Life Goes On

May 28, 2013



I have been enjoying a sort of mini vacation this weekend. And because I have to work Saturday I have today off as well. I decided to treat myself this weekend and pretend I was on vacation.


Friday, in spite of the dreary weather I met friends in Branford for Happy Hour. Donovan's Reef had great food in spite of the surly bartender and unhelpful hostess. But we had fun, Annie, Annemarie and Lauren. Yes, Margo's daughter is now old enough to join us for drinks. All the kids are. When did that happen? I loved seeing her walk in but I still think of them as little kids. Life does go on!


I went to the gym every day which was a good thing since I ate and drank with abandon. I planted flowers and herbs which is not something I enjoy doing but the yard looks so pretty and I love having fresh herbs on the deck. Basil, parsley, dill, thyme and this year I put mint on the deck. Leigh Ann has assured me I would like mint juleps and if I don't I can always make Mojitos. I went to brunch on Sunday at Splash in Westport. A really delicious buffet brunch and pretty setting. And good friends and  funny stories. Nurses really have the best stories!


And I had a cookout. Yes, I started the grill and put on the traditional burgers and hotdogs all by myself! Yeah. I did a great job on the burgers but Josh did push me out of the way to finish the hot dogs. And I made all the traditional sides. Potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans and this year fennel and orange salad. Thanks Anthony! I did have a few moments ( okay, maybe more than a few) of remembering other picnics with the "traditional" family but as I said, life goes on.


So, today I'm catching up. Cleaning, paying bills and going to work later to get ready for Epic go live on Saturday. Hoping as time goes on that next Memorial Day the feelings of loss will not be as great. After all, life goes on.

Cookout

Sept 1. 2012



5PM
Getting my house ready for a single girls party tonight. This will be my first solo party. No one to help me cleanup, fix the porch, light the grill or man the bar. Kinda nervous! But they are all my friends and I know I can count on them to go easy on me.

One of the doctors I met on a medical mission sent me steaks from Omaha Steaks after reading about my grilling fears. She also sent me a great selection of wine. Although she is unable to join us tonight I will be toasting her generosity. Hope I don't screw anything up. But after the first few sips of wine what could go wrong?

I keep thinking I'm forgetting something....maybe its something HE used to take care of that I haven't considered. Going to make another inspection of the house. Will finish this after everyone leaves tonight.


11PM
So, everything went okay. Better than okay, I think. Everyone pitched in and helped. I really didn't work that hard. Appetizers and desserts supplied by my friends, lots of wine on hand, and truth be told the two Annies did the grilling. But grilling was done! Do I actually have to be the one to do it? I don't think so. I can have a party by myself! Mention WAS made that my chocolate martinis were not like Dave's but they were not on the menu. Next time they will have the chocolate swirl and the shavings on the top.

Thanks to Leigh Ann for a truly generous birthday gift. And thanks to my friends, Annie, Annemarie, Alyson, Mary, Lynn and Monica for sharing it with me. And to my married friends who weren't invited just think, you get to sleep next to someone who loves you tonight. You did not have to figure out how to open the hood of your daughter's car, in the dark, after everyone left, to fill it with windshield washer fluid. I'm sure you would have saved that job for the man of the house.