Traveling Woman

You may have read in a previous post about my love for playing in the water. I don't think I mentioned that in the hotel on the way down to Alabama, I got to play in the hotel pool, which was fun, even though they did turn the lights out on me. The fun's gotta end sometime. Then when we got to our hotel in Alabama, they had a pool, but wouldn't you know it, it didn't open until the day after we left.

Now I'm trying to work out a deal with the local Y to allow the residents (the people I work with) go swimming for a reasonable price. There's a free water walking session next week, which I was hoping to be a "test run" for the swim deal, but now I'm not so sure. One of my colleagues said I should only bring 2-4 people since I will be the only employee going with them. There will be a lifeguard on duty, but you still need to have almost one on one staff to resident ratio when it comes to being in the water. I don't know, maybe I'll allow them to invite one or two members of their family. That may be a good idea, for those who have family and get along with them, that would help my ratio. I guess we shall see.

So, I'm not driving up to Hammond this week because there is no group (b/c of Memorial Day) and I have been going back and forth way too much. Father's Day is coming up and I know I'll want to be there for that, so I need to plan accordingly. It's hard when I go on a weekend, b/c I have to turn right back around and drive up on Tuesday to go to group. It would be ideal to have Monday and Tuesday off so that I could just stay, but I usually have activities on one of those days and I can't really stand being there for what amounts to being nearly a week at a time. Well, it's just that I would end up spending as much time there as my own place, and plus my bladder can't handle having to wait for the bathroom until someone gets out of the shower (and finishes shaving, doing their hair, etc.)! I nearly went out to the backyard to pee the last two times I was there - (like you don't have to really go when you first wake up in the morning? Hmmm?) So, traveling is something I'm trying to do a bit less of, at least between here and Hammond, and at least until my bank account is a little less anemic. Driving 100 miles each way four times a week is fine when you're getting reimbursed, not so much when it's out of your own pocket.

It's kind of like how a sandwich always tastes better when someone else makes it...mmm...sandwich...

Later!

Take a load off

Now that is some load off my shoulders. Not just my shoulders, but my mind, heart and body - in the form of unloading a couple hundred pounds of Mike. I told him that I don't think we should be friends anymore, and his reply was right on cue, as if to assure me that I had made the right decision. He cussed me out, called me names, and told me that it was a horrible decision. The funniest part, though, is that I unwittingly recorded the first three minutes of the discussion. I have two cell phones (explain later) and I used one to call the other so I could find it. Well, apparently the one I used to call was still on and sent me a voice mail to the other phone with my side of the conversation. It was a bit surreal at first, but as I listened to it, I thought it was hilarious. The most telling bit was how little I talked. You hear me say, "Mike, it's Sabrina. Are you in the middle of something?" And then a good 60 second pause while he chatters away. Sixty seconds may not seem like a long time, but look a clock and watch the second hand go all the way around and imagine sitting on the phone silent and you can see how long it is! And this is before I said anything! This is before the ranting and raving, this is his everyday!

Anyhow, he finally hung up on me and then called a few minutes later to make sure I was sure, and I was and that was that. And no, I haven't talked to him since.

Frankly, why does he even care? He has more than a full life going on, a nineteen year old girlfriend, an ex-wife who wants her stuff back, and the NBA finals are on. And he also was quick to point out how MUCH he helped me by listening to ALL my problems and offering advice and how put out he was by it. Hey babe, you're free!

So am I.

If Heaven ain't a lot like Dixie

Alabama. The home of my ancestors. I had the great pleasure of visiting my ancestral state this past week. It was awesome! Nothing like red dirt and country pride. I got to see my relatives which is always nice and I heard Hank Williams, Jr. on the radio. To make it even more interesting, I drove to my Grandmother's old house in the woods all by myself! Didn't even use mapquest. I was so proud of myself. This was the first time I had been back to Alabama since Grandmother died three years ago, so it was bittersweet, of course, but I was able to visit her grave.

There have been lots of changes out there in the woods. Most of the roads are paved now, or at least have gravel instead of red dirt. They have "city" water, instead of well, they have 911 service, the roads are named and *drum roll* garbage pick up! Taking out the garbage used to mean hauling it in the back of the truck and driving down to the dump and hurling it over the edge. Now they actually provide a plastic bin and come pick it up for you. Will the progress ever stop?

I got to see my uncle's first born, a daughter who is now a year old. She is gorgeous. It is a bit surreal, though, because she looks a lot like I did when I was that age (I can only recall from pictures, of course) so it kind of feels like I got a glimpse into what it was like for all the family when I first came around. Weird.

When I say my roots are in Alabama, I mean my roots are really deep there! My Mom and Dad's side of the family are both from Alabama. Also, both of their sides of the family are from Alabama. I have a feeling it goes even farther back, but you get the idea.

On my Dad's side of the family, my aunt is now living in my Grandmother's house. As we sat on her porch, I noticed a fence across the road. What in the world would someone put a fence up for out here? Well, cows of course. The neighbor down the road has invested in some cows, and when they made their way over to our neck of the woods, I went up and took pictures of them. Oh and I said "moo". You gotta talk in their language, ya know?

Anytime we were driving and there were animals, my mom or aunt would say, "cows" or "horses". My mom and I were discussing the difference between a jackass, donkey and a mule... Deep thoughts. Oh and when a really big insect reached its demise on our windshield, my mom would say, "splat". Okay, it probably doesn't sound funny, but I'm laughing just typing it. Guess you had to be there.

Traveling with my mom also made me realize how many inside jokes she and I share. I stopped to explain so many of the times she and I would burst into laughter. My dad's sister couldn't believe that me and my mom would drive across the country by "ourselves" but I don't see why it is so surprising that two grown women would go to visit relatives. I guess it would've been more acceptable if a man had been with us, like my dad or brother.

On our way back home, Mom was so excited about getting home and seeing the dogs and the family. (Yes, I know I wrote dogs first) I, on the other hand, was going back to my empty apartment. No licks on the face for me! I was really jealous and considered driving up to her house, even though it is out of my way, but sucked it up and reveled in the fact that I didn't have another two hours to get home and took a nap. Nothing like it to make me feel better.

I have lots of pictures, which I hope to share soon. I know you'll be waiting with bated breath to see those cows! :-)

Love ya,
Sabby :-)

Starting Over

Not only the name of a reality show on daytime tv, but the phase of my life now. New city, new job, new car, new life. Today, my first day back from vacation, I was just slapped in the face with the reality that I have been given a chance for a whole new start and I really need to build my way up from here. It is definitely humbling, but also makes life a bit easier, so that I'm not searching for a "better" job any more, I'm not looking for a "nicer" apartment or different car. I have been given the opportunity to start my life from here. I can take it and make it what I want or I can turn this into an extension of my previous life. I will work my butt off at my two jobs, which offer low pay, but stick with them and hopefully work my way up. I will make the payments on my four cylinder Escort and be happy that I have the chance at having a new car. I will stay at my apartment and be thankful that someone gave me a place without doing a credit check, and build my credit up through them. I am thankful that my second job hired me before they got all my reference checks back which apparently weren't very good. I wanted to cry, I wanted to hide, but then I realized this is it...this is my chance. My life starts now. Starting from scratch is a whole lot better than not starting at all.