Letters from NYC

Busy and Crazy w/Life

I've been busy continuing my job search, beginning my spring cleaning, starting the slow changing over of winter to spring clothes, and the packing away of all the winter stuff (coats, sweaters, hats, gloves, linens, etc.) and accumulating stuff in the donation pile. I've been working so hard my workouts at the gym seem tame by comparison.

Yesterday, the only time I got a bit of rest (if you can call it that) was when the massage therapist was working on my arms and inflicting serious pain to work through the knots in the muscles in my arms and back.

Today, I'm starting my day a bit different. I'm working out first to let go of my accumulated frustration of the last 3 days. I've not been back to the gym since I fell in love, because it turns out that my extra time w/Precor strained my calf muscle a bit. I swear I'm just too intense and focused sometimes.

So today, my aim is to get rid of the accumulating stress and then finish my spring cleaning so that tomorrow I can have fun, fun, fun. I got some of the parents (in truth only the dad's) in my single-parents group to agree to take a trip to the Robotics exhibition at the Liberty Science Center tomorrow.

I'm a bit nervous about this because (1) it's my first social outing with anyone since 9/11; (2) it's the first for all of us as a group with all of our children; (3) I'll be in van for a total of 3 hours with 3 male adults and 4 male children (including my son), making me the only woman on the trip; that's more testosterone than I've been around since my softball league days in high school. (4) Finally, since I'm the only woman in the group, I'm hoping they don't think I'll be the slave/nanny/overall caretaker, 'cause that ain't happening and it'll be a sad scene if it does.

I think the biggest concern comes from this one dad. The former high school football star (who's still a legend in his own mind), who I've had slight skirmishes with about almost everything. Sometimes I think it's residual anger with women, because his wife left him; other times I think he's just an ornery and unhappy human being. The school director thinks he likes me (iuck!), but I just won't conform to the image he has in his mind of me. My reaction: stomach churn and a strong and overwhelming desire to vomit. I just hope he doesn't turn into an energy vampire, trying to be the center of attention, like he does in our parent's meeting where I invariably have to reign him in. Okay, I'm projecting here I know, but I think of what's the worst that can happen and I picture myself handling it well, then maybe it'll come to pass effortlessly. [Deep breath, Michele, deeeep breath.]

Damn, how I wish I had my cell phone back, because at least I could have a bail out strategy. I always had those during my first and second dates. Luckily, I only had to use those strategies twice in my life time. Now those posts would make good stories. If nothing exciting happens during my outing then maybe I'll post about one of those first date nightmares instead so I can be grateful I'm not dating. Everytime I tell those stories peole wind up ROF with laughter.

Sigh! Well, that helped me feel better and less anxious about tomorrow. Thanks for the therapy session and any suggestions you may have will be most welcome. Hmmm, maybe I'll pick up a stun gun today, in case anybody gets out of hand.
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Update: The boneheaded Legend, misread my email, booked the van for the wrong date and then tried to blame it all on me. Hmmmph! Typical male.

Posted by Michele at April 30, 2005 09:08 AM