mom: There's an envelope here for you from Grumpy.

me: Oh, really? Probably just some bill he thinks I should pay.

mom: No, I don't think so - it didn't feel lumpy enough.

me: Well, we'll wait until I get there and see.

mom: What do you think it is?

me: Probably some bill he thinks I should pay.

mom: It's not a big envelope. Just like 5" x 7". I don't think it's a bill.

me: Whatever, I'm not going to stress on it until I get there.


**time passes, in which Dewey and I drive to Greenville and pick my mom up for the ballet. She hands me the envelope.**

mom: So, what is it?

me: A bill he evidently thinks I should pay.

mom: Oh.

me to Dewey: So, now that I have his address, I think I should send him a Christmas card with my letter saying how wonderful you are, don't you?

Dewey: *laughs*

My life in bullets (topics bolded in case you like to skim) :
* Thanksgiving is over. No major drama although one of my SIL acted like she had eaten lemons all day. But she and I didn't overly interact, so it was all good.
* I'm thankful that THIS Thanksgiving was spent with my family because now we are over that hurdle. Next 2 holidays should steadily improve :) Really looking forward to New Year's Eve - we rented a cabin in the mountains for 4 nights.
* One of my roommate's cats was not doing well when my roommate returned home Sunday. Since I was in charge of their well-being, I spent much of Sunday and today worried - but all seems to be well again. Norma is convinced that Dewey intimidated the cat cause the cat stress. Oh my.
* Guy at work questioned my work ethic last week, which bugged me. ("Do you feel like you actually work 8 billable hours a day as a consultant?") But seeing as my boss likes my work, I'm just going to keep an eye out and move forward. However, if anyone hears of any full-time writing gigs - keep me in mind please. Unpaid holidays suck.
* Had family pictures on Saturday. Had fun taking the pictures - absolutely hate the photos that resulted. The sense of lighting and positioning sucked. A good photographer needs to be able to position their subjects properly. Two and a half hours of my life, and very little to show for it.
* Ecstatic that Dewey and I managed to mail out over 50 holiday cards yesterday. Last year my carefully crafted letters sat forlornly in the back seat of my car until well past April when I admitted they were not getting mailed. This year I was fully equipped with computer-generated mailing labels, 3 boxes of cards, 3 books of stamps, and a faithful helper to fold letters, double-check labels and stamp. And we also went directly to the post office to mail them afterwards (and get postage for the international card).
* If you would like to exchange holiday cards - please let me know. Just send an email to melodyharmonius at gee mail dot com. I love sending cards!
* Also resurrected my gingerbread house making tradition. Had 3 friends over this year which was a good number. Once a few people have come, then it's fine for the group to grow because more people are comfortable with the process. Plus, I could be a little more leisurely in my baking. Pictures of the houses are posted on facebook if you want to see.
* Tonight is Cult Movie Monday at the Actors Theatre. Free popcorn and Nightmare Before Christmas complete with ugly sweater contest. Should be lots of fun. Wish Dewey didn't have to always work late on Monday nights - but in the end it gives us the diversity we appreciate in our relationship.

I have a lot to be thankful for. A lot. Everything can change in an instant, and you have to enjoy what's good while it lasts.

My father's birthday is this Thursday. It's been six years, and yet I still miss him every day. There's so many things I want to tell him, about how I'm doing so much better now, about how happy I am, about how much I still love him.

You'll always be a part of me, Paya.

"Finish the job."

It's a motto that used to hang on my dad's wall, a quote from a sermon given by the founder of the college my 3 brothers graduated from and I attended.

I didn't graduate from there.

I dropped out of college after my junior year. I could tell you why, but typing it out sounds like excuses.

I did go back to school, just not that one. I transferred to the local state college which thankfully took most of my credits, just not my "fencing" and "aerobics" classes. I went to school days for a while, and worked nights and weekends in a call center. Then I switched to working days and going to school nights.

I didn't graduate then either.

I could tell you why, but typing it out sounds like more excuses.

I just confirmed today that I have one course left to take and then I can finally graduate in May. It's only like what - 17 years later than I originally planned.

Better late, than never.

I think sometimes, exes do immature things to remind you how wonderfully mature your current boyfriend is.  At least, that's what I'm going with.  So thanks for that.

My mom (who is in her 60s) ran a 10K this weekend.  And won for her age bracket.  The next person after her came in like 15 minutes later.  Way to go, mom!

I won't be running - cause when my boobs hit my chin, it hurts.

I bought something I've wanted to buy for a while - just in case the opportunity arises. 

Last year, I failed miserably at sending out my holiday cards.  This year, my letter is all written and I am going to have them all addressed to drop in the mail on November 27th.  (I refuse to send them before Thanksgiving - I wait until the day after.)

If you would like to be on the list - please indulge me and give me your current address.  Even if you think I have it.  Cause I'm blonde, and I might not.  Or the one I have might not be right.

And I'm more than willing to send them overseas - so feel free breakon87and all y'all.

Replies will be screened.

Today is the Geek Gala!

If I get everything necessary done before the Gala, I will be happy.  Everyone has been so great helping out.

The most amazing thing has been processing the Geeky Goody bags.  We have 10 themed bags we are raffling off (Geeky Reader, Geeks Night Out, Gamer's Delight, Couch Potato Cache, etc.)

Each is filled with items that have been donated.

