Dear Diary . . . day by day

Tuesday was a day of travel. It was good to come home and see my mom and all the cats. I think I was already sick of cat hair by that night, but it's such a treat to have not one, not two, but eight cats to pet and cuddle with that I put up with it (like I had a choice). If it wasn't Charmin in my lap, it was Mittens sitting at my feet and meowing until I gave him a kitty backrub. Gray Lady seemed feeble, but she managed to crawl right up into my lap several times and really enjoyed the attention. Even little Cymba, who is usually too shy, curled up on me once or twice. Gryffyn remained his jealous self, but he usually managed to find me when I was alone in the bathroom (I know, it's really weird and it's getting cat hair in the new bathroom fan) or in my bedroom.

Wednesday I went over to the University of Indianapolis, where Mom works, to visit Daniel (he recently was hired right out of library school as their new reference librarian). We had a good chat, and he invited me to come to his soccer game Thursday night. After I went home, Kellie picked me up and we went down to Franklin for some Noble Roman's pizza (yum!), salad and breadsticks (and extra-strong Sangria coolers). I worked there for almost 2 years, and I can't have a visit at home without consuming their food. We ate ourselves silly, and chattered on with all our friends working there, but I was disturbingly nauseous by the end of our meal. The cause? Indiana allows smoking in restaurants (California does not) and we had not one, not two, but THREE tables of two smokers each! These people smoke while they are eating and in front of their kids! I made some loud comment when I first realized what was making me ill. Oh, sure, there's a "non-smoking" section, but it's all one room and Doug (the owner, and the nicest guy) can't really ban smoking - smokers are more than half his business. I was more perturbed that people couldn't hold themselves to just one cigarette after dinner instead of chain-smoking the entire time they were there. Anyhow...

We had a nice visit, I saw the wedding tape and we stayed up late. I slept in my old room, in Kellie's old full-sized bed (which was much nicer than my old twin at home which I kept falling out of while I slept!).

Thursday night I went over to hang out with Daniel and his wife, Kristen. I went to college with Daniel, but Kristen went to IU and I hadn't really gotten a chance to know her. Let me just say that she's perfect for Daniel. Daniel is one of those people who is so nice you'd think he was insincere if you didn't know him well. He's not drippingly sweet or anything, he's just got amazing social skills. And so does Kristen. I always forget or can't think of the right questions to ask to include everyone in the conversation, but with those two around there are no worries - everyone is accommodated. I was so glad I finally got to hang out with her some, as I found I liked her quite a bit.

Also at this gathering was Daniel's friend from high school, Aaron, whom I also liked quite a bit. Aaron now lives in Alaska, and he had some beautiful photos of that state and of his hunting and fishing trips. Now, I know I don't eat meat, and I'm generally opposed to hunting - but when you and your buddy hike out in the middle of Alaska for twenty days and only shoot one ram that you skin right there because you're gonna have to hike out carrying all that meat (and the cool-looking curvy horns) - well, I'm too impressed to be disgusted. He had some amazing photos of that hunting trip. Really, it's something completely different when you're gonna eat everything you kill. I have no problems with that.

Aaron was just a nice guy, too. I was in the middle of my car-trauma story when Colin showed up. We had to do the "Oh! So good to see you" stuff, and my story was completely forgotten. However, before we left for the game, Aaron leaned over and said, "I hope you get a chance to finish your story - I was really interested in it." How sweet of him! He was also the one to ask me to finally finish the story after we'd all come back from the game. I love men who pay attention.

It started snowing on our way to the (indoor) soccer game. I love watching these guys playing soccer - the team had Kris, Midas, Daniel and Morlock (well, Morlock didn't show this game) - all people I never thought I'd see playing soccer on the same team again. Our team was good, but the other team was pretty good and they CHEATED (pulling on our guy's shirts and other nasties). I got all riled up about that, especially when they sent Kris flying head over heels. "Is it really fun to win when you CHEAT like that?" I asked out loud. Colin, to my annoyance, shushed me. C'mon, hon, it's a soccer game. And they WERE cheating. Kristen was right with me with the heckling, though. We don't like to see our friends get hurt in a "friendly" soccer game. Still, it was fun to get all indignant and to cheer for the goals and I know the guys were appreciative of their fans. A good time was had by all.

Friday was a 7 hour roundtrip to Illinois to see my 96 year old grandmother. She's so cute, all white and frail. I felt like part of the triple goddess, maiden, mother and crone, sitting with her and my mother. The one time I was alone with Grandma, she leaned over and told me to keep writing, that she thought I was very eloquent. I was amazed, considering how little I've spoken with her in the last 5 years or so, that she picked up on my desire to be a writer. I also got to see Uncle Jimmy, who seemed to enjoy the reading light I gave him. I should go visit him in Chicago sometime.

