If it quacks like a duck... it must be an Otter...

I arrived home from work this afternoon and left a trail of clothing from the front door to my room... belt, shoes, jeans... pulled on a comfy pair of boxers, curled up on the couch with my computer and tried to find something on hulu or youtube to distract me from the most emotionally draining day of my Earth Fare life so far. Not too long after getting home, my phone starts to blow up with text messages and phone calls about going to dinner tonight and having a good night on the town. When my platonic friend Kyle called I told him that I didn't think I could go out because I was basically in the depths of despair. To which he replied, "You have five minutes to be at my house... you can't just sit inside and wallow all night, it won't make it better." Reluctantly I washed the tears off my face, replaced them with some tasteful makeup and made my way across the lawn to Kyle's place. Here is an account of what happened next... fill in the blanks with your imagination...
bruschetta and a sweet fried green tomato
lime peanut salad dressing
FoodWorks filet (medium rare, of course)
walk to merry-go-round
stop at big hill and attempt to slide down on cardboard
get to merry-go-round to find it closed
walk across bridge
pass multiple naked lady statues
up lots of stairs (suck in breath)
walk across glass bridge
see lights on the river that look like fireworks
coffee and Religeuse (cream puff thing) at Rembrandts
walk back across bridge
drive to park
swing, slide, glide, play
sit on the dock of the river... (no bay)

All of these adventures include four of the best people I know. good conversation, better laughs. Here are some thoughts from the evening: Greenlife has a clever billboard that says "If we get any fresher, you'll have to slap us" We think Earth Fare should get in a turf war and reply with billboard... my option "Earth Fare: We give it up for free"... Following the shootings at Coolige Park a few nights ago we were not sure it was a GREAT idea to be walking around there, however, "if Tommy got shot in the ass, I'd give him CPR"... if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, quacks like a duck... it must be an otter. if you look at the big dipper just right it looks like a question mark, huh?

Earth Fare, you and your people never cease to amaze me... if it looks like a bad day, sounds like a bad day and feels like shit... it just might be the best night in a long, long time. I feel refreshed, ready, and really tired.

Mom in the Noog... Day Two...

Yesterday we explored the Tennessee Aquarium. Seahorses and Jellyfish and Stingrays... oh my! I actually spent the majority of the time with my friend Tommy... who is definitely calming, interesting company. Sigh...

Discovered that mom's new nickname from her last vacation is "Mary, Queen of the Universe" (named after a mega church that was next door to their condo in Florida). That is just about right. I love my mother but she is very intent on doing what she wants to do, when she wants to do it... even if what she wants to do is let you make a decision... you are making that decision on her schedule. However, it does get things done. If you are a laid back indecisive person, my mother is the perfect company... you will both be extremely happy. But I am stubborn and opinionated, so mom and I tend to clash from time to time.

Mom let me sleep in today and that was truly appreciated. Only now I have to get ready to go to work and barely got to spend any time with her today... well, she says she is coming into the store tonight to eat dinner... so hopefully we will enjoy that. Until the next update... Mom is still in the Noog.

Mom in the Noog... Day One...

Mother has come to visit.
Last night, 1 AM while winding down from 11 hour work day and trying to calm my mind for some much needed sleep... in walks sleepy eyed mother, "What are you doing awake?? Don't you have to work in the morning?"
This morning, 5:45 AM, while in the process of molesting my snooze button... in walks sleepy eyed mother, "Its almost six o'clock???!! Don't you have to be awake and at work??"

Mother... I know you love me and just want what is best for me... but I haven't been the teenager who needs you to yell me out of or into bed for a long time. Sometimes I wonder how you believe that I manage to make it through my life without you here to nag me??

Mother... I love you too... but please, please, please, please... be my guest. Be my loving family who misses me. Be my friend. Just don't continue to mother me for the next 4 days, please.

I wonder if you will read my blog while you are visiting... regardless... expect updates to come.