Just spotted my first pumpkin price latte of the season. Blended option also available. Not sure how I feel about all this.

. . . and the other's gold

This post is dedicated to all the people I've reconnected with this summer

Maren and I had a blast spending a cool weekend watching the first 7 harry potter films at the Riverview Theatre.  We met in kindergarten and were good friends through 4th grade, when I switched schools.  I have plans to have dinner with her this week at Victor's.  It's like we never lost touch, except I think we have even more in common now.

Alycia and I met through my friend S (not listed below).  I royally pissed her off because I promised to invite to to my wedding (and then forgot) and then didn't.  By the time I had realized, I had run out of room and money.  Plus, everyone she would have known was sitting at the head table.  But she eventually forgave me, and when her mom passed away earlier this year, I do what I always do.  I wrote her.  I don't particularly enjoy writing condolence letters, but I believe they are important, and something that are often shyed away from.  In turn, we've gotten together a few times to chat and catch up, and I discovered she and I had a lot more in common than our shared friendship with S&L.  What a learning experience in 1st (2nd and umpteenth) impressions.

Ginny and I met at my first year at Camp Lake Hubert.  We became fast friends in our weeks stay, and I was so sad when she didn't come back.  At the end of our session, it came up that we were of the same denomination.  I thought she was confused.  I'd never met anyone who was of my faith at a non-church gathering.  Turns out, she thought the same thing.  Now her mom attends our church and I met her for appetizers in Uptown last week.  She's leaving for Prague at the end of the month to teach english.  She's funny and animated and full of vigor and energy.  I hope we'll keep in touch.

Sarah's grandparents lived next door to me when I was growing up, and we'd play together when she and her brother came over.  I don't remember anything about her brother.  Years later, when I was working out at the airport, we met for the second time, without knowing our previous connection.  I usually only see her about once or twice a year, but I got to see her twice this summer.  It's always so good to catch up with her, and she keeps me updated on airport friends we had together that I lost touch with.

This may have been a tough summer, full of bumbs, bruises and bug bites.  But I'm so grateful for the time I've had to reconnect with these people, and I totally acknowledge that I probably wouldn't have had the chance if my "usual" friends had not been stupid occupied.

Next on my list?  Krupali and Jane (although she's in AZ).  You know what they say: Make new friends, but keep the old.  One is silver and the other's gold.

Update: I forgot to include Lori and Sara W in this post.  I'll have to write about them another time.

topics on my mind

So I keep thinking I'll develop each of these into posts on their own, but that doesn't seem to be happening.  So I'll just say a few words on each.

Spending money like I have it
This seems to be my mantra this summer.  I am definitely taking steps backward instead of forward.  And after spending three years trying to dig myself out of debt, I can't tell you how frustrating it is.

Condo
There's a condo I discovered not far from our place.  It's beautiful.  It's got three bedrooms.  And we might actually sort of be able to afford it, seeing as the mortgage and HOA fees combined would be equal to our rent.  But I don't think our credit is good enough to make it, and I'm scared of asking, and I don't think my husband will be willing to have them check our credit because his is so bad.  This absolutely breaks my heart.

Talking to a brick wall
We saw D&T a few weeks ago.  I felt like nothing I said to her registered.  It was literally like talking to a brick wall.  Or like I was speaking Mandarin.  SO FRUSTRATING.

Reconnecting with old friends
The one upside to this summer has been reconnecting with old friends.  Between going to the Harry Potter marathon with M, and having appetizers with G last week, I've really enjoyed that part of this summer.  I'm hoping I can find time with K this next week.  But it does kind of sting that the reason I've had time to do all these things is because my usual cast of characters is either to busy to deal with me, can't be bothered or terrified I'll infest her with bugs.  Lovely.

I feel like I need new friends in addition to a new job.

postcards

Me: Thank you for calling the Settlement Administrator.  Can I please get the ID number off of the postcard you received?

Caller: Um, where would the number be on the postcard?

(In my head): Umm,It's a postcard.  Is it on the front?  No? Then, check the back.  Still can't find it?  Then you need more help than I can give.

Lisa

So I just got a call from one of my favorite.  He always hears my name as Lisa.  But for some reason, today he heard my name correctly.  “Oh, Hi, my name is Mr Ronald Plow. “ He says.  “I usually talk to Lisa.  Is she there?”

That was harder to explain than I anticipated.

this summer

T.S. Eliot said April is the cruelest month.  But I'd have to agree with Bananarama.  I think this year has been a cruel summer.  Between mama still recovering, hotter and more humid days, bed bugs and the just plain brokeness of it all, I’m officially stating that this summer has sucked ass.

I think you have to be from a northern clime to truly appreciate the severity of this statement.  In Minnesota, we start dreaming of summer soon after the State Fair closes it’s doors at the end of Labor Day.  By February we’re celebrating days in the 40s and watching every sign of spring so closely we could be phenologists.

So, after all this dreamin, wishin and hopin, to dismiss summer so summarily is odd to say the least.  Let me explain.

I feel like I have no friends.

Facebook disagress.  But isn’t that the interesting part?  How can one have 120-some “friends”, and yet feel ostracized, alone and abandoned?  And I should clarify, I know I’m not alone.  My husband and I are close, and I see my mother weekly if not more frequently.  But I feel pushed away by my closest friends.  S keeps saying “we need to get together”, but can never find time.  E “is just too overwhelmed, it’s all too much” to be bothered to take my call.  C would like to see me, but is afraid I’ll contaminate her with bed bugs.  Shy of strip searching myself and spending $2 and an hour drying my clothes prior to going over there, I doubt that will happen.

I am upset.  I am unhappy.  I am distressed.

I hate this summer.