I spent my morning running errands, which is not one of my favorite things to do.  But it's a necessity as long as we keep requiring things like food.  I absolutely detest running errands after work, so I have to do it on my weekends.  It's more crowded then, but at least I feel halfway sane and lots less weary.  But anyway, I am about to get on my soapbox about those fashion faux pas again.  I love fashion.  I love clothes and shoes and accessories.  My lifestyle is just way too casual to need a lot, and I lean towards comfort and practicality anymore.  I am too old to suffer for fashion.  I can admire it from afar if its going to hurt.  But still....there are lines that should not EVER be crossed.  Like....ever!  At my Harris Teeter today there was a woman in her late 40's/early 50's.  So pretty much my age.  She had on the tiniest pair of athletic, running type shorts that I have ever seen.  She was overweight, way too white and really frumpy looking.  Ok, I get that.  I need to shed some pounds too.  It gets harder as we get older.  I will never fault anybody for their weight.  But please, dear God, please cover that shit up.  This woman dropped something and bent over right in front of me.  It was something no one should ever have to witness at the grocery store.  It was not a sight to drive men insane with lust.  It was heinous.  

The inseam on these shorts couldn't have been more than an inch.  I have seen panties with more coverage.  I can't imagine any sane woman of a certain age getting dressed and thinking that was ok, even to just run to the store for a few items.  Eeewwww!  It really bummed me out, pun intended.

Ok, let me cheer myself up after that stressful shopping trip.  So yesterday I called Bruce to let him know that I was running really late at work.  I was also going to let him know that if he would pick up something for dinner, it would be much appreciated (he did....yay).  I didn't get him, but he called me back a bit later.  Our conversation went something like this :

Bruce:  Did you call me?

Me:  Yes, where were you?

Bruce:  I was up in the barn.....(long awkward pause).....looking for certain items.....

LOL!   That part, the "looking for certain items" part had me laughing hysterically.  It sounded so strange and mysterious.  Like what could possibly be in our barn that must not be named over a phone call???  Ok, so aforementioned "certain items" turned out to be car parts that I guess he just didn't want to have to take the time to describe to me.  Maybe I read way too many mystery novels.  I don't know, but it was certainly good for a laugh.  Oh and thanks for the Mellow Mushroom pizza when I got home.  It made my day a little brighter.  :)

Friday is almost here.  I'm not supposed to talk about it because Bruce's sub is having surgery tomorrow which leaves Bruce working 6 day weeks for at least a month.  I am going to have to keep my Friday Happy Dance under wraps for a while, but just know I'm still doing it secretly.  

We've been busy lately but that's nothing new.  Not as busy as Lori getting ready for their move....I talked to her earlier in the week and I think I had heart palpitations just listening to everything she has going on.  Lori, if you read this I hope you all have safe travels and a smooth transition to your new digs.  Hopefully we can fly out for a visit sometime, but we will let you get settled first.  Keep up us posted on whats going on.

Anyway what else has gone on?  Erica loved her week long whiskey walk through Scotland.  She got back to York yesterday.  Apparently she and Amy spent their days walking to different small Scottish villages during the day and sampling multiple kinds of Scotch whiskey in little pubs in the evenings.  They stayed at different B&Bs every night.  It sounded like fun although I would probably prefer a drive and whiskey tour more...LOL!  At least she said the weather was excellent which is something to brag about in the UK.  She is now settling into her new flat and seems to be really happy about that.

Everything else is good.  Stephen closes on his new place on the 12th.  We are just working a lot during the day and trying to recover from the heat at night.  I'm ready for fall....but all this rain has kept the heat from being too insane so far.  It's been plenty uncomfortable, but we have only had a few days of death heat so far.  I hope August is the same.....

Anyway, I hope everybody has a safe weekend.  

I worked Saturday which really kind of sucked.  Constant rain and a day of heavy parcels almost like Christmas time never makes me a happy camper.  But I survived it so my sub could take a vacation with her family.  She works every Saturday, holidays, for other carriers during the weeks and rarely asks for time off.  I felt like she deserved it.  I was still plenty happy to be done with it though.  Now I have tomorrow off which is nice.  But I have to go have the 6 month recheck mammogram after last December's biopsy.  Wish me luck.  If this is clear then I can actually go back to a regular mammogram schedule.  I have my finger's crossed because this is NOT one of my favorite things to do.  Is it better than working?  Well, at least it takes less time and that's all I have to say about that.

