Early this afternoon I went to MJ's Candy Bar in Dublin (,Ohio). I had a gift bag with presents in it for a little girl and I know she likes candy so I bought a bunch of novelty candy to toss in there among the gifts. I had to buy a BIG HUNK bar just to be able to say I picked up a BIG HUNK while I was out and about today. I was tempted to buy a lot of things there, but resisted - after all, we all know that sugar is the gateway drug!

I went to the park downtown and sat on a bench on the riverbank and wrote for an hour. There were quite a few people there as the the new nature center had opened earlier in the week. I saw 2 egrets and quite a few seagulls. The wind was cool, but even at 66 degrees, the sun was blazing! My goal was to stay for 2 hours, but I only lasted an hour. But it was productive and cleared my head a little, and hopefully I can go out after work a few days this week since it's supposed to be in the low 70s and sunny every day.

I spent all yesterday 'cleaning' and yet it appears by looking around the room that I did nothing. *sigh*

I was glad when this work week was over. I always forget how stressful it gets a few weeks before fall quarter begins at the university. So much to do...everyone is on edge.

So I need to get organized at home. And start new projects. I find that having something big to worry about outside of work allows me to keep work-stress in perspective. I'm always worried that things won't work out so I procrastinate starting them, figuring I can predict how they will inevitably turn out. I had a horoscope this week that said that actions I take between now and September 21 will determine where I am in 5 years - for better or worse.

So the next 3 weeks is about non-procrastination and self-care. Today I'm organizing years worth of medical papers. It sounds silly, but it needs done and if I am able to accomplish this seemingly-menial task, then I should be motivated to take action on more risky ventures.

So tonight after work I decided to go to a mall for the first time in ... forever! But man...when did the mall become a white-trash ghetto? Was it always like that and I've forgotten or does the economic turndown have something to do with it? Hardly anyone was there who wasn't loitering. I went into H&M to look at purses - no cute ones. So I decided to look at their jewelry - no cute jewelry either. They did have a intriguing pair of bootie shoes - black velvety fabric with gold brocade - but they were out of my size. So I grabbed some bourbon chicken from the Cajun place in the foodcourt and came home.

As I mentioned on Twitter and Facebook in June, one of my biggest heroes, Exene Cervenka, announced that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I had posted her mailing address in case people wanted to send her cards but I never got around to sending one myself! It will finally be mailed tomorrow. I found a cute 'thinking of you' card with white kitties on it in a cupboard back when we cleaned out my grandma's house to sell it. I think it's from the 1940's - scalloped edges - very old school! I hope she likes it. Here is video of one of my absolutely favorite X songs, which is saying a lot since I like them all, Beyond and Back.

I went to see Julie and Julia yesterday. It was nice to see you can now get a fruit plate at the concession stand. The movie was fine - I think my expectations were pretty high. I really like the Julia Child part - the whole movie should have been that! Stanley Tucci was rockin' the hairy stomach! Woot! LOL

There was a gala Saturday night for the opening of the new main library, but I didn't really want to go, so I didn't. Dressing up, chit-chat, hardly any food, no chairs...and they were asking staff to park in remote garages - apparently we don't warrant close parking - just all sounded stressful. Then today I was told that my former co-worker was there, which would have been awkward, so it's just as well I stayed home.

Yesterday I IM'd with my new e-friend Julie. It was FUN! I had IM for a while at work, but when they reimaged the computer last year I said I didn't want it back. When you're working on a work project the last thing I need is being demanded to do something else. But at home it's relaxing and not stressful 'cause you can take breaks to use the bathroom and stuff. ha I thought we had been online for maybe for an hour or two - NO - It was 5 hours! So the laundry didn't get done (I forgot!) and I was a little scuzzy with my mismatched socks at work today, but it was worth it!

Well, I think I'm somewhat back to normal after the drama of yesterday. Going to the concert Sunday royally messed with my sleep schedule which makes me emotional and oversensitive. Late last night I went to Target and bought toiletries, a Hello Kitty pen, silver nail polish and a microwave for work. Our old one is ANCIENT and because it doesn't have a turn-table dish in it, nothing cooks evenly.

Ang Lee is on The Colbert Report right now. I knew a guy who's little nephew was in one of his movies once. I was telling a friend about how I'm less then 6-degrees away from knowing everybody. Once I told a student of mine that I knew the guy who did Eric Clapton's Christmas lights and she, very seriously, said "Wow, you know so many famous people!" LOL!

