The price you pay to avoid a catastrophe

This morning, well, early, early morning. I had to get up and make my way to the airport. I am facilitating a training session in Philadelphia with some very important people who work with my company but in different offices.

I pack my bag, head out the door, and get on the road. Halfway to the airport, I realize that I didn't pack any 'special products' just in case something were to pop up out of the blue while I'm gone.

Sure enough, by the time I land in Philadelphia, I am in need of these products. I don't panic, just make my way through the airport and catch a cab to the hotel. I figure there's got to be a drugstore or shop somewhere relatively close to the hotel. I'm in a cream skirt suit with greyish pinstripes, so I'm lookin good; albeit terrified of a certain embarassing event that could take place if I don't do something about the situation.

After checking in and calling the front desk, I find out there's a grocery store "across the street."

I start my walk across the street, which is not really "across the street" at all. It's down the road, across the street towards the left and around from the back side of the building.

The 10-minute walk consisted of the standard landscaping truck full of sweaty guys honking and whistling. I believe there were at least 2 other cars/trucks who couldn't resist the urge to honk the horn, confirming that I dressed well today.

I purchased my 'items' and left the store. Trecking to the back of the building, back across the street, I was caught at the light. There's nothing like a woman in a hot skirt suit standing on a street corner to draw some attention.

Let us observe.

-"HAAAAYYYY Guuurrllll!" comes from a middle-aged man in an oldsmobile with a beard and cigarette hanging from his lips.

-hand waving in the air rapidly, "I'm just tryin to get one of those girls to see me!" the guys says to oldsmobile cigarette guy.

-"HOOOOOooonk". Much longer and louder than the honks on trip there.

I have come to the conclusion that I should either a) not wear such figure-complimenting clothing, b) come prepared, or c) stay out of Philadelphia.(I mean, I've been honked and yelled at before, but not 7 times in one day!)

Finally, I made it back to the hotel and into my room, paying a hefty price to avoid a complete catastrophe.

10 things that would make this week a little better

1. Getting some more sleep. I've been deprived for the last 5 days of any sort of normal sleep.
2. Finding a new roommate. The 1st is fast approaching... and there's no one locked in to moving in yet. This process is incredibly stressful.
3. Getting my nails done. They're way overdue but the girl who does them had the day off today. Of course, on the one convenient day for me to be able to go.
4. Some sex.
5. Another "Surprise Wednesday"
6. Winning the lottery. I'm sure if I play with the number 4, all of my dreams will come true... That number seems to show up everywhere I go!
7. Class being canceled tomorrow night. (wow, wouldn't THAT be nice?!!)
8. A new pair of shoes :)
9. More sleep.
10. A smooth trip to Philly on Thursday and Friday. You've gotta love business trips.

Steppin Out

Kaskade is by far my very favorite House DJ. Saturday night, he came to town and was going to rock my world at a local gay club/bar.

Now, I know what you're thinking, and no, I have no clue why it was there. The gay community seems to have a large following to house/trance music, so I presume that's how the venue was selected. We were, by far, not the only straight ones there. I've been to another show there and had a fabulous time.

Either way, because this was the venue of choice, the friends I had available to come with were slimming down. First, there was people that actually like the music. Then, there was more narrowing down to those who were comfortable going to a predominantly gay venue. This left me with 4 friends willing and able to join me to such a wonderful event.

Just one problem. They all have boyfriends. And, of course, doing what couples do best... occupying each others' time.

11:30 pm and I'm still sitting on the couch, completely depressed that my favorite house dj was in town (only happens maybe once a year, folks), scanning television shows i'd never been interested in before. There's a problem here.

**ring ring**

Well, if it isn't the lovely Mo. Such a great, great friend.

him: "Hey! What are you doing?!"
me: "oh nothing, just sitting on the couch watching some random tv. What about you?"
him: "Um? Isn't Kaskade tonight? Why aren't you there?"
me: "well, you see, I have just this one little problem... no one to go with"
him: "I'll go!"

I jumped up and down like a little girl who just found out her parents were taking her to Cinderella's Castle for the first time. I grabbed a cute outfit and ran out the door.

On my way downtown...

**ring ring**

Well, well... It's Trent.

him: "Hey there, what's up??"
me: "On my way to Kaskade! That's what's up!! What are you doing??"
him: "well, remember I told you I was going to a bachelor party tonight? I'm just not feelin it."
me: "Would you like to go to Kaskade with Mo and I?"
him: "sure."

