I am off to Manhattan today.  Two hours there, 8.5 hours working, Two hours back.  This evening mom, Lisa, Barbara and I are going to the movies.  We’re seeing Lakehouse with Sandy Bullock.  It’s been so long since I saw a movie in the movie theater.  I think the last one I saw was Chronicles of Narnia.  I’m rather excited, it’s been awhile since I’ve seen a real girls’ movie and I could definitely use a good dose of melodrama and romance.  Whenever I do online matchmaking, I find my dreams of romance and love whither away.  Yesterday I got a match.com email, a really lovely email, from a man that I kinda recognized.  Reading it over, it hit me.  We communicated before on match.com.  He was an ass.  A real ass.  Can it be that I have gone through all the men on match.com?  Am I really not that memorable that these guys are emailing me a second time?  (And this is not the first time this has happened this last stint).

Everything blew up.  Luckily I was able to put most of it back together rather easily but I did lose my last couple posts and comments.  Oh, well!  That’s the way it goes.  How is it that I always find a way to break everything?

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The BBQ was a great success! It was so nice seeing everyone. Audra and Steve came a little early and we surprised Lisa with a mini-birthday party! Lisa didn’t know they were coming early and they sneaked out to the patio where I had placed the bicycle that I bought her. I called for her and as soon as she emerged we screamed, “Happy Birthday!” Instead of a cake, I had 3 Tastykake cupcakes on a plate. Sadly, the wind didn’t allow the candles to stay lit. Lisa saw the bike and immediately took it for a spin. I think she was happy. The day of her actual birthday didn’t allow any celebration since George had just died. I wanted to somehow make it up to her.

It was closer to 6 when our guests started arriving. Greg arrived first followed by Erin and Pete and Peter and Lauren. I grilled hot dogs and served potato salad. Dessert was a banana cake that Audra baked and popsicles that I bought. We had a great time!

Experience the BBQ via the magical lens of Erin!

Anyone who thinks I am having a BBQ to get together with friends and have a nice time is wrong. This is the motivation I need to clean my house. Thoroughly. By the time everyone gets here, I’m gonna be pooped!

On the way home from the train station yesterday, I was flipping through the radio dial and I heard: The Day the Music Died, The Day the Music Died, The Day the Music Died and Star Trekkin’. I waited for the apocalypse but it didn’t come. Fooled again!

There’s Klingons on the starboard bow,
starboard bow, starboard bow.
There’s Klingons on the starboard bow,
scrape ’em off, Jim.

I thought I would work from Manhattan but instead I am working from home. This works out great because I have so much to do. Instead of 4 hours commuting, I can spend that time being productive. Lisa and I invited a bunch of people to our house on Saturday for a little BBQ and there is a lot of preparation I must accomplish before everyone arrives. The thing is, I have only heard back from a few people so I am absolutely clueless as to who is going to show. I figure I will buy hotdogs and if they aren’t eaten, I can always freeze them.

I didn’t work today. Instead we went to the public viewing, mass and luncheon for George. Lisa and I acted as pallbearers along with Barbara & George’s 2 nieces and 2 nephews. There wasn’t much lifting involved. Mainly it was guiding the casket which sat on a rolling table. When we guided the casket from the church to the hearse, I noticed there was a folded orange apron sitting atop the casket. After George retired, he worked a couple days a week at Home Depot. The orange apron was from his co-workers. They all signed it. Maybe it sounds silly but I found that very touching. I know George is in a much better place. He was diagnosed with brain cancer in November. It happened so fast. I keep thinking of Barbara. I hope she will be okay.

Lisa and I returned from George’s viewing listening to Bobby Darin sing, What a Difference a Day Makes. It struck me as very applicable.

My little baby sister Lisa turns 30 years old today.

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday, dear Lisa!
Happy Birthday to you!