Hot & Heavy

It's not as exciting as it sounds, but the story cracks me up.

I have a really good friend named Jordana (people think we are sisters). She and I spend a ton of time together... her fiance is deployed and her ex-husband (she's mad at him right now, so he's not a wasband) has the kids from Thursday - Sunday that opens up her whole weekend. We have our Thursday tradition of martinis at MJ's and then the bar tour of Bath and we usually see each other at least one other time over the weekend. Last week we went to martini night, went out again on Friday and had a "date" on Saturday - dinner and a movie. When my friend Stacy asked me what I was doing Saturday night I said "I have a hot date" she said "with who? The Fisherman?" I said "no, with Jordana" and Stacy replied, "well, you and Jordana have been pretty hot and heavy lately, huh?" Perhaps you had to be there...

Thursday night I invited The Fisherman to join Jordana and I for the last leg of our evening... he had a long drive because he had to deliver a car about 70 miles away (he co-owns a dealership) but he said he missed me and wanted to see me :) nice guy, huh? I was glad she got to meet him... we'll see where it goes. It's still very early...

No more white pants or shoes

That's what I always think of when it's Labor Day... something my father instilled in me at a young age... Mr. GQ himself.

It was a beautiful weekend in Maine. The weather was dreamy! Not hot and humid in fact a little fall like, I loved it. I worked Friday night - slowest night of the year so far... I got out at 8:30 which is pretty much unheard of on a Friday so I headed to Windsor for a bon fire with a friend I will call The Fisherman.

Saturday I went on a motorcycle ride/lunch with a friend I will call Mr. R1 because that's what he rides for a bike... I can't believe how much I have missed being on a motorcycle. It was the longest lunch date ever. I met him at 1:00 and I didn't get home until 8:30! I was worried that he and I were going to have to have a "talk" because it seemed he was WAY more into me than I was into him, but he spared me :) and we are going to keep it at friends.

Sunday I met Steve for breakfast and we discussed house stuff. We actually had fun! I love how much better we have been getting along. He has agreed to buy me out of the house by transfering money from his 401k to my 403b (non-profit equivalent). I won't have money to put down on anything now, but in order to be done with it, it will have to be done this way. I'm okay with it. I headed to Portland to drop off Little Ray, my kitty. He has a new home with Candace... may only be temporary but she will make sure he is well taken care of. I got to have lunch with Erica and Josiah. I have missed her so much. I can't believe how big her little guy is! Sunday night I worked. Thankfully it was busier than it was on Friday and I actually made some money.

Monday went to a bbq at Popham Beach with a bunch of friends I haven't seen in a long time. Sharon & Jason are up from VA, I saw Nancy Senecal who I rarely see anymore... and several others, it was fun. Monday night I had a date with The Fisherman we went to dinner at the Osprey (like I can't get enough of the joint) and I introduced him to some friends I work with and that come in often... BIG step.

Now it's back to the grind... the grind that doesn't allow for white pants and shoes.

Last Day Lisa

My old boss Lisa Burgess got RiFed - Sweetser talk for Reduction in Force, i.e. laid off. I hate seeing her go. While I love my new boss Jami Ream it makes me so sad to think I won't be seeing Lisa's face or hearing her laugh at work. She was so good to me and we had so many fun times. I know there are more to come - especially since she isn't my boss anymore.

As a parting gift she gave me a beautiful hand painted martini glass. She suggested I take it with me to martini nights on Thursday, like some pubs have mug clubs where you get your own mug, I could have my own martini glass! She also gave me Mr. Right when you need him and it is so funny! A little cardboard guy that has a magnet by his head that you can attach different phrases to, like: "I could listen to you talk all night" "It's not your fault, it's mine" "You look thin. Have you lost weight?" "As always, you're right" and "May I take you shoe shopping?" and 5 more blanks so I can make my own. It's a riot.

I am going to miss Lisa... I have had the best bosses since coming to Sweetser! Ed French - who can forget Ed? Lisa and now Jami... hopefully Jami is here to stay for a while. ;)

Get to Steppin'!

