Well, I didn't burn. In fact, I think my base-layer burn provided a nice groundwork for tanning. Now, mind you, I look down and think I'm tan. Then I stand next to someone else and realize I could be a stand-in in the movie "Powder." Still, for me it's tan - something I like to refer to as "Emerald Isle tan."
I also made a decent transition from the beach. Unlike most people who can say, "I'm about ready to go home. That was enough vacation." Having a taste of vacation is like experiencing a split second of paradise or sampling only a small amount of a strong, addictive narcotic. I can't get enough. So I went through the normal withdrawal - the pissiness on the last days, the bad mood when I first got home. But by Sunday all was a bit better and on Monday I was downright jolly and found I missed my co-workers and even my cozy office.
I have to run but wanted to write in two funny additions:
1. I got my Starbucks this morning and two younger baristas said, "Oh my God! We read your column and looked up all about Sea-Monkeys and they're DISGUSTING." A long discussion about the mating habits, feeding and all-around nastiness of the filthy creatures followed. Then Janey, my usual barista, came up and said, "Chatty Cathy. I never got a Chatty Cathy doll. It's all I ever wanted. My dad told me it would only talk for a week. I had a friend whose Chatty Cathy doll talked for a year. Sometimes I still see Chatty Cathy for sale at garage sales and the like. I always want to buy her but then I remember my dad telling me she'll only talk for a week and I don't. How sad!
2. I realized in talking with my family that there were more things I pined for that I never got. Notable things that I must've been so scarred about that I erased them from my memory entirely. Expect a list soon.
3. Following a simple dental exploration to put a temporary on an old molar whose filling had fallen out, my dad developed some kind of rare hematomas in his jaw and now has lockjaw. He can't open or close well, his cheek is swollen and he's in all kinds of pain. I'm so worried about him. It's been a solid two weeks now and it seems to be getting worse. He's been all over the dentist's office, the oral surgeon's office, the ER. Last night he was in agony. I didn't sleep. I came into work and announced, "I can't take this anymore. I have anxiety and don't know how to deal with it. (I found a Web site that suggested I carry running shoes with me and whenever I get worried I just haul ass out the door until I want to vomit. Not exactly ideal or practical to just haul out of work like Forrest Gump and run down the road until I'm ready to puke.) Anyway, I told everyone how worried I am about my dad. Hilarious co-worker Debbie said, "Don't worry. It's really hard to die these days."
Guess you had to be there. It was pretty funny at the time.
Recently, I've tried a few different anxiety meds to try and take the edge off (my hair has started shedding more than just a seasonal molt and I'm thinking it's stress. I'm trying to stop the cycle while I still have hair left to worry about. hahha). Turns out I really get every single side effect in the book. I yawn nonstop yet can't sleep (as in, not at all), my pupils get dilated to the point that I have no iris left, I get blinding headaches, my mouth is so parched it sticks to the roof of my mouth. Hot, right? I'm thinking of offering myself up to a pharmaceutical company as a guinea pig of sorts. It usually only takes me one pill to get every side effect in the book so it could be pretty cost, time and health effective.
As it is, medication probably won't be the way to go. I wish it would be that easy. So I'm practicing breathing techniques (always fun - never lame) and gearing up my running shoes. I don't know. I worked out last night while watching bits of "The Bachelorette" (what an idiot that girl is, eh? I've vowed not to follow the rest of the damn season because that girl doesn't deserve to find shit, let alone love, nor to have America watch while she puts up with the douchiest guy on the planet). Anyway, I still sat upright in bed until 3 or 3:30 a.m. when my dog bust down my door and sat on my chest until I would turn off the light.
Smart dog that little lady is.
Hope all of you are well. More soon, xo
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