Is That a Bottle of Bud in Your Pocket?

So, I've long maintained that I've had a touch of the psychic. Chalk another one up for the Kalesmeister.

Yesterday, I had *that* distinct feeling. The antsy, edgy, frenetic feeling I get when something is about to go down in my life of a personal nature. I can trace this feeling all the way back to RowerMan - and that's a LONG time ago.

But for the life of me, I couldn't figure out what was bringing this feeling on. There was no reason to expect that anything monumental would be going down.

Then, at 4 o'clock a blast from the past showed up on IM.

This guy is supposed to be dead. Seriously. I kid you not. Five years ago - when we saw each other last - he informed me that he had months, if not weeks, to live.

So I was a bit shocked when he invited me out for drinks.

I went. And after an hour and change of Losers Club Tries to Give Old Flame Directions to the TGI Fridays in Woburn .... we met up.

All in all, it was a great time. I stayed out way past my bedtime, but the evening was five years in the making. And although I look worse for the wear this a.m., I still probably look a lot better than he does. A life of scuba diving and Bud Light isn't a recipe for well-being. On the other hand, practicing yoga every day and cutting way back on the Jack Daniels has been pretty good to me.

That all said - he's still wickedly funny, insanely intelligent, disarmingly sweet and not all that bad on the eyes. It's nice to know that he's clearly still thinking about me after all this time.

It was a huge confidence builder. Just what I needed as I prepare to make my entrance onto the North Shore social scene come the new year.

And it didn't suck that he still makes me laugh and still turns me on. Who knows, he might even call me again. If he calls, that would be nice. He's got two boats now, so at the very least, I could get some playtime on the water. If he doesn't call, well, he picked up the tab so it wasn't a complete loss.

It sounds so cynical when I write it all down. But, knowing that when he walked out of my life last I became a bourbon-soaked lump of worthless-feeling despondency, it feels pretty good to know he can walk in or out and all I'm worried about is the few hours of laughs and good conversation I might get out of it.

Look at me, bein all strong!

And, now, for a nap...

The Secret

I was chatting with a good friend yesterday about her "issues" with her current boyfriend which, in a lot of ways, resemble some of the issues I had with Mr. Zips. I guess a lot of this stuff is hardwired for men and women. Yeah, yeah, Venus/Mars - I know.

Talking with her, I once again found myself disliking this man, even though I've met him and he seems very nice. You see, she only tells me about their problems. The stuff he does that bothers/annoys/upsets her. Or the ways in which he doesn't meet her needs. I very seldom hear about the great things he says or does that make him a great boyfriend. And so, since I only hear one side, I wind up not liking him very much.

I know that I often did the same with her regarding my relationship w/ Mr. Zips. I kinda do it the same way for this blog and my entire life.

I went through today and peeked at some (very) old posts on a whim. And, altho there are a decent number of posts about how happy I am or how good life is, there's also a lot of posts where I'm bitching, moaning, and otherwise whining. (But I always try to do it in a funny way. Well, at least, sorta...)

Why do we, as humans, so often vocalize the negative? Why, when people ask how things are, do we immediately launch into how tired/frustrated/achey/etc. we are?

Wouldn't it be better to launch into how wonderful and beautiful life is?

Resolved: from this moment forward I will do my best to see the glass as half full.

This weekend, Deb quoted this from Marianne Williamson. I think it says it all:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

All I Want for Christmas...

I pretty much got this weekend....

An amazing day of yoga on Saturday. Class with Deb was (shocking!) amazing and the meditation about "Living a Radical Life" was (more shocking!) exactly what I needed. And while the asana portion of the class wasn't as difficult as I was hoping, it was really great to spend time focusing on the precise alignments and universal principals. (That said, if I don't do another chutarunga for a couple of days, I'll be a VERY happy camper!)

And today, I went up to Rockport w/ HypnoGal and Mrs. H. Much fun was had as we oogled sparkly things. HypnoGal even gave me an awesomenessly awesome housewarming gift - a matted and framed B&W photo of a beautiful Misty Tree that she took herself. How perfect! It's definitely getting pride of place in my wonderful new apartment.

And as we chatted and walked and sipped our coffee, I was struck again by how amazing it is that I live here.

I feel so unbelievably blessed. This is, for sure, what the holidays are all about. Health, happiness, comfort, joy.

Here's some photo memories:

HypnoGal shows off MadSkilllz

Gull and Boat on Bearskin Neck

PS -- Forgot to mention the guy that works in the Tibetan store.... We anticipate having to do much purchasing of Tibetan goods this year.... *grin*

Just in Time

I am ridiculously busy at work. This is impeccable timing, as I finished NaNo yesterday and managed to get the marketing freelance proposal done as well.

The project that's got me so crazed? Rewriting the website. Ostomy supplies. Glucose meters. Lancing devices. (No lie, the current site describes on test kit as "easy, accurate, convenient, simple, and unique." Me Write Copy Good.) I cannot tell you the sexiness that is my life...

While I'm pondering my copy strategy, I often surf the net. I can do this without actually concentrating on what I'm looking at, so that my mind is actually focusing on how best to position ordering your AUTODISC meter from Wilford Brimley.... I don't actually read anything meaningful or important, of course. Because here's my dirty little secret - I browse online menus.

Yep. I can spend hours downloading and perusing menus for restaurants I will never visit.

I informed my dad the other day that Friendly's now offers veggie burgers. I do not need to know this. But, if I need to stop at a Friendly's ever again, I am all set.

It's a bit like this shameful secret posted on From Oy to Vey: Butter my Bread?

I suppose its better than downloading porn. Right?

I Dud Itz!

At 11:27 a.m. (don't tell my boss!) I crossed the finish line and uploaded a 50,112 word novel excerpt to the NaNoWriMo website. The novel isn't done yet and I fully intend to finish it. But the point is, I won. I committed to writing 50 THOUSAND words during the month of November and, one day early, I did it.