A Room of One's Own

But then again

For the last few years I have spend St. Patty's day in Jackson, MS. Let's just say they put on a great parade. And the parade lands you right at one of my favorite places, Hal & Mal's. I didn't go this year and was not that upset about it until about right now.

One of my favorite things to do each year after the parade is to sit on the patio at Hal and Mal's and have a beer or three with some of the most fabulous people I have the pleasure of being friends with. Oddly, I went and bought a slew more picture frames and there is a picture on my kitchen counter of my friends Emily, Pippa and myself last year. It is a great picture and I smile every time I walk past it.

After having a few beers and conversation, you move over to the big room and have the time of your life listening to the Pinstripe Brass Band play some New Orleans jazz. These guys rock. They even have a big ol' tuba player. It wears you out but it feels great and it feels right.

Emily posted her pictures this morning and seeing that parade was grand. They had perfect weather which never happened the years I went! Lots of smiling faces and silliness. Great shots of the huge crowd at Hal and Mal's. Our weather is awesome today. I've thrown open all the windows and doors and I'm cleaning the house and listening to Ken Edwards, a small town Mississippi musician, and feeling just a tad bit nostalgic. But, I'm smiling ear to ear about it. Cheers, girls.

This girl needs to go to Mexico

It just hit me. Bad. I mean, real bad. I need to go.

I am sitting here laughing my ass off thinking of the gazillion memories I have of jumping in the car and just going. Usually this involved Jen and Barbara and most likely involved a Jeep with the doors off and bathing suits. It always involved celebratory beers upon crossing the border and a whole lot of Jimmy Buffet, "Fernando" and Selena in Spanish. It was a fabulous beer buzz by 2pm at J.J.'s Cantina or Margaritavilla, a late afternoon nap and then back out for the night.

I just want to drive down there and do nothing. Speak nothing but Spanish all day. Eat dog tacos from the street vendor. Do tequila shots until I'm silly. Have a beer for breakfast. Lay in the sun with Jimmy and Kenny blaring from the stereo. Dance like an idiot at Manny's. Know no strangers. Live in flip flops and my bathing suit for a couple of days.

I have been way too stressed lately. This is what I need to slow the hell down. Soon. 

Going away

I am feeling the need to disappear for a little. I am way to overworked and run-down and stressed out to even function as a normal human being. I'm leaving a trail of people with bitten off heads everywhere I go. It's not pretty. I don't like it.

I was talking to a friend on the way home last night and told her I'm having a hard time focusing on anything positive right now. Usually, I'm so optimistic that it's almost annoying. I need life to throw me a little something good. Just a little nugget of good. I'm not asking for life changing good, just a little something.

I'm thinking of heading out of town for a couple days. Nowhere big. There's a hotel in Prescott I love. Old historic hotel with a big porch and upstairs balcony. Bathtubs with claw feet. Cute little small bar in the lobby where the owners, Frank and Kathie, will get you a glass of wine. I'm thinking it would be nice to get up there and spend some time. See the fall colors we miss in Phoenix. Mill around the antique stores. Hang out in the town square and watch people. Sit on that big balcony and write for a bit. Try my hand at altitude running. I need to disconnect. I don't want to lose my happy.

Airport fun!

So as I type this I am supposed to be on a flight to San Jose for business. But no. I clearly am not. Good times. It's been an educational morning. I've learned:

A) Pam at the US Airways check in is a bitch. If she had not decided to give me a lecture on what time to arrive at the airport, I would have made my flight.

B) If you get snarky with Pam, she refuses to talk to you until you seems not bitchy.

3) Going ethnic on Pam's ass does NOT make her move any faster.

D) Apparantly, girls in pink argyle sweaters are clear security threats and need all their bags checked thoroughly. I'm certain Pam called ahead and informed them off this.

E) When Pam, the dumb c-u-next-tuesday tell you your gate is B8. She's a God damned liar. You're at an A gate which requires you to go through security. Again.

6) If you stand by the window waving at the plane you boss is on, she can't see you. I've not figured out how this is Pam's fault, but it is.