It’s the first Monday I’ve had off since August of 2011.

Well. Not counting the holiday break…but I’m pretty sure I was into my wine every single day of that break so…we’ll just count this.

Online classes begin today and I’m still a little awkward with it, figuring out who what when where, but I think it’s going to be fantastic. I already wish I was in a facetoface class with several of the students and my Prof. Oh well. If wishes were dimes…right?

Grades are due tomorrow. Anxiously awaiting that little letter of validation.

I’ve done nothing but read trash these last few days. I love that. Not apologetic about it one teensy little bit. Today, I’ll finish some laundry, do some banking, pay some bills, plant my tomatos and…I’m pretty sure I can do all of the above without putting on any kind of underwear. That’s my goal for the day.

Also, lookie here! I’ve got photographic evidence of my Listen To Your Mother performance!

 

All photos by Megan Clemence Photgraphy

Happy Monday, Ya’ll.

That was one helluva week.

Finals are over. Semester is over. Boom.

My work was stupid busy and the two weddings back to back were super busy.

This morning, I am worn out. My body is tired, my feet are swollen and throbby. I stayed up reading till 4:30 yet woke up several hours ago.

But I think I’ve made enough with this weekend to pay for both plane tickets. This is good.

Where am I going you ask? Chicago in June and San Diego in September. I would love to squeeze in NYC in July but it ain’t happening. Not unless I hit the lottery. Which I did not this week as I bought zero tickets.

This house is kind of wrecked because I was only here to sleep, and there is laundry to be done, and there are dishes that need cleaning. I’ve got tomato plants that need planting. All of this and there’s not a drop of coffee in this house. So a grocery trip needs to happen as well.

Right now, I think I’ll just go put on some clothes and hit a Starbucks. Then I’ll come sort out all of this stuff…I’d like it have it all finished so I can concentrate on reading and doing school stuff for class tomorrow.

But I sure do wish someone would just appear and do it for me.

I’m tired.

Yesterday I completed my first full year of graduate school.

Seriously.

That’s the craziest thing. But it’s true. I turned in my final paper and a book back to my professor and returned my library books and just like that…finito.

It really didn’t  hasn’t settled in yet. I immediately went and bought some of my books for  the intersession/summer class that starts Monday. Most were at Half Price Books, some I’ll have to get from Half dot com.

Lynn and I treated ourselves to lunch and a viewing of the Hunger Games movie then I drove directly to work for a few hours. Today is a HUGE day, colors, cuts, even a perm in there. It’s a long long one, but that’s ok. I’ll take it. I’ll need the money to pay for whatever repairs my air conditioner and dishwasher are going to require today.

Last night when I got home the house was just soo hot. It stresses me out. Then I went to fix a sandwich and the fridge wasn’t cool…I was immediately freaked. FREAKED. But I must have just left the door open a little because this morning it’s all good. Fine and dandy. I may go ahead and throw out the cheese and milk, but everything else is all good. However, it was almost more than I could handle last night. I medicated, then cooled down with a cold shower and went to bed wet. It’s a great trick I learned from Kizz. My windows were open, and fan was going and I read on my Nook for an hour…I got to read on my Nook! It was bliss.

My next class begins Monday. It’s online, so no going to campus every day. The Beat Movement. I think I’ll like it. The Proff is another one who’s reputation precedes him as just being awesome, so I’m looking forward to it.

I bartend weddings tomorrow night and Saturday night. I’ve got two plane tickets to pay for on top of these repairs, so I’m not going to complain. I’m just not. I’m blessed to have it.

You wanna know what I don’t have? Coffee. I’m drinking the last cup of yesterdays pot…you would think that it would motivate me to get showered and get to starbucks…yet here I sit. The morning breeze is perfect. I’ve got awhile before I have to get up and get to work. I think I’ll just enjoy it.

Since about two this morning, I’ve been awake.

Worrying.

My air conditioner, which has been running off and on since a) we’ve hit the 80’s and b) I have a boarder the first few days of the week, started kicking off and on about every 30-60 seconds. It’ll run, and cool, but shut off after about a minute. That cannot be good.

