Suit yourself

My college roommate says that I need to write a book of all my weird experiences.  A blog may suffice.

Today I went to an unnamed sporting goods store.  I had waited about 14 months (and through my spending hiatus) to buy a new swim suit.  I am surprised that the Y had not kicked me out yet for public indecency with the saggy bottom and...never mind.  It was bad.

I walk in the store to an employee complaining about working on the phone.  As I peruse the half empty store with broken tiles and decor from 1995, Mr. Complainer approached and asked if he could help me find something.  I told him I wanted a swim suit, which he presented the only rack in the store that had my desired item.  I told him what brands I liked, didn't like...he suggested I not wear the brands I didn't like (thanks).

When I was able to flag down an employee's attention (that zip tie at the front was pretty intriguing), I  was told that the dressing rooms "needed to be nailed back to the floor" and was taken back past the office and back room storage to a dingy bathroom in the corner with a camping chair, pinecone border, cat air freshener, a full length mirror held up with a dumbbell, and a sign on the back of the door helping employees catching other employees stealing.

As I begin to try on all 7 of my suits, suit #2 had a knock at the door.  Since I was using the only restroom (and apparently dressing room) in the place, there were other demands for the facilities.  By #5, I had a man who attempted to barge in on me, and by #7, the knocker from #2 had come to ask me how much longer I was going to be.  I finished, walked through the store with the evidence in my hand of being the one holding up the line and a girl and her mother were beelining toward the bathroom with mom threatening to wet herself.

I offered my embarrassment to an employee, who insisted that I tell her manager because they were "just complaining" when they had informed him of this.  (Since apparently an apparel store does not need a place to try on the apparel.)  While purchasing items from his store, the manager approached me and I had to recount the mortifying tale again.  After an apology, he offered to have a dressing room available the next time I came in.  When I informed him I wasn't returning, Mr. Complainer (who apparently is the manager) offered to let me buy a suit from his store and return it if it doesn't fit.  So let me get this straight, I was completely indecent in your makeshift bathroom while people attempted to walk in on me and you offer me a better experience next time???

So, this gets better.  Because after he walked away, the cashier said she knows what I mean...the men who come in here are creeps and sometimes will pull down their drawers to show her their pant size.  The impromptu dressing room was the reason that they put the lock on the door.  (Um, excuse me???)  She did her best to console me and offer me coupons (which again would require me purchasing items again), but it was a sweet gesture to offer to stand guard the next time I was using their makeshift stall.

After the cashier told me that she personally makes sure that the bathing suits are out year round (because people go swimming at hotels), I begin to wonder if the corporate office knows this place exists.

This summer, so far

Wow...it has been a while since I have written here.  A long while.  So here's the d's:  I have been busy.  Not like crazy, I am going to lose my mind busy, but occupied.  My sister and I took a twelve day trip to France, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.  It was wonderful.  It's still a little surreal that we went.

So, as a result, my bank account got a little low.  So I went on a mostly spending hiatus.  Okay, so I spent like a dollar on 25 cent ski ball games when my bestie from the westie came and may have spent some money when we went out, but really, it was minimal.  I have ridden my bike and walked to downtown events, where I have enjoyed free outdoor music without paying a dime.  Granted, I had a friend pay for some things, but that was a belated birthday present and that was not my intention.

I made a birthday card for my mom, who fawned for quite a while over it.  (*score*)  

And made my own watercolors.  (I would likely use a different recipe or actual pre made paints next time.

I did breakdown and buy some deep fried goodness at the fair.  (It was the fair, after all, it only happens once a year.)  And I had some awesome friends who enjoyed my first demolition derby with me.

I attempted to bike to see my grandpa a few hours away.  Unfortunately, I got really turned around with GPS and could not make it there before dark.  It was a good workout, even if I didn't log all my miles on my RunKeeper app.

I continue to clean out my pantry, which still surprisingly has food.  And I have started to bake with whatever is left there.  (Score with these chocolate chip pumpkin muffins.)

I housesat for my parents last week, which allowed me to access their food and pantry (per my mum), but I didn't go overboard.  It did help stretch things, though, and at this point, was more practical than getting paid.  So, onto my hand at making my own bread.  (Wish me luck.)

Flashback Friday

I am a day late, but here's to a happy 33rd anniversary to my parents!  I am very, very fortunate to have parents who have remained married and love each other so much.

Flashback Friday: Noodles and Co.

Another dinner date with my sister.  Clearly, she's thrilled.

