I'm Not Dead Yet!

There! Disappeared for ANOTHER week, and bet you thought it was forever, you short-attention-spanned goldfish, you!

Well, the horoscope man was right about me being cranky and out of sorts for a week, but that's about it. Of course, as a menopausal woman, that's pretty much a given some of the time. He doesn't know me, though. So it was a good guess.

We went to the Renaissance Festival out in Apache Junction yesterday. I visited a psychic while I was there. For the record, she said both my sons would marry, although the younger would do it before the elder. They each will eventually have two children, but I won't be a grandmother for at least another 5 years. This will be a good year for me, one of great change and improvement. No specific mention of a new, appropriate male in my life. Huh. We'll just see, won't we.

It was a busy week. I pulled a muscle in my side last Sundaywhile sorting junk in the family room, and by Monday morning it had stiffened up so much I couldn't get dressed. So, used a sick day on Monday to nurse my sore ribs and side. Tuesday through Thursday went okay at work, and the pain subsided.

Thursday was St. Patrick's Day, and I'd already put in for a vacation day for Friday. Yes, I've finally learned not to try to work the next day. Ms. Kat was once again the blessed Designated Driver. We'd planned a prolonged pub crawl, but there are only so many hours in an evening. We wound up hitting just three places. At the second place, we ran into some nurses from a local hospital who were a hoot. Otherwise, it was a lot of twenty-somethings out to drink and check each other out. I couldn't find a good Irish band to save my sanity. We wrapped up the evening at our regular karaoke hangout. Got in a couple of songs and another pitcher of beer, and my friend poured me home.

Slept through most of Friday, and thus the hangover I had undoubtedly earned. Got up to drive YS and his bosom buddies to the mall for a movie date. I'd forgotten I had an appointment for a massage, so dashed home to get the money and back up for the massage. Arrived home afterward, and realized Ms. Kat and I had planned to go to the Phoenix BBW Spring Fling karaoke night in Tempe. Okayyyyyyyyyy. No drinking though. There's been entirely too much of that this week already.

The party was fun, although I drank so much Diet Coke I was hyped up on caffeine by midnight (12:30, maybe?) when we left. I got to be the driver this time, since it was a non-alcoholic evening for me. Ms. Kat had had her own challenges during the day, and was grateful not to have to drive anymore. Anyway, I saw friends I hadn't seen for a while, danced like a wild woman with the other over 40 broads, and sang my heart out. No sleeping, though. Ugh! Caffeine.

Up at 7 yesterday to dress for the Renn Faire (Yes, we dress). Took OS's car because we were five in our party, and my little Nissan wouldn't hold us all. Poor kid had a flat (thank goodness we were in walking distance to the front gate) on the way there, and wound up spending an hour with his vehicle while we made a dash for the Festival and the privies.

It rained on and off, which you might think would make for a muddy mire at the fairgrounds. No. That dirt is so hard packed, it doesn't have a prayer of sinking in. Only the top eighth of an inch gets damp. I draped a shawl over the top of my big straw hat and made quite a good rain shelter. No anachronistic umbrella for me. No sir!

Once we met the rest of the group for our annual photo, we all split up to wander on our own. YS and his GF nuzzled and snuggled their way around. OS finally showed up and found places to shoot arrows and throw axes. Ms. Kat and I tried to stay together, but her poor knees could only take so much walking. She cut me loose to nose around at my own pace, while she looked at what she was interested in at hers.

Bought some "skin cure" ointment at an herbal apothecary, a turkey leg, funnel cake, and three raspberry chocolates to take home. Watched a few shows and a joust, and cruised the various shops. Walked MILES. It was all good for me.

After we dropped Kat off at her place, we stopped at home so we could switch cars. OS left for his martial arts club. I don't know how he kept moving, after short sleep the night before, tire changing and lots of walking. He did, though. Was I that energetic at 20?

I jumped in my car with YS and his beloved to drive her home. Met her mom, finally. Pretty lady, and much younger than I. She doesn't speak much English, and my Spanish is spotty, so we didn't get much past mucho gusto, but at least we've looked in each other's eyeballs. I feel better now. Wonder if she does.