A sick day

I can't remember the last time I had a fever.

I do remember having food poisoning a few years ago - that was dreadful.  It was a full twenty four hours before I even felt half way human.

I want a day, where I don't do anything.  I don't work.  I don't go the the gym.  I just am on the couch pretending to sleep.  Watching movies and bad television.

You know, those things you do when you are sick.  But really, I want to go play more than I want to watch tv all day.

But, today, I think I'm calling in sick.

I thought we were friends

Yesterday, I received a message from a guy I've worked with off/on for years.  The message states "Hey L, it's your friend Rob, call me.".  

I called him back today, stating:  "So, what's up with the "Your friend Rob"?  He replies, " Well, that is what you said in your message."  Hmmm.  "What are you talking about?".

You left me a message yesterday (we are doing some work together) and you said, "Hey, it's your friend L, call me. "

Really?

I don't normally mention "we are friends".  If I know you through work, I say, It' L, I'm the recruiter whom we have been e-mailing/phone tagging/texting/etc..".  This was just funny as I know him through work and we have known each other for over 10 years.  The only thing I could think of would be that I was in recruiter mode wanting to stay in that mode.

Too funny.

Although, the funeral I recently attended - my friend Leo calls to tell me about the death.  I never realized when he leaves me a message this is the message:  "Hey, it's your good buddy Leo" then it goes on with the message.  Like he needs to tell me he is my buddy.

A few years ago, Lily's dad was in Denver - on one of his three trips in 9 months to Denver - he was helping me repair things around the house.  We were talking about the kids.  On what they were really thinking when saw each other for the first time.  My thought  "What the hell is my mom doing now?"  My thought?  "Here are some new friends."  Lily's dad replied, "Friends you are going to have for the rest of your life."

I remember thinking, he really means that.  Not in a romantic sense.  He wasn't saying we would be together forever.  He was saying "THOSE PEOPLE" are friends you will have for the rest of your life.

I understand people change.  When I say, I hope we are friends for the rest of my life, I mean it.

The thing that makes me the saddest about my relationship with Lily's dad ending.  It's not the actually "see you next month" or "let's talk about football" or "how are you doing?"  It's the you told me we would be friends. It's the "I have friends from 30 years.".  I understand we don't need to talk with each other - you can stay with the woman whom doesn't want to be around your daughter and has made you stray from your core being.  You can stay there.  If the two of you are happy, I'm happy for you.

I miss the guy whom was in good shape.  Put his daughter and mother first.  A good role model for my sons. I miss him.  What I really miss is that I'm now short a friend.  When I say, "I hope we are friends for the rest of our life, well, I mean it."

Now we are just "those people" - and as your daughter will tell you, "Those people are my family".  We might not be family, but I thought we were friends.....

To tell you the truth

Watching television drives me crazy.  I do like to sit and be a vegetable for bit, on occasion.  Yes, I do get caught up in watching a series.  Sometimes.  But overall, I could do without my TV.

Last summer, and in fact for the last three summers, I didn't turn on the TV at all.  Not even a movie.

We still have cable, but I keep saying we are just going to switch over to internet TV.  The only problem with that is sports.  Or the lack of being able to watch sports live.  Truthfully, around here, it's a big deal, but not a HUGE deal.

To tell you the truth, I wish someone would just come over and fix it for me.  Bring the box I need/don't need.  Take away the cable box and make it all work.  I'm sure there is someone I could call for this, but right now it's just easier to keep the cable.


I don't like running.  It is truly dreadful I've decided.  Yes, the amount of calories you burn versus the time is incredible.  The best thing you can do to burn the most calories in the least amount of time.  It's hard.  For me, it's not only the physical part of running that's hard.  I have to get where my brain is in charge of my body.  Where I'm in a zone so far a way in my head that my body is just doing.  The brain has shut off that receptor that allows any thought to come from the body.  Mind over matter.

Yes, I like how I feel after I run.  I love the way my arms look - nice and toned.  Still working on the toning of the legs. I like accomplishments.  I will have liked running a marathon.  Once it's over.


I'm super excited about heading to Europe next Friday.  I can't wait for stories - lifetime memories - from this trip.  But to tell the truth, I'm not a good tourist.

I like becoming a local.  I like being a "part" of the locals.  And that is why I must run.   To be a part of something local - not just a tourist.  The day before the marathon there is a 5k.  It is not timed.  And from what I can tell (after all, I'm reading a french website), when you register, they give everyone a t-shirt with the country they are from on front of it.  The kids are running that race.

I'd like to say, that will be one of my most favorite moments.  But, there is no way to plan your favorite moments.  They usually happen when you least expect it.

So with this trip - I'm entering it with no expectations. Only general plans.  Some fun ideas.  Because, to tell you the truth, 4 years ago I went on a trip.  Not expecting anything but a fun summer.  I never had any thought I would still miss it so much.

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Little Things

Planning the upcoming trip to Europe - I think I'm more excited than the kids.  Although, points and moments come up and then I know they are excited too.

Tonight at dinner, our conversation:

In the midst of course of our "Good Thing, Bad Thing, Funny Thing of the day".  The topics we discuss at dinner.

