Good Weekend

What a good weekend this was.

Friday night was restful, which was good, because Saturday was a BUSY day.

Saturday, took YS and his Beloved out to find corsage (okay, floral armband) and boutonniere (sp?) for Prom this coming weekend. Beloved chooses odd times to not speak up about her preferences. Interesting. We finally arrived at a florist we liked and four white roses with blue ribbon and little pearls hanging off. Should be very pretty.

Also took them to the location of the prom, so I could walk them over to the restaurant where they'll be eating dinner. They don't go downtown much, and I don't want them wandering lost on prom night, looking for the Hyatt.

YS also required a haircut, so that's out of the way, too, now.

Dashed home to get ready for my first Red Hat Society lunch. It was held at the Wrigley Mansion, and was LOVELY. I was trying to figure out if I could hide in one of the closets 'til everyone went home and stay the night, but decided that an arrest would probably put a damper on the weekend.

Nice Man (NM) called to check in on our date toward the end of the luncheon. We agreed on a 7:40 showing of Sahara (fun buddy-adventure movie, and Matthew McCauhnehy sp? is so pretty to look at), and whatever we felt like afterward.

As it turned out, whatever was going to a nearby bar I know to have a drink or two and listen to a live band. Notice I said "live" band, and not "great" band. They certainly were loud, and the lady who drank all the tequila was entertaining to watch. I got home around 2.

Sunday, I did some clearing out on the junk pile on the patio, which made OS feel better, and me feel righteous. I was tempted to fall back into bed for a snooze to reward myself, but NM invited me to his house to watch DVD of my choice (he has quite a collection) on his big screen TV.

I chose Chronicles of Riddick, since I couldn't find anyone to go see it in the movies with me, and we went to a local Chinese restaurant that was REALLY good for dinner.

He is REALLY good to hug. :o)

Thoughts on marriage and dating

This weekend, I went to a wedding and out on a first meeting/date.

The wedding was interesting, in that it was her third and his fourth, and yet they still did the big white wedding dress and tuxedo thing. I mean, his grandchildren were in the wedding party. How many time, between the two of them, have they pledged their undying love to someone...else? Hello? Am I the only one who thinks that perhaps a formal wedding was overkill in this situation? Oh well. It was a good party.

On Sunday, I met a gentleman with whom I'd connected through Tickle matchmaking. I think it went well, although I did my usual babbling getting to know you performance. Sometimes, I just can't turn off my mouth. It didn't seem to bother him. Which is good. Because, one never plans to babble. It just happens. If one knew it was going to happen, one could prevent it.

ANYway, we were talking about online dating services. He asked why I had contacted him, based on his ad. Well, he was in the right age range, he seemed smart, he didn't specify he was looking for "trim, athletic build" or a racketball partner. Nor did he say he was looking for someone to go camping and hunting with him. He likes science fiction and movies, so it seemed worth a shot. I've been doing this long enough that I can handle a "no thank you" without suffering a wounded soul.

So, here's my analogy: Placing a singles ad is like announcing a casting call. Answering one is saying, "Yeah, I'd like to try out for this part." Then, you e-mail and chat online and/or on the phone, and that's like submitting your resume. The first meeting is an audition. You'll get cut, or hired on the spot, or called back for another audition, if they're not sure you're right for them.

I think the audition went well. We'll see.

Living Life...

...instead of writing about it.

Saw Beatlemania at a local casino on Saturday night, and played blackjack at a real table for the first time, too. Don't know if I'd do it on my own in the future, but it's fun going with someone who knows what he's doing to show you how.

Anyway, it was a fun evening, and it was all comped by the casino, so win-win all around.

More later.

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.

Hey, I have FEELINGS, too!

The Emotional IQ Test

How People-Smart Are You?

Sue, your Emotional IQ is 131.

This number is the result of a formula based on how many questions you answered correctly on Tickle's Emotional IQ test. But your Emotional IQ score is much more than just a number: it's an indicator of success.

Research has shown that people with high emotional intelligence scores — not necessarily those with the highest IQ scores — tend to be the most valued and productive employees and have the longest and happiest romantic relationships.

So, where are you most emotionally smart? Your test results show that your strongest suit is empathy — your ability to see things from someone else's point of view.

Take your own Tickle EIQ test.

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The Relationship Color Test

What Shade of Love is Right for You?
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Sue, your relationship color is Blue

This means that you tend to be a cooperative partner whose listening and negotiation skills are first rate. Above all, you seem to try to keep the lines of communication open between you and the one you love. In your mind, it's usually far better to talk about problems as they arise rather than sweeping them under the rug. For you to really feel connected to your special someone, it's important that they hear and understand you. Ordinarily, you'll return this courtesy tenfold by paying close attention to your partner's perspective when they have something to say.

People with compatible relationship colors tend to bring out the best in one another because their approach to relationships is harmonious. But if you're with someone whose relationship color clashes with yours, you're headed for more challenges than most.