I DID IT!! I passed the first part of my instructor certification class!! I am so proud of myself! It was the hardest thing I have done - physically. The workshop was held at a gym in Newmarket, NH and we were in a yoga studio that was about 80 degrees I swear... I am typically warm to begin with so you might imagine how hot I was when you throw in HOURS of step aerobics. I think over the course of the two days I worked out around 12-14 hours... between the workshop itself and the time I spent practicing the track I had to present.

My first presentation went well. My timing was slightly off, but I knew the routine and was even able to pre-que! The instructor was impressed since it was my first time teaching. Then we worked out for a couple more hours and we had to present again - this time in the aerobics studio with the microphone! I CHOKED!! I was so spent physically, mentally and emotionally I had nothing left in me... at one point I really thought my legs were going to to give out... I don't know how my brother-in-laws can run marathons... But I did it!

Now I need to memorize the other 11 tracks (songs) co-teach four times and video tape myself teaching a class, mail it in to be "graded" and I will be a certified Body Step instructor (provided I pass - and I WILL!)

Goin' Through the Big "D" (and I don't mean Dallas)

I wish I could remember who sang that song... it's country - maybe you know?



Things have been going very well. Steve and I have a tentative date for our court date - 10/9. I am still waiting for the papers from the court. So far it has been relatively painless... the only issue is the house and it not being sold, how to handle that. Once I have more things figured out I will share more... Hopefully by the middle of next week.

My new term for Steve is WASBAND... it doesn't have the sometimes hostile connotations that ex-husband has. I like it, it still cracks me up every time I say it. And my former in-laws are now out-laws, HAHAHA!! funny stuff.

Same Old...

Not too much to write about this week... this are pretty status quo - which is nice for a change :)

Friday night I worked and for the first time in a long time I didn't go out after! I was still feeling a bit run down from being sick and just wanted to go to bed.

Saturday I got up pretty early and headed to Portland for a birthday party for my girlfriend Erin and a girl's night with Karri, Erica and Leslie. The party was fun, a pool party at Stacey's parents house... we got a little rain so the festivities were moved inside. It was an new/odd feeling to be the only one there without a man/boyfriend/dating someone and without a kid. Not that all the guys were at the party - only a couple were, but all the women were attached in one way or another. I think the girls for girls night had much higher expectations for the night and me than I did. I was still in a I want to sleep in my own bed kind of mood... and after spending the afternoon with kids and pregnant ladies I was a little spent to be totally honest. And I knew I needed to work the next day at 11 and would need to do my chores before then. In the past we have had girls night, drank wine, sat in the hot tub and had a sleep over and I just wasn't feeling it. I felt bad... we had planned it for so long but I just wasn't in that space.

I worked a little extra this weekend, which was exhausting. I worked a double on Sunday which means I was there from 11:00am till about 10:30pm and we were SO busy!! And it was stifling in the restaurant... we have to be one of the few places that doesn't have a/c and at times it's unbearable. Thankfully I made good money so it was all worth it in the end.

Some friends (Jasper & Nicki) were in town from California this week and they finally made their way to the Osprey Sunday night. After I got out of work we went to Maxwell's and shut it down... on a Sunday night!? Who does that!? It was a good time and I was glad I got to see them for the short time they were here.

All in all, a good weekend :) It's only Tuesday and I am already looking forward to this weekend... not that I have anything planned - or even a day off... I just love the weekend.

What a weekend...

I feel like I went non-stop for so long, then finally crashed... hard. A couple noteworthy things form the weekend that I will share.

Early Saturday morning I headed to Bath to get stuff to make potato salad for the annual St.Jean summer party - which is usually held at camp but because of Jackie's (my mother-in-law) broken arm it was held at Lise's (my sister-in-law) house in Lewiston. While I was at the house - our house in Bath where Steve lives - making the potato salad I had a little accident... although some are wondering if it really was an accident, hahaha. While I was cutting the potatoes Steve said he was leaving, I went to hug him - both of our arms went up and I STABBED HIM IN THE ARM! It was SO gross!! I could see past the skin layer, the fatty layer (not that there was much of one) to the pink part! And it wasn't bleeding! I FREAKED out, crying, oh my gosh, you need stitches, we need to go the ER, on and on... he said, nope I gotta go, the boat's leaving at 9:30 and off he went...

