Role Playing? I Don't Think That Will Work

One of my friends wants me to go to her house and role play talking to men.  I told her I don't have trouble talking to men, I just can't figure out how to move it past a casual talk with someone I find interesting.

Sunday at Huffines Art Trails is a good example.  I was bebopping along when one of the policemen on duty called me over and started asking me questions and talking to me.  He was quite handsome, probably close to my age, and funny.  We talked a few minutes, and then I told him to have a good day and went to another booth.  When I came out of the booth he was there again and called me over again.  A little chit chat and I went on to another booth.  When I came out we spoke again.  During that part of the conversation he asked me what I was going to do for dinner.  I told him I was going to go pick up my son on campus and take him out to eat.  He proceeded to tell me about a meal he had that was delicious, a little more chit chat and then I said I had more of the trails to finish.  

After I walked around for another 15 minutes I got to wondering if I could have taken that conversation in a different direction to see if maybe he was interested in talking some more in another venue.  Then I realized I don't know how to do that in this life.  When I was in high school and college it was not an issue. I mean you would meet a guy, find him interesting, and then mention you would be at the basketball or football game, the student union, the campus movie, etc., and if the guy was interested he would show up where you were.  That won't work at this stage of my life.

I don't think role playing will solve my problem.  I think getting up the nerve to suggest to the next guy I find interesting that we talk again sometime might work.  The key words being "getting up the nerve."

Great Day

My day did not turn out as planned, but it was such a great day!

I had my day all down on paper as I had a lot to accomplish.

• Stop by unsurprise party for a friend to leave a card and hugs
• Walgreens for new headbands 
• Vote
• Bank
• Target for worm rags
• Grocery
• Home 
• Get fishing gear ready
• Laundry
• Prepare cooler
• Prep Tortilla Soup
• Regular Friday night dinner with Loni

I managed to get to complete

• Party
• Walgreens
• Vote
• Bank
• Grocery
• Laundry
• Dinner with Loni

But between the bank and grocery shopping there was a big change of plans.  

 

I came home one day this week to a very sad sounding phone message from a friend.  It made me depressed just to listen to it.  The message itself was not depressing it was the sound of my friend's voice.  I could tell she was in her sad place.  I talked to her that night, and she sounded better, but I was worried about her.  I had spent time with her last Saturday and she was okay, but I know her moods can go south fast.  I had called her early this morning to check on her and she did not answer.  When I was leaving the bank she called me and sounded sad again so I asked her if I could take her to lunch and if she would like to help me shop for some new sweaters.  She asked me if I would take her to her favorite Chinese place and I said sure.  She said "YAY!"  I made arrangements to pick her up and off I went.  

 

When I picked my friend up she told me just how depressed she had been this week and that she wasn't sure why.  We chit chatted to the restaurant and then once seated we really started talking.  It wasn't long before we were laughing ourselves sick.  At the end of lunch she told me she felt much better. 

Love You Friend, But No

I love my friends. I try my best to be a good friend and if my friends ask for help or have special requests I try to meet their needs.  Tonight I had to turn a friend down, I just couldn't make myself say "yes." 

I am still laughing at her request.  My friend wanted me to read a book for her while I am on vacation in November.  She wanted me to read "50 Shades of Grey."  She said she heard it was good.  I told her I wasn't interested in reading the book, but that I would buy it for her for Christmas.  She insisted I not do that, she just wanted me to read it.

I told her if I read any book on vacation I would tell her about it, but it probably wouldn't be the same.

Maybe I can buy her a ticket to the movie when it comes out.

Down in the Mud

I have had a year mired down by something I cannot begin to explain to anyone.  I can tell people about it, but no one really understands.  I would so love to be able figure out how to get my brain out of this mud, but I just seem to continue to sink.  

The only thing I am sure of these days is how blessed I am by the people in my life.  It has been especially clear to me this week as tragedy has hit home for many of my loved ones.  It is truly amazing to me that I have so many people who love me and are there for me. I only hope they know how much they are appreciated by me and how much I love them back.  

As I sit and count my blessings tonight, I know I will never completely drown in the mud.  Someone will always be there to offer me a stick to hold on to.

Maybe someday I will be strong enough or brave enough to climb out of the mud, but first I have to be able to know I can live with the consequences in the future.  The problem with living with the consequences is that I have already suffered them before and I don't know if I do it again. 

Then again, mud is supposed to have restorative powers, so who knows maybe if I stay mired down long enough I will be completely detoxified and restored. 

Or I can just roll on the floor laughing myself silly thinking about how my dear friend misunderstood me one day and thought I said "mud" when I really said "mug."  Inside joke, but oh so very funny.   

Heart and Soul Healed

I had a very long lunch today with a man of God and the Universe.  He is a long time friend, my Pastor forever, and was my boss.  Just being in the same room with him brings me peace.  I am so blessed that he considers me his friend too.

Diversity in Friendship

Paul Thorn's "Pimps and Preachers" reminds me of the diversity of my friends over the years.  My mother used to complain that I would befriend anyone I saw, no matter what their circumstances.  I never did understand how that could possibly be a bad thing.

When you open yourself up to people from all walks of life your life is enriched in ways you could never imagine.

To my knowledge I never hung around with a pimp, but I have known a few people with illegal substances to sell. 

I have also known some mighty fine preachers in my lifetime. 

Enjoyed the Day with my Friend

I spent today with my friend Laurie.

We met by chance through some City meetings, and then email.  She is a quilter too, but she manages to get a lot more done than I do when it comes to quilting.  She makes beautiful quilts.

Today we went to Fabric Fanatics and Quilter's Connection.  We topped at WalMart to see what they had in the way of precuts, and to get me some new sandals.  We also went to Entertainmart.

She introduced me to the Mexican food at Chitos.  Very good, but unless you want real fire in your belly stay away from the orange salsa in the bottle they bring when they give you your food.

We stopped back at my house so I could give Laurie some fabric for a baby quilt.  I couldn't find it (see a previous post about my memory), but Loni came in and she knew just where the fabric was located.  Laurie loved the fabric.  She was worried what to tell me if she didn't want the fabric.  I told her that she would have said "No, I don't like it."  Or at least I would have hoped she would.  

After that Loni and I took her home and Loni had a chance to see some of Laurie's quilts. 

Her is the t-shirt quilt Laurie made for her son.