Meeting Grace: The Blog

Today after work, I am heading over to an old friend’s house to help her bake cookies for one of her son’s school activities. This kind of activity is not normally on my agenda. But I’m sincerely trying to make an effort to go outside my comfort zone a bit in order to change my perspective.

I’m really excited to see Michelle and her family. She & I were best friends in 8th grade, then in 9th grade we added Diane to our best friendom making us a trio of friends. As so many women may know, trios don’t always work out and though we had some difficulties in high school, we endured and in fact, all three of us, independent of anyone else’s decision, ended up choosing to go to the same university. For us, it was just confirmation that we were destined to be friends forever.

In college, the ties of friendship were still there but we each pursued our own paths. Diane & I became much closer while Michelle made new friends, joined a sorority, created a new orbit. We drifted apart.

After college, Diane moved to the Bay Area but Michelle and I stayed in San Diego. In a strange coincidence, Michelle took a job teaching at the same school where my friend, Heather, was teaching, and so we were brought together again. I went to her wedding (with Diane). She has two sons now and isn’t a teacher (in fact, that lasted only a year, maybe two).

I sent her an email in April to wish her a happy birthday. She & Diane’s birthdays were a day apart so it was always a fun few days, especially since they sometimes fell during spring break. I was the oldest of the three, born in ‘71, then Michelle in ‘72 and Diane in ‘73 (she was advanced for her age). I didn’t get a response from Michelle and I didn’t think too much about it. [The previous year, I found out, in a Christmas card from her dad and step-mom, that Diane had gotten married. I found it such a strange way to learn such news. Especially since I didn't get a Christmas card from Diane at all. I felt a great sadness because I wasn't sure where things went awry with us. Although we had another mutual friend where things were not working out between me & her, I had always thought that Diane & I were still okay. But somewhere in there, we stopped communicating, and she is lost to me. I do truly miss her friendship. And though this post is about getting together with Michelle, I feel there is no way to mention her without bringing up Diane.]

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I got an email from Michelle, in response to the birthday message I had sent. She had thought she’d sent it sooner, but she found it in her “drafts” folder. After going back & forth, we were able to find a time in our schedules to get together. Michelle has seen me in good times and bad, and it’s with a kind of awe that I realize we’ve known each other for 23 years. I’m really looking forward to seeing her.

So much so that I had a dream last night where she figured prominently in it. We were with a big group of other people, I think we were the age we are now. We were in an old urban area, kind of rundown and we happened upon some basketball courts. She threw me a ball and I went in for a lay-up, something I haven’t done in years. In the dream, it felt natural and awesome.

In the next part of the dream, she was going to drop me off at my car which had my bags in it. I was going to a school but she was the only one who could get me to my car. We were on a bus and the driver knew her but not me and he didn’t like that. She reassured him that it was okay and then the bus dropped us off and she took me to my car.

Here’s where it changes some. Next thing I recall was that in the dream, I was sleeping, but I woke up and was in some kind of ride, like at Disneyland. There was a screen in front of me that kept showing cityscapes and it felt like I was moving, like my bed was on the top deck of a double decker bus. It was completely dark except for the screen which kept scrolling through different city skylines. I remember that in my dream consciousness, I saw the skyline for Chicago and registered that that’s where I was going.

The next thing I knew, I was explaining to Han where I was going to school. It was called the University of Chicago, Depalmier Place. [Before my dream, I don't know that I knew there was such a thing as University of Chicago. But from my googling, there is, though there's nothing about Depalmier Place being associated with UChicago or anything else for that matter]. I recall that I was looking at a brochure which had a layout of what my dorm room would look like. I was getting ready to go into a writing program of some kind. Han looked at the brochure with me for a few minutes, and then finished eating his purple mashed potatoes (WTF?).

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In completely unrelated news, my dad has started a blog. Now all of my immediate family have blogs, plus my aunt in Sweden. What a trip, but how cool is that?

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NaBloPoMo is coming! Actually, I guess it’s always going, but my sister & I have talked about taking up the post every day in November challenge (which we did last year, too). I’m ready for it!