So today was my never ending story.  I hadn't been off in days, work has been kind of tough. I've been getting home later than I like....stuff piles up, you know?  I had so much to do that it wasn't even funny.

Laundry, litter boxes, cleaning out the fridge, sorting through stacks of mail.  It seems like skipping just a few days causes some kind of cosmic build up that's hard to ever catch up on.  Tomorrow will be part 2....the errands and grocery shopping because that hasn't been done either.  I really liked those days off that I spent sitting on the beach.  Why can't that be the never-ending story instead?  

We had an amazing few days at the beach.  The weather could not have been more perfect.  And for the 4th of July we walked out of our hotel onto the beach and was able to see at least 6 fireworks shows.  No crowds, no traffic...we loved it.  All of the little townships: Atlantic Beach, Emerald Isle, Pine Knoll Shores, and more that I can't even name did fireworks for the 4th.  We could see them in both directions for miles.  There were more further away, and still more over the sound that we could see occasionally when one went off really high.  It was so beautiful that this might be my new 4th of July plan.  It beats our crowded, hot town commons and consequent sitting in traffic afterwards.  

So we found a new place to stay down on our coast.  It's further down than we usually stay.  6 miles after the Atlantic Beach bridge....a little past the aquarium in Pine Knoll Shores.  It's called the Clam Digger Inn.  All rooms are oceanfront.  It has an on site restaurant that was pretty good....food was fine, prices were good and the convenience of not having to go search for breakfast or lunch was priceless.  They rent beach umbrellas with lounge chairs and there is a poolside bar right on the edge of the beach that had delicious frozen margaritas.  So the place is not fancy.  The rooms are pretty standard and the bathrooms are minuscule.  But it was clean, comfortable and took care of every possible convenience you could need.  You could stay right there without leaving at all but we wanted to have dinner at our favorite places there.  The scallops at Sanitary Fish Market did NOT disappoint.  

One of our other favorites let me down to the point I may not go back....Queen Anne's Revenge, you sucked big time Friday night.  Also?  Fix the A/C in your restaurant.  I won't go back to a place that makes me sweat!

Speaking of sweat, our room had this super powerful A/C unit....I slept in a room that almost had icicles forming and I loved every single minute of it.  I sleep best when the room is nice and chilly....it was heaven.  I'm a bit spoiled now and feeling unsatisfied with the thermostats set on 74 degrees here at home....LOL!  But anyway, we had a lovely little getaway.  I hope everybody else enjoyed the holiday too. I have tomorrow off so I get to postpone reality for 1 more day, but it's back to work on Tuesday.

Yuck.  But I don't have to think about that for at least another day!  

Hannia poses this question:  is it better to have our typical hot summer weather, or the endless rain.  Which granted keeps the temps down, but still it's been cloudy and rainy for something like 2 weeks straight now.  Not as hot as July generally is....but oh my Lord....the rain.  I can't decide which is better.  Bruce votes for a cloudy rainy, cooler day every third day...LOL!  But I don't think that was one of the options.  My vote is to skip summer altogether and just let dry warm spring days turn into crisp, dry fall days.  No heat, no humidity......like ever.  I have no idea why I'm not allowed to make the rules???

Erica was supposed to have lunch with the Overcashes today as they will be in York for just a few hours For the last leg of their trip.  I think they will be back State side July 4th.  Just in time for the holiday.  Erica will not be celebrating Independence Day in the UK.  HaHa.  

Ok, so have a safe and Happy 4th!  

2 more days until my vacation which will include lots of lounging on the beach, hopefully.  If the weather cooperates.  I am so ready to get away.  Bruce and I were talking and we don't think we have been anywhere since October of last year.  Except for cleaning out the house in Danville, that is.  We usually take a spring vacation but things got busy.  It's always busy.  I am very ready to be un-busy for a little while. 

Speaking of vacations, I just saw a post on Facebook from Casey who can't wait to get back to the US.  Particularly American food.  LOL!  I can see that for picky teens.  

Also?  Stephen and Hannia officially put an offer on a house.  They had hoped to hear back by this evening, but I'm guessing that didn't happen.  But wish them luck.  I think they really like this place!  

So now all I have to do is get through the next couple of days of work.....wish me luck, too!