Tonight I'm listening to homeboy Kid Rock. Not my usual alternative fare, but he's very representative of the part of Michigan we're from (he's from the town next to the one I grew up in) and I can hear his influences as being all the Detroit artists we listened to as kids. I've never seen him around town, but, as always, when I'm home I keep an eye out! His drummer Stephanie Eulinberg is from Toledo, Ohio - she's awesome!

I'm not happy tonight. I saw something offensive, cruel and stupid on the news that made me SO mad...I immediately complained to the offender online. Then I had a problem I needed to get off my chest that had been bothering me for a while and the person I turned to wasn't very supportive, basically saying 'Good luck with that' which made me just burst into tears and wonder if I can count on anyone at all. And you know what I did? Apologized to that person for bothering them.

I think because people normally count on me to be the strong one, the funny one, the independent one - when I need help - desperately need help - people freak out and don't know what to do or say to me. It's so frustrating...to have every single time I feel need to express myself honestly become an awkward situation.

All I want to do is write. I want to write letters, I want to write my movie script, I want to post in my forums, and I want to write coherent blog posts and aren't emotional rants like this!!!

Well, after finding out Chrissie Hynde's restaurant in Akron, VegiTerranean, wasn't open on Sundays I have to say I was feeling somewhat deflated about the 'good time' I had planned for Sunday, taking my friend Mary out to dinner and The Pretenders concert as a late-birthday gift. However, I needn't have worried.

I picked up Mary in the late afternoon and took her to Cap City Diner for her "birthday dinner." Her birthday was actually 5 weeks ago, July 7, when I was in Michigan. Afterwards we went to Lifestyles Community Pavillion (note to LCP: please change your name!), lucked out on a very close parking spot, and quickly settled in for the concert. It had been 91 degrees yesterday and was unbelievably humid. Even at 10pm Chrissie Hynde commented on how hot it was!

The first opening act was Julliette Lewis, the prolific actress who is now a rock singer. I have not been a fan - she's always seemed crass and affected - so I was pleasantly surprised when she performed a rather entertaining, Steven-Tyler-inspired set with fairly skilled vocals. Though I couldn't help wondering if Chrissie Hynde approved those shoulder-feathers she was wearing.

Next was Cat Power. Wow. She took the term low-key to a whole another level. I was vaguely familiar with her as a former co-worker's husband was obsessed with her, but I still don't get it. Several people who I spoke about her to today acted as though I'd insulted a holy diety! I agreed to listen to a few whole albums before spreading any more apparently-blasphamous Chan-Marshall hate.

The Pretenders were great! Lots of Ohio references and all the hits. They didn't do my favorite - their cover of Stop Your Sobbing, but did do Middle of the Road which is a close second for me. Chrissie Hynde is SO TINY! She wore high heeled boots and a cute jeans/t-shirt/vest/tie ensemble. And announced that with her next restaurant opening near the venue she would be around a lot over the next couple years.

The concert ended at 11:30pm, so by the time I drove Mary home and got back to my apartment it was LATE. And I was wound-up so I couldn't sleep. So I crashed when I got home from work today and so probably won't sleep well tonight. Note to self: concerts on a Sunday night require Monday off from work. Plan ahead!

As you can see by the picture, I splurged on a little gift for myself today because I deserved it.

I told the girl who made it I'd need 2 inches added to the chain because 'some girls are bigger than others.' She thought that was funny!

I was really hoping tomorrow would be restful but it won't be. As usual, my parents called at the last minute to say they are going to come down and visit my godfather and would I join them for dinner...they actually wanted me spending the whole day, but I already have a list of errands to do as long as my arm. Sunday won't be as busy as originally planned. It turns out Chrissie Hynde's restaurant isn't open on Sundays so I won't have the drive to Akron.

Speaking of Chrissie Hynde, I saw a friend today who is friends with one of her close high school friends she keeps in touch with. If I could just become buds with Morrissey, our circle would be complete! LOL

Yesterday was my co-worker's birthday. I got him The Office dvd game and a matching card. I guess I should clarify that if I cared about hierarchies I would say I supervise him and he is my subordinate, but that seems silly and petty.