This weekend, I get to visit her and we get to go to a concert.  Yay!

Flashback sometime: Happy Easter!

 

I was going through my stuff and found this little gem.  My apologies on the quality of the picture and the frame.  It was the best I could do.  Happy Easter!

Internet, shimnernet

I have been taking a break from Facebook for a bit and apparently took a hiatus from all social media.   Life has been busy and so, so, so good.  It is constantly shifting, but it is manageable.    I have moved houses, offices, and have some potential side work that came out of the woodwork.  It has been extremely scary to move out of my parents' house, but it has been a time to seriously consider everything I own.  I am having to take serious inventory of everything I own and consider whether I could realistically keep it.  I was able to see my first check stub and retirement statement when I first started my career.  On the same day, I got my most recent stub.  Wow, I am fortunate.  Persistence has paid off.  I officially bought all our plane tickets to Europe and we have booked our bed and breakfast in Dublin.  I am getting so, so excited.  We bought Jack Johnson concert tickets and I am working on us going to another concert.

I also had an exciting morning off with a bird who got caught in the fireplace (and clearly didn't stay there).

The spring is finally here and we seem to be all thawed out.  I have been able to get out running some, but more importantly, it has been good weather for moving.  Winter is still holding on to each last little bit it can, but warmer days are here.  And just in time for my injury to be on the mend.

I have had a few trips to Illinois and Michigan to visit friends and my sis.  I was able to catch just the beginning of the Lake Michigan thaw.  Seriously, the whole lake was not moving.  It was a sight to behold.  Some of my days have included audiobooks, Tiramisu in a restaurant by myself, where I could soak in every part of a book, chat with the waitress, and just relish the moment.

I have been scared, excited, and completely blown away how everything has come together in ways I have hoped, prayed for, and dreamed for a long time.  It just makes the gifts so much sweeter.

Flashback Friday--Kristin

Guess who I get to see this weekend.

Habits

We try to break them.  We try to make them. We try to break bad ones, can have a hard time keeping new ones, but can't stop most of them.

It’s bully sport and it’s open fight;

It will keep you busy both day and night;

For the toughest kind of a game you’ll find

Is to make your body obey your mind.

And you never will know what is meant by grit

Unless there’s something you’ve tried to quit."--On Quitting by Edgar Albert Guest

Confession:  I have never wanted a regular, boring life.  I haven't ever wanted just to settle into a routine and just be happy doing the same thing day in and day out.  Frankly, I'm not wired for that.

There are still some days when I am still amazed at how much I piddle and blow time for no apparent reason.  Old habits die hard.

But after a semester of straddling three part time jobs and having unstructured days only guided by a to-do list, I have had a lot of insight into how I function.  And I have become a little jealous of people who have routines.  I realized how much harder I was working just doing things at a different time of day.  I realized that I was working more than I had to in order to just complete mundane tasks.  I realized how much habits could be a good thing.  They could free up my mind by allowing the monotonous chores to fly on autopilot so I could channel my time, emotions, and energy into things that matter, such as work, new ideas, and friends.  Once I FINALLY figured out a routine, regular bedtimes, and how to work the system, my life became so much easier.  My stress level went down in the mornings and my anxiety got better.  I knew whether I was coming or going.  The are still some days when I am still amazed at how much I piddle and blow time for no apparent reason.  Old habits die hard.  Frankly, giving into mononanty was one of the best things I did.

Flashback Friday

The Flashback Fridays were worth the wait.  Here's a two-fer.

My aunt and dad's birthdays were last week.  Here are their celebrations way back when.

My brother in law asked what my aunt's real hair color was.  The mystery may have been solved.

March 1981

Cyberless relationships

I have totally laxed on blogging.  For various reasons...life has been busy, I have been getting ready to move, and it seems that my goal of having real relationships instead of online ones has been accomplished (1270).  Thank you, Facebook hiatus.

I love this kid.

My feet have slowly been healing (1271), as evidenced by a recent run on a snowy Chicago Saturday.  Because, you know, I wouldn't want to be too deprived of the winter.

The coffee club (1272).

1273.  Celebrating another birthday with my dad.

1274.  My cousins coming down from Taylor to celebrate.

1275.  Getting two free meals (and dessert) from Johnny Carino's.

1276.  Talking about my cousins' upcoming spring break trip.

1277.  My dad's chocolate hiatus for Lent=carrot cake.  A delicious alternative.

1278.  The look on my mom's face when my sister peeped around the corner as a surprise for my dad's birthday weekend=priceless.

