Falling out of summer :(

9.13.16

And I let almost two months pass before sitting down to do this. Weak. Ok, I'm over it. Unfortunately, I don't recall much of the rest of summer vacation #1 (or the rest of July, for that matter), but it's helpful to look back at my camera roll. Although, it's only helpful if you actually take pictures. I just remembered, Ashley came up for the night on Friday for a lady date/birthday celebration. We went to Molly's for dinner and sat at the bar until a table opened up for us. I ordered a flippin delicious orange margarita on special and it kicked my ass. We had a lot of fun just chatting and eating after getting a great buzz going. Afterwards, we went home and hung out on the deck, drank more and ate strawberry cheesecake. She was gone by the time I got out of bed the next morning. On the 23rd, I went to a baseball field here in Leb to watch Logan play. I went to the rail trail after for a bike ride but got caught in a passing thunderstorm on the way back. I waited it out under an overpass, by the time I went the remaining almost 4 miles and got back to my car (all four windows were open a little bit), I was covered head to toe in mud (bike too). Not a pleasant ride home and subsequent clean up.

The following Saturday, Dayners and I took a little trip to Stowe to a brewers festival where the boys from Upper Pass had a booth. We hung out with them for a bit after we realized we arrived at the end of the first session. Without tickets, they still gave us some brews. Afterwards, we hung out at the hotel and grabbed some food before they had to be back for the second session. At that time, we headed to the Bed and Jerry's factory to do the tour and get some ice cream although the line was really long and moving slow so we left. I mean, you can get Ben and Jerry's anywhere. We made a pit stop before going home at Emily's Bridge and took a bunch of pictures. Nothing. Apparently, she shows up after dark. I don't believe in ghosts, anyways. Sunday, I went to Ctown to hang out with Heather and Simone. We took her to the movies for the first time, we saw The Life of Pets. She did pretty good, but I think she prefers to watch movies at home lol.

I was back to work for a mere two when summer vacation #2 began. I don't recall much from those two weeks at work so they much have been uneventful. Luck would have it, the summer olympic opening ceremony in Rio De Janeiro began that Friday after work. I experienced my first shellac manicure that Saturday in preparation for Megan's wedding. On Monday, I headed over to Ludlow for the night to hang with the ladies. We did our usual, hanging out and chatting, drinking cocktails. Granny talked a lot about the past and we decided to plan some day trips (which will probably be during my 2 weeks off in October when Pete may be here). I would like to see the area where they grew up, where Granny lived as an adult with her husband, her husband's resting place, etc. I also decided at that time that I would like to research their side of the family and where they came from, perhaps with the help of ancestry.com. We also played Aggravation (of course) and Granny made pork chops, potatoes, brussel sprouts, and croissants for dinner. And who can forget the cherry pie from scratch for dessert?! The next morning, I headed home after we went out for breakfast in downtown Ludlow.

The latter half of summer vacation #2 was spent in Denver for Megan's wedding. Most of Thursday was spent travelling. I finally got to my hotel (so nice!) around 10ish Thursday night after grabbing the train at the airport to a stop within walking distance of my hotel. Pedestrian google maps was a little shady but I found it unscathed. Jane arrived Friday morning and I spent a few hours walking around downtown Denver and hanging out at a brewery while she did her work day remotely. Friday night was a welcome gathering at a German bar within walking distance of the hotel. I was so excited to see cousin Marc there! The next day, Annie and Frank were at breakfast, having got in late Friday night. Turns out, baby Spiteri is on the way! Jane and I met them for Mexican and walked around downtown a little bit. After getting all dolled up, everyone at the hotel piled into a yellow school bus to head to Morrison (home of Red Rocks Amphitheater, which I have to experience during another CO trip). The wedding was beautiful and a lot of fun. I can't wait to see pictures. Megan and Corey hosted a post-wedding brunch the next morning in the function room of the building they have a condo in downtown Denver. It was nice to visit with people I haven't seen in a long time. I just wish I was a more socially comfortable and outgoing person. The rest of Sunday was spent travelling home. I got to hang with Corey and the kids at the airport before we parted for our respective terminals. As always, I'm always so excited to get home and scoop up my fluffy. I miss him so much. Dayners was kind enough to drop him off before I got home in the wee Monday morning hours.

10.1.16

I went back to work on Wednesday after summer vaca #2, as my flight got in late late. That day happened to be Rob's last day at the Hitch. It's been weird and quiet since he's been gone. I texted him before I went to NYC two weeks ago and he never responded...turns out he didn't have a phone for some reason. He facetimed me at work yesterday and explained that. I've been irritated about that but I guess it was silly to think that he was blatantly ignoring me. Anyways. He still exists. So, moving on where I left off. On 8.20, I went to Ciderfest at Woodchuck in Middlebury to fight the crowds for delicious hard cider with Dayners and her man, Oliver. The Dirty Heads had started playing when we got there. We had made a detour after parking at Stonecutter Spirits for a few drinks. The night finished up with Sublime with Rome. Good times.

