Here I sit, with the sliding glass doors to the deck actually open. It feels so good in here. It has been so nasty humid around here for so long, that you forget just how nice the outdoors can be. The sun is out, but it's nice and cool. I have a summer candle going, because we are now on the downhill swing...and I want to enjoy every ounce of it I can (I'm ready to quickly forgive the humidity and to move on to the good weather). I have friends that have already broken out the fall candles and decor. I can't go there, yet. I still have all of September to enjoy. I do love Fall, though...but it can wait. I have some Valerie Bertinelli cooking show on in the background, and she's giving me good ideas-which I will forget by the time the show ends. I actually read her weight-loss book, back in the day. Actually...there aren't many weight-loss books I haven't read. I've tried just about every crazy ass thing over the years. The fad diets all stopped when I went meatless, though. I've still read weight-loss books since then, but they've all been along the same lines. I've just hoped one of those would stick. I guess I need to do that again. I'm happy to report that I am now 13 days without meat, though. I'm still not being real healthy, but I'm happy about this step. Maybe reading a book will get me on track with eating my greens. I've still been off the soda, too. Soda is still the hardest thing for me. It's getting a little easier, but I do want it every single day. I drink the shit out of water, unsweetened iced tea, sparkling water, and the occasional Gatorade, but honestly...they all suck. I miss pop. I do think it's a huge step, that I choose to love myself more than soda, though.
This long weekend is going to be spent, just as I hope. The boys might end up changing some of my plans for relaxation, but as it sits-I will be home an awful lot. A friend is coming over tonight to Netflix and Chill. That doesn't have another meaning does it? haha. Tomorrow a friend is coming over to watch a movie and we're gong to make dessert, and that's it as far as my plans go. The rest of the weekend will be spent with the boys (Brian has to work) and working on the book. Again...the power of an extra day-it's extraordinary.
I'll ask that you continue to pray for my friend White 5 (remember, God has a great sense of humor). His cancer journey has been more than the doctors thought, and he'll be starting chemo this week. It's weighed very heavy on me this week. I have every confidence he'll be fine, but nobody should have to go through this. I don't get it...too many people affected by this horrible disease. Just this week alone...too many terrible things.
I won't leave you with a bummer about cancer...I'll leave you with this name: Richard Marx. I know, when was the last time you thought of him?! Anyway, I love his new song. Yes, feel free to make fun of me...it's going to be one thing or another anyway. When I think of Richard Marx, I think about that hair...I think about how much one of his songs reminded me of one of my first boyfriends...I think about how he married the dancer girl off of Dirty Dancing...but apparently later divorced...I think about how great of a songwriter he is, so many songs you never even realized he wrote for other people. Yes, I think all of these things right now, about someone I haven't thought much about in 25 years. Now, I think about how he just married Daisy Fuentes (you remember her, right?!). I really need to write that on a post-it, because I keep forgetting to tell Brian. Oh, how Brian loved her. She was number one on his list for many years. In fact, just remembering her will probably make her his number one, once again. Apparently Richard wrote this song for her. The lyrics are wonderful. I told a close friend about this song, as she's just gone through a breakup. Breakups seem to be so much harder for my friends these days. There always seems to be this element of running out of time, in their sadness. I wish they wouldn't think that way. One day I know, they'll know it was all worth it..that the one they wanted and didn't even know it will be there, and make them forget about all of the pain they had before them. Anyway, enjoy the shit out of Richard Marx. -Words you don't hear everyday.
Now, enjoy the shit out of your weekend-even if it means staying home!
Jen