Wow. I haven�t updated in some days. It�s a wonder anyone reads my diary anymore.
I�m trying to think of all that�s happened since the last update�
Well, Wednesday night I could not sleep! I was so excited about seeing Ann for lunch Thursday. I tossed and turned all night, sleeping fitfully.
I was supposed to get up at 5:00 a.m. to take a shower and do my hair and makeup. Instead, I overslept and woke up at 6:00 a.m. I was able to take a shower and dry my hair, but the makeup would have to wait until I got to work.
I rushed around but I was able to make it out the door at 6:45.
I put my makeup on when I got to work. It didn�t look bad at all!
Work went quickly.
I left at 11:30, because I knew I only had twenties and I needed some change so I could pay the tip. Instead of just going to the gas station first, I drove past Dairy Queen, which was crowded, and I made the mistake of turning into Burger King, which was also crowded. I ended up at the gas station buying mini muffins to make change.
I got to the restaurant at 11:45.
Parking at the Ly*nch Str*eet Bis*tro was not bad at all. Of course, I suck at parallel parking and did a crappy job. When I got out of the car I realized I could�ve backed up four more FEET! I have some sort of spatial disorder, because I have a hard time judging how much space is between me and other objects.
I didn�t leave much space ahead of me either, but by the time I got out it was almost noon so I decided to leave the car like it was. I walked up to the front of the restaurant and waited.
Almost immediately I see this little person with a big smile zip by in a little red car. She waves and I realize its Ann. I am amazed to watch her squeeze her little car into that small space in front of my car.
She later explained to me that she had an ex who lived in the city and that she had become an expert at squeezing her car into small spaces.
She gets out, and we hug. I am always admiring how polished she looks. I mean, it is her job to look that way, but I realize that she either has a flair for it or she works hard to look that put together.
Her hair is much longer than the last time I saw her in person. Otherwise, she is pretty much the same beautiful person.
We had planned on lunch at noon. I had made reservations at the restaurant, so I knew we�d at least have a table.
We chatted a few minutes until the hostess greeted us and led us to the table.
The restaurant is very nice. But something, and I cannot put my finger on it, has changed since I was there the last time. For one thing, it is a bit more expensive, so you expect good service. Lunch is definitely cheaper but more than you�d pay at some fast food place.
I had the salmon and she had the crab salad.
One would expect that certain things do not happen in nicer places. One, our drinks were empty a while before we caught someone to refill them. Two, even though the food was great, Ann found a hair in hers.
I was mortified. I wanted to crawl right under the table right there. I prayed for the floor to open up and swallow me, because, after all, I had recommended this place.
She brushed it off. She is definitely a person who rolls with the punches, and I guess you have to be if you�re chasing a story 5 nights a week. In her field I guess you have to seek, adapt, conquer and move on. I wish I had those qualities.
Other than the somewhat lukewarm service, we had a great time. I don�t know what it is that draws me to Ann. Sometimes I feel like I�ve known her all my life. It is another thing that is a mystery to me.
What binds us together is difficult to understand. I know she does stories like mine quite often, yet we still stay in touch and have for a couple of years now. Somewhere, we went from being strangers that just cross paths to friends.
I realize how lucky I am. There is the dorky side of me that is a celebrity worshiper. I read Star magazine, for criminy. I love celebrities!!! I am working hard on separating the reporter Ann from the person Ann. After all, I think she sees me as a whole person.
I try not to geek out, but I do admit, I am amazed that she cares about me and my story.
I can be a little nerdy.
We talk about everything. Even though I feel guilty again because I did a lot of the talking, we did have conversation about both of our lives. We talk about the case, of course. We talk about my Jackie, my sisters, and my job. I mention Lisa a lot.
We talk about Ann and her love life, and her relationship with her Mom. I am also curious about the kind of mail and phone calls you get when you�re a News station, and she fills me in on some of the weirder things that have happened to her and her
co-workers.
We talked about our budding friendship. I don�t want to taint it by talking about it, but it is a beautiful thing. She said a few things that made me cry, but in a good way.
I am so lucky in my life to have good friends.
Before I knew it, it was 1:30. I could�ve sat there and talked all day, but I sensed that Ann had to get back to work. We talked about having lunch more often. Next time, she can pick the place.
We had the hostess take a couple of pictures of us with my disposable camera. Of course, they were long ways, which kind of irritated me, but I�m sure I could get Lisa to flip the picture and enlarge it.