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How about that World Series? I’m rootin’ for the Phillies because of my National League bend but that doesn’t mean I’m rooting against the Rays if you know what I mean. When BJ Upton stole 2nd and then came in to score, I thought it was awesome, especially because of the terrible conditions they were playing in. I guess it’s still raining in Philly so the game won’t be resumed today but it should be a good one when it does!

Until next time!

I got diamonds on my fingers
but no place to go
except the ghost towns in springtime
where priests burn sage from holy balconies
where choirs sing &
sun scatters colors on the congregation
smoky orange & blazing red
while outside fires consume California

I got this bag on my back
that still holds something of you
worn leather of your thoughts
caramelized into sweet scent
I hold hostage behind sealed zipper
& I love to see the way land looks
with eastern sunlight shining from behind me
or seeing beams on hillside
but not seeing sun itself
until I round the corner
feel it full on my face
it forces me to notice all colors
not to close my eyes against it
& to see darkness differently
to feel change in the air
warm Santa Anas, morning fog, or Halloween chills
porque siente como el invierno en mi cuarto ya
y en mi cama
frio
oscuro
butter & clovers
sweaters & lovers
heat of fire on the hills
air whipped & chilled near the ocean

winter music plays
celebrates eastern morning rays
& evening stardust breezes
for you & me & everyone
for it all to snuggle in my hair
like smoke & sweat
to settle into my pillowcase
that I’ll send to you when we’re apart
so with every turn
you’ll remember the fire season

Lizzie Wann
1997

Puttering around this morning before it’s time to leave for the airport.  I’ll recount what’s happened since I last wrote.

For dinner on Tuesday night, we went to a place called McKinley Street.  It had potential, but then the chicken I received that was covered in nacho cheese sauce was a little off-putting.  It was described as coming with a mild cheddar sauce, but the whole plate was smothered in the stuff.  Odd.  We were there with four other folks who were also in town to work.  After dinner, we caravaned to Dairy Queen for a cold treat.  Although it was rainy and cold most of the day, that hot fudge sundae was tasty!  Then it was back to the hotel where I came back to my room to relax.  I watched the end of the debate and then Keith Olberman, and went to sleep.

Wednesday started out overcast but the sun came out and it was just gorgeous.  Brisk breezes and it really felt like fall and Halloween.  Our meetings were all set up for the day and they also went well.  We heard a lot of the same thing from every group we met, so it’s pretty clear that our direction to change is a much needed one.  For lunch on Wednesday, we went to a place called Krumpets, a little breakfast & lunch cafe with more ‘progressive’ items like wraps etc.  Nothing fried.  I had a club sandwich which wasn’t bad, but the “avocado” advertised on the sandwich was actually more like an avocado sauce, not slices of avocado and not quite guacamole.  Weird.  After lunch, more meetings.  I took a lot of photos of the site and there was one point where we had a few minutes before we had to meet, so I sat on some steps and literally watched the leaves fall off the trees.  It was sunny and cool and really quite pleasant.  That was my favorite part of the day.  After the meetings, we drove out to another site and took a quick tour of the facilities and that was it.  We were done!  And it went well.  We returned to our rooms to relax until it was time for dinner.

We were all ready for a good meal. The restaurant that was selected was called Patrick’s.  And it was good.  It was also very cool inside, great architecture.  After some appetizers, we got our food.  I opted for pasta this time, a cajun dish with andouille sausage and chicken.  It was very tasty.  I enjoyed traveling with this group.  We all got along and there was no drama.  There was never any pressure to hang out.  Once we got back to the hotel we always just went to our own rooms and were on our own and I was really glad for that.  After dinner, they dropped me off as well as the other woman and the two guys headed to the casino.  Totally fine for me since I got to watch the second to last episode of “Project Runway.” 

And now it’s nearly time to head back.  I need to pack up my stuff and meet up with the others in about an hour.  Then it’s drive to Moline, fly to Chicago and fly home.  It was a successful trip but I’m looking forward to going home!