SO, I got up and turned it off. And worried about how much it will cost to repair it. And worried about this being the summer it must be replaced. I worried about who would loan me that money…family? bank? I tossed and I turned and while I was worrying, why not throw in the dishwasher that isn’t working. . . again.

It’s clogged. And I fear burnt up. But I don’t know. I don’t know what to do about it. I’ve done everything I can do.

I have a phone call in to my plumber/savior/friend. He’s yet to get back with me, and that was at 4pm yesterday afternoon.

He just text me back that he’s crazy busy and wont be by until late tonight or tomorrow. but at least he’s got me on the list

The thing is, I’m just trying to keep it in perspective. I can’t do anything about these two things. I have a test today at one, and must finish/start/finish the paper due tomorrow. I’m really trying to remember to focus my energy on things that I can do something about.

I said something to the same effect on FB this morning and was met with an immediate stream of supportive comments. That helped so much! The breeze is lovely today, I’ve re-opened windows and have the fans running. It’s fine. I haven’t cooked a damned thing in days. My eating has consisted of cardboard containers, drive through windows, reheated leftovers and paper plates. (dont judge me) So the dishwasher situation can just sit there for a day or so. I do have my Lowes credit card paid off so if I have to get a new one…again…IF I get a new one…again…I can.

I have two finals and a class starting on Monday. I have clients that need attention, brides that need beers served this weekend…THAT’s what I’m focusing on.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

I’m sitting in my mom’s kitchen, drinking coffee, listening to the rain and watching her cook breakfast. I slept like the dead last night. Seriously, I was in bed before 9pm and asleep before 9:30, I’m sure.

My plan was to be on the road back to Oklahoma by now.

But I’ve decided to just pause.

Interrupt all the busy, and the goings on in my brain, and just take this moment and be still. Here. In the kitchen. With my mom and the rain.

Everything will get finished. These test will be taken, and passed. This paper will be written and turned in. My voice will sound all academically smarty pantsy, and all will be good. It will be fine.

Yesterday’s experience was really quite amazing. I was trepidatious going in, but all of the cast was just as warm and energetic and accepting and we were all excited and ready to get this show on the road.

The show iteself, I believe went smoothly. There is a video. It will be posted at some point on YouTube. I’ll let you know when that happens. The audience was full, and generous with their laughter and applause,and oohhh’s and awwwww’s. It was fast paced and before we knew it it was over.

I saw my faces in the audience. My mom, and Bonusmom and Sister. Mindi Laverne got up early after being at the Thunder game screaming her fool head off the night before, and drove the 4 hours in. Cindy drove in that morning from Kansas City. Trish sent the most gorgeous flowers backstage. I was surrounded. Surrounded by these people who not only support and love me, but validate me as well.

As I was standing around talking and hugging, several people came up and doled out accolades. But one particularly tall red headed woman stopped and said, ” I want thank you for your story. Because your story…it my story. I’m so glad you were up there.”

Your story is my story.

Well, whaddya know, eh?

What an honor to have been a part of it. I am profoundly changed by the courage it took these women to write and tell their stories. I cannot wait for it to be online so that those of you who care to, can watch it.

I’m going to finish this coffee, and eat this hot breakfast that was set before me by my mom…and take a few moments to be grateful before we get back to our regularly scheduled program.

 

I’ve heard it said that we must know where we’ve been in order to know where we are going.

I think there is something to be said for that. Knowing our past, knowing the downfalls and the success stories, remembering, honoring, and moving forward.

I sit out here this morning with the dog who barks at every leaf that blows by, with my coffee, with an eye twitch that could really get me into trouble at a bingo parlor, and I’m gearing up to participate in today’s Listen To Your Mother event here in Arkansas.

I’m thinking about so many of us that love with our whole hearts, that bend and break and bruise with newborn fragility despite not fitting the status quo of being a Mother. I look back at the women in my life, in the lives of my friends, and I am more resolved that my story is perfectly at home today, amidst all of the others.