I was sad to part ways. But she hugged me and I was reassured we�d get together again sometime soon.
I was almost back to work when I realized that I�d forgotten to thank her for lunch!!! Again, the mortification�..
I leave a message on her cell.
After I hang up, I sit in the car and smoke a cigarette. By this time, it was almost 2, and I was wondering if I could get my flu shot early. The appointment was at 2:15 at the clinic at work.
My cell rings, and it says �Ann R.�. I giggle like a little girl. You can bet I�m not erasing that off my phone. Again, this demonstrates my geeky side.
Anyway, Ann tells me I�m welcome and I ask her if it�s okay if when I get the pictures developed if I can put them in my diary, since it�s locked. She says it�s okay.
After we get off the phone, I throw the cigarette onto the concrete, step on it and go in. I stop in the clinic and I get my flu shot.
At 3:30 I leave work.
I feel fine for a couple of hours. But later that night, it snuck up on me.
Around 7:00, my whole body starts hurting. And I have no energy. I feel like I�ve been run over by a steamroller.
Not fun at all.
How come I always get side effects from the flu shot???
Well, Thursday night was a bust.
Friday, I was off work and Jackie was off school. Lisa and I had plans to take the kids to lunch and got their pictures taken. However, I realized at the last moment Friday morning that I had forgotten to pay for Jackie�s daycare for the next two weeks, which pretty much ruined any budget for getting our pictures taken.
Of course, I have the most generous best friend in the world. She said she�d help me pay for the pictures.
We had lunch at TGI Fri*days. By the way, someone kick me in the shins if I mention going back there anytime soon.
We had the crappiest service I�ve ever had. Our waitress was rude, incompetent, didn�t communicate, assumed a lot of things, walked away when we were talking to her, forgot food that we had ordered and overcharged us. It was a mess.
It turned into a 2 hour ordeal. Lisa and I were so mad that on a $51.00 tab, she only got a two-dollar tip. It was that bad.
I felt awful. I always tip well. But our waitress sucked. The worst part was, we couldn�t get her to come around enough to even talk with her about this. And when we left, the manager was nowhere to be seen.
I expect that sort of service at White Castle, but not at TGI Frid*ays.
My nails. They looked like crap. I still had that Halloween design on them, so Lisa said, �You will go, and I will pay�. So I got my nails done.
That took some time too.
After that, it was almost 4. Our appointment at Sears was at 5:15, so we ran to my place to get ready.
We got to Sears early. I forgot, it was a holiday, and the place was packed!!!!
It turned into a 2 hour ordeal, BUT, the pictures turned out great! Lisa and I will post them when we get a chance.
Lisa paid for the whole thing. I am really grateful but felt really guilty about that. It feels like she�s doing this a lot, and I need to get back to a place where I can contribute financially to our recreation.
By the time we got out, it was almost 8. The kids were starving, so we went to Burger King to grab some grub. Jackie was so hungry she bit her finger! Poor thing.
Lisa and I sat in the living room looking at the proofs while the kids played for a little bit. We were both so exhausted though that we wrapped it up early.
Saturday, I was so tired. I was still having the body aches pretty bad. I was thinking about going to Lisa�s, but my sister Maggie called me and told me she was bringing the bed down for Jackie on Sunday. So I spent Saturday cleaning Jackie�s room to make room. Unfortunately, I felt like crap�.so it took me forever.
I still need to call Doug so that he can move the bunk bed to the dumpster.
Sunday, Jackie and I got up pretty early. We headed out to do laundry. I had Jackie call Maggie to let her know we�d be home in a couple of hours. That�s when I found out she wasn�t coming. She told me she�d bring it next Saturday.
I was sort of relieved, because I had a lot to do at home!
When we got home, we rested for a bit. But then, I got started on my bedroom. It took me a couple of hours!
The rest of the day, we just sort of rested.
Oh, I�ve gotten a cold somehow. Joy. Thanks, Rene�!
�And that is all�, she wrote�
10:06 am - November 15, 2005
Recent entries:
What you missed - January 16, 2012
%%older_entries%%From hell - October 19, 2010
%%older_entries%%a rant from a few weeks ago - August 17, 2010
%%older_entries%%Tired - June 20, 2010
%%older_entries%%A beautiful lie - March 11, 2010
%%older_entries%%
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