And there you have it. Two straight men and I at a gay club watching my favorite DJ. Life couldn't get any better!!

Kaskade rocked the house, as usual, and played my all time favorite song, Steppin Out, a few minutes after we walked in. I was in absolute heaven!

Surprise Wednesday

Oh yah. This week's Wednesday was officially dubbed "Surprise Wednesday" before it even started.

Surprises:
- Flowers from a friend

- A pair of my shoes were fixed when I got home. I typically wear them until the heels are falling off because I pay so much for them. She fixed them for me :)

- I got a pair of hand-me-down pants that were too small for her

- I've been searching for a specific jacket for 2 years now. When I was at the mall with my sisters last weekend, I saw it in the window.
Well, Sam sent me several links to some suit jackets he was thinking about purchasing (gotta love that he asks for my input) so I found the jacket online and sent it to him. What I also found was a $30 off coupon for it.

Cha-Ching! So, I splurged the $50 (exactly what i'd made the night before in babysitting) and got it.

- Sam had a baseball game last night (he coaches a high school team) so he said he probably wouldn't get done until really late and would just have to say goodnight at around 8 or so. He did. But then he called after the game just to say goodnight. It was a great surprise!

- Some other things shaped up at work as well. Instead of the shit constantly hitting the fan, it allowed for a small breather. I was relieved!

Let's make a deal!

"OK Miss America, here's the deal," the 3 year old says as I sit her in front of her dinner, "You go make macaroni and cheese for me. Bring it to me. And I will sit here and eat it. That's a good deal."

Barely containing my laughter, I respond, "How about this deal... You eat your dinner and if you're still hungry after dinner, you can have macaroni and cheese. Now that's a really good deal?"

I've been a babysitter for the best of them. Been with their family since before she was a concept and her 7 year old sister was her age. I know their temperment quite well by now. This interaction was one of about twelve that it took to complete the meal comprised of hot dogs on a plain bagel (they thought that was really cool) and some fruit.

This 'deal' was one of many that made up the twelve interactions:

-"I've gotta fix my towel" (which requires getting down from the seat to fix the cover on her chair so I have to lift her up again)

-"OH! Look at that tea set" (as she's walking towards it... which requires hoisting back up again.)

-"I want some more of my birthday cake! My birthday is tomorrow! My mom and dad told me!!" (correction... it was last Saturday; however 'Birthday girl' seems to last a little while around here)Apparently there's "no more room" for real food, but tons of room for birthday cake.

-"I need to play with my new game!" (the lifting back onto the chair continues.)

Dinner lasted almost an hour.

They'll say and do any cute little thing to move away from the dinner table. Everything is so important right then, they'll even try to make a deal!

[PS - She really does call me Miss America ;)]

Awkward Question #1

Answering the question "how long have you two been dating" when you're in front of each other has always been awkward for me. Especially when you've just begun 'dating' and you haven't really defined the relationship (this always happens to me).

Sitting on the couch with Aunt, Uncle, and newly appointed boyfriend (Sam). Sipping on cocktails having a great conversation when it turns to the dreaded question.

"So," my aunt turns to me, "how long have you two been dating?" Sam shoots me a grin across the room and I reply "Um... I'll let him answer that??"

His reply: "6 months." Firm and steady. Straight out of his mouth.

Sometimes men amaze me.

I hadn't even counted (isn't that a girl thing?), nor did I know when we officially started "dating" and definitely didn't want to blurt out the wrong answer.

Since he doesn't live here (Quite a long story that can be filled in at a later time) and we'd 'lost touch' for about a month or so in that 6 months, I didn't even know where to begin.

He's a good catch. ;)

10 Things I did this weekend

1. Returned from a cruise to the bahamas.
2. Wrote a poem. (it's called "fake", but it's a poem nonetheless)
3. Went to the grocery store.
4. Started a diet (it's not really that bad)
5. Wrote 6 checks totalling more than I make in 2 weeks.
6. Took a long shower.
7. Went Rollerblading. (twice)
8. Purchased a wireless router so I don't always have to use the desktop computer.
9. Purchased new sheets and comforter for the King size bed I'm about to aquire.
10. Slept in.