The Sunny South

What a trip we had!

It started out in Jacksonville. I flew in there Friday evening. S had to work, so she wasn't planning on coming down. She decided she couldn't wait so she drove down after work and got there about 11pm.

On Saturday, we drove up to Savannah and took care of some business matters for S. I LOVE Savannah. What a beautiful city! Palm trees, marshes, the moss on the trees, all those squares downtown. If you haven't been to Savannah, you should go and see for yourself.

Saturday afternoon we drove up to Atlanta. I had a couple free motel nights, so we stayed in a hotel in an office park in northeast Atlanta. S is from Atlanta, and she showed me the city, some of the places she lived and worked, and some of the "touristy" places too. Atlanta is really different, much larger and lots more traffic than I am used to. It wasn't the traffic so much as going 80+ mph in heavy traffic that was a little nerve wracking! We walked in Centennial Olympic Park, spent time in Midtown, toured the CNN studios and rode MARTA all around the city.

The next day, we left our hotel and drove out to Stone Mountain. It is a beautiful sight. We had fun riding around the mountain on the train and learning about how the figures 12 stories high were carved into the mountain.

After we left Stone Mountain, S took me back downtown and we stayed at a beautiful historic hotel . Initially they gave us a big cave-like room that S didn't really care for. She called the desk and they switched us to a beautiful suite with a nice cozy bedroom. It had a terrace and we loved leaving the door open and hearing the sounds of the city and looking out across the city lights that night.

It was great to spend time with S. The storms and complications of our lives didn't take a break, so mixed with the joy and laughter was some drama and tears. What would life be like if every day were smooth sailing? I'll take a storm with S by my side over calm waters any day.

Thirteen Things about Yankeegirl1. This is my first Thursday Thirteen. 2. I am almost done with my short term classes. Yay! I'm a communications major at the local branch of Ohio University. 3. My research class studied Participant Observation. Our group studied an online dating service. Yikes it was wild! I'm so glad I'm not "dating" anymore!(especially not men, lol) 4. Another group studied "tattoo culture". When they gave their presentation, one of the group members actually got a tattoo right there in the classroom. 5. The professor got yelled at for letting them give a tattoo in class. She gave as good as she got. (Go Dr. K!) 6. One of the other groups studied "Gay culture". Earlier in the quarter I heard these girls talking and they were pretty insensitive. Yesterday they gave a pretty impressive presentation. What do you know, they learned something in college! 7. My others classes are going well also. One is about interpersonal communication, and it's a little too touchy feely for me right now. 8. My kids are on vacation with their Dad. I really miss them. 9. They tried to go to Colorado the same day as Trop. They had airline employee passes and only made it as far as Chicago. The spent 12 hours at Midway airport before being put up in a dive motel for the night. The next day they called me from Florida. 10. I have a final exam and a paper due tomorrow. I should be working on those things now. 11. Work is going really well. I'm very busy and I'm learning lots of new things. 12. My boss has been out of town a lot and it has been fun to just handle things myself. 13. Did I say I'm so excited to see my sweetie? I'm going to see her tomorrow! I can't wait! I've got to go get my work done so I'll be ready to go. Have a great weekend everybody!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

I'm a very lucky woman

If you doubt it, see the previous post.

A Hard Day

I just wanted to write to you on your blog knowing that you would find my words and smile at my mischief. You need a smile today and I am glad to give you one, my love. I am sorry that you cried today. Sometimes the pressure of the divorce and the kids and school get to you and make you feel overwhelmed. I love you for the longing you feel for me and the days that it takes all you have not to come to me. I know that it is hard to stay away sometimes but you are doing the right thing. Today it is hard for me too. I will see you in five days.
Do you want this pic of me here? Take it off if you do not.
I love you,
S

Shamelessly stolen from Trop

You Have a Phlegmatic Temperament

Mild mannered and laid back, you take life at a slow pace.You are very consistent - both in emotions and actions.You tend to absorb set backs easily. You are cool and collected. It is difficult to offend you. You can remain composed and unemotional.You are a great friend and lover. You don't demand much of others.While you are quiet, you have a subtle wit that your friends know well. At your worst, you are lazy and unwilling to work at anything.You often get stuck in a rut, without aspirations or dreams.You can get too dependent on others, setting yourself up for abandonment.

Glad that's over

Well, I went to the shower. It was OK.
I smiled and conversed with former friends and with family members who don't normally want to give me the time of day. Some seemed genuinely happy to see me, others, well, not so much. I survived and I got to see my niece. I gave her a big hug and wished her well.
I waffled on inquiries about whether I was going to the wedding or not.
I didn't go. I took my boys on a weekend trip instead. Their sister left my house early so she could go with her dad to my nieces wedding. I told her that her "sentence" of spending time with me was over. She seemed happy about that. I hope someday she comes around. I'm not going to ruin the time I have with my boys waiting for that time to come. I love her with all my heart and I missed having her with us on the trip.

One of my dilemmas

My niece is getting married. My sister isn't really having anything to do with me since I moved out and made some changes last year. To the point that when my nephew graduated in June, my stbx and the kids were invited to his party, but not me.

Yesterday my sister called my cell phone. I ignored the called but she left a voice message inviting my daughter and I to a last minute shower for my niece and to see if we were going to the wedding.

I love my niece, and she did invite me, but I so do not want to go to this event. She is marrying a man from England and moving there so if I don't go, I won't see her again for 12-18 months. I have all of my kids this week and if I don't take them somewhere this weekend, I won't have a chance to take them due to all the other summer commitments they have with their dad, band camp, scout camp, etc.

My sister's family are fundamentalist christians, and it seems like to them(mostly her) there is no worse sin than to be gay. I hate the thought of going. I hate the judgment in my sisters voice. I hate the way the kids don't hug me anymore like I have some kind of contagious disease.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Rough waters ahead

Be careful out there.