Bought a new 3-hole punch at Office Max last night. As soon as I walked in I saw the practical (ugly) one that worked and then 2 aisles over I saw the impractical pretty one that probably doesn't work - guess which I picked? (No, I'm not talking about men - I'm still talking about 3-hole punches!!!) Yes, the pretty one. It's shiny, teal and I love it, so there. It's the first step in getting my medical papers organized. I realized that it's a major part of the chaos that is Gretchen's apartment.

Yesterday I didn't feel well at all. I was just overcome by the heat on Sunday. It's been so cool this summer, I just wasn't used to it. So I stayed home. My parents were still here for the earlier part of the day so we went to Cap City Diner for lunch and then they left and I napped. Work wasn't too bad today. I got frustrated with one guy on the phone who refused to believe he had called the wrong office. But that was it for the nasty!

Strangely, my happiest moments of the day occured with friends on the internet, many of whom I've never met. When I find myself thinking that, I think I need to meet more 'real' people, but then I think about the fact that I probably have met 30 or more people online since April and many of them will become 'real friends' eventually. I mean, a few of them live in or near Detroit - not outer-space! And I talked to several of my 'real friends' that I haven't seen in a while too. My English e-friend Garry was trying to compile a list of positive songs about being single and I enlisted the help of my former student Ted, who now works at the public library downtown, and Jason, who used to work for me and though he now lives literally 2 blocks away I haven't heard from him in forever. They came up with some great suggestions! My only suggestion was obvious, Morrissey's I'm Okay By Myself. Here's a great video of it:

Today was the Donelson family reunion. We had an unexpectedly good turnout. It was our 80th annual reunion, held as always, at the park in the small town of Jeromesville, Ohio, where Everyone brings a dish and near the end of lunch we have everyone introduce themselves, the President (me this year) gives the financial update and makes sure the paperwork and address lists are updated. I also always have a craft table set up for the kids - this year they made foamie eyeglasses and foamie doorknob hangers.

The reunion event always begins with one of the elders saying grace, thanking God for our family and asking that we remember those no longer with us, while encouraging us to instill in our young people the importance of tradition and keeping family ties strong.

You say, "Boy, that sounds REALLY old-fashioned!" It is, but I have to say as a liberal agnostic like me - refreshingly so. The reunion day was my grandma Donelson's favorite day of the year - more than Christmas. Every year, on the first warm day in March she would say "Wow, it's getting warm! It must almost be time for the reunion!," though she knew full-well that the reunion is always the second Sunday in August, quite a ways from March. And when I was younger - a teenager through my 20's - I would BEG my parents not to make me go. I realized as I got older how much it meant to family members of her generation that the grandchildren attend and participate. After grandma died in 2004 I felt the best way I could continue to honor her was attend the family reunion, announce during the introductions that she was my grandmother and how much the reunion meant to her, and try to set an example for my cousins who are 21 and 23 years younger than me. When the reunion's over my parents and I drive down the street to the cemetery and water plants on grandma's, and other relative's, graves.

Unfortunately, it was also the hottest day of the summer so far! 91! I got a touch of heatstroke and as soon as I got home the migraine hit and I started throwing up. So, I've already called off for work tomorrow.

Besides seeing The English Beat, Independence Day weekend was also about picnicing on my parent's back patio. They have a lovely back yard with lots of plants and flowers covered by a wysteria trellis...and it wasn't too hot, which can be an issue. My aunt, sister and sister's boyfriend came over and dad cooked burgers on the grill. My sister and her boyfriend always have veggieburgers. They look awful! I don't think I could eat one. I had made the special request that my mom make her macaroni salad, which I was so enthusiastic about by the time it arrived that I needed a seperate plate for it.

After coming back to work for 4 days in Columbus I then went back up to Michigan for the Tom Jones concert. I picked up my college-friend Cathy (she last had seen Tom Jones in concert 31 years ago - when she was 11!) and went to The Alibi for dinner - it's 'our place' we used to go all the time when I lived at home, but I don't think it's as good as it used to be. We arrived at Freedom Hill in plenty of time to shop for souvenirs. I got a 24 Hours t-shirt (the name of the new album) and a key chain I plan to make into a necklace. I was getting the t-shirt to make a pillow out of, as I haven't even come close to fitting into a tour t-shirt since I was about 12, but when I got home I dared to try it on, and it actually may be wearable. I tried to get Cathy to buy one of the tees that said SEXBOMB in big sparkly white letters across the front, but she wasn't interested.

