10 days to fill

The kids are going to the Adirondacks with their grandparents tomorrow and will be gone for 10 days. 10 days with no one to be responsible for but myself. I've contemplated how I'll spend my time. The last thing I want to do is wonder why I didn't take advantage of my alone time while I had it. I'm having negative cash flow issues (never say you're broke) so I have to be creative with my ideas.

I've come up with the following list:

1. work on a new small cross stitch project. I have a cute pattern for an American flag I may work on using the colors in my guestroom and the embroidery floss that's stuffed in a drawer there
2. finish reading my book on Einstein
3. walk daily at the lake. Maybe go a little crazy and stick my feet in the water.
4. get ahead in my schoolwork
5. clean out my car
6. finally watch Slumdog Millionaire. It's been sitting on top of my TV for weeks and I'd really like to get it back to the nice people at Netflix.
7. sit in the sun and try to get a little color on this Irish skin

All these options don't cost a dime and I know I'll enjoy each of them. I always seem to be short on time and money. This week, I'll have the time even if I don't have the money.

Magic at the lake

I had a great night tonight. My neighbors, Sergio and Iris from across the hall invited me to have dinner with them. Iris had been waiting for me to come home all day and started bringing food out as soon as my car pulled into the parking lot.

Pulled pork, barbequed chicken and ribs, Spanish rice, pasta salad. You would have thought they were feeding an army! Iris' son and girlfriend from Brooklyn joined us and the evening turned into a full moon night.

Sergio pulled a speaker from his apartment and we listened to Luther Vandross and Donna Summer and drank wine under the stars. It was wonderful. Iris and I sang stupid disco songs from the 70's and Sergio brought out hot fried plantanos with cilantro and olive oil to dip them in. Usually, I have two speeds: full tilt and stop. Tonight I found another: relax.

I kept looking for a good time to say goodnight and head upstairs but every time I tried either Iris or Sergio would say, "this is how life should be" or "you could never find this kind of night in Brooklyn" and I would believe I was part of what was making the night so special for all of us and would feel compelled to stay and not take a chance of breaking the spell.

I finally said goodnight at 11:00 with a reminder from Sergio that I was invited for breakfast at 11:00 the next morning. I crept into my apartment and shut off the lights taking a last look at the backyard and watched the tiki lights being extinguished, one by one.

Who would have thought such a magical night would have happened in Whitney Point?

DAR

Last night I did a presentation for our local chapter of the DAR. This is a small group of very nice ladies who appreciate my willingness to provide them with historical information.

We had only about 8 people but the amazing thing was that four of them were descendents of Deborah Sampson, the person whose story I was telling that night. I was pleased to see them taking notes which meant I was providing them with information they didn't already have.

I'm giving serious consideration to starting a small (very small) business doing this for other organizations. The whole reason I started reenacting was to educate the public and there's only so much I can do at actual events. This will give me a fun way to get information out to interested people and make some money for our regiment.

When I told a friend about my engagement last night and my thoughts about starting the business, she told me I was crazy. Single mother working full-time, taking classes and involved in a demanding hobby. Why do I want to add more to my already full plate?

Life, to me, is to be lived. I'm happiest when I'm feeling busy and needed. I can't imagine having a dead end job and coming home every night to an empty house with nothing to do but watch television or surf the internet. Life gives you many opportunities but very little time. I choose to use it wisely.

Albany

Who knew Albany, New York could be so romantic?

Bob and I had made plans to go to Jerusalem Mill in Maryland for a reenactment but it was cancelled due to the ground being saturated. We were disappointed but decided to go ahead with our plans to get together.

We booked a room in Albany through Priceline and met there on Friday after work. We had a nice meal at Smokey Bones where I was able to satisfy my Mojito craving. If you ask Bob, he'll tell you it's more like an obsession. And don't mess with my Mojito. The only true Mojito is one made with a simple sugar solution, rum, seltzer and fresh mint. Please leave all the girly berries and other nonsense out, thankyouverymuch.

We enjoyed sleeping late on Saturday morning, a luxury neither of us indulges very often. While he was in the shower, I surfed the 'net looking for something fun to do. St. Sophia's was having their Annual Greek Festival so I mapquested it and announced our adventure to Bob as soon as he came out of the bathroom. I wasn't sure he'd like it but he was game and we were off!

We stopped for a quick bite to eat at a diner (a roll for me, french toast (of course) for him) and started driving toward the site of the festival. We were early so we scoured the area for garage sales.

Now, what I ever did to deserve a man who enjoys garage sales as much as I I'll never know. We found such treasures! Bob bought me a mink stole for $2. A good one too with heads and tails at both ends! I bought a cheap necklace for myself for fifty cents since I'd forgotten to pack jewelry. I also scored a complete set of good knives for $2.

By this time it was time to head to the church. We lucked out with a parking spot right in front, paid our $2 admission and started looking around. I finally found what I was looking for....food! Gyros, cheap wine and honey soaked fried dough. Mmmmmm!

I got adventurous and tried Metaxa for the first time. The bartender let me taste some and it was pretty good so I ordered it. A little old Greek lady standing next to me said in broken English, "Metaxa?" When I nodded she said, "You drink Metaxa, you don't drive." Yes, ma'am. It turned out to be good advice as I nursed that little cup for the rest of the afternoon.

We watched the dancers for a while and I was very impressed that there were so many young people interested in preserving their heritage. The best part for me was when a little old Greek man dressed in a suit got up to dance with his teenaged granddaughter. He had the time of his life though at times I was worried they'd have to call an ambulance. I have a soft spot for seniors.