Greetings from Iowa.  I’m here for work.  Monday was a travel day and it all went fine.  I had my requisite meltdown as Han was taking me to the airport, but I pulled myself together and was fine once I got there.  Taking an allergy pill (not non-drowsy) certainly helped, too.  

The first leg was to Chicago and on that flight me & my 3 co-workers were scattered throughout the plane.  Then from Chicago to Moline, one guy was across the aisle from me and the other two were right behind him.  That was a very quick flight which was nice.  Once in Moline, we got in our rental and headed to Iowa.  We checked in to our hotel (Holiday Inn Express) and then made our way to a nearby casino for dinner.  The food was sub-par and even though it was all we’d eaten that day, it was not particularly satisfying.  We came back to our hotel and parted ways.  It probably wasn’t even 7 pm.  I decided to walk over to the nearby Target for some water, some little snacks, plus eye drops and blister pads.  I’d purchased new shoes (Converse) for the trip but I developed blisters on both feet as we traversed O’Hare Airport to make our connection.  Ouch.  After Target, I watched baseball playoffs and got online to reply to some emails etc.

Today was our first work day and it went pretty well, although they didn’t know to expect us since the person who was supposed to disseminate the information never checked his email.  But it all worked out.  We sat in on a leadership meeting which was helpful to get to know a lot of the people, then we did a tour.  Then it was lunch time and we went to a place called the Pizza Ranch.  It’s a buffet-style place that serves pizza, fried chicken and salad.  That’s it.  I didn’t try the chicken but the pizza was okay and I had some salad.  Then we headed back for some more meetings.  These were primarily for us to get to know some of these folks better.  It’s a situation where we are “headquarters” and they are the nuts & bolts.  I’m not explaining well, but it was to disspell the dictator tone that may be perceived.  Each meeting lasted about 90 minutes and I think they were both quite productive.   Next up will be dinner out somewhere with some other folks who happen to be here for other reasons.  Which means I will probably miss the debate, bummer.  I’ll try to update again later tonight or tomorrow!

I love how when she’s not singing, she looks so ordinary. The way she wrings her hands and looks around like it’s the first time she’s been on a stage.  And then, she steps to the mike and unleashes the most extraordinary vocals.  This song has always been one of my favorites. This video is from the Tom Jones show in 1969.

What is up with the weather? Hot, windy and uncomfortable.  Where’s the crisp autumn air?  Where’s the urge to drink hot cider and eat too many tootsie rolls?  Maybe this weekend.  There’s supposed to be a 30 degree shift in the next 3 days.  Yikes.

I dropped off Han at the airport this afternoon, then dropped off DK at her friend’s house, so I have a rare solo afternoon at home.  I have the Dodgers/Cubs playoff game on (go Cubbies!) and a cold beer at my side.  I’m okay with this.

To Red, this is Fresh & Easy.  Can’t wait to get back there, probably this weekend.

I heart October and I’m so glad it’s here.  Aside from this wicked weather, it is the transitional month for me of summer into winter, into all the madness and joy of the holidays, when I start to think of how to celebrate my birthday, how I might change up my routines, and always somewhere, the ghost of Janis hovers ever near. 

On Monday, I leave for Iowa for work.  I’m kind of excited about this.  Not Iowa so much (though I’m glad to be going to a different part of the country), but this idea of a business trip seems so adult and yet, I still don’t feel very adult.  I had hoped to go to Texas with Han but couldn’t afford the trip this time.  There is Arizona later this month and possibly Northern California in November.  So Iowa, without going into too much work detail, my co-workers & I will be meeting with many folks who work there.  We are trying to destroy any obstacles that might exist between “corporate headquarters” (us) and “local business” (them).  A worthy trip and it always helps to establish a personal relationship with people you have to work with nearly every day.  Sometimes the phone & email conversations just don’t do the trick.

The beer is finished (it went down pretty fast) and the Cubs lead is 2-0 in the 4th inning. Perhaps I’ll read a bit and chill on the couch for a while.  I don’t have to pick up DK until 8 pm so I will take this time to relax (hear that, Mom?)