The following Sunday, I planned on going for a bike ride then heading to Claremont to hang out with Simone. I had turned around and was heading back to my usual starting point when, close to Main St. in Enfield, I heard what sounded like firecrackers over my ipod music. The person I was passing was looking all around so I turned around in time to see a large dead tree across the rail trail where I had been 5 seconds before. I skidded to a halt and said holy shit. I was 5 seconds from being seriously hurt. I spent the rest of the ride back freaked out and feeling lucky until I actually got back to my car and realized my car key had fallen out of my shorts drawstring at some point during the previous 16 miles. Fail. I decided to backtrack a little hoping to find it but no such luck. I got back to the CCBA just as they were closing to use their phone to call the police then AAA. Was supposed to be in Claremont at that point but had no way to call because I haven't memorized a phone number in many years. I had to wait a while before someone arrived to force open my car door. Needless to say, I didn't make it to Claremont (I ended up going Wednesday). Sometimes, I truly believe I'm a moron.

10.2.16

Ok, so this is the final push to finally post this after dragging this out for way too long. The lazy procrastination stops right now. The entire month of September; here goes. Although the month means the end of summer, it starts with a holiday weekend and it still feels like summer so I guess it's ok. It started with a little trip to SoRo to buy newly canned Upper Pass beer and of course a little hop over to the Worthy Burger for lunch wih Dayners. We hung out for a little bit with the beer boys then headed home. I spent the rest of the day with my little monkey because I headed to Nashua the next day for the night for Labor Day festivities at Denise and Eric's. We hung out (a little too cold for swimming), ate, drank, had a camp fire, and played board games until midnight. Lasagna is where it's at. Headed home the next day late afternoon after breakfast, a little walk on the trail, and pit stops at Starbucks and Faith's work.

The following weekend was fairly quiet. I went on a date Saturday night with a guy that I've been talking to since 9.1 via text. On Sunday, Dayners and I went to the mac and cheese fest at Harpoon for a little bit. Ran into Betsy and Cort and come to find out, they are expecting Baby Blake :) So back to the date; he is someone I interact with a little bit at work although he's not a Hitch employee. He works with Phillips and comes in to fix our xray tables and software. He got my number from a coworker of mine (with my permission). The old-fashioned way...imagine that. Before our first date, he actually asked to call me so we've had some conversations on the phone; not completely via text. Props. He lives in Sutton so we met kind of half way in New London at Peter Christian's for dinner and drinks. We had a good time. Come to find out, we have the same taste in music and knows and loves most of the reggae bands I listen to. So unusual. Our second date was last night, he took me to a Red Sox game. He shares season tickets with some family members. He has a nice house and he spent some time trying to load my computer up with music before we headed out. Windows doesn't make it easy so it didn't happen but it's the thought that counts. We stopped at a bar for a drink and a yummy pizza place for dinner before settling in at Fenway with more drinks. It was fun and awesome to see one of Papi's last home games despite the rain and cold. Despite all the good things about this situation thus far, I'm sensing the age-old feelings of dismissal creeping up on me. I'm trying to be positive, keep an open mind, and take it one day at a time with no expectations.

The next weekend was another long weekend; I took Monday off to go to NYC with Brandi Sunday through Tuesday. We arrived close to noon on Sunday after travelling via bus from Portsmouth. Yes, I had to get up disgustingly early. Really nice way to travel to NYC...stress free, comfortable, spacious, with coffee, drinks and snacks included. After checking in to the hotel, we began our already exhausting touristy weekend. Our activities included the 9/11 museum, the World Trade building, the Empire State Building, our hotel's roof top bar, the Museum of Natural History, Times Square, Adele at Madison Square Garden (the main reason for the trip), and 5th Avenue. Not to mention, walking all over Manhattan. Food activities included Murray's Bagels, Shake Shack, Virgil's BBQ, and late night pizza. Breakfast at the hotel was good and we had amazing NY cheesecake at the BBQ place off Times Square. So much fun but so great to come home to scoop up my baby fluff and sleep in my own bed. There's always some baseline anxiety in a place like NYC but it was a little elevated due to the bombings that happened near where we were staying and knowing it could happen again anywhere we went. Luckily, the douchebag was caught. I went right back to work Wednesday morning and my work week continued until this past Monday because I was on call all last weekend. I was able to stay home at night but worked most of the day Saturday and Sunday. Made extra money but not as much because I had taken the previous Monday off.

Today is my Merm's birthday so I was in Claremont, We all met for brunch at Revolution Cantina and hung out in the old neighborhood. Jubilee Roll was for dessert. The crew included Merm, Ray, Granny, Sherry (Aaron), Denise, Eric, Faith, Heather (Dave was working), Simone and Jeff. I spent most of the day playing with Simone.

I spend the largest amount of my waking time at work. Despite that, I intentionally don't touch upon that part of my life in this blog...because it's work. It's been pretty busy and we are understaffed and overworked. I feel like as time goes on, we are asked to do more with less and I'm tired. I feel like I don't have much energy left for whatever else in my life after my 40+ hours are complete by Friday afternoon. I stay late more than any previous job I've had, ICU included. Of course it would be helpful if I could sleep like a champ but that's another story. Speaking of energy depletion, I'm tired after being out late last night and I'm on call tomorrow night after a, I'm guessing, busy 10 hour day so I should hit the dusty trail. Fall is here and the only way I'm warm is if I'm under the covers. Welcome to the next 6 months of my life :(

Music currently making me happy: How to Fly by Sticky Fingers and Where is My Mind by The Supervillains.

Am I finally publishing this?