it through Husband's homegrown firework display without anyone losing a finger or an eyeball. By the time the four hour outdoor pig fest of food bled into the light show, there were somewhere between 30 and 40 people in our front yard, most of whom I didn't even know. I'm always the one pooper who remains worried about injuries and liability. But is it so strange to do that? People are so sue happy these days--they're dying for a reason to pass responsibility on to someone else. On our side of the world, it's legal to sell fireworks but illegal to set them off. What's the message here? Not sure, but there wasn't a single law enforcement officer in the hood who didn't know what we were doing.

Back to work on Tuesday, there was madness approaching a publication deadline, preparing for a huge professional development event and a schedule packed full of meetings.  One of the many things I enjoy about work is getting to meet so many inspiring people who are all doing their part to make the world a more comfortable place for others. But I have noticed one thing:  there are--and always will be--people who are out there for one thing only--themselves. You can read their number from a mile away.

Special thanks to Uncommon Blonde for allowing me to grab her over for an interview with a local tv station as soon as she walked in the door at our Friday event.  I enjoyed the opportunity to ask questions with over 20 nonprofit leaders for a special that will air next week, but boy, was I pooped after the day.

It's a sunny Saturday, and I'm headed for a few hours of antiquing with the gals. I couldn't tell an antique from an Ikea trinket, but it's fun to see collectibles that have somehow distinguished themselves through decades of garage sales, living rooms and shelves. Have a good weeked, ya'll.

Totally Random Thoughts from the Week

A phenomenal speaker I heard this week mentioned that 80-90% of all of the gazillion thoughts to go through our heads each day are negative. Yikes. Is this true for me? I think not!
Here’s a totally random sampling of this week’s fleeting Gropius thoughts:

• Did the holidays ever happen? Oh yes they did. It was like 17 years ago.
• I lied. Oh my gosh I lied. I knew I wouldn’t do the dishes tonight.
• She does not deserve this. Please, Universe, toss her a bone at least. Her parents need help now, and she’s done everything she can.
• For the first time ever, I’m sick of pizza. This will change in 3 days.
• I need a good movie.
• There are exactly 187 days until our summer vacation. 7 months sounds better. Or does it?
• That was the best damn veggie spring roll I’ve had. I loved my Thursday night Thai dinner with Husband. Glad we can eat out. Some people don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Does this make me wasteful?
• That was rude, crude and socially unacceptable. (It was my 11th grade art teacher’s favorite saying when people were unnecessarily obnoxious and nasty. Along with “Don’t be an art chicken,” that was his mantra.)
• I love this lady’s speech! It’s so positive, so inspiring, so making me want to really jump up and down. [10 minutes later: Will this day ever come to an end?]
• Note to self: when I say “yes” to too many pro bono project invites for the future, when the future arrives I deserve the mess in my head.
• I am so SICK of people’s pettiness. Go back to third grade and tell the teacher.
• One day the lame porkie poopers who sit at home and post their nasty comments to online news articles about positive work in the community will self-destruct. Who ARE these people anyway?
• I need to exercise. What the hell would it take to get me in my tennies and out the door for a good 2 miles? Never mind. I am so freaking tired. I’ve burned up enough energy today worrying and trying to keep 8,986 projects in order.
• I feel better knowing there are a lot of good people in the world who genuinely care about what happens far away from them and what’s happening in their own backyard. I wonder…are there more who care than don’t?

Dear God, is it true? Do I really have too many negative thoughts? I don’t think so. I have lots of hope, I like my job, I’m grateful for what I have and just to be alive, I feel lucky to have good family and friends, I feel pretty good about my diverse set of hobbies and interests, and finally, I have faith in goodness and a higher power.

Note to self: Must invest in some positive thinking tapes. I own my thoughts. I don’t want a lot of the ones above. Focus more on the present, enjoy each day and moment, forget about the dorky complainers, and cut out the guilt. Adding that to my project list...

It's Been a Long Time

I know, we haven't spoken in a while. But I've taken some Gropius time.

The little man went to see Miami grandmother, and it was the FIRST EVER week that my husband & I had the house to ourselves. This means the following:

a. Walking around the house in undies is okay again for the first time in what seems like decades.
b. I only had to vacuum once, as 98% of our yard remained outdoors during the course of the week (vs. only 62% normally).
c. There was no arguing, bickering, "I did that!" or other such repetitive nonsense. (See BernThis blog)
d. Husband was unusually relaxed, and
e. We could eat whenever the sweet Patsy we wanted.

