What happens in…Cleburne

As I lay here on my hotel bed at the Comfort Inn – in Cleburne, TX, I realize I should be fast asleep considering, I didn’t sleep much the last 2 nights, but alas, here I am...

I figured as interesting as a month as its been and all the places I’ve been to lately, I should fill y’all in (that’s Texas speak for “you all”).

To begin the month, I took a lovely trip to LV, NV w/ my good friend Kate, her twin, her brother-in-law and a couple other peeps.  It was a 30th b-day/accounting conference that drew them, and me, there.  We stayed at the Bellagio, gambled at O’Shea’s…(a classy joint w/ cheap drinks and $5 tables), ate at Caesars and danced at Light (though not IN the light, as i was grateful since wine and beer do not mix and I found those mints and perfume in the bathroom to be lifesavers!).  Either way, it was a great trip getting to hang out with Kate and lay in the sun .

As I said at the beginning, I’m currently in the middle of Texas, auditing and eating to satisfy the growing food baby in my tummy (its a vicious cycle, but someone has to partake in it!). I flew on Sunday (after a frustrating realization that my drivers license was at home and a panicked call to Kim to rescue me – she obliged!! ), only to get air sick from the previous nights drinking and bumpy storms – to land in Dallas and discover, it was only I who landed and not my luggage (for the SECOND TIME!).  This time – I got clothes out of it…clothes from Forever21 that are too big, but will make due for going to the client.  I met up with a friend from Oregon for dinner…how is it that a person can be hundreds of miles from home and SUDDENLY find the time to catch up with a friend? Either way, it made for an enjoyable evening of catching up and laughing at our odd mutual friends (no offense).

That led to a night of fitful sleep, followed by a long day at work, and a night of studying. (Food was in there, but my body does not want to think about that now.) I will be here a couple more days, to fly home on Thursday, take a test Friday mid-day, go to Pirates w/ Karissa, to the Boiler Room with co-workers, pack Saturday and leave that afternoon for Chicago…thank God for vacation!! – it can’t seem to get here soon enough!

Anyway, if you have missed out on my daring adventures lately, I am sorry.  And hopefully, this will remind you I do exist still and why at times I feel non-existent in my own life.

At times like these, I really appreciate my father

Tonight, upon coming home from work, I decided that it was time… Time to mow the lawn gasp! :-O After spraying the NUMEROUS weeds in my front yard, I went in search of the extension cord & found it! Now mind you, I grew up in a fairly traditional house – my dad did the majority of the yard work and took care of the maintenance & cars, while my mom kept us fed and clean. My job was… well, to avoid household chores at ALL costs.

Upon purchasing & moving into my very own house (see other household issues at “I would go home with the stranger again”), I acquired a beautiful little yard & what I now lovingly call “the jungle”(1600 sq ft of pure bark dust & weeds) as a back yard. My father gave me his old electric mower – a simple machine really. My first “lawn mowing” experience came last summer – when the concept was new, fresh and still rather fun. I even had an audience (much to my chagrin)! The homeless lady who roams the street must have thought I was amusing as I awkwardly shoved this mower around my yard. So needless to say, I’ve got an idea of how this whole thing works by now.

And tonight (probably to procrastinate from studying) I decided that after a long winter – the lawn must be mowed. Which was no small task considering the ground was still fairly soft and the yard was “kinda” long (my mower has one setting – low). As I shoved through it, cursing the neighbors who let their dogs crap in my yard, I now understood why my father hated the cats in our neighborhood who were lazy enough to crap on top of the lawn). I avoided shooting crap at myself and am hoping that I don’t find it in the crevises of my shoes, fingernails or hair.:-P

I pushed and pulled the mower around for a good 30 min (stopping every once in awhile to clean out the shreds of grass – hoping that crap wasn’t all over them) I finally accomplished my task – the lawn was breathtaking, actually this is because I have allergies and COULDN’T breathe. And I’m sure the old people across the street got their amusement (again) for the month!:-D

Everyone would be able to appreciate my accomplishment, as grass clippings were shot about every way possible. As I wheeled this orange contraption back to its home – I left a grass-stain trail along my driveway (as I tried to shake loose the clippings that were matted to the inside – because I was NOT sticking my hands in that – I knew where it had been).

I trudged up to the house, remembering to remove my shoes (Karissa JUST swept) and got the broom. I’m not sure WHAT I was thinking, but when I went back out – I decided not to put my shoes back on. So, barefoot and with a broken broom I swept my driveway & sidewalk (actually I just moved clippings from one spot to another – I’m hoping nature takes care of the rest)… by the end my feet were of course matted in clippings & I still couldn’t breathe – don’t worry I cleaned my nose out the way I learned from my daddy as well – by plugging one nostril & blowing.:-P

I wiped them and walked gingerly to my tub to rinse them off (knowing my father would be sorely disappointed at my choice to sweep the outdoors barefoot)… mmmm shit covered grass off my feet… I’m clean now and think I’ll have some dinner – but I’m really not up for salad.

Moral of the story: Keep your dads around – they are worth more than their weight in gold!