Friday night I decided it might be my only chance to hang out with Craig, so I went over to see him. He lives rather close to my mom's house now. Craig's a writer, probably the first one I knew (around my own age, that is), so we talked about writing some. He's working on a novel and has 68 pages done! I'm so glad he's writing again, even if his genre is really more horror-filled than what I read. He's also a talented actor, and I wish he had time to do some more acting...

Whew, this is getting long! I wish I could've updated sometime last week!

Saturday was Xmas. It was just me and Mom, and, while I got pretty much everything I asked for (!), that was because Holly wasn't there to get any presents. And, you know what? I'd rather she were around Still, Mom and I had a nice Xmas together. We cooked dinner together and watched about 3 or 4 movies that were on cable. I was so zoned by the end of the day... All my friends in Indiana are either married or have kids or both, so they have multiple families to visit over the holidays. It was weird to stay inside for a whole day, with no phone calls or visits to break the day up. David was driving to Arizona with Lydia to pick up the girls, so I couldn't even call him to pass the time. Ah, well.

Sunday Mom and I hit the mall for the after-Xmas specials. I've never had so much fun shopping with Mom (maybe because this time I spent only my own money). We started out by buying matching upright roller suitcases (after I assured Mom I didn't care if we had the same luggage; I'll put stickers on mine anyway, so I can find it more easily). I bought a nice pair of gloves to go with my new London Fog coat (I just realized I didn't go into what I got for Xmas....maybe later). I went nuts in Garden Botanika (which I justify by doing it only once a year) and bought some more shirts and a nice sweater from Lerner. My favorite find was a set of 6 hand-blown wine glasses that I got for Daniel and Kristen (they'd mentioned when we were haning out earlier that they didn't have decent wine glasses). Each glass had a different color that was darker near the stem and faded out to clear near the rim. Beautiful, and even prettier when filled with white wine, which drew the color up and danced in the light. I think it was my most perfect gift-giving experience of this year.

Sunday night Daniel and I called a bunch of folks to come hang out at their house again. I got there first, and gave them their wine glasses (as a wedding gift, really, as I think I drank the California wine I had bought for them), which they loved. Kristen and Daniel and I had a great talk about life and family (Kristen and I have had frighteningly similar family issues); I haven't had such a good talk in awhile - there's a lot to be said for people who grew up in the same place you did. Then Kris showed up, with baby pictures of Lennon and Jean (his son and wife - Jean's also an old college friend). I was so glad Kris could make it, as I know his family keeps him busy but I hadn't seen him in so long! Bill and Aaron came by and completed our group. Aaron sat down and said to me, "I've really enjoyed meeting you; you tell the best stories." I, of course, got a little flustered (for one thing, I always worry that I ramble on and bore people, but I do want to be a good storyteller; I was also on my second glass of wine), but I managed to convey that I really enjoyed meeting him too. He's just a cool guy, you know? He's not afraid of life and has done lots of adventurous things. He loves the woods. He brought us salmon that he had "caught, killed, skinned and smoked" himself (which was very yummy). And he grew up nearby, so he knows what it's like to grow up in Indiana and feel the need to leave. Too bad he's in Alaska, that's all I have to say. Not that Alaska sounds like a bad place for a single woman ("There are more dogs than women in Alaska; which is ok, 'cause dogs are good to take fishing with you."), but it also sounds dark and COLD, especially this time of year. I'm a cold wimp.

ANYway. We all hung out and chatted and I switched from wine to water to sober up a bit. Kris had to leave and Kristen went to bed, but the rest of us stayed up until 3 am. I had already exchanged emails/address/phone with Daniel and Kris, but as I left I slipped this info to Bill and Aaron, too. Not the smoothest move I've ever made, and I should've gotten Aaron's email at least, but I was too tired to think clearly. I really hope he emails me, though; I write good letters.

And, on Monday, I got up, packed like a maniac, petted Gryffyn and some other cats, and left for the airport. Mom always gets misty when I leave, but we'd had a good visit and managed to stop snipping at each other towards the end, so I felt genuinely happy as I hugged and kissed her goodbye. I love you, Mom.

Flight - uneventful. Return - David and I snipped at each other until I backed off and realized my lack of sleep was being taken out on him. He helped me eat some of mom's delicious leftovers (stuffed pasta shells and vegetarian baskets) and kept me company while I unpacked and we had a good time. I went to bed fairly early and didn't want to get out of my nice, cozy bed this morning. Work is slow, the traffic is terrible and that's the end of my ramblings for today! Thanks for reading this far!