After doing some calculations this week - we realized that no bag is worth less than $200 and 2 of them are worth over $400.

Not bad for a $1/chance raffle, eh?

Can't sleep, but at least I got episodes 7 & 8 of Glee out of my hulu queue.  Should have taken the percocet, but I saw the look in his eyes when I mentioned I was going to take it.

In most things, I don't tend to have an addictive personality.


well, except for sex.

Went to Rocky Horror on Monday - it was a blast.  Had fun with the geeks on the back row.  It's great to walk in a room and have people greet you.  So much fun to have Charlotte be my HOME.  Even if Danny wouldn't get off my car when i was ready to go :)

Last night, Dewey and I watched "The Plan" - the latest movie from the BSG series.  Definitely a fan movie - if you never saw the show you would be so lost.  They incorporated clips from the series and what I can only assume were some bits left on the cutting room floor.  The parts that were added were kind of easy to tell, as nobody quite looks like they did when the season started.  Saw some careful edits to avoid viewing of additional weight/gray.  Still so much fun to watch.

Tonight was a mish mosh of running around.  Had to go by the theater to drop off the rest of our rental fee, met with Dewey for dinner and to pick up the banners that were at his house, went to Alex's to get the banners he had done so far, ran by my house to PEE and feed my roommate's cats, then ran to Fort Mill to see karintha, drop off the banners, pick up her current art project :) and open up our latest donation with her.  Then back to Pineville, chat with the roommate, crawl up to bed, and talk to Dewey.

Was trying to get sleepy by playing a few games of scramble on my iPhone when it absolutely died.  So now it's recharging, I'm posting on lj, and this cup of french vanilla hot chocolate I got on my way back from Fort Mill is taunting me to finish drinking it.  Since I'm not sure it's caffeine free, I was trying to resist.

Unfortunately, resistance is futile.

So - the Geek Gala is this Saturday.

In many ways, it's the mammoth that has overtaken my life.  But I'm not regretting having it at all.

This weekend, a group of volunteers came over to Dewey's and we took all the donations and divided them up for the different themed "Geeky Goody Bags" - So far I calculate we've received over $2,300 in donated items.

Ticket sales are picking up as well.  Everyone tells me that 70% of all tickets are sold at the door.  But y'know, I'll believe that when I see it.  We ARE Geeks, after all. So the whole online buying thing is right up our alley.

My friend Chrissy came over for dinner on Saturday.  Hadn't seen her in a while.  She's doing okay - upset she hasn't found "the one" yet.  I probably should be spanked - I told her she needs to go and get laid already, and then she won't be so spastic about "the one" and be more open to just dating.  I think sometimes people just get too hung up on the wrong things - I dated some winners and some losers, but I always had fun times.  And now look at the amazing relationship I'm in!!

Bought some sheets at TJ Maxx and didn't realize they were silky shiny.  I fail to see the appeal - I felt like I was constantly having to hold on to my pillows so they wouldn't slide off the bed.  I think Goodwill will be getting a donation soon (after we wash them, of course.)

Going to a free showing of the live "Rocky Horror Picture Show" - the event is at the venue where we are having the Gala - so I get to scope out some additional ideas while doing the Time Warp.  Several of the Geeks are going to be there, and some are even in the performance.

Now to find my feather boa. . .

Last night I went clothes shopping.

I realize I should probably save my money until I have had more ticket sales for the Geek Gala as both both rent and the final deposit on the theater are due next week.

But I've not had a really good shop in quite a while.  And I wanted new clothes so badly.  I tend to wear clothes over and over in a season - really give them lots of good use - and then I'm sick of them.  And I am definitely sick of some of my clothes now.

Went over to Dewey's last night and got to give him a bit of a fashion show, which was a lot of fun. 

I've been horny as all get out - I wonder if this is that y'know, sexual peak you always hear about.  I thought I had it back when I was 33.  But now, meow, it's just been crazy good.

Oh wait, I think it's cause I'm in love.

yay!

This weekend was quite the ride.

Friday night the Charlotte Geeks had our first trivia contest.  It was a small showing, but I was really impressed by the pre-prep our hostess did.  And we had fun.

Saturday morning I woke up nervous as all get out because of the auditions.  We had 2 acts show up and 2 that agreed to be in it, so that's 4 acts and I was hoping for 10.  I'm still trying to figure out if I can rope anyone else in to performing something.

Dewey and I then decided to take advantage of our coupon book and went out for a nice late lunch and a bit of shopping and ended up at the ice cream shop: ICE CREAM! YUM!!

Hung out with friends the rest of the weekend - it was an amazingly enjoyable time.  There was one friend of Dewey's that I'd always wanted to get to know better because we had a lot in common.  We stayed up talking and laughing and sharing all night into the morning.  After a year and a half of us trying at different times to be friends, it was nice to have her leave feeling like mission accomplished.  I look forward to hanging out with her again, even if just for coffee or a movie or shopping. (Man, I need more shopping buddies).

Through it all, Dewey and I really connected this past week in new ways.  It's always amazing to me how that happens - how a love so fulfilling can suddenly get that much deeper and more intense.  I'm so glad he's in my life.  He brings new joy in to old parts of me that haven't always remembered what it's like to be happy.  Sometimes its funny, I can't even remember what the other guys in my life were like before or even their names.

yay :)