Back East go I

I'm leaving for Massachusetts tomorrow, stupid early, so this'll be my last post for a coupla weeks.
I have my cousin's (I think he's my cousin - offspring of my father's cousin is my cousin of sorts, right?) this weekend, then a week in Cape Cod with the whole family - brother, sister-in-law, parents and the grandmother visiting from Poland - then back for a few days before flying back to Chicago.

Bottom line is, in a few days, hopefully this'll be my view:

That was the view from the Cape last year. It was a nice time. Beautiful, relaxing, everything you'd hope to expect.

In anycase, here's hoping the Sox streak continues through my journey.
Hope everyone is happy, healthy, safe and chipper. And all that good stuff.

See in you in a fortnight!

And of course, go Sox!

Time for some inspiration

In other Red Sox news, Jon Lester is a very young (23)and promising (7-2 last season) pitcher for our team whose season got cut short last year when he was diagnosed with cancer.
Since then, he's gone through chemo, was declared cancer-free and has completed his return to the bigs.

He's our starting pitcher tonight, replacing the recently struggling Tavarez and I'll be headed to the bar to watch, of course. How could I not?

What can I say. Several members of my family have survived cancer (brother and father), others haven't(grandmother). In any case, to see someone so young go through it and come back, well, it's my feel-good story of the day.

It's also a good kick in my ass to stop feeling so damn sorry for myself and get back into my life.

So here's to it. Go Sox!

Serenity...sometime? Soon? Please?

Resolved - I'm no longer fun when I drink.
Time for a serious break from booze.
I don't just mean cut back either, I think I really just need to stop for a bit.

I was out last night, watching the horrendous display of the Red Sox against, of all teams, the Royals. Had a few beers and, courtesy of my friend the bartender, a couple of shots.

No problem there. Had a good time chatting with her despite the ball game. It was nice to catch up since, due to the All Star break hadn't been out to see her and watch baseball in a good week and change.

Went then to my roommate's pub quiz to help if needed, and otherwise, to hang out.
Had one more beer. That's it.

So far so good. Had fun. Really. Good turnout, good quiz.

Pub quiz ended and an acquaintance/almost friend comes up to me and says "How've you been? Haven't seen you in a while."

For whatever reason, the floodgates opened. I suddenly spilled all this crap on him that I really had no business sharing and, before I knew it, I was crying.
Really pretty embarrassing. He clearly wasn't ready for it either, but was really kind and supportive/sympathetic.

I apologized and left and went to bed.

Honestly I don't know what's up. I know I needed to get those things off my chest, but I don't know why then and there and to him.
Haven't really had anyone to talk to lately, like really talk to, I guess. Kind of a caveat for being a homebody.

In any case, taking a break for a little while anyway.
Of course, next week I'll be headed to Massachusetts for a little family time on the Cape, and, as many people know, my family and I only really get along when lots of wine is involved, so we'll see.

The Self-imposed Latch-Key Kid

Allow a little preface here.

About a week ago, I was out grocery shopping. Thankfully, I walked instead of drove.
I was working my way through the lunch meat/chicken/beef length of the store when I realized I couldn't read any of the labels on the products.

Bottom line: To this day, i still can't see in front of me, only peripherally.
Hopefully, it'll come back soon since, the last time this happened, I spent three days in the hospital with an IV hookup to try to bring my optic nerve back into the game.

Stupid brain.

Anyway, my pool team had first round playoffs last night.
Not to toot my own horn but, typically, I'm one of the best players on my team. However, given recent events I of course informed my captain of my vision issues. That, combined with my chronic fatigue that they were already aware of made me assume I'd be done and gone by game five, regardless of the outcome.

Sad fact is, even with vision issues, I'm still one of the better female shooters on the team, so my final game was game ten. By then I was so loopy and exhausted that, apparently, I was very entertaining, but not very effective as a pool player.

It really sucks in retrospect because, of the two games that I lost, I definitely should have won both of them but it was a foreign table, and of course any number of other issues.

Bottom line, we lost the night. Of course I wasn't the only one who lost games but it's a really disconcerting turn of events when I've grown accustomed to being a reliable winner on the team and suddenly can't count on myself. Truthfully, when we've lost in the past, it's been despite my wins, you know?

On another note, further enhancing the caution of me not driving. I was walking to a store the other day. Started to cross the street only to realize that I failed to fully see the crosswalk sign stating that it was no longer time to walk.
Found myself in the middle of four lanes of traffic waiting for the lights to change again.
Ok. Now it's getting serious. I can't even cross the street. I can't see the crosswalk sign.

Such a fucking tool.
I'll be staying on side-streets for a while.

Release the hounds!

There was a power outage in our neighborhood yesterday in the early evening.
It was too dark to read indoors but still fairly light outside, as well as considerably cooler. Thus, with beers and books in hand Dave and I took to our front stoop for, well, beers and books.

It was kind of nifty to watch. Random neighbors going to their front yards, talking to each other, confirming that they hadn't just blown a fuse or something.

It had been a while since I had reason to enjoy time away from tv and the like, longer still since I had chatted with my neighbors.
Most enjoyable of all though, was watching pretty much everyone within a three block radius take their respective dogs out for an additional evening stroll. There must've been twenty dogs walking around, including the extremely adorable pumpkin pie of a pooch Gordie who lives next door.

The outage only lasted about forty minutes. Perfect timing actually, as, by the time the lights came on it was too dark to read outside. So, I walked next door, chatted some more with the neighbors, lavished affection on Gordie and went back inside.

Bottom line? Note to self - don't forget to sit outside this summer. It's always a nice break to have your city feel like a small town, if only for a little while.