Saturday I was invited to a "Ladies Luncheon" hosted by my girlfriend Suz. I had the best time. There were only 4 of us at her home in Newcastle, but we laughed for hours... told funny stories and had great food and drinks - pomegranate martinis! To quote Suz "shadoobee". We decided that we would make it a monthly event and take turns hosting and inviting other women to join us.

Saturday night I had dinner with my mother, her brother Brian and his wife Jennifer. Brian and Jennifer were visiting from California. We decided they should come to the Osprey rather than me going to Portland to do the touristy type thing. Our meal was lovely, view was excellent and the company fabulous.

Sunday was the St.Jean summer party and it was so nice to see everyone again, although it was really hard. Sometimes it just hits me that I am not going to be as close to these people as I have been... that I am not going to be included in the family activities, birthdays, holidays and what not... I think it's almost harder than splitting up with Steve. The family has never been anything but loving and supportive... I had been detaching from Steve for so long - but not the family until now and seeing them all was tough. Especially Alex... there is something about that little guy - well not so little anymore... I remember hearing him add Auntie A to his prayers when he was 7 and we were visiting from Utah... seeing Simon in the hospital when he was only hours old... Taking Graham to the movies. Having dinner at camp, Christmas at Lise's and Easter at Renee's... enough, it's making me cry to type about it and think of all the fun times we had together as a family. I will always love them.

hmm...

Mr. Clean already called... that didn't take long :)

SALSA!

Last night Erica and I met her friend Nakita for salsa dancing at 51 Wharf in the Old Port (Portland). First there was a lesson first for $5 where we were taught the very basics and I learned how to dance the guy's part - the women were outnumbered (big surprise?). I couldn't believe how many people were crammed into this tiny room! The instructor was a riot and made the process easy and entertaining... he and the DJ worked well together - you could tell they do this every week. It was an absolute blast and I am already looking forward to doing it again.


I made a new friend - we'll call him Mr. Clean because he looked a little like Mr. Clean, shaved head and a goatee (a slightly outdated look, but I was willing to move past it for entertainment purposes). After we attempted dancing - he missed the instructional and I only knew the guys part - we talked for the rest of the night. He lives in NY and was here for work... he'll be back in September... He bought me a huge sunflower from the woman who was selling them on the street and I gave him my number... we'll see if he calls. I seem to have a thing for unavailable guys, whether it's location, emotionally/mentally unavailable, or just plain bad news... whatever it is I am like a moth to a flame... or rather I was. Rick and I work on that in therapy I am getting better at recognizing these traits from the get go.


I had forgotten what it was like to not be attached and effort it requires to be noticed in a bigger city (if Portland can be called that). It made me appreciate Bath even more. In Bath I can go to Maxwell's the Shipbuilders Pub straight from the Osprey - maybe change clothes first - without a shower, redoing my hair or make-up, or too much concern about what I am wearing and comfortably fit right in... making too much of an effort to get prettied up would make me stand in a not so good, "trying too hard" kind of way. The downside to this comfort is the selection of available men, there isn't one. Portland is a totally different scene, lots of guys and of course younger,and prettier girls everywhere and it made me feel old at 33. At times it's a painful reminder that I am starting over again and that it will be at least a couple years before I am married again and (dear god, please) having children...

Everything happens for a reason... I have to keep telling myself that.

YIPPEE!!

I DID IT! I signed up for the Bodystep Training so I can be a certified instructor at the gym! I am in a bit of shock and only slightly stressed out about all of it, but very proud of myself for taking the first step. The training is 8/24 & 8/25 in New Hampshire. Typically the training is 3 days long (and I hear I am in for a butt kicking!) but this one is only 2 days - and $100 less! Heck of a deal. There is a chance I will be teaching the 5:30am class, and maybe some nights and weekends once I become certified... YEAH ME!

I will keep you posted :)