Except For The Absence Of That New Car Smell, You'd Never Know

My car had to go in for inspection this afternoon (inspections are required every year in Pennsylvania) and on my way to work this morning I was thinking about taking the beach chairs out of the back and anything else I wanted to remove before taking it to the garage. I keep my car exceptionally clean and if you were to get in it, you would probably think it’s a year or two old based on the interior, when in fact it is ten years old.

I got to thinking that the same might be said for me and all of us really. On my interior, I feel the same as I’ve felt my entire adult life. I sure don’t feel like I’m 46. The lines and "chips on my hood" do not match my interior where I feel like the same girl I’ve always been. I know for sure that the experiences that I've had have changed me over the years but when I stop and think about it, I don't "feel" different to myself.

My car is 10 and I am 46; we've both seen a lot of miles, a lot of sunny days and a lot of rainy days. But you'd never know it by our interiors.

What Do A Laptop, Peanut Butter And A Fuel Pump Have In Common?

Some weird stuff happening today, Friends. I drove 22 of my 23 miles to work this morning only to remember I left my laptop at home. I had to drive back home and then back to work again. A 70-mile commute. Lovely.

Then a little before lunch my husband went to get gas and when he went to start the car up again after it wouldn’t start. The car had to be towed and a new fuel pump was needed.

Since I’m always in such a rush in the morning (because of my 70-mile commute - HA!) I never take the time to fix my lunch so this morning I threw a soda, two pieces of bread in a Tupperware container, peanut butter, jelly, chips and strawberries in a bag. I went to make my lunch around 12:30 p.m. at my office only to find I had left the bread on my kitchen counter at home.

They say things happen in threes so I hope the rest of the day is smooth sailing. With the laptop, bread and fuel pump safely onboard.

Autumn Turns To Winter, And Winter Turns To Spring

I have a theory that everything in life can be tied to a Brady Bunch episode.




Wanna get out of something? = “Something suddenly came up!”

Break something that you shouldn’t have been touching in the first place? = “Mom always said don’t play ball in the house.”

Need money? = Go on a TV talent show and sing with your brothers and sisters

Blog seeming to be going in a new direction? = When it’s time to change, you’ve got to rearrange, who you are into what you’re gonna be, Sha na na na, na na na na na, sha na na na na . . .

I started this blog as a way to express myself during a very difficult time when I was searching for a new job. This blog then segued into starting a new job with pieces of the rest of my life floating in and out. Although I will continue to write about my job and job search – for I will never stop searching no matter how good my current employment is – I feel like it’s time for a change into what I’m going to be. So I hope you’ll bear with me as I figure out where we’re going. All I know for now is that I want you to come along with me.

Sha na na na, na na na na na, sha na na na na . . .

What Is Time On My Hands, Alex?

Things are pretty slow at work as we knew it would be since summer is our slow season. None of us are traveling and just a few of us have begun our planning for fall meetings. There is lots of downtime and lots of web surfing and Skyping back and forth with colleagues. Normally we don’t have time to use the restroom.

Today, before lunch, I’d already been on TMZ, People, CNN and an assortment of other websites reading anything and everything. When we are busy and are traveling, I have no idea what is going on in the world, Hollywood, with my friends, my family or my neighborhood.

When we’re not busy and traveling, I’m the most informed person on the planet.

I guess NOW would be the time to apply for Jeopardy . . .

Everybody IN The Pool

I have always dreamed of having a pool. When I was growing up, my mom’s friend two doors down had one and I spent many hours in that pool while my mom and Mrs. F. talked about their stories (translation for you younger readers: soap operas), their husbands (there was a lot to talk about believe me) and the neighbors.

We have a very small backyard and a pool is just not possible. I humor myself by saying it’d be too much work, we’d only have 4 months to use it, we’re never home anyway to use it, blah, blah, blah.

But I still want one.

Probably because of our record-breaking heat over the last week, I have noticed pools in many back yards during my daily commute and on the weekend while running errands. Some are in ground, with beautiful landscaping and fencing, some are above ground with big giant crocodiles you can lay on floating on the top. But they all have one thing in common – they are empty.

I don’t understand this. In my mind’s eye, if I had a pool, I’d get up, put on my bathing suit and not get out of it until it was time for bed, just like I did as a child or I do now when on vacation at the shore. My skin would be permanently puckered and my new perfume of choice would be Eau de Chlorine.

WHY AREN’T PEOPLE IN THEIR POOLS?

I suppose if I jump on board the raft called “reality”, I know why. People are busy with life and can’t/don’t allow themselves to relax and enjoy. Summer is the time of picnics and camps and vacations and yard work and gardening and the year-round chores – cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping – don’t go away because the pool is a refreshing 80 degrees. Life doesn’t stop because the pool is uncovered and awaiting a splash.

If you have a pool or know someone who does, stick your toe in and see how good it feels. Sit on the edge and churn the water around with your legs. Make a cup with your hand and fill it with the cool water and empty it all over your arms. Take off your sunglasses, lean forward with your arms in front of you and dive in. Get your hair wet. Swim around a bit. Get on board a raft and let your fingers dip in the water. Do it for me. Do it for the envious woman driving by your house, seeing that empty, beautiful pool. We’ll both be glad you did.

Literally

As my husband informed me earlier, today was the hottest day in our lifetimes.

He said, "Today is the hottest day in our lifetimes."

Short and sweet. Just like the man.

Whatever I Touch, Starts To Melt In My Clutch

Temperatures and tempers are at an all-time high here in Southeastern Pennsylvania. We will reach 100 degrees today and into the weekend. I can’t remember the last time it rained. You can see the heat is taking a toll on people everywhere you look. It ain’t pretty, let me tell you.

I wish Mother Nature would give her son, Heat Miser, a timeout!

Come on, Mother Nature, help a Sister Rain out!