We were discussing two years ago when we went to San Diego for a hockey tournament.  On the way down, I was with my friend whom lives in LA.  We are talking about the movie "We Bought A Zoo"  - we talked about how it was set in Southern California.  Half way there, we figure out we need to find the zoo.  Only we discover the zoo is in England.

Tonight, for some reason, the subject of this zoo comes up.  (Nolan wants credit for this).  In the middle of dinner, we pull out the tablet and have to find the zoo.  We are going to be in England.  Let's go to the zoo!!!

How exciting is this???

Turns out the zoo is four hours from London.  Not in the direction of the train to Paris.  Not in anyway a place we could make "en route" to where we are headed.

Or maybe, that is part of life.  Our life.  We take those moments and we go.  There is no saying we HAVE to stay in London.  I don't need to drag my kids through a museum.  What are they really going to remember?  My mom wanted us to do these traditional things - or we got on a train, and went FOUR hours out of the way to find a ZOO based upon a movie we watched?

"You know, the zoo is probably lame?"

"Yes, we all agree, the zoo is going to be lame."  But, someone took a risk.  And risked it all.  And some crazy Americans, knew it wasn't really about the zoo.  It was about something so much more.  Or just a little thing.

In the movie, there was a Duncan.  There was a Lily.  We think they might have been missing a Nolan.

What Are YOU doing here?

Two years ago my sons and I were in Moab with our friends.

This is of course before MY friends, became, well, THEIR friends.  We were at the campfire.  It was cold.  The fire was lit.  It was the desert.  Friends all together.

I'm standing there talking to Rich.  One of the brothers.  Talking about life.  Talking about everything.  

Duncan walks up.

Seriously, my first thought: "Who the hell are you.  And how did you get here?"  You transported yourself.  You see.  At that moment.  I was 20.  Rich was your age.  I truly believed to the core of my existence, well, I was 23.  

Then you walked up.

I was time traveling.

I wouldn't go back, if I couldn't have you.  But, whoooooo, that was weird....

Lives

I have several trips booked this spring.  In fact, the month of April, I'm pretty much not in Denver.  And, I can't wait.

I'm on a trip with my kids.  I'm on a trip - with just me.  Then, I'm on a holiday with my Granny. Some friends too.  I have some friends whom live in the same town we are visiting.

An e-mail is sent to a family friend.  A friend I've known my whole life.  A friend where the word forever, means forever.

I sent her an e-mail about a month ago, letting her know what we were doing - looking for suggestions, ideas and what to do.  She's not on Facebook.  I KNOW for a fact, we haven't spoken in at least 15 years.  We've had some communication, but a conversation?  No.  We e-mailed.  Today, she called.  We talked for about 30 minutes.

Her words:  "what do you need me to do, to make this weekend great for you."  I'm here.  Just let me know. I will play tour guide.  I will get your grandmother to the finish line.  Here are some ideas.  We can do this.  We can do that.  I will take take you here.  I will take you there.  Whatever you need.  I'm here for you. Maybe I'll run the race - only then, I can't help you, so I won't run, I'll help you."  Me:  Its okay - you run, if you want, Granny will be fine"  Her:  "Really, it's okay, I'll help you."

Her sons are grown.  One is in the military.  One is finishing his senior year in college.

Oh, wait, when I hang up the phone.  TWO of the parents of the friends of the boys went to elementary/middle school with went to high school with you.  I need to tell you so much more.  Yes, now I realize you don't really listen.

But that's okay - sometimes we don't need people to listen.  We need people to take charge.

We discussed the fact that hockey season is now over.  I told her my mantra: every hockey game, each weekend - it doesn't matter if it's the first or the last.  I say, "I'm going to miss this".  She replies, "No, you won't".  "God prepares you for the next stage in life".

I've known you.  Yet, not known you my entire life.  Yet, you know me too.......

 Thank you. Oh my God, I'm SO much like you.......

The Colony

Every spring, we get ants in our house.  Every fall, spiders.  Only the spiders usually aren't too bad. Someone once told me "white spiders" are good luck.  I can't kill those - I have to pick them up and carry them outside.  The others one, the fuzzy ones??? They get killed.  YUCK!

Anyway - the little "ant hotels" work really well.

Only, tonight I arrive home and there are ants all over the kitchen.  They have even been in my bathroom this year.  What the heck?  Go away!

It's been warm/cold/warm/cold - I guess the ants are confused too.  It's WINTER still - not SPRING.

But they don't know this.

Then I went to write this as my status update on Facebook:

"Do you ever wonder when you see bugs/insects in your house if there really isn't a secret hiding place of their whole colony hiding in the crawl space?"

Only, then I thought, everyone really would think I'm crazier than I really am.  (Self admit I can be pretty out there)

Like something that shows up in a horror movie - this entire ANTS movie - only it's real.  It's also in my basement.

Every once in a while, I shine my flashlight into the crawl space just to make sure I don't have an ant colony down there.  A few years ago when my dad moved into his house in North Carolina he had an "attic" with bats in it.  I remember him showing it to the boys.  Once his wife found out - the exterminator came out to get rid of the bats.  I completely understand.

But so far, no colonies  - they just appear from no place.  I found a good safe "pet friendly" spray.  Only it smells like menthol.  My house smells likes a place for old people.  AND the ants are still here.

There is a colony around here.  Tomorrow, I'm going to get them.