Anyonebutmeplease’s Neighborhood

I'm sure if Daz had of tried just a little bit harder he could have bought a more difficult wedding present for me to wrap.

Not much harder mind you.

There was a gift registry, he was going to the big smoke, so I said - go and spend about $100.00. And he came home with this weird mish mash of items. He was super impressed with himself because there had been 30% off everything and he was able to get a lot of totally random unrelated items.

I said - couldn't you have just bought one item?

He said - well I could've got the ironing board.

Easier to wrap no doubt, but not as easy to fit in the car.

So I've ignored it for two weeks but the wedding is tomorrow so I had to face up to it today. A lot of sticky tape was used. And I'm not sure a piece of curly silver ribbon is going to make it look better either.

But at least its crap they want.

So this is Emjays son who is getting married. My nephew. It is going to be a huge, long and hot day, that will start with a three hour drive for us to even get there. I'm planning on taking my swimmers to have a splash around in the motel pool between the service and the reception. That will hopefully be followed by a nap. And we have to fit lunch in sometime before the service and all stay clean. Lol, we have to get dressed at 7.30 in the morning, drive three hours in Lloyds old smashed up Magna, eat lunch, go to the service, fill in a few hours, then turn up at the reception still looking clean and fresh.

Don't know what that chances of that are. But it should be a good day and night. Big.

Emjay tells me I should wish for my children to elope.

i just wanted to thank you ladies (mostly ladies) - for listening to my recent man bullshit and offering thoughtful comments. they truly do help and i can only hope that one of these days, i'll have some insight that helps you through trying times. 

One of my favorite piano pieces is the Schubert-Liszt lied “Der Leiermann” from the song-cycle “Winterreise” (translated as Winter Journey), which describes a man’s journey as he leaves his home and travels through a winter landscape.  “Der Leiermann” is actually the conclusion of the song-cycle.  It’s haunting and beautiful and I love playing it, though – alas – I do not sing along.

Anyway, in contrast to the past couple of Christmases, our little pack is preparing for its own Winterreise – this year, The Beloved, Penny and I are going to go to visit the Beloved’s folks for Christmas.   That’s all good, right?  Lots of people travel for the Holidays.

Ours though is going to be something we’ve never quite tried before.  We’re going by car.  To Virginia.  From California.  Google maps says it’s about 2700 miles and should take about 42 hours to get there.

We haven’t really planned it out yet, but we’re conceptualizing the trip as 5-5-5 (5 days out, 5 days there, 5 days back).   We’ll obviously take a more southerly route and keep a close eye on the Weather Channel before we make some road choices.  Penny has done well in the car (and seems to settle when we hit the freeways) but has never had to do car duty like this.

Fortunately, we have a Garmin and wi-fi enabled devices and lots of websites that cater to finding pet-friendly lodgings.  Hopefully, we won’t need to stay in any mangers.

And so, I put it to you:

We leave in two weeks!

finally got a response from matt.

i hate him...no i don't...he said he thinks about me. that he thinks about calling me all the time but knows it's not appropriate. he wants to see me but understands it's not a good idea. not right now. 

i don't know how to take that. he's not supposed to care about me.

i sent him an e-mail back that was a little friendlier in tone than i've had in the past. i caved. i told him how much i wish he'd reconsider. i told him i went on a date and that the whole time i was thinking about how i'd rather it was him on the opposite side of the table.

he said he didn't come pick his stuff up that day a few weeks back because he couldn't make the drive there, and couldn't go into the apartment foyer. why not? he's the one that broke up with me...i don't understand.

he apologized for not having his mail forwarded.

*

shit. just got a text from dean...i don't want to respond to him, but i feel like i'm being rude if i don't. he asked me how my day was going...

does he really want to know? does he want to know that i've completely stumbled again? - that in all honesty, my feelings still lie with someone else?

*

when someone cheats on you, and breaks up with you because he "can't bear the guilt of it," and then sends you e-mails about how much he wants to see you and hear your voice and how much he thinks of you...how certain things remind him of you...is that normal? is it normal for a guy to feel that way and tell you about it even though he's the one who ended it?

i do want him to come back. i really do. his e-mails tell me that he misses me and wants me back, but i don't really think he does or else he'd come back. and i can't think that way or it'll drive me crazy. 

I know I've been mum for some time and a few of you were awesome enough to go leave comments on my article over at Flaimahmy, so THANK YOU!!! 

*does happy dance* I got my mandolin, he threw in a book and some pitch pipes and some strings and stuff.  Its really cute!

........todays the day I get my mandolin.  Im off to see if I can swap my guitar for a nice mandolin. Im just hopeless at trading and i dont want to be swizzed, im taking my friend for moral support.  Ill let you know how I get on.

...why matt needs to get his mail forwarded - he received a "save the date" for his friend's wedding in the mail yesterday.

something we would've gone to together. i don't need to see that stuff.

he still hasn't responded to my e-mail.

......I know in my heart that its on ebay for the right price, but it hasnt sold and I thougth for sure that it would what with crimbo coming and all.  Anyhow I have contacted a music shop (a good one that sells nice stuff) thats in Derby and asked them if this any chance of them being interested in buying my guitar in a view to me instead buying a mandolin off them. 

After I told them what guitar I had they said that they were, it all depends on what they are willing to offer for my guitar and what mandolins they have available, Im going tommorrow afternoon to see what happens.  I really want a mandolin what with some holidays coming up soon it would be a good thing to  keep my mind and fingers occupied.

Ill let you know how I get on.

Ive put my Kikis Delivery service Jiji model with calendar next to my blythe dolls, hes really cute.

The holidays are in full effect, so tell us: What's your favorite holiday song? Bonus points if you share it with us!

It wasssss onlyyyyy a winterssss tale, just another winters taleeeee.