(no subject)

Another early morning for me...5am today. I'm getting a massage tonight though so I think I'll sleep pretty well this evening.

I'd fallen asleep by the time my mom got home from bridge, but she left me a note (on the toilet, even) saying two more of her students want to hire me as a mentor. Yay:)

I have a question for you folks...
I need to buy a new computer. This one has served me quite well for the last four years, but it's finally crapping out and I need to replace it. I want a laptop this time around, and under no circumstances will I ever buy a Dell. My computer was bottom-of-the-line when I bought it, and it's been fine, so I'm not opposed to going with the cheapest thing out there...but people keep saying I should buy a Mac. I'm not opposed to that, either, but I have a few concerns. First, will I be able to make the transition? I'm not computer savvy in the least. Mostly I use my computer for the internet, music, and DVDs. Is it even worth spending twice as much when I'm only using it for basic operations? I think I've actually talked myself out of the Mac...but if someone here feels very strongly about what to buy, or what to absolutely not buy, please chime in.

Eight days. At least I hope I can move out in eight days. I left a message with my realtor, and he left a message with me saying that he's still trying to reach the other realtor, so I don't know what the deal is right now. It's kind of obnoxious, but I'm not freaking out. I trust that things will work out. I don't know why I'm not freaking out...but I'm calm and that's okay.

Things I'm looking forward to over the next month:
Massage tonight
Tracy Grammer and Jim Henry at the Gravity Lounge on Thursday
Bridge tournament this weekend
Moving in 8 days
Getting a new computer...sometime
Sometymes Why at the Gravity Lounge on Dec 8
Kerry & Jill's party on Dec 16

Lots of good stuff in there. If anyone wants to join me for either of those concerts, consider yourself invited.

Peace.

(no subject)

I've had my primary email address for almost a full decade now, and I've done remarkably well at protecting it from spam. For a while I was averaging maybe two or three pieces of junk mail per day, but in just the last week or so, the amount of spam I get has SKYROCKETED. My filters do a pretty good job of moving it to my bulk folder, but I'm getting them by the dozen. Every time I check my mail, there's more in there. I delete it pretty regularly throughout the day, but I'd guess I'm getting somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 spam emails per day.

Like I said, it's filtered, so it's not a huge bother, but it's still annoying, so I went into my mail options to start blocking the most common spam domains, and I noticed that yahoo has a limited number of addresses you're allowed to block. What bullshit. I hate to part with an email address that's served me well for the past ten years, but it may be time. Yahoo, you are not my friend anymore.

You know what might have caused this? Yahoo had upped the number of marketing emails they send out to their members telling us about new mail features that we can get if we upgrade and stuff like that...so I started marking those as spam. Maybe the Yahoo people didn't think that was funny and decided to unleash the spammy wrath on me. Oh well.

So I may be in the market for a new email address. We'll see. I'll see if I can wait it out with Yahoo. It'll just be such a pain to change, and I do like how yahoo messenger gives me a little popup every time I get a new message. It helps keep me on top of things.

Anyhow, it's time to go to the gym. I have a training session tonight, and then I'm going to come home and crash. No massage tonight after all as Roope is feeling under the weather. I have to be at work really early tomorrow because I had so much going on today I fell a little behind and I do NOT like being behind. So I'm going to use that nasty habit of waking up at 5am to my advantage. Sigh.

Peace.

(no subject)

After doing her best to actually kill me, my trainer forbade me to set foot in the gym for the next two days. So I guess I'm going shopping tomorrow. Though this time off does put a kink in my plans...with the bridge tournament this weekend, I don't know when I'll get to work out then, either...so it might be a five day break, but I hope it's not. I am going to need tomorrow off, though. I am badly aching already, and it's always worse the next day. She worked me so hard...it's punishment for the time I took off;)

Even though I was so fatigued and sucking hard core by the end of my torture session, she complimented me on a job well done and obvious improvement. And when I got home, even my mother had nice things to say about the way I look. Jen says I'm one of her favorite clients because I always take her torture with a smile and I never hold it against her. And she takes delight in torturing me because she knows how much it's going to pay off. She's right - even though I'm so sore after working with her, I always feel a zillion times better.

We did some pilates and yoga to end our session because I was so tight, and I was feeling really good until I spoke to Jeremy. Nothing against Jeremy - it's just that we had a conversation that is never fun to have. We're getting divorced. We're going to lawyers to make the separation legal by the end of this year, and we're going to be divorced as soon as legally possible. I'm ready, and he's ready, and that in itself is a blessing, but it's still very sad to do, even though we both knew it was coming. The good news is we're going through this as people who love each other and are supportive and not vindictive. Aside from the emotional trauma of saying goodbye to a marriage, I think we're going to be lucky in the divorce department. No hardball, no lawsuits, no challenges...at least that is what I truly believe and trust Jeremy for, and I believe he trusts me, too. It's almost a shame we have to pay lawyers at all.

But some of my friends have hinted at this and I'd like to take a moment to address something.

I do love Jeremy. I always will, but over time I've come to realize it's a love not suited to a marriage. Jeremy is a good guy and I want the best for him. He says the same about me and I believe he means it. I don't want any friends to even think for a minute I want you to take "my side" in this. It's okay with me if "my" friends still want to be pals with Jer. I promise I won't resent that at all. In fact, I hope that one day it will be easy and natural for us all to get together in the same groups we always have. I just won't be sitting in Jer's lap this time.

Talking about my marriage WILL make me cry. Hopefully one day it won't, but it's sad. I can't help it. I WON'T BE MAD AT YOU IF YOU MAKE ME CRY. It happens. Ask questions if you want. I don't mind. I don't want you to feel like you need to tiptoe around me. Friends understand each other, and you can't understand me or what I've been through if you ignore the biggest thing in my life this year. So it's okay. But please do avoid the "I knew you guys wouldn't last" comments. I've heard them already, and believe it or not, THEY DON'T HELP.

Lastly, please don't feel the need to hide your happy news from me just because I'm going through a rough patch and you don't want to rub it in. You are my friends. I want to be happy for you when you're happy. That requires knowing when you're happy. I do feel like a lot of friends have stepped back from me because they don't know how to talk to me right now, and that's not what I need or want. Sometimes there are tears, but believe it or not I'm actually in a much better place now. If I weren't I wouldn't be so sure divorce is the right step. But generally, I'm happy. I work out, I'm in Charlottesville, my job is great...I'm okay. So don't worry about me. Treat me like a normal friend, okay?

That's all. So...who's been holding back good news that they want to share now? Anyone? I know some of you have done it. Out with it.

Peace.