1279.  Subway at the hospital=my sister's exit lunch from town.  Another thirty minutes to enjoy her.

1280.  St. Pat's day=shamrock shakes and another reason to wear my green pants.  (Like I need a holiday to wear those.  Pretty sure in every picture for three months straight I was wearing those.)

1281.  A clearanced brand new leather love seat.

1282.  The love seat fitting in the van.  My dad sitting on the wrapped love seat, doing his work on the way back from Indy.

1283.  Having just enough work to keep me busy.

1284.  Having a new dentist who is excited I brush my teeth regularly.

1285.   Getting lots of compliments on my teeth at the new dentist, including long tooth root, healthy gums, and little plaque.  I told them I was coming back more often for compliments.

1286.  Getting free moving boxes.

1287.  Choosing Irish names for a clover.

1288.  Planning my own trip to Ireland.

1289.  Three day weekends.

The winter thaw

Spring has been peeking out few every once in a while (1258).  It was nice to enjoy a few runs outside and bike rides (1259).  My sister came home for a birthday weekend for my dad (1260).  The surprise on my parent's face was priceless (1261).

I had planned for a nice run at the state park, but I ended up getting my shifter stuck.  It all worked out (1262).  I am so glad for friends who are willing to come rescue me without asking (1263).  I had a swift father who quickly saved the day (1265).  I had to resolve to run at a local park, which ended up costing less money and time. (1266) 

A few more long runs that add up to some mileage in the right direction (1267).  I may not be out of the woods yet, but plantar flaciitus will be taking a hiatus soon.

One of the best parts of my weekend is long runs with my peeps, followed by coffee and stories that are exchanged (1268).  I am fully convinced that IQ levels are lowered when large amounts of testerone get around large weights and female viewers.  Translation:  large muscle mass does not make mall cops cooler.

I know spring is coming (1269), but I am ready to wear out my winter clothes.  

Flashback Friday--youth group

First Church Youth Group--Turkey Olympics 2011

These kids were tons of fun.

The small things

There are so, so many little things that add up to wonderful moments in life.  These little pauses, reprieves, they are funny, cute, and downright good.


1248.  The way my dad laughs at commercials he has seen 20 times.
1249.  My aunt's gullibility.
1250.  The way my aunt gets really excited about recipes she thinks she just discovered.
1252.  Brightly colored tea.

1253.  My grandpa had not sold his house and could move home (1254).
1255.  Having lots of family to help make the move smooth.
1256.  Being able to set up his house in a way that would be a little easier for mobility.
1257.  My aunt and uncle got their visas straightened out.  (They only had a single entry visa that wouldn't allow for them to retrieve this possessions from another country when flying to South Africa.)
1258.  Having the ability to renew my passport easily.  I don't foresee an upcoming trip to Europe being as drama filled as the post office worker's.  Apparently, traveling with her sister ended up rekindling things with her sister's ex-husband.  I think my sister and I are good for a few reasons.

Moving. Again.

We moved my grandpa out of Assisted Living today.   It went quickly and easily, and we had no snow.  We are very grateful.

My grandpa moved into Assisted Living with my grandma following a round of falls.  She was officially diagnosed with Alzeheimers in September 2012 and has had a series of brain injuries that have caused her cognitive decline to plummet.  The entire process has been difficult and sad, but I have a strong, loving family who have been an integral part of this process.

My grandpa said that the hardest thing to do was to make the phone call at 2am for the nursing staff to officially place my grandma in the Alzheimer's unit full time.  He knew once she went in, she would not ever come out.  However, we love her.  There are these sweet moments when she loves and recognizes us.  She lets me kiss her on the cheek and my aunt sings to her.  It seems to calm her down.  There was this moment last weekend where we dyed my grandma's hair.  As she started to get ansy, we began singing Bible songs.  Little kid songs she taught for years and years about how everyone in the world is loved by God.  She stopped and tried to sing along.  Somewhere, deep inside her, she knew the song.

We moved my grandparents out of their house without the anticipation of ever returning.  It was a shock to everyone, no matter how much you know it will come.  With my grandma living in her own room in assisted living, my grandpa moved back home.  It was sort of a familiar, sweet reunion.  Being there, for whatever time we have left is good.

Here are the name plaques of every grandchild in the family.  My grandpa handcrafted a beautiful wooden bassinet before the oldest was born.  This has been passed through the family.