Warmth & Sunshine

Yesterday, after a week of frigid temperatures, we had a day of sunshine and 72 degrees. A most lovely Spring-like day in which I did not get to partake. A friend of mine expressed my disappointment with his own eloquent dismay:

"And here I am, stuck in a windowless room, trying to milk science and creativity out of my sterile brain, while I should be outside, taking the warm weather in and storing it for days of lesser fortune." - F.B.

Exactly.

There are dickies . . . and then there are Dickies

When girls get together (and by "girls" I mean smart, funny, beautiful women in their late twenties/early thirties) on a Friday night and you throw in some STRONG (thank you, Terah!)Cosmopolitans, you get some very strange conversations. . .

Michelle: I have no neck...that's why I don't wear turtlenecks

Cathryn: Well yeah...people with no necks shouldn't wear turtlenecks...maybe a mock turtleneck...or a dickie.

Heather: a what?!

Terah: you know...a dickie (uses universal sign language to illustrate a dickie)

Michelle: yeah, my mom has a lace one to "dress up" her sweaters

Rebecca: (laughter) oh yeah...the "fancy" dickies(raucous laughter)

Jen: (returning from potty break) what did I miss?

Terah: just dickies

Jen: (raises eyebrows) dickies?...or Dickies?

Rebecca: you mean like Purple Onion dickies?

Jen: or Hustler Hollywood dickies!

Terah: field trip!!

Jen: Michelle, we have to take you to the Hustler.

Cathryn: you've never been to the Hustler?! where do you go to stock your "goody drawer"?

Michelle: what's a "goody drawer"?

Heather: I don't have a "goody drawer"!

(collective groan)

Terah: how can you not have a "goody drawer"?

Christie: you know...where you keep condoms and...stuff. I have a purple one.

Jen: my favorite one died and I had to get a new one...I gotta say, I prefered the old one.

Jen: Michelle, we'll go to Hustler and get you a bullet

Cathryn: or a rabbit!

Jen: no, a rabbit is too extreme for her first one...a bullet is safer.

Michelle: I do not want to go in that store!

Cathryn: don't worry, it's like the Walgreens of porn stores.

Terah: Hustler totally IS the Walgreens of porn stores! More Cosmo, anyone?

Sharing

Today is my dad's birthday. He would've been 55. Young. I know this day is especially difficult for my nana and papa. Losing a parent is horrific . . . losing a child must be unbearable.
When I found out my dad had been killed, after the vomiting had subsided and the denial gave way to numb acceptance, I remember helplessly thinking, "what am I going to do without him?" Even though I was an adult, the black-hole desperation and fear of abandonment was overwhelming. In the past 6 years, it hasn't gone away, but it has lessened. And for that I am grateful. The cliche, "Time heals all things", is a cliche for a reason.

5K HooHa

There are those who are designed for running . . . and there are those who are not. I am not. Unless it involves running after a tennis ball or running to first base or running away from an ax-murderer, running in and of itself just for the sake of running, does not appeal to me on any level. Yes, yes, I know the benefits of running are many - but just because I know spinach is good for me doesn't mean I'm going to eat a pound of it every day. Did I lose you on that analogy? Sorry, it's early.

Anyway, yesterday morning at 10am, prompted by the extremely frigid temperatures and a gunshot, Jen and I powerwalked our way through the downtown 5K course for the Predators Foundation (they help kids - c'mon now, what kind of person would I be if I didn't put forth the effort to help kids!? well that, and . . . they gave participants free tickets to the game that night). Motivation aside for the moment, our goal was to NOT cross the Finish line last. You'll be happy to know, not only we were not last, we even beat out the couple with the stroller and the older gentleman with the dog. Yes, truly we are the elite walkers.

The 5K was followed by celebratory red beans & rice and bloody marys at the Sportsman with the rest of our gang who actually ran the race. And after a hot bath and a long nap, I was ready to brave the cold again and attend my first Preds game. It was a sold-out game against the LA Kings and we can attest to the traffic and parking challenges to prove it!

Parking in any city's downtown is a headache - it's the just the nature of the beast - you accept it and move on. Under normal circumstances, Nashville's downtown parking isn't all that bad, comparatively. Under Saturday-night-sold-out-game-cold-temperatures circumstances, it's a pain in the ass. We did finally find a cozy spot for Roxy (Jen's car) in a lot only 4 or 5 blocks from the GEC. HOWEVER, it was one of those unattended lots where you pay for your ticket at an automated ticket kiosk and then display said ticket in your window.

Again, under normal circumstances, this arrangement seems to work out well for all parties involved. But, of course, we were not operating under "normal" circumstances. The line at the kiosk to acquire the necessary ticket was at least 20 people deep (I am not exaggerating and may even be underestimating the quantity). The line was also moving at a snail's pace due to the extreme slowness of the stupid, motherf***ing machine. Add to that, the 28 degree temperature, and we spent a very unpleasant 30 minutes just paying for a parking tag.

Once inside, beer in hand, parking drama a distant memory, I had forgotten how much fun hockey games are! Ultimately, the Preds lost, but it was still fun and totally worth all the 5K HooHa!

Friday Night at the Drive-in

Well, okay, not really at the drive-in...it just sounded cool. Are there even any drive-in theaters left anymore? Sad.Anyway, I did go to the opening night of "Hannibal Rising" at a local ordinary, non-drive-in theater Friday night. The film is the latest installment in the "Silence of the Lambs" legacy, and though it was lacking the genius of Sir Anthony Hopkins, it was an engaging story nonetheless. I must warn you though, if you decide to go see it, make sure you have tissues handy. Seriously, it was heartbreakingly tragic and I pretty much vacillated between crying and hiding my eyes during the entire movie. Yes, in addition to the heart-wrenching, tear-inducing moments, there were also many, many graphically gruesome scenes. Someone with a stronger stomach for gore (i.e. Kelly) would have no problems, but hey, I can't help it if blood makes me queasy!