I will tell you, most of you know, that when I introduced myself at our rehearsal a few weeks ago, the little caveat “she’s not a mother” was added by another woman there. I’m one hundred percent sure it was not added with malice or with any kind of intent to exclude me from the group…but that’s exactly what happened. On a day where the group of women were meeting for the first time, feeling emotionally vulnerable, risking rejection with every “hi my name is”–that was the knife to the back.

My story IS the only story written by a non-mother. But the thing is…I HAVE a mother. So that counts for something, right?  I HAVE children in my life that are powerful beyond measure, that move me in ways I didn’t think possible. Yet another check mark in my column. And I know many women just like me. Several who are getting in their cars and driving consecutive hours in order to be in the audience and support me today. BOOM!

I’m so honored to be counted among the women in this group. I’ve heard their stories. I’ve thought about some of them over and over and over these past few weeks…just can’t shake their words. It’s going to be an amazing experience and I’m so happy that I didn’t let my own insecurities screw this up!

I’m also sending out an Atta Girl to my PseudoSis3.

Ya’ll…that girl has done some amazing work on herself this past year or so. She has started working out, dropped a ton of weight and inches and she is running her first half marathon as I type this morning back in OKC. I could not be more proud of her. She has truly become an example of what it means to change your life.

It’s the first year since I started cheering for the Memorial Marathon, that I’m not there on my corner with Martha clapping and shouting encouragement in the wee morning hours. Last year we stood for four hours in the freezing rain. This year it’s gorgeous, and I’m missing it. I know she’s just as sad that she’s not in my audience today. Mutual admiration society…that’s what we’ve got.

I look back a lot. I look back at where I was, and who I thought I was going to be. I see circles, endless circles. “I’m here again?” I see lines and curves and triangles and all the shapes in the world that lead me right here to this morning. I see where Maggie has been, and the beauty that is before her. She’s got more inner strength than I ever did at her age. What a bright bright tomorrow she has!

It’s a beautiful thing, really. Knowing where we’ve been. Looking forward to where we’re going. And knowing, that it’s all just as it should be.

Just as it is.

Finished the last of my official classes today. Done diddily done. I’ve typed up notes for one final, and need to finish typing up the others just so I can carry them around and study them at a moments downtime. Whenever that is.

Full day of hair today, tomorrow and Saturday.

Bartending a wedding tomorrow night.

Leaving for Arkansas Saturday after work.

Performing Sunday–will be onsite at venue starting at 11 ending around 4pm.

I really really need to come home after the show. That would give me some recoup time, and the ability to get up early and hit the library Monday morning to start writing my paper that really, should be half way finished by now and or by the weekend. Monday night is my Hemmingway/Fitz final and presentation. Tuesday at 1 is my Southern Women final. I can spend the rest of the day and night in the library or here at home writing. The paper is due by 3pm Wednesday.

I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.

Meanwhile, I’ve got to figure out what I’m wearing onstage, and make sure it’s clean. Do a little self tanning. Buy catfood. I could use an oil change but who the F has time for that? Maybe in the morning. Maybe I can knock both of those off in the morning. I don’t have to be at work until 11am. I had a reschedule.

I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.

I stayed at Trish’s last night with her girls since they’re in Florida perusing prospective living conditions. I slept nary a wink nor a snore. SO…I should probably be hitting the writing tonight but instead I’ve had some wine and some melatonin and I’m hitting the sack. Praying for a mind that isn’t restless and a night full of really quality sleep.

This is the last week of the semester.

WTF???

Yup. Last week. Next week is finals.

This week I start work on my final paper. It not only is the last paper but it counts as my final in class.

This week is nuts. There’s something on my calendar every single day/night, culminating in the drive to Arkansas and the performance on Sunday that leads us into next week with finals and due dates and then I start my online class the following week.

buckle up.

I planted some four-o-clock seeds this morning, watered the garden, watched Mad Men from last night. Time to get some laundry done and get my room cleaned. I need to vinegar mop the floors. Then it’s time for class.

I’m grateful that I had an easy like Sunday morning Sunday.