Safe Passage

Time moves so strangely these days. With so much currently going on around me, it’s hard to find the time to sit and write for pleasure. I find myself wanting to visit here constantly, like coming home to a familiar smell and feeling like home – but bound by other considerations first.

I had a week’s vacation from work unexpectedly in the beginning of June. Our company, in an effort to save money, required that all employees with over 100 hours of PTO had to take at least a week off in June. Since my job only has one backup and his vacation was already scheduled, I got one of the first weeks available. I spent the time writing for my freelance sites, making money, exercising and getting some much needed rest and relaxation. I also got to experience simultaneous cramps and the stomach flu, which was extra fun. It rained almost the entire week, and while it felt good to stay at home and catch up on sleep, I was definitely stir crazy.

I was an unwitting volunteer at Leighann’s dance recital, which took up a large part of my Saturday the week before last. My original job was to assist Devon in getting all the kids lined up in order and ready to go on stage. That’s not a job that was designed for me. I do not have the patience of a saint, which I believe is required to work with a large number of screaming, crying children. During the rehearsal, I tied more bows, fixed more hair and handed out more lollypops in the space of three hours than I think I have in the rest of my life combined. Fortunately for the show itself, I got a job unexpectedly that worked out in my favor. The day before the show, Leighann called me and asked if I would be willing to work the curtains for the show, since the person who was supposed to originally bailed. Since I was a theatre rat for much of my two college years, that was much more up my alley. I got to climb up a rickety metal-runged ladder to the catwalk, where I got to sit by myself with my gloves and my water bottle and drop curtains for various acts throughout the show. As much as I hate to admit it – it was a lot of fun. After the show, we went to James and Leighann’s house for drinks and swimming and some much-needed fun.

The end of last week and the whole weekend were a bit of a challenge. Devon was in South Florida on her Bachelorette party extravaganza, and I was left home alone. They left on Thursday afternoon, spent the night in Miami, then continued on to Key West. They were supposed to be back on Sunday, but anyone who has been seeing the weather from Florida knows that didn’t quite happen. Sunday we were hit hard by the prequel to Tropical storm Debbie. Torrential rain, wind and tornadoes and water spouts were everywhere. Roads got flooded out, buildings were damaged, and I was soaked within a minute of stepping outside my front door when I had to retrieve the soda from the car. Needless to say, the girls spent an extra night down south since it was pretty much unsafe to drive. I watched the X-Files, wrote, drank and worked around the house, for the most part. On Saturday night, I went over to Kyle and Toni’s house for a wonderful dinner, drinks, religious debate and a wonderful showing of the Davinci Code on their 86 inch monster of a TV. It was a blast. Other than that, I kept myself busy or entertained. I’ll tell you what, though – nothing felt better than coming home Monday after work and seeing my love again. It felt like forever, but things have never been better.

This week is Pride in St. Pete, weather permitting, as well as my friend Catherine’s 30th birthday. A day in Downtown St Petersburg is long overdue, and definitely in order. I’ll make more of an attempt to update more often. For any of you that were worrying because of the weather – we’re fine…..and we’re getting a canoe for commuting purposes in the future.

Oh, by the way – September is right around the corner, almost everything is done and falling into place, and I cannot WAIT to marry that girl.