We left the festival late in the afternoon and went looking for a WalMart. On our way, we saw the "Big Dog" in downtown Albany. This is a dog that looks just like Nipper from RCA Victor and is perched on top of a building. You can see it from the highway and we pass it all the time. Every time we're apart and pass it, we'll send a text saying, "big dog". In my best whiny voice, I told Bob I wanted a picture of it. Bless his heart, he drove right up to the building so I could get some good shots.

We finally found a KMart where we picked up chips and salsa for dinner. I think we were still full of the honey balls so the thought of going somewhere to eat wasn't very appealing. Upon arriving back at the hotel, we headed to the pool to soak in the hot tub for a while. Bob loves hot tubs but I can only take them for so long. I was happy to keep him company while he enjoyed soaking.

We spent the rest of the night eating chips and salsa and watching HBO. It was so relaxing and fun especially watching a stand-up comic. I have never heard Bob laugh so hard and it did my heart good to witness it. He's been working so hard and this break was just what he needed. It's wonderful that we're so compatible and enjoy just spending time together.

We left the hotel around noon on Sunday and went to Crossgates Mall. I treated him to lunch at Houlihan's where we watched people and talked about our future. I always hate Sundays when we've been together all weekend and Bob knows it. We save all our serious conversations for this time and I start to get quiet and sad knowing we'll be saying goodbye soon. He cheered me up by suggesting we pick out a tie for him to wear to Lindsay's wedding. Off we went to Macy's where we found the perfect tie to complement his suit and my dress.

I'm sure this post sounds boring to a lot of people but it shows how the simple things can bring so much happiness. We didn't need to spend a lot of money or go somewhere special to feel re-connected and re-charged. I know all relationships aren't like that and really feel blessed to be in one.

Mini-vacation

Today is the last day of my mini-vacation. The kids have been with their father since last Friday and come home tonight. I wonder if they missed me.

I've missed them but didn't miss the responsibility of caring for anyone but myself. I could linger over coffee in the morning instead of going on the daily hunt for Mell's socks. I did't have to break up a single tiff and I could pick up one slice of pizza for dinner instead of cooking for three after working 8+ hours. I did miss them though.

Bob and I spent Friday through Monday together and had a great time. We met at a Marriot in Rocky Hill, CT on Friday and celebrated my birthday by going to dinner at a neat little brewpub in Hartford. Great food! Bob got me a pair of pearl earrings and an iPod for my birthday. I am now not the last person on the face of the earth with an iPod! I bought him a massage from a place in North Andover. He's never had a professional massage before and desperately needs it.

We had our regiment's annual meeting on Saturday at John Koopman's house and his wife surprised us with a birthday cake. She's such a thoughtful person considering we're the ones who steal her husband away to play George Washington all summer.

After the meeting, we went to my cousin's house in Long Island for my aunt and uncle's 40th wedding anniversary party. It was a surprise party and I think I was the biggest surprise since they haven't seen me in five years. We had a blast and stayed up until 2:00 in the morning. Bob really hit it off with my family as I knew he would.

The next day was spent in recovery. We sat around all day talking and eating party leftovers. The sun had finally come out and we got to appreciate the view of Long Island Sound right outside my cousin's back window. I would love to live on the water like that. There is something so peaceful about the sound and motion.

We left around 4:00 and went straight to another Marriot in Stamford, CT. After an hour long nap, we walked across the street for a steak dinner. The rest of the night was spent relaxing and watching tv.

Bob has had a brutal schedule lately and really needed this break. We both tend to overschedule ourselves. We need to learn to schedule downtime.

The shooting in Binghamton

Today 14 people lost their lives in a shooting at the American Civic Association in Binghamton. This is a place I know well having been there for various social events. It's also around the corner from the high school from which I graduated.

We first heard the news this morning in the form of a fax from Broome County Emergency Services. No call to action was required but it did keep us glued to our computers for the day to keep up with the latest updates.

In an effort to not upset our residents, we kept the tv and radio off. While most of them knew about the shooting, there was no need to have it be a constant presence during the day.

I found out tonight that I know someone who died. She was the mother of my best friend in 5th grade, Georgia King and I ate lunch at their house every school day. During that year, she was pregnant with their last (and 7th?) child and I remember her wearing her jeans unbuttoned at the waist to allow for her expanding belly. It's so hard to think about that woman in 1975, so full of life to have met her end in this horrible way.

I spoke to her recently after a presentation I gave to her social club three years ago. She hadn't changed a bit except she seemed a lot less stressed and appeared to really be enjoying life.

I don't know what her role was at the Civic Association but I wouldn't be surprised if she was a volunteer. This was a woman who wouldn't let retirement stop her from being productive.

I won't soon forget this day. The shock of seeing Binghamton's name on the front page of CNN.com and hearing it on national news programs, the heartache I feel for Georgia and her family and the rest of the families who are grieving tonight. Most of all, I won't forget that once again I am reminded that life is short and unpredictable and to not waste it.

Back to school

I've been researching colleges lately with the goal of getting my Bachelor's in Business Administration. I have been very fortunate to have worked for many people who have stressed job experience and skills over education and have had a very successful career as a result. However, I have future goals that will require a degree.

I went to college right after high school but never finished. My heart wasn't in it at the time. Not finishing has been a regret I've always had. My advice to anyone who wants to quit: Don't do it! Stick it out! Don't use me as an example of someone who has succeeded despite a college degree. My opportunities have been very limited because of it.