While we were sitting outside the theater Cathy said "What are those ladies doing?" About 30 feet away were about 12-15 women in their mid-50's holding their camera phones over a high fence beyond which were 2 tour buses. Suddenly a chorus of screams erupted and seconds later all the women paired off in embraces, jumping up and down while squealing. Fandom was alive and well in Sterling Heights, Michigan!

Our seats were 1/2 way back in the center of the pavillion and we could see fine. Tom Jones had a horn section, 3 back-up singers a drummer and 2 guitarists. It was very Las Vegas! His voice was absolutely AMAZING. So strong! So clear! He's very handsome in-person which was a relief since a few minutes before I had heard a woman say "He's still so good looking - him and Billy Joel!!"

He sang 3 or 4 songs from the new album and also Delilah, Green Green Grass of Home, What's New Pussycat, It's Not Unusual...all the basics! I was disappointed he didn't sing Thunderball, since that's my favorite song of his, nor did he do Unbelievable, which I had also been not-so-secretly hoping for. He did the song where he sings repeatedly "I'm 200 pounds of heavenly joy..." complete with self-rubbing, which sent the crowd of mostly near-60-year-old-women into hysterics! I thought one woman in my row was going to either faint or have a heart attack! The encores were Venus and Prince's Kiss, which was a perfect ending to the set, sort of saying 'yeah, I do the old stuff, but I'm still hip and relevant.' It was great! I told my mom when I got home that I would definitely like to see him once more, anyway. I tried to find some video or pics from the show - every person but Cathy and I had a camera, yet apparently no one wanted to upload them for public perusal.

Next week...The Pretenders!! I'm big on concert-going this year. Did I just see Morrissey 4 months ago? It seems like 4 years ago!

August 5, 2009

An early dentist appointment was surprisingly painless this morning - 2 fillings. I came home, obsessed over the internet and took a nap. Then I had an afternoon eye appointment and when I got home decided it was too late to go to the state fair. I will go tomorrow. I can't believe I haven't been yet but it seems to take a lot of time and energy that I don't have and with the reunion this Sunday that I haven't begun to prepare for....I'm giving myself a break. Of course, giving yourself a break doesn't mean that every person you see isn't going to go "WHAT???!!! You haven't been to the fair? You didn't do any projects for the fair? What's wrong with you? You used to love the fair, now look at you!!!" Now that I think about it, it's probably MORE stressful in the long run to skip the fair because of the interrigations I undergo in delaying my attendance at it. I'll get there, though at this late date it's doubtful I'll use all the tickets I'd purchased in advance.

I bought a small rhubarb pie on the way from from the dentist. The pie shop (Just Pies - one of "Oprah's Favorites") is never open when I'm free to go, so I took advantage of having the day off by stopping in. Rhubarb is a wonderful, unappreciated food. I love it! When I ordered my samples of Morrissey's cologne last month the same perfumer makes a rhubarb scent so I had to get a sample of that too. It's amazing! Tart and sweet at the same time. Just like me. (I can hear you groaning!!! LOL)

I said I was going to continue my discussion of July's events tonight, but that will have to wait until tomorrow. I'm going to attempt the download of ...pictures! *insert dramatic music here*

August 4, 2009

I will continue with my review of July's activities tomorrow. Now I need to vent a little about why I hate my apartment building.

For the umteenth night in a row I came home from work to find the crack whore - oh, I'm sorry - I mean, Internet Entrepeneur Mogul, who lives upstairs out on the stoop in her nightgown, smoking. (My co-worker said I shouldn't call people crack whores and he's right - so we've decided she probably does internet porn or something and that's why she's parked outside the door smoking 24/7.) The young woman that lives across the hall has taken to having LOUD sex with her boyfriend, not in her bedroom, which would be the furthest part of her apartment from mine, but immediately on the other side of her front door. It sounds like they are doing it in my living room right next to me! (Actually, the guy is the loud one.) Well, late tonight I had a new treat...a guy standing up against the side of the building smoking and a big guy LAYING on the steps passed out. I drove around and parked at the opposite side of the building to go in the other door and when I get to my apartment I see the 2 guys have the door at the other end propped open and the guy who was passed out is now leaning over the step railing vomiting into the parking lot. At this moment I can hear them in the hall, one yelling 'Stop! Get off me! Get off me!' while the other sounds like he's crying.

The cops just arrived! Swell. It's a great location, but obviously, there are issues. Time to buy a house!