So the grand finale is a Saturday, Saturday night and Sunday morning aaaaall to myself. Husband is in Miami for the pick up.

Tomorrow around 12:15 p.m., the front door will open and the dynamic duo will return with the full command of boyishness they both bring when together. It will be good to get back to normal, but honestly, I can't tell you it hasn't been the bomb to have some down time.

The Week in Review

Last night, husband and I had our first date in about 8,000 years. Dinner at Saijo was lovely, and then...the crash. Literally I was so exhausted that the pull toward sleep overtook me like the most necessary and primordial need in the Universe. It felt like I had one too many margaritas, but unless someone slipped something in my soda, the only drug was exhaustion.

I have been so overwhelmed with various and sundry tasks, worries, details, etc. that thinking back on the week, I can scarcely remember a detail, oh, except maybe these:

• The pounding on the door by the City of Bradenton police department on Thursday at 3 am. A neighbor had called about the dog barking. Upon her persistent nagging, I let her out at 2:30 am and had fallen asleep again. I feel terrible that she was barking, especially since this happened the last time...ah, NEVER. I'm sure it was unpleasant (and I am truly sorry she was bothering someone at such a wee hour), but geeeeeez, this has never occurred before. It's a little extreme.
  
• Recounting the insane bus driver saga from school about 34 times. I finally contacted the State of Florida and a few media folks after sitting around waiting for the Manatee School Board to help me for over a month. Finally receiving some calls back, except it seems like no one can read, so I have to verbally repeat the juicy details over and over.
  
• Loads of stuff at work. Read the book.
  
• And to end on a good note...Yay! As no penis was detected during the last visit to the doctor, my bro & sister-in-law are having a girl! I am soooo excited. (Yes, I would totally be excited if it was a boy too.) Now, I can start my materialistic rampage for tiny feminine cloths and toys. (And maybe a few humorous gifts.)

According to Pine Lakes Redhead, Mercury will be exiting retrograde today. Seriously, Mercury. I've had enough of you.

What a Long Strange Week It's Been

Can't even describe how strange the week seemed to me. True, much of it can be attributed to the post-Christmas, post-New Year's return to work. But the rest was a little surreal as well. I've been asking myself the question "What's next?" a lot lately--not with a negative context but more curiosity and a growing desire for a change somewhere. Ever feel that?

Here's what I'm looking forward to "next," i.e. this weekend. It will be a calm one, but one I feel like I've more than earned.

• A trip to the good 'ole Barnes & Noble. I need a new book. Any suggestions? Cheesy, I know, but I do enjoy Oprah's Book Club books...they're usually just my type. Classic and thought-provoking is what I'm looking for.
  
• An adventure in cooking. That's right; you probably can't believe it. I am the most terrible, uncultured domestically disabled person around, but I have an urge to fix something tasty and deliver it to one of my favorite friends. (Watch out! You might not want to be the recipient!)
  
• Some time with the fam. I've hardly seen them this week. The young man needs a hair cut, and hubbie and I need to kick it up a notch with our exercise routines. We were good about it over the break, but after a full day of craziness at work, we both want to come home, plop on the couch and relax. A trip to Little Manatee River State Park might be in order...

I'm going to try to keep my bootie off of Facebook this weekend. It's become a bit of an unwelcome obsession. What are you up to, Gropius readers?

The Week in Review

I'm having a slight case of blogger's block but have missed out on the therapeutic benefits of near-daily interaction with the screen, getting things off my chest. Here are my observations from this week in review:

• Telling the truth is so much easier than not telling the truth. Except for a few tiny white lies that slip out every now and then to protect the innocent from unnecessary insult, I avoid lying at all costs. I can't say the same for some kids, who insist on thinking they won't get busted while looking you right in the face, popping out a ginormous bald-faced lie. The same is true of politicians. They stare right into the camera and puke out a big one. Both kids and politicians know they're going to get busted in the inevitable fact-checking stage, but somehow keep the up the game. It's a mystery. And it's a mystery that greatly complicates the world, quite unnecessarily.
  
• People who repeatedly leave voice mail messages about non-urgent matters, on work voice mail and on cell phone voice mail, over 4 times in the same day, do not increase chances of getting called back. In fact, they actually trigger the opposite response. If you're not getting a call back, it either means I am very, very busy or that you have called me 47 times already about the same thing and we're not getting anywhere.
  
• I'd rather be in Gainesville this weekend. Hearing about a friend's trip to G'ville for a wedding reminded me that it's been too long since I've seen Payne's Prairie, Devil's Millhopper, El Indio and the Florida Museum of Natural History. I'm ready for a road trip.